Conservation is all around us at the Zoo. It’s in the animals we see, the educators we meet and the experiences we share. But there’s another side of conservation most guests never notice.
Behind the scenes, a constant flow of data helps make it all possible.
Every birth, animal transfer and breeding recommendation is informed by decades of records documenting entire animal populations. At the Saint Louis Zoo, these data help conservationists make smarter decisions for animals in our care and in the wild. All in hopes of protecting their species for generations to come.
To do that, Zoo scientists and Animal Care staff rely on a global network of conservation data tools like the Species360 Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS). These and other programs house and manage species data from zoos and aquariums around the world, right down to the birthdate and place, transfer history and death details of each individual animal.
Pedigree information (think: genealogy tracing for animals) also is tracked in digital archives called studbooks. Parentage, medical history and even biological sample details can be shared between zoos to support coordinated animal care and conservation. Together, these records help scientists understand how individual animals fit into the larger story of their species.
In addition to data storage, Zoo staff also rely on analysis tools to monitor trends, run forecast models and understand species data. Programs like PMx produced by the Species Conservation Toolkit Initiative (SCTI) which is linked to ZIMS for Studbooks support data analysis at the individual, local, national and even international levels.
The knowledge is critical.
By tracking genetic relationships across a population, Zoo staff make informed recommendations for breeding pairs and animal transfers. One example is the Grevy’s zebra. In partnership with species experts, Saint Louis Zoo staff manage a studbook for more than 120 Grevy’s zebras and use these data to inform breeding recommendations across 31 AZA-accredited zoos. In short: it’s a carefully managed and highly sophisticated matchmaking system for endangered animals.
While PMx is most commonly used to analyze data from ZIMS and make breeding recommendations, staff at Saint Louis Zoo are leading efforts to use PMx in a whole new way—to identify individuals for biobanking.
Biobanking is the process of preserving invaluable genetic material for the future. Sperm, eggs, embryo and other tissues are cryopreserved at -320*F with the potential to help their species year, decades or even centuries from now.
The Saint Louis CryoZoo maintains the world’s largest frozen semen bank for the Mexican gray wolf, one of the most endangered mammals in North America. By merging CryoZoo records with data from the Mexican gray wolf studbook, Zoo staff are using PMx to identify underrepresented genetics in the biobank and recommend individuals to help fill in the gaps. The end result? A more robust bank of genetically diverse samples to help recover this critically endangered species.
Of course, conservation goes beyond just tracking and banking. It’s also about planning what’s next. In 2019, scientists at the AZA Reproductive Management Center based at the Saint Louis Zoo developed the Lifetime Reproductive Planning (LRP) program using an SCTI tool called Vortex.
LRP is a population modeling system that helps Zoo scientists test different scenarios before making real-world decisions. What happens if one animal breeds sooner? Later? With a different partner? What does it mean for the entire population 50 years from now?
Instead of relying on guesswork, these models allow conservationists to compare possible futures before choosing the best path forward in building healthy, genetically diverse populations.
Conservation work relies on data. But computers and spreadsheets alone cannot save a species. Biologists, animal care experts and conservationists work together to interpret information and turn it into meaningful action. Their expertise transforms numbers into decisions that shape the future of wildlife.
All across the Zoo, a hidden layer of data science protects the animals around us. Animal care, biobanking and population management combined play a critical role in ensuring a future for wildlife. Because saving species isn’t only about what happens in front of you. It’s also about the knowledge, technology and people working quietly in the background to protect species for generations to come.