The El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens Conservation Committee recently approved continued funding for the Indonesia Species Conservation Program in Sumatra.  Under the leadership of Rudianto Sembiring with the support of zoos and other conservation groups around the world, efforts to rescue animals like the slow loris from the illegal pet trade have been very successful.

People visiting the Zoo who round up their purchases are helping to maintain the Zoo’s field conservation efforts in far away places that few of us have been able to visit.  Indonesia has one of highest levels of biodiversity anywhere and some say that Indonesia is the most species rich country on earth.  

Many of the animals we have at the Zoo in the Asia section in addition to the slow loris are from Southeast Asia including the Asian elephant, Sumatran orangutan, Malayan sunbear, Malayan tiger, Malayan tapir and siamang. 

With limited staff and resources, we are always looking for volunteers to help us increase our conservation impact.   If you would like to help you can contact us here and sign up to become a Conservation Ambassador.   To be an ambassador at the Zoo you need to be at least 18 years old and be willing to share information that you learn with zoo guests.  Once your City of El Paso Volunteer Application is approved we train you and you pick your own hours.   There is no minimum commitment of time.   If you are under 18 or do not live in El Paso you can become a virtual conservation ambassador.