queerdo-mcjewface asked:

Does your zoo have any programs to breed animals in captivity who will later be released in the wild? What is the role of your zoo in conservation?

To my knowledge, no. Often times, animals that are part of an Species Survival Plan (SSP) are not released to the wild because we can not guarantee their safety - and that’s not without exception, of course. One zoo I worked at was able to release an animal that was born as a result of its species’ SSP to a preserve in Africa. Those cases are strictly managed through AZA species reintroduction programs, but there has been great success with multiple species!

The role of my zoo, and most zoos, in conservation is multi-faceted. A big part is just educating the public, informing them about what is causing animals to become endangered/extinct in the wild and what they can do to help combat it. Another aspect is recording data. Everything we observe about these species, every behavior, is documented and added to a greater understanding of the species overall and can help shape how we are able to address conservation needs across the globe. We often work alongside conservation programs “on the ground” so to speak by sharing findings, promoting their causes, giving lectures, coordinating and participating in projects, and through revenue. Finally, you’ve heard me mention SSP, and in my mind, that’s really one of the most important things we do for wildlife conservation. SSP programs focus on animals that are threatened, endangered, or on the verge of extinction in the wild. A network of AZA accredited zoos and conservation partners around the world work together to maintain a healthy and genetically diverse animal population, ensuring that, should a species population become functionally extinct in its natural habitat, a viable population still exists within a zoological setting.