A Preliminary Review of Monitor Lizards in Zoological Gardens

Biawak, 10(1), pp. 26-35 © 2016 by International Varanid Interest Group A Preliminary Review of Monitor Lizards in Zoological Gardens T+20$6ZIEGLER1,2 ANNA RAUHAUS1,3 & IRI GILL4 1Cologne Zoo Riehler Str. 173 50735 Köln, DE 2E-mail: [email protected] 3E-mail: [email protected] 4ZSL London Zoo Regents Park London, NW1 4RY, UK E-mail: [email protected] Abstract - To gain an overview of monitor lizards held in zoos, including the species and numbers of individuals kept and the number of keeping institutions, we analyzed collection information from the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) database. Our analysis performed in March 2016 revealed that there are 50 species of monitor lizard kept globally in 308 zoos, with 39 of these species kept in a total of 131 European zoos. Eleven globally-kept species were lacking in European zoo holdings, and nine species were found exclusively in European zoos. Of the 79 currently recognized species of monitor lizard, 30 (38 %) are not currently held in zoos. Although ZIMS data are certainly not complete, there is a discernible trend that only a few species are widely kept by the zoo community; whereas most species are poorly represented or not represented at all. As only 22 monitor lizard species are listed in the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species, there is not only an obvious need for additional Red List assessments, but also a disconnect between the species most frequently kept in zoos and their conservation status. As space and resources in zoos are limited, VSHFLHVVHOHFWLRQVVKRXOGEHZHOOSODQQHG7KHFXUUHQWQXPEHURIR൶FLDO]RREUHHGLQJSURJUDPVIRU monitor lizards is comparatively low and there are further species, such as small island endemics, that require support through assurance colonies sustained by ex situ conservation breeding programs. We recommend considering a shift from commonly kept species towards species that are in greater need RIVXSSRUWWKURXJK]RRKXVEDQGU\DQGEUHHGLQJH൵RUWV,PSURYHGQHWZRUNLQJEHWZHHQ]RRVDQG between zoos and authorities is another important prerequisite that can help zoos assemble breeding groups and exchange species that so far are only rarely kept by the zoo community. Introduction Conservation (INA) on the Island of Vilm, Germany, the senior author was invited to present a lecture on the On the occasion of a recent workshop entitled, husbandry of monitor lizards, conservation breeding, “The Trade in Exotic Reptiles in Germany Using the and the role of zoos. The Cologne Zoo has a strong focus ([DPSOH RI 0RQLWRU /L]DUGV IDPLO\ 9DUDQLGDH ´ on the husbandry of monitor lizards, with 14 species which was organized by the Federal Agency for Nature currently maintained in its terrarium section. Whereas Conservation (BfN) and took place from 18 to 21 the lecture primarily dealt with the current situation April 2016 at the International Academy for Nature of monitor lizards in German zoos, several questions 27 ZIEGLER ET AL5(9,(:2)021,725/,=$5'6,1=226 arose, particularly how many species are kept in zoos $FFRUGLQJWR=,06RIWKHFXUUHQWO\UHFRJQL]HG globally, in what numbers, and in how many zoos? As species of monitor lizard (after Uetz & Hošek, 2016), 30 a preliminary approach to answering these questions, (38 %) are not currently held in zoos: V. bangonorum, V. we have compiled respective information from the baritji, V. bitatawa, V. bogerti, V. bushi, V. dalubhasa, V. =RRORJLFDO ,QIRUPDWLRQ 0DQDJHPHQW 6\VWHP =,06 eremius, 9¿QVFKL, V. glebopalma, V. hamersleyensis, V. an international record keeping database for zoological juxtindicus, V. keithhornei, V. lirungensis, V. mabitang, LQVWLWXWLRQV ZKLFK ZH EULHÀ\ SUHVHQW LQ WKH IROORZLQJ V. marmoratus, V. mitchelli, V. nesterovi, V. nuchalis, V. account. obor, V. palawanensis, V. rainerguentheri, V. rasmusseni, V. samarensis, V. semiremex, V. semotus, V. sparnus, V. Methods telenesetes, V. togianus, V. yemenensis, and V. zugorum. It is possible that some zoos may keep some of these For this study, we analyzed 1) the species of monitor species but have not yet entered this information into lizards held in zoos, 2) their individual numbers, and 3) =,06RUEHFDXVHUHFHQWO\GHVFULEHGRUUHVXUUHFWHGWD[D the number of institutions currently keeping monitor were listed under collective names, as may be the case lizards based on available data on living specimens from for members of the V. indicus and V. salvator species =,060DQ\]RRVVXEVFULEHWRDQGHQWHUWKHLUFROOHFWLRQ groups. GDWD LQWR =,06 KRZHYHU QRW DOO ]RRV SDUWLFLSDWH LQ The ten most common monitor species held in =,06 DQG WKH FRPSOHWHQHVV RI WKHVH GDWD FDQQRW EH zoos globally were V. komodoensis (kept in 83 zoos), guaranteed, as some data may be obsolete or have not V. prasinus (61 zoos), V. exanthematicus (55 zoos), V. (yet) been entered. Thus, actual counts may be higher acanthurus (49 zoos), V. salvator (47 zoos), V. albigularis WKDQWKRVHFROOHFWHGIURP=,067KLVLVDOVRLQGLFDWHG (40 zoos), V. macraei (36 zoos), V. niloticus (31 zoos), V. for example, by checking species holdings for further salvadorii (27 zoos), and V. beccarii (25 zoos) (Figs. 1 institutions in Germany and Europe using the websites, & 3). The greatest numbers of individuals held globally “Verband der Zoologischen Gärten e.V.” (http://www. were of V. komodoensis (n = 205), V. prasinus (n = 152), zoodirektoren.de/) and “Zootierliste” (http://www. V. acanthurus (n = 146), V. macraei (n = 117) (Figs. 4 , zootierliste.de/). Here, additional species and holding 6 & 7), V. beccarii (n = 84), V. exanthematicus (n = 84), institutions can be found; however, these websites also V. salvator (n = 77), V. salvadorii (n = 60), V. varius (n include some private zoos and animal rescue facilities. = 60), and V. albigularis (n = 54). The rarest species in Our analysis examined the current status of monitor zoos on a global scale were 9DXৼHQEHUJL, V. boehmei, lizards maintained in zoos both in Europe and abroad, V. brevicauda, V. caudolineatus, V. cerambonensis, DQGZDVSHUIRUPHGLQ0DUFK6SHFLHVZKLFKZHUH 9 ÀDYHVFHQV, V. kingorum, V. primordius, V. similis, QRWVSHFL¿HGLQ=,06 Varanus sp.) were omitted from V. spinulosus, V. storri, and V. yuwonoi (each kept by analysis. only a single zoo), and V. caerulivirens, V. pilbarensis, and V. scalaris (each kept by only two zoos). The Results lowest numbers of individuals held globally were of V. brevicauda, V. cerambonensis, 9 ÀDYHVFHQV, V. $FFRUGLQJWRRXUDQDO\VHVIURP0DUFKDWRWDO kingorum, and V. storri (just single individuals), and of 1,535 monitor lizards belonging to 50 species were 9 DXৼHQEHUJL, V. caudolineatus, V. spinulosus, and V. maintained globally by 308 zoos (Figs. 1 & 3), with yuwonoi (two individuals each). 735 of these individuals representing 39 species kept The most commonly kept species among European in 131 European zoos (Figs. 2 & 3). Eleven globally- zoos were V. prasinus (kept in 30 zoos), V. acanthurus kept species were absent from European zoo holdings: (29 zoos), V. komodoensis (26 zoos), V. exanthematicus Varanus brevicauda, V. cerambonensis, 9 ÀDYHVFHQV, (23 zoos), V. macraei (23 zoos), V. salvator (20 zoos), V. V. giganteus, V. nebulosus, V. ornatus (listed as valid niloticus (19 zoos), V. albigularis (16 zoos), V. indicus WD[RQ LQ =,06 GHVSLWH UHFHQWO\ EHLQJ V\QRQ\PL]HG (16 zoos), and V. salvadorii (15 zoos) (Fig. 2 & 3). with V. niloticus by Dowell et al. 2016), V. rosenbergi, The greatest numbers of individuals held in European V. scalaris, V. spinulosus, V. storri, and V. tristis. In zoos were of V. acanthurus (n = 87), V. komodoensis contrast, nine species were found only in European zoos: (n = 86), V. macraei (n = 84), V. prasinus (n = 69), 9DXৼHQEHUJL, V. boehmei, V. caudolineatus, V. cumingi, V. exanthematicus (n = 42), V. salvadorii (n = 38), V. V. glauerti, V. kingorum, V. primordius, V. similis, and V. beccarii (n = 37), V. indicus (n = 31), V. salvator (n = yuwonoi. 29), and V. niloticus (n = 26) (Figs 5 & 6). The rarest )LJ1XPEHURI(XURSHDQ]RRORJLFDOLQVWLWXWLRQVPDLQWDLQLQJ )LJ1XPEHURI]RRORJLFDOLQVWLWXWLRQVPDLQWDLQLQJOLYHPRQLW Institutions Institutions 10 15 20 25 30 35 90 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 0 5 0 V. prasinus V. komodoensis V. acanthurus V. prasinus V. exanthematicus V. komodoensis V. acanthurus V. exanthematicus V. salvator V. macraei V. albigularis V. macraei V. salvator V. niloticus V. niloticus V. salvadorii V. albigularis V. beccarii V. indicus V. varius V. mertensi V. salvadorii V. indicus V. glauerti V. melinus V. melinus V. panoptes V. giganteus V. beccarii V. glauerti V. cumingi V. bengalensis VOL. 10NO.1 BIAWAK V. panoptes V. dumerilii V. doreanus V. gouldii V. rudicollis V. dumerilii V. cumingi V. rudicollis V. doreanus Species Species V. timorensis V. tristis V. gilleni V. jobiensis V. griseus V. mertensi RUOL]DUGVJOREDOO\ DIWHU=,06 OLYHPRQLWRUOL]DUGV DIWHU=,06 V. spenceri V. spenceri V. timorensis V. gilleni V. jobiensis V. kordensis V. griseus V. ornatus V. reisingeri V. nebulosus V. varius V. olivaceus V. reisingeri V. kordensis V. rosenbergi V. auffenbergi V. caerulivirens V. bengalensis V. pilbarensis V. boehmei V. scalaris V. auffenbergi V. caerulivirens V. boehmei V. caudolineatus V. brevicauda V. gouldii V. caudolineatus V. cerambonensis V. kingorum V. flavescens V. olivaceus V. kingorum V. pilbarensis V. primordius V. primordius V. similis V. spinulosus V. similis V. storri V. yuwonoi V. yuwonoi 28 29 90 80 ZIEGLER 70 60 AL ET 5(9,(:2)021,725/,=$5'6,1=226 50 Institutions 40 30 20 10 0 Species Fig. 3. Total number of zoological institutions keeping monitor lizards globally (light grey column) with European zoos displayed as a subset of the JOREDOSRSXODWLRQ GDUNJUH\FROXPQVLQVLGHOLJKWJUH\FROXPQV DIWHU=,06 )LJ,QGLYLGXDOQXPEHUVRIPRQLWRUOL]DUGVNHSWE\(XURSHDQ )LJ,QGLYLGXDOQXPEHUVRIPRQLWRUOL]DUGVNHSWE\]RRVJORE Individuals 100 Individuals 100 150 200 250 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 50 0 0 V. acanthurus V. komodoensis V. komodoensis V. prasinus V. acanthurus V. macraei V. macraei V. prasinus V. beccarii V. exanthematicus V. exanthematicus V. salvator V. salvadorii V. salvadorii V. beccarii V. varius V. indicus V. albigularis V. salvator V. mertensi V. melinus V. niloticus V. niloticus V. melinus V. indicus V. glauerti V. giganteus V. albigularis V. bengalensis V.

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