Species protection
Zoos maintain several species that are severely endangered in the wild, with some facing the threat of extinction. For these animals, the zoo can be their last refuge: this was the case with the Przewalski's horses and European bison, which were saved from ultimate extinction by the conscious breeding of their zoo populations, resulting in a sufficiently large stock. Modern zoos no longer fight alone to save these species; instead, they unite their efforts through joint breeding programs. These programs are coordinated in Europe by the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA).
On zoo animal plaques, you often come across the abbreviations ESB or EEP. Animals whose names are accompanied by one of these abbreviations are involved in conservation or breeding programs.
What does that mean?
Conservation and breeding programs play a crucial role in the conservation work of zoos. Many species at the Győr Zoo are also involved in such breeding programs.
For example, our aardvarks began breeding in the year following their arrival.
CITES
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is an international intergovernmental agreement created to ensure that international trade in wild plants and animals does not threaten their survival. The goal of the convention is to regulate international trade in animals and plants within controlled frameworks. It defines two lists:
Appendix I: taxa are those that are threatened with extinction and to which the highest level of CITES protection is afforded.
Appendix II: These taxa are those that are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.
Appendix III: Appendix III species are those that are protected in at least one country, and that country has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.
The specimens of species listed on these lists can only be traded with the permission of the administrative authorities of both the exporting and receiving countries. Additionally, the keeping of species listed on Appendix I is subject to notification requirements.
ISB
International Studbook Program. Its task is to register zoo animals and monitor changes in their population size and genetic diversity.
EEP
European Endangered Species Programme. Its task is to coordinate and monitor the zoo management of a particular species, as well as to maintain a population within zoos that ensures proper health and genetic variability.
ESB
European Studbook Program. Its task is to register zoo animals and track changes in their population size and genetic diversity.