>Thanks NIck
>
>The whole issue of breeding "conservation-intended" populations of various
>species in the forlorn hope that they may be useful for restocking into the
>wild has taken somewhat of a bagging in several forums over the past couple
>of years. It doesn't seem to have the same altruistic tone when someone
>has to lower one's aims from "restocking into the wild" to "breeding
>captive populations for other hobbyists" to enjoy ;-)
>
>Regards,
>Bruce.
>
>Bruce Hansen, ANGFA, caring for our aquatic ecosystems.
I think you need to look a little deeper into the problem, Bruce.
Conservationists and scientists do not want fish once they've reached
the hobbyist's hands. They do not know it they've been crossed,
exposed to disease, or breed to the point of almost total lack of
diversity. They have some very good points. There was a time when zoos
where dooing nothing more than keeping animals for the amusement of
the general public. Today they do much to maintain captive populations
of endangered animals. This did not happen over night. They had and
still have much to learn.
As hobbyist's we are in the same boat. At present we can not maintain
many of the populations we do get into the hobby. We are much like
those early zoos and have a lot to learn. Today I really don't see it
as plausible that hobbyists can make much of difference in the over
all captive maintenance for conservation aims. But if we can learn to
maintain them long term for hobbyist enjoyment we will be learning.
Hopefully this will lead to the knowledge and infrastructure that can
eventually make a difference on the conservation maintenance end.
I applaud the efforts of NFA. They are expanding the knowledge and
building the infrastructure that one day may make a significant
difference with many species. We all have to learn to walk before we
can run.
Cary Hostrawser
My Rainbowfish Home Page
http://pw2.netcom.com/~caryho/home.html
Rainbowfish Study Group Web Page
http://home.stlnet.com/~gwlange/rainbowfish.index.html