I have been trying to use species databases, and I have heard ISIS is by far the best, but it requires a login. Is there any other requirements to be allowed access to the information on ISIS? The website doesn't really give you a straight answer.
On a side note, good that a certain extreme terrorist organization has several names like ISIL and IS, and that ISIS is not so much used. Otherwise the zoo industry would have a serious image problem....
I had the same problem, you have to still login but as Norwegian Moose says ISIS have a difficult sense as there is a terrorist group called ISIS or IS, for short
Yes, I was surprised when I first heard the name on this forums, I had to look it up for my self! Is there anything else required in addition to a log in? When you are redirected to the register page, it says you become apart of some "team". This might sound stupid, but I have no experience with this, so is some sort of responsibility required after you register?
I tried accessing the ISIS database about a year ago. From what I gathered trying to establish an account, it can only be accessed by people working at the participating institutions. There doesn't seem to be any way for a member of the general public to get an account.
I have heard that access to ZIMS (formerly ISIS - International Species Inventory System) is now closed to the public because a minority of zoos in the United States objected to the public knowing their species holdings. It was never a problem when ISIS was online to the public. I think that ZIMS has over-reacted.
I think it's strange that they don't want the information on their holdings to be public, since they are mostly public institutions (and the public can find most of the information from secondary sources anyway). But yeah, I don't see much reason for them to withhold it.
to gain entrance to usa public zoos inventories you must cite the federal freedom for information act with requests for collection inventories.
you can request information on up to five species at a time. Find Animals As the ISIS community transitions to the ZIMS application, the "species holding" information is not available for public display. To request information about how many animals of various species are held in ISIS member institutions, e-mail [email protected]. Please clearly list for which species you are seeking information in your request. Public can request once per month, of up to 5 species.
