Conservation Groups

The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) established a program called the Species Survival Plan (SSP) as a means of both population management and conservation of captive animals. Most species chosen for an SSP are endangered. Each SSP sets up a family tree for a select species and then manages the breeding of the captive population so that it remains healthy and genetically diverse. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo participates in over 50 SSPs. The following table listing the Zoo's endangered species include animals on the United States Department of Interior's Endangered Species list (USDI), those designated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the AZA SSPs. Please note, the table below is valid through December 31, 2007.