A Message from Dan Ashe

Transcription

1 2017 ANNUAL REPORT

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS A Message from Dan Ashe 1 Saving Species 2 Goals and Measures of Success 4 SAFE Species 5 Project Coordinators/Collaborators 11 Engaging People 14 Program Support 17 As we educate the public on how zoos and aquariums have evolved over the last several decades and some question our relevancy in today s world, we must demonstrate that we exist for a higher purpose beyond the exhibition of animals. And that purpose is the conservation of species in the wild. Working together, we have the ambitious goal of contributing $1 billion to field conservation over the next five years. SAFE is the mechanism that will allow all AZAaccredited facilities to engage in this mission and help us achieve this goal. Jim Breheny, Executive Vice President & General Director, Zoos & Aquariums, WCS and the Jonathan Little Cohen Director of the Bronx Zoo

3 1 A Message from Dan Ashe I joined the Association of Zoos and Aquariums last January in part because I saw the potential for the community to make a significant difference for conservation. On my arrival, the AZA Board of Directors already committed to SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction asked me to make SAFE more successful and inclusive. In SAFE, I see a path forward for AZA members to do more to save species. Because we are facing a global extinction crisis, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, and all conservation organizations, must step up their game. We have had many successes with SAFE this past year. The AZA community stepped forward with a heroic effort to save the vaquita. In 2017, AZA members contributed over a million dollars to the VaquitaCPR rescue effort, jump-starting a dramatic rescue operation late in the year. The Invest In The Nest Kickstarter campaign engaged a global community to help save endangered African penguins, becoming the first Kickstarter campaign to help an endangered species. Less than three percent of all Kickstarter campaigns seeking to raise over $100,000 are successful, and thanks to you, ours was one of them. Over six million people tuned in to a Facebook Live marathon that highlighted species conservation and animal care. But the extinction crisis demands that we grow SAFE. To accomplish this, SAFE has become a member-driven program, with AZA staff supporting a framework that can help members do more and better conservation. In 2016, AZA-accredited facilities contributed more than $216 million to protect wild animals and wild habitats. SAFE leverages that conservation work and the commitment of our members to build capacity so that the entire AZA community can engage in conservation. We will do better conservation by aggregating member efforts and leveraging each other s skills. This 2017 SAFE Annual Report shares the progress made over the past year. I hope you are as inspired as I am about the potential for SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction. Dan Ashe President and CEO December, 2017

4 2 I can t imagine a world without giraffe! But with giraffe already locally extinct in seven African countries, this could happen. To save the species we love, we need new ideas and new collaborations. The AZA s SAFE program is helping bring together the passion, expertise and voice of zoos to make sure the wildlife we love don t go extinct on our watch. Liza Dadone, VMD VP of Mission and Programs, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo; Co-Liaison, Giraffe SAFE Program; Member, IUCN SSC Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group Vision Together we are saving the most vulnerable wildlife species from extinction and protecting them for future generations. Mission The mission of SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction is 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.

5 3 SAFE SPECIES: African penguin Asian elephant Black rhinoceros Cheetah Gorilla Sea turtle Sharks and rays Vaquita Western pond turtle Whooping crane NEW IN 2017: African vultures Black-footed ferret Giraffe Radiated tortoise Saving Species In early 2017, we began developing the framework to support SAFE as a member-led program, with giraffe as a pilot species. This initiative has informed the transition of SAFE. A key aspect of SAFE is that of collaboration. This includes collaboration among AZA-accredited facilities: SAFE Species program teams are required to have two or more AZA member participants when they apply for a new program. SAFE also encourages collaboration with the larger conservation community from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), to government agencies and conservation organizations/ngos to create three-year SAFE Program Plans that are linked to and advance already established conservation plans for that species. SAFE Conservation Action Plans have already been developed for African penguin, cheetah, sharks and rays, western pond turtles, giraffe, and vaquita, and include specific projects that provide opportunities for AZA zoo and aquarium colleagues to become involved in species conservation. With so many species and habitats around the world facing growing pressures to survive, it is invaluable to see the enormous efforts of AZA members towards conservation in the field, through research and in education. The International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission believes our growing partnership with AZA is crucial to prioritizing and mobilizing conservation action around the world, linking efforts within accredited zoos and aquariums to those in the wild and continuing to work together to secure a thriving future for wildlife and wild places. Jon Paul Rodriguez, Chair, IUCN SSC

6 4 Goals of SAFE focus collective expertise and leverage audiences to save species build capacity within AZA members to engage in meaningful, strategic and collaborative conservation achieve clear measures of success at 5 and 10 years provide a straightforward framework for engagement expand the reputation of AZA members as leading conservation organizations Measures of Success Meaningful stories to tell about SAFE Species each year 100% of members involved in field conservation Contribute >$1 billion to support field conservation Partners/stakeholders inspired to contribute additional $1 billion+ 30+ SAFE Species AZA community works together for conservation AZA members recognized as leading conservation organizations Measures of Success Contribute >$1.5 billion to field conservation Partners/stakeholders inspired to contribute additional $1.5 billion+ A 10-year field conservation investment >$5 billion Field conservation is a cultural norm and professional obligation for AZA members 50+ SAFE Species Demonstrated conservation impacts for SAFE Species A shift in positive public opinion about member aquariums and zoos All zoos no matter how big or small should become actively involved in conservation efforts; that s who we are as a profession. SAFE now gives us a clearer framework to become involved with partners around the globe on species conservation projects. Elizabeth Whealy, President and CEO of the Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History

7 5 AZA members stepped up to help save a critically endangered species and, knowing the risks, made this historic conservation project possible. AZA s generous support has raised global awareness about the plight of the vaquita and the need to continue working with the Mexican government on a conservation plan that can still save the most endangered marine mammal in the world. Dr. Cynthia Smith, VaquitaCPR, Executive Director of the National Marine Mammal Foundation SAFE Species Vaquita In early 2017, the Mexican government declared the need for an emergency effort to relocate vaquita to a safe haven until their natural habitat is cleared of gillnets. Entanglement in gillnets is the biggest threat facing vaquita and with fewer than 30 individuals alive, the vaquita is the most endangered cetacean in the world. AZA-accredited aquariums and zoos rose to the occasion in response to the Mexican government s decision. Over 100 members contributed more than $1 million to the rescue project, while others made staff available to develop plans, protocols, and facilities for the search and housing of animals; help the international team operate efficiently and maximize communication; and provide husbandry expertise in the event of vaquita being brought into human care. The funds raised by AZA members helped convince the Mexican government to commit an additional $3 million to the rescue effort. A team of 65 scientists from nine countries was assembled in preparation, and efforts to rescue the remaining vaquita began in October. The dire situation vaquita are facing called for a courageous approach. But by the end of the 24-day field season, weather had permitted the team to conduct searches on just 13 days. And even with the tremendous expertise of the teams involved, only two animals were safely caught and transported; one was released immediately due to young age and the other died shortly after release. The rescue project was called off and next steps for the overall recovery plan are being considered.

8 6 But elsewhere, efforts to save the vaquita continue. Shrimp fisheries in the region were evaluated by Monterey Bay Aquariums Seafood Watch program, so consumers could understand the environmental impact of their seafood purchases including the effect on species like the vaquita. AZA commercial member McRoberts Sales, one of the AZA community s largest seafood suppliers for animal diets, became a Seafood Watch Business Collaborator, offering the community a way to leverage their purchasing power to benefit vaquita. The heart of the market driving the use of gillnets in vaquita habitat is an endangered species called totoaba: a fish highly prized in China. In 2017, Ocean Park Hong Kong led a study to better understand the illegal trade and consumption patterns of totoaba fish maw in Hong Kong and Southern China. The results of this study will inform an approach aimed at reducing demand in these markets. AZA members are also helping local communities identify and develop new economic opportunities to alleviate pressure to engage in this illegal fishing, such as tourism, aquaculture and artisanal products. Additionally, working with government agencies and partners, AZA members are exploring the development of a vaquita-friendly label to support fishermen using vaquita-friendly fishing gear. As long as the vaquita s struggle continues, the AZA community remains ready to help.

9 7 African Penguin African penguins took center-stage as SAFE delivered on its promise of combining the expertise of AZA-accredited zoo and aquarium staff with the power of our visitors to help save species. This spring, AZA member zoos and aquariums engaged their communities in a Kickstarter campaign through traditional and social media. The campaign was featured in member communications. Newport Aquarium staff even used the megatron at a Cincinnati Reds game to highlight the challenges facing this species! The campaign was very successful and enough money was raised to purchase and install 1,500 2,000 artificial nests. As a result of the over-harvest of bird guano for fertilizer, African penguins can no longer create burrows for nests, leaving them, their eggs and their chicks exposed to extreme temperatures and predators. Artificial nests may offer a solution, but creating one fine-tuned to the environment and the penguins needs isn t easy. This year, two design finalists were tested at six geographically diverse AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, plus two in South Africa. The winning design will then be manufactured locally in South Africa and installed among African penguin colonies, providing cover for vulnerable penguins. Efforts to help penguins extend well beyond the nest. Methods to identify (and thus track) individual penguins are critical to saving them. SAFE provided local rescue, rehabilitation and release centers with identification methods using passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags and receivers to monitor resident, introduced, reintroduced and/or translocated African penguins, informing management. Staff from AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums visited the centers, strengthening relationships and assisting with tag implementation. SAFE also supported the purchase of GPS units, underwater cameras, depth loggers and accelerometer equipment to improve knowledge of African penguin movements associated with foraging and other activity in the marine environment. And in the spirit of the One Plan approach to species conservation, AZA s African penguin Species Survival Plan strengthened its own sustainability by re-integrating hybrid penguins into the managed population and supporting scientific advances for penguin health. Talking a good game in conservation is easy. I have seen a multitude of great research and wonderful scientific publications about the plight of the African penguin. As a man of action, the missing link between words and practical implementation has always been a thorny issue for me. The rehab of African penguins is important but it is re-active. We need to get in front of the problem, lobby for more Marine Protected areas, address the overfishing. This is a massive task. The good news is that we can also focus on projects that will make a difference. The collaboration with the AZA on the African penguin artificial nest project gives me hope because we are putting our money where our mouths are. Wilfred Chivell, Chairman, Dyer Island Conservation Trust

10 8 Sharks and Rays It is clear that sharks and rays need better marketing. SAFE is helping the public better understand how sharks and rays contribute to ocean health, the threats they are facing and the declines we see in the wild, as well as how people can make a difference. After surveying members on their needs, educators from the AZA community have gathered monthly to develop key messages and strategies to help the community connect better with the public. Education staff from the Seattle Aquarium presented at the scientific American Elasmobranch Society conference, opening the door to increased collaboration and communication across disciplines. Policy changes are also critical to saving sharks and rays. In 2017, AZA supported a bipartisan bill to ban shark finning a process whereby sharks are killed only for their fins, and the fins are sold to countries like China for use in shark fin soup, a traditional dish associated with banquets and weddings. Additionally, SAFE is a proud partner of a national campaign led by the Wildlife Conservation Society to advance further legislation to protect sharks and rays and raise awareness of their plight. Along the eastern seaboard, AZA-accredited aquariums are augmenting existing research to understand shark movement and migration through tagging sharks and creating a photo-documentation citizen science project for divers, hoping to serve as a model for other coastal members in the future. And the Marine Fishes TAG is leading the effort to collaborate with experts around the world to advance three priorities: an international elasmobranch census, the creation and maintenance of a phlebotomy and blood chemistry registry, and the development of Animal Care Manuals to share and enhance best practices in animal management.

11 9 Western Pond Turtle Western pond turtles are an endangered species whose range extends throughout the western United States. Unfortunately, long-standing recovery efforts for the western pond turtle were almost as fragmented as the turtle s habitat. SAFE has promoted the development of a Range-Wide Conservation Coalition, complete with a draft Memorandum of Understanding and Management Plan to facilitate collaboration across and among state and federal agencies and with partners such as AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums. Expanding communication and collaboration has already proven beneficial by changing attitudes, bringing on new partners, and advancing agency priorities. SAFE was a partner in a state wildlife grant awarded this year to three state agencies that will provide critical funds for population assessments and other projects. An unidentified shell disease remains a major threat to this turtle species, but significant progress in studying this disease was made with the finding of a fungal pathogen in the genus Chrysosporium. Recent research at the University of Illinois includes a phylogeny of fungal samples from western pond turtles in the wilds of Washington and from two zoos. A partnership with the John G. Shedd Aquarium continues to explore the bacterial microbiomes on the shells of western pond turtles with and without disease, and those within both ex situ and natural habitats. Even as the recovery effort embarks on new projects, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums continue to release and monitor western pond turtle hatchlings at approved sites, study and improve their husbandry and management, and engage their visiting public and local communities about this turtle and the people coming together to save them.

12 10 Cheetah The second annual survey of AZA-accredited facilities with cheetahs indicates that powerful and empowering messaging and interpretation remains a niche for the SAFE team to fill and their data-driven approach to addressing this need remains a model for other SAFE species programs. The SAFE team has used December 4th, International Cheetah Day, as the focal point for distributing and enhancing messaging, and enthusiasm for this day is high. Cheetah runs (both by cheetah and people) and other natural behavior demonstrations, social media (#loud4cheetah) and keeper chats are widely embraced and easily integrate key conservation messages. Partnerships with people and organizations throughout the cheetah s range continue to strengthen and spotlight areas where AZA-accredited members can assist, such as in population management (monitoring and managing reproduction), capacity building and supporting snare-removal and anti-snaring efforts. The cheetah Species Survival Plan leads the way in understanding the cheetah genome and is examining the relatedness and genetic origins of cheetahs in the North American population. The genomics project has established a partnership with the Kenyan Wildlife Service and is analyzing samples from 144 individual cheetahs. The SSP also is working effectively on assisted breeding research.

13 11 Thanks to Our Project Coordinators and Collaborators: AFRICAN PENGUINS African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary AZA African Penguin Conservation Project AZA African Penguin Species Survival Plan Audubon Nature Institute BirdLife South Africa CapeNature Dallas Zoo Department of Environmental Affairs Republic of South Africa Dyer Island Conservation Trust Keramicalia Lehigh Valley Zoo Marine Research Institute The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Mystic Aquarium National Aviary Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Newport Aquarium Oceanographic Research Institute Omaha s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium Owens Coming Pan-African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAAZA) Republic of South Africa DEA Robben Island Museum San Diego Zoo Global Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Centre SeaWorld Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Smithsonian National Zoological Park South African Association for Marine Biological Research South African National Parks Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) University of Bristol University of Cape Town University of Exeter UShaka Sea World CHEETAH AZA Cheetah Species Survival Plan Brevard Zoo Busch Gardens Caldwell Zoo Cheetah Conservation Fund Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Columbus Zoo & Aquarium Conservation Centers for Species Survival Denver Zoo Disney s Animal Kingdom Fort Worth Zoo Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Houston Zoo Indianapolis Zoo Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Metro Richmond Zoo Omaha s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Pan-African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAAZA) Panthera Phoenix Zoo Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium Population Management Center Range Wide Conservation Plan Saint Louis Zoo San Diego Zoo Safari Park Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute South African National Parks The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens The Maryland Zoo at Baltimore The Wilds University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign White Oak Conservation Center Wild Nature Institute Wildlife Safari Zoo Miami SHARKS AND RAYS Aquarium of the Pacific Audubon Aquarium of the Americas Cabrillo Marine Aquarium California Science Center Dallas World Aquarium Florida Aquarium Georgia Aquarium International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission John G. Shedd Aquarium Living Desert Museum Mote Marine Laboratory National Aquarium North Carolina Aquariums Oregon Coast Aquarium

14 12 Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium SEA LIFE Aquarium at Legoland SEA LIFE Michigan South-East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction and Conservation (SEZARC) Shark Advocates International Shark Trust The DEEP (UK) Wildlife Conservation Society (New York Aquarium/WCS) VAQUITA Aarhus University Aquarium of the Pacific Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Baja Aqua Farms Bayside Hospital for Animals California State University Chicago Zoological Society Cosley Zoo Dolphin Quest, Inc. Duke University Marine Lab El Paso Zoo Greenland Institute of Natural Resources Instituto Nacional de Ecología, (INECC), Mexico John G. Shedd Aquarium Mexican Navy Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Museo de la Ballena Mystic Aquarium National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Mammal Foundation North Carolina Aquariums Ocean Park Hong Kong Oregon Coast Aquarium Reid Park Zoo San Diego Zoo Global SEA LIFE Aquarium Carlsbad SEA LIFE Orlando Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT), Mexico Texas State Aquarium The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens The Marine Mammal Center The Ocean Project US Marine Mammal Commission University of North Carolina Wilmington Utah s Hogle Zoo VaquitaCPR (Conservation, Protection, Recovery) WhaleTimes Wild Lens WESTERN POND TURTLE AECOM AZA Western Pond Turtle Species Survival Plan Behler Chelonian Center California Department of Fish and Wildlife California Science Center Conservacion de Fauna del Noroeste Fresno Chaffee Zoo IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group John G. Shedd Aquarium Lower Willamette Turtle Working Group Nevada Department of Fish and Wildlife Oakland Zoo Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Oregon Zoo PAWS Sacramento Zoo Safari West San Diego Zoo Global San Francisco Zoo and Gardens Sonoma State University Southern Oregon and Northern California Turtle Working Group Sustainability in Prisons Project at Larch Mountain Correctional Facility The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens The Wildlife Project Turtle Conservancy University of Illinois US Fish and Wildlife Service US Forest Service US Geological Survey VCA Animal Hospitals Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Washington State University Woodland Park Zoo Zoo Knoxville Zoo/Exotic Pathology Service

15 13 New in 2017: AFRICAN VULTURES Denver Zoo Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens North Carolina Zoo Saint Louis Zoo San Diego Zoo Global St. Augustine s Alligator Farm Tracy Aviary BLACK-FOOTED FERRET Louisville Zoological Garden Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Phoenix Zoo Smithsonian s National Zoo/SCBI Toronto Zoo GIRAFFE Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Columbus Zoo & Aquarium North Carolina Zoo Oregon Zoo Roosevelt Park Zoo Saint Louis Zoo San Diego Zoo Global The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens Utah s Hogle Zoo RADIATED TORTOISE Turtle Survival Alliance Utah s Hogle Zoo Zoo Knoxville

16 14 Engaging People in Conservation, While Telling Our Story PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT We are actively implementing public engagement efforts at AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums to advance the conservation of SAFE species. AZA has provided materials to AZA members for over a dozen SAFE Focus Days, resulting in thousands of interactions with the public through the media, in-person interactions at AZA member facilities and online social networks. Since January, the #SavingSpecies hashtag has been used over 12,500 times. Partnering with Animal Planet, we launched a 10-hour Facebook Live marathon, featuring 17 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums showcasing their great animal care and conservation work. The event was co-branded with SAFE and reached 6 million people online. The Invest in the Nest Kickstarter campaign was the first successful Kickstarter campaign to support an endangered species. The campaign involved 91 AZA-accredited facilities, secured 2,207 backers, and raised more than $193,000 in donations. This is incredible to consider, given that less than three percent of all campaigns are successfully funded. The funding raised will allow for the first phase of construction and deployment of between 1,500 and 2,000 artificial nest boxes for wild African penguin colonies in South Africa and Namibia. The campaign was supported by Stonyfield Organics and ALEX AND ANI, bringing both commercial and promotional support to the effort, and garnering international media coverage. More broadly, we have contracted with a national agency to develop an awareness effort targeted at connecting people to the conservation and animal welfare work of AZA members. Promoting the projects and progress made through SAFE species efforts will be a central part of the effort. Our goal is to build awareness of our collective conservation impact, utilizing AZA member zoos and aquariums and partners, empowering us to shift the narrative and tell our story more effectively AZA SAFE FOCUS DAYS March 3 World Wildlife Day April 22 Earth Day April 25 World Penguin Day May 5 Cinco de Rhino May 19 Endangered Species Day May 23 World Turtle Day May 28 Whooping Crane Day June 8 World Oceans Day June 16 Sea Turtle Day July 10 International Save the Vaquita Day July 14 Shark Awareness Day August 12 World Elephant Day September 9 World Great Apes Day September 22 World Rhino Day October 14 African Penguin Awareness Day December 4 International Cheetah Day

17 15 FACEBOOK LIVE 17 6 MILLION PEOPLE REACHED 1.26 MILLION TOTAL VIDEO VIEWS 5,000 SHARES FACILITIES PARTICIPATED IN THE MARATHON LEARN MORE: facebookmedia/success-stories/ animal-planet STONYFIELD Stonyfield YoKids is available nationwide at all major retailers (e.g., Kroger, Publix, Walmart, Whole Foods, Target, Safeway, Albertsons), and is the #1 Kids brand in many cases ~18 MILLION UNITS of YoKids product carrying the SAFE logo were sold between April and mid-november, with another approximately 2 million estimated through the end of NATIONAL FLYERS were distributed for Earth Day and Back to School, with a circulation of 40 MILLION EACH OVER 200K PEOPLE visited the microsite stonyfield.com/azasafe between April 1 and November 30 It isn t often a cow has the opportunity to help save species, but our work with AZA SAFE really allows us to make a difference for animals which is so important to the Stonyfield mission. We also find it incredibly important that through our sponsorship we not only support the recovery of endangered species, but also inspire others to do the same. We believe the AZA SAFE program has been great from both a mission and brand perspective, and a program that covers both isn t always easy to find. Natalie Levine, Stonyfield Brand Director

18 16 INVEST IN THE NEST KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN 74 $193,560 RAISED 2,207 BACKERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD 1,500+ NESTS BUILT AZA MEMBERS SUPPORTED THE CAMPAIGN CREATING JOBS IN SOUTH AFRICA SAFE FOCUS DAYS 16 DAYS SAFE Species Days were widely covered in news media around the country. 2,650 NEWS STORIES mentioned the animal or event on and around the dates. Days that got the most coverage included: WORLD WILDLIFE DAY (March 3) 368 STORIES WORLD PENGUIN DAY (April 25) 460 ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY (May 19) 424 SEA TURTLE DAY (June 16) 200 INTERNATIONAL SAVE THE VAQUITA DAY (July 8) 136 WORLD ELEPHANT DAY (August 12) 473

19 17 The SAFE Founders Circle of donors sent a bold message that AZA members are committed to saving animals from extinction. By raising an incredible $3.1 million in 2016, the Founders Circle provided the foundation we needed for to build AZA s signature conservation program. It s critical we demonstrate how AZA-accredited facilities are saving species, and we communicate to our visitors the important role zoos and aquariums play. SAFE gives us a platform to do exactly that. Gregg Hudson, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dallas Zoo Management, Inc. Thanks to the Generous Support of the SAFE Founders Circle As of December 1, 2017 Audubon Aquarium of the Americas Audubon Zoo Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Disney s Animals, Science & Environment Disney Conservation Fund Detroit Zoological Society Houston Zoo, Inc. Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc. Lincoln Park Zoo Omaha s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium Service Systems Associates Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay Wildlife Conservation Society Brevard Zoo Calgary Zoo Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History John Ball Zoo Little Rock Zoo/Arkansas Zoological Foundation Louisville Zoological Garden Mystic Aquarium National Aquarium North Carolina Aquariums Oregon Zoo Philadelphia Zoo Riverbanks Zoo & Garden San Francisco Zoological Society Schultz & Williams Smithsonian National Zoological Park Virginia Zoological Park Woodland Park Zoo Zoo Boise North Carolina Zoological Park

20 18 Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Dallas Zoo Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens Milwaukee County Zoo Minnesota Zoological Garden Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute San Antonio Zoo Sedgwick County Zoo Akron Zoological Park Aquarium of the Pacific Blank Park Zoo Cameron Park Zoological & Botanical Society Children s Zoo at Celebration Square Como Park Zoo & Conservatory El Paso Zoo Fort Wayne Children s Zoo Greenville Zoo Friends of the Henry Vilas Zoo & Henry Vilas Zoo John G. Shedd Aquarium Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden Miles River Direct Monterey Bay Aquarium Morey Consulting Naples Zoo Oakland Zoo Ocean Park Corporation Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden Pueblo Zoo Roger Williams Park Zoo Roosevelt Park Zoo Sacramento Zoo Seattle Aquarium Texas State Aquarium Topeka Zoo Tracy Aviary Turtle Back Zoo Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Western North Carolina Nature Center Wildlife Safari

21 19 Project Funders AAZK Akron Chapter AAZK Dallas Chapter AAZK Greater Cincinnati Chapter AAZK Ozarks Chapter AAZK Utah Chapter Abilene Zoological Gardens Adventure Aquarium African Safari Wildlife Park Akron Zoological Park Albuquerque Biological Park Aquarium of the Pacific Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians (AZVT) Audubon Nature Institute Bergen County Zoological Park BREC s Baton Rouge Zoo Brevard Zoo Buffalo Zoo Butterfly Pavilion Buttonwood Park Zoo Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Cameron Park Zoo Cape May County Park Zoo Capron Park Zoo Charles Paddock Zoo Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Chicago Zoological Society Brookfield Zoo Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Connecticut s Beardsley Zoo Cosley Zoo Dakota Zoo Dallas Zoo Denver Zoo Dickerson Park Zoo Disney Worldwide Services Inc El Paso Zoo FlipFlops Fort Wayne Children s Zoo Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Fresno Chaffee Zoo Friends of the Alexandria Zoo Gladys Porter Zoo Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History Greensboro Science Center Greenville Zoo Houston Zoo, Inc. Hutchinson Zoo Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park Imagine Exhibitions Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc. Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens Jenkinson s Aquarium John Ball Zoo John G. Shedd Aquarium Kansas City Zoo Lee Richardson Zoo Lehigh Valley Zoo Lemur Conservation Foundation Lincoln Park Zoo Little Rock Zoo Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens Louisville Zoological Garden Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden Metazoa Brewing Company Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens Minnesota Zoo Foundation Monterey Bay Aquarium Mystic Aquarium Naples Zoo Nashville Zoo, Inc. National Aviary Natural Encounters, Inc. Newport Aquarium North Carolina Aquariums Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo & Adventure Park Northwest Trek Wildlife Park Ocean Park Corporation Oklahoma City Zoological Park Omaha s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium Oregon Zoo Palm Beach Zoo Peoria Zoo PGAV Destinations Phoenix Zoo Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Potawatomi Zoo Pueblo Zoo Racine Zoological Gardens Red River Zoo Reid Park Zoo Roger Williams Park Zoo Rolling Hills Zoo

22 20 Roosevelt Park Zoo Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park Sacramento Zoo Saint Louis Zoo Salisbury Zoological Park San Antonio Zoological Society San Diego Zoo Global San Francisco Zoological Gardens Santa Ana Zoo Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo Seattle Aquarium Sedgwick County Zoo Sequoia Park Zoo ShineMaker Foundation Source Evaluation Society South Carolina Aquarium Sunset Zoological Park Tampa s Lowry Park Zoo Texas State Aquarium The Auld Dubliner LLC The David Traylor Zoo of Emporia Toledo Zoological Gardens Topeka Zoo Tracy Aviary Trevor Zoo Tulsa Zoo Utah s Hogle Zoo Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Wave Foundation, Inc Woodland Park Zoo Youth Ocean Advocates Zoo Knoxville Zoo Miami Zoo New England

23 SAFE can only meet its potential of saving animals from extinction with the leadership, expertise, and engagement of the entire AZA community. The Field Conservation Committee stands ready to assist our AZA colleagues and we hope that all members will help an existing SAFE species program meet its goals, or consider collaborating with other AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums to champion a new SAFE species program. Christina Castellano, PhD, Vice President, Chief Science Officer, Utah s Hogle Zoo Vice Chair, AZA s Field Conservation Committee 2017 AZA BOARD OF DIRECTORS (JANUARY SEPTEMBER) Chair: Dennis W. Kelly, Director, Smithsonian National Zoological Park Chair-elect: Jim Breheny, General Director, Zoos and Aquarium, WCS, Jonathan Little Cohen Director, Bronx Zoo Vice Chair: Gregg Hudson, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dallas Zoo Management, Inc. Immediate Past Chair: Steve Burns, Director, Zoo Boise DIRECTORS Bert Castro, President and CEO, Phoenix Zoo, Arizona Center for Nature Conservation Bob Chastain, President and CEO, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Suzanne Gendron, Executive Director of Zoological Operations and Education, Ocean Park Corporation Chris Gentile, Director, Western North Carolina Nature Center Christopher Kuhar, PhD, Executive Director, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo John Lewis, Zoo Director, Los Angeles Zoo Steve Marshall, Zoo Director, El Paso Zoo Adrienne Rowland, Director, Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Peggy Sloan, Director, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher 2017 AZA SAFE STAFF Kristin L. Vehrs, Executive Director Candice Dorsey, PhD, Senior VP, Conservation, Management & Welfare Sciences Sandra Elvin, PhD, Director, Conservation Research and Policy Development Shelly Grow, Vice President, Conservation and Science Debborah Luke, PhD, Senior Vice President, Conservation and Science Joel Merriman, Director, Conservation Planning Jill Nicoll, Chief Operating Officer Jackie Ogden, PhD, SAFE Project Manager Jessica Puchala, Director, Digital Marketing and Strategy Amy Rutherford, Director, Professional Development and Education Rob Vernon, Senior Vice President, Communications and Marketing Phil Wagner, Senior Vice President, Finance & CFO

24 AZA-accredited aquariums and zoos have an opportunity to work more effectively together to help slow species extinction and critical loss of biodiversity. With scientific expertise, animal care expertise, access to visitors, and passion for our missions, the AZA community is working together and with conservation partners to take a leadership role in saving animals from extinction. Learn more at: Radiated tortoise, Madagascar Aaron Gekoski White backed vulture, Namibia Tim Lewthwaite Vaquita rescue project VaquitaCPR Vaquita and calf Thomas A. Jefferson/VIVA Vaquita Western pond turtle hatchling Michael Durham Western pond turtle Kathleen Street Rothschild giraffe, Kenya Tim Lewthwaite 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 710 Silver Spring, MD