Zoo recognized for work on Tarangire elephants

SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Association of Zoos and Aquariums announced last week that a partnership involving Providence’s Roger Williams Park Zoo received its 2008 Significant Achievement Award for International Conservation for supporting the “Tarangire Elephant Project.”
The 15-year-old Tarangire Elephant Project has studied and worked to protect the elephants and other forms of wildlife in Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park. Despite a decline in pouching activity in the area, other problems have arisen, including competition and conflict with a burgeoning human population.
Roger Williams Park Zoo joined the partnership in 2007 with a commitment of $35,000 over five years to fund a position to work specifically on human/elephant conflict issues. The partnership includes The Wildlife Conservation Society, Lincoln Park Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo, Reid Park Zoo, Kansas City Zoo, Indianapolis Zoo, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and Milwaukee County Zoo. &#8226