Eagle Conservation Alliance

History and Mission

Many wild populations of eagles are in decline worldwide. Much of this loss is due directly to reductions in habitat and prey availability, direct persecution, poisoning and rapidly emerging diseases. Of the 74 currently recognized eagle species, 32 (43.2%) are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered by the IUCN-World Conservation Union (2004 Red List).

In October 2006, 32 specialists representing 10 countries from four continents met in Oropesa, Spain to discuss issues associated with eagle conservation and to consider and implement a plan for action. This workshop (organized under the leadership of Dr. Juan Manuel Blanco) was co-sponsored by the Aquila Foundation/Center for Studies of Iberian Raptors, SeaWorld/Busch Gardens-Conservation Fund, Zoological Society of San Diego, Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, Fort Worth Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo and the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park.

From this meeting, the Eagle Conservation Alliance (ECA) was formed. The mission of the ECA is "An alliance acting to conserve eagles worldwide" with the goal of ensuring sustainable populations of eagles worldwide. The Fort Worth Zoo continues to serve as an active partner in this new conservation organization.

For more information on the ECA, please visit: www.eagleconservationalliance.org.

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International Elephant Foundation

History and Mission

The International Elephant Foundation (IEF) was established in 1998 after a group of individuals affiliated with a variety of international organizations, including nonprofit and for profit zoological institutions, circuses, universities, and independent entities met in Fort Worth to discuss the current trend of elephant conservation. The foundation was created for the sole purpose of providing funds to support elephant conservation programs worldwide, including protection of elephants in the wild and of native elephant habitats; scientific research; education efforts; and improvements in captive elephant care.

The IEF's board of directors are elephant experts with more than 200 years of accumulated experience working directly with African and Asian elephants through hands-on care and/or conservation and research. All board members are affiliated with elephant programs at a variety of organizations internationally. The Director of the Fort Worth Zoo serves as the IEF's board president.

As a nonprofit organization dedicated to elephant welfare, IEF solicits donations to fund worthy conservation and research projects worldwide. With minimal administrative costs, IEF is able to put more than 95 percent of their budget directly into elephant programs.

To learn more about IEF or to contribute to their elephant conservation efforts, visit IEF's website at www.elephantconservation.org.

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International Iguana Foundation

History and Mission

The International Iguana Foundation (IIF) held its organizational meeting at Fort Worth Zoo in August 2001. The mission of the IIF is to ensure the survival of iguanas and their habitats through conservation, awareness and scientific programs that enhance the survival of wild iguanas and their habitats.

To learn more about the IIF, visit their website at www.iguanafoundation.org

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International Rhino Foundation

History and Mission

The mission of the International Rhino Foundation is to support and operate rhino conservation and research programs both in nature and in captivity with particular emphasis on intensive management and protection.

During the late 1980's, black rhino populations in Zimbabwe were declining at an alarming rate due to intense poaching. In 1989, a group of concerned individuals and institutions founded the International Black Rhino Foundation (IBRF) to assist in the conservation of black rhinos in Zimbabwe through both in situ and ex situ efforts. In part due to the support of IBRF, poaching has been virtually eliminated and Black Rhino populations have stabilized and are now increasing.

In 1993, in response to the global crisis in rhino conservation, a meeting was held at the Fort Worth Zoo and the IBRF evolved into the International Rhino Foundation (IRF). With this change, the foundation expanded its mission to encompass all 5 species of rhino. The IRF is involved in both in situ (in nature) and ex situ (in captivity) programs, which IRF believes are both critical for the survival of the rhino. For its programs in nature, IRF concentrates on the species and subspecies most in need of and most appropriate for, intensive protection and management. For its programs in captivity, IRF facilitates management and sponsors research with the ultimate objective of helping captive populations become truly viable and hence an integral part of conservation strategies for rhinos.

The director of the Fort Worth Zoo serves on the Board of Directors, which governs the IRF. All members of this board have generously contributed to the Foundation's efforts to support both in situ and ex situ programs for all rhino species. The IRF has field staff in Africa and Asia. The IRF also operates a full time Program Office at the White Oak Conservation Center, a research and conservation center for endangered wildlife.

To learn more about the IRF, visit their website at www.rhinos-irf.org

Philippine Eagle Foundation

History and Mission

The Fort Worth Zoo is an active supporter of the Philippine Eagle Foundation, a private, non-stock, non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of the endangered Philippine Eagle. By using the eagle as its flagship for conservation, it has been able to undertake direct actions that benefit the species, other wildlife and the people who share its rainforest habitat with the eagle.

Funds from the Fort Worth Zoo were used by the foundation in 2007 to support a reforestation project in Arakan, North Cotabato. The community-based project is designed to restore forest corridors that will link existing pockets of the eagle's rainforest habitat. The project includes the development of nurseries that grow thousands of native trees from seedlings for use in the project.

To learn more about the Philippine Eagle Foundation, please visit: www.philippineeagle.org.

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Puerto Rican Crested Toad

History and Mission

The only toad native to Puerto Rico, is biologically significant because of its unique features and 44-60 million year old lineage, which is much older than other groups of New World toads. Little is known about this species as they are rarely seen throughout the hot, dry months of the year and spend the majority of their lives underground in the moist caverns of karst limestone that defines their habitat.

Largely due to habitat loss, pesticides and competition from introduced species, the toad is listed as threatened by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and critically endangered by the IUCN. Two distinct populations of toads once existed in Puerto Rico - one in the north and one in the south. Unfortunately, though a small number of northern toads exist in captivity, none have been seen in the wild since 1988. Currently, a wild population of the southern form is found in Guanica National Forest. Recovery efforts to address threats are important given the small population, single breeding pond and increased potential for a single catastrophic event to cause the extinction of the toad.

The Fort Worth Zoo coordinates the Puerto Rican Crested Toad Species Survival Plan (SSP). Through the SSP, partnerships have been formed for the recovery of this species between 21 zoos and aquariums (U.S., Canada, UK and Puerto Rico), USFWS, Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Ecological Resources (DNER), University of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican National Park Company at Juan Rivero Zoo, Iniciativa Herpetologica, Inc. and Citizens of the Karst.

A reintroduction program is a large component of the recovery plan for this species. Each year, captive toads from zoos and aquariums in the United States and Canada (including the Fort Worth Zoo) are bred, and tadpoles are sent to Puerto Rico for release. Between 1987 and 2007, more than 100,000 tadpoles have been released into Guanica National Forest through these efforts. Since 2003, sightings and breeding attempts have been recorded at the release site and are encouraging, as it is evidence of survivorship of released tadpoles and the possible establishment of a second population.

Restoration of existing habitat and creation of new ponds has been a continuous process. In 1998, a translocation pond was built in Guanica to serve as an emergency refuge for tadpoles in the event of a large-scale disaster or premature water loss at the last remaining natural breeding pond. In 2006, a release pond was constructed in Gabia, securing a third site in the south for crested toads. In order to achieve three protected areas in the north, three small ponds were built in Arecibo in 2005 on private property (El Tallonal) and northern toad tadpoles were released there in 2006 and 2007. Efforts to secure additional property are underway.

To learn more about Puerto Rican crested toad conservation, visit Puerto Rican Crested Toad SSP

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Turtle Survival Alliance

History and Mission

The Asian Turtle Crisis is an event many biologists recognize as one of the greatest wildlife catastrophes of our time, as Asian turtles are being harvested at an unsustainable rate. The number of species added to the world's critically endangered freshwater turtle list has more than doubled in the last five years, primarily as a result of their use as a food source (in Asia) and traditional Chinese medicine. Nearly all of the 280 species of turtles are being harvested from the wild, and sold as food, medicine or as pets.

In response to the ongoing Asian turtle crisis, a conservation planning workshop for Asian turtles was held in Fort Worth from January 26-28, 2001 under the auspices of the World Conservation Union (IUCN).The IUCN Asian Turtle Workshop: Developing Conservation Strategies Through Captive Management was organized and hosted by the Fort Worth Zoo, and conducted by the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) in conjunction with the Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFWTSG). This workshop brought together nearly 80 participants from eleven countries representing a wide range of disciplines including wildlife and range country biologists, conservationists, zoo managers, serious private hobbyists, academics, commercial interests, veterinarians and governmental authorities. The primary goal of this workshop was to develop a global comprehensive captive management strategy for the most endangered Asian turtles.

From this Working Group an alliance was forged, and the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) was born. The TSA functions as a joint interdisciplinary working group of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle and Conservation Breeding Specialist Groups. The mission of the TSA is Transforming passion for turtles into effective conservation action through a global network of living collections and recovery programs.

To learn more about the TSA, visit their website at www.turtlesurvival.org

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