The zoo has published a long FAQ (in German) about the subject here:
tiergarten.nuernberg.de: Populationsmanagement: Häufige Fragen
The FAQ, translated into English.
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Why does the zoo keep Guinea baboons?
The Nuremberg Zoo is currently the only zoo in Germany that keeps Guinea baboons. A total of 278 animals of this species live in zoos run by the European Zoo Association (EAZA). In the medium term, EAZA zoos are required to increase the housing options for Guinea baboons - because the species is coming under increasing pressure in the wild.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), to which the Nuremberg Zoo belongs, classifies Guinea baboons as potentially endangered. In the past 30 years the population has probably already decreased by 20 percent. Reasons for the decline include loss of habitat and human predation.
The Nuremberg Zoo would like to stick to this attitude. It serves the survival of the species that a population is maintained under human care that can form the basis for releases into the wild when there are protected and suitable spaces at some point.
Since when has the zoo kept Guinea baboons?
The zoo has been keeping Guinea baboons since 1942.
How many Guinea baboons are there in zoos?
A total of 278 animals currently live in just ten zoos of the European Zoo Association (EAZA), including 45 animals in Nuremberg. The Nuremberg Zoo is currently the only zoo in Germany that keeps Guinea baboons. He wants to continue the keeping in collaboration with EAZA in order to contribute to the conservation of the species.
Why does the Nuremberg Zoo have to reduce the size of its baboon group?
The Nuremberg Zoo breeds its baboons as part of the European Conservation Breeding Program (EAZA ex-Situ Program, EEP). The breeding of EEP species is managed centrally by a coordinator based on scientific criteria. The goal is to maintain populations that are as genetically diverse as possible.
For this purpose, the participating institutions exchange animals on the recommendation of the coordinator, they breed young animals or pause breeding. In many species, litter sizes and sex ratios of young animals cannot be predicted - it is unavoidable that young animals are born that cannot be used for breeding.
In the Nuremberg Zoo, the baboon group has reached a size for which the facility, which was expanded in 2009, was not designed. The side effect of overpopulation is increased conflicts with corresponding injuries to the animals. The conflicts within the baboon group are expressed, for example, through bite injuries.
These conflicts are generally not unusual for baboons and also occur in nature, but not as frequently as in the group in the zoo.
What are the basic options for reducing the size of the group?
Since 2011, an interdisciplinary animal protection commission (consisting of the management, the curator, the zoo veterinarians, the inspectors, the district management, animal carers and the official veterinarian) has examined all options and taken measures to reduce the group size and growth of the group.
The following six alternatives, some of which were not successful and some of which have not yet been used, were considered:
• Release to other zoos
• International animal brokers
• Release into the wild
• Mercy accommodation/sanctuaries
• Contraception/reversible infertility
• Sterilization and castration/irreversible infertility
• The animal welfare-compliant killing of surplus baboons
Can't the zoo give animals to other zoos?
Animals that are managed within an EEP are primarily placed by the coordinator and based on their recommendations. If the EEP cannot help or the animals do not belong to an EEP, the zoo offers its surplus animals to all institutions that have access to the zoo animal database ZIMS/Species360.
These approximately 1,300 institutions are predominantly the accredited zoos of the VdZ (Association of Zoological Gardens), the EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria), the EARAZA (Eurasian Zoo Association) or the WAZA (World Association of Zoos and Aquariums). .
In addition, the zoo sends its drop-off and search lists directly to around 200 partner zoos in Europe, including zoos that are considered good and do not belong to any of the associations mentioned. In the case of baboons, only two zoos have added 16 animals to their inventory since 2011. Despite various attempts, no further delivery options have emerged in recent years.
Which drop-off options other than zoos has the Nuremberg Zoo examined?
Some (e.g. Arabic and Chinese) institutions cannot be reached via the associations and databases of which Nuremberg Zoo is a part. In order to examine these options, international animal brokers and transporters are asked whether they can place the animals.
If interest is expressed by zoos that are not organized in an association, it must first be clarified whether the keeping conditions and operational structures are suitable. If the facilities do not meet the minimum standards required by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture's mammal report, the animals will not be released there.
But even facilities of untested quality have shown no interest in taking over Guinea baboons in recent years (since September 2020).
Why doesn't the zoo give the baboons to a sanctuary?
Only facilities in which the animals can live integrated into a social group are considered for the zoo. The only large animal welfare facility that takes in primates until they can be placed with another owner is currently struggling with a “waiting list” of 200 confiscated animals. The zoo also asked there.
Can Guinea baboons not be released into the wild?
The goal of keeping all animal species threatened with extinction in zoos is to return them to suitable habitats. Releases are subject to strict rules drawn up by the IUCN. As a member of the IUCN, the zoo adheres to these rules when releasing ibexes, lynxes, ground squirrels, northern owls, northern bald ibises, bearded vultures, pond turtles, etc.).
There is currently no question of releasing Guinea baboons into the wild because there are no suitable areas in the areas of origin where they could be settled and where they could live safely. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has been observing a decline in natural populations for decades.
They live in an area that extends across Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Mali. Their habitats are coming under increasing pressure: for example, Senegal's Niokolo-Koba National Park, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List in Danger since 2007.
Reintroduction projects have to be prepared in a time-consuming manner and then the project has to be coordinated and scientifically monitored over many years. A release project for Guinea baboons does not currently exist and is not planned for the reasons mentioned above, which is why the zoo cannot release any baboons into the wild at the moment.
If Guinea baboons cannot currently be released into the wild, why are they kept at all?
A population kept in human care can form the basis for releases into the wild if there are protected and suitable spaces at some point. The attitude therefore serves to secure and survive the species.
Can't the group size be kept stable through contraception?
Attempts to keep the group structure and size stable by temporarily preventing females while at the same time reducing the group growth rate have not had the desired effect. Because the females remained permanently infertile. The zoo has therefore not provided contraception to any of the female Guinea baboon since 2018.
Contraception for males, which would only be possible through sterilization, makes no sense since only one fertile male could cover all females.
The fact that animals can reproduce is not only important for genetic and health reasons: partner choice, mating, births and rearing play a crucial role in the animals' social life. The zoo wants to make all of these aspects possible for its Guinea baboons and sees itself as having a responsibility to maintain a socially functioning, healthy, diverse and reproductive group.
Why doesn't the zoo sterilize all the animals?
Irreversible infertility of animals in the long term is only possible if the population is to die out. Since the population of Guinea baboons in the wild has been decreasing for decades and zoological gardens are required to build up a reserve population on the recommendation of the EAZA, this is not possible in this case.
Why doesn't the zoo stop breeding Guinea baboons?
Zoos are legally obliged to protect species and contribute to the preservation of biodiversity. Their tasks include maintaining stable and healthy populations of various species. The Nuremberg Zoo is currently the only zoo in Germany that keeps Guinea baboons.
A total of 278 animals of this species live in zoos run by the European Zoo Association (EAZA). In the medium term, EAZA zoos are required to increase the housing options for Guinea baboons - because the species is coming under increasing pressure in the wild.
In the past 30 years the population has probably already decreased by 20 percent. The Nuremberg Zoo would like to stick to this attitude. It serves the survival of the species that a population is maintained under human care that can form the basis for releases into the wild when there are protected and suitable spaces at some point.
Can't the enclosure be enlarged?
The baboon enclosure with the associated indoor enclosure was significantly expanded and redesigned in 2009, which also improved the keeping conditions. A further expansion of the system is neither possible nor sensible. She would just postpone the question of how to deal with the limited space.
Why did the zoo allow such a large group of baboons in the first place?
Since 2011, an interdisciplinary animal protection commission (consisting of the management, the curator, the zoo veterinarians, the inspectors, the district management, animal carers and the official veterinarian) has examined all options and taken measures to reduce the group size and growth of the group.
Attempts to keep the group structure and size stable by temporarily preventing females while at the same time reducing the group growth rate have not had the desired effect. Because the females remained permanently infertile.
Contraception for males, which would only be possible through sterilization, makes no sense since only one fertile male could cover all females. There were only a few options for handing over to other suitable facilities, so the group could not be significantly reduced.
The fact that animals can reproduce is important for genetic and health reasons as well as for the social life of the animals. The zoo sees itself as having a responsibility to maintain a socially functioning, healthy, diverse and reproductive group.
How many animals have to be killed?
There is no fixed target size. The zoo wants to gradually reduce the number of baboons. After each removal, we first observe whether and how the situation changes. The next steps will then be discussed within the animal welfare commission.
When will the baboons be killed?
That's not decided yet.
How are the baboons killed?
Basically there are different methods. It is not yet clear which ones will be used, but they will comply with the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act.
Are the baboons fed to other zoo animals?
Whether the baboons are fed to predators in the zoo is always decided on a case-by-case basis. However, as with all animals, the zoo strives to use the animal carcass respectfully wherever possible.
What are the research purposes that Bayerischer Rundfunk reports on?
As with all animals, the zoo strives to use dead animals as respectfully and sensibly as possible. In addition to feeding the muscle meat, many tissue samples are very valuable for scientific purposes. Some samples come from organs that are not fed. Many of these could not be obtained from wild animals, for example for logistical and species protection reasons.
How is it decided which animals (have to) be killed?
The zoo takes various factors into account when making its decision. For example, pregnant females or animals that play a central role in the social structure and are crucial for a functioning group are not removed.
The zoo wants to gradually reduce the number of baboons. After each removal, we first observe whether and how the situation changes. The next steps will then be discussed within the animal welfare commission.
Is the zoo also involved in the natural range of Guinea baboons?
As part of a cooperation with the German Primate Center (DPZ), the zoo supports on-site research work in the Niokolo Koba National Park in Senegal. The DPZ maintains a field station there where employees and external scientists research the behavior of Guinea baboons. Among other things, the zoo supports them by equipping baboons with GPS collars.
Does the zoo keep the baboons to attract visitors and make money?
The zoo is non-profit. The income covers the running costs by an average of 70%. The subsidies from the city budget (30%) are justified by the zoo's services to the public good in the areas of species conservation, education and research.
The selection criteria by which the zoo selects its animal population are very diverse. The criteria include, for example, threat status, whether it is a species from a European conservation breeding program (EAZA ex-situ program), or whether the species is of particular relevance for zoo education, for example. Attractiveness for visitors is also one of the criteria.
Why doesn't the zoo invest the money it spends on keeping baboons into protecting the animals' natural habitats?
Species and nature conservation is a mammoth task in which many people and institutions with different expertise and orientations are involved. Nobody can do it alone.
The task of zoos is to carry out so-called ex-situ species protection. This means, among other things, keeping and breeding animals and supporting local conservationists with their knowledge of the animals' needs. If no one breeds animals, there will be no animals to release into the wild.
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I don't speak German, so I just plugged the FAQ into Google Translate. In-spite of the service's poor reputation, the translation is understandable, if a bit clunky.
