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Established by AZA in 1990, TAGs examine conservation needs of
entire taxa, or groups of related species. Each TAG consists of
AZA Species Survival Plan© (SSP©) coordinators, studbook
keepers and individuals with expertise on one of the species covered
by the TAG.
Serving as expert advisors, Taxon Advisory Groups assist in the
selection of species for conservation programs and facilitate
discussions of husbandry, veterinary, ethical and other issues
that apply to entire taxa. They recommend species for new studbooks,
SSPs and other programs; and establish priorities for management,
research and conservation. In addition, TAGs examine animal management
based on scientific studies and assist SSP coordinators in developing
animal care and husbandry guidelines.
A primary responsibility is to evaluate the North American captive
carrying capacity for a taxonomic group and recommend how space
should be allocated. This process results in the development of
Regional Collection Plans (RCPs). In developing RCPs, TAGs account
for the limited amount of enclosure space available and the need
to maintain animal populations large enough to ensure long-term
genetic viability and demographic stability. They consider the
potential of species to contribute to conservation through education,
scientific research, fund raising for field conservation and captive
breeding for reintroduction. The goal of the planning process
is that each species and individual animal held at AZA zoos and
aquariums will be part of a cooperative population management
program with a real conservation purpose.
Several criteria are involved in regional collection planning.
The following criteria are used:
- current and anticipated captive space available;
- current captive population size and composition;
- status in the wild;
- sufficient number of founders (individual wild
blood lines) available;
- usefulness of the taxon to save habitat and
other taxa (i.e., is taxon a "flagship", "keystone",
or "umbrella" species?);
- research potential;
- educational potential;
- public appeal and ability to assist in fund
raising to support field conservation;
- uniqueness of the taxa;
- ability to survive in human altered ecosystems;
- probability of successful reintroduction to
the wild, if appropriate and necessary.
Minnesota Zoo staff participate in Taxon Advisory Groups managing
the threatened and endangered species we exhibit at our zoo.
Cervid TAG Chair: Tony Fisher, Minnesota Zoo
Collection Manager
Chelonian Taxon Advisory Group: Karla Anderson, Tropics
Keeper, Burmese Brown Tortoise and Impressed Tortoise Studbooks
Keeper
Felid Taxon Advisory Group:
Dr. Ron Tilson, Director of Conservation, Tiger SSP Coordinator,
Amur Tiger SSP Coordinator; Dr. Martha Caron, Conservation Biologist,
Pallas Cat SSP Coordinator, Pallas Cat International Studbook
Keeper; Kathy Traylor-Holzer, Population Manager,
Amur and Indochinese Tiger Studbooks Keeper, SPMAG advisor
to Tiger SSP.
Bison TAG: Tony Fisher, Collection Manager
Cattle TAG: Tony Fisher, Collection Manager
Wild Pig and Peccary TAG: Tony Fisher, Collection
Manager
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