Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Conservation Action Partnerships (CAPs) Fact Sheet

It has been estimated that twenty percent or more of the world's biological diversity may be lost within the next few decades. This extinction crisis is a result of massive habitat destruction and alteration around the globe. In an effort to help reverse this trend, members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) have made it their highest priority to help conserve wildlife through public education, scientific research, captive breeding for reintroduction, and fund-raising to support field conservation.

The AZA Species Survival Plan® (SSP) program has long played a crucial role in the demographic and genetic management of small populations of threatened and endangered species. More recently, in recognition of the importance of conserving assemblages of species in their natural habitat, AZA established Conservation Action Partnerships (CAPs) to focus attention on and help address the conservation needs of regions rich in biodiversity.

Search the Conservation Programs Database for information on all of AZA;s conservation programs. Members may log in to the Members Only database to access contact information for program leaders as well as all program documents.

What Is a CAP?

AZA CAPs, established in 1991, are special committees designed to help coordinate the conservation and scientific activities of AZA institutions working in specific geographical regions of the world. Attention is being focused on regions abundant in unique wildlife and habitat. Because these so-called "hot spots" of biodiversity are subject to increasing pressure and degradation from human activities, more and more of their endemic species are becoming threatened with extinction.

Many of the species managed by AZA Species Survival Plans are native to such regions, and SSP Coordinators are often members of CAPs. Other CAP members include zoo and aquarium directors and curators, university scientists, field researchers, and representatives from conservation organizations and agencies with special expertise or interest in a particular region and its wildlife.

Why Are CAPs Important?

For AZA to address the special needs of such biologically diverse regions on a species-by-species basis would be both difficult and inadequate. CAPs allow AZA member institutions and individuals to network more broadly, allowing the development and coordination of multiple conservation projects within and between given regions. AZA hopes that these efforts to assist conservation at the regional level will result in fewer species of the world's precious wildlife being lost.

Who Can Be a CAP Chair?

CAP chairs are typically employed by AZA-accredited institutions and have detailed knowledge of the region's language and culture, as well as an understanding of its conservation issues and endemic wildlife. AZA CAPs operate under the philosophy that all international conservation efforts should be focused on local needs and that the primary purpose of AZA personnel working abroad is to assist and help empower local conservation agencies through training, technology transfer, and other forms of support.

What Do CAPs Do?

CAP members are actively involved in fostering cooperation and communication with government wildlife agencies and non-governmental conservation organizations in an effort to:

support existing national parks, and equivalent reserves;
assist local zoo and aquarium colleagues;
transfer useful information, technology, and supplies;
conduct field research;
help educate the public;
develop in-country captive breeding programs to support reintroduction and reinforcement of wild populations;
obtain animals for established scientifically-managed captive breeding programs (such as the SSP) when appropriate and necessary.

To date, CAPs have been successful in coordinating some of the international conservation activities of SSPs; establishing working relationships and agreements with government wildlife agencies, aiding in the renovation of buildings and animal enclosures; providing training to zoo and national park personnel in English, animal management, and husbandry; and supplying essential equipment for use by park rangers. By supporting and participating in such cooperative programs, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums can have a real impact on the long-term conservation of biodiversity around the world.