Conservation breeding
Conservation breeding is a complicated business. Zoos aim to maintain the genetic variety within a species so that when the species is eventually reintroduced it is substantially the same as the original wild population. Studbooks are therefore complemented by veterinary/genetic databases.
Occasionally it is necessary to take animals from the wild as part of the conservation strategy for that species. For example, when there is only a small wild population that is only found in one or two places that may be subject to human and natural disasters, e.g. Golden lion Tamarins of the Atlantic Coastal rainforests, South America or Livingstone’s flying fox (fruit bat) of the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean. Field research, habitat conservation and education programmes are also implemented in such cases.
A more recent development has been the introduction of ‘biomaterial banking.’ In a bid to safeguard the future of wild animals and plants zoologists and botanists have been developing seed banks and taking genetic material from wild animals to store in a frozen state indefinitely. If or when the species becomes extinct in the wild there is then a possibility of using the banks to repopulate wild habitats when they become viable.
Reintroduction to the wild
Reintroducing animals to the wild is the ultimate aim of some captive breeding programmes. However, for reintroduction to be successful a fine balance needs to be struck between ensuring that the habitat will be protected, and that local people will benefit from conservation measures, not just lose valuable grazing land or resources to wildlife refuges that then become off limits to them.
In addition, extensive research must be conducted to ascertain if the habitat is still suitable and reintroduced animals will need regular and long term monitoring to ascertain the success of the project.
An example of a successful reintroduction programme is that for the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx).
1960 Arabian oryx found wild in Oman in the Middle East. Previous accounts show their range as extending across the Middle East. A few animals held in zoos and by sheikhs in Gulf states. Oryx numbers already in decline due largely to hunting for food and sport.
1960 Wild population estimated at 100-200 animals.
1962 Three oryx caught by a British conservation organisation on expedition. The captured animals joined others in Phoenix Zoo in USA. These formed the basis of the world captive herd and a captive breeding programme was initiated.
1972 Arabian oryx hunted to extinction in the wild. World captive herd breeding well at Phoenix Zoo. Other herds established at San Diego and Los Angeles Zoos.
1978 Small group of oryx reintroduced into a reserve in Jordan.
1980 – 82 18 oryx released at Yalooni in Oman: initially into a small enclosure, from which they are moved into a larger enclosure and ultimately into a wildlife reserve.
1984 Second herd released in Oman.
1994 Herds now established in Jordan, Oman, Israel and Saudi Arabia and being managed and monitored in the wild.
*SPECIES SAVED FROM EXTINCTION THROUGH CAPTIVE BREEDING*
