The Regal Swan® contact: Shirley Bolin
Tel.: (407) 931-6838
Email: Bolin.S@att.net
www.theregalswan.com

The International Union for Conservation of Nature, (IUCN) Features Regal Swan® CEO Sheila Bolin as its “Scientist of The Month”

ORLANDO, FLORIDA –October 1, 2010 – The International Union for Conservation of Nature, (IUCN) based in Gland, near Geneva, Switzerland is featuring Sheila Bolin, CEO of The Regal Swan® Foundation, Inc., as its “Scientist of The Month,” beginning today. Bolin and The Regal Swan® will be featured on the IUCN’s official website: www.iucn.org

Bolin was chosen for this prestigious honor due to her ongoing commitment and passion to ensure that swans worldwide are provided with humane treatment and veterinary medical care. As the CEO and founder of The Regal Swan®, Bolin and other program researchers, comprised of veterinarians, educational specialists, science professionals and avian enthusiasts, have gained international recognition for their work to ensure the survival of these magnificent birds, especially in the captive setting.

Each month, IUCN features one of its 10,000+ volunteer scientists or experts from around the world, to spotlight the important conservation work these individuals are conducting in their respective fields. Bolin is a member of the IUCN’s Swan Specialist Group which has the primary focus of reaching a better understanding of all swan species (behavior, ecology, etc.) and applying the knowledge for conservation practices.

IUCN helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. It supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world and brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy, laws and best practice.

IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network - a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries.

IUCN’s work is supported by more than 1,000 professional staff in 60 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. IUCN was founded in October 1948 as the International Union for the Protection of Nature (or IUPN) following an international conference in Fontainebleau, France.

The organization changed its name to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources in 1956 with the acronym IUCN (or UICN in French and Spanish). This remains our full legal name to this day.

The Regal Swan, Inc.,® is based in Orlando, Florida and its researchers have gained international attention for their work in identifying a bacteria causing swans in the U.K. and the U.S. to turn pink in color as well as pioneering the use of vaccines to mitigate swan deaths due to botulism and West Nile Virus. The researchers were also the first to identify a protozoan affecting both humans and swans using DNA Sequencing. The protozoa, Rhinosporodium seeberi causes eye and nasal cysts in humans and swans.

The Regal Swan® researchers have developed swan related activities to teach science, math and reading for learners of all ages. In addition to the educational and research aspects of the Foundation’s work, specific swan care products to enhance the humane treatment of swans were produced. Swan care products created by Regal Swan® researchers include veterinary medical slings, nesting platforms and temporary indoor holding pens.

The program’s researchers also act as the head veterinary medical team for several entities maintaining swans. These include the city of Lakeland’s Lake Morton; the city of Orlando’s Lake Eola and the swans at Orange Lake Resort Orlando. The team serves as swan consultants for “Ask The Swan Specialist,” a website showcasing the Stanley Park Swans in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: www.stanley-park-swans.com

On Saturday, October 16, 2010, beginning at 8 a.m., The Regal Swan® veterinary medical team will capture, exam and vaccinate the Lake Eola swans. This annual event provides humane veterinary medical care in order to determine the health of the city’s swan flock.

The organization has received the prestigious Jefferson Award; the National Daily “Point of Light” Award; as well as the Governor’s “Point of Light” Award, for its dedication to the care of swans. The researchers have authored a book on the care of captive swans, entitled Swan Keeper’s Handbook: A Guide to the Care of Captive Swans by Krieger Publishing, released in 2003. For more information about The Regal Swan®, please visit www.theregalswan.com