MARSUPIALS AND MONOTREMES - A CASE-STUDY IN REGIONAL COLLECTION PLANNING

Cooperative collection planning is critical to the future of zoologica l parks and aquariums, yet few published models currently exist for co llection plan development and implementation. In particular, there has been little discussion about the relationship between regional and in stitutional collection planning or about what defines a quality region al collection plan (RCP). This article documents the regional collecti on planning process adopted by the AZA Marsupial and Monotreme Taxon A dvisory Group (TAG). More specifically, it outlines the philosophical foundation of the North American RCP for Marsupials and Monotremes, th e organizational structure developed by the TAG to facilitate communic ation, evaluation and institutional participation, and other important details of the planning process. It also documents how the RCP was us ed by one institution (Los Angeles Zoo) to formulate its Institutional Collection Plan (ICP). (C) 1998 Wiiey-Liss, Inc.