10 CONNECT August 201210101100010110100110010101000010000 COCCOCOCOOCOCOCOCCOOCCCOCOCCOCOCOCOC NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNECEECECECECCCCCECECECECCCCECCEECCECEEE TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT AAuAAAuAuAAuAuAuAuAAuuAAuAuAAuAuuuAuAuuAA gugggguguguguguguguguugugugguguguggguggg ststsststststststststssttst 22222222222222222222200000111000111000100000000000 22222222222222222By David E. Wildt, Budhan S. Pukazhenthi, Kelley Snodgrass, Steven Shurter, Lewis Greene, Randy Rieches, Dan Beetem, Robin Sawyer and Janine L. Brown

WHERE WILL ZOO ANIMALS COME FROM?New Ways to Get to ‘Species Sustainability’

One of the highest priorities of the the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is to create sustainable wildlife populations (Boyle et al. 2011).

Increasingly, zoo directors, curators and caretakers are asking – what will be the source of my collection animals? Hopefully this motivation goes beyond simply having enough animals for display because often these populations are the only source of bio-information for species that are too rare, cryptic or elusive to study scientifically in the wild. And, as nature becomes more fragmented, reduced in size and fenced, the intensively-managed zoo collections will increasingly rep-resent the very integrity and security of each species within them.

© MARTHA FISCHER

August 2012 CONNECT 11

Task Force, C2S2 and its partners have formulated two exploratory programs, one for cheetahs and the other for African antelopes.

From its origin, C2S2 has been interested in hoofed wildlife, partly due to member organizations’ involvement in captive and field programs. For example, many of the SCBI’s barn complexes, constructed in the early 1900s to facilitate horse production for the U.S. military, are modernized for studying and breeding diverse ungulates, from the Przewalski’s horse to the scimitar-horned oryx. The White Oak Conservation Center has long led a program for providing okapi to North American zoos, while chan-neling related funding to conserve this species in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Fossil Rim Wildlife Center has reproduced and provided addax and scimitar-horned oryx for reintroduction in Tunisia. The Wilds has done the same while collaborating with SCBI to enhance wild equid reproduction by assisted breed-ing. San Diego Zoo Global has been involved in bongo antelope, Arabian oryx, addax, scimitar-horned oryx and Przewalski’s horse reintroductions. And all C2S2 institutions have been involved in the substantial activities of the Sahara Conservation Fund to preserve increasingly rare species of the Sahelo-Saharan region of North Africa.

C2S2 organizations now are testing an alternative propagation model that could benefit ungulate sustainability. The goal is to evaluate the feasibility, advantages and challenges of managing hoofed animals in groups – the ‘Big Herds Project’. The four target species – addra gazelle, addax, scimitar-horned oryx and sable antelope – were chosen in part because these are among the few remaining antelopes in zoos where animal numbers are still adequate to test the advantages of herds. Because these species normally live in large groups with vast home ranges, it makes

However, we are doing a less-than-stellar job of produc-ing ex-situ wildlife populations that retain 90 percent gene diversity for the next century, as pointed out by the

AZA Sustainability Task Force (Boyle et al. 2011) and an objective analysis of North American Species Survival Plan® (SSP) pro-grams (Long et al. 2011). In fact, according to new AZA Animal Programs criteria, only about five percent are succeeding [desig-nated as Green SSPs (AZA 2012)]. North America is not unique, as European zoos have reported similar limitations (Leus et al. 2011). While problems are occurring at multiple levels, they most often are related to lack of animal space. Zoos have been constructing larger, more ‘naturalistic’ environments that hold fewer species and, sometimes, fewer individuals. Due to acreage restrictions, urban-based zoos often cannot allocate enough space to support socially competent breeding groups. The traditional way of ge-netically managing populations by long-distance transport and mating of only one or two animals at a time between cooperating institutions also has become financially constraining. Finally, population modeling has revealed that true sustainability for many species means caring for hundreds of animals. Unless a group of zoos is deeply committed to a given species, includ-ing sharing the specialized space required for breeding, rearing young, recruitment, dispersal and, of course, caring for the old and feeble, it will become impossible to achieve demographic and genetic viability.

Although relied on in the past, importation from range coun-tries is no longer a viable solution to ensuring sustainability, espe-cially given growing permit, animal welfare and cost issues. This means that over time we will see ‘extinction’ of species in North American zoos. Nowhere is this dilemma more evident than with wild ungulates. Martha Fischer (2012) recently summarized this impending crisis and reported that only two species (Grevy’s zebra and giraffe) currently meet sustainability goals (now categorized as a Green SSP). More than 42 percent of all ungulate species (n = 82) living in AZA institutions are designated as ‘red’ (or critical) programs due to small founder size and lack of effective manage-ment space. Coincidentally, more than 900 ungulate spaces have been lost within the past nine years. Think about it – zoos without splendid ungulates, such as the mhorr gazelle, blesbok and Dorcas gazelle, all of whom play an essential role in the balance of eco-systems and the sustainability of diverse predators. We heartily concur with Fischer’s argument for more aggressive marketing of the worthiness of hoofed taxa in zoos, including their value in multi-species exhibits. But there also is a need to do more practi-cal ‘conservation breeding’, including taking advantage of centers that have the infrastructure for large-scale management and ani-mal production.

The Conservation Centers for Species Survival (C2S2), founded in 2005, is comprised of five organizations that collectively man-age more than 25,000 acres devoted to endangered species study, management and recovery. The current C2S2 membership in-cludes the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, San Diego Zoo Global, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI; National Zoological Park), the Wilds (Columbus Zoo) and the White Oak Conservation Center. A consortium priority is developing and testing new paradigms for managing wild species that could ben-efit from spacious naturalistic enclosures, larger social groupings and minimal public disturbance to promote reproduction. In responding to the challenges presented by the AZA Sustainability

The Cheetah Sustainability Program is another explora-tion involving C2S2 working in collaboration with AZA, the Cheetah SSP and other accomplished breeding centers. An outgrowth of modeling has revealed an eventual extinction of the cheetah in North American zoos. This new program could ensure priority animal availability for zoos committed to both exhibit of this species for public awareness and to conservation. More details will be available at the Annual AZA Conference in Phoenix.

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sense that ex-situ breeding occurs in ways that mimic natural herd conditions while promoting reproduction and normal develop-ment of young. Here, herds will consist of female groups exposed to individual males that are rotated at appropriate intervals ac-cording to population modeling guidelines. Large enclosures also will increase options for handling surplus animals, for example, forming bachelor or bachelorette herds. We suspect that young reared within these herds will be exceptionally healthy and so-cially resilient, becoming better candidates for future zoo exhibit, breeding or even reintroduction programs. We also predict that this approach will be far more practical and economical than the traditional, often long-distance movement of one or two animals between zoos. Breeding centers will realize significant cost sav-ings due to economies of scale, more efficient resource use and re-liance on herd, rather than individual animal, management prac-tices. Overall, the AZA community will benefit because there will be a ready and consistent supply of healthy animals for exhibit.

The C2S2 Big Herds ‘experiment’ is devoted to a scholarly examination of an alternative paradigm. A major component is developing tools that have value not only for the antelope targets, but for other species that could benefit from group management (including counterparts in nature that are increasingly requiring small population intrusions). For example, single nucleotide polymorphism arrays and advanced DNA sequencing technolo-gies will be developed to monitor genetic variation. Although one can anticipate some modest heterozygosity loss over time, the offset is likely to be increased robustness of offspring reared in social herds on spacious pastures. Other tools in development in-

clude body condition scoring, evaluations of behavioral patterns and health traits and measurements of reproductive and stress hormones. Especially important is recording the costs related to herds husbandry followed by a financial comparison to traditional management of animal pairs and trios on limited and expensive city-based real estate.

While it is premature to predict how this project will impact future zoo breeding programs, there will be new insights and hopefully some practical solutions to the growing issue of spe-cies sustainability for zoos. And what we learn about managing herds in the open spaces of centers may well provide some use-ful guidance to managing ever-more isolated populations living in nature. If effective, big herds scenarios will be most useful for complementing, not replacing, traditional zoo propagation programs. At the same time, it is necessary to begin examining a seemingly long-ignored issue in the zoological community, the ‘real’ financial cost of creating and maintaining these special liv-ing animal collections. For without new alternatives, will zoos of the future be forced to spend more resources to do business with animal dealers? Or perhaps restrict the variety of collections to what can be sustained in limited, urban space? Or is it possible to take advantage of accredited AZA centers and other partners that have the resources for implementing large-scale breeding activities that produce high quality animals more economically? Whatever the answer, it is timely for the AZA community to begin thinking outside of a more than 30 year comfort zone that now has been found wanting.

© MARTHA FISCHER

August 2012 CONNECT 13

TEN THINGS DIRECTORS CAN DO TO INCREASE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF AZA ANIMAL POPULATIONS 1. Support a Program Leader to manage a select Animal Program species, and provide them opportunity and time to

work on their Animal Program.

2. Send Program Leaders from your institution to AZA’s Professional Development courses such as Population Management 1 and 2.

3. Invest in Red and Yellow Program species by adding them to your collection. Support Animal Programs managed at all levels. Red and Yellow Programs need more space, specimens, and participation.

4. Attend TAG meetings and connect with Program Leaders to learn species’ needs and how you can support population sustainability.

5. Send your staff (curators, supervisors, Institutional Representatives, etc.) to TAG and SSP meetings, and Animal Program planning sessions.

6. Encourage your animal management staff to refer to the Regional Collection Plans listing recommended species when developing your Institutional Collection Plan and acquiring animals for exhibits.

7. Assign an Institutional Liaison to manage your Institutional Representatives and ensure that they keep the list on the AZA website current. Encourage them to track institutional participation and facilitate successful breeding and trans-fer plans.

8. Encourage sharing of information about Animal Program species, such as wants and needs for placing or receiving ani-mals, in a timely manner.

9. Talk to Program Leaders if your institution is planning acquisitions from and/or dispositions to non-AZA institutions that are not included in the Breeding & Transfer Plan.

10. Reward/recognize your staff for excellence in husbandry and their success in building more sustainable populations.

DAVID E. WILDT, PHD, IS THE HEAD OF THE CENTER FOR

SPECIES SURVIVAL AT THE SMITHSONIAN CONSERVATION

BIOLOGY INSTITUTE

BUDHAN S. PUKAZHENTHI, PHD, IS THE REPRODUCTIVE

PHYSIOLOGIST AT THE SMITHSONIAN

CONSERVATION BIOLOGY INSTITUTE

KELLEY SNODGRASS IS THE DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL CARE/NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AT THE FOSSIL RIM

WILDLIFE CENTER

STEVE SHURTER IS THE DIRECTOR AT THE WHITE OAK

CONSERVATION CENTER

LEWIS GREENE IS THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF ANIMAL

CARE AND CONSERVATION AT THE COLUMBUS ZOO

RANDY RIECHES IS THE THE HENSHAW CURATOR OF MAMMALS

AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK

DAN BEETEM IS THE DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

AT THE WILDS

ROBIN SAWYER IS THE PROGRAM OFFICER AT THE

CONSERVATION CENTERS FOR SPECIES SURVIVAL

JANINE L. BROWN, PHD, IS THE REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGIST

AT THE SMITHSONIAN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY INSTITUTE

LITERATURE CITED:

ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS. Sustainability Designations for AZA Animal Programs: March 2012. www.aza.org/AnimalCare/AnimalPrograms/plPortal.aspx?id=10144 Accessed on 13 June 2012.

BOYLE, P., ANDREWS, B., DORSEY, C., FOURAKER, M., PATE, D., REED, M. AND WIESE, B. A Report by the AZA Task Force on the Sustainability of Zoo-Based Populations: Phase 1. Connect Magazine, January 2011. p. 10-13.

FISCHER, M. Thundering Herds or Fading Hoofbeats? The Future of AZA’s Ungulates is in Our Hands. Connect Magazine, March 2012. p. 16-17, 19.

LEUS, K., BINGAMAN LACKEY, L., VAN LINT, W., DE MAN, D., RIEWALD, S., VELDKAM, A. AND WIJMANS, J. Sustainability of European Association of Zoos and Aquaria Bird and Mammal Populations. World Association of Zoos and Aquariums Magazine, Vol 12. 2011. p. 11-14.

LONG, S., DORSEY, C. AND BOYLE, P. Status of Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Cooperatively Managed Populations. World Association of Zoos and Aquariums Magazine, Vol 12. 2011. p 15-18.