One Wild Future
represents a shift toward a more integrated, outcome-driven organization.
It moves us from connected but distinct areas of work to a fully integrated conservation organization focused on measurable outcomes.
Over the next five years, our focus is to:
• Build and strengthen a connected, inclusive, and high-performing team
• Deliver greater and more measurable conservation impact
• Strengthen integration across animal welfare and wellbeing, conservation, and engagement
• Scale what works through collaboration and partnerships
• Mobilize people as active participants in conservation
• Focus resources where they create the greatest impact
This strategy ensures that all work contributes to a shared direction and a unified approach to conservation impact.
Green keel-bellied lizard, at the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo
Our strategy is grounded in a shared purpose, a clear vision for the future, and values that define how we work.
These are not standalone statements. They anchor our decisions, priorities and behaviours across the organization.
Purpose
We act for wildlife; saving species and inspiring people to join us.
Our purpose defines why we exist. It guides every area of work, from daily operations to long-term conservation programs, ensuring that all efforts contribute to meaningful outcomes for wildlife and people.
Vision
A future where people and wildlife thrive, together.
Our vision defines the future we are working toward. It reinforces that conservation success depends on the connection between people and nature and requires collaboration across sectors, disciplines and communities.
Values
Our values define how we work and what is expected of us as an organization.
Drive impact
We do not simply observe challenges; we take action to solve them. We focus our energy on solutions that create measurable, meaningful outcomes for wildlife, wild places and people.
Nurture connection
We foster connections in every possible way - within our organization, between people and nature, and across the broader conservation community. These relationships are essential to achieving lasting change.
Cultivate hope
We believe in a better future for both people and wildlife. We lead with optimism grounded in action, evidence and results.
Be bold
Innovation is essential in our critical conservation work, but it’s equally vital in everything we do. We challenge convention, learn from experience and pursue new ways of creating greater impact.
How They Connect
Our purpose, vision and values are directly expressed through One Wild Future:
• Our purpose defines what we exist to do
• Our vision defines the future we are working toward
• Our values define how we behave while doing it
One Wild Future defines how we organize, prioritize and deliver impact. Together, they form a single connected framework that guides everything we do.
The Wilder Institute is a global conservation organization that brings together conservation, animal welfare and wellbeing, and public engagement within a single, connected organization dedicated to delivering action for wildlife.
One Organization
The Wilder Institute leads the:
• Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo
• Wilder Institute’s Centre for Species Survival (CSS) Human Dimensions
• Wilder Institute’s Applied Conservation Programs
» Wilder Institute’s Archibald Biodiversity Centre
» Wilder Institute Ghana
The Wilder Institute is the conservation organization that integrates and delivers conservation, animal welfare and wellbeing, and public engagement work. Every employee and volunteer contributes to this work across our sites and programs—whether through direct conservation action, animal care, guest experience, operations, or generating the revenue that enables our impact.
Simply put, we are all Wilder. “
How We Operate as One Organization
Each part of the organization plays a distinct role within a connected system:
Calgary Zoo
Animal care, welfare and well-being leadership, guest experience, public engagement, and revenue generation that supports conservation impact.
CSS Human Dimensions
Integrating human wellbeing, livelihoods and rights-based approaches into conservation practice globally.
Applied Conservation Programs
Priority Programs and other applied conservation initiatives in Canada and abroad, engaged in species recovery, habitat restoration and inclusive conservation.
Archibald Biodiversity Centre (ABC)
Conservation breeding, translocation and reintroduction support.
Wilder Institute Ghana
In-country NGO delivering locally led conservation programs and advancing community-based wildlife conservation in Ghana.
How Integration Creates Impact
Our impact depends on how these areas work together:
• Animal care and research generate knowledge required to inform and support effective conservation action
• Applied conservation, in Canada and abroad, applies and refines this knowledge in real-world contexts
• Public engagement builds awareness, deepens understanding and drives action
• Partnerships extend capacity, scale and influence
This integrated model connects science, animal care, community, and action within a single connected conservation organization.
How We Create Impact
Our conservation approach is guided by four core principles that shape every decision and action:
Inclusive Conservation
Collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and diverse parties is central to the entire planning implementation and evaluation process.
Capacity Strengthening
Supporting practitioners of conservation, communities, and agencies with the tools, training and resources they need to undertake conservation translocations and increase the number of people actively engaged in wildlife conservation in Canada.
Multi-Species Approach
Actions benefit ecological communities, not just single species in isolation.
National Scale
To ensure a whole-of-society approach, our work will extend across Canada, with programs from Coast-to-Coast.
Limestone Barrens Ecosystem, Newfoundland
Over the next five years, we will focus on six interconnected strategic priorities.
Transform Workplace Culture
We will create a connected, inclusive and high-performing organization.
• Advancing inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility
• Strengthening communication and accountability
• Supporting collaboration across teams Building engagement and capability
Outcome: A unified, effective and values-aligned organization.
Evolve the Zoo
We will ensure the zoo remains a leader in animal wellbeing, education and sustainability.
• Advancing animal welfare and wellbeing practices
• Enhancing visitor experience and relevance
• Redeveloping key animal and guest spaces
• Improving environmental sustainability
Outcome: Highest-quality animal welfare and wellbeing and meaningful public engagement.
Strengthen Capacity
We will build the systems, skills and partnerships required for effective conservation.
• Empowering partners and practitioners
• Strengthening internal capability
• Expanding collaboration and shared learning
• Embedding inclusive conservation practices
Outcome: Stronger and more effective conservation systems and partnerships.
Mobilize People
We will engage people as active participants in conservation.
• Increased awareness of the urgency of conservation need
• Expanding conservation education and learning opportunities
• Inspiring individual behaviour change for wildlife
• Building strong networks of supporters and advocates to drive conservation action
Outcome: Increased engagement, participation and conservation action.
Celebrate Our Centennial
We will leverage our 100th anniversary to strengthen engagement and future momentum.
• Fostering civic pride
• Community engagement and storytelling
• Recognition of legacy and contributions
• Fundraising and campaign activation
• Strengthening awareness of impact
Outcome:
Increased engagement, pride and support for our mission.
Grow Our Conservation Impact
We will expand and scale conservation work to deliver measurable outcomes for species and ecosystems.
Species recovery and reintroduction
• Habitat restoration and ecosystem resilience
• Expansion of the Wilder Canada Action Plan
• Strengthening global conservation programs
• Sharing expertise and conservation approaches to strengthen capacity and extend impact
Outcome: Demonstrable improvements in species populations and ecosystem health.
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Delivering as One Organization
Delivering One Wild Future requires strong alignment across the organization.
This means:
• We work as one team, not in silos
• We align all of our work to our shared strategic priorities
• Our strategy defines both what we do and what we don’t do
• We focus on impact, not activity
• We apply our values and principles consistently in all we do
This is how we work together, as one organization, to deliver One Wild Future.
Living Our Strategy:
This strategy will center all of our actions through:
• Annual planning aligned directly with strategic priorities
• Constant and clear communication about how we are doing in achieving our goals.
• Continuously learning and being nimble to stay on course
• Focused teamwork and holding each other accountable
All of us should focus how we can align our team plans to our One Wild Future so we can all clearly see how our work moves our strategy forward.
One Wild Future represents the next chapter of our organization, bringing our shared purpose, vision, and values together to guide how we work and the impact we aim to achieve. It provides the structure and direction to guide our work over the next five years. It aligns our organization around a shared purpose, a unified direction and a clear set of priorities for delivering conservation impact. Success will depend on how effectively we work together, focus our efforts and deliver measurable outcomes.
One organization. One direction. Shared impact. This is One Wild Future. And it begins with all of us.
Northern leopard frog reintroduction site
One organization. One direction. Shared impact. This is One Wild Future. And it begins with all of us.
