Geographical Regions
The conservation of wild animals and their natural habitats is fundamental to ZSL's mission.
We work with local communities around the world to conserve their environment and promote sustainability.
The ZSL Conservation Department is divided up into five regional areas: UK & Europe, Asia, Africa, Americas and Oceania.
UK & Europe
Conserving wildlife in the UK and mainland Europe, which are both heavily impacted by changes to land-use, provides a unique challenge which ZSL tackles using a range of cutting-edge, novel methods.
Asia
Covering 8.6% of the Earth’s total surface area and home to four billion people, Asia is the world’s largest and most populated continent.
Several of ZSL’s projects in this region examine the impact of this huge population. For example our Philippines mangrove project promotes sustainable livelihoods for local people and our Bangladesh tiger project highlights the issues of human tiger conflict.
Oceania
Most of Oceania consists of island nations comprising thousands of coral atolls and volcanic islands, with small human populations.
The high volcanic islands of French Polynesia are testament to the vulnerability of island species. The International Partula Conservation Programme, co-ordinated by ZSL since 1994, involves a managed breeding programme for the critically endangered Partula Snail.
Conservation across the globe
ZSL runs conservation programmes in Britain and over 80 countries worldwide.
Africa
Africa, the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, straddles the equator and encompasses numerous climate areas.
As such, ZSL’s projects in this region vary greatly. From bushmeat research to rhino translocations, turtle tagging to ecotourism, ZSL is at the heart of conservation in Africa.
Americas
The mainland of the Americas is the longest north-to-south landmass on Earth. At its longest, it stretches roughly 14,000 kilometres.
ZSL is heavily involved in the global fight to save the world’s amphibians. This work is particularly important in the Caribbean, where outbreaks of the deadly chytridiomycosis disease have had devastating effects of the critically endangered mountain chicken frog.