CHESTER Zoo is launching an online global conservation charity.
The zoo will launch its flagship charity Act for Wildlife and has set a £50,000 target this year alone.
The attraction, which has an annual intake of 1.4million visitors every year, is to forge closer links with its on field conservation projects around the world.
As an international umbrella charity it will supply five key conservation areas:
UK Wildlife
Asian elephants in Assam
Black Rhinos in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya
Realm of the red ape - The Sumatran and Bornean Orangutan.
Mauritius Wildlife Foundation.
The zoo already fosters four of the international projects, whereas the UK wildlife scheme encourages domestic awareness of local wildlife.
As a trusted family brand, Chester Zoo has pledged to cut out administrative costs and supply 100% funding to animal conservation.
Last year’s city-wide Rhino Mania initiative forged closer links between Chester Zoo and the community and raised awareness of the plight of the critically endangered Black Rhino in Kenya.
Staff have been working on Act For Wildlife for two years and the scheme will use online social networking sites to elevate Chester Zoo’s status as one of Europe’s leading conservation champions.
The new charity will hone national corporate support, community fundraising and individual donations.
There will be free activity packs encouraging school children to participate.
The charity pledges to “showcase a selection of projects from around the globe, with blogs from the field and the chance to donate directly to them.”
Project manager Michelle Dumas explained: “It is strengthening the relationship between Chester Zoo and conservation projects around the world.”
Subscribers to the charity will receive e-newletters, blogs and live updates from on field curators.
For more details visit www.actforwildlife.org.uk when it launches on June 14
How donations help:
£10 – could buy a nest box to help with breeding rare and endangered birds
£20 – could help towards the purchase of school books for the children of villagers in Assam taking part in our elephant conservation project
£100 – could help towards funding a Ranger in Tanzania protect Black Rhinos from poachers
