Zoos nationally understand that conservation means protecting not only animals, but their habitat too, and many of them are doing just that. In fact, the Accreditation Standards of the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) require that member organizations participate in conservation programs emphasizing “ecosystem conservation.”
Last June, Oakland elected officials gave approval to the Oakland Zoo to build a 56 acre California conservation theme park in one of the most remarkable natural ecosystems remaining in Oakland today, the Knowland Park highlands. Since the Santa Barbara Zoo had already opened a “California Trails” exhibit complex in 2009, I drove down last summer to see how they built the new exhibit while still keeping true to the conservation message.
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