Draft for Institutional Representative Review – Please Respond by 3 March 2017 Population Analysis & Breeding and Transfer Plan Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) AZA Species Survival Plan® Yellow Program AZA Species Survival Plan® Coordinator Adrienne Crosier, PhD, Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute – Center for Species Survival, ([email protected]) & AZA Studbook Keeper Erin Moloney, Busch Gardens, ([email protected]) AZA Population Advisor John Andrews, Population Management Center ([email protected]) 1 February 2017 Draft for Institutional Representative Review – Please Respond by 3 March 2017 Executive Summary 2017 Species Survival Plan® for the Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) The Cheetah SSP population currently consists of 315 cats (151 males, 164 females) at 59 facilities (55 AZA, 4 non- AZA) as of 18 January 2017. Currently, there are thirteen cheetahs (9.4) held at non-AZA facilities. The target population size set by the Felid Taxon Advisory Group is 300 in the 2009 Regional Collection Plan. The population currently qualifies as a Yellow SSP Program. Current gene diversity for the managed population is 97.27% and is equivalent to the genetic diversity of a population descended from approximately 18 founders (FGE = 18.34). The standard genetic goal for AZA managed populations is to maintain 90% gene diversity for 100 years. When gene diversity falls below 90% (and average inbreeding increases), it is expected that reproduction will be increasingly compromised by, among other factors, lower birth weights, smaller litter sizes, and greater neonatal mortality. Under potential conditions, with a growth rate of 0% (lambda = 1.00), gene diversity can be maintained at or above 90% gene diversity for at least 50 years. Increasing population growth rate, representation of underrepresented founder lineages, and the proportion of breeders in the population will promote increased gene retention. Demography Current size of population (N) – Total (Males.Females.Unknown Sex) 315 (151.164) Number of individuals excluded from genetic analyses 118 (52.66) Population size following exclusions 197 (99.98) Target population size (Kt) from Felid TAG RCP 300 Mean generation time (T, years) 6.5 Population Growth Rates (λ; lambda)*: Historical / 5 –year / Projected 0.98 / 1.003 / 0.98 *Historical from life tables (N.America; 1993 – present); 5-year from studbook census; Projected from PMx stochastic 20 yr projections Genetics* Current Potential Founders 93 0 Founder genome equivalents (FGE) 18.34 29.32 Gene diversity (GD%) 97.27 98.29 Population mean kinship (MK) 0.0273 - Mean inbreeding (F) 0.0024 - Effective population size/potentially breeding population (Ne/N) 0.2478 - Percentage of pedigree known before assumptions & exclusions 96.9 - Percentage of pedigree known after assumptions & exclusions 98.5 - Percentage of pedigree certain after assumptions & exclusions 98.5 - Projections Years To 90% Gene Diversity 35 50 Years to 10% Loss of Gene Diversity 45 72 Gene Diversity at 100 Years From Present (%) 59.3 83.3 Assumed lambda and target size (Kt). λ = 0.978 λ = 1.00 Kt = 300 Kt = 300 *Genetic statistics based on an analytical studbook “Cheetah_18Jan2017 + OverlayEMbasedofBT2016” To maintain the current SSP population size of 315 and offset expected deaths (lambda = 1.00), the SSP needs 35 - 40 births in the coming year. Assuming an average litter size of 3 and probability of success at 20%, this would require approximately 60 - 63 females in breeding situations. Nineteen (19) females eligible for breeding were given specific breeding recommendations and an additional 56 females have possible breeding options listed in “MateRx” tables but many of these may be less likely to breed in the next year (e.g., due to having a litter recently or due to marginal age). Recent population viability analyses indicate that the SSP can currently support providing only four cubs to education programs per year. Pulling animals from the breeding population for use in education programs will be decided on a case by case basis and after consideration of the total SSP population’s annual breeding success and overall demographic needs. Breeding recommendations are based on mean kinship, avoidance of inbreeding, avoidance of linking rare and common lineages, and behavioral and logistical constraints identified by the participating institutions. Individuals with Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Species Survival Plan® - 2017 - DRAFT 1 This Program is currently a Yellow SSP and recommendations proposed are non-binding – Participation is voluntary. Dispositions to non-AZA institutions should comply with each institution's acquisition/disposition policy. Draft for Institutional Representative Review – Please Respond by 3 March 2017 low mean kinship values were prioritized and pairings with inbreeding levels higher than the current average mean kinship have been avoided. Due to the age and low likelihood of success of many genetically valuable individuals, some over-represented animals have been recommended for breeding to meet the demographic goals of maintaining or growing the population. Summary Actions: The SSP recommends 16 females to breed with specific mates and provided an additional 56 females with “MateRx” breeding options. Recommend 25 transfers to create new breeding pairs or meet institutional requests. Note, several transfers recommended in the October meeting have been fulfilled already prior to the draft distribution. No imports from or exports to other regions are recommended at this time. New education program animals will be discussed on a case by case basis and after consideration of the demographic needs of the total SSP population. Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Species Survival Plan® - 2017 - DRAFT 2 This Program is currently a Yellow SSP and recommendations proposed are non-binding – Participation is voluntary. Dispositions to non-AZA institutions should comply with each institution's acquisition/disposition policy. Draft for Institutional Representative Review – Please Respond by 3 March 2017 Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Description of Population Status Introduction 7 Status & Conservation 7 Analytical Population 7 Demography 7 Population Viability Analysis 9 Genetics 10 Management Strategy and Goals 11 Explanation of MateRx 13 Recommendations Summary Breeding and Transfer Recommendations 14 BALTIMORE - The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore 22 BATONROUG - BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo 22 BATTLE CR – Binder Park Zoo 22 BREVARD – Brevard Zoo 22 BUSCH TAM – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay 23 CALDWELL – Caldwell Zoo 23 CAPE MAY – Cape May County Park Zoo 23 CHEHAW – Chehaw Wild Animal Park 23 CINCINNAT - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 24 CLEVELAND - Cleveland Metroparks Zoo 25 COLUMBUS/ WILDS - Columbus Zoo and Aquarium & The Wilds 25 DALLAS – Dallas Zoo 26 DENVER – Denver Zoological Gardens 26 DICKERSON – Dickerson Park Zoo 26 DISNEY AK – Disney’s Animal Kingdom 26 FOSSILRIM – Fossil Rim Wildlife Center 27 FRESNO – Fresno Chaffee Zoo 28 HONOLULU – Honolulu Zoo 28 HOUSTON – Houston Zoo, Inc. 28 IEFS – International Exotic Feline Sanctuary 28 INDIANAPL – Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc. 29 JACKSONVL – Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens 29 JNGLARY F – The Naples Zoo 29 KANSASCTY – Kansas City Zoo 29 LITTLEROC – Little Rock Zoological Gardens 29 LOWRY – Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo 29 MANHATTAN – Sunset Zoological Park 30 Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Species Survival Plan® - 2017 - DRAFT 3 This Program is currently a Yellow SSP and recommendations proposed are non-binding – Participation is voluntary. Dispositions to non-AZA institutions should comply with each institution's acquisition/disposition policy. Draft for Institutional Representative Review – Please Respond by 3 March 2017 MEMPHIS – Memphis Zoo 30 METROZOO – Miami Metro Zoo 30 MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens 30 MONTGOMERY – Montgomery Zoo 30 NORFOLK – Virginia Zoological Park 31 NY BRONX – Bronx Zoo/ Wildlife Conservation Society 31 NZP-CRC – Smithsonian’s Conservation and Research Center 31 NZP-WASH - Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park 32 OKLAHOMA - Oklahoma City Zoological Park 32 OMAHA – Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo 32 ASHLANDE - Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari 33 PALM DES - The Living Desert 33 PHILADELP – The Philadelphia Zoo 34 PHOENIX – Phoenix Zoo 34 PITTSBURG – Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium 34 PORTLAND – Oregon Zoo 34 PROVIDNCE – Roger Williams Park Zoo 34 RIO GRAND - Albuquerque Biological Park 35 ROCKFORD - African Lion Safari & Game Farm Ltd 35 SAFARI W – Safari West 35 SAN ANTON – San Antonio Zoological Gardens & Aquarium 35 SANDIEGOZ/ SD-WAP – San Diego Zoo Global & Safari Park 36 SANFORD - Central Florida Zoological Park and Botanical Garden 37 SCOVILL F – Scovill Zoo 37 ST LOUIS – Saint Louis Zoo 37 TOLEDO – Toledo Zoological Gardens 38 TORONTO - Toronto Zoo 38 WHEELING – Oglebay’s Good Children’s Zoo 38 WINSTON – Wildlife Safari 39 YULEE – White Oak Conservation Center 40 Appendices A. Assumptions in the Analytical Studbook 41 B. Summary of Data Exports 42 C. Individuals Excluded from the Analytical Population 43 D. Life Tables 46 E. Ordered Mean Kinships 47 F. Descriptive Survival Statistics Report 50 G. Definitions 52 H. Directory of Institutional Representatives 54 Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Species Survival Plan® - 2017 - DRAFT 4 This Program is currently a Yellow SSP and recommendations proposed are non-binding – Participation is voluntary. Dispositions to non-AZA institutions should comply with each institution's acquisition/disposition policy.