Zoos Victoria Awarded San Diego Zoo Conservation Medal

Zoos Victoria has been honoured for its fight against wildlife extinction by being awarded the prestigious San Diego Zoo Conservation Medal at a ceremony in the United States (held overnight).

The medal was awarded to Zoos Victoria for its work to help save 20 of south eastern Australia’s most threatened native species from extinction and for its campaigning efforts on issues such as palm oil and its impact on orang-utan habitat.

Zoos Victoria Chief Executive Dr Jenny Gray received the award on behalf of Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo at an awards ceremony at San Diego Zoo.

Dr Gray stated “much of our conservation work is focus on native species, and most importantly Victorian species.

“We believe it is so important that we care for the little known, but highly threatened species in our backyard first.”

“We also strongly believe that we have a responsibility to the species that are represented in our zoos, and to ensure that we work with our millions of visitors to stop the threats that we pose to them in the wild.”

“This award is a great honour not just for the team at Zoos Victoria, it is also a testament to the many local groups and land managers with whom we work as well as our Victorian Government partners.”

Since 1966, the Conservation Medal has recognised world leaders and organisations who share San Diego Zoo Global’s vision to end extinction. Past winners include Sir David Attenborough, Jane Goodall and UK royal The Duke of Edinburgh.

The 2016 Conservation Medal was also awarded to Taronga Conservation Society.

For more information about Zoos Victoria’s conservation work go to www.zoo.org.au/fighting-extinction

Image shows Zoos Victoria and Taronga Conservation Society representative with their San Diego Zoo Conservation Medals

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