Added: 2009-02-05
Conform article 4 of the Statutes, the secretary periodically provides a report on the state of affairs of the ESF.
Organisation
In 2009, no new points of support -functioning as coordinators- were made in the European member states. There are coordinators in The Netherlands- Rob Verhoeks, Belgium- Ruben Lybaert, Germany- Francois Busson and France- Florent Nicolas.
The function Coordinator United Kingdom is vacant at this moment.
The coordinators act as an extension of the ESF-Board and the General coordinator studbook keepers with the governments, organisations, societies, sponsors and studbook keepers in the relevant EU-countries where they live.
We are further seeking for ESF- coordinators in Austria and Italy.
Concerning the sie of the board the number of board members is limited now, among other things to increase resolute management.
Overview studbooks
The five aims as published on the starting page of the ESF website are still valid; moreover, the following two aims are getting more and more important.
1. Conservation of reptiles and amphibians in captivity, with emphasis on endangered species.
2. Management of genetically healthy breeding programmes.
Participants of the ESF are all volunteers. The active contribution of people is varied in time and intensity. So, to establish a well-kept studbook is not always easy. From people who want to be a (co)studbook keeper, we will ask certain things, which will require time and effort, namely:
- Registration of studbook animals by way of a special computer programme, whereby good fluency with computers is necessary
- Annual report on the state of affairs of the studbook
- Developing and executing breeding programmes in close cooperation with studbook participants and the Committee Genetics
- Gaining and sharing knowledge on keeping and breeding studbook animals
- Advice on the placement of ESF-animals with studbook participants mostly for breeding attempts
- Participation in the annual Studbook keepersday.
New studbook keepers will of course be given time to build their studbook and will receive as much support as they need from the board. When the first registration in SPARKS or SEBAG or SCBook has been done, keeping your data up-to-date will require little effort. At this moment we work on a better connection of these programmes to Microsoft Vista and Windows 7.
After a time, the board will evaluate the viability of the new studbook with the studbook keeper. We are conferring with the studbook holders which ESF category classification will be given to his studbook.
At the end of 2009, there were 87 studbooks in all. The main part still consists of turtle studbooks, but recently there were more often requests for other reptile and amphibian species.
Many reptiles and amphibians species are captive bred which is very important to preserve the species, especially the category A animals. Some species have a waiting list of interested keepers.
In reference to certain turtle and tortoise species in some other cases it is not always easy to place all hatchlings with interested keepers. Especially the qua colour and figure less spectacular species -especially from Asia- demand more interest and breeding results. This is important because many Asiatic species are in a crisis situation. The reasons of that may be well-known.
It is remarkable that the most favourite species which are bred in a EU-country, differ per country. More international contacts would be conducive to a better distribution of species in all EU-countries and provide a better guarantee for the preservation in captivity in Europe. Besides, an unjustified commercial trade can be pushed back. Furthermore, it is recommended to increase the knowledge and experience in keeping species, especially threatened species (category A). There is still a lot to discover.
In connection with this, we cannot emphasise enough that ESF-activities have to be broadened in EU-countries.
Co-studbook keepers
Because a lot of activity and effort is asked from the studbook keeper on a voluntary basis and the board wants to lighten his task, it is decided to promote the possibility of a co-studbook keeper. More co-studbook keepers for one studbook are possible. Studbook keeper and co-studbook keeper(s) decide among themselves who will do which task.
This construction ensures also the continuation of the studbook.
It is gratifying that slowly more and more co-studbook keepers are emerging.
New studbooks
Recently new studbooks were started:
Geoemyda japonica - Stbk.k.: Torsten Blanck
Heosemys depressa - Stbk.k.: Petr Petras
Lygodactylus williamsi - Stbk.k.: Tariq Stark
Co-stbk.k.: Jodi Ettema
Tribolonotus novaeguineae - Stbk.k.: Jordi Janssen
Co-stbk.k.: Roy Breunis
Changes in studbook keeper ownership
Some changes took place in the studbook keeper ownership.
The following studbooks have a new (co-)studbook keeper:
Chinemys reevesii - Stbk.k.: Bernadette Snel
Chrysemys picta belli - Stbk.k.: Cindy van der Zon
Cordylus giganteus - Stbk.k.: Fraser Gilchrist
Co-stbk.k.: Henk Zwartepoorte
Corucia ebrata Co-stbk.k.: Tariq Stark
Malacochersus tornieri - Co-stbk.k.: Korinna en Karsten Simon
Mantella - Stbk.k.: Marcus Wilder
Co-stbk.k.: Ruth Merrick
Shinisaurus crocodylurus - Stbk.k.: Siebren Kuperus
Co-stbk.k.: Michael Zollweg
Tribolonotus gracilis - Stbk.k.: Jordi Janssen
Co-stbk.k.: Roy Breunis
Where applicable we would like to thank the former studbook keepers sincerely for their efforts. Where applicable we welcome and wish the first functional acting co-studbook keepers success.
Discontinuation studbook
Because of non function since 2005 the board has decided to stop the activities of the studbooks Chrysemys picta belli and Chrysemys picta dorsalis (both category C).
Because of co-operating with the care of confiscated Chrysemys picta belli a new studbook for this species is started now.
Confiscated animals are always transferred in property to the ESF under the conditions that they will be in property of the ESF for the rest of their lives and that they will be registered in the concerning studbook.
Changes in ESF-category classification
Recently the studbook Terrapene ornata ornata is changed in category B.
Placing TSA- and confiscated-animals
The ESF is by no means a specific rescue organisation for any animal, wherever they come from. We do however assist in taking animals in ownership and placing them through the appropriate studbook with studbook participants. It concerns mostly confiscated animals by criminal investigation departments of several countries.
The ESF places the animals on condition that only animals wanted by studbook keeper and studbook participant are accepted. The aim to keep a genetically healthy population in captivity plays of course a large part in this.
The animals simply have to be placeable. In every placement procedure, the board will have extensive consultations with the appropriate studbook keeper.
The board appreciates the willingness and dedication of every studbook participant who cooperated in the placements.
Keeping Recommendations
On a national level, there is a great demand in the Netherlands for recommendations for keeping, specifically for turtles. Many recommendations are finished, but further work is needed to complete the picture. We are constantly looking for the bounds of possibility within which it is still sensible for private persons to keep certain animals.
We are aiming to publish these recommendations on the ESF website.
Moreover these recommendations will be offered to the official Dutch Platvorm Verantwoord Huisdierenbeit.
There is regular consultation between a representative of the board of the Nederlandse Belgische Schildpadden Vereniging (NBSV) (http://www.trionyx.nl/) and the ESF and representatives of the Dutch Ministry LNV, CITES management / IBG management concerning several pressure points in keeping the law on threatened reptile and amphibian species, especially on the disposal of EU-certificates.
ESF-website and -deelnemers-forum
The main source of information on the ESF will be the website. The content is a case for every ESF-participant. For every studbook there is room for reports, breeding reports, information and discussion. Not much use is made of this for the moment.
The official language is principally English.
To promote the communication and the discussions between (co) studbook keepers and studbook participants a deelnemers forum on the ESF website is started.
Breeding plans
To get and maintain genetically healthy populations in captivity, we need, apart from well kept studbooks, breeding plans. This is especially important for category A studbooks. With some studbooks we are momentarily experimenting in planning a genetically sound breeding plan. After that, we will ask especially (co-)studbook keepers of category A studbooks to formulate breeding plans in cooperation with their studbook participants and the Committee Genetics- Gerrit Hofstra.
Financial donations
In 2009, the ESF had a healthy financial position. However the ESF has a very small budget for free spending, whereas the board like to show a lot of activities. The board may have to find more funds in the coming years. Concerns in keeping genetic purity, will increase the need for DNA research. In searching for a way of providing for these costs, the board looks for different solutions.
February 2010, Harry Rotmans, secretary.