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[CULTURE] · Czechia · 3 sources

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Ostrava Zoo preserves 14 species extinct in the wild

Ostrava Zoo is actively working to preserve 14 species of animals and plants that are currently extinct in the wild. This collection includes six animal species, one subspecies, and seven plant species.

According to zoo spokesperson Šárka Nováková, nearly one-third of the animals housed at the facility are classified as endangered or critically endangered. The zoo plays a dual role in conservation through ex situ breeding programs and supporting in situ rescue projects in natural habitats.

Among the animals kept at the zoo that no longer exist in the wild are the Vietnamese sika deer, Milu deer, Socorro dove, and four specific fish species. In terms of flora, the zoo has been cultivating seven plant species since 2024, including the Franklin tree, which has not been found in the wild since 1803.

The initiative comes amid rising global extinction rates. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List currently identifies over 49,500 organisms threatened with extinction and 83 taxa that have been completely lost from the wild.

Entities

Benjamin Franklin · International Union for Conservation of Nature · Ostrava · Ostrava Zoo · Šárka Nováková

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