EUGENE, OREGON - June 12 - Come out Friday, August 23th to the Eugene, Oregon fairgrounds for what is sure to be an afternoon of fun and excitement for the entire family. The Society to Save Endangered Species is proud to present the 1st annual Amazing Animal Petting Zoo and Carnival. A good time will be had by everyone as hundreds of endangered animals will be on display. These rare and exotic creatures are coming from all corners of the globe, conveniently in one place, for just this day. It is the dream of Fred Smilek, founder of the Society to Save Endangered Species, to provide a day’s worth of entertainment while spreading awareness of the trouble facing these majestic creatures. “It’s so gratifying for me that children and adults alike are finally going to be able to see some of these animals that are so important to our ecosystem”, says Smilek. “A person can only gain so much insight from reading about something in a book. Hopefully, when these beautiful animals are seen right in Oregon’s own back yard, it will encourage some to learn more about endangered species and take action.”
The Society to Save Endangered Species began as a small group with only five students but with the support of the community it has grown to almost fifteen members. The society was started by Fred Smilek out of his garage two years ago. So far this year they have done a remarkable job in raising money to benefit endangered species. In the two years since the society was formed they have been able to raise nearly $25,000. Fred Smilek is working closely with other organizations such as the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) in order to give rare species of animals, now bordering on the brink of extinction a fighting chance at survival. Some of the extraordinary animals that will be on display include Giant Pandas, Timor Yellow Tiger, Tasmanian Devils, Forester Kangaroos, Asian Elephants, Pygmy Hippopotamuses, White-tailed Eagles, Cape Mountain Zebras, and Great Indian Rhinoceroses…to name a few.
