Species Survival Plan Program

Species Survival Plans (SSPs) were
developed by the American Zoo and
Aquarium Association (AZA) in 1981 to
manage the breeding of captive animal
populations in order to maintain healthy,
self-sustaining populations for endangered
taxa in zoos and aquariums throughout North
America. The goal is to maintain a
genetically diverse and demographically stable
population for each population. Since its inception,
the SSPs have evolved to become more holistic cooperative conservation programs encompassing a wide variety of activities such as research, public education, fund raising, field projects and reintroduction. The mission of the program is to help ensure the survival of selected wildlife species into the future and to provide a link between zoo and aquarium animals and the conservation of their wild counterparts.

Our SSP Animals

Click on the images below to to learn more about our SSP Animals.