Rattlesnake Roundups Killing Events Endanger Animals and the Environment

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Rattlesnake Roundups Killing Events Endanger Animals and the Environment JANUARY 2017 A publication of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums Rattlesnake Roundups Killing Events Endanger Animals and the Environment ARE YOU ON TRACK? EDGE OF EXTINCTION BY THE NUMBERS Thoughtful Evaluation Leads to AZA Animal Programs are One Year of Field Conservation Conservation Course Corrections Conserving Wildlife and the in the Association of Zoos and Habitat on Which the Animals Rely Aquariums Community (2015) January 2017 Features 20 28 36 Rattlesnake Roundups - Are You on Track? Edge of Extinction Killing Events Endanger Thoughtful Evaluation Association of Zoos and Animals and the Leads to Conservation Aquariums Animal Programs Environment Course Corrections are conserving wildlife and the Rattlesnake roundups started Critical self-evaluation habitat on which the animals 50-60 years ago in states can be challenging and rely. Whether in Brazil, the like Texas and Oklahoma time-consuming. However, United States or elsewhere, and were advertised as a growing number of Species Survival Plan® events to help control snake Association of Zoos & programs and Taxon Advisory populations and protect Aquariums-accredited Groups can have a profound livestock and children. What facilities are relying on impact on the species on started as a niche event helpful tools like structured which they are focused. spread quickly, and states decision-making and the BY KATE SILVER including Alabama, Georgia Open Standards for the and Pennsylvania started Practice of Conservation to hosting their own roundups. monitor and measure their BY KATIE MORELL progress and evaluate the impact of their projects. BY MARY ELLEN COLLINS January 2017 | www.aza.org 1 9 11 13 Member View Departments 7 Collaboration 11 Species Survival 15 Capital Campaign 48 Faces & Places Chicago Zoological Society Plan® Highlight Texas State Aquarium and and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Consolidating struggling HOLT CAT make major 49 Advertiser Index Service team up to help populations as a strategy to Campaign Caribbean 52 Exhibits save rhinos achieve sustainability announcement 53 Calendar 8 Green Tales 12 Fund Raising 16 Public Awareness The Akron Zoo won Green Young professionals raise Denver Zoo and CH2M 54 Announcements Award Top Honors cash for conservation at San volunteers participate in Francisco Zoo’s “Fur Ball” South Platte River clean up 60 Births & Hatchings 9 Conservation Spotlight The Coraciiformes TAG 13 Reintroduction 17 Research About the cover This month’s selection of makes connections to AZA-Accredited facilities Diamondback support field conservation help support release of what has been published Rattlesnake black-footed ferrets to 10 Conservation area where they were 18 New Facility Calgary Zoo opens greater Woodland Park Zoo rediscovered 35 years ago conservation program sage grouse breeding center becomes United Nations 14 Grant Equator Initiative case study The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk’s largest- 10 By the Numbers ever federal grant will One year of field conservation fund awareness of local in the AZA community environmental threats © Thinkstock VISIT US ONLINE Editorial policy: Connect is published by the aza.org Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to the LIKE US ON FACEBOOK advancement of zoological parks and aquariums for facebook.com/Association conservation, education, scientific studies and recreation. Issued to members OfZoosAndAquariums as a free service; not available as a subscription. Mailed during the first week of the month. Articles submitted for Connect do not necessarily reflect the FOLLOW US ON TWITTER opinions and policies of AZA. twitter.com/zoos_aquariums Mission: Connect is a forum for promoting AZA’s mission by highlighting zoo E-MAIL THE EDITOR and aquarium trends, industry initiatives, conservation efforts and member [email protected] achievements. Copyright policy: All items appearing in Connect are copyright of AZA. Permission to reprint items must be obtained by contacting AZA’s Publications Department at [email protected]. Advertising policy: Advertising is available. AZA reserves the right to refuse advertising not consistent with its mission. Ad contracts are issued on an annual basis, and ads are accepted on a one, three, six, nine or 12-time basis. Deadline for insertion orders is the first of the month preceding publication. Deadline for artwork is the 10th of the month preceding publication. Rates and mechanical requirements are available upon request. January 2017 | www.aza.org 3 EDITOR Tim Lewthwaite GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lisa Cadigan, Cadigan Creative ADVERTISING Gina Velosky (301) 562-0777, ext. 254, [email protected] New Beginnings EDITORIAL BOARD Thom Benson | Tennessee Aquarium Julie Larsen-Maher | Wildlife Conservation Society This month, our country will swear in Donald Trump as our new president, and our Tim Lewthwaite | Editor Association will welcome Dan Ashe as the new president and chief executive officer. Kristin L. Vehrs | Interim President and CEO Changes in leadership occur at a national and organizational level all the time and present opportunities. They are a sign of a healthy democracy and a vibrant professional community. One clear opportunity that speaks to the strength of all Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited facilities is our ability to bring people together Interim President and CEO Kristin L. Vehrs and celebrate that which we all have in Chief Operating Officer common. Whether in a blue, red, or purple Jill Nicoll state, guests visit AZA-accredited facilities Senior Vice President of Conservation and Science Debborah Luke, PhD to enjoy a day out with their family and Senior Vice President of External Affairs experience a sense of wonder at the many Rob Vernon beautiful animals in our care. More than 185 Senior Vice President of Finance Phil Wagner million guests will visit our facilities in 2017, SAFE Project Manager presenting a powerful opportunity for each Jackie Ogden, PhD of us to engage with our local communities Vice President of Animal Programs Candice Dorsey, PhD and to understand what is important in Vice President, Conferences and Membership their lives. When we understand and Melissa Howerton empathize with our audience, our own Vice President of Congressional Affairs messages about conservation and welfare Jennifer Keaton Vice President of Accreditation Programs resonate even more deeply. Denny Lewis Dan Ashe joins AZA late this month Vice President of Federal Relations as the Association’s new president and Steve Olson For a full listing of AZA’s staff, visit www.aza.org/staff chief executive officer. Dan served with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through AZA BOARD OF DIRECTORS many administrations and cultural shifts in society. His deep knowledge of conservation Chair issues along with a wealth of experience will provide a fresh and positive perspective on Dennis W. Kelly | Director, Smithsonian National Zoological Park Association business and our community. Join me in welcoming him aboard. Chair Elect I look forward to the challenges and opportunities that 2017 will bring, confident that I Jim Breheny | Executive Vice President and General Director, Zoos am part of a vibrant and talented community that will embrace the new beginnings. and Aquarium, Jonathan Little Cohen Director of the Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Society Vice Chair Gregg Hudson | Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dallas Zoo Management, Inc. Past Chair Steve Burns | Director, Zoo Boise Directors Dennis Kelly Jim Anderson | Executive Director, Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo Director, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Bob Chastain | President & CEO, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Suzanne M. Gendron | Executive Director 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 & Botanical Gardens Steve Marshall | Zoo Director, El Paso Zoo Adrienne Rowland | Director, Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay Peggy Sloan | Director, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher 4 www.aza.org | January 2017 4 www.aza.org | January 2017 䈀唀䤀䰀䐀䤀一䜀 䄀一䤀䴀䄀䰀 䌀漀渀挀攀瀀琀甀愀氀 䔀砀栀椀戀椀琀 䐀攀猀椀最渀攀爀㨀 吀栀椀渀挀 䐀攀猀椀最渀ꀀ漀昀 一攀眀 夀漀爀欀 䔀一䌀䰀伀匀唀刀䔀匀 䄀爀挀栀椀琀攀挀琀㨀 䄀䔀䌀漀洀 夀䔀匀吀䔀刀䐀䄀夀Ⰰ 吀伀䐀䄀夀 䔀渀最椀渀攀攀爀椀渀最Ⰰ 䐀攀猀椀最渀Ⰰ 䐀攀琀愀椀氀椀渀最Ⰰ 䘀愀戀爀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀 ☀ 䤀渀猀琀愀氀氀愀琀椀漀渀㨀 䄀 吀栀爀甀 娀 䔀渀最椀渀攀攀爀椀渀最㨀 䔀䐀䴀Ⰰ 䰀䰀䌀 䄀一䐀 䘀伀刀 吀䠀䔀 䘀唀吀唀刀䔀⸀ 䔀渀最椀渀攀攀爀 漀昀 刀攀挀漀爀搀㨀 伀猀戀漀爀渀 䔀渀最椀渀攀攀爀椀渀最 䜀攀渀攀爀愀氀 䌀漀渀琀爀愀挀琀漀爀㨀 倀愀渀稀椀挀愀⼀䜀椀氀戀愀渀攀 伀眀渀攀爀㨀 䌀氀攀瘀攀氀愀渀搀 䴀甀猀攀甀洀 漀昀 一愀琀甀爀愀氀 䠀椀猀琀漀爀礀 ᰠ☠渀漀琀攀搀 昀漀爀 椀琀猀 挀漀氀氀攀挀琀椀漀渀猀Ⰰ 爀攀猀攀愀爀挀栀Ⰰ 攀搀甀挀愀琀椀漀渀愀氀 瀀爀漀最爀愀洀猀 愀渀搀 攀砀栀椀戀椀琀猀⸀⸀ᴠ ꀀ ᰠ☠愀 爀攀昀甀最攀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 爀攀最椀漀渀ᤠ猀 渀愀琀椀瘀攀 愀渀椀洀愀氀猀 愀渀搀 瀀氀愀渀琀 氀椀昀攀☠ᴠ ᰠ䄀氀氀 漀昀 琀栀攀 愀渀椀洀愀氀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 倀攀爀欀椀渀猀 圀椀氀搀氀椀昀攀 䌀攀渀琀攀爀 挀漀洀攀 昀爀漀洀 攀椀琀栀攀爀 爀攀猀挀甀攀 漀爀 爀攀栀愀戀椀氀椀琀愀琀椀漀渀 挀攀渀琀攀爀猀⸀ᴠ ᰠ☠愀 挀漀渀猀攀爀瘀愀琀椀漀渀 猀甀挀挀攀猀猀 猀琀漀爀礀☠ᴠ 吀栀攀 倀攀爀欀猀 圀椀氀搀氀椀昀攀 䌀攀渀琀攀爀 椀猀 瀀愀爀琀 漀昀 瀀栀愀猀攀 漀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 洀甀猀攀甀洀ᤠ猀 挀攀渀琀攀渀渀椀愀氀 琀爀愀渀猀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀 瀀爀漀樀攀挀琀Ⰰ 眀栀椀挀栀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 挀漀洀瀀氀攀琀攀搀 昀漀爀 椀琀猀 ㄀ 琀栀 礀攀愀爀 愀渀渀椀瘀攀爀猀愀爀礀 椀渀 ㈀ ㈀ ⸀ꀀ 吀栀攀爀攀 愀爀攀 㐀㠀 猀瀀攀挀椀攀猀 琀漀琀愀氀椀渀最 洀漀爀攀 琀栀愀渀 ㄀ 椀渀搀椀瘀椀搀甀愀氀 愀渀椀洀愀氀猀 氀椀瘀椀渀最 椀渀 倀攀爀欀椀渀猀Ⰰ 椀渀挀氀甀搀椀渀最 渀甀洀攀爀漀甀猀 猀瀀攀挀椀攀猀 漀昀 洀愀洀洀愀氀猀Ⰰ 戀椀爀搀猀Ⰰ 爀攀瀀琀椀氀攀猀Ⰰ 愀洀瀀栀椀戀椀愀渀猀 愀渀搀 昀爀漀最猀⸀ 㠀㘀㈀ 䔀⸀ 伀氀搀 嘀愀椀氀 刀搀⸀Ⰰ 匀琀攀⸀ ㄀ 吀甀挀猀漀渀Ⰰ 䄀娀 㠀㔀㜀㐀㜀 倀栀㨀 㔀㈀ ⸀㐀㌀㐀⸀㠀㈀㠀㄀ 簀 䘀愀砀㨀 㔀㈀ ⸀㐀㌀㐀⸀ ㄀㔀㄀ 䔀洀愀椀氀㨀 椀渀昀漀䀀愀琀栀爀甀稀⸀渀攀琀 簀 圀攀戀猀椀琀攀㨀 栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀愀琀栀爀甀稀挀愀最攀猀⸀挀漀洀 䈀唀䤀䰀䐀䤀一䜀 䄀一䤀䴀䄀䰀 䌀漀渀挀攀瀀琀甀愀氀 䔀砀栀椀戀椀琀 䐀攀猀椀最渀攀爀㨀 吀栀椀渀挀 䐀攀猀椀最渀ꀀ漀昀 一攀眀 夀漀爀欀 䔀一䌀䰀伀匀唀刀䔀匀 䄀爀挀栀椀琀攀挀琀㨀 䄀䔀䌀漀洀 夀䔀匀吀䔀刀䐀䄀夀Ⰰ 吀伀䐀䄀夀 䔀渀最椀渀攀攀爀椀渀最Ⰰ 䐀攀猀椀最渀Ⰰ 䐀攀琀愀椀氀椀渀最Ⰰ 䘀愀戀爀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀 ☀ 䤀渀猀琀愀氀氀愀琀椀漀渀㨀 䄀 吀栀爀甀 娀 䔀渀最椀渀攀攀爀椀渀最㨀 䔀䐀䴀Ⰰ 䰀䰀䌀 䄀一䐀 䘀伀刀 吀䠀䔀 䘀唀吀唀刀䔀⸀ 䔀渀最椀渀攀攀爀 漀昀 刀攀挀漀爀搀㨀 伀猀戀漀爀渀
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