July 2019

AZA Animal Programs Tip-of-the-Month

If you need an extension for your SSP Breeding & Transfer Plan or Studbook, please contact your TAG Chair and the AZA Conservation & Science Department prior to the upcoming deadline and be sure to request a new deadline date.

AZA SAFE

The SAFE African lion program published their 2019-2021 program plan in June! Learn more - find the plan here under the African lion section.

Are you  interested in proposing or joining a SAFE program? Reach out to your colleagues or contact SAFE@aza.org for more information. Don't forget to join the SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction Network group for real-time updates like these, and more.

AZA Calendar

Working Bird Husbandry Workshop
Zoo Atlanta will be hosting the Working Bird Husbandry Workshop on October 29-30. This hands-on 2-day workshop discusses training, diets, and general husbandry of ambassador birds in a presentation setting. We discuss parrots, raptors, and exotics and utilize both live animals and cadavers to practice skills. Optional Zoo Day and additional evening workshops on October 28. Space is limited to 12 participants so historically the course fills up fast.

Please contact Rebecca Young for registration and questions.

"From Good Care to Great Welfare" Workshop
The Detroit Zoological Society's Center for Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare and Ethics is offering an immersive five-day workshop October 7-11, 2019 designed to help animal care professional better understand animals' perspectives and experiences, address the challenges captivity imposes on animal welfare, and develop the skills necessary to assess and improve overall well-being.

For more information and to apply, please visit the CZAW webpage or email czaw@dzs.org. Early registration ends August 19, 2019.

Implementing Your Animal Wellness Program Workshop
Due to overwhelming demand, Denver Zoo is hosting another Implementing Your Animal Wellness Program Workshop on November 6-8. This will cover: AZA accreditation requirements; program development; creating wellness assessments for all taxa; staff training and buy in; whole life planning; problem solving; continuous process improvement. Please see the attached flier for additional information, dates, and registration information.

Please visit the AZA calendar to find the current list of workshops, meetings, and training opportunities that are of interest to Animal Program participants and other zoo and aquarium professionals. To add to this list, please email conservation@aza.org.

Funding and Award Opportunities

ASAG PLUME Awards 2019
This award program identifies and rewards significant achievement in avian husbandry and conservation. Please see descriptions below for the award categories and contact Steven Sarro with any questions. The deadline for the submissions is November 1.

• PLUME #1:  Long-term Propagation Program
  • This award recognizes excellence in husbandry and future management of a species or group of similar species
  • Must include scope of propagation program and staff
  • May include in-situ work, reintroduction aspects, etc, if pertinent
  • Must include longevity of program, participants and future plans
  • Must include reasons why this program is worthy of this award

• PLUME #2:  Noteworthy Achievement in Avian Husbandry
  • This award recognizes excellence in one facet of husbandry such as strong dedication to breeding/husbandry efforts, reintroduction programs, breeding consortiums, the reproduction of a difficult species, taking a leading role in population sustainability, first-time breeding, etc.
  • Must include details of the achievement and participating staff
  • Must include future directions for the program
  • Must include reasons why this program is worthy of this award

• PLUME #3: Significant Institutional Contribution to Zoo Aviculture
  • This award recognizes an institution's exceptional achievement in zoo aviculture and may be awarded only periodically.
  • Must include details of the achievement
  • Must include future directions
  • Must include reasons why this individual/institution is worthy of this award

• PLUME #4: Noteworthy Achievement for an Avian In-Situ Program
  • This award recognizes an individual's or institution's new and/or innovative achievement in an avian in-situ program and may be awarded only periodically.
  • Must include details of the in-situ program
  • May include future directions
  • Must include reasons why this individual/institution is worthy of this award

• PLUME #5:  Individual Exceptional Contribution to Captive Avian Husbandry
  • Must include details of the  contribution and commitment to this field
  • This award may be awarded only periodically.
  • Must include illustrative, valid reasons why this individual has earned the honor of this award
  • This award recognizes an individual's prestigious life-long and/or remarkable body of work in zoo aviculture

ASAG Conservation and Research Grant
Are you looking for funding support for your avian research, field conservation, veterinary care or husbandry project?  ASAG is offering a total of $3500 in funding (potentially distributed among several projects) in 2020 for the ASAG Conservation and Research grant.  Applications are due by December 1.  Please visit the ASAG website for the application form and application instructions.  

Please contact Katie Vyas or Sunny Nelson if you have any questions. 

Visit AZA's Other Conservation Funding Sources page for information about grants provided by AZA-accredited institutions as well as external sources. Please email any other funding opportunities to AZA's Conservation, Management & Welfare Sciences Department for posting on the website.

New Program Leaders

SSP Coordinator and Studbook Keeper

DOVE, BLACK-NAPED FRUIT
Staci Bekker, Toledo Zoological Gardens

TORTOISE, BURMESE STAR
Matt Evans, Smithsonian National Zoological Park

TORTOISE, PLOUGHSHARE
James Liu, Turtle Conservancy

Candidate Program Leader

PENGUIN, ADELIE
Grace Yambrach, SeaWorld San Diego

New Program Leader Vacancies

Find applications and instructions regarding vacancies in the Animal Program Handbooks.  Applications are due August 1, 2019, unless otherwise noted. For a full list of available Program Leader positions, visit the Current Program Leader Vacancies page.

TAG Chair

OLD WORLD MONKEY TAG
Please send application materials to the AZA Conservation, Management, and Welfare Sciences Department.

SSP Coordinator and Studbook Keeper

MUNTJAC, REEVES’
Please send application materials to Michelle Hatwood, Deer (Cervid/Tragulid) TAG Chair.

PELICAN, PINK-BACKED
Please send application materials to Harrison Edell,Ciconiiformes, Phoenicopteriformes, and Pelecaniformes TAG Chair.

SSP Coordinator

CHUCKWALLA, SAN ESTEBAN
Please send application materials to Jessi Krebs, Lizard TAG Chair.

PENGUIN, GENTOO (ELLSWORTHI)
Please send application materials to Tom Schneider, Penguin TAG Chair.

New Publications

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

Want to contribute to the Update?

All announcements for the monthly Animal Programs Update should be submitted to the AZA Conservation, Management & Welfare Sciences Department at conservation@aza.org by the 25th of the prior month.