Zoological Association of America

Congratulations to our 2024 ZAA Award Winners! Lifetime Achievement Award: Richard Hahn Excellence in Education: Frank Buck Zoo - Teddy Bear Hospital The ZAA Educational Award of Excellence recognizes outstanding achievement and innovation in education program design and implementation. Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence: African Safari Wildlife Park - Capybara Encounter Habitat The ZAA Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence recognizes excellence in the area of new and unique live animal display, exhibit design and construction. In Situ Conservation: Monterey Zoo - A Recipe for “Saving Rhinos” The ZAA In-Situ Conservation Award recognizes significant contributions to enhancing the conservation of an animal species in nature. Comprehensive Immersion Exhibit Award: The Wild Animal Park - Ruins of the Wild: Mayan Jungle The ZAA Comprehensive Immersion Exhibit Award recognizes unique and innovative ideas centering on outstanding design immersion to create a holistic approach to the animal/human connection. Join us in celebrating these incredible achievements! 🎉 To learn more about our winners and their inspiring work, visit our website: zooassociation.org/awards

The 2024 ZAA Annual Conference has officially wrapped up, and what an incredible event it was! 🎉 A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making this conference a resounding success. Your hard work and dedication truly made a difference! Exhibitors: A massive thank you to all the exhibitors who showcased their innovative ideas and solutions. Your enthusiasm and dedication to the field are truly inspiring! Keynote Speaker: We were honored to have Joel Sartore, Photographer as our keynote speaker. His insights and storytelling captivated us all, reminding us of the importance of conservation and the role we play in preserving our planet. Speakers & Poster Presenters: A special thank you to all the speakers and poster presenters who shared their knowledge and research with us. Your contributions sparked meaningful discussions and ignited new ideas! Venue Hosts: A big thank you to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Wilds for hosting us in such an amazing environment. Your hospitality and support made our experience unforgettable! Memorable Moments: A special shoutout to Amanda Badger for suggesting we take a group picture at the Columbus Zoo. It’s moments like these that create lasting memories and strengthen our community! We’ve captured some amazing highlights from the conference! Let’s keep the momentum going and continue to connect, collaborate, and inspire one another. Here’s to all of you who make the ZAA community so special. We can’t wait to see you all at our next conference! Image 2, 5, 7, 10: Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Image 4: Amanda Carberry Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Image 8: Emma Dixon, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium #ZAAConference2024 #ConservationCommunity #ThankYou

One of the biggest challenges we face, whether as individuals, team members, or leaders, is balancing productivity with being truly present in our relationships. Join us as Yolanda Easton, Certified Leadership Coach, explores how the 5 Gears is a simple, yet powerful tool that helps us navigate this balance effectively. Like shifting gears in a car, it shows us how to be fully engaged in the right way at the right time—whether we need deep focus for work or meaningful connection with others. By learning to shift intentionally and communicate our needs, we can create a rhythm that allows us to bring our best to every area of our lives.

Join us tomorrow at 6pm EST as Jamie Sheard, Associate Director of Guest Services, presents "If You Build It: The Power and Impact of Your Store’s Design and Merchandising." Discover valuable tips and strategies to design and merchandise your store in a way that tells your institution's story, enhances guest experience, and makes retail a focal point of your operation. Jamie will dive into: * Designing a new shop from the ground up * Maximizing the potential of your fixtures * Integrating retail as a key part of the overall guest experience Registration: https://lnkd.in/eHYvnAEj

We're excited to present a must-watch webinar featuring Rick Hudson, President Emeritus at Turtle Survival Alliance. In this powerful presentation, Rick dives into the ongoing poaching crisis in Madagascar and the incredible story of how TSA ended up with 26,000 Radiated Tortoises under their care. Learn about: 🌍 The challenges of caring for these tortoises at TSA's centers in Madagascar. 🌿 The process of returning tortoises to the wild through community engagement and post-release monitoring. 🛡️ The urgent need for well-monitored protected areas to ensure the survival of this species. 📺 Watch the presentation here: https://lnkd.in/e2Kudcgd 🔗 Visit their website to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gZ3eQjJi Don’t miss this opportunity to understand the crucial work being done to save these incredible creatures!

Join us for an inspiring session as Dr. Jana Johnson, PhD at Moorpark College, shares the incredible work being done at The Teaching Zoo, where they’ve successfully rescued endangered species and garnered free widespread media attention. Discover how their efforts have become a highlight for zoo visitors and a model for invertebrate conservation. We’ll also be joined by Michael Kreger, Vice President of Conservation at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, who will discuss the critical actions zoos are taking to reduce threats to our beloved backyard songbirds. These birds, while familiar, face serious threats, and this webinar will explore how zoos and guests can play a pivotal role in their conservation. 🔗 Don’t miss this opportunity to learn what actions you can take. Register for the webinar now: https://lnkd.in/emtzmaQw

Join us on August 21st at 6 PM EST for an eye-opening webinar featuring Rick Hudson, Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) President Emeritus, as he delves into the ongoing crisis of Madagascar's tortoise poaching. Discover how the Turtle Survival Alliance took on the monumental task of caring for over 26,000 Radiated Tortoises and learn about the process of returning these tortoises to the wild. Rick will highlight the critical role of community engagement and post-release monitoring, and discuss how well-protected areas are essential for the survival of this endangered species. 🔗 Don’t miss out - register now! Visit the ZAA website or click here to register: https://lnkd.in/eyfxuJzZ

Discover the incredible work being done to save the ground-hornbill, one of southern Africa's most iconic savannah species. Join Dr. Lucy Kemp as she delves into the challenges of conserving this majestic bird, with only 25% of its population safely within protected areas. Learn about the innovative conservation strategies in place and the critical role rural communities play in the survival of these birds. 🎥 Watch the full webinar now and be inspired to make a difference! https://lnkd.in/e32_6DEy 🌐 For more information, visit: https://lnkd.in/eDb3N9BZ

Are you looking for funding for your proposal or NGO? Want to learn how ZAA contributes to conservation efforts worldwide? 🌍 Watch our webinar to discover more! https://lnkd.in/e4JrzEwJ ZAA offers two types of grants: * Conservation Fund Grants: Support proposals focused on conservation, research, education, and community initiatives. * Conservation Global Grants: Targeted for NGOs whose missions align with ZAA's conservation goals. 🔍 In this webinar, we cover everything you need to know about these grants, including selection criteria and success stories from past winners. 🏆 2024 ZAA Conservation Fund Grant Winners: Get an in-depth look at this year's winning projects and their impact! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eiZEzqZK 🙏 Interested in donating to these grants? Your contribution can make a difference. Visit: https://lnkd.in/eu96ZQ_3 🔔 To watch more webinars and keep up with future events, consider joining ZAA. Visit zooassociation.org to become a member, and check out the events section on our Facebook page or the ZAA website for upcoming webinar registration.

🌿 Congratulations to the 2024 ZAA Conservation Award Winners! 🌿 We are thrilled to announce the recipients of this year’s ZAA Conservation Awards. These individuals and their projects exemplify dedication, innovation, and impact in the field of conservation: 🏆 Dr. Jana Johnson – The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College Project: Butterfly Project - Housing Replacement for Captive Stock 🏆 Halleluya Natanael Shaanika – Namibia University of Science and Technology and Namibia Development Trust Project: Investigating human behavior based on their perceptions and attitudes towards rhino conservation in north-central Namibia 🏆 Mrs. Makayla Peppin-Sherwood – Turtle Survival Alliance Project: Reintroducing radiated tortoises to community protected forests in Southern Madagascar 🏆 Mr. Indra Acharja – Royal Society for Protection of Nature Project: Breeding Biology and Post-fledging Behavior of the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis 🏆 Dr. David Lehmann – Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux, Gabon Project:Mandrill Conservation and Research in Lope National Park, Gabon The ZAA’s Conservation Fund Grants aim to support field programs, studies and multidisciplinary approaches to species conservation, habitat preservation, and biodiversity enhancement. These five exceptional projects align perfectly with these goals. A special thank you to our review and selection sub-committee for their dedication in reviewing all applications, and to all the applicants for their inspiring proposals. 📚 Want to learn more? You can read detailed descriptions of the winners' projects and their primary objectives at https://lnkd.in/eiZEzqZK ✨ Interested in making a difference? If you're considering applying for the 2025 ZAA Conservation Awards, proposals will be accepted from January 1, 2025, to April 15, 2025. Find the complete guidelines and application details at https://lnkd.in/eBTZC2tj