About Species360
Species360, a non-profit NGO and global leader in wildlife care and conservation, mobilizes a network of more than 1,300 aquarium, zoo, university, research and governmental members on six continents in 102 countries to improve animal welfare and species conservation. Our members address today’s most urgent wildlife issues, including establishing best practices in husbandry, enrichment, medical care, welfare, reproduction, population management, and biodiversity.
Together, Species360 members curate the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), the world’s most comprehensive database of knowledge on more than 22,000 species. ZIMS vastly increases what is known about thousands of species, and is instrumental in identifying sustainability strategies for many of the species assessed as vulnerable, endangered, and extinct in the wild.
From data to applied conservation
Species360 provides conservationists with evidence-based findings integrating the full scope of global data, including IUCN Red List, CITES, TRAFFIC, EDGE, AZE, ZIMS, and more. Research led in collaboration with IUCN Species Survival Commission, CITES, and others, drives insightful decisions on many levels, from enforcing illegal wildlife trade laws to calculating viability of insurance populations.
From the experts: Hear why data matters to species conservation. (Video)
Improving Animal Care and Welfare
Species360 members use the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) to establish best practices in caring for the individual and groups of species in their care. ZIMS for Aquatics, ZIMS for Husbandry, ZIMS for Medical, ZIMS for Studbooks, and ZIMS for Education are used to conduct day-to-day and ongoing programs throughout the global wildlife conservation community.
Managing a Global Resource
Species360 is a global non-profit governed by a volunteer board of trustees of experts, primarily from our membership organizations.
Species360 has approximately 40 staff providing member support, leading development of new solutions, spearheading research efforts, and more. Our team includes aquarists, population and animal management experts, veterinarians, and conservation scientists. We work alongside members to impact animal care and conservation efforts within their individual institutions and across peer organizations worldwide.
Trusted by
- 1300+ zoos and aquariums
- IUCN
- CITES
- USFWS and DEFRA
- TRAFFIC
- 40+ associations
- 50+ conservation organizations
- 20+ universities
- 80+ scientific studies
Want to learn more?
Watch our video on the evolution of zoos and aquariums – from record-keeping to data science.
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