Zoos and Conservation in the Anthropocene: Opportunities and Problems

Robovský, Jan; Melichar, Lubomír; Gippoliti, Spartaco

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-42335-3_14

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 128 publications

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“…As some current genomic assessments have recognized significant differentiation of populations, specifically in plains zebra Equus quagga Boddaert, 1785 [138] or tiger Panthera tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) [139], which have been recognized as undifferentiated based on small number of loci (zebras [130]) and some phenotype and ecological features (tigers [140]), we argue for a precautionary principle in conservation management [128,135,141].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…As the current discussion about giraffe taxonomy is too focused on the number of species, we argue that the plurality of taxonomic and conservation approaches might be beneficial in order to unify conservation priorities, contra e.g., [127]; see also the comments on taxonomic instability in [128]. Taxonomists often use some particular species concept (for review see [129]), and population/evolutionary geneticists describe interesting results but often without presenting formal taxonomic actions [130,131] and/or alternatively using some standard conservation units-usually management unit (MU), evolutionary significant unit (ESU), cf.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Taxonomy and Translocations of African Mammals: A Plea for a Cautionary Approach

Gippoliti¹,

Robovský

Angelici³

2021

Conservation

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Ecotourism can fuel an important source of financial income for African countries and can therefore help biodiversity policies in the continent. Translocations can be a powerful tool to spread economic benefits among countries and communities; yet, to be positive for biodiversity conservation, they require a basic knowledge of conservation units through appropriate taxonomic research. This is not always the case, as taxonomy was considered an outdated discipline for almost a century, and some plurality in taxonomic approaches is incorrectly considered as a disadvantage for conservation work. As an example, diversity of the genus Giraffa and its recent taxonomic history illustrate the importance of such knowledge for a sound conservation policy that includes translocations. We argue that a fine-grained conservation perspective that prioritizes all remaining populations along the Nile Basin is needed. Translocations are important tools for giraffe diversity conservation, but more discussion is needed, especially for moving new giraffes to regions where the autochthonous taxa/populations are no longer existent. As the current discussion about the giraffe taxonomy is too focused on the number of giraffe species, we argue that the plurality of taxonomic and conservation approaches might be beneficial, i.e., for defining the number of units requiring separate management using a (majority) consensus across different concepts (e.g., MU—management unit, ESU—evolutionary significant unit, and ECU—elemental conservation unit). The taxonomically sensitive translocation policy/strategy would be important for the preservation of current diversity, while also supporting the ecological restoration of some regions within rewilding. A summary table of the main translocation operations of African mammals that have underlying problems is included. Therefore, we call for increased attention toward the taxonomy of African mammals not only as the basis for sound conservation but also as a further opportunity to enlarge the geographic scope of ecotourism in Africa.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Taxonomy and Translocations of African Mammals: A Plea for a Cautionary Approach

Gippoliti¹,

Robovský

Angelici³

2021

Conservation

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“…Its shape and the ratio of length and width are very similar to that of the European bison, which, however, has an oval window on both limbs. Perhaps this is due to the domestication of cattle, which, unlike its "wild" relatives, spends most of its life in a limited area of stables or pastures, the details surveyed in respect of these studies would be beneficial (e.g., O’Regan and Kitchener 62 , Keller et al 63 , for references related to captivity-induced changes see also Robovský et al) 64 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Newly described anatomical opening on forelimb tendon in the artiodactyls and its relation to knee clicks

Pyszko

Němeček²,

Horák

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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To understand which morphological/anatomical parts may be responsible in artiodactyl ungulates for the clicking sound made when moving, this research focuses on the forelimb tendon apparatus where an undescribed opening in the fibrous cuff (manica flexoria), called hereafter for its shape as an “oval window” in the manica flexoria (OWMF), was detected. This oval window was found in 24 of the 25 species of four families (Camelidae, Giraffidae, Cervidae, and Bovidae) evaluated; the exception being in Bos taurus taurus (Domestic cattle). The length and width of the OWMF enabled correct species discrimination between the majority of species, but remained conservative intraspecifically, as it did not differ between the left and right side of the forelimb, third and fourth digits, or between sexes. When evaluating the shape of OWMF in individual species, and measuring its length and width, 18 out of the 24 species investigated had this window as an oval shape, the remaining 25% of species exhibited more oval-oblong shapes with either proximal or distal asymmetry. The function of the OWMF in the thoracic autopodium of most ruminant even-toed ungulates is not yet fully understood. Its most likely function is to help balance the pressure inside the ligament cuff and reduce the friction of the touching surfaces of the muscle tendons—thus facilitating the movement of the digits when walking. None of the absolute or relative OWMF parameters fit exclusively with the occurrence and distribution of knee-clicks produced by some bovids and cervids during movement, so the mechanism responsible for this sound remains cryptic from the present anatomical perspective.

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“…Il tramite per avvicinarsi all'animale è l'immersione nelle condizioni ambientali e climatiche dell'habitat di appartenenza (in particolare nella serra tropicale), anche a costo di creare una sorta di spaesamento che trasporta il visitatore umano in un altro ambiente, non sempre a sua misura e non necessariamente confortevole 17 . Sebbene molti sostengano ancora l'importanza degli zoo come luoghi per lo studio degli animali selvatici (Gioppolitti, 2021;Robovský et al, 2020), il valore contemporaneo di questi spazi di cattività urbani risiede principalmente nella possibilità di sensibilizzare ed educare alla coscienza dell'alterità animale e, parallelamente, delle interconnessioni tra tutti gli esseri viventi (Mignosi, 2022). Laboratori didattici, playground, spazi ludici da tempo inseriti all'interno degli zoo sono funzionali ad alimentare quella che etnologi e sociologi definiscono 'osservazione partecipante' che consiste nell'abitare, attraverso un'azione concreta (gioco, attività fisica, sperimentazione didattica) il mondo degli osservati (Servais, 2017), alimentando la percezione dell'animale come soggetto e non solo come oggetto.…”

Section: Co-scienzaunclassified

Animali in città

Lei¹,

Imbroglini²

2023

ri-vista

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More and more wild animals find refuge in cities, due to the growth of urbanized areas, the devastation of natural habitats and the intensive transformation of agricultural spaces. The presence of wildlife increases conflicts but is also generating interesting considerations on the relationship between man and nature, based on empathy and the comprehension of animal. New co-evolution paths within cities, anthropic habitat par excellence, imply a different way of relating to the "wild" or "feral" to produce generative alliances and new shared habitat. The landscape project must come out of the comfort zone of a design conceived exclusively for human consumption and well-being: spaces of interspecies co-operation (productive symbiosis), generating responses of mutual adaptation to environmental and climatic changes; new places of co-habitat for both humans and animals; immersive spaces, for empathic and emotional cognition capable to sensitizing became aware of the interconnections between all living species and their common habitat.

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Zoos and Conservation in the Anthropocene: Opportunities and Problems

Cited by 5 publications

References 128 publications

Taxonomy and Translocations of African Mammals: A Plea for a Cautionary Approach

Taxonomy and Translocations of African Mammals: A Plea for a Cautionary Approach

Newly described anatomical opening on forelimb tendon in the artiodactyls and its relation to knee clicks

Animali in città

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