Quarters for Conservation 2017-2018

Vultures, bush dogs and tigers will benefit from a commitment to direct 25 cents of every admission to saving species.

Conservation projects in Kenya, Argentina and Sumatra are the three newest beneficiaries of the 2017-2018 program year of Quarters for Conservation at Zoo Atlanta. The program contributes 25 cents of every general admission ticket to programs for wildlife, empowering guests to make a direct and personal impact on animal species and their habitats with every Zoo visit.

Zoo Atlanta launched Quarters for Conservation in 2016, and the program increases the Zoo’s existing level of conservation support by around $75,000 a year. Projects benefiting from the 2016-2017 launch year were Elephants for Africa, the Golden Lion Tamarin Association and Project Golden Frog. The 2017-2018 projects – the East Africa Vulture Project, Project Bush Dog and the Tiger Conservation Campaign – were announced during the Zoo’s Endangered Species Day event on May 13, 2017.

“We’re excited to see Quarters for Conservation enter its second program year with three new projects working for solutions that make a demonstrable impact in wild places,” said Raymond B. King, President and CEO. “Conservation has everything to do with individual choices and actions. This program helps our guests understand that their choices to visit and support Zoo Atlanta are choices that matter to endangered species.”

Visitors may vote for the project of their choice at the digital Quarters for Conservation kiosk just inside the Zoo entrance. The kiosk features videos, information and touch-screen voting. Guests may also vote via mobile phone by texting the number listed at the kiosk.

Quarters for Conservation projects for 2017-2018

East Africa Vulture Project, Kenya: Seven species of African vulture have experienced population declines of over 80 percent in the last few decades, with dramatic effects on native ecosystems. Poisoning, both accidental when intended for other targets and intentional when employed as a cover for poachers, is one of their primary threats. The Peregrine Fund’s East Africa Vulture Project works to provide resources and training for rapid response teams to locate, treat, rehabilitate, and release vultures affected by poisoning.

Project Bush Dog, Argentina: Bush dog populations are in significant decline as a result of habitat loss from deforestation and other human-driven factors. The encroachment of non-native plant species has reduced the availability of food and habitat for bush dogs and other species in the region. Project Bush Dog, which uses trained detection dogs to locate bush dog feces to study their home territories, seeks to use field research to establish biological corridors to connect habitat space and minimize human/wildlife conflict.

Tiger Conservation Campaign, Sumatra: Fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers remain in the wild. The species is threatened by habitat loss from human encroachment and unsustainable palm oil plantations, poaching for fur and bones, and killing by humans because of livestock predation. The Tiger Conservation Campaign works to combat these threats by constructing tiger-proof livestock pens in villages, increasing outreach and awareness, and helping veterinarians respond with assistance for wild tigers caught in snares.

To learn more about conservation efforts at Zoo Atlanta, visit zooatlanta.org/conservation.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Rachel Davis
Director of Communications
404.624.2812 – office
404.309.2238 – cell
rdavis@zooatlanta.org

Gavin Johnson
Public Relations & Communications Specialist
404.624.5980 – office
gjohnson@zooatlanta.org

About Zoo Atlanta
Viewed as one of the finest zoological institutions in the U.S. and a proud accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Zoo Atlanta has a mission to inspire value and preservation of wildlife through a unique mix of education and outdoor family experiences. From well-known native wildlife to critically endangered species on the brink of extinction, the Zoo offers memorable close encounters with more than 1,000 animals from around the world. Zoo highlights include giant pandas, including Ya Lun and Xi Lun, a set of twins born to Lun Lun on September 3, 2016; North America’s largest zoological population of great apes; and a global center of excellence for the care and study of reptiles and amphibians. Scaly Slimy Spectacular: The Amphibian and Reptile Experience, featuring more than 70 species in a 111,000 square-foot complex, is the world’s first LEED Gold-certified reptile and amphibian exhibit. The Zoo’s newest experience, Treetop Trail presented by Kaiser Permanente, opened in March 2017. Up-close-and-personal animal experiences include behind-the-scenes Wild Encounters with African elephants, Aldabra giant tortoises, giant pandas and warthogs. Zoo Atlanta is open daily with the exceptions of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Keeper talks, interactive wildlife shows, education programs and special events run year-round. For more information, visit zooatlanta.org.