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Hippo Enrichment

Discussion in 'General Zoo Discussion' started by ZooElephantMan, 7 Jun 2015.

  1. temp

    temp Well-Known Member

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    There is no positive about hippos in Colombia. They're in the Magdalena river basin, already one of the most threatened aquatic habitats in entire South America. That basin really doesn't need any additional problems for the native species. Habitat destruction and pollution has already taken its toll. There are more than 100 fish species found nowhere else in the world, including quite a lot of catfish species that need pristine river edges to breed (they make burrows into the river bank where they lay their eggs). A few highly threatened turtles are retricted to the region, too. None of them or the aquatic and semi-aquatic plants have ever had to deal with herbivore of the magnitude of a hippo. They're simply not adapted to it.

    The problem is that many people care about a handful of misplaced hippos. Far fewer care about the smaller species that actually are native to the region and potentially can disappear because of them. At least if the populations grows from the current c. 60 animals, but hopefully the recent sterilization program can stop that. Sure the hippo is declining in its native Africa, but the population remains large and many live in well-protected reserves. The species doesn't need a reserve in South America. (however, one might make that argument for the pygmy hippo, which seems to be heading for Critically Endangered on the IUCN red list.)

    Although the region where they were introduced is rural, there has been several incidents with locals. The overall region is not nearly as remote as some articles seem to suggest. Indeed, the valleys of the Magdalena and Cauca rivers are the most densely populated regions in Colombia. Puerto Boyacá, which is only a few km from the place of the original escape, has a population of about 50,000 people. Downriver from Puerto Boyacá there are several other towns of similar sizes and eventually after ca. 250 km you reach the city of Barrancabermeja with more than 300,000 people.

    If they were allowed to stay and breed, we're thousands of years from any possible evolution into a separate species. Yes, evolution can happen fast, especially when considering the founder effect and genetic drift, but it still depends on generation length.
     
  2. condershire

    condershire Member

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    15 Jun 2015
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    Location:
    Albuquerque, NM
    Well, at least it elicited an interesting discussion, all thanks to Uncle Escobar...