Wildlife and animals in outdoor spaces at Salt Lake County zoos, aquariums and aviaries also contend with the effects of a changing climate and bad air. A polar bear at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. (Photo Courtesy of Liliana Anderson). January 6, 2025 As winter sets in, the annual inversions that blanket the Salt Lake Valley bring along toxic pollutants trapped in a haze of cold fog. And the humans of Utah aren’t the only locals enduring these conditions. Wildlife and animals in outdoor spaces at Salt Lake County zoos, aquariums and aviaries also contend with the effects of a changing climate and bad air, experts say. Global climate change has caused turmoil to ecosystems, food chains, seasonal migrations and habitats, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums . Animals at Utah’s Hogle Zoo , too, are experiencing an ever-changing habitat and lifestyle, as educators and zookeepers adapt the enclosures and living spaces to the changing climate. With Utah’s unpredictable heat waves, less snow and increasingly frequent bad air quality each year, employees at Hogle Zoo are focused on keeping the animals safe and healthy while adapting to environmental changes that affect each species’ habitats and needs, said Hayley Parkinson, the zoo’s onsite engagement coordinator. “Our zoo’s mission is to help these animals in their natural homes,” Parkinson said. “Climate change is something that impacts every habitat on the planet, so it’s definitely something that is a concern for all of the animals.” Parkinson works with programs like the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change , Polar Bears International and the Climate Alliance Program , all of which strive to create more conversation about climate change using solution-based ideas for educators and encouraging community-based learning. “[The goal] is to expand the zoo staff’s knowledge of climate change for the […]
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