Science Based Management of
Small Zoo Populations

Small populations, in the wild and in zoos, face demographic, genetic, and environmental threats to their viability. However, zoo populations benefit from our ability to manage populations, individuals, and conditions to reduce these threats. Over 200 species in zoos are managed by scientific methods based in population biology. The analyses we conduct for these species help managers determine whether the population can meet demographic and genetic objectives and what factors contribute to population change. Risk assessment modeling for zoo populations assists managers as they strive to meet program goals. These models are especially informative when we manage zoo populations that will be a source to harvest individuals for reintroduction purposes. Polar bears, Asian and African elephants, and Puerto Rican parrots are some of the case studies that we will present.

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