INFORMATION
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Conservation at the San Antonio Zoo
Conservation is one of the cornerstones of the
San Antonio Zoo’s mission. The Zoo’s
commitment to conservation is clearly
demonstrated through the number of
conservation programs in which staff is
intricately involved.
Each year, the San Antonio Zoo participates in
and gives financial support to a variety of
conservation efforts around the world. The zoo has the ability to work towards this goal through a combination of different methods. Among them are:
- Financial support of in-situ and ex-situ conservation projects.
- Field study conducted by zoo staff.
- Scientific study utilizing living and deceased animals or their parts.
- Active participation in AZA Conservation and Science Programs.
- Conservation education programming on and off zoo grounds.
- Green Team initiatives
Financial support of in-situ and ex-situ projects:
The zoo has chosen to focus on several specific initiatives that are intended to be supported for continuous years. Some are supported in continuous years but a finite number of years. Below are just a few projects mentioned.
Information on the four listed below can be found in the Conservatio Projects tab.
Madagascar Fauna Interest Group
Zoo Conservation Outreach
Snow Leopard Trust
Gilma International Conservation Epulu Okapi Project
International Elephant Foundation (IEF) - The members of IEF identify projects and funding to support elephant conservation programs consistent with the principles of the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the American Zoo and Aquarium Association Taxon Advisory Group/Species Survival Plan (AZA TAG/SSP), the Species Management Program (ASMP) of the Council of Governing Bodies of Australasian Zoos, the Joint Management of Species Group (JMSG) of the British Federation of Zoos, the Europaiesches Erhaltungszucht Programm (EEP) of European zoos, the African Propagation Program (APP) of the Pan African Association, the South East Asian Zoo Association (SEAZA), and the Indian Endangered Species Breeding Program of the Central Zoo Authority of India (IESBP).
The zoo is currently providing dedicated funding support for a project designed to address human and elephant conflict in Tamil Nadu, India. This project will address a viable management strategy for elephant reserves with special emphasis on corridor management in order to prevent human and elephant conflict. www.elephantconservation.org
The Colobus Trust - The Colobus Trust is a conservation organization designed to promote the conservation, preservation and protection of primates like the rare Angolan colobus monkey and its coastal forest habitat in southern Kenya. www.colobustrust.org
Zambian Carnivore Programme – The mission of the Zambian Carnivore Programme is to safeguard the carnivores, including the African wild dog, and their habitat in Zambia through scientific research, community education and conservation activities. To utilize the African wild dog as a flagship species which in turn may benefit other species. To provide information to Zambian wildlife authorities to assist them in their efforts. To increase the understanding of the African wild dog and to promote conservation of its habitat.
www.zambiacarnivores.org
The National Elephant Center (TNEC) - The mission of TNEC is to achieve excellence in elephant care and management and to promote elephant conservation research with the result of saving the declining Asian and African elephant populations. To accomplish this through bold, innovative collaborations among AZA-accredited zoos and other national and international elephant experts and advocates; scientific research; training; education; and a deep commitment to the future and wellbeing of elephants.
www.thenationalelephantcenter.org
Field Study Conducted by Zoo Staff:
The San Antonio Zoo has been involved in the study of endemic Mexican herpetofauna for over thirty years, twenty six of those in direct collaboration with the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), México. Staff from the zoo’s Reptile Department travel to México at least twice a year to participate in ongoing field studies as follows:
Life History Traits of Crotalus polystictus; a Long-Term, Mark-Recapture Study
Since 2003 the zoo has supported a mark-recapture study of a dense population of the endemic Mexican rattlesnake, Crotalus polystictus. This particular species inhabits agricultural regions near Atlacomulco, México. Snakes are collected from May through September each year, with gravid females retained until parturition and then marked, measured, and returned (along with neonates) to their point of capture. To date, over one thousand individuals have been measured and marked. Resulting data on reproductive trade-offs and life history traits from this population residing in a heavily disturbed area will inform conservation strategies for rattlesnakes living in and near human populations, and for Mexican rattlesnakes in particular.
Captive Husbandry/Reproductive Strategies of Endemic Mexican Herpetofauna
Throughout its collaboration with UANL, the zoo’s studies have focused on the requirements of maintaining specialized endemic Mexican species in captivity. The zoo, along with UANL, has had great success in propagating a wide range of Mexican endemics, and staff regularly participate with UANL biologists in joint in situ and ex situ field projects. These include reptile and amphibian surveys for the states of Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and Coahuila; studies of the natural history of the Texas alligator lizard in Chipinque National Park, Nuevo León; studies of the natural history of the Tamaulipan rattlesnake; and studies of social interactions, photoperiod manipulations, environmental changes, and diet of Mexican endemic herpetofauna to develop effective captive husbandry protocols.
Scientific study utilizing living and deceased animals or their parts:
Each year the zoo receives numerous requests to participate in scientific study that somehow involve the zoos living collections. Through a vetting process and by investigating risk factors, each request must be evaluated to protect the interests of the animals, zoo staff and the Zoo. The zoo has established an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee to evaluate each request.
Conservation Education Programming on and
off Zoo Grounds:
Charged with providing diverse educational and high quality recreational experiences that inspire guests to create a better future for wildlife, the Education Department utilizes a wide variety of opportunities and resources. Each year the Zoo hosts more than 1,000,000 guests, approximately 600,000 of whom engage in an impromptu educational encounter with a staff member or volunteer. Additionally, formal education programs such as camps, overnights and trips provide more than 26,000 hours of formal conservation education.
A conservation message is incorporated into all formal programs and most informal zoo encounters. The Zoo divides conservation education messages into the following 3 categories:
Nature Messages - Increase awareness of living things and their environment
Zoo Messages - Increase awareness of role of zoos (why exist and best practices)
You Messages - Stress impact of humans on the environment and/or empower them to take positive action for the environment
Below are just a few of the Zoo’s programs with a strong emphasis on you messages or where guests actually get out into the field.
- Staff-led bus and boat trips taking zoo members and other interested parties to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to see endangered whooping cranes in their natural habitat. This program highlights zoos role in whooping crane conservation, importance of habitat and water conservation and how people can make a difference.
- Staff-led camping trips both on site and off site encourage and empower guests to get out and enjoy nature.
- Citizen science initiatives such as Frogwatch where the Zoo & its volunteers contribute nearly 1,000 man hours annually surveying and reporting native frog populations.
- Habitat restoration at Bracken Cave where the Zoo’s staff and teen volunteers not only get to help native wildlife and assist Bat Conservation International in preparing this amazing site for other guests, they also experience first-hand the world’s largest known bat cave.
- In a partnership with the Monterrey Bay Aquarium the Zoo educates guests, staff and volunteers on how and why to choose sustainable seafood. In addition to trainings, daily interpretive carts throughout the summer and exhibits, approximately 14,000 sustainable seafood pocket guides are distributed annually.
By evaluating existing programming and finding additional ways to deliver conservation education messages, the Zoo constantly strives to serve our mission, and to inspire ourselves and our guests.
Green Team Initiatives:
The Green Team is committed to developing and improving green initiatives in the Zoo’s daily operations and to raising conservation awareness among staff as well as guests. The Green Team’s efforts are focused on a variety of areas:
- Water and Energy Conservation – In 2007, the zoo installed 58 low-flow toilets on grounds. Offices use motion-activated light switches and staff are encouraged to use the power-saving settings on their computer equipment.
- Recycling – The zoo recycles an average of 72,000 pounds of paper, newspaper, plastic, and metal each year. Ink cartridges, computer components, light bulbs, batteries, vehicle and equipment parts are also recycled. Most recently, the zoo entered a partnership with Eco-Cell to collect and recycle cell phones. Collection bins for plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and zoo maps are highly visible for guests throughout zoo grounds.
- Resource Management – The Maintenance Department conducts periodic surplus sales of unwanted items to reduce waste. The Nutrition Center now uses washable containers instead of disposable plastic bags to distribute diets. Staff are encouraged to bring their own reusable cups and dinnerware, and some bring zero waste lunches.
- Compost – One of the Horticulturists collects plant debris from grounds and food scraps from Riverview Restaurant and the Nutrition Center to mix compost for her landscaping section.
- Green Products – The zoo’s janitorial service utilizes only green cleaning products, while the Nutrition Center provides green alternative products such as Peroxyclean as much as possible. Office staff use recycled or refillable ink cartridges.
- Education and Awareness – The Green Team maintains a bulletin board to educate staff on green issues and contributes articles to the zoo’s magazine and e-newsletter publications. The Team uses events such as Earth Day to raise public awareness about conservation and the environment.
The Zoo is involved in many conservation projects:
We are proud of the conservation successes at the San Antonio Zoo and around the world. We would like to thank our members and donors for making this possible.