Celebrate Earth Day with Oscar the chimpanzee!  Disneynature takes moviegoers deep into the forests of Africa with Chimpanzee, a new true-life adventure introducting a lovable young chimpanzee named Oscar in a story of family bonds and individual triumph.  Oscar’s playful curiosity and zest for discovery showcase the intelligence and ingenuity of some of the most extraordinary personalities in the animal kingdom.

The world is a playground for little Oscar, who’d rather make mayhem than join his parents for an afternoon nap.  When Oscar’s family is confronted by a rival band of chimpanzees, he is left to fed for himself until a surprising ally steps in and changes his life forever.  Directed by Alastair Fothergill (African Cats and Earth) and Mark Linfield (Earth), Chimpanzee swings into theaters for Earth Day, on April 20, 2012.

Chimpanzee Challenge Fact #5:  Currently 269 chimpanzees live in 34 United States zoos that are accredited with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). These facilities are dedicated to excellence in animal care, conservation, education and science and meet the highest standards in animal health, husbandry and welfare. See Chimpanzee, Save Chimpanzees!

Yesterday we shared a bit about chimpanzees, the dangers they face and how we can help.  Another way to help is to support zoos accredited with the AZA.  Chimpanzees within these facilities serve as animal ambassadors for their wild counterparts by raising awareness and appreciation and inspiring conservation action.  Many AZA-accredited facilities participate in conservation projects that protect wild chimpanzees and their African habitats.

Movie Tickets and Prize Pack Giveaway Instructions

How to enter:

Pledge to see Chimpanzee during its opening weekend in support of the Jane Goodall Institute by doing one or more of the following today before 9:00 am Pacific Time/Noon Eastern Time:

• Post a comment below
• Post a comment on any EcoBuzz Chimpanzee blog post dated this week (April 16th – April 20th)
• Like or comment on any EcoBuzz Chimpanzee Facebook post on our Facebook page dated this week (April 16th – April 20th)

and you will automatically be entered to win a pair of movie tickets to see Chimpanzee or a Chimpanzee prize pack.

Be sure to include a valid email address when you submit a comment on our website or have messaging enabled on your Facebook page so that we can contact you if you win. Your email address will not be published and will only be used to contact you if you win. Due to mailing restrictions the giveaway is open to U.S. residents 18 & older only.

Winner selection:

Update 04/20/12:  Entries are now closed.  The winners have been notified and have 24 hours to reply before an alternate is selected.  Thank you to everyone who participated!

Entries will close this morning at 9:00 am Pacific Time/Noon Eastern Time in time for the winners to use their Fandango movie codes for opening weekend! The winners will be randomly selected from the April 16th – April 20th post comments, Facebook comments and Facebook likes and will be contacted today, Friday, April 20, 2012.

Giveaway open to U.S. residents 18 & older only. Contact EcoBuzz if you have any questions!

Chimpanzee Prize Pack Giveaway

Giveway:

• Pairs of Fandango Movie Tickets

or

• One Oscar Plush
• One Disneynature Chimpanzee The Making of the Film Book
• One Reusable Tote Bag

Good luck and remember to see Chimpanzee during opening weekend!

Watch the official trailer & featurette plus learn more about the film here.

Featured Events of the Week:

Chimpanzee Opening Week

When: Friday, April 20 – Thursday, April 26, 2012

Where: Nationwide

Rated G, Chimpanzee swings into theaters on April 20, 2012, just in time for Earth Day.  Disneynature’s newest true-life adventure introduces adorable Oscar, a young chimp whose playful curiosity and zest for discovery light up the African forest until a twist of fate leaves Oscar to fend for himself with a little help from an unexpected ally.  For every moviegoer who sees Chimpanzee during the film’s opening week (April 20-26, 2012), Disneynature will make a donation to the Jane Goodall Institute through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund in order to protect chimpanzees and their habitats, now and into the future.

Watch the trailer:

Earth Day Events in Los Angeles

When: Throughout the week

Where:  Various locations in Los Angeles county

The 42nd anniversary Earth Day campaign, Mobilize the Earth™, will unite people all over the plant for a common goal:  a sustainable future.  For a listing of the Earth Day events planned throughout Los Angeles (and northern Orange County) organized by area click here. To find events organized by day please visit the calendar.

More green events this week:

TreePeople Events

When: throughout the week, see the TreePeople calendar

Where: throughout Los Angeles

TreePeople offers a variety of volunteer opportunities including tree planting, tree care, mountain restoration, reforestation, park maintenance, seedling nursery, photography. Minors (accompanied by an adult) are welcome. Visit their calendar to select an activity and sign-up by pre-registering. Once you register, TreePeople will contact you with event details and directions.

During the week of April 20-26, 2012, TreePeople has the following on their calendar: Santa Monica Mountains Restoration. Check out their calendar for more information.

Sierra Club Outings

When: throughout the week, see the Angeles Chapter Activities Calendar (rain may cancel)

Where: throughout Los Angeles

A few of the Sierra Club outings for this week include a Pacific Palisades Hike (Friday), Long Beach El Dorado Park Nature Walk (Saturday morning), and various conditioning hikes in Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro/Palos Verdes, Irvine and Puente Hills, Signal Hill and Pasadena. Visit the Sierra Club – Angeles Chapter Activities Calendar for more activities and additional information.

Click here for more green things to do in Los Angeles.

Update 04/20/12:  Entries are now closed.  The winners have been notified and have 24 hours to reply before an alternate is selected.  Thank you to everyone who participated!

Welcome to Day 4 of the See Chimpanzee, Save Chimpanzees challenge!  Rated G, Chimpanzee opens in theaters on April 20, 2012, just in time for Earth Day.  And for every moviegoer who sees Chimpanzee during the film’s opening week (April 20-26, 2012), Disneynature will make a donation to the Jane Goodall Institute through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund in order to protect chimpanzees and their habitats, now and into the future.

Chimpanzee Challenge Fact #4:  Scientists have discovered that chimpanzees living in different parts of Africa have distinct customs or cultural traits that are passed along from one generation to the next by learning rather than instinct.

Why are Chimpanzees Important?

Chimpanzees are endangered:
Just 100 years ago, roughly 1 million chimpanzees lived in the lush rainforests of equatorial Africa.  Today, only 1/10 remain, primarily due to  habitat loss and illegal hunting.  Current trends indicate that African ape populations will decline by an additional 80% in the next 30 to 40 years.

Chimpanzees are important for biodiversity:
The variety of life on Earth is critical to the survival of our planet.  A balanced ecosystem depends on a variety of species and all species depend on each other for survival.

Chimpanzees are amazing:
They use simple tools and display distinct cultural differences – characteristics that were once thought to be limited to humans.  They use medicinal plants to treat illness and injuries.  And despite their smaller stature, a full grown chimpanzee is six times stronger than a human!

Chimpanzees are a lot like humans:
It’s easy to see why people are fascinated by these highly social and intelligent creatures.  They live in communities.  They feel and express a variety of emotions like sadness, excitement, anger and happiness.  They create close bonds with family and friends… in short, they’re a lot like us!

Why are Chimpanzees in Danger?

Habitat Destruction
Chimpanzee habitat is shrinking quickly.  In Africa, rainforests are logged for timer, mined for minerals and cleared for crops and grazing land.

Commercial Logging
Selling the rainforest for timber and fuel has opened vast areas of remote tropical rainforests to clear cutting.  Loggers often hunt chimpanzees and other forest animals.

Commercial Mining
Mining for coltan (a metal used in cell phones and other electronic devices) and other rare minerals destroys rainforests and streams, threatening both wildlife and indigenous people.

Bushmeat Trade
The indigenous people hunted chimpanzees and other wildlife for centuries, taking only what they needed to survive.  However, increased demand from urban restaurants and international markets has made hunting for bushmeat a large scale commercial trade.  Chimpanzees are now being hunted at an unsustainable rate and many experts believe it is currently the greatest threat to chimpanzees and other rainforest species.

Snare Injuries
Even when chimpanzees are not targeted by hunters, they can be injured or killed by wire snares set for other species.  In some areas, up to 50% of the chimpanzee population suffers from permanent snare injuries.

Pet Trade
While most would-be pet owners have good intentions, chimpanzees do not make good pets.  Chimpanzees raised by humans lack the appropriate social behaviors and communication skills to live with other chimpanzees, making the transition to zoo and wildlife sanctuaries very difficult about the owners realize they don’t have the space, finances or time to properly care for them.

How Can We Help Chimpanzees?

Recycle Electronics
Simple activities like recycling cell phones and other electronics helps to reduce the mining efforts in Africa, protecting chimpanzees and their habitats.

Purchase Sustainable Products
Seek out products that are sustainably grown or made from recycled products.  For example, by choosing paper and wood that is FSC-certified you will ensure that the wood was taken from a certified well-managed forest.

Support the Jane Goodall Institute
Protecting chimpanzees starts with studying them in the wild.  Understanding their behaviors and habitat needs help scientists make more effective conservation decisions.  The Jane Goodall Institute supports chimpanzee research, community conservation and education efforts that protect chimpanzees and their habitats.

See Chimpanzee!
See Chimpanzee opening week (April 20-26, 2012) and Disneynature will make a donation in your honor to the Jane Goodall Institute to protect chimpanzees today and tomorrow.

The above information was provided in the Chimpanzee Educator’s Guide.  The Chimpanzee Educator’s Guide includes 135 beautiful color pages of lessons and activities targeted to grades 2 through 6.  The lessons are aligned to National Science Education Standards and integrate interactive elements.  If you would like to download a copy of this resource please contact us.

Movie Tickets and Prize Pack Giveaway Instructions

How to enter:

Pledge to see Chimpanzee during its opening weekend in support of the Jane Goodall Institute by doing one or more of the following:

• Post a comment below
• Post a comment on any EcoBuzz Chimpanzee blog post dated this week (April 16th – April 20th)
• Like or comment on any EcoBuzz Chimpanzee Facebook post on our Facebook page dated this week (April 16th – April 20th)

and you will automatically be entered to win a pair of movie tickets to see Chimpanzee or a Chimpanzee prize pack.

The more entries we receive, the more pairs of tickets and prize packs we will be able to give away so please share this opportunity with your friends and family to increase your odds!

Be sure to include a valid email address when you submit a comment on our website or have messaging enabled on your Facebook page so that we can contact you if you win. Your email address will not be published and will only be used to contact you if you win. Due to mailing restrictions the giveaway is open to U.S. residents 18 & older only.

Winner selection:

Update 04/20/12:  Entries are now closed.  The winners have been notified and have 24 hours to reply before an alternate is selected.  Thank you to everyone who participated!

Entries will close at 9:00 am Pacific Time/Noon Eastern Time on Friday, April 20, 2012 in time for the winners to use their Fandango movie codes for opening weekend! The winners will be randomly selected from the April 16th – April 20th post comments, Facebook comments and Facebook likes and will be contacted on Friday, April 20, 2012.

Giveaway open to U.S. residents 18 & older only. Contact EcoBuzz if you have any questions!

Chimpanzee Prize Pack Giveaway

Giveway:

• Pairs of Fandango Movie Tickets

or

• One Oscar Plush
• One Disneynature Chimpanzee The Making of the Film Book
• One Reusable Tote Bag

Good luck and remember to see Chimpanzee during opening weekend!

Watch the official trailer & featurette plus learn more about the film here.

Update 04/20/12:  Entries are now closed.  The winners have been notified and have 24 hours to reply before an alternate is selected.  Thank you to everyone who participated!

Welcome to Day 3 of the See Chimpanzee, Save Chimpanzees Challenge.  You can find Days 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the challenge here, here, here and here.  You still have time to enter to win a pair of movie tickets and a Chimpanzee prize pack.  Entries are now closed.

Chimpanzee Challenge Fact #3: Female chimpanzees give birth to a single infant (twins are rare) every 5 to 6 years. A newborn chimpanzee weighs 3–4 pounds and is born helpless. Within a few days it is able to travel by clinging to its mother’s stomach and by 5 to 7 months old it is strong enough to ride on her back.

To get you even more excited about Disneynature’s new movie, Chimpanzee (opens in theaters on Friday, April 20th), today we have a few fun things for the kids:

Meet Oscar

Oscar

Oscar is a feisty, funny and adorable baby chimpanzee.  His high-energy spirit and sense of adventure shine as he plays with his little friends and learns the ways of the world under the watchful eye of mom Isha. But life in the rainforest isn’t always fun and games and Oscar has a lot to learn.  He teams up with a very special and unexpected teacher who shares the most valuable tool of all: love

Chimpanzee Activity Book

This 19-page PDF has a variety of fun and educational activities for all ages including an Oscar mask, dot-to-dot pages, maze, how do you compare to a chimp worksheets, what is the difference between a monkey and an ape, and much more!  Download the activity book here.

Here are just four of the 19 pages in the activity book:

Chimpanzee Fun Facts

For the trivia buffs, this two page PDF lists interesting facts about the making of Chimpanzee.  For example, how do you think the materials for the crew’s camp was transported into the forest?  The crew actually carried the materials (including 2.5 tons of cement, 7 tons of wood and 3 sinks) on their heads.

Another interesting fact:  Before going near the chimpanzees, the crew had to spend eight days in quarantine (five days in the forest camp, three in the capital Abidjan), to ensure they did not bring diseases into the forest that could be transmitted to the chimpanzees. This is why filmmakers wore masks.

For more movie trivia, download the fun facts PDF here.

Mystery Lunch

What is Oscar eating?  Your guess is as good as ours!

Will you see Chimpanzee to save chimpanzees?

For every moviegoer who sees Chimpanzee during the film’s opening week (April 20-26, 2012), Disneynature will make a donation to the Jane Goodall Institute through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund in order to protect chimpanzees and their habitats, now and into the future.

Movie Tickets and Prize Pack Giveaway Instructions

How to enter:

Pledge to see Chimpanzee during its opening weekend in support of the Jane Goodall Institute by doing one or more of the following:

• Post a comment below
• Post a comment on any EcoBuzz Chimpanzee blog post dated this week (April 16th – April 20th)
• Like or comment on any EcoBuzz Chimpanzee Facebook post on our Facebook page dated this week (April 16th – April 20th)

and you will automatically be entered to win a pair of movie tickets to see Chimpanzee or a Chimpanzee prize pack.

The more entries we receive, the more pairs of tickets and prize packs we will be able to give away so please share this opportunity with your friends and family to increase your odds!

Be sure to include a valid email address when you submit a comment on our website or have messaging enabled on your Facebook page so that we can contact you if you win. Your email address will not be published and will only be used to contact you if you win. Due to mailing restrictions the giveaway is open to U.S. residents 18 & older only.

Winner selection:

Update 04/20/12:  Entries are now closed.  The winners have been notified and have 24 hours to reply before an alternate is selected.  Thank you to everyone who participated!

Entries will close at 9:00 am Pacific Time/Noon Eastern Time on Friday, April 20, 2012 in time for the winners to use their Fandango movie codes for opening weekend! The winners will be randomly selected from the April 16th – April 20th post comments, Facebook comments and Facebook likes and will be contacted on Friday, April 20, 2012.

Giveaway open to U.S. residents 18 & older only. Contact EcoBuzz if you have any questions!

Chimpanzee Prize Pack Giveaway

Giveway:

• Pairs of Fandango Movie Tickets

or

• One Oscar Plush
• One Disneynature Chimpanzee The Making of the Film Book
• One Reusable Tote Bag

Good luck and remember to see Chimpanzee during opening weekend!

Watch the official trailer & featurette plus learn more about the film here.

Update 04/20/12:  Entries are now closed.  The winners have been notified and have 24 hours to reply before an alternate is selected.  Thank you to everyone who participated!

Welcome to Day 2 of the See Chimpanzee, Save Chimpanzees Giveaway Challenge with another chance to win!  See Days 1, 3, 4 and 5 here, here, here and here.  We are counting down the days until we get to see adorable “Oscar” on the big screen.  With just three days until Disneynature’s Chimpanzee movie debuts in the theaters, you still have time to enter to win a pair of movie tickets and a Chimpanzee prize pack.  See below for details.  Entries are now closed.

For every moviegoer who sees Chimpanzee during the film’s opening week (April 20-26, 2012), Disneynature will make a donation to the Jane Goodall Institute through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund in order to protect chimpanzees and their habitats, now and into the future.

CHIMPANZEE Challenge Fact #2:  Chimpanzee populations live in communities of 15 to 120 individuals. Each community consists of males and females of varying ages that share a territory. Male chimpanzees stay in one community their entire lives. However, females will sometimes leave their mothers and join new communities when they reach adulthood.

Movie Tickets and Prize Pack Giveaway Instructions

How to enter:

Pledge to see Chimpanzee during its opening weekend in support of the Jane Goodall Institute by doing one or more of the following:

• Post a comment below
• Post a comment on any EcoBuzz Chimpanzee blog post dated this week (April 16th – April 20th)
• Like or comment on any EcoBuzz Chimpanzee Facebook post on our Facebook page dated this week (April 16th – April 20th)

and you will automatically be entered to win a pair of movie tickets to see Chimpanzee or a Chimpanzee prize pack.

The more entries we receive, the more pairs of tickets and prize packs we will be able to give away so please share this opportunity with your friends and family to increase your odds!

Be sure to include a valid email address when you submit a comment on our website or have messaging enabled on your Facebook page so that we can contact you if you win. Your email address will not be published and will only be used to contact you if you win. Due to mailing restrictions the giveaway is open to U.S. residents 18 & older only.

Winner selection:

Update 04/20/12:  Entries are now closed.  The winners have been notified and have 24 hours to reply before an alternate is selected.  Thank you to everyone who participated!

Entries will close at 9:00 am Pacific Time/Noon Eastern Time on Friday, April 20, 2012 in time for the winners to use their Fandango movie codes for opening weekend! The winners will be randomly selected from the April 16th – April 20th post comments, Facebook comments and Facebook likes and will be contacted on Friday, April 20, 2012.

Giveaway open to U.S. residents 18 & older only. Contact EcoBuzz if you have any questions!

Chimpanzee Prize Pack Giveaway

Giveway:

• Pairs of Fandango Movie Tickets

or

• One Oscar Plush
• One Disneynature Chimpanzee The Making of the Film Book
• One Reusable Tote Bag

Good luck and remember to see Chimpanzee during the opening weekend!

Watch the official trailer & featurette plus learn more about the film here.

The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970 with an estimated 20 million Americans participating.  The idea was conceived by Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisconsin) Dennis Hayes after they witnessed the horrors of the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara.  On April 22, 2012, the 42nd Earth Day will be honored around the world with events organized throughout the entire month of April.

Below you will find a listing of the Earth Day events planned throughout Los Angeles (and northern Orange County) organized by area.  To find events organized by day please visit the calendar.  If you have an event you would like added to the calendar please contact us.  Events are being added continuously – please check back.  Please confirm event details with the organizer before heading out, EcoBuzz cannot be responsible for changes or errors in event information.

Everywhere:

Disneynature’s Chimpanzee Opening Week

When:  Friday, April 20th – Thursday, April 26, 2012
Where:  Movie theatres everywhere

Disneynature’s new true-life adventure, Chimpanzee, opens everywhere on Friday, April 20, 2012.  For every moviegoer who sees Chimpanzee during the film’s opening week (April 20-26, 2012), Disneynature will make a donation to the Jane Goodall Institute through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund in order to protect chimpanzees and their habitats, now and into the future.

Anaheim:

TrashARTist Earth Day Expo

When:  Saturday, April 21, 2012 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where: Center Street Promenade, W Center Street, Anaheim, CA 92899

MUZEO is hosting their 3rd annual TrashARTist Challenge!  They will feature an Expo with over 100 booths showing off students’ “trash art projects” at the Center Street Promenade in Downtown Anaheim.  Student winners will be announced that day, and the winning entries will be on display at MUZEO between April 21 and May 28.  To vote for your favorite TrashARTist project visit the TrashARTist Challenge website.  This family event also features a sustainability showcase to teach about conservation and recycling, craft booths, music, entertainment, food trucks, and professional trash artist workshops. The event is free to the public.  MUZEO is also offering a kids free day on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at their museum in Anaheim.  Up to 4 kids free with each paying general admission.  For more information about the Earth Day Expo or the Kids Free Day at MUZEO visit www.muzeo.org/home.php.

Culver City:

Eco Station’s Children’s Earth Day

When:  Sunday, April 22, 2012 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where: Center Street Promenade, W Center Street, Anaheim, CA 92899

STAR Eco Station will host its 12th annual Children’s Earth Day on Sunday, April 22, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Billed as the largest children’s environmental event in Los Angeles County, it will feature environmental-themed games, food, crafts, prizes, vendor booths, face painting, children’s art exhibits, celebrity guests, and more.  The Eco Station is a non-profit environmental science museum and exotic wildlife rescue center in Culver City.  Admission to the Children’s Earth Day event is free, with discounted tours of the Eco Station available.  For more information visit www.ecostation.org/ecostation/eventearthday.htm.

La Cañada Flintridge:

Descanso Gardens Earth Day

When:  Sunday, April 22, 2012 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Where:  Descanso Gardens 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

Learn more about ecosystems at Descanso’s annual Earth Day celebration. Children can explore nature through hands-on activities.  Discover the “locavore” culinary movement, celebrating locally raised food, at Patina’s eco-friendly barbecue where mouth-watering selections will be sold.  Activities and barbecue will be held on the main lawn.  Most activities free with admission.  For more information visit www.descansogardens.org.

Lancaster:

California Poppy Festival

When:  Saturday, April 21st and Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Where:  Descanso Gardens 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

Lancaster boasts one of California’s most abundant crops of vibrant poppies and on Earth Day weekend, April 21st and 22nd, visitors can see these brilliant flowers and enjoy an Earth Day celebration.  The festival includes hundreds of exhibits and performances with over 55 acres of activities.  Wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and remember to leave pets, skateboards, bikes, radios, frisbees and picnic equipment at home.  Adults are $8, seniors and children 6-12 are $5.  Parking is free.  For more information visit www.poppyfestival.com.

Long Beach:

Aquarium of the Pacific Earth Day Celebration

When:  Saturday, April 21st and Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where:  Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802

Join the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach for a weekend of Earth Day events.  Learn how to help our ocean planet, visit booths from earth-friendly organizations and participate in hands-on learning demonstrations.  The Aquarium will also be collecting e-waste and outdated AT&T yellow pages at the eWaste and AT&T booths.  Bring your old yellow pages or unwanted electronic gadgets and receive a $7 off adult admission coupon valid for April 21st and 22nd.  For more information visit www.aquariumofpacific.org.

Children’s Day and Earth Day Celebration & Parade

When:  Saturday, April 28, 2012 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where:  El Dorado Park – Stage by the Duck Pond, 2400 Studebaker and Willow, Long Beach, CA 90815

A day long festival to celebrate Children’s Day and Earth Day is planned for Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 11:00 am – 4:0o pm at the state by the duck pond at El Dorado Park in Long Beach.  Performances include children’s choirs, folkorico, gymnastics, Cambodiann singers and dancers, drummers, drill teams and more.  For more information visit www.childrensday.net.

Los Angeles:

Los Angeles Zoo Earth Day Expo Weekend

When:  Saturday, April 21st and Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where:  Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802

Join the L.A. Zoo and K-EARTH101 FM for two days of music, entertainment, and education that celebrates California wildlife. Visit the Zoo’s featured animal booths, including harbor seals, California condors, California brown pelicans, California desert tortoise, Channel Island foxes, and bighorn sheep. Other activities:

• Have your face painted, create a tie-dye t-shirt, and meet your favorite disc jockey at the K-EARTH 101 FM activity booths.

• Visit Earth-friendly exhibitors throughout the Zoo’s front entrance.

• Learn about healthy minds, bodies and living in an interactive family-friendly environment!

• Receive a FREE activity book and learn to make recycling part of your everyday life.

All activities are free to GLAZA members and with paid Zoo admission.

For more information visit www.lazoo.org.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

When:  Sunday, April 22, 2012 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Where:  Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036

Celebrate Earth Day at the Los Angeles County Museum of Act (LACMA) Because EARTH without ART is just “EH”. The day of programs and activities for all ages includes workshops, films, tours, guided walks, storytelling, music and more.  Free admission to those who bike to the museum or use alternated transportation.  For more information visit www.lacma.org/event/earth-day.

Malibu:

Malibu Beach Cleanup Earth Day

When:  Sunday, April 22, 2012 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Where:  Surfrider Beach, 23500 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265

Join Heal the Bay volunteers at Malibu Beach for a beach cleanup on Sunday April 22, 2012 from 9:00 am – 10:30 pm.  Earth Day is a great opportunity to get involved and help to ensure that our beautiful coastline beaches are clean.  The cleanup is open to all ages (kids must be accompanied by an adult).  Please bring your own bucket or bag, reusable gloves and refillable water bottles.  Volunteers must register in advance and have a signed waiver.  For more information and to register visit www.healthebay.org.

Manhattan Beach:

Earth Day Celebration at Polliwog Park

When:  Saturday, April 28, 2012 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where:  Polliwog Park, Corner of Redondo Avenue and Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Celebrate Earth Day at Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm on Saturday, April 28, 2012 with great food, eco-friendly booths, kids’ activities, edible garden workshop, entertainment and much more.  For more information visit www.greenervoice.org/earthday.htm.

Rancho Palos Verdes:

Terranea Resort Earth Week Events

When:  Wednesday, April 18th – Sunday, April 22nd, 2012
Where:  Terranea Resort, 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

Walk, Bike or Share-a-Ride Day (Wednesday, April 18) – Guests are encouraged to explore Terranea and the local Rancho Palos Verdes area via mass transit, and check out options for carpooling. On April 18, guests who carpool to the resort can validate their parking tickets at Pointe Discovery to receive complimentary valet parking. Less driving means fewer emissions and every gallon of gas saved also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Sea Lion Release and Volunteer Drive (Thursday, April 19) – Partnering with Terranea, the Marine Mammal Care Center rehabilitation and rescue team, will be releasing rescued Sea Lions back into their natural habitat. The five-star send off for the marine mammal friends will begin at 10:00 a.m. and take place at the Terranea Beach Cove. To date, the Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur has treated and helped rehabilitate more than 4,500 marine mammal patients. Volunteers will have a behind-the-scenes opportunity to work with the rescue team while they examine, feed and help recover sea lions and other marine wildlife. Throughout the day, guests are encouraged to sign-up for volunteer time at the Marine Mammal Care Center. Donations of office supply items such as paper towels or highlighters, which are critical to operations at the Care Center, are also welcomed.

Growing A Billion Acts of Green® Tree and Habitat Restoration (Friday, April 20) – Plant a seed and grow a tree of action. Guests are invited to walk the Discovery Trail that surrounds Terranea Resort and learn about the indigenous plants and wildlife through naturalist-guided tours. A sampling of plants includes Dune Buckwheat (host plant to the endangered El Segundo Blue Butterfly), California Bush Sunflower, Lemonade Berry, and Coastal Prickly Pear. This varied mix of perennials, cacti and hardy shrubs provides a visual feast of color and texture for trail goers, as well as a welcome refuge for local wildlife. As keepers of this natural habitat, guests will work together as a team to restore indigenous plants, remove debris and help clean-up the Discovery Trail and surrounding area for the local wildlife.

Energy Conservation (Saturday, April 21) – The activity of focus for the day. Lighting throughout the entire resort will be turned off or dimmed to the lowest possible setting. Guests are encouraged to conserve and participate as well. Saving electricity doesn’t just save money, it saves the environment by reducing pollution.

Earth Day, Fun with Purpose through Aqua-Terra Adventures (Sunday, April 22) – Guests can help preserve their home away from home. Tapping into the expertise of naturalists, ornithologist, and artists, Terranea has created adventures that provide hours of fun, while offering teachable moments in nature.  Whether it’s by firsthand exploration of the tide pools and nature trails or through educational programs, guests will leave with a connection to this wondrous place. Guests are invited to experience a variety of unique workshops and excursions throughout the day from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. including: A Hawk Walk with Falconers, Ocean Clean-Up by Kayak, Edible Landscaping Demonstration, and Discovery Trail Hikes.  All program fees will be donated to local non-profit organization partners.

Denim Collection Turns Blue to Green (April 18-22): Terranea’s Pointe Discovery will be collecting donated denim from guests throughout Earth Week to help support Cotton. From Blue to Green®.  Through the Cotton. From Blue to Green® program, denim is collected and converted to UltraTouch Denim Insulation to be been used in the building of multiple homes for communities in need. UltraTouch Denim Insulation is environmentally safe and offers exceptional acoustic and thermal performance without carcinogenic warnings, formaldehyde, or chemical irritants.

Redondo Beach:

Redondo Beach Earth Day Celebration

When:  Saturday, April 21, 2012  10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Where:  The SEA Lab, 1021 North Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Presented by the City of Redondo Beach and the SEA Lab, the SEA Lab will host an Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.    Participate in a beach cleanup, attend a composting workshop, learn how to create water efficient gardens and trade in your plastic bags for reusable tote bags.  There will be also be a chalk art challenge!  The event is free and free parking is available at the Redondo Beach Marina near Ruby’s Diner if you bring a copy of the event flyer.  Visit www.redondo.org for more information and a copy of the event flyer.

Santa Monica:

Beach Cleanup – Earth Day

When:  Saturday, April 21, 2012  10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where:  Santa Monica Beach – Ocean Park, 2600 Barnard Way (at the end of Ocean Park), Santa Monica, CA 90405

Join Heal the Bay volunteers at Santa Monica Beach for the monthly Nothin’ But Sand beach cleanup on Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.  Earth Day is a great opportunity to get involved and help to ensure that our beautiful coastline beaches have nothing but sand.  The cleanup is open to all ages (kids must be accompanied by an adult).  Please bring your own bucket or bag, reusable gloves and refillable water bottles.  Come early to look for street parking or pay the early bird (before 9 am) lot rate.  Volunteers must register in advance and have a signed waiver.  For more information and to register visit www.healthebay.org.

Santa Monica Pier Aquarium Earth Weekend

When:  Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22, 2012,  11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Where:  Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, 1600 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Celebrate Earth Day all weekend at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium with special presentations and activities for all ages.  Enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, workshops, performances and presentations.  Suggested $5 donation, adult admission $3, children 12 & under are free.  Free admission to everyone who participates in the Nothin’ But Sand Cleanup from 10 am – noon on Saturday, April 21, 2012 (registration required).

Saturday’s schedule:  www.healthebay.org/event/santa-monica-pier-aquarium-earth-weekend-day-1

Sunday’s schedule:  www.healthebay.org/event/santa-monica-pier-aquarium-earth-weekend-day-2

Tadasana Festival

When:  Friday, April 20 – Sunday, April 22, 2012,  8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Where:  Santa Monica Beach, 2600 Barnard Way, Santa Monica, CA 90405

The Tadasana Festival of Yoga & Music is a three-day transformative experience in Santa Monica, CA, to be held over Earth Day Weekend, April 20-22, 2012. Attendees will be able to choose from 60 master teachers offering 75+ classes and workshops with live, in-class musical performances by artists from around the world, as well as dozens of lectures and an eco-conscious shopping market in an outstanding location, a mere five-minute walk from the famed Santa Monica Pier.

The Tadasana Village, located at the edge of the beach facing the Pacific Ocean, will feature five themed yoga tents, The Daily Love Lounge Lecture Dome, artwork, chill zones, an organic food court, 60+ booths of eco-goodness and so much more!

Tadasana will treat attendees to an outstanding community experience, featuring world class yoga and one-of-a-kind musical events, in a city that has become the epicenter of yoga in America. A typical day begins around 8 am with beach strolls, smoothies, organic food and of course, yoga. Morning meditations will be on tap for early risers. Throughout the day, attendees choose from a variety of classes, workshops and lectures. In addition to practicing yoga, the Tadasana Village will offer an awesome place for people to connect, shop, eat and hang.

1-day ($99) and 3-day ($295) passes are available.

For more information visit www.tadasanafestival.com.

Update 04/20/12:  Entries are now closed.  The winners have been notified and have 24 hours to reply before an alternate is selected.  Thank you to everyone who participated!

Update:  Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5 of the See Chimpanzee, Save Chimpanzees Challenge are posted!

There are just 4 days until opening weekend for Disneynature’s new true-life adventure Chimpanzee!  And to celebrate we have more free giveaways – a pair of movie tickets and another Chimpanzee prize pack!  See below for details.

In honor of Earth Day and the Jane Goodall Institute, stay tuned this week as we share Chimpanzee images, facts and other movie goodies on our website and Facebook page each day of the countdown to opening weekend.  For every moviegoer who sees Chimpanzee during the film’s opening week (April 20-26, 2012), Disneynature will make a donation to the Jane Goodall Institute through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund in order to protect chimpanzees and their habitats, now and into the future.

Chimpanzee Fact #1

Chimpanzees are endangered:  Just 100 years ago, roughly 1 million chimpanzees lived in the lush rainforests of equatorial Africa.  Today, only 1/10 remain, primarily due to habitat loss and illegal hunting.  Current trends indicate that African ape populations will decline by an additional 80% in the next 30 to 40 years.

Will you pledge to join the See Chimpanzee, Save Chimpanzees challenge and see the movie during opening weekend to help save chimpanzees?

Movie Tickets and Prize Pack Giveaway Instructions

How to enter:

Pledge to see Chimpanzee during its opening weekend in support of the Jane Goodall Institute by doing one or more of the following:

• Post a comment below
• Post a comment on any EcoBuzz Chimpanzee blog post dated this week (April 16th – April 20th)
• Like or comment on any EcoBuzz Chimpanzee Facebook post on our Facebook page dated this week (April 16th – April 20th)

and you will automatically be entered to win a pair of movie tickets to see Chimpanzee or a Chimpanzee prize pack.

The more entries we receive, the more pairs of tickets and prize packs we will be able to give away so please share this opportunity with your friends and family to increase your odds!

Be sure to include a valid email address when you submit a comment on our website or have messaging enabled on your Facebook page so that we can contact you if you win.  Your email address will not be published and will only be used to contact you if you win.  Due to mailing restrictions the giveaway is open to U.S. residents 18 & older only.

Winner selection:

Update 04/20/12:  Entries are now closed.  The winners have been notified and have 24 hours to reply before an alternate is selected.  Thank you to everyone who participated!

Entries will close at 9:00 am Pacific Time/Noon Eastern Time on Friday, April 20, 2012 in time for the winners to use their Fandango movie codes for opening weekend!  The winners will be randomly selected from the post comments, Facebook comments and Facebook likes and will be contacted on Friday, April 20, 2012.

Giveaway open to U.S. residents 18 & older only.  Contact EcoBuzz if you have any questions!

Chimpanzee Prize Pack Giveaway

Giveway:

• Pairs of Fandango Movie Tickets

or

• One Oscar Plush
• One Disneynature Chimpanzee The Making of the Film Book
• One Reusable Tote Bag

Good luck and remember to see Chimpanzee during opening weekend!

Watch the official trailer & featurette plus learn more about the film here.

Terranea, our favorite eco-resort, has great activities planned for Earth Week 2012.  Starting on Wednesday, April 18th you can enjoy fun eco-friendly events every day through Earth Day on Sunday, April 22nd.

Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. (March 19, 2012) – Terranea Resort offers guests a variety of opportunities to be green this Earth Day. Celebrating Mother Nature, the eco-friendly, oceanfront resort will introduce a week of special Earth Week programming, April 18-22, that encourages guests and local residents alike, to help make a difference in the environment and enjoy nature.

Interactive conservation programs created through Terranea’s Pointe Discovery activity center, in association with A Billion Acts of Green®, allow guests to give back to the environment with a range of fun and enriching activities. Participate in clean-up efforts, by land and by sea; hike along the resort’s Discovery Trail to assist with the restoration of indigenous plants; aid in marine mammal preservation and help reintroduce sea lions into the wild, or take a hawk walk to learn more about falcons and their environmentally friendly contributions. Other eco-educational experiences, like the resort’s “Edible Landscapes” program, show guests how one can be green at home, and all year long.

View of Terranea Resort rom the hills above in Rancho Palos Verdes

Following are five highlighted programs offered during Terranea’s Earth Week, developed to positively affect Water, Land, Air, Energy and Waste:

Walk, Bike or Share-a-Ride Day (Wednesday, April 18) – Guests are encouraged to explore Terranea and the local Rancho Palos Verdes area via mass transit, and check out options for carpooling. On April 18, guests who carpool to the resort can validate their parking tickets at Pointe Discovery to receive complimentary valet parking. Less driving means fewer emissions and every gallon of gas saved also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Sea Lion Release and Volunteer Drive (Thursday, April 19) – Partnering with Terranea, the Marine Mammal Care Center rehabilitation and rescue team, will be releasing rescued Sea Lions back into their natural habitat. The five-star send off for the marine mammal friends will begin at 10:00 a.m. and take place at the Terranea Beach Cove. To date, the Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur has treated and helped rehabilitate more than 4,500 marine mammal patients. Volunteers will have a behind-the-scenes opportunity to work with the rescue team while they examine, feed and help recover sea lions and other marine wildlife. Throughout the day, guests are encouraged to sign-up for volunteer time at the Marine Mammal Care Center. Donations of office supply items such as paper towels or highlighters, which are critical to operations at the Care Center, are also welcomed.

Growing A Billion Acts of Green® Tree and Habitat Restoration (Friday, April 20) – Plant a seed and grow a tree of action. Guests are invited to walk the Discovery Trail that surrounds Terranea Resort and learn about the indigenous plants and wildlife through naturalist-guided tours. A sampling of plants includes Dune Buckwheat (host plant to the endangered El Segundo Blue Butterfly), California Bush Sunflower, Lemonade Berry, and Coastal Prickly Pear. This varied mix of perennials, cacti and hardy shrubs provides a visual feast of color and texture for trail goers, as well as a welcome refuge for local wildlife. As keepers of this natural habitat, guests will work together as a team to restore indigenous plants, remove debris and help clean-up the Discovery Trail and surrounding area for the local wildlife.

Energy Conservation (Saturday, April 21) – The activity of focus for the day. Lighting throughout the entire resort will be turned off or dimmed to the lowest possible setting. Guests are encouraged to conserve and participate as well. Saving electricity doesn’t just save money, it saves the environment by reducing pollution.

Earth Day, Fun with Purpose through Aqua-Terra Adventures (Sunday, April 22) – Guests can help preserve their home away from home. Tapping into the expertise of naturalists, ornithologist, and artists, Terranea has created adventures that provide hours of fun, while offering teachable moments in nature.  Whether it’s by firsthand exploration of the tide pools and nature trails or through educational programs, guests will leave with a connection to this wondrous place. Guests are invited to experience a variety of unique workshops and excursions throughout the day from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. including: A Hawk Walk with Falconers, Ocean Clean-Up by Kayak, Edible Landscaping Demonstration, and Discovery Trail Hikes.  All program fees will be donated to local non-profit organization partners.

Denim Collection Turns Blue to Green (April 18-22): Terranea’s Pointe Discovery will be collecting donated denim from guests throughout Earth Week to help support Cotton. From Blue to Green®.  Through the Cotton. From Blue to Green® program, denim is collected and converted to UltraTouch Denim Insulation to be been used in the building of multiple homes for communities in need. UltraTouch Denim Insulation is environmentally safe and offers exceptional acoustic and thermal performance without carcinogenic warnings, formaldehyde, or chemical irritants.

About Terranea Resort
Terranea, L.A.’s Oceanfront Resort, is magnificently poised above the Pacific Ocean on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and located 20 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport. Terranea Resort is owned by a joint venture comprised of Lowe Enterprises and JC Resorts and managed by Destination® Hotels & Resorts. The property boasts 582 rooms including a 360-room hotel with 32 suites, and 20 bungalows and features 50 oceanfront three-bedroom casitas and 32 ocean view three-bedroom villas, offering a residential setting with rental or Resort real estate opportunities for guests to purchase a second home. Resort amenities include The Links at Terranea, a nine-hole par three golf course; The Spa at Terranea, a 50,000 square-foot oceanfront spa, fitness center and Café; and three unique swimming pools, one with children’s play area and a 140-foot waterslide. Three ocean view restaurants offer a variety of food and beverage experiences including Catalina Kitchen for casual, all-day dining; mar’sel, the free-standing signature restaurant; and Nelson’s, a cliff-side restaurant and bar with spectacular vantage points for whale watching. Designed to reveal the Resort’s dramatic outdoor vistas, Terranea’s conference and meeting facilities include 135,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Other amenities include marea, a luxury retail boutique; children’s center with interactive programs; Pointe Discovery, an “active-living” store and adventure concierge for activities that explore the rich local terrain and ocean environment. Several miles of scenic bluff-top trails connect miles of off-property coastal trails, and a secluded beach cove also adds to the unique experiences at Terranea Resort. For more information, visit www.terranea.com or call 866-802-8000.

About A Billion Acts of Green
In recognition of the power of millions of individual actions, Earth Day 2012 will be organized around A Billion Acts of Green®: Personal, organizational and corporate pledges to live and act sustainably.  At over 42 million actions to date, the Billion Acts of Green® campaign – the largest environmental service campaign in the world – is steadily building commitments by individuals, corporations, and governments in honor of Earth Day. A Billion Acts of Green® demonstrates the kind of environmental impact that can be made when millions of people, corporations and organizations make commitments, both small and large, to better their environment.  Although an overwhelming number at first glance, the goal of a Billion acts can only be achieved by starting with individual actions.

Media Contact:
Jessie Pound, Senior Public Relations Manager
Terranea Resort
jpound@destinationhotels.com

For a listing of the Earth Day events planned throughout Los Angeles (and northern Orange County) organized by area click here.  To find events organized by day please visit the calendar.  If you have an event you would like added to the calendar please contact us.  Events are being added continuously – please check back.

Featured Events of the Week:

Free Screening of “Bag It!” Documentary

When: Friday April 13, 2012  7:00 pm

Where: 145 N. Raymond Avenue  Pasadena, CA 91101

Assemblymember Holly Mitchell is kicking off Earth week with a free screening of the award-winning documentary, “BAG IT!” on Friday, April 13, 2012 at 7:00 pm.  Doors open at 7:00pm, movie starts at 7:30 pm and a discussion about small ways to make a BIG impact on the environment follows at 8:30 pm.  For more information visit www.healthebay.org/event/screening-bag-it-documentary.

Watch the trailer:

Pasadena Earth & Arts Festival

When: Saturday April 14, 2012  11:00 am – 5:00 pm

Where: 145 N. Raymond Avenue  Pasadena, CA 91101

The city of Pasadena and the Armory Center for the Arts will hold its 10th annual celebration of the Earth and the Arts on Saturday, April 14, 2012 from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm in Pasadena.  The celebration will include live music, outdoor movie screening, art workshops, eco-friendly exhibitors, food trucks and a sustainable beer garden.  Learn about organic farming, water-wise gardening, electric vehicles and how to jam your own fruit.  Take bicycle tour of Pasadena’s sustainable sites and let the kiddos enjoy hands-on creative crafts,  You can also enter to win a Smart Irrigation controller and landscape audit.  The event is free.  For more information visit ww2.cityofpasadena.net/waterandpower/earthday/.

Sanitation Districts Earth Day Celebration

When: Saturday April 14, 2012  10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Where: Sanitation Districts Parking Lot  1955 Workman Mill Road  Whittier, CA 90601

A family-fun celebration that promotes environmental awareness is scheduled for Saturday, April 14, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, at the headquarters of the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County in Whittier. There will be more than 50 exhibit booth displays, composting and gardening workshops, landfill and water reclamation plant tours, eco-friendly arts and crafts, environmental puppet shows, and train rides around the exhibit grounds. Free shuttle from satellite parking lots at 13181 and 13191 Crossroads Parkway North.  For more information visit www.lacsd.org.

Western Heritage Family Day:  Celebrate Earth Day!

When: Sunday April 15, 2012  11:00 am – 5:00 pm

Where: The Autry in Griffith Park  4700 Western Heritage Way  Los Angeles, CA 90027

Celebrate Earth Day with family-fun activities from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm on Sunday, April 15, 2012 at the Autry National Center in Griffith Park.  Special events will include storytelling, a family craft activity, music programs, and museum tours with the Museum teacher. Visit the Museum’s current exhibit, “Art of Native American Basketry,” and make a basket of your own. A museum admission fee will be charged, but the event is free for Autry members.  For more information and to buy tickets in advance visit www.theautry.org/programs/family-activities/family-day-at-the-autry-celebrate-earth-day.

Sea Lion Release and Volunteer Drive

When: Thursday April 19, 2012  10:00 am

Where: Terranea Beach Cove  100 Terranea Way  Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

Partnering with Terranea, the Marine Mammal Care Center rehabilitation and rescue team, will be releasing rescued Sea Lions back into their natural habitat on Thursday, April 19, 2012.  The five-star send off for the marine mammal friends will begin at 10:00 a.m. and take place at the Terranea Beach Cove. To date, the Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur has treated and helped rehabilitate more than 4,500 marine mammal patients. Volunteers will have a behind-the-scenes opportunity to work with the rescue team while they examine, feed and help recover sea lions and other marine wildlife. Throughout the day, guests are encouraged to sign-up for volunteer time at the Marine Mammal Care Center. Donations of office supply items such as paper towels or highlighters, which are critical to operations at the Care Center, are also welcomed.

More green events this week:

TreePeople Events

When: throughout the week, see the TreePeople calendar

Where: throughout Los Angeles

TreePeople offers a variety of volunteer opportunities including tree planting, tree care, mountain restoration, reforestation, park maintenance, seedling nursery, photography. Minors (accompanied by an adult) are welcome. Visit their calendar to select an activity and sign-up by pre-registering. Once you register, TreePeople will contact you with event details and directions.

During the week of April 13-19, 2012, TreePeople has the following on their calendar: Santa Monica Mountains Restoration and Third Thursday. Check out their calendar for more information.

Sierra Club Outings

When: throughout the week, see the Angeles Chapter Activities Calendar (rain may cancel)

Where: throughout Los Angeles

A few of the Sierra Club outings for this week include a Pacific Palisades Hike (Friday), Long Beach El Dorado Park Nature Walk (Saturday morning), and various conditioning hikes in Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro/Palos Verdes, Irvine and Puente Hills, Signal Hill and Pasadena. Visit the Sierra Club – Angeles Chapter Activities Calendar for more activities and additional information.

Click here for more green things to do in Los Angeles.

Heads Up for April:

Chimpanzee Movie Opening:  Friday, April 21, 2012

Earth Day: Sunday, April 22, 2012

Oregon and Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife recently sought and received permission from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to kill California sea lions, protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, on the grounds that the sea lions are endangering chinook salmon and steelhead populations near Bonneville Dam.  The killings must be limited to repeat offenders who fail to permanently leave the area after nonlethal hazing.

As of April 12, 2012, four salmon-eating California sea lions have been captured at Bonneville Dam and killed by lethal injection.  Per the judge’s ruling, up to 30 sea lions can be killed.

In a bizarre twist, James Lecky, the federal employee who authorized the sea lion killings, has a checkered past with the salmon.  In 2002, Lecky was alleged to have given an illegal order to cut in-stream flows on the Klamath River resulting in the death of 33,000 salmon.

Salmon fishing is a huge part of the economy in Oregon and Washington.  It can hardly be coincidental that the states are going after the sea lions during a season where record-high numbers of Chinook salmon are predicted along the Pacific coast.  Although the California Department of Fish and Game says that very predication and the fact that sea lions eat only a small percentage of the salmon population makes the killings even more perplexing.

California sea lion eating a salmon Photo Credit: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Sea lions are natural salmon predators however they have been documented to take only between 0.4 percent and 4.2 percent of the salmon run while commercial fishing and the dam itself wipes out close to 27% according to Sharon Young, Humane Society marine issues field director.  Even Portland’s own fisheries unit supports those figures.

According to a report by the US Army Corps of Engineers – Portland District Fisheries Field Unit, Pinniped Deterrents at Bonneville Dam 2005-2006, the percent take of salmon by pinnipeds was 0.4% in 2002, 1.1% in 2003, 1.9% in 2004 and 3.4% in 2005.

The Salmon Have Bigger Issues

Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Wild US Pacific Salmon Report states that human activity is the most notable cause of salmon depletion.  Habitat loss caused by hatcheries, overfishing, and bycatch of threatened or endangered salmon species are a few of the main concerns identified in the report.  However, Oregon and Washington chinook salmon is listed as a “good alternative” in the aquarium’s sustainable seafood guide “Seafood Watch” indicating that they are still considered ocean-friendly choices and not in the dire straits that Oregon and Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife claim.  There is no mention of sea lions or other pinnipeds as a cause of salmon depletion in the report.

Ironically, data from 1991 to 1993 indicates that drift gillnets, used for salmon fishing, in Washington and Oregon killed an estimated 200 harbor seals per year in the Columbia River.  The report does state that these levels of mortality are unlikely to have significant negative effects on the the pinniped population and that gillnet fishing has decreased since the 1990s but it is interesting to note that marine mammals are part, albeit a small part, of the unintentional marine life destruction caused by bycatch while fishing for salmon.

Another issue threatening the salmon are non-native fish.  Oregon and Washington’s stock non-native bass and walleye which eat small and juvenile salmon, posing a significant risk to the survival of salmon.

A healthy marine ecosystem is crucial to the health of our planet.  Without marine biodiversity, humankind would suffer greatly.  Marine organisms are crucial to almost all biogeochemical processes of the biosphere.

How to Help Protect the Sea Lions (and the Salmon)

The Human Society of the United States filed a lawsuit against the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration arguing that the killings violate the Marine Mammal Protection Act and that the government has failed to show that sea lions kill a significantly large number of salmon.  The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is also monitoring the situation and taking steps to protect the sea lions.

Consider making a donation to both of these organizations to show your support:

Humane Society of the United States

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

If you oppose the culling of the sea lions please contact the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Oregon and Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife and demand that they call off the cull.

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber - (503) 378-4582

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife – (503) 947-6000

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire – (360) 902-4111

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife – (360) 902-2200

NOAA Office of Protected Resources – (301) 427-8400

And finally, sign the petition:

http://www.change.org/petitions/director-office-of-protected-resources-noaa-don-t-kill-the-bonneville-sea-lions

California Sea Lion rehabilitated at the Marine Mammal Care Center

*Mackie, Richard Somerset (1997). Trading Beyond the Mountains: The British Fur Trade on the Pacific 1793-1843. Vancouver: University of British Columbia (UBC) Press. pp. 191–192.