Conservation Initiatives

Conservation is at the heart of everything we do at Happy Hollow. Many animals in our zoo are part of the Species Survival Plan which aims to protect endangered or threatened species. Happy Hollow visitors gain appreciation for wild animals, respect for earth’s incredible biodiversity and the conservation efforts needed to preserve our planet.

New to Happy Hollow is Monarch Meadow, a large-scale pollinator garden. This capital improvement project at the Entry Plaza is on one-third acres of land under the Bent Bridge and is a landmark accomplishment in habitat restoration, water conservation and biodiversity. It serves as an example of what we can each do at home whether on a porch, patio, in a pot or at a community garden spot.

Progress for Pollinators

As a Certified Wildlife Habitat and Certified Monarch Waystation, Happy Hollow supports pollinators in many ways. There are pollinator habitats throughout the park and zoo, and Happy Hollow hosts beekeeping workshops. Our Backyard Habitat shows people how they can encourage wildlife right in their backyard!

But we don’t stop there. Happy Hollow Foundation’s Progress for Pollinators grant program inspires the community to care about pollinators, too! Twice a year, in spring and fall, the foundation awards $2,500 grants to people and organizations who want to beautify public spaces with pollinator-friendly gardens and habitats.

“You haven’t just funded plants and soil, you’ve supported a community of people, animals and plants.”

~ Belinda Schmahl, Project for Pollinators Grantee

Happy Hollow Goes Global

Happy Hollow Foundation is committed to supporting conservation efforts around the world. By selling jars of local honey – fondly known as “Gorilla honey” – we have provided funding to Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for more than a decade. This support helps protect this important ecosystem, which holds some of the last remaining mountain gorillas.

Support Conservation Today