WRF in the News
Aquarium-Sanctuary Partnership Releases Video to Prevent Spread of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease by Divers
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) in the Gulf of Mexico offers one of the most memorably beautiful and wildlife-rich dive sites in American waters. But stony coral tissue loss disease—already ravaging Floridian and Caribbean reefs— is a grave danger to this pristine underwater habitat.
Valles Caldera Partners with ABQ BioPark in Zoo-Park Partnership for America's Keystone Wildlife
Albuquerque, NM - Valles Caldera National Preserve and the ABQ BioPark recently established a Zoo-Park Partnership for America's Keystone Wildlife to provide vital support in the recovery of New Mexico's native wildlife found at the national park site.
Steps in Coral Conservation Celebrated by Aquarium-Park Partnership as National Park Month Commences
As National Park Month commences, newly outplanted mountainous star coral (Orbicella faveolata) are growing in Biscayne National Park (BNP). This important act of conservation is a direct result of a partnership between The Florida Aquarium and Biscayne National Park.
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Triples in Size
National conservation groups and aquarium partners celebrated the expansion of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, announced today by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The expansion increases protections within the Gulf of Mexico’s only national marine sanctuary from 56 square miles to 160 square miles and includes 14 critical reefs and banks.
Red River Zoo Receives Genetically Valuable Bison from Wind Cave National Park through a Zoo-Park Partnership for America’s Keystone Wildlife
Wind Cave National Park, SD – On October 15, two female and one male bison were sent by Wind Cave National Park (WICA) to Red River Zoo (RRZ) in a ground-breaking achievement for their Zoo-Park Partnership for America’s Keystone Wildlife and the chance for the zoo to play a direct role in bison restoration.
ABQ BioPark Announces New Wildlife Partnership with Valles Caldera National Preserve
The ABQ BioPark has established a Zoo-Park Partnership (ZPP) for America’s Keystone Wildlife to provide vital support in the recovery of New Mexico’s native wildlife at Valles Caldera National Preserve as well as new education and community engagement opportunities at the ABQ BioPark. The goal of these field conservation projects is to measurably increase native wildlife population size, health, viability, and habitat.
Padre Island National Seashore Partners with Texas State Aquarium in an Aquarium-Park Partnership for America’s Keystone Wildlife
Providing vital support to Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS) during the COVID-19 epidemic, Texas State Aquarium (TSA) became the second Aquarium-Park Partnership (APP) to participate in a joint initiative of National Park Service (NPS) and Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) with the signing of a general agreement on December 23, 2020. Called the Zoo-Park Partnerships for America’s Keystone Wildlife Project, this initiative involves 10 other zoo/aquarium and National Park pairs across the country.
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary: Zoo & Aquarium Exhibits
Due to the remote location of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, 80-125 miles offshore, most people will never get a chance to see it in person. So, how can we get people interested enough to care about preserving it? We bring the sanctuary to them through zoo and aquarium exhibits.
Divers Can Help Prevent Coral Disease
The coral reefs of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary have thus far been free of coral disease. However, Florida’s coral reefs are currently experiencing a multi-year outbreak of a stony coral tissue loss disease that has now spread over 200 miles across the Florida reef tract. This outbreak is unique due to its large geographic range, extended duration, rapid progression, high rate of coral mortality, and the number of species affected.
