This year, we welcomed a remarkable new addition to our Animal Ambassador team: Leuci, a leucistic Red-tailed Hawk (pictured on front cover). Leucism, a rare condition that results in reduced pigmentation, gives Leuci her striking pale appearance. She immediately captured the community’s attention, and we loved seeing so many people help us choose her name. Leuci now joins our birds of prey, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians in helping people connect more deeply with the native wildlife of our region.
Our Animal Ambassadors help bring conservation stories to life. Through off-site outreach, we reached 6,935 community members this year, while thousands more joined us for wildlife tours on our campus. These animal encounters create opportunities to move from curiosity to understanding. They also help people learn not only about individual species, but also about the network of habitats and ecosystems they need to thrive.
The four wolves in our SAFE American Red Wolf program help us share the story of one of the world’s most endangered canids. Together, we build on the public understanding of the challenges this native species faces. We are especially grateful to the students and teachers of Battle Academy and Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences, who raised awareness and funds to support their continued care.
Whether meeting a hawk up close or hearing an American Red Wolf howl, these experiences help make wildlife feel personal—and remind us that protecting native animals begins with understanding and caring about the places they call home.
