Conservation at Nausicaá

Preserving biodiversity is the focus of Nausicaá's mission.

Preserving marine biodiversity

Conservation refers to actions taken in the natural environment or in establishments such as zoos or aquariums to preserve wild animal species.

Zoos and aquariums provide optimum conditions for the species presented to the public, guaranteeing a healthy genetic heritage for the species by monitoring them. They are also involved in ex-situ preservation programmes and conservation actions in the field.

Nausicaá has just published its 2024 activity report on conservation and research, as required by the regulations governing the operation of establishments presenting living things.

Read the report (Fr)

Everyday conservation

Animal welfare

Animal welfare is reflected in the daily care provided by the animal handlers.

Respecting the animal's way of life, creating appropriate decors, maintaining the tanks, feeding and nutrition, training, veterinary follow-up and behavioural studies: the tasks of Nausicaá's aquarists are many and varied and reflect the care they take with the animals on display in the exhibitions or in the aquariological reserves.

Be a handler

The special nature of sea lion care

Nausicaá's marine mammals receive special care based on medical training that includes veterinary care and osteopathy. These sessions familiarise the sea lions with medical procedures.

The expertise of the team of Sea Lions caretakers, developed since 1998, has been the subject of numerous presentations at conferences and is recognised internationally.

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European conservation programmes

As a member of the EAZA, Nausicaá takes part in European conservation programmes, the EEP - EAZA Ex situ Program, dedicated mainly to threatened species. These programmes involve managing a species present in an aquarium or zoo and supporting its conservation in the wild.

Nausicaá is in charge of coordinating two programmes: that of the Blackchin Guitarfish (Glaucostegus cemiculus) present in the large open sea basin and that dedicated to the family of rainbow fish (Melanotaenidae), freshwater fish, one species of which shares an aquarium with our pig-nosed turtles.

Programmes in which Nausicaá is involved

The purpose of conservation programmes

In the partner establishments, coordination of the programme involves taking a census of the individuals present in the partner zoos and aquariums, recording births and deaths and compiling this information in a genealogical register.

These serve to maintain a healthy population gene pool and support recommendations for the transfer and reproduction of animals between partner establishments.

In addition, the data collected and shared with the partners will provide new knowledge about the species, and lead to the production of a best practice guide to improve the day-to-day care of these animals.

Lastly, the permanent presence of these animals allows us to observe behaviours that are difficult to obtain in the natural environment and which are shared with researchers working in the field.

Zoo and aquarium animal populations included in the IUCN Red List

The IUCN Red List now includes ex-situ data in the populations of individuals, i.e. the number of individuals present in zoos or aquariums and recorded by ZIMS - Zoological Information Management System, developed by Species 360.

This database centralises data recorded and shared by over 1,300 zoos, aquariums, wildlife sanctuaries and conservation institutions worldwide.

This is a concrete expression of the desire to bring together actions in the field and those carried out within zoos to optimise conservation projects.

Births and reproduction at Nausicaá

Breeding at Nausicaá and the species bred in the aquariological reserves help to preserve species by boosting animal populations.

Research and innovation

Through its scientific partnerships and collaboration with young researchers, Nausicaá makes an active contribution to research. The Centre shares its expertise, as well as the data collected daily on various marine species, which complements and brings new perspectives to research projects.

The blackchin guitarfishs, sharks and, more recently, Atlantic pygmy devil rays have all been the subject of theses and studies for which Nausicaá has provided assistance and contributed.

Coral is also a popular subject for researchers seeking to understand the impact of climate change on this constructive animal.

Nausicaá takes part in the World Coral Conservatory

Created on the initiative of the Centre Scientifique de Monaco (CSM) and the Institut Océanographique de Monaco, the World Coral Conservatory brings together public aquariums, including Nausicaá, with the aim of creating a unique collection of reef-building coral strains.  

The partner aquariums act as genetic reservoirs, working for the conservation, research and restoration of coral reefs by hosting corals in their aquariological reserves and exhibitions.

Conservation and innovation around coral

Innovation is at the service of the living world, helping to preserve animal species by finding sustainable solutions. One of the first projects to be incubated in Nausicaá's Blue Living Lab is Jérémy Gobé, a visual artist who has developed his Corail Artefact project with the ambition of reconciling art, science and industry to restore coral reefs.

A second phase of the RDI (Research, Development and Innovation) programme, Coral Resilience, will take place in the Coral Action area to test new star-shaped modules which, when fitted together, will form a coral tree for growing cuttings.

This experiment at Nausicaá will also be carried out in a natural environment in Colombia.

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Rapport over instandhouding en onderzoek - Nausica

Nausicaá heeft zojuist zijn activiteitenverslag voor 2024 over instandhouding en onderzoek gepubliceerd.

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