SSP Participation In Canada

TZFan

TZFan

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
Since there was such interest in Toronto's SSP I wasted the last three days ploughing through every single SSP available to look for every Canadian institution which might participate. Now give or take a few I think I have most of it covered. Some may have joined or left programs since the most up to date SSP available for that species. Based on my research 21 Canadian zoos and aquariums participate in 212 different SSPs. Of those 29 are green programs, 158 are yellow programs, 23 red programs and 2 candidate programs.

For those who don't know there are three levels of SSP's that a zoo may be involved with, Green, Yellow and Red. Green are the most stable programs for the long term. Yellow programs are potentially stable but do require additional attention and effort to keep it stable. Things that could be consider in that is a need to increase space, genetic diversity and population size. Red programs are unstable populations in critical situations where intense management is needed to find founders, build the population and establish space. Generally these will be populations between 20 to 50 animals depending on the needs of the species. Lastly there is a fourth group called candidate programs which are ones they want to phase in and build and test interest.

AZA Institutions
Canada has 6 AZA institutions, Assiniboine, Calgary, Ripley's, Toronto, Vancouver Aquarium and Granby. The expectation of the AZA is that they participate in green level programs and try to participate in as many yellows and reds as possible.

Assiniboine Park and Zoo
Assiniboine participates in 47 SSPs.
6 green programs, 39 yellow programs and 2 red programs. 47 SSPs.
Interesting note is the majority of the programs the participate in are bird programs.
Green Programs
Inca Tern
Roseate Spoonbill
Amur Tiger
Tawny Frogmouth
Red Panda
Meerkat

Yellow Programs
Hawaiian Nene Goose
Trumpeter Swan
White-handed Gibbon
Indian Flying Fox
Polar Bear
Turkmenian Markhor
Sichuan Takin
Spotted Dikkop
Scarlet Ibis
Roseatte Spoonbill
European White Stork
Marabou Stork
Saddle-billed Stork
Black-naped Fruit Dove
Grey-capped Emerald Dove
Blue-crowned Motmot
Southern Ground Hornbill
Przewalski’s Horse
Snow Leopard
Canada Lynx
Ocelot
Cougar
Crested Wood-partridge
Demoiselle Crane
Sunbittern
Prehensile-tailed skink
Grey Seal
Callimico
Common Squirrel Monkey
Cotton-top Tamarin
Red-Crested Cardinal
Snowy-headed Robin Chat
Violet-backed (Amethyst) Starling
Southern Tamandua
Linne’s Two-toed Sloth
Burrowing Owl
Snowy Owl
Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture
Kinkajou

Red Programs
Sarus Crane
Steller’s Sea-eagle

Calgary Zoo
Calgary participates in a total of 50 SSPs
15 green programs, 31 yellow programs and 4 red programs.
Green Programs
Generic Giraffe
Gorilla
Chilean Flamingo
Grevy’s Zebra
Lion
Amur Tiger
Whooping Crane
Guereza Colobus
Southern Rockhopper Penguin
Humboldt Penguin
King Penguin
Ring-tailed Lemur
North American River Otter
Red Panda
Meerkat

Yellow Programs
African Pygmy Goose
Marbled Teal
Masai Giraffe
African Straw-colored Fruit Bat
Turkmenian Markhor
Spotted Dikkop
Spur-winged Lapwing
African Pancake Tortoise
Egyptian Tortoise
Hadada Ibis
Southern Bald (Cape) Ibis
Hamerkop
African Spoonbill
Przewalski’s Horse
Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra
Snow Leopard
Cougar
Komodo Dragon
Prehensile-tailed skink
Mandrill
Japanese Macaque
Violet-backed (Amethyst) Starling
Golden-breasted Starling
Black and White Ruffed Lemur
Snowy Owl
Rock Hyrax
Cape Porcupine
Greater Rhea
River Hippopotamus
Red River Hog
Chacoan Peccary

Red Programs
Pallas’ Cat
Macaroni Penguin
Northern Rockhopper Penguin

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Ripley's participates in 7 yellow programs and no others.
Yellow Programs
Ocellated River Stingray
White-blotched River Stingray
Spotted Eagle Ray
Sawfish
Lined Seahorse
Sand Tiger Shark
Zebra Shark

Toronto Zoo
Toronto participates in 126 SSPs.
20 green programs, 91 yellow programs and 15 red programs.
Not shockingly it participates in far more SSPs than any other zoo in the country.
Green Programs
Puerto Rican crested toad
Western Lowland Gorilla
Sumatran Orangutan
Radiated Tortoise
Black Breasted Leaf Turtle
Caribbean Flamingo
Grevy’s Zebra
Jaguar
Lion
Amur Tiger
Grey Crowned Crane
Golden Lion Tamarin
Tawny Frogmouth
Plush Crested Jay
White Crested Laughingthrush
African Penguin
Ring Tailed Lemur
Meerkat
North American River Otter
Red Panda

Yellow Programs
Dusky Gopher Frog
Panamanian Golden Frog (sora)
Wyoming Toad
Trumpeter Swan
Common Eland
Masai Giraffe
Greater Kudu
Wildebeest
White Handed Gibbon
Straw Coloured Fruit Bat
Egyptian Fruit Bat
Polar Bear
Spotted Hyena
Painted Terrapin
Brown Forest Turtle
Burmese Star Tortoise
Home’s Hinge Back Tortoise
Madagascar Spider Tortoise
Madagascar Flat Tailed Tortoise
Spiny Turtle
Spotted Turtle
Hamerkop
African Sacred Ibis
Scarlet Ibis
African Spoonbill
Marabou Stork
Grey Capped Emerald Dove
Luzon Bleeding Heart Dove
Green Naped Pheasant Pigeon
Nicobar Pigeon
Victoria Crowned Pigeon
Northern Ground Hornbill
Southern Ground Hornbill
Wrinkled Hornbill
Laughing Kookaburra
Blue Crowned Motmot
Blue Bellied Roller
Przewalski’s Horse
Cheetah
Clouded Leopard
Snow Leopard
Canadian Lynx
Cougar
Sumatran Tiger
Lake Victoria Cichlids - Argens
Lake Victoria Cichlids - Degeni
Lake Victoria Cichlids - Perrieri
Lake Victoria Cichlids - Paceatus
Lake Victoria Cichlids - Two Stripe White Lips
White Blotched River Stingray
Palawan Peacock Pheasant
Crested Wood Partridge
Black Crake
Wattled Crane
Red Legged Seriema
Sunbittern
San Esteban Chuckwalla
Komodo Dragon
Chinese Crocodile Lizard
Black Tree Monitor
Prehensile-Tailed Skink
Brush Tailed Bettong
Short Beaked Echidna
Western Grey Kangaroo
Bennett’s Wallaby
Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat
Pygmy Marmoset
Spider Monkey
White Faced Saki
Fairy Bluebird
Golden Breasted Starling
Linne’s Two Toed Sloth
Green Aracari
Eurasian Eagle Owl
Snowy Owl
Spectacled Owl
Greater One Horned Rhino
White Rhino
Capybara
African Crested Porcupine
Prehensile Tailed Porcupine
Black Footed Ferret
Jamacian Boa
Eastern Massassagua Rattlesnake
Mexican Red Kneed Tarantula
Violaceous Turaco
White Cheeked Turaco
Babirusa
River Hippo
Red River Hog
Warthog

Red Programs
Indochinese Box Turtle
Great Hornbill
Sunda Gharial
Moose
Lake Victoria Cichlids - Ishmaeli
Lake Victoria Cichlids - Melanopterus
Cabot’s Tragopan
Tree Kangaroo
Lion Tailed Macque
Red Billed Blue Magpie
Stellar Sea Eagle
Secretary Bird
African Spotted Necked Otter
Elegant Crested Tinamou
Pygmy Hippo

Vancouver Aquarium
Vancouver participates in 12 SSPs.
1 green program, 8 yellow programs, 2 red programs and 1 candidate program.
Green Programs
African Penguin

Yellow Programs
Panamanian Golden Frog (Sora)
Scarlet Ibis
Ocellated River Stingray
White-blotched River Stingray
Zebra Shark
Grey Seal
Callimico
Linne’s Two-toed Sloth

Red Programs
Tiger River Stingray
Sea Otter

Candidate
Walrus

Zoo de Granby
Granby participates in 47
9 green programs, 33 yellow programs and 4 red programs.
Green Programs
Generic Giraffe
Caribbean Flamingo
Jaguar
Lion
Amur Tiger
Guereza Colobus
Ring-tailed Lemur
Red Panda
Meerkat

Yellow Programs
Southern Screamer
Common Eland
Thomson’s Gazelle
Boat-billed Heron
Marabou Stork
African Elephant
Przewalski’s Horse
Plains Zebra
Amur Leopard
Snow Leopard
Ocelot
Red-crowned Crane
Bennett’s Wallaby
Callimico
Spider Monkey
White-faced Saki
Golden Lion Tamarin
Mandrill
Japanese Macaque
Turquoise Tanager
Southern Three-banded Armadillo
Linne’s Two-toed Sloth
Green Aracari
Andean Condor
Snowy Owl
Eurasian Eagle Owl
Southern White Rhinoceros
Capybara
North American Porcupine
Cape Porcupine
Kinkajou
White-Cheeked Turaco
River Hippopotamus

Red Programs
Eastern Gray Kangaroo
Patas Monkey
Chestnut-mandibled Toucan
Spotted-Necked Otter
 
Wow, this is a remarkable list, well done!

I am little concerned though that you might be reading my mind. I was wondering how Toronto compared to other AZA institutions with regards to SSP participation but didn't want to ask as I knew it would take a lot of work to find out. Thanks for your all effort.
 
Just thought I would break up the AZA zoos from the non AZA zoos.

Non AZA
Here are the 15 non AZA SSP participates. The AZA doesn't frown upon non members participating in the programs. It may be harder to get animals as Toronto well knows from its time out but not impossible. In order to be given animals they must meet or exceed the requirements of the AZA for that species.

African Lion Safari
The safari participates in 13 SSPs.
No green programs, 12 yellow programs and 1 red program.
Yellow Programs
Sichuan Takin
Hadada Ibis
Asian Elephant
Cheetah
Red-legged Seriema
Western Gray Kangaroo
Eurasian Eagle Owl
Spectacled Owl
Eurasian Black Vulture
Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros
Southern White Rhinoceros
Red River Hog

Red Programs
Steller’s Sea-eagle

Aquarium du Quebec
The aquarium participates in 4 programs.
1 yellow program, 2 red programs and a candidate program.
Yellow Program
Polar bear

Red Programs
Grey Seal
Eurasian Eagle Owl

Candidate
Walrus

Cherry Brook Zoo
Cherry Brook participates in 3 SSPs
1 green programs, and 2 yellow programs.
Green Programs
Amur Tiger

Yellow Programs
Callimico
Golden Lion Tamarin

Ecomuseum Zoo
The Ecomuseum participates in 2 SSPs
No green programs, 1 yellow programs and 1 red program.
Yellow Programs
Canada Lynx

Red Programs
Snowy Owl

Edmonton Valley Zoo
Edmonton participates in 24 SSPs
5 green programs, 18 yellow programs and 1 red program.
Green Programs
Grevy’s Zebra
Ring-tailed Lemur
North American River Otter
Red Panda
Meerkat

Yellow Programs
Sichuan Takin
Asian Elephant
Snow Leopard
Canada Lynx
Serval
Prehensile-tailed skink
Grey Seal
Bennett’s Wallaby
Callimico
Southern Three-banded Armadillo
Linne’s Two-toed Sloth
Green Aracari
Mongoose Lemur
Black and White Ruffed Lemur
Eurasian Eagle Owl
Capybara
Rock Hyrax
Prehensile-tailed Porcupine

Red Programs
Kea

Elmvale Jungle Zoo
Elmvale participates in SSPs
No green programs, 2 yellow programs and 1 red program.
Yellow Programs
Sichuan Takin
Blue-crowned Motmot

Red Programs
Sarus Crane

Greater Vancouver Zoo
Vancouver participates in 11 SSPs
1 green program, 9 yellow programs and 1 red program.
Green Programs
Red Panda

Yellow Programs
Common Eland
Sichuan Takin
Marabou Stork
Père David’s Deer
Bennett’s Wallaby
Common Squirrel Monkey
Capybara
White-nosed Coatimundi
Red River Hog

Red Programs
Caracal

Indian River Reptile Zoo
Indian River participates in 3 SSPs.
1 green program and 2 yellow programs.
Green Programs
Black-breasted Leaf Turtle

Yellow Programs
Black Tree Monitor
Home's Hinge-back Tortoise

Jungle Cat World
They participate in 4 SSPs.
No green programs, 3 yellow programs and a red program.
Yellow Programs
Amur Leopard
Snow Leopard
Ocelot

Red Programs
Eurasian Eagle Owl

Magnetic Hill
Magnetic Hill participates in 6 SSPs.
1 green program, 4 yellow programs and 1 red program.
Green Programs
Meerkat

Yellow Programs
Marabou Stork
Przewalski’s Horse
Amur Leopard
Hyacinth Macaw

Red Programs
Greater Rhea

Montreal Biodome
The Biodome participates in 23 SSPs.
6 green programs, 14 yellow programs and 3 red programs.
Green Programs
Common Murre
Cotton-top Tamarin
Macaroni Penguin
Gentoo Penguin
King Penguin
North American River Otter

Yellow Programs
Atlantic Puffin
Wood Turtle
Scarlet Ibis
Blue-crowned Motmot
Canada Lynx
White-blotched River Stingray
Helmeted Curassow
Sunbittern
Callimico
Golden Lion Tamarin
Turquoise Tanager
Linne’s Two-toed Sloth
Hyacinth Macaw
Green Aracari

Red Programs
Northern Rockhopper Penguin
Capybara
North American Porcupine

Parc Safari
The safari participates in 10 SSPs.
1 green programs, 9 yellow programs and no red programs.
Green Programs
Generic Giraffe

Yellow Programs
Greater Kudu
Sichuan Takin
Père David’s Deer
African Elephant
Przewalski’s Horse
Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra
Cheetah
Canada Lynx
Greater Rhea

Riverview Park and Zoo
Riverview participates in 9 SSPs.
1 green program and 8 yellow programs.
Green Programs
Meerkat

Yellow Programs
Sichuan Takin
Red-billed Hornbill
Bobcat
Bennett’s Wallaby
Common Squirrel Monkey
Linne’s Two-toed Sloth
Capybara
Greater Rhea

Safari Niagara
The safari participates in 7 SSPs.
2 green programs, 4 yellow programs and a red program.
Green Programs
Red Panda
Meerkat

Yellow Programs
Callimico
Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros
Southern White Rhinoceros
Prehensile-tailed Porcupine

Red Programs
Moose

Saskatoon Forestry Farm Zoo
Saskatoon participates in 2 SSPs. They are down by two after some recent movement in red pandas and komodos.
No green programs, 1 yellow program and 1 red program.
Yellow Programs
Canada Lynx

Red Programs
Snowy Owl

Zoo Sauvage de St Felicien
St Felicien participates in 7 SSPs
No green programs, 5 yellow programs, 1 red program and a candidate program.
Yellow Programs
Trumpeter Swan
Polar bear
Przewalski’s Horse
Bobcat
Canada Lynx

Red Programs
Moose

Candidate Program
Wolverine

That brings it to the end.

I know a number of the non AZA zoos have a ton of animals that can go in SSP programs but for whatever reason they don't. A big one I know is missing in the list is Bactrian Camels. There just wasn't and SSP to check the list off against.
 
Thank you very much for this. It is very interesting and results from a lot of work!
 
Honestly it was a product of boredom. I wondered how the other AZA zoos in Canada stacked up. Then I said well what about the rest?

It was interesting to find out things.

With the AZA zoos cool things I picked up...
  • I for one didn't know or remember Ripley's joined the AZA.
  • It was interesting to see in comparison to Toronto how few programs Calgary participates in. I knew it would be less than Toronto given the physical space difference between the two. I just didn't realize it would be 40% of what Toronto has. I thought they would have about 80 programs with possibly a heavy lean towards reptiles, amphibians and birds instead of the bigger mammals. I really thought they would be much more comparable to Toronto.
  • I had always wondered who was the number two zoo after Toronto in the country. I assumed Calgary but it was interesting to see Granby and Assiniboine are chomping at their heels.
As for the non AZA zoos I was surprised by a number of things....
  • How few participate in green programs. One would think that would be the easiest to join because of the ease of getting the animals. Many of the smaller zoos have various types of zerbas yet only Edmonton and Parc Safari participate in an AZA program for a zebra species. But then again if the AZA has a thriving program there really is little need to allow non members to join in.
  • Which zoos had the largest participation. I assumed Edmonton would be the top non Aza zoo which is correct. However I was surprised the Biodome came out as number two. I was leaning towards Parc Safari or African Lion Safari. Based on what I have been seeing with Parc Safari I do think they will continue to increase their AZA participation. When I first started looking at the AZA they didn't show up very often but they are new participants in a number of programs. They could be working themselves up for AZA membership possibly.
 
Could someone tell me how each level of SSPs work? If i'm getting it, Red programs are the worst the zoo has and Green's the best?
 
None of the programs is best or worst. It's about the health of the population of that species and how strong the chances are for keeping that species thriving in captivity for future generations. The standard question is how likely is it that this population will be represented and healthy for the next 100 years. Tons of factors are always simultaneously at play.

Population size
Ability of the population to breed
Demographics of the population
genetic diversity
Potential for new founder animals
space available to house them
Institutional interest
Housing requirements
mixed species compatibility to maximize space
status of the species in the wild
What species is the limited space available best suited for
representation of the species in other geographically based zoo associations (Europe being the most commonly considered)

Just to name a few off the top of my head.

Green programs have the best chance of long term success with oversight. Yellow programs need a little work in various areas but have potential to be successful long term with careful management. Red programs will need a lot of management and oversight to ensure success but even then nothing is guaranteed if they cannot meet the needs. Candidate programs are emerging ones that will need a lot of supervision to build into a Red program. Movement between levels is very possible so long as the SSP can achieve its goals and meet Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) requirements. They can also be downgraded if things go array to the point of being a reg program that becomes a phase out species (Sun bears are a good example of a red to phase out species).

Hope that helps a little.
 
@Yi Qi The different levels have specific cutoffs, relating to demographics and genetic outlook. They also have different participation rules.

Green SSPs: AZA population is 50 or more animals and can maintain at least 90% gene diversity for 100 years or 10 generations* (whichever comes first). Unlike in the other three programs, transfer and breeding recommendations are mandatory, and non-AZA facilities have to apply for participation.
*the AZA population alone must meet these requirements. If 50 animals and/or 90% GD can only be maintained because of non-AZA participants, then it doesn't qualify.
Interesting fact: if a population receives a constant flux of imports that allows it to stay over 90% indefinitely, it can qualify as a Green SSP.

Yellow SSPs: Population is at least 50 animals and cannot maintain 90% GD for 100 years or 10 generations. As with the following two programs, participation is open to non-AZA facilities and transfer/breeding recommendations are optional but highly encouraged.

Red SSPs: Population is below 50 animals and cannot maintain 90% GD for 100 years or 10 generations (which would be impossible for most programs below 50 animals anyway). Same rules apply as with Yellow SSPs.

Candidate Programs: Goal is to develop into an SSP. These can be small populations that are just starting out, or existing populations that have not historically been managed. Same rules apply as with Yellow and Red SSPs.
 
Thanks for the information, TZFan and Coelacanth18. Question: do zoos engage in rare breed survival plans of any sort?
 
All zoos can have non SSP species. Some will be quite rare in North America with only a handful of animals bred and swapped between zoos.But the realistic goal of keeping the lines genetically diverse in such small populations is virtually impossible unless additional founders are brought in to decrease inbreeding. These small breeding groups are not managed by the AZA unless its a candidate or red program.
 
Thank you TZFan, this is fascinating!
Having visited The Edmonton Valley Zoo recently I was interested to see how they stacked up...pleased to see how many programs they are involved in.
 
Thank you for this fascinating discussion, it makes me want to visit some more Canadian zoos!
 
@TZFan, the big reason so few non AZA participate in greens is because of the difficulty to enter into a Green SSP. Entering into a yellow or red is much easier due to more flexible entry and participation requirements, and often times these growing SSP's are desperate for new holders.
 
Thanks Hyak_II! Logically speaking one would think more animals, stable program it would be easier but I can see what your saying. Same reasons and you can afford to be pickier. Never thought of it from the other side.
 
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