It's 'unnecessary' to the continued existence of the species (for now) in the wild. Is that what you mean?
Not so long ago, the Oriental White-backed Vulture was considered to be just about the commonest bird of prey in the world. If some had been taken into captivity, I imagine people like yourself would have stridently denounced the zoos involved for their 'unnecessary' action.
Then the vulture numbers collapsed: the species is now critically endangered.
Maybe it would have been a good idea for zoos to build up expertise in captive husbandry for the vulture, at a time when taking a relatively small number of individuals from the wild would have made little difference?
None of us know which species will be the next to need a captive breeding programme: that's why some people got shirty about you saying there'd never be an EEP for smooth-coated otters. Neither you nor I can say that....unless you do have a crystal ball....in which case would you send me next week's winning lottery numbers, please.
If your uncertain of what your talking about please do some research before you make a post.
First the "White backed vulture" has been known as the "white rumped vulture" for a number of years now and the former refers solely to the African species. Secondly the species was already in steady decline through much of South East Asia with the disappearance of the large wild ungulates and improved management of domestic livestock. As a result of these factors had already vanished from much of its range BEFORE the diclofenac poisoning.
So this species doesn't fit the bill for the scenario you describe
Fourthly I can tell you now that all the "expertise" required to successfully propagate White rumped vultures in captivity had been acquired long before the AVC.
So are you seriously suggesting that Zoo's should maintain self sustaining populations of every common species in the off chance an ecological catastrophe occurs ??
I very much hope you don’t aspire to work in conservation.
BONGOROB
Thanks for presenting a researched argument complete with a reference!
I also own a copy of the handbook, for the most part it's a well researched book. However i'm sure you have noticed inaccuracies and mistakes (as you will find in any first edition).
Many of the threats to the species mentioned in the text are the same "generic" threats that every species living on this planet will have to deal with in the coming years.
What made this species so different to me was the close proximity to human settlement I have seen them in. On one occasion I watched as fishermen gave them offal from their catch. During my travels I formed the opinion that Smooth Coated Otters are perhaps most able to cope with limited changes in their environment. I would also like to say that this has been reinforced by conversations with park rangers and researchers.
The same can't be said for two of the other three species of otter in the region. The European otter has seen drastic reduction in range and the hairy nosed otter was thought to have been exterminated once already.
The reason I started what has now become a rant is because I disagree with the status that people on here have given smooth coated otters.
Of course this isn’t to say the species will become the most endangered otter on the planet in the future. What I am saying is there are otter species that ARE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED RIGHT NOW and zoo's resources should be aimed at them instead.
Zoo's currently exist under the guise of being institutes for wildlife conservation (and to a lesser degree education of the public etc) and continue to have public support based on those principles. How much would public opinion sway if the average visitor knew the truth of the matter particularly with places like RSCC.
A captive population of smooth coated otters in the UK has no conservation value at this time and are surplus to education requirements because of the well established small clawed otter.
May not be as rare as people hoped they'd be but in my eyes, and many others, thats does not affect how special they really are. And the visitors are going to go bloody bonkers over them!
