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(2.0.3) Institutions should be aware of and prepared for periodic disease
outbreaks in wild or other
domestic or exotic animal populations that might affect the institution’s animals (ex – Avian Influenza,
Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus, etc.). Plans should be developed that outline steps to be taken to
protect the institution’s animals in these situations.
(1.5.5) For animals used in offsite programs and for educational purposes, the institution must have
adequate protocols in place to protect the rest of the animals at the institution from exposure to
infectious agents.
(2.3.1) Capture equipment must be in good working order and available to authorized, trained personnel
at all times.
(2.1.3) Paid and unpaid animal care staff should be trained to assess welfare and recognize abnormal
behavior and clinical signs of illness and have knowledge of the diets, husbandry (including
enrichment items and strategies), and restraint procedures required for the animals under their care.
However, animal care staff (paid and unpaid) must not diagnose illnesses nor prescribe treatment.
(2.3.2) Institution facilities must have radiographic equipment or have access to radiographic services.
(1.5.8) The institution must develop and implement a clear and transparent process for identifying,
communicating, and addressing animal welfare concerns from paid or unpaid staff within the
institution in a
timely manner, and without retribution.
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(1.6.4) The institution should follow a formal written animal training program that facilitates husbandry,
science, and veterinary procedures and enhances the overall health and well-being of the animals.
(1.6.1) The institution must follow a formal written enrichment program that promotes species-appropriate
behavioral opportunities.
(1.6.3) Enrichment activities must be documented and evaluated, and program refinements should be
made based on the results, if appropriate. Records must be kept current.
(1.6.2) The institution must have a specific paid staff member(s) or committee assigned for enrichment
program oversight, implementation, assessment, and interdepartmental coordination of enrichment
efforts.
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(1.5.4) If ambassador animals are used, a written policy on the use of live animals in programs must be
on file and incorporate the elements contained in AZA’s “Recommendations For Developing an
Institutional Ambassador Animal Policy” (see policy in the current edition of the
Accreditation
Standards and Related Policies booklet). An education, conservation, and welfare message must be
an integral component of all programs. Animals in education programs must be maintained and
cared for by paid and/or unpaid trained staff, and housing conditions must meet standards required
for the remainder of the animals in the institution. While outside their primary enclosure, although the
conditions may be different, animal safety and welfare need to be assured at all times.
(1.5.5) For animals used in offsite programs and
for educational purposes, the institution must have
adequate protocols in place to protect the rest of the animals at the institution from exposure to
infectious agents.
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(5.3) The institution should maximize the generation and dissemination of scientific knowledge gained.
This might be achieved by participating in AZA TAG/SSP sponsored studies when applicable,
conducting and publishing original research projects, affiliating with local universities, and/or
employing staff with scientific credentials.
(5.0) The institution must have a demonstrated commitment to scientific study that is in proportion to the
size and scope of its facilities, staff (paid and unpaid), and animals.
(5.2) The institution must follow a formal written policy that includes a process for the
evaluation and
approval of scientific project proposals, and outlines the type of studies it conducts, methods, staff
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Appendix B: Recordkeeping Guidelines for Group Accessions
Developed by the AZA Institutional Data Management Scientific Advisory Group
Published 23 May 2014
Edited to replace the document entitled “Updated Data Entry for Groups” published 16 December 2002
Animals can be accessioned into a collection as either individuals or as part of a group. The term "group"
has many definitions when used in zoos and aquariums, and is usually defined by its application, such as
a social group or animals grouped for husbandry purposes. To provide a consistent language that can be
used throughout the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the term “group accession”, as defined by
the AZA Institutional Data Management Scientific Advisory Group (IDMAG),
•
contains multiple animals of the same species or subspecies, which
•
cannot be differentiated from one another, either physically (there are no scars or color pattern
differences), artificially (they are not tagged or transpondered), or spatially (they are not held in
separate enclosures), and
•
are cared for as a whole.
Thus, no individually accessioned animals are included in a group accession and no individually
identifiable animals are included in a group accession. As soon as an
animal becomes individually
identifiable, it is recommended that it be split from the group record and accessioned as an individual. For
example, large clutches of amphibian tadpoles should first be accessioned as a group; then as individuals
become identifiable, they should be removed from the group record and accessioned as individuals.
Otherwise, information about an individual animal that could otherwise be tracked through the animal’s life
will be lost in the group record. An exception to this occurs occasionally when a group member is
removed and temporarily held separately for medical treatment, with the expectation that it will be
returned to the group when treatment ends. In
this case, the animal remains part of the group even
though separated from it. As with individual records, group record accession numbers should not
duplicate any other accession number, and once a group accession number has been assigned, it should
not be changed.
Group accession provides less information on specific individuals than does individual accession. Group
records make information less retrievable, and often need more clarifying comments than individual
records. Whenever information applies to only part of the group, notes should be used to indicate which
animal(s) the information applies to. It is of utmost importance that these notes be thorough and clear so
future readers can easily understand them. Examples of information needing additional notations in group
records include, but are
not limited to, parentage when not every member of the group has the
˘
the group.
Thus, though it is preferable to accession animals as individuals, a group accession can capture
considerable information when individual accession is not appropriate.
Although colonies are often confused with groups, the term “colony” should be used to designate truly
colonial organisms: those that must live and function as an intact unit, such as corals and eusocial
insects. Individuals within a colony are components of a single entity rather than separate members of a
group. Also, colony members generally cannot be counted and true census data is not possible, so for the
purposes of inventory, a colony is a singular unit while a group is composed of a number of individuals.
However, for accessioning purposes, colonies are treated in the same manner as are groups.
Examples of Appropriate Group Accessions
•
A group of animals that are not individually identifiable and are the same species or subspecies.
Your institution receives 50 Puerto Rican crested toad tadpoles to rear. Unless each tadpole
is raised in a separate numbered tank, there is no way to tell one tadpole from another. All
tadpoles housed together are accessioned as one group.
•
Colonial species, such as coral or eusocial insects (e.g., some species of bees or ants).
Your institution receives a piece of coral. Since the coral is in one piece, you accession it as a
group of one. You make a note of the dimensions or mass of the
piece to give an estimate of
colony size, since it is not possible to count individual animals in the colony. In the inventory,