• become a Zoo member
• make a donation
• become a Zoo volunteer
• be an educated voter
• make your purchase count
• travel with the Zoo

Take Action

Taste the Difference

The trouble with turkeys is that you don't know where they've been. Finding out, however, can be as easy as pumpkin pie, when you buy local. More >

Learn Your Labels

Certified organic, farm-raised, free-range, grass-fed... the list seems endless. But what do these eco-labels really mean? More >

Eat Seasonally

Eggplant out of season? Not to worry, winter squash is a worthy replacement. Learn the secrets of eating sustainably without sacrificing your favorite dishes. More >

Non-sustainable agriculture is the leading cause of habitat loss in the United States. Habitat loss is the number one threat to wildlife. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, agricultural run-off associated with animal waste and chemical use has killed millions of fish and is the main reason why 60% of America's rivers and streams are "impaired." Soil erosion, pollutants in the soil and extensive clearing and overgrazing of land are costing wildlife valuable acres of habitat. It's hard to imagine that buying an organic pepper could have much of an effect in the scheme of things. But supporting local farms does help to protect habitat for wildlife.

Small independent farms encourage biodiversity by diversifying the landscape. Such diversity also reduces soil degradation, decreases agricultural run-off and provides habitat. Methods like no-till (no plowing), cover crops (crops grown to produce soil cover), crop rotation, buffer areas (areas planted in native grasses that provide habitat for insects and small mammals as well as feeding areas and nesting sites for birds) and Integrated Pest Management (environmentally-friendly pest control) are a just a few examples of the techniques used in sustainable farming.

Many animals at the Philadelphia Zoo also dine on savory sustainable foods. For ten years bamboo lemurs, porcupines, gorillas and giant tortoises, to name a few, have been munching on mulberry branches and chewing on honey locust leaves grown specifically for them by their keepers on the Zoo's browse farm. Five different kinds of trees grow on a one-acre plot maintained by an organic regimen of mulching and weeding. The farm yields hundreds of feet per year of tasty treats for 32 species at the Zoo. For the giant otters and Humboldt penguins, the Zoo provides an assortment of tilapia, catfish and rainbow trout, all purchased from local sustainable fish farms. Beyond their daily diet, many animals receive enrichment items. Enrichment items, which frequently take the form of food, are used in some cases to encourage natural behaviors and in others to simply break up an animal's day. Herbs grown in a garden started in 2002 by Chris Waldron, assistant curator of carnivores, offer a steady source of enrichment at the Zoo. Primates, bears and cats have been given everything from lavender to watercress to tempt their palate and tickle their fancy.

Visit the Take Action section to learn more about issues related to non-sustainable agriculture and find out how you can make a difference.

Email bridget@buylocalpa.org to order a copy of the Local Food Guide.

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