Population Management and Related Centers
AZA recognizes that its Accredited Institutions, Certified Related Facilities and Approved Non-Member Participants must work together to ensure that the species they care for are managed in a way that assures appropriate population sizes, demography, genetic diversity, and sustainability. To meet these objectives, AZA supports various Centers and tools which specialize in animal population management within and between its accredited institutions.
AZA Population Management Center
The AZA Population Management Center (PMC) is responsible for conducting the genetic and demographic analyses needed to develop and distribute the population management recommendations for all Species Survival Plan® (SSP) Programs. The PMC assists over 500 Animal Programs in the development of their population management plans by ensuring data accuracy, determining the current and future status of the population, and identifying breeding recommendations. Read more about the AZA Population Management Center.
AZA Wildlife Contraception Center
The AZA Wildlife Contraception Center (WCC) is responsible for recommending species-specific contraceptive types and dosages for SSPs, Curators, and Veterinarians by assessing contraception type efficacy, reversibility, and safety. The WCC assesses an animal’s age, reproductive status, behavioral and social needs and delivery systems practicality when making contraception recommendations. The WCC also initiates and coordinates research trials of existing and new contraception methods that have direct applications to the management of National Park and Reserve populations. Read more about the AZA Wildlife Contraception Center.
Group Population Management
AZA recognizes that population management for species that are maintained in groups such as herds, troops, flocks and schools is a rapidly growing field. The development and implementation of group population management strategies has been a specific workshop topic and technologies have been implemented with a several species to date, however additional focus on this area of expertise is needed. Read more about Group Population Management.
Population Management Software
A variety of population management software has been developed to facilitate the decision-making processes needed for managing animal populations cared for by AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums. Programs such as MateRx, Outbreak, PopLink, PM2000, SPARKS, VORTEX, and ZooRisk specialize in various aspects of population management. Read more about Population Management Software.