What We Do
The West Virginia Zoo Wildlife Conservancy was established in 2019 to secure increased financial resources and support for the wildlife conservation work being done by the West Virginia Zoo. Extinction is forever, and the Zoo’s work in fighting extinction –through research, public engagement and education, breeding and reintroduction programs – is vital to wildlife, to us, and to our world.
The global rate of extinction of animal and plant life is now estimated at nearly 1,000 times the natural rate. It is critical that zoos, aquariums, and conservation organizations work together to educate the public and take actions to stabilize, then reverse, this alarming trend. The extent to which humans are affecting wildlife has never been greater; according to the 2019 United Nations report, more than one million species are threatened with extinction due to human impact. For example, two-thirds of North America’s bird species risk extinction due to climate change, including approximately 50 species native to the United States. A 2017 study by the World Wildlife Fund of the US reported that about one-half of our country’s vertebrate species have declined since 1970, at an average rate of 83% decline.
Together with your help, we can save wildlife and wild spaces for the future generations.
Select an Adopt an Animal category:
Support WVZ's global efforts to protect wild animals and their habitats and choose from kits with plush and more.
African Lion
Animal Advocate: $25.00
Conservation Crew: $50.00
Species Ambassador: $100.00
Wildlife Protector: $500.00
Wildlife Guardian: $1,000.00
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African Penguin
Animal Advocate: $25.00
Conservation Crew: $50.00
Species Ambassador: $100.00
Wildlife Protector: $500.00
Wildlife Guardian: $1,000.00
ADD TO CART
Amur Tiger
Animal Advocate: $25.00
Conservation Crew: $50.00
Species Ambassador: $100.00
Wildlife Protector: $500.00
Wildlife Guardian: $1,000.00
ADD TO CART
Arctic Wolf
Animal Advocate: $25.00
Conservation Crew: $50.00
Species Ambassador: $100.00
Wildlife Protector: $500.00
Wildlife Guardian: $1,000.00
ADD TO CART
Cheetah
Animal Advocate: $25.00
Conservation Crew: $50.00
Species Ambassador: $100.00
Wildlife Protector: $500.00
Wildlife Guardian: $1,000.00
ADD TO CART
Grevy's Zebra
Animal Advocate: $25.00
Conservation Crew: $50.00
Species Ambassador: $100.00
Wildlife Protector: $500.00
Wildlife Guardian: $1,000.00
ADD TO CART
Komodo Dragon
Animal Advocate: $25.00
Conservation Crew: $50.00
Species Ambassador: $100.00
Wildlife Protector: $500.00
Wildlife Guardian: $1,000.00
ADD TO CART
Polar Bear
Animal Advocate: $25.00
Conservation Crew: $50.00
Species Ambassador: $100.00
Wildlife Protector: $500.00
Wildlife Guardian: $1,000.00
ADD TO CART
Red Panda
Animal Advocate: $25.00
Conservation Crew: $50.00
Species Ambassador: $100.00
Wildlife Protector: $500.00
Wildlife Guardian: $1,000.00
ADD TO CART
Ring-tailed Lemur
Animal Advocate: $25.00
Conservation Crew: $50.00
Species Ambassador: $100.00
Wildlife Protector: $500.00
Wildlife Guardian: $1,000.00
ADD TO CART
River Hippopotamus
Animal Advocate: $25.00
Conservation Crew: $50.00
Species Ambassador: $100.00
Wildlife Protector: $500.00
Wildlife Guardian: $1,000.00
ADD TO CART
Snowy Owl
Animal Advocate: $25.00
Conservation Crew: $50.00
Species Ambassador: $100.00
Wildlife Protector: $500.00
Wildlife Guardian: $1,000.00
ADD TO CART
Sumatran Orangutan
Animal Advocate: $25.00
Conservation Crew: $50.00
Species Ambassador: $100.00
Wildlife Protector: $500.00
Wildlife Guardian: $1,000.00
ADD TO CART
Western Lowland Gorilla
Animal Advocate: $25.00
Conservation Crew: $50.00
Species Ambassador: $100.00
Wildlife Protector: $500.00
Wildlife Guardian: $1,000.00
ADD TO CART
Animal Enrichment
Animal Enrichment is very important here at the West Virginia Zoo. Did you know that each of our animals receive enrichment every day? When you visit and notice barrels, toys and other devices within animal habitats, those objects serve as animal enrichment that plays an important role for many of the species here at the Zoo. Enrichment at the West Virginia Zoo aims to enhance our animals’ environments by providing them with opportunities that stimulate their natural behaviours. Giving animals opportunities to follow their natural instincts is as essential to their overall health and well-being as good nutrition and medical care. Environmental changes are made with the goal of increasing the animal’s behavioural choices and drawing out their species appropriate behaviours, thus enhancing animal welfare. Some devices may encourage foraging behaviours while others are strictly for play.
There are 5 main categories of enrichment:
Sensory:
Involves things that require the animals to use their senses such as the use of scent in an exhibit or a scratching post for the animal to rub up on.
Environmental:
Enrichment refers to various species specific needs of the animals within their environment such as wallows, burrows, nesting areas, climbing, and perching opportunities.
Forage/Feeding:
Strategy is probably the category that people most often associate with enrichment. It involves the animals hunting, rooting, browsing, foraging and digging for food.
Occupational:
enrichment refers to things like chewing, object manipulation, grooming, and task oriented devices. This is often paired with Forage/Feeding strategy.
Play:
is also a very important part of enrichment and something that wild animals will engage in regularly. This is achieved by providing various non-food related toys and opportunities for the animals to have fun within their exhibits.
Commorative Plaques
Tree Plaque
$1,000.00
These beautiful bronze tree plaques are placed on trees in designated areas throughout the Zoo.
Each plaque can have 4 lines of text and up to 30 characters* per line.
Plaque size: 6" x 4"
* Characters consist of letters, spaces and punctuation marks.
You will also receive a $750.00 charitable tax receipt for your contribution, and as always all net proceeds will go towards the conservation programs at the West Virginia Zoo.
Please allow 6 - 8 weeks for engraving and delivery. Additional time may be required during inclement weather. You will be notified when your plaque is in place.
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Carousel Bench Plaque
$3,000.00
These beautiful satin aluminum bench plaques are placed exclusively on our courtyard benches.
Each plaque can have 3 lines of text and up to 40 characters* per line.
Plaque size: 8" x 4"
* Characters consist of letters, spaces and punctuation marks.
You will also receive a $2,815.00 charitable tax receipt for your contribution, and as always all net proceeds will go towards the conservation programs at the West Virginia Zoo.
Please allow 6 - 8 weeks for engraving and delivery. Additional time may be required during inclement weather. You will be notified when your plaque is in place.ADD TO CART
Corporate Gifts/Party Favors
Miniature Adoption Packages
Are you looking for a plastic free loot bag item? How about a meaningful and personalized corporate gift? Our "miniature" Adopt an Animal packages are perfect for birthday parties, classroom gifts, holiday parties - you name it! Plus, funds raised through the Adopt an Animal program support the West Virginia Zoo’s scientific research and conservation efforts.
Dimensions: Approximately 7" x 5"
Minimum Order: 10
African Penguin
$5.00
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Polar Bear
$5.00
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Red Panda
$5.00
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Sumatran Orangutan
$5.00
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Western Lowland Gorilla
$5.00
ADD TO CART
