Your Toronto Zoo and the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy commit $250,000 to Ape Action Africa and Gorilla Safe (Saving Animals From Extinction)
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Toronto, ON, Monday, June 27, 2022 – Your Toronto Zoo and the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy are thrilled to announce Ape Action Africa and Gorilla Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) will be the recipients of $250,000 in funding over the next 10 years to support gorilla conservation in the wild. Each year, AZA-accredited zoos contribute more than $5.5 million to gorilla conservation, and your Toronto Zoo is proud to do our part for a brighter future for these incredible animals.
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“Our vision is a world where wildlife and wild spaces thrive and we are committed to meaningful actions to support wildlife conservation”, says Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo. “The partnership between the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy and Ape Action Africa and Gorilla SAFE is an important step in helping to make this vision a reality. Committing to long-term funding will extend the Toronto Zoo’s impact to direct actions in the field. Our commitment to funding over a 10-year period is a critical step in providing certainty and sustainability for conservation parters who are committed to the survival of wild gorilla populations”.
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Commitment to Gorilla Conservation
Earlier this year your Toronto Zoo and the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy proudly announced that the Board of Directors of the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy had approved a commitment of $250,000 over ten years to support gorilla conservation and survival in the wild. Funds would be provided to the Toronto Zoo to directly support in situ conservation organizations conducting programs and projects that raise awareness of the impacts of poaching and trafficking and support habitat restoration. The announcement was made to coincide with the 50th birthday celebration for Charles, the Toronto Zoo’s iconic silverback gorilla.
We are now pleased to share that Ape Action Africa and Gorilla SAFE have been selected as the recipients of these funds.
“As funding partners with the Toronto Zoo, we are pleased to be able to significantly increase the impact of the Toronto Zoo on gorilla survival”, says Beth Gilhespy, Executive Director of the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy. “We already know how important the Toronto Zoo is for raising awareness of the impact of coltan mining on gorilla habitat, through our 2020 Wildlife Conservation Awareness report. Because of the generosity of donors to the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy, we are now able to provide significant, long term funding to Ape Action Africa to directly and positively impact the lives of rescued gorillas and those in the wild.”
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Ape Action Africa
Established in 1996, Ape Action Africa works to address the immediate threats faced by gorillas and chimps in Africa and partners with local communities to develop long-term solutions to ensure their survival in the wild. They are committed to identifying areas that can be set aside as protected habitat for rescued gorillas and chimpanzees, with the hope of releasing the great apes and monkeys in their care back into the wild.
Ape Action African provides the rescued apes in their care with around the clock veterinary care and nourishment at their Mefou Primate Sanctuary, where they are joined by an expert team of caregivers, many of whom are local community members that have joined the fight to protect Cameroon's natural heritage.
“With Toronto Zoo’s support through the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy, we are delighted that we will be able to take significant steps along our Road to Recovery in 2022 and over the next ten years, building a future for our rescued primates while working to protect their cousins in the wild and raise awareness of the plight they still face” says Rachel Hogan, Director, OBE, Ape Action Africa. “Not only will this partnership help us to continue providing for the day-to-day needs of our 286 primates, including purchasing locally produced, nutritious food and delivering exceptional veterinary and individual care, it will also help us to take the first steps towards identifying potential release sites for some of our orphans in the future” she added.
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Ape Action African will receive $200,000 over the next ten years and have already received their first installment of $20,000. This year’s funds will support:
- Care of the Western Lowland Gorillas living in Ape Action Africa’s Mefou Primate Sanctuary, located in Cameroon, including food, medical treatment and supplies and dedicated caregiver costs;
- Maintenance and upkeep of the Western lowland gorilla forest enclosures and night houses to ensure water systems and systems infrastructure are functioning at the optimal level.
Gorilla SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction)
The Gorilla Species Survival Plan’s (SSP) Gorilla SAFE program focuses the collective expertise within AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and leverages their massive audiences to save species. The goal of the Gorilla SAFE program is to secure sustainable populations of all gorilla subspecies, with a targeted emphasis on protecting the fragile Cross River gorilla populations in Cameroon and Nigeria and halting the rapid decline of Grauer’s gorilla populations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gorilla SAFE supports conservation of wild gorillas through:
- On-the-ground protection of gorillas
- Research and monitoring
- Targeted stakeholder engagement and education
Gorilla SAFE will receive $50,000 over the next ten years.
About the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy:
The Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy is a dedicated partner with the Toronto Zoo in the fight against extinction, established in 2019 to secure increased financial resources and support for the wildlife conservation work being done by the Toronto Zoo. Extinction is forever, and the Zoo’s work in fighting extinction – through research, public engagement and education, breeding and reintroduction programs – is vital to wildlife, to us, and to our world.
You can donate to the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy anytime at wildlifeconservancy.ca or over the phone at 416-392-9114
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IMPORTANT NOTE FOR OUR MEDIA CONTACTS: Please note that all media visiting the Zoo will be required to show proof of full vaccination in order to gain entry to the Zoo.
The Toronto Zoo’s mission is to connect people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction and our vision is a world where wildlife and wild spaces thrive.
An iconic tourist attraction and Conservation organization, the Toronto Zoo boasts a number of leading programs for helping wildlife and their natural habitats – from species reintroduction to reproductive research. A world-class educational centre for people of all ages, the Toronto Zoo is open every day including December 25 and attracts approximately 1.2 million guests each year.
Toronto Zoo is accredited by Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The Zoo has also achieved the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) Certificate of Good Animal Practice® and is inspected by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
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