Animal Management, Husbandry & Health
As wildlife habitats around the world continue to decline, the role of wildlife managers will expand both in scope and complexity. Increasingly, remnant populations of many species will be isolated in fragmented “islands” of habitat which limit the size of the populations, the “flow” of genetic material between those populations; and ultimately, the health of the populations. Traditional approaches to managing wildlife have focused little on these emerging problems, and there is an acknowledged lack of methodologies to address these issues at the population, as well as the individual animal level.
While captive programs for many species offer some hope, the ultimate intent of those programs is not to replace wild populations, but instead to reinforce them through research and the maintenance of supplemental populations. In filling this role, traditional zoological facilities are limited by their size, and their primary focus on exhibition of a wide variety of species. Further, since the scientific studies conducted in traditional zoos are with individuals maintained in facilities that meet certain constraints (as described above), the relevance of those studies to remnant populations in the wild may be questionable.
Unlike most traditional facilities, the Wilds is uniquely suited to focus on solutions to the problems facing wild populations. With nearly 10,000 acres of diverse habitat, large groups of animals are maintained in semi-free ranging conditions that encourage the development of natural social groupings and behaviors. Additionally, species chosen for management programs at the Wilds have been selected to meet specific programmatic goals.
The staff of the Wilds has been selected to represent a broad range of experience, ranging from traditional zoos to wildlife management in range countries. The interaction between these individuals, experiences and perspectives has resulted in a unique approach to captive management of wildlife that is unlike any other.
The development of the facilities of the Wilds are intended to maximize the roles of research and conservation management, including (where appropriate) captive breeding. As a result, animal management, holding, and handling facilities at the Wilds, are designed to maximize efficiency and flexibility, while reducing stress on the animals and management staff.
Animal health programs at the Wilds are similarly unique. Combining approaches that focus on individuals with those targeting larger groups, the Wilds is developing techniques that have direct application to wild populations for disease surveillance, chemical and physical restraint methods, and nutritional management.
The scale of the animal program and management facilities at the Wilds provide unique opportunities to inspire and engage our guests. The challenges and questions facing the natural world are more readily brought to the surface when visitors are immersed in the animal environments of the Wilds. Our efforts to open our animal programs to these unique guest experiences result in transparency and an understanding of our work and conservation goals, and ultimately to a more informed and engaged public.
As with endangered wildlife populations, organizations like the Wilds, cannot stand as an island and realize our conservation goals. Cooperative endeavors with partners of similar vision are critical to achieving our animal management objectives. Collaborations with scientists concerned with specific disciplines, and with other related conservation organizations, provide depth and focus to our animal program science and management we could not obtain otherwise. Conversely, the scope and resources of the animal management programs and facilities at the Wilds provide research and conservation opportunities that are not available elsewhere. These win-win partnerships are an important aspect to our future in providing the resources required for positive conservation contribution.
The Wilds has been designed, both physically and programmatically to contribute to our knowledge base. With a strong commitment to progressive animal management, productive collaborations, and the development of unique facilities, no other institution is so well suited to bridge the gap between in situ and ex situ programs for the conservation of wildlife.
The Wilds continues to serve as a leader and advisor to the zoos in North America concerning antelope management and conservation issues, and internationally through the IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group for antelope conservation efforts.
A study of the reproductive biology of the Asian wild horse was initiated at the Wilds in 2005. The intent of the project is to assess the reproductive status of the species in the captive environment in North America, and at the Wilds, and to develop tools such as semen collection and artificial insemination to assist and promote the conservation program for the species.
A program for the endangered American burying beetle is being developed. This species of carrion beetle is extinct in the wild in much of its former range and efforts are underway to reintroduce the species to Ohio and other sites in North America. A captive ABB colony and facility are being initiated at the Wilds, and we are evaluating potential for the Wilds to serve as a reintroduction site for ABB at some point in the future.
In our efforts to represent and support diverse threatened animal populations the Wilds has begun to develop facilities for mid-sized carnivores which may include cheetahs, African wild dogs, dholes, and potentially other species. Support to initiate the program has been secured and planning has begun for the development of the first phase of facilities in 2006.
Revised April 17, 2006
