AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction focuses the collective expertise within AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and leverages their massive audiences to save species.
AZA member organizations are working together and alongside their partners to help save animals from extinction. Learn more about our SAFE Species below and DONATE today. Your donation supports AZA SAFE and helps the AZA-accredited zoo and aquarium community protect endangered animals around the world.
Action Indonesia—Anoa, Babirusa, and Banteng
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African Elephant
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African Hornbill
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African Lion
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African Painted Dog
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African Penguin
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American Burying Beetle
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African Vulture
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American Red Wolf
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American Turtle
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Andean Bear
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Asian Elephant
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Andean Highland Flamingo
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Asian Hornbill
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Black-Footed Ferret
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Attwater's Prairie Chicken
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Black Rhinoceros
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Bonobo
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Cheetah
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Chimpanzee
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Coral
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Chinchilla
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Colobus Monkey
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Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
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Cuban Crocodile
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Eastern Indigo Snake
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Gibbon
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Giraffe
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Gorilla
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Jaguar
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Maned Wolf
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Mexican Wolf
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North American Bison
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North American Freshwater Mussel
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North American Monarch
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North American Songbird
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Ocelot
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Orangutan
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Pangolin
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Peninsular Pronghorn
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Perdido Key Beach Mouse
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Prairie Butterfly
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Radiated Tortoise
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Red Panda
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Red Siskin
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Sea Turtle
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Sloth Bear
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Shark and Ray
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Snow Leopard
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Thick-billed Parrot
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Sunflower Sea Star
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Tree Kangaroo of Papua New Guinea
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Vaquita
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Western Pond Turtle
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Whooping Crane
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Wyoming Toad
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Action Indonesia—Anoa, Babirusa, and Banteng
Anoa: Endangered (IUCN); Babirusa: Endangered (IUCN); Banteng: Endangered (IUCN)The goal of SAFE Action Indonesia — Anoa, Babirusa, and Banteng is to create meaningful impact and increase AZA support of the Action Indonesia Global Species Management Plan (GSMP) by supporting in-situ and ex-situ conservation through open communication, consistent funding, as well as increased awareness and participation within the AZA community. Photo Credit: Chester Zoo
Julia Klumb, Zoo Miami
Vice Program Leader: Telena Welsh, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
African Elephant
Critically Endangered, Endangered (IUCN); Threatened (USFWS)The SAFE African Elephant program will connect and enhance collective efforts towards African savanna and African forest elephant conservation, research, and education.
Co-Leader: Niki Kowalski, Indianapolis Zoo
Co-Leader: Corey Neatrour, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
African Hornbill
Vulnerable and regionally Endangered (IUCN)The SAFE African Hornbill program will utilize a diverse network of partnerships, including the IUCN SSC Hornbill Specialist Group (Africa), established field organizations, and AZA-accredited institutions, to enhance and support the conservation of hornbill species in Africa, fostering a holistic approach to their conservation.
Ann Knutson, Dallas Zoo
African Lion
Vulnerable (IUCN); Endangered (U.S. Endangered Species Act)SAFE African Lion's goal is to reinforce viable, connected landscapes and support tolerant communities coexisting with African lions to enable increasing the number of African lions in the wild. Through this strategy, AZA-accredited institutions will partner with local organizations working on the ground and communities with lions across Africa.
Lily Maynard, PhD, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Vice Program Leader: Joshua Patrick, Zoo Miami
African Painted Dog
Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (U.S. Endangered Species Act)SAFE African Painted Dog's goal is to increase the impact that AZA institutions have on African painted dog conservation in each of its three regions (West and Central Africa, East Africa, and Southern Africa) by increasing conservation support, raising public awareness of African painted dogs in-situ and ex-situ, and building relationships between AZA institutions and key African painted dog field partners.
Christina Gorsuch, Cincinnati Zoo
Vice Program Leader: Tyler Boyd, Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden
African Penguin
Critically Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (US Endangered Species Act)Through SAFE African Penguin, AZA facilities have joined forces to develop various projects, from improving disaster response protocols for oil spills to constructing artificial nests in order to address population declines caused by overfishing, habitat degradation, and oil spills.
Patty McGill, PhD, National Aviary
Vice Program Leader: Katie Manion, National Aviary
American Burying Beetle
Endangered (IUCN); Threatened (USFWS); Endangered (State)The SAFE American Burying Beetle program builds upon pre-existing partnerships between U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, various State conservation agencies, and AZA-accredited institutions to manage captive breeding populations and active reintroduction efforts within the species' existing home range. SAFE American Burying Beetle will continue to support breeding and recovery efforts, as well as engage new partners across diverse skillsets in ecological field research that could positively impact this species and the vertebrate species upon which it depends in the wild. Photo Credit: Saint Louis Zoo
Co-Leader: Bob Merz, Saint Louis Zoo
Co-Leader: Louis Perrotti, Roger Williams Park Zoo
African Vulture
Endangered to Critically Endangered (IUCN)SAFE African Vulture's goal is to address the threat of poisoning, monitor populations, increase knowledge about vulture population status in current gap areas, and increase public engagement in African vulture conservation both among visitors to AZA institutions and within range-country communities.
Estelle Sandhaus, PhD, Santa Barbara Zoo
Vice Program Leader: Sarah Woodhouse, PhD, Lincoln Children's Zoo
American Red Wolf
Critically Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (U.S. Endangered Species Act)The mission of the SAFE American Red Wolf program is to support the re-establishment of the American Red Wolf in the wild through breeding under human care, awareness and education, and research and conservation support for both in situ and ex situ populations.
Regina Mossotti, Saint Louis Zoo
Vice Program Leader: Craig Standridge, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
American Turtle
Vulnerable to Critically Endangered (IUCN); Not listed, Threatened, and Endangered (U.S. Endangered Species Act)SAFE American Turtle's goal focuses on conservation efforts for turtle species including the bog turtle, spotted turtle, wood turtle, Blanding's turtle, eastern box turtle, and all Terrapene species.
Program Co-Leader: Sarah Foote, Potter Park Zoo
Program Co-Leader: Dr. Mike Selig, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Andean Bear
Vulnerable (IUCN)SAFE Andean Bear's goal is to support Andean bear conservation in key landscapes including Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia through targeted research, monitoring, and capacity-building efforts.
Kym Gopp, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Asian Elephant
Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (U.S. Endangered Species Act)SAFE Asian Elephant's goal is to enhance and assist Asian elephant conservation efforts within the 13 range countries by engaging communities with elephants in human care, supporting science of the treatment and management of EEHV in Asian elephant range states, and developing education materials, tools kits, and social media materials to introduce to all AZA institutions.
Adam Felts, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Vice Program Leader: Rachel Emory, Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden
Andean Highland Flamingo
Near threatened and Vulnerable (IUCN); Endangered (US Endangered Species Act)SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo supports the recovery and conservation of Andean, Chilean, and Puna (James’s) flamingos through research, public engagement, targeted training, community outreach, and education. AZA members work with Chilean partners to support activities outlined in the country’s Andean highland flamingo conservation plan, fill research gaps, and assist with the identification, prioritization, and designation of critical flamingo habitat in Chile’s northern Andean highlands.
Daniel Hilliard, PhD, Zoo Conservation Outreach Group
Co-Vice Program Leader: Jennifer Stoddard, Reid Park Zoo
Co-Vice Program Leader: Joey Powell, Dickerson Park Zoo
Asian Hornbill
Vulnerable to Critically Endangered (IUCN)The overarching vision of SAFE Asian Hornbill is to support the sustainability of wild Asian hornbills in viable, ecologically functional populations in forest, both intact and managed, within their natural ranges. To reach its priority objectives, SAFE Asian Hornbill will support and expand effective partnerships between AZA member organizations and in-country conservation partners to advance Asian hornbill species recovery and sustainability in the wild.
Michelle Kolar, Indianapolis Zoo
Black-Footed Ferret
Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (US Endangered Species Act)SAFE Black-footed Ferret's goal is to apply our unique skillsets to play an integral role in the Black-footed Ferret Recovery Program so that the species no longer meets the Endangered Species Act's definition of Endangered but is downlisted to Threatened. The program's objectives address the multifaceted challenges of black-footed ferret conservation by combining scientific expertise, collaborative efforts, public engagement, and strategic resource allocation.
Jeff Baughman, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Attwater's Prairie Chicken
Endangered (USFWS); Endangered (State)SAFE Attwater's Prairie Chicken is committed to restoring the ecological integrity of prairie habitats while ensuring the species’ long-term survival through thriving wild populations, scientifically managed ex-situ populations as a source for reintroduction, continuous advancement in husbandry science, supporting land management practices that protect, restore, and expand native prairie habitats, and inspiring greater public awareness and appreciation of prairie ecosystems and the urgent conservation needs of this striking species. Photo Credit: Houston Zoo
Kyle McAuliffe, Houston Zoo
Vice Program Leader: Yvonne Stainback, Caldwell Zoo
Black Rhinoceros
Critically Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (US Endangered Species Act)SAFE Black Rhino aims to enhance the protection and conservation of free-ranging black rhinos in Africa by engaging and inspiring more AZA zoos to impact in-situ black rhino conservation initiatives.
RoxAnna Breitigan, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Co-Vice Program Leader: Cassandra Kutilek, Lincoln Park Zoo
Co-Vice Program Leader: Jeff Muntifering, PhD, Minnesota Zoo
Bonobo
Endangered (IUCN)The SAFE Bonobo program will utilize a diverse, targeted approach to identify collaborative projects that work towards reducing the species’ three main threats (poaching, habitat destruction and fragmentation, and disease), assess strategic opportunities to build capacity and provide community support within the species' sole native range within the Democratic Republic of Congo, and increase awareness of bonobo field conservation within AZA member institutions. Photo Credit: Kathelijne Koops
Auriana Donaldson, Zoological Society of Milwaukee
Cheetah
Vulnerable (IUCN); Endangered (USFWS)The goal of SAFE Cheetah is to empower and support the regional coordinators in fulfilling their goals of increasing cheetah populations and encouraging successful coexistence with local communities through collaborative conservation efforts.
Adrienne Crosier, PhD, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Vice Program Leader: Anna Chaney, Memphis Zoo
Chimpanzee
Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (U.S. Endangered Species Act)The long-term vision of SAFE Chimpanzee is to improve chimpanzee populations through collaborative conservation, stakeholder engagement, and global awareness. Grounded in scientific conservation strategies and effective, on-the-ground efforts, the SAFE Chimpanzee program's primary focus is fostering human-chimpanzee coexistence.
Tina Cloutier Barbour, PhD, Dallas Zoo
Vice Program Leader: Candace Sclimenti, Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Coral
Critically Endangered (IUCN); Threatened (U.S. Endangered Species Act)The long-term vision of the SAFE Coral program is a world where coral reefs are an abundant, healthy, and genetically-diverse component of a thriving network of interconnected marine ecosystems benefitting human communities. By focusing its efforts on 22 high-priority species that occur in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, SAFE Coral is working to align conservation priorities from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, NOAA Fisheries and NGOs to inspire and mobilize the AZA community to save corals from extinction.
Bart Shepherd, Steinhart Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences
Vice Program Leader: M. Andrew Stamper, DVM, Disney's Animals, Science, and Environment
Chinchilla
Endangered (IUCN); Short-tailed chinchilla: Critically Endangered (Chile); Long-tailed chinchilla: Endangered (Chile)The goal of SAFE Chinchilla is to help Chilean national environmental authorities achieve the recovery of short-tailed and long-tailed chinchillas by focusing on objectives related to research, monitoring, and education.
Co-Leader: Seth Stapleton, PhD, Minnesota Zoological Garden
Co-Leader: Daniel Hilliard, PhD, Zoo Conservation Outreach Group
Colobus Monkey
Vulnerable to Critically Endangered (IUCN)SAFE Colobus Monkey aims to increase current AZA-based field conservation efforts, improve collaboration amongst institutions, and encourage others to join in targeted conservation actions related to the three African colobus genera. A key priority of the program is to support field-based conservation initiatives in colobus range countries, ensuring that conservation efforts are driven by local needs and scientific best practices. Photo Credit: Rich Bergl, North Carolina Zoo
Drew T. Cronin, PhD, North Carolina Zoo
Noah T. Dunham, PhD, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
Threatened (USFWS); Endangered (SARA); Endangered, Threatened, or Extirpated (State)The main goals of the SAFE Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (EMR) program will be to provide animals for reintroduction efforts in the Ojibway Prairie (Ontario, Canada), continue its 15-year monitoring study of an EMR population in Michigan and use that dataset to address important conservation-focused research questions, expand the current number of breeding centers to match the needs of the reintroduction effort, engage more directly with existing state, provincial, and federal stakeholders to bring focus to outreach and engagement activities, and identify new ways to support long-term recovery of the species. Photo Credit: Jeff Jundt
Lisa Faust, PhD, Lincoln Park Zoo
Cuban Crocodile
Critically Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (ESA)The goal of SAFE Cuban Crocodile is to support in-situ and ex-situ efforts to preserve the Cuban crocodile through conservation breeding, research, fieldwork and education outreach initiatives in Cuba and abroad. Through this program's collaborative efforts, AZA facilities can continue to contribute to the conservation of this unique crocodilian and its habitat.
Lauren Augustine, Philadelphia Zoo
Eastern Indigo Snake
Threatened (USFWS)SAFE Eastern Indigo Snake's goal is to protect and monitor Eastern indigo snakes, and support restoration projects in key habitats including Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.
James Bogan, DVM, Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Vice Program Leader: Audrey Williams, North Carolina Zoo
Gibbon
Vulnerable to Critically Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (USFWS)SAFE Gibbon endeavors to protect wild gibbons through the support of in-situ conservation efforts that preserve wild spaces, rewild rescued gibbons, reduce the illegal wildlife trade, and focus educational efforts within indigenous, local, and AZA communities.
Co-Leader: Brenna Erjavec, Akron Zoological Park
Co-Leader: Gina Munir, PhD, Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
Giraffe
Endangered to Critically Endangered (IUCN)SAFE Giraffe's goal is to support giraffe conservation by demonstrating measurable positive impacts of AZA members on the conservation of giraffe, increasing the number of AZA members that support field conservation, ensuring the stability of conservation programming, and engaging the worldwide zoo community and increase overall support.
Program Leader: Diana Miller, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Vice Program Leader: Andi Kornak, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Gorilla
Endangered to Critically Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (U.S. Endangered Species Act)SAFE Gorilla's goal is to secure sustainable populations of all gorilla subspecies, with a targeted emphasis on protecting the fragile Cross River gorilla populations in Cameroon and Nigeria and halting the rapid decline of Grauer's gorilla populations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Benjamin Jones, Houston Zoo
Vice Program Leader: Richard Bergl, PhD, North Carolina Zoo
Jaguar
Near threatened (IUCN); Endangered (U.S. Endangered Species Act)AZA-accredited zoos have an established, long-term commitment to jaguar conservation. Since the mid-1980s, AZA member institutions have been funding, conducting, and supporting jaguar-related fieldwork in Central and South America. Using objectives outlined by the IUCN Species Survival Commission Cat Specialist Group, SAFE Jaguar is focused on protecting jaguars primarily in Central America, and expanding capacity to protect jaguars throughout their range.
Mr. Stacey Johnson, Roger Williams Park Zoo
Vice Program Leader: Mr. Keith Lovett, Bronx Zoo - Wildlife Conservation Society
Maned Wolf
Near Threatened (IUCN); Endangered (USFWS); Vulnerable (Argentina)During its three-year program plan, SAFE Maned Wolf will support the recovery and conservation of Argentina’s maned wolf population through research, monitoring, community engagement, targeted training, and education programming, advancing key elements of the country’s published recovery plans.
Co-Leader: Daniel Hilliard, PhD, Zoo Conservation Outreach Group
Co-Leader: Paula Gonzalez Ciccia, Fundación Temaikèn
Mexican Wolf
Endangered (USFWS); Species of Concern (State)SAFE Mexican Wolf is a bi-national recovery program that will help support and find new opportunities to work with the community in the recovery areas of both Mexico and the United States. By working with USFWS, AZA-accredited institutions and other essential partners, SAFE Mexican Wolf will be able to support conservation efforts for this species.
Kim Scott, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Co-Vice Program Leader: Bailey Cadena, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Co-Vice Program Leader: Sarah Holaday, Endangered Wolf Center
North American Bison
Near Threatened (IUCN Red List); Critically Depleted (IUCN Green List); Threatened (SARA); Species of Concern (Montana)The goal of the SAFE North American Bison program is to support and rematriate sustainable interconnected bison populations functioning as keystone species and ecosystem engineers. SAFE North American Bison seeks to collaborate in the restoration of balanced grassland and Boreal forest ecosystems and revitalized cultural connections by supporting both in situ and ex situ projects, focused across the Great Plains and grasslands for the plains bison and the boreal and aspen forests in the north for the wood bison.
Co-Leader: Edward M. Spevak, PhD, Saint Louis Zoo
Co-Leader: Mollye Nardi, Birmingham Zoo
North American Freshwater Mussel
Least Concern to Critically Endangered (IUCN); Not listed to Endangered (US Endangered Species Act)The goal of SAFE North American Freshwater Mussel is to assist and support ongoing efforts to reduce negative anthropogenic impacts on freshwater mussels and their ecosystems, while catalyzing AZA institutions for effective freshwater mussel conservation, education, and advocacy. Photo Credit: Megan Bradley
Co-Leader: Monika Böhm, PhD, Indianapolis Zoo Global Center for Species Survival
Co-Leader: Jacob Harmon, National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
North American Monarch
The long-term goal of SAFE North American Monarch is to recover and sustain populations of monarch butterflies within our communities through increased conservation leadership in AZA zoos and aquariums. SAFE North American Monarch will use its voice to: amplify evidence-based partner recommendations; create and preserve quality habitat; develop and expand meaningful collaborations; and inspire and empower audiences to take action.
Morgan Belle, Disney's Animal Kingdom
Vice Program Leader: Paige Howorth, San Diego Zoo
North American Songbird
Least Concern to Critically Endangered (IUCN); Not listed to Endangered (US Endangered Species Act)The vision of SAFE North American Songbird is North American songbirds thriving throughout their annual life cycles due, in part, to the contributions of zoos, aquariums, and their guests, taking collaborative action to reduce threats.
Co-Leader: Sara Hallager, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Co-Leader: Joe Smith, PhD, The Wilds
Ocelot
Least Concern (IUCN); Endangered (USFWS); Endangered (State)SAFE Ocelot’s main goals are to provide its field partners in Texas with the necessary resources to propagate, rewild and reintroduce ocelots into historically occupied natural habitat on Texas ranchlands and help educate Texans in local communities about the Texas ocelot recovery program to raise awareness and engender support for continued ocelot conservation.
William F. Swanson, PhD, DVM, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Vice Program Leader: Laura Carpenter, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Orangutan
Critically Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (U.S. Endangered Species Act)The vision of the SAFE Orangutan program is to protect and restore wild orangutan populations and their habitats through public awareness, increased funding, and field work that focuses on the long-term protection of orangutan populations.
Stacia Pieroni, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
Vice Program Leader: Corey B. Romberg, The Florida Aquarium
Pangolin
Vulnerable to Critically Endangered (IUCN)SAFE Pangolin will encompass all eight known pangolin species and aims to unify its initiatives under a cohesive program that can provide strategic direction, share best practices, and maximize conservation impact across the pangolin’s range.
Mark Wanner, Brookfield Zoo Chicago
Peninsular Pronghorn
Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (USFWS)SAFE Peninsular Pronghorn intends to provide financial, husbandry, management and veterinary assistance to the last wild population found at El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve in Baja California, Mexico as well as utilize the AZA-managed population to raise awareness for the species and serve as an assurance population for potential releases. Photo Credit: Carlos Daniel Couttolenc Lyle
Co-Leader: Mike Barnes, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Co-Leader: Luis Ramirez Yanez, PhD, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Perdido Key Beach Mouse
Least Concern (IUCN); Endangered (USFWS)SAFE Perdido Key Beach Mouse (PKBM) unites partners committed to the conservation and recovery of PKBM; its long-term goals include maintaining a genetically viable assurance population, increasing public awareness, protecting and restoring dune habitats, and supporting ongoing research. Photo Credit: Into Nature Films
Rebecca Downey, Brevard Zoo
Vice Program Leader: Alyssa Rice, Brevard Zoo
Prairie Butterfly
Poweshiek skipperling: Critically Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (USFWS); Endangered (SARA) Dakota skipper: Endangered (IUCN); Threatened (USFWS); Endangered (SARA) Mitchell's Satyr: Endangered (USFWS)SAFE Prairie Butterfly is a result of a bi-national partnership between AZA-accredited institutions, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, regional partners, and others to promote the recovery and conservation of three unique butterfly species within the prairie grassland ecosystem: Poweshiek skipperling, Dakota skipper, and Mitchell’s Satyr. The program’s main goals will be increase the number of facilities able to support the ex situ propagation program, provide support and expertise for in situ land management surveys and research, bring awareness and education opportunities about prairie grasslands, and offer financial assistance to field partners.
Co-Leader: Laura Burns, Assiniboine Park Zoo
Co-Leader: Cale Nordmeyer, Minnesota Zoo
Radiated Tortoise
Critically Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (U.S. Endangered Species Act)SAFE Radiated Tortoise's goal is to prevent the extinction of the radiated tortoise by leveraging the collective expertise and resources of the AZA community and supporting field-based partners in implementing existing recovery plans through collaborative and strategic conservation and public engagement activities.
Stephen Nelson, Tennessee Aquarium
Vice Program Leader: Richard Hudson, Turtle Survival Alliance
Red Panda
Endangered (IUCN)SAFE Red Panda's mission is to create long-term support for wild red panda populations by creating partnerships among zoological organizations that empower in-situ and ex-situ conservation collaborations. Utilizing zoological institutions' expertise and skills with conservation science, husbandry, animal health and behavior, and education, SAFE Red Panda will provide transformative leadership and expertise to help address the threats facing red pandas in the wild.
Nicki Boyd, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Vice Program Leader: Shafkat Khan, PhD, Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
Red Siskin
Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (USFWS); Critically Endangered (Venezuela)SAFE Red Siskin will focus on accomplishing key advances towards the first reintroductions of the species in Venezuela by: strengthening ex-situ populations in U.S. and Venezuelan zoos; improving key ecological knowledge; evaluating potential reintroduction sites; developing a reintroduction protocol; and strengthening collaborations with AZA partners, local communities and other key partners passionate for red siskins. Photo Credit: Jhonatan Miranda
Co-Leader: Kathryn Rodriguez-Clark, PhD, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Co-Leader: Erica Royer, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Vice Program Leader: Brianna Crane, National Aviary
Sea Turtle
Vulnerable to Critically Endangered (IUCN); Threatened and Endangered (U.S. Endangered Species Act)SAFE Sea Turtle aims to use the collective resources (expertise, human capital, material, and financial support) of the AZA community to secure sustainable populations of all sea turtle species. The 2024-2028 program plan will continue to highlight two of the most critically endangered sea turtle populations: Kemp's ridley and the Eastern Pacific leatherback. Photo Credit: Gladys Porter Zoo
Kelly Thorvalson, South Carolina Aquarium
Vice Program Leader: Carol Price, PhD, North Carolina Aquariums
Sloth Bear
Vulnerable (IUCN)The goal of SAFE Sloth Bear is to accelerate knowledge generation and transfer about sloth bears that will support increased conservation action to stabilize declining populations through stakeholder engagement, collaboration, and public awareness.
Jared Bixby, Saint Louis Zoo
Vice Program Leader: Laura Bernstein-Kurtycz, PhD, Little Rock Zoo
Shark and Ray
Data deficient to critically endangered (IUCN); Some shark and ray species are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species ActSAFE Shark and Ray aims to enable evidence-based support for conservation action for all 1200+ species of sharks and rays; engage action among key collaborators and the public; support science-based shark conservation communication; and create opportunities for direct, impactful, and collaborative support for conservation and recovery of this taxa.
Michael Fatzinger, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Vice Program Leader: Paul Cox, The Shark Trust
Snow Leopard
Vulnerable (IUCN); Endangered (USFWS)SAFE Snow Leopard seeks to align AZA-accredited institutions with governmental, non-governmental, and national snow leopard conservation strategies through its key priorities to promote human-snow leopard coexistence and supporting funding and technical gaps for critical conservation, education, and research initiatives.
Dr. Melissa Cavaretta, Zoo Boise
Vice Program Leader: Tim Sampson, John Ball Zoo
Thick-billed Parrot
Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (USFWS); Species of Concern (State)The long-term goal of SAFE Thick-billed Parrot is to protect, stabilize and restore remaining wild populations, ultimately supporting the IUCN downlisting of the species from Endangered to Threatened. To reach the determined downlisting criteria, SAFE Thick-billed Parrot will engage in and support collaborative, science-based conservation programs, secure funding, engage key audiences via AZA-accredited and partner institutions, and develop innovative partnerships and approaches to advance the recovery of this ecologically and culturally important bird. Photo Credit: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Jenna Stallard, San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Vice Program Leader: James K. Sheppard, PhD, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Sunflower Sea Star
Critically Endangered (IUCN); Proposed Threatened (U.S. Endangered Species Act)SAFE Sunflower Sea Star is a multi-faceted program that incorporates objectives related to ex situ aquaculture, research, reintroduction/field work, and education/outreach. SAFE program partners have the opportunity to work on the objectives that best fit their individual missions and capacities to garner support and recover this species along the west coast of North America. It is our vision to restore the sunflower sea star to its historical range by 2030. SAFE Sunflower Sea Star is a multifaceted program that offers goals related to ex situ aquaculture, research, reintroduction/field work, and education/outreach, and will assign partners to the goals that best fit their individual missions and capacities to garner support and recover this species. Recent Successes: • Ex situ culturing facilities have increased by 350% from last year resulting in over 20,000 larvae settled. • Partners at Friday Harbor Laboratories successfully released cultured stars back into the wild. Photo credits: Marco Mazza
Program Co-Leader: Ben Morrow, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Program Co-Leader: Johanna Hultberg, Aquarium of the Pacific
Tree Kangaroo of Papua New Guinea
Endangered (IUCN)The goal of SAFE Tree Kangaroo of Papua New Guinea is to contribute to the conservation of tree kangaroos in the wild and support the local communities where the species live in Papua New Guinea (PNG). SAFE Tree Kangaroo is linking community-based conservation activities in PNG with the efforts and support of AZA-accredited institutions to ensure healthy and sustainable populations of Matschie’s tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus matshiei) and Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus goodfellowi) for many generations to come.
Lisa Dabek, PhD, Woodland Park Zoo
Vice Program Leader: Beth Carlyle-Askew, Woodland Park Zoo
Vaquita
Critically Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (U.S. Endangered Species Act)SAFE Vaquita's goal is to work with and for the people of the Upper Gulf of California to create sustainable fisheries and communities in support of thriving marine life populations.
James Danoff-Burg, PhD, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Vice Program Leader: David Bader, Marine Mammal Care Center
Western Pond Turtle
Vulnerable (IUCN)SAFE Western Pond Turtle's goal is to support the assessment of western pond turtle populations and their threats, engage the public, build public and combined stakeholder efforts, and support works that increase the number of turtles living in natural areas in the species range.
Co-Leader: Dr. Adrian Mutlow, San Francisco Zoological Gardens
Co-Leader: Kate Sulzner, CuriOdyssey
Whooping Crane
Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (U.S. Endangered Species Act)SAFE Whooping Crane's goal is to add value towards the recovery of the species to the degree so that it is no longer listed within the Endangered Species Act's definition of endangered, but is downlisted to threatened status through targeted science-based conservation, public awareness, communication, and funding actions.
Carmen Murach, Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo & Adventure Park
Vice Program Leader: Kimberly Boardman, International Crane Foundation
Wyoming Toad
Extinct in the Wild (IUCN); Extinct in the Wild (USFWS); Extinct in the Wild (State)SAFE Wyoming Toad builds upon AZA members’ long history of commitment to Wyoming toad ex situ breeding and reintroduction through collaborative partnerships with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, regional partners and other vital voices. The program’s main goals will be to nurture those existing relationships, increase the number of partnerships with a wide array of stakeholders, and to educate people about the importance of the Wyoming Toad and other amphibians as critical species within their ecosystems. Photo Credit: Sarah Armstrong, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Sean Putney, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
Vice Program Leader: Derek Benson, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
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