Annual Report on Conservation and Science INTRODUCTION 2 2019 Annual Report on Conservation and Science The Association of Zoos and Aquariums and its member facilities envision a world where, as a result of their work, all people respect, value and conserve wildlife and wild places. The 2019 Annual Report on Conservation and Science (ARCS) celebrates the conservation efforts, education programs, green (sustainable) business practices, and research projects of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and certified related facilities. Content in ARCS reflects submissions made to annual surveys available through AZA’s website. Each survey topic has been carefully defined to maximize consistency of reporting throughout the AZA community. AZA’s Field Conservation Committee and Research and Technology Committee review all of the relevant submissions by members to promote even greater consistency. Field conservation focuses on efforts having a direct impact on animals and habitats in the wild. Education programming includes those with specific goals and delivery methods, defined content and a clear primary discipline and target audience. Mission-focused research projects involve application of the scientific method, are hypothesis (or question)-driven, involve systematic data collection and analysis of those data and draw conclusions from the research process. Green business practices focus on the annual documentation and usage of key resources: energy, fuel for transportation, waste and water – as well as identification of specific green practices being implemented. AZA is grateful to each member that responded to these surveys. The response rate for each 2019 survey was as follows: » field conservation – 92% » education programming – 58% » green business practices – 66% » mission-focused research – 72% While the 2019 ARCS focuses on individual activities undertaken that year, download the 2019 Highlights (available at: aza.org/annual-report-on-conservation-and-science) to learn more about what the AZA community accomplished together. This report was compiled by Jordyn Chace (Program Assistant, Conservation and Science), Gillian Cannataro (Intern, Conservation, Management and Welfare Sciences), Shelly Grow (Vice President, Conservation and Science), and Amy Rutherford (Director, Professional Development and Education). Cover: Puerto Rican crested toad © Dustin Smith, Fort Worth Zoo INTERNATIONAL 3 INTERNATIONAL Argentina PLANS, POLICIES AND BUDGETS Developed or Updated a Sustainability Plan (or Equivalent) FUNDACIÓN TEMAIKÈN Developed or Updated a Sustainability Policy Education Mission-Focused Research Education Students – Practicum Field Within Informal Developing a Balance Between Conservation and Utilization Context of Resources: A Proposal for a Hardly Known Orchid, Educational Visits – Zoo School and Groups Field Trips Vanilla chamissonis Environmental Educators Workshops and Festival – Habitat Use of Broadnose Sevengill Sharks (Notorynchus ConCiencia Activa cepedianus) in the Argentine Sea Environmental Multipliers Community Outreach Program Resolution of Complex Cognitive Tasks and Use of Tools in Plush-Crested Jays (Cyanocorax chrysops (Corvidae)) Keepers Talks to Visitors Study and Conservation of Bat Diversity in el Área Nature Play Program in the Biopark Importante para la Conservación (AICOM) Osununú – Professional Skills Practicum in Tourism Technical Course Teyú Cuaré University and College Lectures Study of the Avifauna of the Paraje Teyú Cuaré (Province of We Are Diversity – Festival Misiones, Argentina) Zoo Blue Day (World Autism Awareness Day) Zoo Educational Internship Program Bahamas Field Conservation ATLANTIS, PARADISE ISLAND Amphibians and Reptiles Inventory Education Conservation of Osununú Natural Reserve Project Atlantis Stingray Experience Flora and Ecosystems Inventory Discovery Tour Lowland Tapir (Tapirus terrestris) Conservation Project Dolphin Deep Water Swim Reintroduction of Yellow Cardinals Recovered From the Illegal Trade Dolphin Shallow Water Swim Threatened Species Recovery Program Jr. Ultimate Trainer for a Day On-Grounds School Behind-the-Scenes Programs Green Practices Rise and Shine ENERGY School Aquarium Outreach Program Documented Amount Spent Sea Lion Interaction Documented Amount Used Sea Squirts Snorkel the Ruins of Atlantis FUEL Sunrise Fitness Documented Amount Spent Ultimate Trainer for Day Documented Amount Used INTERNATIONAL 4 Field Conservation Bermuda Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organization (BMMRO) – Stranding Response to Support Marine Mammals in the Bahamas and Marine Mammal Research BERMUDA AQUARIUM, MUSEUM AND ZOO Bahamian Coral Reefs: Taking Action to Protect Reefs Education Through Education and Action Evening Lecture Series Field Research and Outreach to Support Conservation of Junior Volunteer Program Marine Mammals in the Bahamas Kids on the Reef Manatee Health Assessment Schools Program Providing the Scientific Basis for a Marine Protected Area Designation and Reef Rehabilitation in the Bahamas Science Club Tour de Turtles Spring Camp Summer Aqua Camps Green Practices Teacher Workshops ENERGY WILD Encounters Documented Amount Spent Documented Amount Used Field Conservation Bermuda Amphibian Project FOOD Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo (BAMZ) – Internship Sourced Local Food or Grew It On-Site Programme Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo (BAMZ) / Bermuda FUEL Zoological Society (BZS) – Research Grants and Support Documented Amount Spent Bermuda Turtle Project Documented Amount Used Characterising Bermuda’s Baitfish Populations to Improve Management and Fishery Sustainability PLANS, POLICIES AND BUDGETS Marine Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Developed or Updated a Sustainability Plan (or Equivalent) Sargassum Community Studies Developed or Updated a Sustainability Policy WATER Documented Amount Spent Documented Amount Used INTERNATIONAL 5 Canada PLANS, POLICIES AND BUDGETS Dedicated a Line Item in the Budget for Green Practices Alberta Developed or Updated a Sustainability Plan (or Equivalent) Developed or Updated a Sustainability Policy CALGARY ZOO WASTE Field Conservation Documented Amount Composted Black-Tailed Prairie Dog and Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Research Documented Amount Recycled Burrowing Owl Headstarting Documented Amount Sent to Landfill Community-Based Conservation of Lemurs in Madagascar WATER Community-Based Conservation of Mountain Bongo in Kenya Documented Amount Spent Community-Based Conservation of Western Sitatunga and Documented Amount Used Hippos in Ghana Fisher Wild-to-Wild Translocations Mission-Focused Research Greater Sage Grouse: Reintroduction Breeding and Research Black-Tailed Prairie Dog and Black-Footed Ferret Ecosystem IUCN/Species Survival Commission (SSC) Reintroduction Research Project Specialist – Group Training for Effective Conservation Fisher Wild-to-Wild Translocation Research Translocations Optimizing the Use of Endangered Species in Multi- Northern Leopard Frog Reintroduction Breeding and Population Collection, Captive Breeding, and Release Research in Western Canada Programs Vancouver Island Marmot Reintroduction Breeding Swift Fox Population Genetics Whooping Crane Reintroduction Breeding Vancouver Island Marmot Reintroduction Research Whooping Crane Reintroduction Research Green Practices ENERGY British Columbia Documented Amount Spent Documented Amount Used VANCOUVER AQUARIUM MARINE SCIENCE Generated Renewable Energy On-Site CENTRE Field Conservation FOOD Annapolis Biodiversity Index Survey Sourced Local Food or Grew It On-Site Assessing Glass Sponge Reef Dynamics and Habitat Complexity Using 3D Structure From Motion FUEL Assessing Hormone Concentrations in Killer Whale Fecal Documented Amount Spent Samples Documented Amount Used Assessing Rockfish Habitat Use Using Baited Underwater Cameras GREEN CERTIFICATIONS Assessing the Nutritional Status of Killer Whales Using Certified as a Wildlife Habitat Unmanned Aerial Platforms Certified by the Green Restaurant Association Biodiversity Monitoring Cetacean Conservation Genetics Churchill Beluga Research Project INTERNATIONAL 6 Cumulative Effects of Climate Change in Howe Sound Green Practices Field Study of Demography, Population Status, and Natural FOOD History of British Columbian and Alaskan Killer Whales Sourced Local Food or Grew It On-Site Fur Seal and Sea Lion Projects Humpback Whale Health Assessment Based on PLANS, POLICIES AND BUDGETS Photogrammetry and Blow Samples Dedicated a Line Item in the Budget for Green Practices Kelp Bed and Rocky Reef Monitoring Developed or Updated a Sustainability Plan (or Equivalent) Monitor Glass Sponge Reefs Developed or Updated a Sustainability Policy Monitor Lingcod Spawn Demography WATER North Coast Cetacean Research Project Documented Amount Used Pond Inlet Narwhal Project Recovery of Rockfish in Rockfish Conservation Areas Mission-Focused Research Rockfish Winter Hiding Abundance Estimates, Haul Out Patterns, and Natural Sculpting Rockfish Habitat in Howe Sound History of Harbour Seals (Phoca vitulina) in the Churchill St. Lawrence Beluga Research Project River Estuary Understanding the Relationships Among Habitat Complexity Abundance Estimates, Haul Out Patterns, and Natural History and Functional Ecology of Glass Sponge Reefs of Ringed Seals Near Churchill Walrus Energetics and Physiology Assessing the Timing and Rate of Fur Growth in Zoo Polar Bears Mission-Focused Research Beluga Bits Contaminant Related Health Risks in Southern Resident Killer Development of Dynamic Energy Budget Models in Complex Whales Vertebrate