Michael Hutchins

Michael Hutchins
Born	1951 Algona, Iowa
Nationality	United States
Occupation	Zoologist

Michael Hutchins (born 1951) is an American zoologist and, conservationist.

Early career

Curatorial Intern in Mammalogy, Conservation Biologist, and Coordinator of Research, Bronx Zoo (Wildlife Conservation Society)

Hutchins began his career with the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo. Serving first as a curatorial intern in the Zoo's Department of Mammalogy, he was later promoted to conservation biologist and coordinator of research after graduating with his PhD in 1984 from the University of Washington in Seattle.^[1] As Conservation Biologist, Hutchins developed a coordinated research program at the Bronx Zoo, including the development of protocols for working with local universities, processing biological materials requests, and adhering to USDA APHIS rules regarding animal welfare.^[2] Many seminal papers on zoo research program design were published and served as a model for other zoological institutions worldwide.^[2][3] While at the UW, he served as a graduate instructor and acting assistant professor, teaching courses in animal behavior and behavioral ecology.

Doctoral dissertation and related publications

For his PhD dissertation, Hutchins studied an introduced population of Rocky Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) in Olympic National Park, Washington and subsequently published a number of articles on the behavioral ecology and management of this unique population of Rocky Mountain goats.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

Consultant, Australian Tourist Commission

Hutchins assisted in a project designed to promote Australian natural history in North America. In 1985, he traveled extensively for six consecutive months in Australia at Australian Tourist Commission expense, focusing primarily on national parks, wildlife areas, and zoological parks. He wrote several popular articles on Australian fauna and habitats for North American, Australian, and Japanese publications, including Animal Kingdom, Islands Magazine, The Living Bird, Australian Geographic, Anima, and Animals. Information collected also became the basis for Gerry Ellis, Sharon Cohen, and Mark Kestigian's Outdoor Traveler's Guide to Australia.^{[12][13][14][15][16][17][18]}

Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)

Director/William Conway Chair of Conservation and Science, AZA

He joined the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 1990, becoming the organization's first endowed chair, the Director/William Conway Chair of Conservation and Science. In this capacity, he oversaw the Species Survival Plan (SSP), a cooperative, scientifically managed captive breeding program for endangered species, developed the concept of strategic collection planning, developed and managed the AZA’s Conservation Endowment Fund, established the AZA Contraception and Small Population Management Advisory Groups, and was a proponent for increasing the contributions of accredited zoos and aquariums to in situ conservation, which has now resulted in a collective contribution of over $130 million annually.^{[19][20][21][22][23][24]}

The AZA is the one of the world's premier regional zoological associations, representing over 230 accredited zoos and aquariums and over 6,000 professionals.

While at AZA, Hutchins coordinated a network of several hundred volunteer program coordinators and committee members for the Association's extensive member-driven conservation and science programs, organized into 46 Taxon Advisory Groups, 110 Species Survival Plans, 13 Scientific Advisory Groups, 5 Fauna Interest Groups, and 300+ Studbooks/Population Management Plans.

Miscellaneous publications on biology and husbandry of rare zoo fauna

While a research associate at the Woodland Park Zoological Gardens in Seattle, WA, Curatorial Intern, Conservation Biologist and Director of Research at the Bronx Zoo, NY and Director/William Conway Chair at AZA in Silver Spring, MD, Hutchins and his colleagues conducted and published research on the biology, husbandry, management and conservation of a wide range of little-known birds, mammals and reptiles, including birds of paradise, trumpeters, hornbills, snow leopards, tree kangaroos, and Komodo dragons.^{[1ab],[2ab],[3ab],[4ab],[5ab],[6ab],[7ab],[8ab],[9ab],[10ab]}

References

1ab) Ciofi, C., Hutchins, M. and Smith, B. 2000. Conservation: In situ and ex situ contributions. Pp. 211-230 in Komodo Dragons: Biology and Conservation. Murphy, J., Ciofi, C. de la Panouse, C. and Walsh, T. (eds.). Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press.

2ab) Hutchins, M., Sheppard, C., Lyles, A. and Casadei, G. 1995. Behavioral considerations in the captive management, propagation and reintroduction of endangered birds. Pp. 263-289 in Captive Conservation of Endangered Species, Gibbons, E., Durrant, B., and Demarest, J. (eds.). Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.

3ab) Laska, M., Hutchins, M., Sheppard, C., Dale, G., Burger, J., Worth, W. and Hundgen, K. 1994. Social interactions and display behavior in captive lesser birds of paradise (Paradisaea minor). Bird Behaviour 10: 1-6.

4ab) Laska, M., Hutchins, M., Sheppard, C., Worth, W., Hudgen, K. and Bruning, D. 1992. Successful reproduction by unplumed male lesser birds of paradise: Evidence for an alternative mating strategy? Emu 92: 108-111.

5ab) Hundgen, K., Hutchins, M., Sheppard, C., Bruning, D. and Worth, W. 1991. Breeding and management of the red bird of paradise (Paradisaea rubra) at the New York Zoological Park. International Zoo Yearbook 30: 192-199.

6ab) Hutchins, M., Smith, G., Mead, D., Elbin, S. and Steenberg, J. 1991. Social behavior in Matschie's tree kangaroos (Dendrolagus matschiei) and its implications for captive management. Zoo Biology 10: 147-164.

7ab) Worth, W., Hutchins, M., Sheppard, C., Bruning, D., Gonzalez, J. and McNamara, T. 1991. Hand-rearing, growth and development of the red bird of paradise (Paradisaea rubra) at the New York Zoological Park. Zoo Biology 10: 17-33.

8ab) Horning, C.L., Hutchins, M. and English, W. 1988. Management and breeding of common trumpeters (Psophia crepitans). Zoo Biology 7: 193-210.

9ab) Freeman, H. and Hutchins, M. 1978. Captive management of snow leopard cubs (Uncia uncia): An overview. Der Zoologische Garten, N.F.: 50(6): 377-392.

10ab) Hutchins, M. 1975. Breeding biology and behaviour of the Indian-pied hornbill (Anthracoceros m. malabaricus). International Zoo Yearbook, 16: 99-101.

AZA's Giant Panda Conservation Plan

As senior staff advisor to the AZA's Giant Panda Conservation Action Plan, he helped negotiate with representatives of the Chinese government, World Wildlife Fund and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which eventually brought pandas to the U.S. on long-term loans that support in situ conservation in China.

Disney's Animal Kingdom/Worldwide Conservation Fund

Hutchins served on Disney's Animal Kingdom/Worldwide Conservation Fund Advisory Board. Along with other board members, which included experts such as Dr. Russell Mittermeier (President of Conservation International), William Conway (then Executive Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society), and Dr. Terry Maple (then Director of Zoo Atlanta), he consulted with Disney staff on a wide variety of issues related to their animal programs. He interacted with top corporate executives, including CEOs Michael Eisner and Robert Iger. He also worked extensively with Joe Rhode, Disney's Chief Imagineer. The advisory board had a major impact on the directions of Disney's Animal Kingdom and Wildlife Conservation Fund projects, as well as other aspects of Disney operations (e.g., sustainable seafood initiative). The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund now provides nearly $2 million annually to support conservation projects around the globe.^[25]

Bushmeat Crisis Task Force

From 1999 to 2005, Hutchins served as chair and co-chair of the board for the Bushmeat Crisis Task Force (BCTF), a multi-organizational consortium of major zoological institutions and conservation organizations formed to educate the news media and key decision makers in government about the growing illegal commercial trade in wildlife for meat in Africa.^{[1d],[2d],[3d][26]} He organized and moderated the meeting that lead to the establishment of BCTF. He also managed two full-time staff and dozens of volunteers. He was interviewed by the media on numerous occasions and helped to organize and participated in Congressional briefings on Capitol Hill and at the National Press Club, which included well-known scientists such as Jane Goodall and Mike Fay and celebrities such as Jane Alexander and Stephanie Powers. He and staff also obtained a grant from World Wildlife Fund to support the development of bushmeat-related curricula at the three African wildlife colleges.^[27]

References

1d) Eves, H., Hutchins, M., and Baily, N. 2010. Bushmeat Crisis Task Force. Pp. 327-344 in Stoinski, T.S., Steklis, H.D., and Mehlman, P. (eds.). Conservation in the 21st Century: Gorillas as a Case Study. New York, NY: Springer.

2d) Eves, H. and Hutchins, M. 2001. The Bushmeat Crisis Task Force: Cooperative U.S. efforts to curb the illegal commercial bushmeat trade in Africa. Pp. 181-186 in AZA Field Conservation Resource Guide. Conway, W, Hutchins, M., Kapetenakos, Y., and Paul, E. (eds.). Atlanta, GA: Zoo Atlanta.

3d) Eves, H. and Hutchins, M. The Bushmeat Crisis Task Force: Cooperative U.S. efforts to curb the illegal commercial bushmeat trade in Africa. AZA Annual Conference Proceedings: 65-74.

Elephant Planning Initiative

In 1999, Hutchins organized and facilitated a series of three two-day planning meetings involving nearly 50 experts on elephant captive management, field biology and conservation, exhibit design, etc. to discuss the future of elephant management in accredited North American zoos. The final 84-page report, co-authored by Hutchins and Brandie Smith, laid out a series of options for consideration by the AZA Board of Directors and the directors of elephant holding institutions, ranging from enclosure size, to nutrition, to reproduction, to animal welfare and enrichment, to training methods to the zoo-circus relationship.^{[2e],[3e],[5e],[6e]} The report provided an initial impetus for the many improvements that are currently underway in AZA institutions, including the development of the National Elephant Center and the move to protected contact management and larger enclosure sizes, just to name a few. This effort also provided the impetus for the Elephants and Ethics conference organized by Smithsonian's National Zoological Park. Hutchins served on the planning committee for this meeting, which included many of the world's experts on elephant biology, management and conservation, and resulted in the Johns Hopkins University Press book edited by Chris Wemmer and Catherine Christen: Elephants and Ethics: Toward a Morality of Coexistence published in 2008.^[1e],[4e]

References

1e) Hutchins, M., Smith, B., and Keele, M. 2008. Zoos as responsible stewards of elephants. Pp. 285-305 in Wemmer, C. and K. Christen (eds.). Never Forgetting: Elephants, Ecology and Ethics. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press

2e) Gore, M, Hutchins, M., and Ray, J. 2006. A review of injuries caused by elephants in captivity: An examination of predominant factors. International Zoo Yearbook 40: 51-62.

3e) Hutchins, M. 2006. Variation in nature and its implications for zoo elephant management. Zoo Biology 25.: 161-171.

4e) Hutchins, M. and Keele, M. 2006. Elephant importation from range countries: Ethical and practical considerations for accredited zoos. Zoo Biology 25: 219-233.

5e) Hutchins, M. and Smith, B. 2000. The value of captive breeding programs to field conservation: Elephants as an example. Pachyderm 28: 101-109.

6e) Hutchins, M., and Smith, B. 1999. AZA Elephant Planning Initiative: On the Future of Elephants in North American Zoos. Silver Spring, MD: American Zoo and Aquarium Association.

Black-footed ferret recovery

In 1995, Hutchins organized and moderated a series of three meetings in Denver, CO at the request of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to analyze and make recommendations for the future of black-footed ferret (BFF) recovery. At the time, the BFF was still one of the most endangered mammals in North America. The meetings included all the key players in ferret recovery, as well as additional experts having experience with the reintroduction of other species. A detailed plan was formulated and reviewed by the participants, and, once finalized, provided the basis for ferret recovery for the next half-decade or more.^[1f],[2f] Most, if not all, of the recommended actions were eventually implemented, including the development of a plague vaccine for ferrets and the addition of new release sites. There are now more ferrets living in nature than in captivity. The project was funded by grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

References

1f) Miller, B., Biggins, D., Vargas, A., Hutchins, M., Hanebury, L., Godbey, J., Anderson, S., and Oldmeier, J. 1998. The captive environment and reintroduction: The black-footed ferret as a case study with comments on other taxa. Pp. 97-112 in Second Nature: Environmental Enrichment for Captive Animals. Shepherdson, D., Mellen, J., and Hutchins, M. (eds.). Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press.

2f) Hutchins, M., Wiese, R., and Bowdoin, J. 1996. Black-footed Ferret Recovery Program Analysis and Action Plan. American Zoo and Aquarium Association, Bethesda, MD.

Butterfly Conservation Initiative

Hutchins served as the Founding Chair, of the AZA's Butterfly Conservation Initiative Steering Committee from 2003–2005. While Chair, he led the development of the Butterfly Conservation Initiative from concept to over 50 supporting member organizations and one full-time staff member. The mission of BFCI is to recover threatened and endangered butterflies in North America.^[1cc]

References

1cc) Allard, R., Hutchins, M. and Harrelson, D. 2001. The Butterfly Conservation Initiative: Partnerships for pollinators. AZA Annual Conference Proceedings: 139-144.

WAZA-CIRCC

Hutchins was involved in the formation and development of the IUDZG-The World Zoo Organization's (now the World Association of Zoo and Aquariums (WAZA)), Committee on Inter-regional Conservation Cooperation (CIRCC) as a founding member. The committee was composed of the conservation directors of the world's major regional zoo and aquarium associations and was intended to facilitate and promote global cooperation. He traveled to international locations for meetings and helped to develop many foundational concepts for international cooperation, including the World Zoo Conservation Strategy. He served the organization for four years (2001–2005).

Animal welfare and ethics

While at AZA, Hutchins and colleagues prompted the zoological profession to begin thinking seriously about ethical issues related to the care and welfare of animals bred and exhibited by accredited zoos and aquariums. Several provocative articles and books were published, which eventually helped lead to the establishment of AZA’s Animal Welfare Committee and accreditation guidelines regarding welfare and environmental enrichment for captive animals.^{[1g],[2g],[3g][4g],[5g],[6g],[7g]}

References

1g) Kreger, M. and Hutchins, M. 2010. Ethics of keeping mammals in zoos and aquariums. Pp. 3-10 in Wild Mammals in Captivity, 2nd edition. Kleiman, D.G., Lumpkin, S., and Allen, M. (eds.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press

2g) Hutchins, M. 2001. Animal welfare: What is AZA doing to enhance the lives of captive animals? AZA Annual Conference Proceedings: 117-129.

3g) Hutchins, M., Smith, B, and Allard, R. 2003. In defense of zoos and aquariums: The ethical basis for keeping wild animals in captivity. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 223 (7): 958-966.

4g) Hutchins, M. Wemmer, C. And Dresser, B. 1995. Ethical considerations in zoo and aquarium research. Pp. 253-276 in Ethics on the Ark: Zoos, Animal Welfare and Wildlife Conservation. Norton, B., Hutchins, M., Stevens, E.F., and Maple, T.L. (eds.). Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press.

5g) Kreger, M. and Hutchins, M. 1998. Ethical issues in zoo animal care. Pp. 374-375 in Encyclopedia of Animal Rights and Welfare. Bekoff, M.; Meaney, C.A. (eds.). Westport, CT.: Greenwood Publishing Group.

6g) Norton, B., Hutchins, M., Stevens, E.F., and Maple, T.L. (eds.) 1995. Ethics on the Ark: Zoos, Animal Welfare and Wildlife Conservation. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press.

7g) Shepherdson, D., Mellen, J. and Hutchins, M. (eds.) 1998. Second Nature: Environmental Enrichment for Captive Animals. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press.

The Wildlife Society (TWS)

Executive Director/CEO, The Wildlife Society

In 2005, he joined the Wildlife Society as its Executive Director/CEO. As the CEO, he was responsible for goal setting, strategic planning, personnel management, fund-raising and finance. He coordinated and facilitated an extensive network of volunteer-members, organized into eight sections, 53 chapters, 105 student chapters and 19 technical working groups.

During his tenure, TWS membership grew from 7,500 to over 11,000; revenue increased 40%, even during an economic downturn; all TWS publications and the web site were re-branded and improved; a social media strategy initiated. Also, during this time, TWS negotiated new publishing partnerships (with Wiley-Blackwell for journals and Johns Hopkins University Press for books) and a professional development program for Native American students was established. In addition TWS launched a Diversity Working Group, a Leadership Institute, an online mentoring program linking students and professionals; and a new award-winning member magazine, The Wildlife Professional was developed and launched.^{[1h],[2h],[3h],[4h],[5h],[6h],[7h],[8h],[9h],[10h],[11h],[12h],[13h],[14h],[15h],[16h]}

References

1h) Baydack, R. and Hutchins, M. 2012. Fueling the next generation: Seventy-five years of nurturing students. The Wildlife Professional 6(3): 54-59.

2h) Bies, L., Hutchins, M., Organ, J. and DeMaris, S. 2012. The role of professional and scientific societies in integrating science and management: The Wildlife Society as an example. In: J. P. Sands, S. J. DeMaso, M. J. Schnupp, and L.A. Brennan (eds.) Wildlife Science: Connecting Research with Management. New York, NY: Taylor and Francis

3h) Hutchins, M. 2012. What the future holds: Challenges for the profession and TWS. The Wildlife Professional 6(3): 83-87.

4h) Bies, L., Hutchins, M. and Ryder, T. 2011. The Wildlife Society responds to misleading media on feral horses. Human-Wildlife Conflict 5(2): 171-172.

5h) Hutchins, M. 2011. Climate change and wildlife: How is TWS helping to address the coming challenge? The Wildlife Professional 5(2): 50-51.

6h) Hutchins, M., Pianka, E., and Geist, V. (eds.) 2011. Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia, Evolution. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group, Inc.

7h) Fleishman, E., Blockstein, D., Hall, J.A., Mascia, M.B., Rudd, M.A., Scott, J.M., Sutherland, W.J., Bartuska, A.M., Brown, A.G., Cristen, C.A., Clement, J., DellaSala, D., Duke, C.D., Fiske, S.J., Gosnell, H., Haney, J.C., Hutchins, M., Klein, M.L., Marqusee, J., Noon, B.R., Powell, J., Quarles, S.P., Saterson, K.A., Stein, B.A., Webster, M.S., and Vedder, A. 2011. America’s top 40 priorities for science to inform US conservation and management policy. BioScience 61(4): 290-300.

8h) Hutchins, M. 2010. Confiscated animals: Ethical, legal and practical considerations for accredited zoos and sanctuaries. Pp. 196-202 in State of Wildlife 2010, Fern, E. and Redford, K. (eds.). New York, NY: Wildlife Conservation Society.

9h) Hutchins, M. and Bies, L. 2010. How green is green energy? Outdoor America 75(1): 16-17.

10h) Hutchins, M., Eves, H. and Mittermier, C. 2010. Fueling the conservation engine: Where will the money come from to drive fish and wildlife management and conservation? Pp. 184-197 in Manfredo, M. et al. (eds.). Wildlife and Society: The Science of Human Dimensions. Washington, DC: Island Press.

11h) Nyhus, P., Tilson, R. and Hutchins, M. 2010. Fourteen thousand and counting: How growing captive tiger populations may be threatening wild tigers. Pp. 223-238 in Tilson, R. and Nyhus, P. (eds.). Tigers of the World: The Science, Politics and Conservation of Panthera tigris. Berkshire, UK: Noyes Publications.

12h) Burghhardt, G., Murphy, J., Chizar, D. and Hutchins, M. 2009. Combating ophiophobia: Origins, treatment, education, and conservation tools. Pp. 262-280 in Snakes: Applied Ecology and Conservation. Mullin, S. and Seigel, R.A. (eds.). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

13h) Hutchins, M. 2008 Animal rights and conservation. Conservation Biology 22(8): 815-816.

14h) Hutchins, M. and Thompson, S. 2008. Zoo research: Priority setting for the coming decades. Zoo Biology 27: 488-497.

15h) Hutchins, M. 2007. The limits of compassion. The Wildlife Professional 1(2): 42-46.

16h) Hutchins, M. and Kreger, M. 2006. Rhinoceros behaviour: Implications for captive management and conservation. International Zoo Yearbook 40: 150–173.

Director, Bird Smart Wind Energy Campaign, American Bird Conservancy

In October 2013, Hutchins was named Director, Bird Smart Wind Energy Campaign by the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), a Washington, DC-based non-profit organization (http://www.abcbirds.org/) focused on the conservation of native bird populations in the Americas. In this capacity, he will lead ABC's national efforts to minimize the impact of rapidly expanding wind energy development on bird populations in the United States. ABC supports green energy development to address anthropogenic global climate change, but has serious concerns about widespread bird mortalities caused by wind turbines, including impacts to protected species, such as whooping cranes and eagles. It is therefore critical where such facilities are sited. Dr. Hutchins' primary responsibilities will include developing and implementing related policy and communication initiatives in collaboration with other ABC staff and partners, promoting ABC's "Bird Smart" approach to wind energy development, networking with relevant state and federal agencies and industry, fostering effective partnerships with other non-governmental conservation organizations, monitoring major wind energy projects for their potential impact on bird populations, tracking relevant science, representing ABC at relevant conferences and meetings, educating the media and key decision makers, and reporting to the ABC membership, staff and leadership on campaign activities.^{[1i],[2i],[3i][4i]}

References

1i) Hutchins, M. 2014. Let's minimize wind energy bird kill. Transmission & Distribution Magazine, August 25: http://tdworld.com/commentaries/let-s-minimize-wind-energy-bird-kill.

2i) Hutchins, M. 2014. Top five myths about wind power and birds. Bird Conservation Spring: 22-25. (Published as "Top 10 myths..." online at: http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/collisions/toptenwindenergymyths.html).

3i) Hutchins, M. and Maple, T.L. 2014. Zoos and zoological parks. Pp. 271-275 in Jennings, B. (ed.) Bioethics, 4th edition, Volume 1. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale.

4i) Hutchins, M., Geist, V., Organ, J. and Salwasser, H. 2014. Evolutionary biology: Applications for wildlife management and conservation. The Wildlife Professional 8 (2): 54-58.

Publications

An international authority on wildlife conservation, management and policy, Hutchins has authored over 220 articles and books, covering various topics in wildlife science, management and conservation. He is consulting editor for Zoo Biology and International Zoo Yearbook, former primary editor of Smithsonian Institution Press’ book series titled "Studies in Zoo and Aquarium Biology and Conservation" and Editor Emeritus for Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia, a popular 18-volume compendium covering the entire animal kingdom.^[28]

Recent media interviews

Hutchins currently participates in a series of interviews with the National Geographic Society on imminent threats to wildlife and their habitat for their online news blog News Watch.

Academic appointments

A former adjunct associate professor at the University of Maryland's Graduate Program in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology, Hutchins is currently an affiliate professor at George Mason University's Department of Environmental Science and Policy.

Residence

Hutchins currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland where he serves as the Founding Partner/Director of Conservation and Science for World Safaris and Safari Professionals, two of the most well known nature tourism companies taking people into Africa and beyond.^[29]

Online references