Turtle Back Zoo
Written by Educator Katie F.
Recently, Essex County Turtle Back Zoo hosted a fundraiser for Snow Leopard conservation, featuring Gala and Chameli! As ambassadors for their species, many eyes were on them as they showed off their target training skills in exchange for some delicious meatballs. While our Snow leopards are safe here at the zoo as ambassadors, they are a reminder that wildlife and their habitats need in-situ protection. In-situ protection benefits animals by tackling the issues within their natural range. Our conservation partner, the Snow Leopard Conservancy empowers local communities to do just that.
Approximately 3,000 Snow leopards range across 1.2 million acres from Asia’s Himalayas to the mountains of Southern Siberia. In the face of human expansion, protecting a species with a vast territory is complicated and expensive. Snow leopards don’t recognize international borders, making this a matter of inter-governmental cooperation to protect at-risk ecosystems. While Snow leopards have their own summits (the highest peaks of mountain), a different sort of summit takes place on the world stage. Research organizations, international legislative entities, advocacy organizations, and governmental institutions alike meet to take on the colossal task of mitigating human-animal conflict across borders.Support and community engagement is at the heart of Snow leopard conservation. They are an intrinsic part of indigenous cultures, who see Snow leopards as a “protector of sacred mountains, a unifying force, and a source of spiritual power and wisdom” (Source: Snow Leopard Conservancy). Local farmers are receiving predator-proof corrals and additional employment opportunities to both feed and care for their families. All of this would be challenging without the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Plan, a coalition of 12 countries with Snow leopard habitat, non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), and international conservation organizations. With these local and global connections, organizations like Snow Leopard can connect with their ex-situ research partners like Turtle Back Zoo for funding, population research, and more. If you would like to take action to protect Gala and Chameli’s wild ancestors, learn more here: https://zoologicalsocietyofnj.org/biodiversity.