For this blog experience, I chose to attend the SEWE festival. This is also known as the Southeastern Wildlife Expo, where all different species are shown to the public. This was very fascinating to me, as I have always marveled at how many different types of animals there are out there and how they all come from different ecosystems and locations. All the animals shown at this expo hail from the southeastern area of the United States, so it is interesting to see the similar adaptations they have. This includes being of certain color to combat heat absorption, hunting specific prey that is plentiful to the area, among other interesting facts. Among the animals shown at this event, there were also art exhibits and food events, so this expo really can appeal to all different types of people with different interests.

I really enjoyed this event because it showed off how unique different species are and how amazing they truly can be. I have been to many dog shows in the past, but they were a lot stuffier than what was going on at this expo. Dogs’ talents were truly put to light, and owners were able to show off how special their dogs are and how much training has gone into their abilities. This shows a true connection between dog and owner, which I really admire as I have two dogs and it is very difficult to train them. I have also always admired how loyal a dog can be to their owner, and that different dogs absolutely have different personalities. My one dog has a very loyal personality, always aiming to please and feeling so guilty when he misbehaves. On the other hand, my other dog feels no remorse and has no problem being bad. This expo really shows the differences between animals and how these differences are important in have a diverse system.

Relating back to this class, I think that biodiversity is a huge environmental importance and this was really highlighted at the SEWE event. There were different species of owls, snakes, and other native creatures that really shows how different each animal is from one another. Each animal is crucial to the food chain and sustaining life. Owls and snakes share the same prey of mice, but they also have variations in their diet that allows them to live in similar environments and still have a steady food supply. It is so important to maintain this level of biodiversity so that all species can live sustainably. The impact of this event is to bring light to different species in a fun, interactive way. Not all people care about the environment, but this event was great in the sense that it really included every type of person and tried to make sustainability interesting to people who might not otherwise care or be interested in it. It is hard to get everyone on the same page of supporting the environment, but small steps like this SEWE event is a gateway to gathering people in on the pro-environmental movement.