At The Gladys Porter Zoo, we carry out our conservation mission by contributing to various conservation projects to preserve endangered species such as Kemp's ridley sea turtles, Western lowland gorillas, and Philippine crocodiles. The Zoo also contributes funds to support conservation or research programs that take place in the home ranges of specific animals in need of attention. In the past, the Zoo has supported field projects to benefit Galapagos tortoises, Matchie's tree kangaroos and several species of rhino, just to name a few. We also participate in the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's (AZA's) Species Survival Plan program to help ensure the survival of selected wildlife species.

Species Survival Plans - A Last Refuge for Disappearing Species
In an ideal world, we wouldn't need captive breeding. There would be no man made threats to wild populations, no human-caused mass extinction underway. Of course, we don't live in an ideal world. Not only are species being driven extinct by human activities, but the truth is, far more species are disappearing than we could possibly save with the resources we have. The hedge against extinction is to have a viable population in captivity, so that if the species disappears from the wild, we at least have a chance to re-establish it someday.

This gets us to a whole new group of difficult questions. How many individuals are necessary? How much will we have to duplicate nature to enable their descendants to return to the wild? We have to have a plan. In the zoo world, it's called a Species Survival Plan (SSP).

The Gladys Porter Zoo supports and participates in over 40 Species Survival Plans (SSP's) for animals within its collection. These and numerous other endangered or threatened species of animals are involved in captive reproduction, research projects, or conservation education programs.

Gladys Porter Zoo Sea Turtle Conservation Program -- Kemp's Ridley Project
Of the eight species of sea turtles in the world, the Kemp's ridley, Lepidochelys kempii, is the most endangered. It is also the smallest sea turtle and the only species that nests primarily during the daytime.

In 1978, a collaborative bi-national program between Mexico and the United States was developed to try and restore this species' population to a self sustainable level, and in 1981, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asked the Gladys Porter Zoo to administer the United States' field portion of the joint U.S./Mexico effort to protect and increase the production of Kemp's ridley sea turtles in their natal beaches located in the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. To date, the Zoo still carries out that role.

International Rhino Foundation
Gladys Porter Zoo's former Director, Don. D. Farst, D.V.M., serves as a member of the Board of the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), whose mission is to contribute to rhino conservation by providing technical, administrative and financial services and support for programs which emphasize intensive management and scientific research both in situ (in the wild) and ex situ (in captivity) as equally important components of rhino conservation. (link to www.rhinos-irf.org)

The IRF is a non-profit organization, dedicated to the worldwide conservation of the five living species of rhinoceros: Black, White, Indian, Javan and Sumatran.

In order to support IRF conservation programs, the Gladys Porter Zoo makes an annual financial contribution to the organization.

International Iguana Foundation
The Zoo's General Curator, Colette Hairston Adams, serves as a member of the Board of the International Iguana Foundation (IIF), whose mission is to actively support conservation, awareness and scientific programs that enhance the survival of wild iguanas and their habitats.

The IIF is a non-profit organization whose primary purpose is to raise the financial resources essential to implementing iguana conservation programs. Working in concert with the Iguana Specialist Group (ISG) of IUCN - the World Conservation Union and other conservation organizations, it provides critical support to initiatives prioritized in the ISG's Conservation Action Plan and Species Recovery Plans. In addition, the IIF works to generate public awareness of the many threats facing iguana species today.

In order to support IIF conservation programs, the Gladys Porter Zoo makes an annual financial contribution to the organization.

Ovarian Stimulation, Oocyte Retrieval and ICSI Followed by Embryo Transfer in a Western Lowland Gorilla
In 2004, Gladys Porter Zoo partnered with the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, NE, to develop a new technique for assisted reproduction in gorillas. Assisted reproductive techniques, such as artificial insemination, are becoming more important as an alternative strategy for the breeding management of zoo animals, including gorillas.

Dr. Jenifer Chatfield, former GPZ Sr. Veterinarian and Dr. Naida Loskutoff, HDZ reproductive physiologist, along with a team of specialists, have worked to develop a protocol using sex-sorted sperm for assisted reproduction in gorillas.

Do Gorillas Experience Menopause?
While everyone knows that apes are closely related to humans, no one knows how closely related we all are. Sylvia Atsalis, a primatologist from the Brookfield Zoo, investigated whether or not gorillas experience menopause. She contacted former GPZ Senior Veterinarian Dr. Jenifer Chatfield about GPZ gorilla "Katanga" participating in the study. By measuring daily fecal hormones and evaluating behavior three times a week, Dr. Atsalis was able to establish that gorillas do experience menopause. Collecting data from many different zoos across the country helped her establish another link between humans and apes.

A Health and Habitat Use Survey of Bobcats Within a Partially Restored Wildlife Corridor: a Model for Endangered Texas Felids
In June of 2003, Dr. Jenifer Chatfield, former Senior Veterinarian at the Gladys Porter Zoo, and Mitchell Sternberg, USFWS biologist began an investigation to determine the health and habits of bobcats along the Otha Holland Corridor in South Texas. This corridor serves as a land bridge between two large areas of habitat, lies in close proximity to several urban areas and is ~25 miles long. The investigation included a health survey of the cats as well as radiotelemetry studies of the cats' habits.

North American Cooperative Conservation for the Philippine Crocodile
Staff from the Department of Herpetology work with the Philippine government and the Philippine National Recovery Team to coordinate a cooperative effort to support in-country efforts to protect and reclaim habitat for the critically endangered Philippine crocodile. With only an estimated 200 adult animals remaining in the wild, several other North American institutions have committed to assist with captive rearing of offspring produced at Gladys Porter, as well as to help support the long-term captive conservation of the species.

Determination of the Origin of Captive Galapagos Tortoises
A great number of the Galapagos tortoises that are currently in captivity were taken off of various islands in Galapagos early in the 20th century and brought to North America. Many of them were taken off the largest island, Isabella. Isabella is home to several different races of giant tortoises, and, like the tortoises from other islands in Galapagos, each race has developed different physical characteristics that have allowed it to thrive in its particular habitat. In order to preserve the genetic makeup of each race of tortoise, including their unique physical characteristics, a genetic study was undertaken by Dr. Ed Louis, formerly of Scott Davis' lab at Texas A & M University.

CONSERVATION THROUGH PROJECT SUPPORT

Support for Dambari Duiker & Black Rhino Conservation Program
The Gladys Porter Zoo has been a long-term financial supporter of the Dambari Field Station in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The Zoo's former Director, Don D. Farst, D.V.M. is a board member for the Marwell Zimbabwe Trust, which runs the station. In-situ conservation and rescue work for rhinos are coordinated through this field station, which also serves as a breeding and research institute for duikers and other small antelope.

Feline Research in Northeast Mexico
The Gladys Porter Zoo contributes funds to the work of Arturo Caso, an independent researcher that has successfully radio-collared, tracked and monitored native wild felids for the past seven years. In addition to his research on ocelot and jaguarundi, a small population of margay has been identified within his study area.

Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program in Papua New Guinea
The Gladys Porter Zoo joins many other contributing organizations to support this dynamic project, which began in 1996 as a research study of the conservation status of the endangered Matschie's tree kangaroo and has evolved into a comprehensive community-based conservation program. The ultimate goal of the TKCP is the establishment of a 150,000-acre Wildlife Management Area to ensure the long-term sanctuary of several rare and endemic species, including the tree kangaroo and the long-beaked echidna.