Scarsdale Teen Organizes '"Save The Tiger" Weekend at the Bronx Zoo

Scarsdale Senior Girl Scout Samantha Lawless is partnering with Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo to present a "Save The Tiger" weekend. On April 18 and 19, visitors will learn why the wild tiger is endangered and find out what they can do to help stop it from disappearing in our lifetime. Activities will include talks and video presentations about the tiger and its habitat. Children will make tiger masks and visit real tigers at the zoo's Tiger Mountain exhibit.

This "Save The Tiger" weekend is part of Samantha's Girl Scout Gold Award Project which is the highest award a girl scout can earn by working more than 80 hours on a community service project to improve the world and be sustainable beyond her involvement. Samantha is also talking with the zoo's guest programming and education departments about helping them create a Tiger Conservation Patch Program for scout troops to earn at the zoo.

Samantha, who feels strongly about helping protect wildlife, held several successful events in Scarsdale two years ago while earning her Girl Scout Silver Award. Her most dramatic event was a tiger-themed fashion show held at The Center @862, which raised awareness in her community about the endangered tiger as well as over $1000. She used the money to purchase GPS equipment for Panthera, a conservation group working in the forests of Asia to protect the tiger from extinction.

Through Panthera, Samantha was introduced to a National Geographic author who is writing a book to encourage kids to get involved in wild animal conservation. The book will be published this summer and will include information about Samantha's tiger projects.

"I'm hoping that my new project at the Bronx Zoo will reach even more people than the event to raise awareness in Scarsdale. I want to inspire others to take action to prevent the loss of this beautiful animal," says Samantha. "I especially want to teach other kids and teens about the issues of wildlife trafficking and deforestation. There are only about 3,200 wild tigers left on earth today. Young people hold the future of this planet in their hands and will make the right choices if they know what is at stake."

Samantha's "Save The Tiger" activities will be included with admission to the Bronx Zoo on April 18 and 19.