Conservation

Since 1999, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has had a breeding colony of wood storks on grounds and beginning in 2003 in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, we began monitoring their population and nesting success in North Florida.

Following the extirpation of striped newts in Apalachicola National Forest, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens teamed up with other zoos around the southeast to breed and release these small, but special amphibians back into their native habitat. 

RWRU develops crucial research and conservation efforts in Guyana, South America by empowering local communities to monitor wildlife, including jaguars, that will assist with developing legislation and protected areas to protect the wildlife of Guyana.

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is teaming up with Atlanta Botanical Garden and other partners to monitor the presence and population of select species of orchids to identify and recommend protection strategies. Species of orchids include, Chapman’s fringed orchids, Cigar orchids, and more.

The Okapi Conservation Project uses the okapi as flagship species to protect the entire rainforest ecosystem. This is done through a holistic approach through wildlife protection, community assistance and conservation education.

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Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has a Marine Mammal Response Team made up of Zoo staff that assists Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with the rescue and transport of injured marine mammals to rehabilitation centers in Florida, including our Manatee Critical Care Center right here at the Zoo. Once animals have recovered, they are released back into the wild.

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Lola ya Bonobo provides care and rehabilitation for confiscated bonobos from the illegal pet trade. Those that are well enough are then released back into the wild and monitored for their survival.

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IRF organizes a Rhino/Wildlife Protection Unit in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park in Sumatra, Indonesia. Made up of six wildlife rangers, the Wildlife Protection Unit patrols the forest removing snares, arresting poachers and documenting additional illegal activity to protect tigers, rhinos, elephants and many other animals that reside in the forest.

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GRACE partners with local communities in eastern DR Congo to rehabilitate and conserve critically endangered Grauer’s gorillas in the rainforests of eastern DR Congo. Their programs not only include the rehabilitation of gorillas, but they also educate local communities on how to develop sustainable livelihoods while improving their standard of living.

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Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens works with the Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE) to assist with health checks and conservations trategy for the critically endangered Central American River Turtle, locally known as the Hicatee.

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