Conservation Commitments and Impacts
AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums expend extensive Animal Care and Management efforts to save species from imminent extinction by determining the best ex situ ways to care for, reproduce with genetic diversity, and develop Reintroduction Programs to re-establish in situ populations.
AZA also strives to provide a plethora of conservation tools, partnerships, and resources to increase member and public awareness of animal related conservation issues, including species and ecosystems with higher profile concerns such as amphibians, elephants, and the ocean, to incite additional conservation action.
Annual Report on Conservation and Science Database
AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums spend nearly $70 million per year on conservation initiatives. In the last five years they have funded over 3,700 conservation projects in more than 100 countries. AZA maintains a historical record of these projects that is published in an AZA report to illustrate the substantial combined effort and impact AZA-accredited institutions dedicate towards conservation. Read more about the Annual Report on Conservation and Science Database.
Conservation Partners
AZA’s remarkable dedication to animal conservation is furthered by its numerous Conservation Partners, including AZA Conservation Action Partnerships, collaborations with other conservation organizations, and memorandums of understanding with government and non-government agencies. Read more about AZA's Conservation Partners.
Amphibian Conservation
At least one-third of amphibian species are threatened with extinction. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums have spent more than $1.3 million on amphibian research and conservation projects in more than 20 countries. AZA, its Animal Programs, and its accredited institutions provide conservation and education resources, subsidize financial support, manage a citizen science program, and maintain partnerships with like-minded agencies to raise awareness of the amphibian crisis and promote amphibian conservation. Read more about Amphibian Conservation.
Elephant Conservation
In the past 25 years, the in situ African elephant population has fallen from 1.6 million to less than 500,000 - a decline of more than 100 elephants each day and the Asian elephant population has diminished to an estimated 30,000. AZA, its Animal Programs, and its accredited institutions provide superior elephant care and management strategies, maintain sustainable and genetically diverse elephant populations, develop elephant conservation and education resources, support elephant research and conservation initiatives, advocate on behalf of elephants, and maintain partnerships to raise awareness of elephant issues and promote elephant conservation. Read more about Elephant Conservation.
Marine Mammal Conservation
AZA subsidizes significant financial support, advocates on behalf of marine mammals, and maintains partnerships with like-minded government and non-government agencies to raise awareness of marine mammal issues and promote marine mammal conservation. AZA, its related Taxon Advisory Groups, Animal Programs, and accredited institutions continually strive to provide superior marine mammal care and management strategies, maintain sustainable and genetically diverse populations, develop conservation and education resources, and support numerous research and conservation initiatives. Read more about Marine Mammal Conservation.Ocean Conservation.
Ocean Conservation
Seventy percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water. Oceans provide homes to an incredible amount of biodiversity, have the means to supply sustainable fisheries, and offer a plethora of human resources including the largest source of our planet’s oxygen. Environmental stressors are causing significant losses in ocean habitats and species but AZA, its Animal Programs, and its accredited institutions strive to raise awareness of ocean issues and promote ocean conservation by providing conservation and education resources, subsidizing research and conservation projects, advocating on the local, national and international levels, and maintaiing partnerships with like-minded government and non-government agencies. Read more about Ocean Conservation.