The Wilds has a long history of supporting research work to help us understand how we can provide the best possible care for the animals. We are excited to announce that we are teaming up with five partner research facilities to form the American Institute of Rhinoceros Science (AIRS)–a model for saving species with science ex-situ (which means off-site or outside of their natural habitat). A National Leadership Grant made this new initiative possible from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Dr. Terri Roth, Vice President of Conservation, Science, and Director of their Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) will lead the team. The rest of the team includes collaborators from The Wilds, Disney’s Animal Kingdom®, George Mason University, the South-East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction and Conservation (SEZARC), and Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
They will focus on the high priority research needs for rhinos in zoos that were identified by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ (AZA) Rhinoceros Research Council in 2019. These priorities are:
- Physical fitness and its relation to health
- Iron storage in browsing rhinos
- Reproductive success
- Behavioral and environmental factors that can maximize rhino well-being
AIRS recognizes that the four research priorities that it will address are interrelated and should not be studied in isolation. Over three years, the scientists will conduct research within each pillar on overlapping subjects and examine the effect across all pillars. Data collected from all studies will be compiled in a centralized database, accessible to all AIRS members.
Ultimately, AIRS will provide affordable and feasible management recommendations to veterinarians and animal care staff at the 74 AZA facilities that are caring for rhinos. The grant will fund a post-doctoral position at The Wilds to serve as an Operations Manager to manage the project, and interns and students that are receiving training under the project.
