A large number of the animals at Rolling Hills Zoo are endangered in the wild.
In fact, many of them, such as Amur leopards, Sumatran orangutans, and Indian rhinos, have wild populations that are on the verge of extinction. As an AZA-accredited Zoo, Rolling Hills Zoo is involved in a number of local and international conservation efforts.
The following is list of the conservation groups that RHZ is proud to help throughout the year, as well as on special events or featured animal months.
Conservation Groups:
Amphibian ArkAmphibians are an important component of the global ecosystem, as indicators of environmental health and contributors to human health. The Amphibian Ark (AArk) selects species, who would otherwise go extinct, to be maintained in captivity until they can be secured in the wild. Without immediate captive management , hundreds of amphibian species could become extinct.
www.amphibianark.org
International Iguana FoundationMany of the world’s 44 species of iguanas are endangered and face extinction in nature without urgent conservation measures. Several species are conservation dependent and would not survive without intensive actions, such as head-starting and release. The IIF generates public awareness of the threats facing iguanas today, restores these flagship species and their habitats through field conservation, and provides critical support to iguana recovery programs.
www.iguanafoundation.org
Black-footed Ferret ConnectionsOn September 26th, 1981 the black-footed ferret was rediscovered near Meeteetse, Wyoming, giving hope to a species that was until then considered extinct. With boots on the ground, Rolling Hills Zoo has been actively involved with the reintroduction of the black-footed ferret in western Kansas. Through these efforts we hope to once again have a self-sustaining population of wild black-footed ferrets in Kansas.
www.blackfootedferret.org
International Rhino FoundationRecord levels of poaching and habitat loss has threatened all five rhinos species with extinction. For the past 25 years the International Rhino Foundation has championed the survival of the world’s rhinos through conservation and research. In the early 20th Century the greater one-horned and white rhinos were reduced to fewer than 100 animals each, but because of concerted efforts by governments and dedicated conservationists, they have rebounded into the thousands or tens of thousands since that time. Africa’s black rhino numbered around 65,000 in 1973, but were reduced to only a few thousand animals by the early 1990s. Since then strategic interventions have helped to double its population. It is also now believed that there are less than one hundred individuals of the Sumatran and Javan rhinos, and both are threatened with imminent extinction.
www.rhinos.org
Painted Dog Protection InitiativeThe Painted Dog Protection Initiative is a movement created by a team of Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders with the purpose to advance Painted Dog conservation. Their projects include developing protective anti-snare collars and deploying them to field sites in Zimbabwe, as well as building awareness for Painted Dog conservation through a series of zoo day events.
www.painteddogprotection.org
Painted Dog Research Trust USAThe Painted Dog Research Trust supports African painted dog scientific research, educational outreach, educational opportunities for college and graduate students, and environmental and wildlife conservation efforts. Dr. Greg Rasmussen, founder of the PDRT, and his team have been working in the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe with the African painted dogs. In February 2016, Dr. Rasmussen served as Rolling Hills Zoo’s keynote speaker for our Taste of Adventure. As a result of that encounter, two of RHZ’s African painted dog keepers traveled to Zimbabwe in November 2016 to work with Dr. Rasmussen and his team on their ongoing research efforts.
www.painteddogresearch.org
The Jane Goodall InstituteWithin our Apes Building at RHZ, you'll notice we have a coin collector there. The money collected gets donated to The Jane Goodall Institute. Founded by renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, The Jane Goodall Institute is a global nonprofit that empowers people to make a difference for all living things.
www.janegoodall.org
Conservation Planning Specialist GroupThe Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) is a global network of conservation professionals dedicated to saving threatened species by increasing the effectiveness of conservation efforts worldwide.
www.cpsg.org
