The Minnesota Zoo is passionate about tigers!  You can see it in our logo, in our expansive and engaging tiger exhibits, in the excellent care provided to our tigers, and in our extensive efforts to help wild tigers.  So it’s not surprising that we’re thrilled that our long-term commitment to this highly endangered species was recognized this year by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) with its prestigious Edward H. Bean Award.  The award recognizes propagation or management programs that contribute to a species’ reproductive success and conservation.

Since its inception in 1982, the Minnesota Zoo has coordinated the AZA Tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP). It was created by Dr. Ulysses S. Seal, one of the Zoo’s first Board chairs, as a coordinated, collaborative, and scientific approach to the management of an endangered species in zoos.  As a result of the Tiger SSP’s breeding recommendations and thanks to our staff’s expertise, the Minnesota Zoo has celebrated more than 40 tiger cub births!  And we’re crossing our fingers that we’ll have cubs again next spring.

Thanks to Delta Air Lines and a recommendation from the Amur Tiger Global Species Management Plan that our staff co-coordinates, a new tiger pair arrived at the Minnesota Zoo this year from zoos in Europe.  The impressive new male (pictured here) has started exploring our Tiger Base Camp exhibit, and the female will go out on exhibit soon.

The Minnesota Zoo is also committed to helping save tigers in their natural habitats.  Fewer than 3,200 of these awe-inspiring animals remain in the wild.  The Amur tigers exhibited at our zoo may number fewer than 500 in their native forests of the Russian Far East.  With the help of the Tiger Conservation Campaign coordinated by our staff, the number of tiger-exhibiting zoos that support projects for wild tigers has tripled in the past few years!

AZUL, the Minnesota Zoo’s young professionals group, has raised over $26,000 for Amur tiger conservation, and our guests, members, and donors have contributed as well!  With your support, we are funding projects to stop the poaching that threatens wild Amur tigers and to recolonize parts of the Russian Far East with orphaned tigers that were rescued and rehabilitated.

The next time you visit the Minnesota Zoo, feel proud of the excellent work that you, our donors and our members are supporting.  We hope you’ll look our tigers straight in the eye and feel inspired to join us and act for wildlife!