I have no access to BIAZA/EAZA lists - I just totalled up the numbers listed on ZIMs as surplus in Europe, leaving off those in other regions such as North America.
Actually, EAZA only just completed the list of monkeys to be kept. Macaques are popular, and can be kept in large herds in open exhibits, not so much competing for space with e.g. guenons or colobus. So there is a place for viable populations of several more macaque species. The problem is likely that macaques were considered generally common and not valuable, and allowed to become inbred, go old or locked in smaller institutions with low chances of breeding. However, they are no longer safe, because wild populations became Vulnerable or Endangered. I feel at least several more macaques species could still be saved if zoos cooperate now, and it is worth the effort.
I did not question when EAZA made their lists. Whenever it was done, if all species are to be phased out of EAZA collections (except for the 3 listed), then it will have to be non-EAZA zoos which co-operate to try to save any others...
As for thinking that Japanese are better looking than Barbarys....I beg to differ. Look at this stunning strapping boy! And here's Adao letting you know what he thinks of that! Yes ladies and gentlemen, we have the UK's only swearing monkey!
Mind you, looks aren't everything I'm also rather fond of Stump-tailed Macaque, and those have faces even a mother would struggle to love!
Cleaning up the thread now; given the initial - and 100% correct - statement by Andrew was that "simply huge numbers of Barbary Macaques are currently surplus [in Europe] on ZIMS" and did not specify within EAZA, the fact that the number is significantly lower *within* that organisation would have been better supplied as an additional detail rather than phrased as if it was a correction of his information IMO. There are 88 Barbary surplus in Europe. There are 7 Barbary surplus within EAZA. We're all agreed on these points, I think - so there's no need to hash them out over and over
Possibly a bit more demanding in terms of management costs than Meerkats, leaving aside the prevailing view that there are no pure bred ones left
I know there are none left (though there are some academics out there who argue there are ), I'm just joking / messing around
There needs to be a disney animation made about anthromorphic pallas cats living on the Mongolian steppes voiced by various American celebrities, that dance, sing catchy love ballads and mouth platitudes about simple moral truths. I think that would really boost their presence and recognition in society.
I think it goes without saying that there would have to be some cool Mongolian throat singing included too
