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September 3, 2020

Safe Passage for Local Wildlife

Every year, 4,000 wildlife-vehicle collisions occur in Colorado-with tragic consequences for both people and animals, not to mention upwards of $80 million in property damage. In 2018, Denver Zoo helped to found Summit County Safe Passages: a working partnership between state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, the outdoor industry and mountain communities to help mitigate this critical issue with innovative wildlife crossing structures. Extensive surveying, including years of observing wildlife with camera traps, identified the busy stretch of I-70 at East Vail Pass as a prime location for the project. One of Summit County Safe Passages’ primary focuses is this high-conflict area, which averages more than 22,000 vehicles per day and is important habitat for numerous species, including the threatened Canada lynx. Lynx can move over 2,000 miles annually through boreal forest in search of food, shelter, and mates-so intact landscapes are critical to this elusive cat’s survival.

Canada lynx at East Vail PassOne Step Closer to Bridging the Gap Last month, we were thrilled to mark a major milestone in bringing these solutions to fruition: initial designs for the crossing structures. Funded by Vail Resorts, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area and the Center for Large Landscapes, the innovative design calls for three structures along a 1.5-mile stretch of westbound I-70. These structures will be placed across from large-span bridges along eastbound I-70 that local wildlife have already been using as unofficial underpasses; this yields significant cost savings, as the structures need to span only the two westbound lanes of traffic.

Large-span bridges along eastbound I-70 at East Vail Pass function as underpasses for wildlife. However, wildlife are unable to cross the two westbound I-70 traffic lanes, severing Eagle’s Nest Wilderness on the north side of the highway from White River National Forest on the south side Providing a mosaic of both under- and over-passes is important to allow different species to cross. Some species, such as elk, vastly prefer over-passes and are reluctant to enter all but the largest under-passes; other species, such as bears, prefer under-passes. Incorporating a variety of options (including different designs for the two under-passes) maximizes the utility of these structures for wildlife. Equally important is the educational component of including an over-pass, since motorists do not see under-passes. The new over-passes will allow us to reach eight million drivers per year with our message of collaborative cohabitation. Invested in the Safety of Iconic Species The Summit County Safe Passages Project is win-win solution for both wildlife and people, and will ultimately be an investment that pays for itself. But, as with all multi-entity collaborations such as this one, funding is phased-and largely philanthropic.If you’d like to support the next phase of this important project, which focuses on identifying wildlife use pre-construction and engaging key community and government stakeholders in supporting these wildlife crossings, please contact Stefan Ekernas, Rocky Mountain/Great Plains Program Director, Field Conservation Program, or consider making a donation by visiting: https://denverzoo.org/support/donate/. As always, Denver Zoo’s incredible member and donor community is an essential part of this collaboration. With your help, we can help secure safe passage for some of the Rocky Mountains’ most iconic species-and continue Inspiring Communities to Save Wildlife for Future Generations.

Over-pass wildlife crossing structure proposed for milepost 192.3 westbound I-70

Under-pass wildlife crossing structure proposed for milepost 193.0 westbound I-70

Under-pass wildlife crossing structure proposed for milepost 193.5 westbound I-70

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July 31, 2020

Happy Colorado Day!

By: Stefan Ekernas, Rocky Mountain/Great Plains Program Director

Colorado’s wildlife is spectacular, and includes the nation’s largest populations of both elk and bighorn sheep. With a burgeoning human population that increasingly goes to recreate in the same wild places where wildlife lives, and in the face of a changing climate, Denver Zoo works to connect communities in conservation to find solutions for people to co-exist with and indeed allow wildlife to thrive. Our strategy is to build alliances by harnessing partnerships, connecting people to connect landscapes for wildlife. We work alongside a diverse array of land managers, communities, industries, universities, and non-profits to save an equally diverse array of wildlife from bison to boreal toads.

In the high-alpine peaks we work to save the inimitable American pika, a diminutive mountain-top dwelling cold specialist. Pika thrive above the tree line, surviving winters not by hibernating but instead by industriously collecting grass “hay piles” during the brief alpine summer and spending the rest of the year in rock crevices living off their summertime work cozily bundled in dense fur. In a warming climate, the very cold-adaptations that allows these critters to survive winters at 14,000′ threaten to become a liability. To understand how pika respond to climate change and find conservation solutions, Denver Zoo uses over 300 community science volunteers to collect field data on pika, working hand-in-glove with Rocky Mountain National Park, White River National Forest, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, CU Boulder, and Rocky Mountain Wild.

While wildlife on Colorado’s alpine peaks are primarily threatened by climate change, the human footprint is more pronounced below the tree line. Highways cut through wilderness areas, threatening migration routes for bighorn, elk, deer, moose, bear, lynx, bobcat and mountain lions. Wildlife over-pass and under-pass crossing structures across highways offer a win-win solution to save wildlife from cars, save people from wildlife collisions, and restore intact landscapes. As a member of Summit County Safe Passages, Denver Zoo is working to build wildlife crossing structures across I-70 and Route 9. We use community science to survey wildlife and evaluate proposed crossing structure locations, working alongside Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, the ski industry, mountain towns, Summit County, US Forest Service, and other non-profits.

A less visible, but no less dangerous, threat to wildlife is the spread of diseases such as chytrid fungus that threatens amphibians worldwide including Colorado’s boreal toad. Adapted to living in oxygen-rich cold water found only in high altitude wetlands from 8,000-12,000′, boreal toads are a state-listed endangered species undergoing precipitous declines from the introduction of chytrid fungus. In 2019 Denver Zoo became the first institution to successfully breed chytrid-resilient boreal toads in a zoological setting, and we released 682 toadlets into the wild. This program is a potential game-changer for the species, simultaneously allowing us to supplement wild populations, creating an assurance population, and buying time for boreal toads to adapt to this novel pathogen.

In Colorado’s prairies, Denver Zoo works with Denver Mountain Parks to restore bison and the prairies they are such an integral component of. The partnership began more than 100 years ago when Denver Zoo reintroduced bison to Genesee Park in 1914. You can still see the crates used to transport the original animals, and see their descendants roam next to I-70 at Genesee Park as well as in Daniels Park.

From the peaks to the prairies, Denver Zoo is committed to keeping our state beautiful and full of the wildlife that make it special. Happy Colorado Day!

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June 5, 2020

Less, Then Zero

When it comes to resource consumption, we believe that less is more. That’s why we are committed to achieving Zero Waste by 2025, which means keeping 90 percent of our waste out of landfills. From the composting, recycling and repurposing we do all over campus to our new staff uniform shirts made from recycled water bottles, we’re working to reduce our impact on the environment, and take positive action to secure a safe and healthy planet for animals and humans. Read on below to learn about what we do to protect the environment and our community, and how your actions can make a difference for wild animals, both in our care and around the world.

What We Do at the Zoo

We have a rich and meaningful heritage as an organization committed to the conservation of animals across the globe and as a leader in animal care. But our commitment to species conservation extends to our commitment to protect the environment and our community through our sustainability program, which guides us towards our goal of operating in the most environmentally, socially and economically friendly manner, and ensures we are taking positive action to secure a safe and healthy planet for all living things. Our eight priority sustainability objectives include:

Responsible sourcing of materials, food and services
Waste diversion and promotion of a circular economy
Water stewardship and conservation
Reduction of fossil fuels through improving mobility, energy efficiency and supporting renewable energy sources
Economic growth that supports positive social and environmental impacts
Social leadership with the Zoo and surrounding communities
Design for resilience to promote thriving environments in a changing climate
Integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into planning and development processes

Read more about the Zoo’s sustainability initiatives and how they support actions to mitigate the impact of climate change and other issues in an effort to protect wild animals and wild places.

Simple Ways YOU Can Make an Impact

Today, with at least a million species on the brink of extinction, our role as a Colorado wildlife conservation champion is more important than ever-and you, the members of our community, are absolutely critical to our success. There are many ways you can make a difference in your day-to-day lives, but none are as simple as reduce, reuse and recycle. We recently partnered up with Swire Coca-Cola, USA, our local Coca-Cola bottler and REPREVE to highlight how we’re keeping 90% of our waste out of landfills through composting, recycling and repurposing materials here on our 80-acre campus. Here’s a great video we recorded last year on how you can help!

*This video was recorded in 2019 before the current COVID-19 crisis hit Denver. Denver Zoo is enforcing all applicable city, county and state safety mandates.

Learn more about our Zero Waste initiative and other ways you can help wildlife by preserving their natural habitats and keep pollutants and toxics out of the environment at the Zoo and at home.

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May 14, 2020

Amphibians in Need

The world is undergoing a sixth mass extinction, and amphibians are particularly hard hit. Amphibians – frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, among others – are indicator species that signal ecosystem health because they are highly sensitive to changes in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. More than 40% of the world’s amphibian species are threatened with extinction, primarily from habitat degradation, overharvest, and invasive species. Denver Zoo is on the front lines fighting to reverse these declines, both on campus and in the field, from the Rocky Mountains to Peru’s Andes. Denver Zoo has been working in Peru since 2007 to conserve the two largest completely aquatic frogs in the world: the Lake Titicaca frog (critically endangered) and Lake Junín frog (endangered). These amphibians are two of 63 species of Andean water frogs (genus Telmatobius), of which 85% are endangered. Adults of both species measure up to 6-7 inches in body length, and Junín tadpoles are truly huge reaching 7.8 inches long. Both frogs spend their entire life in the waters of high-altitude Andean lakes. Lake Titicaca frogs are endemic to Lake Titicaca, a 12,500′ elevation lake located on border between Bolivia and Peru. Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest navigable lake, and it is facing a multitude of environmental threats including mining pollution, untreated sewage, and solid waste. Lake Titicaca frogs are very sensitive to pollutants, which they absorb through the large folds of skin that allow them to breathe underwater. Two exotic invasive species, the rainbow trout and kingfish, prey on tadpoles and frog eggs, and they compete with adult frogs for native fish that are adult frogs’ main source of food. Over-harvest is also a major threat, as many people consume Lake Titicaca frogs in juices and shakes believing the frogs to have medicinal properties. The Lake Junín frog is endemic to the 13,400′ elevation Lake Junín watershed in central Peru, and is facing similar threats including pollution, exotic invasive species, and over-harvest. This region is known as Peru’s mining capital with some of the country’s most severe pollution, which local people frequently cite as causing harm to both their health and their environment. Communities living around the lake are mainly farmers making a living from growing crops and sheep. People use frogs as a protein source and report frogs to now be very difficult to find, but they still consume the few that are found.

In our own backyard, Denver Zoo is working to conserve boreal toads, a cold-adapted toad found from 8,000′-12,000′ elevation. The boreal toad is a state-listed endangered species in Colorado that has seen precipitous declines with the introduction of chytrid fungus. Chytrid fungus is driving amphibian extinctions across the globe, with boreal toads in Colorado the latest potential victim. Serious counter-measures are desperately needed.

How is Denver Zoo helping to conserve these endangered species? Whether at home or in Peru, we apply our considerable captive breeding skills and engage communities and institutions in our conservation work. In Peru we train and equip rangers in two National Reserves to monitor amphibians; we finance and mentor students of biology, veterinary medicine and other careers; we advise and finance a local zoo with education and captive breeding programs; support the Peruvian Government in developing Conservation Strategies for our two focal species; and provide assistance to the Binational Conservation Plan for Lake Titicaca frog Committee. In the Rocky Mountains, we have a captive breeding and reintroduction program for Utah boreal toads, which appear to have high chytrid resistance. Building on that success, we are now working to expand our work in Colorado. You can help us save boreal toads by reducing your water use at home, which leaves more water for wetland-dependent wildlife. Amphibians across the globe face a gauntlet of threats. At Denver Zoo, we believe the only way to reverse these trends is to combine world class animal care, cutting-edge field conservation, and innovative approaches to inspiring communities to save wildlife.

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March 31, 2020

Accreditation is Everything

By Brian Aucone, Senior Vice President of Animal Sciences

There are nearly 2,300 “zoos” across the United States, but not all of them are created equal. That reality has once again been brought to the forefront with the recent release of the Netflix docuseries, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, which delves into the underworld of big cat breeding and some of its most infamous characters. The people and places featured in the show are notorious for housing animals in appalling conditions, mismanaging breeding for profit, and perpetuating the black-market wild animal trade and animal cruelty. Only 10 percent of zoos in the U.S.-238 to be exact-are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which holds its member zoos to the highest standards of physical and mental care for wildlife-standards that are unachievable for the vast majority of other zoos. That means when you visit Denver Zoo and our AZA counterparts around the country, you can rest assured that you are supporting an accredited organization that provides excellent care to its animals and helps save wildlife around the globe. Here are a few key differentiators between Denver Zoo and other “zoos,” and why you should support AZA-accredited organizations, now more than ever:

We have an expert animal care staff that includes nutritionists, behaviorists, caretakers, animal welfare specialists, veterinarians and veterinary technicians, who are all focused on providing the absolute best care to every single one of our nearly 3,000 animals. We are among the most qualified wildlife care experts in the world.
We work around the globe to help save wildlife and wild places in countries like Mongolia and Peru, and even here in our own back yard of Colorado. Working with local communities, to understand their needs living alongside wildlife, together we solve complex issues that benefit people and animals. Our expertise and partnerships have created meaningful and lasting conservation impact for thousands of species.
We create meaningful connections to wildlife for the millions of guests who walk through our campus. Many of these individuals would never have the opportunity to see wildlife in person, and seeing animals in-person remains the most impactful way to create empathy. We are the window into the wonders of the wild world.
We participate in national and international breeding programs, called Species Survival Plans, that ensure a future for the magnificent wildlife in our care. Without these breeding programs, species like the black footed ferret, Panamanian golden frog, and California condor would most likely be extinct.
We reach tens of thousands of children around Colorado through our conservation education programs, teaching them the wonders of wildlife and how they can help. On our campus, we reach millions of guests through our comprehensive conservation messaging and educational programming. No one else in Colorado is doing this at our scale.
We were the first zoo to receive the AZA’s Green Award, which recognizes the efforts of zoos and aquariums take to reduce their environmental impact, and we continue to strive to operate in the most environmentally, socially and economically friendly way possible.

When you visit Denver Zoo and other AZA-accredited facilities, you are making a positive impact on the thousands of animals in our care and their wild counterparts around the world. We look forward to welcoming you back to the Zoo in the near future, and greatly appreciate any donations to our Emergency Support Fund that help us offset the cost of caring for animals during our closure due to COVID-19.

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March 6, 2020

Saving Mongolia for the Future

Some of Denver Zoo’s most important work happens thousands of miles away at the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve in Mongolia. We’ve run a field conservation program there for more than two decades, and the work we do to preserve this unique ecosystem wouldn’t be possible without our partners. This year’s Denver Zoological Foundation Conservation Award winner, Selenge Tuvdendorj, is a critical part of that partnership. Selenge is the Executive Director of Mongolia Conservation Coalition (MCC), DZ’s partner at Ikh Nart Nature Reserve. She was selected for her significant contribution to the success of the reserve and to the protection of Mongolian wildlife. Her ability to inspire and train the next generation of conservationists is motivating – she is a true conservation leader within her community. Since 1997, Denver Zoo has given out its annual Denver Zoological Foundation Conservation Award to someone who has made a significant contribution to wildlife conservation. In addition to the award. these unsung heroes of wildlife conservation are also given $5,000 to be put toward wildlife conservation. During a recent trip to Mongolia, Denver Zoo Mongolia Program Director, Gana Wingard, had the opportunity to interview Selenge on her past 20 years working in wildlife conservation:

How did you get involved in wildlife conservation?

At the end of the 80’s, beginning of the 90’s, I left my job in the factory after the transition process in my country. [Mongolia, which had been influenced by the Soviets, underwent a Democratic Revolution in 1990 which dramatically changed the country’s economy.] I used to work for a clothing company. Since I studied in Germany, I speak German, and I started working as a translator for a nature conservation project funded by the German government. In 2009, I was asked if I would like to work for this project. Since then – I work for MCC, Ikh Nart project and nature conservation. All these years have been like an on-the-job training for me.

What is your current role with Denver Zoo and Mongolia Conservation Coalition?

My role is to help to implement Denver Zoo funded wildlife projects locally. I am doing my best to bring the Denver Zoo Mission – Secure a better world for animals through human understanding – to the ground here in Mongolia.

What is your favorite part of working in wildlife conservation?

Of course, nature conservation. I come from a family of scientists and my favorite part is to support future Mongolian nature scientists. I would like them to become dedicated scientists who, in the near future, will use their powerful words for the conservation of Mongolia. I want them to become not only scientists, but also committed educators. This way we can gain more and more young people who can dedicate their heart and soul to protect nature conservation. I want to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH to Denver Zoological Foundation, to Earthwatch Institute, and to all other donors with your financial and professional support we can protect our nature for the future.

What is your hope the future of conservation in Mongolia?

My hope is our students, scientists and their contributions for today and in the future… I hope that one day they will become conservation professionals who can define / influence conservation policies and be strong enough to implement them. Denver Zoo admires, appreciates and thanks Selenge for her tireless efforts to inspire communities to save wildlife for future generations.

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February 19, 2019

Denver Zoo Donates Three Bison to Southern Plains Land Trust

Two-hundred miles away from Denver Zoo, on a ranch near Lamar in the southeast corner of Colorado, a trailer opens, and two adult female bison walk out, followed by a feisty young calf. After a moment to regroup, the bison wander farther and farther away, clearly comfortable in what will now be their forever home.

The adult bison used to live at Denver Zoo, but spent the last decade on loan at a different ranch in southeast Colorado. In 2017, Denver Zoo approached the Southern Plains Land Trust (SPLT) to see if these bison, and a seven-month-old calf, could move permanently to the Heartland Ranch. Executive Director Nicole Rosmarino says it was an easy yes, and a year later, the bison made their way to Heartland Ranch.

“We were thrilled to work with Denver Zoo on this,” said Rosmarino, “This is a sanctuary for them, and I think that was an important part of the conversation that we guarantee total refuge, and we give total refuge, not only to bison, but to all the wildlife that utilize Heartland Ranch.”

In addition to the bison, Denver Zoo also donated $25,000 to SPLT for the lifetime care of the animals.

The three donated bison will join the resident herd, which made up of 85 bison that play a key role in restoring the natural ecosystem of the region.

“Bison are a crucial animal to have back on the short-grass prairie and are considered a keystone species,” said Rosmarino. “They literally maintain grasslands by knocking down shrubs, and through their wallowing activities, they create shallow depressions which create pools when it rains, which benefits everything from wildflowers to birds to amphibians.”

The Heartland Ranch is part of the SPLT’s network of wildlife preserves, which are dedicated to restoring ecosystems, and creating sanctuaries for animals like bison, pronghorn and prairie dogs.

“We have almost the entire system back in place much like it would’ve been 200 years ago, so the bison have really been fantastic to have back here,” said Rosmarino.

Even though the bison are important to the preserve, Rosmarino says the only thing the bison have to do is enjoy their new home at Heartland Ranch.

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November 29, 2018

Denver Zoo Awarded Prestigious Grants to Support Conservation, Animal Welfare

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Five endangered and critically endangered species of vultures in Botswana will soon get critical help from rapid responders to rescue sick birds.

Denver Zoo was recently recognized with two nationally competitive Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Conservation Grant Fund awards. The funding supports our incredible team of animal care staff and conservationists in making the world a better place for animals – in particular, our vulture conservation program in Botswana and a groundbreaking study on socialization in male Asian elephants.

Denver Zoo’s Field Conservation team has protected wildlife in Botswana since 2006. This grant enables Denver Zoo and our partners at Raptors Botswana to safeguard endangered vultures. Their numbers are plummeting, due in large part to poisoning as a result of human-wildlife conflict. Increasingly, poison-laced carcasses target vultures. Farmers and ranchers lace carcasses with poison to retaliate against carnivores that prey on their herd. Vultures are attracted and killed as well.

With this funding, Denver Zoo and Raptors Botswana can increase awareness of the birds’ plight and train poison ‘first-responders’. Forty wildlife professionals will be trained on rapid response techniques to address poisoning events. Vultures are nature’s cleaning crew and process harmful bacteria before it contaminates the soil or affects people and livestock. With their ecosystem services vastly underappreciated, Botswana’s vultures are in crisis. Our team is leading vital work to ensure a better tomorrow.

In addition to saving vultures, Denver Zoo’s Animal Wellness team is leading a groundbreaking study on sociality in male Asian elephants. The results will have implications for the wellness of elephants in human care and those in the wild. Denver Zoo will collaborate with a Research Physiologist and expert in elephant hormones at the world-renowned Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

Once considered to be solitary, it is now known that bull Asian elephants are more social than previously thought. Recent data confirms that Asian bulls often associate in small bachelor groups in the wild. Yet, only three of the 33 AZA facilities currently housing Asian elephants routinely house any bulls together. With no formal studies to date on the management of these intelligent and social creatures, we are working to fill knowledge gaps surrounding social aspects and reproduction.

Denver Zoo recently expanded its current herd from three to five bulls. With the largest bachelor herd of Asian elephants in the world, this presents a rare opportunity to evaluate biological and behavioral responses as the new bulls are introduced to our resident bulls. Jake, age 9, and Chuck, 10 – will soon meet the veteran residents of Toyota Elephant Passage, Groucho, 47, Bodhi, 14, and Billy, 10, under the helpful eye of animal care staff.

Established in 1984, the Conservation Grants Fund supports the cooperative, conservation-related scientific and educational initiatives of AZA-accredited facilities.

Learn more about Denver Zoo’s conservation efforts and how you can support our work protecting wild animals and wild places around the globe.

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