In 1981, a project to collectively manage exotic animals in American zoos was created and called the Species Survival Plan (SSP). The first six species included in this program were chosen to serve as models for all the other species held in zoos.
(1)Golden lion tamarin, (2)Przewalski's horse, and (3)gaur were chosen because of the research and cooperative management already being conducted at that time.
(4)Amur tiger was chosen because many felt that the species had already met carrying capacity in zoos and was in desperate need to genetic management. (5)Barasingha and (6)Bali mynah were chosen because no population data had been collected and there was strong interest in these species by the WCMC committee.
(7) Okapi was soon added to the list because of an existing cooperative venture between the 4 zoos that bred okapi in the U.S. A reptile species was supposed to join this inaugural group, but the addition of reptiles didn't happen until the next year.
By the end of 1981, six other species were being organized into SSPs: (8) Indian Rhinoceros, (9) Black Rhinoceros, (10) Asian Lion, (11) Grevy's Zebra, (12) Scimitar-horned Oryx, and (13) Asian Small-clawed Otter.
Tom Foose, the AZA's Conservation Coordinator, pushed for the inclusion of rhinoceros. By the end of 1982, 4 rhino SSPs had been organized making this taxon the first to be fully managed.
The Knoxville Zoo had completed a study of the U.S. captive population that led to the formation of the SSP that year.
Grevy's Zebra and Scimitar-horned Oryx were chosen to model a partnership with private U.S. game ranches and AZA zoos in captive management.
Finally, the Asian small-clawed otter was chosen as a program to acquire better husbandry knowledge for application towards more endangered otter species.