Texas Wildlife Refuges Honored at Centennial Celebration

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Texas Wildlife Refuges Honored at Centennial Celebration

U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Texas Governor applaud refuges at Fort Worth Zoo

FORT WORTH, TEXAS, Oct. 8 -/E-Wire/-- Ramona S. Bass, Fort Worth, Texas, and Daniel A. Pedrotti, Corpus Christi, Texas, are co-hosting a Texas-size gala at the Fort Worth Zoo on October 18, 2003, in celebration of 100 successful years of the National Wildlife Refuge System and benefiting Texas refuges. The National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of lands and waters set aside in 1903 specifically for the conservation of wildlife, plants and habitat. (Both Mrs. Bass and Mr. Pedrotti are part of the Centennial Commission, a committee of 10 people appointed by U. S. Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton to create awareness of the Refuge's anniversary.)

During the evening events, special attention will be paid to the 20 Texas National Wildlife Refuges. Grant awards will be distributed to a non-government organization, a zoo and a private landowner that have demonstrated successful conservation partnerships with a refuge. By highlighting these partnershipsâcollaborative efforts among private landowners, refuges and other conservation groupsâthe Texas commissioners hope to showcase the National Wildlife Refuge System's successfulness and uniqueness.

The Fort Worth Zoo's Texas Wild! exhibit was selected for this high-profile event because the hands-on conservation messages highlighted in the exhibit are the same tools the National Wildlife Refuge System uses on its land, such as controlled burning, hunting and rotational grazing.

Also during the evening, Texas Governor Rick Perry will proclaim October 19 to 25 Texas National Wildlife Refuge Week and encourage all Texans to visit their local refuges or accredited zoos to learn more about the importance and uniqueness of refuges that actively conserve wildlife, plants and habitat through hands-on management. In addition, actor Clint Eastwood will make remarks via taped interview and Secretary Norton will congratulate the Texas Refuges for their work.

Special, customized graphics have been created to celebrate Texas National Wildlife Refuge Week. By displaying these graphics, zoos across Texas will highlight refuges while stressing the importance of conservation partnerships on a variety of fronts. Many of the zoos have also planned special activities throughout the week.

A hundred years in the making, the National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of habitats that benefit wildlife, provide unparalleled outdoor experiences for all Americans and conserve a healthy environment. For more information, visit http://refuges.fws.gov.

The nationally ranked Fort Worth Zoo supports more than 20 conservation projects around the globe, and was awarded the American Zoo & Aquarium Association's top conservation award for its work benefiting the highly endangered Jamaican iguana. For more information on the Fort Worth Zoo, visit www.fortworthzoo.org.

Lyndsay Nantz, [REDACTED-EMAIL], 817/759-7362 or Tracy Sturrock, [REDACTED-EMAIL], 817/759-7360

http://www.fortworthzoo.org

http://refuges.fws.gov

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