Through the Quarters for Conservation Q4C program, the Greater Vancouver Zoo raised a bit more than $25,000 this year.
For every admission into the zoo, 25 cents is donated to the program, as well as any donations made in three wishing wells inside the zoo.
Proceeds from the program are being used to increase awareness on three endangered species: the Guatemalan yello-naped amazon parrot, hornbills, and the Iranian cheetah.
The zoo supports these animals through three field conservation programs.
In Guatemala, members of the ARCAS Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Association have been training local researchers, collecting parrot-monitoring data, and coordinating education activities at six monitoring sites.
“It’s a complex project,” said Colum Muccio, Administrative Director of ARCAS.
“We are working with interested landowners and agribusiness associations to use the Yellow-Naped Amazon as a flagship species to protect the few wild places that still exist on the Pacific coastal plain of Guatemala, an area that has since colonial times been subjected to intensive farming.”
In India, members of the Nature Conservation Foundation found 38 hornbill nests of three different species and have helped 82 hornbill chicks fledge successfully.
“Hornbill nest adoption program is a unique partnership with the local community and government and built with urban citizen support and participation”, commented by Aparajita Datta of Nature Conservation Foundation.
Over in Iran, as one of the two Western conservation organizations that have permission to operate in the country, members of the Panthera International Wild Cat Conservation have been working with the Iranian Department of Environment Conservation.
Since its inception in 2008, the organization has protected the last 50 Asiatic cheetahs in the world.
“The Asiatic cheetah is a fantastic animal that has been part of Persian culture for 2,000 years, and deserves to be for 2,000 more,” said Panthera President and Chief Conservation Officer, Dr. Luke Hunter.
“We’re grateful for contributions from organizations like Greater Vancouver Zoo that help support Panthera’s work with Iran’s Department of the Environment and other critical partners to conserve and grow the world’s last remaining Asiatic cheetahs.”
To date, the zoo’s conservation program has raised $115,000.