Powell, OH—The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, including the Columbus Zoo, The Wilds, Zoombezi Bay, and Safari Golf Club, announced that the 2020 Conservation and Sustainability Report, highlighting the organization’s local, national, and international initiatives benefiting wildlife and communities across the globe, is now available on the Zoo’s website.
As known leaders in the zoological community for a commitment to wildlife conservation worldwide, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium continues to strive toward the vision of “the sustainable coexistence of all living things” through close working relationships with conservation partners, communities who share wildlife habitat, and other valued supporters. With the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the world hard over the last year, the global conservation community was also deeply impacted as access, funds, and other resources became more limited than ever. However, even during the pandemic, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium supported conservation projects through privately-raised funds and spearheaded sustainability initiatives to empower people and save wildlife through conservation action, education, science, and modeling environmental sustainability.
As detailed in the report, several key highlights of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s contributions to conservation and sustainability include:
- Funding 49 projects and conservation organizations locally and around the world. Examples include the Ohio Wildlife Center, a wildlife hospital in Central Ohio that treated 8.105 patients representing 166 native species; and the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance, a coalition of wildlife partners in Africa, who rescued 239 primates from the illegal wildlife trade in 2020.
- Providing emergency support to Zoos Victoria for rescuing animals affected by the bushfires in Australia.
- Continuing to support and directly participate in recovery projects for threatened and endangered species, including manatees, eastern hellbenders, plains garter snakes, Mexican wolves, American burying beetles, and Ohio’s freshwater mussels.
- Receiving and caring for 18 explanted coral colonies through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project until the corals can be returned to Florida when Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease is no longer a threat.
- Recycling over 100 tons of material and composting more than 1,300 tons of animal waste and food scraps at the Zoo. The Wilds also recycled 3.31 tons of inoperative appliances, electronics and equipment.
“Conservation already involves many complexities, and 2020 especially was a hard year for everyone. At the Columbus Zoo, The Wilds, Zoombezi Bay, and Safari Golf Club, it is our mission to lead and inspire by connecting people and wildlife. Even when faced with closures and other challenges, we recognize our position and duty in working to protect the world’s wildlife. When guests visit our facilities, we hope that they leave feeling inspired to help protect these animals’ counterparts in their native ranges. These species, their habitats, and resources that help support surrounding communities are irreplaceable, and it truly takes all of us to work together to make a difference. We are extremely proud of the contributions that our organization was able to make during 2020. Still, we are even more grateful to our guests, donors, and other supporters, who are really helping us move the needle in making a positive impact,” said Dr. Michael Kreger, Vice President of Conservation and Sustainability at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
When guests visit the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, they are helping to save species, as a portion of admission supports conservation efforts. Additionally, guests contribute to these initiatives by learning about conservation and sustainability through participation in one of the many education events and taking action at home. From planting a pollinator garden to recycling, guests are serving as conservation champions and advocates for wildlife.
For additional updates about the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s conservation and sustainability initiatives, animals, events, and more, be sure to follow the Zoo’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and visit us at ColumbusZoo.org.
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About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species worldwide, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads and inspires by connecting people and wildlife. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a regional attraction with global impact, annually contributing privately raised funds to support conservation projects worldwide. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Columbus Zoo has earned Charity Navigator’s prestigious 4-star rating.
