Celebrating Conservation: African Lion Safari Awarded at CAZA’s 2024 Annual Conference

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN, October 18, 2024: Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) hosted their 2024 Annual Conference—a gathering of dedicated conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts. This event serves as both a valuable opportunity for learning and networking, and a recognition of our shared dedication to biodiversity conservation.

One of the standout moments of the conference was the CAZA Awards of Excellence, which recognized the remarkable achievements of member institutions in animal welfare, conservation, education, and scientific research.

African Lion Safari Receives the Colonel G.D. Dailley Award

African Lion Safari is thrilled to announce that we were the recipient of this year’s Colonel G.D. Dailley Award for our ex-situ propagation program for the Blue-throated Macaw! For over 10 years, African Lion Safari has demonstrated a commitment to conservation and management of this critically endangered species.

Once thought to be extinct in the wild, the Blue-throated Macaw was rediscovered in the early 1990s, rekindling hope for its survival. However, with fewer than 500 individuals estimated to exist today, these birds face numerous threats, including illegal trapping for the pet trade, habitat destruction, extreme weather, botfly infestations, and nest predation.

To combat these challenges, conservation initiatives have focused on understanding their ecology and developing strategies for recovery. Yet, experts agree that enhancing the wild population through breeding programs is essential for the species’ survival.

African Lion Safari Successfully Delivers 8 Blue-Throated Macaws to Their Native Range

African Lion Safari successfully delivered eight critically endangered Blue-throated Macaws to northern Bolivia in 2023. This monumental step aims to support the dwindling wild population and is part of a broader Species Management Plan designed to guide the species toward recovery.

Read more on our contribution to the recovery of this critically endangered species here.

Celebrating Our Community

A heartfelt congratulations to all nominees and winners of the CAZA Awards of Excellence! We are immensely proud of our incredible team at African Lion Safari. Their unwavering dedication and hard work not only ensure the well-being of our animals year-round but also keep our wildlife park running smoothly.