History

Since its inception in 1979, CBSG has grown into a global volunteer network of 550 professionals, coordinated by a headquarters staff of six, assisted by nine Regional and National Networks on five continents. CBSG began as a liaison between IUCN and the zoo community, and was instrumental in developing the tools and processes for the scientific management of captive animal populations. As wildlife populations became increasingly threatened, CBSG recognized the need for similar intensive management for many species in the wild, and expanded its scope to small population management and the linking of in situ (in the wild) and ex situ (in zoos) scientific expertise.