Como Zoo & Conservatory

At Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, conservation is a part of our mission. Our goal is to take an active role in helping to conserve our planet's resources - plants, animals, and whole ecosystems. As a model for others, Como staff works to preserve resources and operate in an environmentally responsible, efficient, safe and sustainable manner.

Como has set up a permanent collection point to collect and recycle unwanted cell phones. All cell phones collected will be sent to Eco-Cell and Como will received funds for each phone donated. The funds raised will in turn be donated to The Orangutan Conservancy, a non-profit organization that is helping to preserve one of the most critically endangered species on earth - the orangutan and its habitat.

In addition to aiding endangered orangutans, recycling cell phones at Como also prevents toxic phone batteries from harming our earth when land-filled and helps to reduce the need to mine coltlan, a product used in making cell phones that is often illegally mined in an area of Africa that is home to endangered gorillas.

Many animals at Como Zoo are managed through a program of the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums called the Species Survival Plan (SSP). Most species chosen for SSP are endangered. Each SSP program manages the breeding of the captive population so that it remains healthy and genetically diverse. Como currently participates in 12 SSPs: Gorilla, Orangutan, Spider Monkey, Blue-eyed Black Lemur, Debrazza Monkey, Amur Tiger, Snow Leopard, African Lion, Waddled Crane, African Penguin, and Radiated Tortoise. Other species are managed cooperatively through various Taxon Advisory Groups.

Many plants are under severe threat of extinction from over-collection and destruction of their native habitats. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory has been designated as a Plant Rescue Center by the U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). This program was created in order to salvage plants seized through the enforcement of regulations put in place by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). It was established in an effort to curb the illegal collection, documentation and trade of plants and to ensure their survival after confiscation.