Conservation Threats
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SEPTEMBER 2020 A publication of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Evolving for Action SAFE Species Programs Work Together Against Conservation Threats MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER CONNECTED FLYING MEXICAN WOLVES SSPs and SAFE Programs Can Make a IN A PANDEMIC Greater Impact Together September 2020 Features 18 26 34 40 Evolving for Action Moving Forward Together Connected Flying Mexican Wolves The notion of shared threats AZA-accredited facilities are SAFE: Saving Animals From in a Pandemic across species is not a new driven by their conservation Extinction is a collaborative LightHawk works with the AZA one. It is easy to see that SAFE missions and their conservation program among Mexican Wolf Species Survival species and the health of conservation support is often AZA members and their field Plan® team and the USFWS our planet are all connected times the cornerstone of partners. The program was Mexican Wolf Recovery Team in some way, but the their animal and education inspired by the efforts of SSP to plan for safer, faster, and infrastructure to address these programs. As they deal programs to build support for more customized flights to threats takes time to build. with staff and budget cuts; field conservation, but worked transport the pups to join their BY KATE SILVER potential reductions in to build a complementary wild foster mothers. philanthropy; travel restrictions framework that expanded and an absence of ecotourism; capacity for conservation. BY ESTHER DUKE they are taking a hard look BY BETH SCHAEFER AND at how to maintain their MANDI SCHOOK commitment to conservation. BY MARY ELLEN COLLINS September 2020 | www.aza.org 1 2 www.aza.org | September 2020 7 10 64 Member View Departments 7 Species Survival 11 Marketing 48 Faces & Places Drive-in Zoovies brings the Plan Highlight 50 Announcements Louisiana pine snake SSP®: silver screen to Columbus Zoo Ex situ sustainability and in 51 Exhibits situ conservation 12 Green Tales The Houston Zoo LEED 51 Calendar 8 Conservation employee program 52 Advertiser Index More than 170 Detroit Zoo- Births & Hatchings born dusky gopher frogs 13 Research Updates 64 About the cover This month’s selection of what head into the wild White-backed vultures has been published SEPTEMBER 2020 9 The AZA Social 15 By the Numbers Science Research Vultures—saving our scavengers A publication of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Agenda 2020 Evolving for Action Research that can help people SAFE Species Programs 16 Commercial Work Together Against and wildlife thrive together Member News Conservation Threats Elephant exhibit receives 10 Reintroduction landscape merit award Tennessee Aquarium and partners hit milestone in brook trout restoration program MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER CONNECTED FLYING MEXICAN WOLVES SSPs and SAFE Programs Can Make a IN A PANDEMIC Greater Impact Together © North Carolina Zoo Carolina © North VISIT US ONLINE Editorial policy: Connect is published by the aza.org Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a nonprofit, tax- exempt organization dedicated to the advancement LIKE US ON FACEBOOK of zoological parks and aquariums for conservation, facebook.com/Association education, scientific studies and recreation. Issued to members as a free OfZoosAndAquariums service; not available as a subscription. Mailed during the first week of the month. Articles submitted for Connect do not necessarily reflect the opinions FOLLOW US ON TWITTER 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. 2 www.aza.org | September 2020 September 2020 | www.aza.org 3 EDITOR Tim Lewthwaite GRAPHIC DESIGNER Our Way Forward Lisa Cadigan, Cadigan Creative ADVERTISING Gina Velosky Dear colleagues, (301) 562-0777, ext. 254, [email protected] It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly a year since I stood on stage an accepted the AZA Board Chair responsibilities. As I look back on my time as Board Chair, I can certainly say it was not the year I expected. Most of our organizations have been pushed into survival mode. Hard decisions have been made, and it feels like our mission is so far away. But in a cruel President and Chief Executive Officer irony, our mission is more important than ever. Dan Ashe Executive Vice President The questions of the past six months have Craig Hoover been: Should aquariums and zoos reopen? General Counsel Jack Keeney How do we adapt our business model to Chief Financial Officer survive? To mask or not to mask? These are all Phil Wagner critically important, but I’d argue that critical Senior Vice President of Conservation, Management missing questions include: how can zoos and Welfare Sciences and aquariums play a role in convincing the Dr. Candice Dorsey world that wild places and properly protected Senior Vice President of Member Services Melissa Howerton wildlife can help prevent future pandemics? Senior Vice President of Accreditation What can we do differently to convince Denny Lewis our governments that we are more than Senior Vice President of Government Affairs entertainment and recreation? How do we Steve Olson develop inclusive practices that allow everyone Senior Vice President of Communications and Strategy Rob Vernon to participate in conservation? Vice President of Conservation and Science Shelly Grow We have the scientific knowledge to balance Vice President of Congressional Affairs disease risks. We are building the capacity to Jennifer Keaton develop movements to change behavior and For a full listing of AZA’s staff, visit www.aza.org/staff engage populations to protect the planet. We have the connections in local communities AZA BOARD OF DIRECTORS and can activate the voices of underserved populations. Our audience crosses demographic boundaries in a way that makes us uniquely Chair Dr. Christopher Kuhar | Executive Director, Cleveland positioned to create real social and environmental change. We have the capacity, we just have Metroparks Zoo to weather this storm and get back to our mission. I know that seems like wishful thinking, Chair Elect but it is our way forward. Bert Castro | President and CEO, Phoenix Zoo Vice Chair I believe the world is forever changed and my heart breaks for what has happened to our Dr. Brian Davis | President and CEO, Georgia Aquarium profession over the past several months. But as I said last September, I believe in this profession and I believe in all of you. I’m so proud to be part of a group of organizations that Past Chair Peggy Sloan | Chief Animal Operations Officer, are fighting to make a difference in the world. I’m proud to be one of you. John G. Shedd Aquarium Directors As we fight to keep our heads above water, keep your eyes on the horizon. The future needs to Christopher Dold, DVM | Chief Zoological Officer, be one that engages all peoples to protect wildlife and wild places. We are uniquely positioned SeaWorld Orlando to lead that charge. We Are AZA and we can get it done. Dr. Alejandro Grajal | President and CEO, Woodland Park Zoo Lisa New | President and CEO, Zoo Knoxville Thank you all for allowing me to be Chair of the Board. It has been an experience I won’t Mark Penning, BVSC | VP Animals, Science and Environment, forget. Be strong everyone! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Dr. Tara Riemer | President and CEO, Alaska SeaLife Center Dr. Christopher Kuhar Adrienne Rowland | Director, Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Executive Director, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Dwight Scott | Director, San Diego Zoo Denise M. Verret | Chief Executive Officer & Zoo Director, Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens 4 www.aza.org | September 2020 4 www.aza.org | September 2020 Species Survival Plan® Highlight Louisiana Pine Snake SSP® Ex-Situ Sustainability and In-Situ Conservation By C. Drew Foster and Steve Reichling The Louisiana pine snake is a large, non- 1984 and a Species Survival Plan®-managed Maintaining both a stable managed venomous constrictor endemic to longleaf species since 2000. The goal of this SSP is to assurance colony and an effective pine forests of Louisiana and Texas, habitat sustainably manage an ex situ population while reintroduction program creates difficult which has long been decimated by excessive simultaneously supporting in situ conservation challenges for the Louisiana Pine Snake SSP. logging and subsequent forest management. of the species through a release program. Our strong partnership with the U.S. Forest Resulting habitat loss and fragmentation Through coordination with the PMC, Service has been critical to helping overcome along with fire suppression and vehicle- a portion of each year’s hatchlings are these challenges. The Catahoula District of caused mortality have caused drastic carefully selected on the basis of pedigree Kisatchie National Forest has entered into a population declines, making the Louisiana for release into suitable protected habitat in stewardship agreement with the Memphis pine snake one of the rarest snake species a collaborative project with the U.S. Forest Zoo in Memphis, Tenn., to support the in North America. In 2018, the species was Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, operation of dedicated breeding facilities and listed as a threatened species under the and Louisiana Deptartment of Wildlife the costs associated with releasing snakes Endangered Species Act.