On behalf of Lisa New, please see below for the April update regarding the AZA Elephant Strategy implementation.
Dear Colleagues,
I am excited to share the latest updates on the progress of several activities under the AZA Elephant Strategy. Your active participation and contributions continue to drive these initiatives forward, shaping the future of elephant care and management within our community.
Review and Revise AZA Standards for Elephant Management and Care
- To inform the evaluation of the AZA Standards for Elephant Management and Care, a survey to refine our understanding of what constitutes "optimal care" and "thriving" for AZA elephants was disseminated across a broad audience to capture the wealth of expertise and perspectives on elephant care.
- A diverse working group, ensuring broad perspective and expertise, is beginning the process of reviewing the AZA Standards for Elephant Management and Care. We are prioritizing gathering comprehensive feedback from the AZA community throughout this process – opportunities to engage are forthcoming.
Review of the Elephant Breeding and Transfer Plan Process:
- A draft document addressing four key activities has been developed: 1) defining opportunities, expectations, and timelines for the Breeding and Transfer Plan process; 2) developing criteria for placing reproductively viable animals; 3) defining the process for follow-up on recommendations with individual facilities; and 4) creating tools for engagement and reconciliation related to the accountability process.
- This document has been reviewed by the TAG Steering Committee and is currently undergoing evaluation by the Animal Population Management Committee (APMC) and the AZA Population Management Center (PMC).
Communications Toolkit for AZA Facilities:
- Members of the AZA Public Relations Committee will collaborate with the Elephant TAG, elephant holders, and additional public relations professionals as they develop a communications toolkit. This toolkit will be tailored to specific elephant-related needs of AZA facilities – we will be reaching out to you!
Your continued support and involvement are vital as we work toward successful implementation of the AZA Elephant Strategy. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the AZA elephant population!
Best regards,
Lisa New
AZA Board Chair
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Matthew Krcmarik, M.S. (he/him)
Coordinator of Animal Programs
Association of Zoos & Aquariums
8403 Colesville Road, Suite 710
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 301-562-0777 (Ex.267)
Fax: 301-562-0888
Email: mkrcmarik@aza.org