FOR FURTHER INFORMATION...
Conservation in-situ and ex-situ
The principle of In-situ conservation is to preserve endangered species in their ecosystem that is where they live in their natural state.
This solution has been widely advocated in the 70s and 80s by environmentalists. As parks and nature reserves have been established and human activities prohibited.
This application has proven a failure and now these spaces are designed through participation and involvement of local people. In the case of the Amur Leopard that is on the verge of extinction, it was also necessary to use conservation Ex-situ to avoid permanent loss.
All around the world and in France, many animal parks are united and work together to safeguard endangered species through breeding programs. This is called the Ex-situ conservation, ie conservation outside the natural environment.
Thus in 1982, zoos in Europe have set up breeding programs to regulate and optimize the reproduction of the species kept in captivity.
In 1988, the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA : European Association of Zoo and Aquaria) is created. Based in the Netherlands, it oversees the monitoring of breeding programs and approves the establishment of new zones.
- You probably already have seen these acronyms in animal parks:
- EEP : Europen breeding program (the highest level in the management of a captive population as very threatened or endangered).
- ESB : European Studbooks representingl less threatened species in nature but can become.
- Simple tracking or monitoring: low risk animals in nature that management in captivity does not prioritize within EAZA.