Trends in Reptile Holdings Across UK Zoos: Identification of the Factors Responsible for Declining Numbers of Venomous Snake.

Autor: Sparrow L; Department of Life Sciences, University of Suffolk, Ipswich, Suffolk, UK., Gill I; Chester Zoo, Upton by Chester, UK., Michaels CJ; Zoological Society of London, London Zoo, London, UK., Turner CJ; Department of Life Sciences, University of Suffolk, Ipswich, Suffolk, UK.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Zoo biology [Zoo Biol] 2024 Sep 17. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Sep 17.
DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21868
Abstrakt: Zoos are under increasing pressure to strategically manage their collections to maximize visitor attendance, financial income, and their contribution to conservation. As a result, the compositions of zoo collections are undergoing significant changes. Many zoos are keeping fewer species and prioritizing keeping large flagship animals that are more attractive to the public. To understand the effects these changes are having on captive reptile numbers, we have analyzed the trends in reptile holdings between 2003 and 2023 at UK zoos. Our findings show that despite an overall increase in reptile numbers in the period analyzed, there has been a dramatic decline in the number of venomous snakes held at UK zoos, and as a result, venomous snakes are being excluded from many of the conservation benefits that zoos provide. To understand the key factors contributing to the decline in venomous snake numbers, 57 staff members across 35 different BIAZA-accredited zoos were surveyed. Results from the survey identified that a perceived increased risk of harm, increasingly stringent health and safety regulations, and increased husbandry requirements were all key contributing factors to why venomous snake numbers at zoos are in decline.
(© 2024 The Author(s). Zoo Biology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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