Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash is about to receive an inaugural Tom F. Mankiewicz leadership award from the Los Angeles Zoo, at its 41st annual Beastly Ball, which will take place on June 18th.
This award will recognize his longtime contributions to environmental welfare programs and his support to the LA Zoo and zoos around the world.
GLAZA (Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association) President Connie Morgan declared:
‘Tom [Mankiewicz] advocated opportunities for interaction among our diverse communities and championed the cause of animals and the environment through education and on-the-ground conservation. He strongly believed the Los Angeles Zoo exemplifies both missions as a place where people come together having a good time while learning the importance of saving and protecting wildlife.’
To what Slash responded:
‘The biggest compliment for me is that it's Tom's award. I really adored that man. I miss him very much, and that aspect is very special and resonates deeply. Additionally, I profoundly appreciate the implications of the award itself. It's a fantastic honor.’
But Zoo director John Lewis could not stop there:
‘Slash is a great example of our mission of nurturing wildlife and enriching the human experience. He is a champion for wildlife and conservation and has introduced our mission, his passion, to millions of his fans’.
What a love fest! I had no idea Slash was an animal lover. You can actually watch him explaining his passion in this 3-minute YouTube video, and his involvement with the elephant exhibit. However, there was a lot of controversy with this one before it opens, since elephants need huge amount of space and animal rights advocates wanted to close it down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBDVJcAR2XY