Local Roots, Global Reach: Happy Hollow’s Conservation Initiatives

April 21, 2023

There has been a lot of buzz about the importance of biodiversity recently, including at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in December 2022, which adopted a landmark biodiversity agreement.

This is exciting global news and confirmation that Happy Hollow Park & Zoo has been on the right track for decades in their conservation work. Our zoo has made a global and local impact for years. 

“Happy Hollow Park & Zoo may have a smaller footprint compared to others but the impact we make in the animal world is big!” exclaimed Amber Rindy, Zoo Manager at Happy Hollow. “We just added six new Species Survival Plan animals last year and are always looking for ways to help support the survival of all species.”

Here are some highlights:

Progress for Pollinators
This local program was started in 2017 to nurture and protect a wide array of biodiversity. Happy Hollow Park & Zoo and Happy Hollow Foundation work in partnership to provide grants to help protect native wildlife across Santa Clara County. From schools and scout troops to nonprofits and neighborhood groups, nearly $60,000 has been distributed to create public landscaping that encourages the utilization of pollinator-friendly and native plants.

Quarters for Conservation
Happy Hollow Foundation, in partnership with Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, supports critical research projects that protect and preserve wildlife and wild places around the world. Since 2015, the Happy Hollow Quarters for Conservation program has distributed more than $400,000 by working with dozens of individuals and organizations to further research, expand conservation impact, share knowledge and engage local communities.

Beekeeping & Beyond
Increasing biodiversity also includes keeping pollinators thriving, which is exactly what our Beekeeping & Beyond workshops aim to do. They are run by beekeeping expert Steve Demkowski, the owner of Willow Glen Honey, who leads informative and fun workshops. 100% of the proceeds go to pollinator conservation initiatives at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. These workshops at Happy Hollow provide the intimate opportunity to learn about beekeeping in a hands-on setting. This spring’s workshops will happen on April 15 and May 6. Space is limited, register now to secure your spot!

Gorilla Honey
If you’ve ever enjoyed “Gorilla Honey,” you’re part of an important conservation story at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. The proceeds from sales of Gorilla Honey help support Virunga National Park’s Fallen Rangers Fund, a safety net for more than 150 families of park rangers who gave their lives to protect the last remaining mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Virunga National Park, Africa’s most biodiverse protected area, protects 1/3 of the world’s wild mountain gorillas, over one thousand species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and provides a brighter future to more than 4 million people affected by conflict. You can purchase Gorilla Honey at Happy Hollow in the Picnic Basket and Explore & More store and in Willow Glen at Three Sisters.

And there’s more
Over the years, Happy Hollow has made a difference across the globe in many different ways. 

• Happy Hollow partnered with Trash Punx for an ewaste drive as part of our Earth Day event in 2022 and 2023.
• For many years, Happy Hollow collected cell phones and donated the proceeds to Orangutan Conservancy, which is dedicated to the protection of orangutans in their natural habitat through wild research, capacity building, education and public awareness programs, and by supporting numerous on-the-ground efforts to save Southeast Asia’s only great ape. Happy Hollow plans to restart cell phone collection this year to raise funds for conservation efforts.
• In 2019, Happy Hollow partnered with other conservation groups to collect certain electronics that contain coltan (columbute and tantalum). Roughly 80% of the world’s supply of coltan is found in prime gorilla habitat so reducing demand for this mineral will help save the lives and habitats of gorillas throughout Africa.
• Happy Hollow also collected denim for Jeans for Giraffes, which shipped donated jeans to a denim recycler. The recycler paid by the pound and the money raised went to fund giraffe conservation programs in Africa. Unfortunately, this organization doesn’t exist anymore but Happy Hollow was a proud supporter when it was thriving.

Happy Hollow Saving Species

All of these programs are having an impact but Happy Hollow makes a difference every day by being part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums Species Survival Plan Programs. Happy Hollow has 16 different species and a total of 31 individual animals that are part of an SSP program, which strives to maintain genetically diverse and  biologically sound populations.

AZA’s Species Survival Plan programs coordinate the placement of individual members of participating species at zoos and sanctuaries and ensure that transfer and breeding recommendations support the genetic health and long-term viability of the species.

A few of Happy Hollow’s wins for SSPs include:

• Two young female capybaras that arrived in fall 2022.
• Four male Chacoan peccaries, an endangered pig-like species, that were once thought to be extinct. They joined the Happy Hollow animal family in fall 2022.
• Mama lemur, Vintana, has given birth to four baby lemurs at Happy Hollow since 2018.
• Four fennec foxes were born at Happy Hollow in 2015.
• Giant anteaters, Xander and Xena, joined the Happy Hollow family in 2014.

“Happy Hollow Foundation is the park and zoo’s nonprofit partner, which allows us to make a difference in our hometown but also across the globe,” said Rhonda Nourse, Executive Director of the foundation. “It’s exciting to think about what a difference a small zoo can make!”

So now you know that Happy Hollow is way more than just a safe, special place to bring your family — it is a global leader in conservation and protecting biodiversity!