CONSERVATION and SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 CONSERVATION and SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
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CONSERVATION and SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 CONTENTS 03 A message from Dr. Kreger 04 Executive Summary 07 Saving Species: National Wildlife 13 Saving Spcies: International Wildlife 21 Wildlife Trade 22 Conservation Fundraising 23 Sustainability 25 Publications List A MESSAGE FROM DR. MICHAEL KREGER I write this in June 2021. It is a hopeful Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership. time as people are getting vaccinated, We provided emergency support to businesses are reopening, and Zoos Victoria for rescuing animals guests are enthusiastically returning affected by the bushfires in Australia. to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium We continued reintroduction projects along with The Wilds, Zoombezi Bay, for the American burying beetle and Safari Golf Club. Last year at this and Eastern hellbenders. Due to time, we did not know what the future our over 30-year old partnerships in held. On the most beautiful sunny Central and Eastern Africa, Partners In days, our parking lots were empty. Conservation (PIC) was able to work People in Ohio and worldwide were virtually with cooperatives and gorilla suffering from the pandemic, many conservation organizations without not surviving. an in-person annual visit. In fact, both of the conservation fundraisers, the And what about wildlife conservation? Rwandan Fête and Wine For Wildlife, Over the years, we supported tested out a virtual format. We would projects that help people living with have rather held in-person events, but wildlife to monitor those animals, our supporters still tuned in and gave MICHAEL KREGER, PH.D. fight poaching, educate and build generously so we could continue our Vice President of awareness, encourage human-wildlife conservation efforts. Finally, a new Conservation and Sustainability coexistence, develop alternative conservation fundraising strategy livelihoods, and restore and protect – a more progressive and nimble habitat. During the pandemic, approach – was developed and however, many projects came to a approved by the Zoo Board. That standstill due to precautions. National should put us on steady ground into parks closed, ecotourism stopped, the future. and in some areas poaching made its ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS resurgence. In the world of sustainability, AEP (American Electric Power) Ohio built This report would not have been The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, a demonstration microgrid that uses possible without the contributions of like zoos everywhere, pooled its solar power to provide energy to the staff throughout the Columbus Zoo and resources to continue to provide salt water life support system that the Aquarium, The Wilds, and Safari Golf Club the best animal care possible and polar bears rely on. The new Suzie from many different departments. Thanks support its staff while holding true Edwards Conservation Education especially to Alison Edwards, Conservation to its conservation mission. As you Classrooms were built with 165 solar Specialist, for coordinating this effort and browse through this report, you panels on the roof. And we continued drafting this report. will see that our conservation and composting and recycling. sustainability programs adapted to the unpredictable circumstances. There is a conservation culture here While we put a temporary hold on at the Zoo and all of its facilities. The the conservation grants program, we good news is that not even a global were able to fund 49 projects and pandemic can take that away. Please organizations, including the Ohio enjoy this report. Wildlife Center and the Manatee CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY 2020 | 3 SAVING SPECIES National Wildlife Columbus Zoo Conservation Great Backyard Bird Count Manatees at the Columbus Zoo and Sustainability Program • From February 14-17, participants and Aquarium • New funding strategy was created. observed 30 species of wintering • Two rescued manatees finished • The conservation program is now birds throughout Zoo grounds. their rehabilitation at the Zoo and coupled with sustainability program. Observations and data collected were transported back to Florida through this citizen science initiative for their release. Two more rescued Hellbenders help scientists better understand orphaned manatees were brought • The Zoo released 267 hellbenders global bird populations before one to the Zoo to begin the second and The Wilds released 20 of their annual migrations. stage of their rehabilitation. hellbenders into Ohio and West Virginia streams. These animals Mussels at the Columbus Zoo Manatee Rescue and hatched and spent three years in Freshwater Mussel Conservation Rehabilitation Partnership human care before release. and Research Center • 116 manatee rescues were • Staff successfully transformed conducted, of which 38 manatees were rescued and released on site Motus three species in vitro, two of these and 78 required rehabilitation. • The Motus towers at the Zoo species continued to grow past the and The Wilds detected several juvenile stage. This will eventually migratory bird species, including allow us to increase the number American Burying Beetle Swainson’s thrush, wood thrush, of freshwater mussels that are • 325 American burying beetles American woodcock, common reintroduced each year. were released at The Wilds. The nighthawk, black tern, red-eyed • Two species of host fish were Wilds trapped 65 beetles a total of vireo, and eastern whip-poor-will. confirmed for two mussel species. 108 times over the course of the year, indicating high post-release survival. Lights Out Columbus Florida Reef Tract • During fall migration, volunteers Recovery Program monitored bird collisions with • The Zoo received 18 explanted Prairies Restoration buildings in downtown Columbus. coral colonies to maintain until they • The Wilds burned 54 acres to 112 birds from 37 species and two can be returned to Florida when promote natural regrowth of native bats were collected. Survivors Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease plants in the area. were rehabilitated at Ohio Wildlife is no longer a threat. Center and released. Healthy Forest, Healthy Wildlife Ohio Wildlife Center • 10 acres were planted with native Bird projects at The Wilds • The Center’s wildlife hospital species and invasive plant species • Nine American kestrel nest boxes on treated 8,105 patients from were removed from 40 acres. telescoping poles were installed. 166 species. • Seven barn owl nests produced a total of 26 chicks. 4 | CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY 2020 International Wildlife Partners In Conservation (PIC) International Elephant Zoos Victoria • PIC awarded $253,300 to seven Foundation (IEF) • $10,000 from the Columbus partners through grants. • IEF supported 27 projects that Zoo’s emergency grants fund and • PIC hosted its first virtual Rwandan protected elephants in 12 countries. donations made by Zoo staff and Fête. supporters was donated to the Zoos Okapi Conservation Project Victoria Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Project Monitoring • The Okapi Conservation Project Fund. • We visited three projects in the created infrastructure to help the Democratic Republic of Congo and local people reduce their need for Painted Dog Research Trust (PDRT) Republic of Congo that are supported forest resources. • Columbus Zoo’s Project Designer Ed by the Zoo. Buns designed and produced bumper Save the Tasmanian Devil Project Association of Zoos and Aquariums stickers that remind drivers to slow • 26 young were born in Save the (AZA) Saving Animals From down in wildlife areas in Zimbabwe. Extinction (SAFE) Programs Tasmanian Devil Program facilities. • PDRT staff conducted 15 school visits • The Columbus Zoo and The reaching 465 students. Wilds participated in 9 AZA SAFE AZA Elephant Endotheliotropic conservation programs. Herpesvirus (EEHV) Working Group • EEHV monitoring guidelines were SAFE Asian Elephant updated. • During the social media campaign for Asian Elephant Awareness Month, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund participants shared 233 posts and International (DFGFI) reached 18.4 million people with • 80 gorilla trackers monitored and conservation messages! protected 110 human-habituated mountain gorillas in Volcanoes Polar Bears International (PBI) National Park, Rwanda. • PBI developed new ways to attach transmitters to bears to collect data Lola Ya Bonobo on their movements. • 51 bonobos, including nine • PBI is utilizing remote cameras to give newly-orphaned infants, received MANATEE RESCUE advanced warning to towns when rehabilitative care. & REHABILITATION bears are in the area. PARTNERSHIP Pan African Sanctuary Alliance 116 manatee rescues were (PASA) conducted, of which 38 Wild Nature Institute • PASA members rescued 239 primates manatees were rescued • Doug Cavener photographed Zoo from the illegal wildlife trade. and released on site and 78 giraffes for a study on the heritability required rehabilitation. of spots. CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY 2020 | 5 WILDLIFE TRADE Wildlife Trafficking Alliance (WTA) • WTA endorsed three global initiatives aimed at reducing the risk of future pandemics by combatting wildlife trafficking, closing high-risk wildlife markets, and other efforts. It also provided language for the Preventing Future Pandemics Act of 2020. FUND RAISING AND STAFF SUPPORT • Wine for Wildlife raised over $208,000 to support the Columbus Zoo Fund For Conservation grant program. • Zoo employees raised $12,776 for conservation projects. • Zoo guests donated $8,568.62 through the coin walls to support WINE FOR WILDLIFE conservation projects. Raised over $208,000 to support the