Silver Spring, Md. (December 3, 2024) - The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is proud to announce the launch of its 50th Saving Animals From Extinction® (SAFE) species program-SAFE Gibbon. With the initial goal of reaching 50 species programs by 2028, this milestone has arrived more than three years ahead of schedule and highlights the zoo and aquarium community's enthusiasm and commitment to collaborative conservation.

Established in 2015, AZA's SAFE program is a framework designed to enhance conservation efforts within the AZA community. By combining the influence of zoo and aquarium visitors with the resources and collective expertise of AZA members and partners, SAFE strives to save the most vulnerable wildlife species from extinction.

"When we established SAFE, our goal was to create a framework that was of interest to the AZA community and be something that the membership would opt-in to join," said Vice President of Conservation and Science at AZA, Shelly Grow. "The early arrival of the 50th SAFE program-within 10 years of the initial launch of SAFE-is strong evidence that the community sees AZA SAFE as a hub of collaborative conservation and, more importantly, that they want to be a part of it."

SAFE enables the AZA community to take conservation to the scale needed to create a meaningful impact on wildlife conservation. Through pooling resources, SAFE strengthens protections for species by building on established recovery plans, prioritizing collaboration among AZA member institutions, implementing strategic conservation and stakeholder engagement opportunities, and measuring and reporting on conservation progress.

The new SAFE Gibbon program aims to mitigate the most prominent threats to gibbon habitats and populations, focusing on combating the illegal wildlife trade and supporting the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of gibbons back into their native habitat. The program will acquire data on the current state of wildlife populations to inform conservation. Additionally, educational efforts at AZA institutions and local communities will raise awareness about the role of gibbons in their ecosystems and the urgent need for conservation.

"The launch of SAFE Gibbon marks an important step in our collective commitment to protecting these often-overlooked apes," said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. "As early as the mid-20th century, the AZA community has recognized gibbons as essential ambassador species for conservation. Their story illustrates the urgent challenges that many threatened species face, emphasizing the need for initiatives like AZA SAFE to unite our efforts in driving effective, collaborative conservation strategies."

The following AZA-accredited facilities submitted the SAFE Gibbon application, committing their support of the program:

Akron Zoo
Akron, Ohio.

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Washington, D.C.

Cape May County Zoo
Cape May Court House, N.J.

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
Pittsburgh, Penn.

Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Sanford, Fla.

Zoo Knoxville
Knoxville, Tenn.

Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Fresno, Calif.

Indianapolis Zoo
Indianapolis, Ind.

Disney's Animal Kingdom
Bay Lake, Fla.

Photos 1-3 Credit: © Paul A. Selvaggio, Pittsburgh Zoo
Photos 4-5 Credit: © Akron Zoo

About AZA
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and 13 other countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit www.aza.org.

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