Your Vote can Change the World.
Quarters for Conservation is an exciting initiative to greatly enhance our wildlife conservation work. Through the collection of quarters, we’ll provide funding for new and existing wildlife conservation projects. This program provides an opportunity to engage our staff and our community in the effort while also significantly expanding our contribution to wildlife conservation in our region and around the globe.
How it Works
- Funding is allocated to biodiversity conservation.
From the fees you pay to the Zoo, we will allocate the following amounts to conservation projects:
- $0.25 from each admission fee
- $2.50 from each family membership
- A portion of each education and animal program
- Learn about each project and vote for the project you'd like to fund.
On every visit, you'll receive a "quarter" token that enables you to vote for a conservation project that inspires you. Learn all you can about the six projects we’re supporting this year, because your vote can change the world. Your vote is important and helps us determine how much funding each project receives. Project information and the voting stations are the entry plaza near the admissions booth. Additional votes can be made with real quarters - 100% of any added contributions will go toward the voted project.
Projects that will receive 2009-10 funding:
Help Rescue Amphibians in Panama.
Frogs and salamanders are dying around the world. Habitat loss, pollution and the spread of chytrid fungus threaten almost half of all amphibian species. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and seven other conservation groups are working in Panama to prevent impending amphibian extinctions. Funding from Quarters for Conservation supports efforts to rescue amphibians, develop a cure for chytrid and return these amazing animals to nature .Learn more at www.amphibianrescue.org.
Help Bats in Colorado and throughout North America.
Bats eat mosquitoes and pollinate plants, but in North America are dying. They are in jeopardy throughout the West due to habitat loss, and in the Northeast due to the spread of a life-threatening fungus. Funding from Quarters for Conservation will support Bat Conservation International’s research of the White-nose syndrome in the northeastern states as well as help create new habitats for declining Colorado bats. Learn more at www.batcon.org.
Help Bring Native Skippers Back to Colorado.
The threatened Pawnee Montane Skipper exists in only one small area in the world, near Colorado Springs. Due to fire and other losses of its limited forest habitat, it needs help. Quarters for Conservation enables Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to partner with several local groups to restore habitat and survey populations of these Colorado butterflies. Together, we can help prevent the extinction of a native species in our own backyard. Learn more at www.butterflyconservation.org.
Help Wild Andean Bears in Ecuador.
The Andean Bear Conservation Project protects Andean bears from extinction through field studies, rehabilitation and release of captive bears. Their aim is to improve human understanding of these gentle creatures by studying their diet, behaviors and social interaction. Quarters for Conservation supports this field research and compensates farmers for bear crop damage. Learn more at www.andeanbear.org.
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Help Endangered Wild Orangutans and their Forest Habitat.
Clearing of forests in Borneo & Sumatra for palm oil plantations and exotic woods has devastated orangutan habitat. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a leader on this issue and educates people on ways they can help reduce rainforest destruction. Quarters for Conservation supports our efforts to inform people with a Palm Oil Awareness campaign to help prevent orangutans from extinction in the wild. Learn more about the Palm Oil Crisis.
Help Protect Wild African Vultures.
Wild African vultures are in jeopardy. They are declining due to poisoning from feeding on medicated cattle carcasses, power line collisions and loss of food and habitat. Vultures play a vital role in the environment by cleaning up carcasses and preventing the spread of disease. Quarters for Conservation supports The Vulture Programme’s field and community work to safeguard a future for Cape Griffon Vultures. Learn more at www.rhinolionconservation.co.za.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will also be supporting a group of Action Partners throughout the year. Check back for updates as the project progress.
Ongoing projects that will receive funding in 2009-10:
- Black-footed ferret
- Wyoming toad
- Mountain tapir
- Mexican gray wolf
- African elephant
- Okapi
For more ideas about how you can make a difference in safeguarding our planet's wildlife and wildplaces, see the informative graphics about each project located throughout the Zoo. Maybe you and your family and friends will get inspired to take some conservation action to have a real impact. Thank you for caring!
Through Quarters for Conservation, you'll be directly
supporting critical conservation projects every time you visit the Zoo!
supporting critical conservation projects every time you visit the Zoo!
2008 Quarters for Conservation Outcome
On April 30th, 2009, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo finished its exciting first year of the Quarters for Conservation program, which dedicates a portion of the fees you pay for Zoo admission, memberships and classes to wildlife conservation. That means every time you visited the Zoo this past year, you helped expand conservation efforts in our region and around the globe. Approximately $100,000 was raised through this program; 50% of which goes to support the Zoo’s ongoing conservation programs. Here’s how the remainder of the funds raised were distributed based upon your votes:
- Endangered Snow Leopards in Central Asia: $14,212
- African Lion Conservation in Kenya: $9,007
- Wild Orangutan Survival in Borneo: $8,980
- Endangered Colorado Butterflies: $8,256
- Andean Bear Conservation in Ecuador: $7,230
- Mantella Frog Conservation in Madagascar: $6,148
