|
|
Once a common fixture in woodlands across Southeast Asia, the Eld’s deer (Cervus eldi) now occupies a tiny fraction of its former range. Only 1,500 wild Eld’s deer remain, and most live in the Chatthin Wildlife Sanctuary in Myanmar. There, Zoo scientists have been working with Burmese conservationists to gather basic information on deer biology and habitat preference, as well as to set up conservation infrastructure. Among other things, they now know that Eld’s deer prefer dry forests dominated by lofty trees of the dipterocarp family, and that much of their habitat has been replaced by agriculture. Zoo scientists and their colleagues are also tracking habitat loss using geographic information system (GIS) equipment and remote sensing. On the ground, their challenges include involving local communities as stakeholders in conservation endeavors so that their future is linked with the health of ecosystems vital to deer and other wildlife.
|
|
Eld's Deer at the Smithsonian's
National Zoo
At the Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center
in Front Royal,Virginia, Eld’s deer thrive. More
than 100 have been born there, and 17 of these were
conceived via artificial insemination. Zoo researchers
continue to hone in vitro fertilization methods.
The Zoo also maintains a Genome Resource Bank for storing
cryogenically preserved Eld’s deer sperm.
Myanmar's Forests
High-resolution satellite imagery reveals that Myanmar
(formerly Burma) retains more than half of the closed-canopy
forest remaining in mainland Southeast Asia. But this
forest is being lost quickly. Zoo scientists studying
images over the last decade have documented the recent
landscape changes, specifically noting where the most
intact forest areas remain. They have produced the first
detailed map that shows recent land changes across Myanmar,
information that will help conservationists target and
protect vital habitat for such endangered species as
tigers, Asian elephants, and Eld’s deer.
ZooGoer 32(2) 2003.
Copyright 2003 Friends of the National Zoo.
All rights reserved.
