Our Commitment to the Greater Good

For more than 100 years, we have inspired the appreciation of wildlife in guests across Florida and around the world. In 1971, we became designated as a non-profit organization, enabling us to further our efforts. Nonprofits essentially allow people to work together for a common cause. Here at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, that is connecting our community with wildlife and wild places.

We first connect our community with wildlife and wild places through our educational initiatives. According to our accrediting agency, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), there is growing evidence that aquariums and zoos are highly effective at teaching people about science and connecting them to the natural world. Our professional and knowledgeable staff use their skills to provide entertaining educational programs for all audiences—whether it is a Stroller Safari program with a child and their parent, a homeschooled student coming for a class, a teen volunteering through ZooTeens!, a student on field trip or an adult volunteering through a corporate opportunity.

We also connect our community with wildlife and wild places through our conservation programs. It is a priority for all AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums to save species from extinction. We are committed to protecting the wild counterparts of the plants and animals you may see at our Zoo and Gardens. Half of our Conservation Fund supports programs that save species in the biodiversity hotspots of Africa, Asia, South America and Central America.

A quarter of the Fund supports projects in the southeastern United States, and the other quarter goes to staffgenerated proposals. Manatee rescue and rehabilitation is our Zoo’s largest regional conservation initiative that we work tirelessly at every day.

We finally connect our community with wildlife and wild place through the most obvious effort: visits through our gates. Our staff are committed to providing the highest quality of care to our animals and plants. Our wellness team conducts welfare and wellness-related research to ensure that the animals living in our care are given opportunities to thrive. Through research, our goal is to not just improve the wellness of animals in our care, but of animals everywhere.

As a Member, you may know the thrill of seeing a white rhino from the Africa boardwalk or discovering a giant lily plant in Asian Bamboo Gardens. Every interaction with wildlife builds appreciation for the species and encourages action to protect them for years to come. That is what we see as our common cause.

Nonprofits are motivated by goals beyond finances, but must generate income to accomplish those goals. We raise funds through ticket sales, memberships, donations and events to help us accomplish our educational, conservation and animal wellness goals. Thank you for being a Member and furthering our mission.