Managing Species In Captivity

Question 1

What is ex situ conservation?

Answer 1

The process of protecting an endangered species, variety or breed, of plant or animal outside its natural habitat

Question 2

What are the 4 decision criteria leading to captive breeding?

Answer 2

1. Population in near the minimum viable population
2. The population is declining despite action
3. No population within a protected area
4. Saving extinct in the wild species

Question 3

How many species have been described out of an estimated 7.4-10 million species?

Answer 3

1.7 million

Question 4

Give an example of a species that’s critically endangered but is not within a protected area?

Answer 4

Handley’s slender mouse opossum

Question 5

What are the role of zoos?

Answer 5

They keep species that are at risk from extinction alive

They do and fund research

They educate through visitor engagement

They spend $350 million on conservation each night

Question 6

What are the drawbacks of zoos?

Answer 6

They’re selective in what they keep- focus on larger animals

Limited resource availability

Problems of husbandry

Adaptation to captivity

Susceptibility to disease

Question 7

How many individuals and species does a botanical garden contain?

Answer 7

4 million individuals in 80,000 species (30% of all known)

Question 8

What is the most intensive type of management for kept species?

Answer 8

European endangered species programme (EEP)

Question 9

What is the medium and low intensity management of kept species?

Answer 9

Medium= European studbook

Low= monitoring (MON-P or MON-T)