Today, the nature center is thriving under the leadership of a board with local and international members. But its future wasn't always so rosy. Formerly a plantation of cocoa, coffee, and citrus fruits, the area fell into disrepair until 1967. A concerned group of conservationists raised money and established the reserve as a public center for studying and conserving the wildlife of Trinidad.
Today, the center has more than 8,000 visitors annually. They come to see the beautiful foliage, the rare oilbirds, and the spectacular array of tropical wildlife. Those who are unable to come can experience the beauty of the land through Roger Neckles' work. "I have no plans to give this up at all," he told National Geographic Today. "I could do this for the rest of my life."
A report on photographer Roger Neckles and the Asa Wright Nature Center aired Tuesday, May 8, on National Geographic Today.
|
SOURCES AND RELATED WEB SITES
|
