We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Transcript/Script City Nature Challenge
HEADLINE: Thousands of Citizen Scientists Document Urban Plants, Animals
TEASER: ‘City Nature Challenge’ expands to 47 countries, including war-torn Ukraine
PUBLISHED AT: Thursday, 05/12/2022 at 526p
BYLINE: Mike O’Sullivan
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Los Angeles
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: BR, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Reuters, Other (see courtesies for City Nature Challenge, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, iNaturalist.org, Skype)
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 1:43
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRODUCTION))
[[Rare and threatened species were among the plants and animals tracked by citizen scientists from around the world in this year's City Nature Challenge in Los Angeles. The findings from 47 countries were unveiled this week, including a new orchid species in Bolivia and the endangered Przewalski’s ((Pr: shuh-VAHL-skeez)) Horse in war-torn Ukraine. VOA’s Mike O’Sullivan has details. ]]
((NARRATOR))
Results are in from the global science project called the City Nature Challenge. The four-day event held in late April and early May.
((Rob Wallace, Wildlife Conservation Society)) ((REUTERS))
“They’re trying to document as many plants and animals as possible and they’re taking that time to connect with nature.”
((NARRATOR))
Students from La Paz, Bolivia were among people from 445 cities who took part.
((Mandatory Credit: Natural History Museum Los Angeles))
((NARRATOR))
The challenge began in 2016 as a competition between San Francisco and Los Angeles and has now grown into an international event.
((Mandatory Credit: iNaturalist.org))
Participants upload photographs through an app called iNaturalist. Among the findings:
((Lila Higgins, City Nature Challenge Cofounder))
((MANDATORY CG: Skype))
“The Dusky Shark, which is an endangered species that was documented off the coast of Australia.”
((CREDIT: Juan-torrezii))
((NARRATOR))
A recently discovered orchid species in Bolivia.
((CREDIT: Wonjai-lee))
The Tiger Keelback snake from first-time participant Jeju (PRS: JEH-joo) in South Korea.
((CREDIT: Vasyliuk Oleksij, Igor V. Lutsenko))
And the endangered Przewalski’s ((Pr: shuh-VAHL-skeez)) Horse, documented by a Ukrainian zoologist...
((CREDIT: City Nature Challenge))
northwest of capital city of Kyiv.
((Lila Higgins, City Nature Challenge Cofounder))
((MANDATORY CG: Skype))
“Over 7,000 observations made in the Ukraine. So, there are scientists all over the world taking part in this and sometimes the conditions in the place that you live aren’t that amenable.”
((NARRATOR))
Data collection was easier in most other countries, where people from all walks of life joined the project.
((Lila Higgins, City Nature Challenge Co-Founder))
((MANDATORY CG: Skype))
“There are a lot of teachers and school groups, there are a lot of family groups, there are a lot of single adults who are just like, this is what I love to do on my weekends and evenings.”
((NARRATOR))
Tens of thousands of people, creating a year-by-year record of life on earth.
((Mike O’Sullivan, VOA News, Los Angeles))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Los Angeles
Embargo DateMay 12, 2022 17:19 EDT
Byline((Mike O’Sullivan, VOA News, Los Angeles))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
