Small Carnivore Conservation: what has changed?

I have been doing a bit of snooping around for information on captive breeding programmes for small carnivores, and found this very interesting article from 1993 (I cannot find it separately, but it is on pages 1 and 2 of the main journal)

http://www.smallcarnivoreconservation.org/sccwiki/images/7/73/Number_9.PDF

Having read through this with a great deal of interest, it left me wondering how much has actually happened with a great deal of the animals mentioned.

- Mustelids seem to be doing pretty well; there seem to be a great number of European mink being kept and presumably bred on the continent
- Marbled polecats have a small toe-hold in a few select European countries (mainly Russia, Britain and Germany)
- Wolverines seem to be increasing their zoo range and population in Europe, most recently with successful breeding at the Cotswold Wildlife Park- as a related matter, how are wolverines doing in American zoos?
- However, despite these successes with existing species, I can find no sign of progress with either the Mexican tayra or the Javan yellow-throated marten with just the more common subspecies certainly in European collections

- The viverrids are probably having the worst time; only the Owston's palm civet seems to have a sustainable captive breeding programme currently
-I can find no indication of large-spotted civets being managed in American zoos, although chances are a few are probably dotted around in Southeast Asia
- The Malabar civet has declined even more drastically, and now may well be already extinct
- There seem to have been no advances in the keeping of either aquatic genets or otter civets (the former is understandable, since its entire native range appears to be in a war-zone)
- However, there have been recent successes in the captive keeping and breeding of Palawan binturongs in Europe

- Mongooses and Eupleridae (the latter group probably wasn't recognised at this time) also seem to be having a rough time; the Liberian mongoose at Toronto Zoo when the article was written has since died and any efforts to bring them back have failed (although even then other specimens were not readily available)
- Narrow-striped mongooses seem to now have a good breeding population in Europe, with the first captive-bred pair coming to Durrell in 2002-2003
- Other Euplerids also seem to be have either a large and well-managed (fossa) or small (ring-tailed vontsira, fanaloka) captive presence in both Europe and America

- Some procyonids (common raccoon and ring-tailed coati) have a large captive population, although the former seems to be disappearing from many British zoos.
- Do any American members know if there has been progress with captive breeding programmes for the Caribbean island raccoons or the Cozumel Island coati?
- A single mountain coati is now in captivity at a facility in Colombia- hopefully this will be the start of a successful breeding programme
- None of the rarer forms of kinkajou seem to have become established in captivity, and here in Europe the crab-eating raccoon and ringtail are literally hanging on by a thread
- Do any of our Mexican zoochatters know if the planned captive keeping and breeding programmes for olingos went ahead at all?

-Interestingly, the actual article forgets the otters, so I will briefly sum up what has mostly been happening with those as well; giant otters are now seemingly the new 'thing' in zoos, with great-looking enclosures with breeding groups sprouting up all over the place both in Europe and America
- Smooth-coated otters have recently gained a small breeding colony in Britain, courtesy of the actions of Belfast and the RSCC
- Hairy-nosed otters have had singletons in captive collections in Southeast Asia but seemingly very little interest by any western collections; the same can be said for the Southern river otter which vies with the hairy-nosed otter for the title of 'rarest otter species'
- Despite their threatened existance in the wild, Oriental small-clawed and Eurasian otters seem to be here to stay in captive collections (out of interest, how many Eurasian otters remain in American zoos?)
- Although now down to one collection in Europe, the sea otter seems to have recovered sufficiently in large areas of the Pacific with a good number in American collections (I think?)


Of course, a lot changes in nearly 20 years. The taxonomy of some species is changing near-constantly (Cozumel coatis are now regarded as the same as the mainland white-nosed, Malagasy carnivores are now in a group of their own and recent genetic studies seem to indicate the Javan yellow-throated marten may be a distinct species), the Malabar civet is possibly extinct and several new carnivores have been discovered like the Durrell's vontisra and Vietnam ferret-badger.

Having done a lot of research, I have found that not only a good number of the species listed above, but several other species not previously considered are in need of serious help; the falanouc, Hose's civet, pygmy spotted skunk, Colombian weasel, Sulawesi and golden palm civets, brown-tailed and broad-striped vontsira, the crested, Johnston's and Bourlon's genets, banded linsang, both the African linsangs and brown mongooses are all either already threatened or declining rapidly in the wild and have information regarding their captive care.

So, what zoos are best for small carnivore conservation? Two of the real good-uns, the RSCC (with fanaloka, smooth-coated otters and ring-tailed mongooses among the highlights) and Wassenaar Zoo in the Netherlands (with breeding banded linsangs, banded palm civets and otter civets) have since closed. So, does anywhere at all have a really memorable collection of threatened small carnivores left, and have good links with wild conservation (I know several British collections work closely with the carnivore centre at Cuc Phuong and the Owston's civets).

As an added aside, I am looking for the history of some species of small carnivore in captivity- I already have details on the banded linsang, but if anyone knows info on otter civets or marbled polecats, it would be much appreciated.

Essay over

 

Thanks for this starting this thread and raising awareness of this group - will certainly keep checking for further updates and contribute if I can in any way.

 

I think two changes have affected small carnivores in recent years. Those in managed progammes require more zoo "spaces" as those populations grow. Wolverine, Red Panda, Binturong, European Mink, Giant Otter are good examples of this. Secondly the old fashioned small mammal houses and the number of nocturnal houses has declined.
The majority of small carnivores are nocturnal and not popular with zoo directors apart from very few with a particular interest.
Also the question of cost is a significant factor. It would take hundreds of thousands to establish even one of the species mentioned in a viable managed breeding programme even if you could get the relevent govenments to co-operate. Importing a few odd pairs of a species may be of educational interest but it takes a more strategic approach to establish a serious and viable conservation breeding progamme.

 

I fear we're in an era where species acquisition in the bigger collections is influenced by marketing concerns. I hope I'm wrong, but pinkback's comment

sounds all too plausible as the major reason for a lack of exhibits.

Small cats and the smaller canids also suffer in this respect, I think.

 

Here in the United States, the state of small carnivores in zoos is deplorable. My zoo does have a marbled polecat aquired from a private breeder near San Diego, so I know at least there are some of those around. Of course black-footed ferrets are being intensively bred by a few institutions (such as Phoenix Zoo), but these are almost always off exhibit so the public has no chance to see them. Members of the Feline Conservation Federation have a good breeding program for serval, caracal, geoffroys cat, but not much else as far as small cats. The AZA Felid Tag is potentially going to bring back jaguarundi, which I am eager to see.

In South America, one private zoo in Chile has started a guigna breeding program (partially funded by the Feline Conservation Federation).

Bush dogs are a relatively new zoo species that seems to be on the increase in Europe and the United States.

But overall and especially with weasels and their relatives, the situation is pretty bleak. If I had a lot of money, I would very likely start a small carnivore center.

 

I'm afraid the problem of small carnivores in zoos is symptomatic of the problem of captive small mammals in general. The average visitor isn't really interested in them, even if they know of their existence. I suspect that many zoo managers have a limited knowledge of animals and are more interested in attracting visitors to see the animals they have already seen in other zoos, rather than introducing them to other species. Ring-tailed coatis, Oriental small-clawed otters and, of course, slender-tailed mongooses are among the few small carnivores that visitors seem to want to see. I'm pleased that Owston's palm civets are becoming more popular; I saw this species for the first time 10 years ago in Frankfurt Zoo, but have only seen it once since then - in Newquay in 2010.

Unfortunately, other small carnivores are becoming scarce. I saw my first oncilla in the mid 1980s in Hannover and my sceond in Prague in 2009. I have only seen olingos in two zoos - Exmouth in about 1973 and Kilverstone a few yers before it closed. One of the keepers at Kilverstone kept a house open as it was getting dark outside. It was the first time I'd seen an active olingo. The keeper explained that the zoo had bred olingos, but couldn't obtain fresh stock, so the mother was kept with the son and the father with the daughter to try and increase genetic diversity. Hardly ideal, but now there are no olingos in Europe. Nor are there hog badgers, which I remember seeing in London in 1967, nor any zorillas, according to Zootierliste.

I saw my first ring-tail for many yars at Arnhem in 2007 - this is the only European zoo to show this species. In 2008, I visited Tropical Wings Zoo, the only English Zoo with marbled polecats. Zootierliste lists the only European fanalokas as being at Exmoor (perhaps the specimens from sandwich); I have only seen this species once before, possibly at Berlin. I saw a banded linsang at the Dusit Zoo in Bangkok and have seen pampas cats at Kilverstone and Chester. I regret not seeing the marbled cat at Howletts (it was kept behind the scenes); the same may also be true of the flat-headed cats that were kept at Rotterdam, although my visit may have been just before or after they were in the collection.

I'm afraid that until more zoos show a lot more interest in small carnivores, they will continue to be in decline. There seems to be an idea that only large carnivores are threatened with extinction. Not only is this untrue, but zoos could do a lot more for conservation by having exhibits for several species of small carnivore species than one exhibit for a large species, which is already over-represented in zoos. Also, does any zoo need to keep meerkats, never mind having two exhibits for them? There are several species of active, endangered mongooses that could be kept instead, with captive breeding helping to preserve them from extinction?

 

DesertRhino, you had said "A single mountain coati is now in captivity at a facility in Colombia- hopefully this will be the start of a successful breeding programme"

Do you know the name of this facility and where exactly it is located?

 

Here is the article from Durrell Wildlife, who are I believe working in conjunction with this facility.

The Ghost Carnivore of the Andes | Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

 

I didn't know where else to put this, so I have included it on this thread.

While I was looking around for information about Madagascan carnivores in captivity, I found this piece that says that in 2000 and 2001, thirty-one live fanaloka were exported to unspecified locations.

Much more exciting however, was this little piece of information regarding the falanouc (Eupleres goudotii)

"Apart from a total of 15 live animals reported as exports by Madagascar to South Africa between 2000 and 2001, the only other direct trade ever reported was of scientific specimens going to the United States in 2002."

Does anyone know anything further about this? The potential of a falanouc breeding programme is surely pretty exciting.

Information came from here:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/cites/pdf/reports/species_madagascar.pdf

 

I think there have been further live imports since (also into EU).

However, scientific specimens only denotes animal tissue for biological research (normally).

Madagascar has quite a number of confiscated and unreleasable individuals (....). I wish EU policy could change and with the Madagascan zoos and authorities progress towards conservation usage of these confiscees can be made (now they remain a genetic / functional dead end road ... a waste for an endangered native species).

 

Birmingham (USA) has had two litters of black footed cats in less than a year.

 

I am so surprised that there is a zoo can breed otter civet! Where can I find more information about the otter civet, banded linsang and banded palm civet in Wassenaar Zoo? I become so interested in that zoo! Moreover, currently are there any captive populations of large-spotted civet, otter civet, Sulawesi palm civet, golden palm civet, spotted linsang and all the genet species except the large-spotted, rusty-spotted, common, haussa and servaline?
What makes me disappointing is, many wonderful small carnivore species such as large Indian civet, ferret badger, hog badger, spotted linsang and crab-eating mongoose, usually appear in the food & pet market of Asia (illegally of course), but seldom appear in zoos. I hope there would be a zoo showing great interests in small carnivores someday and visiting the food market regularly and rescuing all the rare small animals and sending them to the responsible zoos all over the world.

 

There is an article about the successful breeding of banded palm civets and banded linsangs written in 1970. Cannot find anything about the birth of otter civets anywhere- their listing may have been a mistake on my part. TLD will probably know better than me.

Cannot find the full article anywhere, but it is only a two-page piece with the first page available in several places (like here):

Breeding the Banded palm civet and the Banded linsang: at Wassenaar Zoo | DeepDyve

Was also rather interested to see that in that same year Wassenaar also bred African palm civets which are (like the linsang and palm civet) almost completely gone from Europe.

 

At a conference in June one of the speakers was an international zoo worker currently working at a facility in the UAE. He said they had Blanford's foxes that could readily be exported if any other zoos had interest (which apparently no one does).

 

I guess the future for small carnivore breeding programms lies in the hands of smaller zoos. They often still have good connections with the private animal-keeper section ( in which still quite a number of species are being kept ) and often don't have the place and / or money to keep larger carnivores.
Esp. in the Netherlands I've noticed that some of the smaller collections have the "rarest" ( in the meaning of not seen regulary in captivity ) small carnivores. Examples of this are Taman Indonesia were Asian Palm civet and Nominate Leopard cats are kept ( and the Leopard cts also bred ) and De Paay with Yellow-throated marten and Greater and Lesser Grisons !