Giraffe SAFE Program Action Plan 2017-2020 Submitted: 10 August, 2017 By Program Leaders Liza Dadone,1 Andi Kornak,2 Kristen Lukas2 1 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs, CO 2 Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland, OH With the Giraffid SSP, Giraffe & Antelope TAG, Program Partners & Advisors ©Kristen Lukas 1 Contents Program Goal…………………………………………………………………………………………….3 Program Operational Structure…………………………………………………………………………..4 Conservation Target……………………………………………………………………………………...6 Status of Taxa within the AZA Community……………………………………………………………..6 AZA Conservation Activities…………………………………………………………………………….6 AZA Public Engagement Activities………………………………………………………………..……7 Conservation Status of Taxa……………………………………………………………………….……8 Recovery Plans………………………………………………………………………………………….9 Threats to Giraffe……………………………………………………………………………………….10 Work Plan………………………………………………………………………………………………11 Conservation Objectives: Kenya………………………………………………………………11 Conservation Objectives: Tanzania……………………………………………………………11 Conservation Objectives: Uganda……………………………………………………………..11 Public Engagement Objective………………………………………………………………….12 Communication Objective……………………………………………………………………..12 Funding Objectives…………………………………………………………………………….12 Giraffe SAFE Member-Sponsored Species Program 3 Year Strategy (2017-2020)…………………...13 Kenya…………………………………………………………………………………………..13 Tanzania………………………………………………………………………………………..14 Uganda…………………………………………………………………………………………15 Public Engagement…………………………………………………………………………….17 Communication………………………………………………………………………………...18 Funding…………………………………………………………………………………………18 References………………………………………………………………………………………………19 List of Appendices…………………………………………………………………………………...…19 Appendix 1. Uganda Giraffe Programme Annual Work Plan…………………………………19 Appendix 2. Africa-wide Giraffe Conservation Strategic Framework: ……………………….19 2 Program Goal The goal of the Giraffe SAFE program is, of course, to save giraffe! With between 35-50% of giraffe facilities currently supporting conservation, we additionally aim to demonstrate measurable positive impacts of zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) on the conservation of giraffe and increase the number of AZA zoos that support field conservation over the next three years. To ensure the stability of conservation programming, long-term commitments will be encouraged. Ideally, the efforts of the Giraffe SAFE Member- Sponsored Species (SMSS) program will also engage the world-wide zoo community and increase overall support. In 2016, with the Antelope and Giraffe TAG’s endorsement, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo joined together to propose a SAFE program for giraffes. This program was approved as the first AZA SMSS in February 2017. The group has agreed to collaborate on program plans for three countries- Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda- and on ways to increase public engagement for increase awareness of, and support for giraffe conservation by AZA institutions. As the field conservation initiatives are intended to feed into existing conservation action plans, the existing Africa-wide Giraffe Conservation Strategic Framework: Road Map, as well as the draft National Giraffe Conservation Strategy for Kenya and work plan for giraffe conservation in Uganda, serve as a platform to measure the impact of the increased AZA effort against what has been prioritized for giraffe in each landscape. Specific objectives are identified in this Giraffe SAFE Action Plan as a first step in what will be a long-term commitment to ensuring the survival of giraffe in robust populations across East Africa. This Action Plan provides a framework and identifies opportunities for program partners and will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis. It will remain the prerogative of each individual AZA organization to determine where to commit funds and resources as they develop their giraffe conservation programming. The Giraffe SAFE program invites and welcomes all interested AZA zoos to become program partners. 3 Program Operational Structure Giraffe SAFE project areas are Kenya (K), Tanzania (T), Uganda (U), and Public Engagement (PE) Zoo Representative(s) Contact Information Primary Project Area(s) Program Leaders Cheyenne Liza Dadone, VMD [email protected] K, T, U, PE Mountain Zoo Vice President of 719-330-4774 Mission & Programs Cleveland Andi Kornak [email protected] K, T, U, PE Metroparks Zoo Director of Animal & 216-635-3373 Vet Programs Program Partners-Steering Committee Columbus Zoo & Mike Kreger [email protected] T, U, PE Aquarium Vice President of 614-724-3409 Conservation [email protected] Adam Felts 614-922-0068 Curator Heart of Africa/Asia Quest North Carolina Corinne Kendall, Ph.D. [email protected] T, U, PE Zoo Curator of 336-879-7607 Conservation & Research Oregon Zoo Sheri Horiszney (Giraffid SSP [email protected] U, PE Chair) 503-220-2444 Deputy Director Saint Louis Zoo Martha Fischer, M.A. (Giraffe [email protected] K, U, PE & Antelope TAG Chair) 314-646-4610 Curator of Mammals San Diego Zoo Jenna Stacy-Dawes, M.A. [email protected] K, PE Research Coordinator- Global Partnerships The Living RoxAnna Breitigan [email protected] T, PE Desert Zoo & Director of Animal 760-346-4898 Gardens Programs [email protected] Justin Carmichael 760-346-5694 ext. 2503 Public Engagement Coordinator Utah’s Hogle Zoo Liz Larsen [email protected] K, PE Director of Conservation 4 Program Operational Structure (cont.) Zoo Representative(s) Contact Information Primary Project Area(s) Advisors Giraffe Julian Fennessy, Ph.D. [email protected] K,T,U,PE Conservation Steph Fennessy [email protected] Foundation Co-Directors & Co-Founders Arthur Muneza [email protected] East African Coordinator IUCN Giraffe & ? ? K,T,U,PE Okapi Specialist Group Leiden Tom Leiden, President [email protected] K,T,U,PE Conservation Foundation Field Conservation Committee Liaison Utah’s Hogle Zoo Christina Castellano [email protected] Vice President & Chief 801-584-1756 Science Officer 5 Conservation Target Populations of Giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis) in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda). Status of Taxa within the AZA Community Giraffe are among the most iconic animals in the world with their tall stature, gentle nature, graceful gait, unique coat patterns, long black tongues, and powerful necks. For these and many other reasons, they are also very popular zoo animals. According to the Giraffe and Antelope Taxon Advisory Group & Giraffe Species Survival Plan, 97 AZA accredited zoos (131 total institutions) care for giraffe in the US, Canada, and Mexico, which is more than any other charismatic mega-vertebrate. This means nearly half of accredited zoos care for giraffe, undoubtedly one of the most popular and beloved zoo species. There are currently more than 500 giraffe managed through two SSP Programs: Generic and Masai. The Generic Giraffe is a Green Program and the Masai are a Yellow Program. According to the 2016 Breeding and Transfer Plan for Giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis): Giraffe taxonomy has long been debated and there is still limited consensus regarding subspecies, or possibly even species, differences. In 2004, the AZA populations of reticulated and Rothchild’s giraffes were combined into a single management unit, leaving the Masai giraffe population to be managed separately. The 2016 Breeding & Transfer Plan provides analyses and recommendation for the “generic” Giraffe SSP that includes reticulated, Rothschild’s, and hybrid individuals. The current, formally managed population of generic giraffes is 425 animals (178 males, 247 females) distributed among 85 AZA institutions. The Antelope and Giraffe Taxon Advisory Group has set the target size for this population to be 400 animals (2014 Regional Collection Plan). At present, the generic giraffe program qualifies as a Green SSP Program (>90% gene diversity for 100 years). Although our focus is on AZA giraffe, the World Association of Zoos & Aquariums (WAZA) estimates that about 1/10th of the world population (700 million people) visit zoos worldwide each year. There are an estimated 2,000 giraffe in human care worldwide. If we can effectively engage and educate zoo guests about giraffe conservation, starting with those that come to AZA zoos, we could make a significant impact on conservation of this species. Giraffe are ecologically important in nature because they are browsers that influence the landscape and they serve as key prey for large carnivores and scavengers. Their status as iconic megavertebrates means they are also quite successful at attracting ecotourism and thus habitat preservation. However, giraffe across Africa face threats to survival including habitat loss and degradation, poaching, human encroachment, civil unrest, and disease. 6 AZA Conservation Activities Giraffe populations have declined drastically over the past three decades, (Muller et al., 2016) and AZA zoos have been mobilizing resources to increase awareness of giraffe conservation and to conduct or support field conservation initiatives for giraffe. According to the AZA Annual Report on Conservation and Science (ARCS), from 2014-2015, AZA zoos have provided support for giraffe conservation primarily through the following organizations and projects: Care for Karamoja (http://www.care4karamoja.org) Giraffe Conservation Foundation (https://giraffeconservation.org/) Reticulated Giraffe Project (http://www.reticulatedgiraffeproject.net/RGP/Home.html)