This cache is located inside the Assiniboine Park Zoo and an entrance fee is required. Summer hours: Open at 9:00 AM and gates close at 4:30 PM. Winter hours: Open at 9:00 AM, and gates close at 3:30 PM. Please respect our plants and animals at the zoo. Please stay on paths and observe signs.
What is a Species Survival Plan?
For decades, accredited zoos and aquariums have been leaders in species survival and are already working to restore more than 30 species to healthy wild populations, including the American bison, the California condor, and a variety of other species. Assiniboine Park Zoo currently participates in over 50 breeding programs through both the Species Survival Plan (SSP) and the European Endangered Species Program (EEP). Many of these programs represent species that urgently need conservation and protected in the wild. SSP Programs, as well as AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, significantly contribute to field conservation efforts, species recovery, veterinary care for wildlife disease issues, establishment of assurance populations, as well as many other species-focused conservation.
An SSP looks at a species among accredited zoos to determine the best genetic matches for breeding, and to ensure their space available for the future offspring. Both genetics and an animal’s heritage needs to be considered to reduce the possibility of inbreeding. While most captive animals cannot go back into the wild, a breeding program will ensure that zoos have healthy captive populations, in case the wild populations ever disappear. An SSP will ensure a species has a future.
A single zoo does not manage a SSP program, and so a zoo will look for a recommendation to breed. The SSP program ensures that animals are not overbred, and that space is available for animals to breed, which is why we do not always have some animals breeding at our zoo.
This container helps you to find your way. No need to leave the path.