Collection‐based institutions—zoos, aquariums, museums, and botanical gardens—exhibit wildlife and thus have a special connection with nature. Many of these institutions emphasize a mission of conservation, and, undeniably, they do contribute directly to conservation education and conservation science. They present an exceptional opportunity for many urban residents to see the wonders of life, and they can contribute to educat...

The evaluation of conservation programs is rare but increasingly important in improving their effectiveness. Regular evaluations of conservation programs and the implementation of recommendations resulting from such assessments are infrequent because of resistance by participants and lack of funding. Evaluations may be internal or external, depending on the purpose of the review and how broadly it is focused. We strongly recom...

Four international recovery and management committees act as official technical advisors to the Brazilian federal environmental agency—the Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis—with respect to the conservation and management of both the in situ and ex situ populations of the endangered lion tamarins ( Leontopithecus). The committees promote lion tamarins as “flagship” species, the ultimate in...