Zoo News Digest

Dolphin Pacific - Palau - For Sale

2022-05-31T03:20:00.000+01:00

Dolphin Pacific - Palau - For Sale

Click here for full details

shorturl.at/dfsD7

THE KIESSLING PRIZE

2022-02-17T11:22:00.003+00:00

THE KIESSLING PRIZE

As the world’s animals face what scientists call a “Sixth Mass Extinction,” with up to one million species in foreseeable danger of disappearing forever, extraordinary eﬀorts to preserve the creatures of the Earth are more vital than ever – as are the scientists, researchers and advocates who devote their lives to these eﬀorts.

To award those who achieve signiﬁcant positive change in the ﬁeld of conservation practice, theory, and research, American Humane, the country’s ﬁrst national humane organization, today is proud to launch the Wolfgang Kiessling International Prize for Species Conservation. This award was created in honor of Wolfgang F. Kiessling, the founder of Loro Parque and globally acknowledged leader in the ﬁeld of conservation and will be awarded annually.

“There is simply no higher purpose than that to protect and preserve our world’s most precious asset – animal life. It brings me great honor and pleasure to bestow this award on those who are leading the way in the field of conservation,” said Wolfgang Kiessling, president and founder of Loro Parque and Loro Parque Foundation.

The Wolfgang Kiessling International Prize committee will be led by Wolfgang Kiessling, Christoph Kiessling, Cybell Kiessling, Dr. Javier Almunia, Dr. Robin Ganzert and Brad Andrews. Additional Kiessling Foundation leaders and family members may be elected to the committee as needed. The committee will screen and vote for applicants, ultimately choosing one who will be awarded the Kiessling Prize and a grant of US $80,000 to further their work to make signiﬁcant contributions to the practical application, research and theory of species protection.

“Wolfgang Kiessling is a renowned conservationist and founder of Loro Parque, one of the most well-respected zoological institutions in the world for its beauty, the excellence of its facilities and its incredible work to save species on the brink of extinction,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane. “We are thrilled to establish this prestigious conservation award in his honor and hope to inspire generations of fellow conservationists to continue his legacy of leadership.”

Founded in 1972 by Kiessling, Loro Parque was initially created as a paradise for parrots and began its journey with only 150 parrots. The park, located on the island of Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, now has more than 4,000 specimens of 350 different species and subspecies of parrots, demonstrating its outstanding success in boosting the parrot population. Loro Parque is also home to flamingos, cranes, penguins and swans, as well as many species of reptiles, mammals and marine life.

As billions of human beings exhaust the world’s resources, Loro Parque plays a critical role in education, science and conservation. In 2017, Loro Parque became the first zoo in Europe to receive American Humane Certification, reinforcing its recognition as a global leader in animal welfare.

Applications will be open from February 15 through April 15, 2022 and a recipient of the Wolfgang Kiessling International Prize for Species Conservation will be named in May 2022. Applicants can learn more about the prize and submit their credentials by visiting https://humaneconservation.org/kiessling/.

About American Humane

American Humane is the country’s first national humane organization. Founded in 1877, American Humane is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare, and well-being of animals, and our leadership programs are first to serve in promoting and nurturing the bonds between animals and people. For more information or to support our work, please visit www.americanhumane.org. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

ZOO AND AQUARIUM NEWS AND VACANCIES FOR ZOO PROFESSIONALS

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Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

+66 (0) 93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com

https://iizc.org/ | Skype: peter.dickinson48

World Zoo Toilet Day

2021-11-18T10:08:00.001+00:00

World Zoo Toilet Day

The 19th November is World Toilet Day.

After the zoo restaurant the zoo toilet is amongst the most important amenities you can provide can provide your guests. It is something they remember "it was so clean"...and will remark upon.

So where are the best zoo toilets in the world? For me my favorites have got to be those in Singapore Zoo, Bangkok Safari World and Bali Zoo.

Singapore Zoo

Safari World Bangkok

Bali Zoo

UK Zoo Salaries

2021-10-13T14:38:00.001+01:00

UK Zoo Salaries

From June to October 2021 (inc) there were 115 UK and Ireland zoo related

vacancies advertised on Zoo Jobs.

Of these only 27 indicated salary. Most stated “As per qualifications and experience or Competitive salary.”

Most indicated hours to be worked which varied from 37.5 to 43 hours a week

Although I fully appreciate that all zoos are different as are job titles and that duties

and responsibilities vary, the list below should give you a good indication of the salary

you should expect in various posts.

Trainee Animal Keeper

£19,922.76

Trainee Primate Keeper

£16,640.00 - £18,533.00

Trainee Bird Keeper

£19,922.00

Mammal Keeper

£18,532.81

Animal Keeper

£20,500.00

Elephant Keeper

£19,000.00

Bird Keeper

£20,210.45 - £21,782.15

Primate Keeper

£19,703.00

Primate Keeper

£19,703.00

Gorilla Keeper

£21,000.00

Zoo Keeper

£18,532.80

Seasonal Keeper

£18,138.00

Penguin/Bird Keeper

£20,200.00

Living Collections Keeper

£19,245.00

Animal Keeper - Team Leader

£26,520.00

Experienced Carnivore Keeper

£19,448.00 - £20,280.00

Deputy Section Leader

£22,500.00

Senior Living Collection Keeper

£21,048.00

Qualified Animal Keeper

£17,522.00

Experienced Zookeeper

£20,220.00

Assistant Team Manager

£26,516.71

Animal Presenter/Trainer

£20,411.00

Lead Keeper

£20,163.00

Section Head of Primates

£22,045.00

Experienced Elephant Keeper

£20,411.00

Experienced Bird Keeper

£20,411.00

Director of Operations

£30,000.00

Final Note:

When I started my zoo career back in 1967 my weekly wage was around £9.00

for a basic 6 day 48 hour working week. I was never paid overtime but worked

60+ hours a week more often than not. I loved the work and still do. Zoo work

has never been about salary...but we all need money to get by...don’t we ?

Because of Covid and travel restrictions I have been without any salary for

two years now, Times are hard... for us all.

ZOO AND AQUARIUM NEWS AND VACANCIES FOR ZOO PROFESSIONALS

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Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

+66 (0) 93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com

https://iizc.org/ | Skype: peter.dickinson48

WORLDWIDE ZOO and AQUARIUM CONSULTANTS

2021-09-28T10:28:00.001+01:00

WORLDWIDE ZOO and AQUARIUM CONSULTANTS

Aaron Morgan Jupp - Public Aquarium Specialist

http://linkedin.com/in/aaron-morgan-jupp

amorgan-jupp@hotmail.co.uk

Annette Pedersen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/annettepedersen2/

Animal Behaviour Matters www.animalbehaviourmatters.com.au

Animal Training Academy

http://www.animaltrainingacademy.com/

ANIMAL TRAINING FUNDAMENTALS

https://animaltrainingfundamentals.com/

Animal Welfare Expertise

www.animalwelfareexpertise.com

Animalis Nutrition Consulting, LLC.

https://animalisnutrition.com

mbrooks@animalisnutrition.com

AquaBioTech Group

www.abtaquatics.com

AquaZoo Vision

https://www.facebook.com/aquazoovision/

Banggai Consulting Limited

Aquarium Design and Consultancy

www.banggaiconsulting.com

BEHAVIOR WORKS

http://www.behaviorworks.org/

BRIGGS ZOOLOGICAL CONSULTANCY

www.briggszoologicalconsultancy.com baament@earthlink.net

Phone; 630-730-6045

CARE FOR THE RARE

https://www.carefortherare.com/

Chapman Zoo Consultancy

Dr Sarah Chapman and Mr Julian Chapman

Sarah 00447811448183 Julian 00447851864034

chapmanzooconsultancy@gmail.com

www.chapmanzooconsultancy.com

Online CPD for Zoo Keepers Chapman Zoo Consultancy (thinkific.com)

CREATIVE ANIMAL SOLUTIONS

https://www.creativeanimalsolutions.com/

ELSS Group

OCEANARIUM & AQUARIUM SPECIALISTS

https://www.elssengineering.com/

Fox Consulting

Zoological and zootechnical expertise

http://www.fox-zooconsulting.com/en/

George Rodgers

Zoological Consultant specialising in operations management, animal behaviour and welfare

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodgers-george-0238ba17/

Grant Leisure

www.grant-leisure.com

Great Ape Consultancy

http://greatapeconsultancy.com/

Independent Consultant on CITES, wildlife trade & wildlife conservation

Jonathan Barzdo

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-barzdo-2b469413/

Independent International Zoo Consultant

Peter Dickinson

https://iizc.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dickinsonpeter/

Independent Veterinarian, Zoo and Wildlife Management Consultant

linkedin.com/in/john-knight-2733a423

JONES and JONES Architects

https://www.jonesandjones.com/

Madelon (Maddie) Rusman

Consultant on Illegal Wildlife Trade and Animal Welfare in Lao P.D.R

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wildlife-consultant-laos/

Maguari-One Zoo and Wildlife Consultants S.L.

Koen Brouwer

https://www.linkedin.com/in/koen-brouwer-2a8a7a9/

OceanikZOOgroup

wildlife project planning and design

http://oceanikzoogroup.com/es/

One zoo PLUS

Three companies One spirit

https://onezooplus.com/

Operant Animal Training

www.operantanimaltraining.com

Peter Giljam

international animal training and behaviour consultancy

Zoospensefull.com

Precision Behavior

https://www.precisionbehavior.com/

Professional Zoo/Aquarium Advocate

Jim Hudson

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimohudson/

VETDENT SA cc

Veterinary Dentist

http://vetdentsa.co.za/

WILD DESIGN

https://www.wildedesign.org/

WILD ENRICHMENT

https://wildenrichment.com/

Worldwide Zoo Consultants

https://worldwidezoo.com/

Zoo and Wildlife Solutions Ltd

Zoo and Wildlife Research, Conservation and Consultancy

www.zooandwildlifesolutions.com

matt@zooandwildlifesolutions.com

Zoological Consultancy Ltd.

Douglas M Richardson

Tel: +44 (0)7530 843661

douglas_richardson@hotmail.com

Based in the UK, available globally.

Vaccinated against Covid-19

With over 40 years’ of experience in zoo and conservation design and best practice, having worked in institutions and on projects in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Able to provide expertise in new enclosure design, repurposing existing facilities, review of proposed designs and plans, safety and security reviews, husbandry training and refinement, ethical animal acquisition and disposition, and enhancing conservation output.

Zooconsultant.com

Sofieke Bouwman

www.zooconsultant.com

ZOOCRAFT LTD

iainvalentine@zoocraft.ltd and iainvalentine@hotmail.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/iain-valentine-44543017/

My home phone number is +44 1337842909

Mobile number is +44 7920745935

Zooworks

Tim Husband

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-husband-26413b22/

The Zoological Lighting Institute

https://zoolighting.org/

ZOOSTEPHEN.COM

www.zoostephen.com

Zoo Advisors

www.ZooAdvisors.com.

Wezooit

Animal Training Consultancy.

Training and Animal Welfare

www.wezooit.eu

Whistling Soul

Developing Innovative Solutions

https://www.whistling-soul.com/

Atlantis, Dubai joins World Association of Zoos And Aquariums

2021-09-01T04:05:00.005+01:00

Atlantis, Dubai joins World Association of Zoos And Aquariums

One year on from receiving the prestigious AZA accreditation, Atlantis, Dubai's WAZA membership further highlights the resorts' commitment to global conservation as part of the Atlantis Atlas Project

Atlantis, Dubai announces today the resort's membership to the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). This is the global alliance of regional associations and national federations dedicated to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats around the world. In joining WAZA, Atlantis, Dubai has become a member of a 400-stong global community working to support wildlife and improve animal welfare standards.

One of Atlantis, Dubai's key priorities, and the second pillar of the Atlantis Atlas Project is Marine Conservation and Animal Welfare and in order to protect wildlife globally, collaboration is key. WAZA is the backbone to this collaboration, bringing together world-class zoos and aquariums, associations, as well as leading wildlife experts, academies, and universities, to encourage the highest standards for global animal welfare among its member institutions, while leveraging support for species conservation management.

Tim Kelly, Managing Director & Executive Vice President of Atlantis Dubai, said: "We're delighted to announce our membership to the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and join the global community of modern and progressive organisations that are actively working to protect wildlife globally. Atlantis, Dubai is home to a dedicated expert animal care team, who work around the clock to maintain our high animal welfare standards, deliver world-class education programmes to guests and visitors, and support marine conservation. Achieving WAZA membership further highlights our commitment to sustainability and to doing business in ways that protect both people and planet, through the Atlantis Atlas Project.”

Since receiving accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) last year, Atlantis, Dubai has led a varied programme of initiatives supporting and driving education around marine species and conservation. On the UN World Oceans Day 2021, the destination resort launched the Atlantis Atlas Project, cementing the resort's commitment to doing business in ways that are good for both people and planet. As part of its strategy to give back to the local community as well as contribute to global marine conservation, Atlantis, Dubai announced that for every marine experience booked, 1 USD would be donated to conservation, sustainability, and environmental education initiatives, to be selected twice annually and make a measurable impact to the natural world.

In addition, in February 2021, the resort launched its popular marine education programmes, including the Mini, Junior and Master Marine Biologist programmes, through which younger guests aged from 3-16 can experience a day in the life of a marine biologist, learning about species and habitats, animal behaviours and their care and wellbeing, and develop a passion to protect oceans and all marine life.

In the past year, Atlantis, Dubai's successful shark and ray breeding and release programme has also supported the release of Arabian carpetsharks back into Arabian Gulf waters, boosting local wild populations. Atlantis, Dubai has also partnered with Zayed University, and founder and director of the UAE Dolphin Project Initiative, to support the Dubai Dolphin Survey 2021-22, a project which aims to gather scientific baseline information about the local dolphin population off the coast of Dubai.

Designed to drive sustainability not just within Atlantis Dubai, but across the industry, in the region and beyond, Atlantis Atlas Project has a long-term roadmap for sustainable, responsible tourism. Initiatives including beach clean-ups, mangrove tree plantings, and CSR activities are planned to continue supporting people and planet throughout the remainder of 2021 and beyond as Atlantis, Dubai continues forward on its journey to becoming a sustainable tourism business.

For more information on the Atlantis Atlas Project, please visit: https://www.atlantis.com/dubai/sustainability/atlantis-atlas-project

About Atlantis Atlas Project

Atlantis Atlas Project is Atlantis, Dubai's commitment to sustainability – to do business in ways that are good for people and the planet. The initiative is focused around four core pillars: Responsible Operations, Education & Awareness, Marine Conservation & Animal Welfare, and Corporate Social Responsibility. These fully incorporate the destination's commitment to economic, social, and environmental responsibility, and provide immersive experiences and opportunities for visitors and guests to experience and learn more about their local environment both in and outside of the resort. Diners can enjoy a selection of sustainable, locally sourced, and organic dishes with food choices grown and harvested in Dubai at eight of Atlantis Dubai's signature restaurants. Young explorers and families with a keen interest in life underwater and the environment can get closer to nature through Atlantis Dubai's new Marine Biologist programmes and back of house tours. Atlantis, Dubai also supports the local community through its own projects including shark and ray releases which boost wild populations of local species and through supporting other charitable efforts to make measured impacts on conservation, education and society.

About Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai

Located at the centre of the crescent of The Palm in Dubai, Atlantis, The Palm is the first entertainment resort destination in the region. Opened in September 2008, the unique ocean-themed resort features a variety of marine and entertainment attractions, as well as 22 hectares of waterpark amusement at Atlantis Aquaventure, all within a 46-hectare site. It is home to one of the biggest waterparks in the world and the one of the largest open-air marine habitats, with more than 65,000 marine animals in lagoons and displays including The Lost Chambers Aquarium, a maze of underwater corridors and passageways providing a journey through ancient Atlantis. Aquaventure Waterpark features 23.5 million litres of fresh water used to power 105 thrilling waterslides and attractions, including several world record-breaking slides, and two river rides featuring tidal waves and pools, water rapids and white-water chargers. Dolphin Bay, the unparalleled dolphin conservation and education habitat, and Sea Lion Point were created to provide guests a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn more about some of nature’s most friendly mammals. The resort boasts an impressive collection of luxury boutiques and shops as well as extensive meeting and convention facilities. Atlantis, The Palm is also known as the culinary destination in the region where guests can take their pick from a collection of 29 world-renowned restaurants including Bread Street Kitchen & Bar, Hakkasan, Nobu, Ronda Locatelli, Seafire Steakhouse & Bar and the award-winning underwater restaurant, Ossiano. Atlantis is also home to a buzzing nightlife scene with entertainment destination Wavehouse offering something for everyone, while WHITE Beach & Restaurant is the perfect place to unwind with a drink as the sun slips into the Arabian Sea.

ZOO AND AQUARIUM NEWS AND VACANCIES FOR ZOO PROFESSIONALS

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Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

+66 (0) 93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com

https://iizc.org/ | Skype: peter.dickinson48

Stuck for Enrichment Ideas? Check out the following Links.

2021-07-05T09:54:00.000+01:00

Stuck for Enrichment Ideas? Check out the following Links.

https://www.pinterest.com/willowparkz/animal-enrichment/

https://www.pinterest.com/thezoogirl/animal-enrichment/

https://www.pinterest.com/aklindey/enrichment-ideas/

https://www.pinterest.com/matthewbrown330/zoo-enrichment/

https://www.pinterest.com/popkorn2/animal-enrichment/

https://www.pinterest.com/zootammy/enrichment-ideas/

https://www.pinterest.com/huffcr/zoo-enrichment/

Chimpanzee Enrichment

http://zoonewsdigest.blogspot.ae/2013/06/chimpanzee-enrichment.html

Animal Enrichment versus Routine Zoo Vacancies

http://hubpages.com/animals/Animal-Enrichment-versus-Routine

Zoo Vacancies

https://www.pinterest.com/elvinhow/zoo-and-wildlife-vacancies/

Regular Updated Zoo News (Please like and follow)

https://www.facebook.com/zoonewsdigest

Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

+971 50 4787 122 | elvinhow@gmail.com | Skype: peter.dickinson48

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WORLD OTTER DAY

2021-05-18T10:07:00.002+01:00

https://www.otter.org/public/Events_OurCurrentEvent.aspx

A COLLABORATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF PENGUINS

2021-03-27T09:34:00.002+00:00

A COLLABORATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF PENGUINS

Since last summer, the Paris Zoological Park has been participating in a scientific project on Humboldt penguins , in partnership with the Hubert Curien Pluridisciplinary Institute (IPHC) of the CNRS and the University of Strasbourg, and the Polar Department of the Scientific Center of Monaco.

This multidisciplinary project makes it possible to refine the techniques and perfect the procedures before going to apply them in the natural environment, in Antarctica, with the constant concern to develop new study methods making it possible to reduce or even eliminate any disturbance on the animals due to the study itself . Beyond this help, which allows to significantly shorten the development phases before going to apply them in extreme environments, it also turns out that studying our penguins makes it possible to answer certain targeted questions for which it is impossible to respond in a natural environment (lack of history on individuals, disappearances during studies, etc.)

A ROBOT AMONG PENGUINS

As already done in the natural environment by CNRS research teams, the approach of animals by a rolling robot makes it possible to have a reduced impact on the behavior of the colony .

At the Zoological Park, the project started its second study phase in January with the work of a Master 2 student for a period of 6 months, who will take care of this rolling robot “Rover”, but not only.

If this new step will allow the robot to try out different appearances in order to find the one that will allow you to go unnoticed within the colony , it will also be accompanied by other technological innovations, in particular for remote cardiac monitoring. animals without having to capture or stress them.

In addition, an automatic weighing platform will be set up. It will make it possible to obtain, record and transmit the weights of the penguins which will pass voluntarily over them. This information will provide the animal team with precise and constant monitoring of a very good health indicator, the weight of individuals, thanks to this autonomous system.

The animals will be identified automatically by two means: their chip and a camera linked to visual recognition software . Developed by the Scientific Center of Monaco, this technology, which uses powerful artificial intelligence algorithms, will thus be at the service of the health of our animals, while it will allow in Antarctica to better understand variations in weight over time. the life cycle of these extreme birds. Our visitors will be able to see this technology at work… and modestly keep the weight of our penguins to themselves!

Original Paper https://www.parczoologiquedeparis.fr/fr/actualites/collaboration-avec-le-cnrs-et-le-centre-scientifique-de-monaco-une-nouvelle-etape-pour-nos-manchots-3449

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No, the Tasmanian tiger has not been re-discovered

2021-02-23T10:53:00.003+00:00

No, the Tasmanian tiger has not been re-discovered

FACEBOOK NOT ALLOWING AUSTRALIAN MEDIA POSTS SO COPIED

A leading Tasmanian tiger expert says new images purportedly of the extinct thylacine are, in fact, of a totally different species.

Neil Waters, president of the Thylacine Awareness Group of Australia, released a video on Monday claiming he had new images of a baby Tasmanian tiger, taken from a camera trap in north-east Tasmania.

Mr Waters said the images had been authenticated by a veterinarian, and he had submitted them to Nick Mooney, honorary curator of vertebrate zoology at the Tasmanian Museum.

But on Tuesday afternoon, the museum released a statement saying the images did not show a Tasmanian tiger at all.

“Nick Mooney has concluded, that based on the physical characteristics shown in the photos provided by Mr Waters, the animals are very unlikely to be thylacines, and are most likely Tasmanian pademelons,” a museum spokesman said.

“TMAG regularly receives requests for verification from members of the public who hope that the thylacine is still with us. However, sadly, there have been no confirmed sightings documented of the thylacine since 1936.”

A pademelon is a small wallaby.

The thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian Tiger, went extinct in 1936, when the last surviving member of the species died in Beaumaris Zoo in Hobart.

The creatures looked similar to dogs – they are often called Tasmanian wolves – but had short ears, stripes, and on the females a pouch to carry offspring.

There were about 5000 in Tasmania at time of European settlement, but introduced animals, habitat destruction and hunting quickly pushed them to extinction.

In the video released by the Thylacine Awareness Group of Australia, titled WE FOUND A THYLACINE, Mr Waters strolls through “some little town that grows a bit of hops, for all the beer”. As he narrates the video – which appears to have been shot on a hand-held camera – Mr Waters drinks from a can of Boags Draught.

“In the last 10 days, I’ve probably been acting a bit weird,” he says. “That’s because, when I was checking the SD cards, I found some photos, that were pretty damn good.”

“I know what they are. And so do a few independent expert witnesses, expert canine judges, feline judges, and a vet. I have left the images with Nick Mooney from the museum. He’s having a look at them.

“I can tell you there is three animals. We ... believe the first image is the mum. We know the second image is the baby, because it’s so tiny. And the third image is the dad.

The mother and father are “ambiguous”, a broadly-smiling Mr Waters says. “However, the baby is not ambiguous. The baby has stripes, a stiff tail, the hock, the coarse hair, the right colour.

“Not only do we have a family walking through the bush, but we have proof of breeding.

“Congratulations everyone. We have done it. Cheers.”

Mr Waters has previously claimed his group spotted a thylacine in Adelaide in 2016. That sighting was dismissed by the South Australian Museum at the time.

INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF CONSERVATIONISTS WORK TO RESCUE TRAFFICKED MONKEYS

2021-02-13T03:47:00.002+00:00

INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF CONSERVATIONISTS WORK TO RESCUE TRAFFICKED MONKEYS: CONFISCATION OF 20 YOUNG MONKEYS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE REGION

An international group of primatologists led by the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) — with support from San Diego Zoo Global, the Columbus Zoo and GaiaZOO — are providing a new home for 25 monkeys that were confiscated from wildlife traffickers. The monkeys all appear to be young and suffering from malnourishment and stress. They represent six different species native to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This confiscation is one of the largest in recent years, and reflects the crisis in criminal trafficking that is hitting Africa’s native wildlife.

“This is the largest rescue in our 20-year history,” said Gregg Tully, executive director of PASA. “The monkeys were poached in DRC and then driven along a known route for traffickers. We’re grateful that authorities in Zimbabwe confiscated the animals. Otherwise, they would be sent to China or a tourist attraction, with no possibility of being reintroduced to the wild.”

PASA’s goal is to return the young primates to their native country, where they can be placed in an accredited sanctuary. The group has been collaborating with the leaders of Jeunes Animaux Confisques au Katanga (J.A.C.K.), a PASA-accredited sanctuary in Lubumbashi, DRC that has experience caring for and rehabilitating chimpanzees. The long-term goal is to re-wild these individuals, which include lesula monkeys, Allen’s swamp monkeys, gray-cheeked mangabeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, putty-nosed monkeys and golden-bellied mangabeys. The monkeys will be given appropriate medical care at J.A.C.K., and assessed for their readiness to return to native habitat. To accommodate such a large group at one time, the team determined that new facilities needed to be constructed.

“We’re creating state-of-the-art enclosures for these monkeys,” said Franck Chantereau, president and founder of J.A.C.K. “Thanks to the funding we received, we were able to move quickly; and we’re excited about this progress, but we aren’t taking anything for granted. Too many lives are on the line.”

San Diego Zoo Global, the Columbus Zoo and GaiaZOO responded to the immediate need by providing funding for the enclosures and ongoing care of the group of youngsters.

“Our organization is very involved in the effort to stem the tide of wildlife trafficking,” said Dean Gibson, director of primates at San Diego Zoo Global. “We regularly provide refuge for wildlife that have been confiscated in the United States. Although it has been a difficult year for our organization due to COVID closures, when I alerted our leadership to the plight of these young monkeys, they thought it was important for us to contribute to their rescue.”

San Diego Zoo Global supports work with communities in Cameroon’s Ebo Forest, with efforts to both protect primates and their habitat.

“We have been working with local communities in Cameroon for years, to promote forest health and protect the gorilla and chimpanzee populations that call the Ebo Forest home,” said Megan Owen, Ph.D., corporate director of wildlife conservation science at San Diego Zoo Global. “Understanding that we need to restore species and protect ecosystems in order to have a healthy world is important to us.”

Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

+66 (0) 93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com

https://iizc.org/ | Skype: peter.dickinson48

"A Discussion about Poop Soup: The Case for Transfaunation"

2021-01-11T00:48:00.000+00:00

"A Discussion about Poop Soup: The Case for Transfaunation"

January 18, 2021, at 8:00 pm eastern (Happy Hour begins at 7:45 pm eastern). Please register in advance. Registration is free. Seating is limited.

Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Y5SID9NSQW2xXuquns6MyA

We learn new things about our animals, their care and management, and ourselves daily. It is easy to think back to 5 or 10 years ago and recognize how far we’ve come. It is equally as easy to leave some of the ideas (good AND bad) in the past, for that is sometimes where they belong. However, it is equally important to review some of those “old” ideas with the lens of increased knowledge and perspective gained over time (lest we let a good idea go prematurely). The concept of transfaunation (aka – fecal transplant, fecal microbiota transplant (FMT), stool transplant, etc) has been around since the beginning of recorded time in humans, and currently receives attention for specific GI bacterial infections. In domestic animals, it has been used for centuries to treat poor digestion and associated maladies. Recently, we’ve started to become aware of (and employ) the practice across a wide range of taxa in our care. This will be a brief discussion of the practice, some pertinent literature and examples, and how it might be something for you to consider in better managing the health and care of your animals.

Presenter: Mike Maslanka, Senior Nutritionist and Head of the Department of Nutrition Science for the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

+66 (0) 93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com

https://iizc.org/ | Skype: peter.dickinson48

Knapdale’s beavers boosted by successful reinforcement

2021-01-11T00:29:00.000+00:00

Knapdale’s beavers boosted by successful reinforcement

Work to reinforce the population of beavers in Knapdale Forest in Argyll has come to a successful conclusion with the endangered species now more widespread and breeding throughout the area.

Scottish Beavers, a partnership between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, released 21 beavers into Knapdale Forest between 2017 and 2019 to bolster the population, with monitoring continuing throughout 2020.

The reinforcement project has increased the genetic diversity of Knapdale’s beaver population, which is important for its future survival. The new beavers brought to Knapdale were primarily sourced from Tayside and originate from Bavaria, while the original Scottish Beaver Trial population was sourced from Norway.

A successful pairing between beavers with Norwegian and Bavarian origins has not yet been detected, but it is likely to take place in the near future.

The isolated Knapdale population is now on a more secure footing as a direct result of this reinforcement. It is hoped it will connect with other populations in future, through either natural expansion or further releases in the area around Loch Awe.

Gill Dowse, Knowledge & Evidence Manager, Scottish Wildlife Trust said: “The Scottish Beaver Trial was a landmark conservation project that showed how beavers can create and restore important wetland and native woodland habitats.

“A limited number of beavers were introduced during the Trial so it was important to go back and release more beavers, giving them a good chance to thrive. After three years of fieldwork we can be confident this reinforcement project has been a success, and that we have done all we can to bolster the wild population in Knapdale.”

Dr Helen Taylor, RZSS Conservation Programme Manager said: “Monitoring the beaver population in Knapdale for the past three years and tracking the fortunes of these newly-released animals has painted a clear picture of a steadily growing population that is beginning to spread out into all the various waterways available in Knapdale Forest.

“It’s been fantastic that the project provided an initial solution for moving beavers from high-conflict areas in Tayside into Knapdale, where their positive impacts on the environment and on native biodiversity are clear to see.”

The final report from the Scottish Beavers Reinforcement Project, published today, contains a number of recommendations to secure a long-term future for beavers in Scotland.

These include developing a national conservation action plan for beavers, permitting reintroductions in other suitable areas of Scotland, and widening the ‘founder base’ by introducing more animals from Europe.

As the number of beaver trials in the UK increases, the report makes a number of recommendations for the welfare of animals within these projects. These include developing a genetic database of all beavers involved in translocations within Britain.

The project partners also hope that the Scottish Beavers project can act as a template for efforts to reintroduce beavers responsibly, both in other areas of Scotland and in other countries.

Gill Dowse added: “Encouraging a thriving beaver population in Scotland is an important step towards tackling the crisis facing nature. Bringing them back helps a huge range of other species, from dragonflies to otters. There are also substantial benefits for society, ranging from improved water quality to new opportunities for wildlife tourism.

“To ensure we fully benefit from the return of beavers and minimise future conflicts it is important to develop a clear action plan for the future of this protected species.”

Dr Taylor added: “After a 400-year absence from this country, beavers are back and we need to ensure they have a long-term future in Scotland, and throughout Britain. This means creating clear management strategies for the species that include monitoring both numbers and genetic diversity to ensure we avoid issues down the road.

“We also need to make space for these incredible ecosystem engineers, build a better understanding of where the most suitable release sites for beavers are, and learn to live alongside them once again so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of beavers, while reducing human-wildlife conflict.”

Scottish Beavers is a partnership between the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland created to continue the work of the Scottish Beaver Trial, which reintroduced Eurasian beavers into Knapdale Forest in 2009.

The reinforcement took place at the site of the original Scottish Beaver Trial in Knapdale Forest, mid-Argyll, on land managed by Forestry and Land Scotland. The project was licensed by NatureScot, which coordinated the monitoring requirements at the site and funded the trapping of beavers in Tayside for translocation.

The Scottish Beavers Reinforcement Project was supported by funders including players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

+66 (0) 93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com

https://iizc.org/ | Skype: peter.dickinson48

"Tabletop Drills – Practicing Your Zoo Emergency Preparedness Exercises within a Single Room"

2020-12-22T09:24:00.006+00:00

"Tabletop Drills – Practicing Your Zoo Emergency Preparedness

Exercises within a Single Room"

January 6, 2021, at 2:00 pm eastern

Please register in advance. Registration is free. Seating is limited.

Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dqB57AIDSQu7e7YxA4znTQ

Practicing for emergency events of all types within zoo and aquarium environments is not only smart preparation for all the many disasters we hear about regularly but also is a zoo association standard necessary for accreditation. While it is important to hold regular live-action practice drills, there are times when a live simulation drill may be too complex or logistically difficult, or too advanced for new or inexperienced staff for it to effect satisfactory lessons and experience. This presentation will describe a variety of “Tabletop Drills,” where your staff can congregate together and be led through an emergency event step by step with the staff describing what actions they would take as the event progresses. A tabletop drill can be formally scripted in advance by a leader with planned injections of complications to test the participants’ reactions. Or a tabletop drill can be set up by the leader with complications randomized by the rolls of specific numbered dice with the outcomes less predictable. Both methods stimulate thinking about potential emergency actions and help prepare your staff for live-action drills as well as real emergencies.

Presenter: Ken Kaemmerer, Curator of Mammals, Pittsburgh Zoo

Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

+66 (0) 93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com

https://iizc.org/ | Skype: peter.dickinson48

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and National Museums Scotland Contribute to UK’s First Zoological Biobank

2020-12-10T12:20:00.003+00:00

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and National Museums Scotland Contribute to UK’s First Zoological Biobank

Photo credit rzss.org.uk

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and National Museums Scotland are playing a central role in the establishment of the UK’s first national zoological biobank with the launch of their biobank facilities. Located at the National Museums Collections Centre and Edinburgh Zoo, the infrastructure will improve storage and distribution of animal genetic material for conservation and research.

The national biobank is providing a hub for scientists across the UK, giving them access to tissue, cells and DNA from endangered species and other wildlife, which can be used in research and for conservation planning.

The Scottish zoological biobank hub is being developed as part of the CryoArks Biobank, funded by a £1 million grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The project brings together Cardiff University, the Natural History Museum, National Museums Scotland, RZSS, University of Edinburgh and the University of Nottingham to expand and link collections across the UK.

The CryoArks initiative is led by Professor Mike Bruford of Cardiff University who said,

“CryoArks is making a step-change in the way that genetic material is curated and is making it available to more scientists.

“With the world facing unprecedented challenges for our wildlife and climate change, having access to this data will help us find solutions to protect our planet and its endangered species.”

As Biobank ‘hubs’, National Museums and RZSS will provide the expertise for a new level of sample storage and access to their samples by the establishment of ultra-low temperature freezer facilities, laboratory space, and making all samples available through an online searchable database. As a CryoArks partner, they offer on-site assistance in archiving sample material, and provide advice on embedding biobank sample collection during routine veterinary care and fieldwork.

Genetic data helps us understand a great deal about our planet, such as measuring shifts in biodiversity, discovering biological adaptations to climate and habitat change, and finding out why particular species have unusual characteristics. The samples held in the Biobank enable conservation researchers and scientists, now and in the future, to access genetic material such as DNA from a wide range of species, including those that are rare, endangered and extinct-in-the-wild, to help ensure their future survival.

Dr Andrew Kitchener, Principal Curator of Vertebrates, National Museums Scotland said

“This project is crucial in enabling researchers to engage with a vast resource of biological data samples which until now was difficult to access.

“We have a responsibility to future generations to ethically collect these biological samples, store them in appropriate conditions and make them available for research. These specimens are vital to our understanding of the natural world and our ability to map its changes and respond effectively to the demands of researchers working in conservation and ecology.”

National Museums Scotland has been collecting tissue samples from animals donated to the collection for more than 25 years and this legacy of several thousand samples has been added to the biobank, enabling quicker and easier access for scientists across the UK.

Dr Helen Senn, Head of Conservation and Science Programmes, RZSS said,

“Well managed sample collections are critical research tools which can be used to improve conservation outcomes for many threatened species. We are extremely grateful to the multitude of researchers and zoological institutions who are contributing samples that can be used by scientists for the benefit of wildlife around the world.”

Wildlife conservation charity RZSS also has a partnership with the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and it is one of the four hubs, alongside those in Denmark, Belgium and Germany, of the EAZA Biobank. This is an initiative to increase collection, curation, storage and use of valuable genetic resources from animals held in EAZA institutions across Europe and the Middle East for the purposes of population management and conservation research. The ultimate goal is to biobank a sample from every living zoo animal so this data can be accessed for future conservation management and research.

10 December 2020

Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

+66 (0) 93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com

https://iizc.org/ | Skype: peter.dickinson48

Cher Takes on Pata Zoo

2020-12-10T05:32:00.000+00:00

Cher Takes on Pata Zoo

After her success in aiding with moving Kavaan the elephant from Islamabad zoo in Pakistan to a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia* Cher has now set her sights on getting 'Bua Noi' the gorilla away from Pata Zoo in Bangkok. She has sent letters to the relevant Thai Government authorities.

I wish her the best of luck. WAZA failed, Jane Goodall failed, Gillian Anderson and several other celebrities have failed. Annually for at least the past ten years the worlds press have attacked Pata Zoo to no avail.

READ: PATA ZOO IN BANGKOK

READ: THE PATA ZOO GORILLA KEEPER

My last visit to Pata Zoo was in 2019. Nothing much had changed since my several previous visits. More run down than previously. Dirtier too. What really disturbed me was that they now had a Bonobo. This unfortunate animal appeared more disturbed than any of the other primates, and understandably so.

*If Bua Noi is relocated where would she go? I was disturbed to read that some in Cambodia are planning to breed with Kavaan. Cambodia (like Thailand) needs to stop their Orangutan Boxing matches.

Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

+66 (0) 93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com

https://iizc.org/ | Skype: peter.dickinson48

INTERNATIONAL ZOO YEARBOOK - SAD NEWS

2020-09-17T10:38:00.009+01:00

INTERNATIONAL ZOO YEARBOOK

The first edition of the International Zoo Yearbook rolled off the press in 1960. The current edition which is still at the printers will, very sadly, be the last one.

It will be a sad loss to Zoo Professionals the world over though happily today there are several other publications which serve the purpose of disseminating information.

I recall when I started my zoo career back in 1967 that there were very few publications dedicated to the care and welfare of zoo animals. Happily I had access to those first few editions of the Yearbook which I read cover to cover several times.

I then used to purchase each annual edition as it was published until I could no longer afford to do so.

Pont-Scorff Zoo in Trouble

2020-09-16T07:18:00.001+01:00

Pont-Scorff Zoo in Trouble

You are reminded that Pont-Scorff Zoo is the collection that was purchased my Animal Rights Activists as a showpiece.

"It's calumny": the Pont-Scorff zoo defends itself after accusations of negligence

A report from the Department of Population Protection points to several anomalies in the administration of the zoo, bought 8 months ago by the Rewild association. She wants to file a complaint for "slanderous denunciation".

Following a visit on June 29, the Morbihan Directorate for the Protection of Populations (DDPP) points out in a report several alleged negligence on the part of the Rewild association, which has been managing the Pont-Scorff zoo for 8 months. She wants to transform this former zoo open to the public into a rehabilitation center for wild species.

A lack of qualified personnel?

First, it says in the report that the zoo is lacking in "capability" for all wildlife. These are people who can take care of different animals. This is a false problem, retorts the association. According to her, there is no longer any need for these capacities because the establishment is no longer open to the public. Likewise, the zoo ensures that it has been in contact for 2 months with a very qualified capacity worker to solve the problem. Because, it is the height, explains Rewild, there has not been any more this kind of people for several years in Pont-Scorff, well before its takeover . Similarly, according to the manager of the zoo, Jérome Pensu, some of his employees are quite "capable" for many species.

Veterinary registers in question

Jean-Michel Chappron, director of the DDPP, also notes the absence of an up-to-date veterinary register . " There has simply never been, " retorts the manager of Pont-Scorff, " only a multitude of papers signed by various and varied veterinarians, more than 10. There are prescriptions, medical prescriptions. We have passed months to sort everything, species by species. We are in the process of reconstituting this register ". For him, the job was never done by the previous owners.

2,500 kilos of corpses at the knacker

Among the unclear points of the DDPP report, there are also these almost 2,500 kilos of animal corpses sent to the renderer . The services of the Prefecture do not know where they come from. " When we arrived, the fridges were full of corpses. We had to get rid of them and do the job that was not done, " says Jérome Pensu, the manager. This is without counting the death of Jakob, a rhino weighing 1,300 kilos who died a week after Rewild arrived at the site.

Criminal proceedings

Following this report, a formal notice was sent to the zoo via a prefectural decree dated September 2. He invites the establishment to regularize its situation on October 10, under penalty of criminal prosecution and legal consequences. " It's pure slander. We're going deep into the dirt, " Rewild defends. The association wrote an 80-page audit to describe the situation the zoo was in when it arrived, which it sent to court. At the same time, she intends to request an appeal to extend the deadlines. A complaint will be filed for "slanderous denunciation".

Please see original article in French: https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/faits-divers-justice/c-est-de-la-calomnie-le-zoo-de-pont-scorff-se-defend-apres-des-accusations-de-neglicence-1599845496

Mystery Surrounding The Export of Chimpanzees to China

2020-04-30T09:49:00.000+01:00

Mystery Surrounding The Export of Chimpanzees to China

In July 2019 18 Chimpanzees were exported to China. They had CITES documentation but these show significant non-compliances with CITES and with the South African CITES Regulations, 2010.

WHERE WERE THESE CHIMPANZEES BRED?

Perhaps somebody from PAAZA can answer the question.

This export has strong similarities to the Taiping Four case but less questions are being asked. Probably because it is Chimpanzees and not Gorillas,

The exporter was Hartbeespoort Snake and Zoo Park in North West Province, but it appears that Ms. Christa Saayman from Mystic Monkeys and Feathers Wildlife Park in Limpopo Province, acted as the export agent.

The importer was Beijing Green Landscape Zoo, also known as Beijing Wildlife Park (BWP). 18 chimpanzees arrived in China but it is understood that BWP only has 15. It is unclear where the remaining 3 are. There is no evidence that they were returned to South Africa, but there is some information that they may possibly have been taken to Jinan Zoo.

Chimpanzees are listed on Annex 1 of CITES. In terms of the “fundamental principles” of the Convention, Annex 1 species are those “threatened with extinction which are or may be affected by trade. Trade in specimens of these species must be subject to particularly strict regulation in order not to endanger 2 further their survival and must only be authorized in exceptional circumstances.”

It is understood that some of these Chimpanzees were pregnant at the time of export.

What Makes a Good Zoo - A Personal Journey

Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

+66 (0) 93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com

https://iizc.org/ | Skype: peter.dickinson48

Chimelong Marine Science Park

2020-04-28T08:25:00.000+01:00

Chimelong Marine Science Park

Chimelong Marine Science Park was supposedly to open on the 1st May but because of the Covid -19 pandemic I can assume there will be some delays.

See renderings of construction HERE

Currently 103 cetaceans are maintained at the Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom. These are:

22 bottlenose Dolphins, 43 Beluga Whales, 1 False Killer Whale, 5 Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, 9 Killer Whales, 10 Pacific white-sided dolphin and 7 Pantropical spotted dolphin.

The new breeding center aims to “help cultivate the public’s awareness of whale protection, develop related studies, and progress toward killer-whale breeding.”

What Makes a Good Zoo - A Personal Journey

Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

+66 (0) 93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com

https://iizc.org/ | Skype: peter.dickinson48

UK’s only koala joey is a girl!

2020-03-17T07:44:00.001+00:00

UK’s only koala joey is a girl!

credit RZSS/Sian Addison

The UK’s only koala joey has had her first health check at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo.

Staff at the wildlife conservation charity have confirmed that the youngster, born in July last year, is a girl and currently weighs 759g.

Keepers will now choose an Aboriginal inspired name for the young joey, as they did with her sister who was born in 2018 and named Kalari, meaning ‘daughter’.

Lorna Hughes, team leader for koalas at Edinburgh Zoo, said, “We are thrilled our youngster is doing well after her first health check.

“Like all young koala joeys, she spends most of her time clinging to her mum, so we gave her a soft toy to hold on to while she was being weighed.

“At nearly eight months old, she’s now almost too big to fit inside mum Alinga’s pouch and has started to venture outside and onto Alinga's back more regularly.”

As well as being part of the international breeding programme for Queensland koalas, RZSS supports conservation projects for the species in Australia. In January keepers at the zoo held a fundraiser for Science for Wildlife who worked to rescue koalas in the Blue Mountains region following wildfires that swept the country earlier this year. The campaign raised £1,790 and gave those who donated the chance to win one of three original framed paw prints from the zoo’s koalas.

What Makes a Good Zoo - A Personal Journey

Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

+66 (0) 93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com

https://iizc.org/ | Skype: peter.dickinson48

Glenmorangie forges a global conservation partnership to help save the giraffe

2020-03-13T07:21:00.002+00:00

Glenmorangie forges a global conservation partnership to help save the giraffe

--- Whisky recognises the serious threat its symbol faces in the wild ---

Glenmorangie has long celebrated the giraffe as a symbol of its distillery. With its extraordinary height, the animal perfectly illustrates the stature of the single malt whisky’s towering stills. Today, the Highland Distillery demonstrates its commitment to this endangered animal by forging a global conservation partnership to help safeguard its future.

Glenmorangie’s affinity with the giraffe begins with its towering copper stills in which it creates its lighter spirit, with more space for taste and aroma. The tallest in Scotland, these stills have necks the same height as an adult male giraffe. But although the giraffe’s silhouette is known and loved at Glenmorangie, as it is across the world, few are aware of the threat it faces in the wild. Numbers have fallen by 30% in 30 years, with some types of giraffe now critically endangered. With the giraffe’s decline going largely unnoticed, a BBC/PBS documentary on the work of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) and its partners, narrated by Sir David Attenborough has warned of a “silent extinction”.

In a concerted effort to aid the giraffe, Glenmorangie is pioneering a three-year partnership with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS). This two-pronged approach will support efforts to protect giraffes in the wild in Africa and provide a habitat for the animal at Edinburgh Zoo, which will play a vital role in their conservation.

Under the partnership Glenmorangie will:

Enable GCF’s work in Africa, with a focus on Uganda. GCF is the world’s only organisation concentrating solely on the conservation and management of giraffes in the wild throughout Africa. They are committed to securing a future for all giraffe populations in the wild.

Support RZSS in creating a giraffe habitat at Edinburgh Zoo. Opening in the summer of 2020, this specially-designed habitat will help aid conservation in the wild through genetic research to support GCF’s translocation efforts, and raise visitors’ awareness of the threats facing the species.

Thomas Moradpour, President and Chief Executive of The Glenmorangie Company, said: “For 175 years we have created whisky, in stills as high as an adult giraffe, the tallest in Scotland. Over time, this majestic animal has become a beloved symbol our brand. It seems only right that we should channel our passion for this animal into our new global conservation partnership with GCF and RZSS. Together, we will work to protect giraffes in the wild and shine a light on their predicament before it’s too late.”

What Makes a Good Zoo - A Personal Journey

Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

+66 (0) 93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com

https://iizc.org/ | Skype: peter.dickinson48

THREE YOUNG NATURE CONSERVATIONISTS BEAT 121 OTHER CONTESTANTS AND WIN INTERNATIONAL PRESTIGIOUS PRIZE

2020-03-13T07:02:00.001+00:00

THREE YOUNG NATURE CONSERVATIONISTS BEAT 121 OTHER CONTESTANTS AND WIN INTERNATIONAL PRESTIGIOUS PRIZE

The Future For Nature Foundation supports young, inspiring natural leaders that fight uphill battles for the conservation of species in Venezuela, Nigeria and Bolivia with €50.000.

Arnhem, 12 March 2020. Out of one hundred and twenty-four candidates from all over the world three inspiring natural leaders in nature conservation were chosen to be this year’s winners of the Future For Nature Award. On Friday, May 8th 2020, María Fernanda Puerto-Carrillo (Venezuela), Iroro Tanshi (Nigeria), and Tjalle Boorsma (the Netherlands / Bolivia) will receive this prestigious nature conservation prize and 50,000 euros each during the Future For Nature Award Event at Royal Burgers’ Zoo. In the past this internationally renowned prize was presented by icons such as Sir David Attenborough and Dr. Jane Goodall.

Talented Nature Conservationists From Venezuela, Nigeria and the Netherlands

The current crisis in Venezuela has made conservation work hard and often dangerous. María Fernanda Puerto-Carrillo (33 years old) is one of the last ones standing and even more passionate and determined to protect the jaguar and its habitat than before.

The Nigerian Iroro Tanshi (35 years old) rediscovered a population of the Short-tailed Roundleaf bat in Nigeria (last seen 45 years ago) and is on a mission to protect the last known roost that is under threat of fruit bat hunting and wildfires. Her ‘Zero Wildfire Campaign’ already resulted in zero wildfire reports in 2019 during the dry season.

The Dutch Tjalle Boorsma (35 years old) left his homeland to stop the decline of Bolivia’s most threatened birds, the Blue-throated Macaw. He discovered their previously unknown nesting sites and gained crucial information for designing a conservation programme for these amazing birds.

These three nature conservation heroes will receive the Future For Nature Award on May 8th 2020 in Royal Burgers’ Zoo, the Netherlands.

International Celebrities Support the Work of Future For Nature

The Future For Nature Awards will be presented at Royal Burgers’ Zoo for the thirteenth consecutive year in 2020. The internationally recognised nature conservation prize was presented in the past by Sir David Attenborough, Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Frans de Waal and Doutzen Kroes. During the tenth edition, His Royal Highness King Willem-Alexander was the Guest of Honour.

The event will be livestreamed on the Future For Nature Facebook page and YouTube channel, so save the date!

What Makes a Good Zoo - A Personal Journey

Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

+66 (0) 93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com

https://iizc.org/ | Skype: peter.dickinson48

Covid-19: Lack of research capacity risks future pandemics

2020-03-13T00:56:00.002+00:00

Covid-19: Lack of research capacity risks future pandemics

Leading scientists call for substantial investment in wildlife health research

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON

The UK should invest in better understanding of diseases in wildlife populations, and the routes to these becoming human diseases to drastically reduce the risk of future - possibly even worse - global pandemics like COVID-19. That is the conclusion of scientists at ZSL's (Zoological Society of London) Institute of Zoology, which specialises in understanding so-called 'zoonotic diseases' - those that transfer from wildlife to humans.

The UK Government has committed £46 million to Covid-19 vaccine development. While an effective vaccination programme is vital to the short-term response to the disease - and should be prioritised - longer-term preventative research must not be ignored, according to ZSL.

Many of the biggest threats to public health including Covid-19, SARS, Ebola and Zika, began as infections that transfer from animals to humans. At least 61% of all human pathogens (agents that cause disease) are 'zoonotic', and approximately 75% of all new human diseases identified in recent years have come via this route.

Yet there is still much we don't understand about how human expansion into wildlife habitats, closer contact with wild animal populations and the growth of the (legal and illegal) global trade in wildlife, increases the risk of cross-species disease transmission.

Wildlife health researchers and conservationists at ZSL (Zoological Society of London) are therefore calling on the UK Government and philanthropy to join forces and invest in a UK-based dedicated centre of excellence to understand the reservoirs of diseases in wildlife, the possible routes of transmission to other animals - and to humans - and ways to prevent zoonotic epidemics before they start.

Dominic Jermey CVO OBE Director General of ZSL says: "No-one knows how many infections circulate in wildlife populations or under what circumstances they could create the next human pandemic. But if we know the risk factors for zoonotic virus spill-over, we can put in place safety measures to stop it happening in the first place without adversely affecting wild animals in which the viruses occur naturally. These links between wildlife and human health are increasingly recognised but still very poorly understood. Often public health research, practice and the implementation of policy happens without consideration of how natural systems work, and the pathways through which people's health is affected by wildlife's."

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognises the necessity of this approach stating: "Addressing [zoonoses] requires collaborative, cross-sectoral efforts of human and animal health systems and a multidisciplinary approach that considers the complexities of the ecosystems where humans and animals coexist."

Jermey adds: "ZSL has 200 years' experience as leaders in this field. Our research has furthered medical understanding of many diseases including Ebola and tuberculosis. The scale and frequency of emerging zoonoses like Covid-19 however, calls for a step change in investment. We are seeing widespread reforms in British science so I hope the Government will take this opportunity to make multi-disciplinary wildlife health research the priority it must be to prevent similar pandemics in future."

What Makes a Good Zoo - A Personal Journey

Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

+66 (0) 93 0835 862 | elvinhow@gmail.com

https://iizc.org/ | Skype: peter.dickinson48

Hair in 'stress': Analyze with care

2020-03-13T00:51:00.002+00:00

CREDIT

Jan Zwilling

Hair in 'stress': Analyze with care

Common hormone analysis in animal hair can lead to overestimated cortisol levels

Similar to humans, wild animals' reaction to disturbance is accompanied by releasing hormones, such as cortisol. To understand the impact of various "stress" factors - for example, competition for food, encounters with predators, or changing environmental conditions - on wildlife, scientists first need to determine the baseline levels of relevant hormones for each species. Researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) now uncovered possible pitfalls of the commonly used hormone analysis method that overestimate concentrations of cortisol and thus lead to overstated conclusions. They investigated whether glucocortiocoid hormones deposited in animal hair can be reliable biomarkers to indicate the impact of disturbances. The source of errors in the commonly used antibody-based enzyme immunoassays (EIA) method is described in a recently published article in the scientific journal "Conservation Physiology".

Scientists led by Prof. Katarina Jewgenow, head of the Department of Reproduction Biology at Leibniz-IZW, conducted a comparative analysis on the hair samples from six mammalian species: Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), and Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota). They measured the concentration of the "stress" hormone cortisol in hair extracts using the widely applied method of antibody-based enzyme immunoassays (EIA). This method is based on the ability of an antibody to recognize a three-dimensional molecule structure specific to a particular hormone. Such antibodies will also bind to closely related molecules which express similar structures. Usually such "group"-specific antibodies are very useful for wildlife species - where the relevant "stress" hormone is often unknown - but it also means that the concentration of other substances might be measured that are irrelevant to the biological process under observation, in the case of "stress" hormones such as cortisol to a stressful situation.

To be certain that the natural hormone was extracted from mammalian hair the researchers compared the EIA results to a more comprehensive and precise procedure, a mass spectrometry analysis. They discovered significant discrepancies in the indicated hormone levels. The EIA overestimated the concentration of cortisol by up to ten times. Further biochemical analysis showed that this overestimate was not connected with any substance related to cortisol, but rather to unknown hair born molecules. For that reason they strongly recommend a careful validation of each EIA before using it to the analysis of hormones from hair samples. As it is already known that age, sex and time of the year might influence baseline hair cortisol level, information about age and sex of the individual and the sampling date should also be available.

In a previous study Leibniz-IZW doctoral student Alexandre Azevedo analysed hair samples of Egyptian mongooses (Herpestes ichneumon) from seven provinces of Portugal. He and his colleagues wanted to know whether the successful reintroduction of the Iberian lynx to Portugal is a stressful influence on the mongoose population as the Iberian lynx is a direct food competitor to the mongoose, but lacked a suitable method.

Collecting hair samples is currently frequently suggested as a non-invasive way of assessing "stress" levels as they can be collected without disturbing the animal. "Taking blood samples to measure cortisol concentrations in the serum itself causes considerable stress. Cortisol metabolites can also be detected in faeces, but finding out which individual defecated is quite complicated in free-ranging animals unless the defecation was actually witnessed by the observer", says Jewgenow. "In contrast, hair samples are often obtained in a minimally invasive way using 'hair-traps' which are usually installed to collect samples for genetic analyses from wildlife population." Now such samples can also be used to determine the concentration of cortisol in hair provided the analytical method has been previously validated.

What Makes a Good Zoo - A Personal Journey

Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant

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