Better Records, Better Welfare: What’s New in ZIMS and Why It Matters for Your Collection

carlgroombridge71

5 minutes ago

4 min read

Split meme: hand hovers over red buttons labeled Updating ZIMS records and Designing a bioactive biome; stressed zoo director below. — A light-hearted take on, Zoo directors face a difficult decision: either update ZIMS records or design innovative biomes.

Good animal care depends on good information. Every weight, transfer, identifier, enclosure move and medical note adds to a picture that keepers, vets and managers rely on when they make decisions. When that picture is accurate and easy to find, teams can act with confidence. When it is scattered across notebooks, spreadsheets and memory, small gaps can quietly become welfare risks.

That is why I follow developments in ZIMS, the Zoological Information Management System run by Species360, closely. The October 2026 Species360 newsletter highlighted several changes that are worth sharing with zoo directors, curators, keepers and record-keepers, whether your collection already uses ZIMS or is still deciding how to strengthen its records.

Current Holdings: a clearer view of the global population

The headline update is a new Current Holdings report within Taxon Profiles. It replaces the legacy Species Holdings report and gives a clearer picture of where a species is held around the world, how its global population is made up and which animals may be available (Species360, 2026a).

For collection planning, this matters. Before you commit to a new species, plan a breeding recommendation or consider an exchange, you need to understand the wider population, not just your own animals. Taxon Profiles already brings global species data together in one dashboard to support daily care, long-term collection planning and collaborative breeding programmes. A clearer holdings view makes those conversations easier and better informed.

Practical takeaway: when you next review your collection plan, use the holdings data alongside your own welfare assessments, space and staff expertise. The question isn’t only “Can we get this species?” but “Can we provide excellent care for it, and does holding it support the wider population?”

Rabat Zoo: records that support daily care

The National Zoological Garden of Rabat cares for nearly 2,000 animals from more than 170 African and Moroccan species. In a video produced by the zoo, the team shows how ZIMS helps them keep their records accurate and centralised as part of daily animal care (Species360, 2026b).

What stands out to me is the training. Rabat built on its existing work with in-person ZIMS training delivered in French, bringing together staff from across departments. They covered accessions, weights, identifiers, transactions, enclosures and ZIMS for Medical, and the team was particularly enthusiastic about the new mobile-friendly Data Entry and QR code functionality.

This is a lesson for every collection: a records system is only as good as the people using it. Training staff in their own language, across departments, builds shared ownership. And when keepers can record information on the spot, from a phone or by scanning a QR code at the enclosure, records are more likely to be complete, timely and accurate.

A new Species360 Knowledge Base

Species360 has also launched a new Knowledge Base that brings all ZIMS help documentation into one searchable website, currently available in 11 languages. Alongside how-to guides, it includes best practice, association accreditation guides, webinar recordings and self-paced ZIMS training courses (Species360, 2026c).

For busy teams, this is a useful resource. New starters can work through self-paced courses, experienced staff can quickly check a process, and managers can use the accreditation guides when preparing documentation. I’d encourage collections to build Knowledge Base modules into their induction and CPD plans rather than leaving ZIMS training to one person.

A growing global community

Species360 reports welcoming more than 20 new members over the last three months, bringing this year’s total to more than 80, across zoos, aquariums, conservation institutions and government agencies on six continents (Species360, 2026d).

One example shows how conservation partnerships can extend this reach. ARTIS Zoo in Amsterdam has sponsored the Species360 membership of West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA) through the Conservation Connections programme, building on their long-standing partnership to protect endangered primates in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire (Species360, 2026e). It’s a good reminder that shared data isn’t only for large institutions. When field conservation organisations and zoos record to the same standards, the whole conservation community benefits.

What this means for your collection

Whether you use ZIMS or another system, the principles are the same:

Record consistently. Agree what is recorded, by whom and when, so the data can be trusted.
Train across the team. Keepers, vets, curators and managers should all understand the records they contribute to and rely on.
Record at the point of care. Mobile entry and QR codes reduce delays and transcription errors.
Use the data for decisions. Link records to welfare monitoring, collection planning and breeding programmes, rather than treating them as paperwork.
Prepare early for standards. With the new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice coming into force in May 2027, clear and accessible records will help collections show how they meet their welfare and conservation responsibilities.

How Animal Insights Consultancy can help

At Animal Insights Consultancy, I support zoos, wildlife parks and animal collections to build practical record-keeping routines that work for the people doing the work. That can include reviewing current records, developing policies and procedures, staff training and CPD, and linking records to welfare monitoring and collection planning.

If you’d like to talk about strengthening your collection’s records, arrange a relaxed, no-obligation conversation at animalinsightsconsultancy.com.

Animal Insights Consultancy: fulfilling the niche in the world of animals.