thanks to Friends of the Zoo donors Laura and Rick Iorio. Conservation programs As an accredited member of AZA, wildlife conservation is one of the primary missions of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. The zoo participates in a number of programs to further conservation and animal welfare. On-site programs Species Survival Plans (SSPs) helps maintain a biodiverse population of threatened and endangered species in human care. Zoos around the world participate in SSPs by lending animals to other zoos to mate and produce genetically diverse offspring. The plans are managed using a breeding registry called a studbook. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo participates in SSPs for many threatened and endangered species including Amur tiger, Asian elephant, Amur leopard, snow leopard, red panda, black and white ruffed lemur, Humboldt penguin, red wolf, Turkmenian markhor and white-lipped deer, among others. Research program The Rosamond Gifford Zoo has teamed up with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and SUNY College to help protect a tiny local snail, called Chittenango Ovate Amber Snail (COAS). It was discovered by a resident of Upstate New York and only exists in Chittenango Falls State Park. Research population surveys of COAS show only about 300 exist in the wild. The New York state has listed COAS as an endangered species. The zoo has established a COAS colony with a temperature controlled terrarium that houses approximately 400 captive COAS. In recent years, dozens of captive-bred COAS have been released into their wild habitat. Other conservation programs Population Management Program (PMP) helps AZA-accredited zoos manage and conserve a select wild species population with voluntary cooperation of AZA-accredited zoos, aquariums, and other approved participants. Taxon Advisory Groups (TAG) are composed of expert advisors who help to identify, manage and support AZA's cooperative animal management programs. They also serve as experts regarding the husbandry, veterinary care, conservation needs/challenges, research priorities, ethical considerations, and other issues pertaining to their taxa. Education programs Rosamond Gifford Zoo offers many educational programs for a wide variety of visitors. Zoo to You This is a traveling education program that visits schools, libraries, community centers, senior centers/facilities, hospitals, etc., with professional zoo educators presenting classes featuring animal biofacts and ambassador animals including lizards, snakes, birds, turtles and a North American porcupine, among others. The purpose of this