'As was quoted in the October 2013 edition of National Geographic, 'Zoos are the last refuge against a rising tide of extinction.' ' 'These numbers mean that elephants could become extinct in the wild in the next 20 to 25 years.' 'The conservation work that we do is critical to the survival of these magnificent animals that are in such peril in the wild,' Bass says. 'Their joy, intelligence, sensitivity and huge personalities are mesmerizing,' she says.Įlephants are poached for the ivory trade, and one elephant is poached every 15 minutes around the globe. Lee Bass serves as the Fund's Chairman of the Board Emeritus.īass says the birth of two baby elephants last summer at the zoo began a love affair with Belle and Bowie that has pervaded her life. She has also been closely involved with the Peregrine Fund for Birds of Prey.

She and her husband, Lee Bass, established the Lee and Ramona Bass Foundation in 1993, which provides grants to conservation organizations. Texas Wild! at the Fort Worth Zoo is a must to understanding these complex issues.' It is important to celebrate the positive and good science, proper management tools, and what we have learned from our mistakes. Texas is 97 percent privately owned private landowners are the stewards of these wild places. 'Without the countryside, there is no clean water, no clean air, no food and no wildlife. 'There is a huge disconnect from the realities and complexities of the land in an increasingly urban Texas,' Bass says. Over the years, the Seeligson Fund has supported the habitat enhancement for northern bobwhite quail through progressive management techniques, the effects of introduced grasses on native Texas grassland birds and the development of a conservation strategy for nest protection of sea turtles, to name just a few. 'It is unique and targeted funding to further develop those crucial relationships.'

'With the fund, we wanted to bring awareness to and sponsor projects that partnered with private land owners on wildlife conservation,' Bass says. The fund grants annually to individuals or organizations whose work addresses native Texas species. Seeligson was a true steward of the land. Conservation Fund in her father's memory after he died in the spring of 2001. It is home to more than 500 animal species and the world-famous reptile collection, housed in the Museum of Living Art (MOLA).īass, along with her family, established the Arthur A. Grazing, burning and hunting all had their place in trying to maintain these ecosystems.'īass has led the 105-year-old zoo through privatization to its current standing as one of the top zoos in the country. 'Through it all, it became obvious that there was a constant effort to manage the land to its best advantage. 'I grew up in the brush country of South Texas, riding horses, working cattle and hunting,' Bass says. Six generations of commitment to that land instilled in her a lifelong passion for conservation. All but the Rhino Foundation were founded and are managed at the zoo.įort Worth leaders Ramona Bass and Kit Moncrief serve as co-chairs of the Fort Worth Zoo Board of Directors.īass learned responsible hands-on stewardship of the land from her family. Zoo-affiliated foundations include: International Rhino Foundation, International Elephant Foundation, International Bongo Foundation, Seeligson Conservation Fund, and Turtle Survival Alliance. The Fort Worth Zoo is an international leader in wildlife conservation, supporting more than 20 conservation projects in more than 30 countries around the world. She works with the people to expand their rhino-conservation resources.

Kit Moncrief recently returned from Africa.

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