European conservation breeding program
The European Conservation Breeding Programs ( EEP ) are a cross-zoo project for the targeted and coordinated breeding of animal species kept in zoos . The original goal was to preserve these animal species with sufficient genetic diversity in the zoos without further acquisition of wild animals. Since the 1990s, the focus shifted more and more to the preservation of the extinction of endangered species of wildlife conservation -Gründen.
The EEP are one of the main activities of the European zoo association EAZA , which thus followed the example of the American zoo association AZA. The first projects were started in 1985. In addition to zoos, in individual cases and under certain conditions private individuals and other institutions such as universities or national parks can join the conservation breeding programs.
As part of the EEP, each species is looked after by a zoo: the local coordinator keeps the population's studbook . He gives recommendations for mating individual animals in order to maintain an optimal gene pool . The coordinator also determines which animals may not be brought together because of the risk of inbreeding . He can also put together new groups and organize exchanges between the breeders involved. The EQE coordinators meet annually at the EAZA annual meeting, give reports and receive professional advice. EEPs are proposed by the Taxon Advisory Groups (specialists for a group of animals) of EAZA, confirmed and monitored by the EEP Committee.
There are currently over 150 EEP. Most of them take care of the conservation of mammals , but birds , amphibians , reptiles , fish and invertebrates are also bred. The European Studbook Programs (ESB) of the EAZA are distinguished as a less intensive variant of an EEP . Another 140 animal species are being bred in a coordinated manner within the framework of the ESB.
In the best case, an EEP leads to a healthy, self-sustaining population in the zoo and additional animals to be released back into the wild to support or rebuild the wild populations.
Conservation breeding and veterinary medicine
Disease protection is of particular importance when keeping endangered animals . If only a few specimens of a species or breed are left, a disease can completely destroy the population. A weakening of the total stock can also lead to the fact that under certain circumstances no successful breeding can be maintained with the remaining animals. It is therefore necessary to spread the specimens of threatened species as widely as possible and pass them on to other zoos. The breeding program can be maintained through modern transport options and artificial insemination . Surrendering specimens to private individuals can also be a valuable help under certain circumstances and is carried out in particular for breeds of domestic animals that are dying out, which are easy to keep under normal agricultural conditions.
literature
- Gunther Nogge : Arche Zoo: From animal trapping to conservation breeding programs. In: Dieter Poley (ed.): Reports from the Arche. TRIAS Thieme Hippokrates Enke, Stuttgart 1993, ISBN 3-89373-217-9
- Colin Tudge : Zoo Last Refuge. Conservation of threatened species in zoological gardens. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg 1993, ISBN 3-86025-201-1 (Original title: Last animals in the zoo - How mass extinction can be stopped.)