What began as an effort to protect penguins in Peru has grown into a worldwide conservation program for threatened and endangered species and ecosystems.
The Future for Wildlife program is an ongoing partnership between the Oregon Zoo and the Oregon Zoo Foundation that provides grants to local and global conservation efforts.
Community support has played a crucial role throughout the program's history. In 1998, Dr. David Shepherdson, deputy conservation manager, visited Punta San Juan, Peru, where he learned about the desperate need for funding to protect a colony of endangered Humboldt penguins. When he returned to the zoo, he worked with the foundation to raise funds for the project, forming the basis of the Future for Wildlife program.
The application period is currently closed.
Future for Wildlife grants have helped to protect species ranging from the California condor to the giant panda. A portion of the funding is dedicated to helping species in the Pacific Northwest. Learn about the 2017 grant recipients.
