EX-SITU CONSERVATION. Lecture By: Mr. N.Baskar

EX-SITU CONSERVATION Lecture By: Mr. N.Baskar Good Morning students, I am Baskar working in Arignar Anna Zoological Park, as Biologist. I have been there for the past two decades on Zoo Management and conservation of the wild animals. Let us share some kind of information regarding the conservation; the conservation is classified as IN-SITU Conservation and EX-SITU Conservation. First I could like to focus on the Ex-Situ conservation and it needs. What do you mean the In-situ and Ex-situ conservation? In-situ conservation is the efforts and the measures are being taken by the management or government or agencies in the originated or naturalistic surroundings where as the Ex-Situ conservation is the efforts same kind of efforts are being taken in the artificial environment, for example zoo s, aquaria, rescue centers and conservation breading centers, avaries and safari parks, etc, which are coming under Ex-situ conservation. Why we need Ex-situ conservation? Nowadays you should come across the wildlife s are deflecting like anything not only in India all over the world. India is placed and 7 th mega diversity country in the world.even though there is a depletion of the wildlife population in the original forest so that to avoid this kind of depletion population in the wildness exsitu conservation center is formed under the Government of India as well as the government of Tamilnadu. Let us see about the history of Zoo in the Ex-situ conservation aspect.zoo was started during the 19 th century also and 20 th century, in 19 th century zoo are established by rulers as a symbol of status. There was a status ego between the rulers.they used to hunt animals without any forethought. The first collection that could be considered as Zoo in Paris in 1794.Moreover the pictorial map will indicates you the evaluation of Zoo s. In 19 th century, Menagerie period were the animals were collected and kept us a status and people allowed to see the animals in the premises that means rulers area were diversity of species was there adoption for life was provided in some extent, species husbandry, species propagation was kept in some extent only. In the

20 th century living museum was established theme was ecological, subjects: habitats of animals and behavioral biology were discussed, gradually it has been developed the 21th century environment resource center. Now we are talking the ex-situ& in-situ conservation in 21 st century theme is environmental subject s ecosystem survival of species; concerns conservation organizational networks across the global level exhibit is immersion exhibits almost naturalistic environment as been provides for the captive population. PRINCIPLES OF EX-SITU CONSERSATION: Conservation of components of biological diversity outside their natural habitat and provides opportunities for research on components of biological diversity and forefront of educating public. Ex-situ measures predominantly compliment in-situ approaches, students these are the main objective for the Exsitu conservations. The information and experience gathered in the ex-situ centre is ultimately useful for the in-situ conservation centre that means the natural areas like in India, Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats are playing predominant role of the diversity of the wildlife species. ROLE OF ZOOS OF Ex-Situ CONSERVATION: Growing awareness for nature and wildlife conservation made Zoo s popular institution, where the awareness program can be regulated continuously to reach the people. So the Zoo is the of one of the best place to conduct the awareness program then and there. Zoos mandated to sustain their own populations and augment depleting populations in the wild, why need zoo s, zoo is playing major role to supplement the population in the wild. For example the precious species Asiatic lion is confined only one particular state. I hope you should know the area that is Gir forest found in the Gujarat. The number of animals distributed in particular forest is less than 150 we are aware nowadays the epidemic disease are spreading all over the country recently dengue fever and like other fevers are coming, If any kind of epidemics happened in the particular forest the population will be wiped out where the zoo is acting as a supplementing the population back to the wild that is why the zoo is playing major role in en-situ conservation potent tool for educating people about close linkage between protection of natural areas and maintaining life supporting process of nature.

The zoo is acting close research area where the animals can see in the proximity where as in the wild, it is very difficult to locate the animals so the zoo is acting one of the best area for researchers, provides best chance of survival through coordinated breeding under ex-situ conditions and raising stocks for rehabilitating them in the wild. I told the classic example of Asiatic Lion it is applicable for this information also. Statements on the role of Zoo s in conservation: Conservation must be directed towards the conservation of biological diversity & biomass. Conservation of biological diversity means the conservation of species and of biological communities. Many species cannot survive away from the communities, in which they are naturally found, for eg: in animal section there are solitary animals and social animals. Social animal are the example for the lions, solitary animals are example for the tiger. Conservation of diversity means the conservation of sufficient numbers of individuals of species and sufficiently large areas for the maintenance of their natural communities and ecological structures. Students you should know some of the animals are living in groups, some of the animals are living in the colonies, some of the animals are living as herd, herd is nothing but a social setup. In animal section there are some social hierarchy is there adult, sub-adult, young ones, male, female, alpha male, beta male, alpha female, beta female, young ones, cubs like that, so the animal psychology s supposed to be studied before we transporting the animals to the ex-situ conservation centers. The meticulous efforts to be provided for the animal psychology then only the animal s prosperity will be there and our ultimate aim of our conservations will be succeeded. Action 4.2 of Caring for the Earth (1991) calls to Use a combination of in-situ and ex-situ conservation to maintain species and genetic resources. It is very important the ex-situ manager and in-situ managers. The ex-situ and in-situ managers is nothing but the officers those are working in the zoos areas and natural forest areas should jointly take effort for the maintaining the species and genetic resources. It states that Zoological garden have a key role in maintaining ex-situ population of animals. It calls on the zoo world to develop a Zoological gardens conservation strategy. Students as I told you regarding the Lion Tailed Macaque is a endemic species found in the Tamilnadu, Kalakadu sanctuary, is critically endangered there population size become less than 2000 numbers. If you re not taking meticulous efforts for the

conservation of specious, the species may be extended in near future, fortunately the Government of India and Government of Tamilnadu is organized a program with western countries in America, where a zoo is called San Diego zoo, the same species of the Lion tailed macaque also exhibited in the zoo and they have the viable population. What do you mean the viable population? There is no such a inbreeding population. What you mean by inbreeding and out breeding population, you might be studied in the lower classes. To maintain the viable population of the captive condition of this animals, the Government of India and Government of Tamilnadu is jointly organized a coordinated breeding program with San Diego zoo the efforts as been taken. Probably the action will be continued in the near future. This is called Zoological gardens conservation strategy, Global Biodiversity strategy strengthen the conservation role of zoological parks region wise, national wise and international wise. Next global biodiversity strategy strengthen collaboration among off-site and on-site conservation institutions. What do you mean off-site and on-site conservation center, for eg: if we visit the zoo where many no. of animals can you see that is for the exhibit purpose but in the zoo the managers kept off-site area where the critical endangered species are exhibited and in the same zoo they kept some of the animals in the different area which is called off-site area where the visitor is not allowed, the animals are meticulously monitored for the conservation breeding program that is called off-site. On-site means where people can see the animals in the exhibit area Zoos also continue to play an important role in reestablishing naturally extinct species in the wild and it recognizes that Aquaria are increasingly becoming involved in on-site conservation as well. Ok students do you know about IUCN is a world organization International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural resources. It as network all over the world. In India is concerned you know about the Wildlife institute of India which is located in Dehradun and Salim Ali birds research center Coimbatore, Bombay natural history society, Bombay, these are the main agencies as linked with the IUCN. The ICUN has been identified the critically endangered species, endangered species, common, rare and threatened. ICUN, Guide to the conservation on Biological diversity remarks that the main institutions for exsitu conservation of wild animal species are zoos and aquaria, so the IUCN also highlights the zoos and aquaria are playing major role for supplementing the

depletion population in the wild. Zoos and aquaria captive breeding center, snake park, crocodile center, birds farm etc.., hold large number of the animal population. Over 83 countries maintain zoos and aquaria in the world. In the developed countries and developing countries there are zoos but in developed countries the diversity of endangered species are limited where as in the developing countries like us the diversity are more and conservation efforts also needed more. Over 1000 zoos and aquaria of reasonably standard one are established of which 578 are from developed world which as no richness in diversity. What is the richness in diversity, variety of animals in the birds there are many species are there, in mammals there are many species of mammals, reptiles like that these are called richness in diversity. Developing countries have few zoos for conservation for want of funds through diversity is greater. 12, 32,000 vertebrate exhibited, nearly half of them are fish. 2, 02,000 mammals are kept in the captivity, 3,51,000 birds are kept in the captive condition, 74,000 reptiles and 21,000 amphibians are kept in the ex-situ center. Captive Breeding Program: many zoos undertake captive breeding of threatened species out of 629 threatened species of mammals only 140 species consisting of 20,628 specimens are held for captive breeding. This indicates that only 10% of total population of threatened mammalian species in the world are held in captivity. As we discussed regarding over the endemic species of Lion tailed macaque of Tamilnadu. Global wise there are countries organizing some captive breeding program for the locally endangered species in their own country. Captive breeding program has been taken for the species in Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur. Fortunately the zoo has been provided the naturalistic environment to the species to propagate the population. The species also given birth regularly, we are jointly taken effort to how captive breeding program with San Diego, USA. It is another example of the NILGIRI LANGUR endemic species to Tamilnadu, the captive breeding program has been continued for this species also. These are the captive breeding efforts for the deer section. It is Bi-sense endemic species to Western Ghats it has been given regular birth in the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, its population. This is a wild dog, it is another endangered species found in Western Ghats the zoo is acting as the conservation center for the species and there is a regular birth has been given by the species. Captive breeding

efforts Sloth Bear, Sloth bear is a one of the interesting animal, Sloth bear also given birth in the zoo. What do you mean the captive breeding program: let us talk about captive breeding program, STUD books& ISIS, What do you mean of the stud books? Stud book is the pedigree pattern. What do you mean the pedigree? Pedigree means to know who is the father and mother of the particular animal and the forefather and foremother. It is the very important data to maintain the viable population in the captive condition. If you are not maintaining this kind of data, maintaining the viable population is very difficult because the inbreeding & out breeding, you should know about the inbreeding, means reproduction happened with in a particular population that is called inbreeding. Out breeding means encouraging the breeding program for the different gene polls that is the very very important for the ex-situ conservation center, so that these are the deals about the stud books and isis, maintaining the pedigree of individual of each species nationally and internationally for controlled cooperative breeding. I told you know the Lion tailed macque, we are maintaining the pedigree of individual of each species nationally wise and internationally wise, I told you the San Diego zoo is playing the major for the joint captive breeding program for the endangered species, so that the stud book serve very important. Inter species inventory system s another compliment for the conservation efforts. Stud books are supplemented by isis, isis maintains a centralized computer data base for census, demographic, genealogical and laboratory data of wild animals in captivity. Zoos all over, plan to expand 140 nos.of species for breeding to 1000. Animal s reintroduction program was successfully conducted all over the world. Over 100 species that you mean threatened have been bred successfully in zoos in large number and reintroduced in to the wild. Let us see some kind of example: Arabian Oryx is a mammal found in the Oman country successfully reintroduced into the world. Hawaiian geese, Golden Lion Tamarin, Brazil,pink pigeon Mauritius, Californian condors usa, Marsh Crocodile, Gharials in India, Red panda are successfully reintroduced India. Cryopreservation in the ex-situ condition, conservation effects are advanced in cryopreservation. What do you mean

cryopreservation? Cryopreservation is another advantages for the ex-situ center, where we can preserve the sperm, eggs and embryo for longer period to carry out the conservation efforts, data base of each material is stored and exchanged between the zoo for artificial breeding, implanting embryos on the animals between inter specific and intra specific for conservation of animals whenever we need conservation efforts, these gene bank is acting as another compliment for the conservation to continue the process successfully. Let us see some zoos in India, ancient India mythology evidence for wild animals, animals for warfare, parade and sports. Gupta period (320Bc-467Bc) emperors had game parks. Muhals: exhaustive collections, Public zoos two centuries old. First menagerie at Barrackpore 1801, oldest existing zoo Marble palace Calcutta (1854) and 1855 Chennai zoo was established in the Moore market in the heart of the city. Regulations of zoos in India, students let us talk about regulations of zoos in India, in twenty years back anybody can start zoos there was no regulation, there was no policy s but in 1990, probably 89-90 Government of India is established central zoo authority, the central zoo authority brought some policy, those days the number of zoos all over the country more than 1000 they are maintained without any basic principles or basic needs once the central zoo authority is formed, a committee was formed by the central zoo authority where the expertise are included in the committee like ornithologists, herpetologist, veterinary background people and biologist these committee used to visit all the zoos in the country and evaluated the needs, merits & demerits and identified the best exhibit center nearly 500 zoos was closed since the basic needs was not included in the zoo. In 1999 & 2000 onwards the number of zoos has been reduced around 300, now the zoos as comedown 150, where the zoo has been classified as major zones, medium zones, mini zoos likewise. These are the regulations, Wildlife (protection) Act, 1972. National zoo policy,1998. Recognition of zoo rules, 1992&2009. National wildlife action plan, 1983 and Central Zoo Authority are acting as a major role for the conservation of the wildlife population in the captive condition as well as the in-situ conservation. The objective of the zoo is changing from entertainment to education and now from education to avoid extinction.

These are the few lines Gowtama Buddha as said Forest is a peculiar organism of unlimited kindness and benevolence that makes no demand for its sustenance and extends protection to all beings, offering shade even to the Axe man who destroys it Lord Gowtama Buddha and it s time to follow the preaching of the Great man, Lord Gowtama. Thank You