3. CAPTIVE MANAGEMENT
This caption might be in a university lab, a zoo or a research
center.
The individuals are closely monitored and are usually part of
a conservation.
The protection, preservation and careful management of a
species.
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4. Conditions for caption
All our native reptiles and amphibians are protected under
the Wildlife Act 1953. It is illegal to keep any of these species
in captivity without a permit from the Department
of Conservation (DOC).
DOC only issues permits for captive management when
there is a clear benefit for the species involved.
Anyone applying for a permit must prove that they are
experienced and able to provide appropriate captive
conditions.
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5. Examples of captive
managements
In New Zealand, a number
of reptile and amphibian species are
represented in captive populations.
Two well known examples include
the Hochstetler's frogs at Hamilton
Zoo and the tuatara at Victoria
University of Wellington.
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6. Benefits of captive management
Captive populations provide the opportunity for more in-
depth study, which is not practical in the wild.
Captive breeding programmes can provide individuals for
translocation
Captive individuals on display can help to raise public
awareness about the importance of conservation.
The long-term goal for any captive management plan is
always to restore or increase numbers of the species in the
wild.
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7. Problems with keeping animals in captivity
While there are many benefits to keeping animals in
captivity, there can be significant negative effects on
individual animals, for example, higher mortality.
There are also risks to wild populations if the
programme is poorly managed. For example, if a
captive frog infected with chytrid fungus was
translocated to a wild population, the results could
be devastating.
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