In addition to the Nature Conservation Euro, the zoo collects other donations for species conservation projects in various places. For example, donation cones in the exotarium and the monkey enclosures ensure a relatively constant amount of small donations. The projects that are supported from these donations mainly focus on a specific species. These species are kept in our zoo and are part of an EEP (EAZA Ex-Situ Programme).
The following projects are currently supported by these donations:
Komodowaran
Komodo Survival Program (Wael Wuul Nature Reserve)
The main threat to the Komodo dragon is the overhunting of its main prey (maned deer) by humans and other human-animal conflicts. Only 15% of the monitor population live in protected areas, the remaining 85% in unprotected areas, thus often close to human settlements. Through community surveys, KSP gauges people's attitudes towards the Komodo dragon and works to make monitor lizard conservation more attractive to the population through environmental education programmes and the development of alternative livelihoods. Together with local authorities, KSP runs a comprehensive monitoring programme to monitor the Komodo dragon population in Komodo National Park.
Golden Lion Tamarin
Lion Tamarins of Brazil Fund (LTBF)
The LTBF supports the protection of the four lion tamarin species, i.e. golden, golden-headed, black-faced and golden-rumped lion tamarin. All species live in Brazil and are threatened by habitat loss. They are classified by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) as "critically endangered", the black-faced lion tamarin even as "threatened with extinction". Frankfurt Zoo keeps the golden lion monkey, of which about 1,400 adults still live in the wild, according to the IUCN.
Grevy's zebra
Marwell Wildlife - Grevy's Zebra Trust
Frankfurt Zoo supports the conservation of the Grevy's zebra through the EAZA Ex-situ Programme (run by Marwell Zoo). These funds are used, among others, to co-finance the Grevy's Zebra Trust, which advocates for the conservation of the species in Kenya. The focus here is on working with the local population. People from the communities, some of them former poachers, are employed as rangers. In addition, "Grevy's Zebra Scouts" are employed to control the population. They record the number and group structure of the zebras, but also data on habitat, season, other animals and human influences. Among the zebra scouts are many widowed or single women from the communities, who are thus able to support their families.
Tree Kangaroo
Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA) | PNG
TCA's vision is "To save lives in Papua New Guinea - the lives of people, animals and their places". TCA focuses on three tree kangaroo species: the Tenkile (Dendrolagus scottae, CR), the Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo (D. pulcherrimus, CR) and the Grizzled Tree Kangaroo (D. inustus, VU). All three are not kept in zoos, but the closely related Goodfellow's tree kangaroos (D. goodfellowi, EN) serve as ambassadors for habitat conservation. The main components are arranging hunting moratoriums and monitoring the population. About 50 villages are part of the Tenkile Conservation Alliance and refrain from hunting tree kangaroos on their land.
Bearded vulture and Egyptian vulture
Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF)
The VCF is dedicated to the conservation of all four European vulture species. The populations of bearded, egyptian, black and eurasian griffon vultures have declined sharply over the past century. Through conservation breeding and reintroduction, the removal of threats to the vultures and monitoring programmes, VCF is trying to reverse this trend. The return of the bearded vulture to the Alps has become a showcase project for cooperation between zoos and conservation organisations. Bearded vultures and Egyptian vultures also live in our zoo.
Turquoise Dwarf Gecko
Zoologische Gesellschaft für Arten- und Populationsschutz (ZGAP)
The Kimboza forest in Tanzania (East Africa) is a very species-rich rainforest. One of its inhabitants: the turquoise dwarf gecko. The habitat of this gecko species is only about eight square kilometres, which is roughly the size of Frankfurt's Bockenheim district. In addition, the gecko lives exclusively on a single species of palm, the Pandanus palm. If a forest fire were to break out in the gecko's habitat or the pandanus palm were to be displaced by other, invasive plant species, this gecko species could very quickly become extinct in the wild. The ZGAP therefore works closely with the local population, which keeps firebreaks in the forest clear. This prevents forest fires from spreading. It also clears the Spanish cedar, an invasive tree species that could be the undoing of the Pandanus palm. Zoos like Frankfurt Zoo are breeding the turquoise dwarf gecko quite successfully. In case conservation measures in the wild come too late, the species can be preserved this way.
Okapi
The okapi lives hidden in the dense rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo - and only there. Civil war and social unrest in the country, which has been marked by crises for decades, are pushing many people into the forests and protected areas, where they are building settlements and clearing trees for firewood and building material. Step by step, the okapi's habitat is disappearing. Armed rebel groups operating around the protected areas and the okapi's hidden way of life make population estimates and conservation measures almost impossible. How many okapis currently still live in these forests is therefore unknown. In cooperation with the local conservation authority, the Okapi Conservation Project tackles poaching, illegal logging and other activities that endanger the okapis. Educational programmes help people to develop alternative livelihoods, practice more sustainable agriculture and strengthen the role of women. This reduces the pressure on the protected areas.