Better Bred Than Dead Is Wildlife Breeding an Acceptable Conservation Strategy?
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Better Bred Than Dead Is wildlife breeding an acceptable conservation strategy? BY MICHAEL ‘T SAS-ROLFES © Pete Oxford A black rhino is flown to an undisclosed location in South Africa in hopes of establishing a viable breeding population. ildlife breeding raises many pivotal ques- acres on his farm near Bredasdorp in the Cape region to tions and concerns. Are wildlife breeders protect a herd of 27 bontebok. Without Mr. van der Byl’s interfering with nature? To what extent intervention, the bontebok would most likely have met the W is the practice justified as a legitimate same fate as the blaubok, a smaller relative of the roan and conservation tool? And to what extent can we condone sable antelopes that was exterminated by hunters in the late modern techniques of genetic manipulation and even 18th century in the same area. potential de-extinction of species using emergent DNA Two other examples of South African species that were technologies? All of these issues revolve around questions reduced to single populations are the Cape mountain zebra of “wildness” and traditional views of conservation, which and the southern white rhino. In both instances, the species are increasingly being challenged in this Anthropocene era, had become confned to a single state-owned protected area in which human activity dominates over nature. in which their numbers could increase through natural South Africa is a world leader in endangered species breeding. But subsequent expansions relied on a more stra- breeding. Te country’s experience dates back to 1837, when tegic approach to establish new, genetically viable founder Alexander van der Byl enclosed an area of about 6,000 populations in additional areas of suitable habitat, with the 30 PERC REPORTS SUMMER 2016 What Do You Think? Write to us at [email protected]. cooperation of private landowners. Other examples from enclosure, conservationist concerns also relate to the use of around the world include Przewalski’s horse, Père-David’s non-native subspecies such as the roan and sable antelopes deer, the American bison, and the Arabian oryx. from other parts of Africa and the introduction of species Whereas wildlife breeding eforts such as van der Byl’s such as nyala and blesbok to areas outside their histori- bontebok initiative and white rhino protection in South cal ranges. Africa’s Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park may have started as a To what extent should we be concerned about the passive activity, the gradual emergence of new technologies genetic purity and historical ranges of species, especially that allowed sedation, translocation, and other genetic and when we have already modifed them so much? Tis ques- veterinary interventions has led to an increasingly sophis- tion is especially relevant in Africa, where projected fore- ticated suite of options. casts of human population and Mark Stanley Price, former The spectacular growth of economic growth—coupled with chair of the IUCN’s Reintroduc- needs of food security—suggest tions Specialist Group, played a key South African game numbers that the pressure on wildlife will role in returning the Arabian oryx since the 1960s is well soon intensify. It is also instructive to the wild. In “Fall of the Wild,” to look at examples of the addax, a recent article he co-authored documented, including the dama gazelle, and scimitar oryx— with antelope specialist David recovery of threatened species antelope species known collectively Mallon, Stanley Price argues that as the “three amigos.” Tese species most animal populations today are such as white rhino, black were mostly exterminated from their subject to some form of human home ranges in North Africa for intervention, and that rather than wildebeest, and roan and sable food by hungry locals during times question whether they are “wild,” antelope—largely thanks to the of civic unrest. Off-site commer- it makes more sense to consider cial breeding for trophy hunt- simply whether they are managed efforts of private breeders. ing in Texas has provided a hedge “lightly” or “intensively.” According against extinction for these species to Yolan Friedmann of the Endan- and provides a possible source for gered Wildlife Trust, many large reintroduction, but remains contro- mammal species in South Africa efectively exist under versial in the United States and elsewhere. fairly intensive management, especially those that are rare White rhinos are being bred in China, and there are and endangered. proposals to move some rhinos to Australia and Texas for Mallon and Stanley Price point out that the question breeding and safe-keeping. Does this make more sense than of wildness is not just of theoretical interest; it has practi- applying further intensive and assisted breeding strate- cal implications for international agreements such as the gies within southern Africa? And to what extent can we Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species accept that motivations for breeding are not based solely on and Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as for meet- pure “conservation” goals, but also the commercial poten- ing objectives under national legislation and monitoring by tial of tourism viewing, trophy hunting, and production of the IUCN’s Red List. Tey cite the example of the Arabian commodities such as rhino horn? oryx, whose upgrade from “extinct” in the 1970s to “vulner- Opinions on such questions will vary widely between able” in 2011 has drawn criticism, as most of the animals animal welfarists, conservationists, and commercial wild- now survive in fenced enclosures under active management. life breeders. But there is no doubt that wildlife breeding Tey share Friedmann’s observation that most South Afri- will continue to play a vital role in both species conserva- can wildlife ranching takes place in fenced enclosures and tion and the broader land-use economy. note that regarding these situations as “non-wild” would have massive implications for Red-List assessments. Te spectacular growth of South African game numbers since the 1960s is well documented, including the re- covery of threatened species such as white rhino, black Michael ‘t Sas-Rolfes is a PERC research wildebeest, and roan and sable antelope—largely thanks to fellow based in Cape Town, South Africa, and the efforts of private breeders. Apart from the issue of a doctoral student at the University of Oxford. PERCREPORTS.ORG 31.