Edinburgh Zoo has been forced to cull a pair of young Red River Hogs after they were deemed surplus Culling at zoo - 'Many visitors will be upset and angry' - Scotsman.com News
Edinburgh Zoo Red River Hogs culled
- Thread starter Nisha
- Start date
That won't be good PR, but as said it needs to be done. It is actually a bold move for the zoo to be completely open about it.
It mentions though that they didn't even try and find a home for them, I'm sure there would have been somebody happy to take them on? Maybe not larger parks, but smaller ones that are still respectable?
It mentions though that they didn't even try and find a home for them, I'm sure there would have been somebody happy to take them on? Maybe not larger parks, but smaller ones that are still respectable?
I agree that these things need to be done, I am however, curious about the rehoming issue.
It did strike me that this appears to be a comment piece rather than a straight-forward news story and whilst its overall tone is supportive using phrases like 'Many visitors will be upset and angry' seems to be a self-fullfilling prophesy and is rather unhelpful at a difficult time for the zoo.
It did strike me that this appears to be a comment piece rather than a straight-forward news story and whilst its overall tone is supportive using phrases like 'Many visitors will be upset and angry' seems to be a self-fullfilling prophesy and is rather unhelpful at a difficult time for the zoo.
Agreed.
I'd be interested to hear from our more northern members whether The Scotsman tends to be pro/anti or neutral re the zoo in general.
They may have put them on a 'surplus' list and got no immediate takers, or they may not have looked for alternative homes at all. I don't think that's a very good reason to put them down though. What is wrong with the Zoo keeping them, either temporarily or permanently, and forming a larger group as at Woburn, Colchester and elsewhere where they make an interesting display?
Presumably they will sterilise the parents now to avoid a repetition if they prefer not to increase their own group. I appreciate that with these animals breeding freely in the UK now, this may be more necessary in the future.
Maybe it is simply a matter of either space or costs? I'm assuming it might be costs, otherwise they would have contracepted the animals, and they were bred when they had more money to spare. Mind, they could have assumed that they could get them to another collection quicker?
To incoporate or keep two extra RRHogs in an enclosure is not going to cost very much. Space could be an issue(longterm) but hardly warrants euthanasia in my book. Places like Woburn(16) and Colchester (c12) have a dozen or more Hogs in quite small enclosures, they look perfectly happy, and certainly more interesting, in big groups.
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
The RZSS seems to have a real penchant for euthanasia of 'surplus' animals.....be they oryx, wolves, or red river hog.
I can't believe people are defending this. Sentimentality aside, these animals are valuable as teaching tools, regardless of whether they eventually breed. I would be interested to know if there were any UK collections not currently housing this species that were waiting to join the EEP. I do not accept that they would not have been easy to rehome. Was it the case rather that the EEP coordinator made this decision and it would have been too much hassle for the zoo to go against it? Is it really too messy to move out less important lines to non-breeding situations in other collections?
At a time when Edinburgh zoo really needs to increase its gate revenue, they decide to do this, I can't believe there aren't zoo staff, worried about their jobs at the zoo, quietly cursing the people who made this decision.
I can't believe people are defending this. Sentimentality aside, these animals are valuable as teaching tools, regardless of whether they eventually breed. I would be interested to know if there were any UK collections not currently housing this species that were waiting to join the EEP. I do not accept that they would not have been easy to rehome. Was it the case rather that the EEP coordinator made this decision and it would have been too much hassle for the zoo to go against it? Is it really too messy to move out less important lines to non-breeding situations in other collections?
At a time when Edinburgh zoo really needs to increase its gate revenue, they decide to do this, I can't believe there aren't zoo staff, worried about their jobs at the zoo, quietly cursing the people who made this decision.
Ahhh, I didn't know how much extra it would add in food costs, vets costs etc. Am I right in thinking that the RRHs share a paddock with the bongo?
To accomodate one more pair of Hogs they had bred themselves would in my view be minimal extra cost to them.
It seems daft to me- Paignton have a 'problem pair'(ex Chester) which keep producing piglets they won't rear, so they have just resorted to (unsuccessfully) trying to handraise the last lot, while Edinburgh are putting them down!
There must be several parks in the UK, both small and large which could have been happy to go into this species, places like Newquay, Manor House, Folly Farm, Dartmoor WP, Marwell, Bristol, Dudley, Twycross, South Lakes, Trotters, Cotswold, Linton, Banham, Thrigby, Drusillas etc etc etc (sorry if I've named any that already have them
) Jersey have only 0.2 at present. And spacewise, a new paddock and simple housing would not be expensive or difficult for a new holder to construct as long as there is the avilable space. Or alternatively couldn't they have offered them(depending on their relatedness of course) to one of the other existing holders such as Woburn ,Colchester or Howletts to give them a change of bloodlines in their close related groups? This doesn't seem to happen in many species groups as often as it should and I doubt it has happened for this species at all yet. This was a bad decision IMO., either by the zoo or the EEP(or both).How can it be? The pair may be over represented in the captive gene pool already. The EEP does not need any excess stock with no genetic merit, its far better to attempt to save a species than save individuals. It also frees up much needed cage space in a UK zoo, something I personally know the Pig and Peccary TAG have been working heavily on recently.
Many zoos in the Western world routinely cull surplus hoofstock, especially males. Whilst also allowing the pairings to display natural behaviours and keeping the female in healthy condition reproductively. I congratulate the zoo for being so open about it at this difficult financial time. Pointing out zoos which may or may not want Red River Hog in the future does little to further this discussion.
peacockpheasant
Active Member
There must be several parks in the UK, both small and large which could have been happy to go into this species, places like Newquay, Manor House, Folly Farm, Dartmoor WP, Marwell, Bristol, Dudley, Twycross, South Lakes, Trotters, Cotswold, Linton, Banham, Thrigby, Drusillas etc etc etc (sorry if I've named any that already have them
I usually agree with you but this is highly presumptuous.
How do you know the EAZA surplus list isn’t full of members of this species already? (I know the answer to this)
What I can share is that there is absolutely no conservation value to this species. Populations on both sides of the Atlantic are severely inbred and there are other members of suidae with increasing populations which will require new holders.
The zoo would not have destroyed them without good reason, besides this happens far more frequently than many of you would like… its an unfortunate but necessary measure.
It isn't very good is it? , at a time of financial difficulty this culling is reported in the press. Yes Edinburgh Zoo are being honest and open but surely there must have been a decent zoological establishment willing to home these animals. Culling should be a LAST resort in this case it would appear to be the first. I do not accept that staff involved did not raise any concerns about this decision, they would just have to do what they are told by their superiors , what they might think in private could be a different matter.It makes a mockery of zoos claiming to safeguard and protect endangered species, then putting down two perfectly healthy young animals without even trying to find them a good decent new home.
I wasn't aware that Red River Hog was an endangered species so'saving' it is perhaps not an issue.. I'm also certainly aware culling of hoofstock happens, normally as a last resort, but was suggesting that in this case there might be alternatives, either Edinburgh keeping the young pigs themselves to add to their existing group, so they would not be using additional cagespace, or finding another from the extensive list of zoos I mentioned(or others) that could take them. Wouldn't that have been a better outcome?
I'm aware RRHOg isn't in any way endangered. They just make a colourful and interesting exhibit. But I don't understand how some zoos/parks like Woburn and Colchester(and Duisburg) keep large groups of 12+ while Edinburgh have baulked at adding two more to their small group.
If there are now a lot of this species on surplus lists, does it mean some or all zoos will now stop breeding them?
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peacockpheasant
Active Member
Aggression within the group.
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
If the surplus list is indeed full of this species, I feel strongly that it is the responsibility of all EAZA members to be aware of that, especially if they hold animals in a breeding situation that might result in over-represented offspring being produced. Clearly breeding should have been prevented in this instance - I think culling the results of not doing so is not taking proper responsibility for the animals they allowed to be created.
This species is 'Least Concern', and indeed very inbred yet, given this, it has spread across UK collections at a considerable rate over the last decade, to only now suddenly be suitable for culling? I don't think it is right for people to suggest that Red River hogs are suddenly taking up much needed 'cage space' for endangered suids, when the population has been allowed to expand over the last decade, under EEP management.
I realise culling happens. The irony is that many common or garden wildlife park species seem to have a better chance (depending on the zoo) of being rehomed, than species managed through EEP's. I believe this is about not risking animals leaving EEP/ESB control, and on to possible further 'undesirable' breeding, through rehoming. I maintain that I do not think this justifies culling.
This species is 'Least Concern', and indeed very inbred yet, given this, it has spread across UK collections at a considerable rate over the last decade, to only now suddenly be suitable for culling? I don't think it is right for people to suggest that Red River hogs are suddenly taking up much needed 'cage space' for endangered suids, when the population has been allowed to expand over the last decade, under EEP management.
I realise culling happens. The irony is that many common or garden wildlife park species seem to have a better chance (depending on the zoo) of being rehomed, than species managed through EEP's. I believe this is about not risking animals leaving EEP/ESB control, and on to possible further 'undesirable' breeding, through rehoming. I maintain that I do not think this justifies culling.
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If you read the article carefully, it looks as if this was 'leaked' rather than announced publicly in the first place. I can't see any benefit in them making this public voluntarily.