KISSIMMEE - The Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition neared civilization today. The group stopped at a wilderness preserve on the edge of Orlando’s sprawl, where they received an unexpected gift - from President Obama.
The gift was a copy of both the expedition’s route map through Florida and a photograph by group member Carlton Ward Jr. – both signed by the president. The items were brought to the White House by members of the Northern Everglades Alliance, which is trying to protect the headwaters of the Kissimmee River.
Ward had just rode into the Disney Wilderness Preserve near Kissimmee on horseback – 17 miles.
"To be here with a group of ranchers from the Northern Everglades Alliance is special, because this group of people have been stewards of their land for generations," he said. "To come in on horseback was a fitting opportunity that we’re very thankful for."
The expedition members are now poised to paddle north on the St. John’s River on their way to north Florida and the Georgia state line. They’re walking 1,000 miles in 100 days to publicize the need to connect the state’s wild areas into a continuous corridor.
