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Think Your Half-Term Visit to the Zoo will Support Threatened Species? Think Again...
Think Your Half-Term Visit to the Zoo will Support Threatened Species? Think Again... Do Zoos put the Con in Conservation?
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New research published by leading wildlife charity BORN FREE shows majority of species kept in charitable UK zoos aren’t threatened with extinction.
Only a quarter (26.6%) of species housed in Consortium of Charitable Zoos (CCZ) member organisations are threatened with extinction
• Over half (52.4%) of species housed by CCZ members are categorised as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, including the two brown bears shot at Whipsnade last week • Only a third of species (35.4%) born at these zoos are classified as threatened
• CCZ members house more domesticated animals (360) than animals from species which are categorised as
Extinct in the Wild (64)
• CCZ members have fewer species in European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) breeding programmes than they did 15 years ago (212 vs 218) 116 LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 28th May 2021. Shocking new report published today by Born Free highlights that the majority of species found in the UK’s Consortium of Charitable Zoos (CCZ) are not classified as threatened species, and it appears that these zoos have made little effort to adjust this imbalance since it was first identified by Born Free 15 years ago. Will Travers OBE, stated: “The truth about zoos is hard to expose, as layers of self-justification wrap themselves around these institutions. Just how many species have been bred successfully in zoos and returned to the wild? And while an elephant enclosure containing a tiny number of often un-related individuals costs many millions, field conservationists are crying out for even a fraction of those resources to protect wild elephants and their habitats. Bluntly, the multi-billion-pound zoo world promises much but delivers very, very little.” The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) has stated that without government action “organisations [BIAZA members] could close for good” due to the pandemic, and headlines have warned that “species could face extinction”. But would they? Born www.lancmag.com
Free’s new report (Conservation or Collection? Evaluating the conservation status of species housed and bred in charitable UK zoos) clearly shows that such claims are, at best, grossly exaggerated. The minority of species found in CCZ zoos are threatened with extinction, and the majority are on the lowest rung of the IUCN list – the category of Least Concern – including the two European brown bears tragically shot at Whipsnade Zoo on Friday the 21st May 2021. Astoundingly, CCZ zoos housed more domesticated animals (360) than animals belonging to species classed as Extinct in the Wild (64) for whom, you might have thought, conservation is the highest priority. Born Free is calling on the government to review the now 40-year-old Zoo Licensing Act (1981) to ensure more stringent and meaningful conservation criteria are required of zoos, criteria that are transparent, measurable and in the public domain, and against which zoos can be held to account, both for their implementation and for meeting stated targets. This would require specific follow-up actions by zoos to demonstrate real conservation benefits which should meet at least three of the five conservation measures set out in the Zoo Licensing Act (1981) in order to meet their conservation obligations. Currently, zoos only need to fulfil one of the five. (www.legislation.gov.uk/ ukpga/1981/37)
While zoos do not claim to house only threatened species, they do use ambiguous terms when describing their animals, such as, ’rare‘, ’rarest‘, and ’extraordinary’. The fact that threatened species are in the minority suggests a species selection process which is focused more on species that are perceived to be attractive to the public, rather than those which are threatened and might benefit from being managed outside their natural habitat for conservation purposes (known as ex-situ breeding).
“Claims by zoos that they contribute to species conservation and public education require careful scrutiny and cannot be taken at face value as justifications for the keeping and breeding of wild animals in captivity. We challenge the zoo industry to live up to its conservation claims and we continue to lobby for policy change in the UK”. - Chris Lewis, Captivity Research, Born Free Foundation
“Born Free’s forensic analysis clearly demonstrates that the great majority of species housed in some of the UK’s best-known zoos are not classified as threatened. Far from focusing on species of Conservation Concern, for which
ABOUT BORN FREE
Born Free was established by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna - who starred in the movie classic, Born Free (1966). Founded in 1984 with their eldest son, Will, Born Free’s mission is to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs. Born Free opposes the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and campaigns to keep wildlife in the wild. Born Free promotes Compassionate Conservation which strives to enhance the survival of threatened species in the wild and protect natural habitats, while respecting the needs of and safeguarding the welfare of individual animals. Born Free seeks to have a positive impact on animals in the wild and protect their ecosystems in perpetuity, for their own intrinsic value and for the critical roles they play within the natural world. For more information about Born Free, please visit: www.bornfree.org.uk captive breeding has been identified as a conservation priority, these zoos - which self-identify as amongst the best - appear to be more intent on keeping species that they hope will attract the public, a situation that hasn’t changed for over 15 years. Our report raises serious questions about the conservation credentials and commitment of some of Britain’s best-known zoos. It’s time for a radical rethink!” said Dr Mark Jones, Head of Policy, Born Free Foundation For the full report - Conservation or Collection? Evaluating the conservation status of species housed and bred in charitable UK zoos - please visit:
www.bornfree.org.uk/conservation-or-collection-preview
ZOO LICENCING ACT 1981 - CONSERVATION MEASURES www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/37
The following are conservation measures to be implemented in zoos in accordance with this Act— (a) participating in at least one (emphasis added) of the following (i) research from which conservation benefits accrue to species of wild animals; (ii) training in relevant conservation skills; (iii) the exchange of information relating to the conservation of species of wild animals; (iv) where appropriate, breeding of wild animals in captivity; and (v) where appropriate, the repopulation of an area with, or the reintroduction into the wild of, wild animals;
Wondering How to Introduce a New Cat?
By Victoria Corcoran, Pets Country Manor
Here at the Pets Country Manor we look over 100 cats on a daily basis and have done so for many years. There’s so many questions that we get asked and we thought it may be interesting to share our experiences with you.
Are you wondering if you should get another cat but are unsure about how your existing cat will feel? The idea of your cat having company whilst you’re out at work and, having another cat to play with seems like a nice idea but a lot of cats prefer to be the only cat and like their own space. Its important to know that they may not necessarily be the best of friends and snuggle up with each other, so you’ll need to be prepared for this situation and separate your cats if needs be.
We have our own 5 cats who we adopted from various rescue centres across the North West at different times and these are the steps we followed to successfully introduce our cats to each other. The most important thing to remember is first impressions count and can last a lifetime so the process needs to be slow and not rushed.
STEP 1: SCENT SWAP
Before you bring your new cat home ask if you can temporarily swap some items, take your own cats favourite bed/ blanket/throw they sleep on into give the new cat and take this new cats blanket home to put in your home for your existing cat to get used to their scent. The Same goes for bowls/toys and ideally even the litter tray if you can swap all the items over so that the new cat an get used to your cats scent and your existing cat can get used to the new cats scent. (if its possible try to swap the items over every couple of days) STEP 2: CALMING PLUG IN
Here at the Pets Country Manor we use a product called Pet Remedy which is a natural calming and distressing aid, we use this product because its 100% natural and pH neutral and doesn’t contain any chemicals. We recommend plugging in 1 or 2 pet remedy plug ins around your home a couple of days before you bring your new cat home, this will give enough time for the pet remedy to be diffused around your home. Once your new cat arrives this will help them settle in and feel relaxed and calm as well as helping to prevent your existing cat from becoming stressed by the new arrival STEP 3: QUIET AND SEPARATE ROOM
When you bring your new cat home put them into a room in your house that’s quiet –a spare bedroom would be ideal. Put everything into this room that your new cat will need –bowls/litter trays/ toys/ pet remedy plug in/ scratch post, let them stay in this room for a couple of days but keep going to see them as much as you can –try to play with them, groom them and stroke them to help them feel more at ease.
STEP 4: SEE BUT CAN’T TOUCH
If you have a glass door internally in your house then great –put your two cats on either side of the door so they can see each other and give each cat some treats plus have feeding time right by the glass, if your cats like playing then play with them and give them their favourite toy. Do this for a couple of days, this way your cats will see each other as a positive reinforcement because when they see each other through the glass they get treats, fed or played with. –if you don’t have a glass door but you have a door with a gap underneath it try this or if not trying renting/borrowing a dog crate. –put your new cat into the dog crate with an igloo bed or blanket positioned over half the top/side this way if your new cat is feeling a bit intimidated they have somewhere to hide. Let your existing cat into this room and let them smell each other through the wire cage, try giving them treats and playing with them to distract their full attention away from each other and try this for a few minutes a couple of times each day STEP 5: NEW CAT EXPLORATION TIME
Try swapping your cats over, so your existing cat can go into this spare room for a few hours and your new cat can come out and explore their new home without any worry that their sibling may chase them, once your new cat seems confident enough in their new home you can try physical introductions STEP 6: PHYSICAL INTRODUCTIONS
With your new cat being back in their safe quiet room and if the glass door / dog crate introductions are going well then you can try letting your existing cat into the bedroom with your new cat but stay in this room with them. Have a towel ready in case a serious fight does break out so you can safely break it up –hopefully its not needed. Keep giving each cat treats and seeing if you can draw their focus away from the other cat by playing with them. You may need to try this room introduction a few times or it may go really well! If it’s the latter then its time to let them both out into the main house, remember to keep all your windows and doors closed as your new cat shouldn’t go out for the first couple of months until they’ve completely settled into their new home.
NAME:
Doris Dearden
BREED:
Border Terrier
DATE OF BIRTH:
18/07/2010
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Doncaster
CURRENT TOWN:
Preston
DORIS
& Friends
Hi, my name’s Doris, howl you all doing? I’m a very pup-ular girl with my very own Facebook Fan Page and this is my column of me and my friends adventures. So take a paws from your busy schedule, grab yourself some pup-corn, get yourself com-fur-table and enjoy my tails!
MY LONG LOST SISTER, DAISY!
Recently, we managed to find
my gorgeous sister by asking if any of my siblings were members of my Facebook fan page.
One gentleman contacted us with details of his Border Terrier, Daisy’s date of birth and parents names.
All the details matched and the uncanny part of it is, my humans have been Facebook friends with Daisy’s dad James Wilkinson through my Facebook page for years!
We only live 30 minutes away from each other.
Daisy and her dad live in Lancaster, so we plan to have long-lost sister reunion very soon.
HUMAN DAD’S NAMES:
Lee Dearden & Lee Gethings
OFFICIAL FACEBOOK FAN PAGE:
Doris Dearden (The Border Terrier) Fan Page. I have over 1,400 members!
My Sister, Daisy!
CHARACTERISTS:
I sing to certain TV show theme tunes, ‘The One Show’ for example, I have many, guises (see photos below), I’ve been on many adventures and I love having my photo taken
Daisy & Doris’ 1st Re-union
