Czech Zoos Partner Up In New Conservation Program to Fight Illegal Wildlife Trade

June 17, 2021

The Trenggiling Conservation Program is a new initiative to fight the illegal wildlife trade and support the conservation of the critically endangered sunda pangolin. Prague Zoo, Zoo Ostrava and Zoo Olomouc are the main partners in this program.

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Their activities include a new rescue centre in Sumatra, the employment of former poachers as field assistants and educational activities with the local communities.

Oakland Zoo Helping to Vaccinate Threatened Rabbit Subspecies from Fatal Virus

June 12, 2021

The riparian brush rabbit is one of eight subspecies of brush rabbit and is threatened with extinction. The RHDV2 is a fatal virus that originated in Europe and is now spreading through south US and Mexico. Oakland Zoo has partnered with other institutions to help vaccinating the riparian brush rabbit population, so they can protect this endangered subspecies from the virus and potential extinction.

Eight Captive-Bred Red Wolves Released Into the Wild

May 31, 2021

Eight captive-bred red wolves (four adults and four pups) were released into the wild, in North Carolina, US. The pups were born at Akron Zoo but were sent to be placed in the den of a wild female, so she could adopt them, in an effort to increase both numbers and genetic diversity in the wild population.

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The red wolf is critically endangered with only 20-25 individuals left in the wild (including the ones that have just been released)! The Red Wolf Species Survival Plan, overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and coordinated by North Carolina Zoo, aims to bring this species back from the the brink of extinction.

Once on the Brink of Extinction, the Iberian Lynx is Making a Comeback!

May 29, 2021

2002: Iberian lynx on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 100 individuals left in Spain and virtually extinct in Portugal...

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2021: Over 1,000 Iberian lynx have been recorded in the wild, with new populations in both Portugal and Spain. The ambitious Lynx ex-situ conservation programme has brought this species back from the brink. Now listed as "Endangered" in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, they are not yet out of danger but the future is looking far brighter.

"Library of DNA" Stored Underground at Antwerp Zoo

May 25, 2021

Safely kept underground at Antwerp Zoo is a Biobank, containing all sorts of samples from a variety of species. This "library of DNA", which can be preserved in "super freezers" for a very long time, is a very important research tool that can help conservation efforts for threatened species.