Anyone can be an advocate for wildlife conservation. Whether it's signing a petition, contacting your local legislators, or starting a recycling program at school, every step helps us fulfill our mission - inspiring personal responsibility for conserving the natural world. Here are some ways to get started.
Save Vanishing Species Stamp
Support legislation to reauthorize the Save Vanishing Species Semipostal Stamp. The Save Vanishing Species semipostal stamp benefits the Multinational Species Conservation Funds (MSCF), which support private-public partnerships to protect African and Asian elephants, great apes, marine turtles, rhinos, and tigers in their native habitats. Since the stamp first went on sale in 2011, 50,784,806 have been sold, raising more than $5,700,000 million for international conservation efforts at no cost to U.S. taxpayers!
Oppose the SAVES Act
Some of the world’s most iconic species could be left vulnerable to the trade in illegal wildlife products if the SAVES Act passes. What's more, penalties could be weakened for criminals involved with this transnational illicit industry. Visit the Association of Zoos & Aquariums online to learn more and write to Congress.
Take Time to Contact Your Legislator
Wildlife trafficking threatens species around the world and is consuming animals at an alarming rate. Elephants, tigers, rhinos, sharks and many others are in danger of disappearing in our lifetime. Our political representatives can help protect wildlife and wild places by taking a stand on important legislative bills. Learn more about current bills here and urge your representatives to advocate for wildlife.
How to contact your legislators:
Never buy wildlife or products made from protected wildlife or their parts - or support vendors who sell them. Encourage others to do the same. Visit the U.S. Wildlife Trafficking Alliance’s website to learn more.
Zoos play an important role in international wildlife conservation efforts. Zoos also have the unique opportunity to educate and inspire guests on how animals they see in their communities are ambassadors for those in the wild.
For more than two decades, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has been a leader in conservation by advising and funding partners in the field who are working to protect species most at risk around the world. Cleveland donors are key to catalyzing these vital efforts. Since 1998, Zoo Society donors have provided $7 million for field conservation efforts, and the work is far from over.
Click here to make a donation in support of our conservation efforts.
More Ways to Make a Difference
Recycle your cell phone, report illegal wildlife activity, become a citizen scientist and more! Click here for a list of conservation action opportunities.