Introduction
Several threads discussed that zoos lack space for breeding programs, and proposed planned extinction of many animal species in European zoos. There are diverse alternatives, for example lobbying for an exemption in laws for zoos to allow limited import of founder animals. Another solution is replacing common zoo animals by rare species.
I decided to check current populations of common animals in EAZA zoos, focusing on those which could potentially be replaced by rare relatives. For this purpose, I downloaded current holdings of most common animals from Zootierliste (ones with over 50 holders, with some exceptions).
This is a thought experiment 'what if'. I simply want to check how many common animals exist in Europe, for a theoretical possibility. Are all common animals replaced by endangered species already? I also want a broad overview, not very specific details.
I don't plan in any way to influence zoos, coordinators of breeding programs or EAZA. Still, I demonstrate that for several animal groups, even if a fraction, for example one-fifth of holders of common animals switch to rare ones, this would give concrete and important conservation benefit.
In practice, it is not realistic that all or most non-endangered and common animals listed below can be replaced by endangered species. Zoo holdings have errors, exhibits may be outdated and awaiting replacement, small zoos may lack experience of keeping rare species, common animals might be rescues, and long-lived species, like apes, bears, parrots, cranes, turtles and crocodilians can live decades into future before freeing space.
I expect an argument that zoos should keep common and domestic animals for education. This can be counteracted. First, zoos can use rare animals to educate about native animals. A zoo can e.g. educate children about deer with endangered Bactrian red deer instead of common generic red deer. Second, zoos obviously cannot educate about everything, so already must choose topics of education. Better choose education which joins forces with conservation, because uses threatened species.
I also feel that education about domestic animals 'that milk comes from cows not factory' can be delegated to petting farms. it is not the core function of zoos. In the last decades, a worrying trend occurred in zoos - getting rid of elephants and black rhinos but acquiring cows and domestic goats. Is it really sensible?
Part 1. Hoofed Animals
Ungulates have been repeatedly mentioned on Zoochat in the context that zoo populationd of threatened species and subspecies fall. They are big animals which demand space but are seen as less interesting for the public than carnivores or apes. Lets examine check this group.
1. Deer
Following deer forms I consider not endangered and commonly kept:
Eurasian Fallow Deer - 866 holders
Central European Red Deer - 324 holders
European Roe Deer - 243 holders
Reindeer (domestic) - 183 holders
Red Deer (generic / no-subspecific status) - 165 holders
Eurasian Elk - 125 holders
Axis Deer (generic) - 100 holders
Sika Deer (generic) - 100 holders
Dybowski Sika Deer - 84 holders
Japanese Sika Deer - 63 holders
Chinese Muntjac (generic) - 181 holders
In total, 2434 institutions keep generic or common deer, which means over 10,000 individuals, many in small deer parks or enclosures.
Deer show how conservation could benefit if even a fraction of institutions keeping common species would make a bold decision to change to endangered ones. This would require increased cooperation of EAZA with numerous and relatively small non-EAZA institutions.
In an imaginary scenario, if all institutions changed to endangered deer, this could create space for 20 forms, 500 individuals each of endangered deer. Even if only 1 in 5 changed, that would solves space problems of several endangered deer.
Among deer, many endangered forms, like Mesopotamian Fallow Deer, Atlas Red Deer, Bactrian Red Deer, Vietnamese Sika Deer have very similar appearance and needs as their common cousins. Deer could be also replaced by endangered caprids and antelope. For example, some of 125 institutions keeping Eurasian Elk (Moose) could hypothetically, switch to keeping Takin.
Remark: Native population of Chinese Muntjac was apparently recently uplisted to Vulnerable with extinction and might be theoretically excluded. But its large introduced population in Britain means that I included it among forms where more endangered replacements are possible.
Below - Vietnamese Sika Deer by Therabu. Extinct in the wild, similar to common generic sika deer, and at one time threatened in European zoos due to the lack of holders.
Vietnamese sika deer Cervus hortulorum pseudaxis - ZooChat
2. Caprids – wild sheep and goat
Following forms are not endangered and commonly kept:
Mufflon - 457 holders
Aoudad (generic) – 129 holders
Alpine ibex - 109 holders
Alpine Chamois – 48 holders
Cretan and Bezoar Wild Goat (hybrid) – 16 holders
In total, 759 zoos keep these generic, common or feral caprids, which is probably much more than 5,000 individuals. Additionally, enormous number of domestic goats and sheep are kept in zoos, which are not really the wisest use of zoos space.
Wild sheep and goat are another group, which conservation would enormously benefit if institutions keeping common forms boldly witch to endangered ones. As with deer, many endangered caprids have very similar appearance and requirements to common ones, e.g. Tajik Urial, all pure subspecies of Aoudad and West Caucasian Ibex. As a side remark, it is possible that zoo population of aoudad sheep is partially pure subspecies, because it could be imported from only one part of its range.
Below: Transcaspian Urial by RatioTitle. Endangered, and with very similar needs to the common Mufflon.
Transcaspian Urial (Ovis vignei arkal) - ZooChat
Coming next – the rest of ungulates.
Several threads discussed that zoos lack space for breeding programs, and proposed planned extinction of many animal species in European zoos. There are diverse alternatives, for example lobbying for an exemption in laws for zoos to allow limited import of founder animals. Another solution is replacing common zoo animals by rare species.
I decided to check current populations of common animals in EAZA zoos, focusing on those which could potentially be replaced by rare relatives. For this purpose, I downloaded current holdings of most common animals from Zootierliste (ones with over 50 holders, with some exceptions).
This is a thought experiment 'what if'. I simply want to check how many common animals exist in Europe, for a theoretical possibility. Are all common animals replaced by endangered species already? I also want a broad overview, not very specific details.
I don't plan in any way to influence zoos, coordinators of breeding programs or EAZA. Still, I demonstrate that for several animal groups, even if a fraction, for example one-fifth of holders of common animals switch to rare ones, this would give concrete and important conservation benefit.
In practice, it is not realistic that all or most non-endangered and common animals listed below can be replaced by endangered species. Zoo holdings have errors, exhibits may be outdated and awaiting replacement, small zoos may lack experience of keeping rare species, common animals might be rescues, and long-lived species, like apes, bears, parrots, cranes, turtles and crocodilians can live decades into future before freeing space.
I expect an argument that zoos should keep common and domestic animals for education. This can be counteracted. First, zoos can use rare animals to educate about native animals. A zoo can e.g. educate children about deer with endangered Bactrian red deer instead of common generic red deer. Second, zoos obviously cannot educate about everything, so already must choose topics of education. Better choose education which joins forces with conservation, because uses threatened species.
I also feel that education about domestic animals 'that milk comes from cows not factory' can be delegated to petting farms. it is not the core function of zoos. In the last decades, a worrying trend occurred in zoos - getting rid of elephants and black rhinos but acquiring cows and domestic goats. Is it really sensible?
Part 1. Hoofed Animals
Ungulates have been repeatedly mentioned on Zoochat in the context that zoo populationd of threatened species and subspecies fall. They are big animals which demand space but are seen as less interesting for the public than carnivores or apes. Lets examine check this group.
1. Deer
Following deer forms I consider not endangered and commonly kept:
Eurasian Fallow Deer - 866 holders
Central European Red Deer - 324 holders
European Roe Deer - 243 holders
Reindeer (domestic) - 183 holders
Red Deer (generic / no-subspecific status) - 165 holders
Eurasian Elk - 125 holders
Axis Deer (generic) - 100 holders
Sika Deer (generic) - 100 holders
Dybowski Sika Deer - 84 holders
Japanese Sika Deer - 63 holders
Chinese Muntjac (generic) - 181 holders
In total, 2434 institutions keep generic or common deer, which means over 10,000 individuals, many in small deer parks or enclosures.
Deer show how conservation could benefit if even a fraction of institutions keeping common species would make a bold decision to change to endangered ones. This would require increased cooperation of EAZA with numerous and relatively small non-EAZA institutions.
In an imaginary scenario, if all institutions changed to endangered deer, this could create space for 20 forms, 500 individuals each of endangered deer. Even if only 1 in 5 changed, that would solves space problems of several endangered deer.
Among deer, many endangered forms, like Mesopotamian Fallow Deer, Atlas Red Deer, Bactrian Red Deer, Vietnamese Sika Deer have very similar appearance and needs as their common cousins. Deer could be also replaced by endangered caprids and antelope. For example, some of 125 institutions keeping Eurasian Elk (Moose) could hypothetically, switch to keeping Takin.
Remark: Native population of Chinese Muntjac was apparently recently uplisted to Vulnerable with extinction and might be theoretically excluded. But its large introduced population in Britain means that I included it among forms where more endangered replacements are possible.
Below - Vietnamese Sika Deer by Therabu. Extinct in the wild, similar to common generic sika deer, and at one time threatened in European zoos due to the lack of holders.
Vietnamese sika deer Cervus hortulorum pseudaxis - ZooChat
2. Caprids – wild sheep and goat
Following forms are not endangered and commonly kept:
Mufflon - 457 holders
Aoudad (generic) – 129 holders
Alpine ibex - 109 holders
Alpine Chamois – 48 holders
Cretan and Bezoar Wild Goat (hybrid) – 16 holders
In total, 759 zoos keep these generic, common or feral caprids, which is probably much more than 5,000 individuals. Additionally, enormous number of domestic goats and sheep are kept in zoos, which are not really the wisest use of zoos space.
Wild sheep and goat are another group, which conservation would enormously benefit if institutions keeping common forms boldly witch to endangered ones. As with deer, many endangered caprids have very similar appearance and requirements to common ones, e.g. Tajik Urial, all pure subspecies of Aoudad and West Caucasian Ibex. As a side remark, it is possible that zoo population of aoudad sheep is partially pure subspecies, because it could be imported from only one part of its range.
Below: Transcaspian Urial by RatioTitle. Endangered, and with very similar needs to the common Mufflon.
Transcaspian Urial (Ovis vignei arkal) - ZooChat
Coming next – the rest of ungulates.
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