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Community: Species360 staff participate in 2022 conferences around the world

If you were at a regional or international conference this year, chances are you encountered a Species360 team member. Over the course of the season, more than 20 individuals from our team — including member support representatives, ZIMS trainers, and husbandry, veterinary, aquatic, and studbooks experts — participated in industry events, from WAZA, to CITES, to ZRA. They presented research findings, led training sessions, and talked with partners and members.

By far, the highlight of these travels is the opportunity to see so many people from throughout the international community. In addition to sharing information, we learned from you — including more about your goals and vision for the future, and the role that we can continue to fulfill in animal care and conservation.

We are grateful for the leadership of all who hosted these exchanges, including the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG), European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA), French Association of Zoological Parks (AFdPZ), Latin American Zoo and Aquarium Association (ALPZA), the Zoological Registrars Association, and more.

Here is a look at some of our experiences. Thank you to all who participated.

Species360 CEO Jim Guenter attended the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Annual Conference 2022. (Photo: WAZA)
The Species360 Board of Trustees met immediately following the WAZA Annual conference in Tenerife. Pictured from left: Rasem Baban, CEO, Münchener Tierpark Hellabrunn, Sally Sherwin, Director of Wildlife Conservation and Science at Zoos Victoria, Paul Calle, Chief Veterinarian and Vice President of Health Programs, Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo, Martin Zordin, CEO, World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Keith Olson, CFO, Species360, Myfanwy Griffith, Executive Director, European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, Onnie Byers, Chair, Conservation Planning Specialist Group, Jim Guenter, CEO, Species360, Elisabeth Hunt, Director of Member Support and Training, Species360, Alexandra Guerra, Executive Director, Latin American Zoo and Aquarium Association, Bjarne Klausen, Managing Director, Odense Zoo, Maria Clara Dominguez, Director, Zoológico de Cali, Sandy Trautwein, Director of Aquatic Conservation, Species360, Nicola Craddock, Executive Director, ZAA Australasia, Jeanette Olson, Vice President, Target Technology Services, Target Corp, and Wen-Haur Cheng, Deputy CEO and Chief Life Sciences Officer, Mandai Wildlife Group. Not pictured: Tracy Rehse, Pan-African Association of Zoos and Aquaria and Director of Conservation, National Zoological Gardens (Pretoria, S.A.) Craig Hoover, Executive Vice President, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Ghanim Al Hajeri, Executive Director, Al Ain Zoo, UAE, Arne Lawrence, Chair, EAZA Veterinary Committee, Kazu Takami, Director, Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Park, and Peter Paul van Dijk, Director, Turtle Conservation Program at Global Wildlife Conservation.
Also at the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) 2022 Annual Conference, Tenerife, Spain, Prof. Dalia A. Conde, Ph.D., Species360 Conservation Science Alliance, speaks to attendees on using Species360 data to support and monitor improvements in welfare for marine mammals, elephants, and other species. (Photo: WAZA)
At the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Annual Conference, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, from the left, Dr. Morgane Tidière, representing the Species360 Conservation Science Alliance, Erika Fronk, Species360 Member Support, Josh Courtreau, Species360 Member Training, Katelyn Mucha, ZIMS for Studbooks Product Owner, Nannette Driver-Ruiz, ZIMS for Husbandry and Aquatics Product Owner, and Dr. Sandy Trautwein, Director of Aquatic Conservation, Species360.
Opening session of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) Annual Conference in Portugal drew a full audience. Later in the conference, Prof. Dalia A. Conde, Ph.D., Species360 Conservation Science Alliance and University of Southern Denmark, presented research on marine mammal welfare improvements and the power of ZIMS data in impacting policy. In addition, Species360 Product Owners presented the latest developments in ZIMS for Husbandry & Aquatics, Studbooks, and Medical, as well as conducting training. Thanks to EAZA for organizing another fantastic conference!
At the EAZA Annual Conference, Rachel Thompson, DVM, DECZM (ZHM), and Product Owner, ZIMS for Medical, Species360, discusses how Vet Advisors use ZIMS for Medical to support the care and welfare of animals in the EAZA community. In another session, Dr. Thompson discussed ZIMS for Medical – Sample Storage, the solution developed in collaboration with EAZA Biobank leaders and used to track samples held within the EAZA Biobank.
Katelyn Mucha, Species360 Product Owner for ZIMS for Studbooks, discusses the use of studbooks for demographic and genetic analysis of populations of animals, at the EAZA Annual Conference.
From left, Jacqueline Jürgens, Rikke Øgelund Nielsen, and Johanna Staerk, Ph.D., of the Species360 Conservation Science Alliance and University of Southern Denmark, participated in the EAZA Conservation Forum held earlier this year in Zagreb, Croatia. Jacqueline and Johanna delivered presentations demonstrating the impact of zoos and aquariums on species conservation and research.
At the Zoological Registrars Association (ZRA) annual conference, Joris Verbruggen, Species360 Member Support Representative, provides a course on using Survival, Reproduction, and Growth Reports. Developed by the Species360 Conservation Science Alliance, zoo veterinarians and managers, and scientists from the University of Southern Denmark, these reports use aggregated ZIMS data to greatly increased the amount of species-specific demographic information available to zoos and aquariums.
In conjunction with ZRA, The Species360 Member Support and Training team took the rare opportunity to convene from Europe and the U.S., at the Zoological Registrars Association (ZRA) Annual Conference, held this fall in Nashville, Tennessee (U.S.). From the left, Joris Verbruggen, Frands Carlsen, Erika Fronk, Kim Larson, Michele Moses, Hannah Jenkins, Josh Courteau, and Elisabeth Hunt.
Katie Curran, Aquatic Product Specialist, and Hannah Jenkins, Member Training and Product Analyst, Species360, greet members at the Zoological Registrars Association (ZRA) meeting in Nashville (U.S.).
Prof. Dalia A. Conde, Ph.D., (left) and Dr. Fernando Colchero, Ph.D., (standing) both of the Species360 Conservation Science Alliance and University of Southern Denmark (SDU), present at the 2022 AFdPZ conference in France.
Representatives gather for the Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) Annual Meeting 20-23 October in Tenerife, Spain. “This is one of our most anticipated gatherings of the year. CPSG achieves essential results on behalf of communities and wildlife, and we are excited to participate in their conference, their strategic planning, and their workshops,” said Jim Guenter, CEO for Species360.
In November, Species360’s Dr. Sandy Trautwein, Director of Aquatic Conservation, and Sander Cozjin, Member Development, participated in the 2022 International Aquarium Congress, hosted by Europe’s largest aquarium, Nausicaá Centre National de la Mer, Boulogne sur Mer, France.

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