BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit that has helped more than 235 facilities in the nation advance in conservation, science and recreation.

In the face of climate change, some of those areas have become more complex and crucial.

The Buffalo Zoo is an AZA-accredited zoo that participates in several conservation programs for local and global wildlife.

Bradley Poynter, curator of animal operations at the Buffalo Zoo, has an affinity for herpetology and said the Buffalo Zoo has diverse conservation programs that go beyond New York — like frogs, bound for Puerto Rico where Poynter said the zoo has sent more than 50,000 animals since 1984.

Locally, they have worked to hatch wood turtle eggs to be released on Seneca Nation Territory. When it comes to reptiles like these, climate change impacts their populations because the sex of their eggs is determined by temperature.

“As the climate changes and temperatures go up, it will skew them all to one sex or not allow eggs to hatch,” said Poynter. “And so that's a big issue in the reptile community, that many of these animals aren't going to survive with the increasing temperatures.”

Poynter said a portion of ticket sales fund these conservation programs. Accredited zoos are important, he said, because they engage people across generations with animals they may never see otherwise.

“I know personally, I grew up going to the zoo in Chicago, and I wouldn't be here today if I didn't see those animals on a regular basis and knowing what's out there and what needs to be done to help them in the wild.”

Since its inception, the AZA Conservation Grant Fund has raised $7.7 million to support more than 400 projects in the world.