Zoo breeding programmes: Balancing conservation and animal welfare

It is recognised that habitat protection alone Is not sufficient if the expressed goal of the World Conservation Strategy, the maintenance of biotic diversity, is to be achieved, The establishment of self-substaining captive populations and other supportive intervention is required to avoid the loss of many species, especially those at high risk in greatly reduced, highly fragmented and disturbed habitats. Three major initiatives by which the global zoo network can help to achieve its conservation goals are currently exemplified by an increasing number of toes which are actively supporting 1) the management of small populations, both ex situ and in situ, 2) the development of education programmes, and 3) basic and applied research programmes. The importance of interactive management of wild and captive animals and the significant contribution the concept of partnership between toes and conservation organizations represents, should not be underestimated. In the process of balancing conservation and animal welfare, it should be recognised that as traditional toes evolve from zoological parks into conservation centres, it Is important for conservation and animal welfare organizations not just to review what the global zoo community has, or has not, achieved to date, but also to assess what the real potentials are. By adopting a multi-disciplinary approach, promoting collaboration between scientists and managers, avoiding anthropomorphic preconceptions and focusing on the real needs of endangered species, important progress towards safeguarding individual welfare and biotic diversity can be made. Examples of conservation and animal welfare requirement are presented and scenarios for the future discussed.