The EAZA have now
released their 2024 annual report - they now no longer have a specific TAG report about the breeding programmes, instead putting a little bit of information about the activities of each TAG into the main annual report. This is the information I have seen that may be of interest:
In total, over 2024, 60 new-style EEPs were approved and 3 programmes were discontinued. This leaves a total of 368 new-style EEPs, 61 old-style EEPs and 50 ESBs.
Terrestrial Invertebrate
- Population management: Nothing much to report here, other than the publishing of Long-Term Management Plans (LTMPs) for Seychelles giant millipede and Partula snails, plus the continued successful breeding of Madeiran land snails.
- Conservation: Mainly celebrates the successful releases of Partula and Madeiran land snails back into the wild from EEP populations.
Freshwater Teleost
- Population management: An analysis was done on the Asian killifish EEP to determine the challenges that may be posed to fish EEPs with low genetic diversity.
- Conservation: Cooperation with Inbursa Aquarium in Mexico is allowing the return of Mexican pupfishes for reintroduction. Lots of work involving multiple EEPs is being done on Madagascan freshwater fishes.
Marine Teleost
- Population management: A marine teleost breeding strategy will be released in 2025, and interest was raised in creating fish breeding facilities in European collections.
- Conservation: The Banggai cardinalfish was the first 'Marine Fish of the Year' in an EAZA conservation campaign, and long-snouted seahorse conservation in the UK was supported by the EEP.
Elasmobranch
- Population management: Work has been undertaken to address the difficulties of breeding some elasmobranchs. Six captive-bred bowmouth guitarfishes were imported to EAZA collections from Japan.
- Conservation: The zebra shark EEP sent animals for reintroduction to Indonesia. In-situ surveying work has been done on juvenile habitat for undulate rays, as part of their EEP.
Jellyfish
- Population management: The TAG identified an opportunity to create self-sustaining populations of 20 species of jellyfish in European zoos, allowing aquaria to exchange species, reduce costs and decrease reliance on outside sources.
Amphibian
- Population management: Breeding was established or expanded for several threatened species, including fire and Lake Patzcuaro salamanders, Southern Darwin's frog and Atewa slippery frogs. A new subspecies of Montseny brook salamander was identified and bred in all three of its breeding centres.
- Conservation: Large numbers of captive-bred European amphibians were reintroduced to the wild, and surveys were done in Madagascar. Jersey Zoo cooperated with Brazilian and Bolivian conservationists on amphibian conservation work.
Reptile
- Population management: Nine young crocodile monitors were imported from America to establish a breeding population in Europe. Many significant breeding successes were had, including with Ibiza wall lizard, horseshoe whip snake, crocodile tegu, secret toadhead agama, green smooth-scaled gecko, Vietnamese crocodile lizard and lesser night gecko. Allwetterzoo reintroduced 80 zoo-bred elongated tortoises back into the wild.
- Conservation: Projects done on reptile conservation includes work with sea turtles, reptiles from Madagascar and Saint Lucia, the release of Northern river terrapins into the wild and advancing research on black-headed bushmasters.
Ratite
- Population management: The five EEPs were proposed, including a multi-species one for tinamous. This would focus on two species to gain knowledge on the care of birds from different environments to potentially later establish programmes for threatened species - the elegant crested tinamou as a representative of pampa species, and the solitary tinamou to represent rainforest species. The TAG also celebrated Birdland's first breeding of Southern cassowary, and Sigean having a first parent-reared clutch of North African ostriches.
Penguin
- Population management: There are plans to import Northern rockhopper and Southern rockhopper penguins from the USA and Japan (the latter country only for Northerns) to improve their demographics. The Eastern rockhoppers of Marineland Antibes will be split between two EAZA collections.
- Conservation: EEP members continued to support projects for conserving both African and Humboldt penguins.
Pelecaniformes, Ciconiiformes and Phoenicopteriformes
- Population management: The Pelecaniformes were split from the Waterfowl TAG and added to this one, to resolve some long-standing confusion about TAG responsibilities. The main focus here is on the Northern bald ibis and the roles its EEP will play.
- Conservation: Additional reintroductions of Northern bald ibises in Catalonia, Morocco and Algeria are being considered alongside existing projects. There are more details on the Dalmatian pelican reintroduction to the Netherlands - the plan would be to release 10 birds initially to determine if zoo-raised birds are suitable for reintroduction. With the addition of a potential UK reintroduction, multiple experts in the species are being brought together.
Raptor
- Population management: The report here mentions the establishment of the hooded and Asian vulture EEPs.
- Conservation: The TAG released large numbers of Eurasian griffon, bearded, cinereous and Egyptian vultures and Ural owls in Europe, and also supported breeding efforts of Philippine eagles in captivity. They are also potentially going to be involved with a release of white-tailed eagles in France.
Galliformes
- Population management: A report was done on how this TAG is working successfully with the private sector, namely the World Pheasant Association.
- Conservation: The first block of breeding aviaries for Vietnam pheasants in their native range country was completed this year, with support of the EEP.
Gruiformes
- Population management: As well as addressing the multiple planned new-style EEPs, the report celebrates the hatching of Allen's gallinule at Leipzig, and examined the genetic variability of the English corncrake ex situ population.
- Conservation: A second Crane Awareness Day, this time with a focus on African species, was run.
Charadriiformes
- Population management: The first breeding recommendations in many years have been issued to boost breeding of the Atlantic puffins. The EEPs for the Inca tern and lapwings are in their infancy at the moment and are focusing on finding in-situ conservation programmes to support. There will also be a new-style EEP for the ruff.
- Conservation: Oceanogràfic València gave their expertise to assist the Sealife Trust's beluga sanctuary in Iceland in caring for exhausted and sick Atlantic pufflings that are also sent to the centre. This enabled the centre to treat and rehabilitate around one third more puffins than in previous years.
Pigeon and Dove
- Population management: Meetings were held about the conservation significance of the EAZA populations of socorro doves and pink pigeons.
- Conservation: Educational guidelines were published about the crowned pigeons.
Parrot
- Population management: The latest RSP (Regional Species Plan) for parrots covers 81 species.
- Conservation: The Parrot TAG was involved in the creation of an IUCN Wild Parrot Specialist Group, which includes a subcategory dedicated to ex-situ conservation.
Toucan and Turaco
- Population management: As well as the European bee-eater and great blue turaco, other species confirmed for new-style EEPs include the green aracari and green-backed trogon.
- Conservation: This TAG cooperated with conservation work for Arabian collared and Guam kingfishers, white-backed woodpeckers and the newly initiated Guyane Conservation NGO that works with toucans.
Hornbill
- Population management: Progress has been made on hornbill breeding, which has resulted in a successful wreathed hornbill rearing at Bioparc Fuengirola and breeding success in silvery-cheeked and Papuan hornbills. Von der Decken's hornbill urgently needs new holders.
- Conservation: The EEP is supporting and steering research on the trade in African hornbills - many species now listed as Least Concern may actually be Vulnerable or Endangered because of hunting. The EEP also recommends continued support for field projects for both ground hornbill species.
Songbird
- Conservation: The TAG continued its support of the Silent Forest Project, and also collaborated with the conservation of cherry-throated tanagers in Brazil.
Monotreme and Marsupial
- Population management: Until new holders are approved, breeding of the common wombat has been paused.
- Conservation: The EAZA and ZAA are cooperating to ensure that exports of Australian species happen exclusively on a TAG-to-TAG basis.
Prosimian
- Population management: An EEP action plan was carried out for the blue-eyed black lemur, which intends to bring the population together in a few hub collections, with specially designed enclosures that can house at least two social units. As well as Coquerel's sifakas, additional mongoose lemurs were imported from AZA to sustain their EEP.
- Conservation: The TAG has begun reviewing its in-situ conservation plan.
Callitrichid
- Conservation: Projects supported by the EEP include ones for the white-footed, cotton-top and pied tamarins, Brazilian mountain marmosets and golden lion tamarins.
Larger New World Monkey
- Population management: The Regional Species Plan was held, with the results due to be published in 2025.
- Conservation: The TAG discussed creating a 'capuchin association' that uses non-threatened capuchins in EAZA collections to support the in-situ conservation of threatened species.
Afro-Eurasian Monkey
- Population management: This TAG completed all of its LTMPs, with the publication of ones for the Francois langur, lion-tailed macaque and Southern pig-tailed macaque.
- Conservation: The TAG recommends the supporting of five different conservation programmes.
Gibbon
- Population management: A LTMP was published for the Javan gibbon.
- Conservation: A new education advisor was welcomed to identify the specific educational roles of each gibbon species in EAZA collections and promote the existing projects that the TAG recommends.
Great Ape
- Population management: The bonobo EEP is at capacity. All female Western chimps were brought into a breeding situation, and 24 young have been born. The same was done for Central chimps, but has resulted in no young so far. Both orangutan species have a surplus of males and a lack of space.
Small Mammal
- Population management: The RSP workshop for the rodents and lagomorphs was held in October.
- Conservation: The TAG recommends supporting the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, to help survey Rodrigues flying foxes and address human-wildlife conflict with Mauritius fruit bats.
Canid and Hyaenid
- Population management: Bush dogs were traded with zoos in South America to add genetic material to both populations. Some updates are also given on the striped hyaena and fennec fox EEPs.
- Conservation: The TAG is looking to support conservation work with striped hyaenas in Tajikistan and fennec foxes in Morocco.
Bear
- Population management: The sloth bear LTMP was finalised this year, meaning that all but the Asiatic black bear have now been done. Several conferences and focus groups on bear husbandry were also done this year.
- Conservation: The Bear Education Guidelines were published in 2024, and the TAG recommends projects that can be supported for the sun, sloth, polar and Syrian brown bears.
Small Carnivore
- Population management: The smaller Malagasy carnivore EEP is establishing a conservation action plan for the 8 species it covers. The Owston's civet EEP celebrated 10 births at Save Vietnam's Wildlife, increasing the population size significantly and opening the doors to a potential reintroduction project. The swapping of fossa between EAZA and AZA is also discussed.
- Conservation: Outlines conservation work done with European otters, Malagasy carnivores, Owston's civets and red pandas.
Felid
- Population management: LTMPs were completed for margay, fishing cat, rusty-spotted cat, sand cat, Carpathian lynx, North Chinese leopard, Asiatic golden cat and Scottish wildcat. The Pallas's cat and snow leopard EEPs may be at risk from a reduced number of transfers from Russia, that have significant holdings of both species.
- Conservation: Major roles played by the TAG include supporting Pallas's cat conservation, supplying Carpathian lynx for reintroduction in Germany and increasing breeding success of Arabian leopards in preparation for a reintroduction project.
Marine Mammal
- Population management: The LTMP was published for the Antillean manatee.
- Conservation: The new EEP for Lahille's bottlenose dolphin has developed a five-year action plan for the subspecies. Conservation was also supported for both Mediterranean monk seals, and manatees in South America.
Elephant
- Population management: The Asian elephant EEP is still intending to have a 50% male - 50% female population, which was strengthened by the creation of two all-male herds and the addition of Morocco's Aïn Sebaâ Zoo as a non-EAZA EEP participant. The African elephant EEP was affected by three zoos going out of the species and two undergoing renovation that required the departure of their bulls. The EEP also saw a second African elephant calf die from EEHV.
- Conservation: A current survey of elephant holders shows that 65% of them are currently involved in funding elephant conservation.
Equid
- Population management: The Przewalski's horse EEP set up new breeding herds to meet demands for reintroduction to Mongolia and Kazakhstan, as well as negotiating on rewilding projects in Spain. The Somali wild ass EEP has a stronger young generation than in previous years, showing their decline can still be reversed. New zoos and Rewilding Portugal joined this EEP.
- Conservation: Both kulan and Przewalski's horses were released in Kazakhstan. Field research in Ethiopia and Eritrea on the Somali wild ass have taken place. Support has continued for conservation of mountain and Grevy's zebras, and a maneless zebra project in coordination with the Uganda Wildlife Authority is being negotiated.
Rhinoceros
- Population management: Eastern black rhinos from the EEP population were transferred to South Africa and Tanzania. Preparations have continued on efforts to export white rhinos to Australia. Both the white and greater one-horned rhino EEPs are both facing space constraints, and solutions are being looked for.
- Conservation: A second black rhino calf was born to a zoo-born mother that was reintroduced to Rwanda.
Cattle and Camelid
- Population management: Bluetongue restrictions affected many movements of European bison. The TAG also worked with Indonesian zoos to develop breeding and transfer recommendations for threatened wild cattle.
- Conservation: The tamaraw EEP has developed a feasibility assessment for ex-situ conservation and translocation of animals. Work has continued with banteng and anoa conservation in Indonesia, while the movement of European bison to Azerbaijan for reintroduction managed to continue despite bluetongue restrictions, although movements were halted by a foot-and-mouth outbreak near Berlin. The TAG is also increasing in-situ support for wild water buffalo and wild camel.
Deer
- Population management: The Deer TAG was also affected by bluetongue restrictions, as well as the EU Invasive Alien Species Regulation.
- Conservation: The TAG has supported conservation work with several species, including Visayan spotted deer, forest reindeer, Persian fallow deer and large-antlered muntjac.
Antelope and Giraffid
- Population management: This TAG was also affected by bluetongue restrictions.
- Conservation: The TAG is restructuring its conservation approach, aiming to have a one in-situ project with a measurable impact attached to every EEP. Zoos in EAZA have been critical to the creation of the 2020-2029 conservation strategy for the slender-horned gazelle.
Caprinae
- Population management: The populations of endangered urial increased during 2024, but the Chinese goral population stagnated or declined.
- Conservation: A working group was established to try and import cryopreserved sperm from golden takin in Japan to Europe, and vice versa, to increase genetic diversity.
