Helping The World's Majestic

Species Survive and Thrive

It takes a lot to thrive out in the wild. Since 1967, MAF–funded research has advanced the health of our planet's wildlife – and in some cases, has ensured the very survival of the species. In fact, your favorite animal has almost certainly benefited from our research.

Wildlife Milestones

Some of our successes include:

• Establishing reproductive technologies and tools that allow highly endangered Namibian cheetahs to be bred without having to be removed from their natural habitat in Africa
• Learning what causes stress in captive animals and making recommendations to zoos
• Developing diagnostic tests for infectious diseases in many species
• Establishing safer anesthesia for giraffes and rhinos
• Investigation, prevention and treatment of contagious cancerous facial tumors in Tasmanian devils

Birth of Pandas in Captivity

Successful panda births in captivity used to be extremely rare, and the number of wild pandas was shrinking as well. Thanks in part to MAF funding, that has changed. MAF–funded research helped develop artificial insemination protocols, which resulted in captive baby panda births. For example, Tai Shan was born at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, in 2005. The following year, Mei Lan was born at the Atlanta Zoo. Today, pandas are successfully breeding in zoos, as well as in their native preserves in China. MAF is grateful to have played a role in the preservation of this species.

Saving The Last 700 Mountain Gorillas on Earth

For decades, poaching, war and political instability have threatened the very existence of the highly endangered mountain gorillas of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1986, when anthropologist Dr. Dian Fossey asked for our help to save these magnificent animals, we answered the call by establishing the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP).

The MGVP is one of the only programs in the world to provide care for an endangered species in its natural habitat. Thanks to our efforts, and those of other conservation organizations, the mountain gorilla population is the only great ape population whose numbers are increasing. In recent years, MAF has transitioned responsibility for the MGVP program to another wildlife entity, MGVP, Inc. (www.MGVP.org).

Watch the MAF Mountain Gorilla Web Exclusive. John Taylor, MAF COO, gets up front and personal with the mountain gorillas at the MAF–funded Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project in Rwanda.

Read Additional Wildlife Successes.