WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PLAN
IT’S WHO WE ARE At Sunset Zoo, we are committed to our mission of “inspiring conservation of the natural world.” To maintain our accreditation through the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) we must support in-the-field conservation efforts. We take this challenge seriously. Many of the animals in our collection face serious threats to their wild populations, and scientists are predicting several species could become extinct in our lifetime. Zoos and aquariums around the world do more than connect the public to amazing animals. We are also diligent in ensuring these inspiring creatures are protected for future generations.
OUR CORE VALUES The Wildlife Conservation Plan (WCP) process holds the following conservation strategy and planning Core Values: Conservation is always about the thriving of animals, places, and people. Conservation is defined by the question: “What can we save or protect?” As a zoo representing global species, there should be emphasis on local, national, and global efforts. The WCP should consider the resources, passions and skills of the staff and community that makes the Sunset Zoo what it is. Any effective change strategy requires collaboration, effort, creativity and risk. A successful strategic plan and master (site) plan are essential to a thriving WCP – these three elements are intertwined. The WCP is a living document designed to flex, but not break, as the environment and goals change. The WCP must be able to permeate the zoo and create a welcoming entry for any and all interested in conservation.
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PLAN The purpose and role and of zoos has shifted to focus on conservation, research, saving species, and connecting people to nature. To be sure of the highest likelihood of success and impact, our zoo has engaged a process which developed a cohesive, collaborative zoo-wide strategy for conservation and saving species. Saving animals and wild places, while helping communicate the complexities of nature to our zoo guests, is far from simple. We have adopted big, challenging, and difficult goals but believe it is our responsibility and opportunity to serve our world in this way.
With conservation being such a large and potentially ambiguous topic, The Wildlife Conservation Plan (WCP) for the Sunset Zoo will define the scope of conservation initiatives with the focus on saving wildlife native to the Flint Hills region and Riley County. The WCP will provide the following: • • • •
A clear and articulate purpose – the why Defined conservation initiatives – which species to focus on Established measurable goals for each initiative A detailed action item plan, with specific timelines and deliverables
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. { The Lorax }
THE CONSERVATION PROCESS In order to focus our energy and resources to be most effective, The Sunset Zoo has created a scorecard (see page 7) and process to evaluate any existing and potential conservation programs. Any proposed program must first be assessed by the following questions: 1. Is this project scope 3 or more years in length and requiring $1,500 in hard and soft costs? • If yes, proceed to the scorecard. • If no, this program is to be assessed as a short-term Conservation Project. 2. Short-term Conservation Projects will be evaluated and determined by the Zoo Director, FOSZ Director, and the conservation team. The annual budget for short-term conservation projects is $3,000.
3. If the project is determined to be a potential long-term program, it is to be assessed by the conservation team based on the following: • • • • • • • •
Longevity and Zoo-Wide Investment Tangible Metrics Education Outreach Strategy Community Participation Staff Involvement/Hands-on Partnerships and Resources Potential for Data Collection Direct Story and Relevance to Animal Residents
4. An annual assessment for each conservation program will be evaluated by the team as well as an annual conservation report produced and distributed to the zoological community. Any Adaptations to the WCP scorecard can also be made at this time.
Conservation is a state of harmony between man and land. { Aldo Leopold }
CONSERVATION PROGRAM SCORECARD Directions for evalulation: Consider the possible conservation initative. Assess each category based on the evalution critera, assigning a score of 0, 1, or 2.
Preliminary Question: If this project scope is under 2 years in length or less than $1,500 in hard and soft costs, it gets assessed as a flexible spending initiative, not this scorecard.
Score
Weight
0
1
2
Longevity
1 champion, no succession plan
1 champion, plus pending succession plan
2+ champions, plus active succession plan
2
Goal Setting
No measurable goals
1-3 measurable goals
3-5 measurable goals
2
Education Outreach Strategy (EOS)
No connection to an EOS
EOS beyond the scope of existing efforts
EOS integrated with existing efforts, strategy, and resources
2
Community Participation
No opportunity for hands-on public experience
Public participation limited to one-off experiences
Ongoing public participation opportunities available
1
Staff Involvement
No staff involvement
Single-day staff experiences
Fiscal-only investment from Zoo
e.g., field research, surveys
Ongoing management and participation from staff
1
Partnerships and Resources
No partners investing time or resources in project
Data Collection
No opportunities for hands-on data collection
Data can be collected for future applications
Data can be collected with real-time applications
1
Storytelling and Collection
No compelling story, animals not included in current collection
Either a compelling story or animals are included in current collection
Both a compelling story and animals are included in current collection
1
Can be interpreted on Zoo grounds
1-2 partners investing 25%+ 2+ partners investing 100% of of total cost in time or total cost in time or resources e.g., AZA, SAFE, KAZOO resources
1
Possible Points: Assessed Points:
Total
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS OVERVIEW “Conservation is a great moral issue, for it involves the patriotic duty of ensuring the safety and continuance of the nation.� { Theodore Roosevelt }
Pollinators Sunset Zoo will create a flourishing habitat for pollinators. Through breed and release programs, we will demonstrate and communicate the importance of pollinators to our community. The pollinator conservation program is accessible the community of Manhattan, Kansas. People can participate through citizen science programs, planting pollinator gardens, and participating as local partners.
Amphibians This program will focus on engaging the public through citizen science programs such as frog watch and an on-site, visible reproduction and research facility. The zoos staff, through partnerships with academic institutions, other zoos, and environmental organizations will build the capacity to facilitate research and propagation of threatened amphibian species locally and internationally.
Wildlife SOS + Sloth Bears This program will create a much-needed holding facility for sloth bears to provide space for breeding, non-breeding, and retirement bears in the Species Survival Plan (SSP). The zoo is committed to being an international leader in education and research for sloth bears. The majority of this program’s energy is directed to India and Wildlife SOS.
Future Research Leaders Scholarship Inspiring and fostering the next generation of conservationists, researchers, and scientists is important. This program will provide financial and mentoring support to bachelors and masters level students. Sunset Zoo will partner with students who desire to positively contribute to research and conservation, while proactively inspiring and fostering the next generation of wildlife advocates.
ZCOG + South American Species This program will support the work to retain South America’s great biodiversity. By partnering with over 20 other zoological institutions, ZCOG can support on-site monitoring and research for critically endangered species. The Sunset Zoo is proud to contribute through financial and educational support while caring for Giant Anteater, Maned Wolf, and other South American Species.
pollinators The world relies on pollinators. With over 75% of our major food crops needing pollinators and the population crash of butterflies, bees, and other insect species responsible for pollination, we are in dire need of recovery efforts for these species. In Riley County, we are more connected to agriculture than most and can champion this effort.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW & STRATEGY 3-YEAR GOALS
10-YEAR GOALS
1 Bee Club scholarship funded 20 certified gardens 3,000 new SF of pollinator gardens Butterfly greenhouse Sunset Zoo certified as a pollinator garden
• 100 certified gardens in Manhattan • Sunset Zoo sponsored pollinatorfriendly sections in all garden centers • 3 Bee Club interns funded • Zoo certified as a pollinator garden with 10,000 SF of zoo grounds dedicated as gardens • Butterfly Breeding Center on grounds
KEY PARTNERS • • • • • • • •
City of Manhattan, Kansas Master gardeners Local garden centers K-State Ag Program Local volunteer groups Manhattan Bee Keeper Association National Wildlife Federation International Union for Conservation of Nature
• • • • •
PROGRAM TACTICS
INVESTMENT
Design and plant pollinator gardens: 10,000 SF
$45,000
Grow Educational/Citizen Science Programs: Monarch Watch, Bug Safari, Bee Watch
$2,500/year
Partner with local Garden Centers – advance local gardens
$750/year
Earth Day Pollinators Event April 22, 2019
$2,000/year
Build a Butterfly Breeding facility Spring 2019
$20,000
Butterfly Breeding Equipment Summer 2019
$2,500
Butterfly Breeding Program Management
$2,000/year
Scholarship Bee Club students
$3,000/year
Pollinator Garden Certification system determined
$1,000
IUCN Butterfly Certification on staff
$7,500/year
Sunset Zoo Commitment over 10 years
$243,500
Amphibian breed & release Amphibian populations have taken the most severe losses in current extinctions across the world, especially North, Central, and South America. Over 30% of amphibian species are currently threatened and need zoological organizations to champion the survival of these incredible animals.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW & STRATEGY KEY PARTNERS
3-YEAR GOALS
10-YEAR GOALS
• Frog Watch • K-State Ag Program • Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism • Species Survival Program • International Union for Conservation of Nature
• Continue Puerto Rican Crested Toads (PRCT) program according to SSP Recommendation • Launch a second species breed-and-release program • Add public-facing PRCT exhibit
• 3 active breed-and-release programs • 4 organizational partners for each breed-and-release program • Engage and foster necessary research for species breeding and reintroduction • 1 threatened species within the region
PROGRAM TACTICS
INVESTMENT
Continue Puerto Rican Crested Toad breeding program
$9,000/year
Build new Amphibian Propagation Center in public view
$15,000
Build partnership with Universities for future species research
$800/year
Grow Frog Watch program
$2,500/ year
Launch New Species 1: 2020
$7,500/year
Launch New Species 2: 2023
$7,500/year
Launch New Species 3: 2026
$7,500/year
Sunset Zoo Commitment over 10 years
$184,500
WILDLIFE SOS | sloth bears Sloth bears are one of our world’s smartest, most curious species, and sadly, they are still abused, mistreated, and forced to painfully entertain visitors to India. The Sunset Zoo has partnered with Wildlife SOS to provide education and interpretive support as well as connect with the future Asian exhibit.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW & STRATEGY KEY PARTNERS • • • •
WildLife SOS K-State Research Species Survival Program Association of Zoos and Aquariums Bear Taxon Advisory Group (TAG)
3-YEAR GOALS • Launch first fundraising event • Continue annual service trip
10-YEAR GOALS • Host an annual fundraising event, “Bourbon for Bears” • Annual Service Trip • Be the leading advocate for Sloth Bears in AZA • A Sloth Bear holding facility for SSP
PROGRAM TACTICS
INVESTMENT
Service Trip to India (2 people eventually)
$10,000/year
Build Educational/Interpretive strategies for “dancing bears”
$3,000
Build partnership with Universities for future species research
$400/year
Launch Bear Support Event: Bourbon for Bears
$7,500/year
Sunset Zoo Commitment over 10 years
$182,000
future research leaders scholarship There are too many questions in need of research and too many bright young students in need of direction and mentorship to become great wildlife researchers and conservationists. The Sunset Zoo has and would like to increase its commitment to scholarship through mentoring, overseeing research, and financially supporting students at all secondary education levels.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW & STRATEGY KEY PARTNERS • Kansas State University • Target universities • International Union for Conservation of Nature
3-YEAR GOALS • Create and adhere to scholarship award rubric • $6,000 awarded annually
10-YEAR GOALS • Award 4 scholarships annually • Create an assessment tool to determine project acceptance and scholarship amount • 100% of final papers/projects published or presented
PROGRAM TACTICS
INVESTMENT
Increase funding and availability for scholarships
$6,000/year
Create application process and assessment tool
$1,000
Build partnership with Universities for future research
$400/year
Sunset Zoo Commitment over 10 years
$65,000
ZCOG | South American Species As one of the founding members of ZCOG, the zoological partnership to support conservation in South America has been a long-term commitment of the Sunset Zoo. Connecting our South American animals to direct work, research, species monitoring, and collaboration with over 20 other Zoological organizations makes this a tremendous program and partnership.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW & STRATEGY KEY PARTNERS • Zoo Conservation Outreach Group (ZCOG) • Association of Zoos and Aquariums organizations
3-YEAR GOALS • $6,000 in support
10-YEAR GOALS • Integration of Paraguay into the ZCOG program • Continue to contribute $6,000 annually to ZCOG • Dr. Klemm Scholarship for AZA School • Interpret and expose guests to the work of ZCOG through their zoo visit
PROGRAM TACTICS
INVESTMENT
Increase annual support of ZCOG
$6,000/year
Connect Paraguay and ZCOG point of contacts to begin discussions
$1,600
Implement ZCOG scholarship
$2,000/year
Design and implement new messaging in South American Area at Sunset Zoo
$5,000
Sunset Zoo Commitment over 10 years
$86,600
MASTER PLAN
CONSERVATION SITE PLAN
Pollinators Future Research Leaders Scholarship
Pollinators
Wildlife SOS | Sloth Bears
Amphibian Breed & Release
ZCOG | South American Species
This document was produced in collaboration with GLMV Zoos
Welcome to the wilder side of GLMV, where we’re reimagining today’s zoos. Zoos are uniquely poised to promote conservation efforts and public interest in issues that may otherwise seem a world away. And that’s just what GLMV Zoos does, through barrier-breaking habitats, conservation and master planning, and thought leadership research and initiatives.
A true conservationist is a person who knows that the world is not given by fathers, but borrowed from children. { John James Audubon }
Conservation is a great moral issue, for it involves the patriotic duty of ensuring the safety and continuance of the nation.
{ Theodore Roosevelt }
UNIQUE PARTNERS & ASSETS Kansas State University
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Fort Riley PTSD Pollinator Program
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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City of Manhattan Partnership
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National Bio and Agrodefense Facility (NBAF)
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