Galapagos Wildlife in Zoo's

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FWC

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So I've seen it brought up a few times before, but never really talked about in super great detail.

I know that we have Galapagos tortoises, and possibly a few bird species, but other than that there are no species from the islands represented in captivity outside of their home range that I am aware of.

What species of Galapagos fauna have been housed outside of the islands ? As well, do you think there is a chance they may one day be open to exports again ? What is holding back exports, is Ecuador simply keeping a close handle on their islands "treasures", or is there something bigger preventing it ?
 
Your questions are good ones. There is some discussion of what other species were/are in captivity and why there are not more here: http://www.zoochat.com/2/there-any-galapagos-species-besides-tortoises-215176/

There have been attempts to keep marine iguanas, Galapagos penguins, doves, and Galapagos finches in captivity but none of these species have been kept in sustainable captive populations. For some species like the marine iguanas people have not successfully kept them alive.
 
@ DavidBrown : The Galapagos pigeon has been kept in a sustainable population both in America and in Europe as I've discused all ready in the thread you mention and I'm quite sure there still are some specimens in ( German ) privat collections.
 
Galapagos Wildlife......

I thought the Galapagos Doves eventually stopped breeding? I don't call that very sustainable.
 
There is actually a few reports on keeping Marine Iguanas on lince - Type in "Marine Iguanas captivity" into google. I think the biggest hurdle in the past was simply un-sophisticated husbandry techniques, where as today a good establishment would have a better grasp on the animals needs. Same goes for the birds. Penguins are notoriously hard to breed but not impossible.
I think a Galapagos Island's exhibit would be a fantastic exhibit, especially if you could convey each of the separate islands as exhibits to show the evolutionary diversity. I would love to see a marine iguana exhibit that is 2 stories - upper rocks that drop into a marine exhibit.
 
Earlier thread on marine iguanas http://www.zoochat.com/38/marine-iguanas-1930s-89053/

Also includes a comment on why I think making separate exhibits for the different islands would limit (rather than broaden) the understanding of the remarkable evolutionary history of the archipelago. Loads of clear examples of allopatric speciation around the world; far less where parapatric/sympatric speciation is clear.

Regardless, any Galapagos exhibit with other endemics than the tortoise is wishful thinking today and I seriously doubt that'll change.
 
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