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What
is an SSP? more...
According to AZA, a Species Survival Plan is a cooperative population
management and conservation program that manages the breeding
of a species in order to maintain a healthy and self-sustaining
population that is both genetically diverse and demographically
stable. The program began in 1981 and currently covers 161 individual
species of endangered animals.
African Wild Dog, Species Survival Plan more...
In October 1991,
a Species Survival Plan® (SSP) was developed
to provide
management
of captive populations of African Wild Dogs by implementing guidelines
and
regulations for housing and breeding the African Wild Dog in captivity
and to provide support to those organizations in Africa working
to stabilize the
existing populations. The African Wild Dog, Species
Survival Plan, currently
coordinated by Mike Quick of the Sedgwick County Zoo, focuses on
maintaining as much genetic diversity as possible within the captive
population
by
carefully
monitoring breeding. Currently there are 104 African Wild Dogs
distributed among 26 AZA institutions. In July 2003, the SSP developed
a two
year master plan for 7 breeding pairs. Due to space constraints
within SSP zoos it is essential that we manage the breeding and
moves recommended with a strategy to maintain packs of wild dogs
in our institutions. Therefore, it is the recommendation
of the management group to move same sex siblings as packs rather
than individuals whenever possible.
The mission of the Association of
Zoos and Aquariums's (AZA's)
African Wild Dog Species Survival Plan program is to help ensure
the survival of African wild dogs.
What is the mission of the African Wild Dogs Species
Survival Plan?
The mission of any Species Survival Plan, according to
the AZA, is to help ensure the survival of selected wildlife
species by managing breeding, integrating conservation strategies,
increasing public awareness, conducting basic and applied research,
training wildlife and zoo professionals, developing and testing
various technology relevant to field conservation, and reintroducing
captive bred wildlife.
The African Wild
Dogs SSP will
implement a combination of the following
strategies:
- Organizing scientifically-controlled managed breeding
programs for selected wildlife as a hedge against extinction.
- Cooperating
with other institutions and agencies to ensure integrated
conservation strategies.
- Increasing public awareness of wildlife
conservation issues, including development and implementation
of education strategies
at AZA-member institutions and in the field.
- Conducting basic
and applied research to contribute to our knowledge of
various species.
- Training wildlife and zoo professionals.
- Developing
and test various technologies relevant to field conservation.
- Reintroducing
captive-bred wildlife into restored or secure habitat
as appropriate and necessary.
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