Species Survival Plan (SSP) and Saving Animals from Extinction (SAFE)
Care & Conservation
What is a Species Survival Plan (SSP)?
Species Survival Plans, or SSPs, are strategic programs designed to manage and conserve endangered or threatened species in zoos and aquariums. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) cooperatively manages nearly 300 SSP Programs.
Expert zoo advisors work together in order to maximize genetic diversity, appropriately manage the demographic distribution and long-term sustainability of threatened and endangered species. This international population and conservation management program operates through SSP Breeding and Transfer Plans, which recommend breeding pairs and transfers between AZA member institutions.
The goal of SSPs is to create animal populations that are healthy, genetically diverse and demographically stable. By working together, we can reintroduce animals into restored or secured habitats and ensure the survival of different species.
Saving Animals from Extinction (SAFE)
What are Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) programs?
Saving Animals from Extinction (SAFE) is a global collaboration between accredited institutions working to protect threatened animals, raise awareness, and empower others to join conservation efforts. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) cooperatively manages 56 SAFE species programs across 221 accredited member institutions worldwide.
Our SSPs
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo participates in 46 different SSPs for threatened and endangered species.
Our SAFE Programs
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo proudly participates in three SAFE Programs: Whooping Cranes, North American Songbirds, and Colobus Monkey.
SAFE
North American Songbirds
Established in 2019, this program focuses its efforts on protecting the 319 songbirds that spend part of their annual life cycle on the continent or call North America their home. These species face myriad threats with SAFE North American songbirds focusing on habitat loss, predation, and collisions.
Visit the following websites to learn more about community science birding apps:
SAFE
Whooping Crane
Established in 2015 as one of the first AZA SAFE species programs, the Whooping Crane SAFE program supports the recovery of North America’s tallest avian species by aiming to establish multiple self-sustaining wild populations so the bird may eventually be downlisted and reclassified as threatened.
SAFE
Colobus Monkey
Established in 2024, this program is dedicated to protecting 24 species of colobus monkeys across Africa, including red, olive, and black-and-white colobus monkeys. The program partners with accredited zoos with field organizations to fund research, habitat protection, and anti-poaching initiatives.
Plan your visit
Get close to wildlife
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is situated on St. George Island, only five minutes from downtown Calgary and 20 minutes from the Calgary International Airport. Home to more than 4,000 animals from around the world, there’s plenty to see and do. No two visits are the same, but every visit supports the critical conservation work that we do to fight the extinction of plants and animals, locally and globally.