Conservation
Conservation at the Park

2018 Conservation Grant Recipients
The Zoofari Parks Conservation grants support both wildlife and habitat programs in the U.S. and abroad. Projects are focused on research, education, and local involvement.Virginia Safari Park partnered with the Zoological Association of America for some of our 2018 Conservation Grants. We are pleased to announce this year’s grants were awarded to the International Rhino Foundation, International Elephant Foundation, and the Grevy’s Zebra Trust.
International Rhino Foundation, operates in all areas of the world where rhinos live in the wild.
Program Highlights:
- South African programs implement heightened protection, enhanced intelligence, strategic translocations, dehorning, and digital radio systems that lowered rhino poaching.
- Zimbabwe’s Rhino Conservation Awareness Program works with 145 schools in buffer zones, providing school supplies in exchange for successful local rhino conservation results.
- Javan Rhino Protection Teams maintained zero rhino losses due to poaching for 20+ years.
- Camera traps showed two new Javan Rhino calves born in 2017 at the Ujung Kulon National Park.
- The Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary expansion completed new roads, gates, fences, quarantine facilities, and an upgraded laboratory for the new Rhino Research and Breeding Center.
International Elephant Foundation supports elephant management, protection and scientific research.
Program Highlights:
- Sumatran Elephant Conservation Response Units (CRUs).
- Mounted Horse Anti-Poaching Patrols, Mount Kenya.
- Big Tusker Project provides aerial surveillance for law enforcement and rangers in Tsavo, Kenya.
- Building local support for conservation, Tanzania.
- Fostering Human-Elephant Coexistence, India.
- Anti-Poaching Units in the corridor between Nepal and India.
- EEHV Genomics Research to understand this deadly virus in hopes that one day a vaccine may be produced.
Grevy's Zebra Trust conserves the endangered Grevy’s Zebra and their fragile habitat.
Programs Highlights:
- Grevy’s Zebra Scouts trains locals to monitor herds and gather information.
- Holistic Rangeland Management helps manage grazing cattle and land management.
- Grevy’s Zebra Ambassadors hires local tribesman to assist with data collection and security.
- Education and Outreach Scouts go into communities and perform conservation storytelling.
Ongoing Conservation Programs
Giraffe Conservation Foundation

LEARN MORE: As seen in the National Zoological Association of America Journal, "No Tall Tale: The Silent Plight of Giraffe" by Katy Massey, Conservation Coordinator.
International Rhino Foundation

Penguin Conservation; Dyer Island Conservation Trust

LEARN MORE: As seen in the National Zoological Association of America Journal, "African Penguins: The Cold Truth" by Katy Massey, Corporate Conservation Coordinator.

Source Population Alliance
In 2010, it was determined that a new alliance was needed to create sustainable hoof stock populations in-order to prevent extinction. In the following years Source Population Alliance (SPA) was formed, creating a working relationship between wildlife parks and private landowners. SPA originally launched with four program species and now has successfully grown to 12 species, such as the Arabian Oryx, Dama Gazelle, Mountain Bongo, Roan, Addax, Scimitar-Horned Oryx, Sable, Anoa, Banteng, Grevy's Zebra, Nubian Ibex and the Trans Caspian Urial. All of the Zoofari Park's facilities work with the SPA program to ensure healthy captive populations of exotic ungulates and assist efforts to save their wild counterparts.
Cheetah Conservation Fund
The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) was founded in Namibia in 1990 and has become a world-class research facility providing groundbreaking research in the biology, ecology, and genetics of the Cheetah. With a 90% loss of Cheetah populations in the last 100 years, organizations like CCF are imperative for Cheetah survival. The majority of Cheetahs are found outside protected areas in areas populated by humans. Saving Cheetahs requires innovative conservation methods that address the welfare of both Cheetah and human populations. CCF is a global leader in Cheetah conservation and has been able to effectively stabilize and even increase the wild Cheetah population in Namibia.Sumatran Orangutan Society

ECO-CELL, Electronic Gadget Recycling

Many of these minerals are mined inside the Congo, home to the several species found at the Virginia Safari Park, including the DeBrazza's Monkey and the Bongo. This recycling program allows guests to directly impact troubled wildlife and provides a positive way for individuals to create actual results. The Park is a registered drop-off site for the ECO-CELL gadget recycling program, accepting items such as: cell phones, Ipods, Ipads, tablets, adapters, chargers, MP3 players, handheld gaming systems and their accessories.
The Virginia Safari Park partners with ECO-CELL to help:
- Extend technology lifespan
- Reclaim gadget precious metals to create jobs
- Reduce environmental stress
- Deter landfill toxic waste