Nov. 17 – March 1, 2020
The top attended cultural attraction in Northeast Florida, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens truly offers something for everyone. In addition to beautiful gardens and unique opportunities to view amazing wildlife, the zoo hosts family-friendly events, educational programming for all ages, and mission-driven initiatives supporting wildlife conservation.
Over the past decade the zoo’s commitment to conservation has grown substantially, and currently four dollars of every membership and seventy-five cents of every ticket sold is committed to wildlife field conservation projects. The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ wildlife conservation programs now expand to over forty-five organizations, both locally and globally. With over $1.25 million directed over the past six years to conservation, the zoo supports the important field work required to save both plant and animal species under threat of extinction.
The organization is always looking for ways to further connect guests to wildlife conservation. This year, the zoo is excited to partner with the National Geographic Photo Ark and National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore to bring the Photo Ark exhibition to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
The Photo Ark is an effort to raise awareness of and find solutions to some of the most pressing issues affecting wildlife and their habitats. The Photo Ark’s three-pronged approach harnesses the power of National Geographic photography and the bold ideas of our explorers. Led by Sartore, the project aims to document every species living in the world’s zoos and wildlife sanctuaries, inspire action through education, and help save wildlife by supporting on-the-ground conservation efforts.
In addition, Toast to Conservation, an annual fundraising event for Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, will feature an intimate evening with Sartore. He will share stories about his photography, his process, and species endemic to our area. Find the Photo Ark and the Toast to Conservation event at toasttoconservation.jacksonvillezoo.org/2019.
Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens, 370 Zoo Pkwy., 757-4463.
