I have yet to see a call for aquarists to get involved in a species
maintenance program from a scientific or conservation organization,
let alone the lake Victorian program. I am on the board of directors
of my local society and the exchange editor for my local club, so I
would noticed any call for help. I have seen calls to aquarists
looking for species that have been lost in the wild, but this seems to
be a one way street. "We're in desperate need and will take anything
we can get". I would like to know how many, who and in what capacity
you are making use of aquarists in your program. While I commend the
Lake Victorian program and its aims, I've also heard comments that it
will be lucky to keep any of the species viable over the long term,
let alone the genetic diversity. Please do not take this as my
personal opinion, because I don't have the first hand knowledge to
make such a judgement. I'm happy somebody is at least trying to save
these species. But with numbers of species in trouble and the comments
I've heard on the few programs that are going on, why hasn't there
been a general call for help?
As to the people I know that tried to become involved in captive
breeding programs, these were very experienced aquarists. They were
backed by the board of directors in a club with 250 members, with the
wish to sponsor and support a program for 1 or 2 species. The response
they received was, we don't need your help breeding the fish because
you're only amateur aquarists. But if you really want to help, send us
some money. I think its clear why it would be hard to get those people
to volunteer help again.
Cary Hostrawser
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