Zoo New England

It takes a village to save a species like the critically endangered Mexican wolf. Earlier this month, Zoo New England employee Summer Hoogenboom attended the annual Mexican Wolf SAFE meeting held at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. During the two-day meeting, Mexican wolf conservationists from the US and Mexico came together to discuss conservation challenges, successes, and future plans for preserving endangered Mexican wolves. It's through these international conservation partnerships and daily hands-on care for our lively pack of Mexican wolf brothers at Stone Zoo that Zoo New England is helping to bring this species back from the brink. Re-establishing the Mexican gray wolf population in the wild continues to be a slow and complex process, but we are unwavering in our commitment to the future of this rare wolf. Learn more about the Mexican gray wolf and efforts to protect this species➡️ https://lnkd.in/eHtiueSi

This time of year, our Field Conservation team is busy painstakingly collecting eggs from local turtle nests that we've been monitoring. These lucky babies will finish developing in an incubator, and then may come to a school near you! Hatchling and Turtle Conservation through Headstarting (HATCH) is Zoo New England's award-winning conservation-based education program focused on supporting and protecting local turtle species including Blanding’s, wood, spotted and snapping turtles. The baby turtles are raised in local classrooms with plenty of food and care over the winter before being released back into the wild next spring, bigger and stronger and with a better chance at survival. It all starts with monitoring the nests and collecting those eggs at the right time. In these pictures, you can see our team carefully excavating wood turtle eggs from Turtle #6017's nest, which happens to be at the base of the sign explaining our wood turtle conservation work. Then “candelling” the eggs confirms their viability; here you can see the blood vessels and the dark shadow of a baby turtle growing inside the eggs. Learn more about our HATCH program→ https://lnkd.in/evd9cdEM

Dinari is bringing his big cat energy to World Lion Day celebrations at Franklin Park Zoo today. We are also using this opportunity to introduce our conservation partners on the ground in Africa — Lion Landscapes. Over the last 50 years, lion populations in Africa have declined by 75% with only 21,000 individuals remaining. Habitat loss is a big issue, with over 50% of the remaining lions living in unprotected rangelands, shared with people and livestock. The Selous-Nyerere landscape in Tanzania is considered to be one of the last lion strongholds, and Lion Landscapes is working to introduce their community-led conservation initiatives to this region to protect lions and other large carnivores. More about Lion Landscapes here→ https://lnkd.in/e2v3RAPT

We have some big news to share. Long-time President and CEO John Linehan announced his plans to retire today. With his commitment to conservation and passion for wildlife and people, he has overseen incredible transformation and growth at both Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo during his 43-year tenure, including 22 as President and CEO. “Throughout my career at the Zoos, we have achieved so much, including many things I only dreamt about when I first started as a laborer right out of college. I’m incredibly proud of all of the work on behalf of our beloved animals, as well as the passion and dedication of the staff, and all we continue to do to inspire the next generation of conservation stewards.” John will remain in his role until his successor is selected. Our zoo community is, and will forever be, grateful for his decades of dedication to our zoos and mission. For more, please read our media release→ https://lnkd.in/eucfCxkZ

For 25 summers now, we have been working alongside ZooTeens at Franklin Park Zoo. This summer job program employs young Bostonians in a variety of departments—from education to animal care to marketing. Watch to see how it has been changing lives for a quarter century.

We are grateful to work with the city’s Green Ribbon Commission toward a more sustainable future! Thank you, Ivy S., for highlighting a few of our recent green initiatives in the Boston Globe Media — like adding rain gardens by the Bactrian camel habitat at Franklin Park Zoo. 🌿

We're not the only ones excited about our salamander conservation work in the Middlesex Fells. The Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation recently recognized two members of our Field Conservation team with their Wilson Flagg Award for “individuals and organizations whose activities increased awareness and appreciation of the Fells flora and fauna.” Congratulations to John Berkholtz, Bryan Windmiller and our entire conservation team. Zoo New England is committed to our marbled salamander research and reintroduction work, and this honor adds to our resolve. Thank you, Friends! Learn more about our salamander conservation work→ https://lnkd.in/eBWwQcXY

At Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo, we celebrate diversity and inclusivity — from biological diversity in natural ecosystems to the beautiful richness of diversity among the many people in our world. Join us in recognizing Pride Month at our zoos.

Another wildly successful Zootopia is in the books! We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, our guests and everyone who helped make last night’s gala a record-setting and memorable success. Our generous supporters helped raise more than $810,000, empowering Zoo New England to build on our mission of conservation, education and exemplary animal care at Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo. Thank you!

The work week is underway, but we're thinking weekend. Our Zootopia gala is this Saturday at Franklin Park Zoo! We can't wait to party with hosts Matt Noyes, President and Co-Founder of 1DegreeOutside, and Latoyia Edwards, NBC10 Boston Morning Anchor, and our guests. It'll be a wild evening of dinner, dancing, animal encounters and a boisterous live auction. This kind of fun only happens with lots of support. We are deeply grateful to NBC10 Boston and WBUR for making this event possible. Can't wait until Saturday? Get in on the fun today with our online auction. We're adding more auction items all the time, bid early and often to support our conservation, education and animal care programs. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eX-Gz_XT