Conservation

When it comes to supporting wildlife conservation most donors do a lot of research to find the organizations that provide the maximum impact for the causes that are most dear to them. I support the philosophy of a well-known philanthropist, Miss Ellen Browning Scripps, who claimed never to have “donated” money to a worthy cause. Instead she invested in them. The return on investment was not financial and the dividends were measured in improving the quality of life for people and animals. 

While most good zoos incorporate the word conservation in their mission statements, some practice it better than others. Longneck Manor is truly a conservation park whose ultimate purpose is to save animals in the wild. While the welfare of all our animal ambassadors is always top priority, Longneck Manor is a conservation organization and will be an AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) accredited zoological park. We consider wildlife conservation to be akin to animal welfare in the wild, and support organizations that are committed to saving wild animals and their habitats while working proactively with local communities. 

Our philosophy and culture are based on a concept we presented a few years ago at a zoo conference in San Diego. It’s called the One Team Approach.

To create memorable guest experiences which promote actions that help save species, habitats, and the communities who share those same landscapes.

We promise that every visit will touch your heart as well as your head and you will leave with a renewed sense of caring and hope for the future. That’s a big promise but one that we take very seriously. Furthermore, if you decide to make a conservation “investment” we will make sure you know where every cent of your money is going and how it will make a difference both at Longneck Manor and overseas. It all comes together in what we call the Three H’s: Heart, Head and Hand. First get people to care, then they will want to learn… and then will lend a hand. 

We intend to deliver funds rapidly to the best people we know, people who are working on the front lines of conservation. This is not management by estranged committee members checking off the boxes. Decisions are based on track records and long-term partnerships and friendships. We treat all our field conservation partners as family and don’t require long and complicated donor application forms. Longneck Manor will always be a work in progress as we improve our facility, animal care practices and the guest experience and continually refine our methods to deliver support to the most critical programs and people that need help. It is designed to be a sustainable resource for conservation so it does not just rely on philanthropic support. Hence the reason we have both a for-profit LLC and a nonprofit 501c (3).