Zoo awards $189K in global conservation grants

Funding will support lion, sea otter, polar bear, elephant and rhino field projects

From painted dogs in Mozambique to elephants in Malaysia, endangered wildlife around the world received a significant boost this month as the Oregon Zoo Foundation and Oregon Zoo announced $189,000 in support for their global conservation partners.

The awards come at a critical time for 10 international conservation organizations, some of which have lost federal funding or been affected by reductions to U.S. aid programs. The grants are funded by admission surcharges and endowments established by the Oregon Zoo Foundation.

"The Oregon Zoo is proud to work alongside global conservation leaders to restore some of the planet's most iconic and endangered species," said Melanie Sorensen, the zoo's education and conservation director. "When people visit the zoo, they're helping protect elephants, painted dogs, polar bears and other animals in the wild, and that community impact is growing."

Grants were awarded to the following organizations, some of which have partnered with the zoo for more than 20 years:

• Hutan to monitor biodiversity and support reforestation in Borneo's Kinabatangan region - home to orangutans, clouded leopards, elephants, pangolins and thousands of other species
• Niassa Carnivore Project to conserve lions, painted dogs and other carnivores in Niassa Reserve through community solutions and anti-poaching efforts
• Somali Giraffe Project to protect critically endangered Somali giraffes through research, anti-poaching programs and habitat restoration
• Polar Bears International to increase safety and reduce negative contact between people and polar bears in a warming Arctic
• Elakha Alliance to advance the effort to restore Oregon's marine environment through the reintroduction of sea otters
• International Rhino Foundation to protect black rhinos through anti-poaching activities, monitoring programs and working with local communities
• Seratu Aatai to advance human-elephant coexistence in Sabah, Malaysia
• Sabah Wildlife Department to fund wildlife ranger positions and support care of rescued elephants
• Chimpanzee SAFE to support anti-poaching, research and community programs in Uganda, Sierra Leone and the Republic of Congo
• Asian Elephant SAFE to advance Asian elephant conservation across all 13 range countries

"By combining the dedication of our community with the leadership of our global wildlife partners, we have the power to make a real difference in saving species," said Michael Hogan, executive director of the Oregon Zoo Foundation. "Generous gifts from our supporters help the zoo create a better world for wildlife, people and the habitats we all depend on."