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Zoos 'failing' over work in wild | Zoos 'failing' over work in wild |
(1 day later) | |
A wildlife charity has criticised Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park for not giving enough support to conservation projects in the wild. | A wildlife charity has criticised Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park for not giving enough support to conservation projects in the wild. |
The zoos were among 13 highlighted by the Born Free Foundation, which also said the zoos did not do enough to protect threatened species. | |
London, Bristol and Whipsnade zoos have also come under attack. | London, Bristol and Whipsnade zoos have also come under attack. |
The Royal Zoological Society, which runs both of the Scottish zoos, defended its record. | |
Under EU legislation, zoos have a legal obligation to keep and breed threatened animals and support conservation projects. | Under EU legislation, zoos have a legal obligation to keep and breed threatened animals and support conservation projects. |
Endangered animals | Endangered animals |
The Born Free Foundation report said the zoos only spent about 5% of their gross income on conservation in the wild, and that less than a quarter of species kept by the zoos were under threat in the wild. | |
Foundation spokesman Will Travers said: "Zoos have an obligation to a conservation agenda. | |
"That can be made up of a number of ways - to breed threatened and endangered species, and to put finance and other resources into their natural habitat. | |
"The bottom line would appear to be that around 5% of funds generated in these zoos are spent in the wild. | |
"There seems to us to be a big gap between public expectation and reality - people think zoos do a lot more." | |
However the Zoological Society, which operates both zoos criticised, defended its record. | |
Edinburgh Zoo is famed for its penguins | |
Chief executive David Windmill said the Highland Wildlife Park, near Aviemore, was now introducing red pandas, snow leopards and possibly even a polar bear. | Chief executive David Windmill said the Highland Wildlife Park, near Aviemore, was now introducing red pandas, snow leopards and possibly even a polar bear. |
He said that within three years more than 80% of the species at Kincraig would be endangered animals. | |
The theory is that the new animals would boost visitor numbers, allowing the park to fund more conservation projects in the wild. | |
Speaking to BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, he added: "About 95% of the animals we have at Edinburgh Zoo are involved in breeding programs, supporting conservation. | |
"When you look at what zoos do, you've got to also look at what they do in terms of education - 25,000 children a year come through Edinburgh Zoo and we are making them very aware of the conservation message. | |
"A further 650,000 visitors come through and we've got to include in this conservation work the communication of the plight of these animals out in the wild - that is a vital part of what zoos do." |
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