Publications

To conserve a self-sustaining captive population, the population must be genetically managed to minimize loss of genetic diversity, inbreeding and adaptation to captivity. Accurate genetic management of a captive population relies mostly on pedigree analysis. However, the majority of the pedigrees in captive breeding programs are far from perfect for various reasons. Most importantly, founders are assumed to be unrelated, often resulting in an ...

Through its Research Committee, EAZA promotes, monitors, evaluates, benchmarks and guides research and establishes and supports regional networks of expert zoo, aquarium, university, museum and wildlife researchers. With its Research Strategy EAZA sets out a clear and purposeful research vision and mission, and it establishes primary goals and a detailed action plan with clear objectives, aimed at furthering the development of the research ...

Measuring hunting sustainability across West/Central African forests remains a challenge. Long-term assessment of trends is crucial. Via village-based offtake surveys we collected hunting data from three settlements near the Dja Biosphere Reserve (southeast Cameroon). Over a 13-year period (2003, 2009 and 2016) we collected data on carcasses brought to the three villages during March-June. We calculated the catch per unit effort (CPUE) and the ...

The cinereous vulture is considered to be near threatened globally. The species’ conservation measures focus on protecting habitats, increasing available food, reducing mortality and restoring populations via conservation translocations, with some of the vultures originating from breeding centres. It is, therefore, important that these centres have reproductive success and securing good welfare levels should be a priority due to the negative ...

Pair incompatibilities caused by limited free mate choice, can undermine the goals of a breeding programme. Within the EAZA Ex-situ programme for Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) episodes of male aggressive behaviour during breeding introductions have been observed and are associated with incompatibility of the pair. Understanding which husbandry and biological factors influence or predict this aggressiveness is an essential tool to manage and improve ...