CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Lincoln Park Zoo announced Wednesday a new campaign to kick off Earth Day and highlight endangered species at the zoo.
“The Price of Extinction” campaign provides animal lovers with the unique opportunity to help five endangered species survive by purchasing limited-edition zoo passes.
Each pass features an endangered animal whose donation amount correlates to the animal’s extinction rate, with all proceeds going towards conservation efforts. Five of the endangered animals at the zoo - polar bear, African penguin, eastern black rhinoceros, western lowland gorilla, and Jamaican iguana - will be featured.
Those interested in purchasing the artful passes can do so on zoo grounds at the Gift Shop and Member Center or online at shop.lpzoo.org.
According to Lincoln Park Zoo, the price of each pass is set by a custom-built algorithm determined by data from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List, the definitive, science-based evaluation source of a species’ endangered status.
The more endangered an animal is, the more resources it takes to save them:
• Polar bear: $9.50 (vulnerable)
• African penguin: $15 (endangered)
• Eastern black rhinoceros: $30 (critically endangered)
• Western lowland gorilla: $33 (critically endangered)
• Jamaican iguana: $42 (critically endangered)
Lincoln Park Zoo is home to more than 30 different endangered species.
"While Chicagoans enjoy visiting the animals, they often do so without considering that they may be some of the last people with the privilege to do so," the zoo said.
“The Price of Extinction” campaign aims to help zoo-goers bridge the gap between looking at animals to helping save them.
For more information, visit lpzoo.org/priceofextinction.
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