Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program Wins 2002 International Conservation Award

FORT WORTH, TX 13 September 2002 -- The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) today awarded the International Conservation Award for the “Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program” to the sixteen zoos who have participated cooperatively in this project. Officials from the Program accepted the award at AZA's 78th Annual Conference, meeting here this week.

Tree Kangaroo
©AZA

The Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program (TKCP) is a long-term conservation program that is saving the endangered Matschie's tree kangaroo and its habitat on the Huon Peninsula of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Since its inception in 1996, the TKCP has used a community-based approach and works with a wide and diverse group of collaborators both within and outside of PNG. The TKCP has made great strides towards its ultimate goal of establishing a 150,000-acre Wildlife Management Area, which will be the first protected area on the Huon Peninsula and the only protected habitat of the Matschie's tree kangaroo and other endemic species.

The TKCP has three components: research, education, and conservation outreach. Each of these components has been successful. The TKCP's research component is recording new data on tree kangaroo density, feeding ecology, and activity patterns; and has discovered 3 new frog species, 2 new lizard species and a possible new mammal species on the Huon Peninsula. The education component continues to work with village schools to provide needed basic supplies and textbooks, culturally appropriate conservation education curricula, a PNG-US student ideas exchange, and teacher training. The conservation outreach component emphasizes community-based efforts with local landowners who, as of December 2001, have pledged more than 50,000 acres of forest for conservation.

Partners in this program include Roger Williams Park Zoo, Calgary Zoological Society, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Gladys Porter Zoo, Kangaroo Conservation Center, Miami Metro Zoo, Milwaukee County Zoo, Oregon Zoo, Philadelphia Zoo, Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, San Antonio Zoo, Santa Fe Community Teaching College, Sedgwick County Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo and the Zoological Society of San Diego.

The International Conservation Award is presented each year by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association for recognition of outstanding dedication to international conservation issues and development of natural resources.

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association was founded in 1924 and currently represents 208 accredited zoos and aquariums in North America. AZA's mission is to support membership excellence in conservation, education, science and recreation.

Note: For more information contact Lisa Bousquet, PR Director at the Roger Williams Park Zoo at (401) 941-3910.