The ZA team just returned from the AZA National Conference with lots of food for thought to share. What were our top 10 takeaways? Read on to learn about the hot topics that were discussed.
10 Takeaways from #AZA2019
read more
Planning
A Long-Term Relationship
The Maria Mitchell Association, an organization based on the island of Nantucket, prepared to make a bold leap forward to unify their varied offerings, and turned to long-term partner Zoo Advisors to conduct a feasibility study, a strategic plan, and an organizational assessment over the past five years.
Becoming True Agents for Change: Mobilizing Our Audiences to Take Meaningful Action for Conservation
Dr. Jackie Odgen provides insight into the “Becoming True Agents for Change” session that she’ll be assisting to moderate with Robin Keith from San Diego Zoo Global on Wednesday, September 11, from 8-9:30 a.m. at the 2019 Annual AZA Conference.
The Challenges of Assessing Animal Welfare
In this Part 2 post on animal welfare, Dr. Jill Mellen looks at welfare “from the outside in,” with a discussion of visitor perceptions, thoughts on some recent “hot topics” and a request for your input to add your experiences to key points.
We Need to Be Doing More: A Call to Action After NYT’s ‘The Swazi 17’ Story
The recent New York Times Magazine cover story on elephants, “The Swazi 17”, was quite stunning. Not stunning in the ‘beautiful’ sense of the word but ‘shocking and startling’. As a professional whose livelihood is inextricably linked to the future of the zoo community, I came away profoundly concerned about the impact of stories like this on the future of zoos and aquariums.
Becoming THE Community Resource for Wildlife: A Perspective From Jackie Ogden
Too often, conservation and ecology are taught as something that happens in the Serengeti, rather than in our neighborhood. We should always remember that life begins in our own backyard. Read on to learn how to become the trusted voice for conservation in your community.
Animal Welfare: An Organizational Priority
We’ve invited guest author Dr. Jill Mellen to provide insight into the question of how zoos and aquariums can develop a welfare program that addresses the AZA’s new accreditation standard (1.5.0). Read on for recommendations and resources to help you along the way.
Focus + Commitment = Increased Conservation Impact
Senior Counsel advisors Eric Miller and Jackie Ogden believe that conservation programs have their greatest conservation impact by combining focused efforts with long-term commitment. Read on to learn their strategies to yield a greater chance for successful species protection and recovery.
One Million Species Lost Forever?
The most recent UN report estimates that one million species are threatened with extinction due to our activities. Guest authors Maria Clara Dominguez and Hap Fatzinger, plus ZA’s Eric Miller and Jackie Ogden, explore what is our role, what more we must do, and how we can achieve conservation success.
Mission Impossible: What’s Your Why?
How hard can it be to write a mission statement? After all, it’s just a statement about who you are, your reason for being, your core purpose. Not hard at all. Unless you’ve tried it… Read on to learn key strategies to make this seemingly impossible mission very possible.
“To Create Safer Neighborhoods, Arts and Culture are Key”
Proximity doesn’t breed contempt, it breeds familiarity, connection, and community.
Are Higher Gas Prices Affecting Zoo Visitation?
How are modern market conditions affecting the zoological profession?
Three Cross-Cutting Themes from the American Alliance of Museums 2022 Annual Conference
Claire Lannoye-Hall, Director of Education at the Detroit Zoo and Marley Steele-Inama, Director of Community Engagement at the Denver Zoo, share key conference takeaways pertinent to our community.
World Biodiversity Day: The Hourglass is Running Out
We now live in a period aptly called “The Sixth Extinction,” a period that surpasses the rate of “mass extinctions” of the dinosaurs.
