Dear Roger,
I may have missed some of the earlier postings on this topic but here is
my contribution to this debate.
>From the posting below, I get the impression that the species mentioned
here were all under pressures magnified by human interventions, mainly
habitat alterations of various kinds. Under these circumstances, it is
not surprising that they are doing 'better' in captivity. However, we
should be seriously concerned with protecting enough natural habitat so
that no other species reaches the point where they have to be 'rescued'
into captivity. Captive breeding programmes alone can not guarantee the
long-term survival of a species if its natural habitat is no longer
available to them. There are only a few examples of success under such
conditions (e.g. Skiffia francesae, a Mexican goodeid; some mammals
perhaps). Ideally, we should also ensure that a suitable (replacement if
necessary) natural habitat is available for these species so that
captive breeding for conservation may achieve greater success.
Patricia Almada-Villela
>wildness does not necessarily equal perfection - is not a philosophical
>comment the way I was using it in my post. It is a comment on the problems
>of wildlife in America. I could mention the California Condor all of which
>were taken into captivity due to too small a number to breed and survive in
>the wild, the black footed ferret found near Meeteetse, Wyoming - all were
>taken into captivity due too too small of a population to survive in the
>wild, and a number of other animals. There are many places like the Fossil
>Rim Wildlife Center in Texas, The Trust begun by Gerald Durrell on the Island
>Of Jersey - British I believe, and others set up to rescue animals from the
>wild and keep them alive in captivity when they face extinction.
> I am saying that leaving an animal in the wild does not necessarily
>achieve the perfect result of preserving genetic diversity. I am also
>thinking about what can happen in an accident. A great number of sea otters
>were lost to the Exxon Valdez oil spill. A fair number of Manatees are at
>risk from an unknown killer in Florida. A large number of Manatee have died
>from a pnuemonia causing agent but no one has yet found the cause. Others
>can probably site more cases.
>Roger
-- Dr P Almada-Villela Consultant in Conservation and Aquatic Biology Co-Chair, IUCN SSC Coral Reef Fish Specialist Group 60 Newington, Willingham Cambridge, CB4 5JE, UK Tel: (+44 01954) 260520; Fax: (+44 01954) 202291 email: palmada at aquacon.demon.co.uk