New Members: Species360 welcomes raptor rescue and aviary centers in Asia, Europe, and North America

In recent weeks, several avian rehabilitation and release, wildlife conservation centers, and zoos have joined nonprofit Species360. As part of Species360, these institutions ensure the care and welfare of wildlife and help to build one of the world’s largest sets of species data. Get to know just a few of them, including Willows Birds of Prey, Montana Raptor Conservation Center, Sylvan Heights Bird Park and Avian Breeding Center, and more.

Willows Birds of Prey & Wildlife Centre

Species360 welcomes new institutional member Willows Bird of Prey and Wildlife Centre  (United Kingdom)! Set within 22 acres of stunning countryside, the Centre is home to falcons, owls, hawks and other birds of prey. Located in the beautiful Kent countryside, the Centre offers visitors a chance to get up close to majestic birds of prey and native wildlife. Its wildlife trail is also home to all kinds of creatures including parrots, ferrets, goats, pigs, raccoons and more.

Montana Raptor Conservation Center

New Species360 member Montana Raptor Conservation Center (United States) is a nonprofit rescue and rehabilitation center. Founded in 1988, its mission is to improve the welfare of raptors across Montana through rehabilitation of injured birds, community education, and partnerships for raptor conservation and research. Staff respond to requests to rescue more than 200 distressed raptors annually, and use best practices to provide medical care, physical therapy, and rehabilitation to injured birds. Raptors able to rejoin the wild are released, while others receive lifetime care and serve as Montana Raptor Conservation Center Education Birds.

Sylvan Heights Bird Park and Avian Breeding Center

The mission of AZA Sustainability Partner and new Species360 member Sylvan Heights Bird Park and Avian Breeding Center (North Carolina, United States) is to advance the conservation of waterfowl and wetlands. As a satellite facility of East Carolina University, the nonprofit is an international center for avicultural training and research as well as a local educational resource for avian biology and wetlands ecology. Its 28-acre facility features tranquil gardens and lush natural areas, and walk-through aviaries are home to birds from South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Aviary Park Bintaro

Aviary Park Bintaro (Indonesia) is a new aviary park, zoo, research, and breeding center in Bintaro, Indonesia. The institution cares for 14 bird species, 3 mammal species, 3 reptile species, 11 butterfly species, and 1 other arthropod species. The Park anticipates welcoming nearly 400,000 visitors annually, and will provide education, research, and conservation of endangered animals and ecosystems. The institution is in the process of applying for membership at the Southeast Asian Zoos and Aquariums Association (SEAZA) and the Indonesian Zoo and Aquarium Association (PKBSI).

Species360 welcomes Netherlands’ Zoo Bizar

Species360 welcomes new institutional member Zoo Bizar, Netherlands! The Zoo receives about 20,000 visitors annually and is creatively set up on part of an old Saxon farm in the museum village Orvelte. Staff care for more than 40 small animals, polypods, and reptiles. Visitors are scheduled in time slots, so that there are not too many visitors in at once. Zoo Bizar is a member of Dier & Park and SBB (Samenwerkingsorganisatie Beroepsonderwijs Bedrijfsleven).

Species360 welcomes 125-acre Southland Safari

Welcome AZA and ZAA member Southland Safari! Located on 125 acres in the southern United States, the family-owned zoo cares for 385 animals including zebras, white and brown buffaloes, Indian muntjac, albino and dama wallabies, llamas and alpacas, gazelles, wildebeest, water buffalo, emus, otters, cranes, and many more. The zoo welcomes 2,000 visitors every year.

Species360 members maintain one of the largest datasets on species

As part of Species360, these new institutional members will use the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) to ensure the welfare of individual animals and groups. These organizations will also record and share scientific data, helping to establish species knowledge for the benefit of animal welfare and conservation. Thanks to their efforts, ZIMS provides research, conservation, and animal welfare managers with one of the world’s largest sets of data on animals, including information not found anywhere else.