Project for the Conservation of critically endangered Asian Turtles
 Turtles occur in many different
habitats and ecological niches. Hotspots can be found in Asia, yet many
turtles face extinction there. The International Centre for the Conservation
of Turtles (IZS) at Münster Zoo, Germany, means the very last chance
for the survival of several critically endangered species, some of them being
already (nearly) extinct in the wild.
The breeding centre is a joint project of Münster Zoo, ZGAP and the
German Society for Herpetology and Herpetoculture (DGHT). It intends to conduct
turtle conservation not only in Germany but also in the countries of origin.
The objectives are:
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To preserve and breed endangered Asian turtles in human care to stabilise
populations in captivity
-
Collection of biological knowledge concerning the kept species
-
Public relations in the field of endangered Asian turtles
-
Conservation measures to preserve natural habitats and reintroduction projects
in the long term
 Alarmed by the actual
state of various Asian turtle populations the internationally renowned and
successful breeder Elmar Meier initiated the conservation breeding project
for the most critically endangered species. Mr. Meier, now managing the project
in his leisure time, donated his own valuable stock of Asian turtles as founders
to the breeding programme.
In the BioCity, situated in the entrance area of Münster Zoo, the IZS's
first room was officially opened in October 2003. With the completion of
the BioCity with an education centre for students and an exhibition upon
biodiversity and its threats in July 2005, the IZS's second room was completed
as well, now housing the subtropical species while the first room houses
the tropical species.
A network to many private breeders and international zoos has been established
and offspring transferred to build assurance colonies at other places.
 Armoured, but yet
endangered
272 species of turtle have been described globally, many of these only in
the last 15 years. But the more shocking is the fact that at least 50 % of
all species face extinction. Many turtles are endangered in the Asian region
in particular. The community often experiences an ambiguous relationship
to the animals, because turtles are the subject of religious adoration. On
the one hand they are believed to promote longevity, intelligence, wisdom
or fertility to humans when eaten. On the other hand they are degraded to
products on the markets and used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Thousands
end in cooking pots and pharmacies. The largest consumer of turtle products
is China. The numbers of local turtles have been reduced to such an extent
that turtles are caught and imported from all over the world to meet the
demand. Slow reproductive cycles and the animal's relative defencelessness
to elaborate collection complicate their survival.
Direct Support
ZGAP supports the project financially since the very first idea in 1998.
Further support is appreciated, the easiest way is by a donation to ZGAP
with the purpose "Asian turtles" or "IZS".
Contact:
Dr. Martina Raffel
Allwetterzoo Münster
Sentruper Straße 315
D-48161 Münster
raffel@allwetterzoo.de |
