Towards Sustainable Population Management - Waza

WAZA magazine Vol 12/2011
Fig. 1
ASMP Health Check Report: percentage of scoring in each of three major portfolios and overall
across 40 intensively managed exotic mammals in ZAA membership, where green (performing
well), orange (needs some specific attention) and red (needs immediate attention).
Legislation. The results of the Legislation
portfolio have been useful in that
legislative barriers have long been
considered the significant cause for
shortfall in programme performance
(Fig. 1). It is clearly demonstrated that
there is an ability to import a majority
of the targeted exotic species
into the region, and that interaction
between New Zealand and Australia
is also well supported by legislation
(vital for effective Australasian-based
programmes). There is a requirement
from the Australian government
for all species listed in Appendix I of
the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES) to have an
approved Cooperative Conservation
Plan in place prior to any international
transaction and these are
largely covered in regard to current
need. As with other regions, the access
to new founders is a challenge
for a large number of programme
species. The VPC threat category is
a rating applied by the Australian
government on the pest potential of
a species to the environment (including
public safety), if it were to escape
and establish. The results here assist
in identifying the promotion of appropriate
biosecurity measures in our
member zoos, which in turn provides
confidence in granting permits to
hold such species.
Overall Performance. The overall
performance scores (Fig. 1) show
approximately 75% of all the exotic
programmes within the sample either
in good order (green) or with some
specific issues (yellow).
Conclusions
ZAA Sustainability
The Health Check Report process has
allowed ZAA to commence a measured
approach to the assessment
of its intensively managed species
programme performance. It is by no
means exhaustive but does represent
an ongoing commitment to self-assessment
and a structured approach
to problem solving, communicating
priorities and deployment of resources.
This will provide tangible benefits
to supporting programme goals and
assurances and value to the membership
of ZAA who jointly fund the
association’s activities.
The process has allowed us to mobilise
resources into the areas of most
need. Recently the results have been
fed into the region’s Taxon Advisory
Group (TAG) structure, with each TAG
charged with developing a specific
action plan against any species with
a red score. As a consequence, there
has been support in aligning the
actions of the TAGs, with a greater focus
on animal husbandry and behaviour
along with the identification of
staff training and development. It is
hoped that this will have a direct and
positive impact in the areas of animal
transfers and breeding.
The legislative assessment has
proven to be very productive, as it
has long been considered throughout
the membership as a primary
limitation to programme progress.
Although hoofstock imports continue
to provide biosecurity challenges
for the region due to the existing
commercial livestock industry in both
New Zealand and Australia, a majority
of the other taxa can be imported
under current legislation.
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