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Catapalooza: Big Cat Conservation Weekend!

May 30 and 31 we are hosting our first ever Virtual Conservation Awareness Weekend!

During this big cat conservation weekend, learn more about our African lions and Amur tiger, and learn more about how the keepers takes care of them at the zoo.

Every year, Henry Vilas Zoo hosts several Conservation Awareness Days. Our Conservation Days help bring awareness and raise funds for wildlife conservation. Our goal is to educate our communities on why conservation matters. You can help by making a donation today!


Schedule of events:

Saturday, May 30, 2020 – LIONS

  • 11am – Live Q&A with BenJee Cascio. BenJee has been with Ruaha Carnivore Project since 2017 first as the Lion Defenders program manager and then later as the Human Wildlife Conflict program manager. He oversees all the human wildlife conflict programs and community engagement activities including the innovative Community Camera Trap program that rewards villages for wildlife captured on camera traps in village land.
  • 2pm – Facebook Live Keeper Chat
  • Virtual Story-time with Education Curator Jess!

Sunday, May 31, 2020 – TIGERS

  • Virtual Story-time
  • 2pm – Facebook Live Keeper Chat
  • 4:30pm – Live Q&A with Dr. Dale Miquelle, Country Director for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Russia Program, and coordinates research and conservation actions to protect large carnivores and the ecosystems upon which they depend, focusing mainly in Northeast Asia.

At Home Activities

Celebrate big cats with us by creating some lion and tiger crafts and games at home.


Ruaha Carnivore Project logo

The Ruaha Carnivore Project was established in 2009 to focus on conserving large carnivores (lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, and African wild dogs) in Tanzania’s remote Ruaha landscape.

Their efforts focus on a human-wildlife conflict, education, and providing benefits to local villages that demonstrate success in living peacefully with large predators. By fortifying livestock areas with chain-link fencing they have reduced attacks on livestock by 60%, leading to a reduction of 80% in killings of large predators.


Tiger Conservation Campaign logo

Tigers once roamed across much of Asia. Today, fewer than 4,000 remain. The Tiger Conservation Campaign works to study wild tigers and their needs, prevent poaching, create awareness about tigers, help local people live peacefully near these large cats, medically treat ill and injured animals, and help create laws to protect tigers and their habitat. The Tiger Conservation Campaign is coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Tiger Species Survival Plan.