Towards a Paradigm Shift: AZA's DRAFT Elephant Strategy Webinar
Date/Time: May 30 2023, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT
The Asian and African elephant populations within AZA are facing a sustainability crisis. To combat this crisis, AZA’s Elephant Strategy Task Force has implemented a five-phase process to gather information from stakeholders, understand the current paradigm, and envision the future of elephants. The feedback from stakeholders showed a resounding interest for a paradigm shift to reach sustainable elephant populations. The task force has entered phase four of this process where a draft strategy has been produced. To continue our efforts for open communication and transparency, we invite you to an open access webinar to introduce you to the draft strategy and encourage your feedback.
Emergency Transport - Animal Transport Webinar
Date/Time: May 24, 2023, 3:30 - 5:00 PM EDT
This webinar is about the accreditation, emergency, and contingency plan needs for AZA zoos; lessons learned during disaster rescue, response, and recovery by a leading organization; partnerships within the animal community that work together during emergencies.
Panelists:
- Chad Moore - USDA, Animal Care at the Center for Animal Welfare (APHIS)
- Julia Wagner - Zoological Disaster Response, Rescue, and Recovery (ZDR3)
- Rachel Watkins Rogers - Animal Transport for Animal Care Professionals (ATACP)
- Ashley Zielinski -Zoo & Aquarium All-Hazards Partnership (ZAHP)
ACSC Aquatic Wellbeing & Welfare Monitoring Virtual Workshop Series - February/March 2023
The Aquatic Collection Sustainability Committee hosted a three-part virtual workshop on aquatic animal wellbeing over three days in a series of two-hour webinars. Each webinar includes presentations, case studies, and lively Q&A session from an array of expert panelists.
Moderators: Linda Penfold and Rachel Stein
Session #1
Date/Time: February 23, 2023, 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
Panelists:
- Erika Bauer - Association of Zoos and Aquariums
- Jack Jewell - Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay
- Rob Jones - The Aquarium Vet
- Allen McDowell - North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
- Bart Shepherd - Steinhart Aquarium
- Marcus Zevalkink -John Ball Zoo
Session #2: Teleosts and Elasmobranchs
Date/Time: February 28, 2023, 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
Panelists:
- Erika Bauer - Association of Zoos and Aquariums
- Allen McDowell - North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
- Brian Nelson - National Aquarium
- Linda Penfold - South-East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction & Conservation
- Rachel Wieck - New England Aquarium
Session #3: Aquatic Invertebrates
Date/Time: March 7, 2023, 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
Panelists:
- Meghan Holst - Aquarium of the Bay
- Beth Stark-Posta - Toledo Zoo & Aquarium
Population Management II Webinar Series: April - November 2021
My SSP Needs Help! Part 1: Introduction to interim breeding and transfer recommendations for population management
Date/Time: April 28, 2021, 12:00 -1:30 PM EDT
It’s been a rough year and, on top of everything else, COVID added new challenges to the already challenging job of managing your SSP, but you still have time before your next planning meeting. What do you do? Don’t panic! In this two-part webinar series population biologists discuss interim population planning in this changing world.
In Part 1, we introduce population management tools and resources, provide examples of when you may need interim analyses and answer some of your questions about interim population planning.
Panelists:
- Paul Senner, Associate Population Biologist - PMC
- Amanda Lawless, Population Biologist, PMC
- John Andrews, Population Biologist - PMC
- Andrea Putnam, Population Biologist - San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
- Asako Navarro, Population Biologist - San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
- Karen Bauman, Manager of Reproductive Sciences - Saint Louis Zoo
My SSP Needs Help! Part 2: Introduction to interim breeding and transfer recommendations for population management
Date/Time: May 26, 2021, 1:00 - 2:30 PM EDT
Panelists:
- Paul Senner, Associate Population Biologist - PMC
- Amanda Lawless, Population Biologist, PMC
- John Andrews, Population Biologist - PMC
- Andrea Putnam, Population Biologist - San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
- Asako Navarro, Population Biologist - San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
- Karen Bauman, Manager of Reproductive Sciences - Saint Louis Zoo
Communication Part 1: Managing Animal Programs - Communication and Networking are Key to Success
Date/Time: June 23, 2021, 12-1:30 PM EDT
In this webinar we will discuss tips and tricks that are key to effective communication and networking for program leaders. You will learn why communication is key to successfully managing your program (and your career) and where to find relevant resources to keep communication flowing. We will also cover the frequency of communication and how to initiate and enhance your network.
Panelists:
- Denise McClean, Director – Prospect Park Zoo
- Karen Bauman, Manager of Reproductive Sciences – Saint Louis Zoo
- Kristine Schad, Director, Population Management Center - AZA Population Management Center at Lincoln Park Zoo
Communication Part 2, Get Organized for SSP Planning and Discover Helpful Tools for Virtual Planning Meetings
Date/Time: July 22, 2021, 1-2:30 PM EDT
In this webinar, Population Biologists and Program Leaders will show you the tools they use to ensure SSP planning meetings run smoothly and efficiently. You will learn how to organize interim emails and your institutional wants and needs surveys for a planning meeting. We will also demonstrate how to use virtual bulletin boards as a visual tool to organize and share breeding and transfer ideas before and during the planning meeting.
Panelists:
- Andrea Putnam, PhD, Population Biologist - San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
- Amanda Lawless, MS, Population Biologist – AZA PMC
- Harrison Edell, MS, Executive Vice President, Animal Care & Conservation - Dallas Zoo
- Joanna Klass, Animal Keeper, Woodland Park Zoo
Thinking Outside the Box - Non-traditional Population Management
Date/Time: November 19, 2021, 12-1:30 PM EDT
One size does not fit all when it comes to managing a diverse array of SSP Programs! In our webinar, we share some non-traditional management strategies used by SSP Programs that address unique challenges or support specific program goals.
Panelists:
- Paul Senner, MS, Population Biologist – AZA PMC
- Asako Navarro, MS, Population Biologist - San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
- Rachel Bladow, MS, Population Biologist – AZA PMC
- Steve Reichling, PhD, Director of Conservation & Research - Memphis Zoo
- Kate Rodriguez-Clark, PhD, Population Ecologist - Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Population Management During the COVID-19 Crisis
Date/Time: June 12, 2021, 12:00 - 1:30 PM EDT
This webinar, developed by the AZA Animal Population Management (APM) Committee, focuses on the current challenges that our cooperatively managed breeding programs are facing as a result of this public health crisis. The panelists will discuss various management strategies, priorities, and options that our zoos and aquariums may implement during this time. Program Leaders will hear ideas on how to keep managing their animal populations during the current budget, staffing, and transport limitations.
Moderator: Stacey Johnson, Corporate Director of Conservation & Research - San Diego Zoo Global
Panelists:
- Lori Perkins, Deputy Director - Birmingham Zoo
- Joe Barkowski, Vice President of Animal Conservation & Science - Tulsa Zoo
- Kristine Schad Eebes, Director - AZA Population Management Center
- Drew Foster, Animal Curator - Phoenix Zoo
- Barrett Christie, Director of Animal Husbandry - Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
- Mandi Schook, Science Operations Director - Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Colleen Lynch, Curator of Birds - Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Ambassador Animal Webinar Series - February - September 2021
Session 1: Ambassador Animal Welfare and Best Practices
Date/Time: February 17, 2021, 2:00 - 3:00 PM EST
This is a four-part webinar series about Ambassador Animals. The first session focuses on strategies for improving animal ambassador welfare with a focus on habitats, training and presentations. The Principles of Animal Ambassador Management (PAAM) in conjunction with the Animal Ambassador Scientific Advisory Group (AASAG) continues to work with animal ambassador managers and wildlife care specialists to raise the bar for animal ambassadors in AZA facilities.
Facilitated by Nicki Boyd CIG, CPAT-KA, Associate Curator of Behavioral Husbandry and Ambassadors - San Diego Zoo
Session 2: Ambassador Animal Handling Training with Staff and Volunteers
Date/Time: March 31, 2021, 2:00 -3:30 PM EST
Training staff and volunteers to properly handle ambassador animals is a task that comes with great responsibility. This meeting, which covers a topic directly from the Principles of Ambassador Animal Management AZA course, will focus on approaches to the handling training process and evaluation of that process, how handling training may differ between staff and volunteers, methods for annual recertification of handlers, considerations for who is qualified to be a handling trainer, and different ways that relationship building with animals and honing of trained handling skills are encouraged/facilitated after certification has taken place.
This session is designed for speakers and participants to engage in discussion, so please come willing to share and ask questions!
Panelists:
- Debra Swank, Training and Trends Coordinator - Akron Zoo
- Cherlyn Vatalaro, Director of Conservation Education - Lehigh Valley Zoo
- Rebecca Young, MSc, CIG, Associate Curator, Ambassador Animals - Zoo Atlanta
Session 3: Concepts and Hot Topics in Animal Welfare for Ambassador Animal Programs
Date/Time: June 14, 2021, 2:00 - 3:30 PM EDT
Join us for the third installment of our webinar series presented by the Principles of Ambassador Animal Management course team. This session will cover the conceptual background of animal welfare based on the animal welfare science literature. Major themes in animal welfare, such as choice and control, will be discussed in the context of animal management in zoos & aquariums, including for ambassador animal programs. Participants will be able to develop a basic understanding of the field of animal welfare and an appreciation for its complexity as a topic.
Panelist:
- David Powell, PhD, Director of Research and Director, AZA Reproductive Management Center - Saint Louis Zoo
Session 4: Ambassador Animal Department Structures
Date/Time: September 1, 2021, 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT
This webinar showcases four different presentations on the variety of ways facilities structure their ambassador animal departments. Presenters share the pros and cons of their structure and answer questions.
Panelists:
- Rebecca Young, Associate Curator, Ambassador Animals - Zoo Atlanta
- Stephani Reynolds, Director of Education - Kansas City Zoo
- Christina Dembiec, Director of Education - Memphis Zoo
- Holly Houser, Animal Ambassadors Coordinator - Denver Zoo