Don't forget all ABMA past conference content is online at AnimalProfessional.com!  If you're an ABMA member you have access to view the ABMA content.  You can also purchase an animalprofessional.com membership and watch lots of great conference presentations from a variety of like-minded organizations.

The Animal Behavior Management Alliance (ABMA) strongly disagrees with a recent decision announced by TripAdvisor and its subsidiary Viator. The company announced that they will "no longer sell tickets to, or generate revenue from, any attraction that continues to contribute to the captivity of future generations of cetaceans. As a result, any commercial facility that either breeds or imports cetaceans for public display will be banned from sale on TripAdvisor and Viator". This is an unfortunate and very misguided decision that is not in the best interest of animal welfare or conservation. There are many professionally accredited zoological facilities that have successfully cared for cetaceans for decades. These facilities have learned and conducted countless rescue and rehabilitation efforts on cetaceans and are the real experts in the husbandry and medical care of cetaceans. The professionals and animals at marine parks, zoos, & aquariums serve as educators for more people than attend all the sporting events in the United States.

Our friends at IMATA have created an easy and impactful opportunity for you to make a difference by clicking this link https://www.imata.org/speak_up.

You can also help by writing to TripAdvisor's CEO, Steve Kaufer (skaufer@tripadvisor.com) & continuing to share the truth about your animals and your work with friends and families through social media. ABMA encourages all of the real animal experts to speak up about the amazing and important work that we do!

-Justin Garner
President
Animal Behavior Management Alliance

Help the ABMA by making your amazon.com purchase at smile.amazon.com. Amazon donates a portion of your purchase to the Animal Behavior Management Alliance.  Thank you!

ABMA 2020 conference has been CANCELLED

As the Covid-19 situation continues to change, we feel the best option for the ABMA 2020 conference is to cancel. There have been over 300 cases reported in the Netherlands and many are in or around the conference site.  Feel free to view the link below for updated information.

https://www.rivm.nl/en/news/current-information-about-novel-coronavirus-covid-19

We will be refunding everyone’s registration costs and are working with Beekse Bergen on lodges but at this time, there is no guarantee on lodge refund.  See lodging contract rules.  You need to contact Beekse Bergen directly about cancelling cabins unless you plan you use them then your reservations will remain. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience to everyone involved.  ABMA recognizes the financial impact on everyone and did not make this decision lightly.  Many delegates have already cancelled or had their facility impose a mandatory quarantine upon return for 2 weeks. We will not be able to postpone the event due to availability at the site.

If you still plan to travel, we recommend that everyone reads and follows the advice by World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control (CDC):

- https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

• cdc.gov/onehealth

In summary, it is important to follow the standard measures that apply to all viruses that can cause flu and colds:

• Wash your hands with soap regularly
• Cough and sneeze on the inside of your elbow
• Use paper handkerchiefs

Guidance from the Dutch ministry of health can be found here:

https://www.rivm.nl/en/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/questions-and-answers

If you have further questions you can contact us at abma@theabma.org.  Be advised it might take us some time to refund ALL the registrations and make all the notifications.

Sincerely,

Nicki Boyd, CIO ABMA