Sponsored by:
Senator KRISTIN M. CORRADO
District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Designates September of each year as "Visit New Jersey Zoo and Aquarium Month."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating September of each year as "Visit New Jersey Zoo and Aquarium Month."
Whereas, New Jersey is home to many world-class zoological gardens and public aquariums, including Cape May County Park and Zoo, Bergen County Zoological Park, Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, Adventure Aquarium in Camden, Atlantic City Aquarium, and Jenkinson's Aquarium in Point Pleasant Beach; and
Whereas, New Jersey's zoos and aquariums entertain millions of visitors from around the world each year, making a significant contribution to New Jersey's tourism industry and employing thousands of New Jersey's citizens; and
Whereas, According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, zoos and aquariums nationwide host more than 12 million students annually on school field-trips, supporting science curricula by providing effective teaching materials and opportunities for hands-on educational experiences; and
Whereas, Zoos and aquariums encourage New Jersey's citizens to appreciate the diversity and vulnerability of land and marine life, fostering a lifelong sense of stewardship over the environment; and
Whereas, According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, zoos and aquariums nationwide contribute more than $90 million annually to support more than 4,000 field conservation and research projects in more than 100 countries; and
Whereas, Many federal agencies have recognized New Jersey's zoos and aquariums as critical partners in rescue, rehabilitation, confiscation, and reintroduction efforts for distressed, threatened, and endangered species; and
Whereas, New Jersey's zoos and aquariums have many programs at the forefront of this conservation effort, including Project Golden Frog, an initiative at the Cape May County Park and Zoo to prevent the extinction of the Panamanian Golden Frog, and an ongoing effort at the Adventure Aquarium to protect the Banggai cardinalfish; and
Whereas, The State should celebrate the economic, educational, and environmental benefits provided by its zoos and aquariums, and annually encourage its citizens to visit zoos and aquariums in New Jersey; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The month of September of
each year is designated as "Visit New Jersey Zoo and Aquarium Month," in order
to recognize the many benefits provided by the State's zoos and aquariums to
its citizens and the environment.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of the State to observe "Visit New Jersey Zoo and Aquarium Month" with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This resolution designates September of each year as "Visit New Jersey Zoo and Aquarium Month."
New Jersey's zoos and aquariums entertain millions of visitors from around the world each year, making a significant contribution to New Jersey's tourism industry and employing thousands of New Jersey's citizens. New Jersey's schools also utilize zoos and aquariums as supplements to their science curricula, and as places to engage students with hands-on learning activities. Among other things, student visitors learn to appreciate the diversity and vulnerability of land and marine life, fostering a lifelong sense of stewardship over the environment
New Jersey's zoos and aquariums also partner with governmental agencies and non-profit entities in rescue, rehabilitation, confiscation, and reintroduction efforts for distressed, threatened, and endangered species. Project Golden Frog, for example, is a conservation initiative at Cape May County Park and Zoo, which aims to prevent the extinction of the Panamanian Golden Frog. Similarly, the Adventure Aquarium in Camden is home to an ongoing effort to protect the Banggai cardinalfish.
Accordingly, the State should celebrate the economic, educational, and environmental benefits provided by its zoos and aquariums, and annually encourage its citizens to visit zoos and aquariums in New Jersey.