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VIDEO: Expo Milano 2015 Takes to the Skies

Joe Kleiman
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VIDEO: Expo Milano 2015 Takes to the Skies

Milan, Italy (October 21, 2014) — Each Monday, the Expo Milano 2015 management flies a drone over the site to collect footage showcasing the rapid rate of construction.  Here is the latest, shot 10/20/14:

Expo Milano 2015 is taking to the skies in other ways as well.  Alitalia, the main Italian carrier, and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, have unveiled two special aircraft  with the design of Expo Milano 2015, starting  their co-sponsorship of the global event.  Expo 2015, which will be held in Milan from May 1 to October 31, 2015 is expected to attract approximately 20 million visitors, a third of which will reach the city by plane. Alitalia and Etihad Airways organized two simultaneous events: one at the airport of Milan’s Malpensa and another one in Abu Dhabi, during which the two A330-200 were revealed to guests present and to the thousands of people from all over the world who followed the presentation online.

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At Expo 2015, the presence of Alitalia and Etihad Airways will be relevant: in the west  zone of the Exhibition Site there will be a lounge with an interactive social hub that will allow guests to enjoy the activities available both in Milan and in the rest of the world.  Giuseppe Sala, Commissioner of the Government of Italy for Expo Milano 2015 and CEO of Expo 2015 S.p.A, said: “We are very pleased with the communication initiative of  Alitalia and Etihad that will accompany Expo Milano 2015 to its opening. The design of the Alitalia Airbus and the Etihad colored logo of the Universal Exposition emphasize the uniqueness and extraordinary event that we are organizing. Starting today we have, then, one more tool to tell the world what will happen in Italy from May 1 to October 31, 2015.  North and South America, Africa, Asia: the main destinations of this plane that coincide with the international tourist markets of greatest interest to us. We expect 12 million Italian visitors and around 8-9 million foreign visitors. Seven million of them will reach the Universal Exposition by plane. We are confident that, through this and the other initiatives that will be fielded in the coming months, the partnership with Alitalia-Etihad Airways will be a fundamental support to achieving this goal. ”

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“This adventure has been started in the best way possible,” said Pietro Modiano, President of SEA “Malpensa airport is a hub and will soon be made more efficient. Alitalia and Etihad together are betting on the Italian airport system and this encourages us.”

The Alitalia A330-200 and the Etihad Airways A330-200, both with a special design, flew for the first time today, between Rome and Abu Dhabi. James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “I am honored to launch the collaboration with Alitalia for Expo 2015 in Milan and Abu Dhabi. For us, this partnership is a great investment opportunity in Italy. From today we bring into the world not only the message of Expo Milano 2015 but also its brand. “During Expo 2015, the frequency of flights to and from Milan will be increased thanks to the new daily flights to Milan Malpensa from Abu Dhabi and Shanghai that will be introduced in the coming months by Alitalia, after the approval of the European authorities, in addition to the increase in number of other domestic and international flights. These flights will connect to flights from Etihad Airways for the Middle East and for its markets in the  Indian Subcontinent, South East Asia and Africa.

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Gabriele Del Torchio, CEO of Alitalia, said: “We are very happy to be here today in Milan to present with Etihad Airways our joint communication campaign for Expo 2015 and to unveil the new design that Alitalia has dedicated the Event of 2015. The logo of Expo embodies a set of values and a vision that are the same as Alitalia: the pursuit of excellence, style and elegance typical of Made in Italy, the renowned cuisine, fashion, design and the arts which are a fundamental part of our country and that we at Alitalia will strive to show the world by virtue of our role as Official Global Airline Carrier of the event. Our commitment to showcase the best of Italy in the world, while always keeping  a keen eye on sustainability, these are values and fundamental themes of Expo 2015:  it is for this reason that in painting the new Expo design on the Airbus A330 of Alitalia, we have adopted the most modern technical solutions and we used the best technology and the most environmentally friendly paints with the goal of environmental protection as an essential guide for  our actions.”

www.expo2015.org

Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival Announces Theme for 2015 – Elephants: Saving Ivory

Joe Kleiman
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Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival Announces Theme for 2015 – Elephants: Saving Ivory

The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival is thrilled to announce the theme for the 2015 Conservation Summit – Elephants: Saving Ivory.

September 26-29, 2015                     

Jackson Hole Conservation Summit: Elephants

September 28-October 2, 2015       

Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival

October 2-4, 2015                               

WILD Nature Jackson Hole Public Events

www.jhfestival.org

Additions and Promotions at IAAPA

Joe Kleiman
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Additions and Promotions at IAAPA

Alexandria, VA, USA — The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) has added three new employees and promoted two others. Felicia Fett is now IAAPA’s board of directors and committee administrator; Melony Bildhauer joins the IAAPA team as director, meetings and special events; and Alma Aguilar is the new an administrative assistant for Latin America. Fett and Bildhauer report to IAAPA’s headquarters office in Alexandria, Virginia, while Aguilar will work from IAAPA’s Latin American regional office in Mexico City, Mexico.

Colleen Mangone
Colleen Mangone

Two IAAPA headquarters employees, Colleen Mangone and Victor Danau, have been promoted to director, media relations, and director, education programs and services, respectively.

Fett joins IAAPA after 15 years in strategic planning, nonprofit board and organizational administration, governance, development, and fundraising management. Her previous employers include Africare, Raffa, Freddie Mac, and the Freddie Mac Foundation. As IAAPA’s board of directors and committee administrator, Fett provides the association’s president and CEO and executive vice president with administrative and project management support relating to the IAAPA Board of Directors, the association’s executive and finance committee, and assists with committee administration throughout the organization.

Bildhauer assists in planning and facilitating IAAPA’s conferences, meetings, and events around the world. Before joining IAAPA, Bildhauer served as the senior meeting planner for the NTCA – the Rural Broadband Association, and previously as deputy director of conference management with Envision EMI. She was also the program manager of 20 clubs with the National Association of Home Builders.

Victor Danau
Victor Danau

Aguilar joins IAAPA with 13 years of experience in the hospitality and cruise industries. As administrative assistant in the Latin American office, she provides support for regional programs and member services offered by IAAPA, including membership sales, educational programs, communications, and event management. She is fluent in five languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, and English. Prior to IAAPA, Aguilar served as a guest service officer and international hostess for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

Mangone’s responsibilities include managing IAAPA News Flash, the association’s website content strategy, co-managing the charitable programs, and overseeing executive communications for the association. She also oversees IAAPA’s media relations strategy.

In his new position, Danau develops and manages educational programs on a global basis, as well as education sessions at IAAPA Expos. He leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of the IAAPA Brass Ring Awards programs at IAAPA Attractions Expo and also serves as a staff liaison to several committees involved in the association’s educational programming.

www.iaapa.org

White Hutchinson Compiles National Survey on FEC Attraction Usage

Joe Kleiman
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White Hutchinson Compiles National Survey on FEC Attraction Usage

[quote]As far as we know, this is the first national participation survey that has been conducted about the family entertainment center industry in the last decade.” — Randy White, CEO White Hutchinson Leisure & Learning Group[/quote]

Kansas City, MO, USA (October, 2014) —  Last month, the White Hutchinson Leisure & Learning Group completed a national survey of over 4,000 adults on their participation in major attractions at family entertainment centers.  According to the results, bowling continues to be the most popular attraction for community-based entertainment venues, with over 60 million adults having bowled at least once during the past twelve months.

The survey found that bowling 18- to 24-year-olds showed the highest participation rate. Over three-quarters of participants were occasionally bowlers, having bowled four or less times during the previous past year. White added, “These results are clearly attributable to the fast changing nature of bowling.  At one time, league bowlers dominated bowling.  Today, the primary customer base is the casual social bowler.  Their numbers are growing as old run down alleys are either closing or being renovated and/or replaced by new upscale hybrid entertainment centers with multiple attractions.”

One of the survey’s surprise results was that miniature golf came in second as the attraction adults participated in at least once during the past year. White Hutchinson speculates that the majority of miniature golf play takes place on vacations.  Billiards came in third as the most popular attraction, followed by go-karts and laser tag.

For all the attractions, there was a strong positive correlation between income and participation, with affluent adults in households generally earning $100,000+ annually having the highest participation rates.

White Hutchinson currently has bowling projects under design in the greater Seattle area and Amman, Jordan and one nearing completion of construction in Da Nang, Vietnam.  The company plans to conduct more national surveys to gather information to guide its feasibility and design work for its clients.

www.whitehutchinson.com

PHOTO courtesy Brunswick

National Aquarium and Johns Hopkins Turn Dolphin Mechanics Program for Stroke Victims into Cellphone App

Joe Kleiman
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National Aquarium and Johns Hopkins Turn Dolphin Mechanics Program for Stroke Victims into Cellphone App

[quote]The National Aquarium was thrilled to partner with the Johns Hopkins University on such an exciting and revolutionary project.  Their team spent hundreds of hours observing our dolphins, and I think it shows in the quality of the product. The fact that an app developed for the medical community can also be so engaging for the general public made this project particularly exciting for us.” — John Racanelli, CEO of the National Aquarium[/quote]

Baltimore, MD, USA (October 17, 2014) — The National Aquarium and a multidisciplinary team at the Johns Hopkins University, called Max & Haley, have teamed up to create a ground breaking technology called “I Am Dolphin” that will help stroke victims regain critical motor function and inspire millions.

The original goal of the partnership between the Aquarium and Johns Hopkins was to create a physical dolphin simulation to help stroke victims regain critical motor function. Strokes affect nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. each year. During a stroke, blood supply to the brain is interrupted, depriving it of oxygen and crippling the body. The idea behind the simulation was to provide an immersive rehabilitation environment that is stimulating and engaging for post-stroke patients.

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By placing their arm in a robotic sling, patients could control the motion of a simulated dolphin. Their discernible movements would be mirrored on screen—the swipe of an arm or flick of a finger determining where the dolphin moves, if it flips, dives, catches a fish or leaps from the water. The Hopkins team worked closely with the Aquarium’s animal experts and spent hundreds of hours studying the animals’ movements and behaviors. Three dolphins in particular—Beau, Foster and Bayley—served as the basis for the dolphin seen in the simulation. They even used sound recordings from the three dolphins to produce the program’s audio. The team’s scientists, artists, engineers and programmers worked to replicate a dolphin’s range and fluidity of motion in a cybernetic form. The result of all this effort was the “I Am Dolphin” application.

Clinical trials for the simulation begin in a few months, but “I Am Dolphin” is already creating buzz outside of the medical community. What began as a tool to help post-stroke victims has developed into a fully functional app—available to anyone with a tablet or smartphone. The game allows users to adopt the role of a dolphin—swimming, hunting, jumping and more—with the swipe of a finger. The user is transported to the dolphin’s world, fostering a deep connection with the ocean and inspiring emotional learning.

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“Our simulations have virtual muscles, bones and a functioning motor system that users can actually connect with via their own motor systems,” explained Omar Ahmad, software architect. “You feel as though you become the dolphin.” Players get lost in the experience of virtually inhabiting another creature.

The “I Am Dolphin” team will be donating 3 percent of the game’s profits to the National Aquarium, in support of their mission to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures.

www.aqua.org

Rescued Grizzly Bears to Occupy Newly Renovated Habitat at Central Park Zoo

Joe Kleiman
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Rescued Grizzly Bears to Occupy Newly Renovated Habitat at Central Park Zoo

New York, NY, USA — The Wildlife Conservation Society plans to exhibit rescued grizzly bears at its Central Park Zoo.

The bears will live in a completely remodeled habitat formerly occupied by the zoo’s polar bears. Significant portions of the exhibit renovations that enabled WCS to provide a home for the orphaned cubs were made possible thanks to generous support and love for animals of Sandra de Roulet. The upper level viewing area of the exhibit will be called “Treena’s Overlook,” a play on a nickname de Roulet had as a child.

WCS’s Bronx Zoo is currently home to nine rescued brown bears: two that came to New York in 1995; four that arrived in 2009; and three that were rescued in late 2013 thanks to support from de Roulet. Initially, the two bears that were brought to the Bronx Zoo in 1995 will live in the new habitat at the Central Park Zoo.

While the three groups of bears came to WCS under different circumstances, they share a common story: Their rescues were a result of conflicts with people.

“The bears’s stories can help teach us why we must learn to coexist with wildlife,” said Jim Breheny, WCS Executive Vice President/General Director of Zoos and Aquarium and Bronx Zoo Director. “With continued human expansion into wild places, it is inevitable that there will be interactions between bears and people. We remain focused on developing ways to reduce human/bear conflict to the benefit of both bears and people. ”

The two bears that will initially occupy the new Central Park Zoo exhibit, Betty and Veronica, were rescued separately in Montana and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. They have lived at the Bronx Zoo since their arrival in 1995. Both had become too accustomed to humans and were considered a danger to people by local authorities.

In late 2013, three additional cubs were rescued by wildlife officials in Montana and WCS agreed to provide homes for them in New York. They have been receiving their initial care at the Bronx Zoo and will eventually be moved to the Central Park Zoo when their caregivers determine they are ready. All three cubs are female. Two are siblings whose mother was illegally shot, and the third is an unrelated bear whose mother was euthanized by wildlife officials after repeatedly foraging for food in a residential area. In honor of her support for the rescued cubs, Ms. de Roulet named them Amber, Luna, and Treena.

Said Craig Piper, Director of WCS City Zoos: “While we are saddened that the bears were orphaned, we are pleased WCS is able to provide a home for these beautiful animals that would not have been able to survive in the wild on their own. We look forward to sharing their stories that will certainly endear them in the hearts of New Yorkers. Our goal is to help people better understand how to safely coexist with bears when visiting or living in bear country.”

WCS conservationists are working with local communities in the Adirondacks and the American West promoting human/bear coexistence. They do this by increasing awareness about keeping food away from bears; using bear-resistant technologies to secure trash (a bear favorite); developing protective requirements and laws to reduce food attractants; and promoting land use decisions that will minimize interactions between people and bears. WCS’s approach to reducing conflict requires managing bear populations through monitoring and community-led proactive approaches that rely on education and non-lethal deterrents.

Zoe Smith, WCS Adirondack Program Director said: “Minimizing human-bear interaction is simple – remove the attraction and bears will look elsewhere for food. It is important that people have the tools and information to make good decisions regarding food storage and trash disposal. WCS is committed to providing guidance to towns within our landscapes so that bears don’t become reliant on human food and instead forage in wild areas.”

The new grizzly bear exhibit at Central Park Zoo is scheduled to open in late 2014.

www.wcs.org

 

SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund Awarding Over $1 Million to 57 Conservation Projects

Joe Kleiman
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SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund Awarding Over $1 Million to 57 Conservation Projects

Orlando, Fla. (October 17, 2014) – Fifty-seven wildlife conservation projects around the world are receiving much needed funding from the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund this year. Just over $1 million is being distributed among these projects bringing the amount awarded since the Fund was created in 2003, to more than $11 million.

A majority of the grants awarded this year, and every year, are for projects with defined timelines and long-term objectives and goals, but occasionally the Fund receives requests for crisis grants when conservation organizations are faced with unforeseeable challenges.

Crisis Grant – Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary:

In late August the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leon, west Africa submitted a crisis grant for funding. The Sanctuary is a non-profit organization established in 1995 to rehabilitate orphaned or abandoned chimpanzees with the goal of releasing them back into their natural habitat. A portion of the Sanctuary’s expenses are typically covered by income generated by visitors to the sanctuary and its eco-lodges.

However, due to the devastating Ebola outbreak that was confirmed in Sierra Leon in May and the resulting drop in tourism to the area, the Sanctuary’s funding was negatively impacted and the care of the chimpanzees jeopardized. The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund board reviewed and approved the crisis grant request and provided financial support to offset their funding issues.

Standard Grant – Painted Dog Conservation:

Painted dogs, also known as wild African dogs, are among Africa’s most endangered species. One of the biggest threats they face is poaching for bush meat. An organization called Painted Dog Conservation has formed anti-poaching units that patrol 10,500 square kilometers in Zimbabwe, removing snares laid by poachers.  The Fund has supported the organization by providing funding for these small, yet highly trained groups.

“The support from SeaWorld and Busch Gardens remains pivotal to the success of Painted Dog Conservation,” said Peter Biliston, Managing Director of Painted Dog Conservation in Zimbabwe. “The fact that they have supported our anti-poaching units for many years shows that they really understand the complexity of wildlife conservation. They understand that permanent change does not happen overnight and it takes long-term committed support to make a difference.”

Standard Grant – SANCCOB:

African penguins, one of 17 penguin species, are classified as endangered and their numbers are in rapid decline. The wild population is down to 2 percent of the original 1 million breeding pairs counted in 1930. A group called SANCCOB in South Africa works to rehabilitate adult penguins, to raise abandoned chicks to increase the wild population. Research indicates that the wild African penguin population is 19 percent higher entirely due to SANCCOB’s oiled wildlife response efforts. The Fund has supported SANCCOB not only with financial support, but has also sent aviculturists from SeaWorld to South Africa to assist with penguin rehabilitation.

Standard Grant – Ecology Project International (EPI):

The Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is the world’s fourth most important nesting beach for critically endangered leatherback sea turtles. Without protection from illegal harvesting and other threats, 80 percent of leatherback sea turtle nests are lost. The Ecology Project International organization will protect leatherback populations by working to reduce the illegal harvest of nests and improving nesting habitats. They also will work with Costa Rican teachers and students to increase their ecological knowledge so they can better understand their role in the long term survival of leatherbacks and conservation in general.

For more information on the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund and the other projects supported by the Fund, like the Fund on Facebook.

Resorts World Sentosa’s Animal Operations Receive AZA Accredidation

Joe Kleiman
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Resorts World Sentosa’s Animal Operations Receive AZA Accredidation

[quote]When people visit these attractions at Resorts World Sentosa, they can be assured that they are supporting a facility that is a leader in the care and conservation of wildlife.” — AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy[/quote]

Singapore —  The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) has announced that the Southeast Asia Aquarium (S.E.A. Aquarium) and Dolphin Island at Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa were granted accreditation by AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission.

“By meeting the highest standards, S.E.A. Aquarium and Dolphin Island are ranked among the best zoos and aquariums in the world,” said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy.

John Hallenbeck, Senior Vice President of Attractions at Resorts World Sentosa added, “At both S.E.A. Aquarium and Dolphin Island, marine education, conservation and research, as well as the well-being of our animals have always been our utmost priority. We are delighted to be one of the few facilities outside of the United States to receive the accreditation from AZA, and we look forward to inspire more visitors to do their part for our oceans.”

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To be accredited, S.E.A. Aquarium and Dolphin Island underwent thorough reviews to ensure that the facilities have and will continue to meet rising standards, including animal care, veterinary programmes, conservation, education, and safety. AZA requires zoos and aquariums to successfully complete this rigorous accreditation process every five years in order to be members of the Association.The accreditation process includes a detailed application and a meticulous on-site inspection by a team of trained zoo and aquarium professionals. The inspecting team observes all aspects of the institutions’ operation, including animal care; keeper training; safety for visitors, staff and animals; educational programs; conservation efforts; veterinary programs; financial stability; risk management; visitor services; and other areas. Finally, top officials are interviewed at a formal hearing of AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission, after which accreditation is granted, tabled, or denied.

The S.E.A Aquarium opened in late-2012 and has welcomed more than 3 million visitors in its first year of operations. It was also recently awarded one of the Top 10 Aquariums in Asia by TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards 2014, and has rolled out a series of special programming to enhance visitors’ experience including a family-friendly Halloween themed month for October. Dolphin Island will also be celebrating its first anniversary since it launched its interaction programmes in September last year where guests can get up-close and personal with Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins and learn more under the guidance of experienced marine mammal trainers.

www.rwsentosa.com

Dolphin Tale Aquarium Joins Campaign to Save World’s Rarest Marine Mammal

Joe Kleiman
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Dolphin Tale Aquarium Joins Campaign to Save World’s Rarest Marine Mammal

Clearwater, FL, USA (October 17, 2014) – Clearwater Marine Aquarium, home of the dolphins Winter and Hope from the Hollywood movies Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2, announced today an international conservation effort aimed at saving the vaquita porpoise, a species on the verge of extinction. The campaign, entitled “Winter’s Hope for the Vaquita,” will create awareness and a call to action to save the rarest and smallest marine mammal in the world. Found in Mexico’s Gulf of California, it is estimated there are fewer than 100 of these individuals remaining.

Vaquita are frequently caught unintentionally by local fishermen using giant fishing nets called “gillnets,” where the small porpoise becomes entangled and dies. These gillnets are being used to catch totoaba fish, also an endangered species, that are poached for their swim bladder. Fishermen can receive up to $10,000 per kilogram for the totoaba swim bladders, believed to have medicinal qualities in China. Similar nets are also used to catch shrimp, sharks and other fish in the vaquita’s home habitat.

The Mexican government is currently in discussions with local fishermen to enact a two year ban on the use of these gillnets. Many fishermen want to help and the Mexican government will compensate them for their lost earnings during this time. This two year ban will be the first step in helping the vaquita begin to re-populate and save it from extinction.

“Winter’s Hope for the Vaquita” asks supporters to join Winter, Hope and the team at Clearwater Marine Aquarium to save the vaquita and enact this strict two year program of banning gillnets. With the public’s help, we can save an entire species that could potentially face extinction in the next few years. The extinction of a species can have a long-term impact on marine life and our eco-systems. It’s Winter’s hope that the vaquita will survive and remain in our oceans forever.

Supporters are urged to sign a petition at www.seewinter.com that will encourage the Mexican government to enact a two year ban on the use of gillnets. During this two year period, Clearwater Marine Aquarium will collaborate with other organizations on researching a long-term solution, such as an alternative net that does not entangle the vaquita.

Bob Talbot, an environmentalist, IMAX filmmaker, and world renowned marine photographer who works closely with Clearwater Marine Aquarium noted, “We have a very rare opportunity right now to take meaningful action and stop the extinction of an animal. We have an opportunity to make a difference.”

David Yates, CEO of Clearwater Marine Aquarium stated, “Clearwater Marine Aquarium is blessed to have become a world renowned facility with millions of followers and allow the world to see the impact marine mammals can have on the human race. Now we can help the vaquita. We ask all of our followers and beyond to be involved in saving this beautiful species.”

ASTC Issues Call for Papers for 2015 Conference

Joe Kleiman
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ASTC Issues Call for Papers for 2015 Conference

Washington, DC, USA — The Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) has issued a call for proposals for its 2015 Annual Conference, to be held October 17-20, 2015 in Montreal, QC, Canada, hosted by the Montreal Science Centre.  The deadline for submission is November 17, 2014.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES IN PDF FORMAT

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN A SUBMISSION

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