The Conservation Myth:

Transcription

1 The Conservation Myth: How Zoos are not Saving Endangered Species A Study of the Conservation Status of Species Held in Welsh Zoos A Summary Report info@captiveanimals.org

2 The Conservation Myth: How Zoos are not Saving Endangered Species A Study of the Conservation Status of Species Held in Welsh Zoos A Summary Report This report summarises the findings from a study researched and written by Craig Redmond on behalf of the Captive Animals Protection Society, A Study of the Conservation Status of Species Held in Welsh Zoos. The full study can be accessed on the CAPS website. Craig Redmond is an independent animal rights consultant who was previously CAPS Campaigns Director, having worked at the charity for over a decade. The Captive Animals Protection Society (CAPS) is a UK-based charity leading the campaign to end the captivity of animals, especially those used for entertaining the public in zoos, circuses and the media industry. Our Mission 1. We take action to end the captivity of animals, especially those used for entertaining the public in zoos, circuses and the media industry. 2. We carry out investigations and research to provide a solid evidence base for our campaigns and political lobbying. 3. Our educational work and awareness raising promotes a more compassionate attitude and relationship between humans and other animals. 4. We undertake high level work to educate policy makers whilst continuing to support grassroots activism, the very foundations of CAPS. 5. We work in partnership with organisations that share our values and amplify our campaigns. PO Box 591, Manchester, M12 0DP, UK Phone: +44 (0) (local-call rate) or +44 (0) info@captiveanimals.org Website: The Captive Animals Protection Society is a registered charity in England and Wales No All photos copyright Craig Redmond

3 Introduction Today s zoo industry has made a large effort to distance itself from its roots in the 1800s, where menageries of animals were shipped in from their natural habitat to live in small, barren cages in zoos in the Western world. Many of these animals would not survive beyond a few months after being put on display for the curious public, excited to experience these exotic life forms. Zoos now claim that their raison d être is the conservation of species and polls have suggested that members of the public believe these claims. To add to the assessment of the true contribution of zoos to conservation, CAPS commissioned this preliminary study investigating how many animals (both in terms of species and individuals) that are held in zoos that are threatened in their natural habitat. The study focuses on zoos in Wales but hopes to open interest and possibility of expanding the research across the UK. 3

4 This Eastern Black Rhino makes up just 3.21 % of critically endangered animals held in zoos in Wales. Methodology Zoos are required to submit stocklists to local councils each year which detail the species of animals held and the numbers of individuals. CAPS applied for access to these under the Freedom of Information Act. This data was used to identify the conservation status of each species, using the International Union for the Conservation of Nature s Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List). Fish and invertebrates were not included as they are often kept in very high numbers and numbers on stocklists are often not very accurate. For various reasons, we were unable to obtain stocklists for some zoos. This study is therefore based on stocklists of 12 zoos, which is 32.4% of 37 known zoos in Wales. 4

5 Conservation classifications The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is a comprehensive evaluation of the conservation status of plant and animal species. It categorises species as: Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild or Extinct. Species classified as threatened are in the categories: Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild Species classified as endangered as in the categories: Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild Key findings In Zoos in Wales: Only 9% of species are endangered Only 17% of species are threatened 84% of mammals; 95% of birds; 93% of reptiles; 79% of amphibians are not endangered: The most common species held in Welsh zoos are the house mouse and guinea pig Of the top ten most commonly held species held in Welsh zoos, only two are threatened in the wild 5

6 Most commonly kept species in zoos in Wales Species (common name) Species (scientific name) Number of individuals Number of zoos holding species Conservation status House Mouse Mus musculus Least Concern Guinea Pig Cavia porcellus 88 4 Domesticated Caribbean Flamingo Zebra Finch Ne-ne / Hawaiian goose Egyptian Fruit Bat Slender-tailed meerkat Humboldt penguin Red eared Slider Domestic equines (horse, pony, donkey) Phoenicopterus ruber Taeniopygia guttata Branta sandvicensis Rousettus aegyptiacus Suricata suricatta Spheniscus humboldti Trachemys scripta elegans 71 1 Least Concern 59 2 Least Concern 58 2 Vulnerable 56 1 Least Concern 56 7 Least Concern 51 2 Vulnerable 49 4 Least Concern 43 6 Domesticated Conservation status of all species in zoos in Wales (species) 5.41% 9.89% Domesticated (5.41%) 60.96% 0.27% 3.21% 5.08% 8.29% 8.29% Least Concern (60.96%) Near Threatened (8.29%) Vulnerable (8.29%) Endangered (5.08%) Critically Endangered (3.21%) Extinct in the Wild (0.27%) Other (9.89%) 6

7 Endangered species in zoos by class Mammals 15.56% Reptiles 7.27% Con in Conservation 84.44% Amphibians 21.05% 78.95% 92.73% Birds 4.76% 95.24% It would be reasonable to assume that by looking at a part of an industry that promotes itself as existing for conservation purposes, that we would find a large number of endangered species being held in zoos. Yet this study has found just 8.60% of all species held in Welsh zoos are endangered and just 16.84% are threatened in the wild. This is the same percentage of threatened species as found in a separate study for zoos in England (17.07%) in 2011 (Born Free, 2011). Endangered Not Endangered Species, of course, are made up of individuals. Looking at the ten most commonly-held species in zoos in Wales, in terms of numbers of individuals, the conservation con becomes even more apparent. None are endangered and only two species are threatened (vulnerable) in the wild. Zoos clearly hold so few animals of significant conservation concern, that it is disingenuous for them to claim that this is their main focus. To give over so much of their space and resources to nonthreatened species is at odds with their claim that captive breeding of endangered species is so vital to their survival. We are not advocating for an increase in the number of endangered species held in zoos, (we do not believe captive breeding serves conservation) however we use these figures to expose how the claims of the zoo industry fall flat. 7

8 The vast majority of animals in zoos are not threatened in the wild It is argued that zoos taking animals into captivity is a necessary evil to address an urgent conservation problem. Indeed zoos often state their aim is to be able to return animals back to the wild, the ultimate goal of a captive breeding programme. Folly Farm Zoo in Wales states (2017) To see an animal born at our zoo, reintroduced to the wild, is the ultimate aim of our conservation efforts. These viewpoints indicate that there is a recognition by zoos that the wild is the place that these animals should live. So how then do they justify the captivity of those animals which are not threatened in the wild? What reasons do they have to explain why the the vast majority of the animals in zoos are held captive when they face no conservation threat (by IUCN categorisation)? With much existing evidence to show that animals in captivity face a range of welfare problems, we would question if it is in any way justifiable. To continue to breed animals into existence to life in a cage, for no clear benefit to the animals or species, seems to show that those Victorian days of zoos existence for entertainment are very much still with us. It is of concern that keeping wild animals in captivity, animals who would naturally live in vastly different climates and habitats to those often provided by zoos, seems to be seen as a normal, non-questionable practice. The captivity of any animal should have to be strongly justified; however, it seems that the justification is lacking when non-threatened species continue to be bred into captivity perpetually. It appears that zoos keep these animals captive to add variety to the collection of animals on display to entertain visitors. The public expect and wish to see certain species when they attend zoos and the zoo industry therefore provides. Animals that are impressive or exciting to watch are held in captivity for their entire lives, forced to breed and eventually die there. For example, looking closely at the most common species in Welsh zoos, it is clear that many are those which can be handled, ridden, fed or are generally popular with the public. The meerkat has a conservation status of Least Concern, yet it is a popular species held in zoos, likely due to the wellknown Meerkat Manor TV series and a popular advert in the UK featuring animated meerkats. There has been a noticeable increase in zoos housing meerkats after these TV appearances. Feeding and meet and greet experiences with meerkats also 8

9 The two-toed sloth is not threatened in the wild but will spend a lifetime in captivity seemed to increase as meerkats became a key attraction for zoos in a way in which they weren t previously. If all non-threatened species were removed from zoos, it would leave the zoo industry with only a small pool of species to fill their zoos with; a study found that UK zoos only house 3.5% of the total number of threatened animal species worldwide (Born Free 2007). This would be a problem for zoos trying to get visitors through the gates, as people would not be as entertained by only a handful of species on show. Research has shown that visitors spend around 30 seconds to 2 minutes looking at each exhibit in a zoo (Bitgood et al 1988; Marcellini and Jenssen 1988), so zoos need to add in variety to keep people entertained for a good day out. But if zoos state they exist for conservation purposes, might we not expect them to focus on a small handful of endangered species and not spend resources housing nonendangered ones? Once again this goes to show the con in zoos conservation claims. With zoos presenting the idea that they exist for conservation purposes when in reality they are holding mostly nonthreatened species, the general public may be led to believe that a certain species is endangered, when it is not.. Of course with global issues such as climate change threatening ecosystems worldwide, no species is truly free from conservation concern, but there may be confusion if the public believe zoos are housing endangered species and in reality they house just 9% in a typical zoo. Our charity has received many comments that zoos only house endangered species and when questioned, they believe meerkats, for example, are endangered by virtue of being held in a zoo. Captivity for conservation? We are often told that the keeping and breeding of animals in captivity in itself is conservation in practice. It is a claim that all too often goes unchallenged. What actually is meant by conservation? Does keeping a species in captivity, even if there is a co-ordinated captive breeding 9

10 programme, actually benefit conservation? Does this breeding, in the cases where it does take place, actually lead to the reintroduction of individuals to natural habitats? Do any reintroductions lead to self-sustaining populations? 9% of species in Welsh zoos may be endangered, but just because a species is held in a zoo or part of a breeding programme does not mean that this in itself is a valuable or justifiable way to carry out conservation. Research continues to show that the number of threatened species that are bred in captivity and released to the wild remains low, and those that make it to the wild may not survive (Born Free 2007; Jule et al 2008). Lack of knowledge of release habitats (not knowing where to find food or water), lack of skills to rear young (particularly in hand-reared individuals) and lack of resistance to diseases in the wild, are all challenges facing a released individual. Interestingly, the British Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA, 2017) admits that, Reintroductions [of captive bred animals] tend to be very expensive, complicated and are frequently unsuccessful. Exploring further, some reintroductions touted as successes by zoos seem to be as a result of environmental or habitat changes rather than the efforts of the zoo programme itself (Norton et al 1996). For the reasons above as well as many more not discussed here, we advocate that limited resources available should be used to protect habitats and animals in the species natural habitat. This is the only viable way to successfully protect endangered species. Conclusion Despite claims from zoos that animals are kept captive in zoos for conservation purposes, our study has found that most of the animals held in zoos in Wales are not of conservation concern. By displaying thousands of animals who are not threatened in the wild, it is clear the real aim is to provide entertainment for visitors. This finding corroborates with evidence in similar research carried out in England and across Europe. It is important zoos are challenged on their justifications for existence, especially when they hold thousands of animals captive in conditions which deprive them of their natural habitat. The excuse of conservation can no longer be used as a veil for the captivity of animals in zoos. The numbers of threatened or endangered species confined in zoos is just one part of a very large picture, and this study should be seen as the basis of further research. Further analysis of insitu conservation efforts by zoos; successful introductions of captivebred species into the wild; public perceptions of the zoo industry s contribution to conservation; and visitor learning about conservation status of animals in zoos, are just a few examples of others areas to be explored. There is clearly a great need to delve deeper into the conservation claims of the zoo industry. This Sacred Ibis is held captive despite being least concern conservation status 10

11 References BIAZA, Reintroduction. reintroduction/ Accessed Born Free Animal Ark or Sinking Ship? An evaluation of conservation by UK zoos, Born Free Foundation animal_ark.pdf Born Free, EU Zoo Inquiry. Born Free Foundation, campaigns/zoo-check/zoos/eu-zoo-inquiry/ Folly Farm Breeding Programmes. Folly Farm website. zoo/conservation/breeding-programmes Accessed IUCN, About. International Union for the Conservation of Nature. iucnredlist.org/about Accessed Jule, K R., Leaver, L A., Lea S E G The effects of captive experience on reintroduction survival in carnivores: A review and analysis, Biol. Conserv. 141(2): Laidlaw, R Reintroduction of captive-bred animals to the wild: Is the Modern Ark Afloat? Captive-bred-Animals.pdf Norton, B G., Hutchins, M., Maple, T., Stevens, E Ethics on the Ark. Zoos, Animal Welfare, and Wildlife Conservation

12 Captive Animals Protection Society PO Box 591, Manchester, M12 0DP Phone: +44 (0) (local-call rate) or +44 (0) Website: