Collection vs Individual

Summary

In OERCA, animals are divided into two main categories when being added to the system.  These categories are Collections (usually more than one specimen) or Individual (quantity of one).  These differences are important to understand when recording animals to your facility because they influence how they are managed within the system.

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INDIVIDUAL

An individual is a population of ONE (1) in OERCA, and is uniquely identifiable.  Individuals are often iconic animals in your collections and can be identified by unique physical characteristic, ID tags, microchips or any other form that allows that animal to be recognized.  Individual animals often have "house" names, as well as individual diet plans, prescriptions, medical records and/or behavioral records.  Additions and Transfers of individuals are always recorded as a single animal coming into your facility or moving to another facility or area/exhibit.

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COLLECTION

A collection has a population of MANY, and consists of a group of the same species. Collections can be located in more than one exhibit and are usually fed or treated as a whole.  Additions and transfers are most often recorded in multiple numbers.  While collections are managed as a larger group, they can still have individual microchips or PIT tags.