New Members: 74 zoo, aquarium, wildlife refuge, and research institutions join Species360 in 2020

Updated: 30 December, 2020 – Despite a very challenging year throughout the global zoo, aquarium, and wildlife community, we are humbled and grateful to report that the Species360 member community continues to grow. In 2020, 74 institutions joined our nonprofit, member-driven community — including many that join as part of their membership within international and regional associations such as WAZA, EAZA, AZA, ZAA-Australasia, BIAZA, ALPZA, and more.

Here is a look at some of our newest members and their work.

Australia: Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre is a government wildlife park under the authority of the State of Queensland, Department of Environment and Science, and a member of Zoo and Aquarium Association, Australasia (ZAA). 

Also joining Species360 from Australia is nonprofit, inner city farm Collingwood Children’s Farm located 5km from Melbourne’s center.

Belgium: Klein Vossen Park is a non-profit zoo and education center.

Canada: The Veterinary Diagnostic Services, a laboratory within the Manitoba Agriculture Department, Government of Canada, joins Species360 Research Partner Program.  They plan to use pooled Species360 ZIMS for Medical resources to improve the delivery of medical care to their patients. 

Wildlife Preservation Canada and African Lion Safari, both from Ontario, are involved in the Loggerhead Shrike Conservation Breeding Program.  Conservation breeding for shrikes, also known as the “butcher bird,” began in 1997 when there were only 18 breeding pairs in the wild.

Also new from Canada, Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife includes a research, education and conservation center on the mountain just outside Vancouver.

Colombia: University of Cordoba, Colombia, Grupo de estudio de fauna silvestre, or GEDFAS, is a core group studying wildlife management and conservation. 

Ecuador: Centro Jambatu de Investigacion y Conservation de Anfibios (Center Jambatu for Amphibians Research and Conservation)  

France: Océanopolis Aquarium in Brest, France.  A member of EAZA and EUAC, Océanopolis Aquarium joined Species360 in 2020 and is among those using the newly released ZIMS in French translation completed with the partnership and support of AFdPZ, St. Laurent, and others.

SARL La Réserve Exotique, a zoo and rescue center active in EAZA’s EEP programs, plans to use ZIMS in French.

Also joining later this year is smaller park, EcoZonia – Parc Animalier.

Germany: Zoo Braunschweig, a small park also known as “Noah’s Ark”  

India: Dating to 1876, Alipore Zoological Garden in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) is India’s oldest zoo and is recognized for having one of the few captive breeding programs for the Manipur brow-antlered deer.

Japan: Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Park and Kyoto Zoo. The latter, a municipal zoo, announced the birth of a healthy baby gorilla earlier this year. 

Liberia: Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge cares for more than 65 chimpanzees.

Malaga: Zoo De Carratraca, currently under construction with plans to open in 2022, plans to use ZIMS as they set up enclosures and acquire their animals.

The Netherlands: Hof van Eckberge

Solomon Islands: Located on the island of Guadalcanal, Santa Cruz Ground Dove Recovery Center is our first member here. This is a sovereign nation comprised of over 900 islands in exotic Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu. This species is now found only in a tiny, uninhabited, predator-free volcanic cone, and has a declining population of only 200 to 1,070 mature individuals.  According to the IUCN, the species is not supported by either an Action Recovery Plan or a Systematic Monitoring Scheme. The membership of this non-profit conservation breeding program and rescue/rehab center is generously sponsored by Toledo Zoo, which supports the Center with staff and resources.

South Africa: Mitchell Park Zoo in South Africa

Southern Thailand: Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation.  This non-profit NGO continued to sustain feeding of wild elephant herds during COVID.  They also have created a mobile medical unit, and were referred to Species360 by Tan Kit Sun.  Kit Sun is the Senior Conservation Officer at Species360 member Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden, Hong Kong. Read more about this Species360 member.

Tasmania: Zoodoo Wildlife Park, a member of ZAA (Australasia)

United Kingdom (Wales): Located in Newport, United Kingdom, the campus of Coleg Gwen is part of the largest educational institution in Wales. When the campus re-opens, they will use ZIMS to improve animal management practices with the collection under their care.  

United States: Alaska SeaLife joined Species360 in 2020. While primarily dedicated to marine research and education, the nonprofit Center is the only permanent marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation facility in the state. Alaska SeaLife Center, located on the shores of Resurrection Bay at “Mile 0” of the scenic Seward Highway, provides visitors with windows to the sea – including encounters with puffins, octopus, harbor seals, sea lions, and other marine life.

The Peregrine Fund Education Center in Boise, Idaho is a non-profit interpretive center for public education. 

Foothills Wildlife Research Facility, a non-profit research center within the Colorado State Parks system and member of the Wildlife Disease Association.  The Foothills Wildlife Research team plans to use ZIMS to improve medical and husbandry records management, and to access pooled information to strengthen their diagnostic and veterinary efforts.   

Non-profit Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center rescues and threatened and endangered sea turtles and the coastal and marine ecosystems they need to survive.

Natural Bridge African Safari, a family and educational wildlife park spans 450 acres and is home to more than 40 species. This institution also manages the ZAA (U.S.) Giraffe Studbook.

Venezuela: The first institutional member in Venezuela, Parque Zoologico Leslie Pantin is a critical leader in the Red Siskin Conservation Program – an international partnership to help protect and restore sustainable populations of this critically endangered and iconic bird in the wild.

In 2020, a very challenging year for all, the ability to support you means the world to us. Thank you for welcoming these new members, and for continuing to work together on behalf of animal welfare, education, and conservation.