PRESS ROOM

ROYAL OAK, Mich., 

It’s small wonder that Trinity Favazza, 12, of Shelby Township, Mich., is doing mighty things to bring attention to the conservation crisis facing wild populations of amphibians.

The Detroit Zoo’s Mayor of Amphibiville, who was sworn in to an unprecedented second term in November 2018, recently received the Future Leaders of Amphibian Conservation Scholarship and will be presenting at the annual Amphibian Conservation Research Symposium in Manchester, England April 27-28. The symposium – and the scholarship – is organized by Manchester Metropolitan University in collaboration with Chester Zoo and the Amphibian Survival Alliance and brings together amphibian conservation experts to share research and strategies.

Trinity also has earned a multitude of distinctions, including the John Muir Conservation Award for Youth Environmental Advocacy. The award was presented April 20 during the John Muir Earth Day celebration at the Muir Historic Site in Martinez, Calif.

“Trinity has amassed an impressive collection of accolades, all of them well-deserved,” said Ron Kagan, Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) executive director and CEO. “She is truly a conservation champion and represents hope for the future of our planet.”

In January, Trinity was honored with the Daily Point of Light Award, created by the administration of President George H. W. Bush to honor individuals and groups creating meaningful change across America. In late 2018, she submitted a proclamation to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder to declare a statewide Amphibian Conservation Awareness Week, which was adopted and set annually for the first week of December. In September of last year, Trinity was one of 10 students nationally to receive the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2018 President’s Environmental Youth Award. She was recognized for her work to protect local wetlands and raise awareness of amphibian conservation as Mayor of Amphibiville.

Amphibiville is a 2-acre wetland village that is home to the Detroit Zoo’s National Amphibian Conservation Center, a world-renowned center for amphibian conservation, care, exhibition and research. The state-of-the-art facility features a spectacular diversity of frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and caecilians. The Wall Street Journal dubbed the attraction “Disneyland for toads”.

Every two years, the DZS invites candidates ages 7-12 who live in Michigan to enter the race for Mayor of Amphibiville by submitting an essay of 100 words or fewer on what they can do to help amphibians.