Highest_priority_cards_3_-_all_duplicates Flashcards
Q: Describe the AZA and what they do
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Founded in 1924.
Organization responsible for establishing high standards of practice and care for all facilities that fall under their jurisdiction.
Every 5 years, zoos go through accreditation process, including inspection.
Q: What is the AZA accreditation process? Benefit of accreditation?
AZA inspects zoos to ensure they are maintaining their rigorous standards for exhibits, animal care, education, conservation, and research.
AZA makes participation in programs such as SSPs (Species Survival Plans) and TAGs (Taxon Advisory Groups) mandatory for accreditation, encouraging zoos to make conservation a significant part of their operation.
Accredited zoos develop public confidence by demonstrating that the institution meets or exceeds current professional standards.
Q: Name some AZA programs
TAGs - Taxon Advisory Groups
SSP - Species Survival Plans
Studbooks
SAFE - Saving Animals From Extinction
Q: SSP - Species Survival Plans
Cooperative management and conservation programs designed to ensure survival of endangered species in captivity.
Manages breeding to maintain healthy, genetically diverse, demographically stable, self-sustaining population: keeps a studbook, determines which animals should be mated.
Develops long-term research and management strategies for the species.
There are currently 300 species in SSP programs.
Created in 1981.
Q: How many SSP programs are there?
Almost 300
Q: Name some species at the zoo that are part of SSP and SAFE programs
[These change all the time. Source: BI slides, Nov. 2023]
-Both SSP and SAFE-
chimpanzee, western lowland gorilla,
African lion, black rhino, reticulated giraffe,
radiated tortoise,
-SSP-
Borneo orangutan, mandrill, eight lemur species, Francois langur,
snow leopard, Greater one-horned rhino, eastern/mountain bongo,
West African crowned crane, Waldrapp Ibis,
Chacoan peccary,
Mexican gray wolf,
Spectacled owl,
-SAFE-
orangutan,
jaguar,
western pond turtle.
Q: TAGs - Taxon Advisory Groups
Management programs for entire taxa (larger groups of animals such as marine mammals) that examine conservation needs and develop recommendations for population management and conservation.
Q: Studbooks
Records of lineage used to strictly monitor and recommend breeding strategies for animals in zoos’ collections.
Carefully monitoring genetic representation of the animals in zoos will allow for future genetic diversity.
With shrinking and fragmented habitats in the wild, the genetic diversity of wild, particularly endangered species is declining.
The well-managed Zoo populations have become a genetic ark for these species.
Q: SAFE - Saving Animals From Extinction
AZA member institutions collaborating on global conservation initiatives to save species from extinction.
Mission: to combine the power of zoo and aquarium visitors with the resources and collective expertise of AZA members and partners to save animals from extinction.
Vision: save the most vulnerable wildlife species from extinction and protect them for future generations.
Key goal: To increase public participation and public awareness of the need for conservation efforts and engage the public in those efforts.
Q: Who compiles the Red List of Threatened Species?
The IUCN - International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Q: What is the IUCN?
IUCN - International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Maintains the Red List of Threatened Species (used for guiding conservation action and policy decisions).
Supports work to save wildlife on both the national and international levels.
Q: What is the Red List of Threatened Species?
The world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.
Serves as an important tool in the management of wildlife.
Frequently updated.
Provides a comprehensive list of animals, their conservation status, distribution, population and habitat information as well as current and proposed conservation measures.
Defines the severity and specific causes of a species’ threat of extinction.
Establishes a baseline from which to monitor the change in status of species.
Provides a global context for the establishment of conservation priorities at the local level.
Q: What are the different tiers of “threatened” status in the IUCN Red List classification?
Vulnerable: Taxa believed likely to become endangered in the near future if the causal factors continue operating.
Endangered: Taxa in danger of extinction and whose survival is unlikely if the causal factors continue operating.
Critically Endangered: Taxa in extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Q: Name one reason it’s important for countries to work together on conservation
International trade contributes to the endangerment of many animals.
Q: What is the name of the agreement between governments that aims to ensure international trade of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival?
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)
