Patterns in the long-term viability of North American zoo populations
Recent concerns about the viability of zoo populations have motivated studies on the historic and current status of animal populations in North American and European zoos. However, these evaluations may not accurately reflect the populations’ long-term viability in the decades to come. Here, we assessed the projected future status of North American zoo populations by […]
Evaluating recovery strategies for an ocelot () population in the united states
The ocelot Leopardus pardalis population in the United States was listed as endangered in 1982, with only two known isolated breeding populations occurring in southern Texas. Conservation concerns for ocelots include loss of dense thornshrub habitat, mortality from ocelot-vehicle collisions, and genetic erosion. In this study, we used a population viability analysis (PVA) to evaluate […]
Extinction risk assessment for the species survival plan (SSP®) population of the Bali mynah (Leucopsar rothschildi)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20228.abs The Bali mynah Species Survival Plan (SSP®), an Association of Zoos and Aquariums program, strives to maintain the genetic and demographic health of its population, avoid unplanned changes in size, and minimize the risk of population extinction. The SSP population meets current demographic and genetic objectives with a population size of 209 birds […]
Captive breeding genetics and reintroduction success
Since threatened species are generally incapable of surviving in their current, altered natural environ-ments, many conservation rograms require to preserve them through ex situ conservation techniques prior to their reintroduction into the wild. Captive breeding provides species with a benign and stable environment but has the side effect to induce significant evolutionary changes in ways […]