Alcids in North American zoos and aquaria
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Published source details
Gunther M.R. (1994) Alcids in North American zoos and aquaria. International Zoo Yearbook, 33, 136-141.
Published source details Gunther M.R. (1994) Alcids in North American zoos and aquaria. International Zoo Yearbook, 33, 136-141.
Summary
Use captive breeding to increase or maintain populations of seabirds
A survey in 1990–1993 in North America (Gunther 1994) reported that captive populations of 11 auk (Alcidae) species were being successfully maintained across 14 institutions. Five of these species had laid eggs, and three had reared chicks to fledging: common murre Uria aalge, Atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica and tufted puffin Lunda cirrhata. It is not clear whether any artificial incubation or hand-rearing was involved. All populations were started with wild-caught birds. Most were kept indoors, at 6–16°C. Enclosures were regularly cleaned. Most had plastic mesh matting on land to keep the birds’ feet clean and dry. All institutions fed birds with fish and vitamin supplements; many also added krill Euphausia sp. to the diet. This survey included the captive populations from (Conway et al. 1977) and (Douma & Carlson 1994), although not necessarily over the same time period.
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