ZOO ATLANTA ANNOUNCES A COMMITMENT TO SEVEN INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN 2026

Projects will be supported by The Mabel Dorn Reeder Conservation Endowment Fund 

ATLANTA – January 13, 2026 – Zoo Atlanta is proud to announce a commitment of support for seven conservation programs protecting wildlife in Borneo, Kenya, Namibia, Nepal, Sumatra, Madagascar, and Cambodia in 2026. Projects for orangutans, lions, rhinos, red pandas, Sumatran tigers, radiated tortoises, and clouded leopards are the 2026 beneficiaries of the Zoo’s Mabel Dorn Reeder Conservation Endowment Fund.  

The Mabel Dorn Reeder Conservation Endowment Fund annually awards grants to projects that enable Zoo Atlanta to amplify its global conservation impact. Projects are proposed by Zoo team members and are selected by a review committee based on relevance to the Zoo’s mission; conservation status and needs of the species in question; conservation significance; and inclusion of education and community outreach.   

“Partnerships are an important part of any big-picture conservation strategy, ensuring that efforts that demonstrate success are supported and sustained for the long term,” said Gina Ferrie, PhD, Vice President of Collections and Conservation. “Our Mabel Dorn Reeder Conservation Endowment Fund allows Zoo Atlanta to expand our impact far beyond what we could do alone as a single organization.”  

Programs slated for 2026 support from the Mabel Dorn Reeder Conservation Endowment Fund are as follows:  

Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation USA – Borneo  
Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation is constructing island habitats to serve as both pre-release and habitat areas for orangutans preparing for freedom and sanctuary homes for non-releasable individuals. These semi-natural environments improve welfare by enabling orangutans to display natural behaviors in settings that closely resemble their wild habitat, helping to prepare them for future release. The project was championed by Lynn Yakubinis, Lead Keeper of Primates.  

Ewaso Lions – Kenya
Ewaso Lions’ Kids Camp (LKC) program seeks to enlighten and ignite a new generation of Kenyan conservationists, blending wildlife education, safaris, and conservation-themed games and activities. Building upon prior success and with Zoo Atlanta’s support, the organization will run three LKCs for children who have never had any conservation exposure before. The project was championed by Taylor Robinson, Mammal Keeper. 

International Rhino Foundation – Namibia
Local rangers and communities are teaming up to protect endangered rhinos in Namibia. Support from Zoo Atlanta helps the International Rhino Foundation and Save the Rhino Trust keep rhinos safe, train community rangers, teach children to value wildlife, and build new job opportunities for local families. The project was championed by Gina Ferrie, PhD, Vice President of Collections and Conservation.  

Red Panda Network – Nepal  
Receiving a second year of support from Zoo Atlanta in 2026, this grant will be used for the construction of greenhouses and shade houses, each with the capacity to produce and nurture 22,680 native seedlings. These seedlings will support forest restoration for red panda habitat, as well as will generate sustainable income for local communities by providing green jobs in the form of Restoration Stewards. The project was championed by Kenn Harwood, Curator of Mammals. 

Tiger Conservation Campaign – Sumatra  
A major threat to critically endangered Sumatran tigers is human-tiger conflict, with tigers killed in retaliation for livestock depredation and in snares set for wild pigs in agricultural fields. Tiger Conservation Campaign works with local villages to prevent and respond to human-tiger conflict to eliminate tiger killings. The project was championed by Mel Shiels, Mammal Keeper.  

Turtle Survival Alliance – Madagascar
Funding from Zoo Atlanta will support health screening of confiscated and wild radiated tortoises, a critically endangered species, to reduce disease risk and to guide reintroduction. An international veterinary team will collaborate with the Malagasy team to conduct health assessments, provide supplies, and train veterinary students, ensuring healthy rewilded populations while building in-country conservation medicine capacity. The project was championed by Kate Leach, DVM, Senior Veterinarian.  

Wildlife Alliance – Cambodia  
Wildlife Alliance aims to implement a highly effective anti-poaching program to address the issue of clouded leopard mortality caused by snaring. This effort seeks to provide assistance in law enforcement patrolling, with specific focus on snare removal in the center of the Cardamom Rainforest – an area crucial for the survival of the clouded leopard and other endangered mammals. The project was championed by Michelle Elliott, Mammal Keeper.  

Beyond those projects supported by the Mabel Dorn Reeder Conservation Endowment Fund, Zoo Atlanta has a significant history of conservation program support and scientific research focused on enhancing a global body of knowledge on animal behavior and biology. Signature Conservation Partners include Conservation South Luangwa in Zambia and the Golden Lion Tamarin Association in Brazil. A third Signature Conservation Partner, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, was announced in 2025 in the 30th anniversary year of Zoo Atlanta’s partnership with the organization.  

Learn more about conservation programs and partnerships at Zoo Atlanta at zooatlanta.org/conservation.

MEDIA CONTACT:  
Rachel Davis
Director of Communications
rdavis@zooatlanta.org  
404.624.2812 

Gavin Johnson
Public Relations Manager
404.624.5980
gjohnson@zooatlanta.org  

ABOUT: About Zoo Atlanta 
A proud accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the gold standard for animal care and welfare, Zoo Atlanta has a mission to save wildlife and their habitats through conservation, research, education, and engaging experiences. The Zoo is home to hundreds of animals representing more than 200 species from around the world, many of them endangered or critically endangered. Highlights include a transformed African Savanna featuring expanded habitats for African elephants, giraffes, zebras, ostrich, warthogs, meerkats, and rhinos; one of North America’s largest populations of great apes; and a global center of excellence for the care and study of reptiles and amphibians. Recent transformations include a newly updated African lion complex, opened in April 2025, and the state-of-the-art Rollins Animal Health Center, completed in 2024. For more information, visit zooatlanta.org.