Conservation Marketplace

 

Far from large cities, villagers create works of art while balancing their traditional way of living. These communities are the closest neighbors to some of the world’s most precious wildlife.

 

By marketing these unique lines of quality crafts in our gift shop the Houston zoo enables local artisans to make a living outside wildlife parks, strengthen their communities and help preserve fragile endangered species' habitats. 

 

Iganyana Art Center was created by Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) in Zimbabwe. Fewer then 3000 African wild dogs remain in Africa due to various human pressures.   Poaching with snares (wire traps) continues to be one of the leading threats to the survival of this species. PDC has developed three highly trained anti-poaching units in an effort to control this threat.  Since the first of these units was deployed in August 2001, they have collected well over 10,000 snares. Had the snares gone untouched, it would mean approximately one thousand animals killed.  The wire collected by the anti-poaching units is sent to PDC’s Iganyana arts center, where local artisans from rual villages use it to create beautiful intricate art.  Production of this artwork provides skills and financial security for the artists.  In addition, the program provides an opportunity for conservation education on sustainable use of resources and reuse of materials.

 

Partners In Conservation consists of women from rural villages that surround gorilla habitat.  The products from this organization were hand-made by women from Rwanda, Africa.  They sew colorful stuffed rhinos, elephants, giraffes and turtles and fill them with recycled plastic bags.  The production of these animals helps to reduce the amount of plastic in the landfills and to create a sustainable local economy. 

 

 

 

 

Proyecto Titi works with local communities to protect the endangered Cotton-top tamarin found only in the tropical forests of Colombia. Their products are hand-made by women from several villages in Santa Catalina, Colombia. Plastic bags clutter the landfills and pose a continuing threat to all local wildlife.  Proyecto Titi has found a way to reuse this material and provide financial security for the local people.  Women weave a traditional bag, called a “Mochila”, made entirely of recycled plastic bags.  The production of these bags helps to reduce the amount of plastic in the country and to create a sustainable local economy. 

 

 

We now have a large variety of colourful conservation bracelets available at the admission window, Macaw cafe, gift shop and Pizza resturant in Cypress circle. 

All the proceeds go to our wildlife conservation projects.  There are rhino (blue), elephant (grey), lion (yellow), komodo dragon (red), orangutan (bright orange), chimp (brown), giraffe (dark orange), Flamingo (pink), Sea Turtle (turquoise) and "Houston Zoo Conservation" (green) bracelets, so make sure to collect them all.