Wildlife rehabilitator Anne-Katrin Titze believes that "It is valuable for children who live in a large urban environment to interact with animals in a park, not only a zoo, and learn to respect other living creatures."
In an interview with Gothamist, Ms. Titze--a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator and a member of the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council--enumerates the problems that Prospect Park's policies and practices have created for the park's environment and its wildlife.
On barbecuing:
"Charcoal kills trees"—a large number of trees are dying and the lake environment is being polluted throughout the year by the burning and dumping of petroleum distillates.
On garbage:
"The amount of debris and garbage in Prospect Park Lake, uncovered in such a small area was troubling."
On erosion:
"The erosion around the lakeside has exposed tree roots and uprooted trees for years."
On the aftermath of the killing of the park's hundreds of geese:
"Currently there are 162 newly arrived Canada Geese since then and 215 Mallards."
Read the complete interview with Gothamist here.
