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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - DOES EDINBURGH ZOO HAVE ITS FACTS RIGHT?
Added: (Mon May 05 2008)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BORN FREE ASKS EDINBURGH ZOO TO CHECK ITS FACTS - “CONSERVATION" CLAIMS REFUTED
Following recent concerns raised by a number of animal welfare groups about the Edinburgh Zoo’s plans to begin breeding chimpanzees in its new "Budongo Trail" exhibit, the Zoo issued a statement to the press from its CEO David Windmill claiming that "95% of the mammals in our animal collection are endangered".
In fact, the Zoo’s animal inventory for 2006 (the latest publicly available) shows that at the end of 2006, only around 27% of the mammal species and around 27% of the individual mammals kept by the Zoo are officially classed as Endangered (or greater risk) by the IUCN (World Conservation Union). Furthermore, less than 50% of the Zoo’s mammal species and individuals are threatened in the wild (Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered).
"This statement appears to be a staggering misrepresentation of the true situation, and we are calling on the Zoo to immediately and publicly clarify their claims" said Will Travers, CEO of the Born Free Foundation. "We are very concerned that zoos seem to be making unjustified claims about their involvement in and commitment to conservation. This incident is a further example – the CEO of Edinburgh Zoo has claimed conservation credentials that seem to be way beyond the reality."
A report by the Born Free Foundation published in 2006 found that around 62% of the mammal species held in 13 of the more "prestigious" zoos with charity status in the UK (which included Edinburgh Zoo) were actually in the category of lowest risk of extinction in the wild.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
SHIRLEY GALLIGAN, PR DIRECTOR 0207 792 9668 MOBILE 07773 848352
ANGELIQUE DAVIES, PR OFFICER 01403 240170 MOBILE 07747 441447
EDITORS NOTES:
- The meaning of “Endangered” is clearly defined by IUCN to include those species objectively assessed as “considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild” (www.iucnredlist.org/info/categories_criteria2001)
- The Born Free Foundation was alerted to the following press statement send out by Edinburgh Zoo:
Press statement
30 April 2008
David Windmill, Chief Executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland which owns Edinburgh Zoo said:
“The Budongo Trail is a huge step forward, for us and for zoos in general, and it is something we are extremely proud of. It is a unique facility that provides not only exceptional space and enrichment for our chimpanzees but also provides us with a platform to educate the public about the plight of chimpanzees in the wild and the importance of conserving this amazing species.
We have been funding the conservation of chimps in the Budongo Forest in Uganda since 2005. Our funds have helped support vital activities such as snare removal, research into chimpanzee behaviour and the employment and education of local people. Our assistance has also allowed the resident group to breed in a safe environment.
We have cared for chimpanzees at Edinburgh Zoo since 1914. We currently have 11 in our collection and, in the long-term, we hope to contribute to the European Endangered Species Programme by adding to our existing group. This programme is managed by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). 95% of the mammals in our animal collection are endangered and it is the role of zoos to ensure that a population is maintained, should numbers continue to fall in the wild.”