Overview

The International Species Information System (commonly abbreviated ISIS) was an international nonprofit consortium that supported zoos and aquariums in collecting, standardizing and sharing animal records. Its central role was to provide a secure, centralized database and related management tools so member institutions could coordinate animal care, husbandry and breeding programs across borders. Many institutions that participate in ex situ conservation relied on the system for consistent recordkeeping.

Core functions and components

ISIS combined data storage with software tools and professional services. Key elements included:

  • Centralized animal records covering individual history (birth, transfers, parentage, deaths) and basic demographics.
  • Medical and husbandry modules to document health checks, treatments and behavior observations.
  • Population- and genetics-management tools used to plan pairings and manage studbooks.

These functions were accessed by member institutions such as zoos and aquariums via dedicated management products and services, including the consortium’s software offerings (management software).

Scale and data

At one time, the ISIS database held records on roughly 2.4 million individual animals representing about 10,000 species, drawn from participating institutions worldwide. Data were typically entered by animal care staff and curated by database managers; access controls and confidentiality policies governed how records were shared among members.

Uses and importance

Member institutions used ISIS data for routine husbandry, long-term population management, veterinary care, research and coordinated conservation planning. Examples of practical uses include producing studbooks for endangered species, identifying suitable breeding pairs to retain genetic diversity, and aggregating occurrence and health trends for scientific study.

History and notable facts

Originally established to improve recordkeeping across captive animal collections, the organization grew into a major data hub for zoological institutions. It later evolved and rebranded its services while continuing to emphasize data standardization and collaboration among international partners. The centralized, collaborative model remains influential in how modern zoo and aquarium networks manage living collections.