Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is proud to announce that Adam Eyres, Director of Animal Care, has been elected to the Board of Directors of Sahara Conservation, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of wildlife and ecosystems across the Sahara Desert and bordering Sahelian grasslands.
Eyres has served Fossil Rim for 37 years, beginning his career as an Animal Care Specialist before advancing to Curator of Hoofstock and Rhinos and ultimately becoming Director of Animal Care in 2018. His institutional knowledge and hands-on expertise with Saharan species – including addax, dama gazelle, scimitar-horned oryx, and aoudad – make him a natural fit for this role.
“This region of Africa was largely ignored by the conservation world before Sahara Conservation came about,” said Eyres. “Most conservation focus was on biodiversity hotspots – rainforests where there might be 100 species in a square meter. Sahara Conservation drew attention to the remarkable diversity of the area and put this region into the spotlight for more conservation efforts.”
Eyres credits his friendship with Sahara Conservation’s founding CEO, John Newby, as central to his deepening involvement. The two developed a close relationship during field trips to Niger and Chad, as well as through international SSIG meetings held across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. “It makes sense that Fossil Rim supports them because of all the Saharan species we have here,” Eyres noted.
Sahara Conservation works to maintain the Sahara as a well-managed desert in which ecological processes function naturally, with plants and animals in healthy numbers across their historical range, creating partnerships between people, governments, worldwide zoos, scientific communities, and NGOs. The organization operates U.S. and French nonprofit entities, with field programs in Chad and Niger.
In his new board role, Eyres will serve as a bridge between U.S. based zoos and private facilities and Sahara Conservation’s field mission. “There is a lot of interest in Saharan ungulates in the private sector – addax, damas, aoudad, and scimitars,” he said. “I am optimistic that we can channel some of that interest into donations to Sahara Conservation and more support for the in situ conservation work that we are doing.”
Adam’s nearly four decades of dedication to wildlife care and his longstanding relationships within the global conservation community make this appointment a natural next step – a testament to what can happen when a lifetime of expertise meets a shared passion for conservation on a global scale.
About Fossil Rim Wildlife Center | Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is a nonprofit 1,800-acre wildlife center located in Glen Rose, Texas, dedicated to conservation, education, and research. Home to more than 1,100 animals representing over 50 species — many of them threatened or endangered — Fossil Rim supports wildlife programs around the world while welcoming guests for immersive wildlife experiences. Learn more at fossilrim.org.
About Sahara Conservation | Sahara Conservation is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving the wildlife and ecosystems of the Sahara Desert and adjacent Sahelian grasslands for the benefit of nature and people. Its mission is carried out through species recovery, critical conservation landscape management, and sharing capacity with local communities and global partners. Sahara Conservation operates field programs in Chad and Niger, with registered nonprofit entities in the United States and France. Learn more at saharaconservation.org.