Populations Of Endangered Species Research Articles

Oesophageal granulomas in free-ranging wild Booted Eagles (Hieraaetus pennatus) caused by Trichomonas gallinae

Two free-ranging Booted Eagles were rescued in a severe state of cachexia and dehydration. Both had huge oesophageal granulomas, blocking the passage of food. A complete physical examination, x-rays and blood haematology and biochemistry were performed. Samples were taken for fine needle aspiration cytology and the diagnosis was avian trichomoniasis in both cases. Treatment and outcomes of the cases are described below. The aim of this study is to highlight the importance of early recognition of this disease for a more favourable prognosis, and the impact that avian trichomoniasis may have on wild populations of endangered species.

A matter of connection: the importance of habitat networks for endangered butterflies in anthropogenic landscapes

AbstractCities are expanding at fast rates across the world, representing one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss due to habitat replacement. Nonetheless, urban and peri-urban areas often feature green spaces that may offer opportunities to wildlife and even represent safe havens for endangered species. Nonetheless, the key drivers that shape wildlife responses to urban landscapes, and in turn their ability to persist within cities, are far from being fully understood. Here we focus on an ecologically specialized butterfly, the endemic Italian festoon Zerynthia cassandra, as a model to assess how endangered species may survive in highly modified urban landscapes. The relatively low mobility and high host plant specialization make Z. cassandra an excellent target for studies in urban ecology, as they make the species able to exploit small suitable patches while at the same time potentially sensitive to habitat fragmentation and loss due to urbanization and land reclamation. We thus first document the relatively widespread occurrence of potentially suitable sites within two highly modified landscapes of central and southern Italy, with 25 and 35% of sites actually occupied by Z. cassandra. By modeling the probability of butterfly occurrence as a function of environmental characteristics, we found that Z. cassandra is strongly influenced by functional connectivity among suitable sites in urban landscapes, as well as by the abundance of Aristolochia host plants, and by the availability of profitable land cover classes in the immediate surroundings of potential oviposition sites. Our results indicate not only that networks of urban and peri-urban green spaces may host populations of protected and endangered species, but that management should also focus on the urban matrix in order to provide connecting corridors, as key assets to guarantee species persistence in cities.

Biobanks as a way to conserve biodiversity in the context of the continuing decline in the species diversity of wild flora and fauna

To date, human actions have significantly changed 75% of the Earth's surface. This has resulted in an unprecedented increase in the rate of biodiversity loss in human history. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, over the past 500 years, as a result of direct or indirect influence of the anthropogenic factor, 774 animal species and 123 plant species have become extinct. To prevent further loss of biodiversity, in the context of the ongoing «crisis of biodiversity», all over the world, including Kazakhstan, there is a need for reliable conservation of the available genetic resources of plants and animals, primarily rare and endangered species. In this regard, specialized biobanks of organized collections of living biomaterials are successfully used worldwide for the conservation and restoration of populations of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna. The article presents information about some of the largest biobanks and their importance in solving this global problem. The experience of scientific centers of Kazakhstan in the field of biobanking of biomaterials of wild flora and fauna, including rare and endangered species, is given, and the results of the National Center for Biotechnology in this area are summarized.

Admixture and reproductive skew shape the conservation value of ex situ populations of the Critically Endangered eastern black rhino

AbstractSmall populations of endangered species risk losing already eroded genetic diversity, important for adaptive potential, through the effects of genetic drift. The magnitude of drift can be mitigated by maximising the effective population size, as is the goal of genetic management strategies. Different mating systems, specifically those leading to reproductive skew, exacerbate genetic drift by distorting contributions. In the absence of an active management strategy, reproductive skew will have long-term effects on the genetic composition of a population, particularly where admixture is present. Here we examine the contrasting effects of conservation management strategies in two ex situ populations of the Critically Endangered eastern black rhino (Diceros bicornis michaeli), one managed as a semi-wild population in South Africa (SAx), and one managed under a mean-kinship breeding strategy in European zoos. We use molecular data to reconstruct pedigrees for both populations and validate the method using the zoo studbook. Using the reconstructed pedigree and studbook we show there is male sex-specific skew in both populations. However, the zoo’s mean-kinship breeding strategy effectively reduces reproductive skew in comparison to a semi-wild population with little genetic management. We also show that strong male reproductive skew in SAx has resulted in extensive admixture, which may require a re-evaluation of the population’s original intended role in the black rhino meta-population. With a high potential for admixture in many ex situ populations of endangered species, molecular and pedigree data remain vital tools for populations needing to balance drift and selection.

Chemical disinfection as a simple and reliable method to control the amphibian chytrid fungus at breeding points of endangered amphibians

Chytridiomycosis caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is pushing amphibians towards extinction. Whilst mitigation methods were suggested a decade ago, we lack field trials testing their efficacy. We used the agrochemical fungicide, tebuconazole, to treat Bd infected breeding waterbodies of an endangered species that is highly susceptible to the fungus. Just two applications of tebuconazole led to a significant reduction in infection loads in the vast majority of sites, and at six sites the disinfection remained one/two-years post-application. Tebuconazole values drastically decreased in the waterbodies within a week after application, with no significant effects on their hydrochemical and hydrobiological characteristics. Although the use of chemicals in natural populations is undesirable, the growing existential threat to amphibians all over the world indicates that effective interventions in selected populations of endangered species are urgently needed.

The future of endemic and threatened birds of the Amazon in the face of global climate change.

The anthropogenic impacts on the environment, including deforestation and the escalating emissions of greenhouse gases, have significantly contributed to global climate change that can lead to alterations in ecosystems. In this context, protected areas (PAs) are pillars for biodiversity conservation by being able, for example, to maintain the viability of populations of endangered species. On the other hand, the species range shifts do not follow the limits of PAs, jeopardizing the conservation of these species. Furthermore, the effectiveness of PAs is consistently undermined by impacts stemming from land use, hunting activities, and illegal exploitation, both within the designated areas and in their adjacent zones. The objectives of this study are to quantify the impacts of climate change on the distribution of threatened and endemic birds of the Amazon biome, evaluate the effectiveness of PAs in protecting the richness of threatened birds, and analyze the representativeness of species within PAs. We found with our results that climate suitability loss is above 80 for 65% of taxa in the optimistic scenario and above 93% in the pessimistic scenario. The results show that PAs are not effective in protecting the richness of Amazonian birds, just as they are ineffective in protecting most of the taxa studied when analyzed individually Although some taxa are presented as "Protected," in future scenarios these taxa may suffer major shrinkages in their distributions and consequently present population unviability. The loss of climatically suitable areas and the effectiveness of PAs can directly influence the loss of ecosystem services, fundamental to maintaining the balance of biodiversity. Therefore, our study paves the way for conservation actions aimed at these taxa so that they can mitigate current and future extinctions due to climate change.

Population status of proboscis monkeys in Balikpapan Bay and their potential survival challenges in Nusantara, the proposed new capital city of Indonesia.

Populations of rare and endangered species are nowadays in peril due to large-scale habitat conversion, and even sizeable and stable populations are confronted with unexpected challenges. We conducted a full census of a proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) population in Balikpapan Bay and located 292 one-male-multifemale units and 67 all-male units in 2022. Using data on average group size, subsampled from Balikpapan Bay, we estimated a total population size of 3907 individuals. The rate of proboscis monkey habitat loss in Balikpapan Bay has been slowing down to the current 0.69% per year. It is predicted that habitat recovery may exceed habitat loss after 13years. The Indonesian capital city relocation was announced in 2019 with spatial plans designed to cover a total land area of 2,560 km2 across various habitats until 2045. A total number of 1449 individuals (37.08% of the population) were found on 80.55 km2 (41.29%) of habitat that overlapped with current spatial plans of Nusantara Capital city. The construction work just started; before that, the government had already claimed it would be a "smart, green, beautiful, and sustainable city". We, therefore, include our recommendations to mitigate the impact of the construction and to pursue the goal to construct the most sustainable capital city, concerning local biodiversity and thus become a pioneer in a new direction of proboscis monkey conservation.

Forest Bird Populations at the Big Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Hawai‘i

Abstract Endemic Hawaiian forest birds have experienced dramatic population declines. The Big Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Refuge Complex) was established for the conservation of endangered forest birds and their habitats. Surveys have been conducted at two units of the Refuge Complex to monitor forest bird populations and their response to management actions. We analyzed survey data from 1987 to 2019 at the Hakalau Forest Unit (HFU) and from 1995 to 2019 at the Kona Forest Unit (KFU). We analyzed three strata at HFU: open-forest, closed-forest, and afforested-pasture, and two strata at KFU: upper (>1,524 m elevation) and lower (<1,524 m). In all years, ‘i‘iwi Vestiaria coccinea, ‘apapane Himatione sanguinea, and Hawai‘i ‘amakihi Chlorodrepanis virens virens were the most abundant species at HFU. Three endangered forest bird species, Hawai‘i ‘ākepa Loxops coccineus, ‘alawī Loxops mana (also known as Hawai‘i creeper) and ‘akiapōlā‘au Hemignathus wilsoni, had much lower densities. The most abundant species at KFU was ‘apapane, followed by Hawai‘i ‘amakihi at much lower densities. We found a continuation of several trends observed in previous analyses at HFU up to 2012, with most species’ trends upward in afforested-pasture stratum, stable in the open-forest stratum, and downward in the closed-forest stratum. However, more species were showing downward trends in all three strata during the most recent decade. Results were mixed at KFU, with most species’ trends downward in the upper stratum and upward in the lower stratum. Populations of endangered species were either locally extirpated at KFU or in numbers too low to reliably estimate population abundance. The Refuge Complex is important for conservation of forest birds on Hawai‘i Island. Our results show that HFU supports the majority of three endangered forest bird species. Threats to forest birds at the Refuge Complex appear to be having a negative impact. These threats include habitat loss, disease, feral ungulates, and nonnative predators. Continuing and enhancing management actions, such as forest restoration and removal of invasive species, could help mitigate these impacts and allow the Refuge Complex to remain a key site for forest bird conservation in Hawai‘i.

Influence of forest fire smoke on the decline of biodiversity and the state of living organisms (literary review)

Introduction. The relevance of this work is due to the growing environmental problem associated with large-scale forest fires and insufficient knowledge of the survival, adaptation and reproduction of animals after prolonged exposure to harmful smoke components.
 The aim of the review is to collect and analyze information on environmental pollution due to smoke from forest fires and their impact on animals in the smoke zone. 
 Material and methods. The material for the analysis was the literature sources published for the period up to 2022, in publications indexed in the Scopus, Web of Science, Publons, Springer, PubMed databases, including domestic and foreign research scientists on this topic.
 Results. When forest fires occur, a mixture of gaseous compounds is released into the environment, containing ultrafine solid particles, carbon monoxide, ozone, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrogen and sulfur dioxide, aldehydes, chlorinated dioxins, free radicals and many other compounds. At the same time, significant damage is caused to a wide biodiversity of the animal world, which is an extremely important indicator link in almost any biocenosis.
 Conclusions. The increase in large-scale smoke is increasingly leading to the risk of extinction of wildlife exposed to high concentrations of toxic components of smoke. It is necessary to constantly maintain and restore the biotic potential of populations of endangered species in forest ecosystems, as well as a deeper study of the mechanisms of the occurrence of consequences that are dangerous for the animal organism when exposed to forest fire smoke.

Functional genomic diversity is correlated with neutral genomic diversity in populations of an endangered rattlesnake

Theory predicts that genetic erosion in small, isolated populations of endangered species can be assessed using estimates of neutral genetic variation, yet this widely used approach has recently been questioned in the genomics era. Here, we leverage a chromosome-level genome assembly of an endangered rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) combined with whole genome resequencing data (N = 110 individuals) to evaluate the relationship between levels of genome-wide neutral and functional diversity over historical and future timescales. As predicted, we found positive correlations between genome-wide estimates of neutral genetic diversity (π) and inferred levels of adaptive variation and an estimate of inbreeding mutation load, and a negative relationship between neutral diversity and an estimate of drift mutation load. However, these correlations were half as strong for projected future levels of neutral diversity based on contemporary effective population sizes. Broadly, our results confirm that estimates of neutral genetic diversity provide an accurate measure of genetic erosion in populations of a threatened vertebrate. They also provide nuance to the neutral-functional diversity controversy by suggesting that while these correlations exist, anthropogenetic impacts may have weakened these associations in the recent past and into the future.

Laboratory Cultivation of Coregonus ussuriensis Berg: A Comprehensive Study on Rearing from Egg to Adult Stage

Conservation aquaculture aids in restoring and rebuilding populations of endangered species through artificial breeding. The Ussuri cisco (Coregonus ussuriensis Berg) is a valuable fish species in China, known for its high nutritional value. However, its current yield heavily relies on fishing, leading to a rapid decline in wild populations. This study documents the successful artificial breeding of C. ussuriensis and provides a comprehensive description of its life cycle. We performed in situ gamete stripping followed by manual fertilization. Fertilized eggs were incubated at the Bohai cold-water fish experimental station in Mudanjiang, China, where seed breeding and parental fish farming were conducted. Under controlled conditions, we obtained around 110,000 fertilized eggs. After a 2-month incubation period, we obtained around 50,000 oviparous eggs with an eyed rate of 45.5%. Additionally, we observed over 30,000 larvae with a hatching rate of 60%. We produced 20,000 juvenile fish weighing 30 g after 1 year. This procedure facilitates the successful completion of the C. ussuriensis life cycle in aquaculture, aiding in the species’ recovery.

Seed Productivity and Seed Quality <i>Juniperus Deltoides</i> R.P. Adams in the Mountainous Crimea

Juniperus deltoides is a relic Mediterranean species of the Tertiary period, included in the Red Book of the Republic of Crimea in the status of a species declining in numbers. The development of measures to maintain and preserve populations of rare and endangered species is based on the study of their seed productivity. The aim of the work is to determine the level of seed productivity and seed quality of J. deltoides in the Crimean Mountains. Research objectives: to identify the level of seed productivity, establish the proportion of full-grained seeds and assess the degree of impact of abiotic and anthropogenic factors on the studied parameters of the generative sphere. According to the methods generally accepted in forestry and geobotany, 17 trial plots were established within J. deltoides forest stands. In addition, 3 J. deltoides radishes were isolated to determine the effect of inbreeding on seed fullness. By means of one-way analysis of variance, the degree of influence of abiotic and anthropogenic factors on seed productivity and seed quality was revealed. As a result of the research, it was found that almost half (47.53%) of all individuals of J. deltoides are characterized by low seed productivity. 10,18% during the research period did not form cones at all. It is noted that one of the factors affecting the seed productivity of J. deltoides in the Crimean Mountains is the geographic confinement of the habitats of the species. In addition, it was found that the Crimean population of J. deltoides is characterized by a low proportion of full-grained seeds, which is 1,3226,92%. The degree of anthropogenic load of the studied territories has the greatest influence on the fulfillment of J. deltoides seeds in the Crimean Mountains.

Experimental food subsidies keep eagles inside protected areas: implications for conservation and resource management

The conservation and management of mobile species, populations and dynamic habitats, presents significant challenges since such species face diverse threats during various stages of their life cycle. Protected areas (PAs) are essential tools in conservation efforts, aiming to preserve native species and their habitats. However, larger mobile animals, such as the Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata), may require much larger areas outside PAs for essential life moments, including foraging, resting, and wintering. As a result, the efficacy of PAs in conserving such species may be questionable. We designed an experiment in an eastern Spain PA that is home to nesting Bonelli's eagles to determine if increasing food availability through experimental feeding within the PA could result in an effective reduction of space use outside the protected area by the eagles and lead to reduce death risk. Over the period of 2016 to 2021, we tracked 10 Bonelli's eagles from six different territories using GPS-GSM transmitters. We evaluated their space use before, during, and after the feeding experiment. Our results indicate that the availability of food within PAs restricted the eagles' movement, resulting in a higher concentration of locations inside the PAs. The eagles spent less time outside the PAs when they were fed and less time in highly human-dominated habitats. Consequently, this reduced mortality risks that were higher outside the PAs. Our findings suggest that management decisions aimed at increasing food availability within PAs, could be critical in conserving endangered species populations such as the Bonelli's eagle in Mediterranean landscapes.

Evaluating the use of non-invasive hair sampling and ddRAD to characterize populations of endangered species: Application to a peripheral population of the European mink.

The application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) to non-invasive samples is one of the most promising methods in conservation genomics, but these types of samples present significant challenges for NGS. The European mink (Mustela lutreola) is critically endangered throughout its range. However, important aspects such as census size and inbreeding remain still unknown in many populations, so it is crucial to develop new methods to monitor this species. In this work, we placed hair tubes along riverbanks in a border area of the Iberian population, which allowed the genetic identification of 76 European mink hair samples. We then applied a reduced representation genomic sequencing (ddRAD) technique to a subset of these samples to test whether we could extract sufficient genomic information from them. We show that several problems with the DNA, including contamination, fragmentation, oxidation, and possibly sample mixing, affected the samples. Using various bioinformatic techniques to reduce these problems, we were able to unambiguously genotype 19 hair samples belonging to six individuals. This small number of individuals showed that the demographic status of the species in this peripheral population is worse than expected. The data obtained also allowed us to perform preliminary analyses of relatedness and inbreeding. Although further improvements in sampling and analysis are needed, the application of the ddRAD technique to non-invasively obtained hairs represents a significant advance in the genomic study of endangered species.

Presence of Endangered Red-Crowned Parrots (Amazona viridigenalis) Depends on Urban Landscapes

Many species of plants and animals thrive in urban habitats and stand to gain from the global trend in increased urbanization. One such species, the Red-crowned Parrot (Amazona viridigenalis), is endangered within its native range but seems to thrive in urban landscapes. While populations of endangered synanthropic species may be uncommon, they can act as genetic reservoirs and present us with unique conservation and research opportunities. We sought to determine the red-crowned parrot’s level of dependency on urban areas, as well as the climatic and anthropogenic drivers of their distribution throughout the United States. We built national level species distribution models for the USA using Maxent and correlated presence points derived from field work and citizen science databases to environmental variables for three Red-crowned Parrot populations: two naturalized (California and Florida) and one native (Texas). We found current occupancy to be 18,965 km2 throughout the three states. These three states also contained 39,429 km2 of high- and medium-quality habitats, which, if occupied, would represent a substantial increase in the species range. Suitable habitat showed a strong positive correlation with urbanization in areas where average monthly temperatures were at least 5 °C. The current and predicted distributions of Red-crowned Parrots were closely aligned with urban boundaries. We expected populations of Red-crowned Parrots and other synanthropic species to grow due to a combination of factors, namely, continued urbanization and the effects of climate change, which increase the size and connectivity of a suitable habitat. For some imperiled species, urban habitats could prove to be important bastions for their conservation.

Use of underwater contactless ultrasonography to elucidate the internal anatomy and reproductive activity of manta and devil rays (Fam. Mobulidae).

The ability to visualise the internal anatomical structures of fish provides important information on their reproductive status and body condition and has made important contributions to many areas of fish biology. Obtaining information about the internal anatomy of fish has traditionally required euthanasia and dissection. However, although ultrasonography is now increasingly used to study internal fish anatomy without the need for euthanasia, traditional techniques still require restraint and contact with the animal, both of which are known to cause stress. This has prompted the development of waterproof, contactless, and portable equipment to allow ultrasonographic examinations to be carried out in free-swimming individuals which also facilitates the application of this tool in wild populations of endangered species. This study reports the validation of this equipment using anatomical examinations of nine manta and devil ray (Mobulidae) specimens landed at fish markets in Sri Lanka. Species studied were Mobula kuhlii (n = 3), M. thurstoni (n = 1), M. mobular (n = 1), M. tarapacana (n = 1) and M. birostris (n = 3). The use of this equipment was further validated with ultrasonographic examinations in 55 free-swimming reef manta rays Mobula alfredi, which enabled maturity status to be quantified in 32 females. Structures successfully identified in free-swimming individuals were the liver, spleen, gallbladder, gastrointestinal tract, skeletal structures, developing follicles and uterus. The study demonstrated that ultrasonography provided a reliable method of determining both sexual maturity and gestational status in free-swimming M. alfredi. The methodology induced no detectable signs of disturbance to the animals involved and therefore offers a viable and practical alternative to invasive techniques currently used to study anatomical changes in both captive and wild marine organisms. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Combining multiple markers significantly increases the sensitivity and precision of eDNA‐based single‐species analyses

AbstractThe analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) is becoming integrated as an established biomonitoring tool, often characterized by detection limits exceeding those of conventional counterparts. However, further improving the sensitivity of these methods may be invaluable for the early detection of invasive species, or for locating remnant populations of endangered species, and the adequate quantification of their abundances. In this study, we provide empirical evidence showing that the implementation of multiple genetic markers targeting different loci is a surprisingly overlooked strategy to increase the sensitivity of single‐species detections and quantification of their abundance, particularly at the lower end of the species abundance range. We analyzed 45 natural eDNA samples obtained from a wide range of water bodies in Belgium, in which either the invasive American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) or the rare European weather loach (Misgurnus fossilis) occurred under variable abundances, and compared detection success and precision of quantification of simplex (single locus) versus multiplex (multilocus) droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) analyses. Multiplexing different primer/probe assays targeting independent loci resulted in a significantly enhanced detection probability compared to the simplex analyses, gaining a twofold reduction in the limit of detection (LOD). Also the precision of eDNA quantification significantly improved in multiplex reactions, especially in low concentration samples. This was reflected in a significant reduction in the coefficient of variation (CV) among technical replicates, resulting in an associated decrease of the limit of quantification (LOQ). We conclude that the use of multiple markers can significantly improve the analytical sensitivity of eDNA‐based single‐species detections and precision of absolute abundance quantifications.

Expanding protected areas in a Neotropical hotspot

ABSTRACT The region of central Veracruz is considered a biodiversity hotspot due to its high species richness and environmental heterogeneity, but only 2% of this region is currently protected. This study aimed to assess the current protected area system’s effectiveness and to identify priority conservation areas for expanding the existing protected area system. We used the distribution models of 1186 species from three kingdoms (Animalia, Plantae, and Fungi) together with ZONATION software, a conservation planning tool, to determine areas that could help expand the current network of protected areas. We applied three different parametrizations (including only species, using the boundary quality penalty, and using corridor connectivity). We found that protecting an additional 15% of the area would increase, between 16.2% and 19.3%, the protection of the distribution area of all species. We propose that the regions with a consensus of the three parametrizations should be declared as new protected areas to expand 374 km2 to the 216 km2 already protected. Doing so would double the protected surface in central Veracruz. The priority areas identified in this study have more species richness, carbon stock values, natural vegetation cover, and less human impact index than the existing protected areas. If our identified priority areas are declared protected, we could expect a future recovery of endangered species populations for Veracruz. The proposed new protected areas are planned and designed as corridors connecting currently isolated protected areas to promote biodiversity protection.

Monitoring of vegetation in the coastal zone of Lake Vshivoe

The article presents the results of the current state of flora of the coastal zone of Vshivoe Lake. This is a natural drainless water body at the watershed of the Grachevka and Egorlyk rivers. The composition and structure of plant biodiversity were identified and GPS coordinates for rare and endangered plant species were established. In the course of expeditionary studies of the coastal zone 30 m wide, we observed the disappearance of the water mirror and the increase of steppe vegetation species, the appearance of trees, shrubs. Throughout the entire coastline in the association Phragmites australis + Typha latifolia with a dense projective coverage of 81 to 98% grows 125 species of higher vascular plants belonging to 37 families and 95 genera. The species composition of coastal-water vegetation in 2022, compared to 2014, has decreased by one species, the species composition has changed in favour of weeds, there is afforestation of the territory at the expense of shrubs, they become more to 3-5 pcs per 100 m². Anthropogenic and climatic factors led to an increase in the number of steppe species from 24 to 32 and ruderal species from 17 to 32 species in 2022 compared to 2014. Four species of sedges, Carex riparia, C. melanostachya, C. hordeistichos, C. vulpina, were found and determined from 8 previously discovered rare species of the Red Books of the Russian Federation and Stavropol Krai, were found and determined: Tulipa biebershteiniana, Bellevalia sarmatica, Iris halophila, Iris taurica, Paeonia tenuifolia, Adonis vernalis, Dactylorhiza incarnata, Anemone sylvestris, which is 6.78 % of the floristic composition of the area. It was established that the majority of rare and endangered species populations in natural habitats are growing with a predominance of vegetative and juvenile individuals.

The importance of regulatory compliance in wildlife captive breeding: Case study from deer captive breeding in Indonesia

Abstract. Subeno, Pudyatmoko S, Imron MA, Widi TSM. 2022. The importance of regulatory compliance in wildlife captive breeding: Case study from deer captive breeding in Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 6128-6136. Indonesia has five deer species that the Indonesian government protects. Among these deer, Javan deer (Rusa timorensis) and sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) have received conservation attention through captive breeding. Despite this conservation approach being applied for these two species, a review on captive breeding implementation is still lacking. This research aimed to assess the management of captive breeding of two deer species, which will support the natural population of endangered species in Indonesia. A triangulation method is used to collect secondary data (documents), interviews, and field observations in Parengan of East Java for Javan deer and Dumai of Riau for sambar deer. Then we assessed the management aspect and the ability of captive breeding to contribute to the release program using descriptive qualitative analysis. The Pertamina RU 2 Dumai sambar deer captive breeding has been carried out since 2016. However, during four years of management, the documents required for captive management, assessed by the Nature Resources Conservation Agency (Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam/BKSDA), were not fully available. Consequently, the population increment in captive breeding could not participate in the release program. The Parengan Javan deer captive breeding was built in 2014. Management documents, population and habitat management were carried out intensively. As a result of the assessment by BKSDA East Java, this captive breeding received an excellent value (A). The population development showed an increasing trend. The results of this population development are then taken 10% to be released into the wild. In 2018, 4 captive-breed Javan deer were released in their natural habitat of Tahura R. Soeryo, East Java. The implication is that captive breeding, which is managed through proper management of population, habitat, and infrastructure, can contribute to supporting the addition of wildlife populations in their natural habitats.