A new wildlife preserve will give the 84-acre Denver Zoo more room for its conservation efforts.

The zoo will soon open the Lembke Family Preserve, a 570-acre facility in Weld County, which will give it the expansive space needed to develop its wildlife conservation efforts, according to a Thursday release. The preserve, donated to the zoo by the Lembke family, will not be open to the public.

“The Lembke Family Preserve represents the start of a new era for Denver Zoo and will dramatically expand our capabilities for our animals and Colorado wildlife as we build it out in the coming years,” said Bert Vescolani, president and CEO of Denver Zoo, in the release. “We are deeply grateful to the Lembke family for their generosity and mutual understanding that saving wildlife for future generations requires a dedicated community of donors, members, partners and neighbors.”

The project will be completed in two phases, according to the release. The first will focus on species survival breeding efforts and providing more space for animal families. Additionally, the facility will give the zoo far more space for temporary relocations due to habitat maintenance or renovation.

The second phase will revolve around transforming the facility into a conservation center focused on the breeding and reintroduction of species that are threatened or endangered in Colorado and beyond, according to the release.

The Denver Zoo, a nonprofit organization, houses nearly 3,000 animals of over 450 species and serves nearly two million people per year, according to the release.

“Denver Zoo has been part of our family tradition since the late 1950s,” said Bob Lembke in the release. “With the stewardship provided to endangered species by the zoo through the preserve, we hope that the zoo can be part of our family for generations.”