@DelacoursLangur There is still a relatively large herd at Toronto, which is where these individuals come from. I believe they eventually intends to phase them out, but they’re continuing to breed them so who knows if or when that will ever happen. The Hemker Park & Zoo also has a substantial herd of around 20 Tur, but they are currently held behind the scenes to the best of my knowledge.
@DelacoursLangur Toronto's herd seems to have one or two relatively young individuals kicking around every time I visit, and it's been that way for a concerningly long time, considering they haven't brought in new individuals to diversify the genetics even remotely. It seems every time a kid leaves, a new one is born just after.
@Van Beal If the population is as inbred as rumore, it holds little conservation value... However, so long as they aren't experiencing notable declines in the health of the herd, I have no moral qualms with them continuing to sustain the herd with further breeding.
@DelacoursLangur afaik they're not bred at Toronto for the purpose of conservation... and even if that was the intent, the fact that it's almost exclusively inbred births at this point wouldn't provide much help conservation-wise. The herd is healthy overall, though I still struggle to understand why they've continued to breed them when they are (I think) on phase-out in the AZA, and so places to send any kids are few and far between even with those that have space.
@Van Beal An inbred herd having little conservation value outside of public education is exactly what I was saying. I imagine they continue to breed them because they want to continue exhibiting them, simple as that...
