This Week's Headline Highlights

A Message From ZDR3

The ZDR3 team has been in contact with facilities in the region since the first day of the fires, and will stay in communication with them until the event is finished. At the time of last contact, no facilities in the region were in imminent risk or were reporting high levels of need. Since firefighting teams anticipate more wind and dry conditions to continue complicating their efforts to contain the fires into next week, we will remain activated. and ready to assist if needed. We want to recognize and thank our ZAA Network members on standby in the region who have indicated willingness to deploy or provide resources.

The Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center, a ZDR3 Network Member, is being taxed by the volume of incoming animals. ZDR3 is working with the Santa Ana Zoo to help address veterinary staffing and supply shortages that this influx of patients has created at some of these locations.

We have been reaching out to other support networks we work with to determine if they can support impacted facilities in similar ways. Our goal is to use as wide a range of resources as possible to avoid sapping resources from the immediate region and the zoo community. We are already moving needs requests to these networks, and will continue doing so as they come in.

If you need assistance with facility preparedness and recovery, please reach out to ZDR3. We are available to respond to any facility holding exotic animals and/or wildlife, regardless of if you are a Network member at the time you reach out to use. Requests for assistance must come from a Director, owner, or their designee. A reminder that we are not a replacement for 911/emergency services: if you call for assistance, please also contact appropriate emergency response and/or oversight agencies.

Our contact information is:

Call/Text 304-933-9373 (ZDR3 Emergency Phone Line)

If you call for assistance, please also text or email details to RequestSupport@zdr3.org.

Accredited Facilities

Congratulations to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom on achieving reaccreditation!

Congratulations to Global Exotic Wildlife Solutions for earning their Associated-Accredited Facility Status!

2025 ZAA Semi-Annual Meeting and Professional Development Workshops (Mid-Year Conference)

Registration is Now Open for the 2025 ZAA Semi-Annual Meeting and Professional Development Workshops! Click here to register.

Join us February 11–14, 2025, in Issaquah, Washington, hosted by Cougar Mountain Zoo for an unforgettable event.

Don’t forget to secure your discounted hotel reservation by January 24th.

What to expect:

Insightful Workshops: Participate in professional development sessions led by industry experts, designed to deepen your knowledge and advance your skills.
Meaningful Networking: Connect with peers, colleagues, and leaders in the field who share your passion and commitment to excellence.
Community building: Collaborate and exchange ideas with like-minded individuals, building relationships that inspire and strengthen our shared mission.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Conservation & More

ZHR3 - Los Angeles Fires - Zoo Logic

Summer 2024 Newsletter from the Cheetah Outreach Trust

Giraffes may be facing extinction. IVF could help

First Manatee to Be Rescued in NC Has Been Released

Wildlife crossing in Southern Oregon will be first on I-5 between Mexico and Canada

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Publishes Finding on Two West Indian Manatee Petitions

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Provides Over $1.3 Billion to Support Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Outdoor Access

Fleeing mountain lions and scorched earth: can wildlife survive California’s wildfires?

Reducing Impacts to Migratory Birds

Colorado Parks and Wildlife began capturing gray wolves in Canada to bring to Colorado on Friday

Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge begins restoration of WV peatlands

New and Upcoming Workshops

Giraffe & Okapi Conference

January 20 - 24, 2025 | Palm Desert, CA

Click here to learn more.

SDZWA Safe Capture Training Events

January 22-23, 2025 | San Diego, California – San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Click here for more information.

ZAHP: Webinar: Enhanced Keeper Safety through Engineering and Administrative Controls

January 30, 2025 at 2-3:30pm EST | Online

December 2024 ZAA Magazine

Click here to view the magazine

Now Accepting Applications for the 2025 ZAA Conservation Initiatives Grants

Do you have a game-changing conservation project in mind? ZAA is proud to support innovative initiatives that drive species conservation, habitat preservation, and biodiversity enhancement.

Application Window: January 1, 2025 – April 15, 2025

Grant Amount: Up to $5,000 per project

We’re looking for proposals that excel in:

Conservation research
Education and outreach
Community engagement
Field programs and scientific studies
Multidisciplinary approaches to solving conservation challenges

Apply Today

Curious about the impact of these grants? Discover stories of past recipients and their incredible work!

Click here to view past recipients

Announcing Our New AMP/Conservation Committee Chair: Joel M. Hamilton

We are thrilled to announce Joel M. Hamilton as the new Chair of the AMP/Conservation Committee! With over 40 years of experience as a zoo professional, Joel brings a wealth of expertise to this role. Having served as a dedicated committee member for more than five years, he is passionate about advancing animal management programs and conservation efforts. Joel’s impressive career includes hands-on involvement in groundbreaking field projects like the Condor Project and conservation research in the Amazon and Cuba. Under the leadership of outgoing Chair Ken Kaemmerer, the committee has achieved significant milestones, and Joel is eager to continue this progress, focusing on strengthening conservation programs and expanding ZAA’s impact. Read more to learn about Joel’s vision for the future and Ken’s remarkable legacy!

Click here to read more

ZAA Professional Development Webinars

Understanding How to Interact With Service Animals at the Zoo

January 15th, 2025

Click here to view the recording

Common Myths of Zoo and Wildlife Feeding

January 22nd, 2025

Click here to register

Keepers are the Backbone: Enhancing and Advancing an Existing Wellbeing Program

January 29th, 2025

Click here to register

Anatomy of a Dangerous Bill

February 19th, 2025

Click here to register

Building Bridges: How and Why to Establish Essential Relationships with Your Representatives

February 26th, 2025

Click here to register

Upcoming Workshops and Events

Giraffe & Okapi Conference

January 20 - 24, 2025 | Palm Desert, CA

Click here to learn more.

SDZWA Safe Capture Training Events

January 22-23, 2025 | San Diego, California – San Diego Zoo Safari Park

February 15-16, 2025 | Athens, Georgia (Univ. of Georgia)

March 17-18, 2025 | St Joseph, Missouri (Missouri Western State Univ.)

March 22-23, 2025 | Lincoln, Nebraska (Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln)

April 5-6, 2025 | Phoenix, Arizona (Arizona Game & Fish Dept.)

Click here for more information.

Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center - "TEC Talks" Webinar Series Relaunch: "Choice and Control: Understanding the Differences and Their Impact on Animal Welfare"

January 27, 2025 at 2-3:30pm EST | Online

ZAHP: Webinar: Enhanced Keeper Safety through Engineering and Administrative Controls

January 30, 2025 at 2-3:30pm EST | Online

Bitesize Behaviour Series Presents: Understanding Observable Behaviour

February 4, 2025 at 2-4pm EST | Online

Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center - Professional Contemporary Animal Training and Management Workshop

February 8-13, 2025 | In-Person

2025 IAATE Annual Conference

February 19-22, 2025 | Pigeon Forge, TN | Hosted by The American Eagle Foundation

Registration is now open. Click here to learn more.

Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center - Virtual 4-Week Course: Parrot Training and Behavior

Tuesdays: February 25, March 4, 11, 18, 2025 | Online

Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center - "Expanding Your Training Toolbox": 1 Day Training Workshop with Steve Martin

February 26, 2025, 10am-3pm EST | Online

Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center - Immersion Workshop

March 1-6, 2025 | In-Person

Bitesize Behaviour Series Presents: The Science of Behaviour

March 4, 2025 at 2-4pm EST | Online

Small Mammal & Ambassador Symposium

March 5-7, 2025 | Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville, Texas

Abstracts due December 2nd, 2024

Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center - Virtual 4-Week Course: Ambassador Animal Training and Welfare

Thursdays: May 8, 15, 22, 29, 2025 | Online

Practical Zoo Nutrition Management Course - Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation

28 April – 2 May 2025 | Front Royal, VA

Natural Encounters, Inc., Training and Education Center - Professional Contemporary Animal Training and Management Workshop

November 8-13, 2025 | In-Person

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