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What are some important What are you most proud of about
things you keep in mind Brookfield Zoo’s animal population?
as you develop a plan?
I am proud of its diversity. Nowadays, many zoos select species
When developing the animal population plan, based upon their conservation status and whether or not they
we look at a number of criteria. Many years are part of a Species Survival Plan®, or SSP. (SSPs are cooperative
ago, I created a spreadsheet of criteria to ensure breeding programs to help increase genetic diversity and to help
that when selecting a species, the institution ensure survival of selected species within accredited institutions.)
could in fact take good care of it. Some of While that is important in developing collaborative programs
those criteria are things like staff experience, between institutions, it also means many zoos have begun
exhibit suitability, climate suitability, veterinary to look a lot alike; in other words, they are all exhibiting the
ability, social dynamics of the species, mixed same species. I believe we have a responsibility to provide
species capability, and so on. I still use that our guests with as much of the diversity of life on our planet
list and teach it as a part of a class I do for the as possible. Many of our species at Brookfield Zoo are not
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). endangered, but they represent some important issue or storyline
that helps people understand the importance of conserving
our natural resources. Not every species has to be endangered
to support the conservation of other endangered species.
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