New IUCN SSC Guidelines on the Use of Ex situ Management for Species Conservation

The IUCN Species Survival Commission has published new Guidelines on the Use of Ex situ Management for Species Conservation

A growing number of species require action to ensure species survival due to increasing claims of human society on available habitats and ecosystems.

Ex Situ management is one of the approaches for this, and essentially means that animals are kept captive by humans in some form, such as in zoos and aquarias (the report provides a full definition).

As a follow up of the previous 2002 Guidelines, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) has published an update of Guidelines on the Use of Ex situ Management for Species Conservation. This analysis was undertaken by individuals involved in a range of taxonomic and disciplinary SSC Specialist Groups, in situ conservation organisations, and the zoo and aquarium community. The concise report (15 pages) draws up 5 critical steps in applying ex situ management.

The report is can be downloaded HERE