Expanding Conservation Horizons

From endangered Amur tigers in Russia to black rhinos in Namibia, conservation efforts at the Minnesota Zoo extend well beyond the Zoo’s campus. At the center of these efforts is the belief that all species are valuable, a belief that drives conservation initiatives like the Ulysses S. Seal grant, an industry-leading conservation program funded by the Minnesota Zoo Foundation and its donors.

Named in honor of Ulysses S. Seal, one of the Zoo’s first pioneering conservationists, this program provides funding that allows Minnesota Zoo and Foundation employees to participate in conservation programs around the world.

Since its inception in 2002, the Ulysses S. Seal grant program has become a transformative force in wildlife conservation. With more than $600,000 awarded to more than 250 projects across 60 countries, the program supports field-based projects tackling critical conservation challenges. From reintroducing wood bison in Alaska to conducting field surveys of snow monkeys in Japan to fertilizing corals in Curaçao, the impact has been powerful and far-reaching.

Over the course of his career, Ulysses S. Seal was awarded with many medals and accolades from zoos around the world, but his legacy began at the Minnesota Zoo and continues today through the work powered by this extraordinary fund.

Through standout initiatives like the Ulysses S. Seal grant program, the Minnesota Zoo Foundation propels the Zoo’s mission forward. But industry-leading conservation programs like this would not be possible without your support. Visit our donations page to learn how you can be a part of this critical work.