October 2020

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, Management, & Welfare Sciences Department prior to the upcoming deadline and be sure to request a new deadline date.

AZA SAFE

The SAFE North American Songbird program published their three-year program plan in September. You can read it on the SAFE Species webpage.

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

ZIMS for Studbooks Workshop - Virtual
This workshop is meant for Program Leaders whose studbooks are currently in the Sandbox and still need to transition their databases to the Live ZIMS for Studbooks. During this workshop, we will trouble-shoot any issues you might have, walk through any specific challenges you've encountered, and address questions about policies, timelines, and/or migration processes.

The workshop will be held Tuesday, October 13 at 2pm Eastern. Call-in information was distributed on the Program Leader Network Groups. Contact the AZA Conservation, Management, & Welfare Sciences Department with any questions.

Ambassador Bird Welfare Workshop - Virtual
This workshop will be held November 10 and 11 at 9am EST. Come learn a variety of skills related to ambassador bird welfare such as proper restraint, first steps to free flight, common illnesses and their signs, diet management, and much more. Please contact Rebecca Young to register. Registration fee is $25.

From Good Care to Great Welfare Workshop - Virtual
This online workshop will be held weekdays November 30 – December 16, with 1-2 hours a day online in group lectures and discussions, in addition to independent work. The course is designed to help participants 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, visit the website for the Detroit Zoological Society’s Center for Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare and Ethics.

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 AZA's Conservation, Management, & Welfare Sciences Department.

Funding and Award Opportunities

ASAG PLUME Awards 2020
This award program identifies and rewards significant achievement in avian husbandry and conservation. Please see attached for descriptions, requirements, and submission forms. Contact Steven Sarro with any questions. The deadline for submissions is November 1.

Felid TAG Emerging Leader Scholarship
The Felid TAG has established a new scholarship award for individuals to attend the Felid TAG mid-year meetings. One of our core goals is to mentor, train and support the next generation of felid conservationist and husbandry managers. The Emerging Leader Scholarship honors Danny Morris, a prominent mentor within the Felid TAG during his 44-year zoo career. Danny had an eye for identifying individuals with exceptional promise and giving them the gentle (or not so gentle) nudge they needed to blossom. Danny encouraged individuals to take on leadership roles and collaborate for the greater good in order to drive species conservation forward. He went out of his way to mentor others whom he believed exhibited leadership within their zoo and the greater zoo community. See the attachment for more information. For inquiries about making a donation, please contact Dan Dembiec.

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

BEAR, ANDEAN SPECTACLED
Sara Colandrea, Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park

ECHIDNA, SHORT-BEAKED
Jim Haigwood, San Diego Zoo Safari Park

SSP Coordinator

CALLIMICO
Sheila Wojciechowski, Brookfield Zoo

OTTER, SEA (northern and southern spp.)
Brett Long, Aquarium of the Pacific

Studbook Keeper

LEOPARD, SNOW
Lynn Koscielny, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

OTTER, SEA (northern and southern spp.)
Julie Carpenter, Seattle Aquarium

Candidate Program Leader

PYTHON, RETICULATED
Chuck Becker, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

VIPER, MANGSHAN PIT
Byron Wusstig, Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

New Program Leader Vacancies

Find applications and instructions regarding vacancies in the Animal Program Handbooks.  Applications are due November 1, 2020, unless otherwise noted. For a full list of available Program Leader positions, visit the Current Program Leader Vacancies page.

Ambassador Animal Advisor

Ambassador Animal Advisors work with TAG or SSP members to serve as a resource and provide expertise on topics related to the use of a taxon or species in an ambassador capacity. View the position description for more information on how to apply.

SSP Coordinator and Studbook Keeper

PELICAN, GREAT WHITE
Please send application materials to Harrison Edell, Ciconiiformes, Phoenicopteriformes, and Pelecaniformes TAG Chair.

SNAKE, EASTERN INDIGO
Please send application materials to Brian Aucone, Snake 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 by the 25th of the prior month.