THE world's zoos are becoming field hospitals in a war zone, as they try to salvage species from extinction, Adelaide and Monarto Zoo chief executive Chris West says.

"We've watched for too long critical species being overcome by habitat destruction, over-exploitation from logging, fishing and hunting, invasive species, pollution and emergent diseases," Dr West said.

"But now climate change is looming as a huge new horseman of the apocalypse, whose impact threatens to dwarf that of all the others.

"In the face of such a threat, zoos are now being called upon to urgently realise their huge conservation potential."

Dr West will host the annual conference of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums in Adelaide from today.

The conference has attracted the leaders of some of the world's largest zoos including the London Zoo and those in Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Moscow and St Louis.

David Attenborough will make a presentation by video, and climate change experts Andy Lowe and Barry Brook will also address delegates.


http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24522392-5003402,00.html