Potawatomi Zoo hosts endangered species event

SOUTH BEND — Saturday was day two of the endangered species event at the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend.

Endangered Species Day was started by the U.S. Senate as an opportunity for people to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species and how to protect disappearing wildlife and wild spaces.

Event stations were set up around the zoo for families to explore several live hands-on presentations.

"Today we are focusing on the effects of the pet trades just to make people more aware," said zoo education curator Kelly Ulrich. "Letting them know if we select a good pet that we know we can take care of, we reduce the number of unwanted pets that get released. And we make sure that we do not take pets from the wild, too."

Saturday's focus was on how the pet trade business has affected declining populations of specific animals.