Beyond threatened species and reintroduction: establishing priorities for conservation and breeding programmes for European rodents in zoos

Abstract

Conservation resources and interest are disproportionately directed towards large charismatic mammals, both in zoos andin situ. The order Rodentia representsc. 40% of known mammalian species, and rodents (and other small mammals) could be viewed by zoos as tools to demonstrate their commitment to conservation through local captive‐breeding and reintroduction programmes. However, it is necessary to identify the true degree of threat to species before investing the limited resources available to conservation efforts. Population declines at the local or regional level do not necessarily indicate a threat to species survival at the global level, and interest in small mammals and the location of the majority of zoos do not appear to overlap with hotspots of endemicity for rodents. Education, especially if coupled with habitat‐improvement activities, is essential to increasing public participation and support for biodiversity conservation. In this article we present the general principles that should be considered when establishing conservation priorities for small mammals, specifically in Europe but which apply equally across the globe.