Fort Worth Zoo Research Mission Statement

The mission statement of the Fort Worth Zoo was approved in 1999 by the Executive Committee and Board of the Fort Worth Zoological Association.

The mission of the Fort Worth Zoo is to strengthen the bond between humans and the environment by promoting responsible stewardship of wildlife and ensuring diverse, high-quality educational and entertaining family experiences through effective and efficient management of its resources.

In keeping with the overall mission statement of the Fort Worth Zoological Park, the Zoo's conservation research mission statement is as follows:

The Fort Worth Zoo will encourage, conduct and support conservation research projects for the betterment of animal life and ecosystems both in captivity and the wild.

To accomplish this mission, the following operational goals have been established:

• Conservation research will focus on rare and endangered species, as well as the preservation of habitat and ecosystems and the development of scientific husbandry management practices.
• The Fort Worth Zoo will encourage and support the involvement of staff, universities, residents, interns and students in conservation research projects.
• Fort Worth Zoo staff will endeavor to conduct conservation research projects in cooperation with American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) and international conservation organizations.

Arthur A. Seeligson, Jr. Conservation Fund

The Fort Worth Zoo administers the Arthur A. Seeligson, Jr. Conservation Fund. The Seeligson Conservation Fund supports the conservation of native Texas wildlife through grant awards to scientists, educators, and organizations committed to conserving the biodiversity of Texas. In 2009, the Seeligson Conservation Fund awarded grants to two outstanding conservation projects in Texas, including assessment of ornate box turtle population genetics as a proactive conservation approach and effects of introduced grasses on native Texas grassland birds.

Projects supported in the past have included captive breeding and monitoring of wild populations of Houston toad, researching foraging ecology of reddish egret in the Laguna Madre of Texas, installation of artificial nest cavities for red-cockaded woodpecker, construction of a pre-release facility for re-introducing Attwater's prairie chicken, installation of artificial roosts for Rafinesque's big-eared bat, development of a conservation strategy for alligator snapping turtle and nest protection for sea turtles.

The 2010 request for proposals for the Seeligson Conservation Fund has closed. Please check back for more information about the 2010 grant awardees and the next request for proposals.

Fort Worth Zoo Research Guidelines and Research Request Form:

• Fort Worth Zoo Research Guidelines
• Fort Worth Zoo Research Proposal Form