PROPAGATION OF ENDANGERED BIRDS IN US INSTITUTIONS - HOW MUCH SPACE IS THERE

Captive breeding is often touted as a way to preserve species disappea ring in the wild. Zoos and related institutions have limited space for animals, however, and use of what space exists may be restricted by c onflicting demands of entertainment, education, and propagation. Curat ors of US bird collections sponsored an analysis of space available fo r long-term captive management. Seventy-three collections responded to a survey, providing data on 3,174 exhibits and holding areas under th eir control. The most optimistic analysis indicates room for fewer tha n 141 long-term management programs. To use space resources optimally for conservation, there is a strong need to develop priorities within management groups. New models and strategies for using captive propaga tion as a short-term tool to bolster wild populations should be create d. Immediate attention should be paid to the most effective and effici ent ways of improving husbandry and management techniques for birds. ( C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.