# NiftyKeepers Join our beloved [Community of Keepers](https://discord.com/invite/j8fncepmhu), witness the amazing [VZOO VR Metaverse](https://niftykeepers.gitbook.io/whitepaper/information/vzoo-metaverse), and participate in exciting [weekly ETH raffles](https://niftykeepers.gitbook.io/whitepaper/information/the-raffles). ### Why NiftyKeepers? More than **40,000 species are threatened with extinction**... that is still 28% of all assessed species and a lot more, that we haven't even discovered yet! This is why **NiftyKeepers** aims to establish a sustainable, long-term, and future-proof way to support organizations that help to **protect species from extinction** by funding missions and projects - and by providing liquidity for **preserving natural habitats** for various species around the world. Besides being an **Educational VR Experience**, the [**VZOO Metaverse**](https://niftykeepers.gitbook.io/whitepaper/information/vzoo-metaverse) will be used to plan and test the [**IRL Greenhouse**](https://niftykeepers.gitbook.io/whitepaper/information/irl-greenhouses) Concept (see step 11 in the [Roadmap](https://niftykeepers.gitbook.io/whitepaper/information/roadmap)). The ultimate goal is to provide a **digital and in-real-life** alternative to traditional Zoos, by building a worldwide franchise of **VZOO Greenhouses** - owned and governed by the NK DAO. The [**Genesis NFT Collection**](https://niftykeepers.gitbook.io/whitepaper/information/nft-collections) depicts [Gorilla Beringei](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39999/176396749) and the artwork has been already created by 0xJoe, one of NKs Founders (rendered in Unreal Engine 5). [**Raffles**](https://niftykeepers.gitbook.io/whitepaper/information/the-raffles) are **implemented in the** [**NFT metadata (Traits)**](https://niftykeepers.gitbook.io/whitepaper/information/nft-collections/1-gorilla-beringei/traits) and two different weekly raffles with **ETH prizes** ensure long-term engagement for the community and attention from the public.
Contributing If you want to contribute, please join our Discord community and engage with the Keepers community. Buying a [NiftyKeepers NFT](https://niftykeepers.gitbook.io/whitepaper/information/nft-collections) greatly helps the development of NK and gives you access to exclusive members-only channels. Furthermore, you participate in weekly [ETH raffles](https://niftykeepers.gitbook.io/whitepaper/information/the-raffles), simply by holding at least one ([Dice-Roll](https://niftykeepers.gitbook.io/whitepaper/information/the-raffles/dice-roll)) of our NFTs. Holding 3 or more NFTs gives you also access to a second weekly raffle with an even bigger price pool ([Set-Challenge](https://niftykeepers.gitbook.io/whitepaper/information/the-raffles/set-challenge)).