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In this article, we will discuss the roles of zoos, botanic gardens, conserved areas which include national parks and marine parks, frozen zoos, and seed banks, in the conservation of endangered species. So, let us get started.
Methods of Conservation
An endangered species can be defined as:
A species that has a threat of extinction is known as endangered species
We can approach the conservation of endangered species in many ways:
- To conserve a species, it should remain in its natural habitat because it contains all the support factors it needs to survive. Some of the best examples to conserve species are natural and marine parks.
- When it is impossible to place the species in its natural habitat, it can be caught and put in the ideal habitat. Scientists have also suggested many methods to ensure the long-term survival of endangered species via frozen zoos and seed banks.
Methods of Conservation
National Parks
The areas inside the country where the wildlife and environment are protected are called national parks.
These areas are controlled by the government and legislation is passed to impose certain restrictions. These restrictions ensure the safety of these areas. Although there are many restrictions, however, examples of some restrictions include:
- The strict control of human access
- Strict regulation of industrial activities like agriculture and building
- Restrictions on hunting activities and sometimes they are completely banned
Marine Parks
Marine parks refer to the conserved areas of water that are made to conserve endangered marine species and ecosystems.
These areas are also subjected to certain restrictions to prevent pollution and overfishing.
For the long-term success of the conservation efforts, it is vital to engage and educate the people. But the question arises how can we do it? Well, the following steps can help in this regard:
- Every year, several thousand tourists visit national and marine parks which itself is a source of conservation effort.
- Including local community members in the management of conserved areas can offer jobs and increase the acceptance of these parks
- Governments can use some of the profits made from the parks to enhance the health and education standards in the local community to emphasize the importance of having such parks.
Galapagos Islands
The majority of the land and water that surrounds the Galapagos Islands is conserved. Humans are prohibited to travel to several parts of the islands in the National park and fishing is an illegal activity in the areas of the marine parks. These areas are managed both by the locals and the conservation experts. This area was established almost more than 50 years ago, hence strong efforts are made to eliminate invasive species and enhance native species in these areas. For instance, rats and goats in these areas are caught and removed
Management of these areas is shared between locals and conservation experts. Since it was established over 50 years ago, there have been strong eff. Similarly, alien plant species known as elephant grass is dug up and destroyed, whereas huge tortoises are continuously reintroduced.
Conservation in Captivity
Zoos
Zoos are also included in one of the conservation efforts of endangered animal species. Individuals of a species can be bred through captive breeding programs. The offspring produced as a result of these programs are released into the wild. Zoos have proved to be a valuable source for scientific research because scientists can closely study animal genetics, behaviors, and habitat requirements.
Problems with Zoos
There are some disadvantages of zoos and their subsequent role in conservation:
- When small species are bred in captivity, it can result in the reduction of the genetic diversity
- Some species of animals are unable to breed in captivity
- All zoos are unable to offer sufficient habitats for animals with certain needs
Examples of success and failure of zoos
When it comes to zoos for conservation efforts, we have examples of both success and failure:
- An antelope-like species oryx was on the verge of extinction. The captive breeding efforts and zoos saved this species from extinction and it was eventually reintroduced into the wild in Africa.
- It has been more than 60 years when Pandas are caught and bred in captivity. However, till now, not a single panda has been reintroduced into the wild.
Botanic Gardens
Botanic gardens are zoos for species of plants. In these gardens, seeds and cuttings gathered from the wild are used to create a population of endangered species in captivity. To get large numbers of plants from a small sample size, methods of tissue culturing and cloning can also be employed. The captive populations can be reintroduced into their desired habitat in the future where they can survive and reproduce. Research plays a prominent role in botanic gardens. This is because these areas investigate the growth and reproduction of various species of plants so that they can be grown in captivity.
If the original habitat of plants does not exist any longer, then these gardens try to discover new suitable habitats. Both zoos, as well as botanic gardens, are a valuable source to raise awareness of vulnerable and endangered species in the public.
Genetic Material Storage for Conservation
Frozen Zoos
The old conservation methods are no longer helpful if a species becomes extinct in a wild. Technological advancements have offered ways to store the genetic material of endangered species. For example, frozen zoos store genetic materials from animals at extremely low temperatures so that they cannot be lost forever. The following steps are taken to achieve it:
- Samples are gathered from various individuals of the same species to maintain the gene pool
- Roughly, a temperature of -196oC is used
- A huge amount of genetic material is stored in a small space
- Genetic materials from extinct animal species can be employed in the future for breeding and reintroduction of species via IVF and genetic engineering. In the USA, the San Diego Zoo has frozen zoo facilities.
Seed Bank
A seed bank is an area that conserves the diversity of plants through the drying and storing of seeds in a temperature-controlled environment. Generally, seeds of the same species are gathered from various sites to maintain the gene pool. In case of the extinction of plant species, the seeds can be employed for their regrowth. Seeds are stored for a specific period and after that, they are grown into plants, and fresh seeds are taken from those plants for storage purposes.
Some plants like coffee and cocoa cannot be frozen. To preserve the genetic diversity of these plants, it is critical to grow the successive generations or take the tissue cultures.
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