Learn all about the Species Survival Plan in this Bitesize Bonus episode of the Sedgwick County ZooCast. <\/p>\n\n\n
VIGNETTE (00:00)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n EMILY BISHOP: Since the late 90s, the online dating industry has boomed. Starting with Match.com in 1995, it\u2019s an industry that\u2019s expanded to thousands of sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Swipe left or right to find your perfect match on Tinder. Meet that special someone on Hinge, which sells itself as \u201cThe Dating App Designed to be Deleted.\u201d Or connect on the Shark Tank funded website \u201cCoffee Meets Bagel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Pew Research Center, three-in-ten adults in the U.S. have used a dating app or site. And one-in-ten adults met their current partner through online dating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But for all the praise online dating has received, there are just as many critiques. A study by Forbes found that that using swipe-based dating apps significantly raised individuals\u2019 psychological distress, anxiety, and depression. And only 48% of individuals polled by Pew Research Center said that online dating was a \u201cSafe way to meet people.\u201d That\u2019s less than half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All this strife over finding the perfect match is driving some people to turn to more traditional means of finding a partner- matchmaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you picture a Matchmaker, you\u2019re probably picturing a character like Yente from Fiddler on the Roof- the Matchmaker Tevye\u2019s daughters sing about in one of the musical\u2019s most well-known numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ORIGINAL CAST OF FIDDLER ON THE ROOF: Matchmaker, Matchmaker make me a match. Find me a find, catch me a catch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BISHOP: But matchmaking has been modernized over the years. So, what does a matchmaker do in this day and age?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Usually, there\u2019s an interview with the matchmaker, then the matchmaker might collect references from friends and family, even do a house tour. From there, they\u2019ll begin to, well, make matches. The whole process is very methodical- cut and dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it\u2019s not just people that can go through the matchmaking process. Animals are also more or less paired up by matchmakers. And while the requirements and processes may look a little different with a Zoo Matchmaking than a Human Matchmaking, the goal is the same- to make a perfect match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n INTRO (02:11)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n BISHOP: Hello, and welcome to the Sedgwick County ZooCast Bitesize Bonus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m your host, Emily Bishop, and in this mini episode we\u2019re giving you the Zoo Scoop on the Species Survival Plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n WHAT IS THE SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN? (02:31)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n BISHOP: The Species Survival Plan, or SSP, is a program that manages species populations in Zoos and Aquariums that are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Through this program, plans are made to identify population goals and to make breeding recommendations to ensure the population stays genetically diverse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What does that mean? Well, for each species that is part of the SSP, there is a studbook keeper. A studbook is just an official list of all the animals within a species. It tracks each individual\u2019s parents, partners, and offspring. Think of it as a sort of family tree but for an entire species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The studbook keeper maintains this list of individuals and along with an SSP Coordinator makes breeding recommendations to maximize genetic diversity. This ensures that all individuals are well represented, but not over represented, in a population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, you wouldn\u2019t want only one male being responsible for 70% of existing individuals in a population. This would result in eventual inbreeding, which is something you want to avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, the SSP ensures that the pairs that are approved for breeding are genetically diverse and not directly related.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are more than 300 SSP Programs, and the goal of each of them is to sustain a genetically diverse, healthy, and demographically varied population within AZA facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n HOW THE SSP HELPS ZOO\u2019S WILD COUNTERPARTS (04:10)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n BISHOP: The Species Survival Program doesn\u2019t just take Zoo animals into account- it often considers a wild population as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The program focuses on animals that are in danger of extinction, and where captive breeding will aid their chances of survival. So, for example, Aldabra Giant Tortoises, which are at a stable wild population, don\u2019t have SSP breeding recommendations. The breeding habits of the Tortoises aren\u2019t really monitored. By contrast, the Cuban Crocodile, which is critically endangered, does have SSP breeding recommendations and their breeding habits and populations are closely monitored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The SSP ensures that should a wild species become extinct, there still exists a population in Zoos, which could be used to aid in repopulation. For example, the Guam Kingfisher is a bird species that is currently extinct in the wild. But through SSP breeding recommendations has seen its numbers increase in Zoos, and currently projects are underway to aid in reintroducing this bird to the wild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many reintroduction programs have grown from the SSP. The black-footed ferret, Karner blue butterfly, California condor, and red wolf are just a few species that have had successful reintroductions from breeding programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks to the matchmakers at the Species Survival Program, the continued survival of endangered animals is a guarantee. And as the program succeeds with each breeding season, these species come one step closing to reaching a stable population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LEARN ABOUT WINTER WEDNESDAY (05:48)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n BISHOP: That\u2019s what\u2019s new at Zoo with the Species Survival Program. But keep listening after a brief message about how you can save money when visiting the Zoo to learn about how animals can sire offspring without ever leaving their home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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