Is there any way to check/know if a Zoo or Aquarium is a member of ZIMS/Species360? This way you a certain species could still be held at institutions that aren’t a member, while they are not on the species’ holding report.
Species360 members
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Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
The only way I am aware of is to look up an institution on Species360 - if you search for an institution, it will have a check box to tell you if it is or is not a member. All of this is contingent on having access of course.
An institution’s ZIMS records are also only as useful as the data input, and I know a few zoos that have species on their inventory on ZIMS that they no longer have in reality (or vice versa) just because no one updated their records
Strange, Species360 themselves give this as a requirement for becoming a member: ‘Sharing of current, accurate, comprehensive data about your collection – data must be recorded at least every three months to remain in good standing’
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
That would be the ideal, but it's not as if they will actually know what an institution's holdings are to judge how accurate the online records are.
Going back to your original question, it's also possible for an institution to keep an animal on their records in a private way that does not show up to searches from outside the institution. So, as far as ZIMS goes, what you see isn't always what you get, or vice versa.
That’s true, didn’t really think that through.
Summing it all up, it can be a useful database, but it’s not perfect.
It is increasingly being used for a variety of publications and as a valid data source on animal collections and husbandry and vet management amongst others.
QUESTION:
ZIMS/SPECIES 360 DATA: I have been led to believe you can request for 2 data sets per month.
How do I proceed to ask for listings from their website for species?