Cologne Zoo - nature conservation projects, especially in Vietnam Theo Pagel, CEO Cologne Zoo.

Cologne Zoo

-

nature conservation projects,

especially in Vietnam

Theo Pagel, CEO Cologne Zoo

• Achim Steiner, the former Director General of the IUCN – The World Conservation Union -, said concerning the World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy (WZACS):

“It is a timely document that refines the previous thinking of the 1993 World Zoo Conservation Strategy and brings ex situ institutions into the mainstream of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. This Strategy provides a common philosophy for zoos and aquariums across the globe and defines the standards and policies with which you hope to achieve your conservation goals.“

We all know the four main goals of We all know the four main goals of the WZACS:the WZACS:

• Recreation

• Education

• Science

• Nature conservation (in situ & ex situ)

Education is an essential tool to Education is an essential tool to fullfill our goals:fullfill our goals:

„Zoos and aquaria should make a significant conservation contribution by acting as leaders

and mentors in socially - and culturally - relevant formal and informal education, thereby

influencing people's attitudes and behaviour toward wildlife and environments, local and

global!“

That is absolutely right!!

In our own EAZA education In our own EAZA education standards we say:standards we say:

• „Educational components might include such topics as:

• animal behaviour, • zoo animal management, • variety of life, • a variety of animal-based topics, • global or local conservation in situ and ex

situ issues, • threats to species, • the role of zoos in conservation, • sustainability and a respect for and appreciation

of wildlife.“

So the goals of the committee are:So the goals of the committee are:• „The EAZA Education Committee will focus on

educational programmes, activities and interpretive communication in EAZA member institutions.

• The objective of the Committee is to stimulate and assist EAZA members in meeting the demands of the World Zoo & Aquarium Conservation Strategy (2005) as well as the EAZA Education Standards (2001).

• In general, this means that zoo visitors should be informed and educated in such a way that their interest in, their appreciation of and their love for living nature and their awareness of the necessity of nature conservation and of sustainable solutions to the global environmental changes, increases during their visit.“

• But, what do we do???

• On the way towards a centre of nature conservation and to live the goals of modern zoos and the education and exhibit design committee, Cologne Zoo does not only keep and breed endangered species such as Bali starlings, Douc langurs, Okapis or elephants. No, we are also active in in situ projects….

Cologne Zoo supports actuallyCologne Zoo supports actuallynature conservation projects

Our main nature conservation project is Our main nature conservation project is going on in Vietnamgoing on in Vietnam

• How did it start? • All activities are related to our tropical house at Cologne Zoo “DER

REGENWALD”, which we were able to open in April 2000.• Our idea was that building a house for about 12 Mio. DM should

have a strong link to nature conservation work. And because the theme of the house is the Asian rainforest we needed a project in this area.

• Prof. Dr. Niekisch, who is now the director of Frankfurt Zoo, suggested to go to Vietnam – a hot spot of diversity.

• And in 1998 we went to Vietnam for the very first time, looking for an area (Herrmann, Niekisch, Nogge, Pagel)

• 1999 first Memorandum of Agreement was signed, till that time the area was just a nature reserve (Herrmann, Pagel).

• First partner: Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (CRES).

• 2001 Phong Nha – Kẻ Bàng National Park was established (85.754 ha, District Bố Trạch, Province Quảng Bình, Central- Vietnam)

• 2003 world heritage site (geology)• 2003 New Memorandum of Agreement• 2008 New Memorandum of Agreeement, now with PPC

and NP as partners• They try to get the accreditation as a world heritage site

for their biodiversity • Enlargement of the park is planned

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Planned enlargement

Different ecosystems, caves, rivers, forests, grasslands….

- 400 Mio. years - a limestone area- also on the other side of the border in Lao- up to 1128 m- 70 km cave systems- still primary forests

floraplants = 2.651 species

taxon family genus species

Psilotophyta (Ngành Quyết lá thông) 1 1 1

Lycopodiophyta (Ngành thông đất) 2 4 16

Equisetophyta (ngành mộc tặc) 1 1 2

Polypodiophyta (ngành dương xỉ) 23 73 176

Pinophyta (Ngành Hạt trần) 6 10 19

Magnoliophyta (Ngành Hạt kín) 160 817 2.437

Magnoliopsida (Lớp 2 lá mầm) 131 638 1.909

Liliopsida (Lớp 1 lá mầm) 29 179 528

193 906 2.651

faunavertebrates = 735 species

No. class order family species

1 mammals 11 30 132

2 birds 18 57 338

3 reptiles 2 15 96

4 amphibians 1 06 45

5 fishes 10 34 124

42 142 735

Douc langur (Pygatharix nemaeus)

Hatinh langur(Trachypithecus laotum

hatinhensis),

In 5 years over 20 new species have been In 5 years over 20 new species have been described:described:

fishes: 9 speciesamphibians: 1 speciesreptiles: 11 species

and others will follow…..

2003 Phong Nha - Ke Bang Gecko(Cyrtodactylus phongnhakebangensis)

photo: Th. Ziegler

Nine years ago, we published a Nine years ago, we published a first, preliminary list of the first, preliminary list of the area's herpetodiversity, based area's herpetodiversity, based on own fieldwork and first on own fieldwork and first Vietnamese reports, thus Vietnamese reports, thus comprising 96 amphibian and comprising 96 amphibian and reptile species. Some years reptile species. Some years later, we could bring the total later, we could bring the total number of amphibian and number of amphibian and reptile species known for this reptile species known for this unique karst forest ecosystem unique karst forest ecosystem as a result of further field work as a result of further field work to 128, of which approximately to 128, of which approximately 20 % were listed in the Red 20 % were listed in the Red Data Book of VietnamData Book of Vietnam..

Abenteuer-Wissen Gecko (Gekko scientiadventura)

photo: Th. Ziegler

In 2005, mediated by In 2005, mediated by BIOPAT,the German scientific BIOPAT,the German scientific programme “Abenteuer Wissen” programme “Abenteuer Wissen” (“adventure ofknowledge”) of (“adventure ofknowledge”) of the second German television the second German television (ZDF), took over the sponsorship (ZDF), took over the sponsorship for the latter gecko species, for the latter gecko species, which was named then as which was named then as Gekko Gekko scientiadventurascientiadventura, from Latin , from Latin ""scientiascientia" = knowledge and " = knowledge and ""adventuraadventura" = adventure. Thus, " = adventure. Thus, it was the objective of a diploma it was the objective of a diploma thesis, that was conducted in thesis, that was conducted in 2006, to learn more about the 2006, to learn more about the ecology of this and further ecology of this and further barely known lizard species in barely known lizard species in Phong Nha – Ke Bang.Phong Nha – Ke Bang.

Trimeresurus truongsonensis 2004

photo: Th. Ziegler

• In a recently published, third list the total number of the herpetofauna known from Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park was brought to 140, representing more than 30 percent of the 458 amphibian and reptile species listed in the current checklist for Vietnam. Up to now, six new lizard and five new snake species including a new genus have been described by us from Phong Nha - Ke Bang and adjacent areas.

Tropidophorus noggeiTropidophorus noggei

photo: Th. Ziegler

Calamaria thanhi

2005

photo: Th. Ziegler

Amphiesma leucomystax

2007

photo: Th. Ziegler

Lygosoma boehmei 2007

However, we are still far However, we are still far away from having the away from having the National Park's National Park's herpetodiversity completely herpetodiversity completely inventoried. And of course is inventoried. And of course is the same for a lot of other the same for a lot of other taxa, such as small taxa, such as small mammals.mammals.Additionally, we develop Additionally, we develop identification keys as basis identification keys as basis not only for the ranger’s not only for the ranger’s work but also for the work but also for the authorities engaged with authorities engaged with the implementation of the implementation of nature and species nature and species conservation.conservation.

photo: Th. Ziegler

From the German From the German side, the project was side, the project was coordinated from the coordinated from the beginning by the beginning by the curators of the curators of the Cologne Zoo's Cologne Zoo's tropical house "The tropical house "The Rainforest" and Rainforest" and Aquarium. Aquarium. Subsequently it was Subsequently it was supported in supported in addition by two addition by two further collaborators, further collaborators, Dr. Martina Vogt and Dr. Martina Vogt and Bernhard Forster. Bernhard Forster. Both are being Both are being permanently on site.permanently on site.

problems like everywhere

- erosion

- tourists

forest protection!forest protection!

new ranger station

training

•Rescue and release center

Golden cat

new activitiesnew activities

• since 2005 ZGF-Cologne Zoo primate project

• since 2006 cooperation with IEBR (Institute of Ecology & Biological. Resources)

• since 2006 surveys in other areas, e.g. on Cat Ba

• Since 2005 the Cologne Zoo in cooperation with the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) furthermore engages in a reintroduction programme for endangered primate species. Ha Tinh langurs (Trachypithecus laotum hatinhensis) and Red-shanked Douc langurs (Pygathrix nemaeus) from the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre (EPRC) in Cuc Phuong, northern Vietnam, shall be released. A single forested hill of 18 ha in size was chosen as adequate place for the semi-wild enclosure.

ZGF – Kölner Zoo – primate ZGF – Kölner Zoo – primate projectproject

ZGF – Cologne Zoo – primate projectZGF – Cologne Zoo – primate project

Semi-wild enclosure for langurs

A group of 8 Hatinh-langurs A group of 8 Hatinh-langurs has been transferred from the has been transferred from the PPRC at Cuc Phuong National PPRC at Cuc Phuong National Park to a semi-wild enclosure Park to a semi-wild enclosure in Phong Nha-Ke Bang in 2007.in Phong Nha-Ke Bang in 2007.

Additionally, in cooperation Additionally, in cooperation with the University of Bonn, a with the University of Bonn, a first diploma thesis focusing on first diploma thesis focusing on the occurrence and group the occurrence and group structure of Ha Tinh langurs in structure of Ha Tinh langurs in their natural environment in their natural environment in Phong Nha has been done.Phong Nha has been done.

Rangers help to secure the area

It was a lot of work to fence the area

Theloderma corticale

Rhacophorus dennysi

In cooperation with the In cooperation with the amphibian breeding station of amphibian breeding station of the Institute of Ecology and the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), Biological Resources (IEBR), Vietnamese Academy of Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology, in Science and Technology, in Hanoi, and together with our Hanoi, and together with our new amphibian breeding new amphibian breeding section in the Cologne Zoo's section in the Cologne Zoo's aquarium we are also aquarium we are also prepared for combinations of prepared for combinations of in situ in situ with with ex situ ex situ breeding breeding and preservation efforts.and preservation efforts.

Cat Ba island

We need to get awareness to promote such activities:We need to get awareness to promote such activities:

• We try to succeed awareness by:– Cologne Zoo’s publications,– our homepage, – the Vietnam project panels in the zoo,– TV documentations in the Aquarium and in "The

Rainforest„ to inform the visitors of the Cologne Zoo about the progress in our nature conservation efforts and diversity research in Phong Nha – Ke Bang.

– In the Cologne Zoo's Aquarium, the visitors are furthermore able to “hear” species diversity due to a self-made interactive computer containing mating calls of Vietnamese frogs.

– Press conferences and press articles, even TV-films

– Newly discovered species bring awarness to the Vietnam project, such as a new gecko species that was recently discovered in Phong Nha - Ke Bang.

– In 2005, mediated by BIOPAT, the German scientific programme “Abenteuer Wissen” (“adventure ofknowledge”) of the second German television (ZDF), took over the sponsorship for the latter gecko species, which was named then as Gekko scientiadventura, from Latin "scientia" = knowledge and "adventura" = adventure.

– Furthermore, we try to improve public awareness not only in the Cologne Zoo but also in Vietnam.

• In 2007 the Cologne Zoo received the

Conservation Award of the European

Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) for its engagement

with biodiversity conservation and research in Phong Nha – Ke Bang.

• That makes us very proud and shows us that we are on the

right way.

The role of zoos in biodiversity conservationThe role of zoos in biodiversity conservation

• The contribution of zoos for nature and biodiversity protection is often neglected in the political debate about these issues.

• Nevertheless, zoos play an important role by raising people's awareness for the need to protect species and their habitats. This importance was recognised by the 1992 UN Convention on Biological Diversity, which led to the World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy, as well as in European legislation. Even though zoos only can give cover to only few individual animals, their educational value is considerable.

• "Zoo animals are ambassadors for their conspecifics in the wild and can motivate people to support the protection of their habitats“ – so let us work for and with them.

and of course thank you for your attention !!!

•Thanks to all our supporters/sponsors, such as: the Kölner Kulturstiftung der Kreissparkasse Köln, BIOPAT,GEO schützt den Regenwald for financial support, the Universities of Bonn, Braunschweig, Cologne, and Hanoi, the European Union of Aquarium Curators (EUAC), the Alexander-Koenig-Gesellschaft (AKG), the Alexander Koenig Stiftung (AKS), and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde (DGHT), Bushnell Performance Optics Germany, Köln, and others…