Zoo Conservation Partner Programs

By supporting various conservation organizations and programs, the Edmonton Valley Zoo helps raise global awareness of ongoing conservation efforts.

These programs and initiatives focus on protecting and conserving animals within their native habitats.

Red Panda Network

The Edmonton Valley Zoo Red Pandas are an important part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP).

For many years, visitors to the Edmonton Valley Zoo have been getting closer to Red Pandas - some of nature's most endearing animals. Being unrelated to other Red Pandas in North America, their genes are the most valuable within the population.

Since their arrival from the Tokuyama Zoo in Japan, our red pandas Koko and Lala have warmed the hearts of zoo guests of all ages and helped us understand more about these special animals. Red Pandas are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (ICUN) because their population is estimated at fewer than 10,000 mature individuals.

Learn more about the Red Panda Network.

Awareness and Recognition

The knowledge gained has allowed us to become recognized in the Species Survival Plan community as an expert in Red Panda husbandry.

In order to expand on that knowledge and expertise, the Edmonton Valley Zoo has taken up the cause to protect and conserve these animals in their native habitat. To achieve our conservation goals, a fundraising initiative is being developed not only to reach zoo visitors, but also to partner with Zoo School to help raise awareness among children.

Campaign Donations

The donations received from the campaign will be administered by the Red Panda Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving the pandas' habitat and educating the people of Nepal.

The Edmonton Valley Zoo looks forward to working with this organization for the next several years and creating a greater awareness and appreciation for Red Pandas and their habitat amongst our visitors.

Donations are graciously accepted and can be made by contacting the Edmonton Valley Zoo at 780-496-7396.

Northern Leopard Frog Breeding Program

The Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) is a species at risk in western Canada and is one of the most endangered amphibians in British Columbia.

The Edmonton Valley Zoo's goal is to help prevent the local extinction of the Rocky Mountain population of the Northern Leopard Frog in order to aid in the recovery of the broader western Canadian northern leopard frogs. These recovery efforts will rely heavily on reintroduction to new habitat areas.

A Precautionary Tale

Northern Leopard Frog populations across western Canada started declining sharply in the 1970s, with the Edmonton region's population estimated to have been completely lost by the 1980s. The species is now considered extirpated from Alberta’s Central Parkland Natural Subregion and sadly no longer exists within the entirety of the North Saskatchewan River basin.

The Northern Leopard Frog is considered a species “At Risk” in Alberta with population reductions due to habitat destruction, wetland loss, pollution and introduced disease.

View Northern Leopard Frog Population Map

What the Edmonton Valley Zoo Is Doing

Without help, British Columbia’s Rocky Mountain Leopard Frog population is on the verge of extinction - one as similar, and as tragic, to what Edmonton’s Western Boreal/Prairie Leopard Frog population experienced over 50 years ago.

We are members of the Northern Leopard Frog Recovery Team, working together to prevent the local extinction of the Rocky Mountain Leopard Frog. The team is working to do this by:

Establishing new self-sustaining populations of reintroduced northern leopard frogs at a minimum of 3 interconnected wetlands in British Columbia
Conducting conservation research to improve captive breeding and reintroduction success
Maintaining captive assurance populations at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, and the Vancouver Aquarium as insurance against catastrophic extinction of the species in the wild
Engaging and inspiring children and adults in northern leopard frog and wetland conservation

Conservation Successes

We joined the Recovery team in 2018 and are proud to be involved in 1 of only 2 captive breeding projects for endangered amphibians currently active in Canada (the other for the Oregon spotted frog).

In 2022, with a quarantine and a temporary break in breeding at other partner facilities, the Edmonton Valley Zoo’s assurance population was the only population to return tadpoles back into the wild. Our tadpoles were the first ever release of zoo-raised Rocky Mountain Northern Leopard Frog tadpoles into a new habitat area located near Kimberley, British Columbia.

Northern Leopard Frog Recovery Team Partners

Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo

British Columbia Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship and Ministry of Forests

Vancouver Aquarium

Why Should Others Care?

Amphibians like the Northern Leopard Frog are important indicators of environmental health. This is because they are more susceptible to pollution than other groups because their skin is permeable, enabling toxins to invade critical amphibian organs. They were around in the time of dinosaurs, but today almost half of all amphibian species are threatened with extinction.

Learn more about Frogs through the Alberta Volunteer Amphibian Monitoring Program.

For more information about this program, you can contact zooconservation@edmonton.ca.

What Visitors Can Do

Support Zoo Efforts

Supporting the Edmonton Valley Zoo also supports our work with the Northern Leopard Frog Recovery Team.

Volunteer Your Time

Volunteer to help educate about the conservation of these amazing amphibians. Contact us via email at attractions@edmonton.ca to learn more.

Be Environmental Stewards

Frogs need healthy wetlands. Help your local wetlands by reducing your use of chemicals in your garden, planting native plant species and disposing of chemicals where they belong - at a City of Edmonton eco station!

Polar Bears International

The Edmonton Valley Zoo is a Polar Bears International Arctic Ambassador Centre (AAC).

Watch Polar Bears in Action Livestream

Arctic Ambassador Centres are organizations endorsed by leading polar bear scientists, the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for actively engaging in saving polar bear habitat through greenhouse gas reductions within their organizations and their communities.

As an AAC, the Edmonton Valley Zoo will work together with Polar Bears International to inform, inspire, and empower others to take immediate steps to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) for the conservation of polar bear habitat and other species impacted by a warming world.

The Arctic Shores exhibit at the Edmonton Valley Zoo is just one part of fulfilling this commitment, where visitors can view Arctic species up close while participating in educational programs related to climate change and conservation of polar environments.

Additional Resources

Polar Bears International - Youtube
YouTube video channel for Polar Bears International

Contact Us

Edmonton Valley Zoo

Email attractions@edmonton.ca

Phone 311 | Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311

Address 13315 Buena Vista Road (87 Avenue) PO Box 2359 Edmonton, AB