Willem
Schaftenaar, DVM, Head of the veterinary department of Rotterdam Zoo,
Van Aerssenlaan 49, 3039 KE Rotterdam, The Netherlands Willem
Schaftenaar, DVM, Head of the veterinary department of Rotterdam Zoo,
Van Aerssenlaan 49, 3039 KE Rotterdam, The Netherlands
In
the past decades zoos have increased their conservation efforts. With the worldwide
decline of biotopes, the question arises whether small captive populations,
scattered in numerous zoos all over the world, can play a role in the process
to stop the decrease of biodiversity. Captive bred animals have often lost characteristics
that are indispensable for their survival in the wild. National parks are more
and more managed as large zoos. Wildlife veterinarians and field biologists
are “playing God” while trans-locating, radio tracking, culling,
vaccinating and even treating sick wild animals.
Managers of wildlife parks have a lot in common with managers of zoos. Denying
this statement illustrates the blindness that has existed for many years.
A good understanding of the health implications when keeping non-domestic animals
in captivity is needed. The increasing research on species-specific pathogens
that is carried out by several zoos has revealed a number of diseases affecting
species that do not come into contact with the causative pathogens in their
natural habitat. All possible measures should be taken to prevent the transmission
of such organisms from their natural hosts, which often show minimum symptoms,
to the new and vulnerable “exotic” host.
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