WILD

Photo of the Week – 3/16/09

This photo of the Resplendent Quetzal by Steve Winter, our photographer of the month and member of the International League of Conservation Photographers, is found from Southern Mexico to western Panama.  The quetzal plays an important role in Mesoamerican mythology.  Their iridescent green tail feathers, symbols for spring plant growth, were venerated by the ancient Mayas and Aztecs.  It is also a symbol of liberty, because it does not fair well in captivity.  The quetzal is on the IUCN Red List as near threatened due to widespread deforestation in its range territory.  Because of its importance and symbolism in Mesoamerica, the queztal is the inspriation for the WILD9 logo, and many of the materials for the Congress.

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