This project was launched as an extreme attempt to diminish the impact of antropic development on some wild endemic owl species living on the Island of Hispaniola. These species are : the Ashy-faced Barn Owl(Tyto glaucops),the Hispaniola Stygian Owl (Asio stygius noctipetens),the Hispaniola Short-eared Owl(Asio flammeus domingensis) and the Hispaniola Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia troglodytes).

The project officially started in February 1999 with a "Memorandum of Agreement" signed by representatives of the Government of the Dominican Republic and S.C.R.O. at ZOODOM, Santo Domingo. The endemic owl species are threatened owing to urban development and unsustainable agricultural practices, with the aggravating factor that the island ecosystem, although rich in unique species, is fragile and vulnerable.
The strategy to save them from extinction is to:

1) Build up genetically healthy populations under direct human care with the remaining population of these Owl species.
2) Find solutions for the problems the Owls are facing right now.
3) Release them back into the wild under controlled conditions.

In July 2000 an inauguration ceremony took place for the first two aviaries built for the Ashy-faced Barn Owl at ZOODOM. In March 2001 breeding success was achieved with the hatching of the first of five, young Ashy-faced Barn Owls. Since now (fall 2004) 26 Ashy-faced owls offspring have been bred included three second generation birds. During February 2003 there was the first breeding of the Hispaniola Burrowing Owl at ZOODOM. This was also the first breeding in captivity of this sub-species. So far 9 Hispaniola Burrowing Owls have been successfully reared.
While,at the present, Hispaniola Burrowing Owls are housed only at ZOODOM, some Ashy-faced owls have been already sent to Europe to improve the number of breeding pairs and to involve other institutions as well.
During May 2004 the ZOODOM,in accordance with the agreement signed with S.C.R.O. and the Government of the Dominican Republic, has sent to M.B.C. ,which already owned one male,a female Tyto glaucops on breeding loan.
The Monticello Breeding and Conservation Center for Owls has been chosen,as S.C.R.O. member,to be the first institution to start a so called satellite breeding program for this species besides the main breeding center at ZOODOM , Santo Domingo.

Supporting Parties besides ZOODOM and S.C.R.O. (in alphabetical order)

Driftwood-Research and Breeding Center for Owls (Driftwood R.B.C.O.),Canada
El Banco de Reservas(Government Bank) of the Dominican Republic
European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA)
International Owl Society,(I.O.S.), England
Ministry of Defense, Dominican Republic
Monticello Breeding and Conservation Center for Owls(Monticello B.C.C.O.),Italy