Georgia Institute of Technology, in cooperation with the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA) and Zoo Atlanta, will host a three-day conference to examine the impacts on zoo policies of changing moral views regarding treatment of animals. Their expanding agenda in conservation is viewed as one aspect of the changing role of zoos and aquariums in response to broader moral challenges by animal welfare groups, animal liberation advocates, and radical environmentalists. In particular, the conference will consider ethical issues in policies concerning the development and implementation of Species Survival Plans, intended to provide buffers against extinction through captive breeding programs and the careful management of genetic resources. The proposed conference will assemble zoo professionals, professional ethicists, and conservation biologists to discuss the difficult ethical issues -- regarding capture of members of endangered species or the fate of zoo animals who have already contributed to their species' gene pool, for example -- that arise in the administration of these plans. The conference will result in a position paper to be submitted to the AAZPA Board of Directors for discussion and adoption and the conference presentations will be edited for publication in book form. This project allows a highly qualified and diversified group of researchers, zoo administrators, and moral advocates for animals to address theoretical and practical issues in the development of ethical policies and practices for the treatement of animals. The principal investigators and conference participants are well qualified; institutional support is very good. Guidelines and a volume of general interest to the field will result. The budget request is reasonable. Support is recommended.
