CAZA is proud to honour Assiniboine Park Conservancy (APC), home of Assiniboine Park Zoo, as the 2025 recipient of the Colonel G.D. Dailley Award. This prestigious award celebrates outstanding excellence in ex-situ conservation, recognizing programs that advance the long-term survival of endangered species through innovative propagation, research, and management.

APC received this recognition for its groundbreaking Grassland Butterfly Conservation Program, a multi-year initiative that has played a pivotal role in the recovery of the critically endangered Poweshiek Skipperling. Once widespread across the tallgrass prairies of North America, this small butterfly now exists in only two known wild populations—making conservation efforts both urgent and essential.

A Science-Driven Approach to Saving a Species

Assiniboine Park Conservancy’s conservation team, working closely with Canadian and international partners, has achieved remarkable milestones that set a new standard for species recovery initiatives:

• Released more than 700 Poweshiek Skipperlings into native prairie habitats

• Completed the first-ever reintroduction of the species at a previously extirpated site

• Improved egg-to-adult survival rates more than twenty-fold, dramatically increasing the program’s impact

• Advanced genetic research to strengthen population resilience and ensure long-term sustainability

• Shared conservation knowledge across borders, strengthening collaborative efforts to protect grassland biodiversity

These accomplishments reflect the power of coordinated, science-based conservation and highlight the essential role of CAZA-accredited institutions in protecting Canada’s biodiversity.

A Model for Future Species Recovery Efforts

The success of the Grassland Butterfly Conservation Program demonstrates what is possible when research, teamwork, and innovation come together with a shared commitment to conservation. APC’s leadership in species recovery provides a model for other organizations working to protect threatened wildlife, particularly those facing rapid declines due to habitat loss and environmental change.

CAZA extends its warmest congratulations to the entire Assiniboine Park Conservancy team. Their dedication and accomplishments highlight the critical importance of ex-situ conservation in supporting species survival and restoring wildlife populations across Canada.

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