Are These in Captivity?

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As others have stated, there is little native European fauna in American zoos because of lack of interest, and a concerted effort to focus on other, more endangered species in more exotic locales. But I would really love to see Iberian lynxes in US zoos someday. They are critically endangered and, while conservation efforts in Spain have proven moderately successful, there are not enough resources, financial or otherwise, over there to run a robust, sustainable breeding program. They would very much benefit from ex situ conservationn efforts in the US, Canada, and/or Mexico.
 
Onychorhynchus coronatus said:
Yes, I think I agree about that European alternative point. Incidentally, why are European mink not being kept by more zoos ?
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They have night activity and in average zoo exhibit, they are simply invisible. Few my local zoos tried with them over the years, but they were no-shows, created zero interest from visitors (despite nice colorful boards explaining how rare etc they are) and so they dissappeared again, or got moved to off-show area.

If you know that Czech zoo curators have a soft spot for small brown nocturnal beeings and yet they gave up on them, it shows how unsuitable for exhibits they are.
 
Are there any Atlantic Puffins in captivity? I only heard of Tufted and Horned Puffins being held.
 
Jana said:
They have night activity and in average zoo exhibit, they are simply invisible. Few my local zoos tried with them over the years, but they were no-shows, created zero interest from visitors (despite nice colorful boards explaining how rare etc they are) and so they dissappeared again, or got moved to off-show area.

If you know that Czech zoo curators have a soft spot for small brown nocturnal beeings and yet they gave up on them, it shows how unsuitable for exhibits they are.
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Good on the Czech zoos for trying to hold this species ex-situ, I commend them for that and I'm not going to bash them for trying.

However, this sort of situation highlights why I and others feel so conflicted about zoos and their involvement in ex-situ conservation.

I know exhibiting animals to the public is an important consideration but making this the central focus leads to species like meerkats being kept by every zoo despite them really not needing to be there.

Meanwhile there are species that do urgently require captive breeding programes like the European mink which are just not getting these.
 
EternalPigeon said:
Are there any Atlantic Puffins in captivity? I only heard of Tufted and Horned Puffins being held.
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In Europe they are the main species kept, with roughly 100 birds in 11 zoos.

Onychorhynchus coronatus said:
Good on the Czech zoos for trying to hold this species ex-situ, I commend them for that and I'm not going to bash them for trying.

However, this sort of situation highlights why I and others feel so conflicted about zoos and their involvement in ex-situ conservation.

I know exhibiting animals to the public is an important consideration but making this the central focus leads to species like meerkats being kept by every zoo despite them really not needing to be there.

Meanwhile there are species that do urgently require captive breeding programes like the European mink which are just not getting these.
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Actually European mink are kept in roughly 50 zoos. Tallinn also has a quite large population and breeding centre (according to ZTL they keep over 100 minks). Still in the long term I believe that the 30 spaces used for American mink could be used better to preserve a larger ex-situ population and gene pool of European mink for reintroduction purposes. Besides American mink are an invasive species with little to none conservation value and very little added educational value (after all there is the European mink). With the decline in mink farms the current European population also won't be able to remain genetically viable for very long, so I believe a phase-out is appropriate.
 
Jarne said:
Actually European mink are kept in roughly 50 zoos. Tallinn also has a quite large population and breeding centre (according to ZTL they keep over 100 minks). Still in the long term I believe that the 30 spaces used for American mink could be used better to preserve a larger ex-situ population and gene pool of European mink for reintroduction purposes.
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Well that is a lot more than I expected there to be and quite encouraging actually.

I agree that those 30 spaces for American mink could be far better used for the European species.
 
Especially when looking at the factors after my edit, I believe that a phase-out is appropriate. Those same spots might also be used for other large European mustelids like stone and pine marten. Or other species like Siberian weasel.
 
Jarne said:
Does anyone know wether there are any hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) in captivity outside of Europe?
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Anyone knows this by the way? I'm interested wether it's possible or not for Europe to import new blood as there are a few keepers but probably a limited founder population.
 
Jarne said:
Yes, to replace them by Eurasian species of mustelids for educational and conservation purposes.
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Yes, I think this would be a good idea, though I am wondering whether in some zoos and particularly those whose theme / focus is Eurasian fauna the American mink could be a good educational animal for environmental education ?
 
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