Conservation, the work of the Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park (AWCP).

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Our work at the AWCP is vital to the long-term survival of many animals which are at risk of extinction in their natural habitat. Many of our animals are rescued from the illegal or legal pet trade, some were illegally taken from the wild by traffickers. Some of our animals were born in our zoo or come from other collections taking part in specific breeding programmes to ensure their survival., such as the cotton-top tamarins, a critically endangered species.

Our mission is...

"To be a proactive contributor to the preservation of the wildlife of the planet"

We achieve this by...

Wherever possible; breeding rare and endangered species in our care

Raising awareness through community education to the widest possible audience

Instigating and facilitating appropriate research to improve our animals' welfare

Supporting and encouraging the conservation of species within their natural habitats through contributing to and raising awareness of conservation projects around the world.

In addition to our work conserving some of the world's most endangered animals and overseas we actively work to conserve local native species, visit our Native wildlife conservation page to find out more.

Conservation programmes

We work closely with other zoos, wildlife parks and conservation bodies to try and ensure the long-term survival of our animals. Shaldon is a member of the British and European Zoo Associations (BIAZA and EAZA). These organisations are there to ensure high standards of practice within zoos, coordinate breeding programmes and aid zoos in maximising their conservation involvement.

The majority of animals kept at Shaldon are part of the European coordinated endangered species breeding programmes (EEPs and ESBs). These programmes help to manage species as a self-sustaining population. This is important for species that are very close to extinction in the wild, and provides a safety-net population. Zoos can also provide individuals for reintroduction projects, providing plants or animals to put back into the wild.

Each species has a studbook keeper and programme co-ordinator who recommends suitable pairings to prevent inbreeding, maintain maximum genetic diversity and ensure the captive population is genetically healthy.