This week on Mountain Lake Journal we’ll take you to Parc Safari just across the border in Hemmingford, Quebec, to meet two cheetah cubs who are making history. They are the first cheetahs born in Quebec, and biologists hope the two cubs will become part of a breeding program that may eventually help return cheetahs to the wild. The cheetah, the world’s fastest land animal, is in danger of extinction. With the loss of much of their habitat in Africa, and poaching, there are now just 7,000 in the world. Zoos and wildlife reserves around the world, including Parc Safari, are teaming up on conservation programs to help cheetahs. The two cubs born at Parc Safari will meet visitors for the first time on September 1st. The head zoologist at Parc Safari, Nathalie Santerre, joins us this week to talk about the plight of the cheetah and conservation efforts. Meet the cubs, Mosi & Jelanie, and learn more about their debut at the zoo: www.parcsafari.com
We’ll meet some amazing dogs who are helping biologists with the Wildlife Conservation Society to check the health of the moose population in the Adirondacks. Like dogs that can sniff out bombs and drugs, these canines can sniff out moose poop or “skat” and biologists can do tests in the lab to determine if the moose are healthy.
Also, Derek Muirden shares the story of a mother and daughter with a love for flowers that they turned into a business selling bouquets of fresh-cut flowers at local farmers markets. Now their business has blossomed into a floral design company that specializes in weddings.