From Shrubs to Snacks: The Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo and NCC Team Up to Feed Giraffes and Protect Nature

OCTOBER 9, 2025 (Calgary, AB) — What’s on the menu for Calgary’s giraffes? Last month, the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo welcomed a very special delivery of freshly cut browse — and local landscapes got a helping hand too.

In a creative collaboration, the zoo partnered with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) to turn invasive caragana into giraffe enrichment. On September 18, NCC staff and volunteers from Vermilion Energy removed the shrubs from a conservation easement property east of Calgary. Rather than going to waste, a truckload of the leafy branches was delivered to the zoo, where the giraffes happily munched their way through nature’s bounty.

“Enrichment is essential for the well-being of animals like our giraffes,” said Jennifer Godwin, Animal Care Manager (Asia/Savannah). “Fresh browse is one of their favourites, and receiving it through a partnership like this adds extra meaning. It’s a wonderful example of how working together can support wildlife here at the zoo and in nature.”

For NCC, the project was a win on multiple fronts. “This initiative helps us control invasive species while engaging volunteers in meaningful conservation work,” said Keltie Manolakas, NCC’s Director of Conservation Engagement in Alberta. “It’s a great way to connect people with nature and show that even small actions can make a big difference.”

The project was part of NCC’s Conservation Volunteers program, which engages people and corporate partners like Vermilion Energy in hands-on stewardship activities that protect Alberta’s landscapes.

Together, the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo and NCC are proving that conservation wins come in many forms — from healthier habitats to the satisfied munching of some very tall grazers.

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For more information contact:
Alison Archambault
Director, Brand & Public Relations
403-232-7766 | 403-919-9482 | mediarelations@calgaryzoo.com

For more than 30 years, the internationally accredited Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo has been a leading authority in wildlife conservation, reintroducing threatened species to the wild and empowering communities to conserve natural resources to positively impact both the environment and local inhabitants.

While our work is global, our roots run deep in the Albertan conservation community. Sitting on 125 acres in the heart of the city, we operate one of the oldest charities in Alberta, the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo – a not-for-profit charitable wildlife conservation organization that works to fight the extinction of plants and animals worldwide. In addition to the zoo, we proudly operate the Archibald Biodiversity Centre (ABC), Canada’s largest conservation breeding and research facility. Nestled on 330 acres in the Albertan prairies, the ABC is a stronghold for biodiversity and a temporary home to some of Canada’s most iconic species-at-risk.

The Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo is passionate about inspiring and educating generations of visitors about the importance of biodiversity and conservation. Together, we will continue to be a force of nature for making the world a wilder place. Learn more at WilderInstitute.org and CalgaryZoo.com.