Expanding Our Impact for Endangered Wildlife 

From butterflies and bison to rhinos and coral, the Minnesota Zoo is redefining the role of the modern zoo through our vast and growing conservation work, driven in part by the generous support of Minnesota Zoo Foundation donors. As an active participant in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) programs, the Zoo works hand in hand with institutions and experts around the world to protect vulnerable species and ecosystems. 

The Minnesota Zoo is currently involved in 14 different SAFE programs, including programs focused on black rhinos, African penguins, monarch butterflies, red pandas, and freshwater mussels. In fiscal year 2025, the Zoo deepened this commitment by joining three new programs — for red pandas, coral, and prairie butterflies — further expanding its role in saving wildlife across ecosystems. 

The SAFE Prairie Butterfly program is a powerful example of this collaboration in action. Co-led by the Minnesota Zoo’s own Cale Nordmeyer, M.Sc., this initiative brings together partners across the U.S. and Canada to recover three critically endangered butterfly species: the Poweshiek skipperling, Dakota skipper, and Mitchell’s satyr. With more than a decade of field and propagation experience, Cale and the Zoo’s conservation team are working to restore Minnesota’s rarest prairie butterflies — protecting fragile populations from threats like habitat loss and invasive species. 

Funding for critical conservation work like this is provided in part by the Minnesota Zoo Foundation and its donors. This support allows the Minnesota Zoo to expand its role and impact in our world, helping us save more wildlife in Minnesota and around the world.