Spring 2010 - European Association of Zoos and Aquaria

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Simon Stuart, Chair, IUCN Species Survival Commission
For some time it has been clear that the
conservation situation of large animals
is particularly severe in Asia. This was
particularly highlighted in the results
of the Global Mammal Assessment
released in 2008. In total, 189 globally
threatened large mammal species occur
in East, Southeast and South Asia,
representing 44% of the 422 globally
threatened large mammal species in the
world. Looking at the most threatened
mammals, there are 27 Critically
Endangered (CR) large mammal species
in the region, 41% of the 66 CR large
mammals in the world.
Two species of large mammal have
probably become extinct in recent years:
the kouprey and the baiji (or Yangtze
River dolphin). Others are perilously
close to extinction, for example
the saola, the tamaraw, the Javan
rhinoceros, and the Hainan gibbon.
There have been precipitous declines
in once widespread species, such as
the Sumatran rhinoceros, the hog
deer, the banteng and the bearded pig.
Deteriorating conservation situations
are not by any means restricted to the
usual high profile species, such as the
tiger and the Asian elephant, but affect
almost all groups of large mammals,
including deer, wild cattle, pigs,
primates and cetaceans.
Nor is the problem restricted to
mammals. Significant declines have also
been noted in large birds (such as storks,
ibises and vultures) and reptiles (such
turtles and crocodilians). The situation
with turtles is especially severe, the
Yangtze giant softshell turtle being one
of the most seriously threatened species.
In total, 70 turtle species in the region
fall within the threatened categories
of the IUCN Red List, 53% of the 133
globally threatened turtle species in the
world. Nineteen turtle species in the
region are CR; that is 61% of the 31
CR turtles globally. Other remarkable
species on the brink of extinction
include the world’s largest amphibian,
the Chinese giant salamander; the
world’s longest freshwater fish, the
Chinese paddlefish; and the enormous
Mekong giant catfish.
Most of the declines are linked to
two issues: widespread over-harvesting
for food and medicine; and extensive
habitat loss (especially in the Sundaic
lowlands of Malaysia and Indonesia).
For freshwater fishes, the damming
and pollution of water bodies has also
had catastrophic effects, and species
closely related to domestic livestock
are suffering from hybridization (such
as the wild water buffalo). The Asian
large animal crisis is not a single-species
issue; it is a systemic problem occurring
through most of Asia, and the IUCN
Red List data indicate that the Asian
situation is much more serious than
those in Africa or Latin America.
With almost 3.3 billion people, this
region contains nearly 50% of the
world’s human population. The tension
between the needs of humans and
large animals is exhibited here more
than any other area of the globe - the
pressure to find mutually beneficial
solutions has reached a critical state.
While this presents us with immense
and immediate challenges, there is still a
window of opportunity that must not be
missed. Sustainable solutions developed
and implemented here may well provide
us with the knowledge and tools to
address other developing conflicts
elsewhere.
Enforcement of wildlife conservation
on the ground is a serious challenge
throughout the region. Control of
illegal hunting of threatened species is
greatly hampered by a lack of resources
and limited awareness amongst the
general public. The root causes must be
addressed if success is to be achieved,
and the livelihoods of local people
provided for in innovative ways.
The Response: CRisis|AsiA
The conservation community needs to
consider how to respond to this crisis
before some of Asia’s most emblematic
species are lost. It is essential that
this is handled in a way that fosters
national and local commitment
to enhance the conservation of
large animals. In response to this
challenge, the IUCN Species
Survival Commission is launching the
Crisis|Asia initiative by convening
a consortium of governments and
NGOs (including zoos) to provide
leadership and guidance for specific
conservation activities in the
region. Progress is being made with
governments on policy changes to help
endangered species
control unsustainable domestic and
international trade in species, and to
limit habitat destruction in the long
term. However, while essential, these
changes are likely to take more time to
be effective than many species have.
On top of this, many projects and
wildlife authorities lack the resources
for necessary law enforcement on
the ground. The top priorities for
Crisis|Asia will therefore be onthe-ground
enforcement, building
conservation capacity, improving
management effectiveness of protected
areas, and engaging with local
communities in the places where the
most threatened species occur.
Much good work is already being
carried out in Asia on the conservation
of a wide variety of species, but these
efforts must be much better supported if
success is to be achieved. Coordination,
guidance, increased funding, and further
assessment of threats and potential
solutions is urgently needed to bring
about change at the required level.
Resources are urgently needed to
support the formation of Crisis|Asia,
to fund initial activities to define
the most urgent priorities, and to
develop conservation action plans
for the region. Crisis|Asia will begin
its work by gathering experts and key
stakeholders to identify the top 10-20
areas in the region that offer the greatest
opportunities for success in reducing
the rate of large animal extinctions,
and the bringing about of population
recoveries. Once this planning process
is completed, a fund will be created in
order to build the financial capacity of
projects in the region. The goal is for
this fund to grow to US$10million by
the end of the fifth year of operation.
These projects will focus on the defined
priority areas of anti-poaching, training
and monitoring activities.
Crisis|Asia is just starting, and we
are proud to announce that EAZA has
become IUCN’s first partner in the
initiative. It is not too late to save the
remarkable large animals of Asia, but if
we do not pull together and act now, we
shall have lost our last chance. In the
next few months we shall be growing
the Crisis|Asia consortium, and we
hope that many European zoos will be
willing to join.
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