TPFECF Wins Award

ZAA Award for Aardwolf Conservation Leadership

We are thrilled to announce that Twin Pine Farm & Exotics Conservation Foundation has been awarded the Zoological Association of America’s (ZAA) Award for Ex Situ Conservation in recognition of our pioneering work with aardwolves (Proteles cristatus).

This prestigious award, presented during the 2025 ZAA Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas, celebrates our organization’s leadership in developing the first-ever U.S. Animal Management Program (AMP) for aardwolves. The program has already achieved major milestones, including the historic birth of the first captive-bred ambassador aardwolf in the United States and the successful coordination of international imports to establish a genetically diverse, sustainable population.

Our team’s efforts go far beyond our facility. The aardwolf AMP unites zoological institutions, researchers, and conservation organizations worldwide — from genetic sampling with Texas A&M and the Smithsonian, to collaborations with field NGOs in Africa, to partnerships with ZAA-licensed facilities across the U.S. This network ensures that the aardwolf, one of the least-studied carnivores, will have a brighter future in human care and in the wild.

“This recognition belongs to everyone who has believed in the aardwolf project,” said Sheri Sublett, Studbook Keeper and Species Manager for the ZAA Aardwolf AMP. “Together, we’ve proven that even the most overlooked species can inspire global collaboration, scientific discovery, and a passion for conservation.”

We are deeply honored by this award and grateful to the ZAA, our partners, and supporters who make this work possible. This recognition strengthens our commitment to advancing conservation, education, and animal welfare at every level.