RTAG Procedures and Guidelines
Colony Management Records
Ideally it is the goal of the RIL TAG to maintain the most detailed information possible on every specimen that is included as part of an RIL TAG management plan. Whenever possible, individual specimens should be accessioned with an individual specimen. Unfortunately, for some colony-managed species, this standard of individual accession is impractical.
When individuals cannot be individually identified the RIL TAG advises all record keepers to follow the procedures for group accession in the Standards for Data Entry and Maintenance of North American Records Database which states: “A single group accession should be assigned if all specimens in the group share common characteristics, birth dates, parentage, acquisition dates and sources can be recorded once for all specimens in the group. If there are several colonies of a species, separate group accessions may be created for each colony”.
The RIL TAG further stresses as does the Standards for Data Entry and Maintenance of North American Zoo and Aquarium Animal Records Databases when single animals can be identified as individual specimens they should be de-accessioned from the group (using Term-Free Disposition) and accessioned as a single specimen using Term-Free
Acquisition with a note identifying the group accession number and the specimen identifier.
Identification Techniques
The RIL Tag recommends that identifiers be used when ever possible. Transponders are the preferred method of identification. The preferred insert site for all species is between shoulder blades, left of center. In some cases notching marks are acceptable, a standard notching system should be used. Tattoos may also be used. Toe clipping is not recommended.
Acquisition and Disposition
The RIL TAG defers to the Acquisition/ Disposition Policies of the AZA.
AZA Acquisition / Disposition
Policy Adopted by the AZA Board
of Directors on March 21, 2000
Education
Most, if not all, of AZA’s facilities Education Departments maintain
insectivores (hedgehog), lagomorphs (rabbits), and/or rodents in their
collections. The RIL TAG feels the
use of rodents, insectivores and lagomorphs in educational programs can be
beneficial in promoting conservation messages as well as an overall appreciation
for these taxa. The TAG would like to see AZA education programs include
statements on the conservation needs of these species.
We encourage educators to contact the appropriate RIL TAG species contact
if there are any questions.
AZA
Policy for Animal Contact With the General Public
Adopted by the AZA Board of Directors August 1997
Incorporated into the Accreditation Guidelines in 1998
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