2009 Conservation Impact Report Introduction AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums serve as conservation centers that are concerned about ecosystem health, take responsibility for species survival, contribute to research, conservation, and education, and provide society the opportunity to develop personal connections with the animals in their care. Whether breeding and re-introducing endangered species, rescuing and rehabilitating sick and injured animals, maintaining far-reaching educational and outreach programs or supporting and conducting in-situ and ex-situ research and field conservation projects, zoos and aquariums play a vital role in maintaining our planet’s diverse wildlife and natural habitats while engaging the public to appreciate and participate in conservation. In 2009, 127 of AZA’s 238 accredited institutions and certified-related facilities contributed data for the 2009 Conservation Impact Report. A summary of the 1,762 conservation efforts these institutions participated in within ~60 countries is provided. In addition, a list of individual projects is broken out by state and zoological institution. This report was compiled by Shelly Grow (AZA Conservation Biologist) as well as Jamie Shockley and Katherine Zdilla (AZA Volunteer Interns). This report, along with those from previous years, is available on the AZA Web site at: http://www.aza.org/annual-report-on-conservation-and-science/. 2009 AZA Conservation Projects Grevy's Zebra Trust ARGENTINA National/International Conservation Support CANADA Temaiken Foundation Health in Harmony Orangutan Conservation of Osununu and Forest Stewardship Natural Reserve Project Program Zoo de Granby Lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) Enhancing the Conservation of Hornbill Nest Adoption Program Conservation Project the Geoffroy’s Pied Colobus monkey (Colobus vellerosus) Hutan Orang-utan and Elephant Maned wolf (Chrysocyon in Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana Conservation Support brachyurus) Conservation Project Follow-up on Egg Laying and Masked Bobwhite Quail Species the Use of Pike River by the Recovery Plan Native Butterfly and Orchids Spiny Softshell Turtle Conservation Project (Apalone spinifera) Mexican Grey Wolf Canis lupus baileyi – Adaptive Parana pine (Araucaria Re-Establishment of the Spiny Management Plan angustifolia) Ecosystem Softshell Turtle in Quebec Participation Conservation Project Research Project on Mandrill's Mount Graham Red Squirrel Behavior at Granby Zoo Propagation and Release Program BERMUDA Research Project on Mandrill's Behavior and the Relation with Narrow-headed Garter Snake Cortisol at Granby Zoo during Captive Husbandry and Enrichment Sessions Management Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo The Effect of Visitor Presence on National Park System Visioning BAMZ/BZS Research Grants and Captive Amur Tigers in Project Support Zoological Parks Native Invertebrates Husbandry Bermuda Amphibian Project Wild Birds Inventory at Granby & Release Program Zoo and Comparison with Bermuda Biodiversity Project Other Parks around the Town Sonoran Pronghorn Recovery of Granby and Field Support Bermuda Killifish Project Sonoran Pronghorn Research Bermuda Marine Moorings Support Initiative UNITED STATES Western Governors Association Bermuda Reef Ecology ARIZONA Climate and Wildlife Corridor Assessment and Mapping and Connectivity Projects (BREAM) Phoenix Zoo Bermuda Turtle Project Be Outdoors Arizona (BOAZ) Reid Park Zoo Diamondback terrapin project Black-footed Ferret Propagation Elephant Manager's Conference - & Release Program Houston Education Program California Condor Veterinary Fecal Hormone Monitoring and Internship Program Healthy Support Pregnancy Detection in Polar Bears Ion analyzer for National Chiricahua Leopard Frog Aquarium to improve coral Headstarting and Release Investigating fluctuations in husbandry at Bermuda Program Alopecia/Dermatitis in Captive Aquarium Polar Bears Cienega Watershed Partnership Madagascar Learning Centre National Elephant Center Desert Pupfish Breeding and Marine Wildlife Rescue and Release Program New Nature Foundation Rehabilitation Gila Topminnow Assurance Olfactory Capabilities in Red-eared slider project Species Program Reference to Detection of Cycling Female Polar Bears TRACKS development 3 2009 AZA Conservation Projects Polar Bears International Phase I of the Elephant Survival Center - (TNEC) the National Species Composition and Rain Forest Parking Meter Elephant Center Abundances of Nearshore Reef Fish on the Long Beach Tarangire Elephant Project Rainforest Alliance and Huntington Beach Offshore Petroleum Platforms Riddle's Elephant Sanctuary – AAZK White Abalone Recruitment Study ARKANSAS SANCOBB - South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds Little Rock Zoo Birch Aquarium at Scripps Appalachian Bear Center Thailand Clouded Leopard Consortium Institute of Oceanography Arkansas Natural Heritage Establishing a DNA Sequence Commission The Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund Database for the Marine Fish International Fauna of the Gulf of California, Arkansas Statewide Raptor Mexico - Live specimen Awareness Community The Mount Kenya Bongo collection Projects Repatriation Project Bear Trust International Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge Coyote Point Museum Bowling for Rhinos Coyote Point Beach Clean up WCS/Mbeli Bai Study Bushmeat Crisis Taskforce Pacific Tree Frog (Hyla regilla) Wildlife SOS - India Garden Habitat Project Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) Chimp Haven CALIFORNIA Happy Hollow Zoo Chimp-n-Sea Wildlife Advance Force via Wildlife Conservation Fund - Kibale Direct Community Fuel Wood Aquarium of the Pacific Project Abalone Surveys with California Balikpapan Orangutan Society, Department of Fish and Game USA (BOSUSA) Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) Development of Molecular Belize Audubon Society Techniques for Monitoring Conservation Endowment Fund Demographic Structure of C.A.N.N.E.D. Project (CEF) Bering Sea Seabird Populations Cockscomb Basin Wildlife El Valle Amphibian Conservation Sanctuary outreach education Center (EVACC) Evaluation of RNA Extraction programs Methods and Its Applicability Heifer International for Wildlife Species E-Waste Collection International Bear Association In-Situ Measurement of LEED Certification for Happy Vertebrate Swimming in Hollow Park & Zoo International Elephant Natural Environments Foundation Return the Call of the Wild Cell Kelp Forest Monitoring with Phone Recycle Program LEAP - Wong Si Te Santa Monica Baykeepers Madagascar Fauna Group Monitoring Sea Turtle Presence and Activity within Alamitos The Living Desert Orangutan Outreach Bay Channel and the San Amazing Amphibians: Frogs on Gabriel River the Edge Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) Pink and Green Abalone Channel Island Fox Recovery Translocation Studies with Planning Partners in Conservation - AAZK California Department of Fish - Parking Meter and Game Climate Change and the California Deserts Conference Sandtiger Shark Scoliosis Project 4 2009 AZA Conservation Projects Desert Pupfish ex-situ refugia Grevy’s Zebra Conservation management Hornbill Nest Project – Teen Wild Guides Hornbill Research Foundation Desert Tortoise Adoption Program Jane Goodall Institute International Bird Rescue Research Center Invasive Cactus Moth Survey Kibale Community Fuel Wood Project International Snow Leopard Invasive Riparian Herpetofauna Foundation in the Coachella Valley Lubee Bat Conservancy Mabula Ground Hornbill Mecca Aster Propagation and Mountain Lion Foundation Conservation Project Habitat Restoration Project Namibian Elephant Research Madagascar Fauna Group Niger Carnivore Project National Elephant Center Pan African Assoc. of Zoological Rabies Vaccine Effectiveness in Gardens and Aquarium and Gray Wolves PAWS Botanic Gardens Sahara Conservation Fund Predator Conservation Alliance Riparian Brush Rabbit Recovery Program Sonoran Pronghorn Capture and Project Golden Frog Release Project Sahara Conservation Fund Project Tamarin Southwestern Gray Wolf Distinct Validation of Blood Lactate Population Segment Recovery Saba Sun Bear Conservation Levels in Flamingos Planning Center Zoo Conservation Outreach Saiga Conservation Fund (Teen Group (ZCOG) Wild Guides) Oakland Zoo Africa Matters Saving Sandhill Cranes (Lecture) Safari West Amboseli Elephant Research Save the Elephants Cercopan Project Saving Wild Tigers Cheetah Conservation Fund American Bird Conservancy (CCF) Ventana Wildlife Society Animals Asia Defenders of Wildlife Western Pond Turtle Head Start ARCAS Environmental Program EarthMatters Education World Wildlife Fund (Teen Wild Florida Fish and Wildlife The Ares Project Guides) Conservation Bushmeat Crisis Task Force Martinez Beavers Butterfly Conservation Initiative Sacramento Zoo Matanya’s Hope Adopt an Acre/Rainforest Meter Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Project Lifelion Wildlife Conservation Trust Amphibian Ark Bundongo Snare Removal World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Conservation Breeding Support Chimp Haven Group (CBSG) Coevolution Institute Conservation of Endangered San Diego Zoo Pangolin with Local Andean Bear Conservation Conservation Speaker Series Community Participation Research, Building Capacity in Peru Elephant Seismic Research DNA Sample Donations Captive Breeding and Felidae Conservation Fund Bay Giant Garter Snake Fecundity Reintroduction of the San Area Puma Project Study Clemente Loggerhead Shrike Fund for the Tiger Giant Garter Snake Tracking Comparing Mineral and Vitamin Project E Concentrations in Hand- Hornbill Nest Project 5 2009 AZA Conservation Projects Reared and Dam-Reared the Creation