HEALTH SCREEN: EEP CAPTIVE PINK PIGEONS 1 HEALTH SCREENING OF THE EUROPEAN ENDANGERED SPECIES PROGRAM CAPTIVE POPULATION OF THE PINK PIGEON (NESOENAS MAYERI) Authors: Sara Shopland B.V.Sc., B.Sc. (Hons), Cert A.V.P. (ZM) MRCVS., Alberto Rodriguez Barbon, Ldo.Vet., Cert Zoo.Med., Dipl. E.C.Z.M. (Avian Non-practising) MRCVS., Prof David S Richardson B.Sc. Hons., Ph.D., Michelle Barrows B.V.M.S., B.Sc., RCVS Dipl. Zoo.Med. (Avian), Dipl. E.C.Z.M. MRCVS From the Department of Veterinary Services and Conservation Medicine, Bristol Zoological Society, Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA, UK and the University of Bristol, Bristol, BS40 5DU, UK (Shopland, Barrows); Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Les Augrès Manor, La Profonde Rue, Trinity, Jersey, Channel Islands, JE3 5BP (Barbon) School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7TJ Norwich, UK (Richardson). Correspondence should be directed to Sara Shopland, Department of Veterinary Services and Conservation Medicine, Bristol Zoological Society, Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA, UK. Telephone: +44 117 428 5552. E-mail: (
[email protected]) HEALTH SCREEN: EEP CAPTIVE PINK PIGEONS 2 Abstract: The population of the Mauritian pink pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri) fell to fewer than 20 individuals in the 1970s. Following intensive conservation efforts, the free-living population is now estimated to be 470 individuals. However, due to the population bottleneck the species remains at risk of extinction due to genetic loss and inbreeding depression. A 5 European captive population was established in 1977 and a European Endangered Species Program (EEP) was formalized in 1992.