One plan, one goal, three partners: Cooperation between CC and Me Linh Center for Biodiversity in Vietnam

Citizen Conservation (CC) establishes conservation breeding programs for endangered species in order to maintain stable and genetically healthy populations in human care outside their natural habitat as an option for the future. At the same time, valuable knowledge about the animals in care is gathered and important environmental education is provided. In view of the rapidly advancing biodiversity crisis, this so-called ex–situ approach is the only chance for some species and a valuable aid to the long-term survival of many others. However, it goes without saying that the protection of natural habitats, research in the wild and the establishment of ex situ breeding programs in the countries of origin are also essential for truly successful and long-term species conservation. 

For this reason, CC has now signed a written cooperation agreement with the Me Linh Center for Biodiversity in Vietnam under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute of Biology and Cologne Zoo. The Me Linh Center for Biodiversity, a branch of the Institute of Biology in Hanoi, is dedicated to researching biodiversity in Vietnam in the wild, but also establishes ex-situ conservation breeding programs for endangered/endemic species and serves as a rescue center for confiscated wild animals from illegal trade or illegal keeping, as well as a center for environmental education and reforestation. Cologne Zoo is a long-standing partner of both the Institute of Biology in general and the Me Linh Center for Biodiversity in particular, supporting them financially, with personnel and with its expertise as part of a comprehensive cooperation agreement. 

The new cooperation agreement between CC and Me Linh Center for Biodiversity now formally establishes the cooperation that has already been practiced in the past. Me Linh Center for Biodiversity provides CC with founder animals for the establishment of conservation breeding programs outside Vietnam with necessary permits. CC is responsible for the coordination and management of this ex-situ population. The aim is to maintain a genetically healthy population in the long term, which can also serve as a reserve for future reintroduction projects. Both partners support research on the species in question, gather experience with keeping and breeding them in human care and establish and expand reserve populations, in part to be prepared for future reintroductions. Finally, both partners carry out public relations work for the project. A certain number of individuals and breeding facilities are required for long-term healthy conservation breeding. These target numbers from CC are presented in the species section of our website.  

In addition, the cooperation agreement determines that the Vietnamese partners can obtain animals from CC that are not needed to maintain the reserve population for local reintroduction projects at any time. If necessary, animals can be bred specifically for this purpose with all available resources.   

This agreement is not just a theoretical concept, but is already being put into practice: the CC program for the Vietnamese crocodile newt was established with animals provided by the Me Linh Center for Biodiversity. As it has already been possible to breed and successfully rear more animals than are needed for the conservation breeding program, some of the offspring have been marketed. The funds generated will be distributed as specified in the agreement to support the species conservation efforts of both partners. 

In addition, through cooperation with the Institute of Biology in Hanoi, further Vietnamese animal species have been included in CC via Cologne Zoo, which are also treated in accordance with the cooperation agreement: Ziegler’s crocodile newt, Bony-headed toad and, most recently, Psychedelic rock gecko and Golden gecko. We hope for similar success stories to that of the Vietnamese crocodile newt in order to establish viable ex-situ populations in Europe and locally, as well as to support their protection and research in their natural habitat.  

In this way, the partners Citizen Conservation, Me Linh Center for Biodiversity/Institute of Biology and Cologne Zoo are perfectly fulfilling the One Plan Approach, which calls for the cooperation of all involved partners and all key local stakeholders, as well as combining habitat conservation with ex situ protection measures, to optimally protect endangered species.