Conservation breeding policy statement

Many species of Galliformes have been kept and successfully bred in captivity for many years, Recent assessments indicate that many species within this taxa are threatened with extinction in the wild.

Bearing in mind that :

• Captive breeding is practised by many institutions and private individuals throughout the world, using resources that may not be available for in situ conservation activity.
• The establishment of viable captive populations is still seen as a priority conservation goal by many countries, and by individuals interested in conservation.
• Captive populations of Galliformes can be valuable in raising public awareness of the plight of wild populations and their declining habitats.
• Captive populations of Galliformes are believed by many to be an insurance against possible extinction in the wild.
• Captive management is acknowledged as a important conservation action for some species in the IUCN Action Plans for Galliformes, together with others seen to be in decline in captivity.
• Captive populations of Galliformes can provide important biological or behavioural data that is difficult or impossible to obtain in the wild.

WPA recognises that the maintenance of galliform populations in the wild, and their habitats, as the most effective and desirable means of ensuring their long-term survival. Therefore :

• Conservation breeding of Galliformes should be undertaken as part of an integrated recovery strategy involving defined conservation objectives, in co-operation with the authorities of the country of origin.
• Managers of captive populations that are being managed for conservation purposes should adhere to the principles, and practices of population management as outlined in the World Zoo Conservation Strategy (1993) and its successor, the second strategy Building a Future for Wildlife - The World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy published in 2005.
• Reintroduction is not an automatic consequence of conservation breeding and should only be undertaken in accordance with the IUCN position Statement on Translocation of Living Organisms (1987) and the IUCN/SSC Guidelines for Reintroductions (1996).