ex situ conservation

Question 1

what is ex situ conservation?

Answer 1

working outside of an animal/plants natural habitat. for example: zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens and biobanks.

Question 2

what needs to be used to prioritise space within a zoo?

Answer 2

collection plans

Question 3

what is a collection plan?

Answer 3

a plan that defines which species a zoo would like to care for, how they are displayed and how they will be used for future acquisitions or dispositions

Question 4

why will zoo managers use collection plans?

Answer 4

• to see what species are held in the collection
• the species’ role within the collection e.g. breeding, public demands
• the space/money needed for enclosures

Question 5

why do zoos and aquariums partake in captive breeding?

Answer 5

to act as an insurance population

Question 6

what is an insurance population?

Answer 6

in case a species goes extinct in the wild or for reintroduction to the wild

Question 7

two examples of collaborative breeding efforts

Answer 7

• ESB’s: european studbooks
• EEP’s: EAZA ex situ programme

Question 8

considerations for choosing a species for the collection plans

Answer 8

• the reason to hold the species (any of the 4 roles)
• is it a recommended species according to the regional collection plan
• does legislation allow you to keep or import it
• can you breed it in captivity