1. Explain how the zoo population is managed.

[10]

- Breeding Plans: Zoos carefully consider breeding plans in order to preserve

healthy populations of threatened species and avoid genetic problems
brought on by inbreeding. They adhere to rules established by associations
such as the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

- Contraception: Managed breeding keeps animals in zoo enclosures from

becoming overcrowded, ensuring that resources are distributed fairly and that
there is room for every animal to flourish.

- Zoo habitats are created with the aim of imitating natural settings as much as
possible, but also catering to the animals' social and behavioral requirements.
This enhances their general well-being and promotes their natural tendencies.

- Healthcare: To keep an eye on the well-being of their animals, zoos offer

routine veterinarian care that includes immunizations and fast treatment for
any injuries or diseases.

- Education and awareness: Zoos employ interactive displays, educational

programs, and signs to educate visitors about the value of wildlife
conservation and the threats it faces. This helps to build visitors' sense of
empathy and responsibility for animals.

2. How are breeding programs managed in a zoo? [14]

- Genetic Control: Through studbooks, zoos keep thorough records of the

genetic heritage of the animals in their care. In order to guarantee that
breeding pairings are genetically compatible and to prevent inbreeding, which
can result in health problems and decreased viability in progeny, studbooks
record the ancestry, relatedness, and genetic variety of animals. Using genetic
data analysis tools, genetic management identifies the best breeding partners
by considering genetic variety, compatibility, and the avoidance of unwanted
traits.
- Breeding With Selection: Zoos deliberately breed their animals to preserve or
improve desired characteristics, like behavior, health, and genetic diversity,
within a population. Selective breeding may entail carefully matching
individuals with particular qualities, such as resistance to particular diseases,
distinctive coat patterns, or behavioral tendencies that support the health of
the species in captivity.

- Plans for the Survival of Species: To manage and conserve fragile and
endangered species, zoos, aquariums, and other conservation organizations
created cooperative programs known as SSPs. Developing breeding and
management strategies for SSPs entails taking into account the genetic and
demographic characteristics of a species kept in captivity in order to preserve
a population that is both genetically varied and stable. The ultimate goal of
SSPs is to ensure the survival and recovery of species that are in danger of
going extinct by offering guidelines for regulating breeding advice, tracking
population trends, and organizing conservation efforts in the wild and in
captivity.

3. Explain the role of zoos in the conservation of ssp. [ 12]

- Reproducing Endangered Animals: Zoos are essential to the management and

breeding of endangered species because they use SSPs. In order to sustain
healthy populations, they carefully oversee breeding programs and keep
genetically diverse populations of endangered species. Zoos prevent the
extinction of species that face dangers in the wild, including disease, habitat
degradation, and poaching, by breeding endangered species in captivity. This
helps to preserve genetic variety.

- Awareness and Education: Through a range of teaching programs, exhibits,

and outreach projects, zoos educate the public about critically endangered
species. Visitors gain knowledge about the value of conservation as well as
the unique difficulties faced by endangered animals. Educational resources
might focus on the state of SSP species' conservation, the causes of their
population decrease, and the initiatives taken to preserve and repopulate
them in both captive and wild environments. Zoos encourage people to
support conservation efforts by increasing awareness of and empathy for
endangered species. This can be done through donations, volunteer labor, or
advocacy.
- Working together: To assist SSPs and larger conservation initiatives, zoos
work in partnership with academic institutions, government agencies,
conservation organizations, and other zoos. Sharing genetic samples,
scientific data, and best practices for captive population management are a
few examples of collaboration. In order to improve the genetic variety and
exchange animals between institutions, zoos also take part in cooperative
breeding programs. Zoos can pool resources, coordinate conservation efforts
across many organizations and geographical areas, and maximize their
impact on SSPs by cooperating.

- Advocating for conservation: Zoos promote laws and other measures that aid
in the preservation of SSP animals and their natural environments. They might
take part in lobbying for legislation, run public outreach programs, and provide
funds and partnerships to assist conservation efforts. Zoos use their
platforms to spread the word about how important it is to safeguard natural
environments, conserve biodiversity, and lessen risks to endangered animals.
They also advocate for sustainable methods that lessen the negative effects
of human activity on ecosystems and wildlife populations.

4. Explain the role of national parks in biodiversity conservation [ 8]

- Preservation of Species: Because national parks offer pristine environments

in which threatened and endangered animals can breed, forage, and raise
their young, they are essential to the conservation of these species. Important
havens for wildlife and protected areas enable populations to recover from
pressures including habitat loss, poaching, and human disturbance. National
parks provide legal protection, habitat restoration initiatives, and population
monitoring and management conservation programs for endangered animals,
which frequently seek sanctuary there.

- Protection from the Law: National parks are places with legal protection that
were created by law or executive order to preserve natural environments and
biological variety. Human actions that have the potential to destroy or degrade
habitats are prohibited by law, as are limits on land use and resource
exploitation. In addition to providing a framework for controlling human
influences and guaranteeing the integrity of protected ecosystems,
conservation laws and regulations ensure the maintenance of national parks.
National parks support the sustainability of natural resources for future
generations and the long-term conservation of biodiversity by enforcing
legislative protections.