British Columbia is known throughout the world for its spectacular nature and magnificent wildlife, but there is little awareness of the many species under threat of extinction.
The Royal BC Museum is hitting the road this summer to spark a conversation with British Columbians on what BC could lose if we don’t make big changes to our relationship with the natural world.
Species at Risk was on display at Fort Rupert Elementary School in Storey’s Beach on Tuesday, June 16.
Species at Risk is a new travelling exhibition produced in-house at the Royal BC Museum, with the support of TELUS, The Robert Bateman Centre and the John and Joan Walton Innovators Fund.
Beginning this summer, and for the next three years, Species at Risk will deliver essential information on BC’s endangered species to the doorsteps of communities around the province.
“This is one of the most important conversations British Columbians should be having right now, and yet you don’t hear much about it,” said Gavin Hanke, Curator of Vertebrate Zoology at the Royal BC Museum.
“We’re excited to be spreading the word and starting conversations with BC residents, on the ground, face-to-face, out in the province,” said Hanke.
Over 50,000 plants and animals live in BC, more than anywhere else in Canada, but many could soon disappear forever; when we don’t act, threatened species can quickly become endangered, or worse.
Over 1,500 species in BC alone are now at risk.
Change is happening much too fast and their survival, and ours, depends on the choices we make today.
Housed in an inventively modified trailer and accompanied by skilled and personable interpreters, Species at Risk will visit Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan this summer, setting up shop at summer camps, community museums and other important regional partners.
As a legacy component of this initiative, beautifully designed Mini-Museums will be made available to BC schools in the fall, giving students the opportunity to study four notable species at risk through actual specimens and hands-on learning.
These Mini-Museums will also be included in the touring exhibition.