Join our zoo community

Do zoos care for genetic diversity of reptiles spp. outside EEP, SSP, ESB programes?

Discussion in 'General Zoo Discussion' started by Nikola Chavkosk, 20 Feb 2016.

  1. Nikola Chavkosk

    Nikola Chavkosk Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    17 Feb 2016
    Posts:
    1,322
    Location:
    Prilep, R. Macedonia
    I am wondering too

    Whether zoos take care for genetic diversity and whether keep records for breeding and exchanging reptile species that are outside EEP, ESB, SSP (USA), and other breeding programes world wide? or even for some more threatened species (for wich I don't know whether there is a breeding program) like for King cobra for example?

    Eg. for red spitting cobra?
    Eastern green mamba?
    or for Papuan taipan or Southamerican bushmaster? Indochinese spitting cobra? Chameleons (eg. Uzambara green chameleon)? Emerald tree boa? Forest cobra?
    Or for Mexican West Coast rattlesnake or for Eyelash viper? many many others.... maybe some of the listed species are participitating in some controled breeding programme, I don't know for sure,

    Can someone give me a link for such organised programes, eg in EAZA, or for SSP in United States?
     
  2. Batto

    Batto Well-Known Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    3 Sep 2013
    Posts:
    3,459
    Location:
    Baltic Sea - no more
    Short answer: not really. Most reptile specimens in zoos originate from surplus from other zoos, the commercial pet trade, private keepers, confiscations or donations. Except for said breeding program species or species a dedicated reptile curator has special interest in, genetic diversity isn't a priority.
     
    Nikola Chavkosk likes this.