Species we have lost over the last quarter of a century

[FBBird]

Species we have lost.......

Both in public and private collections, it often happens that a 'new' species becomes available, and breeds well. Suddenly, everyone that might want that species, has got them, and there is no demand. Collections stop breeding them. Then, a few years down the line, people say 'Where have all the Bronze-tailed Peacock Pheasants/Ceylon Junglefowl/Babirusa gone? Maybe we should get some.'. Then it turns out the few survivors are past breeding, and there you go.

 

[gentle lemur]

I think we could find examples of species which have died out for all the reasons outlined above, and probably for others too, however there is not a great deal of information available as zoos are quite naturally reticent about their failures.
This is an important subject and it would benefit from research by someone with access to the ISIS database and contacts in lots of zoos. A dissertation project for someone on a zoo-based higher degree course perhaps?

Alan

 

[Carl Jones]

These are great replies and there is broad agreement about some of the processes involved in why species die out. My gripe is that animal collections claim they are interested in conservation, and have the best of intentions, but nevertheless loose important animals from captivity. Zoos become bored with species and then want something new. This seems to be the biggest problem. Species go through the boom and bust cycle that Phllip (FBBird)describes. Several of the species I have been involved with have died out because of this institutional and curator fatigue with the species. This affects all of the less spectacular species.

Gorillas, giraffes, zebras, tigers and lions will never die out in captivity because of of public demand for these, but Mountain Chickens, Guenther's Geckos and Rodrigues Fodies are all destined to go through boom and bust cycles, and in most cases be lost. Alan is correct we do need some detailed studies about why we loose species and how we can correct this situation. Animal collections are not going to be able to meet their conservation asperations until they understand the dynamics of their captive populations and how to mange these appropriately.

The Mauritius Kestrel is a sore point since there were sufficient birds in UK to get the species established. They can be difficult to mange since the females may be aggressive to, and kill, the males, nevertheless the main reason they died out in captivity is because people lost interest in the species and they were not prepared to put the time into establishing compatible pairs.

 

[Pertinax]

Zoos become bored with species and then want something new. This seems to be the biggest problem. Species go through the boom and bust cycle that Phllip (FBBird)describes. Several of the species I have been involved with have died out because of this institutional and curator fatigue with the species.

I think this 'species fatigue' is, unfortunately, human nature to an extent and very similar to that which affects many hobbyist/one-man keepers of livestock, be they bird fanciers, dog breeders etc. After some time and success with certain animals, they will change over to new species (or breeds), just because they become bored with what they have and desire variety and fresh challenges.

 

[lintworm]

This is a very interesting discussion! I am wondering to what extent these boom and bust cycles can be halted/altered by the establishment of a coordinated breeding programm (such as EEP).

I imagine this could generate extra interest for the species and possibly also over a longer term period as an EEP is less prone to shifts of interests, as the main goal is maintaining genetic diversity. But as babirroussa in Europe shows, the existence of an EEP does not rule out the possiblity of a species becoming (almost) extinct in Europe... This probably also has to do with how the coordinator is managing the species.

And this closes the circle again, because whether an EEP is successful depends for an important part also on the coordinator and the amount of time he can/ is willing to invest in the EEP, which also will change through time. So this is essentially the same problem as the general overall interest of zoos in certain species that fluctuates over time.

So to wrap up: probably a breeding program is a "safety net", but not a perfect safety net, as it is prone to develop large gaps and that number of gaps is largely dependent on the interest of maintaining the net on a proper level...

 

[TeaLovingDave]

The Mauritius Kestrel is a sore point since there were sufficient birds in UK to get the species established. They can be difficult to mange since the females may be aggressive to, and kill, the males, nevertheless the main reason they died out in captivity is because people lost interest in the species and they were not prepared to put the time into establishing compatible pairs.

Interestingly, this is a very different story to the one which some collections concerned put about; that the programme was deliberately wound-down into extinction because the wild population had hit carrying capacity and a reserve population was no longer desired. This rather suggests collections do not like admitting to allowing taxa to disappear through inattention.

By the by, it may be of some (very) small consolation to hear the Mauritius Kestrel is a sore point for me too, for a rather different reason; my first visit to Chester came only a month or two after they went out of the species and sent the last individual in Europe away. Unknown to myself, said individual went to Kirkleatham Owl Centre, literally 20 minutes from myself - a collection which I never bothered visiting as I was unaware they held anything unusual as such, I only learnt my error when the death of the last Mauritius Kestrel in Europe was publicised in the local press. I doubt I will ever see the species now, and this is solely my fault!

 

[ThylacineAlive]

But as babirroussa in Europe shows, the existence of an EEP does not rule out the possiblity of a species becoming (almost) extinct in Europe... This probably also has to do with how the coordinator is managing the species.

I know in the US at least, the coordinators of babirusa and several other wild pig species are currently having trouble finding new holders for existing populations due to everyone wanting the shiny and new Chacoan Peccaries.

~Thylo

 

[Pertinax]

I am wondering to what extent these boom and bust cycles can be halted/altered by the establishment of a coordinated breeding programm (such as EEP).

I imagine this could generate extra interest for the species and possibly also over a longer term period as an EEP is less prone to shifts of interests, as the main goal is maintaining genetic diversity.

Despite the importance having an EEP for a species invests in it, the ultimate responsibilty for keeping that species longerterm still rests with the Zoos themselves. If zoos are no longer interested in a species, an EEP can't do a lot about that, it can only suggest ways of managing an existing population. Its up to the zoos to actually decide if they will keep the species on. Many floundering/dwindling species in Zoos, e.g. some of the Guenon monkeys, have benefitted from EEP/studbook management but it has not really contributed to their numbers or representation increasing in zoos and they continue instead, to decline.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

If zoos are no longer interested in a species, an EEP can't do a lot about that, it can only suggest ways of managing an existing population.

Sadly true nor can the studbook holder for an EEP do much at all to prevent a collection actively defying their wishes, or even lying to their staff about the EEP's requests and other factors in order to justify getting rid of a species.

I love the fact this thread has spun off into this very rewarding discussion, by the by

 

[TeaLovingDave]

An updated index to help keep track of things......

Mammals

Carnivore taxa lost since 1990 (part one) (part two)
Marsupial taxa lost since 1990
Prosimian / New World Primate taxa lost since 1990
Old World Monkey / Ape taxa lost since 1990 (part one) (part two)
Ungulate taxa lost since 1990
Monotreme /Tenrec / Insectivore / Sengi / Treeshrew taxa lost since 1990
Rodent taxa lost since 1990 (part one) (part two) (part three)
Lagomorph taxa lost since 1990

Birds

Owl taxa lost since 1990
Bird of Prey taxa lost since 1990
Hummingbird taxa lost since 1990
Pigeon taxa lost since 1990
Cuckoo and Turaco taxa lost since 1990
Hornbill / Roller / Motmot / Bee-eater / Tody / Woodhoopoe / Kingfisher taxa lost since 1990
Bird of Paradise / Corvid / Bowerbird taxa lost since 1990
Waterfowl taxa lost since 1990
Tubenose / Skua / Gull / Tern / Auk taxa lost since 1990
Penguin / Diver / Grebe / Sulid / Cormorant / Darter / Frigatebird taxa lost since 1990
Wader taxa lost since 1990
Heron / Stork / Ibis taxa lost since 1990
Bustard / Rail / Trumpeter / Buttonquail / Mesite taxa lost since 1990
Gamebird taxa lost since 1990
Parrot taxa lost since 1990
Mousebird and Trogon taxa lost since 1990

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Various odds and ends from the non-passerine side of the bird world which I have missed so far.....

Ratite taxa lost since 1990

Somali Ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes) - this taxon was last held in c.2010 at Budapest, although given the fact the species was considering a subspecies of the Common Ostrich until recently it is possible the non-subspecific population of the latter may contain some Somali heritage. The only images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery are of wild individuals.

Small-billed Tinamou (Crypturellus parvirostris) - this taxon was last held in c.2013 at Pairi Daiza, one of several collections holding the species within the timespan in question. There is a single image of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery, taken at Walsrode in 2007:



Little Tinamou (Crypturellus soui) - this taxon was last held in 2009 at Olmen Balen. The only image of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery is of a captive individual in North America.

Ornate Tinamou (Nothoprocta ornata) - this taxon was last held in 2010 at Olmen Balen. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Spotted Nothura (Nothura maculosa) - this taxon was last held in 2004 at Dortmund. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Sandgrouse taxa lost since 1990

Double-banded Sandgrouse (Pterocles bicinctus) - this taxon was last held in 1995 at Paignton. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) - this taxon was last held in 1993 at Antwerp. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Pallas's Sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus) - this taxon was last held in 2008 at Prague, one of several collections to hold the species within the timespan in question. There are a pair of photographs of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery, both rather fortuitously uploaded by GentleLemur in response to this thread and taken at Chester in 1986. The following is one example:



Nightjar taxa lost since 1990

Eurasian Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) - last held in 2011 at Plzen, one of several collections to hold the taxon within the timespan in question. However, all of these holdings were relatively brief and comprised rescue animals from the wild - as such it is perhaps unsurprising the only photograph of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery is a (deceased) wild individual.

Swift taxa lost since 1990

Common Swift (Apus apus) - last held in 2014 at Usti, one of several European collections to hold the taxon within the timespan concerned; however, as with the Eurasian Nightjar all such collections held rescued wild animals for very brief periods. As such, there are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

 

[Jurek7]

Great threat, TeaLovingDave!

I would also welcome thread: species we gained in the last 25 years. Species previously absent or rare, but now present, and especially which built up sustainable numbers. I have an impression that there is much fewer of them, but still. For example takins and Visayan warty pigs.

 

[Carl Jones]

Interestingly, this is a very different story to the one which some collections concerned put about; that the programme was deliberately wound-down into extinction because the wild population had hit carrying capacity and a reserve population was no longer desired. This rather suggests collections do not like admitting to allowing taxa to disappear through inattention.

I have also heard it said that people have gone out of the Mauritius Kestrel because the wild population had recovered. Nevertheless, even with a partly recovered population the Mauritius Kestrel was probably the rearest raptor held in any European collection. I have heard the same argument for why zoos go out of Pink Pigeons, even though we only have about 400 free-living birds.

If we think about it, this argument makes no sense. Zoos are happy to exhibit common species, but go out of a rare species as soon as it starts to recover?

The population of the Mauritius Kestrel has declined in recent years and will need some additional management in the next few years to get the population up again. The wild population is now about 350-400 birds.

Among the species that were brought into captivity from the Mascarene Islands, zoos have also lost the Guenther's Gecko, Telfair's Skink and Rodrigues Fody. A small number of Telfair's Skinks are held at Durrel that were imported a few years back after the original population had died out.

The captive populations of Round Island Boas and Pink Pigeons are faltering. The only Mascarene species that is doing really well in captivity is the Rodrigues Fruit Bat. The bat makes a good exhibit. Most collections are just not interested in the other species that do not make good exhibits and can be problematic to manage.

The Mascarene species were all imported into Western zoos to establish safe captive populations.

 

[vogelcommando]

I agree that the lost of most Mascarene species is really a missed change for zoos ! Many of the species did relative well and in many cases even smaller collections could have given their visitors the message what conservation-work they are doing.
The costs to take care for a small group of Skinks or Geckos are small and to show the visitors a species so rare and so in need for conservation could have been an oppertunity for these zoos "how good" they are.
Also a species like the Pink pigeon isn't the most difficult species to keep and bred ( I've taken care for some myself ) and if we see that a species like the Specklated pigeon - about the same size and in the same need of care ) are kept at 63 public collections in Europe and the Pink pigeon only at 10 makes me wonder !
With the number of Bird of prey collections ( esp. in the UK and Germany ) the lost of the Mauritius kestrel is almost unbelieveble !
Next to this, it is also unbelieveble that not at least a part of the animals were made avaible to privat keepers - I'm convienced that species like the Guenthers day gecko, the Telfair's skink, the Rodrigues fody, the Pink pigeon and the Mauritius kestrel would have done very well in privat hands !

 

[lintworm]

Could we maybe take the posts about why species disappear into a new topic? That avoids mixing up to interesting topics...

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Next to this, it is also unbelieveble that not at least a part of the animals were made avaible to privat keepers - I'm convienced that species like the Guenthers day gecko, the Telfair's skink, the Rodrigues fody, the Pink pigeon and the Mauritius kestrel would have done very well in privat hands !

The kestrel and the pigeon especially, in my opinion. But sadly, this gets onto the issue of public collections often being loathe to place trust in the work of private collections.....

Could we maybe take the posts about why species disappear into a new topic? That avoids mixing up to interesting topics...

I actually rather like the fact that instead of being a stark list of species we have lost, this thread is evolving into also including discussion of *why* these species were lost. Perhaps once I have all-but-exhausted the options for major taxa I could list, it might be profitable to discuss specific species we have lost and the reasons for these losses; such a conversation is already taking place for Mascarene taxa.

Thoughts, anyone?

 

[Carl Jones]

Next to this, it is also unbelieveble that not at least a part of the animals were made avaible to privat keepers - I'm convienced that species like the Guenthers day gecko, the Telfair's skink, the Rodrigues fody, the Pink pigeon and the Mauritius kestrel would have done very well in privat hands !

Some species were placed in private hands. Guenther's Geckos were provided to private breeders in Holland and Germany. Pink Pigeons were given to private pigeon breeders in California. Neither species did well with private breeders.

The Pink Pigeon is far more problematic to breed than Speckled Pigeons since they are, I suspect, far more choosy about partners and more prone to high rates of divorce, I also suspect they are much poorer parents in captivity.

Private breeders are not the answer. Some are good but look at the number of species lost from private breeders over the last decade.

 

[Carl Jones]

Could we maybe take the posts about why species disappear into a new topic? That avoids mixing up to interesting topics...

What I would like to see is a list of those species that have self sustaining captive populations. Now there is a job for you Dave.

 

[vogelcommando]

Some species were placed in private hands. Guenther's Geckos were provided to private breeders in Holland and Germany. Pink Pigeons were given to private pigeon breeders in California. Neither species did well with private breeders.

The Pink Pigeon is far more problematic to breed than Speckled Pigeons since they are, I suspect, far more choosy about partners and more prone to high rates of divorce, I also suspect they are much poorer parents in captivity.

Private breeders are not the answer. Some are good but look at the number of species lost from private breeders over the last decade.

Heared about the Guenthers day geckos being placed in privay collections and still don't understand why they didn't do better but I guess the fact that they couldn't be sold freely has to do with it....
I know from own experience that the Pink pigeon is more problematic but even so, with a lot of experienced breeders the species should have done better has it did but here also I guess if the privat breeders had had the oppurtunity the deal with the species more freely, the species would still be more commonly kept and bred by now.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

The Piciformes now; these will be the last batch of non-passerine birds left to cover, if my memory serves me correctly......

Barbet taxa lost since 1990

Malaysian Brown Barbet (Calorhamphus hayii) - this taxon was last held in 1993 at Heidelberg, albeit for a very short period. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Scarlet-crowned Barbet (Capito aurovirens) - this taxon was last held in 1996 at Krefeld. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Orange-fronted Barbet (Capito squamatus) - this taxon was last held in 1993 at Frankfurt. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Red-headed Barbet (Eubucco bourcierii) - this taxon was last held in 2006 at Barcelona, one of several European collections to hold the taxon within the timespan in question. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Naked-faced Barbet (Gymnobucco calvus) - this taxon was last held in 2003 at Vogelpark Metelen. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

White-headed Barbet (Lybius leucocephalus) - this taxon was last held in 2002 at Zoo Berlin. The only image of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery is of a wild individual in Africa.

Vieillot's Barbet (Lybius vieilloti) - this taxon was last held in 2002 at Heidelberg. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Flame-fronted Barbet (Megalaima armillaris) - this taxon was last held in 2004 at Walsrode. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala) - this taxon was last held in c.2008 at Tierpark Hagenbeck, one of several European collections to hold the taxon in the timespan concerned. The only images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery are of captive individuals in Asia.

Black-banded Barbet (Megalaima javensis) - this taxon was last held in 2007 at Walsrode. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Red-vented Barbet (Megalaima lagrandieri) - this taxon was last held in 1997 at Leningradsky Zoopark. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Lineated Barbet (Megalaima lineata) - this taxon was last held in 1995 at Wilhelma. The only images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery are of captive individuals in Asia.

Red-throated Barbet (Megalaima mystacophanos) - this taxon was last held in 2008 at Tierpark Berlin, one of several European collections with the species in the timespan concerned. The only images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery are of captive individuals in Asia.

Black-browed Barbet (Megalaima oorti) - this taxon was last held in c.2008 at Vogelpark Heppenheim. There is a single image of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery, taken at said collection not long before the last individual died:



Red-crowned Barbet (Megalaima rafflesii) - this taxon was last held in 2000 at Moscow. The only image of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery is of a captive individual in Asia.

Great Barbet (Megalaima virens) - this taxon was last held in 2004 at Givskud. The only image of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery is of a captive individual in Asia.

Brown-headed Barbet (Megalaima zeylanica) - this taxon was last held in 1995 at Warsaw. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus chrysoconus) - this taxon was last held in 1997 at ZSL London. The only image of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery is of a wild individual in Africa.

Speckled Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus scolopaceus) - this taxon was last held in 1997 at Wuppertal. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Double-toothed Barbet (Pogonornis bidentatus) - this taxon was last held in 2011 at Faunia Madrid. The only images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery are of wild individuals in Africa.

Toucan Barbet (Semnornis ramphastinus) - this taxon was last held in 1994 at Dierenpark Emmen. The only images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery are of captive individuals in South America.

White-eared Barbet (Stactolaema leucotis) - this taxon was last held in c.1994 at Zoo Berlin. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Acacia Pied Barbet (Tricholaema leucomelas) - this taxon was last held in 1995 at Duisburg. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Toucan taxa lost since 1990

Saffron Toucanet (Pteroglossus bailloni) - this taxon was last held in 1995 at ZSL London. The only image of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery is of a captive individual in the USA.

Black-mandibled Toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus) - this taxon was last held in 2009 at Parco Gallorose. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Choco Toucan (Ramphastos brevis) - this taxon was last held in c.2011 at Veldhoven NOP. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Green-billed Toucan (Ramphastos dicolorus) - this taxon was last held in 2009 at Bojnice. The only image of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery is of a captive individual in the USA.

Spot-billed Toucanet (Selenidera maculirostris) - this taxon was last held in 2008 at Walsrode. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Woodpecker taxa lost since 1990

Blond-crested Woodpecker (Celeus flavescens) - this taxon was last held in 1991 at Paradise Park Hayle. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos macei) - this taxon was last held in 2010 at Pairi Daiza. There is a single image of this taxon in the Zoochat gallery, taken at Birdworld in 1998:



Middle-spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius) - this taxon was last held in 2006 at Zoo Ohrada. The only image of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery is of a wild individual in Germany.

Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) - this taxon was last held in c.2010 at Walsrode. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Brown-capped Woodpecker (Dendrocopos moluccensis) - this taxon was last held in 1991 at Heidelberg. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Bearded Woodpecker (Dendropicos namaquus) - this taxon was last held in 1994 at Krefeld. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Black-rumped Flameback (Dinopium benghalense) - this taxon was last held in 1999 at Tierpark Hagenbeck. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Common Flameback (Dinopium javanense) - this taxon was last held in 2009 at Barcelona. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Grey-and-Buff Woodpecker (Hemicircus concretus) - this taxon was last held in 2005 at Walsrode. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Golden-naped Woodpecker (Melanerpes chrysauchen) - this taxon was last held in 2006 at Augsburg. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Yellow-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes flavifrons) - this taxon was last held in 1999 at Paradise Park Hayle, one of several collections to hold the species within the timespan in question. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Black-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes pucherani) - this taxon was last held in 2005 at Augsburg, one of several collections to hold the taxon within the timespan in question. The only images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery are of wild and captive individuals in Costa Rica.

Red-crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus) - this taxon was last held in c.1999 at Vogelpark Metelen. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Hispaniolan Woodpecker (Melanerpes striatus) - this taxon was last held in 1997 at Walsrode. There are a pair of photographs of this taxon in the Zoochat gallery, both taken at Walsrode in the 1980's; this image is the better of the two:



Rufous Woodpecker (Micropternus brachyurus) - this taxon was last held in the mid-1990s at Walsrode. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Bar-breasted Piculet (Picumnus aurifrons) - this taxon was last held in the early 1990s at Birdworld. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Gray-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus) - this taxon was last held in 2013 at Zoo Ohrada. There are a handful of images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery, including this image taken at the aforementioned collection in 2010:



Black-headed Woodpecker (Picus erythropygius) - this taxon was last held in 1994 at Artis. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.

Crimson-winged Woodpecker (Picus puniceus) - this taxon was last held in 2004 at Dvur Kralove. There are no images of this taxon within the Zoochat gallery.