Role of Zoological Parks as Conservation Agents
By
R. Hemanth Kumar I.F.S.
Conservator of Forests Varanasi Circle
(Former Director Kanpur Zoological Park)
hravivarapu@yahoo.com
Introduction:
French naturalist Georges Cuvier some 200 years ago after examining fossil bones
concluded that "the existence of a world previous to ours, destroyed by some sort of
catastrophe" and first floated the concept of extinction,
Scientists recognise that species continually disappear at a background
extinction rate estimated at about one species per million per year, with new
species replacing the lost in a sustainable fashion. Occasional mass extinctions
quiver this orderly norm, followed by agonizingly slow recoveries as new
species emerge from the remaining gene-pool, until the world is once again
repopulated by a different catalogue of flora and fauna. Till up to now five great extinction
events have reshaped the earth in the past 4.5 Billion years of earth’s existence, each one
wiping out between 50 and 95 per cent of the life of the day, including the dominant life
forms of the time. Now we are passing through the sixth great extinction, sometimes
known as the Holocene extinction event (human induced extinction). The extinction rates in
20th century increased mainly due to – degradation of habitats, overexploitation of plant
and animal resources, invasive alien species (IAS), human-induced climate-changes,
emergence of new diseases etc and the scenario is not better in the 21st century too; all
these factors are accelerating biocide.
Way back in 1998 (on April 20th) seven out of ten biologists, who participated in a
poll conducted by the American Museum of Natural History and Louis Harris and Associates,
Inc. agreed that mass extinction poses a colossal threat to human existence.
The gloomiest book on the earth—IUCNs Red Data book is becoming gloomier and
gloomier; with an every passing year more and more species are finding their place in
endangered and critically endangered lists. IUCN while releasing its 2009 report expressed
its anguish by quoting that “Wildlife crisis worse than economic crisis”. The present
extinction rates are prompting many to predict that half of all plant and animal species will
become extinct by 2100—a grim prediction or reality?
Declining trends
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12,000 Threatened Species: 2003 Red List
15,589 Threatened Species: 2004 Red List
16,119 Threatened Species-- 40% of Evaluated Species Are Threatened-- 2006 Red
List
50% of mammal species in decline, up to 36% of mammals threatened with
extinction; 40% of all studied species threatened: 2008 Red list
17,291 species out of the 47,677 assessed species are threatened with extinction:
2009 red list
........Where we are heading for?
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Conservation Initiatives
In order to check the biocide the Governments over the time started many new
initiatives like strengthened their existing legal systems and through many conventions like
CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) etc international co-operation has also become the
order of the day. These initiatives are in addition to the already existing concepts like
managing of wilder areas with flagship / keystone species as a pivotal species for
management. However, the numbers of many species from our wilder areas are declining
due to various reasons like —(a) invasive alien species , over grazing etc are deteriorating
our grassland ecosystems (b) poaching is reducing the numbers and leading to situations
like demographic stochasticity and (c) the water bodies are getting more and more polluted
affecting the wilder populations etc. Humans with their destructive activities like eco
tourism, roads/ highways, mining etc are also threatening the ecosystems.
Still we need not get disheartened. May be that “one day”........
1. The enforcement will become more scientific with the enforcers maintaining the
data base of poachers, smugglers in the lines of National Crime Control Bureau,
which maintains the data base of criminals with their photographs, modus operandi
etc. and share their information with relevant people.
NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority) has started some sort work in
this direction especially for gathering information related to wildlife crimes. On its
website (http://www.tigernet.nic.in) public spirited citizens can post their
information about wildlife crimes, but lot more can be done in the direction of
tactical, operational and strategic intelligence related to gathering of info on wildlife
crime and on the issues like planning, collecting, evaluating, collating, analyzing and
dissipating of intelligence, for which proper training is imparted to the field staff,
2. We will have a network of wildlife forensic labs in India, helping the enforcers in
tackling the court cases by identifying the material in question and by giving
evidences in the courts. Applied wildlife genetics (with identified genetic markers
for individual species) may become a potent weapon in the armoury of enforcers in
the years to come. When once such things happen the instances of getting
convictions to the poachers based on serological evidences will become quite
common (as of now we have very limited examples like convictions to the poachers
of Gir Lions based on DNA finger printing method). More and more books on
enforcement issues like “Wildlife Crime: An Enforcement Guide “ (By Vivek Menon
and Ashok Kumar) will come in the near future,
3. Agencies like EIA (Environmental Investigation Agency) will also come up in India too,
with more and more investigators working in the field of wildlife crimes,
4. Software like MIKE (Monitoring of Illegal Killings of Elephants) will be developed for
monitoring the killings of other animals too,
5. The ambitious M-STrIPES (Monitoring system for Tigers) a pilot project of the
Ministry of Environment and Forests that aimed at--strengthening of the antipoaching drive and bringing transparency in patrolling systems will be implemented
in all of our wilderness areas (digital diary ?!!!),
6. The forest department will have young and dedicated staff equipped with modern
gadgets like GPS systems, Palm taps etc, and with a basic knowledge and training in (a) cultivating and handling of informants (b) gathering of intelligence (c)
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interrogation techniques, (d) analyzing of information and (e) have a knowhow
about dealing with media etc,
7. More and more informative and well researched books like “Signed and Sealed”
(written by Vivek Menon and Ashok Kumar) “A God in Distress” (by Vivek Menon,
Raman Sukumar, Ashok Kumar), “Tusker: The story of Asian Elephant” (by Vivek
Menon), that beautifully narrate about the poaching of elephants by different gangs,
techniques used by them for killing them, market for ivory, trade routes etc will
come out and knowledge thus gained will be used by the enforcers in the control of
wildlife crimes.
8. New techniques like using of DSMDs (Deep Search Metal Detectors) for detecting
cleverly camouflaged metal snares and traps (locally known as kudka/ khatka) by the
poachers in all of our wilderness areas will be the order of the day.
9. All of our forests will have field biologists helping the managers by advising them
about the health of our ecosystems –may be about the health and purity of water
resources (it becomes more pertinent as these same water bodies and grass lands
are used by unimmunized domestic cattle and can act as carriers of various
communicable diseases), about the health of grasslands by studying about the
invasions and the impacts of Invasive Alien Species (IAS), carrying capacity of the
ecosystems, impacts of tourism and illegal mining, on issues related to population
ecology like risks associated with small population sizes/ minimal viable population
sizes, about increased risks to the wild populations due to demographic
stochasticity (chance events like an entire generation being the same sex),
environmental stochasticity (chance events like storms and fires), genetic
deterioration and genetic bottlenecks, and social dysfunction, impact of climate
changes at the species level and spread of diseases due to climate change, vector
load in the ecosystem etc issues.
In brief I want to see conservation biology and conservation medicine
working in the field protecting the endangered wildlife.
10. All of the States will have a mechanism for the fool proof use of the provisions of
wildlife protection Act 1972 (as amended from time to time) especially the
provisions under sections 58-A to 58-Y and every state constitute its own appellate
tribunal for dealing with the dreadful criminals of our hapless wildlife.
And I sincerely hope that—“that one day” is not far away when we will triumph. In the
conservation efforts Zoological parks will also have to play a major role
Role of Zoological Parks as Conservation agents
The need to protect and conserve global biodiversity and wildlife is now at the
forefront of the aims of modern zoos. Zoos have evolved from basic menageries in the 19th
Century towards being environmental resource centres in the 21st Century. CARE an
acronym for Conservation breeding of endangered species, promoting Awareness amongst
people about the concerns of wildlife, conducting Research on wildlife, Educating masses
about the wildlife, is now a part of vision and mission of many zoological parks world over.
In 1993 WAZA published its first conservation strategy. This document was
groundbreaking at the time as it articulated a vision of the role of zoos and aquariums in
conservation for the next 10 years. In 2005, a new document was published, titled "Building
a Future for Wildlife: The World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy". This emphasises
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the need for integrated conservation, including zoos working together and with other
conservation organisations, supporting projects in the wild.
Some of the western zoos are following the WAZAs conservation strategy in true
spirit. To name just one such zoo—Paignton Zoo is a part of the Whitley Wildlife
Conservation Trust along with its sister zoos Living Coasts and Newquay Zoo. These are
involved in many co-operative conservation efforts including breeding programmes for
threatened species. These zoos are increasingly involved with habitat conservation outside
the zoo and have many links with various conservation organisations in the UK and
overseas. Their conservation efforts are going on in 3 nature reserves in UK, one nature
reserve each in the countries like Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and
Malawi. These zoos are running projects mainly related to the threatened animals like
rhinos, cheetahs, duikers (a small antelope) and on some of the native species of England.
(Source: http://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk)
May be that it is possible for cash rich zoos of western courtiers but not for us, but
what we can do is that transferring of medical knowledge and our behavioural observations
of animals to the field by preparing protocols etc., that will help in the better management
of sanctuaries and national parks. What we can do in these fields is mentioned in brief
which is as follows:
Medical knowledge
1. Knowledge thus generated while treating various animals in the zoological parks can
be used for the preparation of veterinary contingency plans for various diseases/ for
specific animals or animal groups. A cue can be taken from the Australian
experiences; in this country for every disease they have a plan. They call them
AUStralian VETerinary Emergency PLAN (AUSVETPLANS). Such well conceived plans
will definitely help the Zoo and field managers in protecting the precious wildlife
from life threatening recurring diseases.
2. Zoological parks can help the field managers in the preparation of animal disease
preparedness planning protocols dealing with various issues related to early
warning and early reaction. Under the early warning— the issues like disease
surveillance, risk analysis, risk profiling, and lab facilities etc, where as under the
early reactions—among other issues planning can be made for vaccinating animals
around the sanctuaries and national parks.
If such plans (veterinary contingency plans, animal disease preparedness
planning protocols) are in place may be that what happened in the parks of Kenya
(death of many Lions due to canine distemper) and what happened in Chambal river
(deaths of Gharials) might not get repeated in future,
3. Dr. S. Abdul Basist et.al., of Department of wildlife science, Madras Veterinary
college came out with “Colour Atlas on Parasites of Captive Animals”, with the
financial assistance from CZA, such informative publications can be of great help
even to the field veterinarians and field managers,
4. Manuals on managing of rescued animals can be prepared—these can be animal
specific,
5. Manuals on the key issues like Animal Transportation and issues related to the
safety etc can be made available to field managers, who often indulge in the
transportation of rescued animals and some times in translocation of animals from
one place to another for administrative reasons. CZA tried to get one such manual
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prepared (Delhi zoo came out with a manual which contained designs of crates,
cages etc) but we need exhaustive ones like the ones that are being used by the
countries like Australia and New Zealand,
6. Zoological Parks can help the field managers in providing forensic inputs and can
train the field managers,
7. Zoo veterinarians can help the field managers in reintroductions.
Animal behaviour
Understanding of the moods and behaviour of the wild animals will definitely help in
the managing of animals in a more prudent manner. Zoo people can play a greater role on
such issues.
I.
For example Rhino displays curiosity, anger, fear, alarm etc through a number of
visual/ display signs and through vocalizations. Similarly they exhibit a unique scent marking
behaviour. (Source: http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/black_rhino/black_rhino.htm)
Documenting and passing on such knowledge to field managers, as it was done by Sandiego
Zoo, will definitely help the field managers to manage their establishments in a better
manner. A brief on the behavioural aspects of Black Rhino as observed and documented by
Sandiego zoo is reproduced as below
Displays/Visual Signs exhibited by Rhinos:
 Tail up: alarm, curiosity; female receptivity (tail crooked)
 Ears straight up: interested, curious
 Ears flat: anger
 Eyes of Rhinos are not very expressive
 "Bluff and bluster": Upon meeting another individual, one rhino snorts and swings
head side-to-side in a threatening manner, but will gallop away (swinging back
around, often repeating this behavior) if the other rhino lunges forward.
 "Complex bull ceremony" described by Schenkel & Schenkel-Hulliger (1969); occurs
when male is alone, or when female nearby; not always in this order or including all
elements; probably "symbolized aggression" toward a potential rival.
 Sniffing a bush
 Snorting in attack posture
 Bashing bush with rostrum and horn; forceful, side to side movement of head
 Trampling bush and scraping with hind feet
 Urinating in bursts over plant
Vocalization
Merz (1991) observed several types of vocalizations in black rhinos:
 Lion-like growl and elephant-like trumpet (heard during a fight).
 Long snort (anger)
 Short snort, like a sneeze (alarm)
 Short snort with pricked ears and wrinkled nostrils (startle reaction to newcomer)
 "High-pitched wonk" (fear)
 High-pitched scream (terror)
 "Mmwonk", a deep, resonant sound (contentment)
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Squeak, done with different tones and intonations can mean "I'm lost", "Where are
you?", "I'm over here", and other emotions that are not yet understood.
Breathing (long and slow, or short and quick) can be used to communicate greetings,
anxiety, and reassurance.
"Puffing snort" is a common greeting when males and females encounter one
another (Goddard, 1967).
In contrast, vocal communication in white rhinos seems much less common.
Olfaction/Scent Marking
Sent marking is a very important method of communication in rhinos because of
their poor eyesight and more solitary nature.
Urine spraying
 Males and females mark bushes or dung piles with a backwards, horizontal spray of
urine.
 Both can shoot up to 3 to 4 meters.
 Females do this most often when they are in season, spraying in short bursts.
 A male may come and spray over a female's scent marking.
 Spraying also occurs along feeding or watering tracks.
 Different than regular urination, and is used in communication.
Dung Piles:
 Often defecate in the same place repeatedly (="lavatories") along feeding tracks,
near water sources, and scattered randomly throughout the home range.
 "Calling cards": When approaching the dung pile of another individual, a rhino may
just sniff, or add to the pile (defecate and scrape). Smelling the dung piles may be a
way for rhinos to identify each other.
 Scent trails: dragging the hind feet after defecation enables a rhino to leave a scent
trail as it walks through its home range, assisting with orientation. Other individuals
may follow the scent trail.
 Two individuals travelling together often defecate in the same spot (one after the
other) or at the same time. This happens with a mother and her young, as well as
with two adults.
 Female receptivity: females tend to scrape more vigorously when sexually receptive.
 Courtship: Sometimes a male follows a receptive female and scrapes her dung
vigorously (flinging it far away) every time she defecates. This makes it more difficult
for other males to follow her scent.
Head rubbing: against trunk or stump may be method of scent marking; horn rubbing less
common.
Making Flehman- mostly done by male when sniffing rear end or urine mark of receptive
female. Flehmen is a German word describing characteristic behaviour- lip curl, nose
wrinkle, and head lift. It is thought to aid in bringing scent to the Jacobson's organ (also
called vomeronasal organ), located far back in the palate, which detects trace quantities of
chemicals in the air (i.e., pheromones).
Such endeavours are also expected from our own zoo communities.
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II.
Similarly different animals exhibit different courtship behaviours. Animals like Rhinos
exhibit violent courtship behaviours. Knowing about this behaviour will help the field
managers in taking proper steps so that there won’t be any loss of precious genetic material
III.
Whenever, I think about Animal Behaviour always a paper titled “Elephant
Breakdown” written by G.A. Bradshaw, Allan N. Schore, Janinel L. Brown, Joyce H. Poole and
Cynthiaj Moss, that was published in Nature (24 February 2005) comes into my mid, a
beautifully articulated paper on social trauma (meaning by: early disruption of attachment
can affect the physiology, behaviour and culture of animals and humans over generations)
faced by the baby elephants of the herd of elephants where in adult elephants were killed
by humans in front of them. The Zoo people can help the field managers in the preparation
of such studies too.
Conclusion:
Thoreau more than 150 years ago said that "In wildness is the preservation of the
world." We should all remember it and it is the high time that all of us untidily should stand
and work together in conserving the wildlife by our sincere efforts.
Glossary:
Genetic bottleneck: Sometimes populations go through a natural crash in numbers and then
recover, but without the genetic variability they once had. This is referred to as a genetic
bottleneck because small populations are rarely completely representative of the original
genetic composition of a population with some of the important genes might have been
lost. When exposed to selective factors, populations that have gone through a bottleneck
are less likely respond to selective pressure and more likely become extinct. The cheetah is
the classic example. The cheetah occurs naturally in the African savannah in low densities,
one per every forty or fifty square miles. Cheetahs have been found to have extremely low
genetic variability, indicating that all cheetahs today are most likely descended from a very
small population that experienced a genetic bottleneck. They are nevertheless a successful
predator, although there is concern that their low genetic diversity may make them
exceptionally vulnerable to epidemic diseases or make it difficult for them to adapt to major
climatic changes.
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