The Delaware Museum of Natural History will host an Endangered Species Day celebration this weekend.
Friday, May 18 is Endangered Species Day, a day recognizing national conservation and protection efforts.
The Delaware Museum of Natural History will mark the occasion Saturday, May 19.
Museum communications director Jennifer Acord says it’s a day for visitors to come and learn what they can do to help protect species in need.
“Recycling, for example. Less use of single-use plastics, for example. They can really cause damage in the ocean to animals,” Acord said.
Christina Wesolek, a University of Delaware preceptor will be on hand to discuss her conservation work with elephants and turtles. West Chester University professors Rebecca Chancellor and Aaron Rundus will discuss their work in chimpanzee conservation in Rwanda.
In addition to the presentations, the museum will show off a taxidermy bald eagle and eagle eggs to highlight the bird’s comeback story.
“And research with eagle eggs in collections like ours has actually helped bring back eagle populations,” Acord said.
The bald eagle was removed from the Endangered Species List in 2007, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Acord says research using older eggs before the pesticide DDT hurt the population helps scientists understand why DDT made the eggs softer and less likely to hatch.
Congress started Endangered Species Day in 2006 to celebrate wildlife and educate the public.
The celebration at Delaware Museum of Natural History runs 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 19 at 4840 Kennett Pike in Wilmington.
Admission is $9 for ages 3-59 and $8 for seniors over 60. It costs $3 for children 1-2 years old. Babies under 12 months and museum members get in free.
