September 2018

Animal Programs Events at the AZA Annual Conference

Mark your calendars for the following AZA Annual Conference events and opportunities:

• The Wildlife Conservation and Management Committee (WCMC) is hosting a help desk on Tuesday, September 25 from 10:30-2:00 and on Wednesday, September 26 from 2:00-4:00. Please stop by with your questions about the recently updated Sustainability Partner Policy.
• The TAG Chairs Meeting will take place on Monday, September 24 from 11:00-12:00.
• The Program Leaders Meeting will take place on Monday, September 24 from 4:00-5:30.

You can find a full schedule of AZA Annual Conference events here.

SAFE Program Announcements

• In honor of International Vulture Awareness Day on September 1, the SAFE African vulture program has made materials to help you to celebrate. Find them here!
• World Gorilla Day is September 24! Learn more here and join your fellow members who are supporting.
• Attending the AZA Annual Conference? Be sure to check out the full conference schedule and bookmark your favorite SAFE sessions.

AZA SAFE now has 19 species programs that you and your institution can help support. To learn more, meet the SAFE species here.

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 conservation@aza.org.

Funding and Award Opportunities

Rainforest Trust SAVES Conservation

Rainforest Trust SAVES (Safeguarding Areas Vital to Endangered Species) partners with local conservation organizations to create new protected areas and expand existing ones for Critically Endangered and Endangered species. Through the SAVES Challenge, Rainforest Trust has the capacity to match, dollar for dollar, projects that target the establishment of protected areas for priority as Key Biodiversity Areas. Applications to create new protected areas are reviewed three times per year, and the next deadline is on November 1. Email SAVES with questions.

The Sue Hunter Animal Welfare Grant

The Animal Behavior Management Alliance is accepting applications for the Sue Hunter Animal Welfare Grant, an annual competitive grant that will provide financial support up to $2,000 for conservation projects, operant conditioning training programs, or animal enrichment needs. For more information on how to apply, please click here. The deadline is October 1.

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 conservation@aza.org for posting on the website.

New Program Leaders

SSP Coordinator and Studbook Keeper

CRANE, SARUS
Megan Stegmeir, Blank Park Zoo

Candidate Program Leader

BEAVER
Sarrah Kaye, Staten Island Zoo

COBRA, KING
Karyn Wheatley, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

New Program Leader Vacancies

Find applications and instructions regarding vacancies in the Animal Program Handbooks.  Applications are due October 1, 2018, unless otherwise noted. For a full list of available Program Leader positions, visit the Current Program Leader Vacancies page.

SSP Coordinator and Studbook Keeper

CONURE, GOLDEN
Please send application materials to Joe Barkowski, Parrot TAG Chair.

JAY, PLUSH CRESTED
Please send application materials to Tim Snyder, PACCT TAG Chair.

SKINK, PREHENSILE-TAILED
Please send application materials to Jessi Krebs, Lizard TAG Chair.

SSP Coordinator

GOOSE, RED-BREASTED
Please send application materials to Keith Lovett, Anseriformes TAG Chair.

Studbook Keeper

MONKEY, BLACK HOWLER — due September 24, 2018
This is an International Studbook Keeper position. Applicants are requested to send the following materials to Martín Zordan:

1. This completed form.
2. Your CV, detailing any expertise or training in studbook keeping, or indication of how the applicant plans to acquire the necessary competence through formal training and/or local mentoring.

To learn more about the responsibilities of an International Studbook Keeper, see the ISB Resource Manual.

Candidate Program Leader

MARINE FISHES
For the vacancies listed below, 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 leader for this species.

List of vacancies:

• RAY, ATLANTIC
• RAY, COWNOSE
• RAY, SOUTHERN
• SEADRAGON, LEAFY
• SHARK, BROWN-BANDED BAMBOO
• WRASSE, HUMPHEAD

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.