Species Survival Plans (SSP) began in 1981 as a cooperative population management and conservation program for selected species in North American zoos and aquariums. Administered by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, each SSP manages the breeding of a species in order to maintain a healthy, self-sustaining captive population that is both genetically and demographically stable. Currently, there are 87 SSPs covering 116 individual species.

A species coordinator is responsible for managing the SSP day-to-day activities (The curator/assistant director of the Oregon Zoo, Mike Keele, is the North American SSP coordinator for Asian and African elephants.). Management committees, composed of various experts, assist the coordinator with population management, research, education and reintroduction issues. In addition, each institution participating in an SSP has a representative who attends national meetings and coordinates activities at their institution.

A Studbook Keeper keeps the vital records of the entire captive population of a species, including births, deaths, transfers and family lineage. Using the studbook, the management group creates a master plan which outlines the goals for the entire population. It designs a family tree for a particular captive population in order to achieve maximum genetic diversity. Breeding and other management recommendations are made for each animal. Often, master plans include recommendations not to breed animals to avoid having the population outgrow the available holding space or preventing inbreeding.

Many SSPs also develop housing and enrichment guides, as well as husbandry manuals which set guidelines based on the best current scientific knowledge for the diet and care of the species in captivity.