The Need for Conservation

The Zoo is committed to protecting one of the world’s biggest and most beloved animals. African elephants are going extinct at an alarming rate due to loss of habitat and poaching and are listed as “Endangered” with a declining population. In addition to our residents at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium and International Conservation Center, we support partners who battle poaching and address other conservation issues with creative and inclusive solutions.

International Conservation Center

The International Conservation Center is an extension of the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium that provides the perfect landscape to focus on conservation science, wildlife management and recovery, and education. The International Conservation Center’s breeding herd plays an essential role in the preservation of African elephants. Our male elephant, Jackson, is tied to nearly 50% of the births over the past decade.

Key Partnerships

Our long-standing partnership with the International Elephant Foundation (IEF) allows for an effective process to receive and fund elephant-focused projects which directly impact elephants in the wild, as well as in human care.

We have also partnered with Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust in Zimbabwe to help protect a variety of species. We have helped collar African elephants for research tracking, developed programs to protect vultures and to reduce the spread of deadly disease through training and education.

What You Can Do

Every time you visit or donate to either the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium or the International Conservation Center, you help us take care of our resident animals and their counterparts in the wild. You can also check our food and enrichment item wish list for our resident animals.