Animal Programs Update - May

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© Dave Littlehale, Adventure Aquarium

AZA Capitol Hill Reception and Advocacy Day

You are invited to join AZA in Washington, D.C. for the AZA Capitol Hill Reception and Advocacy Day on May 22, 2013. Meetings with agency officials will take place on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, May 21st. Attendees will schedule meetings with their representatives and senators on Wednesday, May 22nd, before attending the reception in the Rayburn House Office Building that evening from 6:00-8:00 PM. Please contact Jennifer Keaton with questions. For more information, visit the AZA website. You can read more about this initiative in the Government Affairs Connect article.

Professional Development Courses

Registration for Amphibian Management School is open!
Course dates:  September 30-October 4, 2013
Course location:  Detroit Zoo's National Amphibian Conservation Center in Royal Oak, MI
Course description: AZA's amphibian training course has gone through a metamorphosis all its own! The newly revamped Amphibian Management School focuses on basic husbandry, exhibit design, support for regional conservation programs, and effective conservation messaging in a zoo or aquarium setting. Drawing on expertise from the Amphibian Taxon Advisory Group, this course provides knowledge about amphibians and skills for managing these sensitive species in captivity that are essential for anyone working directly with amphibians in a zoo or aquarium collection.

Professional Development Course Scholarships

Scholarships to attend professional development courses are available! Most scholarships cover all course-related expenses, including travel.  Scholarship applications for the 2013/2014 professional development courses will be available in mid-May.  Please check the scholarship page for details on how to apply.  Application deadline is July 15. 

Workshops, Conferences, and Meetings

Enrich your career!

Visit the TAG and SSP Workshops page to find a list of these workshops and other animal husbandry training opportunities.  To add to this list, please email AZA's Professional Development Program Manager.

Prosimian TAG Mid-year meeting
Hosted by Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium:  June 3 – 6, 2013

This mid-year meeting will be hosted by Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Omaha, NE.  This will be a working meeting with some lectures and presentations.  In addition, population planning sessions for Ring-tailed lemur and Eulemur species will take place.  For more information about registration, lodging and the detailed agenda, contact Christie Eddie.

Zoo Animal Welfare: Innovations and Future  Directions International  Symposium
Hosted by Brookfield Zoo: June 5 – 6,  2013

Chicago Zoological Society’s 2nd International Symposium on Animal Welfare will be held at Brookfield Zoo. Relevant information, registration and abstract submission guidelines are available on the Chicago Zoological Society’s website.

Bear TAG and Meetings
Hosted by Como  Park Zoo and Conservatory: June  16 - 20, 2013

The Bear TAG Meetings and Workshop is sponsored by Como Zoo, Minnesota Zoo, and Polar Bears International. Please see the flyer for more information on registration and hotel information.

June 16th: evening meeting, closed steering committee.
June 17th: open TAG meeting.
June 18th-20th: Polar and Brown Bear Keeper Workshop

The Polar and Brown Bear Keeper Workshop will focus on recommended bear care and welfare; topics will include husbandry, nutrition, introductions, enrichment and training, exhibit design, research and natural history. 

Felid TAG Mid-Year Meeting and Husbandry Course
Hosted by Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens: June 23 – 26, 2013 (Husbandry Workshop); June 25 – 26 (SSP Meetings); June 27 - 29, 2013 (TAG Meeting)

Students completing the Felid TAG Husbandry Course will cover all aspects of felid husbandry, including safety, nutrition, behavior, reproduction, veterinary issues, and felid introductions. They will be provided a variety of resources (both electronic and people) and personalized assistance with problem solving tasks, as well as the opportunity to discuss challenges and goals in their own institution’s program. A scholarship is offered by The Denver Zoo to aid a student in attending this husbandry course. For course information, registration, hotel information, and scholarship application, please visit the Felid TAG website or email any specific questions.

The Felid TAG Mid-Year Meeting will focus on Linking Zoos to In Situ Felid Conservation. This is a working meeting, in addition to lectures and presentations. Attendees are expected to participate in working groups to assist in advancing the goals of the Felid TAG. For more information, please visit the Felid TAG website or email any specific questions.

Zoos and Aquariums Committing to Conservation  Conference (ZACC)
Hosted by Blank Park Zoo:  July 8 - 12, 2013

The ZACC Conference is a biennial international conference that promotes networking amongst zoo personnel and field researchers resulting in partnerships that benefit both.  There is an impressive line-up of presenters for this year’s conference from zoos across the U.S. and abroad. For more information and to register, please visit Blank Park Zoo’s website  or the ZACC Conference website.

International Elephant and Rhino Conservation and Research Symposium - Save the date!
Hosted by the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium: August 26 - 30, 2013

This symposium will be co-facilitated by the International Rhino Foundation and the International Elephant Foundation. Visit Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium's website for more details (coming soon).

2nd International Elasmobranch Husbandry Symposium
Hosted by the Monterey Bay Aquarium: November 11 - 13, 2013

This symposium is a packed three-day program of shark husbandry papers, as well as an ice-breaker evening at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a BBQ at the Monterey Bay Aquarium's fabulous new ARCC facility, a wine and cheese night, demonstrations for "newbies" and various other optional post-conference activities (e.g., kelp forest diving, kayaking, whale-watching, vineyard tours, etc.).. Visit the Elasmobranch Husbandry website for more information. Contact Doug Warmolts if your institution would like to extend their support of this important international effort through an institutional sponsorship and receive extra benefits.

Avian Incubation Workshop
Hosted by San Diego Zoo Global and Susie Kasielke (LA Zoo): November 18-22, 2013

San Diego Zoo Global has been hosting an Avian Incubation Workshop jointly with Susie Kasielke from the Los Angeles Zoo since 2007. We are offering this workshop from 18-22 November 2013; see attached flyer. This workshop will have intense 10 hour days both in the lab and also visiting incubation facilities at the San Diego Zoo's Avian Propagation Center, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and SeaWorld San Diego. A registration fee of $300 will cover the institution's expenses and allow grants to be offered in the future. Please email Patricia Witman if interested.

Funding Opportunities

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo Wildlife Conservation Fund was established in 2006 to promote understanding and enjoyment of rare, threatened and endangered animals and their habitats and to support zoological research that will directly benefit captive animal management. Applications are due by June 1, 2013. Contact Adrienne Castro for more details.

The Fort Worth Zoo is seeking proposals in 2013 for the Arthur A. Seeligson, Jr. Conservation Fund.  The Seeligson Conservation Fund (SCF) was established to promote and enable conservation of native Texas wildlife through partnerships with scientists, educators, organizations and private landowners committed to conserving the biodiversity of Texas.  For proposal guidelines and the application form please visit the Fort Worth Zoo website or contact Jennifer Elston, Ph.D., Curator of Conservation and Behavior, Fort Worth Zoo. The application deadline is June 24, 2013.

Please be sure to visit AZA's Other Conservation Funding Sources page for information about grants provided by AZA-accredited institutions as well as external sources and check out the excel sheet for detailed information on many other useful resources. Please email any other funding opportunities to AZA's Conservation Department for posting on the website.

AZA Blog!

Check out AZA's blog!  The blog features "Member profiles," where you can learn about the good work being done by professionals at AZA-affiliated zoos and aquariums as well as topical posts about animals, environmental issues, and other interesting subjects!

Are you working on a project that you think would make a good post? Does someone on your staff deserve to be profiled? If so, "put pen to paper" and contact Tim Lewthwaite for more details.

You may sign up for email updates by clicking on the gray box that says “Follow” in the bottom right-hand corner. Come and Explore with us!

New Program Leaders

SSP Coordinator and Studbook Keeper

LIZARD, RIO FUERTE BEADED
Stacey Sekscienski, Oklahoma City Zoo

SSP Coordinator

BAT, STRAW-COLORED FRUIT
Abigail Varela, Houston Zoo, Inc.

MONGOOSE, BANDED
Joshua Sisk, Central Park Zoo

Studbook Keeper (SSP Programs)

BAT, STRAW-COLORED FRUIT
Eran Brusilow, Disney’s Animal Kingdom

LEMUR, RING-TAILED
Alison Grand, Myakka City Lemur Reserve

Studbook Keeper (Red Programs)

DUIKER, BLACK
Jeff Holland, Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

IMPALA
Jennifer MacNaughton, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

LIZARD, CAIMAN
Erica Hornbrook, John G. Shedd Aquarium

LIZARD, MOTAGUA VALLEY BEADED
Brad Lock, Zoo Atlanta

LIZARD, TEXAS HORNED
Vicky Poole, Fort Worth Zoo

MAGPIE, RED-BILLED BLUE
Mark Myers, Woodland Park Zoo

MONITOR, BLACK TREE
Katherine Gore, Sacramento Zoo

MONITOR, CROCODILE
Andy Reeves, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

PRONGHORN
Melodi Tayles, San Diego Zoo

PRONGHORN, PENINSULAR
Melodi Tayles, San Diego Zoo

ANTELOPE, ROYAL
Amy Roberts, Chicago Zoological Society – Brookfield Zoo

New Program Leader Vacancies

Find applications and instructions regarding vacancies in the Animal Program Handbooks.  Applications are due June 1, 2013, unless otherwise noted. For a full list of available Program Leader positions, visit the Current Program Leader Vacancies page.

TAG Chair

CORACIIFORMES
Please send application materials to the AZA's Conservation & Science Department.

SAG Chair

INSTITUTIONAL DATA MANAGEMENT ADVISORY GROUP
Please send application materials to Jean Miller, current IDMAG Chair.

SSP Coordinator and Studbook  Keeper

HORNBILL, TRUMPETER
Please send application materials to the AZA's Conservation & Science Department.

Studbook Keeper (SSP Programs)

HORNBILL, RHINOCEROS
Please send application materials to the AZA's Conservation & Science Department.

New Publications

Please note that all documents are available for download on the Program's page found by logging in and searching the Animal Program Database.

Want to contribute to the Update?

All announcements for the monthly Animal Programs Update should be submitted to the AZA Conservation Department by the 25th of the prior month.