Why We Need Zoos: What is Ex Situ Conservation?
#zoos #endangered #conservationbiology
Note: I present SSPs in a very simplified view, for some species, 1 person does all the work, in many others two collaborate with one managing the studbook, while another person makes recommendations, and for the really popular species like elephants or great apes many more people are involved at some level.
The Bali Myna, Guam Kingfisher, Edwards Pheasant, the California Condor; these birds only exist today because of the tireless work of zoos and other ex situ conservation programs. Over recent decades zoos have undergone a transformation into very important places for wildlife conservation. Today, these institutions strive for higher standards of care and accreditation through associations. In the United States there is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the AZA, Canada has CAZA, or Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums and There are such accreditation programs all over the world, and even the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums who help coordinate efforts between them. To become a member, these facilities must have a very high standard of care, with specific protocols on training, feeding, and enrichment, that should stimulate these species' natural behaviors. One of the most important pieces of ex situ conservation done by these associations is developing and implementing breeding plans, in the AZA they are called SSPs, or species survival plans. In the AZA a species survival plan basically creates one unified plan to save a particular species between all the members of the association, this involves maintaining genetic diversity, doing valuable research, educating people on the species, reintroductions, and even sending zoo professionals out to work on in situ projects.
Ex situ conservation though is not perfect and has its fair share of issues. Traits that could make animals less fit for the wild can be passed around in captive populations. This is why it is important to closely replicate a species' natural habitat, but also carefully manage genetics. There is also some discussion if ex situ projects distract from other conservation work, and eat up valuable conservation dollars due to its expense. It is certainly not an end all be all, and it really must be done in conjunction with in situ conservation to make sure these animals have a place to go.
0:00 Rare Birds
1:11 What is Ex-Situ Conservation
1:48 The History of Zoos
2:46 How Zoos Protect Wildlife
6:13 Criticisms
7:15 Success Story
8:29 Conclusion
Sources
"Introducing the Modern Zoo". Zoological Society of London.
"Pittsburgh zoo drops accreditation due to disagreement over elephant handling". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
AZA Accreditation Introduction Archived November 2, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (2007). "Species Survival Plan Program - SSP Fact Sheet". Association of Zoos and Aquariums website. Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Archived from the original on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2007-09-13.
Frankham, Dick; Ballou, Jon; Briscoe, David (2011). Introduction to Conservation Genetics. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. pp. 430–471. ISBN 978-0-521-70271-3.
Studbooks. (Association of Zoos and Aquariums website). Retrieved from https://www.aza.org/studbooks/
FAO. 2012. Cryoconservation of animal genetic resources. FAO Animal Production and Health Guidelines. No. 12. Rome.
Frankham, Dick; Ballou, Jon; Briscoe, David (2011). Introduction to Conservation Genetics. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. pp. 430–471. ISBN 978-0-521-70271-3.
"A northern white rhino has died. There are now five left in the entire world". The Washington Post. 15 December 2014.
"California Condor - San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants". Animals.sandiegozoo.org.
BirdLife International (2007) Species factsheet: California Condor Gymnogyps californianus. Retrieved August 17, 2007
Church, ME; Gwiazda, R; Risebrough, RW; Sorenson, K; Chamberlain, CP; Farry, S; Heinrich, W; Rideout, BA; Smith, DR (2006). "Ammunition is the Principal Source of Lead Accumulated by California Condors Re-Introduced to the Wild". Environmental Science & Technology. 40 (19): 6143–50. doi:10.1021/es060765s. PMID 17051813.
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