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CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is pleased to announce the 2014 speakers for the 22^nd annual Barrows Conservation Lecture Series. The prestigious lecture series will feature an exciting lineup of internationally acclaimed scientists, explorers and conservationists. Since 1993, the series has brought a slate of esteemed naturalists and scientists to Cincinnati to address wildlife issues and global conservation efforts.

Opening the Series on Wednesday, April 9, at 7 p.m., is Dr. Karen Strier, who will present, “Primate Conservation in the 21^st Century: Insights from the Muriqui Monkeys of Brazil.” Karen is the Vilas Professor and Irven DeVore Professor of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Karen will trace the behavioral, ecological, and demographic changes over her 30-year study of a growing population of one of the world’s most critically endangered primates, the northern muriqui of Brazil. Her findings have implications for understanding the adaptive potentials of other primates and their chances for survival in our rapidly changing world.

On Wednesday, April 23, starting at 7 p.m., William (Bill) Konstant will present, “The World’s Rarest Rhinos.” Bill Konstant serves as Program Officer for the International Rhino Foundation, traveling the world to build collaborative programs that help bring an end to poaching. Bill is also a photographer and a published author, so this evening promises to be an insightful look at the last three decades of wildlife conservation, as well as a glimpse into what the future looks like for the world’s five rhino species.

On Wednesday, May 14, at 7 p.m., Dr. M. Sanjayan will present, “Saving Earth in the Age of Man: In a world of 7-billion people what is our relationship with wild nature. Can wild nature & wildlife still exist in a human dominated planet?” Sanjayan is an American conversationalist and news contributor. His lecture will focus on his new and currently filming TV series, Earth – a New Wild, which is being produced by National Geographic. Sanjayan is also the science correspondent for Years of Living Dangerously which is a ten-episode Showtime doc-series event airing in April 2014.

On Wednesday, May 28, beginning at 7 p.m., Dr. Terese Hart will present, “The Challenges of Protecting Wildlife in the Congo.” Terese is the Director of a Lukuru Foundation project that is working to create a new national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2007 the TL2 project started an inventory of all the large mammals in an unexplored area of Congo’s central forest. Working closely with local people and regional administrators they have now delimited an area of 9000 km²to become national park. The most interesting challenge is working with the wide diversity of Congolese for whom the forest has a special importance as home, livelihood, and identity.

The last presentation will take place on Wednesday, September 3, at 7 p.m., as John Ruthven presents, “Martha, The Last Passenger Pigeon.” John is a naturalist, author, lecturer, and internationally acknowledged master of wildlife art, often called the “20^th Century Audubon.” In 1974, John led the effort to save the last of the Cincinnati Zoo’s 19^th century bird pagoda’s – the one where Martha, the last of the passenger pigeons, had once lived. John is the recipient of the 2014 Cincinnati Zoo Wildlife Conservation Award.  

All Barrows Conservation Lectures will be held in the Cincinnati Zoo’s Frisch’s Theater in the Harold C. Schott Education Center. Attendees are advised to park in the Education Center lot. All lectures begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. WGUC 90.9 is the media partner for the 2014 series and the Hilton Hotel as well as the Hampton Inn are the hotel partners.  The Barrows Conservation Lecture Series is made possible by the ongoing support of the family of Winifred & Emil Barrows.