Conserve

The Little Rock Zoo's Education Department works with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and several Arkansas state parks on bald eagle and raptor awareness community programs. These educational programs help inform the public of the importance of these natural predators in the ecosystem.

By utilizing non-releasable raptor ambassadors, the public gets a bird's eye view of these individual birds of prey. We also assist with statewide Raptor Research Projects, which address behavioral and scientific issues. Visit the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission web site at  www.arkansasstateparks.com

The Little Rock Zoo has for a couple of years an active supporter of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), founded in 1990 by Dr. Laurie Marker. CCF's mission is to be an internationally recognized centre of excellence in research and education on cheetahs and their eco-systems; working with all stakeholders to achieve best practice in the conservation and management of the world's cheetahs. As Namibia has the largest and healthiest population of cheetah left in the world, CCF's International Research and Education Centre is based in Namibia, near Otjiwarongo. CCF's stance is that understanding the cheetah's biology and ecology is essential to stabilize the population and manage its sustainability for the future. Its strategy to save the wild cheetah is a three-pronged process of research, conservation and education, beginning with long-term studies to understand and monitor the factors affecting the cheetah's survival. Results of these studies are used to develop conservation policies and programmes to sustain its populations. CCF actively works with local, national and international communities to raise awareness, communicate, educate and train. For more information go to http://www.cheetah.org

Chimp Haven serves as The National Chimpanzee Sanctuary. They are an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide lifetime care for chimpanzees who have been retired from medical research, the entertainment industry or no longer wanted as pets. The organization was founded in 1995 by professionals from the primatological, pharmaceutical, animal protection, zoo and business communities. Chimp Haven opened its doors to the first chimpanzees in April, 2005 and may also serve as an umbrella organization for several national sanctuaries in the future. In May 2001, Chimp Haven submitted a capability statement to National Institutes of Health (NIH), indicating its interest in becoming the organization to construct and operate the sanctuary system for chimpanzees. Following a rigorous selection process in which Chimp Haven competed with many other organizations, the NIH announced in September 2002 that Chimp Haven was selected to construct and operate the National Chimpanzee Sanctuary System. On May 30, 2003, ground was broken for construction of the facility on 200 acres of pristine forest that was donated by the citizens of Caddo Parish, Louisiana. Two phases of construction were completed by 2006. The first chimpanzee residents (Rita and Teresa) arrived in April 2005, and were quickly followed by dozens of other chimpanzees from several large research facilities. Chimp Haven’s national headquarters is located in 22 miles southwest of Shreveport, Louisiana, in the Eddie D. Jones Nature Park in Keithville, Louisiana. Today, over 100 chimpanzees are living the good life at Chimp Haven! To learn more, go to http://www.chimphaven.org

CBSG is an international conservation organization whose mission is "to assist conservation of threatened animal and plant species through scientific management of threatened animal and plant species through scientific management of small populations in wild habitats, with linkage to captive populations where needed."?CBSG, originally known as the Captive Breeding Specialist Group, was formed to meet the need for interface between the academic or field conservation community. From 1982-84, Dr. U. S. Seal developed the first model for a SSP following the International Tiger Symposium in Leipzig. In 1985, CBSG became involved with the development of the recovery program for the critically endangered black-footed ferret. Today, it is involved extensively in global conservation. For additional information, go to www.cbsg.org

The AZA Conservation Endowment Fund (CEF) supports the cooperative conservation-related scientific and educational initiatives of AZA and its member institutions. Every major type of conservation and animal care initiative is represented — research, field conservation, education, animal welfare, animal health and captive breeding. Established in 1984, the CEF is a critical part of the AZA's effort to meet its conservation objectives. The actual amount available for disbursement each year is determined by the AZA Board of Directors. Selections are made on the basis of a competitive review. Since 1991, the CEF has provided almost $5 million to over 280 projects worldwide. For over ten years, the Walt Disney World Company and the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund have provided significant financial support to the CEF, nearly doubling the number of proposals funded each year. To learn more, click here.

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International is dedicated to the conservation and protection of gorillas and their habitats in Africa. We are committed to promoting continued research on their threatened ecosystems and education about their relevance to the world in which we live. In collaboration with government agencies and other international partners, we also provide assistance to local communities through education, health, training and economic development initiatives.  

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International is a not-for-profit organization founded by Dr. Dian Fossey in 1978 to preserve and protect the world's last mountain gorillas. Originally named “Digit Fund” in memory of Dr. Fossey's favorite gorilla, the Fund was renamed in 1992 to underscore its commitment to carry on the gorilla protection and research programs established by Dr. Fossey. To learn more, go to www.gorillafund.org.   

In recent years, conservation biologists have drawn our attention to a worldwide decline in wild populations of frogs, toads, and salamanders - a phenomenon that has come to be called the Global Amphibian Crisis.  While habitat loss is still considered the most serious threat to the majority of species, especially in the humid tropical forest regions of the world, a fungal disease known as chytrid has been identified as being exceptionally deadly to amphibians, while not seeming to affect other groups of vertebrates – fish, reptiles, birds and mammals.   One of the regions in which chytrid epidemics have erupted is Central America, first appearing in Costa Rica and heading south into Panama.  Since it affects most amphibian species with which it comes in contact and also appears to persist in the environment, experts agree that the only hope of saving some of the more endangered, restricted-range species is to collect animals from remaining wild populations, establish captive breeding programs, and be prepared to conduct reintroduction projects in the future, should chytrid run its course or methods be found to eradicate the fungus without negatively impacting the environment.   The Houston Zoo has joined with a number of other AZA zoos and aquariums, academic institutions, and international conservation organizations to establish the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center in central Panama.  This new facility already holds several hundred native Panamanian frogs, toads, and salamanders.  The goal is to eventually maintain as many as 1,000 animals representing approximately 40 species. Many of these have never bred in captivity before. Learn more at www.houstonzoo.org/en/cms/?2149

The International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) is a non-profit tax-exempt organization open to professional biologists, wildlife managers and others dedicated to the conservation of all bear species. It supports the scientific management of bears through research and distribution of information. The eight bear species of the world pose significant research and management problems to governments, local authorities, wildlife biologists, land managers, park personnel, tribal councils, and private land owners. Encroaching civilization, involving land-use conflicts and resource utilization by human beings, has resulted in the decline or disappearance of bear habitat and bear populations in portions of their ranges. Continued viability of populations and the possible restoration of bears in certain areas, will be largely contingent upon a cooperative approach towards research, management, land use, and education, and will increase in cost as land values escalate. The IBA, an association primarily of professional biologists with an interest in bears, recognizes these difficult bear research and management problems faced by agencies and governments.  To learn more, go to www.bearbiology.com

The International Crane Foundation (ICF) commits to a future where all crane species are secure - a future where people cooperate to protect and restore wild populations and their ecosystems. These efforts sustain the places where cranes live, to the benefit of countless other species.  Among the people captivated by the beauty and mystique of cranes were two Cornell University graduate students - George Archibald and Ron Sauey - who were investigating crane behavior and ecology. Realizing that cranes were under intense pressure from the world's rapidly expanding human population; they decided to establish an organization dedicated to the study and preservation of cranes. In 1973, they founded the International Crane Foundation on the horse farm owned by Sauey's parents just north of Baraboo, Wisconsin.   Founders Ron Sauey and George Archibald wanted to create a "species bank." Concurrent with their efforts to breed cranes in captivity, ICF began to make significant contributions to the conservation of cranes in the wild through research and collaboration with colleagues around the world.   The Little Rock Zoo donated funds in 2008 to the Khinganski Nature Reserve in Russia for production of sticky labels with an image of a crane for a children’s education program.  To learn more, go to www.savingcranes.com

The mission of the International Elephant Foundation (IEF) is to support and operate elephant conservation and education programs both ex situ (in captivity) and in situ (in the wild), with emphasis on intensive management and protection as well as scientific research that assists these actions. In 2005 the Little Rock Zoo donated monies to help with the support of Conservation Response Units (CRU) at the Elephant Conservation Center in Bengkulu Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. In Sumatra the significant reduction of forests and a threefold increase in the human population over the last two decades have placed Sumatran Asian elephant populations in jeopardy, evidenced by the escalation of conflicts between elephants and humans. The IEF has funded and organized a number of trips to the Sumatran Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) to deliver medical supplies and provide training. IEF elephant experts and veterinarians share information with the staff at the conservation centers on captive elephant Husbandry and health care in an effort to make long-term positive changes in the lives of the elephants at the centers; and to protect this important meta population while the Government of Indonesia develops programs from habitat protection and the future of the wild and captive Sumatran Asian elephant. In 2004, IEF established a Conservation Response Unit to provide protection for plant and animal species in the region. This project will also provide useful “work” for the pawangs (Indonesian mahouts) and their elephants, improve health care and training, and provide the surrounding human communities educational materials on the conservation of elephants and habitat.  For more information on each of these programs, please visit  www.elephantconservation.org

Malayan Sun Bear Research by Wong Siew Te:

Industrial logging, large-scale forest conversion for oil palm plantations, and the illegal wildlife trade have left sun bears the rarest species of bear on the planet. Recognizing their dire status, Wong Siew Te, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Montana, is working in Malaysia to save the species from extinction. Known as “Sun Bear Man” in some circles, Wong Siew Te is setting up the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sabah, a Malaysian state on the island of Borneo. The project aims to save sun bears through research, education, rehabilitation and habitat conservation. To learn more about the plight of the Sun Bear, see www.sunbears.wildlifedirect.org, or www.wongsiewte.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.html

Mbeli Bai Study:

The Mbeli Bai Study (MBS) has been a very successful, long-term project operating since 1995 in the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo.  The western lowland gorilla is attracted to these swampy forest clearings, known as bai, a rich source of food for many African wildlife species in the area. Overseen by researcher Thomas Breuer and the Wildlife Conservation Society, the goal of the study is to ensure the protection of gorillas and other forest mammals via several research and conservation-based objectives. These include closely monitoring animal populations that utilize the bai, participation of students in surveying and monitoring in the field, and providing educational support in the surrounding communities to teach understanding and mitigate any human-animal conflicts.  The MBS is currently the only long-term study of lowland gorilla demography and has provided scientific insights into the social organization, behavior and population dynamics of this species and how it utilizes the unique bai habitat.

"PASA is committed to the conservation and care of African primates through the unique alliance of African sanctuaries." PASA sanctuaries were created over the last three decades to accommodate the staggering numbers of orphaned chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos and other endangered primates in Africa. PASA members and affiliated sanctuaries literally span the continent of Africa. The PASA Code of Conduct assumes a number of values that require all members and their staffs to exhibit a.) a concern for the primates; b.) integrity; c.) transparency; d.) fairness; e.) conscientiousness; f.) professionalism; and g.) personal and institutional commitment to conservation. Each sanctuary is tailored to the species it protects and the country within which it works, but one aspect is the same in every single facility: A deep and passionate interest in protecting primates and the wild spaces they inhabit. To learn more, go to www.pasaprimates.org

The South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) is a non-profit sea bird rehabilitation centre based in Cape Town, South Africa. Without SANCCOB many of South Africa's coastal birds would be on the endangered list. SANCCOB’s mission is to conserve and protect South Africa's sea birds, especially threatened species, for the benefit of present and future generations. Their core function is to prepare for and manage the rehabilitation of sea birds during a major oil spills, raise awareness about conservation through environmental education and collaborate on research projects. SANCCOB cleans and rehabilitates ill, injured, oiled and orphaned sea birds on a daily basis. Learn more at www.sanccob.co.za

The  Clouded Leopard Breeding Project, based at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, was developed by a consortium consisting of the Thailand Zoological Parks Organization (ZPO), Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Nashville Zoo, Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, and the Clouded Leopard SSP. This coalition of international partners is working together to develop a viable self-sustaining clouded leopard breeding program in Thailand. Khao Kheow Zoo, in Chonburi, Thailand, serves as the project's first breeding center, housing pairs of clouded leopards originating from the five zoos within the ZPO. Some of the cubs that result will be exported to the United States to serve as new founders to the SSP population in an effort to improve that population's genetics and demographics. An essential component of the project is the placement of a full-time coordinator from the United States in Thailand. The coordinator, Rick Pasarro, oversees the project and performs critical duties such as developing proper husbandry techniques, training Thai zookeepers, improving enclosures, assisting in veterinary care, and maintaining records. Experienced clouded leopard managers from Smithsonian National Zoo, the Nashville Zoo, and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium also rotate duties as relief project coordinators, with the zoos funding their salaries while they are working in Thailand. To learn more, go to www.cloudedleopard.org

The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission focuses on science-based conservation to protect our state’s biological diversity. As the central repository for data on rare plants and animals and natural communities in Arkansas, we work to provide up-to-date information for sound and timely conservation decisions. The staff of the zoo volunteer with this organization to go into the field and help with any projects they need manpower for www.naturalheritage.com

Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR) is a one of a kind black bear rehabilitation facility. Located just outside of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, ABR is a not-for-profit tax-exempt organization that has been returning black bears back to the wild since 1996. Each year black bears from our national parks and surrounding areas are orphaned, injured or in need of medical care. Thanks to Appalachian Bear Rescue, these bears are given a second chance.  For more information go to www.appalachianbearrescue.org

The mission of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission is to identify and protect remaining high-quality natural communities and maintain information on the distribution and status of rare species that live within the state. As Arkansas continues to grow and develop, it is vital that we identify and protect the best examples of our remaining natural heritage. By focusing our attention upon those natural communities and species that need the most protection, we can help to ensure that Arkansas's unique natural diversity is not lost. For more information, please see http://www.naturalheritage.com

Each year, the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK) sponsor a fundraising bowl-a-thon called "Bowling For Rhinos, sponsored by Blue Rhino" (BFR). This is similar to the March Of Dimes Walk-a-thon, only we bowl and collect sponsors, rather than walk. The beauty of the idea is that these fundraisers are organized by volunteers, who donate their time and organizational skills to help raise money to send directly to the places in need. Since all the people involved are volunteers, 100% of all donations are sent directly to rhino conservation areas!

Over 60 AAZK chapters participate throughout the US and Canada raising over $150,000 annually. BFR funds support LWC- Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (formerly called Ngare Sergoi rhino sanctuary) in Kenya, Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP) in Sumatra. These sanctuaries not only save rhinos, but also entire ecosystems! For more information, go to www.aazkbfr.org

(Kibale Community Fuel Wood Project):

Until recently, citizens living around Kibale National Park in Uganda obtained most of their fire wood from the small forest fragments surrounding the park. As the population increased, this harvest became unsustainable, and almost all of the forests outside of the park are now gone. As even small scale logging for fire wood has been proven to be extremely detrimental to numerous plant and animal species, an alternative is immediately needed.

Since 2006, the Kibale Community Fuel Wood Project has been working to protect Kibale National Park from encroachment, improve park-people relations by facilitating energy stability in surrounding villages, and provide local community members the skills and training needed to manage a grassroots organization. The project has a three tiered approach to meet its conservation goals: Tree planting, stove building, and outreach education. To learn, more go to www.chimp-n-sea.org

Roughly 17 million Malagasy people live and work across this same varied terrain. Their roots in both Africa and Asia mean they are a group as diverse as their surroundings. But people’s impact on the land means the curious island is far from pristine. Roughly four-fifths of Madagascar’s forests have been stripped bare. At sea, bleached reefs reveal that Madagascar’s waters are threatened by climate change. Environmental devastation brings with it health and economic risks for the Malagasy people. Thankfully, the government of Madagascar has an ambitious vision to make the country’s biodiversity the foundation of the nation’s wealth. CI remains a committed partner in this process. For more information, go to www.conservation.org

Partners In Conservation (PIC) was initiated in 1991 by staff and docents at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Founding members met one evening after work to discuss starting a grass-roots project that would respectfully assist conservation and humanitarian programs in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Two main goals were identified: to create holistic educational programs for children and adults that addressed wildlife and the needs of local people and to raise money to benefit both conservation and humanitarian projects.   The Columbus Zoo has funded PIC’s annual operating budget from the beginning. The generosity and commitment of the Columbus Zoo enables all money raised by PIC to equally benefit both people and wildlife.   PIC is currently partnering with conservation, humanitarian and education partners in Rwanda, the DRC and the United States. PIC is guided by the philosophy of funding projects conceived by our Rwandan and Congolese partners which address a particular conservation challenge.   All money raised benefits conservation and humanitarian programs in Rwanda and the DRC. To learn more go to: www.columbuszoo.org/partners_in_conservation/default.aspx

Riddle's Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary was established by Scott and Heidi Riddle in 1990on 330 acres in the Ozark Mountain foothills in Arkansas as a non-profit home for elephants needing one for any reason. This is the only internationally recognized sanctuary that accepts any elephant regardless of species, gender, or disposition.This Arkansas elephant sanctuary currently houses Asian elephants and African elephants, and both males and females. Elephant care and elephant management are taught at this elephant haven in the peaceful Arkansas countryside. Major goals of the sanctuary include the care of the resident elephant herd, but also elephant conservation in general, helping to ensure the long-term survival of these magnificent and highly endangered species. To learn more, go to http://www.elephantsanctuary.org