2018 ANNUAL REPORT Growing the Movement TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Message from Dan Ashe 1 Saving Species 3 Goals and Measures of Success 4 Year in Review: SAFE Species Successes 5 Program Partners, Collaborators and Funders 15 Raising Awareness and Engaging People 19 SAFE Founders Circle 23

“From the start, SAFE has been about providing AZA members with a way to do enhanced, more focused conservation work. As the threats to wildlife and wild places grow, we have to be more effective in our approach to collaborative conservation. I am impressed with the strides our community has made to grow SAFE to what it is today—an AZA member-led conservation program we can be proud of.”

Peggy Sloan, Chief Animal Operations Officer, John G. Shedd Aquarium Chair, AZA Board of Directors 1 2018: Growing the Movement

SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction® is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ conservation movement. We are proud of the conservation work of AZA-accredited facilities and, through SAFE, we amplify this work. In partnership with stakeholders, SAFE species programs align with global conservation and recovery strategies, harnessing the power of collective actions.

With the addition of five new species in 2018—African lion, American red wolf, Atlantic Acropora coral, eastern indigo snake, and orangutan—we now stand at 19 SAFE species programs.

SAFE’s growth, and our collective $220 million investment in field conservation in 2017, demonstrates our community’s commitment to conservation. The promise of SAFE has attracted corporate and philanthropic support in 2018, including a generous commitment by The Arthur L. and Elaine V. Johnson Foundation of $375,000 over three years to fund SAFE projects.

In 2018, millions of people learned about SAFE conservation efforts through co-branded corporate partnerships, campaigns on social media, and local and national news stories. AZA members collaborated with SAFE species programs to coordinate awareness efforts for specialized species awareness days. The SAFE African vulture program is a great example, reaching more than two million people on International Vulture Awareness Day.

Our success is prompting prominent non-governmental organizations like the National Wildlife Federation and government agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to partner with us on species recovery and public engagement efforts.

Over 50 percent of AZA’s membership has already engaged with SAFE, and I hope the 2018 SAFE Annual Report encourages them to redouble their efforts, and others to join them. What will be the next species to join the SAFE movement and who will provide the needed leadership?

It is time to ask the age-old questions: If not now, when? If not me, who?

Dan Ashe

President and Chief Executive Officer Association of Zoos and Aquariums 2

“With species disappearing all over the world, including in our own backyards, it is more important than ever for passionate people to make their voices heard. AZA SAFE programs allow AZA facilities to work together, focusing their energies and resources to save species and ecosystems before it is too late. The American red wolf SAFE program was started with the hope of increasing awareness for this critically endangered native species. After less than a year, the American red wolf is seeing the advantages of being an AZA SAFE program with the increased exposure of the wolves’ story to a wider audience. As more and more AZA facilities join in the fight to save this native American species from the brink of extinction, the American red wolf and the ecosystems it inhabits have a greater chance for recovery.”

Chris Lasher, Animal Management Supervisor, North Woods/Prairie-African Plain, North Carolina Zoo

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. 3

SAFE SPECIES: Saving Species »» African penguin »» Gorilla AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction® includes 19 species and taxonomic groups »» African vulture »» Radiated tortoise threatened with extinction—an almost 100 percent increase since early 2017. »» Asian elephant »» Sea turtles A primary goal of SAFE is to increase the number of members engaged in the »» Black rhinoceros »» Sharks and rays coordinated and strategic conservation of these species. Species such as giraffe, red »» Black-footed »» Vaquita wolves and African vultures have seen the number of AZA members engaged in their ferret »» Western pond conservation increase significantly. More than half of all AZA members are involved »» Cheetah turtle with at least one SAFE species program. By 2027 we hope to see 100 percent involvement.

»» Giraffe »» Whooping crane Through SAFE, the AZA community is helping one another do more and better conservation. In 2018, storytelling and program plan development workshops were offered to SAFE species programs. Partnerships were expanded with International Union NEW IN 2018: for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Specialist Groups and other organizations. AZA’s »» African lion Board-level committees—including Field Conservation, Advancement, Animal Health, »» American red wolf Conservation Education, Diversity, Human Resources, Professional Development, Public »» Atlantic Acropora coral Relations, Wildlife Conservation and Management Committee, and more, in addition »» Eastern indigo snake to AZA’s Executive Leadership Development Program—offered SAFE and the individual species teams their expertise. »» Orangutan We have saved species before and, with SAFE, we can continue saving species together.

“It’s great to see zoos aligning their conservation initiatives with the goals of the IUCN. The African vulture SAFE action plan pulled heavily from the Multi-species Action Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals that had been developed previously and, as a result, contributes to key actions for saving African vultures in the wild.”

Andre Botha, Programme Manager, Vultures for Africa, Endangered Wildlife Trust Project Officer, Endangered Wildlife Trust/Hawk Conservancy Trust/University of Reading Partnership Co-chair, IUCN SSC Vulture Specialist Group Overarching Coordinator, CMS Multi-species Action Plan for African Vultures 4

SAFE Goals Measures of Success

»» Focuses collective expertise and OUTPUTS 2027 GOAL 2018 TARGET 2018 ACTUAL leverages audiences to save species Conservation $2.5 BILLION $200 Million $220 Million »» Builds capacity within our spending *based on 2017 data members to engage in meaningful, strategic, collaborative # SAFE species 50 14 19 conservation % AZA members in 100% 90% 89% »» Sets clear measures of success at field conservation five and ten years % AZA members 100% 55% 53% »» Provides a straightforward in SAFE framework for engagement % Holding facilities Significant difference at three-year intervals »» Expands the reputation of AZA engaged members as leading conservation organizations OUTCOMES*

Conservation Impact on public Favorability of AZA impact perception zoos and aquariums

Awareness of zoos and Conservation culture within aquariums in conservation the AZA community

* measured at three-year intervals

“SAFE is very relevant and easy to engage with, even for smaller, regionally- focused facilities. We value the ability to be a part of shaping conservation objectives with members within and outside of the AZA community, and find it fulfilling to partner with facilities who share similar goals throughout AZA.”

Dr. Tara Riemer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alaska SeaLife Center 5

Year in Review: SAFE Species Successes

GIRAFFE Established in 2017 as the first fully member-led SAFE species program, the giraffe program added 11 new AZA-accredited partners this year and now comprises 18 AZA-accredited members and more than two dozen additional government agencies, universities, and non- profit organizations, all working together to achieve conservation goals in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The SAFE program directs funds to and assists with monitoring the health of giraffes in translocations, and providing expertise for GPS tracking and crowdsourcing projects to assess giraffe populations. Using information from AZA’s Annual Report on Conservation and Science, the SAFE giraffe team has documented a more than 50 percent increase in the amount of funding by the AZA community for giraffe conservation since this program’s inception.

Program Leader: Dr. Liza Dadone, VMD, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Vice Program Leader: Andi Kornak, Deputy Executive Director – Animal and Veterinary Programs, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

AFRICAN PENGUIN The SAFE African penguin program continues to make a splash. In 2018, the program advanced projects that will help bolster numbers of wild African penguin populations. One year after its successful Kickstarter campaign to design, build, and test artificial nests for African penguins, the team has reported great success in developing the first artificial nest that mimics the biological parameters of natural nests almost perfectly, and the penguins have responded positively. Two hundred artificial nests were installed and monitored at two penguin colonies in 2018 and nearly all (96 percent) were occupied at some point during the year. In 2019, the team will increase nest production and placement in South African penguin colonies threatened with loss of nesting habitat. From launching a penguin pledge card campaign to monitor behavior change of zoo and aquarium visitors, to collaborating with research partners to publish studies that increase understanding of diseases that can affect African penguins, and to starting conversations with the South African government and corporations to limit the pressures of oil spills, SAFE African penguin program partners are focused on making a direct impact for African penguins.

Program Leader: Dr. Patricia McGill 6

SHARKS AND RAYS The SAFE shark and ray program is making strides to protect these species—of which nearly 25 percent are threatened with extinction. More than a dozen AZA-accredited facilities sought to make public perception of sharks more positive by sharing tools and materials on Shark and Ray Awareness Day that were developed by the public engagement project. The Species Survival Plan® sustainability project launched initiatives to streamline and standardize data collection and banking of biological information for sharks and rays in human care. And the shark and ray research project created criteria and outlined research priorities that would help AZA-accredited facilities move the needle on shark and ray conservation by convening AZA and other expert stakeholders that lead global shark and ray research.

ORANGUTAN Wild orangutans are losing habitat at an alarming rate from unsustainable palm oil production and illegal activities such as logging, hunting and the pet trade. Rehabilitation centers help maintain population numbers until suitable natural habitats are located. The SAFE orangutan program provides husbandry and animal care expertise to Indonesian zoos caring for orangutans and educates visitors in the United States and abroad about the illegal activities and ways to reduce consumption of products using unsustainably harvested palm oil. In 2018, experts from AZA-accredited facilities participated in and helped teach the first ever Chinese Zoo Orangutan Husbandry Workshop, led by Dr. Graham L. Banes. Through Kansas City’s CREATE program, SAFE orangutan team members worked with local people to create wildlife corridors re-connecting fragmented forests, leading to an invitation to meet with the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment in Sabah.

Program Leader: Ronda Schwetz, Executive Zoo Director, Henry Vilas Zoo 7

CHEETAH The SAFE cheetah program and partners seek to increase cheetah population numbers in southern Africa. This year, with help from 15 AZA-accredited facilities, the program supported the last in a series of workshops hosted by the Range Wide Conservation Program for Cheetah and African Wild Dogs to provide carnivore coordinators with the skills and tools to work with partners on effective cheetah conservation and to address illegal wildlife trade; human wildlife coexistence; and education and awareness; as well as to learn large carnivore monitoring techniques; how to engage with CITES for cheetah conservation; and skills for database development, management and data analysis.

Program Leader: Dr. Cheryl Morris, Chief Conservation Officer, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

WESTERN POND TURTLE The western pond turtle is found from the lowlands of Puget Sound in Washington, southward through western Oregon and California into the northern Baja California peninsula in Mexico. While populations in some areas appear to be stable, others are declining. In 2018, the SAFE western pond turtle program advanced projects to treat an unidentified shell disease, headstart and release turtles, raise public awareness of the turtle and its threats, and monitor populations. The program has prioritized building strong relationships with and among local and federal governments and NGOs to retain and improve the stability of western pond turtle populations throughout their range.

Program Leader: Dr. Jason Watters, Vice President of Wellness and Animal Behavior, San Francisco Zoological Gardens

“AZA’s SAFE Western Pond Turtle Conservation Action Plan has been fully embraced by USFWS and all four range states and has become the basis of conserving western pond turtles across the Western U.S. As the turtle is being reviewed for federal listing, the AZA community is a direct participant in the process, working side by side with federal and state agencies. Our conservation efforts—historical and current—are essential components of the conservation partnerships, strategies and actions being implemented, expanded and planned for in order to avert further loss of the pond turtle.”

Jessie Bushell, Director of Conservation, San Francisco Zoological Gardens SAFE Western Pond Turtle Range-wide Conservation Coalition and SSP Sustainability Project Coordinator 8

WHOOPING CRANE The SAFE whooping crane program, in conjunction with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Canada Wildlife Service, United States Geological Service (USGS) and AZA’s whooping crane Species Survival Plan® program, undertook an historic event this year. The USGS decided to phase out their 50-year whooping crane research program at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, resulting in the need to relocate 71 cranes.

The flock is being distributed to AZA-accredited zoos and 33 cranes were relocated in a single operation in October, with the assistance of the United States Coast Guard. In order to meet the USFWS/CWS recovery goals for reintroduction, three new breeding facilities are in development at White Oak Conservation Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and Dallas Zoo. The International Crane Foundation, Calgary Zoo and Audubon Zoo have been the primary providers of birds for release into the wild and expanded their contributions by receiving additional cranes.

Program Leader: Michael Mace, Director of Animal Collections and Strategy, San Diego Zoo Global Vice Program Leader: Renee Bumpus, Senior Director, Wildlife Conservation Programs, Houston Zoo, Inc.

BLACK-FOOTED FERRET The goal of the SAFE black-footed ferret program is to improve whelping rates of black-footed ferrets for reintroduction purposes. 2018 saw the program advance scientific research to this end, exploring the effects of diets and mate choice and streamlining reproduction assessment tools across all breeding facilities. Raising awareness for ferret conservation and engaging the public are priorities for the program.

Program Leader: Guy Graves, Zookeeper II Conservation Center, Louisville Zoological Garden Vice Program Leader: Dr. Rachel Santymire, Director, Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology, Lincoln Park Zoo 9

“In isolation, not much can be achieved, hence it is of utmost value to have partners or partnerships who bring in resources, factual information and techniques for effective outcomes.”

Kgomotso Mothibi, Community Engagement Officer, Kalahari Conservation and Research

AFRICAN VULTURES Within the first six months of plan implementation, the SAFE African vulture program made considerable progress towards conserving vultures in its four target countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa. Significant new survey efforts are underway to assess critical populations in previously understudied areas, including helicopter surveys of Ruppell’s vulture cliff nests in Northern Kenya, surveys in Africa’s largest game reserve, Selous in Tanzania, and a landmark publication updating the status of vultures in Botswana. Students were supported in all four countries to further these research efforts. On-going efforts to reduce poisoning included training of community groups and rangers in Kenya and Botswana as well as the use of telemetry studies to assess mortality rates with over 50 active tags on vultures across all study sites. Efforts to mitigate collisions with powerlines are underway in Kenya and South Africa, where the threat is at its worst. Rehabilitation and breeding efforts in South Africa have resulted in over 50 releases in six months. More than two million people around the world were reached on International Vulture Awareness Day, raising awareness for the importance of African vulture conservation.

Program Leader: Dr. Corinne Kendall, Curator of Conservation and Research, North Carolina Zoo Vice Program Leader: Dr. Graeme Patterson, Vice President for Field Conservation, Denver Zoo 10

RADIATED TORTOISE The primary goal of the SAFE radiated tortoise program is to re-establish tortoise populations through rehabilitation, release and subsequent protection of confiscated individuals. Illegal trade of radiated tortoises has drastically increased over recent decades. In just 18 years, the population of radiated tortoises has decreased by 50 percent, resulting in scientists predicting the species will go extinct by 2050. Adults, especially females, are collected for consumption in Madagascar, whereas juveniles are illegally shipped out of their homeland and destined for the pet trade in Southeast Asia.

In April 2018, more than 10,000 radiated tortoises destined for illegal trade were confiscated in Madagascar. The SAFE radiated tortoise program, the Turtle Survival Alliance and others rose to the challenge of supporting and caring for these malnourished animals. With the support of over 40 AZA-accredited facilities, as well as other organizations around the world, these tortoises are on the road to recovery, with the hope of an eventual safe return to the wild. Although this process will take time, a proven method to secure a brighter future for these animals has been to release them into protected habitat where local Malagasy people help maintain their safety. Unfortunately, just six months after this mass confiscation, another 7,000 tortoises were discovered and recovered from poachers. The continued support and expertise of the AZA community will help offset the costs of feeding and caring for these animals until they can be returned to where they belong.

Program Leader: Michael Ogle, Curator, Herpetology & Ornithology, Zoo Knoxville 11

AMERICAN RED WOLF The American red wolf is one the most endangered canids in the world. The wolves were driven to near extinction by the 1970s due to habitat loss, widespread persecution and hybridization with local coyote populations. The SAFE American red wolf program partners are committed to the conservation of this species and maintain a healthy and viable population of red wolves under human care and for reintroduction, conduct education and awareness activities, and aid in research that advances the recovery and management of this species.

Program Leader: Chris Lasher, Animal Management Supervisor, North Carolina Zoo Vice Program Leader: Regina Mossotti, Director of Animal Care and Conservation, Endangered Wolf Center

EASTERN INDIGO SNAKE While the eastern indigo snake was once abundant, it has experienced widespread declines, specifically in the northwestern portion of its range in southern Alabama and northwest Florida due to the destruction of the longleaf pine ecosystem. The eastern indigo snake is an icon of conservation in the southeastern United States. Many education departments consider the eastern indigo snake to be a well-liked and impressive outreach animal that is easy to talk about with guests interested in learning about habitat loss, fragmentation and the longleaf pine ecosystem. AZA-accredited facilities are a critical piece of the head-starting and reintroduction efforts that help bolster wild populations of eastern indigo snakes. In 2018, 40 eastern indigo snakes were released at designated release sites and the Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation (OCIC) hatched 47 eastern indigo snakes that will also be reintroduced to the wild. An additional three snakes were hatched at the OCIC that are eligible to participate in the breeding efforts within AZA-accredited facilities.

Program Leader: Michelle Hoffman, Director, Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation, Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens 12

ATLANTIC ACROPORA CORAL The two species of Atlantic Acropora corals, along with their naturally-occurring hybrid, were once keystone species and primary reef-builders in the tropical western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. During the 1970s and 1980s, their populations underwent precipitous declines in abundance, documented to be as high as 97 percent across large sections of the Caribbean and South Florida. This greatly reduced these species’ ability to reproduce successfully through both of their natural reproductive strategies: sexual (broadcast spawning) and asexual (fragmentation). The SAFE Atlantic Acropora coral program and its partners aim to increase abundance of these coral species through research, reef restoration and the propagation of corals in land-based and in situ coral nurseries.

Program Leaders: Bart Shepherd, Senior Director, Steinhart Aquarium Mike Brittsan, Director of Aquatic Sciences, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

AFRICAN LION Over the last 25 years, African lion numbers have been reduced by half, primarily as a result of direct conflict with people and habitat loss. The SAFE African lion program is partnering with the WCN Lion Recovery Fund and field partners in Africa to leverage the influence, audience and resources of AZA-accredited zoos to double the number of wild lions in Africa by 2050.

Program Leader: Hollie Colahan, Vice President for Animal Care, Denver Zoo 13

SEA TURTLE As a migratory ocean species that nests on land, sea turtles face many threats from humans, including entanglement in fishing gear, coastal development that disturbs nests and nesting patterns, and unsustainable and illegal shell trade. In 2018, the SAFE sea turtle program convened a meeting of AZA and field partner stakeholders to identify the priority areas of focus that will inform the development of their upcoming program plan.

Program Leader: Mark Swingle, Director of Research & Conservation, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

BLACK RHINOCEROS Since 1960, a poaching-driven decline reduced already-low black rhino populations by approximately 98% to just 2,400 animals by the mid-1990s. Due to sustained conservation efforts, numbers of this species increased to almost 5,000 animals in 2010. However, a massive resurgence in poaching in recent years is, once again, threatening this species. The AZA community is helping to reduce demand for rhino horn and raise money to support black rhino habitat conservation, the two greatest threats to this species.

Program Leader: Lisa Smith, General Curator, Buffalo Zoo

GORILLAS $7.7 million was reported spent by AZA-accredited facilities to support gorilla conservation from 2013–2017.

The SAFE gorilla program is developing a program plan to address current threats and focus on the two most threatened sub-species, the Cross River and Grauer’s gorillas.

Program Leader: Dr. Kristen Lukas, Director of Conservation and Science, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Vice Program Leader: Dr. Colleen McCann, Curator of Mammals, Bronx Zoo, Wildlife Conservation Society 14

ASIAN ELEPHANT The SAFE Asian elephant program is aligning their program plan with the priorities that emerged from the 8th IUCN SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group meeting in Guwahati, India, including the development of projects that address the issue of habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation.

Program Leader: Adam Felts, Curator the Heart of Africa and Asia Quest, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Vice Program Leader: Nick Newby

VAQUITA Threatened by the use of illegal and unsustainable fishing gear like gillnets, and with fewer than 30 vaquitas remaining, the SAFE vaquita program is striving to make the plight of the vaquita known to all. The program is developing a project to raise awareness about efforts to mitigate the threats of illegal fishing and widespread use of gillnets and to educate the public on purchasing vaquita-friendly seafood and products to help save the vaquita and create a more sustainable ecosystem for other marine life in the area.

Program Leader: Dr. James Danoff-Burg, Director of Conservation, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

“In a world in which the majority of conservation challenges are anthropogenic, SAFE provides a unique framework to leverage not only the unequaled animal expertise of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, but also the deep connections formed with 195 million annual visitors, in order to accomplish strategic conservation objectives with conservation partners around the world.”

Dr. Estelle Sandhaus, Director of Conservation and Science, Santa Barbara Zoo AZA’s Field Conservation Committee 15

Program Partners, Collaborators and Funders

AFRICAN LION »» Republic of South Africa »» Kalahari Research and ASIAN ELEPHANT »» Denver Zoo Department of Environmental Conservation »» Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Affairs »» Disney’s Animal Kingdom »» Los Angeles Zoo and Garden »» Robben Island Museum Botanical Garden »» Los Angeles Zoo »» Columbus Zoo and Aquarium »» Saginaw Children’s Zoo »» North Carolina Aquarium at »» Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo »» Oklahoma City Zoological Park Pine Knoll Shores and Aquarium »» San Diego Zoo Global »» Saint Louis Zoo »» North Carolina Zoological Park »» Seabird and Penguin »» Tulsa Zoo Rehabilitation Centre » Phoenix Zoo, Arizona Center AFRICAN PENGUINS » »» Seneca Park Zoo for Nature Conservation »» AAZK Red River ATLANTIC ACROPORA »» Smithsonian Conservation »» The Peregrine Fund »» African Penguin and Seabird CORAL Biology Institute »» Raptors Botswana Sanctuary »» Columbus Zoo and Aquarium »» Smithsonian National »» Ruaha Carnivore Project »» Audubon Nature Institute »» Coral Restoration Foundation Zoological Park »» Saint Louis Zoo »» AZA African Penguin Species »» The Florida Aquarium » South African Association for Survival Plan® » »» San Diego Zoo Global Marine Biological Research »» John G. Shedd Aquarium »» BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo »» St. Augustine Alligator Farm »» Mote Marine Laboratory and »» South African Foundation for the Zoological Park »» CapeNature Conservation of Coastal Seabirds Aquarium » Tracy Aviary » Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical » » »» South African Marine »» NOAA Restoration Center Garden »» VulPro Rehabilitation and Education »» NOAA’s Acropora Recovery »» Dallas Zoo Centre »» Wildlife Conservation Society Implementation Team » Zoo Atlanta »» Georgia Aquarium »» South African National Parks » »» Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo »» Steven Jaeger »» University of Bristol and Aquarium AMERICAN RED WOLF »» Lehigh Valley Zoo »» University of Cape Town »» Perry Institute for Marine »» Bergen City Zoological Park Science, The Bahamas »» Marine Research Institute »» University of Exeter »» Endangered Wolf Center »» SECORE International »» The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore »» University of Miami Miller School » Fossil Rim Wildlife Center » Smithsonian Conservation »» Mystic Aquarium of Medicine » » » Museum of Life and Science Biology Institute »» National Aviary »» uShaka Sea World » »» South-East Zoo Alliance for » Nelson Mandela Metropolitan »» Walker Foundation »» North Carolina Zoological Park » Reproduction and Conservation University »» Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium »» The Seas »» Newport Aquarium AFRICAN VULTURE » Smithsonian Conservation »» Steinhart Aquarium, California »» North Carolina Aquariums »» Brandywine Zoo » Biology Institute Academy of Sciences »» Oceanographic Research »» Cheyenne Mountain Zoo »» Smithsonian National Institute »» Dallas Zoo Zoological Park »» OdySea Aquarium »» Denver Zoo »» Zoo Knoxville »» Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo »» Detroit Zoo and Aquarium »» Frankfurt Zoological Society »» Pan-African Association of Zoos and Aquaria 16

BLACK-FOOTED FERRET »» Oklahoma Department of BLACK RHINOCEROS »» San Diego Zoo Global »» Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Conservation »» Buffalo Zoo »» Scovill Zoo Department »» Phoenix Zoo, Arizona Center »» Smithsonian Conservation »» Audubon of Kansas for Nature Conservation CHEETAH Biology Institute »» Canada Grasslands National Park »» Prairie Wildlife Research »» African Lion Safari »» Smithsonian National »» Cheyenne Mountain Zoo »» Rosebud Sioux Tribe »» AZA Cheetah Species Zoological Park (South Dakota) ® »» Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Survival Plan »» South African National Parks »» Smithsonian Conservation »» City of Fort Collins Natural »» AZA Population Management »» Virginia Zoo Biology Institute Areas Department Center »» White Oak Conservation Center »» South Dakota Game, Fish »» Colorado Cattlemen’s »» Binder Park Zoo »» Zoo Miami and Parks Department Association »» Cheetah Conservation Botswana »» Texas Parks and Wildlife »» Colorado Parks and Wildlife Guard Dog Program EASTERN INDIGO SNAKE Department »» Defenders of Wildlife »» Cheetah Conservation Fund »» Alabama Department of »» Toronto Zoo »» Ecología y Conservación de »» Cheetah Outreach South Africa Conservation and Natural »» Turner Endangered Species Fund Fauna Silvestre Instituto de Guard Dog Program Resources Ecología, UNAM »» Universidad Nacional Autónoma »» Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical »» Auburn University de México »» Gros Venture and Assiniboine Garden »» Birmingham Zoo »» U.S. Army, Fort Carson Tribe (Ft. Belknap, Mont.) »» Columbus Zoo and Aquarium »» Central Florida Zoo and »» Kansas Department of Wildlife, »» U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service »» Connecticut’s Beardly Zoo Botanical Gardens Parks and Tourism »» U.S. Forest Service »» Dickerson Park Zoo »» Florida Fish and Wildlife »» Lower Brule Sioux Tribe »» U.S. Geological Survey »» Endangered Wildlife Trust Conservation Commission (South Dakota) »» USDA APHIS Wildlife Services »» Houston Zoo, Inc. »» Georgia Department of »» Montana Department of Fish, Natural Resources »» USDA Natural Resources and »» Indianapolis Zoological Wildlife and Parks Conservation Service Society, Inc. »» Georgia Sea Turtle Center »» National Fish and Wildlife »» USDOI Biological Resources »» Little Rock Zoo »» Joseph W. Jones Ecological Foundation Division (Fort Collins, Colo. and Research Center »» The Living Desert Zoo »» National Wildlife Federation Madison, Wis.) and Gardens »» The Nature Conservancy »» The Nature Conservancy (Kansas »» USDOI Bureau of Indian Affairs »» Oklahoma City Zoo and »» Orianne Center for Indigo and South Dakota) »» USDOI Bureau of Land Botanical Garden Conservation »» Navajo Nation (Arizona, Management »» Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo »» Orianne Society New Mexico) »» USDOI National Park Service and Aquarium »» University of Florida »» Nebraska Game and Parks »» USDOI OIA Canada »» Pan-African Association of »» U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Commission »» USFWS National Black-footed Zoos and Aquaria »» U.S. Forest Service »» New Mexico Department of Ferret Conservation Center »» Panthera Game and Fish »» Welaka National Fish Hatchery »» Utah Division of Wildlife »» Phoenix Zoo, Arizona Center »» North Dakota Game and »» Zoo Atlanta Resource for Nature Conservation Fish Department »» Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park »» World Wildlife Fund »» Range Wide Conservation Plan »» Northern Cheyenne Tribe »» Wyoming Game and Fish (Montana) »» Roger Williams Park Zoo Department »» San Antonio Zoo 17

GIRAFFE »» Save the Elephants RADIATED TORTOISE »» Topeka Zoo »» Care for Karamoja »» Senckenberge Biodiversity and »» AAZK Memphis Zoo »» Tulsa Zoo »» Chester Zoo Climate Research Center »» AAZK Woodland Park Zoo »» Utah’s Hogle Zoo »» Cheyenne Mountain Zoo »» Six Flags »» Abilene Zoo »» Virginia Aquarium and Marine »» Cleveland Metroparks Zoo »» Smithsonian Conservation »» Audubon Nature Institute Science Center Biology Institute »» Colorado State University »» Blank Park Zoo »» Wildlife Conservation Society – »» Smithsonian National Bronx Zoo »» Columbus Zoo and Aquarium »» Brevard Zoo Zoological Park »» White Oak Conservation Center »» Dartmouth College »» Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical »» Twiga Walinzi »» Zoo Atlanta »» Detroit Zoo Garden »» Uganda Wildlife Authority »» Zoo Knoxville »» Disney’s Animal Kingdom »» Columbus Zoo and Aquarium »» Uganda Wildlife Education »» Connecticut Zoological Society »» Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park »» Giraffe Conservation Foundation Centre »» Goethe University »» Dallas World Aquarium »» Utah’s Hogle Zoo SEA TURTLES »» Grevy’s Zebra Trust »» Dallas Zoo »» Wild Nature Institute »» Audubon Aquarium of the »» Denver Zoo »» IBEIS »» Wilde Americas »» Dickerson Park Zoo »» Kenya Wildlife Service »» Zoo Miami »» Central Florida Zoo and »» Disney’s Animal Kingdom »» Leiden Conservation Foundation »» Zooniverse Botanical Gardens »» Lewa Wildlife Conservancy »» El Paso Zoo »» Samantha Davison »» The Living Desert Zoo GORILLA »» Fort Worth Zoo »» Gladys Porter Zoo and Gardens »» Cleveland Metroparks Zoo »» Georgia Aquarium »» IUCN SSC Marine Turtle »» Loisaba Conservancy »» Disney’s Animal Kingdom »» Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Specialist Group Museum of Natural History »» Namunyak Wildlife »» North Carolina Zoological Park »» The Maritime Aquarium Conservation Trust »» Greensboro Science Center »» Stonyfield Organics »» North Carolina Aquarium »» The Nature Conservancy »» Houston Zoo, Inc. on Roanoke Island »» Wildlife Conservation Society – »» North Carolina Zoological Park Bronx Zoo »» Indianapolis Zoo »» OdySea Aquarium »» Northern Rangelands Trust »» John G. Shedd Aquarium »» South Carolina Aquarium »» Oklahoma City Zoological Park ORANGUTAN »» Lion Country Safari »» Texas State Aquarium »» Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo »» Cameron Park Zoo »» Little Rock Zoo »» Virginia Aquarium and Marine and Aquarium »» Como Park Zoo and »» Naples Zoo Science Center »» Oregon Zoo Conservatory »» New England Aquarium SHARKS AND RAYS »» Riverbanks Zoo and Garden »» Denver Zoo »» North Carolina Zoological Park »» Adventure Aquarium »» Roosevelt Park Zoo »» Fresno Chaffee Zoo »» Oklahoma City Zoo and »» Sacramento Zoo »» Henry Vilas Zoo Botanical Garden »» Aquarium of the Pacific »» Sacramento Zoo »» Kansas City Zoo and Botanical »» Oregon Zoo »» Audubon Aquarium of the Americas Conservation Fund Garden »» Phoenix Zoo, Arizona Center »» Saint Louis Zoo »» Los Angeles Zoo for Nature Conservation »» Cabrillo Marine Aquarium »» San Diego Zoo Global »» Palm Beach Zoo »» Point Defiance Zoo and »» California Science Center »» Santa Barbara Zoological »» Seneca Park Zoo Aquarium »» Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization Gardens »» Smithsonian National »» San Diego Zoo Global »» Sarara Camp Zoological Park »» Tennessee Aquarium »» Dallas World Aquarium 18

»» The Deep – U.K. VAQUITA WESTERN POND TURTLE WHOOPING CRANE »» The Florida Aquarium »» Aquarium of the Pacific »» AECOM »» Audubon Zoo »» Georgia Aquarium »» Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum »» AZA Western Pond Turtle SSP® »» Calgary Zoo »» International Elasmobranch »» California State University »» California Department of Fish »» Dallas Zoo Census »» Cosley Zoo and Wildlife »» Houston Zoo »» John G. Shedd Aquarium »» El Paso Zoo »» Fresno Chaffee Zoo »» International Crane Foundation »» Lisa Johnson »» John G. Shedd Aquarium »» John G. Shedd Aquarium »» San Diego Zoo Global »» The Living Desert Zoo »» The Living Desert Zoo »» The Living Desert Zoo »» Smithsonian Conservation and Gardens and Gardens and Gardens Biology Institute »» Monterey Bay Aquarium »» Marine Mammal Commission »» Northwest Trek Wildlife Park »» Stonyfield Organics »» Mote Marine Laboratory and »» Monterey Bay Aquarium »» Oregon Department of Fish »» White Oak Conservation Center Aquarium and Wildlife »» Monterey Bay Aquarium »» National Aquarium Seafood Watch »» Oregon Zoo GENERAL »» Newport Aquarium »» Mystic Aquarium »» Pikes Peak Community College »» Becky Payne »» North Carolina Aquarium at »» National Marine Mammal »» Sacramento Zoo »» Bergen City Zoological Park Fort Fisher Foundation »» San Francisco Zoological »» Boonshoft Museum »» North Carolina Aquarium at Gardens »» North Carolina Aquariums »» Carolyn Good Pine Knoll Shores »» Sequoia Park Zoo »» Ocean Park Corporation »» Ellen Console »» OdySea Aquarium »» Southern Oregon and Northern »» The Ocean Project »» Good Samaritan United Church »» Oregon Coast Aquarium California Turtle Working Group »» Oregon Coast Aquarium »» Gretchen Trendel »» Phlebotomy and Blood »» Stonyfield Organics »» Reid Park Zoo »» Kate Warner Chemistry Registry »» Turtle Conservancy »» San Diego Zoo Global »» Kathryn Binder »» Point Defiance Zoo and »» U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Aquarium »» Santa Barbara Zoological »» Kevin Justice Gardens »» U.S. Forest Service »» SEA LIFE Carlsbad Aquarium »» Lancia Hopkins »» SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium »» U.S. Geological Survey »» SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium »» Marcia Kipnis »» SEA LIFE Carlsbad Aquarium »» Washington Department of »» The Seas Fish and Wildlife »» Mark Quigley »» SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium »» Seattle Aquarium »» Woodland Park Zoo »» Reyna Ocampo »» SeaWorld Parks and »» Shark Advocates International »» Taylor Casini Entertainment »» Shark Reef Aquarium at »» Texas State Aquarium »» Texas State Aquarium Mandalay Bay »» Unite for Literacy »» Shark Trust »» WhaleTimes »» Shark4Kids »» Wild Lens »» South-East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction and Conservation »» Toledo Zoological Gardens »» Wildlife Conservation Society – Bronx Zoo »» Wildlife Conservation Society – New York Aquarium 19

Raising Awareness and Engaging People

In support of and alongside the mission of SAFE, AZA is working to increase widespread understanding of the conservation work of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, and to increase understanding about the importance of saving species. In 2018, AZA’s national communication effort told the story about SAFE through national media collaborations and social media campaigns.

AZA worked with National Geographic to develop an online quiz for Endangered Species Day that challenged people’s knowledge of whether an item was food, clothing, or an endangered species. Several of the endangered species featured in the quiz were SAFE species. AZA also celebrated SAFE species during a nearly two-month Party for the Planet®, running from Earth Day to World Oceans Day, with engaging, intriguing, and shareable social media posts. The images and accompanying text were available for use by all AZA members, along with a schedule of posts. This 50-day campaign reached 3.5 million people across the AZA social media channels. 20

SAFE Species Programs Tell Their Story and Engage People

Every SAFE species program has stakeholder engagement and public awareness components— some within AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, and some on the ground in range communities. For example:

WHAT SHARK ARE YOU? The SAFE Sharks and Rays Public Engagement team developed tools and materials that were shared by more than a dozen AZA-accredited facilities on Shark and Ray Awareness Day. This included a shark personality quiz taken by more than 3,000 people. The quiz included fun shark facts the quiz taker “shared” with their matched shark or ray species.

AFRICAN VULTURE AWARENESS DAY On International Vulture Awareness Day, the SAFE African vulture program engaged with more than 110 organizations globally and at least 14 AZA-accredited facilities by developing and releasing two toolkits to assist with education efforts in the U.S. and in African vulture range countries. Their efforts reached more than two million people around the world to raise awareness for the importance of African vulture conservation.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA: HELPING ORANGUTANS The SAFE orangutan program worked in Malaysia to help create wildlife corridors for orangutans. The team planted 130 trees, maintained another 300 trees previously planted, and completed two days of enrichment for the orangutans at the Lok Kawi Zoo in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. These activities prompted an invitation to meet with the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment in Sabah to discuss orangutan conservation. 21

Corporate Partnerships

ZEBRA PEN HELPS SAVE SPECIES In 2018, long-time AZA corporate partner Zebra Pen wanted to promote SAFE in a unique and fun way, and what better way than showcasing their pens and the SAFE species? AZA and its members shared images of the SAFE species with Zebra Pen, who then contacted artists to re-create the photos by using Zebra Pen’s pens to draw the images. The results were shared on social media, generating over 308,000 impressions across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Zebra Pen also authored a “Family Features” article that was placed in over 2,000 publications, generating over 672 million impressions and having an estimated media value of $2.7 million. The article,“5 Fun, Educational Summer Activities for Kids,” showcased SAFE and directed readers to a SAFE-branded webpage at www.zebrapen.com/aza/.

GORILLA SOCKS AZA had been searching for a licensing partner for SAFE and found it in Gorilla Socks. The company was created to help raise awareness of the threat of extinction to endangered species. They tell this story through each pair of comfortable, colorful bamboo socks, and each purchase of any of the five pairs of socks in the SAFE line supports SAFE.

Website: www.gorilla-socks.com/collections/aza-safe

“Five years ago when we looked at all the great causes we were supporting, we realized that there was an opportunity to give back to an icon that has been so instrumental in our business—the zebra. As we investigated the cultural and environmental impact of an extinct or vanishing species it only made sense for us to get involved in some way. Further research revealed the vast work that the AZA performed in addressing this deeply important issue. Our partnership continues to connect our brand with the animal for which we are named and connects us more deeply with the work of the AZA. Like all of the causes with which we are involved, there is more we would like to do; however, the partnership is extremely valuable and important to our organization and our domestic (U.S.) brand identity.”

Kenneth Newman, Director of Marketing, Zebra Pen 22

“Since launching our partnership with SAFE in August of this year, the feedback on the SAFE styles has been really positive. Our customers are genuinely drawn by the opportunity to support the SAFE species, and we are excited to see this relationship evolve throughout the festive period and on into 2019. We truly appreciate the support of AZA, and are committed to growing our support of this amazing organization.”

Gavin Kamara, Chief Sock Officer, Gorilla Socks

MEDIA COVERAGE

There were 686* MEDIA STORIES about SAFE and the SAFE species in 2018. *As of 20 November 2018

Posts about SAFE and Press releases on SAFE—including one on adding four species to the SAFE species by AZA program and one marking the third year of SAFE—were picked up by and its members reached nearly 400 NEWS OUTLETS, resulting in a potential reach of over 2.6 MILLION USERS on 38 MILLION IMPRESSIONS. Facebook and Twitter.

AZA Expands SAFE Conservation Initiative with On Endangered Species Day, Association of Zoos Addition of Four New Species (10 January 2018) and Aquariums Celebrate Third Year of Successful Collaborative (21 May 2018) This story was picked up by 174 news outlets located in four countries and had 2,810 associated social media interactions in This story was picked up by 288 news outlets located in five the first seven days after the original URL was published. countries and had 34 associated social media interactions in the first seven days after the original URL was published. POTENTIAL REACH: 12.9 MILLION POTENTIAL REACH: 25.2 MILLION 23

SAFE Founders Circle

As of 15 November 2018 Brevard Zoo Calgary Zoo Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Audubon Zoo Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Natural History Columbus Zoo and Dallas Zoo John Ball Zoo Aquarium Jacksonville Zoo and Little Rock Zoological Garden Detroit Zoo Gardens Louisville Zoological Garden Disney Worldwide Los Angeles Zoo and Services Inc Botanical Gardens Mystic Aquarium Houston Zoo, Inc. Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens National Aquarium Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc. Minnesota Zoological Garden North Carolina Aquariums Lincoln Park Zoo Phoenix Zoo, Arizona Center for North Carolina Zoological Park Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Nature Conservation Oregon Zoo Saint Louis Zoo San Antonio Zoological Society Philadelphia Zoo Service Systems Associates, Inc. Sedgwick County Zoo Riverbanks Zoo and Garden Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Schultz & Williams Wildlife Conservation Society Smithsonian National Zoological Park Virginia Zoological Park Woodland Park Zoo

“SAFE provides a collaborative platform for every individual AZA member, member facility, and even people from outside our community, to contribute to meaningful conservation projects. We can harness our collective power and focus our efforts to make a real difference for global wildlife. Rather than a scattershot approach, SAFE concentrates our collective field conservation strategies and dollars, maximizing our impact in a way that the world has never seen before!”

Norberto J. (Bert) Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer, Phoenix Zoo, Arizona Center for Nature Conservation 24

Additional Support Akron Zoological Park Roosevelt Park Zoo Aquarium of the Pacific Sacramento Zoo Blank Park Zoo Saginaw Children’s Zoo PHILANTHROPIC AZA is grateful for the Walter Family Cameron Park Zoo San Francisco Zoological Foundation, Inc.’s support of SAFE. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Gardens Seattle Aquarium El Paso Zoo CORPORATE Texas State Aquarium Friends of Henry Vilas Zoo Baby Jogger Topeka Zoo Greenville Zoo Gorilla Socks Tracy Aviary John G. Shedd Aquarium Stonyfield Organics Turtle Back Zoo Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden Zebra Pen Miles River Direct Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Monterey Bay Aquarium Western North Carolina Nature Center Morey Consulting Zoo Boise Naples Zoo Wildlife Safari Oakland Zoo Ocean Park Corporation Oklahoma City Zoological Park Pueblo Zoo Roger Williams Park Zoo “The Field Conservation Committee is honored to help our members become involved in SAFE. As AZA’s conservation brand, SAFE makes it easy for our members to be involved in meaningful conservation, and we hope that all AZA members will become actively involved. Through SAFE we hope to realize AZA’s potential of saving animals from extinction.”

Tom Stalf, President and Chief Executive Officer, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Chair, AZA’s Field Conservation Committee

PHOTO CREDITS 2018 AZA BOARD OF DIRECTORS »» Dr. Alejandro Grajal, President and Chief Executive Officer, Woodland Park Zoo Western pond turtle © Michael Durham, Oregon Zoo (JANUARY–SEPTEMBER 2018) Chair: Jim Breheny, Executive Vice President »» John Lewis, Zoo Director, Los Angeles Zoo Loggerhead sea turtle © Barbara Bergwerf, and General Director, Zoos and Aquarium, and Botanical Garden South Carolina Aquarium Jonathan Little Cohen Director of the Bronx Zoo »» Steve Marshall, Director, El Paso Zoo Orangutan at Semmengoh, Borneo © Ronda Schwetz, Wildlife Conservation Society »» Adrienne Rowland, Director, Shark Reef Henry Vilas Zoo Chair-Elect: Gregg Hudson, Executive Director Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Western pond turtle © Oregon Zoo and Chief Executive Officer, Dallas Zoo »» Elizabeth Whealy, President and Chief Black-footed ferret © Kyle Shepherd, Louisville Zoo Management, Inc. Executive Officer, Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History White backed vulture © Tim Lewthwaite Chair-Elect: Peggy Sloan, Chief Animal Operations Officer, John G. Shedd Aquarium Radiated tortoise eating © Aaron Gekoski, 2018 AZA SAFE STAFF CONTACTS Utah’s Hogle Zoo Vice-Chair: Dr. Christopher Kuhar, Executive Director, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo »» Kayla Ripple, SAFE Coordinator Local with radiated tortoises © Christina Castellano, »» Shelly Grow, VP, Conservation and Science Utah’s Hogle Zoo Immediate Past Chair: Dennis W. Kelly, Director, Smithsonian National Zoological Park »» Rob Vernon, SVP, Communications and Radiated tortoise © Aaron Gekoski, Utah’s Hogle Zoo Marketing Red wolves © Endangered Wolf Center, St. Louis, MO DIRECTORS Eastern indigo snake © Orianne Center for Indigo »» Bert Castro, President and Chief Executive Conservation Officer, Phoenix Zoo, Arizona Center for Staghorn coral © MOTE Marine Laboratory Nature Conservation Diver and elkhorn coral © Erinn Muller, »» Dr. Brian Davis, Executive Vice President of MOTE Marine Laboratory Operations, Georgia Aquarium » Suzanne Gendron, Executive Director of Vaquita and calf © Thomas A. Jefferson/VIVA Vaquita » Zoological Operations and Education, Ocean Zebra shark © Georgia Aquarium Park Corporation Bornean orangutan © Marie Kraus, Seneca Park Zoo »» Chris Gentile, Director, Western North Carolina Nature Center The sixth global extinction crisis is here. AZA-accredited aquariums and zoos have an opportunity— and a responsibility—to work together to slow species extinction. SAFE provides a framework to increase the involvement and the impact of AZA members and seeks to have 100 percent of the membership actively involved with at least one SAFE program.

Visit www.aza.org/safe and learn how to help an existing SAFE species program meet its goals or collaborate with other AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums to champion a new SAFE species program. SAFE can only meet its potential of saving animals from extinction with the leadership, expertise and engagement of the entire AZA community.

Join us!

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