History of Jersey Zoo & Durrell Trust ex-situ / in-situ conservation efforts.
- Thread starter Onychorhynchus coronatus
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Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Not sure if this has already been posted somewhere on the forum but will share anyway.
Here is an article / video (with historic footage) about expanding the existing breeding programe and a new effort for the livingstone's fruitbat which involves replicating the bat roost at Jersey within the Comorros:
Jersey Zoo plans to replicate bat roost overseas | ITV News
Here is an article / video (with historic footage) about expanding the existing breeding programe and a new effort for the livingstone's fruitbat which involves replicating the bat roost at Jersey within the Comorros:
Jersey Zoo plans to replicate bat roost overseas | ITV News
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Jersey zoo should be the "poster zoo" as to why all good zoos should exist today against the anti zoo lobby and AR groups!
Yes, I definitely agree with you on that @Zorro, well said !
Jersey zoo should be the "poster zoo" as to why all good zoos should exist today against the anti zoo lobby and AR groups!
They have had problems with Anti zoo people. If I remember correctly, they had a visitor centre burned down by anti zoo people because they 'exploit weird animals'. So even Jersey doesn't make them happy
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
They had a visitor center burned down ?
Are you sure that you are talking about Jersey zoo and not some other one ?
When and where did this happen exactly ?
I think it was in 1994, and the entrance and shop was burnt down by someone who had psychiatric problems and not an animal rights person.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that @Carl Jones !
Very sad indeed but I have to say I thought it was a bit of an extreme action even for an animal rights activist so it does make sense that it would be someone who was unwell in that way.
Do you know if there were any animals that died in the fire ?
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To clarify here...the only imports Jersey have received in recent years from the US were the two males from Denver, only one of whom still survives today (he’s their main breeding male).
Provided things haven’t changed too much, the zoo’s current population consists of two of their original males Alain and Patrice, the Denver male Pan, Berlin’s last female Zanvie (who was born at Jersey herself), Edinburgh’s former female Vassago (Paris-born), Ueno-born female Ala, and three young; Ala’s sons Matoky and Marary Kenatra, and Zanvie’s daughter Mifaly. Duke do not have any surplus as of right now, though I imagine there will be some exchanges between the US and Europe in the future to continue the genetic variation in both programmes.
Back to lurking I go...
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Its amazing that "Alain" and "Patrice" are still going strong after all these years, they are ancient!
Apologies if this has already been shared but I recently found a video from around 2020 giving an update on Jersey's Black Lion Tamarins. It discusses that they were hoping their main breeding female was pregnant again at the time of recording. This follows the recent birth of one individual and the twins before that. They had to handrear the twins for a period of time but fortunately the group raised her most recent offspring. They have another male-female pair that were being introduced at the time of the video.
Jersey are also in the process of organising another import of Black Lion Tamarins to pair the remaining two females they have. They hope to then create new pairs of Black Lion Tamarins for Chester Zoo, UK and Apenheul, Netherlands. Fingers crossed everything goes well for them.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
I don't remember seeing this or if I did then I had since forgotten about it so thanks for sharing @WhistlingKite24 !
Within Brazil there are currently BLTs being sent to zoos across the country from the SP zoo and the Jersey tamarins will most likely be sourced from there.
I do hope that Dominic is right and that they can be successfully established by other zoos on the European continent and in the UK as he is right that they do desperately need to be managed ex-situ across several institutions.
Ultimately I am an optimist but even with improvements in husbandry I don't think this species will ever be as easily kept and bred by zoos as the GLT or the GHLT but I do hope that it is possible and it goes without saying that it is totally worth the challenge.
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It would be nice if Adelaide zoo could also hop on the band wagon again they are well suited to a small zoo with a warm climate!
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
I agree, it would be great if that could happen.
Adelaide have kept the species before and there have been importance advances in the husbandry of the species in captivity in the time since they last had them so this time around things could work out better.
That said, I think that a number of zoos may be put off the idea of having the BLT due to it being such a sensitive and challenging species in a way that the GLT and the GHLT are not.
I agree time has moved on since then, now with updated husbandry!
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Yes, it could work now and fingers crossed, but I do wonder whether there would be a reluctance on their part due to the difficulties they encountered before.
I believe it unlikely but more due to our zoos appear wanting to reduce the number of species held rather than anything else!
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
So the same phenomena of reducing species held is not only in Europe and the USA but also happening at Australian zoos ?
It appears to be the case but we are more restricted in what we can import here than most so apart from native species the exotics held were not that many compared to overseas zoos!
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
So it seems like it is a doubly difficult situation with zoos in Australia but then again I do think there is an opportunity there for greater emphasis on conserving native species.