BIAZA Newsletter | Winter 2017 | Issue 13

Supporting IUCN SSCs BIAZAmembers linking with IUCN By Kira Mileham, Director Specialist Group Partnerships, IUCN

Team up for wild cattle! Chester Zoo has recently established a strong partnership with the IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group (AWCSG) through their new Field Programme Coordinator for South East Asia, Johanna Rode-Margono, who dedicates 50 percent of her time to the Group. One of the first outcomes of this relationship has been the establishment of Global Species Management Plans (GSMPs) for banteng, anoa and babirusa earlier this year, which have been moving forward very quickly. Breeding and transfer plans for Indonesian zoos have been written, regular training initiated in Indonesian zoos and rescue facilities, a small grant scheme for in situ projects has been set up with plans for further in situ involvement, and most importantly time has been invested in effectively running the GSMP committees. It is not just Chester Zoo’s Field Programmes department that is involved in the GSMP activities: Head of Discovery and Learning, Charlotte Smith, has designed zoo education signage for Indonesian zoos, and Curator of Mammals, Tim Rowlands, has visited Java and Sulawesi and assessed the needs of a range of zoos in order to design effective training. Johanna Rode-Margono, says of the programme, “We encourage the zoo community to use their specific expertise to help conserve banteng, anoa and babirusa; whether by helping establish and run Collaborating on climate change! The Yorkshire Wildlife Park and Foundation (YWPF) has partnered with the IUCN SSC Climate Change Specialist Group (CCSG) to spearhead a new effort in protecting endangered species against the impacts of climate change. This partnership was critical in supporting the development and publication of a landmark document, ‘The IUCN SSC Guidelines for Assessing Species Vulnerability to Climate Change’. Launched in September at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Hawaii, the document will assist in the identification of species most affected by changing climates. YWPF and the CCSG will continue to work together, increasing awareness about climate change, its impacts

Indonesian breeding programmes, assisting awareness raising for visitors, or helping to solve specific problems such as the care of confiscated

animals, population surveys or local community engagement. My role is not only to manage the involvement of Chester Zoo staff, but also to facilitate the support that can be given by smaller zoos, whether it is financially, by writing up husbandry guidelines, or by joining a wide variety of activities” Banteng, anoa and babirusa are all classified as Endangered or Vulnerable, with anoa and babirusa endemic only to Sulawesi and the surrounding islands. “We visited Sulawesi recently to assess their conservation needs. I was shocked to hear that many populations have

decreased dramatically or even gone extinct,” says James Burton, Chair of the AWCSG. “By combining the forces of zoos, local and international NGOs, in situ experts, and the Indonesian government and conservation authorities, we can make a difference and have a chance to save these unique species.” on wildlife, and the best ways to respond. “We’re delighted to support IUCN in this vital initiative, as we know it will be significant in protecting wildlife from the impacts of climate change,” said Cheryl Williams, CEO of YWPF. “We’re determined to do our part, and hope that local businesses, park supporters and members of the public will join us in making this a priority.” The IUCN SSC partnership is an important extension of

YWPF’s existing efforts in conservation and welfare, including work with polar bears, Amur tigers, Amur leopards and African painted dogs (see page 16).

If your institution wants to join this collaboration and support the GSMPs, please contact James (jamesaburton@yahoo.co.uk) or Johanna (j.rodemargono@chesterzoo.org).

25 BIAZA News • Winter issue 13