Twin Pine Conservation Institute

06/08/2026

There’s nothing quite like watching kangaroos do what they were made to do. 🦘💨 Seeing them bound across the field never gets old. Moments like this remind us why providing space for natural behaviors is so important. Just kangaroos being kangaroos.

06/06/2026

Have you ever heard of a genet?

>14 recognized species found across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East
and some remain among the least studied carnivores on Earth.
>2 species are classified as “Data Deficient” meaning we don’t know enough about their wild populations.
> Many institutions worldwide house genets that are labeled as "Common Genets," often creating confusion over whether they are actually Common, Small-spotted, or Large-spotted genets.
>Accurate species identification is critical for conservation, breeding programs, and our understanding of the diversity within the genus Genetta.
That’s why TPCI created the Genetta Conservation Initiative.

Working with zoos, universities, museums, conservation organizations, field researchers & geneticist around the world, we’re helping to:
• Build genetic resources
• Advance reproductive and husbandry research
• Improve species identification and taxonomy
• Support field conservation
• Expand our understanding of every genet species

Every species matters. Some just haven’t had their story told yet.

05/26/2026

The first documented captive breeding images of southern aardwolves, we were able to observe and photograph confirmed reproductive behavior between two captive-born individuals here at TPCI.
Aardwolves remain one of the least studied carnivores in human care, and moments like this continue to reshape what we know about their behavior, development, and reproduction.
This is why long-term ex situ conservation and detailed husbandry documentation matter. Every observation adds to the bigger picture.

Twin Pine Conservation Institute is a nonprofit dedicated to wildlife conservancy, habitat preservation, and environmental education. Support our mission today.

05/21/2026

The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with wild populations declining due to wetland loss, habitat fragmentation, and human conflict across Asia.

05/12/2026

Fresh from the field to tiny hands 🍓
Rose, our red ruffed lemur, enjoying a freshly picked strawberry from Breland Strawberry Fields
Red ruffed lemurs are native to the rainforests of Madagascar and play an important role as seed dispersers, helping forests regenerate naturally as they travel and feed.
🍓Safe to say this strawberry passed the quality test🐾

05/12/2026

White-nosed coatimundis can rotate their ankles nearly 180 degrees, allowing them to climb down trees headfirst with ease - a rare adaptation that helps them move quickly through the forest canopy while searching for food. Their long flexible noses are packed with scent receptors and are constantly in motion as they investigate the world around them.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day!

05/09/2026

New introductions are always an exciting and carefully monitored step in AARDWOLF management.

We began introductions between members of our aardwolf group as part of our ongoing conservation breeding and husbandry program. Every interaction is closely observed, from body language and vocalizations to scent marking and den behavior, helping us better understand this rarely studied species in human care.

Aardwolves are one of the least represented carnivores in managed populations worldwide, and each successful pairing contributes valuable behavioral and reproductive knowledge that help support the future of the species in ex situ conservation programs.
Watching these animals communicate and slowly build confidence around one another is a reminder of how complex and specialized aardwolves truly are.

05/09/2026

Meet Pico, one of our incredible residents here at TPCI.
Capybaras are the world’s largest rodents, native to South America, and are highly social animals that thrive in groups. Despite their size, they’re known for their calm personalities and strong bonds with both their own kind and other species.
We believe conservation starts with connection. Every species has a story worth protecting.

05/09/2026

Named after Tony Bennett… or as we jokingly call him, “Tony Genet” ~ he has become one of the most recognizable members of our genet program.
➡️ When highly alert, excited, stimulated, or investigating something interesting, they will often puff up their tail and raise the fur along their back.
This helps them appear larger and serves as an important form of communication.

➡️The TPCI Genetta Conservation Initiative is focused on improving scientific understanding of captive genets through genetics research, lineage documentation, morphology comparisons, and long-term population management planning. Despite their diversity across Africa, many genet species remain poorly studied in zoological collections worldwide.

🐾Every individual helps us better understand these remarkable and often overlooked small carnivores.

Twin Pine Conservation Institute is a nonprofit dedicated to wildlife conservancy, habitat preservation, and environmental education. Support our mission today.