What is Wildlife Conservation?

Woodland Park Zoo partners with 43 field conservation projects taking place in more than 30 countries. To learn about these projects in detail visit the Conservation Reports page.

Successful conservation is increasingly recognized as a science of collaborative human effort. Rod Mast with Conservation International wrote that “the reality of the work of conservation does not lie principally with the animals, plants and ecosystems. Nature already has a plan. Rather, conservation lies in dealing with humans. Above all, conservation is a social science.”

Naturalist and butterfly expert Robert Michael Pyle noted that “ecological ignorance breeds indifference: what we know, we may choose to care for. What we fail to recognize, we certainly won’t.” We cannot help preserve the wildlife and wild places of the world if we do not recognize their inherent worth and value, aside from any economic gains or incentives. In the end, we must value “nature for nature’s sake” not merely as a resource to be exploited.

At Woodland Park Zoo, we are deeply involved in several field projects and through financial support, numerous conservation initiatives all over the globe. These include some of the smallest animals — the Oregon silverspot butterfly — to the largest mammals that walk the earth — Asian and African elephants.

The umbrella term of conservation encompasses a number of elements that combine to complete the whole picture: education, habitat preservation, in situ and laboratory research, and captive breeding programs. Each is dependent on the other for effective results.

Everyday people are important to conservation, too. Our actions, from what we eat to what we wear, buy and drive have impacts on the environment and plants and animals. By learning how we can minimize our “footprint” on the planet and encouraging others to do the same, we all — whether scientist or student — can help push back the tide of extinction.

YOU can help, too! Visit our How You Can Help section for tips on what you can do to help wildlife and habitat and inspire others to do the same!