Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund
Zoos today play an important role in wildlife conservation, and Auckland Zoo is a glowing example.
With a focus on conserving wildlife in the wild, staff established the Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund in 2001 to support field, or in situ, conservation efforts both at home and overseas.
Each year the Conservation Fund, which raises money through visitor admissions and donations, gives out grants to wildlife conservation projects that align with the Zoo’s work.
"The setting up of this fund was driven by staff, and it’s really important that zoo staff continue to be involved," says Conservation Fund Administrator Michelle Whybrow.
"As well as supporting conservation initiatives, we encourage staff to develop or utilise their own specialist skills by participating in many of these projects - whether they’re led by Auckland Zoo or another conservation partner."
One such conservation partner is the Lowveld Rhino Trust. LRT was recently awarded a grant from the Conservation Fund to support its parentage DNA analysis work for the black rhino population in Zimbabwe.
Michelle says, "Our long term goal with the Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund, other than to provide vital support for projects, is to secure Auckland Zoo’s reputation as a leading wildlife conservation organisation – and as one of the best zoos in the world."
"The Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund supported Lowveld Rhino Trust due to our strategy of supporting geographical regions represented by the precincts at the Zoo (Africa, South-east Asia, South America and Sri Lanka) and the direct link with rhinos in our collection. LRT is a trustworthy organisation doing good work on the ground working towards increasing the numbers and range of black and white rhinos in the Lowveld Region."
The Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund has grown considerably, granting more than $4,000,000 since its inception, and was resettled with Auckland Foundation in 2015.
If you would like to make a donation to the Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund, you can do so below.
Photo supplied by Lowveld Rhino Trust.
