birding-aus

RE: Unusual Galah

To:
Subject: RE: Unusual Galah
From: "Claire S" <>
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2003 11:04:29 +0800
Sorry David I'd have to disagree.

"This could equally apply to people being more attracted to certain breeds of dog rather than the ancestral beast or to different cultivars of rose, or other flower, than the wild form."

Its not a matter of these birds being produced because they are a different mutation or 'breed' of that species - these are two separate species mated together to produce a hybrid for aesthetic purposes only. If this were to occur (and it does) with captive populations of threatened species how can you be certain of their genetic integrity? Such as what happened years back in regards to aviculturalists hybridising Golden-shouldered Parrots with the cheaper and easier to breed Hooded Parrot so they could make a better profit.

I have nothing against aviculturalists producing new mutations for the pet trade (some of them are quite stunning!), but I myself think that there is enormous potential to be learned about species in captive populations and also by maintaining populations of wild-type birds that are not carrying manufactured genotypes. Therefore I see the deliberate cross-species mating to produce hybrids for aesthetics and money as a step backwards for those aviculturalists who maintain wild type specimens, especially since there has been a greater interest in the keeping of subspecies across the avicultural community in the last 12-19months.

There are also benefits in the deliberate mating of closely related species or subspecies for conservation (ie as attempted with the Norfolk Island Boobook), if these programs are carried out by relevant authorities/zoologists/biologists/organisations ect, who have the adequate knowledge and resources for that species - not bob the-backyard-bird-breeder. Unfortunately more of these programs fail than are successful :(.

My 2c worth!

CS

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