Zack S.
July 6, 2023
One of the most beautiful things in the world is compound interest. The ability to invest in something and grow that investment while continuing to do so leads to a remarkable return on investment.
Most of the time we think of compound interest when it relates to retirement accounts and investments, but we can apply the concept of leveraging compound interest to our conservation efforts and start with our own efforts. There is no better place for backyard.
Here at the Atlanta Zoo, we believe that the conservation efforts we invest in today can pay off in the future. This is true for our conservation partnerships with organizations such as Conservation South Luangwa and the Golden Lion Tamarin Association, but it is also true for the work we do in our own communities.
There are seeds here that need our help, and by investing in those seeds, we can see them thrive for years to come.
east indigo snake
Alabama’s long-leaved forests have burrows throughout the pines, shrub oaks, and sandy soils. These are gopher holes. These holes can be several feet wide and several feet deep. All sorts of other animals take refuge here from time to time, but none are as spectacular as the lord of the forest, the Eastern Blue Snake.
The Eastern Indigo Snake is the longest snake species in the United States. They are active hunters and are seen eating a variety of prey, including the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake. They maintain ecological balance by preying on small rodents and venomous snakes. Their numbers began to decline in the early 20th century, and by the 1950s they were all but extinct from the sandlands of Alabama. Destruction of the gopher tortoise’s native habitat and human interference with native populations through the pet trade and killing of individuals of this species have created a hole in the ecosystem larger than the gopher’s burrow. But in the early 2000s, the Atlanta Zoo began partnering with the Orian Society, Auburn University, the Central Florida Zoo, and others to reintroduce this king to the kingdom. The Central Florida Zoo is breeding Eastern Indigo snakes to release them into the wild. Once they reach a certain size, they are brought to the Atlanta Zoo to continue growing. Once a year, the Atlanta Zoo and its partners meet in Alabama’s Connek National Forest to reintroduce the Eastern Indigo snake to the area.
During this time, we will also find Eastern Indigo and scan for identification tags. This allows us to find out how long snakes live in the wild and to gauge how well they are doing on their own. Something incredible happened in 2020. Snakes were scanned untagged during restocking and censuses. We knew this snake was born in the wild so this was great news for the zoo and all of our partners.
Our program was beginning to succeed. As our reintroduction program continues to add more snakes to the environment, and as reintroduced snakes continue to mate and lay eggs, how will this population grow in the coming years? I get excited when I think of
diamond back softshell turtle
In the Golden Isles of Georgia, a soft-shelled turtle crunches a snail. This snail is called a marsh snail. An important species, when the snail population increases too much, it overgrows wetland grasses, turning wetlands into giant, devoid tidal flats. Diamondback softshell turtles keep the ecosystem in balance. Over time, the population of diamondback turtles has declined due to habitat loss and being run over by vehicles. These populations are necessary to keep swamp snails under control.
Georgia’s coast faces unique conservation challenges based on coastal development that has had a significant impact on the region’s native species, including the Diamondback terrapin. Recreational beaches are accessible only by roads through the wetlands. These roads are a major obstacle for newly hatched chicks, and they are sometimes hit by cars. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island patrols these roads and works to mitigate the threats facing this species. Also look for nests with eggs.
The Atlanta Zoo supports the Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s Jekyll Island Causeway Conservation Project by housing juvenile soft-shelled turtles that the Georgia Sea Turtle Center plans to eventually release into the wild. Not only does this help the species, but it can save countless lives, as it protects the swamp grass, which protects the swamp, and can dampen powerful hurricanes that swamp and barrier islands move inland.
Efforts made to save these species would not be sufficient without working with partners committed to preserving and restoring the ecosystems to which these animals belong. The people of Jekyll Island embrace this idea wholeheartedly. When local people invest in protecting their local ecosystems, the potential for return on investment is endless.
Organizations like the Atlanta Zoo can draw on the Jekyll Island local model to support conservation efforts, but the best possible conservation results can only be achieved through local communities coming together to protect natural spaces. you know you can get it. Spending the time and effort to preserve these spaces is an opportunity to invest in our future. Saving species from extinction, allowing ecosystems to thrive, and ensuring the natural spaces we enjoy are worth investing in. And being able to preserve these animals and their habitats for future generations is invaluable.
Zach Stich, Public Programs Coordinator
Elise Robinson-Phillips, Exhibition Interpreter III