Habitat Conservation
How much time and money should zoos spend on habitat conservation? Why should they even be concerned, about protecting or saving an animal's natural habitat?
Zoos realized that they can only save a very small percentage of the world's endangered animals. All the zoos in the world could fit into an area the size of Brooklyn, New York. The zoo community only has enough space to save about 900 species.
Between 20 and 50 percentage of the planet's animals and plants will be lost before the end of the 21st century. Around 2,000 kinds of vertebrates alone will require captive breeding to survive. If zoos are going to make a difference in the saving of endangered plants and animals, they must work together to protect the natural habitats outside their gates.
We want to focus on a group called the Nature Conservancy. This group works with conservation projects around the world.
This Icon links you to a map that shows the Nature Conservancy's involvement around the world.