Today, 88 zoos and aquariums in 19 countries are live on the latest version of the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) application. This web-based, global database gives these institutions – and eventually almost 800 more ISIS members – access to basic biologic, collection management, husbandry, and health and disease information on wild animals in human care. This comprehensive knowledgebase, built over the last 40 years, will be used to enhance local care and international conservation efforts.
ISIS – the International Species Information System – is a technology-based, conservation-focused organization that leverages available technology to help zoological organizations achieve sustainability and preservation goals. Today, 830 institutions in 83 countries are a part of ISIS. And the network is constantly growing.
"ISIS is one of the few non-profits in the world that develops software. We have chosen to do it for one simple reason: it's the best tool we could create to help our members preserve endangered and threatened animal species worldwide," said Roger Stonecipher, ISIS CEO. "For almost 40 years, ISIS systems have evolved through the direct input of our members."
"ISIS represents an unprecedented effort to unite the global wildlife conservation community," said David Field, Zoological Director of the Zoological Society of London and ISIS Board Chair. "Brought together by common goals and needs, many ISIS members are among the world's leaders in protecting and nurturing animals in human care, and in our natural environment."
Zoos and aquariums have become leaders in the effort to breed endangered animals, and to educate an estimated 700 million visitors each year about the magnificent and fragile interrelationships between humans, wildlife and environments. Through zoos and aquariums, some species have already been rescued from extinction, including the European bison (Bison bonasus), Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) and Przewalski's wild horse (Equus przewalski).
Many zoological organizations join ISIS so that they can observe best practices and data standards for their animal information. As part of a global consortium, the following organizations are forging a new path in collaborating and sharing information on more than 2.6 million animals – many endangered or threatened species.
The ZIMS application is not the first software created for this purpose. Since 1974, ISIS has created various software packages. ISIS software has long been recognized as the world-standard best practice for zoological record-keeping by international regulatory bodies like CITES. The latest ZIMS application is an evolution of previous ISIS software; it is comprehensive, integrated, real-time and created specifically for our members' uses.
www.isis.org