Oakland Zoo Raises Record-Breaking $332,000 for Wildlife Conservation

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

Oakland Zoo Raises Record-Breaking $332,000 for Wildlife Conservation

In January of this year the governing organization of Oakland Zoo changed its name to the Conservation Society of California to better reflect the zoo’s evolving purpose and mission in its commitment to conservation, meeting the goal of raising a quarter of a million dollars to support wildlife conservation in 2018.

Oakland, CA,October 29, 2018… Oakland Zoo, governed by the Conservation Society of California (CSC), has raised a record-breaking $332,000 for animals in the wild over the past year, largely due to its 'Quarters for Conservation’ program, where 50¢ of every ticket sold and $2 from every membership is designated to the Zoo’s 25 wildlife conservation partners. The contribution significantly in surpassed previous efforts - $126,000 in 2017 and in $104,000 in 2016.

The substantial increase in funding raised is due in part to the Zoo’s re-brand earlier this year in re-naming it’s governing organization from East Bay Zoological Society to the CSC to better demonstrate the Zoo’s commitment to conservation. With that change, the amount allocated to Q4C was doubled from 25¢ to 50¢, also adding the per Zoo membership contribution. Since the opening of the 56-acre California Trail expansion, Oakland Zoo’s has experienced increased attendance which further aided in growing the Zoo’s Q4C program.  

WATCH Conservation Society of California Video

Fifty percent of this year’s funds will go directly to three featured out-in-the-field conservation programs focused on species related to the new California Trail at Oakland Zoo; Grey wolves (California Wolf Center), Mountain Lions (Mountain Lion Foundation) and bears (The Bear League). These species reflect native California animals now living at Oakland Zoo, many who had been orphaned and rescued from the wild – with the Zoo’s aim to educate visitors on how to help conserve these animals’ counterparts in the wild.

“It is a thrill to be able to contribute more than ever in supporting these local organizations this year and for years to come. Their partnership in working to create a California that can coexist with wildlife is vital. We are so proud to support their work and thank our visitors who took action to be part of the solution - just by buying a ticket to visit Oakland Zoo,”said Amy Gotliffe, Conservation Director at Oakland Zoo.

Twenty-five percent of the funds raised will be used towards Oakland Zoo’s onsite conservation programs such as veterinary care for California condors, the Western Pond Turtle head-start program, and Puerto Rican toad recovery – a species once thought extinct.

The remaining twenty-five percent of the monies helps support the Zoo’s conservation field partners around the world, including: ARCAS wildlife rescue in Guatemala, the Bay Area Puma Project, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center, the Kibale Fuel Wood Project, the Reticulated Giraffe Project, the Marine Mammal Center, The Budongo Snare Removal Project, EWASO Lions, and the Ventana Wildlife Society.

Oakland Zoo’s new featured conservation partners for 2019 are focused on the conservation of jaguars, California condors and African lions.See below descriptions for additional information about the 2018 partners:

Kaminando Jaguar Connectivity Project employs the largest camera trap research initiative in the country, empowers the community through environmental education and alternative income generation, and works to ensure a connected and flourishing jungle home for jaguars.

Pinnacles California Condor Program tracks critically endangered California condors using GPS technology across their range in central California. There are only 260 in the wild today. Monitoring their nests, habitat use, flight activity and survival provides the knowledge needed to reduce human-caused issues and save these amazing birds.

The Lion Recovery Fund works to save African lions in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park. These lions are threatened by human-wildlife conflict, pushing the status of these African cats into crisis. The Lion Recovery Fund responds to these issues through swift support for projects that reduce the conflict by hiring community lion scouts and rapid response teams to monitor, protect, and ensure a safe future for lions.

For more information on the above programs, click here.

(Above) Kimberly from Kaminando Jaguar Connectivity Project checks on a camera in Panama.

(Above) A ranger in training the the California Wold Center's Range Steward Program.

(Above) Representative from The Bear League educating youngsters in the classroom.

Contact:  Erin Harrison, (510)746-7120, eharrison@oaklandzoo.org

Contact:  Amy Gotliffe, (510) 632-9525 ext. 122, amy@oaklandzoo.org

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ABOUT OAKLAND ZOO AND THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA:

Oakland Zoo, home to more than 850+ native and exotic animals, is managed by the Conservation Society of California (CSC); a non-profit organization leading an informed and inspired community to take action for wildlife locally and globally. With over 25 conservation partners and projects worldwide, the CSC is committed to conservation-based education and saving species and their habitats in the wild. Oakland Zoo is dedicated to the humane treatment of animals and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the national organization that sets the highest standards for animal welfare for zoos and aquariums.

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