Buffalo Zoo Participates in Species Survival Plan to Support Endangered Animal Breeding The Buffalo Zoo continues its commitment to wildlife conservation through active participation in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP) program. This initiative coordinates breeding and transfer efforts among accredited zoos to maintain genetically diverse, self-sustaining populations of threatened and endangered species. Through the SSP program, the Buffalo Zoo manages collaborative animal transfers that support long-term species survival. Recent examples include the movement of Roary the lion to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in 2020, which was based on an SSP recommendation to optimize breeding opportunities within the African lion population. Similarly, the zoo welcomed Romeo, a four-year-old Eastern black rhinoceros, from Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago as part of a conservation exchange designed to strengthen the Eastern Black Rhinoceros SSP. These transfers are not arbitrary. they follow detailed genetic and demographic analyses conducted by AZA Program Leaders, Officers and Advisors. The AZA Animal Programs Database provides transparency into these efforts, allowing member institutions to access Studbooks, Breeding and Transfer Plans, and Regional Collection Plans that guide such decisions. The Eastern black rhinoceros remains one of the most endangered mammals globally, with approximately 5,500 individuals left in the wild. By participating in the SSP, zoos like Buffalo Zoo contribute to a coordinated effort involving 53 animals across 26 AZA-accredited facilities. Each breeding opportunity is critical to preventing further decline of the species. Beyond individual transfers, the Buffalo Zoo’s involvement in multiple SSPs reflects a broader institutional mission to counteract species decline driven by habitat loss, poaching, and other threats. As stated by zoo leadership, participation in these programs represents one of the most impactful ways zoos can support wildlife conservation both in captivity and in the wild. Through science-based collaboration and adherence to SSP recommendations, the Buffalo Zoo helps ensure that vulnerable species have a future—not just in zoos, but in their natural habitats as well.
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