Casting the Net Widely for Change in Animal Welfare: The Plight of Birds in Zoos, Ex Situ Conservation, and Conservation Fieldwork

This paper discusses paradoxes in our relationship to and treatment of birds in captive and conservation contexts. The paper identifies modern and new challenges that arise from declining bird numbers worldwide. Such challenges have partly changed zoos into providers of insurance populations specifically for species at risk of extinction. They have also accelerated fieldwork projects, but by using advanced technological tools and in increasing numbers, contradictorily, they may cause serious harm to the very birds studied for conservation purposes. In practice, very few avian species have any notable protection or guarantee of good treatment. The paper first deals with shortcomings of identifying problematic avian behavior in captive birds. It then brings together specific cases of field studies and captive breeding for conservation in which major welfare deficits are identified. Indeed, the paper argues that avian welfare is now an urgent task. This is not just because of declining bird numbers but because of investment in new technologies in field studies that may have introduced additional stressors and put at risk bird survival. While the paper documents a substantial number of peer-reviewed papers criticizing practices counter to modern welfare standards, they have by and large not led to changes in some practices. Some solutions are suggested that could be readily implemented and, to my knowledge, have never been considered under a welfare model before.

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First Captive Breeding Program for the Endangered Pyrenean Sculpin (Cottus hispaniolensis Bacescu-Master, 1964)

Water ◽

10.3390/w12112986 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 2986

Author(s):

Joan Manubens ◽

Oriol Comas ◽

Núria Valls ◽

Lluís Benejam

Keyword(s):

Captive Breeding ◽

Ex Situ Conservation ◽

Breeding Program ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Major Influence ◽

Freshwater Species ◽

Non Profit ◽

Captive Breeding Program ◽

Critical Phases ◽

Conservation Plans

The strong decline of freshwater fish species in Europe implies that further ex-situ conservation plans should be implemented in the near future. The present study reflects our experience with the Pyrenean sculpin (Cottus hispaniolensis Bacescu-Mester, 1964)—a small cottid endemic to the Hispano-French Garona River basin. In recent years, the Spanish Pyrenean sculpin population has reached a limit situation. Because of that, the non-profit association ADEFFA—with support from the public administration—started the first captive breeding program for this species in 2006. Fourteen years later, this study presents the results and evaluates the different steps of the program, with the aim of discussing and improving the ex-situ conservation plans for this and other cold freshwater species. There is a description and a comparison between six consecutive phases during the captive breeding process: nesting behaviour, courtship, egg fixation, parental care (incubation), hatching and survival during juvenile development. The purposes of this project are to: (1) identify the most determining phases for a successful captive breeding; (2) identify the factors that had a major influence to the success of the critical phases; and (3) increase the number of the offspring. This study is based on thirty-three wild individuals collected from Garona River (Val d’Aran, Spanish Pyrenees). During the program, twelve couples spawned in captive conditions, with around 2300 eggs laid. Eight couples bred successfully, with 751 hatched individuals and 608 juveniles reared. The analysis of each step of the captive breeding does not reveal significant differences between phases, so it can be concluded that they are all critical at the same level. In the literature, similar study-cases of captive breeding programs identify incubation and survival phases as the most critical. Consequently, the management made for this project has probably allowed to overcome in part the main impediments described in other similar programs.

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New technologies to improve the ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources

Plant genetic resources: A review of current research and future needs - Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science ◽

10.19103/as.2020.0085.14 ◽

2021 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fiona R. Hay ◽

◽

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

New Technologies ◽

Ex Situ Conservation ◽

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

Ex Situ

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Greek Tulips: Worldwide Electronic Trade over the Internet, Global Ex Situ Conservation and Current Sustainable Exploitation Challenges

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10030580 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 580

Author(s):

Nikos Krigas ◽

Christos Lykas ◽

Ioannis Ipsilantis ◽

Theodora Matsi ◽

Stina Weststrand ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Value Chain ◽

Ex Situ Conservation ◽

Field Studies ◽

Ex Situ ◽

The Internet ◽

Botanic Gardens ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Electronic Trade ◽

Conservation Implications ◽

Phytogenetic Resources

From an ornamental viewpoint, tulips are famous clonally propagated crops. This research focuses on 15 wild-growing Greek tulip species including 11 range-restricted species, i.e., six Greek endemics and five Balkan or Aegean endemics and subendemics, among which seven are currently threatened with extinction (two Critically Endangered, three Endangered and two Vulnerable). An overview of the global electronic trade over the internet is presented herein for these valuable phytogenetic resources in an attempt to define the extent of their commercialization (25 nurseries in three countries, mainly bulb trade at various prices) with concomitant conservation implications. In the frame of the repatriation initiatives launched, their global ex situ conservation is overviewed according to the PlantSearch facility of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (materials from 15 species stored in 41 botanic gardens of 14 countries). The results of this study on the Greek tulips showed that there are both well-established value chains and gaps in the market regarding the “botanical tulips”; revealed the compromised effectiveness of ex situ conservation for the majority of them; raised conservation concerns related to authorized access to these wild phytogenetic resources; and indicated that their future utilization should comply with the provision of national and international legislation. All these are envisaged and discussed within the framework of the newly launched research project TULIPS.GR which aims to be the pilot establishment of a national collection regarding all Greek tulips (currently holding 38 accessions of 13 species, including almost all of the threatened ones). The project’s scope is to enable the creation of a sustainable value chain for the Greek tulips with authorized collections, sustainable conservation schemes, production of DNA barcoded propagation material, species-specific propagation and cultivation protocols, mycorrhizal investigations, field studies, applying innovative precise soil/foliar fertigation, and investigation of the postharvest treatment of fresh cut flowers, promoting networking and synergies with producers and associations in Greece and abroad.

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Determinant Factors of Successful Ex Situ Conservation of Lesser Bird of Paradise [Paradisaea minor Shaw, 1809]

Buletin Plasma Nutfah ◽

10.21082/blpn.v25n1.2019.p13-24 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 13

Author(s):

Ken Dara Cita ◽

Jarwadi Budi Hernowo ◽

Burhanuddin Masy'ud

Keyword(s):

Statistical Analysis ◽

Captive Breeding ◽

Ex Situ Conservation ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Social Aspect ◽

Biological Aspect ◽

Illegal Hunting ◽

Determinant Factors ◽

Breeding Technique

<p>Recently, the population of the lesser bird of paradise (Paradisaea minor Shaw, 1809) has been decreasing due to illegal hunting, illegal trading, and habitat destruction. Meanwhile, ex situ conservation efforts of this bird are lacked and very low in the success of breeding. The aims of this research were to identify and analyze the component that determines the successful ex situ conservation of the lesser bird of paradise. The study was conducted from March until May 2016 in the TMII Bird Park, Mega Bird and Orchid Farm (MBOF), Ragunan Zoo, Bandung Zoo, and Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) in Qatar. Data<br />included an internal and external biological aspect of species, captive breeding technique, and social aspect, and were analyzed by Principle Component Analysis (PCA). The statistical analysis resulted that there were five determinant factors of successful ex situ conservation of lesser bird of paradise which the first determinant factors were maturity, diet, and ability of animal keeper.</p>

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Conservation status of caribou in the western mountains of Canada: Protections under the species at risk act, 2002-2014

Rangifer ◽

10.7557/2.35.2.3647 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 49 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Justina C. Ray ◽

Deborah B. Cichowski ◽

Martin-Hugues St-Laurent ◽

Chris J. Johnson ◽

Stephen D. Petersen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

First Nations ◽

Captive Breeding ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Species At Risk ◽

Predator Control ◽

Conservation Units ◽

Preventative Measures ◽

The Status ◽

Species At Risk Act

In April 2014, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) reviewed the status of caribou in the western mountains of Canada, in keeping with the ten-year reassessment mandate under the Species at Risk Act. Assessed as two ‘nationally significant’ populations in 2002, COSEWIC revised the conservation units for all caribou in Canada, recognising eleven extant Designatable Units (DUs), three of which -- Northern Mountain, Central Mountain, and Southern Mountain -- are found only in western Canada. The 2014 assessment concluded that the condition of many subpopulations in all three DUs had deteriorated. As a result of small and declining population sizes, the Central Mountain and Southern Mountain DUs are now recognised as endangered. Recent declines in a number of Northern Mountain DU subpopulations did not meet thresholds for endangered or threatened, and were assessed as of special concern. Since the passage of the federal Species at Risk Act in 2002, considerable areas of habitat were managed or conserved for caribou, although disturbance from cumulative human development activities has increased during the same period. Government agencies and local First Nations are attempting to arrest the steep decline of some subpopulations by using predator control, maternal penning, population augmentation, and captive breeding. Based on declines, future developments and current recovery effects, we offer the following recommendations: 1) where recovery actions are necessary, commit to simultaneously reducing human intrusion into caribou ranges, restoring habitat over the long term, and conducting short-term predator control, 2) carefully consider COSEWIC’s new DU structure for management and recovery actions, especially regarding translocations, 3) carry out regular surveys to monitor the condition of Northern Mountain caribou subpopulations and immediately implement preventative measures where necessary, and 4) undertake a proactive, planned approach coordinated across jurisdictions to conserve landscape processes important to caribou conservation.

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New technologies to improve the ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources

Plant genetic resources ◽

10.4324/9781003180623-10 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 185-216

Author(s):

Fiona R. Hay ◽

Sershen

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

New Technologies ◽

Ex Situ Conservation ◽

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

Ex Situ

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Anatomy of the Male Reproductive Organs of Javan Pangolin (Manis javanica)

10.31219/osf.io/q4z6k ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Yusrizal Akmal ◽

Chairun Nisa ◽

Savitri Novelina

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Biology ◽

Captive Breeding ◽

Ex Situ Conservation ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Reproductive Organs ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Wild Animals ◽

Market Demand ◽

Illegal Hunting ◽

Male Reproductive Organs

Pangolin is an animal that has special attention by CITES since 1985. This is due to increase of market demand, especially from China. It causes the illegal hunting is increasing, so that alleged wild population decreases dramatically. Overcoming of decreasing of the pangolin populations in the wild, could be anticipated by captive breeding. The information about the status of the reproductive biology of wild animals is very important for implementation of ex situ conservation activities. One of the aspects of the reproductive biology of wild animals is knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the reproductive organs both males and females.Nowdays, data on morphological characteristics of male reproductive organs of pangolin (M. javanica) still limited. The data obtained of this study is new information in reproductive biology, especially on the morphological characteristics of the male reproductive organs of pangolin (M. javanica). In addition, the information can be the data base that is important in the effort to support ex situ conservation.

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