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Indonesiaโs Leuser Ecosystem is the last place on Earth where Critically Endangered Sumatran elephants, tigers, orangutans and rhinoceroses coexist in the wild. This remote UNESCO World Heritage site is home to countless fragile habitats and threatened species. Yet due to illegal farming and development, the entire area is in grave danger. Thatโs six million acres at risk.
When looking for global conservation work to support, Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance specifically seeks out landscapes like Leuser: where there is strong alignment with the species in our care and our new strategy and where we can make a measurable impact with modest resources. The Leuser partnership is just one of several new Field Conservation efforts weโre launching this year throughout Asia. Read on to learn exactly what weโre doing, howโand why!
SUMATRA | CONSERVATION CAPACITY STRENGTHENING
In the Leuser Ecosystem, Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance is excited to be working with Forum Konservasi Leuser (FKL), a passionate grass-roots NGO working to protect this unique area and its wildlife. Through this partnership, Denver Zoo will help FKL build a field station for research and monitoring, assist with the restoration of local habitats and much more.
Weโll also support work in surrounding communities in Aceh province, Sumatra, to raise awareness about the long-term effects people have on these fragile ecosystemsโwith a focus on helping local people secure livelihoods with lower environmental impact. And here at the Zoo, our Sumatran tiger and orangutan family are also raising awareness! By helping our guests form a connection with individuals like ChloJo and Siska, we can spread the word about the dire need to protect their relatives in the wild.
LAOS+ | ASIAN ELEPHANT RESEARCH + EDUCATION
Once called Lan Xang, Land of a Million Elephants, Laos was home to one of the largest elephant populations in Southeast Asia. But today, habitat loss, human-elephant conflict and the illegal wildlife trade have taken a devastating toll. Only about 400 wild elephants remain in the entire country, with the largest group found in Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area. More data is needed to address the unique threats to this important elephant population.
Weโre proud to partner with Association Anoulak as they study Asian elephant population size, genetic diversity and social dynamics to inform Laosโ National Elephant Action Plan. Weโre also working with the Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) to support the education of a Lao veterinarian and lab technician. By providing access to specialized training not currently available at the National University of Laos, this partnership will benefit both the ECC and the Lao conservation community as a whole.
Denver Zoo has also become a Conservation Partner of the International Union for the Conservation of Natureโs Asian Elephant Specialist Group, a group of global experts dedicated to managing and protecting the species across the continent. And right here in Toyota Elephant Passage, Denver Zoo experts continue to study our beloved Asian elephant bachelor herd! Our ongoing findings are shared not only with our colleagues in the Association of Zoos and Aquariumsโbut with elephant conservation organizations all over the world.
LAOS | NORTHERN WHITE-CHEEKED GIBBON RESEARCH
In the dense forests of the natural range of the northern white-cheeked gibbon, theyโre incredibly difficult to seeโand study! The Annamite Range, which straddles Laos and Vietnam, is one of the last strongholds for this Critically Endangered species. Here, weโll expand our work with Association Anoulak to support a research program using cutting-edge acoustic recorders. Using sound to monitor gibbon populations isnโt new, but this technology is much more accurate than the previous method: human hearing.
WALKING THE WALKโINTO A GREENER FUTURE
Everything in nature is connected. Thatโs why our strategy follows the One Health modelโa unified approach that connects humans, animals and ecosystems for the health of all. In addition to our work with wildlife and habitats, we must also work with local people to identify and address the root cause of threats. The goal? A world in which humans and animals can share resources in a way thatโs sustainable for both. Thereโs much work yet to be done. Our new partnerships in Asia are only part of the bigger picture…stay tuned for more announcements!
Wondering how you can help? All visits, memberships and donations support our wildlife conservation efforts in Colorado + worldwide. For updates on our conservation work, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
@DenverZoo in the Wild
The countdown is on...Flock Party is ONE MONTH AWAY! ๐ฆฉ๐
Weโve got our eye on August 22 as we prepare to celebrate 130 years of impact with an afternoon of style, culinary experiences, cocktails, live music and unforgettable animal moments. This all-inclusive 21+ event benefits our beloved animal family and supports wildlife conservation in Colorado and around the world.
Donโt miss this out on all the fabulous fun! Get your tickets today by visiting the link in our bio.
On Monday, July 13, Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance joined Denver Mountain Parks and the TallBull Memorial Council to celebrate the grand opening of the Medicine Wheel Garden at Daniels Park, a space years in the making and a milestone moment for all involved. ๐ธ
Developed in partnership with Native American and Indigenous leaders and community members, the Medicine Wheel Garden honors the cultural traditions of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Ute, and more than 48 other Tribal Nations with historical and ongoing ties to Colorado.
Designed in the form of a traditional medicine wheel, the garden`s carefully selected native plants have blooms that reflect the colors of each section in the wheel, which represent the cardinal directions, seasons, and stages of life. Many of these plants are adapted to Colorado`s semi-arid climate, provide food for pollinators, and carry deep cultural significance for Native American communities. ๐ฆ
The garden represents the place "where the eagle and the condor meet," a symbol of Indigenous peoples across the Americas uniting to bring peace to the world.
We are deeply honored to be part of this project and grateful to our partners at the TallBull Memorial Council, Metro Denver Nature Alliance, @denvermountainparks, @denverparksrec Greenhouse and Open Space Teams, @sacredreturncolorado, @historycolorado, and all of the Native American and Indigenous leaders and community members who made this vision a reality.
Photos: Volunteer Photographer Scott Dougherty
#MedicineWheelGarden #DanielsPark #DenverZooConservationAlliance #DenverMountainParksFoundation #DenverMountainParks #TallBullMemorialCouncil #NativePlants #IndigenousLed #Conservation #SavingWildlifeTogether
๐พ Happy #NationalZookeeperWeek! Today we`re introducing Krystin Maloney, Animal Care Specialist here at DZCA.
Krystin has been a zookeeper for nearly 12 years and is approaching her 10-year anniversary at DZCA this fall. And her tattoo is a tribute to a bird who taught her some of the most important lessons of her career.
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Tucson the bay-winged hawk is 22 years old and one of the most meaningful animals Krystin has ever worked with.
Tucson is shyer than his female counterpart, Sonora, and building a trusting relationship with him required patience.
About six years ago that patience was tested in the most profound way. Tucson injured his wing and needed surgery and rehabilitation and it was their bond that helped him through it.
"Our relationship gave him the chance of recovering his ability to fly and taught me patience and commitment to a goal."
Tucson and Sonora live behind the scenes as part of our Animal Ambassador team, but you just might spot them during Wild Encounters around the Zoo! ๐ฟ
#NationalZookeeperWeek #ZookeeperAppreciationWeek #DenverZooConservationAlliance #AnimalCare #SavingWildlifeTogether @ninjakixxtattoo
๐พ Happy #NationalZookeeperWeek! Introducing Gracie Gilbert, Animal Care Specialist here at DZCA and a keeper whose tattoos represent unique chapters in an extraordinary career. ๐ค
Gracie has been a zookeeper since 2019 and joined our team in 2024. Her ink tells the story of three animals who shaped her into who she is today:
๐ Seamus the West African pygmy goat was Gracie`s very first training assignment at Houston Zoo was helping a mischievous pygmy goat stop knocking over small children. What followed was one of the most unlikely and meaningful partnerships of her career. She pitched turning Seamus into an Ambassador Animal, and he thrived, mastering over 20 behaviors, doing on-stage shows, campus walks, and even virtual painting demos during COVID. "He was my greatest achievement and my closest, most unexpected animal friend."
๐ฆ Molly the blue-and-gold macaw, described by Gracie as "the golden retriever of macaws," Molly won over even the most self-proclaimed non-bird-people with her sunshine energy and endless antics. Their conversations doubled as comedy routines, and the quiet moments were just as precious. Molly can still be seen at the Denver Downtown Aquarium! ๐
๐ฆ Meep the greater roadrunner โ Meep was Gracie`s baby bird. Even as a full-grown adult, he followed her everywhere at her heels, wings flapping, trilling away. "To be loved by one has no comparison."
Stay tuned tomorrow for our next keeper spotlight! ๐พ
#NationalZookeeperWeek #ZookeeperAppreciationWeek #DenverZooConservationAlliance #AnimalCare #SavingWildlifeTogether
