CFK VIP Series looks at global warming on sea turtles, wildlife

Local veterinarian Dr. Douglas Madar will lead the presentation

Local Veterinarian Dr. Douglas Madar, pictured with a baby sea turtle, will present in the College’s VIP Series on February 22.

KEY WEST, FL, February 12, 2024— The College of the Florida Keys continues its 2024 VIP Series with “Global Warming and Wildlife” on Thursday, February 22 at 7 p.m. in the Tennessee Williams Theatre on the Key West Campus. The presentation will be led by local veterinarian and author Dr. Douglas Mader. In its tenth season, the College’s VIP Series invites the community to learn from the Views, Ideas, and Perspectives of speakers of local, regional, and national prominence. The 2024 season includes presentations that focus on timely topics relevant to Keys’ audiences.

Dr. Mader will discuss the impact that increasing temperatures have had on wildlife. He will also explore how changes in water, including droughts and floods, contribute to habitat instability. His presentation will focus on sea turtles, which he calls the proverbial “Canary in the Coal Mine” for our oceans, and the recent phenomena of all female hatchling nests caused by warmer temperatures in South Florida.

Dr. Mader is a triple board-certified veterinary specialist with over three decades of experience. He is an internationally acclaimed lecturer and is on the review boards of several scientific journals. Dr. Mader has written medical textbooks and numerous scientific publications. His latest work is "The Vet at Noah's Ark - Stories of Survival from an Inner-City Animal Hospital." He serves many animals in South Florida through his veterinary practice and by serving as the consulting veterinarian for the Monroe County Sheriff's Zoo, the Key West Aquarium, Dynasty Marine, the Sea Turtle Hospital, the Everglades Alligator Farm, Zoo Miami, and the Theater of the Sea.

CFK’s 2024 VIP Series is sponsored by First Horizon Bank. Tickets for each event are $5 at the door. Admission is free for students at CFK and Monroe County schools. For more information, call CFK at 305-296-9081 or visit the College’s website at CFK.edu/VIP.