The Sac Zoo is dedicated to wildlife conservation.
Conservation can mean many things, but to us it means striving every day to conserve valuable resources like water and energy, reduce our waste and increase our recycling, and help to educate visitors about their important role in saving our environment, animal species and the habitats in which they live. Did you know that every time you visit the Sac Zoo or purchase a Zoo membership, you are supporting conservation efforts around the globe?
Conservation at the Zoo
The animal care team works with Resoil Sacramento to collect food waste from the zoo’s commissary as they prepare food for the animals. Resoil Sacramento composts the food scraps rather than sending it to a landfill, reducing methane emissions. The compost creates healthy soil for local gardeners and landscapers, leading to healthy food systems.
Conservation is integral to the Sacramento Zoo’s mission. Many of the species we care for face enormous challenges across the globe. The zoo’s dedicated staff was recently given a unique opportunity to make a difference in conservation efforts happening outside of their daily work at the zoo.
Jason Jacobs, Sacramento Zoo’s Executive Director/ CEO, also sits on the Okapi Conservation Project’s Board of Directors. The Okapi Conservation Project works in the Democratic Republic of Congo to protect the natural habitat of the endangered okapi and indigenous Mbuti pygmies living in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.
Giant garter snakes are the largest garter snake species and are native to central California. Unfortunately, giant garter snakes are threatened by habitat loss. When local injured garter snakes are found, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife contacts the Sac Zoo so the snakes can be examined and treated by UC Davis Veterinarians in our veterinary clinic before being returned to the wild. The Zoo’s partnership with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is integral to the success of this important program.
The Sacramento Zoo has supported the Wild Nature Institute for more than ten years. Wild Nature Institute is the largest research, environmental education, and action campaign working to save wild giraffes.
Melissa McCartney, Sac Zoo’s Senior Manager of Animal Care, is the Program Leader for the Thick-billed Parrot Species Survival Plan (SSP). In this role Melissa oversees the population of thick-billed parrots under human care at AZA-Accredited Zoos and is helping to maintain a sustainable population of this endangered species for generations to come.
Through the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ (AZA) SAFE program, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums convene scientists and stakeholders globally to identify the factors threatening species, develop conservation action plans, collect new resources, and engage the public.
For more information visit the SAFE website and follow the online conversation via #SavingSpecies.
Every day the Sacramento Zoo feeds pounds of browse (non-toxic branches and leaves from specific species of trees and shrubs) to various animal species at the zoo. While we grow various edible plants on grounds, we could use your help. Many of our neighbors trim their delicious trees on a regular basis and leave the piles for curb-side collection. But, if your tree is on our approved list, we can collect branches from your home – or even better, you can deliver them to us – and we will feed them out to our animals, rather than sending them to a landfill.
For details, review our edible plant list and learn how to make an appointment.