ISIS Sponsors Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project

Feb. 3, 2014 - PRLog -- St. Paul, Minnesota USA – The Board of Trustees of the International Species Information System, (ISIS)--the global non-profit leader in animal records management and conservation solutions for more than 800 zoos and aquariums--recently approved sponsorship of the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project (http://amphibianrescue.org/).

Started in 2009, the rescue project was launched with the goal of building additional capacity to secure amphibians at risk from disease-related declines. The research center is located at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Gamboa, Panama. Other project partners include Africam Safari Park in Mexico, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, Defenders of Wildlife, the Houston Zoo, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Zoo New England and the Summit Municipal Park Zoo in Panama City.

“Our endangered amphibian collection will be managed by conservation staff who will use ISIS’ animal records management solution (ZIMS) to monitor individual life histories, collection [from the wild] history, breeding history, enclosure history, medical notes, treatments and pathology reports,” said Dr. Brian Gratwicke, SCBI amphibian biologist and international coordinator of the rescue project.

Added Jim Fleshman, chair of ISIS: “The web-based capability of ZIMS will make a huge impact on this conservation project, improve veterinary and oversight from abroad, and facilitate global collaboration amongst the many partners.”

In addition to sponsoring this amphibian conservation project, ISIS has a long history of support to Amphibian ARK, an initiative to save critical species from immediate extinction. ISIS hosts their database of conservation projects that serves as their website. Amphibian Ark is a joint effort of three principal partners: the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Association_of_Zoos_an...), the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUCN_Species_Survival_Commis...), and the IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUCN_Species_Survival_Commis...).

About International Species Information System (ISIS)

International Species Information System (ISIS), a non-profit founded in 1974, provides records management solutions to over 800 institutions in 80 countries.  ISIS software solutions have long been recognized as the world-standard in facilitating collaboration in animal information management and conservation within the zoological and aquaria communities.  The largest industry database, containing detailed information on more than 2,800,000 animals and 10,000 species, supports important global initiatives in conservation, population sustainability and bio-diversity.

For more information about ISIS and ZIMS, the leading global animal records management platform, please visit www.isis.org.