ZOO BRNO

CITES - Convention about International Trade with Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna
CITES as a part of the UNO Environmental Programme plays an important role in control of international trading with products of living nature. This convention was signed in Washington, D.C. in 1973. More than 117 countries, which since 1992 involve also the Czech Republic, made a pledge to control the trade with endangered species of animals and plants in such a way that it could not become the cause of their extinction and/or disappearance from the nature of our planet. CITES concerns not only living organisms but also prepared animals and plants, any parts of their bodies and all other products made of them. Their export is possible only on the base of a special permission which confirms that the wildlife species was not endangered. In the Czech Republic, this type of permission is issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

ZOO Brno keeps many species controlled by CITES, e.g. gepard, Sumatran tiger, Leopard cat, Polar wolf, Chimpanzee, Blue and yellow macaw, Green winged macaw, Sea eagle, Nile crocodile, Gelada baboon, Ruffed lemur, Grewy`s zebra, Kulan, Markhor, Kobus leche etc.

EAZA - European Association of Zoological Gardens
EAZA was established in 1988 and its seat is in Amsterdam. At present, it has 209 ordinary members, 15 temporary members which may became ordinary ones after fulfilling certain conditions and 23 associated members. The Brno ZOO has been a regular member of this association since October 1997. EAZA supplies various data to its members which concern above all rearing of endangered animal species; it also facilitates communication among individual members of this organisation and roofs activities of the European Preservation Programme EEP.

EEP - European Preservation Programme
Individual projects of EEP are always approved by the European Association of Zoological Gardens. Each animal species which is involved into the EEP has its own co-ordinator and a pedigree book. The co-ordinator keeps exact records about each individual member of a given species existing within the framework of EAZA and controls the transfer of all animals with the aim to create ideal breeding pairs and/or groups of animals. All these activities are focused to the preservation and propagation of critically endangered animal species. The Brno ZOO participates in several preservation programmes, for instance in programmes of saving gepard, gelada baboon, Bennett`s wallaby, Fishing cat, Ruffed lemur, Kulan, Sumatran tiger, Grewy`s zebra, Sea eagle etc.

The Brno ZOO keeps also some species which are recorded in the Red Book of the International Union of Conservation of Nature - IUCN. Among critically endangered species which require the maximum protection it is possible to mention Pere David`s deer, Markhor, Ruffed lemur, Sumatran tiger, Grewy`s zebra etc.

Union of Czech and Slovak Zoological Gardens
The Union of Czech and Slovak Zoological Gardens was established in 1991 and all 15 Czech and 4 Slovak zoological gardens are its members. Within the framework of this Union, there is a wide co-operation in the field of rearing endangered exotic animals; special attention is, however, paid also to the Central European fauna. This Union co-operates with international organisations for wildlife protection and participates in different preservation programmes.

⌐ ZOO Brno, 1998
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