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What is Riverbanks' current role in the wide array of conservation efforts? From delivering high quality conservation education programs and providing superb veterinary support for SSP and research programs to administering a wide variety of regional and international conservation efforts, the Riverbanks Zoo staff is continuously and actively involved with conservation.
Riverbanks participates actively in Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs for 30 species including Queensland koala, Rodrigues fruit bat, red-ruffed lemur, African lion, lion-tailed macaque, Debrazza monkey, siamang, golden-lion tamarin, golden-headed lion tamarin, Amur tiger, Matschie’s tree kangaroo, Diana monkey, spider monkey, ring-tailed lemur, black-footed cat, Hamadryas baboon, lowland gorilla, fishing cat, African elephant, Bali mynah, rhinoceros hornbill, thick-billed parrot, toco toucan, keel-billed toucan, cinereous vulture, Aruba island rattlesnake, radiated tortoise, Burmese star tortoise, ocellated mountain viper, and Panamanian golden frog. |
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Accreditation Commission. |
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Ethics Board. |
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Animal Welfare Committee. |
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Early Adaptor Institution for the new Zoological Information Management Systems (ZIMS) database. Riverbanks is proud to be in the top five percent of ISIS participating institutions in data link rate. |
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International Studbook for the Fishing cat. |
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International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)/Species Survival Commission (SSC) - Riverbanks staff members serve on the IUCN/SSC’s Crocodile Specialist Group, Tomistoma Task Force, Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, Swan Specialist Group and Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) [ learn more ]. |
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Management Group members for the koala, Aruba Island rattlesnake, Chinese Alligator SSP Management Groups. |
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Medical Advisor for the Piciformes TAG. |
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North American Regional Studbooks/Population Management Plans (PMPs) for African lion, Nile hippo, golden-breasted starling, Toco toucan, king cobra, leaf-tailed gecko, false gharial crocodile. |
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Steering Committee members for the marine fishes, waterfowl, raptor, penguin, marsupial & monotreme, crocodilian, amphibian, lizard, ape, wild pig & peccary TAGs. |
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Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) Chair for perching birds, hummingbirds, mousebirds and trogons. |
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| Riverbanks is the recipient of a number of significant AZA honors: |
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2007 – John Behler Scholarship – for herpetology keeper to attend the AZA Crocodilian Management School. |
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2005 – Edward H. Bean Award – recognizing Riverbanks' efforts in the long-term propagation and captive husbandry of Malagasy leaf-tailed geckos. |
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2004 – Conservation Education Award – in honor of Riverbanks' Helping Hands - Teens in Action in the Community program. |
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2003 – International Conservation Award – recognizing Riverbanks’ support of a bat conservation educator on Mauritius. |
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2002 – International Conservation Award – recognizing Riverbanks' support of tree kangaroo conservation in Papua New Guinea. |
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2002 – Exhibits Significant Achievement Award – for the Riverbanks Avian Program (Bird Conservation Center, Birdhouse at Riverbanks and outdoor aviaries). |
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1998 – Edward H. Bean Award – recognizing Riverbanks' long-term success with the captive breeding of Ramphastids (toucans, toucanettes and aracaris). |
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1986 – Silver Propagation certificate – in appreciation of Riverbanks' outstanding success with the captive breeding of the black howler monkey. |
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1983 – AZA Significant Achievement Award – recognizing Riverbanks' ground cuscus breeding program. |
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1981 – Edward H. Bean Award – presented to Riverbanks in honor of outstanding success with the captive breeding of the black howler monkey. |
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1981 – AZA Significant Achievement Award – recognizing Riverbanks' pioneering efforts in captive breeding of the white-faced saki. |
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1977 – AZA Significant Achievement Award – acknowledging Riverbanks for the first captive breeding of the Toco toucan. |
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Riverbanks remains a leader and active participant in a wide variety of conservation programs. |
| Some of Riverbanks' accomplishments: (click each for more information) |
| + BB&T Medical Clinic for Raptors and Endangered Species |
Riverbanks has always been committed to the medical care and treatment of injured native birds of prey and endangered species. The BB&T clinic has performed an enormous amount of work on such notable species as Bald eagles, Peregrine falcons, Osprey and Wood stork. Clinic staff has spoken to thousands of individuals, spreading the message of conservation and preservation. The clinic and its staff are making a real difference for native South Carolina wildlife.
 Learn more about Riverbanks' BB&T Medical Clinic.
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| + Camp Gordon Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) |
Riverbanks has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Fort Gordon for the management and conservation of pygmy sunfish. Riverbanks has established an ex-situ breeding program for pygmy sunfishes, savannah darters and mud sunfish collected from Fort Gordon with the eventual goal of releasing captive breed offspring back into restored habitat.
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| + Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve Faunal Survey |
A multi-year project to survey the diversity of fishes, amphibians and reptiles in this unique, and as of yet, unsurveyed South Carolina Heritage Preserve.
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| + Eastern diamondback rattlesnake |
The largest of all rattlesnakes, the species has declined dramatically in South Carolina. Riverbanks has collaborated with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources in a field research project designed to determine the status of the diamondback, and how to prevent further population declines.
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| + El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center |
Riverbanks provided funding for the conservation of the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center at the El Nispero Zoo in Panama’s El Valle de Anton region. Located in the range of the endemic Panamanian golden frog and numerous other native amphibians, the Center serves as a repository and captive breeding center for amphibian species threatened by the spread of the chytrid fungus, a treatment center and a nature education center for Panamanians and visiting tourists. Riverbanks’ curator of herpetology attended a workshop at El Valle that was attended by many of the world’s amphibian experts with the goal of developing a plan to stem the ongoing amphibian extinction crisis.
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| + Faunal surveys of the Riverbanks Site |
A survey funded by the Riverbanks Conservation Support Fund to inventory plant and animals species on the site and to monitor their abundance over time.
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| + International Rhino Foundation’s (IRF) Save the Rhino Campagin |
Riverbanks provided funding to the International Rhino Foundation’s North American Save the Rhinos Campaign to promote the conservation of the world’s rhinoceros species.
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| + Koala Chlamydia Research |
Riverbanks enjoys a sister-state relationship with the state of Queensland, Australia. This relationship has resulted in a state gift of Queensland koalas that are now permanently displayed at Riverbanks’ Koala Knockabout. Riverbanks has, in turn, funded research by the University of Queensland to better understand Chlamydia’s role as a limiting factor for wild koala populations.
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| + Power for Wildlife Restoration of Power Line Right-of-Ways |
In 2007 Riverbanks received a grant from the South Carolina Electric & Gas (SCE&G) Power for Wildlife to restore and maintain wildlife habitat along two power line right-of-ways on the Riverbanks site. Work to date has included manual removal of all woody plants and bush hogging of sections of each right-of-way. The long-term goal is restore prairie habitat (one of the Carolina’s most endangered habitat types) on the sites. Riverbanks is pursuing partnerships for the project with the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), Clemson University’s Restoration Institute and the South Carolina Native Plant Society.
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| + Pygmy sunfish |
 Pygmy sunfishes (Elassomatidae) are a family of small southeastern United States freshwater fishes consisting of six described species and possibly two more yet to be described. They have been identified by the Southeastern Fishes Council (SFC) as a family of special concern needing conservation assistance. Of the six described species, three are most rare and vulnerable: the Elassoma boehlkei, Elassoma okatie, and Elassoma alabamae.
Learn more about Riverbanks' Pygmy Sunfish Project. |
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