EAZA News 57-12 - European Association of Zoos and Aquaria

eaza news 57
2007
30
conservation
SAZA focuses on its own backyard
Helena Olsson, Eskilstuna Zoo, Sweden
Imagine that you are on a trip in the middle of Sweden during winter. The snow is falling, and through the
falling snow you see a couple of large stones in front of you, all covered in white. Suddenly, one of them
starts to move, and then one after another the ‘stones’ reveal themselves. Thanks to the Swedish Association
of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (SAZA), people can still experience musk-oxen in Sweden.
Nature conservation
SAZA currently runs 12 conservation projects for 12 different species.
Criteria for species selection are that the species must be Nordic, it must
be rare or threatened in Swedish or Nordic nature and it must be a target
for research and/or other in situ work. It is also important that the
species is found in SAZA member institutions.
Vulnerable musk-ox population
One of the 12 conservation projects focuses on the musk-ox (Ovibos
moschatus). Together with the Swedish Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), several zoos in Sweden are working to conserve this arctic
species, which now naturally lives on the arctic tundra of Greenland,
Canada and Norway. Fossil records in Sweden show that the musk-ox
was already part of our fauna about 40,000 years ago. Musk-oxen
immigrated from Norway to Sweden in 1971 and a population has lived
in the middle of Sweden since then. This population is very vulnerable
though. In 2001 only seven musk-oxen were left and after one calve was
born in the succeeding year, today the herd still consists of eight animals.
Musk-ox project
The Swedish EPA came up with a proposal to save the musk-ox in
Sweden, both on a short-term and long-term basis.
The short-term goal is to improve the genetic status of the current
herd and its possibility to survive in the region. One cow was mated
with a bull at Järvzoo (Järvsö), after which she was reintroduced to the
herd and successfully gave birth to a calf. More short-term actions will
take place, including the introduction of musk-oxen from other countries
to the original herd. The long-term goal is to conserve two herds of muskoxen
within the region of Harjedalen.
Communication and education
Thanks to the attention the musk-ox project received, it has become quite
a success. The project provides SAZA with the opportunity to teach people
through exhibits and lectures about ecological patterns and the importance
of a holistic way of thinking. The Swedish EPA and SAZA have had
several informative meetings and the project board includes Laplanders,
landowners and representatives from the musk-ox reintroduction group.
Interested people can also sign up to receive updates on the musk-ox
project or even participate in musk-ox safaris, which has also opened up
a way for SAZA to initiate more reintroduction projects. The association
has seen the positive effects of working together with locals. This is
very important since several discussions with the public are taking place,
mostly concerning large predators such as wolves, lynxes, bears and
wolverines. •
photo järvzoo
The Swedish Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria has shown that its focus on conservation works, and that it succeeds thanks to the public.
A public that, through education, has started realising the importance of biological diversity and conservation.