The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere - Animals

Conservation Efforts

On June 4, 1844, on the Island of Eldey, off of the coast of Iceland, two Great Auks, one of the most magnificent birds of all time, were killed. Why is this important? It just so happened that they were the last of their kind. Great Auks are now known only from drawings, written descriptions and very old stuffed specimens on display in a few museums. The term conservation was seldom used while the Great Auks lived.

Today conservation is talked about every day, and virtually everyone understands what conservation is. In the dictionary conservation is defined as "preservation, especially of natural resources." It is estimated that 20 percent or more of the world's biological diversity may disappear in the next few decades. With the knowledge of why conservation is important we may be able to stop this from happening. Zoos play an important role in the drive to bring endangered species back from the brink of extinction and in stopping other animals from becoming endangered at all.

Zoos and aquariums are working to scientifically manage conservation-breeding efforts throughout the world. SSP programs are in place for over 100 species of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish and invertebrates. Zoos have also supported or participated in thousands of conservation or related scientific projects in over 60 countries worldwide. Scientists are beginning to focus on habitat conservation nearly as much as species conservation.

Conservation cannot be, and is not, limited to zoos. All of the earth's natural resources are in need of protection. Without conservation programs to save endangered ecosystems such as the rainforests and coral reefs, the work of zoos and aquariums to breed endangered species would produce only more zoo animals. Preserving habitats is also important because all of the zoos and aquariums together can hold and save only a fraction of all the species on earth.

We want to conserve species and habitats for their beauty and out of compassion. The most important reason for conservation though, is that each and every organism on earth is a single thread of a fragile web of life. With each severed thread our own tenuous hold on to the web is made that much weaker.

Nashville Zoo's Role in Conservation

Nashville Zoo is committed to supporting a wide variety of conservation projects both locally and internationally. Our efforts range from participating in a hellbender captive breeding project, which supports field research; to breeding giant anteaters and providing valuable husbandry and medical data to zoos nationwide; to working with noted field researchers in South America who track and collect specimens and data on tapirs; to initiating a captive breeding program in Thailand for clouded leopards.

Nashville Zoo is also home to many Species Survival Plans (SSP). SSPs are a coordinated effort between all AZA-accredited zoos to improve the genetics and survivability of threatened and endangered species. For a list of all SSPs that Nashville Zoo participates in, click here.

What Can You Do to Help?

The problems facing many animal species around the world can seem daunting, and you may wonder how much help one person can be. Just as grains of sand can create a mountain, so can we as individuals create a "mountain" of support that stands tall in support of endangered species, their habitats and their unique contributions to our planet. Here are a few suggestions to get you started!