most know I have worked with the Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Society in past years to help them gather waterfowl for their new exhibits. They work very diligently to breed every thing they have. Yes , it's true, they will not just offer to help you or work with you, really it's best in my experience if THEY come to you actually.
They sent one of their curators all the way down here just to inspect the birds they were getting from me before they would commit. They interviewed me, took photos of EVERYTHING, videoed the whole place, reviewed my quarantine area, methods, and all. Took all this info back to the head curators for review. Upon review, they approve it all, and then asked would I be willing to except waterfowl from other breeders they were getting in and keep them until the new project was done at the zoo. Said of course, collected up all their birds from the other breeders and housed them all for 6 months for them.
That all being said, of course they compensated me for my time and feed, even though I told them is wasnt necessary. But once that was done, they knew I REALLY wanted some rare African Pygmy Geese, which of course they had. Well ,they offered some to me on a breeding loan after it was all done.
That's pretty much how you have to get in with these guys. Baby steps, but once you do, good things can happen for you.
By the way, due to the super rare nature of their pygmys, I did decline the offer, I couldnt sleep at night knowing they werent mine and if something were to have happened...whew