Help the Central Florida Zoo

build a Florida black bear habitat.



Here in Central Florida we have a big problem: Black Bear.



They are everywhere!



Dated estimates put the Florida black bear population at 3,000. But most experts believe the number is actually much higher. It's not at all unusual to walk out of our front door and find bears roaming the neighborhood, foraging through garbage cans looking for food.



Sometimes it's a lone adult bear. Other times, a mother with cubs. There seems to be more and more bears. Though shy by nature, they're getting bolder, and, frankly, their habitat is shrinking. Unless we take decisive measures in learning to co-exist there WILL be more encounters - and there WILL be trouble.



In fact, there has already been bad news, for both humans and bear.



When a Central Florida woman was attacked and badly injured a year and a half ago by a mother bear wandering with her cubs, wildlife officers killed two bears they found near the scene. DNA tests ended up showing that neither of the bears had been involved. A week later, the mother bear and her cubs were captured. Her life was spared thanks only to her baby cubs.



When the cubs had matured enough to make it on their own, they were released back into the wild. Recently, a female and two other cubs, who are too accustomed to human contact to ever be safely released, were placed here at the Central Florida Zoo.



But rather than simply providing a place for these bears to live out their lives, we recognize a bigger opportunity. As a zoo dedicated to education and conservation, we see a chance to make a big impact on the bear problem ... Will you help us?



We're committed to creating one of the largest and most interactive bear habitat/exhibits in the country. This will be much more than just a place to view the animals. It will be a memorable experience that engages visitors and teaches about the perils facing the Florida black bear. It will educate children and adults about how we can co-exist. Our visitors will learn what to do should they encounter a bear. How to protect and bear-proof their home. How to keep their children and pets safe, and much more.



We invite you to go to our website at www. centralfloridazoobears.org to see some of the planning and designs coming together for this unique exhibit.



This project is an exciting opportunity for our Zoo and our community ... but it will take friends like you - people who understand the problem and the power of this solution - to make it a reality.



Please, as an animal-lover, will you take part in this landmark effort to help the Central Florida population of both bears and humans?



One other bit of spectacular news that I hope will move you to be extra generous: An extremely kind Central Florida Zoo supporter who shares our enthusiasm for this project has offered to DOUBLE every gift, dollar for dollar, of the first $25,000 we raise.



Please, will you make a special gift that will go TWICE as far?



Thank you for your kind support. All members of our Central Florida community - bears, humans, and others - will benefit from your generosity.



Thank you for caring and for acting today!

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