May 20 is the 11^th annual Endangered Species Day, a day meant to celebrate wildlife and learn the importance of protecting the vulnerable animals around us. Here at the Minnesota Zoo, every day is an endangered species day. The Zoo is home to 74 threatened species that range from the “Vulnerable” status to “Critically Endangered.” Every time you visit the Zoo and learn about these animals, you are helping the Zoo’s effort to save them.

Some of the Minnesota Zoo’s endangered animals are instantly recognizable favorites—the red panda, ring–tailed lemur, Amur tiger, Hawaiian monk seal and the Green sea turtle—to name just a few. These large, captivating animals are featured prominently in the Zoo’s habitats. There are other endangered species that are tougher to spot, even if you’ve been visiting the Zoo every week. They include free-flying birds in the Tropics Trail, like a duck known as the Madagascan teal, and smaller fish that are easy to miss in a large aquarium, like the red line torpedo barb. Some endangered animals are only seen in educational demonstrations, like the Zoomobile’s African pancake tortoise or the dramatic East African crowned crane in a summer Bird Show.  Other endangered animals live their lives entirely behind the scenes, like the small native butterflies the Zoo breeds for reintroduction into the wild.

The endangered species at the Zoo are the focus of various conservation efforts. Many belong to managed zoo breeding programs known as Species Survival Plans (SSPs). Some SSP species, like the Asian wild horses once extinct in the wild, have been reintroduced to their native habitat. Zoo scientists work in far-flung places and right here in Minnesota to understand and help save endangered species in their natural habitats.  The Zoo continues to develop new endangered species conservation programs and recently partnered with the Minnesota DNR to rear endangered freshwater mussels for reintroduction in our state.

One of the most important roles that endangered species have at the Minnesota Zoo is that of ambassador animals. Every amazing animal that lives at the Zoo has the potential to inspire a new generation of guests to care more and do more for wildlife. Join us in celebrating Endangered Species Day by contributing to the efforts of the Minnesota Zoo, both close to home and around the globe. There are so many ways to act on behalf of endangered wildlife, from sponsoring an animal to donating specifically to a conservation effort. Find out how you can make a difference for endangered wild animals by visiting mnzoo.org/donate.