Since its inception in 1979, CBSG has grown into a global volunteer network
of 550 professionals, coordinated by a headquarters staff of seven, assisted by
eight 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.
