EAZA Ex-Situ Programmes update

DesertRhino150 said:
3. Asian golden cat
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I understand that this may be for raising funds for wild Asian golden cats and other cryptic falines in Asia, but I still don't understand why Asian golden cats have a program since both subspecies kept have a very small population. The same lack of understanding goes for marbled polecat and Hoffman's two-toed sloth as well.
 
PossumRoach said:
I understand that this may be for raising funds for wild Asian golden cats and other cryptic falines in Asia, but I still don't understand why Asian golden cats have a program since both subspecies kept have a very small population. The same lack of understanding goes for marbled polecat and Hoffman's two-toed sloth as well.
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In the case of both Marbled Polecat and the Asian Golden Cat, it basically comes down to the species having formerly been rather more numerous in European collections.
 
There has been another update to the TAGs, although there seem to have been very few changes, with no new species getting a programme in this round of changes:

Reptiles TAG
Spiny hill turtle has been upgraded to an EEP, and the Malayan box turtle and Malaysian giant turtle ESBs has been removed (for some time, there has also been both a Malaysian giant turtle and an Asian box turtle EEP that cover the same species as the ESBs)

Tapir and Suiform TAG
The lowland tapir and Visayan warty pig have both been updated to new-style EEPs

The full list can be found here:
https://www.eaza.net/assets/Uploads/CCC/Other/Juky-2022.pdf

I have also noticed on the EAZA Facebook page several posts from the past couple of years about Regional Collection Plans for certain animal groups, which haven't yet become EEPs. The three I have seen are:

Crocodilians
8 EAZA Ex-Situ programmes recommended; they are the same 8 species as are currently managed, but will all be maintained under new-style EEPs.

Currently, only Chinese alligator has an EEP, with recommended EEPs for gharial, tomistoma, Cuban crocodile, Siamese crocodile, Philippine crocodile and genus-level programmes for dwarf and slender-snouted crocodiles.

Pigeons and Doves
15 EAZA Ex-Situ programmes recommended; currently there are 10 programmes.

Some will be multi-species, including an EEP that covers all five species of bleeding-heart dove. Additionally, there are plans for an entirely education-based TAG for the dodo and passenger pigeon, to raise awareness of the needs for conservation in this group of birds.

Small Carnivores
16 EAZA Ex-Situ programmes proposed; currently there are 10 programmes.

The priority will be programmes for threatened small carnivores from Southeast Asia, Europe and Madagascar. The only new EEP mentioned in the Facebook post will be an African mongoose EEP that includes the banded mongoose.
 
Another update from yesterday that I didn't spot the first time around:

Small Carnivore TAG
The marbled polecat ESB has been removed completely and not replaced
 
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The EAZA TAG Report for 2021 has been published today. Some things of interest I have noticed include:

Elasmobranch TAG
There is a proposed list of 27 species to be managed at EEP level (8 are managed currently, all as ESBs), including some managed at genus level, including smoothhounds (Mustelus spp.), skates (Raja and Leucoraja spp.) and sawfishes (Pristis spp.). The exception is the undulate ray Raja undulata, which will have a standalone EEP.

Amphibian TAG
There will be a Regional Collection Plan (RCP) created for the dendrobatid frogs during 2022.

Raptor TAG
Among Old World vultures, all four European species and the Ruppell's griffon, African white-backed and white-headed vultures were confirmed for upgrading from old to new-style EEPs. New EEPs were also recommended for hooded vultures and a multi-genus programme for Asian vultures.
Among New World vultures, both the Andean condor and king vulture will be managed as new-style EEPs.
Three Least Concern vultures (one African and two American) will be managed under monitoring programmes and another two American vultures will be managed for phasing out.

All five of the other raptors currently managed by the TAG will get new-style EEPs - the secretary bird, Steller's and white-tailed sea eagles, imperial eagle and lesser kestrel. Brand new EEPs were also recommended for harpy eagle, bateleur eagle and a combined EEP for steppe and tawny eagles.

Parrot TAG
There are plans to create an EEP for the swift parrot, involving collaboration with the private sector to boost the numbers available.

Hornbill TAG
For the next three years, the Hornbill TAG will also oversee the Toucan and Turaco TAG and has also been expanded to cover all species in the Bucerotiformes. There are hopes that the Eurasian hoopoe will soon be managed as an EEP.

Monotreme and Marsupial TAG
There remain no greater bilbies available in Australia for the European EEP. There has been a proposal to shift ownership of all koalas in Europe from San Diego to the koala EEP. There are also plans to move all current ESBs and Monitoring Programmes (kowari, swamp wallaby, red and grey kangaroos, short-beaked echidna and Eastern quoll) up to EEP level.

Small Mammal TAG
Interestingly, the TAG is supporting the cooperation between Taipei and Prague Zoos regarding the transfer of Chinese pangolins and says (direct quote) 'Hopefully, more new specimens will enlarge the European population by joining the group already held in Leipzig Zoo (Germany).'

The workshops to plan the Small Mammal TAG RCPs will be taking place across four meetings in 2022 and 2023.

Small Carnivore TAG
Some more on the planned updates - some EEPs will be established for either popular non-threatened species which are commonly kept (such as meerkats, which I imagine will be part of the aforementioned African mongoose TAG) and also invasive species that need proactive management. Although not directly mentioned, it seems there may be one or multiple EEPs for Asian otters, including both the Asian small-clawed and smooth-coated.

The full document can be found here:
https://www.eaza.net/assets/Uploads/Annual-report/2021-TAGAR-web-VF.pdf
 
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The newest copy of Zooquaria, the EAZA magazine, came out today and includes more information about updates to one of the TAGS:

Monotreme and Marsupial TAG
In total, there are plans for 19 new-style EEPs within this tag.

Already managed by an EEP, ESB or Monitoring Programme:
1. Tasmanian devil
2. Koala
3. Brush-tailed bettong
4. Greater bilby
5. Kowari
6. Common wombat
7. Eastern quoll
8. Yellow-footed rock wallaby
9. Red kangaroo
10. Eastern grey kangaroo
11. Western grey kangaroo
12. Swamp wallaby
13. Short-beaked echidna
14. Goodfellow's tree kangaroo

New programme:
15. Long-nosed potoroo
16. Parma wallaby
17. Sulawesi bear cuscus
18. Western long-beaked echidna
19. South American opossum (combining gray short-tailed, gray four-eyed, Linnaeus' mouse and Northern black-eared opossums)

The article specifically mentions the long-beaked echidna TAG - although none are currently present in the EAZA region, they apparently turn up regularly in the illegal trade and it is hoped that individuals can be acquired through confiscations to establish the TAG, which will have roles for education, fundraising, research and insurance.

More information can be found in Zooquaria, on page 14:
https://www.eaza.net/assets/Uploads/Zooquaria/ZQIssues/2022/ZQ114-web-LR.pdf

The table also details the populations of the four South American opossums in EAZA collections, for those interested - there are 27 short-tailed (9 male, 15 female and 3 unsexed), 3 four-eyed (1 male and 2 female) a single female Linnaeus' mouse and a single male Northern black-eared opossum.
 
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DesertRhino150 said:
The newest copy of Zooquaria, the EAZA magazine, came out today and includes more information about updates to one of the TAGS:

Monotreme and Marsupial TAG
In total, there are plans for 19 new-style EEPs within this tag.

Already managed by an EEP, ESB or Monitoring Programme:
1. Tasmanian devil
2. Koala
3. Brush-tailed bettong
4. Greater bilby
5. Kowari
6. Common wombat
7. Eastern quoll
8. Yellow-footed rock wallaby
9. Red kangaroo
10. Eastern grey kangaroo
11. Western grey kangaroo
12. Swamp wallaby
13. Short-beaked echidna
14. Goodfellow's tree kangaroo

New programme:
15. Long-nosed potoroo
16. Parma wallaby
17. Sulawesi bear cuscus
18. Western long-beaked echidna
19. South American opossum (combining gray short-tailed, gray four-eyed, Linnaeus' mouse and Northern black-eared opossums)

The article specifically mentions the long-beaked echidna TAG - although none are currently present in the EAZA region, they apparently turn up regularly in the illegal trade and it is hoped that individuals can be acquired through confiscations to establish the TAG, which will have roles for education, fundraising, research and insurance.

More information can be found in Zooquaria, on page 14:
https://www.eaza.net/assets/Uploads/Zooquaria/ZQIssues/2022/ZQ114-web-LR.pdf

The table also details the populations of the four South American opossums in EAZA collections, for those interested - there are 27 short-tailed (9 male, 15 female and 3 unsexed), 3 four-eyed (1 male and 2 female) a single female Linnaeus' mouse and a single male Northern black-eared opossum.
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Not seeing the common brushtailed possum on this list is honestly quite dissapointing. I get that they are not endangered (just like red kangaroos which do get a program), most are sourced from private breeders, and the majority of the European population consists of hybrids, but I feel like they are a charismatic representative for phalangarids that have the right to be known by the general public just like meerkats, raccoons and, little red menace red pandas. The fact that they are not even brought up in tag reports even as DNO or MON-P is a great bummer. As a very superstitious person I am starting to get convinced that there is a multinational psy-op conspiracy to have people not know that there is a beautiful creature out there under the binomial name Trichosurus vulpecula .
 
Another Regional Collection Plan has recently been carried out by EAZA - much like the plan for crocodilians I mentioned earlier in the thread, it will have no new species but will instead update all six current programmes into new-style EEPs. Currently, the sloth, spectacled and polar bears are managed under EEPs, while the Malayan sun, brown and Asiatic black bears are managed under ESBs.

This information comes from the EAZA Facebook page.

Interestingly, the plans to create a more specific EEP for the Manchurian subspecies of the Asiatic black bear are no longer mentioned (this was first mentioned in the 2018 TAG report).
 
DesertRhino150 said:
The article specifically mentions the long-beaked echidna TAG - although none are currently present in the EAZA region, they apparently turn up regularly in the illegal trade and it is hoped that individuals can be acquired through confiscations to establish the TAG, which will have roles for education, fundraising, research and insurance.
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Would be nice to have a Zaglossus around here !
 
DesertRhino150 said:
Interestingly, the plans to create a more specific EEP for the Manchurian subspecies of the Asiatic black bear are no longer mentioned (this was first mentioned in the 2018 TAG report).
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This could be because most of the Manchurians are/were based in russian zoos
 
DesertRhino150 said:
Pigeons and Doves
15 EAZA Ex-Situ programmes recommended; currently there are 10 programmes.

Some will be multi-species, including an EEP that covers all five species of bleeding-heart dove. Additionally, there are plans for an entirely education-based TAG for the dodo and passenger pigeon, to raise awareness of the needs for conservation in this group of birds.
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Today, the EAZA Facebook page has posted an update about the Pigeon and Dove Regional Collection Plans. Unlike the previous plan for 15 recommended Ex-Situ programmes, the more recent one will establish 16 programmes.

This recent update confirms the plans for an Extinct pigeon EEP (entirely educational, covering species such as the dodo and passenger pigeon). Two new species that are confirmed to be receiving EEPs are the Nicobar pigeon and the European turtle dove.
 
The newest edition of Zooquaria has an article that outlines the plans for another TAG:

Small Carnivore TAG
In total, there will be 16 new-style EEPs within this tag.

Already managed by an EEP or ESB:
Red panda
Binturong
European mink
Owston's civet
Eurasian otter
Giant otter
Fossa
Wolverine

New programme:
Hairy-nosed otter
Asian small-clawed otter
Smooth-coated otter
Smaller Malagasy small carnivores (will include the former bokiboky and ring-tailed vontsira ESBs)
Indonesian/Malaysian small carnivores
Invasive alien small carnivores
Meerkat
African mongoose

The smaller Malagasy small carnivore EEP is considered especially important, as there is little chance of setting up ex-situ programmes in Madagascar itself. The EEP will cover all the native carnivores of Madagascar apart from the fossa, including ring-tailed, Grandidier's, brown-tailed and broad-striped vontsira, bokiboky, both Western and Eastern falanouc and fanaloka.

The invasive small carnivore EEP is being established to ensure that invasive species such as ring-tailed coati, Northern raccoon and small Indian mongoose are being phased out responsibly and gradually (ensuring that the welfare of the animals is maintained throughout the process).

The three Asian otter EEPs will be linked to field conservation with otters in Southeast Asia.

The Indonesian/Malaysian small carnivore EEP will focus on species currently not kept in EAZA zoos such as the Sulawesi civet, otter civet, Hose's civet and Bornean ferret-badger. The programme will be used to fund research into these animals to make evidence-based decisions on how best to conserve them.

The meerkat and African mongoose EEPs are being created to more actively manage the populations of these species, to ensure space is available for other small carnivores.

The article can be seen on pages 16-17 here:
https://www.eaza.net/assets/Uploads/Zooquaria/ZQIssues/2022/ZQ115-final-webLR.pdf

A bit sad that the attempts to establish a programme for the marbled polecat have apparently been dropped.
 
dillotest0 said:
I can't imagine @TeaLovingDave would be utterly pleased about that ...
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It's been coming for years sadly - can't really get a programme going if zoological collections outright refuse to work with the private keepers who had all the experience and most of the available animals, but also have no interest in trying to obtain fresh stock!
 
TeaLovingDave said:
can't really get a programme going if zoological collections outright refuse to work with the private keepers who had all the experience and most of the available animals, but also have no interest in trying to obtain fresh stock!
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I found exactly the same for rather many other species and groups of mammals. Private keepers and non-EAZA zoos have lots of space. It is the power of big numbers. Whether many species will be saved or lost depends on whether EAZA cooperates with small institutions and zoos.

In the past, EAZA zoos tried to be elitist - avoided cooperation with small places and private keepers. Now it turned to the way to extinction of many species, including threatened species. In the thread below I had some random ideas - for example big zoos which have a small wildlife park or private keepers in the same city / region, could lease animals and keeping consultations between them. But surely many better ideas can be found.

Making room on the ark – can rare zoo animals replace common ones in Europe?
 
The EAZA have announced on their Facebook page that the Antelope and Giraffid Regional Collection Plan is now ready. There were 26 new-style EEPs proposed. To put that into perspective, the current list of EEPs and ESBs within the group contains 23 species.

The three species mentioned in the post are the okapi, bongo and mhorr gazelle (the latter is a slight change, as the former EEP was for the dama gazelle but will seemingly be streamlined to the mhorr subspecies).
 
The EAZA studbook list was updated today (although it is listed as the November update); changes include:

Marine Mammal
The walrus ESB has been removed from the list.

Cattle and Camelid
A new-style EEP has been created for the tamaraw.

Deer
The Burmese brow-antlered deer ESB has been replaced with an Eld's deer EEP; there are also two new-style EEPs for the sambar and large-antlered muntjac.

Antelope and Giraffid
Both the Thomson's gazelle and springbok ESBs have been removed.

The new list can be seen here:
https://www.eaza.net/assets/Uploads/CCC/Other/November2022.pdf
 
Why there are EEPs of animals which are not in Europe, like large-antlered muntjac and tamaraw?
 
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