Ex situ population of the fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) living in European Zoos. Wrocław Zoo

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1 Ex situ population of the fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) living in European Zoos Anna Mękarska Wrocław Zoo

2 Biology and ecology phot.john Newby body weight 0,8-1,15 kg adaptation to desert climat activity on evenings / mornings omnivorous living in pairs or family groups maturity 9 months pregnancy days litter size 1-6 important male s role in puppies rearing (IUCN 2010)

3 Fennecs in European Zoos 1851 Jardin de Plantes 1929 London Zoo 2001 EAZA appointed the Fennec Fox European Studbook (Kraków Zoo, Wrocław Zoo) 2003 first husbandy research publication (reproducion problems) second husbandry research and DNA research

4 Objective: Husbandry study Healthy fennecs reproducing in European Zoos Methodes * analyse of studbook data (947 animals, 130 living) (SPARKS, PM ) * analyse of husbandry questionnaire (27) phot. Zoo Krakow

5 Results of analyse of husbandry questionnaire Body mass mean body mass 1464,13g (n=15) optimum body mass g Feeding diversified food similar to natural (rodents, insects, eggs, meat, fruits and vegetables) daily diet g (optimum ~150g) phot. Zoo Olomouc

6 Seasonality Litter size top of births in May phot. Zoo Olomouc mean litter size 2, I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII recorded second litter after first litter loos, but also 2 litters on the same year (Zoo Alfriston, La Palmyre) % of births 6 puppies 1% 4 puppies 16% 3 puppies 24% 5 puppies 8% 1 puppie 22% 2 puppies 29% n=160

7 Breeding: Methods of fennecs reproduction in European zoos in pairs in family groups Puppies rearing: natural (male and female) phot. Zoo La Palmyre hand-rearing (31 hand reared fennecs - only 2 females reared offspring) phot. Zoo Alfriston

8 Impact of the age of pair bond on reproduction and offspring rearing the age of 70 pair bond analysed 6,00 5,00 4,00 age (years) 3,00 2,00 males females 1,00 1,95 3,69 1,93 1,97 2,83 2,80 0,00 in pairs succesfuly rearing puppies in pairs not rearing puppies in pairs which has never breed

9 Types of enclosures for fennecs in European zoos outside and inside enclosures 21 zoos phot. Zoo Alfriston only inside enclosures 5 zoos only outside enclosures 1 zoo phot. Zoo Amsterdam

10 Influence of enclosures dimensions' on fennecs reproduction inside enclosures recommendation > 16 m 2 outside enclosures recommendation > 48 m 2 phot. Zoo Alfriston su urface of inside enclosure (m 2 ) surface of outside enclosure (m 2 ) 25,0 20,0 15,0 10,0 5,0 0,0 180,0 160,0 140,0 120,0 100,0 80,0 60,0 40,0 20,0 0,0 16,2 zoos where fennecs are breeding and rearing puppies 13,6 zoos where fennecs are breeding but are not rearing puppies 10,0 zoos where fennecs are not breeding 48,3 88,3 27,5 zoos where fennecs are breeding and rearing puppies zoos where fennecs are breeding but are not rearing puppies zoos where fennecs are not breeding

11 Accessibility to outside enclosures negative influence of limited access to outside enclosures on fennecs reproduction 100,00% 90,00% 80,00% 70,00% 60,00% 8,33% 25,00% 50,00% fennecs get access to outside enclosure only during the day 50,00% 40,00% 30,00% 20,00% 10,00% 91,67% 75,00% 50,00% fennecs get access to outside enclosure day and night 0,00% zoos where fennecs are breeding and rearing puppies zoos where fennecs are breeding but are not rearing puppies zoos where fennecs are not breeding phot. Zoo Wrocław

12 DNA analyse in Fennec Fox ESB Objestives: Warsaw University of Life Sciences Faculty of Animal Science Prof. Wanda Olech-Piasecka Dr Zuzanna Nowak 1. Determinate genetic variability in the fennec fox ESB population (in 2010 only 52% known pedigree) 2. Create a tool for the control of origin (in Zoos breeding fennecs in groups and for checking new animals coming from private owners or animal dealers)

13 Material and Methods 57 hair samples received DNA amplified from 45 samples 1. Nuclear DNA isolation (column method) 2. Amplification of 10 microsatellite markers profiled for the species Canis familiaris (Canine Genotyping StockMarks - Applied Biosystems) using multiplex PCR method 3. Electrophoresis of amplified product in 8-capylar genetic analyser ABI 350 (Applied Biosystems) 4. Statistic analyse - Cervus 3.0 (Marshall i in. 1998) and Popgen32 (Yeh i in. 2001) 5. Comparison with studbook data.

14 Results The method 8 from 10 microsatellite markers are useful for fennec fox DNA analyse (one has not amplified, one was monomorphic) high polymorphism of alleles (nr of effective alleles) confirms that markers are useful in fennec fox DNA study Population genetics mean heterosigothy observed is high and shows that population is diversified Wright s coefficient is very low and shows very low inbreeding within population

15 Control of origin Coefficient of exclusion = , or if one parent is known Comparison of DNA tests results with studbook data (related fennecs with known pedigree) allowed tested the method. DNA tests results of wild borned fennecs has showed which animals, considered as founders, were related.

16 Conclusion Thanks to the perfect zoo cooperation in research and experience shearing we have a healthy and sustainable population of fennecs in European Zoo. We know how to keep and breed this species in captivity. The method of analysis of the microsatellite variation can be used now to control for origin and genetic variability of both captive and wild fennec fox populations. fot. Zoo Karlsruhe

17 Thank you for your attention