The Australasian Species Management Program (ASMP)

Zoos and aquariums work to conserve wildlife in the natural world. Pivotal to this is the understanding that to be truly effective, institutions can not work in isolation. Zoos and aquariums in Australasia operate as part of a cooperative network, particularly in the selection and management of the species we hold.

The Mission Statement of the ASMP is: "To plan and manage animal collections cooperatively, in ways that promote sustainibility and contribute to species conservation."

The Australasian Species Management Program (ASMP) is ARAZPA's species management arm. Through a large network of position holders working in member zoos, the ASMP provides coordinated management and planning recommendations for species residing in ARAZPA's member institutions.

ASMP activities are monitored and directed by the ASMP Committee. Activities fall into two main areas: strategic regional collection planning, carried out by a series of Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGs) and individual species programs (Conservation Programs, Population Management Programs, Husbandry Programs), coordinated by staff working in ARAZPA member zoos and aquaria. 

Under the ASMP:

• The voluntary work of close to 200 zoo and aquarium staff is coordinated across 73 institutions
• 14 Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGs) have been established to provide advice to curators and animal management staff of all ARAZPA members
• More than 100 programs for rare and threatened species are run, these include:
• Conservation Programs: programs with direct links to  in situ conservation in which the captive populations run as part of recovery programs
• programs currently releasing captive animals to the wild
• Population Management Programs: programs for sustainable captive populations
• Husbandry Management Programs: programs for which husbandry techniques and protocols are required

Species Management Programs in the Australasian Region
ASMP positions
Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGs)
ASMP policies