FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 8, 2003
Educational
Eagle Ambassador Helps Kick-Off Non-Partisan Campaign To Preserve
ESA, And Inspires Spirit of Americans
Pigeon
Forge, Tenn – On December 9, 2003, the trained
celebrity Bald Eagle "Challenger", cared for by the non-profit
American Eagle Foundation (www.eagles.org) at Dollywood, will join noted
conservationist and Animal Planet television personality Jeff Corwin and
Representative John D. Dingell (D-MI), the author of the Endangered
Species Act (ESA), in a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol Building to
celebrate the
30th Anniversary of this landmark legislation.
During the event, Challenger will perform a fly-over from the Capitol
Building as a group of school children sing the patriotic song, "America
The Beautiful". The ESA was signed into law on December 28,
1973 by President Richard M. Nixon.
"At each place we go, as Challenger takes wing, you can feel the spirit
of pride and patriotism swell up in everyone who sees him,"
said Al Cecere, president of the non-profit American Eagle Foundation
(AEF). "He's
the living symbol of what freedom and democracy in America are all
about. The
Bald Eagle is a perfect example of how an endangered species
can be brought back from the brink of extinction when people really
care
and get involved. Without the strict legal protection provided by
the ESA, this would not have been possible."
In addition to Challenger, TV host Corwin and Congressman Dingell, other
ceremony participants will include Representative Norm Dicks (D-WA),
Former Representative Pete McCloskey (R-CA), Brock Evans, Executive Director
of the Endangered Species Coalition, andRodger Schlickeisen, President,
Defenders of Wildlife. Dr. Lee Talbot, CEQ Scientific Advisor under Presidents
Nixon, Ford and Carter was also invited to attend.
The special eagle ambassador is no stranger to Washington and is
a majestic educational ambassador for his "threatened
species" in the wild. While visiting the nation's Capitol,
Challenger and AEF President Al Cecere met with numerous Senators,
Congressmen and conservation leaders about eagle protection
and funding concerns.
Challenger has become a key advocate for restoring and protecting wildlife
nationally. He is the first Bald Eagle in U. S. history trained
to make free flying appearances at high-profile public events. He
has appeared on many news and talk shows, including Good Morning America,
Regis & Kelly, CBS Morning, Larry King Live, Maury Povich, Dateline
NBC and Late Night with David Letterman.
"In a time of increased federal concern over homeland and national security,
State wildlife grants may seem relatively unimportant," said
Cecere. "However,
with Challenger again traveling to Washington, there will be a powerful
and soul-stirring reminder to Congressmen about the critical and
important role our wildlife and natural resources play in the grand
scheme of things,
including our domestic tranquility, health and welfare."
Founded in 1985, the non-profit American Eagle Foundation (www.eagles.org)
has become a non-governmental leader in eagle conservation over the
past seventeen years. Since 1991, it has traveled coast-to-coast
conducting numerous public education programs with trained non-releasable
eagles
and other birds of prey. The Foundation has presented well over 9,000
educational free-flight birds of prey shows. It is federally licensed
to provide care to over 70 birds of prey daily, including about 35
eagles.
These birds are non-releasable due to permanent physical disabilities
or accidental imprinting on humans. Many of the eagles residing at
the Foundation’s bird facility have successfully reproduced in captivity.
The organization operates the largest Bald Eagle breeding program in
the world, and has released dozens of captive-hatched eaglets into the
foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains area and other places. It has
also been a party to releasing hundreds of other eaglets into the
wilds in cooperation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and has supported numerous public
education
and eagle care/recovery projects in various States. Since 1990, the
Dollywood entertainment park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee has been
the primary corporate
sponsor of the Foundation.
For more information contact: Al Cecere, president, American
Eagle Foundation at
865-429-0157 (office), 865-256-0372 (cellular), eagles1@usit.net, www.eagles.org.
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