2024 conference paw-sented Zoo’s facilities, expertise
John Ball Zoo was litter-ally cat crazy last week as 180 animal care specialists, veterinarians and researchers from the United States and around the world attended the Felid Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) Conference Aug. 21-24.
A felid is a wild cat, and the Felid TAG is a committee of advisors with expertise in wild cat issues. The Felid TAG promotes cooperation and sharing of information between Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-member institutions — of which John Ball Zoo is an accredited member — and other regional and international conservation programs.
At the conference, the Felid TAG held classes and shared knowledge on best practices for caring for felids large and small. Specific topics this year included husbandry (animal behavior and management), habitat design, care training for geriatric animals and how sanctuaries and zoos collaborate on the animal lifecycle.
There was a tour of John Ball Zoo habitats for attendees and Species Survival Plan updates on the bobcat, Canada lynx, fishing cat, Pallas's cat and lion.
“As an institution dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and wild places, John Ball Zoo was honored to host the 2024 Felid TAG Conference and advance professional animal education,” said Tim Sampson, curator at John Ball Zoo. “We were proud to showcase our facilities and share our expertise on animal science issues related to felids and other vulnerable species.”
During the conference, John Ball Zoo donated 500 functional secondhand locks to The Belize Zoo. The Belize Zoo, located in the heart of the Maya Forest Corridor in South America, needs a better single-key system than its current one, which has more than 100 locks, each with separate keys. The Belize Zoo has limited resources, and this donation will help it streamline operations.
