In a bid to preserve biodiversity, Los Angeles Zoo has announced an ambitious conservation plan.

Over the next five years, the zoo will use its in-depth experience, knowledge, expertise and partnerships to focus on conservation.

The plan is centred on six areas, social and environmental justice, human-wildlife co-existence, illegal wildlife trade, California conservation, evidence-based conservation, and conservation translocations.

The zoo currently works with a number of organisations, including the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Centre (Democratic Republic of the Congo), the Peninsular Proghorn Recovery Project (Mexico) and the Wildlife Trust of India.

The proposal will extend the zoo’s partnership base, so it works alongside other organisations such as the Department of Recreation and Parks, the Griffith Park and the LA Sanitation & Environment.

By 2026, LA Zoo aims to have increased its accessibility to achieve sustainable conservation success.

Denise Verret, CEO and director of LA Zoo said: “It is important to recognise that conservation has historically failed the communities most affected by the degradation of our environment.

“Our zoo is the city’s treasured resource for connecting Angelenos with wildlife and nature, and we are doubling down on that promise with this comprehensive strategy that includes every person in our community in the action to save wildlife,” Verret added.