Animal Support
ZDR3 supports zoological facilities with a full spectrum of animal operations during disaster response, recovery, and continuity planning, including evacuation, transport, placement, husbandry, veterinary assistance, and recapture. Through the ZDR3 Network, facilities and trusted partners collaborate to locate safe transport options, temporary housing, specialized materials, and qualified personnel to sustain animal care, welfare, and safety under challenging conditions. Guided by the affected facility’s leadership, ZDR3 provides logistical coordination, technical expertise, and resource facilitation to help reestablish stable, compliant, and welfare‑focused animal operations across all stages of response and recovery.
Animal Evacuation, Removal, and/or Transport
Animal Evacuation and Transport Coordination
ZDR3 assists zoological facilities with planning and coordination for animal evacuation, removal, and transport during disaster preparedness, response, or recovery. Support focuses on maintaining animal safety, minimizing stress, and preserving welfare under challenging conditions.
Identifying Safe Transport Options
When animals must be moved due to evacuation orders, compromised infrastructure, or environmental hazards, ZDR3 helps identify safe transport options within its network. Using the ZDR3 Network, participating facilities and trusted partners collaborate to locate available inventory and arrange replacement shipments.
Sourcing Specialized Transport Materials
ZDR3 can help source transport crates, carriers, vehicles, and other specialized materials needed for safe animal movement. When appropriate, trained personnel from within the network may be connected to assist with handling, loading, or short‑term animal care during relocation.
Facility‑Directed Movement and Logistical Support
All animal movements are conducted under the direction of the affected facility or owner. ZDR3’s role is to provide logistical support and coordination to ensure the move proceeds safely and efficiently. Coordination may also include identifying temporary housing options and supporting communication between receiving facilities and regulators.
Animal Placement - Temporary or Permanent Relocation
Animal Placement Support
ZDR3 assists zoological facilities with animal placement when circumstances require animals to be temporarily or permanently relocated. Situations that prompt placement may include pre-event evacuation, post-event evacuation due to facility damage, or facility closure.
Facility Oversight and Decision Authority
All placement activities are initiated and overseen by the requesting facility or animal owner. ZDR3’s role is to assist by sharing information, coordinating introductions, and connecting the owner with appropriate industry contacts. The requesting facility retains full decision‑making authority throughout the process.
Transport and Logistics Coordination
In addition to identifying placement options, ZDR3 can assist facilities with coordinating needed transport containment, vehicles and drivers, and other logistics needed to complete a successful transfer.
Placement Recommendations and Welfare Considerations
Placement recommendations are based on the best available options for the specific species and emphasize animal welfare, safety, practicality, and adherence to regulatory and other requirements.
Placement Agreements and Documentation
ZDR3 provides facilities involved in animal placement a Temporary Animal Placement Agreement that can be modified as needed. ZDR3 strongly recommends that all animal placements include an agreement to ensure all involved parties are aligned on expectations.
Animal Husbandry Support
ZDR3 Network teams can provide support to zoological facilities whose regular animal care operations have been disrupted by a disaster or significant incident. The goal is to support facility staff as they care for animals under challenging or altered conditions.
Supporting On‑Site Care Teams with Peer‑to‑Peer Expertise
ZDR3’s priority is to reinforce and assist existing husbandry teams—not to replace them. Network responders can provide temporary care relief, help reestablish safe working conditions, and stabilize animal routines until full operations resume.
Through the ZDR3 Network, experienced animal care professionals can be deployed to assist with tasks such as enclosure stabilization, feeding routines, environmental adjustments, or specialized animal handling. Many responders come from facilities housing similar species and can provide immediate, informed support.
Focus on Continuity and Welfare
The affected facility’s leadership directs all husbandry support activities. ZDR3 ensures that assistance aligns with the facility’s established protocols and animal welfare standards, promoting continuity of care during response and recovery.
Veterinary Support
ZDR3 can provide veterinary coordination and support to zoological facilities experiencing disasters or significant disruptions to their normal operations. The goal is to assist and reinforce facility staff as they care for animals under challenging conditions.
Supporting On‑Site Teams
ZDR3’s priority is to support the existing veterinary care team already in place at a facility. Our role is to help those teams sustain animal health and welfare when normal infrastructure, supplies, or staffing may be limited.
Supplementing Care When Needed
When specialized or additional veterinary care is required, ZDR3 can help connect facilities with qualified veterinarians from the ZDR3 Network or trusted partners. In some circumstances, ZDR3 has coordinated outside veterinary assistance to supplement on‑site staff during large‑scale or complex responses.
Licensing and Regulatory Considerations
ZDR3 recognizes that veterinary support is subject to strict state licensing and regulatory requirements. Any involvement of veterinarians follows applicable laws and professional guidelines to ensure compliance and animal safety.
Animal Immobilization and Recapture/Restraint
ZDR3 can assist zoological facilities when animals must be recaptured, restrained, or immobilized during or after a critical event. These procedures are supported within regulatory limits and guided by the facility’s leadership and veterinary team.
Contained vs. Uncontained Animals
Requests for assistance vary depending on whether animals remain within secure enclosures or have become uncontained. Contained animal situations often require short‑term restraint or immobilization for relocation or medical attention, while uncontained animals may need coordinated capture strategies involving specialized expertise and equipment.
Skilled Handling and Safety
Hand capture and restraint operations require specific experience and training. ZDR3’s goal is for staff at the impacted facility to manage their own animals whenever possible. However, if needed, ZDR3 can assist by connecting facilities with experienced personnel skilled in safe handling, restraint, or immobilization techniques.
Veterinary Integration and Regulatory Awareness
All chemical immobilization or anesthesia procedures are performed under the direction of a licensed veterinarian. Because veterinary practice and drug use regulations differ by state, involvement from external veterinarians is considered only when appropriate and in compliance with licensing laws. ZDR3 has, in limited cases, assisted facilities in identifying and coordinating outside veterinary support when local resources were unavailable.
Animal Diet, Medical, and Husbandry Resources
Emergency Resource Coordination
ZDR3 supports zoological facilities facing shortages or total loss of specialized animal resources following a disaster or major supply interruption. This coordination ensures that essential dietary and husbandry needs are met to sustain animal health and welfare when normal procurement routes are unavailable.
Specialized Supplies and Nutritional Needs
This includes biologically specific diets, nutritional supplements, medical or enrichment materials, and environmental control supplies that may be difficult to replace quickly.
Network Collaboration and Mutual Aid
Using the ZDR3 Network, participating facilities and trusted partners collaborate to locate available inventory and arrange replacement shipments. In many cases, peer institutions temporarily share stock or help facilitate the delivery of urgently needed materials until regular supply chains are restored.
Industry Partnerships and Supplier Contributions
The ZDR3 Network also includes industry-specific suppliers who generously contribute needed resources, at times even providing associated transport and shipping.
If you are a supplier supporting the aquarium or zoological industry and would like to be part of the ZDR3 Network, a Non-Animal Holding MOU is available to include you.