Conservation in Captivity

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facility’s Frozen Zoo, one of the world’s first major collections of cryopreserved cells from zoo animals. In 1980, she initiated the Germ- plasm Repository — a collection of frozen reproductive cells from endangered species that capture genetic diversity, allowing it to be reintroduced into gene pools. In so doing, she

DEBRA HUGHES/SHUTTERSTOCK helped to launch the field of gamete research. After her postdoc ended later that year, the zoo offered Durrant a permanent research posi- tion. Now director of reproductive physiology at San Diego Zoo Global, the conservation organization that runs the zoo, Durrant heads a team that designs reproductive-research programmes for rare and endangered species including giant pandas, rhinoceroses and Przewalski’s horses. “The greater scientific community is coming to understand the importance of genetic diversity,” says Durrant. “And zoos harbour the greatest genetic diversity anywhere outside of the natural world.” In the past few decades, zoos and aquariums around the globe have transformed themselves. No longer just family destinations and collections of rare, threatened and endangered animals, they are also research institutions with conservation and science at the core of their mission. Zoos are well positioned to manage populations of animals whose numbers are rap- idly dwindling in their natural habitat, and, in some cases, to reintroduce them into the wild. And although they have tended to empha- size captive-breeding programmes, zoos are becoming increasingly focused on field-based ECOLOGY research and on saving species in the wild. CALL OF THE WILD Research positions involving conservation at Conservation zoos and aquariums are still relatively sparse. But many scientists find such jobs deeply sat- isfying. The research is mission-driven and aimed at solving immediate problems, so zoo- in captivity logical facilities tend to attract scientists who embrace an applied approach, says Allison Alberts, chief conservation and research Zoos provide an opportunity to work on crucial issues of officer at San Diego Zoo Global. biodiversity while reaching out to the public. “I always thought I was going to end up in the traditional academic environment,” says Alberts. “I value academic research very much. BY AMANDA MASCARELLI research effort here. When you finish your But I wanted to do something more immedi- PhD, get back in touch with me,’” recalls Dur- ate. I saw a crisis in the world that needed to arbara Durrant heard about San Diego rant. In 1979, she began a two-year postdoc at be addressed now. I felt like, ‘I don’t have the Zoo’s reproductive-research department the zoo in California. luxury to wait and see if my research is going to while she was pursuing her doctorate in Looking for a second project towards the be relevant 30 years from now — I want to be Breproductive physiology in the late 1970s. “I end of her stint, Durrant began collecting doing something that’s solving the conserva- wrote to the founder and got a wonderful let- viable eggs, sperm and embryos from ani- tion problem today.’ And the zoo gave me the ter back saying, ‘Yes, we’re starting this new mals that had died, and storing them in the opportunity to do that.”

Like Durrant, Alberts joined the San reintroduction of two imperilled fish spe- Diego Zoo as a postdoc, and ended up forg- cies — lake sturgeon and southern Appalachian ing her career there. Whereas some positions brook trout — to the Tennessee River system. at zoos and aquariums involve only research, Anna George, the institute’s director and chief others may require engaging with the public research scientist, says that the job gives her the and overseeing staff and projects. In addition opportunity to put conservation principles into to coordinating all of San Diego Zoo Global’s practice. With a PhD in conservation genetics of research initiatives in areas such as sustainable freshwater species, she has a deep understand- populations, restoration biology and habitat ing of field-based genetic diversity. Her work conservation, Alberts helps to raise the funding lets her apply that knowledge while collaborat- that supports the zoo’s conservation efforts. She ing with others who have expertise in raising misses hands-on research, but says that being fish in captivity. “We can make sure that we’re part of the zoo’s conservation initiatives pro- really recovering a species with the ability to vides a “whole different type of satisfaction”. adapt, not just putting individuals into a river,” With one of the largest zoological con- she says. servation programmes in the world, the San Diego Zoo employs more than 200 research- WALK WITH THE ANIMALS ers, including 12 field-conservation postdocs. As zoos and aquariums become more conser- It has research projects in 38 countries and an vation-oriented, their research increasingly annual conservation budget of US$15 million, focuses on animals in their natural habitats. of which $6 million comes from grants and As a result, opportunities are growing for government contracts, and the rest from dona- researchers to work with plants and animals tions and zoo operations. in the field, says Ron Swaisgood, director of Zoos that employ such large numbers of applied animal ecology at San Diego Zoo Insti- researchers are rare. However, many have tute for Conservation Research. “Zoos are in robust conservation-science programmes; they the process of reinventing themselves,” he says. include the Calgary Zoo in Canada, the Smith- “People don’t think of plant ecology as being a sonian Institution’s National Zoo in Washing- zoo research programme — but it is.” ton DC, Antwerp Zoo in Belgium and London Swaisgood and others think that such Zoo. In addition to postdoc positions, research- jobs, including field research, will continue ers may find work as technicians, field and lab to grow as zoos managers, educators or scientists leading their become focused on

own research programmes at the zoo or in the conservation, pool- DISNEY field. Many, including Durrant and Alberts, are ing resources from adjunct or full professors at nearby universities, donations and exter- enabling them to mentor students directly and nal grants from local, to forge collaborations with academic research- state and federal ers. And scientists with PhDs are sometimes regulatory agencies. employed as curators in a specific area such as In 2011, facilities reptiles or birds. accredited by the US Association of Zoos ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL and Aquariums in Sil- Although in the past zoos have not tended to “I think it’s ver Spring, Maryland, be seen as research centres, that is changing. quite easy to spent US$160 million “Within more traditional academia, I think dismiss zoos and on 2,670 research and it’s quite easy to dismiss zoos and aquariums aquariums as conservation projects as a place where you could do real science,” a place where in more than 100 says Jackie Ogden, vice-president of animals, you could do real countries, up from science and environment at Walt Disney Parks science.” US$134 million in and Resorts, who is based at Disney’s Animal Jackie Ogden 2010, according to Kingdom in Orlando, Florida. Ogden says that the association’s most Disney researchers have been involved in more recent annual report on conservation science. than 300 scientific articles in the past 15 years. In 2009, the European Association of Zoos Her team includes 14 PhD students, most of and Aquaria (EAZA), based in Amster- them active in conservation research, she says. dam, estimated that it provides €30 million In one project, researchers monitor sea-turtle (US$39 million) per year in paid staff time and nesting on the central Florida coast in collabo- costs for zoological research. It also reported ration with local universities and state wildlife that 1,400–1,500 people conduct or facili- agencies. Disney researchers have contributed tate research as part of their jobs in zoos and to rehabilitation of more than 350 sea turtles aquariums in Europe. This July, the EAZA will over the past 20 years, says Ogden. launch its own online, open-access publication, Aquariums have also grown into strong The Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, to conservation-research centres. The Tennessee provide more outlets for zoo-oriented science. Aquarium Conservation Institute, the Research in zoos can be quite different from research arm of the Tennessee Aquarium in field research, says Lesley Dickie, executive Chattanooga, is involved in restoration and director of the EAZA. For instance, she says,

EMPLOYMENT On the job

SAN DIEGO ZOO SAN DIEGO US graduate-degree holders aged 30–54 with a background in life or physical sciences had an unemployment rate of 2.1% and a median salary of US$90,000 in 2010–11, according to an analysis of census data. Hard Times 2013: College Majors, Unemployment and Earnings, released on 29 May by Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce in Washington DC, found that life- or physical-science graduates in the same age range with only a bachelor’s degree had 4.8% unemployment and a median salary of $60,000. With research jobs scarce, many science-graduate-degree holders work in secondary education, or in non-research posts in industries such as pharmaceuticals A researcher from San Diego Zoo in California tracks a koala on St Bees Island, Australia. or aerospace, notes co-author Anthony Carnevale, the centre’s director. zoo research might focus on animal behav- can help. And George advises that researchers iours that are not seen in the wild because get comfortable with outreach, including the they are very hard to observe. But if the art of educating donors about their research. MEDICINE research concentrates on a highly threatened “We need people who are limber enough species, sample sizes in both the wild and cap- to move between field and zoo,” says John Oncology burnout tivity might be very small, making zoo work Fraser, a conservation psychologist who is Although 83% of US oncologists report that much more relevant to ‘real-world’ cir- president of the New Knowledge Organi- career satisfaction, about 45% experience cumstances, and more valuable. “As the wild zation, a social-science think tank based in emotional exhaustion or other symptoms gets more and more pressurized, I think that New York. “It’s the ability to have a foot in of burnout, says a study presented on some of the things we’re learning about small- both worlds, with the authority of the field 2 June at the meeting of the American population management in zoos will be more biologist and the access of the zoo biologist.” Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago, and more applied to the wild,” says Dickie. He suggests pairing a field-biology degree Illinois. The 2012–13 survey of about 1,500 with a minor in community organizing, oncologists found a link between burnout HUMANS AND OTHER ANIMALS organizational psychology or advocacy. and high patient volume. Academic Myriad skill sets can open doors to work in Regardless of the academic path, the abil- oncologists spend more time with patients zoos and aquariums. Basic research in areas ity to work with people — not just animals and less on research than in the past, says such as animal behaviour or reproductive — is crucial. “The outreach I do ranges from lead author Tait Shanafelt, a haematologist biology continues to be important, says Dur- elementary-school students to politicians and oncologist at the Mayo Clinic in rant, and training in genetics, wildlife disease to journalists and everything in between,” Rochester, Minnesota. He suggests that and conservation education is also valued. It says George. “Each programme is different. early-career academic oncologists need to is not necessary to have worked with exotic You have to be comfortable being flexible.” preserve their research time. animals or in zoos previously, she notes: Rachel Lowry, director of wildlife con- basic-research training with model species servation and science at Zoos Victoria in in universities is sufficient. “Get the strongest Melbourne, Australia, finds that her most AWARDS solid foundation you can get and that you can profound experiences come from engag- apply to conservation.” ing with audiences and helping to influence Prizes for the young However, some experience at a zoo or people’s behaviour. “Zoos are really power- US researchers under the age of 42 will aquarium, even as a volunteer, can make the ful conservation organizations because they be able to vie for one of three annual transition easier. While doing her PhD at have an enormous reach, and because they unrestricted awards of US$250,000 in Saint Louis University in Missouri, George are entrusted with these incredible animals life sciences, chemistry, and physical began working in the education department within their care,” says Lowry. “To have an sciences and engineering, the Blavatnik at Saint Louis Zoo, leading overnight and orang-utan stand behind you while you give Family Foundation in New York and summer-camp education programmes. That a talk, and you say, ‘Who here pledges to pur- the New York Academy of Sciences experience was key to her being hired at the chase only certified sustainable palm oil?’ (NYAS) announced on 3 June. “We want Tennessee Aquarium. “They knew I already and an orang-utan raises its hand — it’s very to highlight young researchers who are understood the culture and goals of zoos and moving. Everyone standing in front of that doing such extraordinary and innovative aquariums and the informal science-educa- orang-utan who has come to connect with it work that it will incentivize other young tion part of that,” she says. “So even if it’s vol- emotionally suddenly raises their hand and researchers,” says NYAS president Ellis unteering or serving as a keeper, that first step says, ‘Yeah, I don’t want that species to go Rubinstein. Nominations from US research into it makes it a lot easier to get a job later.” extinct because of the food that I choose.’ It’s universities and institutions, national Scientists interested in zoo work would a really powerful role.” ■ labs and academic medical centres will be do well to supplement their training with accepted from October to December 2013. other skills related to conservation. Classes Amanda Mascarelli is a freelance writer NYAS council members may nominate in non-profit management and fund-raising based in Denver, Colorado. industry researchers.