[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE HARPY EAGLE PROJECT

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                         HON. E. CLAY SHAW, JR.

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 23, 1997

  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ron Magill and the 
harpy eagle project--an international collaboration which aims to 
educate today's youth on the necessity of protecting our fragile 
environment. The harpy eagle project, as it has come to be known, was 
first conceived of by Mr. Ron Magill, zoological ambassador and 
director of communications at Miami's Metrozoo. After seeing the 
tremendous results that Metrozoo's many educational programs have had 
on area youth, Mr. Magill realized the profound impacts that occurred 
as a result of educating young Americans about protecting our wildlife. 
Mr. Magill did not, however, limit his vision of a concerned, earth-
friendly future generation to North America. He also recognized the 
need to educate international youth on the necessity of restoring and 
maintaining the natural habitat of indigenous animals. Combining his 
desire to educate with his concern for the harpy eagle, Mr. Magill has 
created the harpy eagle project.
  Last month Mr. Magill traveled to Panama for the groundbreaking of an 
international facility dedicated entirely to the harpy eagle. The harpy 
eagle, Panama's national bird, is the largest, most powerful bird of 
prey in the world. It is, quite literally, the top of the food chain in 
the tropical rain forest and plays an invaluable role in maintaining 
the delicate balance of life in Panama. Sadly, however, fewer than 20 
pairs of harpy eagles exist today in Panama. The species has 
disappeared altogether in Costa Rica.
  Mr. Speaker, the Harpy Eagle Center, a facility for which Mr. Magill 
has worked tirelessly over the past 4 years, will not only educate its 
visitors on the plight of the harpy eagle, but will also introduce them 
to the unique diversity of the rainforest. Hopefully, visitors to the 
center will leave with a newfound interest and concern for the care and 
protection of the tropical rainforest. It is, after all, only through 
an enhanced understanding of the ecosystem and of habitat restoration 
that we can hope to protect our fragile environment for future 
generations.
  Mr. Magill also created a wonderfully unique project for the 
schoolchildren of Panama. Supported by the Panamanian Government, Mr. 
Magill initiated a competition in which students will paint the harpy 
eagle. The winning image will become the next postage stamp for the 
Republic of Panama.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Magill on his hard work and dedication in 
creating the harpy eagle project. The project has successfully combined 
Mr. Magill's desire to inform the public of the necessity of protecting 
our wildlife with the understanding of the importance of international 
cooperation concerning our environment.

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