ROCHESTER, NY—Visitors to the Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) next year get a furry, feathery and scaly treat – live animal encounters every week. Wildlife Defenders and the RMSC are partnering to bring animal experiences to visitors throughout the year as a response to community interest in animals and to increase environmental and wildlife conservation awareness.
“Live animal programs fascinate and inform our Museum’s visitors, so we are very excited to present multiple opportunities to experience and to understand the natural science and behavior of so many native and exotic animals all year long at the RMSC,” said Daniel J. Menelly, Chief Science Officer, RMSC. “We really admire the safe, responsible handling of the animals in the care of the Wildlife Defenders and we consider the organization to be an excellent partner.”
“It is a privilege to have been chosen by the Rochester Museum & Science Center to have our robust Wildlife Education Program provide ‘Wildlife Experiences’ throughout the upcoming year,” said John Truini, Director of Wildlife Education and Outreach Programs, Bridges for Brain Injury. “We hope to inspire school-aged children to be the future stewards of the environment and enhance the already incredible Museum experience. It’s a partnership that we are proud of.”
Live animal presentations will take place nearly every Saturday of 2017 and some select weekdays, particularly during school breaks. The shows will take place at 12:30pm and 2:30pm and there will be different animals each week. Some of the animals include a wallaby, alligator, porcupine and lemur. During February break Animal Week at RMSC; however, there will be live animals every day of the week. Visit www.rmsc.org for details.
The Wildlife Defenders Program is a wildlife education outreach group that is part of Bridges for Brain Injury, Inc. As part of their rehabilitation, members share details about live native and exotic animals, birds and reptiles.
The live animal experiences are free with regular museum admission: $14 adults, $13 seniors and college students with ID, $12 ages 3 to 18, free for children under 3 and RMSC members. For group reservations and rates, call 585.697.1942.
For high-resolution images and additional information, contact Amanda Bayer, Marketing Communications Manager, RMSC at 585.697.1962 or abayer@rmsc.org or visit the Press / News section of our website at www.rmsc.org/press-news.
Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) includes the Science Museum, Strasenburgh Planetarium and Cumming Nature Center. Offering experiences at the Museum with more than 200 interactive exhibits, Planetarium with a 65-foot dome and Nature Center on 900 acres, the RMSC stimulates community interest in exploration. In addition, the more than 1.2 million RMSC collection items tell the story of Rochester’s past including its rich history of innovation and invention. RMSC receives major funding from Monroe County, where it is one of the top three most visited attractions serving children and families. For more information about RMSC, visit www.rmsc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.