06/18/2026
For 22 years, our CEO, Dr. Jeff Ettling, has studied the Armenian viper, a beautiful but threatened species found in the rocky mountains of Armenia.
This spring, he returned to the field to help monitor wild populations as part of a long-term conservation effort. One of the first vipers documented this season was a female first recorded in 2023. Over the past three years, she had grown 18 centimeters and gained 205 grams, providing valuable data that helps researchers better understand and protect the species.
Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens proudly supports the Armenian Viper Conservation Project, which works to restore habitat, monitor wildlife populations and partner with local communities to protect this vulnerable species. Thanks to these efforts, conservation teams have seen signs of habitat recovery, increased viper sightings and helped prevent illegal snake collection.
Long-term research and conservation are critical to protecting species like the Armenian viper, and we're proud to support this work both in the field and through our conservation partnerships.