AZA Involvement in Reintroduction Programs:
Overview of ReintroSAG Survey Results

In 1981 the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) began cooperative, coordinated breeding programs, the Species Survival Plans (SSP©). These programs were developed to ensure the health and self-sustainability of selected captive populations and to contribute to the conservation of wild populations.  Since its establishment these programs have taken a comprehensive approach, incorporating techniques as varied as fund raising, education and reintroduction in the conservation process.  While the AZA considers reintroductions to be a powerful method of reestablishing and sustaining selected wild populations in their historic ranges, it is not expected that this strategy is necessary or appropriate for all SSP programs. 

The Reintroduction Scientific Advisory Group (ReintroSAG) is documenting the number of SSPs with reintroduction components.  Over the past few months the ReintroSAG conducted a survey of the registered Species Survival Plans.  The purpose of this survey was to create a comprehensive account of the AZA participation in reintroduction programs. 

This study focused on identifying any past, existing or planned future reintroductions and the involvement of the AZA membership in these reintroductions.  If AZA members did play a role in these reintroductions, we sought to determine the specific role they performed.  Survey information was collected through electronic mail, fax, and repeated telephone solicitation.  All contact information was obtained from AZA sources.

We solicited information from all AZA SSP programs; out of 156 SSPs, 107 responded to the survey (Table 1).  We feel that this response rate is excellent and represents the scope of reintroductions for SSP programs. However, there are 2 programs (that we know have reintroduction components) who would not respond. In addition to the SSPs, there are Population Management Plans (PMPs) with reintroductions; however our initial investigation focused on SSPs which are the primary programs with in situ conservation efforts.  While the PMPs are not included in these data, we intend to expand the collection of data to PMPs in the future.

Table 1. Responses to ReintroSAG survey from AZA's Species Survival Plans (SSP)

Of the 107 SSP programs that responded to the survey, 47 reported past, present or future plans for reintroduction programs existed for their species. SSP programs were not always participants in those reintroductions. A total of 25 SSP programs have or are participating in reintroductions and 2 SSP programs plan to initiate reintroductions in the future.

Our survey requested information on reintroduction programs in which the SSPs were both participatory and non-participatory.  The form of participation extends beyond providing animals for release and includes financial and expertise contributions. AZA institutions may participate in more than one way (Table 2) The list of species in which SSP have participated includes mammals, bird, reptiles, amphibians and fish (Table 3).

Table 2. Form of AZA participation in the reintroduction of SSP species