October 2017

AZA Animal Programs: Tip-of-the-Month

The September 2017 Sustainability Designations list for AZA Animal Programs is now available! Please visit the Animal Programs Resources section of the AZA website to download the full listing.

AZA WCMC Members

AZA would like to give a warm welcome to the new Wildlife Conservation and Management Committee (WCMC) members: Colleen Lynch of Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Lori Perkins of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Amy Roberts of Chicago Zoological Society – Brookfield Zoo.

AZA would also like to give a huge thank you to Karen Goodrowe-Beck of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Brandie Smith of Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Chelle Plasse of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Pete Mohan of Akron Zoological Park for their years of service on the WCMC. Thank you Karen, Brandie, Chelle, and Pete for all that you have done for AZA’s Animal Programs!

For the new list of TAG WCMC Liaisons and Vice Chairs, visit the AZA website.

SSP Sustainability Award

The AZA has established an award to recognize and celebrate the successes of Species Survival Plan® (SSP) Programs. The AZA SSP Sustainability Award will recognize initiatives that have a quantifiable impact on the long-term sustainability of an SSP’s managed population. Animal Program Leaders (i.e., TAG Chairs, SSP Coordinators, Studbook Keepers, and Scientific Advisory Group Chairs) may submit an application for this award that demonstrates how their significant and innovative efforts have resulted in a significant increase in an SSP population’s sustainability. Applications for the 2018 SSP Sustainability Award are due to Barbara Pueschel by December 15, 2017. More information, application, and application guidelines can be found on the AZA website.

ASAG Plume Award

The Avian Scientific Advisory Group (ASAG) has created an award program to identify and reward significant achievement in Avian Husbandry in the Animal Management Field.  The recipients of these awards are leaders in our field and committed to furthering avian conservation.

• Plume #1: Long-term Propagation Program
• Plume #2: Noteworthy Achievement in Avian Husbandry
• Plume #3: Significant Contribution to Zoo Aviculture
• Plume #4: Noteworthy Achievement for an Avian In-Situ Program
• Plume #5: Lifetime Achievement in Avian Husbandry

More details can be found on the flyer. The deadline is November 1, 2017. Please contact Steve Sarro to apply.

AZA SAFE Project Coordinator Vacancies

The following AZA SAFE projects are still in need of project coordinators! For more information about a specific project, use the designated email address listed with each AZA SAFE species.

Vaquita Project Coordinators

SAFEvaquita@aza.org

• Value chain and economic development

Shark and Ray Project Coordinators

SAFEshark@aza.org

• Sustainability and awareness of consumption
• Community-based conservation
• Multimedia development
• Policy and legislation

Cheetah Project Coordinators

SAFEcheetah@aza.org

• Carnivore positive landscapes
• Monitoring and enforcement capacity building
• Cheetah distribution, demographics and population connectivity
• Snaring abatement

Western Pond Turtle Project Coordinators

SAFEwesternpondturtle@aza.org

• Habitat mapping

AZA Calendar

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.

New Program Leaders

Studbook Keeper

ELEPHANT, ASIAN
Robert Lee, Oregon Zoo

HORSE, ASIAN WILD
Amanda Faliano, Denver Zoo

Candidate Program Leader

HORNBILL, WREATHED
Robert Graham, Fresno Chaffee Zoo

New Program Leader Vacancies

Find applications and instructions regarding vacancies in the Animal Program Handbooks.  Applications are due November 1, 2017, unless otherwise noted. For a full list of available Program Leader positions, visit the Current Program Leader Vacancies page.

SSP Coordinator and Studbook Keeper

MANGABEY, BLACK
Please send application materials to Joe Knobbe, Old World Monkey TAG Chair.

WOLF, MEXICAN GRAY
Please send application materials to Don Goff, Canid and Hyaenid TAG Vice Chair.
All applicants should include a cover letter, CV and AZA form.  Also, due to the complexity of this SSP, it is strongly suggested that all applicants read the Mexican Wolf SSP Coordinator Job Description Details document, posted here (or available from Don).

SSP Coordinator

GUENON, WOLF's
Please send application materials to Joe Knobbe, Old World Monkey TAG Chair.

MONKEY, DEBRAZZA'S
Please send application materials to Joe Knobbe, Old World Monkey TAG Chair.

MONKEY, PATAS
Please send application materials to Joe Knobbe, Old World Monkey TAG Chair.

PECCARY, CHACOAN
Please send application materials to Martin Ramirez, Wild Pig, Peccary, and Hippo TAG Chair.

SHARK, ZEBRA
Please send application materials to Beth Firchau, Marine Fishes TAG Chair. 
In addition to the AZA documents normally required for the application, the MFTAG would like to request the following additional supplementary materials:

1. Two (2) letters of recommendation from AZA members.
2. One (1) letter of support from a current Program Leader, Studbook Keeper, or member of TAG leadership with whom the candidate has discussed this opportunity and will be able to use as a mentor moving forward.
3. A statement of why the candidate wishes to contribute to AZA as an SSP Coordinator for this species.

Studbook Keeper

SHARK, ZEBRA
Please send application materials to Beth Firchau, Marine Fishes TAG Chair. 
In addition to the AZA documents normally required for the application, the MFTAG would like to request the following additional supplementary materials:

1. Two (2) letters of recommendation from AZA members.
2. One (1) letter of support from a current Program Leader, Studbook Keeper, or member of TAG leadership with whom the candidate has discussed this opportunity and will be able to use as a mentor moving forward.
3. A statement of why the candidate wishes to contribute to AZA as a Studbook Keeper for this species.

Candidate Program Leader

MANGABEY, RED-CAPPED
Please send application materials to Joe Knobbe, Old World Monkey 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.

Breeding & Transfer Plans Bontebok Crane, Demoiselle Lapwing, Spur-winged Lemur, Blue-eyed Black Penguin, Humboldt Sheep, Desert Bighorn Takin, Sichuan Wolf, Mexican Gray Regional Collection Plans Charadriiformes Elephant Marine Fishes

Studbooks Ass, Somali Wild Colobus, Guereza Dove, Mindanao Bleeding Heart Echidna Gazelle, Red-fronted Gecko, Satanic Leaf-tailed Leopard, Snow Otter, Asian Small-clawed Terrapin, Painted

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.