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Chris Evers Safaris to Africa via Weston

Armchair travelers and wanderlusters can visit Weston Library on Jan. 29 for a trip to faraway, exotic locations to cross paths with stunning wildlife, much of it under siege. Chris Evers of Animal Embassy leads the safari, which recreates a trip he took to photograph many of the world's most endangered species. He'll also talk about the conservation efforts underway in each locale, and plans to save these fragile populations.The first stop is Kenya, to track wildebeest and zebra migrations. According to the website OutofAfrica, these are Grevy's zebras and they now only exist in northern Kenya. The species, now much diminished, has been heavily poached, hunted for their meat and their skins.Underway again, Chris guides visitors overland into Uganda, where once 50,000 chimpanzees could be found. Now, another population decimated, there are only 5,000, according to reports.

The final stop on this journey is into the mountains of Rwanda to meet its giant gorillas, also facing uncertain futures. According to the World Wildlife Fund, approximately 680 mountain gorillas remain in the wild, making them one of the world's most endangered great apes. However, in December, the Fund announced some good news resulting from a census earlier in the year, that this population has increased 26%, in an area which covers parts of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda.

Chris Evers, Animal Embassy's founder and director, has more than 20 years of experience in wildlife conservation and environmental education, including work with nature centers and nonprofit environmental organizations. His educational programs are meant to teach appreciation and respect for the natural world. His talk at Weston Library, sponsored by The Friends of Weston Library,  begins at 4 p.m. and is free.

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