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remaining populations, much about this species remains
unknown. The species has been deemed vulnerable to
extinction by the International Union for Conservation
of Nature. Giant armadillos were declared one of five
indicator species for the creation of protected areas in
2014 thanks to the GACP efforts.
Wildlife doesn’t stop at the borders of protected areas,
so neither can conservation,” Tim Tetzlaff, Naples Zoo’s
Director of Conservation, said.
“Large rural landowners can support tremendous
amounts of wildlife on their private lands. Understanding
their perspective and truly collaborating with these key
stakeholders is critical for wildlife species to remain
abundant enough to fill their place in the ecosystem,
including giant armadillos’ role in aiding dozens of other
rare species. Naples Zoo greatly values the GACP’s efforts
in listening to diverse audiences to address the needs of
people, animals, and the land – a pattern we follow in
regional work with Florida panthers.”
GACP First to Identify the Giant Armadillo as an
Ecosystem Engineer.
In 2011, GACP established the first long-term
ecological study of giant armadillos in Brazil. It was
the first to identify the species as ecosystem engineers.
Empty giant armadillo burrows become a shelter
from predators and temperature extremes for over

70 species of wildlife from lizards and snakes to
ocelots, peccaries, and anteaters. GACP is pioneering
methodologies to investigate giant armadillo ecology
and biology, promoting conservation awareness through
environmental education and outreach, and has become
one of the leading capacity-building projects for aspiring
conservationists with over 85 Brazilian biologists
and veterinarians trained since its inception. Its goal
continues to be to use field data to inform conservation
outreach and planning and make giant armadillos a
flagship species for biodiversity conservation to safeguard
remaining native habitats and wildlife.
“Without the support of AZA zoos, we would never
have been able to start or continue the Giant Armadillo
Conservation Program,” Dr. Arnaud Desbiez, head of
the Giant Armadillo project, said. “Even though there
are no giant armadillos in AZA collections, zoos have
worked together to fund, create new field techniques,
build the capacity of the team and create such a strong
partnership that our collective effort now spans four
biomes and six conservation initiatives”.
Education programs at all three institutions
highlight the project to guests in both programming and
interpretative messaging.

Life in Naples | January 2022 49