ZDR3 News Release
6/10/2023
When Super Typhoon Mawar made landfall as a category 4 storm on May 25, the founders of the island’s only zoo were riding it out in their home with many of their smaller animals, including Mariana fruit bats, birds, and turtles. A representative from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), who was working in a disaster response role, immediately recognized the need for additional support and recommended a resource the Cushings weren’t aware of: Zoological Disaster Response, Rescue, and Recovery (ZDR3).