Species Survival Fund

Mission

The Species Survival Fund is a 501(c)(3) with the purpose of supporting exotic and endangered animal conservation and education efforts locally (via Tanganyika Wildlife Park) and around the world. 

Origin

SSF was originally created by Jim and Sherri Fouts to increase awareness and educate potential visitors about the
various rare and endangered species housed at their facility.  In 2006, the Fouts’ decided to dramatically increase the amenities available to visitors and the number of species at their facility.  In other words, they chose to build an entirely new zoo.  This ultimately required that they create a for-profit entity for the purpose of securing financing to build Tanganyika Wildlife Park.  Tanganyika Wildlife Park had a significant opportunity to enhance SSF's mission by allowing more people access to these amazing animals and by providing a Wildly Different Experience.

Since Tanganyika's opening in 2008, SSF has hosted several events to raise money for the animals at Tanganyika as well as to support conservation around the world.  Starting in 2007, SSF held an annual charity concert to benefit Tanganyika.  The first year was to raise money to import African penguins and was called "Pickin' for Penguins".  The next two years featured Ty Herndon (2008) and Kenny Loggins (2009) and benefited the Indian Rhinos that arrived at about that time.  Those events were called "Rockin' for Rhinos".  SSF also hosted two charity dinners at Tanganyika with Jack Hanna as the guest of honor.  Jack has been a big supporter of the Species Survival Fund and Tanganyika Wildlife Park.  He frequently uses the animals from Tanganyika in his conservation shows around the country.

Tanganyika Winter Fund

In the June of 2010, Tanganyika Wildlife Park took in animals from Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot, ND.  The entire zoo had to be evacuated virtually overnight before it was expected to flood.  Tanganyika was able to rescue the entire big cat collection which included: 2 lions, 2 Amur leopards, 1 Bengal tiger, and 1 Amur Tiger.  In addition, Tanganyika rescued 3 reticulated giraffes.  The addition of these new friends prompted SSF to create the Tanganyika Winter Fund, which would serve as an endowment to provide the capital necessary to care for all the animals at Tanganyika during the winter, including the Minot animals.  This is especially important due to the fact that Tanganyika receives no government funding to subside it.  To provide care for the entire collection at Tanganyika, SSF must raise over $500,000 a year.

Check out the video below about the SSF Tanganyika Winter Fund!