The WDC is getting more space and a new arrival!

Posted in General By Rickey on March 19th 2007

The Grass Is Rattling Exhibit getting more space! By March of 2008 we’ll have an additional 500 square feet by moving the exhibit to the far north machine shed. We are very excited about this move as it will allow us to convert the current GIR space into a Visitor’s Center and we are also restoring the south end of Elawa Farm into three new classrooms. When it’s all said and done, we are going to have a magnificent facility at a historic site and something that no place in the Chicago region has. Stay tuned!

SALTWATER CROC COMING TO THE WDC! Soon, we’ll have an adorable baby saltwater crocodile coming to the WDC. The Saltwater or Estuarine Crocodile is the world’s largest species of crocodilian and it’s our hope to one day have more space to have a “Crocosium” where people can view modern day dinosaurs. We are very happy to open our doors to this magnificent animal! Thanks to a donation from the Max Schewitz Foundation (www.maxandthewildthings.com) and a local foundation that supports various conservation projects, we will soon have an adorable saltwater croc. We decided to name this cute little croc “Maximus” after the late Max Schewitz who grew up at the Wildlife Discovery Center and later worked there too where he was an animal keeper and wildlife instructor. On September 29, 2005 Max died suddenly of a hear attack and this was one of the worst losses I have ever experienced - a 20 year old kid dying of an undiagnosed heart problem. Thankfully, Max’s family turned this devestating loss into a wonderfully positive opportunity by creating the Max Schewitz Foundation that supports worldwide conservation in addition to supporting causes to help diagnose heart problems in young people. They just sponsored a school wide EKG program at Lake Forest High School and who knows how many lives may have been saved.

One of Max’s favorite places he traveled to was Australia where he spent some time in the outback enjoying his favorite past time….HERPING (looking for reptiles). He enjoyed emailing me pics of his latest conquests such as a large king brown which is one of the most feared snakes of Australia. He loved this continent and he always dreamt of the WDC having its own saltwater crocodile. We couldn’t think of a better name that “Maximus” for our baby saltie. We’ll keep you posted.