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Putting heads together makes everything continued
better, and it’s no different with the Species Until recently, most of the work of implementing SCTI fell
Conservation Toolkit Initiative. A number of to Lacy and Ballou. That’s an unmanageable amount for just
entities from around the world make its work two people. To maximize the tools’ benefit to conservationists
possible. Besides the Chicago Zoological and population managers around the world, they recruited a
Society, funding comes from 15 organizations larger team. Today, the SCTI partnership is managed by Lacy,
consisting of zoos in the United States, Europe, Ballou, and Dr. Onnie Byers, chair of the Conservation Planning
and New Zealand; the European Association of Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of
Zoos and Aquaria; and several other Nature, the world’s largest network of conservation scientists.
conservation organizations. Representatives
from some of the sponsoring organizations, Dr. Taylor Callicrate joined the Chicago Zoological Society
along with technical experts, make up an team as a postdoctoral fellow in species conservation methods. She
advisory board that meets regularly to provide is the primary software programmer working to refine the tools
scientific and technological advice. Finally, for maximum efficiency. In addition, Sara Sullivan was recently
the SCTI team is working with staff from brought on to coordinate training in the various software programs.
San Diego Zoo and the University of She facilitates workshops on how to use the software and develops
Wisconsin-Milwaukee to develop new user manuals, web-based modules, and forms of support.
software tools.
These new staff resources have led to software improvements.
The following organizations all contribute Additions to Vortex, for example, now enable integration of zoo-
to SCTI in one of these ways: based breeding programs with potential releases of zoo animals
to the wild. New capabilities in PMx guide the use of artificial
Auckland Zoo insemination as another option to maintain genetic diversity.
Copenhagen Zoo
European Association of Zoos and Aquaria Sometimes the impact of people on the natural world is
International Union for Conservation detrimental. The Species Conservation Toolkit Initiative is one
of Nature Species Survival Commission
Conservation Planning Specialist Group Dr. Bob Lacy (right) accompanies senior animal care specialist Steve Lantrip, who is transporting a
The Living Desert wolf for vaccinations at Brookfield Zoo. Lacy’s Outbreak software analyzes infectious diseases in wild
Oceans Initiative populations of many species.
Raincoast Conservation Foundation
Saint Louis Zoo way for us to make things better. It gives conservationists the
San Diego Zoo ability to harness the power of technology to safeguard wildlife.
San Francisco Zoo
Seattle Aquarium Since Lacy introduced genetic management tools for zoo breeding
Smithsonian Conservation Biology programs (the predecessors of PMx) in 1986 and wild population
Institute/National Zoo modeling tools (the precursors to Vortex) in 1988, the scientific
community’s understanding and ability to address conservation issues
SOS Rhino has made dramatic strides. As the Species Conservation Toolkit Initiative
Species360 continues to advance and as training expands, the Earth’s imperiled
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee animals will find continued relief from the threats they face. █
Zoological Society of London
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