Earth Month is a time to reflect on the health of our planet and the species that depend on it. While conversations about conservation often focus on distant rainforests or remote oceans, meaningful conservation work is happening every day in places many people visit without realizing the full impact.
Across 85 Humane Certified™ zoos and aquariums, conservation efforts support animal welfare, education and, in many cases, the protection of species facing extinction. Through science-based breeding programs, habitat research and global collaboration, these facilities are helping restore fragile populations and strengthen ecosystems worldwide.
American Humane Certified™ and Global Humane Certified™ are certification programs of American Humane Society and Global Humane Society. Together, these Humane Certified designations establish science-based standards for animal welfare in leading zoos and aquariums, verified through independent third-party audits.
During Earth Month and beyond, Humane Certified zoos and aquariums offer a unique opportunity to see conservation in action where education, humane care and species recovery come together in real time.
The facilities highlighted below represent just a few examples of how Humane Certified zoos and aquariums are helping to protect endangered species around the world.
At Brookfield Zoo Chicago, an American Humane Certified facility, conservationists support the recovery of the endangered Mexican gray wolf through a federally coordinated breeding and cross-fostering program. Wolves born under human care are introduced into wild packs to strengthen genetic diversity and help fragile populations rebuild in the Southwest.
As of the end of 2024, the wild population reached a minimum of 286 wolves, marking the ninth consecutive year of growth and an 11% increase over the previous year. This steady progress reflects decades of coordinated conservation work among certified zoos, wildlife agencies and partners across the United States and Mexico.
San Antonio Zoo, an American Humane Certified facility, is working to restore the iconic Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) which was once abundant across the western two-thirds of the state. Researchers here are seeking to restore the Texas horned lizard population by working with private landowners to introduce zoo-hatched lizards in areas where it has disappeared in recent decades.
At the Florida Aquarium, an American Humane Certified facility, they successfully transferred 9,000 juvenile corals to restoration partners, marking one of the largest statewide deployments of land-grown coral babies under the Florida Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery (FCR3) Initiative, and a critical step toward large-scale reef recovery and the long-term goal of restoring at least 25 percent of Florida’s Coral Reef by 2050.
The Georgia Aquarium, another American Humane Certified facility, supports the conservation of endangered African penguins through a collaborative breeding effort with the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB). This work is essential as African penguin populations have declined by nearly 65 percent since 1989, reaching historic lows in recent years.
Across the Atlantic, Loro Parque, a Global Humane Certified facility in Tenerife, supports parrot conservation through the Loro Parque Foundation. Since 1994, the foundation has invested more than $18 million in conservation efforts and helped save at least nine parrot species from extinction.
With approximately 4,000 parrots representing 350 species and subspecies, the facility contributes to global recovery efforts, including the rebound of Lear’s macaw in Brazil and the echo parakeet in Mauritius—two species once on the brink of disappearance.
The Vienna Zoo, a Global Humane Certified facility in Austria, is helping protect the Northern bald ibis, one of the world’s most endangered bird species. Once native to Central Europe, the species disappeared in the 17th century due to excessive hunting. Today, collaborative, science-based conservation efforts led by Austrian organizations have made the Northern bald ibis reintroduction one of Europe’s most successful species recovery projects, offering renewed hope for its future.
Conservation That Takes Commitment
Saving endangered species doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years of steady effort and people who care deeply about the animals they are working to protect.
Each year, accredited and certified zoos and aquariums invest an estimated $350 million or more in wildlife conservation. Behind those numbers are veterinarians, researchers and animal care teams working every day to give vulnerable species a stronger chance at survival.
Humane Certified facilities follow science-based standards that support both animal welfare and real conservation results. At a time when many species are under pressure, these institutions provide stability, expertise and hope.
An Earth Month Call to Action
Earth Month is a reminder that protecting the planet also means protecting the animals who call it home.
Conservation isn’t only happening in faraway forests or oceans. It’s happening in places you can visit, learn and see firsthand.
When you visit a Humane Certified zoo or aquarium, you’re supporting facilities committed to responsible care and long-term recovery efforts. Seeing conservation in action is one meaningful way to celebrate Earth Month and stand behind the work that helps wildlife endure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Endangered Species and Conservation:
Earth Month raises awareness about the growing threats to wildlife, including habitat loss, climate change, pollution and illegal wildlife trade. Protecting endangered species is essential to maintaining healthy ecosystems and biodiversity that support life on Earth.
Accredited and certified zoos and aquariums support endangered species through science-based breeding programs, veterinary care, habitat research and global conservation collaboration. These efforts help maintain genetic diversity, stabilize populations and support species recovery.
Humane Certified refers to certification programs developed by American Humane Society in the United States and Global Humane Society internationally, establishing science-based standards for animal welfare.
Humane Certified zoos and aquariums are guided by rigorous, science-based standards and verified through independent, third-party audits, helping the public identify facilities committed to humane animal care.
For species with declining populations, responsible breeding programs help prevent extinction by supporting genetic diversity and population growth. In some cases, animals born under human care are reintroduced into the wild to strengthen fragile populations.
Individuals can support endangered species by visiting and supporting Humane Certified zoos and aquariums, learning about conservation science and sharing trusted information about wildlife protection during Earth Month and Earth Day.
