Re: Ethics, responsibility and endangered species

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Posted by EJ on July 13, 2001 at 11:43:37:

In Reply to: Ethics, responsibility and endangered species posted by doug on July 13, 2001 at 09:44:39:

I can't help but snicker at this and here is why.
You have to understand that the keepers at zoos a people just like you and I. There are good keepers and there are bad keepers and of course in between. Know the keepers you are going to deal with. The last keeper that was in charge of the Egyptians was a young man (and the name escapes me) who was really into his job. The other keepers at the Bronx zoo reptile house are very well respected. The guy that I talked to I would have no trouble loaning an animal to if I was in the position to do so.
As far as zoos working with the private sector and a limited gene pool, most zoos will review a situation on a case by case basis. Where the Egyptians are concerned there is a limited gene pool and more importantly a very limited range. There would not be too much question as to the general area where it came from so the logistics of how to track the liniage is easier. It is also a 'cute' high profile animal which is a crowd draw. This is supported by the press it's been getting by the various conservation groups. So in this case as far as most zoos are concerned if you have a wild caught Egyptian it is not biologicaly dead. Should something happen to all the Egyptians in their native range I'm pretty sure they would draw on the captive gene pool and even from the private sector. As it stands now though they have very active breeding groups in their native range and the animals you provide to the bronx zoo would do nothing but provide zoo stock which would eventually be distributed to other US Zoos. The odds of your animal providing gene stock to the wild population is not very likely but is by no means impossible.
Again the reason for the snicker is that, as with anything in life, the rules change on an as need basis.
Ed

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: I can't help but snicker at this and here is why. : You have to understand that the keepers at zoos a people just like you and I. There are good keepers and there are bad keepers and of course in between. Know the keepers you are going to deal with. The last keeper that was in charge of the Egyptians was a young man (and the name escapes me) who was really into his job. The other keepers at the Bronx zoo reptile house are very well respected. The guy that I talked to I would have no trouble loaning an animal to if I was in the position to do so. : As far as zoos working with the private sector and a limited gene pool, most zoos will review a situation on a case by case basis. Where the Egyptians are concerned there is a limited gene pool and more importantly a very limited range. There would not be too much question as to the general area where it came from so the logistics of how to track the liniage is easier. It is also a 'cute' high profile animal which is a crowd draw. This is supported by the press it's been getting by the various conservation groups. So in this case as far as most zoos are concerned if you have a wild caught Egyptian it is not biologicaly dead. Should something happen to all the Egyptians in their native range I'm pretty sure they would draw on the captive gene pool and even from the private sector. As it stands now though they have very active breeding groups in their native range and the animals you provide to the bronx zoo would do nothing but provide zoo stock which would eventually be distributed to other US Zoos. The odds of your animal providing gene stock to the wild population is not very likely but is by no means impossible. : Again the reason for the snicker is that, as with anything in life, the rules change on an as need basis. : Ed

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