How It All Started
On May 10, 2020 CBS Sunday Morning had a segment about zoos in the time of pandemic. San Diego Zoo is one of the zoos featured in the story which describes the challenge of feeding animals in the time of no income.
Check out the segment here: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/behind-the-shut-gates-of-the-zoo/
The Plight of Zoos and Aquariums during the COVID19 Lockdowns inspired Dr. Monica to take action:
She set out on a solo walk of 130 miles across Southern California to raise funds and awareness for the plight of the zoo and aquarium animals!
Her urban trek took her from the Los Angeles Zoo to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach and onwards to the San Diego Safari Park.
You can watch a 46 minute video below, detailing her 8 day urban trek below or check out the original blog documenting the journey day by day.
This is the map of the route Dr. Monica walked:
She Even Caught the Attention of the San Diego Morning Show:
Her journey took 8 long days and she was able to raise almost $16,000 for hungry animals and fish.
Since Dr. Monica’s walk was originally a plan to raise money for Southern California, the lion’s share (pun intended) of the donations went to the 3 places where Dr. Monica walked, the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens, the Aquarium of the Pacific and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park!– each receiving $4,000.
However, due to the generous outpouring of donations, Dr. Monica was able to donate to another 35 institutions as well, inspiring her to create an official 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity whose mission is to support wildlife and environmental conservation projects:.
