Zoo News: A joint effort to help protect our planet

The Buffalo Zoo has long been committed to our conservation mission not just locally, but globally — and we had an excellent opportunity to showcase that this past weekend.

The Zoo highlighted some of the incredible work that we and plenty of other Western New York environmental groups are doing to protect the place we call home during Saturday’s Party for the Planet.

Visitors were treated to demos around the Zoo by environmental experts, teaching them how everyone can make a difference in combating climate change and emphasizing sustainability.

Demos from experts around the Zoo ranged from best practices for gardening and planting to invasive species management, all combining for an overarching view at the many different aspects of environmentalism and conservation. The information presented by our environmental partners was catered to groups of all ages, allowing anyone to educate themselves and take those best practices into their own lives.

The Zoo also hosted multiple keeper talks during Saturday’s event. Visitors had the chance to hear from our keepers and learn about some of our animals, including how we all can contribute to protecting them from the dangers they face today. Guests could hear about our lions, giraffes and gorillas, all of whom are at risk in the wild due to serious threats like habitat loss and poaching.

Party for the Planet is an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-backed event that is not just celebrated in Buffalo, but at most all accredited zoos and aquariums around the world. The event is centered around Earth Day (April 22) and World Ocean Day (June 8), with the goal of connecting families to nature and helping our planet thrive through volunteering and education.

A special thank you to the following organizations who participated in this year’s Party for the Planet at the Buffalo Zoo:

• Clean Collective Refillery
• WNY Partnership for Invasive Species Management
• UB Sustainability
• Buffalo Women of Environmental Learning & Leadership
• Alliance for the Great Lakes
• Buffalo Museum of Science
• Tifft Nature Preserve
• Massachusetts Avenue Project
• Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens
• WNY Young Birder Club
• The Spark Bird Project
• Braddock Bay Bird Observatory
• SPCA Wildlife Department
• WildWood Western New York
• The Owl’s Brew
• Mimi’s Posies
• National Fuel

You can learn more about the AZA and how you can get involved here.