Andean Highland Flamingo SAFE.Program Plan.2021-2023
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Andean Highland Flamingo SAFE Species Program Three-Year Plan (2021-2023) 9 March 2021 Program Leaders Daniel Hilliard, Ph.D. and Sue Tygielski, Ph.D. Table of Contents Program Description Background………………………………………………………………………………………. 3 Program Goal…………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 Program Operational Structure………………………………………………………………… 5 Conservation Targets…………………………………………………………………………… 6 Status of Taxa within AZA Community………………………………………………………... 6 AZA Conservation Activities……………………………………………………………………. 7 Andean Highland Flamingos Conservation Monitoring Program………………………… 8 AZA Public Awareness and Engagement Activities…………………………………………. 9 Species Status Conservation Status…………………………………………………………………………….. 10 Recovery Plan or Conservation Plan in Effect……………………………………………….. 11 Threats……………………………………………………………………………………………. 12 Work Plan Objectives Conservation Objectives……………………………………………………………………….. 13 Public / Stakeholder Objectives………………………………………………………………... 14 Communications/Public Awareness Objectives……………………………………………… 15 Funding Objectives……………………………………………………………………………… 16 Program Summary Tables Tables…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17-20 References References……………………………………………………………………………………….. 21-24 2 Background Their colorful plumage, gregarious behaviors, and flamboyant displays make flamingos crowd favorites at zoological facilities throughout the world. Chilean flamingos, one of three flamingo species native to South America’s Andean highlands, are featured prominently at more than sixty AZA accredited zoos and aquariums, and oftentimes used as awareness and ambassador animals. Their recognizable likenesses are also used to generate sales at gift stores and promote special events, celebrations, and environmental awareness days. In the wild, Andean (Phoenicoparrus andinus), Chilean (Phoenicoparrus chilensis), and Puna (James’s) flamingos (Phoenicoparrus jamesi) are threatened by human activity throughout much of their geographic range, particularly in the Andean highlands of northern Chile. There, these three flamingo species cohabitate in flocks that concentrate in and around brackish, alkaline wetlands known as salars, where they feed on red algae and other microscopic organisms. The unique habitats provide important feeding, breeding, and nesting grounds for the birds and are critical to their survival. However, human activities such as mining and unregulated tourism have increasingly disturbed the salars upon which the three sympatric species of flamingo depend. As a result, Andean, Chilean, and Puna (James’s) flamingos are now categorized as vulnerable by Chile’s environmental authorities, and as vulnerable or near threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Andean Highland Flamingo SAFE species program was created in recognition of the ongoing threats to wild Andean, Chilean, and Puna (James’s) flamingos and their habitat. The program plan draws upon the expertise and resources of AZA accredited facilities, range country partners, and affiliated interest groups, and its recommended actions are informed by existing recovery and conservation plans developed by range country stakeholders, organizations, and government authorities. Andean Highland Flamingos SAFE invites and welcomes all interested AZA accredited zoos, aquariums, and certified-related facilities to become program partners. Chilean flamingo (Zoológico Nacional de Chile, 2018). 3 Program Goal The goal of the Andean Highland Flamingo (AHF) SAFE species program is to ensure sustainable populations of Andean, Chilean, and Puna (James’s) flamingos throughout their geographic range in South America. AHF SAFE supports the recovery and conservation of these three species through research, monitoring, public engagement, targeted training, community outreach, and education programming. In the first three-year plan, AHF SAFE focuses on the recovery and conservation of Andean, Chilean, and Puna (James’s) flamingos in the Andean highlands of northern Chile. Specifically, the program will help fill research gaps and assist with the identification, prioritization, and designation of critical flamingo habitat in Chile’s northern Andean highlands. Priority program activities will be undertaken in support of the Chilean government’s Flamencos Altoandinos en el Norte de Chile: Estado Actual y Plan de Conservación (CONAF, 2005) and in coordination with range country authorities and partners. AHF SAFE recognizes the threats facing Andean, Chilean, and Puna (James’s) flamingos in other parts of their geographic range and supports the ongoing field research and public engagement activities of AZA member institutions in these areas. However, AHF SAFE recommends that any new support for Andean, Chilean, or Puna (James’s) flamingo conservation be directed toward achieving the priority research, recovery, and conservation goals outlined in this three-year plan. AHF SAFE invites all AZA accredited zoological facilities to become program partners and support the aspirational goal of advancing research and protection of Andean highland flamingos and their habitat, and creating a recovery and conservation network that connects zoos and aquariums, range country partners, and flamingo enthusiasts around the world. Salar de Surire, Chile (Zoológico Nacional de Chile, 2018) 4 Program Operational Structure Affiliation Representative Title Contact Information Program Leaders Zoo Conservation Daniel Hilliard, PhD Executive Director [email protected] Outreach Group (301) 562-0777 ext. 244 Reid Park Zoo Sue Tygielski, PhD Director of Zoo [email protected] Operations (520) 827-8186 Program Partners - Steering Committee Alexandria Zoo Lisa Laskowski General Curator [email protected] (318) 441-6835 Oklahoma City Zoo Holly Ray Chilean Flamingo [email protected] SSP Coordinator (405) 425-0276 Dallas Zoo Harrison Edell Chief Mission Officer [email protected] TAG Chair (469) 554-7201 Dickerson Park Zoo Mike Crocker Zoo Director [email protected] (417) 833-1570 Greenville Zoo Nick Kapustin Veterinarian [email protected] (864) 467-5748 Program Advisors Zoologico Nacional Guillermo Cubillos Director of [email protected] de Chile Torres Conservation Science IUCN Flamingo Paul Rose Co-Chair, Flamingo [email protected] Specialist Group Specialist Group Reid Park Zoo Jennifer Stoddard Education Supervisor [email protected] (520) 837-8200 Greenville Zoo Lynn Watkins Education Curator [email protected] (864) 467-4850 Oklahoma City Zoo Candice Rennels Director of [email protected] and Botanical Garden Public Relations (405) 412-6172 AZA Wildlife Conservation Committee (WCC) Liaison Oklahoma City Zoo Kevin Drees Director of [email protected] and Botanical Garden Animal Collections (405) 425-0604 5 Conservation Targets The Andean Highland Flamingo SAFE species program focuses on the recovery and conservation of three flamingo species (Phoenicopteridae) found in South America: the Andean Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus), Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis), and Puna (James’s) Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi) throughout their range. The objectives for the 2021-2023 program plan focus specifically on populations found in the Andean highlands of northern Chile, due to their dramatic population declines, strong support of the national government for recovery, and the important role that salar habitat found in the area plays for all three species. Status of Taxon Within the AZA Community Chilean flamingos are managed under an AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP). A draft of the SSP’s most recent Population Analysis & Breeding and Transfer Plan lists 1,776 birds (837.769.170) held at 57 AZA member institutions1 (See Table 1). Neither Andean nor Puna (James’s) flamingos are currently managed at AZA zoos, aquariums, or certfied-related facilities. The Ciconiiformes, Phoenicopteriformes, and Pelecaniformes Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) oversees the Chilean flamingo SSP and in its Regional Collection Plan (AZA, 2020) set a target population size of 1,950 birds for the program. Under AZA’s current sustainability designations, the Chilean flamingo SSP qualifies as a “Green” program. Program leaders of the Chilean flamingo SSP and Ciconiiformes, Phoenicopteriformes, and Pelecaniformes TAG participate on the Andean Highland Flamingo SAFE Steering Committee. Table 1: AZA Facilities Holding Chilean Flamingos Africam Safari Park Greenville Zoo Phoenix Zoo Akron Zoological Park Henry Vilas Zoo Reid Park Zoo Alexandria Zoological Park Houston Zoo Roger Williams Park Zoo Blank Park Zoo Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Rolling Hills Zoo Park Brevard Zoo Indianapolis Zoological Society Rosamond Gifford Zoo Bronx Zoo John Ball Zoo San Antonio Zoological Society Busch Gardens—Tampa Kansas City Zoo San Diego Zoo Safari Park Caldwell Zoo Lee Richardson Zoo San Francisco Zoological Gardens Calgary Zoo Lincoln Park Zoo Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Little Rock Zoo Scovill Zoo Como Park Zoo Los Angeles Zoo SeaWorld Orlando 1 The 27 October 2020 draft cites 55 holding facilities, but lists 57 in the document. Table 1 contains all 57 holding facilities. 6 Table 1: AZA Facilities Holding Chilean Flamingos (Cont.) Denver Zoo Louisville Zoological Garden Sea World San Antonio Detroit Zoo Memphis Zoo Sequoia Park Zoo Dickerson Park Zoo Milwaukee County Zoological Tracy Aviary Gardens Ellen Trout Zoo Nashville Zoo Turtle Back Zoo Fort Worth Zoo North Carolina Zoological Park Wildlife Safari Fundación Temaikèn