You can advance conservation, here at the Zoo and around the world, by contributing to the Philadelphia Zoo's conservation program. In fact, the success of our program depends on the generosity of our donors. Here are a few ways you can support conservation at the Philadelphia Zoo!
- ADOPT an Animal: By ADOPTing a Zoo animal, you can share your love of animals by helping ours receive the best care possible.
- Give support: Make a direct, tax-deductible contribution to the Zoo's conservation program.
- Take part in cash-back programs: Several local stores will give cash back to the Zoo when you make a purchase. It's an easy way to support conservation every time you shop. Here's how you can take part:
Genuardi's Community Cash Back Program
Log onto www.escrip.com and register the Zoo as a beneficiary on your Genuardi's Club Card. Our group ID# is 149743334. Then the Zoo will receive up to three percent of all purchases you make using your Club Card.
Acme Community Cash Back Program
Save your register tape receipts and send them to the Zoo. We'll receive one percent of your purchase value in donation. Send your register tape receipts to:
Philadelphia Zoo
Attn: Valerie Peckham
3400 West Girard Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Dulary Care Fund
Dulary, our Asian elephant, was transferred to the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee in May, 2007. The Elephant Sanctuary was established in 1995 to provide homes for older elephants and other elephants in need, and is now home to two herds of Asian elephants and one group of African elephants. Dulary has joined a herd that has access to more than 2,000 acres of woodland and pastures. The Philadelphia Zoo continues to provide a yearly stipend to help cover the costs of Dulary's ongoing care. You can help out by donating to the Dulary Care Fund here.
The Bornean Elephant Conservation Unit
The Philadelphia Zoo is the lead partner working with a local non-governmental organization, Hutan, in Sabah, Borneo, to support an Elephant Conservation Unit (ECU). The overall goal of the ECU is to ensure elephant conservation through scientific study and by developing a community-based education program to help villagers live more peacefully with the elephants. You can help out by donating to the Bornean Elephant Conservation Unit here.
"Acres for Jaguars" in Mexico
Please click here for more information about this project.
Rodrigues Fruit Bat Conservation
In the 1970's, the entire world population of Rodrigues fruit bats (named for the island that makes up their only native habitat) had dropped to less than 100. Today, the species is in rebound, thanks in part to The Rodrigues Environmental Educator Project, which works with school, community, government and business groups to encourage and support Rodrigues' unique plants and animals. The Educator Project was initiated in 1998 by The Philadelphia Zoo, and today is supported by a consortium of U.S. zoos, bat conservation organizations, and private donors. You can help out by donating to the Rodrigues Fruit Bat Conservation Fund here.
Golden Lion Tamarins in Brazil
Golden Lion Tamarins are one of the most critically endangered primates in the world. They have lost most of their forest habitat to nearby Rio de Janeiro, home to millions of people. Thanks to a multi-faceted conservation program that includes research, captive breeding, reintroduction, translocation, reforestation and community education, GLT populations are now growing. Dr. Andy Baker, the Zoo’s chief operating officer, has been studying GLTs in the Poço das Antas Biological Reserve for more than 20 years. For the past 8 years, primate keepers from the Zoo have traveled with him to Brazil to assist in the research program. You can help by donating to Golden Lion Tamarin Conservation here.
Humboldt Penguins in Peru
The Philadelphia Zoo has joined with the St. Louis Zoo and the Brookfield Zoo to support Project Punta San Juan, that employs wildlife biologists who monitor Humboldt penguins and other seabirds on Punta San Juan, the largest penguin breeding colony in Peru. You can help by donating to Humboldt Penguin Conservation here.
Diamondback Terrapins in New Jersey
The Zoo works with the Wetlands Institute (Stone Harbor, New Jersey) to prevent Diamondback turtle mortality through the use of warning signs for motorists and fencing to keep turtles off roads. When turtles are killed on the road, their eggs are rescued and hatched at the Wetlands Institute, and the Zoo helps to raise the hatchling turtles and release them the following year when they are larger and have a better chance of survival. You can help by donating to Diamondback Terrapin Conservation here.
McNeil Avian Center Geothermal Wells
The McNeil Avian Center, the Zoo's newly renovated, state-of-the-art bird exhibit scheduled to open in the spring of 2009, will be home to close to 100 spectacular birds from around the world and 50 geothermal wells buried 500 feet below the building. These wells will reduce the building's carbon footprint by 837 tons - the equivalent of taking 181 cars off the road. You can help by donating to the McNeil Avian Center Geothermal Wells here.