The Denver Zoological Foundation is involved in conservation and research projects around the world, including zoo (ex situ) projects, field (in situ) projects, and projects that focus on creating and managing protected areas. Since the Department of Conservation Biology was founded in 1996, we have completed hundreds of projects on 6 continents (all but Antarctica). New projects are selected every year, although some projects may be ongoing from year to year. This year, our projects include:

Field Projects

North America


1. The function of allogrooming in black-tailed prairie dogs by David Eads (Indiana University), Samantha Hunter (Purdue University), and Dr. Dean Biggins (USGS)
2. Vertebrates and Prairie Dogs in Denver by Kristin Salamack (University of Denver) and Dr. Richard Reading (Denver Zoo)
   
3. The persistence of wildlife communities within urban habitat islands in the Colorado Front Range by Seth Magle (Colorado State University), Dr. Kevin Crooks (CSU),  and Dr. Richard Reading (Denver Zoo)
4. Toads at the edge: tracking a disappearing species in rapidly changing landscapes of southeast Alaska by Dr. Sanjay Pyare (University of Alaska)
5. 6. Citizen science wildlife monitoring program in Colorado by Julia Kintsch (Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project), Amy Masching (Denver Zoo), Dylan Taylor (Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project), and Carol Busch (Gore Range Natural Science School)
6. Effects of habitat degradation and climate change in the long-term survival of the Volcano Rabbit by Enrique Martinez Meyer (Instituto de Biologia), Veronica Farias (Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana), Ella Vazquez (Instituto de Ecologia), and Fernando Cervantes (Instituto de Biologia)
7. Wolverine Ecology in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem by Jeff Copeland (U.S. Forest Service), Kerry Murphy (Yellowstone National Park) and Jason Wilmot (Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative)
8. Conservation of big game migration corridors in greater Yellowstone by David Cherney (Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative), Susan Gail Clark (Yale University), and Jason Wilmot (Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative)
9. Endangered black bear ecology, conservation, and management in the state of Sonora, Mexico by Dr. Carlos Lopez Gonzalez (Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative)
10. Population size, genetics, and spatial distribution of the Janos Bison by Rurik List (Instituto de Ecologia)
11. Southern Prairie Conservation Initiative by Dr. Lauren McCain (Forest Guardians)
12. Great Lakes Piping Plover Project in northern Michigan by Jennifer Nixon (Denver Zoo) and Jessica Meehan (Denver Zoo)
13. Landscape use and movements of frugivorous and insectivorous birds in tropical dry forest of western Mexico: by Drs. Jorge Vega Rivera and Katherine Renton (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) and John Azua (Denver Zoo)
14. Ecology and Social Behavior of White-Tailed Prairie Dogs by Dr. John Hoogland (University of Maryland)
15. Rocky Mountain AAZK support of the Northern Jaguar Project to purchase jaguar habitat in northern Mexico
16. Impact of the Human Activity and Habitat Fragmentation in the Abundance and Distribution of Jaguar (Panthera onca) in North Coast of Jalisco, Mexico by Dr. Rodrigo Nunez (Institute of Biology (Ph.D. Student)
17. Keep Poisons Off Our Prairies project supported through The Prairie Dog Coalition
18. Camera Trapping on the Wind River Ranch by Brian Miller (Wind River Ranch Foundation) and Brenda Fonju (New Mexico Highlands University)


Latin and South America


19. Distribution and landscape use of the Andean bear by Shaenandhoa Garcia-Rangel (University of Cambridge)
20. Research and conservation of the Huemul Deer in Chilean Patagonia by Paolo Corti (University of Sherbrooke), Cristian Saucedo (Corporacion Nacional Forestal, Center for Andean Wildlife Research), Marco Festa-Bianchet (University of Sherbrooke), and Dennis Aldridge (Corporacion Nacional Forestal)
21. Biodiversity conservation in northwest Ecuador through the creation of community forest reserves by Carlos Zorrilla (DECOIN)
22. Project Golden Frog (PGF), a comprehensive, multi-institutional conservation, research, and education initiative to conserve golden frogs in Costa Rica and Panama by Tom Weaver (Denver Zoo) and Rick Haeffner (Denver Zoo)
23. Prioritization of ex situ conservation endeavors for Peruvian amphibians workshop supported through ALPZA (Diana Sarmiento), Parque Zoologico Huachipa (Lizette Berudez) and Cayetano Heredia University (Roberto Elias)
24. Project Heloderma, an effort to prevent the extinction of the Guatemalan Beaded Lizard, supported through IRCF
25. Amphibian Crisis Conservation Education in Peru by Matt Herbert (Denver Zoo), Meghan Rubinstein (Denver Zoo), and Doris Rodriguez (Parque Zoologico Huachipa)
26. Lake Titicaca Frog (Telmatobius culeus) Conservation Project by Rick Haeffner, Tom Weaver and Derek Cossaboon (Denver Zoo).
27. Increasing connectivity for Brazilian ocelots by restoring habitat and creating migration corridors by Dr. Bill Swanson (Cincinnati Zoo), Nanette Bragin (Denver Zoo), and The Brazilian Ocelot Consortium
28. Estimating population size of Andean Bears (Tremarctos ornatus) using photographic captures and recaptures in Sierra de Portuguesa, Venezuela by Dorixa Monsalve Dam (Departamento de Biologia de Organismos) supported through IDEAWILD
29. Ecologia, Bioacustica y Taxonomia de anfibios anuros de la ecorregion esteros del ibera Argentina by Victor Hugo Zaracho supported through IDEAWILD
30. Occurrence and population density of the howler monkey and brown capuchin in the San Joao and das Ostras watersheds, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by Roberta M. de Araugo and Paula P. de Oliveira supported through IDEAWILD
31. Herpetofauna of Urucu Basin, Icoari, Amazonas States, Brazil by Danilo Leal Arcoverde (Centro Federal de Educacao Tecnologica) supported through IDEAWILD


Eur-Asia


32. Behavioral ecology and conservation of the grey-shanked douc monkey in the central highlands of Vietnam by Thang Long Ha (University of Cambridge)
33. Elephant surveys and training in Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia by Dr. Melvin Gumal (Wildlife Conservation Society)
34. Long-term study of blue sheep biology and Tibetan fox, as part of a long-term alpine grassland ecosystem study by Dr. Rich B. Harris (University of Montana)
35. Tracking Asian elephant movements in trans-boundary Thailand and Myanmar by Dr. Chris Wemmer (California Academy of Sciences, National Zoological Park)
36. Ecology and conservation of argali sheep (Ovis ammon): by Drs. Rich Reading and David Kenny (Denver Zoo), and Research Associates Sukhiin Amgalanbaatar (Mongolian Academy of Sciences), and Dr. Tony DeNicola (White Buffalo, Inc.)
37. Resource partitioning among argali sheep and Siberian ibex in Dornogobi Aimag, Mongolia by Dr. Richard Reading (Denver Zoo), Research Associates Sukhiin Amgalanbaatar (Mongolian Academy of Sciences), and Dr. David Kenny (Denver Zoo)
    
38. Breeding success of cinereous vultures in Ikh Nart, Mongolia: by Sukhiin Amgalanbaatar (Mongolian Academy of Sciences), Dr. Rich Reading (Denver Zoo), Dr. Dave Kenny (Denver Zoo), and Mary Jo Willis (Denver Zoo)
    
    
39. The ecology and conservation of small carnivores in the semi-desert steppes of Mongolia: by Jed Murdoch (Oxford University), Tserendorj Munkhzul (Mongolian Academy of Sciences), Dr. Richard Reading (Denver Zoo), and Dr. Claudio Sillero-Zubiri (Oxford University)
40. Developing a model for local management of protected areas in Mongolia: Ikh Nart Nature Reserve as a case study by Dr. Rich Reading, (Denver Zoo), Meghan Rubinstein (Denver Zoo), Orgiltuya (University of Colorado-Denver), and Amgalanbaatar (Mongolian Academy of Sciences)
41. Saiga population dynamics and conservation in Kalmykia, Russia: by Dr. Anna Lushchekina (Russian Academy of Sciences) and Anton Struchkov (Russian Academy of Sciences)
42. Reducing Elephant Conflicts in Sri Lanka by Dale Leeds (Denver Zoo) and Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society
43. Resource Partitioning by Mongolian Hedgehogs by Dr. Richard Reading (Denver Zoo) and Dr. Dave Kenny (Denver Zoo)
44. Ibex Ecology and Conservation by Dr. Richard Reading (Denver Zoo) and Dr. Dave Kenny (Denver Zoo)
45. Ecology and conservation of wild Bactrian camels in Mongolia by J. Adiya (Mongolian Academy of Sciences), Dr. Evan Blumer (the Wilds), B. Mijiddorj (Mongolian Protected Areas Bureau), and Dr. Richard Reading (Denver Zoo)
46. Mongolian Nomadic Conservation Trunk Program by Meghan Rubinstein (Denver Zoo), Tungalagtuya Khuukenduu (People Centered Conservation in Mongolia), and Ted Wood (Conservation Ink)
47. Leuser Ecosystem and Sumatran Wildlife Conservation Education by Meghan Rubinstein (Denver Zoo) and Cut Dian (Leuser International Foundation)
48. Linking Feeding Ecology and Craniodental Morphology in Wild Orangutans: A Quantitative Approach by Dr. Erin Vogel (University of California-Santa Cruz)
49. Buceros Hornbill Feather Distribution Project, by Mark Myers (Woodland Park Zoo) and Dr. Christine Sheppard (Wildlife Conservation Society)
50. Nesting ecology of Asian Hornbills in Thailand, supported through Hornbill Research Foundation and Woodland Park Zoo
51. Orangutan Conservation Initiative in Borneo by Ronda Schwetz, Rachel Anderson and Marley Steele-Inama (Denver Zoo) and Barb Shaw (Orangutan Conservancy)
52. Surveys for a Translocation project of DeLacour’s langurs (Trachypithecus delacour) by Tilo Nadler (Endangered Primate Rescue Center)
53. Conservation and Management Implications of Blakiston’s Fish Owl Resource Selection Primorye, Russia by Jonathan Slaght (University of Minnesota, Ph.D. student), Sergei Surmach (Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Biology and Soils) and Dale Miquelle (Wildlife Conservation Society Russian Program)
54. Conservation of Red Crown and White Napped Cranes in the Khinganski Nature Reserve, Russia through the International Crane Foundation
55. The population estimate and diet of the Giant Fruit Bats of Brgy, Laiya Aplaya, San Juan, Batangas, Philippines by Erika Claudine M. Tabunar and Felix Maverick R. Uy Jr. supported through IDEAWILD
56. The impact of human population density and development on the status of fishing cats in Bangladesh: their potential to serve as indicator species in the world’s most densely populated nation by Anthony J. Giodano (S.P.E.C.I.E.S) and Ahm Ali Reza (Jahangirnagar University) supported through IDEAWILD
57. The status and density of island clouded leopards in an isolated Indonesian forest fragment by Anthony J Giordano (S.P.E.C.I.E.S.) supported through IDEAWILD
58. Survey of Hatinh langurs in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam by Nyguyen Hai Ha (Vietnam Forestry University) supported through IDEAWILD
59. Asian Elephant in situ projects based in Southeast Asia supported through International Elephant Foundation (IEF)


Africa


60. Chemical communication and behavioral ecology of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in northern Botswana: by Megan Parker (University of Montana)
61. Disease threats to endangered African wild dogs in Kenya: Information for conservation by Dr. Rosie Woodroffe (University of California) and Symon ole Ranah (Mpala Research Centre)
62. Makgadikgadi brown hyena project by Glyn Maude (University of Bristol) and Dr. Richard Reading (Denver Zoo)
63. Conflicts between Grevy’s zebras and lions in Kenya by Dr. Dan Rubenstein (Princeton University), Siva Sundaresan (Princeton University), and Dr. Richard Reading (Denver Zoo)
64. Medical evaluation of free-ranging primates in Madagascar by Dr. Felicia Knightly (Denver Zoo) and Dr. Randall Junge (St. Louis Zoo)
65. Conservation outreach in Ghana: Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary project by Brian Keating (Calgary Zoo) and supported by NCRC and Donna Sheppard (Calgary Zoo)
66. Undergraduate conservation scholarship—Recipient: Masiaine “Symon” Oleranah, Moi University and University of Nairobi, Kenya; Sponsor: Dr. Rosie Woodroffe (University of California-Davis)
67. Lions and Warriors: Conservation Among Traditional Masai Pastoralists by Dr. Laurence Frank (Wildlife Conservation Society and University of California-Berkeley) and Stephanie Dolrenry (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
68. Grevy’s Zebra Conservation Education in Kenya by Amy Masching (Denver Zoo) and Jen Bahmeier (Denver Zoo)
69. Support for Grevy’s Zebra Trust based in Kenya and Ethiopia
70. Epulu Okapi Project: Okapi Conservation in Northeastern D.R. of Congo through the Gilman Foundation
71. Yellow-billed and red-billed hornbills conservation project in Samburu and Shaba National Reserves, Kenya by Ronald Lake Mulwa supported though IDEAWILD
72. African Elephant in situ projects based in Sub-Sharan Africa supported through International Elephant Foundation (IEF)
73. Malagasy fish conservation by Alex Saunders (Denver Zoo) and Rick Haeffner (Denver Zoo)
74. Mbeli Bai Gorilla Study in Nouabale-Ndoki National Forest, Republic of Congo by Thomas Breuer
    
    Zoo Projects
    
    
75. Developing assisted reproductive technologies for cinereous vultures by Mary Jo Willis (Denver Zoo), Dr. Julie Long (USDA), Dr. Jesus Pelaez (USDA), and Dawn Cummings (Denver Zoo)
76. Determining urban bird numbers through the Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count by Brad Parks (Denver Zoo)
77. Influence of age on Female Cheetah Fertility and Reproductive Success by Dr. Adrienne Crosier (National Zoo), Dr. David E. Wildt (National Zoo), Dr. JoGayle Howard (Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park) with assistance from Denver Zoo staff
78. Support in receiving American Flamingo eggs through SSP


General Conservation Projects


79. Support for the IUCN Re-introduction Specialist Group
80. Support for the Great Bear Foundation, Missoula, MT
81. Support for the International Wildlife Media Center & Film Festival, Missoula, MT
82. Rocky Mountain AAZK support for the Orangutan Conservancy
83. Rocky Mountain AAZK support for the Sahara Conservancy Fund
84. Support for the Snow Leopard Trust, based in Seattle, WA
85. Support for the Turtle Survival Alliance for Asian Turtle Conservation
86. Support for the International Crane Foundation in the Khinganski Nature Reserve, Russia
87. Support to the Jacksonville Zoo on Jamaican yellow boa movement research
88. Support to the Lincoln Park Zoo for jaguar research in Argentina
89. Support to International Elephant Foundation’s African and Asian Elephant ex situ projects

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