Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Durrell news

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Kifaru Bwana said:
It is good that Dominic is doing this review. The observation that there is a western and eastern population is interesting. I would hope the population is actually genetically not distinct, but diverse … It may well be right that the captive stock was quite related to begin with.

Did they all come through the Rio de Janeiro Primate Center?
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Hi Master Rhino! :) I believe they did, I will check.

Speaking of Rio Primate Centre, here's a home video: Durrell Tamarin Team in Brazil - YouTube :)
 
Nisha said:
Sumatran Orangutan, Gina has been found to have undergone a menopause. The first time such an event as been recorded in a species of Ape
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That was the reporter's own addition... it's been documented – from observation – in chimpanzees before. What we got with Gina was the first medically confirmed (blood assays for FSH levels and ovarian reserve score along with measuring the endometrium and looking at atrophy of the reproductive system) menopause seen in an orangutan, and possibly in a non-human great ape.
:D
 
Browsing through the Durrell Facebook page I found an article and photos about the release of 11 captive-bred Pygmy hogs in Assam earlier this year , to add to the 50 released in the last 4 years . ,

A question about the species never being held in Jersey receives the following reply - ' we hope to hold them in Jersey in the near future ' .

Now that would be exciting if it happens !
 
Bele said:
Browsing through the Durrell Facebook page I found an article and photos about the release of 11 captive-bred Pygmy hogs in Assam earlier this year , to add to the 50 released in the last 4 years . ,

A question about the species never being held in Jersey receives the following reply - ' we hope to hold them in Jersey in the near future ' .

Now that would be exciting if it happens !
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Just have to get them held by an Indian zoo first. The project managers in Assam desperately want to get some into captivity, for fear of one stochastic event jeopardising the entire release project. They'd make an interesting exhibit, although they are fairly shy and cryptic.
 
Rick J said:
Just have to get them held by an Indian zoo first. The project managers in Assam desperately want to get some into captivity, for fear of one stochastic event jeopardising the entire release project. They'd make an interesting exhibit, although they are fairly shy and cryptic.
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They would be simply wonderful exhibits for us zoo nerds!
 
Very much in the vein of 'little brown jobs', but our Supervisor of Herpetology recently captured 9 Antigua racers (Alsophis antiguae) that are headed for the collection. They'll hopefully found a captive breeding population, as well as offering an analogue for what could probably be called the rarest snake in the world at present, the St. Lucian racer (Liophis ornatus), which the Jersey team hope to move into in the near future.
 
Rick J said:
Very much in the vein of 'little brown jobs', but our Supervisor of Herpetology recently captured 9 Antigua racers (Alsophis antiguae) that are headed for the collection.
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I read how an earlier attempt at setting up a captive population of these snakes failed, mainly because of the species' poor resistance to diseases carried by mites. Will the new racers be kept in a 'bio-secure' facility?
 
Knowing the Durrell Zoo and Institute and their herp team I know they will build on the historical experience. There is no such thing as a closed box for reptile conservation breeding and certainly it is well worth to try again and again.

We can only learn by design and experience of a species prior to Durrell becoming involved no-one even cared to do so. Husbandry knowledge comes slowly and I am sure a solution may be found for the parasite issues with this particular beautiful snake.
 
Actually, and this is entirely my fault, the species we've just collected is in fact the Anguillan racer (Alsophis rijgersmaei), which makes more sense as it is the same genus as the St. Lucian racer that we are ultimately most concerned with. I think my cognitive dissonance came about because, as Mark G rightly mentioned, we had attempted to breed the Antiguan racer in the past, unsuccessfully. The thing to remember, is that the Herp team are constantly evolving their knowledge and skills, and of all of our departments, are probably closest to 'cutting edge', if not already there. Head of Herps Matt Goetz is a genius, to put it mildly. :)
 
Rick J said:
Actually, and this is entirely my fault, the species we've just collected is in fact the Anguillan racer (Alsophis rijgersmaei), which makes more sense as it is the same genus as the St. Lucian racer that we are ultimately most concerned with.
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Er....no
Anguillan racer = Alsophis
St Lucian racer = Liophis
 
According to Heathrow Animal Reception Centre on Facebook two aye-ayes passed through today on their way to Durrell
 
OrangePerson said:
According to Heathrow Animal Reception Centre on Facebook two aye-ayes passed through today on their way to Durrell
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They have arrived! 'Pan' and 'Imp' from Denver Zoo. Their keeper, Maura, is staying with us/them for a week to help settle them in, but so far they seem totally calm and very inquisitive. :D New genes in the EEP, and great new breeding opportunities for us. We'll be putting into practice what we've learned from allowing our current individuals to choose between indoor/outdoor areas in Kirindy Forest walled garden, and giving them different light gradients, so that they can pick their surroundings.
 
Rick J said:
They have arrived! 'Pan' and 'Imp' from Denver Zoo. Their keeper, Maura, is staying with us/them for a week to help settle them in, but so far they seem totally calm and very inquisitive. :D New genes in the EEP, and great new breeding opportunities for us. We'll be putting into practice what we've learned from allowing our current individuals to choose between indoor/outdoor areas in Kirindy Forest walled garden, and giving them different light gradients, so that they can pick their surroundings.
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And the FB page has now issued the formal announcement :)

These two adorable aye-ayes recently joined Durrell – and the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) – from Denver Zoo in the USA.

Both are settling in very well, and seem bright and inquisitive, despite finishing the transatlantic crossing, and then a ferry from the UK to Jersey, just yesterday.

The aye-aye is arguably the most specialised of all primates, fulfilling a ecological role in its native Madagascar that is the preserve of woodpeckers elsewhere in the world (and the striped-possum in Australia), an example of convergent evolution. In Madagascar, the aye-aye has suffered from persecution – it has been thought to be a a harbinger of death – as well as hunting and been dispatched by coconut farmers worried about their crops. Deforestation is now the biggest threat to the aye-aye, as with all native Malagasy fauna, sadly.

Pan and Imp are incredibly important, as they bring fresh genes into our 'safety net' population, strengthening it and hopefully showing the world what a tragedy it would be to lose these incredible, seldom seen creatures, in the wild.
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They are both bloody nice looking animals as Aye-Aye go - especially Imp, in my opinion. It is fantastic to get new blood into the European genepool, too.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10152277053552041.1073741862.60598832040&type=1
 
TeaLovingDave said:
And the FB page has now issued the formal announcement :)
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Actually, Zoochat got the 'Official Announcement' first, as I run the Facebook page (and most other comms channels) :D

I only waited 'til today to post over there as I was waiting on the images from Denver. We aren't taking cameras into quarantine; as our Vet, Alberto, says "rabies quarantine is like Vegas, what goes in, stays in". I didn't want to give up my Nikkon for months!:D
 
Rick J said:
Actually, Zoochat got the 'Official Announcement' first, as I run the Facebook page (and most other comms channels) :D

I only waited 'til today to post over there as I was waiting on the images from Denver. We aren't taking cameras into quarantine; as our Vet, Alberto, says "rabies quarantine is like Vegas, what goes in, stays in". I didn't want to give up my Nikkon for months!:D
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Good to know! :p

I look forward to when you are able to provide images of the animals settling into their new home once out of quarantine.
 
A most welcome addition to the EEP. In all rumors are about 5 animals are due in to re-enforce the European program!

MikeG is right on the herps. But it remains so that as a surrogate species along the St. Lucias it will be a good thing conservation model breeding wise.

Lotte of the herp team left? Where?
 
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