You can only steer a moving ship by Tim L. Tetzlaff, Director of Conservation

by Tim L. Tetzlaff, Director of Conservation,
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

I often use this phrase when mentoring young people seeking direction. It’s a reminder that taking any step is key. Whether they love the path or find it’s not for them, they are moving forward. My own journey into conservation began with a simple curiosity—my first encounter with lemurs in the 1980s. That fascination took me on a decades-long commitment that led me to becoming Chair of the Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group (MFG) in 2018 and to bring its international headquarters to Naples Zoo.

This last year, I’m grateful to report the MFG’s team of nearly 100 staff has seen remarkable progress. In Madagascar, where deforestation continues to threaten wildlife and communities alike, Betampona Strict Nature Reserve’s forest cover has increased over the last two decades thanks to MFG restoration efforts. This isn’t just good news for wildlife—it’s essential for the people living nearby who depend on healthy ecosystems for water, food, and resilience against natural disasters. This community focus is bolstered by our education programs including Saturday Schools, radio broadcasts, and Girls Camps.

The MFG also produces tens of thousands of seedlings in our nurseries and plants them out in partnership with local communities. Our agroforestry programs work with farmers to blend native species along with fruit trees and cash crops to reduce slash and burn farming practices while boosting livelihoods and creating win-win solutions for people and wildlife. Our teams also successfully removed invasive plant species and replaced them with native tree species. These efforts, along with distribution of fuel-efficient rocket stoves, directly contribute to expanding forest cover, which helps safeguard the habitat of critically endangered lemurs. Our conservation agents’ patrols reduce illegal poaching of lemurs and deter other infractions, further protecting many species not found in any zoo in the world.

We’re now working to finalize funding for two critical projects: the completion of a comprehensive Strategic Plan, for which we need $5,400, and addressing $8,255 in unfunded budget items for 2025. These projects range from operational needs to conservation tools, like an $80 camera trap used for monitoring elusive wildlife. Every dollar, no matter the amount, has a direct and significant impact in Madagascar.

I often think about that phrase, “You can only steer a moving ship.” In conservation, as in life, the journey begins with a single step. For me, it was that first look at a lemur. For you, it might be trying something small, like making a donation to the Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group through Naples Zoo. Whether you contribute toward a camera trap or fund part of a larger initiative, every action brings us closer to a healthier planet for all of us.

Each success we achieve is only possible because of our institutional members and supporters. If you’d like to support this critical work, donate online at www.napleszoo.org/donate or mail a check payable to “Naples Zoo” with “Madagascar” in the memo line. 100% of your donation will go directly to our efforts in Madagascar. Who knows? Maybe steering this ship will lead you somewhere extraordinary.

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit entrusted with educating families and caring for rare species in a century old historic garden. Since 2014, Naples Zoo has invested over $3.5 million saving plants and animals in the wild and fully funds the annual salary of 27 field staff in 7 countries including three wildlife veterinarians. To learn more about how you can invest in a better future for people and wildlife, email tim@napleszoo.org.