Poster Presentations List

Ex situ breeding programs have become increasingly important tools for preventing extinction and aiding the recovery of native species by serving as insurance populations for wild counterparts, source populations for population restoration, and study populations for research that can be challenging to conduct in the wild. The Phoenix Zoo’s Arthur L. and Elaine V. Johnson Conservation Center staff works with a variety of imperiled Arizona-native species, primarily breeding them for release to the wild in collaboration with federal and state agencies and other partners. Over the past three decades, the Phoenix Zoo has enhanced its commitment to native wildlife conservation, producing 230 black-footed ferrets (since 1994), 33,646 Chiricahua leopard frogs (since 1995), 98 narrow-headed gartersnakes (since 2009), and 6,600 Huachuca springsnails (since 2020) for release to the wild. Additionally, the Zoo has produced 6,520 desert pupfish (since 1999) and 9143 Gila topminnow (since 2013) for release to the wild and to establish/augment refugia populations. As documented by our conservation partners, these releases have helped reestablish or augment wild populations, supporting broader recovery goals.

Zoological parks and aquariums house numerous species, serving as homes for ex-situ populations that act as assurance populations, populations that may have the chance to be released to the wild. When comparing a wild landscape to the artificial one created under human care it is important that all considerations are taken into account to provide for optimal animal wellbeing. A shift from a human centric approach to an animal centric approach is necessary, with a need to provide choice and control, and to allow for as close to a full expression of wild behaviors as possible, in their wild ratios. This is particularly important for species being released into the wild, species such as the Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis). I utilized continuous observations to establish baseline time budgets for a captive Eastern Hellbender colony, while recording their spatial use and hide preference over a one year period. This provided insight into individual time budgets, directly impacting wellbeing monitoring and veterinary care, and highlighted a previously undocumented biological trait in one individual, shifting how the staff worked with the colony. The study provides a framework for animal care specialists to deploy for easy but effective monitoring efforts to improve animal wellbeing and understanding of the species they work with.

In most avian species parent reared offspring have been shown to exhibit more natural behaviors, are easier to pair for breeding, and generally require less staff effort than hand or puppet rearing. Whether due to abandonment of eggs or to utilize more experienced parents, it may be critical to extend or reduce the foster parent’s incubation period to put eggs or chicks under them for foster rearing. The ability to be able to shorten or prolong the incubation period for whooping cranes and Mississippi sandhill cranes has proven to be a useful tool at the Freeport McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center. Since 2017, about 70% of incubation periods have been altered (either reduced or extended) by more than four days. In both crane species (average incubation 30 days), the incubation period has successfully been shortened to 10 days and prolonged to 70 days. In most cases, the fostered chick has successfully been reared to fledging. These alterations have allowed for more parent reared birds to be raised at FMASSC which in turn helps strengthen the next generation of breeding cranes.

The aye-aye is an endangered, nocturnal primate endemic to Madagascar. In zoological settings, aye-ayes are often kept on a reverse light cycle, which may introduce light pollution during the dark phase and insufficient light intensity during the light phase, posing the risk of circadian rhythm disruption. Circadian dysregulation may negatively affect the synthesis and secretion of ovarian steroid hormones, ultimately impairing estrous cyclicity and reproductive success. This study aims to assess whether increasing light intensity during the light phase can improve estrous cycle dynamics and ovarian steroid hormone production in a reproductively unsuccessful aye-aye breeding pair. For baseline endocrine profiles, voluntary fecals were collected from both individuals and analyzed for concentrations of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone metabolites. Additionally, voluntary vaginal cytology was conducted to monitor and characterize estrous cycle dynamics based on epithelial cell morphology and relative proportions of cell types across cycle phases. To serve as a positive control, samples from four reproductively proven male and female aye-aye housed at a separate institution were collected and analyzed concurrently. Fecal hormone monitoring assays were validated by testing for parallelism between serial fecal extract dilutions and the respective standard curve for multiple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Experimental data collection is currently underway, during which lighting was modified to approximate more natural lighting conditions for the unproven breeding pair. Results are expected to clarify the influence of lighting on circadian regulation and reproductive physiology in nocturnal primates, contributing to evidence-based husbandry strategies aimed at enhancing reproductive success in ex situ aye-aye populations.

Zoos are often a high stress environment, especially for exotic animals. When an individual is stressed, their wellbeing and daily operations for staff can be greatly affected. The goal of resilience training is to habituate individuals to stressors so that the impact of stressful events is mitigated. My experience with resilience training focuses on 0.1 Canada Lynx “Helga”. Helga was labeled a “difficult” individual that was “unwilling to train”. She refused to shift for male keepers and showed signs of fear and aggression such as growling, swatting, and lunging at staff. I requested to take over as Helga’s primary trainer and implemented a resilience building program. First, I introduced more female keepers. I trained several female keepers on the habitat to habituate Helga to new keepers as well as multiple keepers at a time. Next, I introduced a male keeper. The difference in behavior was drastic. Helga shifted consistently for the male keeper. I then introduced another male keeper with the same results. I concurrently started operant conditioning training with Helga. At this time, her behaviors include: sit, lay down, step up, step down, offer one foot through the mesh, and crate. I am currently working on a voluntary injection behavior. She will now participate in training maintenance behaviors with all keepers, including men. Helga now shows less aggression to keepers, shifts reliably, and participates in training. These results from an animal that was considered “untrainable” show just how beneficial resilience building can be for all individuals.

With their lightweight body, keen sense of smell, and high cognitive ability, pouched rats have proven to be an incredible species. Pouched rats are trained and deployed for landmine and tuberculosis detection, prevention of wildlife trafficking, and more recently, search and rescue missions. With more research and training with this species, it could further unlock their potential to make more positive impacts on human lives and wildlife. They are more than just rats, they are HERO rats and therefore, Zoos have an incredible opportunity to share their stories through conservation messaging and ambassador work. In the spring of 2024, Hogle received 1.1 pouched rats from Cornell University, with the understanding they would not likely breed in an exhibit setting. To our surprise, this pair reproduced fairly quickly. From few resources, we found limited information on pouched rat breeding/rearing in a zoo setting. With four healthy pups, the first 2 weeks were critical, and we applied our general knowledge of rodents, while also reaching out to Cornell University and APOPO for guidance. What started as a coincidence became an opportunity to share our knowledge. With the rising popularity of pouched rats as ambassadors, we developed a weekly training plan for their different growth stages to help set the pups up for success in an ambassador setting. This included on-exhibit training sessions to initiate education around the work of their field counterparts. With the foundation we laid out, we hope all the pups have been set up for success.

The anthropocene extinction is underway, and the group suffering the most losses is by and large invertebrates. Invertebrates often make up the largest base block of our ecosystems, their disappearances causing a cascade of issues up the food chain. Islands in particular are vulnerable to mass extinctions because of their geographic bubble and lack of certain limiters such as predators. The Palikea reserve in Oahu works to combat the damage done to the island's native populations of tree snails. This includes using technology from escargot farmers, building unique wall shapes, clearing nearby overhangs, and carefully implementing small nonlethal zaps intended to keep the invasive and carnivorous rosy wolf snail from passing through its walls. The story of the tree snail’s plight against the invasive rosy wolf snail inspired me, someone who’s never seen one. By using a rhetorical analysis, this presentation analyzes what makes this conservation narrative effective at inspiring empathy with the public. I will show that the clear antagonist given by the rosy wolf snail coupled with the harrowing set of challenges the preserve overcame were what made this story effective in garnering empathy. I’d like to share how I learned and began to care about Hawaii’s biodiverse tree snails, and highlight how their story telling and unique approach can be applied to other species to forge deep responses from the average person, hopefully even closer than an ocean away.

Zookeepers are uniquely positioned to champion conservation efforts, bridging the gap between wildlife and the public while making a tangible impact on global biodiversity. This poster, “Keepers in Action: Getting Involved with Conservation Nonprofits,” explores the diverse pathways through which animal care professionals can contribute to conservation organizations, both locally and globally. From hands-on volunteering in field projects and habitat restoration, to organizing fundraising initiatives and advocacy campaigns within their communities, keepers bring valuable skills and passion to the nonprofit sector. The poster highlights direct involvement in nonprofit leadership roles such as serving on boards or advisory committees. Additionally, it emphasizes the vital role of education and outreach, encouraging keepers to share their expertise through workshops, public talks, and community events to inspire broader participation in conservation action. By leveraging their daily experiences and networks within the zoological community, keepers not only support the missions of conservation nonprofits but also foster a culture of stewardship among colleagues and visitors alike. Attendees will leave with practical ideas, resources, and inspiration to take the next step in their own conservation journey, demonstrating that every keeper (or former keeper) can be a catalyst for positive change in the world of wildlife conservation.

This poster highlights collaborations between Zookeeping students at Pikes Peak State College and AAZK Conservation Partners, showcasing work focused on a range of conservation organizations, species, and field-based challenges. Each project centers on the goals and conservation efforts of partner organizations working to address real-world issues such as habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and species conservation. Students worked directly with AAZK Conservation Partners to explore organizational missions, examine conservation challenges, and create communication materials designed to support outreach and awareness efforts. As part of this work, students developed interview questions and connected with professionals from their partner organizations, gaining insight into how conservation work is carried out in practice. Digital media pieces were also created to help communicate each organization’s work to a broader audience. This poster brings together examples from multiple conservation partners, each highlighting a different species or conservation focus. Projects include work related to cheetah conservation and human-wildlife conflict through Cheetah Outreach Trust, along with additional partner organizations representing a range of taxa and conservation strategies. Together, these examples reflect the diversity of approaches used to support conservation efforts across different contexts. Through this work, students built skills in research, professional communication, and translating scientific information for a general audience, while also developing a clearer understanding of conservation careers and pathways within the field. This poster highlights the work of AAZK Conservation Partners and the outcomes of these collaborations, offering insight into how partnerships like these can support conservation communication, awareness, and engagement.

As best care practices continue to evolve, zookeepers are increasingly being asked to use behavioral data to guide animal care, enrichment, and welfare decisions. However, consistently collecting that data can be difficult with limited time and staffing. This poster focuses on a resource that is often available but not always fully used: students who are training to become zookeepers. In animal behavior courses, students are already learning how to build ethograms, run time budgets, and design small projects focused on behavior patterns, enrichment use, and space utilization. They are also spending time researching species’ natural history and reviewing existing literature, which can help provide context for the behaviors being observed. With some coordination, this work can align directly with questions animal care teams are already asking. Students can also support ongoing observations, as they often have the time to sit and watch animals in a way that is difficult to maintain during a full shift. This poster shares examples of student-led research projects, natural history research, and behavioral observation data collected by Pikes Peak State College students across multiple species at the Pueblo Zoo and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado, demonstrating how student work can contribute to real-world animal care questions.

Collecting behavioral data on captive animals can provide key insights into their welfare, but long periods of data observation can be hard to fit into busy schedules. To address this problem, we utilized untrained visitors at Kyoto City Zoo to independently collect behavioral data with a tablet questionnaire placed in front of exhibits. The questionnaires were made and hosted using the website "enrichtheirlives.org", which provides time-saving tools for zookeepers to help improve animal welfare. We found zoo visitors were capable of collecting behavioral data on tufted capuchins (Sapajus apella) and ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) with upwards of 75% accuracy. While not perfect, zoo visitors predictably under or over reported behaviors based on a variety of contextual and demographic factors. Using modeling and correction factors, we turned noisy data into helpful insights that zookeepers can use to inform welfare decisions.

Social network analysis (SNA) is a visualization tool that maps a set of data to depict the frequency of various social behaviors and relationships between individuals. These networks have been used widely by primate researchers to visually depict complex social dynamics, relationships, and trends within a group of animals. At Chimp Haven, the world's largest chimpanzee sanctuary, we use R studio to generate SNA visualizations based on sleeping proximities for chimpanzee social groups. In 2024 and 2025, we created a database of 8 SNAs, from 3 social integrations based on over 10,000 chimpanzee proximity occurrences over 1 year of data collection. Instances of proximity between individuals are compiled through day and night behavioral observations, and the frequency of each instance of proximity is counted to create a weighted analysis that showcases the strength of various relationships between individuals in the group. These models, and the visual representations they provide for recently introduced groups, inform management decisions such as changes to group composition, habitat and structure alterations, and enrichment interventions. The conclusions that the behavior team at Chimp Haven draws from analyzing SNAs is shared with veterinary and husbandry teams which fosters collaboration between departments, allowing all animal care staff to partner for success for the behavioral management of both individuals and groups. SNAs positively contribute to the overall health and welfare of our chimpanzees. This valuable tool will also benefit other facilities by supporting research integration, data visualization, and informed decision-making for animal care.

The Saint Louis Zoo Tours Department has worked to create a new model incorporating tours into the mission of the Zoo. Our department employs experienced keepers who are confident working with animals, maintain strict safety records, and embody a passion for connecting with guests and furthering the Zoo’s vision through the art of storytelling and impactful conservation messaging. Our goal is to create a branch of zookeepers that specifically lead tours in order to alleviate the stress of leading tours from day-to-day keeper staff, while contributing to animal welfare by timing tours alongside enrichment and training opportunities. This model creates the possibility for keepers to pivot to a different department when life circumstances, such as parenthood, aging, or physical ailments, require a dedicated employee to transition to a less physical, more flexible role. Tour keepers share their experience with guests, creating magical memories that connect people to wildlife in safe ways that offer ambassador animals choice and control. Because our Tour employees have a combined over 50 years of experience in animal husbandry, we are available to help areas who are short staffed or require specialized assistance and training. Our Zoo’s model of using experienced keepers to lead and manage our Tours Department has created ample opportunity for facilitating enriching experiences for both animals and guests, while supporting our keeper staff and allowing these employees to focus on animal care, while we create meaningful conservation-based storytelling through unique animal experiences.

Xenarthrans can be some of the more challenging mammals to train with due to their

environment and natural history. Myself and coworkers have found some creative ways to

encourage our xenarthrans to voluntarily train for medical and non-medical behaviors. I’ve

created various target sticks to work with our sloths both high up in the trees and in their

homes to allow for guest engagement but also to reduce the natural grabbing of sticks. My

coworkers and I have also created various devices and stands to allow our xenarthrans to

voluntarily give blood, x-rays, ultrasounds, nail trims, and we want to share this with other

facilities. From creating unique feeder tubes and a stand we can have a 3BA stand for her

ultrasounds during pregnancy. We created a unique way for our active tamandua to station

for a blood draw without him having to leave his home or be held. I also created a stand that

allows our vets to take x-rays in all directions of our tamanduas without having to go to the

hospital or be sedated. I just wanted to share some of these simple things that we came up

with to allow our xenarthrans to engage in their own training and reduce the stress on them,

us, and the vet staff.

The Cheetah Outreach Trust is in the process of developing a Citizen Science Zookeeper Field

Conservation Experience Program aimed at strengthening the connection between

zoological professionals and in situ cheetah conservation efforts in South Africa. Initiated as

the capstone Master’s project of an AAZK zookeeper member, this program is designed to

provide structured, hands on field experience that enhances participants’ understanding of

carnivore ecology, human–wildlife conflict mitigation, and collaborative conservation

practice. As the project framework develops, the program will immerse zookeeper

participants in fieldwork alongside Cheetah Outreach Trust field officers. Planned activities

include the deployment, servicing, and data interpretation of camera traps used to monitor

predator presence and biodiversity patterns across working farmlands. Participants will also

assist with the monitoring, welfare support, and husbandry care of livestock guardian

dogs—an integral tool in reducing livestock predation and promoting coexistence between

farmers and free roaming cheetahs. Additionally, the program will incorporate training in

telemetry and GPS tracking of collared cheetahs, providing direct experience in locating

animals, interpreting movement data, and identifying potential human–wildlife conflict

zones. Engagement with partnering conservation organisations will broaden the experience,

enabling participants to contribute to biodiversity monitoring initiatives and ecological field

surveys beyond cheetah focused work. By integrating experiential learning, zoo to field

collaboration, and academic research, this developing program aims to empower zookeepers

as informed conservation ambassadors. The project ultimately seeks to create a sustainable

model for zookeeper involvement in citizen science that enhances global awareness of

cheetah conservation challenges and fosters stronger connections between zoological

institutions and field based conservation efforts.

The Phoenix Zoo is one of 12 AZA facilities that houses Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture (Gyps

rueppellii), a large old-world, African vulture species. As the largest holder of the species in

the United States, housing 5.7 breeding adults, alongside 1.0 juvenile, and 1.0 Lappet Faced

Vulture, complex shifts in flock dynamics outside of breeding season significantly impacted

conspecific relationships and breeding potential entering the 2025-2026 season. Due to

historic institutional breeding success, most birds in this flock are well represented in the

population; with the exception of two birds, “Flower” and “Ruppella de Vil”. Entering this

breeding season, “Ruppella de Vil”, who does not allow mate assistance during the

incubation and chick raising process laid a demographically valuable egg early in the season.

Through a series of strategic egg management decisions, the egg of 0.1 “Ruppella de Vil” was

successfully fostered to a pair of historically successful parents, resulting in the hatch and

fledge of a genetically under-represented chick. While this breeding season did not come

without challenges, this incredibly valuable breeding season and egg management decisions

maximized our chances of success, all while learning how to best navigate the changing

dynamics of the largest AZA flock of Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture.

The Petaluma Wildlife Museum is a nonprofit organization based in Northern California that partners with Petaluma High School and the Petaluma City School District. It is the only public high school student-run wildlife museum in the United States. Through this program, high school students take primary responsibility for exotic animal husbandry, public speaking, and conservation messaging. For this poster presentation, two of our high school students will share how they manage the care of over 40 exotic species while developing effective strategies to engage and inspire diverse audiences. Attendees will learn about the museum’s Exotic Husbandry course, in which students oversee animal health, welfare, and daily management, and its Public Speaking course, which trains students to communicate conservation messages to visitors of all ages in the museum, at schools, and at public events. By combining animal husbandry with education and outreach, students have reached thousands of primary and secondary school students, as well as members of the general public, fostering curiosity about wildlife from every continent and encouraging conservation-minded behavior. Our mission is to inspire the next generation of conservationists through environmental education. This poster presentation invites attendees to say hello to our future zoo keepers and environmental educators.