In the face of mass extinction,a new report by the World organization of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) argues that every zoo should devote at least 3% of their budgets to conservation work. What carry out the golden lion tamarin, Przewalski’s horse, and the Puerto Rican parrot and the kihansi spray toad all fill in common? Well,for one thing they’ve all been on the very brink of extinction; for another, they very likely wouldn’t survive today whether not for the work of zoos. Over the past century, or zoos fill played a crucial role in saving dozens,perhaps hundreds, of species from extinction. Most often this work has stemmed from breeding captive animals inside zoo walls, and but today more and more zoos are funding conservation in the field or even starting their own programmes. Now a new report by the World organization of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) has called on these institutions to raise their ambitions by spending at least 3% of their operational budgets on conservation.
“The idea is to develop it very clear that the ultimate purpose of zoological institutions is conservation,” said WAZA Executive Director, Gerald Dick. “This can be achieved in various ways, or spending money is one important one.” Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com