The Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition Foundation (ZWNF) is a Texas nonprofit corporation formed by concerned individuals to promote zoo and wildlife nutrition. Our mission is to (a) provide nutrition education and advice for captive feeding programs in concert with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Nutrition Advisory Group (NAG); and (b) participate in, and contribute to, global and regional nutrition research programs. There are several ways in which we accomplish this. We maintain funds to support nutrition education and training. We administer a portion of those monies via the Sue Crissey Animal Nutrition Residency Fund (SCARF) which is pivotal in training the next generation of zoo nutritionists. We provide technical, financial, and administrative support for the NAG and its website (https://nagonline.net). At the same time, we facilitate the procurement and management of funds to support the ZWNF/NAG Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, as well as to support research projects that further the understanding of exotic animal nutrition.
What is SCARF? Sue Crissey Animal nutrition Residency Fund (SCARF) was established on November 14, 2002, by the Chicago Zoological Society and the AZA Nutrition Advisory Group (NAG). SCARF was established to acknowledge and honor the significant impact that Sue Crissey, PhD had on the field of zoo nutrition during her fifteen (15) years at Brookfield Zoo. Sue died at 51 after an extended battle with ovarian cancer. During Sue’s time at the Brookfield Zoo, she expanded the nutrition program from one of diet purchase and preparation to a program of cutting-edge research and problem solving. She led the development of the institutional coalition called the Zoo Nutrition Network. She and her staff were active in publishing many papers and worked to integrate zoo animal nutrition research with nutritional studies of wild-living animals. One of Sue’s greatest commitments was to train, professionally develop, and engage the next generation of zoo nutritionists. To that end, Sue participated in the training of three residents during her time at Brookfield and those individuals became successful zoo nutritionists at other AZA zoos. It is the hope that SCARF will continue to celebrate Sue’s tremendous achievements and contributions to expanding the field of zoo animal nutrition by providing support for residencies in zoo animal nutrition that will improve the welfare of animals in zoos and aquariums.
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT SCARF?
From September 27-October 6 we are having our virtual fundraiser for SCARF. Please use this link to bid on items in the auction. Share this link with everyone.
https://www.32auctions.com/SCARF2021
If you have any questions, please email me at [email protected].