Michela Fusco holding a Crimson-rumped Toucanet (Image Credit: CFJC News)

By Sydney Chisholm

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Flying owls and dropping jaws: Earth Rangers wow McGowan Park Elementary

Mar 1, 2023 | 4:34 PM

KAMLOOPS – The Earth Rangers are in town with their trusty critter companions, providing kids in the Kamloops-Thompson School District a wild time, while also teaching the importance of wildlife conservation.

Jaws dropped at McGowan Park Elementary when the school became an impromptu zoo Wednesday (Mar. 1).

The non-profit organization aims to empower youth to help protect animals and the environment.

“We really want to get to the younger generation and get them to care about the environment,” Earth Ranger Michela Fusco told CFJC News. “We want to get them at a young age so they can continue that throughout their life.”

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While getting up close and personal with exotic animals and testing their wildlife knowledge, students learned about habitat loss and the importance of conservation.

The students met and learned about several animals including Millie the armadillo, and Delta the savannah monitor.

But Sonic the owl stole the show, flying across the gym and swooping in as the crowd favourite.

All the students CFJC News spoke with claimed Sonic was their favourite part of the presentation.

In the last few weeks, the Earth Rangers have made a real-life connection at several schools in Kamloops, Barriere and Merritt.

Their Thompson-Nicola regional tour ends next Monday with the team visiting two schools each day in the area.