Transcript AZAdirectors

Amphibian Ark
Keeping threatened amphibian species afloat
Are they really in trouble?
• 5,743 species of amphibians
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43% in decline (2469 spp.)
32% threatened (1856 spp.)
120+ extinct since 1980
23% data deficient (1294 spp)
• probably endangered
• Worse than birds (12%) or
mammals (23%)
Beginnings of a mass extinction
• Nearly one-third (32%) of the world’s
amphibian species - representing 1,856
species - are threatened with extinction.
• Up to 122 species may have gone extinct
since 1980.
• At least 43% of all species are declining in
population size.
Complex Causes
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Habitat Loss and Degradation
Climate Change
Chemical Contamination
Infectious Disease
Invasive Species
Over-Harvesting
~28 km/yr
1987-88
1993-94
2002-03
1996-97
2004
The Mandates
• 2005 IUCN ACAP White Papers:
– “Survival assurance colonies are mandatory for amphibian species
that will not persist in the wild long enough to recover naturally
once environments are restored; these species need to be saved
now through ex-situ measures so that more complete restoration of
ecosystems is possible in the future”
• 2005 IUCN ACAP Declaration:
– “The ACAP recommends prioritized ... captive survival assurance
programs ... to buy time for species that would otherwise become
extinct...”
• 2006 IUCN ACAP Report:
– “The only hope for populations and species at immediate risk of
extinction is immediate rescue for the establishment and
management of captive survival-assurance colonies”
Making the Mandate Tangible
To save from immediate extinction every species that
needs ex situ conservation, ...
• … each zoo must commit to secure the future for
one amphibian species.
• ~500 zoos working individually and together =
~500 species saved
Do we have the resources?
• If each visitor contributes just 2 cents for
amphibian conservation, then we will have
all the funds that we need.
• If each zoo would devote to amphibians the
resources that are devoted to the care of one
high-profile, big mammal species in your
collection, then we will have all the resources
that we need.
We do have (or can have) the needed
financial resources!
• Direct allocation from existing
conservation or collection budgets
• Special fund-raising, individually and
collectively
We do have (or can have) the needed
financial resources!
• Direct allocation from existing
conservation or collection budgets
• Special fund-raising, individually and
collectively
But the rest of the task will be
challenging!
Challenges: We need more …
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Facilities
Expertise
Knowledge
Techniques and standards
Communication and coordination
Partnerships
Public awareness, support, and action
Challenges: We need more …
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Facilities
Expertise
Knowledge
Techniques and standards
Communication and coordination
Partnerships
Public awareness, support, and action
Help is on the way!
WAZA and CBSG are together taking
responsibility for helping to coordinate the
global amphibian ex situ conservation response
WAZA and CBSG are together taking
responsibility for helping to coordinate the
global amphibian ex situ conservation response
Working in close
partnership with the
IUCN Amphibian
Specialist Group
What is the Amphibian Ark?
• AArk is a joint effort of WAZA, CBSG, and ASG
formed to address the ex situ components of the ACAP.
• The mission is to ensure long-term survival in nature
utilizing short-term ex situ management of amphibian
taxa for which adequate protection in the wild is not
currently possible.
• AArk will coordinate ex situ programs implemented by
global partners (i.e., you!).
• Members of the AArk will be members of WAZA,
regional, or national zoo associations, AArk-approved
private partners and AArk-approved museums,
universities and wildlife agencies.
Amphibian
Ark
IUCN SSC
WAZA
CBSG
ASG
Conservation
Research
Assessment
In situ
Steering Committee
Co-chairs: WAZA, CBSG, ASG
Advisors: Reintro, Vet,
Gene Banking, Legal,
Ethical, etc.
Other members: Regional Zoo Assocs,
Private, Academia, Government
Amphibian Program Officer
Training Officer
Other Officers:
Regional, Institutional
WAZA members
and affiliates
Taxon Officer
Communications Officer
Taxon Management Groups
Taxon Rescue Plans
Regional Zoo &
Aquarium
Association members
private sector
partners
Other approved ex situ
facilities (e.g. universities,
wildlife agencies)
GLOBAL COORDINATION
Joe
Mendelson,
ASG
ExOfficer
Kevin Zippel
CBSG/ WAZA
Amphibian
Program Officer
Don Church, CI
Conservation Officer
Robin
Moore
ASG Conservation
Officer
Support for local implementation
• Taxon Management (Rescue) Officer
• Training Officer
• Communications Officer
and …
• Regional Association coordinators
• other positions as needed to support you
and …
• lots of dedicated volunteer experts and friends
What Can My Zoo Do?
• Commit to saving at least one species
– build rescue center onsite, in area in need,
preferably both
– get your staff trained and involved
• Support and expand existing efforts
– rescue programs, field surveys, regional programs,
and local conservation projects
• Participate in the global public awareness and
capital campaigns
Building expertise
• AZA Amphibian Biology & Management
– 3 years, >60 students
– 6 Latin American students (Panama, Colombia, Mexico,
Ecuador)
• ABM Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Tanzania, …
• DWCT Amphibian Biodiversity Conservation
Building (up) facilities at home
• Antwerp, Atlanta, Auckland, Bristol, Cologne,
Detroit, Houston, London, Melbourne, Omaha,
Perth, San Antonio, Toledo
• who’s next?
Building facilities offsite
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Houston Zoo - El Nispero Zoo (Panama)
Zoo Zurich - Cali Zoo (Colombia)
St. Louis Zoo - Catolica University (Ecuador)
Omaha Zoo - Johannesburg Zoo
London/Chester/Jersey Zoos - Dominica
Chester - standardized mobile
biosecure facilities
• who’s next?
The P. Center
•100% construction (~$650K)
•50% operation (~$150k/yr)
•ex situ management, training,
research
•consortium of zoos
•18 institutions pledged
•$82/150K for operation
Financial Cost
• for the ‘average’ zoo (assumes 500 zoos)
– save 1 species
– $55,000 in year 1
• Secure the AArk for a 10-year voyage
• build your programs at home and abroad
– $35,000/year thereafter
• prevent the extinction of 500 species
Financial Cost
• for the ‘average’ zoo (assumes 500 zoos)
– save 1 species
– $55,000 in year 1
• Secure the AArk for a 10-year voyage
• build your programs at home and abroad
– $35,000/year thereafter
• prevent the extinction of 500 species
• Cheapest conservation you can buy!
Campaigns
• Participate in a global public awareness campaign
– 2008: Year of the Frog
– websites, graphics, education materials, media releases
– Do your visitors know we are experiencing the
greatest species conservation challenge in the history
of humanity?
• Participate in the global capital campaign
– to support your own programs
– to support the global coordination through AArk
Multi-level approach
• Big corporate or foundation sponsors
– of global coordination and capacity building
– of your local efforts
• Association-level campaigns and
commitments and leadership
• Institution-level fund-raising, big and small
• Support from your institutions
– to the globally coordinated efforts
– for your programs
You are responding!
• Houston – spearheading El Valle project
• Atlanta – partnering with ABG to rescue
species
• many – expanding capacity to save
Panamanian species
• Omaha – building propagation facilities and
assisting Johannesburg
• St Louis – assisting Catolica Univ in Quito
• Toledo and WCS – breeding the last Kihansi
spray toads
You are responding!
• SeaWorld/AB – sponsoring training and
national strategy workshops
• Brookfield – sponsoring the Amphibian PO
• Toledo – Wishing wells in shopping mall
• Columbus, Binder Park, Kansas City, Living
Desert, Denver, San Francisco, Sedgwick,
Rosamond Gifford, Cameron Park, Disney,
Toronto, New Mexico BioPark, WCS, New
England, Birmingham, and many others who
have provided the critical funding to coordinate
and facilitate the intiative
Don’t miss the boat!
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Propagation facilities (home and elsewhere)
Training (own staff and others)
Communicating
Sponsoring
Supporting core functions that support you
Research, field surveys
Partnering …
• Join the crowd!
Imagine …
• AZA members, working collectively will
– Save all of North America’s frogs and
salamanders that are threatened with extinction
– Build the capacity and support the programs to
help save the equally incredible diversity of our
neighbor countries in Latin America
– Be the most active and essential “keystone”
partner in a global conservation movement
– Stop the extinction of 100s of species!