Conservation Projects
External conservation projects supported by FOBZ
FOBZ not only supports projects within Banham Zoo but raises substantial funds to support many conservation projects in the wild. Below are a few of the projects we have donated funds to over the past 11 years. FOBZ pledges to continually support conservation projects in the wild to help secure the future of many endangered species.
Current external conservation projects:
The European Association For The Study And Conservation Of Lemurs (AEECL)
For the last seventeen years Banham Zoo has been a member of a consortium of European Zoos focusing on the conservation of lemurs.
In July 2007 the protected area in Sahamalaza in Madagascar was officially declared a Marine and Coastal National Park. AEECL instigated and has campaigned for many years for this area to receive protection to ensure the survival of the Sclater’s lemur.
Recently work continued on implementing a community-based natural resource management programme in the area to help the local people save their natural heritage through development programmes and conservation education. AEECL has funded maintenance work of the firebreak surrounding the Ankarafa Forest, one of the largest remaining areas of intact forest. Over 200 villagers came to help remove grasses from the firebreak. Reforestation work continued but only on a small scale with 1000 trees planted. The rice growing contest, which is used as a tool to encourage good farming techniques rather than slash and burn farming, was again well supported by villagers.
To support education in the area AEECL has once again paid 50% of the wages of 34 teachers in the Sahamalaza area. Research work continues in the forest, this year looking at behaviour and ecology of the Sahamalaza sportive lemur. The Association is also working on ecotourism initiatives and training local tourist guides.
In 2010 the FOBZ contribution was £5000 with a total of over £39,000 given over the last 12 years.
Grevy’s Zebra
As part of a consortium of conservation organizations we have contributed funds to the group's work to maintain the wild Grevy’s Zebra population for 7 years.
This has involved the development and implementation of the strategy for the conservation of this endangered equid and its semi-arid ecosystem. There are believed to be around 2400 animals in the core area of their range in Kenya.
During 2009 work continued on the digital stripe pattern identification system, which can identify and store individual stripe patterns. Preparation work was carried out for an anthropological survey of northern Kenya looking at how people from different ethnic groups use Grevy’s zebra and the impact on zebra numbers.
A number of old or defective radio collars were replaced to allow the continued monitoring of Grevy’s zebra distribution and movement patterns. Working with local universities the project continued to work on capacity building for conservation and research in Kenya.
The monitoring of wildlife and vegetation in the community lands of northern Kenya continued. Pastoralists mix with wildlife in these areas and it is essential to monitor the health of the wildlife and vegetation to ensure good long-term management. Community scouts have found that by controlling livestock grazing there is higher productivity and greater diversity of ground plants.
In 2010 the FOBZ contribution was £2000 with a total of £13,000 given over the last 7 years.
Cheetah Conservation Botswana
Cheetah Conservation Botswana is a long term conservation project that we have supported for many years. Botswana holds 2000 to 3000 cheetah and is one of the last strongholds for the species.
Recent news includes the release of ‘Victor’ a male cheetah back into the wild in the
Kalahari. He had been rescued from poachers, who would probably have sold him illegally into the animal trade. Two orphan cubs are being hand raised and are due for release into the wild this year. They were caught by villagers when their mother started chasing goats but could not be reunited with her. This is a positive story for the project because previously the villagers would probably have killed the cubs. Work has continued with the Spirit of the Kalahari Theatre Production highlighting the cheetah conservation message to the public.
Work has also continued in the field to reduce human/predator conflict and the team has been working on a manual for farmers. Research is an important element of the project and work has continued with monitoring cheetah on farms and analysing scats, which help to show that many cheetah are eating kudu and duiker antelope rather than livestock.
In 2010 the FOBZ contribution was £1,000 with a total of £17,000 given over 8 years.
http://www.cheetahbotswana.com/
The Gyps Vulture Restoration Project in Pakistan
This conservation project hopes to save and protect vultures in Pakistan.
For a number of years wild long billed, Slender billed and Oriental white-backed vultures (we have the very similar African white-backed vulture at the zoo) have been seriously affected by the use of the veterinary drug diclofenac in Pakistan and India.
Vultures were being poisoned when they fed on domestic animal carcasses. The population has crashed almost to the point of extinction. Fortunately the drug has now been banned but large quantities still remain in circulation.
The project has taken 11 birds into captivity and is hoping to receive up to 30 birds to use as a secure population for captive breeding. Double clutching techniques will be used with the eggs to increase hatchings. This is being carried out with a view to reintroducing the birds back into the wild as soon as it is safe to do so.
In the field, important survey work is being carried out to establish how many wild birds remain and where they are living.
The Project is also supported by the World Wildlife Fund, The Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department and eight British zoos.
In 2010 over £4000 was raised to support this work, following the £3000 raised in 2009.
The World Land Trust – BIAZA Project
In 2007 the Friends of Banham Zoo committee voted to support a new and very exciting project.
A group of BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums) member collections worked with the World Land Trust to purchase a critically threatened 1,803 acre (730 hectares) strategically placed parcel of land in the Brazilian Atlantic forest. This will create a corridor for animal movements between two existing protected areas, one of which is 14,700 acres in area.
By the end of 2010 £124,000 had been raised to purchase the land. Friends of Banham Zoo have contributed £8000 to the project, which is now entering a second phase to provide support for the team of rangers who protect the area.
The Atlantic forest is a 'biodiversity hotspot' and is important because it supports 260 mammal and 930 bird species, including the Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, Orange-spined Hairy Dwarf Porcupine, four species of Lion Tamarins, and the Endangered Southern Woolly Spider Monkey (Muriqui). It is important to note that 214 of these species are found only in the Atlantic forest and 441 of the 682 species of bird found in Brazil, have been recorded at in this area.
In 2010 the FOBZ contribution was £2000 with a total of £8000 given over 4 years.
Snow Leopard Trust
Founded in 1981, the Snow Leopard Trust is the world's leading authority on the study and protection of the endangered snow leopard.
The Snow Leopard Trust uses a combination of approaches that focus on partnering with communities in snow leopard habitat. Radio collaring and following cat movements has been a major focus in 2009 to help understand the animals' home ranges and space requirements. A new reserve recently established in Losar in India, which protects pastureland, prey species and snow leopards.
In the western world the education message has been pushed with a curriculum linked information pack for schools.
On July 10th 2010 one of the field workers from the project came to Banham to give an evening talk about his work.
In 2010 the FOBZ contribution was £1400, the proceeds of an on line auction to name the cubs born in May, with a total of £6000 given over the last 3 years.
The Lory Conservation Network
The Lory Conservation Network focuses on the conservation of a number of species of lorikeet.
This includes field conservation, research projects and habitat restoration efforts, all evaluated by a scientific review panel, and in involves translocation, captive breeding and reintroduction programmes.
The network is also building awareness of the status and conservation needs of lories at many levels.
The Friends of Banham Zoo contributed £3000 to this work in 2010.
www.savelories.org
