Zoo Conservation Outreach Group

05/12/2023

Zoo Conservation Outreach Group (ZCOG) is proud to announce Ricardo Moreno of Fundación Yaguará Panamá as the 2022 recipient of ZCOG’s Ron Magill Conservation Heroes Award (RMCHA).

Ricardo is the co-founder, President, and Principal Researcher of Fundación Yaguará Panamá, a nonprofit organization that promotes the conservation and recovery of big cats in Panama. Throughout the Panamanian countryside, Ricardo and his colleagues at Fundación Yaguará are using scientific research, education and outreach, and public awareness programs to help protect jaguars and their habitat. Specifically, the team is working with private landowners and ranchers to implement predation prevention measures to decrease human – jaguar conflict, and conducting Panama’s first national jaguar census, a key component of the Panamanian government’s National Action Plan for Jaguar Conservation.

Ricardo’s tireless advocacy for jaguar conservation in Panama has earned him a Ford Prize and National Geographic Society Emerging Explorer honors, and marked him as a true conservation hero!

Funds awarded from the 2022 RMCHA helped purchase camera traps for use by Fundación Yaguará in the national jaguar census. Funds secured from ZCOG Board member matching pledges will be used to purchase additional equipment, materials, and services required by Ricardo and Fundación Yaguará for the census. Please us the link below if you would like to donate to this effort:
https://bit.ly/ZCOG_Jaguar

The Ron Magill Conservation Heroes Award recognizes outstanding contributions to wildlife conservation in Latin America and the Caribbean Basin by supporting professional capacity building and project development. The award provides Latin American and Caribbean conservationists with opportunities to fulfill their conservation potential by funding capacity building—in the form of professional training—and project development assistance—in the form of field equipment purchases or data collection and monitoring services. In doing so, the award bridges ZCOG’s dual missions of promoting capacity building through professional development opportunities and providing direct support for wildlife and habitat conservation in the Americas.

Our sincere thanks to Ron Magill, the Ron Magill Conservation Endowment and the Zoo Miami Foundation for partnering with ZCOG on this important conservation award!

05/06/2023

05/06/2023

Aspiring wildlife photographers:

Add to your photo portfolio and support chinchilla conservation by participating in the Pittsburgh AAZK Chapter’s 2023 photo contest. Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers of this year’s event, and a portion of the proceeds earned will be donated to SAFE Chinchilla to support the Short-tailed Chinchilla Conservation Project in Chile.

The official entry period for the contest runs from May 1st – May 28th.

For instructions on how to enter your photo, go to: https://pghaazk.square.site

Full contest details: http://www.pghaazk.org/2023-photo-contest.html

Support SAFE Chinchilla and submit your photo today!

About SAFE Chinchilla: SAFE chinchilla develops, coordinates, and leads the AZA community's support for the Chilean government's official recovery and conservation plan for short-tailed and long-tailed chinchillas. Learn more at: https://www.aza.org/safe-species

The Short-tailed Chinchilla Conservation Project is a multi-year research initiative that supports the conservation and recovery of critically endangered Short-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla chinchilla) populations in Chile. The project was initiated in 2019 by Zoo Conservation Outreach Group (ZCOG) and the Zoológico Nacional de Chile to implement research activities in support of the Chilean government’s Short-tailed Chinchilla Recovery, Conservation, and Management Plan (Plan RECOGE), and is now a key conservation component of AZA’s SAFE Chinchilla program.

To DONATE: https://bit.ly/DonateSAFEChinchillas

Click Here for More Information

05/06/2023

PHOTO CONTEST ALERT!!!!!

What better way to celebrate National Photography month? Anyone can enter and participants can enter as many times as they choose with a fee for each entry. A portion of the proceeds will support the Short-tailed Chinchilla Recovery Program! Please visit https://pghaazk.square.site/ for entry and more information. Wildlife photos must be submitted by 11:59pm on May 28. We can’t wait to see your photos!

Please share!!!

04/25/2023

Partners, colleagues, and friends:

All this week, our Chilean partners are in the Andean highlands of San Pedro de Atacama to celebrate flamingos in anticipation of International Flamingo Day on April 26. Team members from the Zoológico Nacional de Chile and Fundación MERI have developed a full program of education workshops, public awareness events, and community engagement activities to promote the conservation of Andean, Chilean, and Puna (James’) flamingos and their wetland habitat. A calendar of events is attached. Follow activity updates on the SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo forum on the AZA Network and on Facebook.

Yesterday and today, will be working with local communities to develop, and later install, educational and interpretive signage to help protect flamingo feeding, breeding, and nesting habitat in areas of high tourist visitation in and around the Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos (see attached graphic).

This week’s activities are funded by the SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo program and its partners. Thank you for your support!

Your AZA accredited facility can help SAFE protect our fabulous, flamingo friends and their salty salar habitat by becoming a program partner or donating here: https://bit.ly/DonateFlamingos

About SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo: SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo supports the recovery and conservation of Andean, Chilean, and Puna (James’) flamingos through research, engagement, training, outreach, and education. AZA members work with Chilean private and public sector partners to support activities outlined in the country’s Andean highland flamingo conservation plan by filling research gaps, and assisting with the identification, prioritization, and designation of critical flamingo habitat in Chile’s Andean highlands. Learn more: https://www.aza.org/safe-species

Special thanks to our SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo program partners for their financial support: Alexandria Zoological Park, Dickerson Park Zoo, Ellen Trout Zoo [official], Greenville Zoo, Louisville Zoo, Reid Park Zoo, Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village, Topeka Zoo, Tracy Aviary, and Zoo Atlanta. Additional thanks to the Nashville Zoo AAZK, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden’s Satch Krantz Conservation Fund, The Toronto Zoo’s Endangered Species Reserve Fund, Ron Magill Conservation Endowment and the Zoo Miami Foundation, and The Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Conservation Grants Fund (CGF) and SAFE Granting Program. Key funding for this long-term initiative has also been provided by all members of the Zoo Conservation Outreach Group Board of Directors.

Thank you!

06/23/2022

A very special Happy shout out to our friends and flamingo supporters Flamingo A-Go-Go. The funds raised during our 2018 & 2019 Flamingo Fest celebrations at the Flamingo A-Go-Go restaurant in New Orleans provided important seed money to advance the Proyecto Flamencos Altoandinos flamingo research and monitoring program in Chile.

Thank you, Flamingo A-Go-Go and enjoy a fantastically pink flamingo day!

06/23/2022

Happy

ZCOG and its SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo program partners are spending the day celebrating our fine-feathered friend—the flamingo!

We are also sharing a new video about the research, education, and public awareness & engagement work our Chilean partners at the Zoológico Nacional de Chile, CONAF, Ministerio del Medio Ambiente, & Fundación MERI are doing to promote the recovery and conservation of Andean, Chilean, and Puna (James’) flamingos in the wild.

Help us protect our fabulous, flamingo friends and their salty salar habitat by donating here: https://bit.ly/DonateFlamingos

About SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo: SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo supports the recovery and conservation of Andean, Chilean, and Puna (James’) flamingos through research, engagement, training, outreach, and education. AZA members work with Chilean private and public sector partners to support activities outlined in the country’s Andean highland flamingo conservation plan by filling research gaps, and assisting with the identification, prioritization, and designation of critical flamingo habitat in Chile’s Andean highlands. Learn more: https://www.aza.org/safe-species

Special thanks to our SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo partners for their financial support: Alexandria Zoological Park, Dickerson Park Zoo, Ellen Trout Zoo [official], Greenville Zoo, Louisville Zoo, Nashville Zoo AAZK and Reid Park Zoo. Additional thanks to The The Toronto Zoo’s Endangered Species Reserve Fund, Ron Magill and the Zoo Miami Foundation, and The Association of Zoos and Aquariums Conservation Grants Fund (CGF) and SAFE Granting Program. Key funding for this long-term initiative has also been provided by all members of the Zoo Conservation Outreach Group Board of Directors. Thank you!

06/17/2022

ZCOG is proud to announce Tracy Aviary as an official partner of the The Association of Zoos and Aquariums SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo species program. Tracy Aviary joins Alexandria Zoological Park, Dickerson Park Zoo, Ellen Trout Zoo [official], Greenville Zoo, Louisville Zoo, Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, Reid Park Zoo and Zoo Conservation Outreach Group as official program partners. Welcome to our flock!

About SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo: SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo supports the recovery and conservation of Andean, Chilean, and Puna (James’) flamingos through research, engagement, training, outreach, and education. AZA members work with Chilean private and public sector partners (Zoológico Nacional de Chile, Fundación MERI, CONAF & Ministerio del Medio Ambiente) to support activities outlined in the country’s Andean highland flamingo conservation plan by filling research gaps, and assisting with the identification, prioritization, and designation of critical flamingo habitat in Chile’s Andean highlands. Learn more: https://www.aza.org/safe-species

Please contact [email protected] to learn more about how you can donate to flamingo conservation and become SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo partners!

06/17/2022

ZCOG is proud to announce Sunset Zoo as an official partner of The Association of Zoos and Aquariums SAFE Chinchilla species program. Sunset Zoo joins Minnesota Zoo, Audubon Zoo, Dickerson Park Zoo, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Utica Zoo, and Zoo Conservation Outreach Group as official program partners.

SAFE Chinchilla supports the Short-tailed Chinchilla Conservation Project, a multi-year research initiative designed to inform and promote the recovery and conservation of wild Short-tailed chinchillas (Chinchilla chinchilla) in Chile. The project was initiated by ZCOG and the Zoológico Nacional de Chile to implement research activities in support of the Chilean government’s Short-tailed Chinchilla Recovery, Conservation, and Management Plan (Plan RECOGE).

Please contact [email protected] to learn more about how you can donate to chinchilla conservation and become SAFE Chinchilla partners!

06/13/2022

ZCOG is proud to announce that it and SAFE Chinchilla have been selected to receive this year’s RIL TAG RodentPro Conservation and Welfare grant award of $1,000 USD for work with the Zoológico Nacional de Chile on the Short-tailed Chinchilla Conservation Project.

The Short-tailed Chinchilla Conservation Project is a multi-year research initiative designed to inform the conservation and recovery of remaining wild populations of the Short-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla chinchilla) in Chile. The project was initiated by ZCOG and the Zoológico Nacional to implement research activities in support of the Chilean government’s Short-tailed Chinchilla Recovery, Conservation, and Management Plan (Plan RECOGE), and will help secure conservation objectives of the SAFE Chinchilla program, which the Rodent, Insectivore, and Lagomorph Taxon Advisory Group has endorsed with a letter of support.

We are grateful to the RIL TAG and RodentPro for their support of chinchilla conservation and the SAFE Chinchilla program through ZCOG!

ZCOG is a founding SAFE Chinchilla program leader and provides administrative, logistical and fundraising support to the Short-tailed Chinchilla Conservation Project. Five AZA -accredited facilities— Audubon Zoo, Dickerson Park Zoo, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Minnesota Zoo and Zoo Miami through the Ron Magill Conservation Heroes Award—have provided financial support to the project and SAFE Chinchilla.

Please contact [email protected] to learn more about how you can donate to chinchilla conservation and become SAFE Chinchilla partners!

Ministerio del Medio Ambiente
CONAF

05/24/2022

TVN Chile Conectado Tvn 24horas.cl video news coverage of our Chilean field partners’ successful flamingo capture and GPS tagging campaign in the Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos:
https://map.conectamedia.cl/index.php/clippingNews/view?id=25259813&email=271795&fromemail=1

The 6-day field research event was complemented by education and engagement work with local tour operators, municipal authorities, public schools, and indigenous artists – all of whose support will be critical to the long-term sustainability of flamingo recovery and conservation in Chile.
Zoológico Nacional de Chile
Fundación MERI
CONAF

All of this work was made possible, in part, by the financial support of Zoo Conservation Outreach Group (ZCOG) and SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo’s program partners. If you or your AZA -accredited facility would like to support flamingo conservation in South America, please contact [email protected] to join the SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo flock and donate to the Andean Highland Flamingo Conservation Monitoring Program. Thank you!

About SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo: SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo supports the recovery and conservation of Andean, Chilean, and Puna (James’) flamingos through research, engagement, training, outreach, and education. AZA members work with Chilean private and public sector partners to support activities outlined in the country’s Andean highland flamingo conservation plan by filling research gaps, and assisting with the identification, prioritization, and designation of critical flamingo habitat in Chile’s Andean highlands.



Please share this post and images with your friends & colleagues!

05/19/2022

Update from the field: Proyecto Flamencos Altoandinos.

Supporters, partners, colleagues, and friends:

It gives me great pleasure to announce the capture, GPS-transmitter tagging, and safe release of four Puna (James’s) flamingos by our SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo program partners in Chile, bringing the program closer to its conservation goals for these iconic animals.

Over six days in April, staff from the Zoológico Nacional de Chile, with support from biologists and experts from Fundación MERI and the Chilean National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), conducted research at the Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos, a key flamingo habitat in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The team’s work, which included site surveys, habitat analysis, and flock monitoring, culminated in the successful capture, tagging, and release of four Puna (James’s) flamingos. News of the field campaign and conservation program was covered by a variety of media outlets, including Biobiochile, Ladera Sur, and on the front page of the Life, Science, and Technology section of Diario El Mercurio, Chile’s national newspaper of record.

The results of the April 2022 field campaign bring the program’s total number of GPS-tagged flamingos to 15: 10 Puna (James’) flamingos and 5 Andean flamingos. Eight of these have been tagged by our Chilean partners within the last 7 months, advancing an important conservation objective of SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo’s 3-Year Plan. Funds from a 2020 The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Conservation Grants Fund (CGF) award were used to purchase the GPS transmitters used in the April campaign.

Select photos from the April 24-29 field activities are attached to this email for use by SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo program partners in their membership publications and social media platforms. Videos of the capture and tagging campaigns at the Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos National Reserve are available by request to [email protected]

These SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo -supported research activities are part of a multi-year program to use satellite tracking technology to monitor flamingo movement patterns, document flight corridors, and identify key feeding, breeding, nesting, and resting habitat to be prioritized for conservation and management. The program includes collaboration with Chile’s national environmental authorities and supports the country’s Andean highland flamingo conservation and recovery plan.

If your AZA -accredited facility would like to support flamingo conservation in South America, please contact [email protected] to join the SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo flock and donate to the Andean Highland Flamingo Conservation Monitoring Program.

About SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo: SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo supports the recovery and conservation of Andean, Chilean, and Puna (James’) flamingos through research, engagement, training, outreach, and education. AZA members work with Chilean private and public sector partners to support activities outlined in the country’s Andean highland flamingo conservation plan by filling research gaps, and assisting with the identification, prioritization, and designation of critical flamingo habitat in Chile’s Andean highlands. Learn more.

Special thanks to our SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo partners for their financial support: Alexandria Zoological Park, Dickerson Park Zoo, Ellen Trout Zoo [official], Greenville Zoo, Louisville Zoo, and Reid Park Zoo. Additional thanks to The Toronto Zoo’s Endangered Species Reserve Fund, Ron Magill and the Zoo Miami Foundation, and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Conservation Grants Fund (CGF) and SAFE Granting Program. Key funding for this long-term initiative has also been provided by all members of the Zoo Conservation Outreach Group Board of Directors. Thank you!