Internal drive vs external directive: the delivery of conservation through zoo-based research – a response to Rees

Abstract

In the title of his paper Rees (2005) asked a perfectly valid question with regard to one specific element: the effectiveness of European legislation in enhancing the impact of zoo research in conservation. However, the question was not fully addressed, and the answer may be difficult to determine, due in part to the increasing importance placed on research by zoos independently, and in many cases ahead of, legislation. He discusses at some length the way in which the proportion of zoo based research has shifted in recent years to accommodate and address many of the more technically challenging issues of nutrition, reproduction and population dynamics but without losing sight of the valuable behavioural elements of research on captive animals. Rees manages during the course of his argument to answer many of his own questions, with some clear examples of where and how the practical link can be made between many zoo activities, not just research, and the ultimate delivery of conservation benefits to species. It is worth noting, however, that in many cases the truly measurable and sustainable effect of conservation action on populations, species and habitats requires a timescale that spans generations and therefore may not yet be apparent.

Towards a research-based conservation identity for zoos – a reply to Wehnelt and Wilkinson, and Thomas

“…Zoos themselves set the agenda for the research carried out with their animals and they should take a lead in making sure that this is focused on conservation issues. Thomas (2005) suggests that the 'high number of student research projects carried out in zoos may not directly accrue conservation benefits but the process is facilitating the training . .…”

Zoos as a force for conservation: a simple ambition – but how?

“…The WAZA Conservation Strategy will face the same problem, but its development did involve 230 people in 40 countries. Can conservation involvement be neatly specified and packaged by legislation and regulation or should the desire to be conservationfocused come from each zoo: this is the internal drive or external directive issue (Thomas, 2005). The answer may be both, but perhaps the missing link of appropriate scale is the regional zoo association.…”