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Conservation Programs in Zoos

A.     Zoos and aquariums are dedicated to the highest standards of animal care. On a given day, nearly 800,000 animals are cared for, with many of those being the last representatives of an endangered species.
 

B.    Many endangered species survive because of zoos and aquariums. The AZA’s Species Survival Plan® (SSP) — a long-term breeding and conservation plan — provides many species with an insurance policy against extinction.
Update for 2003: 109 mammals, 23 bird, 13 reptilian and amphibian, 12 fish, and 4 invertebrate species are protected under the Species Survival Plan.

C.     Zoos and aquariums take conservation action all over the world.
Update for 2000 - 2001: AZA members participated in 2,230 conservation projects (1,390 in situ, 610 ex situ, 230 both) in 94 countries. They also published 1,450 books, book chapters, journal articles, conference proceedings papers, posters and theses or dissertations.

D.     AZA has some large special conservation projects like the Bushmeat Crisis Task Force, the Giant Panda Conservation Plan, the Butterfly Conservation Initiative, and the Ocean Project.

E.     Zoos are changing. Once upon a time, zoos existed solely for entertaining people. At today's best zoos, millions of visitors have fun learning about conservation.

Peoria's Glen Oak Zoo Conservation Programs
The zoo along with the Peoria Park District maintain a strong program in the areas of
in situ (in nature) wildlife conservation.  The zoo maintains a strong program in
ex situ (in captivity) wildlife conservation and management, and scientific management of zoo animals.

A.      At the zoo conservation research is focused on management of small populations (e.g., genetics, demography), a discipline that has widespread application in captive breeding programs, reintroduction and translocation of animals to and between wild populations, and development of regional and global conservation initiatives.     

             B.      Research is conducted in disciplines such as animal behavior, behavioral enrichment, and
                 environmental physiology. These projects typically are initiated either by university students or animal 
                 management staff, with zoo and university staff serving as academic or scientific advisors.

C. Peoria's Glen Oak Zoo Participates in:     

                   1.  10 of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's (AZA) Species
                                        Survival Plans® (SSPs)

   2.   8 (AZA) Population Management  Plans (PMPs)

   3.        Glen Oak Zoo staff members even act chairs and coordinators for these programs.