AZA, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, has teamed up with Kino Marquee to offer virtual screenings of The Woman Who Loves Giraffes.
AZA is pleased to announce that it is offering online screenings of The Woman Who Loves Giraffes, thanks to a partnership with virtual cinema provider Kino Marquee. The film tells the story of biologist Dr Anne Innis Dagg who made a solo journey to Africa aged just 23, in order to study giraffes in the wild.
AZA and the AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) Giraffe program have teamed up with Dr Dagg to help tell her remarkable story. Fifty per cent of the ticket sales will go to the SAFE Grants Fund, which supports animal conservation projects by AZA-accredited facilities.
Sharing an inspirational story
“Anne’s story is truly remarkable and is one we had hoped to share with AZA members at our Mid-Year Meeting, but we were unable to gather due to COVID-19,” says Dan Ashe, President and CEO of AZA. “We now have an opportunity to share her inspirational story with an even larger audience while also giving people a way to support species conservation directly. Each ticket sold literally helps save animals from extinction.”
The film looks back at Dr Dagg’s journey, through letters and 16 mm film, as well as exploring the challenges that the giraffe population faces today. AZA and the AZA SAFE Giraffe program are also putting on a special event for World Giraffe Day; a virtual discussion with Dr Dagg and Alison Reid, the film’s award-winning director. This exclusive event will be available to anyone who buys a ticket before 21 June.
“Anne and I are thrilled to connect with the AZA community – which in many ways feels like family,” says Reid. “Anne fell in love with giraffes at the age of four when she saw one at the Brookfield Zoo – so she understands first hand the crucial role zoos play in providing an opportunity for people to connect with, and appreciate wildlife.
“We are so glad animal lovers will have a chance to enjoy Anne’s uplifting story while helping giraffes and other animals at the same time.”
Helping giraffe conservation
Last year, AZA members contributed almost $1.5 million to giraffe conservation and its SAFE giraffe program has now been operating for three years and includes more than 23 AZA-accredited facilities.
SAFE giraffe program members provide support and expertise for a range of conservation projects in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The program is also pioneering advanced veterinary techniques to provide high-quality care to giraffes in zoos.
“Giraffe populations have decreased by 40% over the last three decades, with the animals now locally extinct in 7 African countries,” says Liza Dadone, VMD, SAFE Giraffe Program Co-Leader and VP of Mission and Programs at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. “We are very excited to not only bring Anne’s story to a wide audience but to also educate the public on the ‘silent extinction’ facing giraffe today.”
Tickets are on sale here and more information on the film can be found here.
Last month, AZA circulated a Call to Action Letter alongside other wildlife experts to gather support and address the threat to native turtles in the US
