Zoos, genetics and conservation Flashcards
Where and when was the oldest animal collection? What was the purpose?
Saqqarah, Egypt, 4500 years before present.
Here sacred animals (ibis, crocodile, falcons) were bred – in order to be killed and their embalmed remains stored in underground tombs.
When did public zoos become available?
In Victorian times
What were Victorian zoos like?
These Victorian zoos were pleasure gardens, with animals sometimes available for poking with sticks. They were simply a drain on wild populations – little successful breeding.
Who was the most famous Victorian collector?
Carl Hagenbeck, but the capture methods were often brutal. (1 baby gorilla = 10 dead adults).
Who introduced the idea that zoos should aim to conserve endangered species?
Gerald Durrell
What does DICE stand for and where is it based?
Durrell Institute for Conservation Ecology.
It is based at Kent university and offers degrees in conservation management and ectourism
What does CITES stand for? What does Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 of CITES mean?
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
Appendix 1 - no trade allowed.
Appendix 2 - strictly controlled trade.
Name three species that are now CITES Appendix 1 due to massive over-harvesting causing population collapse.
As of September 2016, grey parrots, pangolins and Barbary macaques are now CITES Appendix 1due to massive over-harvesting causing population collapse
Why does upgrading a species from Appendix 2 to Appendix 1 sometimes endanger it further?
The upgrade tells everyone that the species is getting scarcer, so its value goes up. CITES upgrades should therefore FOLLOW improved protection measures.
Which species was the first to go extinct outside of captivity?
Pere David’s deer (though this salvation was unplanned)
Which species was first to be deliberately saved by zoos? Why did they go into decline?
The Arabian oryx
It was traditionally hunted by the Bedouin as a test of manhood. This was OK in the days of bows and spears, but when they started using fleets of landrovers with mounted machine guns, the species numbers went into serious decline.
They are now widely held in world zoos and are being reintroduced in Oman
What happened to the Arabian oryx sanctuary in Oman?
The Arabian oryx sanctuary in Oman is the first world heritage site to be delisted by UNESCO, after 90% was opened for oil exploration and its oryx declined from 450 animals to (at last count) 4 breeding pairs.
Why did Californian condor populations decrease?
Bison were nearly exterminated (to starve native americans), reducing condor populations drastically.
By _____ the Californian condor was down to ____ birds in the wild
decision was made to capture the entire wild population, the last bird was taken in _____
By the mid 1980s the species was confined to the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, and down to 5 birds in the wild (24 in zoos by then).
decision was made to capture the entire wild population, the last bird was taken in 1987
Californian condors bred well in zoos and by 1992 the population was ______
These birds bred well in zoos, by 1992 population was > 60, and decision was made to re-introduce them.
How successful has the reintroduction of Californian condors been?
Some have successfully returned to the wild around the Grand Canyon, but others (in the Sespe corridor) hit power lines, or drink antifreeze.
Young birds who settle in the Sespe area are re-captured, but some have settled in safer wilder country – they may make it!
Why were Przewalkski’s horses suffering a population decline? Describe their reintroduction.
The problem here was humans with guns, also mines by water holes. The last herd was seen in 1967, last animal 1969. We had a captive popn based on 15 captured in 1901 by Carl Hagenbeck, and there is a re-introduction programme in Mongolia, said to be c. 250 in 2005.
