ZAA Excellence in Breeding Award - 2026

The breakthroughs in successful breeding of a species by ZAA members lead to a higher level of captive management, welfare, and husbandry knowledge. The Excellence in Breeding Award recognizes a truly momentous captive propagation achievement that enhances the conservation of the species whether common or endangered, in captivity.

COMPLETION GUIDELINES

APPLICATION – Be as complete and descriptive as possible to improve chances for committee approval! Incomplete applications may not be accepted.

Eligibility: Must be a ZAA member.

Deadline: Applications must be received no later than June 30, 2026.

General information:

By submitting an application for this award, it is understood that ZAA has been given permission to reprint information for ZAA-related publications.
Multiple programs can be submitted for consideration; however, each must be submitted as a separate entry.
If you are using a pre-written (published) description of your project summary, it must be limited to one page and include the same information that is requested in the application. Attach any required information, not in this pre-written description as an attachment.
Optional: Up to two additional attachments may be submitted in support of your application. (Example: pre-printed articles or media articles)

How to submit:

Complete the form in it's entirety.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

Are you a ZAA Member? If not, you don't qualify to submit an awards application. Contact [email protected] for more information! *

Yes

Facility Name *

Facility size *

Small/Medium (1-19 Full Time Employees)

Large/Macro (20+ Full-Time Employees)

Name and Title of the Preparer *

Email of the preparer *

(This individual will be the contact person for communication regarding the application, any additional information needed, and the award notice if you are chosen as the winner of the award. This person has express permission to act as the point of contact for the institution.)

Phone of the preparer *

Animal species bred and date of successful birth/hatching. (Include focal species and common and scientific names) *

Status of focal species. (Include IUCN status of the species of focus, endangered or common.) *

Are you participating in a ZAA Animal Management Program (AMP) or ZAA husbandry manual for this species? *

SUMMARY: Be as complete and descriptive as possible to improve chances for committee approval!

Write a brief, one-page summary of the program that includes the following.

(You may submit a prewritten article that may be reprinted)

Length of time housing the species.
Your breeding program’s historical background for the species in your collection.
Development of advancements in husbandry and animal welfare of the focal species from your breeding success.
How your breeding supported the species in captivity. Participation with other ZAA facilities in cooperative breeding and/or placement of surplus animals from your collection.
Your facility’s long term commitment plans for the species. How you have shared your successful birth with the public.

Insert summary below *

Describe how you have shared your success with peers. (Example: ZAA Journal article, ZAA community posting, blog, etc.) *

Attachments: IMPORTANT

*Required-At least four photographs ( .PNG, .jpg or .pdf format) of the program. Make sure your pictures support a complete visual representation of your program and they support the statements in your program summary.
*Required- Institution Logo ( in .PNG .pdf or .jpg) for use in Conference Award Presentation
Optional: Up to two support documents

Photograph *

PDF, PNG, JPEG or JPG ( max 15 Files )

Facility Logo ( .PNG .pdf, or ,jpg) for use in award presentation *

PDF, PNG, JPEG or JPG ( max 5 Files )

Optional: Support Document

PDF, DOC/DOCX, XLS/CSV, JPG/JPEG, PNG, GIF ( max 10 Files )