Animal diplomacy

[elefante]

I would have thought the woodchuck would be a popular diplomatic animal. ZTL only lists 2 collections, both in Germany.

There was a successful film called 'Groundhog Day', which has been turned into musical

Interesting choice. Those things are practically vermin in the US

 

[Great Argus]

Ecuador has all the Galapagos endemics, especially blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas I'd expect a number of zoos would want if their acquisition was ethically possible.

Blue-footed Booby is not endemic to the Galapagos - they are found on the mainland coast from Panama to just short of Chile as well as being widespread in the Gulf of California. They're not too rare as vagrants into the US as well - some years have seen 30+ birds spread across CA, OR, and AZ.

 

[Jurek7]

I think animal diplomacy has lots of chance at the level of individual national parks or local governments.

Zoos which sponsor reserves for years and put sizable money into it could be rewarded with local animals as a gift. This could also sensibly start an insurance population ex-situ. I am surprised it is not done.

For example, Bale Mountains reserve in Ethiopia has most of infrastructure sponsored by the Frankfurt Zoological Society and other foreign donors. This place would collapse without foreign support. So I am surprised that Western zoos received a big nyet when they wanted to import animals from the region. This is an example, but many tropical reserves and animals are in the same situation. Another matter is that Western zoos currently have little interest in importing new species.

 

[dillotest0]

So I am surprised that Western zoos received a big nyet when they wanted to import animals from the region.

Iirc several species native to Ethiopia, incl. Ethiopian Wolf are protected federally as well, which may be part the reason. Though if this is so, then I'm curious as to how the Ethiopian Mountain Viper was obtained ...

 

[Dassie rat]

I wonder if the quokka could be used to represent Australia

 

[Aardwolf]

Though if this is so, then I'm curious as to how the Ethiopian Mountain Viper was obtained ..

Smuggling. The answer is smuggling.

(For a more in depth description of how Ethiopian mountain vipers made it to the outside world, I recommend Jennie Erin Smith's "Stolen World: A Tale of Reptiles, Smugglers, and Skulduggery")

The Zoo Review: Book Review: Stolen World

 

[HOMIN96]

So I am surprised that Western zoos received a big nyet when they wanted to import animals from the region

I'd say veterinary laws had something to do with it as well...

 

[aardvark250]

With the prague success, i'm sure we all want some more pangolins from Taipei. Whether it counts as animal diplomacy depends on the mainland.