Biodiversity Outside of the Original Habitat
While the importance of in situ conservation cannot be overemphasized, ex situ conservation in zoos, aquaria, botanic gardens, and germplasm banks both compliments in situ techniques and serves many other purposes–among them, maintaining viable populations of species threatened in the wild, providing educational and public awareness services, and serving as sites for basic and applied research. Moreover, in some regions the threats to species survival are so severe that no hope exists for their long-term in situ maintenance.
Zoological Parks
There are roughly 500,000 mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians in captivity in zoos throughout the world. Zoos contribute in many ways to the conservation of biodiversity. They propagate and reintroduce endangered species, they serve as centers for research to improve management of captive and wild populations, and they raise public awareness of biotic impoverishment.
The contributions that zoos have already made to the conservation of biodiversity are dramatic. Zoo populations are now the only representatives of several species, including the California condor (Cymnogyps californianus) and possibly the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), and at least 18 species have been reintroduced into the wild after captive propagation.
In at least six cases–Pere David deer (Elaphurus davidianus), Przewalski horse (Equus przewalski), red wolf (Canis rufus), Arabian oryx (Oryx leucorx), American Bison (Bison bison), Guam kingfisher (Halcyon cinnamomina cinnamomina), and Guam rail (Rallus owstoni)–the species were extinct in the wild at the time of reintroduction–extinct for some 800 years in the case of the Pere David deer! Numerous other species not completely lost from the wild, such as the
Because the world stands to lose a higher proportion of large vertebrates than other taxa, some disproportionate expenditure on their conservation is justified. Consider too that large vertebrates often get the public interested in general in protecting habitats–with all of their attendant species.
Still, the expense of propagating large vertebrates in captivity can be considerable, and the same investment in in situ conservation could maintain a much larger number of smaller species of invertebrates and plants. The question here is whether public financial support for less “glamorous” species would even come close to that obtained for the large vertebrates.
The potential contribution of zoos to conserving species and genetic diversity could be enhanced considerably if more research on captive propagation and reintroduction techniques were carried out. Right now, zoos’ success in maintaining populations of endangered species is limited. Only 26 of 274 species of rare mammals in captivity are maintaining self-sustaining populations.
Fortunately, this state of affairs can improve. Ongoing research has already led to significant advances in technologies for captive propagation, including artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and the genetic management of small captive populations. Germplasm storage techniques, including long-term storage of embryos, have also improved considerably Embryo transfer, in particular, has a tremendous potential for use in captive propagation since it allows the introduction of new bloodlines into captive populations without transporting adults–and any diseases they might carry–between zoos or between wild populations and zoos. Long-term cryogenic storage of embryos has become almost routine for some species–including the mouse, rabbit, and cow–but the technology is only beginning to be experimentally applied to captive species in zoos.
Biodiversity Outside of the Original Habitat
While the importance of in situ conservation cannot be overemphasized, ex situ conservation in zoos, aquaria, botanic gardens, and germplasm banks both compliments in situ techniques and serves many other purposes–among them, maintaining viable populations of species threatened in the wild, providing educational and public awareness services, and serving as sites for basic and applied research. Moreover, in some regions the threats to species survival are so severe that no hope exists for their long-term in situ maintenance.
Zoological Parks
There are roughly 500,000 mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians in captivity in zoos throughout the world. Zoos contribute in many ways to the conservation of biodiversity. They propagate and reintroduce endangered species, they serve as centers for research to improve management of captive and wild populations, and they raise public awareness of biotic impoverishment.
The contributions that zoos have already made to the conservation of biodiversity are dramatic. Zoo populations are now the only representatives of several species, including the California condor (Cymnogyps californianus) and possibly the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), and at least 18 species have been reintroduced into the wild after captive propagation.
In at least six cases–Pere David deer (Elaphurus davidianus), Przewalski horse (Equus przewalski), red wolf (Canis rufus), Arabian oryx (Oryx leucorx), American Bison (Bison bison), Guam kingfisher (Halcyon cinnamomina cinnamomina), and Guam rail (Rallus owstoni)–the species were extinct in the wild at the time of reintroduction–extinct for some 800 years in the case of the Pere David deer! Numerous other species not completely lost from the wild, such as the
Because the world stands to lose a higher proportion of large vertebrates than other taxa, some disproportionate expenditure on their conservation is justified. Consider too that large vertebrates often get the public interested in general in protecting habitats–with all of their attendant species.
Still, the expense of propagating large vertebrates in captivity can be considerable, and the same investment in in situ conservation could maintain a much larger number of smaller species of invertebrates and plants. The question here is whether public financial support for less “glamorous” species would even come close to that obtained for the large vertebrates.
The potential contribution of zoos to conserving species and genetic diversity could be enhanced considerably if more research on captive propagation and reintroduction techniques were carried out. Right now, zoos’ success in maintaining populations of endangered species is limited. Only 26 of 274 species of rare mammals in captivity are maintaining self-sustaining populations.
Fortunately, this state of affairs can improve. Ongoing research has already led to significant advances in technologies for captive propagation, including artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and the genetic management of small captive populations. Germplasm storage techniques, including long-term storage of embryos, have also improved considerably Embryo transfer, in particular, has a tremendous potential for use in captive propagation since it allows the introduction of new bloodlines into captive populations without transporting adults–and any diseases they might carry–between zoos or between wild populations and zoos. Long-term cryogenic storage of embryos has become almost routine for some species–including the mouse, rabbit, and cow–but the technology is only beginning to be experimentally applied to captive species in zoos.
While the importance of in situ conservation cannot be overemphasized, ex situ conservation in zoos, aquaria, botanic gardens, and germplasm banks both compliments in situ techniques and serves many other purposes–among them, maintaining viable populations of species threatened in the wild, providing educational and public awareness services, and serving as sites for basic and applied research. Moreover, in some regions the threats to species survival are so severe that no hope exists for their long-term in situ maintenance.
Zoological Parks
There are roughly 500,000 mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians in captivity in zoos throughout the world. Zoos contribute in many ways to the conservation of biodiversity. They propagate and reintroduce endangered species, they serve as centers for research to improve management of captive and wild populations, and they raise public awareness of biotic impoverishment.
The contributions that zoos have already made to the conservation of biodiversity are dramatic. Zoo populations are now the only representatives of several species, including the California condor (Cymnogyps californianus) and possibly the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), and at least 18 species have been reintroduced into the wild after captive propagation.
In at least six cases–Pere David deer (Elaphurus davidianus), Przewalski horse (Equus przewalski), red wolf (Canis rufus), Arabian oryx (Oryx leucorx), American Bison (Bison bison), Guam kingfisher (Halcyon cinnamomina cinnamomina), and Guam rail (Rallus owstoni)–the species were extinct in the wild at the time of reintroduction–extinct for some 800 years in the case of the Pere David deer! Numerous other species not completely lost from the wild, such as the
Because the world stands to lose a higher proportion of large vertebrates than other taxa, some disproportionate expenditure on their conservation is justified. Consider too that large vertebrates often get the public interested in general in protecting habitats–with all of their attendant species.
Still, the expense of propagating large vertebrates in captivity can be considerable, and the same investment in in situ conservation could maintain a much larger number of smaller species of invertebrates and plants. The question here is whether public financial support for less “glamorous” species would even come close to that obtained for the large vertebrates.
The potential contribution of zoos to conserving species and genetic diversity could be enhanced considerably if more research on captive propagation and reintroduction techniques were carried out. Right now, zoos’ success in maintaining populations of endangered species is limited. Only 26 of 274 species of rare mammals in captivity are maintaining self-sustaining populations.
Fortunately, this state of affairs can improve. Ongoing research has already led to significant advances in technologies for captive propagation, including artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and the genetic management of small captive populations. Germplasm storage techniques, including long-term storage of embryos, have also improved considerably Embryo transfer, in particular, has a tremendous potential for use in captive propagation since it allows the introduction of new bloodlines into captive populations without transporting adults–and any diseases they might carry–between zoos or between wild populations and zoos. Long-term cryogenic storage of embryos has become almost routine for some species–including the mouse, rabbit, and cow–but the technology is only beginning to be experimentally applied to captive species in zoos.
Biodiversity Outside of the Original Habitat
While the importance of in situ conservation cannot be overemphasized, ex situ conservation in zoos, aquaria, botanic gardens, and germplasm banks both compliments in situ techniques and serves many other purposes–among them, maintaining viable populations of species threatened in the wild, providing educational and public awareness services, and serving as sites for basic and applied research. Moreover, in some regions the threats to species survival are so severe that no hope exists for their long-term in situ maintenance.
Zoological Parks
There are roughly 500,000 mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians in captivity in zoos throughout the world. Zoos contribute in many ways to the conservation of biodiversity. They propagate and reintroduce endangered species, they serve as centers for research to improve management of captive and wild populations, and they raise public awareness of biotic impoverishment.
The contributions that zoos have already made to the conservation of biodiversity are dramatic. Zoo populations are now the only representatives of several species, including the California condor (Cymnogyps californianus) and possibly the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), and at least 18 species have been reintroduced into the wild after captive propagation.
In at least six cases–Pere David deer (Elaphurus davidianus), Przewalski horse (Equus przewalski), red wolf (Canis rufus), Arabian oryx (Oryx leucorx), American Bison (Bison bison), Guam kingfisher (Halcyon cinnamomina cinnamomina), and Guam rail (Rallus owstoni)–the species were extinct in the wild at the time of reintroduction–extinct for some 800 years in the case of the Pere David deer! Numerous other species not completely lost from the wild, such as the
Because the world stands to lose a higher proportion of large vertebrates than other taxa, some disproportionate expenditure on their conservation is justified. Consider too that large vertebrates often get the public interested in general in protecting habitats–with all of their attendant species.
Still, the expense of propagating large vertebrates in captivity can be considerable, and the same investment in in situ conservation could maintain a much larger number of smaller species of invertebrates and plants. The question here is whether public financial support for less “glamorous” species would even come close to that obtained for the large vertebrates.
The potential contribution of zoos to conserving species and genetic diversity could be enhanced considerably if more research on captive propagation and reintroduction techniques were carried out. Right now, zoos’ success in maintaining populations of endangered species is limited. Only 26 of 274 species of rare mammals in captivity are maintaining self-sustaining populations.
Fortunately, this state of affairs can improve. Ongoing research has already led to significant advances in technologies for captive propagation, including artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and the genetic management of small captive populations. Germplasm storage techniques, including long-term storage of embryos, have also improved considerably Embryo transfer, in particular, has a tremendous potential for use in captive propagation since it allows the introduction of new bloodlines into captive populations without transporting adults–and any diseases they might carry–between zoos or between wild populations and zoos. Long-term cryogenic storage of embryos has become almost routine for some species–including the mouse, rabbit, and cow–but the technology is only beginning to be experimentally applied to captive species in zoos.
