AZA Elephant Conservation

AZA's Research and Conservation Projects

©Nashville Zoo

AZA-accredited zoos are working hard to help elephants in Africa and Asia, by supporting numerous conservation projects that further education, research and development, field-based training, habitat restoration, ecotourism and community-based initiatives.

AZA-accredited zoos also support national parks and reserves and conduct fund-raising to support these projects.

AZA Supports Elephant Conservation Organizations

International Elephant Foundation
AZA and AZA-accredited zoos provide the majority of funding for the International Elephant Foundation, a 501c(3) non-profit organization that supports for a wide variety of elephant conservation and related scientific and educational projects worldwide
Bushmeat Crisis Task Force
AZA and AZA-accredited zoos led creation of the Bushmeat Crisis Task Force, a coalition of more than 30 major conservation organizations and zoological parks those aims to curb the illegal commercial trade of wildlife meat for human consumption in Africa. The bushmeat trade is one of the major threats to forest elephants in central and western Africa.

AZA's Conservation Programs

Species Survival Plan (SSP) Program
AZA-accredited facilities launched the Species Survival Plan Program in 1981 as a cooperative population management and conservation program for selected species.

The African and Asian Elephant Species Survival Plan provides a thorough conservation strategy that spans research, public education, fund raising, field projects and reintroduction. Its mission is to promote a strong future for African and Asian elephant populations and provide a link between zoo conservation of its wild counterparts.

Taxon Advisory Group (TAG)
The AZA also supports an Elephant Taxon Advisory Group. Comprised of elephant experts, this TAG studies the status of elephants in AZA-accredited zoos publishes elephant management and care recommendations in Regional Collection Plans. In general, TAGs develop guidelines for which species should be maintained in AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and how much space should be allocated to each species. TAGs also develop Action Plans with priorities for conservation projects addressing the needs of elephants in zoos and in the wild.