Association of Zoos and Aquariums

😺 African lion cubs Adari and Zarina have officially joined the lion habitat at Lion Country Safari in and can now be seen by guests in the drive-through preserve. 🏞️ Born in April to first-time mom Mara, the cubs spent their first few months bonding with her and growing under the close watch of the wildlife care team 🔎. After passing several health checks and slowly meeting the rest of the pride, they’re now exploring their spacious habitat and settling in well with the other females. 🐾 Their half-sister Mashika, a three-year-old #Lion, has quickly become a favorite playmate. Lion Country Safari's community has been part of the cubs’ journey from day one. They've tuned in to their first-ever live "Cub Cam" and even helped choose their names through an online vote this summer! 💕 Learn more about the "pawsome" cubs in Connect: https://bit.ly/3VskweN. #ZooBaby #LionCountrySafari #AfricanLions #AfricanLion #Conservation #ZooBabies #AnimalCare #Florida

🌏 Fewer than 2,500 red pandas remain in the wild, but at ZooMontana, two new cubs are making a significant impact on the future of #Conservation. Now about two months old, the #Zoo's new red panda cubs have finally opened their eyes and the species’ signature red and black coats are starting to develop 💓. For now, the babies will remain in their den until their mother is comfortable letting them venture out, which will likely be in about a month. 🪟 Pavitra and the cub’s father, Pabu, were introduced in 2024 as part of a breeding recommendation through AZA’s Species Survival Plan®. As the #RedPanda population has declined by 50 percent over the last two decades, these births are a “paw”-sitive step toward preserving this charismatic and vulnerable species. ✨ You can find more #ZooBaby news in Connect ➡️ https://bit.ly/4mBA3F1. #RedPandas #ZooBabies #PopulationManagement #EndangeredSpecies #SpeciesSurvivalPlan #ItsInOurNature #AsianWildlife #BabyAnimals #ZooMontana #Billings #Montana

In 2023, AZA introduced a redesigned framework for Species Survival Plans® (SSPs), marking a significant shift in how and when new SSPs can be proposed. 🔎 Rather than focusing primarily on genetic diversity, the updated model takes a broader view, weighing four key considerations: genetics, demographics, space and interest, and #Husbandry. This more comprehensive approach is intended to ensure that species selected for SSPs are not only capable of long-term sustainability but also supported by institutions with the necessary resources and commitment to their care. Previously, Taxon Advisory Groups could propose new #SSPs at any time. Under the new system, however, proposals must originate from existing AZA Regional Studbook Programs and be evaluated during the TAG’s Regional Collection Plan (RCP) process. Read more in Connect: https://bit.ly/46a1vE1. #ItsInOurNature #PopulationManagement #Studbooks #AZA

Once widespread across Africa, #AfricanPaintedDogs now occupy just 9% of their historical range. 🐕 The #AZASAFE African Painted Dog program tackles this decline by supporting the conservation work of AZA members and implementing strategic actions to prevent the species from total extinction 📉. By increasing #Conservation support, raising public awareness, and building strong partnerships with field experts, SAFE is dedicated to protecting these endangered animals both in the wild and in human care. Habitat loss is the greatest threat facing these dogs. They need vast, well-connected areas of #Wildlife-friendly land, but most protected zones are too small 🚧. Outside these areas, they face threats from farmers, diseases from domestic dogs, and accidents like vehicle collisions. 🚜 🤝 Learn how you can contribute to SAFE’s work: https://bit.ly/4mBdpfM. #AfricanPaintedDogDay #PaintedDog #AfricanPaintedDog #WildDogs #AfricanWildlife #EndangeredSpecies #SAFESpecies #ItsInOurNature

SeaWorld San Diego reopened its Bayside Aquarium earlier this month! 🌊 Located in the space beneath the park’s Bayside Ampitheater, the #Aquarium features an introduction to the Wildlife Confiscation Network, a pilot program that we co-lead with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 🛬 With the support of the combined resources of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums community, the WCN can secure immediate and expert care for live wildlife is seized at U.S. ports due to trafficking. 🐟 The new Bayside Aquarium space is meant to give guests a closer look at freshwater and saltwater species they may not usually encounter, such as the critically endangered #Axolotl, a California two-spot #Octopus, and brown-banded bamboo #Sharks. Read the full story about the new space at SeaWorld San Diego: https://bit.ly/45Ta84M. #SeaWorldSanDiego #BaysideAquarium #WildlifeTraffickingAlliance #WildlifeConfiscationsNetwork #WildlifeTrafficking #WildlifeRescue #ItsOurNature

A rescued Kemp’s ridley sea turtle has found a forever home at SEA LIFE Kansas City after two years of recovery and collaboration among #AZA-accredited facilities 💕. This is especially meaningful for the AZA community, as Kemp’s ridleys are the most critically endangered #SeaTurtle species. 🎣 First discovered in 2023 after swallowing a fishing hook, she was brought to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center for expert care. Although #Veterinarians successfully removed the hook, X-rays showed that releasing her back into the wild wasn’t possible at that time 🩺. She was then transferred to the National Aquarium for further rehabilitation. Despite months of attentive care, arthritis in her front flippers prevented her from passing the required swim test, meaning that she would need lifelong care under human supervision. 👏 Thankfully, SEA Life Kansas City eagerly stepped up to take her in! ✈️ Earlier this month, with help from the nonprofit TURTLES FLY TOO, she was able to safely fly to her new home. Now, she’ll receive ongoing care while inspiring visitors and raising awareness for her species at SEA LIFE Aquariums' hub in #KansasCity! 📰 Read the full story in Connect: https://bit.ly/4fQlGtW. #EndangeredSpecies #ItsInOurNature #SEALifeKansasCity #VirginiaAquarium #NationalAquarium #WildlifeRescue #SeaTurtle

🐵 It's International Colobine Monkey Day! Did you know that Africa is home to 3 main kinds of colobus monkeys: red, black-and-white, and olive colobus? 🍃 These incredible #Primates play a key role in keeping tropical forests healthy, but many are facing serious threats. 💓 Red colobus monkeys are especially vulnerable. Their large, vocal groups, as well as size, make them easy targets for hunters ⚠️. In fact, red colobus are often the first primates to disappear from a region, serving as an early warning for broader #Wildlife decline. AZA’s SAFE Colobus Monkey program is connecting AZA institutions and global partners to protect the most vulnerable colobus species and their natural habitats by... 🌳 Supporting conservation projects that focus on wild colobus monkeys and their habitats 💝 Increasing funding for colobus conservation efforts across Africa 📢 Raising public awareness and engagement 🌍 Creating education tools to inspire both local and global communities to support #Colobus conservation Read more about how #AZASAFE is saving colobus monkeys! https://bit.ly/3nPKX0z #ItsInOutNature #ColobusMonkeys #WildlifeConservation #ColobusMonkey #ColobineMonkey #ColobineMonkeyDay #Monkeys #Primate #AfricanWildlife #EndangeredSpecies

Did you know that red pandas are born completely blind and use a high-pitched whistle to communicate with their moms? This summer, ZooMontana welcomed TWO red panda cubs, born to mother Pavitra and father Pabu. 💕 📉 With fewer than 2,500 #RedPandas remaining in the wild and a population that has declined by 50% over the last two decades, these births are a significant step toward preserving this charismatic and vulnerable species 🐾. Read more about the #ZooBaby in Connect: https://bit.ly/41kpQnX. #RedPanda #ZooMontana #Billings #Montana #Zoo #EndangeredSpecies #SSP #SpeciesSurvivalPlan

School is in session at the San Antonio Zoo! 🎒 This member’s 🌳Will Smith Zoo School🌳 is a #Nature-based preschool that helps children build cognitive skills and emotional resilience through the unique benefits of #OutdoorLearning. 👣 The program uses a proven curriculum that blends play-based learning with conservation, science, and social-emotional development. 🖍️ 🏞️ Students spend most of their time learning outside, both at the #Zoo and on the wooded trails, gardens, and wildlife habitats of the Irma Lewis Outdoor Learning Center (ILOLC). Approved by Seguin ISD, this pilot program is the first partnership of its kind in #Texas between a school district and a nature-based preschool 🤝🏫. San Antonio Zoo is also deepening its commitment to education in #SanAntonio by offering tuition-free enrollment to qualifying families. In Connect, read more about this trailblazing #ZooSchool that transforms the outdoors into an immersive classroom where curiosity leads the way: https://bit.ly/41TWPQ4. #WillSmithZooSchool #EnvironmentalEducation #ConservationEducation #ScienceEducation #ZooSchool #NatureSchool #SanAntonioZoo #Preschool #IndependentSchools #EarlyEducation #EarlyChildhoodEducation #SATX #BexarCounty #CentralTexas #SouthTexas

Do you know about AZA’s Population Management Center (PMC)? 🏢 Located at Lincoln Park Zoo in #Chicago, the PMC has spent 25 years helping maintain healthy, stable animal populations across the AZA community through scientific support. 🔬 #Scientists with the PMC use cutting-edge tools and collaborative partnerships to guide decisions on genetic diversity, animal wellbeing, and conservation efforts within #AZA. 📈For a quarter-century, their work has been central to protecting at-risk and endangered species. 💭 Read in Connect about the future of AZA’s Population Management Center from the PMC’s Adam Winegarden, Kendra Strohmayer, Rachel Bladow, and Joe Garner: https://bit.ly/477hLH1. #PopulationManagement #LincolnParkZoo #AnimalWellbeing #AnimalWelfare #Conservation #EndangeredSpecies #AnimalScience #ItsInOurNature #Biology #SpeciesSurvivalPlan #SSP