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Summary of a Q & A Panel and discussion of
different working groups
DR. NIELS VAN ELK (NVE), NETHERLANDS
Veterinarian of Dolphinarium Harderwijk, Researcher, and Coordinator of the
European Endangered Species Program (EEP) for
Tursiops truncatus
:
The EEP includes all dolphinaria of Western Europe. The total
population consists of 253 living specimen. Until the late 1980s
no successful breeding was registered. From the 1990s on
reproduction became effective and now guarantees a stable
population with an average yearly increase of 1%. A quarter of
the females are not allowed to reproduce, because the carrying
capacity of the EEP dolphinaria has reached its limits.
Since 2003 no wild caught animal has been imported into the EU.
The population is self sustainable. In 100 years a loss of 5% genetic
diversity is expected.
Six experts from different institutions and organisations took part
in the Q & A panel of the workshop under the moderation of
Dr. Heather J. Bacon (HB)
, Scotland. Each had the opportunity
to shortly introduce her- or himself and her or his field of expertise:
From left to rigth:
Niels van Elk (NVE), Javier Almunia (JA), Johanna Moritz (JM), Katrin Baumgartner (KB), Ingrid Visser (IV), Xavier Manteca (XM)
Summary of a Q & A Panel and a consecutive discussion of different working groups |
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