Paignton Zoo in Devon, England has created a revolutionary zoo database for endangered species in a bid to save wildlife from extinction.
The new database was developed for zoos managing the planet’s most threatened species, and serves as a key tool for improving animal welfare in zoos across the world.
The six-year project – led by Paignton Zoo in partnership with the University of Cambridge – examined more than 27,000 academic articles to create an evidence-based guide for caring for animals in zoos.
The digital database comes at a time when at least 35 species now exist only in human care after becoming extinct in the wild, Paignton Zoo said in a news release.
Andrew Bowkett, conservation projects manager for Wild Planet Trust at Paignton Zoo, said the database addresses a crucial gap in zoo management practices.
“As our planet faces what scientists call a ‘sixth mass extinction’, zoos may become the last hope for many animals. This database will allow animal managers to base critical decisions on current scientific knowledge.”
Key tool for improving animal welfare in zoos
To create the database for endangered species, a research team scanned 27,705 articles from 45 academic journals, analysing more than 1,000 scientific investigations covering 637 animal species, 516 institutions and 69 countries.
The accessible platform catalogues evidence for 424 management interventions, from feeding practices to habitat design.
It was designed to transform how zoos approach animal care, offering a move from traditionally relied on institutional knowledge to peer-reviewed research.
“By creating a comprehensive catalogue of what has been scientifically tested and what hasn’t, the project provides a roadmap for evidence-based zoo animal management,” the researchers wrote in the Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, where their findings were published.
The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) funded the research.
Images courtesy of Paignton Zoo
