Animal Adventure Park Makes Major Donation to CCF’s Giraffe Conservation Efforts

Media Contact: Jj Muehlhausen, jj@cheetah.org or 501-412-2888

For Immediate Release: June 13, 2019

Animal Adventure Park Makes Major Donation to CCF’s Giraffe Conservation Efforts

HARPURSVILLE, NY – World Giraffe Day is right around the corner, and Animal Adventure Park, home of world-famous April the Giraffe, is marking the occasion by making a major donation to giraffe conservation efforts through the Cheetah Conservation Fund, or CCF. Park officials will present a $30,000 check to CCF at the park’s World Giraffe Day celebration at 12 p.m. on Sunday, June 16th at Animal Adventure Park.

CCF is a world-renowned international field research and education facility in Namibia, founded by Dr. Laurie Marker, that uses a holistic approach to save cheetahs and other threatened species, including giraffes. The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), is the world’s tallest land mammal and one of the most recognisable wild animals. This iconic animal’s status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species has been moved from ‘Least Concern’ to “Vulnerable.’ The global giraffe population has declined by 40 percent over the last 30 years. Cheetahs are the world’s fastest land mammal and Africa’s most endangered big cat also listed as ‘Vulnerable.’ Giraffes and cheetahs both face the same challenges: habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict issues.

Animal Adventure Park supports global conservation by providing people the opportunity to connect with wildlife, learn about their natural history, home ranges and begin to care about protecting them and their natural habitats. This also encourages support for researchers and conservationists worldwide. This support allows for the important research needed to continue to protect these iconic animals from extinction. The funding from Animal Adventure Park will allow CCF to continue the work they are doing in Namibia with both cheetahs and giraffes.

“Giraffe conservation is a more urgent priority now than ever before. We’re very proud of what we’ve accomplished through our propogation program at Animal Adventure Park,” Jordan Patch, owner of Animal Adventure Park, said. “It’s our great pleasure to help support the outstanding work of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, and to have the opportunity to continue to impact the future of this beautiful species in a positive and meaningful way.”

Currently, CCF has approximately 120 giraffes (adults, sub-adults and calves) that range on CCF’s protected land, and they’ve been monitored since 2003. CCF collects photos and documents various data on these giraffes including population structure, which includes group size, age and sex. Most individuals are identified based on their unique coat patterns. In 2019, the study was expanded to better understand the social structure and spatial distribution of the giraffe population over seasons (wet and dry). Deeper knowledge is essential in order to keep the giraffe populations as healthy as possible. Dr. Marker encourages partnerships and capacity building to help further conservation globally.

For additional information about CCF, or to make a donation, visit cheetah.org.

About CCF:
CCF is an international non-profit organization headquartered in Namibia, with operations in the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy, Belgium and the United Kingdom, and partner organizations in several other nations. Founded in Namibia in 1990, CCF is the global leader in research and conservation of cheetahs and dedicated to saving the cheetah in the wild. CCF’s mission is to be the internationally recognized center of excellence in the conservation of cheetahs and their ecosystems, working with all stakeholders to develop best practices in research, education and land use to benefit all species, including humans.

About Animal Adventure Park:

Animal Adventure is an interactive, educational animal park, home to over 100 species, located in the hills of Harpursville, NY, which is 15 minutes outside of Binghamton, NY. The park’s mission is to communicate an appreciation for the animal ambassadors that call the park home, and their wild counterparts. Conservation is achieved through education! Animal Adventure is federally licensed by the USDA; ensuring that the same standards of care met by of zoos and aquariums in the United States. The park staff includes zoologists, animal behaviorists, biologists, educators, and general caretakers.