Jaguar (
Panthera onca)
Care Manual
98
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
III. ACQUISITION REQUIREMENTS
A. General Acquisitions
1. Acquisitions must be consistent with
the mission of the institution, as reflected in its Institutional
Collection Plan, by addressing its exhibition/education, conservation, and/or scientific goals regarding
the individual or species.
2. Animals (wild, feral, and domestic) may be held temporarily for reasons such as assisting
governmental agencies or other institutions, rescue and/or rehabilitation, research, propagation or
headstarting for reintroduction, or special exhibits.
3. Any receiving institution must have the necessary expertise and resources to support and provide for
the professional care and management of the species, so that the physical, psychological, and
social
needs of individual animals and species are met.
4. If the acquisition involves a species managed by an AZA Animal Program, the institution should
communicate with the Animal Program Leader and, in the case of Green SSP Programs, must
adhere to the AZA Full Participation Policy (
https://www.aza.org/board-approved-policies-and-
position-statements
).
5. AZA member institutions should consult AZA Wildlife Conservation and Management Committee
(WCMC)-approved TAG Regional Collection Plans (RCPs), Animal Program Leaders, and AZA
Animal Care Manuals (ACMs) when making acquisition decisions.
6. AZA member institutions that work with commercial vendors that acquire animals from the wild, must
perform due diligence to assure the vendors’ collection of animals is legal and using ethical practices.
Commercial vendors should have conservation and animal welfare goals similar to those of AZA
institutions.
7. AZA member institutions may acquire animals through public donations and
other non-AZA entities
when it is in the best interest of the animal and/or species.
B. Acquisitions from the Wild
Maintaining wild animal populations for exhibition, education and wildlife conservation purposes is a core
function of AZA-member institutions. AZA zoos and aquariums have saving species and conservation of
wildlife and wildlands as a basic part of their public mission. As such, the AZA recognizes that there are
circumstances where acquisitions from the wild are needed in order to maintain healthy, diverse animal
populations. Healthy, sustainable populations support the objectives of managed species programs and
the core mission of AZA members. In some cases, acquiring individuals from the
wild may be a viable
option in addition to, or instead of, relying on breeding programs with animals already in human care.
Acquiring animals from the wild can result in socioeconomic benefit and environmental protection and
therefore the AZA supports environmentally sustainable/beneficial acquisition from the wild when
conservation is a positive outcome.
1. Before acquiring animals from the wild, institutions are encouraged to examine alternative sources
including other AZA institutions and other regional zoological associations or other non-AZA entities.
2. When acquiring animals from the wild, both the long-term health and welfare impacts on the wild
population as well as on individual animals must be considered. In
crisis situations, when the survival
of a population is at risk, rescue decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis by the appropriate
agency and institution.
Jaguar (
Panthera onca)
Care Manual
99
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
3. AZA zoos and aquariums may assist wildlife agencies by providing homes for animals born in nature
if they are incapable of surviving on their own (e.g., in case of orphaned or injured animals) or by
euthanizing the animals because they pose a risk to humans or for humane reasons.
4. Institutions should only accept animals from the wild after a risk assessment determines the
zoo/aquarium can mitigate any potential adverse impacts on the health, care and maintenance of the
existing animals already being housed at the zoo or aquarium, and the new animals being acquired.
IV. TRANSFER, EUTHANASIA AND REINTRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS
A. Living Animals
Successful conservation and animal management relies on the cooperation of many entities, both AZA
and non-AZA. While preference is given to placing animals with AZA-accredited institutions or certified
related facilities, it is important to foster a cooperative culture among those who share AZA’s mission of
saving species and excellence in animal care.
1. AZA members should assure that all animals in their care are transferred, humanely euthanized
and/or reintroduced in a manner that meets the standards of AZA, and that animals are not
transferred to those not qualified to care for them properly. Refer to IV.12, below, for further
requirements regarding euthanasia.
2. If the transfer of animals or their specimens (parts, materials, and products) involves
a species
managed by an AZA Animal Program, the institution should communicate with that Animal Program
Leader and, in the case of Green SSP Programs must adhere to the AZA Full Participation Policy
(
https://www.aza.org/board-approved-policies-and-position-statements
).
3. AZA member institutions should consult WCMC-approved TAG Regional Collection Plans, Animal
Program Leaders, and Animal Care Manuals when making transfer decisions.
4. Animals acquired solely as a food source for animals in the institution’s care are not typically
accessioned. There may be occasions, however, when it is appropriate to
use accessioned animals
that exceed population carrying capacity as feeder animals to support other animals. In some cases,
accessioned animals may have their status changed to “feeder animal” status by the institution as
part of their program for long-term sustained population management of the species.
5. In transfers to non-AZA entities, AZA members must perform due diligence and should have
documented validation, including one or more letters of reference, for example from an appropriate
AZA Professional Fellow or other trusted source with expertise in animal care and welfare, who is
familiar with the proposed recipient and their current practices, and
that the recipient has the
expertise and resources required to properly care for and maintain the animals. Any recipient must
have the necessary expertise and resources to support and provide for the professional care and
management of the species, so that the physical, psychological, and social needs of individual
animals and species are met within the parameters of modern zoological philosophy and practice.
Supporting documentation must be kept at the AZA member institution (see #IV.9 below).
6. Domestic animals should be transferred in accordance with locally acceptable humane farming
practices, including auctions, and must be subject to all relevant laws and regulations.
7. AZA members must not send any non-domestic animal to auction or to any organization or individual
that may display or sell the animal at an animal auction.
See certain taxa-specific appendices to this
Policy (in development) for information regarding exceptions.
8. Animals must not be sent to organizations or individuals that allow the hunting of these individual
animals; that is, no individual animal transferred from an AZA institution may be hunted. For purposes