CONSERVATION
2023
IMPACT REPORT
table of CONTENTS
6-16 Local
American Burying Beetle Recovery Program New England Cottontail Repopulation Project Operation Spadefoot Rhode Island Frogwatch RI Wood Turtles & Turtle Confiscations Timber Rattlesnake Recovery BioBlitz
17-20 Global
Chilean Amphibian Conservation Center Project Selva Elephant Conservation Tree Kangaroo Conservation
21 Sustainability at the Zoo 22-23 Conservation Education 24 Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund
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BY THE NUMBERS
2023 SUCCESS
22 (18) Eastern box turtles & (4) Mexican box turtles confiscated from illegal pet trade and brought to RWPZ for care
103
American burying beetles bred and released to wild
38
New England Cottontail Kits Born
3,800
Eastern Spadefoot Tadpoles released to the wild
1
New Motus Wildlife Tracking Tower installed
OUR Mission
As leaders in conservation and animal care, we create engaging experiences that empower guests to join us in conserving wildlife and wild places.
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FROM BACKYARD TO GLOBAL IMPACT:
protecting wildlife together At Roger Williams Park Zoo, we believe in the profound connection between people, animals, and the natural world. This connection lies at the heart of our mission: inspiring a love and appreciation for the environment and its animals for more than 150 years.
Today, our commitment to conservation goes far beyond captivating Zoo encounters . We are active participants in a global movement to protect vulnerable species and habitats, both in our own backyard and across the globe. This year, we've seen the ripples of our efforts reach far and wide, from New England cottontails hopping back into their restored habitats to the international partnerships safeguarding endangered species across the globe. We've embraced green practices, minimizing our environmental footprint while maximizing the impact of every step we take. Together, we can write a future where every species has a voice, every ecosystem thrives, and the echoes of conservation reverberate throughout the world. Through engaging experiences at the Zoo, inspiring educational programs, and collaborative conservation programs, we empower our guests and supporters to become champions for the environment. Thank you for joining us on this important mission. With gratitude, Your Roger Williams Park Zoo
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AZA COLLABORATION
Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) Program: Managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), SAFE’s goal of engaging and educating visitors about our conservation initiatives, and how they impact local, regional, and global environments. Programs Partners: SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo SAFE Red Wolf SAFE Tree Kangaroo of Papua New Guinea SAFE North American Monarch SAFE Jaguar SAFE North American Freshwater Turtle SAFE North American Songbird Species Survival Plans: The Zoo actively participates in 55 AZA Species Survival Plans® which propagate endangered and threatened species in zoos, including the red wolf, Matschie’s tree kangaroos, snow leopards, binturong, wrinkled hornbill, and others. SSP’s are cooperative species population management and conservation programs undertaken for threatened or endangered animals by AZA member institutions. The goal of this SSP and all Species Survival Plans® is to build and maintain a healthy and genetically diverse population.
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AMERICAN BURYING BEETLE RECOVERY PROGRAM Block Island, Rhode Island is the home to the last known naturally occurring population of American burying beetles (Nicrophorus americanus) east of the Mississippi River. In the 19th century, American burying beetle populations covered the eastern half of the United States and neighboring Canadian provinces. Present day, there are isolated populations in only a handful of states including Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota, Nebraska, and on Block Island, Rhode Island. American burying beetles are the largest of the North American carrion beetles. This species acts as a highend recycler removing small animal carcasses from the landscape. Carrion (dead animal) is prepared by the adult beetles by coating it with secretions that keeps the carrion from rotting, basically embalming the resource. All carrion beetle species require a vertebrate carcass to rear their brood. By removing carcasses from the ecosystem, the American burying beetle help to keep fly and ant numbers from reaching epidemic proportions. Reintroductions of this species have been ongoing since 1991 starting with a pilot reintroduction effort conducted on Pekinese Island, MA from 1991-1993. In 1993, US Fish & Wildlife and partnering organizations collaborated to reintroduce the American burying beetle to Nantucket, Massachusetts with the goal of creating a sustainable population. Beetles were sourced from the sustainable Block Island population and used as founding pairs in a breeding program at RWPZ. Since 1995, RWPZ has successfully reared over 5,000 American burying beetles over multiple generations. To date, the program has released over 3,500 beetles to their historic habitat in Nantucket, MA. The RWPZ continues to monitor the reintroduced population and supplements it annually with beetles from the breeding program.
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TIMELINE 1989 – American Burying Beetles are listed as an endangered species.
1991-1994 – Pilot reintroduction effort started on Penikese Island, MA.
1993 – USFWS and partnering organizations collaborate to release American burying beetles to Nantucket, MA.
1994 – RWPZ becomes the sole breeding facility for American burying beetles starting with 19 male and 11 female beetles taken from Block Island.
2006 – The AZA created a SSP for American burying beetles, the first terrestrial invertebrate to become an SSP. Director of Cons. Lou Perrotti was selected to direct the American burying beetle SSP.
2007 – The conservation plan halted reintroduction of beetles from the breeding program.
2011 – Number of annually provisioned broods decreased to a maximum of 25 broods.
2012-2016 – The American burying beetle population on Nantucket experienced a sustained decline.
2017 – It was decided to begin the breeding program and reintroduction step of the conservation plan again.
2020 - Due to travel restrictions, no population monitoring or provisioning took place in this year.
2021 – Traps were set and monitored with no American burying beetles detected,
2022 - In June, 70 captive bred American burying beetles were provisioned. In August 58 newly eclosed tenerals were captured.
2023 - Pitfall traps were set in June at five select sites across eastern Nantucket to trap for American burying beetles from the 2022 release. This trap session resulted in 8 new captures and 2 recaptures of American burying beetles marked in summer 2022. The Zoo was also able to provide 103 adult American burying beetles from the breeding program to be released and provisioned on the island. In July the team exhumed 33% of the broods to confirm success. Of those checked, 40% were active with larvae and 30% without larvae but well-prepared carcasses indicating larvae were soon to appear. During late summer trapping, the team set a total of 20 traps. Success of the 2023 reintroduction efforts was confirmed, with 81 teneral American burying beetles being captured at all three sites. 7
NEW ENGLAND COTTONTAIL REPOPULATION PROJECT The rare New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis), a threatened species of native rabbit once abundant throughout the New England region, is getting much-needed help. Starting in 2011, biologists from the New England Cottontail Captive Breeding Working Group (NECCBWG) teamed up to restore populations by breeding these rabbits in human care and releasing them into their natural habitat. This program has made promising progress toward boosting cottontail numbers while the partners also work to protect and restore habitat throughout the range of this species.
RWPZ had dedicated space, staff, and veterinary care for the breeding program and continues to provide expertise to sustain a supply of healthy captive-born rabbits for the reintroduction and population augmentation initiative. Partners in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, and New York continue to provide wild adult cottontails for the breeding program. These are the “founder” rabbits that produce the offspring for reintroduction efforts and population augmentation. Genetic testing performed at the University of Rhode Island (URI) confirms the founders are indeed New England cottontails before they are added to the breeding program. From 2013 through 2022, the breeding and release program grew significantly, nearly doubling numbers achieved in each of the previous years, with young rabbits now being released in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine to create new populations and augment existing populations. During the 2019 breeding season, 24-hour video footage was collected and analyzed by URI students to assess why some female rabbits were successfully birthing kits, while select female rabbits were not getting pregnant. Results found that those rabbits that
were not getting pregnant did not copulate at all. In 2022, the Zoo rabbit breeding team and a URI masters student experimented with a mate choice study by allowing the female breeding rabbit to preview three different male rabbits before being paired to breed. The male rabbit that the female rabbit spent the most time with became the chosen mate. Since the mate choice study began, the results seem to indicated success with this past year resulting in one the greatest number of kits born in a single year since the program’s inception. 8
RESULTS TO DATE
rabbits released
2013
New Hampshire Fish and Game Honor
2015
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Conservation Award
New England cottontails introduced to the wild in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine.
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2019
30
AZA North American Conservation Award
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2020
10
0
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
U.S. Fish & Wildlife named Lou Perrotti as a 2020 Recovery Champion
2022
Published in the Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, “Ex Situ Breeding Program with Wild-Caught Founders Provides the Source for Collaborative Effort to Augment Threatened New England Cottontail Populations” written by Jessie Brown & Lauren Puccia 9
OPERATION SPADEFOOT RHODE ISLAND RWPZ joins partners from RIDEM, URI, USFWS, along with other conservation organizations on the project Operation Spadefoot Rhode Island. This project aims to study and restore populations of Rhode Island’ only state endangered amphibian, the Eastern Spadefoot toad, Scaphiopus holbrookii. Although common in other parts of the country, there are only a few known breeding sites of this toad left in Washington and Kent counties of RI.
In late August 2021, after heavy rains during hurricane Henri, spadefoots bred at one of the pool sites. As the pool dried up, nearly 1000 tadpoles were rescued and then raised until they were fully morphed. Over 300 were released to the site they came from , and the rest were introduced to two other artificial breeding sites in efforts to expand the rand of this state endangered species in Rhode Island. There was no activity detected in 2022.
Eastern Spadefoot toads spend most of their lives buried in sandy loam, only rising briefly to breed in shallow wetlands filled by rainwater. They typically breed after heavy rainfall between April and September in pools that are temporary enough that they don’t support potential spadefoot predators, like the larger bullfrog. This species may not breed every year if conditions are unfavorable. As a predator of insects, the Eastern Spadefoot toad functions to help control insect population in their ecosystem. The biggest threats to frogs and toads in Rhode Island are habitat loss and fragmentation. Operation Spadefoot RI achievements to date: In 2019, 800 Eastern spadefoot tadpoles were raised and released into select sites across Washington County in Rhode Island. This was a groundbreaking moment for the conservation of endangered species here in New England.
In July 2023, a rainstorm triggered a breeding event for a population of Eastern spadefoot toads in Charlestown, RI. With the breeding pool drying up rapidly, USFWS collected over 3,800 tadpoles to be reared by RWPZ conservation director Lou Perrotti, to head start for a release. Once big enough, the toads were disease tested as a precaution to ensure they were healthy before being released. Operation Spadefoot RI partners released about 1,800 toads to the pool where the tadpoles where found in Charlestown. The other 2,000 toads were released to the two other artificial breeding sites that were constructed back in 2020. These young toads will reach breeding age in 2-4 years and will await another rainstorm to begin another breeding event.
In April 2020, RWPZ joined conservation partners to build new vernal habitat pools as part of Operation Spadefoot RI, a habitat restauration project aimed to repopulate the state endangered Eastern spadefoot toad. Volunteers and team members onsite dug, lined, and seeded two pools on land owned by the South Kingstown Land Trust. 10
FROGWATCH USA 2023
In 2023 we had 19 FrogWatchers return for the season and we successfully trained 23 new volunteers. Together this year, our chapter contributed 645 observations reported to FrogWatch USA database in all of the New England states except Vermont.
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Green Frog
190
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Treefrog Gray
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After passing a test on identifying frog calls at the end of the training, certified volunteers then commit to monitoring a local amphibian habitat approximately once a week for about 15 minutes and submitting data on what they hear.
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FrogWatch volunteers go through trainings that cover the importance of amphibians in the environment, how to monitor our local frog population to protect the species, how to tell frog species apart by their calls; and how to report findings to FrogWatch USA database on Fieldscope.
2023 FROGWATCHER OBERSERVATIONS:
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Amphibian species are disappearing at an alarming rate across the globe due to a number of factors such as habitat loss, pollution, and disease.
“Amphibians act as an important indicator species for healthy environments and are a vital part of the food chain, making up the diet of many other species; some that rely on amphibians as a sole source of food. Without amphibians, insect populations could grow out of control and potentially spread disease that could threaten human populations and agriculture. The loss of the entire class of amphibians would have a catastrophic effect on the ecosystem. FrogWatch is an easy, enjoyable way for people who have an interest in amphibians and the environment to help.” Lou Perrotti, Director of Conservation Programs
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FrogWatch USA is a citizen science program which started in 1998 that has since established an expansive network of chapters across the United States. Roger Williams Park Zoo has been an active chapter since 2008. Although this program has been managed by different organizations over the years, AZA appointed Akron Zoo as the managing organization for FrogWatch USA in 2022. FrogWatch USA provides individuals and families the opportunity to learn about wetlands in their communities and contribute to science by reporting the breeding calls of local frogs and toads.
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RHODE ISLAND WOOD TURTLE POPULATION ASSESSMENT Starting in 2016, RWPZ started working alongside RIDEM to help collect valuable data about our Rhode Island Wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) populations. This ongoing study is aimed to help better understand how Wood turtles are using landscapes. As a native RI species, Wood turtles are well adapted to the New England climates inhabiting streams and rivers as well as nearby terrestrial habitats during the summer months. Wood turtles aid in important nutrient recycling and act as effective seed dispersers in their ecosystems. Unfortunately, Wood turtle populations have declined due to many factors including habitat loss, road mortality, and illegal turtle trafficking. Prior to the start of this research, there was no movement or spatial data available for Wood turtles in RI. By getting a better understanding of Wood turtle movement patterns and habitat use, land management decisions can be made to better support this important turtle species. More recently, information on individual turtle movement has been collected using radiotransmitters and geolocating loggers. Data collected from these loggers are programmed to record the location of each turtle at least 4 times a day during their active season (March-November). The ongoing research of Wood turtles is essential for developing conservation measures in the future to ensure this species is protected. Director of Conservation, Lou Perrotti, has been an important contributor in the conservation of RI turtles and currently serves as the Wood turtle studbook coordinator for AZA.
Conservation of Local Turtle Species through the SAFE North American Freshwater Turtle Program Since 2019 the RWPZ has been an active member of the SAFE North American Freshwater Turtle program, working alongside AZA partners, state and federal agencies, the Turtle Survival Alliance, the Turtle Conservancy, and the Collaborative to Combat the illegal Trade in Turtles (CCITT) to provide housing and vet care to North American turtles being confiscated from the ever-growing illegal pet trade. The SAFE North American Freshwater Turtle Program focuses on five species of North American freshwater turtles: Bog turtle, Spotted turtle, Wood turtle, Blanding’s turtle and Eastern box turtle. The program addresses all Terrapene species due to the high numbers of these species being found in the illegal trade. These species are all semi-aquatic, long-lived, and take many years to reach sexual maturity. Four of these are currently listed by the IUCN as endangered or critically endangered, the Eastern box turtle is listed as vulnerable and a species of conservation concern in RI. All are of significant concern to USFWS. The RWPZ and partners are working with the SAFE Program to develop protocols applicable to the conservation of all species of turtles, this includes dealing with confiscations, increasing holding capacity for confiscated turtles, and the repatriation of confiscated individuals whenever possible, this includes monitoring the success of confiscated turtles once released back to the wild. “Confiscation to Conservation” is the SAFE goal.
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RAPID RESPONSE NETWORK FOR CONFISCATED TURTLES RWPZoo is a proud partner of the SAFE North American Freshwater turtle program’s Rapid Response Network for Confiscated Turtles, taking in nearly 75 confiscated turtles since 2021. The Zoo cared for 10 Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina) confiscated from a private individual in 2021, 18 Eastern box turtles from a 2022 confiscation at JFK airport that were heading out of the country to overseas markets and 16 Musk turtles that were being illegally offered for sale online, and 16 Eastern box turtles confiscated from LAX airport in 2023. These confiscations often consist of hundreds of turtles and due to the space requirements and staff time needed to care for such large numbers of turtles, RWPZ takes in only a portion of these turtles while our local Rapid Response Network partners contribute by providing holding space and care for the rest. Confiscated turtles are frequently dehydrated, malnourished, and often carry diseases. These turtles come right from the site of the confiscation directly to the Zoo and other partner holding facilities that can provide strict quarantine facilities dedicated to housing and care. Once they arrive, all turtles are evaluated, disease tested by the veterinary department, and DNA samples are submitted to help identify where the turtles may have originated from. All turtles are held in these quarantine facilities until a clean bill of health can be given and permanent placement is determined. The Zoo and SAFE partners are working to establish protocols for either releasing confiscated turtles back into the wild responsibly or for integrating them into breeding programs that could produce offspring that will have a conservation value by providing young turtles for population augmentation and reintroduction efforts across their range.
EASTERN BOX TURTLE BREEDING PROGRAM: Starting in 2019 a cooperative program between RIDEM Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Roger Williams Park Zoo was started to house and breed eastern box turtles, a Rhode Island native species. The scenario in which box turtles are taken from the wild to keep as pets and subsequently surrendered to wildlife clinics is common. It is usually challenging to justify releasing these animals for various reasons (e.g., unknown areas of collection, the potential for disease, etc.). However, the possibility exists in many cases for these individual turtles to serve as breeders for conservation programs. The Division of Fish and Wildlife would like to explore the possibility of creating a program in which “unreleasable” box turtles are housed and bred by the RWPZ at their facilities with the ultimate intent of headstarting and releasing young turtles with a genetic heritage of Rhode Island origin into the wild.
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TIMBER RATTLESNAKE RECOVERY PROGRAM The timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus horridus, is a species of snake now extinct in Rhode Island. The Timber rattlesnakes territories have declined from 31 states to just 27 states which has resulted in it being listed an endangered species in several states. The RWPZ has long been a champion of these unloved animals in peril and spearheaded a program at the zoo in 2010 to work on the recovery of this endangered snake species.
Since the program started, RWPZ has joined New England biologists and conservationists in a collaborative regional effort created to save the remaining timber rattlesnake populations in our area. It is believed that a protected genetic reservoir from the most threatened populations in the northeast should be established in human care until a solid conservation initiative develops. This involves head-starting as well as addressing the fungal dermatitis problem. With the staff and facility available to help, RWPZ agreed to receive and hold Timber Rattlesnakes from endangered New England populations. Human fear is the greatest threat to the timber rattlesnake and today they have been completely extirpated from Maine, Rhode Island, central New Hampshire, most of Vermont, Long Island, eastern and northern Ohio, and probably from Michigan and possibly from Delaware. This serious concern is multiplied by the fact that since 2009, timber rattlesnakes from separate populations in eastern, central, and western Massachusetts have been found to have significant disease identified as fungal dermatitis. This disease has been previously documented by scientists as a cause of morbidity and mortality in both captive and free-ranging viperidae snakes. Starting in 2014 the RWPZ veterinary and
conservation departments in partnership with state biologists finished a two-year federally funded study doing research to learn more about the fungus and to try to determine how prevalent the fungus is in New England Populations. To date, the zoo and partners have demonstrated success in the release of headstarted individuals, the first of its kind for this species in New England and continue to do so. This work was featured on “Ocean Mysteries” with Jeff Corwin in November 2014. Currently, nine states (including all New England states) and the Province of Ontario offer the timber rattlesnake some form of protection, listing it as threatened or endangered, or having a restricted or notake policy. Fifteen other states have regulations that protect some or all herpetofauna and therefore the timber rattlesnake by default.
Published in the Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 2022, “Head-Starting and Conservation of Endangered Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus horridus) at Roger Williams Park Zoo”, written by Gabriel Montague. 14
RHODE ISLAND NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY BIOBLITZ Roger Williams Park Zoo has been a longtime supporter of the Rhode Island Natural History Survey and their annual BioBlitz event. For this event, volunteers working in teams have 24 hours to tally as many species of animals and plants as they can on a particular parcel of land. The Rhode Island Natural History Survey (RINHS) organized the first Rhode Island BioBlitz in 2000, held in Roger Williams Park. As a partnering organization, RWPZ provides annual financial support, training, public awareness efforts, and staffing for the event. The 2023 BioBlitz event was held in partnership with the Narragansett Indian tribe on 1,200 acres of mostly wooded tribal lands in Charlestown, RI. Approximately 1,100 species were identified. This unique opportunity to survey this secluded landscape made this one of the best attended BioBlitz in its history. The RINHS BioBlitz is the longest running BioBlitz in the country!
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SAFE NORTH AMERICAN SONGBIRD In 2023, Roger Williams Park Zoo joined the SAFE North American Songbird program, a program that works to reduce threats to North American songbirds through education and conservation efforts.
The SAFE North American Songbird program focuses on native songbird conservation through reducing bird collisions, reducing free-roaming cat impacts on wildlife, and it focuses on preserving, enhancing, and building native habitats. This program also begins to address reducing contaminants that affect North American songbirds, promotes smart consumer choices like buying Bird Friendly Coffee, encourages participation in community science, and aims to reduce North American songbird trafficking.
Accomplished in 2023: Planted more native plants to provide food and refuge to birds. Installed new decals on windows to help prevent bird collisions. Transitioned to serving certified Bird Friendly coffee, thanks to our partners at Fogbuster Coffee Works, available for sale at locations throughout the Zoo. Installed a new Motus Tower on top of the Ed. Center. The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is a large-scale, collaborative research network that uses a fixed radio-telemetry array to study the movements of birds, bats and large insects for the benefit of conservation. This tower will help biologists track who's visiting the city through nanotagged birds flying overhead. This work was made possible with the support of the USFWS Migratory Birds Program, Providence Parks Urban Wildlife Refuge Program, and the Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges of Rhode Island. 16
CHILEAN AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION CENTER The world's amphibian populations are facing a dire crisis, with many species vanishing due to habitat loss, pollution, and disease. Chytridiomycosis, a deadly fungal disease, is believed to be a major culprit. Breeding programs offers a glimmer of hope for the most threatened species. But providing them with a healthy diet poses a new challenge. Capturing hundreds of insects daily is unsustainable and could harm local populations. From 2007-2012, Director of Conservation Lou Perrotti, led efforts at the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center in Panama to establish captive colonies of native invertebrates to provide a cost effective and efficient resource for rescued amphibians. Inspired by this success, RWPZ became a supporting partner of the Chilean Amphibian Conservation Center, spearheaded by the San Antonio Zoo in 2018. This collaboration with the Austral University aims to better understand the reasons behind amphibian population declines in the temperate humid forests of Chile with long term goals of developing assurance colonies in human care and documenting remaining wild populations of amphibians. Members of both RWPZ and San Antonio Zoo traveled to Valdivia, Chile in 2019 to install the first of a series of labs as breeding facilities for the endangered amphibians and one for invertebrates used as feeders. The Center receives support from several other academic institutions and international conservation organizations. The Center focuses on the research, reproduction, and conservation of endangered and threatened Chilean amphibians. A primary goal is to ensure that the people of Chile continue to manage these local endangered populations into the future.
(c) Danté Fenolio, Ph.D.
(c) Danté Fenolio, Ph.D.
The team has proposed and is in the process of developing assurance colonies for six additional Chilean amphibian species: Chile Mountains False Toad Bullock’s Mountain’s False Toad Pelado Mountains False Toad Barrio’s Frog Contulmo Ground Frog Miguel’s Ground Frog
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PROJECT SELVA
The Amazon rainforest, a vital ecosystem teeming with life, faces constant threats. Project Selva, a collaboration between San Antonio Zoo and Roger Williams Park Zoo, offers a unique solution: partnering with indigenous communities to conserve their land through sustainable income generation. Born from trust built over decades, Project Selva empowers indigenous artists to create and sell their traditional crafts and gyotaku fish prints, a Japanese art form adapted to the Amazon's rich aquatic diversity. These beautiful pieces, free from harmful materials, connect buyers to the rainforest's guardians and provide a source of livelihood that discourages destructive practices like logging and mining. Funds from the sale of these items go directly back into maintaining the program – which in turn provides a regular revenue stream to indigenous communities. Project Selva's impact is multifold: Preserving the rainforest: By supporting indigenous communities, Project Selva incentivizes them to protect their lands, crucial for maintaining the Amazon's ecological balance. Empowering people: Indigenous artists gain a stable income and a platform to share their culture with the world. Celebrating cultures: Gyotaku workshops fostered cultural exchange, blending Japanese traditions with Amazonian artistry. Recent developments: In 2023, Project Selva purchased a permanent home in Peru, solidifying its commitment to the region. New art supplies will enable artists to create a wider range of pieces, catering to diverse budgets.
(c) Danté Fenolio, Ph.D.
(c) Danté Fenolio, Ph.D.
Gyotaku, a Japanese fish printing technique, involves capturing the intricate details of a fish on rice paper. Project Selva saw its potential to empower Amazonian artists and brought a renowned gyotaku master to train a local team. The artists not only mastered the technique but also infused it with their own unique flair, creating a new art form that celebrates both their culture and the rainforest's rich aquatic life. Project Selva is a model for sustainable rainforest conservation. By supporting indigenous communities, we can safeguard the Amazon's irreplaceable biodiversity and empower its stewards. 18
ELEPHANT CONSERVATION Elephant Health Camp, Nepal
RWPZ zookeeper Brett at Elephant Health Camp, Nepal
In 2023, RWPZ elephant zookeeper Brett Haskins was invited by the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund to share his expertise in elephant foot care with the wildlife community in Nepal. He and other expert leaders provided specialized care for nearly 100 endangered Asian elephants. Wildlife Conservation Society’s “96 Elephants Campaign” RWPZ partners with the 96 Elephants Campaign to raise public awareness of the elephant poaching-crisis in Africa. Poachers kill about 96 elephants each day for their ivory. Poachers carve the ivory into intricate designs and sell to unknowing consumers throughout the world. You might be surprised to hear that the United States is the second largest illegal ivory market in the world, next to China as number one.
RWPZ zookeeper Brett at Elephant Health Camp, Nepal
International Elephant Foundation RWPZ annually supports the International Elephant Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides financial support for a variety of elephant conservation and related scientific and educational projects worldwide. Tanzania Conservation Research Program (TCRP)
(c) International Elephant Foundation
TCRP, formerly known as the The Tarangire Elephant Project, was initiated by Dr. Charles Foley in 1993 as part of his study of the effects of poaching on African elephants. Collecting demographic data on the northern subpopulation of elephants since 1993, Dr. Foley and his staff know more than 800 elephants individually. This is the second largest elephant database in Africa – second only to that of Amboseli National Park. Research focuses on the impact of poaching on elephant social systems. It is also the first project to carry out hormonal studies of female elephants in the wild. RWPZ funds a permanent in-country employment position to foster a positive human-to-elephant relationship, and teach villagers how to coexist peacefully and safely with elephants. To date the Zoo has donated more than $100,000 to this project. AZA Elephant Welfare Initiative - Using Science to Understand Zoo Elephant Welfare Goals: Using science-based welfare benchmarks to improve elephant management in human care. When completed, this project will provide detailed, science-based welfare outcomes that can be used by managers to optimize care and promote positive well-being of zoo elephants. The primary goal of this study is to produce scientific data that will aid decision-making regarding best practices in elephant management. The RWPZ contributed all the requested information and samples required from our three African elephants for this AZA endorsed study. 19
TREE KANGAROO CONSERVATION PROGRAM Roger Williams Park Zoo has been a longtime supporter of wildlife and habitat conservation programs for the Matschie’s tree kangaroos, a critically endangered species. Native to the rainforests of Papua New Guinea, tree kangaroos are well-adapted for life in the forest canopies. These animals are an endemic species to one tiny part of the world, Papua New Guinea. Because their diet consists mostly of fruits, seeds, and nuts, they’re primary seed dispersers and contribute to creating and maintaining healthy forests. In addition, they’re culturally important to indigenous communities. Deforestation and hunting are primary threats to tree kangaroos. Habitat loss due to expanding agriculture continues to push this species to the brink of extinction. Fortunately, through collaborative efforts, zoos and conservation programs worldwide are working to protect them.
(c) WAZA - Goodfellow tree kangaroo
Over the years, RWPZ has developed close partnerships and continuously support the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, the AZA Tree Kangaroo Species Survival Plan (SSP) breeding program, and the SAFE Tree Kangaroos of Papua New Guinea for which Lou Perrotti, Director of Conservation, serves as a steering committee member. The SAFE Tree Kangaroo program goal is to contribute to and expand the conservation of Matschie’s and Goodfellow’s tree kangaroos in the wild and support the local communities in Papua New Guinea. The Zoo is dedicated to helping this program that links community-based conservation initiatives in Papua New Guinea with the efforts and support of AZA members and partners. 20
SUSTAINABILITY AT THE ZOO Meet the RWPZ Green Team! This dedicated group of staff members help monitor the Zoo’s institutional environmental efforts in order to maintain a sustainable workplace. The Green Team aims to actively review the Zoo's resource use and implement changes to reduce consumption, while simultaneously improving and implementing RWPZ recycling policies and practices, ultimately encouraging the staff to contribute to a greener zoo.
GREEN TEAM MISSION STATEMENT: To make the Roger Williams Park Zoo an environmental ambassador for the community, its visitors, staff, and volunteers by enhancing, fostering, and inspiring green practices such as recycling, waste reduction, natural resource conservation, and education.
Sustainability Successes in 2023: Zoobilee Feasts with the Beasts was another successful Zero-waste event. The Green Team worked alongside Bootstrap Compost to divert nearly 1,200lbs of compost from the landfill and captured about 100 gallons of recycling. Systems Service Associates (SSA), RWPZ’s food and beverage company, eliminated all plastic bottles from on-site vending machines replacing them with aluminum canned options. RWPZ’s e-waste recycling initiative through EcoCell continues to offer recycling options for old electronic devices on Zoo grounds and at participating community libraries thanks to a partnership with the Providence Office of Sustainability. Recycling your phone not only prevents hazardous materials from entering our environment but helps protect gorillas and other endangered species habitats. Funds earned through recycling these devices goes directly to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International to support gorillas, gorilla habitats, and the many other species that live there.
# of Electronics Recycled 300
250
200
150
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2021
2022
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CONSERVATION EDUCATION
Teacher Institute Since 2014, RWPZ and the Providence Parks Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership have partnered to offer a week-long professional learning experience for Teachers of Providence. The Summer Field Institute provides an introduction to field biology, conservation, and outdoor learning experiences that teachers can bring back to their students. It covers a variety of topics including New England biodiversity, endangered species, community science, and using outdoor learning spaces.
“It has been a life changing experience that’s helped me to be even more aware about the conservation efforts taking place locally and internationally and I feel even more inspired than ever to be a part of it. It also gave me the opportunity to see conservationists in action doing this important work. This experience has impacted me as a person and as an educator”.
Since 2014, we have worked with 71 teachers (with 8 teachers returning for a second time) from 15 difference schools in Providence. In 2023 we worked with 7 teachers from 4 different Providence Schools! Earth Agents Earth Agents, a program developed by RWPZ in 2018 as part of AZA’s 2019 Party for the Planet: Spring Into Action initiative, was Inspired by the North American Association for Environmental Education’s Guidelines for Excellence for Community Engagement. The goal was to design a program that would engage families as agents of change in their communities, with the intent of authentically growing our conservation capacity and reaching audiences we hadn’t previously. Earth Agents are families who organize and host an event in their community to share simple ways to help our planet. Each family is asked to go back to their community and hold an event where they can share a conservation story and related asks. Participating families have reported gaining confidence and comfort with being agents of change as they progressed through the program and recognizing new conservation actions they could take at home and gained new perspectives on the actions they currently take and the impact of those actions on the environment. In 2020, the program was expanded to include Zoo Miami and Oakland Zoo in 2020.
“As an amateur conservationist, I resonated with all the ideas and information on conservation and things we all can do in small ways to heal our planet.”
In 2023, we worked with 11 families. Events included things like clean-ups, planting pollinator gardens, hosting a Bird Friendly Coffee gathering, hosting a palm oil friendly bake sale and creating and distributing songbird action kits. 22
Environmental Justice Academy The Environmental Justice Academy explores the links between environmental justice, conservation and social justice and includes difficult conversations about the colonialist history of wildlife conservation as well as exploring the different ways in which BIPOC communities have been disproportionately impacted by environmental degradation. It provides a chance for the middle-school students to explore the close connections between environmental justice, conservation, and social justice. Students engage in activities and conversations around topics such as representation, exclusion, privilege, and racism in an environment that emphasizes growth, empathy, and understanding. In addition to gaining a deeper understanding about the relationship between issues of equity and justice and environmental health, students build skills in advocacy, having difficult conversations, and ally-ship to communities different than their own. During the 2022-2023 school year, RWPZ worked with the 7th grade class at San Miguel in Providence and the 7th grade class at Sophia Academy in Providence. Each year culminates in a student led project that address an environmental injustice in their local community. The students from San Miguel chose to work on raising awareness about air quality in Providence. They purchased spider plants to help clean the air to give to various Providence schools, gave interviews to organizations like RIEEA, created awareness posters for schools with younger students, and purchased a tool to test air quality in their school that can also be shared with other schools. The students at Sophia Academy focused on creating more green space in their community and providing opportunities for the students to engage safely in the spaces. They are working on planting grass in their school community space, created activity bins for the students at the school and redid their school’s basketball court. In addition, they held an Environmental Justice Career Symposium for the 7th and 8th grade students at Sophia Academy with 10 guest speakers from the local Environmental Justice community. To date, we have worked with 29 students at Sophia Academy over the last two years and 15 students at San Miguel during the 2022-2023 school year. We are currently working with this year’s 7th graders at San Miguel and a group of 5th and 6th grade students at Sophia Academy for the 2023-2024 school year.
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SOPHIE DANFORTH CONSERVATION BIOLOGY FUND
The Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund (SDCBF) was established by Roger Williams Park Zoo and the Rhode Island Zoological Society in 1989. Since its beginning, the SDCBF has awarded $150,000 to worthwhile projects, many of which have continued to grow and succeed. Annually, the SDCBF grant program awards ten small grants of up to $1000 each for field studies and other projects that demonstrate a multi-disciplinary approach to biodiversity and ecosystem conservation.
2023 AWARD RECIPIENTS:
PROJECTS TITLE
(each was awarded $1,000)
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Understanding the impacts of invasive plants and benefits of native planting on microbial diversity and soil nutrition
Loswitha P. Murugani
The role of multimodal signalling in mate choice in Spheniscus penguins
Kiyoko Gotanda
Mudzi Cooking Project
Maria Kameta
Investigating the Movements and Habitat Selection of North American Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) in Rhode Island
Chris Polinski
Health Assessment of Black Lion Tamarins (Leontopithecus chrysopygus) for Translocation Purposes
Gabriela Cabral Rezende, PhD
Enhancing Canopy Ecosystems: Integrating Epiphytes into Habitat Restoration for the Conservation of Abronia cambelli
Brad A Lock DVM
Bay Area Puma Project (BAPP): Identifying hotspots & barriers for mountain lions in Marin and Sonoma County & implications for humanwildlife conflict
Zara McDonald and Alys Granados
Assessment of Adoption of Livestock Depredation Innovations in The Wildlife Dispersal Areas of Maasai Mara National Reserve – Kenya
Elizabeth Wakoli
Advancing Wildlife Medicine and Care in Kenya through Training and Development of Veterinary and Animal Care Staff
Dr. Katie Delk, DVM
A native tree nursery and snake awareness training as tools for conservation of reptiles, amphibians, and other small animals
Jonathan E. Twining
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CONSERVATION PARTNERS
providing global support Roger Williams Park Zoo’s commitment to conservation extends beyond our gates. We are proud to partner with these organizations and provide funding for their crucial work protecting threatened and endangered species and their habitats: Actions for Cheetah - Kenya Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary - SAFE Jaguar
(c) Vulpro
Environmental Council of Rhode Island Grevy's Zebra Trust International Elephant Foundation Nantucket Conservation Foundation Ocean Project Punta San Juan Program Quarters for Conservation New Nature Foundation Newt the turtle dog Wild Nature Institute Project Selva
(c) Snow Leopard Trust
Red Panda Network Rhode Island Natural History Survey Snow Leopard Trust Tanzania Conservation and Research Program Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program VulPro Zoo Conservation Outreach Group - SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo (c) Red Panda Network
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THANK YOU
regional partners Roger Williams Park Zoo would like to extend our gratitude to the following organizations for their collaborative contributions and support. Their collective efforts, knowledge, and expertise helps us ensure the continued survival of threatened and endangered species and their habitats for generations to come: Audubon Society of Rhode Island Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection IDEXX Laboratories Katie Adamson Conservation Fund Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Maria Mitchell Association Massachusetts Audubon Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Nantucket Conservation Foundation Nantucket Field Station - UMass Boston National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Natural Resources Conservation Service New Hampshire Fish & Game Department New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Richmond Land Trust Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Rhode Island Natural History Survey Rhode Island Nature Conservancy South Kingstown Land Trust Tufts University University of New Hampshire University of Rhode Island United States Fish & Wildlife Service Vermont Fish & Wildlife Wildlife Management Institute
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THANK YOU! A heartfelt thank you to our incredible donors, members, and supporters! Your generosity fuels our passion for wildlife conservation, allowing us to make a global impact. Your contributions, big or small, empower us to protect endangered species, restore vital habitats, and inspire future generations of animal champions. Together, we're creating a world where wildlife thrives, and for that, we are truly grateful. Thank you for being part of our conservation journey!
Roger Williams Park Zoo 1000 Elmwood Avenue Providence, RI 02910 www.rwpzoo.org info@rwpzoo.org
TOGETHER
WE ARE MAKING A
WORLD OF DIFFERENCE!
