Conservation Efforts

The Bergen County Zoo strives to save and sustain the planet's wildlife by caring for endangered and threatened species in human care and conserving their wild counterparts. We do this through breeding programs, public education, research assistance, and funding conservation projects.

Our conservation efforts are designed to protect animals, their habitats, and preserve them for future generations.

Below are some of the recent conservation organizations that the Friends have supported both locally and around the world.

On Ground Conservation

Conservation efforts done on grounds at the Bergen County Zoo in collaboration with our zoo staff and volunteers.

POLLINATOR GARDEN

FEEDER WATCH

INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL

COMPOSTING

Beehives and Beekeepers (Lynne and Peter Torpie) at the Bergen County Zoo

BERGEN COUNTY ZOO BEEHIVES

NATIVE PLANTS

Local Conservation

Conservation efforts done locally with Bergen County Zoo staff and volunteers.

FROGWATCH USA

HORSESHOE CRAB MONITORING

OSPREY NEST INSTALLATION

SAFE species are at risk of extinction and need our help. AZA member institutions are working together alongside their partners to help save these animals. The mission of SAFE is to combine the power of zoo and aquarium visitors with the resources and collective expertise of AZA members and partners to save animals from extinction.

The Bergen County Zoo is part of the following AZA SAFE programs:

- American Bison

- American Red Wolf

- Monarch Butterflies

- Coming soon: Ocelot

AZA SAFE

Saving Animals From Extinction

Financial Contributions and
Field Conservation Support

Each year, the Friends of the Bergen County Zoo awards grants to help support field conservation projects throughout North and South America.

Below are our most recent donations:

AMERICAN BISON SAFE

SAFE North American Bison, working under the IUCN Green List designation, plans to bring the resources of AZA facilities across North America together with valuable external partners, including Indigenous voices and knowledge, to recover bison and restore its native North American prairie habitat.

THE WILD ANIMAL CONSERVATION INSTITUTE

The ICAS is a non-profit organization dedicated to biodiversity conservation. They strive for commitment to science, research, environmental education, and coexistence between humans and wildlife. The Friends have supported two projects: "Anteaters and Highways" and the "Giant Armadillo Project."

PEREGRINE FUND

Founded in 1970, The Peregrine Fund is a non-profit that strives to conserve threatened and endangered birds of prey worldwide. The successful recovery of the peregrine falcon, which was removed from United States Endangered Species List in 1999, enabled the organization to expand its mission to include other endangered raptors around the world.

SEA TURTLE RECOVERY

Sea Turtle Recovery is NJ's only long term rehabilitation center for sick and injured sea turtles. STR provides treatments to sea turtles until they can be released back into the ocean.

TAPIR SPECIALIST GROUP

The Tapir Specialist Group works to study and protect the four species of tapirs and their remaining habitat in Central and South America and Southeast Asia.

LOWLAND TAPIR CONSERVATION

The Lowland Tapir Conservation Initiative (LTCI), a project from the Institute for Ecological Research (IPÊ), is a nation-wide, long-term research and conservation effort in Brazil.

ZOO CONSERVATION OUTREACH

Founded in 1988, ZCOG is a nonprofit coalition of zoos, aquariums, and other partners. Our partnership helps provide financial support to Latin American ecological conservation.

WWF - AUSTRALIA

While the wildfires in Australia were raging, the WWF went into the heat of the flames to save as many animals as they could. The WWF is a conservation group the Friends strongly support.

AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE RESCUE

WIRES (Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service) is Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organization that has been caring for wildlife and we supported during the wildfires.

Conservation Highlight

Andean Condor Release Program - 1997

A condor chick hatched at Bergen County Zoo was released in the Andes Mountains of Colombia to help increase the wild population of this endangered species.

Bergen County Zoo Andean Condor Release Program

Past Funded Field Conservation Efforts

2023 - 1999

AZA SAFE Sea Turtles and National Save the Turtle Foundation

When Texas went into a deep freeze, the sea turtles in the area were struggling to survive. The Friends of the Bergen County Zoo helped by giving a donation to aid these amazing creatures and help the zookeepers with their enormous task of keeping the sea turtles warm.

AZA SAFE Vaquita Rescue Project
We have provided financial support to save these critically endangered cetaceans, of which there are only about 10 individuals left in the wild.

Zoo Conservation Outreach Group

Our partnership helps provide financial support to Latin American ecological conservation.

Turtle Survival Alliance

Financial support was provided to this program, which supports turtle and tortoise conservation globally.

Conservation and Ecology of the Giant Armadillo in the Brazilian Pantanal

Established the first long-term ecological study of Giant Armadillos in the Brazilian Pantanal and understand their function in the ecosystem.

Impacts of Tourism & Food Supplementation on Endangered Bahamian Iguanas

A study to determine the long-term physiological and behavioral effects of visitation and food supplementation by tourist was conducted.

Spatial Ecology & Road Mortality of the Northern Copperhead in New Jersey

Through radio telemetry, a population of Northern Copperheads was studied to better understand their movement patterns in an effort to re-evaluate their conservation status and needs.

Creating a “Condor Conservation Corridor” in Rio Negro Province, Argentina

Funding was provided to install a modern, broadband communications system linking all permanent field stations with the remote field researchers working on the Andean Condor recovery program.

Distribution & Demographics of the Diamondback Terrapin in Galveston Bay, Texas

This field study accessed the population status of the only turtle species to inhabit brackish water environments.

Wintering Bat Habitat Restoration in Morris County, New Jersey

Installation of “bat gates” on abandoned mine entrances now allow access for bats while preventing disturbances by humans.

Borderlands Jaguar Detection Project

Using remote trail cameras, this study was able to determine the presence of Jaguars along the Arizona/Mexico border.

Conservation Initiative for the Golden-cheeked Warbler in Honduras

Annual population monitoring and development of a conservation plan for this endangered songbird were created through this project.

Release Program for Andean Condors on the Atlantic Coast of Argentina

Bergen County Zoo provided funds for radio transmitters and satellite data to track the flight patterns of released, formerly captive Andean Condors.

Nutrition/Genetics of Wild Giant Anteater in Paraguay

Important baseline information never before collected from wild specimens was acquired in this study.

Development of the Brazilian Ocelot Consortium

A group formed by 10 zoos, including Bergen County Zoo, established a North American captive breeding population of this endangered cat.

Health Assessment of Giant Anteaters in Brazil

Blood and tissue samples were taken from wild giant anteaters to determine their general health status.

Nutrition Assessment for Anegada Island Iguanas

A comparison of captive Iguana diets with their wild counterparts was studied to better prepare captive Iguanas for release.

Population Study of Wood Turtles in New Jersey

Bergen County Zoo participated in a population status survey of this threatened species in New Jersey.

Pond Construction for Puerto Rican Creased Toads

A critical breeding habitat for this endangered species was created by funding through the zoo.

Andean Condor Release Program

A condor chick hatched at Bergen County Zoo was released in the Andes Mountains of Colombia to help increase the wild population of this endangered species.

Research Participation

Current - 2021

"Caution, construction zone: Building a better understanding of the impact of zoo construction on animal wellbeing"

Bergen County Zoo

Featured on a poster for the 2024 AZA Annual Conference

"Proliferative epidermal lesions in red-eared sliders"

Northwest ZooPath

Presented at 2024 ARAV AEMV Conference

"Historical diagnosis and treatment of zoonotic disease at Bergen County Zoo"

Arizona Cancer Evolution Center, Arizona State University

"The relationship between diet, plasma glucose, and cancer prevalence across vertebrates"

Arizona Cancer Evolution Center, Arizona State University

"Diet-based enrichment for the Lesser Madagascar Hedgehog Tenrec (Echinops telfairi)"

West Liberty

"Exploring Obstacles to and Opportunities for Research in Understudied Species Survey: A Look at Reptiles and Amphibians"

AZA Behavior SAG

"Investigating the Pathobiomes of Two-Fingered Sloths in Captivity"

University of Mississippi

"Individual recognition in captive owls"

Oakland University

Presented at the 2024 ABS Annual Conference

"Stress or enrichment? A study of the effects of zoo visitors on captive spider monkey behavior and welfare at a New Jersey zoo"

Rutgers University

"Prevalence, risk factors, and survival of zoo animals with cancer"

Arizona State University

"Life history and cancer in birds: Clutch size predicts cancer"

Arizona State University

"SNP panel development for individual identification of Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao) in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala"

Oregon State University

"USDA/APHIS Co-V2 Study"

USDA/ APHIS

"Behavioral flexibility using an impossible task in captive carnivores"

Oakland University

Presented at the 2023 CO3 Annual Conference

"Exploring innovation and behavioral flexibility in captive carnivores"

Oakland University

Presented at the 2023 CO3 Annual Conference

"Scaredy-cats don’t succeed: behavioral traits predict problem-solving success in captive Felidae"

Oakland University

"Evaluation of serum and copper concentrations and association with dietary factors in captive Baird’s tapirs"

Milwaukee County Zoo

PUBLISHED

Archived Research Participation

2017 - 2003

Memory and learning in informal learning environments

William Paterson University

Assessment of drinking water quality and related husbandry practices in North American zoos

Michigan State University

Morbidity and mortality of captive peafowl

Western University

Brain size predicts problem-solving ability in mammalian carnivores

University of Wyoming

Investigating the impact of large carcass feeding on the behavior of captive Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) and its perception by zoo visitors

CUNY: Hunter College

A survey of diabetes prevalence in zoo-housed primates

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Evaluating behavioral and physiological markers of program animal welfare

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

The effectiveness of indigestible markers for identifying animal feces and their prevalence of use in North American zoos

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Tapirs and rhinoceroses in captivity: An examination of the North American captive populations and their husbandry

Utah State University

Cutaneous mycobiota of captive Squamate reptiles with notes on the scarcity of Chrysoporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii

University of Wisconsin

PUBLISHED

When you visit the Bergen County Zoo, we hope you will be amazed by the wildlife you encounter, and inspired to help protect our earth for future generations of humans and wildlife!