ZooNews Digest 7th - 14th March 2005 (Zoo News 344)

ZooNews Digest 7th - 14th March 2005 (Zoo News 344)
Peter Dickinson : elvinhow@gmail.com

Dear Colleague,

Last weekend I attended the Association of British Wild Animal 
Keepers 2005 Symposium. I travelled down to Dudley Zoo on both days 
with Michelle P. If she had not been kind enough to offer a lift I 
doubt I could have afforded to go. She is a good friend and good 
company. Thanks Michelle.
Tom L. joined us the first day, but could not get the time off work 
to attend on both. Pity then that there was no reduction in fee to 
cover eventualities like this. A case of "two for the price of one" 
in reverse. The conference itself was extremely well organised and 
the catering superb. It was highly enjoyable. My thanks to all 
concerned.

The event was well attended. Sadly though, I reckon over half the 
delegates were students. I suppose in a way that this is good in as 
much as many of these are the zoo employees of the future but sad in 
that only a very small number of UK zoos were represented. One of the 
presentations (within the AGM) dealt with this very subject. There 
are huge number of UK & Eire keepers out there who are not members of 
ABWAK.
From a personal point of view I find this disturbing on many counts. 
Firstly, if small zoos like the Welsh Mountain Zoo can pay for 
Association membership for all staff who are in their employ for more 
than 12 months then why can't larger or other zoos?
Secondly, as British tax payers zoo employees are entitled to 
membership of one professional organisation (correct me if I am 
wrong). This can be written off your tax, so membership is in effect, 
free! Perhaps your zoo could arrange this on your behalf.
Thirdly, the `Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice' 
in Section 10 and Appendix 9 promotes `Staff and Training'. I believe 
that having all zoo staff as active members of ABWAK goes some way 
towards doing just that.
I have been an ABWAK member since the very start. A good proportion 
of that time I paid my own dues, as I do now. It is nice when someone 
else foots the bill but as a professional I feel I owe it to myself 
to keep updated on what is happening in my field of work. Don't all 
zoo staff feel the same? 

There was a good mix of presentations which is always refreshing. As 
usual plenty of opportunity to mix, mingle and socialise. It was nice 
to catch up with people I had not seen for some time and indeed, meet 
some who I had only known by name before. I must admit to being a 
little perturbed by two people I know who went out of there way to 
avoid all, including eye, contact with me. One wonders what I had 
done to offend them so. It is a funny old world.

On the International scene, Teague Stubbington gave a short 
presentation on the up and coming `Second International Congress of 
Zookeepers' which will be taking place in Queensland, Australia in 
May 2006 (see details at http://www.iczoo.org ). I share his 
enthusiasm that this extremely important meeting should be a great 
success and urge you to make the effort to attend. You have just over 
a year!! Look for a sponsor (surely most zoos could sponsor one 
keeper?), have a car boot sale, use eBay. Get the cash together.
Teague suggested that this was a meeting for Keepers and not Curators 
and Directors as they already had plenty of opportunities to meet. 
Here I disagree in part. True the latter do have plenty of meetings 
of their own but any Curator or Director worth their salt is 
a `keeper'(or carer or handler or whatever name you like to throw at 
it) too. They should attend on an equal footing, we can all learn 
from each other. What is in a title anyway. I first got 
a `curator/general manager' moniker back in 1970. I have always been 
a `keeper' though. No delusions of grandeur here.
That being said though if it comes to only one member of staff from a 
zoo attending this meeting I believe the Director should take back 
seat. The age old arguement is bound to some to the fore. "We can't 
spare the workers!"....And the answer is. If they were ill or injured 
or on holiday you would manage. So pull out the stops. In the end it 
is the zoo which is advantaged in knowledge and morale!

The Wildlife Centre for sale in Belize, advertised here for the 
second week sounds quite exciting. Fantastic opportunity for someone. 
I wish I had the cash to spare.

Olivia spent a few days with me which was nice. She treated to me a 
couple of meals out which made her visit even better still. On one 
day we drove along Colwyn Bay prom. Waves the size of houses started 
breaking over the top of the car. We retreated when the said waves 
started to include rocks the size of house bricks. Still, they say 
this is a harbinger of Spring and the forecast is very good for later 
this week.

Since the US chimpanzee attack last week there has been a great deal 
more information. I include further links (though there are a load 
more out here). The whole story is a very sad one and I have sympathy 
for those concerned. I do think it should be noted down and used in 
zoo classroom lectures. If nothing else it shows just how dangerous 
an angry chimp can be.

As I had half expected my house purchasers have asked for a reduction 
in price, in spite of it already being well under the market value. 
This is all I need! It is a sort of devil and deep blue situation. I 
am giving myself a week to mull things over. Staying in Wales right 
now as I have funeral to attend tomorrow. Hardly worth the running 
backwards and forwards to Derbyshire spending petrol money I have not 
got.

Another lengthy bunch of links. Some very interesting stories out 
there.

Sudan's army slaughters elephants for Asian markets
Sudan's army and proxy militias are slaughtering large numbers of 
elephants in southern Sudan and parts of unstable central Africa to 
fill a growing Asian market, mainly in China, for ivory. 
A report compiled for the British-based wildlife charity Care for the 
Wild International, said Sudan is now the focal point for the illegal 
ivory trade which is attacking elephant populations in surrounding 
nations. 
Southern Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Central 
African Republic, Kenya and possibly Chad have become major sources 
for raw ivory exports to Asia through Sudan, where the sale carved 
items produced before a 1989 international ban on the trade in ivory 
is allowed, it said. 
Esmond Martin, a respected elephant researcher who led the month-long 
investigation, told reporters here that the Sudanese army and pro-
government militias had virtually invaded Garamba National Park in 
the eastern DRC where "the killing of elephants is out of control." 
"The poachers are mainly members of the Sudanese army who possess the 
necessary firearms and ammunition," he said. "They also have access 
to 
http://www.keepmedia.com/pubs/AFP/2005/03/14/769169

Zoo cleaning lady makes fatal mistake
A tiger in a Ukrainian zoo killed a woman trying to clean the 
animal's cage by mistake, Interfax news agency reported on Thursday. 
The incident occurred at the Kiev city zoo after the 23-year-old 
woman confused enclosure doors, entered the cage of a tiger known to 
be dangerous, and began collecting trash. 
The female tiger, named Svetlana, attacked the woman almost 
immediately, biting the victim in the neck and breaking her backbone. 
The woman died in an ambulance on the way to hospital, according to 
Magnolia TV, a Kiev-produced television programme reporting on crime 
and police news. 
The tiger, Svetlana, will not be 
http://www.mg.co.za/articledirect.aspx?area=&articleid=199290

Zoo Celebrates Birth of Flying Squirrel
Singapore's zoo is celebrating the birth of a red giant flying 
squirrel, believed to be the first born in captivity in Asia. Last 
year, the baby's mother and other members of the mysterious species 
were saved from being eaten in a restaurant in China. 
"It's a very big deal," Dr. Chris Furley, director of zoology and 
veterinary services at the zoo, said Wednesday. "This group of 
animals was originally rescued from a restaurant and confiscated and 
given to the zoo. They were virtually rescued from certain death and 
now they're breeding." 
Flying squirrels, a species belonging to the rodent family, are a
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=566806&CMP=OTC-
RSSFeeds0312

Maui Ape Preserve plan faltering 
More than a decade after the Gorilla Foundation announced it was 
moving to Maui, an ape preserve has yet to materialize and the 
project remains $3 million short of its fund-raising goal.
Now the California nonprofit is facing new setbacks: the wavering 
commitment of longtime benefactor Maui Land & Pineapple Co. and a 
couple of lawsuits by former workers that could damage its image and 
finances.
"We were moving along, but there have been so many distractions 
lately," said Mary Cameron Sanford, a member of the Gorilla 
Foundation board and former ML&P chairwoman. "I'm just as anxious as 
anyone else to get them over here."
In 1994, Maui Pine granted the Woodside, Calif.-based Gorilla 
Foundation a long-term lease on 70 acres of former pineapple land 
near Mahinahina. The foundation's plan was to bring Koko the gorilla 
and her friends to a climate better suited to their 
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Mar/09/ln/ln06p.html

Third 'gorilla breast' woman sues 
A third woman hired to look after a gorilla is suing her Californian 
ex-employer for allegedly ordering her to show her breasts to the 
animal. 
Iris Rivera says Gorilla Foundation boss Francine Patterson told her 
to bare her nipples as a way of bonding with the gorilla, Koko. 
Two other women, Nancy Alperin and Kendra Keller, made similar 
allegations last week in their own legal action. 
The Gorilla Foundation, based in San Francisco, strongly denies the 
claims. 
Ms Rivera was an 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4300803.stm

Toledo Zoo veterinarian blames firing on his warnings to USDA
But officials deny cause related to 2004 report
The veterinarian fired from the Toledo Zoo last week said his slide 
from grace began when he spoke frankly to federal officials in 2004 
during a routine annual animal-care inspection.
Tim Reichard was dismissed on Feb. 28 from his $75,000-a-year 
position after 22 years of service. The dismissal followed a yearlong 
struggle between Dr. Reichard and zoo administrators.
Zoo officials yesterday maintained the veterinarian's dismissal was 
entirely unrelated to the 2004 U.S. Department of Agriculture 
inspection, or to any animal-care issues. A year ago, USDA inspectors 
found the zoo failed to heed warnings from Dr. Reichard about animal 
care.
"The termination was a result of our concerns over Dr. Reichard's 
administrative and management skills that we had worked with him to 
address over the last several years," said William Dennler, the zoo's 
executive director, in a prepared statement. Dr
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20050308/NEWS15/50308002/-1/NEWS

After visit by USDA, zoo leaders sought out a 'disgruntled' worker
When the Toledo Zoo received a critical federal report in February 
after an inspection by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, zoo 
officials began a campaign to find out why they were under such 
scrutiny. 
After the inspection, zoo administrators began looking into why they 
were investigated, and what was behind the investigators' "aggressive 
tone." 
Tim Reichard, the zoo's chief veterinarian for the past 22 years who 
was fired last week, said it was his candor with federal officials 
about problems concerning animal care during their inspection that 
led to his downfall. 
A review of the zoo's board minutes from 2004 reveals that William 
Dennler, the zoo's executive director, planned to contact the 
supervisor for USDA inspectors "to try to determine why this 
inspection was conducted at this time and in this manner." Mr. 
Dennler also 
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20050310/NEWS15/503100451/-1/NEWS

Clash of philosophies, loss of animals triggered turmoil
The concrete water bowl was shoved aside. In its place was a hole, 
scratched into the concrete, the last efforts of a dying bear trying 
to find water.
Diane Dawson fell apart when she saw it. She had cared for this sloth 
bear for months as its keeper. And now everything she feared, the 
very thing she tried desperately to prevent, had happened. 
"It was awful. I cannot tell you what an awful experience that was. I 
loved her. She was a wonderful bear," Ms. Dawson said from her St. 
Louis home last week.
"We killed that bear."
If you're looking for the roots of what led to the firing of Toledo 
Zoo veterinarian Tim Reichard, this may be as good a place as any: 
the death of the sloth bear named Medusa by dehydration in December, 
2000. 
It's an emotional milestone that raised the sense of urgency in the 
veterinarian, at the very moment the zoo's power structure was about 
to subtly shift in a way that would distance him from other middle 
managers and ultimately contribute to his estrangement from zoo 
executives. What followed was the slow but steady downfall of a man 
trapped on one side by management changes within the zoo, and on the 
other, by his own passion to protect and care for animals.
Dr. Reichard was fired by the zoo Feb. 28 after more than 22 years as 
its veterinarian. Zoo Executive Director William Dennler said the vet 
was dismissed because of "concerns over Dr. Reichard's administrative 
and management skills that we had worked with him to address over the 
last several years." Dr. Reichard maintains he was fired because he 
spoke frankly to inspectors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
in February, 2004, about animal deaths and animal care issues at the 
zoo.
After the inspection, top zoo officials were asked to correct 10 
problem areas. Within the comments, the administrators were 
told: "The attending veterinarian has not been given the appropriate 
authority to ensure all aspects of adequate veterinary care." 
On Friday, Tina Skeldon Wozniak, president of the Lucas County 
commissioners, announced the formation of an investigative committee 
to look into problems at the zoo.
Ms. Wozniak, the granddaughter of Frank 'Curly' Skeldon, former Blade 
business editor and first director of the Toledo Zoo, said, "The 
Toledo Zoo is too important ... to allow these questions to continue."
Also on Friday, zoo board President Stephen Staelin said he would 
convene a special meeting of the board to hear Dr. Reichard's plea to 
be reinstated. 
Reichard wasn't told of action fatal to bear
The death of the sloth bear was a nightmare moment for everyone at 
the Toledo Zoo. As the story of what happened unfolded, it was clear 
that poor communication and hubris had conspired in a tragic decision 
to isolate a bear, believed to be pregnant, without food or water.
There is an irony to the role the bear's death came to play in Dr. 
Reichard's future. It is this: Dr. Reichard was out of town when the 
bear was put into the den. He was not told the action had been taken. 
He never was informed of the keeper's pleas to give the bear food and 
water. And when he returned from a research trip, curators did not 
tell him that they had denned the bear.
Denning the bear without food and water was the decision of Tim 
French, large mammal curator. To all appearances, Mr. French failed 
to tell his supervisors what he was doing. But he did tell his staff, 
and Ms. Dawson tried to talk him out of it.
"He totally didn't listen to me," Ms. Dawson said.
Wynona Shellebarger, the zoo's other veterinarian, failed to take up 
Ms. Dawson's case, although she attended the meeting at which denning 
was discussed, Ms. Dawson said. 
The daily notes Ms. Dawson filed in her keeper record, each one an 
accounting of her worries about the bear, brought no attention from 
anyone. Finally, her emotional distress was so great that she asked 
to be transferred to another part of the zoo.
She was working in primates when she learned her bear had died.
"Dr. Tim [Reichard] just felt so bad that it had happened. He just 
felt very responsible because I could not reach anyone. I could not 
reach anybody. He just felt so bad there was such a breakdown in the 
system and that I felt so much pressure," Ms. Dawson said.
Mr. French was forced to resign after the bear's death. But Dr. 
Reichard did not escape blame. As the chief veterinarian, he was 
deemed responsible for the veterinary staff's failure to intervene on 
behalf of the animal.
In Dr. Reichard's evaluation at the end of 2000, his 
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20050313/NEWS15/503130380/-1/NEWS

Chimp owners release letter regarding attack
As the investigation continues into last week's violent chimpanzee 
attack at a Havilah animal sanctuary, the owners of Animal Haven 
Ranch are speaking out regarding the incident. 
In a statement, Ralph and Virginia Brauer, owners of the Animal Haven 
Ranch, said, "Everyone at Animal Haven Ranch is praying for Saint 
James Davis. Also, we pray for LaDonna Davis, who's strength we so 
admire. We want to give our sincere thanks to the Kern County 
Sheriff's Department, Animal Control, and Fish and Game for the 
professional and sensitive manner in which they responded to this 
tragic accident." 
They went on to say, "Nobody feels more sorrow over the loss of the 
two chimpanzees than Animal Haven Ranch. This was a decision that had 
to be made to save a human life. Animal Haven Ranch continues to care 
for the chimpanzees that so
http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=5F412782-3001-
49B1-98D0-A469B9102C88

Mauled man tried to 'reason' with chimps during attack,
wife says man who was severely mauled by two chimpanzees at an animal 
sanctuary last week was quickly overwhelmed when the apes attacked, 
his wife said Monday.
"One was at his head, one was at his foot. But all that time ... he 
was trying to reason with them," a sobbing LaDonna Davis told "Good 
Morning America." "I couldn't do anything."
Davis, 64, and her husband, St. James Davis, were visiting Animal 
Haven Ranch near Bakersfield on Thursday when two male chimps escaped 
their enclosure and attacked the couple.
"When we made eye contact, the charge was on," LaDonna Davis 
said. "There was no stopping anything, and the big chimp came around 
from behind me and pushed me into my husband. The male came around 
from behind and chomped off my thumb ... my husband must have 
realized we were in deep trouble because he pushed me backward. At 
that time, they both went for him."
St. James Davis, 62, lost all the fingers from
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/californi
a/northern_california/11073633.htm

Davis Family faces serious challenge after chimpanzee attack
It was sad to learn that former NASCAR Grand National Division, West 
Series driver St. James Davis is currently in a hospital, reported to 
be in critical condition, after being attacked by two chimpanzees who 
escaped from their cages at a wild life sanctuary near Bakersfield. 
His wife and crew chief, LaDonna Davis, was treated for animal bites.
According to wire reports, from the Associated Press, the Davises 
were visiting the Animal Haven Ranch -- a sanctuary for retired zoo 
animals -- on Thursday, March 3, in Havilah, Calif., approximately 20 
miles south of Bakersfield. They were specifically there to visit 
their pet chimpanzee, Moe, and throw him a birthday party. Moe had 
been placed at the animal sanctuary in 1999 after he bit off the tip 
of a woman's finger who was visiting the Davis home in West Covina.
Somewhere around 11:30 a.m. Thursday morning, four chimpanzees at the 
sanctuary escaped from their cages. Two of them turned on the Davises 
and attacked them. The vicious primates were killed at the scene by 
zoo officials. The remaining two chimps at large were captured 
approximately one hour later, and returned to their cages. It's still 
unknown exactly how the animals escaped from their confined area.
St. James was airlifted to the Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield for 
treatment where he was listed in critical condition. According to a 
prepared statement from a hospital spokesman, released via the 
Associated Press, Davis sustained severe facial injuries from the 
attack and will need extensive surgery to reattach his nose. It was 
also reported that his testicles and a foot were also severed during 
the attack. LaDonna was treated for the animal bites she sustained 
while attempting to fend off the attack, and released.
To fully understand the powerful emotion of this tradegy, you have to 
be aware of how Moe became a part of the Davis family to begin with. 
He was adopted by the Davises approximately 35 years ago and quickly 
became the child the couple never had. Moe's adoption literally saved 
his life. At the time, St. James was in Africa participating in a 
boat race. Also at that time government officials there were 
concerned about the rising numbers of the ape population and 
initiated a reduction program. As the adult apes were killed, their 
babies were left behind to die. Their extremities were cut off and 
used to manufacture afrodisiacs. Their hands and feet were cut off to 
be sold while the rest of their bodies were left lying on the ground.
Moe's mother had been killed when he was only a few days old. St 
James happened to run into a man on a street corner who had tiny Moe 
inside of his pocket. St. James immediately fell in love with the 
tiny monkey and could not bear the thought that he had been sentenced 
to death. He decided to adopt Moe but, as it turned out, the red tape 
and paperwork was easier said than done and St. James had to spend an 
additional three months in Africa before he could bring Moe to his 
new home.
It was immeadiately apparent that Moe was smarter than the average 
monkey and, with training from his new parents, soon developed quite 
a few talents. Moe soon became a source of income for the Davis 
family and did work in movies and television and even appeared on the 
old game show Bowling For Dollars. St. James noted that Moe loves to 
bowl and said "he can't place his fingers in the holes of the bowling 
ball so he uses to palm of his hand to roll the ball down the alley 
and then dances up and down when the pill fall over."
Moe also made personal appearances at many functions, such as 
birthday parties, and even signed autographs for his growing number 
of fans. It was LaDonna who taught him how to sign his name. All the 
letters in the name Mogambo were a little too much to learn, so she 
taught him how to write M-O-E and that became the primate's lifelong 
nick name.
Moe also developed a talent for driving that came from a go kart that 
St. James made for him. Moe wasn't exactly good at stopping the cart 
and turning off the engine. Whenever he was through driving he would 
stand up on the seat and jump off leaving the kart to wildly around 
the back yard until it ran into something and stopped itself.
It was that ability to drive that first brought Moe to the attention 
of the Los Angeles-based media. Every weekday St. James would drive 
Moe home from the studio he was working at and stop at a local gas 
station near his home. He would put some gas in the two-seat roadster 
he was driving at the time and then let Moe drive the remaining few 
blocks home.
It didn't take long for the word to get out about the car driving 
monkey and every afternoon spectators would gather on the sidewalk, 
between the gas station and the Davis home, to wave at Moe as he 
drove by. While it was natural that a car driving monkey would 
attract a lot of attention, it was also natural that someone was 
going to have a problem with it.
When that someone compained to the West Covina Police it was, 
needless to say, greatly embellished and local authorities thought 
that some crazed animal the size of King Kong was terrorizing the 
Davis home. With local police, a swat unit, animal control and the 
Los Angeles media at the scene, the front of the house looked like it 
was under siege that day. Moe just took everything in his stride and 
went to his cage for a nap. ST James explained to authorities that 
everything was fine and Moe took a nap everyday at the same time and 
they would have to come back tomorrow.
The local court system in West Covina was in a quandry over this 
case. It was clear that something was going to have be done but no 
one knew exactly what to do. Adding to the situation was the fact 
that the media had completely fallen in love with Moe and was giving 
the court hearing massive coverage because, after all, how often does 
a monkey get busted for driving without a liscense? In the final 
resouloution the judge, who also was captivated by Moe, issued the 
monkey an honorary California driver's liscense and ST James agreed 
not to let him drive on city streets and state highways anymore.
The happy times in the Davis household came to a crashing halt late 
in 1999 when judicial officials from the City of West Covina alledged 
that Moe had inflicted injury to people. That story was carried by 
KTTV, a Los Angeles based Fox Network affiliate, who back then quoted 
West Covina City Attorney Martin Meyer as saying "this is not a 
situation where we have a cutle little monkey, this is a very 
dangerous animal."
The news report also stated that a news group caught Moe on videotape 
when the chimp got out of the house and out of control. The report 
alledged that Moe charged an animal control officer and also 
alledgely bit the hand of a police officer. The situation was 
compounded later in 1999 when Moe bit off a woman's fingertip. The 
woman put her hand inside of his cage despite the fact that the 
Davises warned her not to do it. The woman had long red fingernails 
at the time. It was pointed out that Moe's favorite treat was red 
licorice and when he saw the red fingernails he mistook it for a 
treat.
In the legal aftermath from 1999, City Attorney Meyer was quoted as 
saying "I believe they love the monkey and I, quite candidly, think 
http://www.whowon.com/sresults.asp?SanctionID=230&StoryID=144292

Thorns from dunes to feed rhinos 
coastal park ranger in north Wales has solved the problem of thorn 
bushes growing out of control on sand dunes- by offering them as food 
for rhinos. 
The sand dunes at Prestatyn have become overgrown with sea buckthorns 
which are threatening to interfere with natural movement of the 
dunes. 
Ranger Alex Lister came up with the idea of giving the uprooted 
bushes to feed rare black rhinos at Chester Zoo. 
The zoo's nutritionist says the plant is an ideal addition to their 
diet. 
The plant was introduced to the Gronant dunes in the 1950s as a way 
of holding 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4331317.stm

Animal rights protest over resort's aquarium plans
AN ANIMAL rights campaigner last night condemned plans for a sea life 
centre in Southport, saying it could attract protesters from around 
the country.
Tony Moore of Fight Against Animal Cruelty in Europe (FAACE), said 
the aquarium, which could form part of the resort's £50m seafront 
regeneration, would force marine life out of its natural habitat.
Mr Moore said the centre would experience the same sorts of animal 
rights pickets that dogged Southport Zoo, which closed last year.
He said: "There is no justification 
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_object
id=15273950%26method=full%26siteid=50061%26headline=animal%2drights%
2dprotest%2dover%2dresort%2ds%2daquarium%2dplans-name_page.html

Anheuser-Busch, DDB Follow Cruel Trend of Exploiting Chimpanzees
Ad agency DDB Chicago has created a television commercial for Bud 
Light in which a chimpanzee depicted in a cage at a zoo steals a beer 
from a zoogoer and then taunts the man with it in retaliation for his 
having teased the chimpanzee with a banana.
Please contact Anheuser-Busch, the maker of Bud Light, and its 
advertising agency, DDB Chicago, to politely show your concern about 
the cruelty inherent in using great apes in entertainment. Be sure to 
point out t
http://www.peta.org/alert/automation/AlertItem.asp?id=1262

Ba Ria Vung Tau to set up safari park
Vietnam-Denmark Environment Technology joint-venture company 
submitted a project this week to the southern province of Ba Ria Vung 
Tau to construct Vietnam's largest safari park.  
With investment capital totaling US$200 million, the state-or-the-art 
park would contain a natural landscape that meets the technical 
requirements of the International Wildlife Conservation Association 
and the International Society of Zoological Gardens.
The wildlife animal park, which will have
http://www.thanhniennews.com/travel/?catid=7&newsid=5324

White tigers at the Downtown Aquarium
The Downtown Aquarium is now home to four white tigers. They're part 
of a new exhibit called White Tigers of the Maharaja's Temple. 
The Downtown Aquarium received certification from the American Zoo 
and Aquarium Association in September which allowed the facility to 
become home to large mammals such as white tigers. 
These are the only white tigers in Houston and four of only a few 
dozen in the world. White tigers are even more rare than pandas. The 
Aquarium hopes to raise awareness of the tiger's plight 
http://www.bloghouston.net/item/377

Oldest gorilla dies in Erie Zoo
Rudy, 49, believed to be the oldest captive lowland gorilla in the 
world, died in his sleep yesterday at the Erie Zoo.
Rudy's death appeared to be from old age, said zoo spokesman Scott 
Mitchell. Rudy's appetite had been declining recently, he said, 
adding that it's not unusual for captive gorillas to begin having 
health problems in their late 20s and early 30s.
Rudy's body was transported to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo 
yesterday, where a necropsy will be performed today by Dr. Chris 
Bonar, associate zoo veterinarian. He said Dr. P.J. Palumbo, the 
attending veterinarian at the Erie Zoo, will attend the necropsy.
Gorillas have about half the life expectancy of a human," Bonar 
said, "so you would expect 35-50 years. The 
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05068/468368.stm

Zoo starts background checks 
The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere will begin this month conducting 
security background checks for employees, both paid and volunteer.
Jim Bartoo, the zoo's director of marketing and public relations, 
said the decision to conduct the checks was not spurred by any 
particular incident at the exotic wildlife park.
"We're trying to be proactive with the situation," Bartoo said.
The Nashville office of Accessing America will run the security 
checks on most of the zoo's approximately 105 paid employees, 
including seasonal staff, and roughly 150 volunteers.
With the standard rate of $15 per employee, the effort could cost the 
zoo at least $3,825. However, Bartoo said the zoo is likely to get a 
reduced rate, given the number of employees to be checked.
Since 2002, Bartoo said, the zoo has conducted checks on those 
employees who handle money and work with children. In addition, the 
zoo does drug testing for some positions, he added.
"The question recently came up, if we're doing checks with some 
employees, why not with others?" he said. 
As attendance at the South Nashville attraction increases — the zoo 
drew about 494,000 people in 2004 and  
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?
section=9&screen=news&news_id=39789

ORANG-UTANS AT CHESTER ZOO
"That this House applauds the outstanding efforts of Britain's zoos 
in saving endangered species from extinction, in particular Chester 
Zoo, where efforts are under way to help save one of humankind's 
closest  
http://edm.ais.co.uk/weblink/html/motion.html/ref=841

LV or California could be Irwin's zoo site
Las Vegas and locations in California are being considered as 
possible sites for "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin's first zoo in the 
United States, his manager and business partner said Friday.
John Stainton, who has produced and directed all of Irwin's 
television shows and movies, said they are in the very early stages 
of finding a place for a zoo in the United States.
He said Las Vegas' climate and steady stream of tourists make the 
city an attractive location, but he cited the cost of the land here 
as a problem.
The availability and cost 
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/lv-
other/2005/mar/07/518405092.html

CORNERED: A LION IS TAMED 
Visitors to Tokyo Zoo were caught in an escaped animal scare when 
a 'lion' went on the rampage.
The beast roared at passers-by and romped round the zoo in Japan 
before being shot with a tranquiliser dart.
But the public really had nothing to fear...
The escape was an annual exercise staged by staff to test safety 
procedures should a dangerous animal ever escape.
And the lion being hunted by more than 
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-13306829,00.html

Judith Ball, who helped bring sun bears to U.S. zoos, dead at 65
Judith Ball, a former zoo curator in Los Angeles and Seattle who led 
an effort to bring distressed Asian sun bears to U.S. zoos, is dead 
at 65.
Ball died Feb. 10 of complications from Alzheimer's disease, 
relatives and professional colleagues said.
She grew up in Chicago, earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in 
zoology from the University of Chicago, then moved to Seattle to 
teach physiology and zoology at Seattle University and Bellevue 
Community College.
She was chief of staff for the Snohomish County Council in the late 
1970s and early 1980s, then became general curator in charge of 
animal care at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, where she became 
fond of a sun bear called Chama.
During the 1990s, said Cheryl Frederick, a bear keeper at the zoo, 
Ball learned that the Sepilok animal rehabilitation center on Borneo 
had become overwhelmed with sun bears people kept as pets, then 
abandoned when the animals grew too big.
Confined to cages that were too small, the bears had taken to pacing 
and mutilating themselves out of emotional distress at a time when 
the numbers of the animals in zoos were declining because they do not 
breed well in captivity, Frederick said.
In 1996 Ball joined another
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/californi
a/northern_california/11072200.htm

Zoo builds $16 million habitat especially for special Chinese imports 
The somewhat rotund diner takes only a moment to glance at the people 
around him, then leans back and continues his meal. Suddenly 
unsatisfied with the seating, he moves to another location, gets more 
food and begins to eat again. Obviously accustomed to his celebrity, 
he ignores the pointing, the stares and the camera flashes. 
There are a few differences between him and your typical famous 
diner - he keeps his fur coat on while he eats, leans on a rock or 
tree while he munches away and may fall asleep 
http://www.al.com/entertainment/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/enterta
inment/1110212101104171.xml

Aquarium to make a splash in East End 
A world-class aquarium is to be built in the East End as the 
centrepiece of a £1.5 billion riverside housing development. 
The £80 million attraction - to be called Biota! - is expected to 
generate one million visits a year and break new ground on 
conservation, scientific research and education. 
It is backed by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), which runs 
London Zoo, and will be on an entirely different scale to the London 
Aquarium tourist attraction on the South Bank.
Designed by architect Sir Terry Farrell, it promises to show aquatic 
life in "breathtaking-reality" while promoting breeding programmes to 
safeguard rare species. 
It will be split into four "biomes" replicating 
http://www.thisislondon.com/news/londonnews/articles/17112454?
source=EveningStandard

More women finding careers in zoos
When Linda Rohr Bachers was growing up in Wisconsin she thought the 
only way she could be around animals was to marry a farmer. She 
didn't know that careers working with elephants, rare birds, and big 
cats existed for women. Today she keeps track of the daily lives of 
1,000 animals at Zoo New England.
Sandy Elliott loved animals but assumed zoo work was men's work. She 
applied for a zookeeper job at Zoo New England on a $20 bet with a 
male friend who thought she was a perfect match for the job 
description. "I've never lost awe of being around these animals," 
says Elliott. She has worked at Stone Zoo for the past 21 years and 
is lead zookeeper.
By the time Hayley Murphy attended veterinarian school there was an 
increase in women training to become veterinarians. Yet to specialize 
in zoo medicine there were only four or five residencies a year 
nationwide. The risks were rewarded. "From hoof stock to birds to 
primates 
http://bostonworks.boston.com/globe/articles/030605_zoos.html

ZOO GOES A LITTLE APE OVER BABY 
A Cuddly new arrival is winning hearts at Twycross Zoo. 
Tamu the Orang-utan is just a few weeks old and a daughter to proud 
mum Theodora and dad, Batu.
The tiny ape born on November 29 is extra special because the 
Warwickshire Zoo won't welcome another baby Orang-utan into the world 
for several years.
Orangutans are 
http://www.tamworthherald.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?
nodeId=159693&command=displayContent&sourceNode=159423&contentPK=11946
550

It's like working in a zoo here...
If it had been Hollywood, someone would have warned Catherine Bowne 
long ago about the perils of working with animals and children. 
But for her, working with the acting profession's two worst 
nightmares can be sheer joy. 
Ms Bowne, 27, is London Zoo's resident primary education officer. And 
unlike 
http://www.tes.co.uk/2078546

Pandas Mating? Zoo Keepers Waiting
Keepers say Lun Lun, the giant panda on loan from China, is fertile 
now. 
Right now. 
This is a once a year event, that only lasts a couple of days! So, go 
to it, Yang Yang. Hopefully, they'll just ignore the crowds.
Otherwise, zoo keepers will try artificial insemination.
The stakes are high. There are fewer than two-thousand giant 
http://www.wgcltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3060891&nav=E8ZRXLk9

Zoo Opens New Pacific Coast Aquarium Exhibit
There's something strange and new at the Henry Doorly Zoo. The 
Pacific Coast Exhibit is now open in the Scott Aquarium at the zoo. 
Visitors can expect to see something different in the 40- to 200-
gallon tanks in the exhibit. The animals featured aren't often seen 
because they live off the shoreline between Mexico and Alaska. 
These cold-water animals live in
http://www.theomahachannel.com/entertainment/4277231/detail.html

Zoo Vets Artificially Inseminate Mei Xiang
Tian Tian Failed To Get Job Done
Zoo veterinarians at the Smithsonian Zoological Park gave the zoo's 
giant pandas a little help.
Mei Xiang underwent artificial insemination Friday morning in hopes 
of getting pregnant, said zoo spokeswoman Peper Long. Scientists used 
a new artificial insemination technique. Dr. Jo Gayle Howard used a 
lighted fiber optic scope to perform the operation. Howard said they 
were just in time for the end of Mei Xiang's peak reproductive 
http://www.nbc4.com/news/4275834/detail.html

Execs' Volvos cost zoo $1,200 a month
What's it cost to keep a zoo executive rolling? These days, more than 
$600 a month. 
The Toledo Zoo's top two executives said good-bye to the Jeep and the 
Dodge the zoo leased for them and recently replaced them with a pair 
of Volvos. 
Executive Director William Dennler drives a 2005 Volvo SUV provided 
by the zoo. The zoo leases the vehicle for $673.94 a month. That's on 
top of his salary of $173,535 and the $12,750 
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20050311/NEWS15/503110415/-1/NEWS

Jumbo in limbo as criticts fight zoo
RIGHT in the middle of Taronga Zoo lies a 4000sq m construction zone.
Some of Sydney's best real estate, with stunning views of the city 
skyline, is being redeveloped into an Asian jungle rainforest. 
The star attractions of the rainforest will be five Asian elephants 
imported from Thailand's tourism industry. 
The only problem is that the elephants are still in quarantine in 
Thailand, waiting for permission from the Federal Government to enter 
the country. 
Four years ago the elephants were the centrepiece of the State 
Government's Budget. Back then, as part of a $225 million upgrade of 
the zoo, Bob Carr promised elephant rides to every man, woman and 
child in NSW. 
Happily for the elephants,
http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?
sectionid=1260&storyid=2796443

SF Zoo's Last Elephant Leaves For Sanctuary
The San Francisco Zoo's last elephant left for a sanctuary in the 
Sierra foothills. 
Zoo officials said they were sad to see Lulu go Thursday. 
Two other elephants that used to
http://www.nbc11.com/news/4278034/detail.html

Mother of girl attacked by gorilla in '03 sues zoo
The mother of a 4-year-old girl attacked by a gorilla at Franklin 
Park Zoo in 2003 filed a lawsuit yesterday in Suffolk Superior Court 
alleging that zoo officials failed to protect the public from an 
animal with ''superhuman strength."
The lawsuit calls for the zoo to compensate the girl, Nia Simone 
Scott of Dorchester, who suffered facial injuries and psychological 
damage, according to Donald L. Gibson, the family's lawyer.
''She underwent considerable psychological trauma," Gibson said 
yesterday. ''Most little girls and boys that I know of are scared of 
the dark; this girl was attacked and mauled by a 350-pound gorilla."
The gorilla, known as Little Joe, escaped on Sept. 28, 2003, by 
climbing out of a 12-foot moat -- ignoring 
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/03/12/mot
her_of_girl_attacked_by_gorilla_in_03_sues_zoo/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+%
20+City%2FRegion+News

No monkey business . . chimps set for new pen 
A NEW life science centre for chimpanzees is set to be built at 
Edinburgh Zoo after city planners backed the scheme. 
The new building will feature three large chimp areas linked to 
research facilities, exhibition space and an auditorium. 
The new area will include a modern indoor enclosure allowing people 
to get closer to the animals than before. 
Raised viewing stations outside the centre will let visitors see the 
animals, one of the zoo's most popular attractions, roaming around 
their new environment. 
The chimps will have a far bigger area to move around in, with the 
enclosure taking up a large section of the zoo's east side. 
Tunnels will allow the animals to travel from the indoor area to one 
of three outdoor enclosures, while massive climbing frames will also 
be built. 
The plans are part of an ongoing 20-year project which will see the 
attraction completely redeveloped on its current site in Corstorphine 
Road. 
Only the Mansion House, a listed building, and the penguin pool are 
likely to remain as they are now. 
In a report to the planning committee, head of planning Alan 
Henderson recommended councillors ap
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=271462005

Neverland Staff, Animals Face Cuts
Michael Jackson got a loan to cover back pay at his Neverland Ranch, 
but may still have to lay off staff and move animals from his private 
zoo, sources tell CBS News Correspondent Vince Gonzales. 
CBS News reported earlier this week that staff at Jackson's Neverland 
Ranch staged a sickout because they had not 
http://wfrv.com/topstories/topstories_story_070201253.html

Dolphin 'waves' artificial fin to admirers
A dolphin, equipped with what is believed to be the world's first 
artificial fin, demonstrated her swimming and jumping skills today to 
celebrate her recovery at a Japanese aquarium. 
The dolphin, named Fuji, carried a message in a case with her mouth, 
splashed the water with a giant jump and climbed onto a stage in 
front of 750 spectators at the Churaumi Aquarium on the sub-tropical 
island of Okinawa. 
"She waved her rubber fin a good-bye at the end of the 20-minute 
demonstration in an event to mark her recovery," Miki Yoshido, the 
aquarium's director, told AFP by telephone. 
Fuji, estimated to be 34 years old, lost 75 per cent of her tail fin 
due to a mysterious disease in late 2002. 
She wears the rubber, which weighs two kilograms with a width of 48 
centimetres, for about 20 
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1322110.htm

Protests over new rhino enclosure
Plans for a new home for the rhinos at the West Midland Safari Park 
have sparked objections from neighbours who say they are surrounded 
on three sides by animals. 
Neighbours say the proposed 15ft high rhino enclosure follows a tiger 
enclosure which was given planning approval last year. 
They say cars queue to drive through enclosures near homes and they 
constantly hear horns blowing. 
Neighbour Mike Insull, in a letter 
http://www.expressandstar.com/articles/news/es/article_72009.php

Australian couple acting as pandas' grandparents 
Pandas are the national treasure of China. A couple from Australia 
took the job of adopting several pandas when they visited China. Then 
they even quit their jobs and moved to China to take care of their 
babies. 
Jaye Alian from Canberra, Australia, visited the Chengdu breeding 
centre in southwest China in 1997 and adopted panda Chengcheng, which 
is now a 19-year-old bear. After they returned home, they couldn't 
get their baby out of their minds and decided to quit their jobs and 
move to Chengdu to be closer to the bear. They are now English 
teachers in Chengdu and life-term volunteer workers at the breeding 
center. 
The Panda's adopted parents spend their 
http://www.ettoday.com/2005/03/12/11195-1764007.htm

Second breeding centre for Asia's vanishing vultures
Work is beginning in West Bengal on a second captive-breeding centre 
for three Asian species of Gyps vulture, which have declined 
catastrophically in recent years. The vultures suffer kidney failure 
and death after feeding on carcasses of cattle treated with 
diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug, which in the 1990s was 
introduced for veterinary use across the Indian subcontinent.
Four more breeding centres centres are planned, in an attempt to 
create reservoirs of birds to be re-introduced once the environment 
is clear of diclofenac.
Meanwhile, 44 birds, equal numbers of Indian and White-rumped 
Vultures (Gyps indicus and G. bengalensis), have been brought 
together at the first captive breeding centre at Haryana, India. Two 
additional colony aviaries, with trees and artificial ledges for 
nesting, have been built at Haryana, providing 
http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2005/03/vultures.html

Learning the language of chimps
SHE might not be able to talk to the animals, but a Scots scientist 
has successfully tuned into the detailed and subtle intricacies used 
by humans' closest evolutionary relatives.
Katie Slocombe, a PhD student in psychology at St Andrews University, 
has evidence of a plethora of vocal interactions which were 
previously dismissed as just chimpanzees making an "emotional" racket.
After spending eight months living with a group of wild chimpanzees 
in the Budongo forest in Uganda, she has discovered up to 70 new 
phrases and sounds used by chimpanzees, including warning each other 
of threats of violence, talking about going off travelling and even 
where their favourite food is hidden.
Previous research by Jane Goodall, the world's foremost authority on 
chimpanzee behaviour, and who lived with primates in the jungles of 
the Gombe Game Reserve in Tanzania in the 1960s, revealed about 
30 "words" or sounds made by the animals.
Miss Goodall's work has long been regarded as having made huge 
inroads into scientific thinking regarding the evolution of humans.
Miss Slocombe, whose findings were revealed yesterday at Edinburgh 
zoo as part of National Science Week, which runs until March 20, said
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/35136.html

The zoo's modern mission
Global conservation efforts gain traction; Pittsburgh's efforts among 
tops in U.S.
With a Ph.D. from Columbia University and a long list of fellowships, 
conservation biologist Peter Fashing could have found a job as a 
professor at a university and spent his career teaching on campuses 
and researching in the wild. 
Instead, he joined the staff of the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. 
Since arriving at the zoo in 2002, he's spent time on the zoo's dime 
studying monkeys in Kenya, and is awaiting permission from the 
Ethiopian government to research baboons in the Simian Mountains. 
He's one of three zoo staff members working around the globe on 
conservation projects aimed at maintaining the health of animal 
populations outside of the zoo. 
"It's an alternative avenue becoming more popular in recent years" 
among researchers, said the 35-year-old Fashing. "Most people end up 
working in academics," often because there isn't enough awareness of 
the work that zoos do. 
Humans have kept animals in captivity for thousands of years since 
the ancient Sumerians, and today there are an estimated 10,000 zoos 
around the world. 
But the zoo isn't just a place to watch animals anymore. 
In the past two decades, zoos across the country have been focusing 
on animal research and conservation projects around the globe. What 
were once Noah's Ark-like menageries of species 
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05073/470906.stm

One donation to the digest this week. Total stands at 80. For details 
on how to donate or if you know someone who would be interested in 
subscribing to ZooNews Digest or Zoo Biology please direct them to 
the link below:
http://www.geocities.com/peterd482001/Index.html


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Wildlife Center for sale

Wildlife Center for sale, Belize, Central America. Includes personal 
and staff living accommodation, extensive caging, enclosures, great 
potential for expansion in prime location. US$125,000. For more 
information contact Mark Nielsen at mdnielsen89@yahoo.com

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The Bottom Line: Saving Sea Turtles is Good for the Economy

Report Released Shows Moratorium and High Seas Marine Protected Areas 
Would Reverse the Damage Caused by Industrial Longline Fishing

CONTACT: Robert Ovetz, Ph.D. +1 415 488 0370 x104

(Forest Knolls, CA)-—A new report, "The Bottom Line: Saving Sea 
Turtles is Good for the Economy," published by the Sea Turtle 
Restoration Project today has found that industrial longline fishing 
in the Pacific not only causes extensive damage to the marine 
ecosystem but has pervasive negative cultural, economic and social 
consequences for coastal fishing and fish consuming communities. 
Implementing a moratorium on industrial longlining and creating a 
network of Marine Protected Areas on the high seas of the Pacific 
would be a boon to local coastal economies.

"Industrial longline fishing is a loss-loss situation not only for 
sea turtles but also those who rely on the ocean for their food and 
livelihood," says Robert Ovetz, PhD, Save the Leatherback Campaign 
Coordinator and author of the report. "Creating a network of Marine 
Protected Areas would reverse the damage to local fisheries, 
indigenous peoples, tourism and food security inflicted by industrial 
longline fishing."

The report comes at the time when 705 international scientists from 
83 nations and 230 non-governmental organizations from 54 countries 
have called on the United Nations to implement a moratorium on 
industrial longline fishing in the Pacific. A recent report found 
that industrial longline fishing in the Pacific catches and kills an 
estimated 4.4 million sea turtles, sharks, marine mammals, billfish 
and seabirds.

Released during the meeting of the United Nations Food and 
Agriculture Organization's Committee on Fisheries Meeting in Italy 7-
11 March, the report gives additional momentum to new guidelines 
under consideration to allow time and area closures of destructive 
fishing practices that threaten critically endangered sea turtles. 

"Closing areas of the ocean off from industrial fishing is good for 
fisheries and turtles," Ovetz added. Recent studies have demonstrated 
that Marine Protected Areas protect not only threatened marine 
species but are also extremely successful at restoring depleted 
fisheries.

One of the biggest problems with industrial longlining is that it 
removes fish from local markets and exports them abroad. MPAs would 
reverse this drain of resources from the developing world. As Ovetz 
explains, "MPAs are crucial for generating job growth by preserving 
the very habitats and species that draw visitors to their shores." 

Resources:

*B-roll footage and interviews are available
*Interviews with leading fisheries and sea turtle scientists are 
available.
*"Last journey for the leatherback?" documentary film

For a copy of the report go to: 
http://www.seaturtles.org/pdf/ACFBE.pdf

The Sea Turtle Restoration Project is an international marine 
environmental organization headquartered in Forest Knolls, California 
and with offices in Costa Rica and Texas. The organization focuses on 
protecting and restoring marine wildlife in ways that address the 
needs of local communities. The Sea Turtle Restoration Project 
(http://www.seaturtles.org) is a project of Turtle Island Restoration 
Network, which also sponsors the Salmon Protection and Watershed 
Network (http://www.spawnusa.org) to protect endangered coho salmon.

SEA TURTLE RESTORATION PROJECT 
POB 400/40 Montezuma Avenue € Forest Knolls, CA 94933 USA
Ph. +1 415 488 0370 ext. 106€ Fax +1 415 488 0372
robert@seaturtles.org € http://www.seaturtles.org 

NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social 
Council of the United Nations

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"Endangered Elephants - past present and future"

The Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human-Elephant 
Relationships and Conflicts held in Sri Lanka in September 2003, are 
now available as a book entitled "Endangered Elephants - past present 
and future". This hard back book contains the papers presented at 
this symposium by the world's leading elephant authorities on topics 
ranging from captive elephant management, elephant genetics, 
conservation, biology, ecology to human-elephant conflict and 
mitigation. It is well illustrated. Copies of the book are available 
for sale at US $25 plus postage. USA/Europe postage $10. Please 
contact Jayantha Jayewardene at romalijj@eureka.lk or 615/32 
Rajagiriya Gardens, Nawala Road, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka to purchase a 
copy.


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Elephant Nature Park

Our latest newsletter has just been posted on site. 

Two new elephants rescued and introduced to the park. Plus exciting 
news of a Netherlands project to walk two more back and provide a 
home at our sanctuary

http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/ 

(follow the news link at the top of the page)

Enjoy!

Adam
Elephant Nature Park
209/2 Sridornchai Road, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

Tel 053 818754, 818932 Fax +66(0)53 818755
info@elephantnaturepark.org

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Notice

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR CONSULTANCY

Pre-qualification / shortlisting of Consulting Firms

Office of Director General, Wildlife & Parks, Punjab
Lahore, Pakistan E-mail wildlife1@wol.net.pak 
Phone : 042-9212367, 9212784, Fax.042-9212371

1. Punjab Wildlife & Parks Department, Lahore – Pakistan intends to 
hire services of International and local consulting firms for 
feasibility studies planning, architectural designing and supervision 
of following projects:

a) Establishment of Safari Park in Cholistan Desert, Bahawalpur – 
Pakistan

b) Establishing of Lahore Wildlife Park, Raiwind Road, Lahore – 
Pakistan

2. Expression of interest (EOI) invited from local & intl. consulting 
firms. Local firms should be registered with Pakistan Engineering 
Council / Pakistan Council of Architects & Town Planners and 
Government of Punjab, P&D Department, and have got themselves renewed 
for the year 04- 05 alongwith following information/documents:

a) Firms name / address, a copy of registration No., Memorandum and 
Article of Association / Partnership Deed 

b) Certificate of registration with Pakistan Engineering Council / 
Pakistan Council of Architects & Town Planners alongwith the latest 
renewal letter.

c) Enlistment / Renewal letter issued by P&D Department for the year 
2004-2005.

d) List of professional staff alongwith C.Vs of relevant core staff 
showing project wise experience with exact time duration for each 
project.

e) List of similar works completed by the firm during last 5 years 
and similar works in hand, indicating total cost of such works and 
cost of consultancy services received against those works alongwith 
date of start and completion or expected date of completion.

f) Certificate of strong financial position.

g) A certificate / affidavit that the firm is not blacklisted by any 
Govt. / Authority and is not involved in litigation with any 
Government Department / Autonomous Body.

h) Updated income tax registration certificate.

i) Certificate to the effect that all information provided by the 
firm is correct.

3. International consulting firms can either apply independently or 
in collaboration with local firms. The international firms if apply 
independently shall provide all documents mentioned above except as 
at Sl.No.2 b,c & h.

4. Selection of consultancy firms shall be done in accordance with 
the procedure set out in "Guidelines for Sel. of Consultant" issued 
by Planning & Development Bd.

5. The para No.5 and para No.7 may be considered omitted. These 
conditions will be applicable subsequently for pre-qualified firms 
only.

6. Punjab Wildlife Department reserves the right to reject one or all 
proposals without assigning any reason.

7. The para No.5 and para No.7 may be considered omitted. These 
conditions will be applicable subsequently for pre-qualified firms 
only.

8. For any clarification please contact dealing hand on above 
mentioned telephone numbers.

9. The EOI must reach the office of Director General, Wildlife & 
Parks, Punjab, 2-Sanda Road, Lahore up to 15th March 2005 during 
office hours.

CAPT. (R) IFTIKHAR AHMAD RAO,
DIRECTOR GENERAL,
WILDLIFE & PARKS, PUNJAB,
2-SANDA ROAD, LAHORE

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CONFISCATED CHIMPANZEES IN KENYA TRANSFERRED TO SWEEWATERS

Five infant chimpanzees that were confiscated at the Nairobi airport 
January 31 have been permanently transferred to the Sweetwaters 
Chimpanzee Sanctuary near Mount Kenya.
The chimpanzees, three females and two males, were being smuggled 
across Africa when alert customs officials at the Jomo Kenyatta 
International Airport became suspicious of sounds coming from a small 
crate that was registered as carrying dogs. Inside, they found six 
infant chimpanzees, one soon died, and four guenon monkeys.
The chimpanzees were transported to Sweetwaters on March 5. The 
guenons remain in the care of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
The chimpanzees are all believed to be less than 18 months old and 
will require round-the-clock care for the next few months to recover 
their health, according to Sweetwaters manager Annie 
Olivecrona. "Some of them were in a pretty terrible state," she said.
Sweetwaters provides permanent care and refuge for 39 chimpanzees. 
The sanctuary was founded in 1994 and is a charter member of the Pan 
African Sanctuaries Alliance.
PASA
Pan African Sanctuaries Alliance
P.O. Box 351651
Los Angeles, California 90035
http://www.panafricanprimates.org

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News from the Netherlands

Emmen Zoo has more active nocturnal tree dwellers in its nocturnal 
part of the Americasa now. Sloths aren't very active, there is just 
one douroucouli left now, and the armadilloes are often active, and 
mostly non active out of sight. The new tree dwellers are a pair of 
Kinkajous. The monkey and the kinkajous watch each other but think 
that the food of the other is more interesting, and all seems to go 
well. The news is in the Dutch version of the homepage of the zoo, 
with a picture. 

Theodoor Westerhof. 

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Great Ape Tour 2005

Dear Animal Lover,
· This year marks the 20th anniversary of the death of anthropologist 
Dian Fossey, famous for her study on Africa's endangered Mountain 
Gorillas. 
· To continue her legacy in both science and conservation, World 
experts discuss the future of the Great Apes and how Australians can 
play a role in ensuring their survival.
· Be inspired by internationally renowned tropical field biologist 
and conservationist Ian Redmond.. "Dian Fossey gave me an 
extraordinary opportunity to study, get to know and live amongst free 
living mountain gorillas"
· Meet Dr Birute Mary Galdikas, the worlds foremost authority on the 
orangutan...and be informed by
· Leif Cocks President and founder of the Australian Orangutan 
Project and Curator of Exotic Mammals at Perth Zoo 

http://www.orangutan.org.au/grasptour2005/greatapetour.html

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THE NORTH OF ENGLAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
RICHARD HUGHES SCHOLARSHIP AWARD 2005


Chester Zoo is a leading Zoological Garden in the U.K. actively 
involved in the conservation of threatened species, habitat support, 
scientific study and the provision of education and recreation to the 
general public.

In February 2001 Richard Hughes, a senior keeper at Chester Zoo, 
tragically lost his life working with the elephants that he loved. In 
memory of Richard, Chester Zoo has dedicated an annual scholarship 
award to support individuals wishing to undertake activities or 
projects concerned with elephant management, welfare and conservation.

The scholarship is open to applications for any type of activity or 
project that deals with issues of elephant management, welfare or 
conservation, in the UK or overseas. The scholarship aims to support 
the development of young people wishing to work with elephants; it is 
open to individuals only and does not support proposals from 
organisations or institutions. Proposals can cover any activity, and 
need not be academically based. Applications are encouraged from 
those wishing to develop their interest in elephants, including 
animal keepers, researchers and students. Details we require for 
applications include an outline of the project, aims and a statement 
of its relevance. Clearly, feasibility will be an important criterion 
when judging the submitted proposals.

The North of England Zoological Society expects those awarded the 
scholarship to uphold the high standards that it expects of its own 
employees and to be fully acknowledged in any 
presentations/publications. It is a condition of the scholarship that 
the Zoo receives a full report on the completed project/activity and, 
if applicable, copies of any resultant publications. 

Scholarships will be awarded up to the value of £1000 for which the 
Society may require receipted expenses (Any special equipment 
purchased will remain the property of the society).

Application forms are available from Scott Wilson, Conservation 
Assistant, The North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, 
Caughall Road, Upton by Chester, Cheshire, CH2 1LH or via email from 
s.wilson@chesterzoo.co.uk. Applications should be received no later 
than Friday 29th April 2005.

Applicants will expect to hear whether or not they may be required 
for interview by 27th May 2005.

*********************************************************************

Zoo Staff Personals

Looking for work? Someone to travel with? Somewhere to stay? Let me 
know and I will post it here.

CAT NATURAL HISTORY STUDY POSITION SOUGHT

I am a 25 year old Scotsman looking for a long term cat natural 
history study position. I am interested in leading/assisting on a 
project with no academic restraints rather than a PhD and am 
avaialble to take up a position from May 2005 onwards .

I am committed to long term exposure in the field and my latest 
experience involved an internship with Dr Rodney Jackson of the Snow 
Leopard Conservancy in the Hindu Kush mountain range, Northern Areas, 
Pakistan. I received training in sign survey transects and camera 
trapping techniques and gave workshops for local game wardens 
relating to sign and survey work. 
(View http://www.snowleopardconservancy.org to see my work).

I have great experience in carrying out field work in remote and 
hostile environments and my recent experience has included working at 
a Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife in the United Arab 
Emirates and as a jungle guide at the Explorer's Inn Jungle lodge in 
the Tambopata Reserve, Madre De Dios, Peru. Other environmental 
experiences have taken me to the Sinai mountains of Egypt, the cloud 
forests of Bolivia and to the Peloponnesus, Greece where I assisted 
on a loggerhead sea turtle study.

I possess the determination and flexibilty required for work in this 
field.

I would be most grateful for any information/advise regarding 
overseas cat projects.

Kind regards

Andrew D Chinn

E-mail: andrewchinn@yahoo.co.uk
chinner1000@hotmail.com

Tel: 00 44 1224 639830
Mobile: 00 7732 902754

*********************************************************************

Situations Vacant
(Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should 
you apply for any of these posts, many thanks) Do you have a vacancy 
to advertise? Please email me.

One advert placed here resulted in over 150 applications!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SECTION HEAD POST (ANIMAL DEPARTMENT)
BLACKPOOL ZOO

Attractive Salary Package: Commensurate with experience.

Blackpool Zoo is looking for an experienced Section Head, to oversee 
the day to day running and future development of one of the 4 animal 
sections within the zoo.

As well as being responsible for your section, you will also be part 
of the Senior Animal Management team within the zoo. In this role, 
you will help to develop, and move forward, the animal department in 
a new and exciting time within Blackpool Zoos history.

A minimum of 6 years zoo keeping experience, plus proven people 
management skills, and the Zoo Animal Management Course, or 
equivalent, are essential.


The closing date for applications is 31st March 2005.

For further details and an application form, please apply, in writing 
enclosing a full CV and quoting Reference SH/AD/05, to:

    Personnel Department
    Blackpool Zoo
    East Park Drive
      Blackpool 
      FY3 8PP


Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cotswold Wildlife Park

Deputy Section Head

Applications are invited for the above full-time position.
The successful applicant will be working as a member of our
Lower Section animal husbandry team in this progressive 
collection. A minimum of 5 years relevant experience with
birds and small mammals is essential, and applicants will need to
demonstrate good communication skills, be self motivated, 
and able to lead and work as part of a team.
Possession of a current full driving licence is required.

In return we offer competitive rates of pay and a company 
pension scheme. Accommodation will be provided.

Please send a current CV together with a hand-written 
covering letter to:
David Edgington, Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens,
Burford, Oxon, OX18 4JW.

The closing date for applications is the 17th March 2005

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Situations Vacant: New Position

Elephant Program Manager, AUSTRALIA ZOO.

Australia Zoo (Home of The Crocodile Hunter) is developing a unique 
and highly progressive management program for Asian elephants.  The 
program will encompass a range of extensive and intensive techniques 
and facilities across several of the Zoo's properties.

We are seeking an experienced elephant manager to assist development 
of this program.

The Elephant Program Manager will be extensively experienced in the 
care and training of elephants in both Free Contact and Protected 
Contact management regimes.  She/He will be highly competent and 
experienced in the application of behavioural conditioning techniques 
utilizing positive reinforcement.  She/He will show an aptitude for 
innovation and creativity in elephant management.

Other selection criteria include

•    Excellent people management skills with demonstrated ability 
to build and manage an elephant management team of skilled 
professional keepers.
•    Demonstrated excellent oral and written communications 
skills, particularly in the development of procedures and practices.
•    Extensive scientifically-based knowledge of elephant biology.
•    A deep understanding for and empathy with elephant behaviour.
•    A high level of physical fitness.
•    A knowledge of, and commitment to, general principles of 
occupational health and safety as they are applied to elephant care 
practices.
•    Demonstrated experience working with elephants beyond the 
confines of a traditional zoo exhibit in publicly accessible places.

Reporting to the Curator and Director, The Elephant Program Manager's 
tasks will include

•    Assuming responsibility after a transition period, for the 
daily care, ongoing training and presentation of the Zoo's 3 cow 
Asian elephants (all aged between 40 and 50 years old).
•    Assisting the recruitment of other elephant care staff and 
the development of an Elephant Management Team.
•    Assisting the design, documentation and implementation of an 
agreed elephant management program that will accord with Australia 
Zoo's philosophy and principles of elephant management as well as 
with the ARAZPA Guidelines for the Management of Elephants in 
Australasian Zoos.
•    Assisting an acquisition program for additional elephants.
•    Assisting the design and development of facilities for 
elephants on the Zoo's properties.

The successful candidate will be required to live in the vicinity of 
Australia Zoo in South Eastern Queensland.

Negotiated translocation costs will be paid by the Zoo.

Immigration will be assisted where this is necessary.

Applications should include full education/employment history and the 
names of at least two referees, should address the selection criteria 
and task requirements and may be submitted by Mail, Fax or Email 
(EMAIL PREFERRED) and addressed as follows

For mailed applications:

Reference: Elephant Program Manager
Mr Wes Mannion, Director,
Australia Zoo,                    
1638 Glasshouse Mountains Road,
Beerwah,
Queensland 4519
AUSTRALIA

For Faxed applications:

To: Mr Wes Mannion.
Subject: Elephant Program Manager.
Fax number +61 3 93782693

For Emailed applications (PREFERRED)

To: jodie@australiazoo.com.au
cc:  peter@zootica.com

Subject line: Elephant Program Manager
Attachments should be MS Word or PDF files.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE MARCH 31, 2OO5. All reasonable attempts will be 
made to notify all unsuccessful applicants in writing.

Enquires should be directed to Peter Stroud, Peter Stroud Services 
P/L, Tel +61 3 93371453; Fax +61 3 93782693; Email peter@zootica.com

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MARWELL PRESERVATION TRUST

ASSISANT DIRECTOR (ZOOLOGICAL AND CONSERVATION)

An opportunity to join a highly successful team at Marwell Zoological 
Park in developing a long term strategy for the organisation, and in 
particular  planning  for the development of the animal collection 
and conservation programmes and to direct the implementation of 
annual management plans.

The appointee will have a minimum qualification of a first degree or 
similar in a natural science and at least five years experience in a 
zoological or wildlife conservation field. An objective approach to 
wildlife conservation together with good management and communication 
skills are essential. Applicants with no direct zoo experience will 
be considered.
The remuneration package will recognise the seniority of this post.

For further information on this position and Marwell Preservation 
Trust go to http://www.marwell.org.uk

Applications with full C.V. and the names of two referees to be sent 
to:

Lynne Stafford
Acting Director 
Marwell Zoological Park 
Winchester 
Hampshire 
SO21 1JH 
Email: lynnes@marwell.org.uk

Closing date Friday 11th March, 2005
Marwell Preservation Trust is a registered charity No275433

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park - Committed To Conservation 

Small Primate Keeper

Salary depending on experience 

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, situated in the south of Kent near 
Folkestone, is an established wild animal park with significant 
success in the captive breeding of rare and endangered
animals. 

Due to expansion on our Small Primate section we are looking to 
recruit a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our team of 
dedicated keepers.

The ideal candidate will have previous experience in the husbandry of 
Small primates and work well as part of a close-knit team.

A full clean driving licence is essential 

To apply:
Please send a full CV and covering letter to: Helen Dallimore-Jones, 
HR Manager, Howletts & Port Lympne Estates Ltd, Port Lympne Wild 
Animal Park, Nr. Hythe, Kent. CT21 4PD. Or e-mail 
personnel@howletts.net

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Committed to conservation - Do you have an interest in wild animals? 

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park situated in the south of Kent near 
Folkestone has the following job opportunity

Seasonal Animal Presenter

We are looking for a motivated, enthusiastic and confident individual 
with a good basic knowledge of wild animals, to deliver presentation 
talks to the public during our busy Easter and Summer season. 

Our aim is to educate our many visitors about the groundbreaking 
conservation work that is carried out at Howletts and Port Lympne and 
give our visitors a more informed and enjoyable day out.

Working 40 hours a week, 9.00am – 5.00pm. Five days out seven, 
including weekends.  

Interested? 

To apply: Please send a full CV and covering letter to: Helen 
Dallimore-Jones, Human Resources Manager, Port Lympne Wild Animal 
Park. Lympne, Nr. Hythe, Kent. CT21 4PD.    
E-mail: personnel@howletts.net

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twycross Zoo (East Midlands Zoological Society)

Full Time Vacancy

EDUCATION OFFICER

Required to join our small team, the successful applicant will be 
required to teach a range of age groups but will have special 
responsibility for A level/Tertiary groups. A relevant degree and 
teaching experience are desirable.
Ability to use simple DTP/word processing packages would be an 
advantage.
The successful candidate will be required to take up the position end 
of March/beginning of April.
Some weekend and evening work may be required.
£17,500 per annum

Apply in writing with c.v. to Alan Bates, Head of Education, Twycross 
Zoo, Burton Road, Nr. Atherstone, Warks. CV9 3PX
Or by e-mail to alan.zoo@btinternet.com 

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation has 2 Open positions for the year 2005 

Blue Macaw Co-ordinator
January 2005

Organization: Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, Qatar

Position: Blue Macaw Co-ordinator
Application Deadline: As soon as possible, position to be filled 
spring 2005

Job Description for the position as a Blue Macaw Co-ordinator:
• Daily "hands-on" captive-management of all the Spix's – and Lear's 
Macaws including feeding/food preparation and hygiene. Daily 
observation of behavior and health status, written documentation and 
reporting to the director.
• Enclosure maintanance, monitor; construction-work, survailance 
cameras, prepare cages and nestboxes routinely.
• Pull eggs, monitor and preform artificial incubation and hand- 
rearing of Blue Macaw chicks.
• Prepare internal reports, guidelines, protecols and proposals for 
proceedures on the involved species.
• Organize the daily routines and personnel in the section including 
work and feeding schedules.
• Seasonally flexible working hours (feeding around the clock if 
necessary).
• Extensive record keeping, collecting and encoding data on the 
birds to computer programs.

Applicants for the position must fulfill the following minimum 
requirements:
-Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and with high 
responsibilities.
-Significant experience with keeping and rearing parrots, especially 
Macaws.
-Demonstrated experience in hand-rearing of Macaws. -Basic computer 
skill (Word Excel and Internet as minimum).
-Good oral and written English skills (futher language skills an 
asset).
-Abillity to work with a highly motivated team, as well as to work 
independently. -Patient and sensitive to the animal's needs.
-Flexibility and good organizational skills.
-Valid international driving-licence 

For more details please cotact us: Website: 
http://career.alwabra.com/ E-Mail: awwp.office@alwabra.com Fax: +974-
4719-026 

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Personal Assistant of Director
January 2005

Organization: Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, Qatar

Position: Personal Assistant of Director

Application Deadline: Position to be filled June 2005

Job description for the position as Personal Assistant of Director

• assisting the director in all his duties and tasks
• assisting in the management of the wild animal collection
• international and local correspondence
• independed tasks performance
• administration of laboratory results and scientific work
• data administration, encoding data
• development of work strategies and work schedules
• organising appointments and meetings
• 50% management : 50% Veterinary work
• scientific research and publications
• development of veterinary health programs
• veterinary assistance + veterinarian in duty
• visitor tour guide
• publicity work
• assisting of construction projects

The following Qualifications must be fulfilled by applicant for the 
position

• High level of loyalty
• Professional appearance
• Good at typewriting
• Very good oral and written English skills
• Experience in data administration
• Experience in computer (MS Word and Excel)
• Fully qualified veterinarian
• Experience in office administration
• Scientific work experience
• Patient but flexible
• Organized and independent
• German skills preferred 

For more details please cotact us: Website: 
http://career.alwabra.com/ E-Mail: awwp.office@alwabra.com Fax: +974-
4719-026 

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join our team as a Zoo Keeper

Drusillas is currently looking to appoint an experienced cover
keeper to join in a team of fourteen permanent and four casual staff. 
Successful candidates must have at least two years relevant 
experience in zoo keeping and ideally hold the City and Guilds 
Certificate in Animal Management. Experience with birds of prey, 
invertebrates and reptiles would be advantageous, as would a full 
driving licence. A relocation package is available. For an 
application form and to find out more, please contact
Sue Woodgate (Curator) on 01323 874110 or email her at
sue.woodgate@drusillas.co.uk

No Ordinary Zoo!
Alfriston, East Sussex, BN26 5QS http://www.drusillas.co.uk
Call: 01323 874100
Join our team...

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Curator - United Arab Emirates

The Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency 
http://www.erwda.gov.ae/ in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates is 
looking to recruit a Zoo Curator for a major Zoo in the United Arab 
Emirates.

Following is a brief summary of the salary and benefits for this 
position:

SALARY
Starting from US $4,000 or AED 14,500 a month

ACCOMMODATION
Single Basis: AED 60,000 annually

Married with 2 children: AED 90,000 annually

Married with more than 2 children: AED 100,000 annually

FURNITURE PURCHASE ALLOWANCE

Single Basis: AED 35,000 (one off payment)

Married with 2 children: AED 45,000 (one off payment)

Married with more than 2 children: AED 50,000 (one off payment)

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

AED 15,000 for one child
AED 25,000 for 2 or more children

ANNUAL LEAVE ENTITLEMENT
34 working days

ANNUAL LEAVE TICKETS

Economy Class for employee + family on annual basis

For further information and a position description, please contact; 
Mrs. Hanan Al-Abed
Manager, Human Resources Department
Environmental Research & Wildlife Development Agency
P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Tel: +971 2693 4621
Fax:  +971 2681 7358
E-mail  halabed@erwda.gov.ae

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lead Elephant Keeper.
– The Elephant Sanctuary, Hohenwald, Tennessee.

Please send resumés and references to: Scott Blais, The Elephant 
Sanctuary, P.O. Box 393, Hohenwald, TN 38462 or FAX to: 931-796-4810 
or e-mail scott@elephants.com

Job will be posted until filled. The Elephant Sanctuary, the nation's 
largest natural habitat refuge for elephants is looking for two 
enthusiastic individual to join our team. Over the past 14 months we 
have expanded our facilities to 2700 acres of elephant habitat and 
increased our elephant population to twelve. We received Delhi; the 
first elephant confiscated by the USDA, completed a 300-acre African 
habitat and barn and acquired three female African elephants, created 
a TB quarantine facility and received two of the Hawthorn elephants, 
Lota and Misty. Plans for 2005 include the completion of fencing to 
enclose an additional 2200 acres of elephant habitat and the 
construction of two additional Asian barns capable of housing 40 
elephants. Responsibilities: The qualified applicant will be charged 
with supervising the maintenance of female African elephants in a 
multi-hundred acre habitat. Responsibilities include but are not 
limited to keeper training and supervision, behavioral data 
collection and record keeping, behavior conditioning; will be trained 
(in-house) to manage the elephants using the non dominance technique 
of passive control. Candidate must be physically fit and able to lift 
65 lbs., possess a strong work ethic and have a progressive attitude 
toward captive elephant welfare. Candidate must be self-motivated and 
have the ability to work unassisted. Due to the job requirement the 
candidate must be mechanically inclined and able to work weekends. 
The starting pay range is between $19,000-$21,500 and benefits; 6 
months probationary period. 

Elephant Keeper I - Responsibilities: The qualified applicant will be 
charged with maintaining female African and Asian elephants in two 
separate multi-hundred acre habitats. Responsibilities include but 
are not limited to cleaning, food preparation, record keeping, 
behavior conditioning, construction and facility maintenance. The 
chosen candidate will be trained (in-house) to manage the elephants 
using the non dominance technique of passive control. Candidate must 
be physically fit and able to lift 65 lbs., possess a strong work 
ethic and have a progressive attitude toward the welfare of captive 
elephants. Candidate must posses the ability to work unassisted and 
be self-motivated. Due to the job requirement the candidate must be 
mechanically inclined and able to work weekends. The starting pay 
range is between $18,000-$19,500 and benefits; 6 months probationary 
period. 

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SIERRA LEONE – The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary is currently seeking 
a volunteer veterinarian for a six-month residency at the orphanage 
in Freetown. Tacuagama cares for nearly 80 chimpanzees and is seeking 
a qualified veterinarian with primate / great ape experience capable 
of handling the day-to-day healthcare needs of the sanctuary, along 
with monitoring Tacugama's veterinary protocols as its progresses 
towards reintroduction programs. For more information, please contact 
Tacugama manager Bala Amarasekaran at sab@sierratel.sl

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SMITHSONIAN'S
NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK

ZOO KEEPER/ELEPHANT HANDLER
Elephant handling experience required for keeper position in the 
Large Mammal House exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Both 
free and protected contact experience will be considered. The 
elephant program includes three female Asian elephants handled in 
free contact (S.T.A.R.S.) and one (3 year old) male Asian primarily 
handled in protected contact. There are plans being developed to 
build a new breeding facility and perform another A.I. This position 
will also require working with other animals as assigned, currently 
hippos, and capybaras. Applicant must have excellent interpersonal 
skills and be motivated to become part of an established team. Must 
also be interested in public education and research. The position 
will require working weekends, holidays, shift work and overtime as 
needed. 
The position will be open – At a Date Yet to Be Determined, 
potentially mid-January. Please refer to the job announcement before 
applying.
Once the position is posted, applications must be on time, no late 
resumes can be accepted! Resumes and/or applications must include the 
announcement #:  To Be Announced and must be mailed directly to:

Smithsonian Institution
Office of Human Resources
750 Ninth St., N.W. Suite 6100, MRC 912
Washington, DC 20560-0912. 

Call the jobline on 202-287-3102 or check the job listings website 
at: http://www.sihr.si.edu/job.htm for further instructions on 
applying. 

For further information about the position or opening date. 
Call or e-mail:
Marie Galloway (Elephant Manager)
202-673-4743  gallowaym@si.edu  
or:
Tony Barthel (Curator)
202-673-4703  barthelt@si.edu

Smithsonian's National Zoo
Elephant House
3001 Connecticut Ave N.W. 
Washington, DC  20008.

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amigos de las Aves – Costa Rica 

Amigos de las Aves is a Costa Rican non profit organization dedicated 
to the conservation of the two endangered species of macaws found in 
Costa Rica, the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) and the Great Green or 
Buffon's Macaw (Ara ambigua). 
Amigos de las Aves incorporates, breeding techniques, aviary 
management, environmental and key studies and conservation issues, in 
order to carry out controlled release programs in conjunction with 
MINAE (Ministry of the Environment and Energy) and Costa Rican laws. 

We are currently looking for volunteer field assistants to carry us 
through for another year. 

Volunteer Field Assistants 

Our release sites are situated on private reserves in the South West 
and North West coasts of the country. The first Scarlet Macaws here 
were released in 1999, and are now  established flocks of  birds.  We 
have recently added to one of the groups and are very pleased with 
the conjoining of these flocks, which are now self sustainable.  We 
are primarily working towards a larger group. 

Juveniles have been sighted this year and nesting behaviour has been 
observed from several different pairs.  Making our work most 
successful with increased interest for the future. 
Our biologist, Dale Forbes, who is working at one of the release 
sites and he has established work routines at these sites in order to 
monitor the bird's behaviour and survival, as well as studying the 
diversity of the reserve and the feasibility and sustainability of 
the macaws habitat. We are looking for long - term field volunteers 
to collect this data, which we hope will be published. 
What you will be doing 
The field study is now established, but it will be amended and added 
to as the study and situation  develops. Generally, you will be 
monitoring the birds during the day, covering a large area, and 
monitoring the feeding station.  Should there be any new release 
birds the study incorporates behaviours related to the new birds and 
the integration of them into the existing flock. 
We are also working on an education program in the nearby community. 
You will be required to spend at least two or three days at the 
breeding centre in Alajuela. This is in order for you to understand 
the working of the organisation and for us to assess your 
capabilities and reliability. 
The type of person who should apply 

We are looking for someone for a period of at least 2 months or more. 
A biology–related qualification will help your application, but is 
not essential, and previous experience with birds is preferred. 
You need to be responsible and dedicated, relatively fit, for hiking, 
and also patient as long hours will be spent monitoring the birds. 
It would be helpful to have a sense of humour. 
You don't need to speak Spanish, but it would be helpful to have at 
least an idea of the language. 
You will be expected to work a 6 day week with one day off per week. 
Working out your day off is flexible and you can save up days off for 
traveling if you wish.  We can work this schedule out with you in 
advance. 
We work flexible time according to the movements of the macaws and 
the data required.  Regardless, we usually start at around 5am and 
finish at about 17.45pm 
Breakfast, lunch and supper are worked around your working day. 
You may be working alone at some time, but usually with the biologist 
and under his supervision.  There are usually other 
volunteers/staff/owners on site, but not always. 
If we have birds to be fed several times a day in a pre-release 
aviary, you will need to do a fair bit of climbing, collecting food 
etc! 
The cost of volunteering is $5 daily and $5 - $8 for food (depending 
which site you are at), accommodation costs are free.  
You should not have any extra costs other than your own personal 
ones. 
. 
What you should like about working in the field. 

- The Scarlet Macaws. The flock uses all parts of the reserve, and 
can be observed in groups. When monitoring the birds at the feeding 
station, you are able to observe the beauty of them in the wild, at 
close range. 

- Wildlife.  The huge diversity of wildlife here, a lot of which is 
easily seen. 

- The Beach. There are beaches here, and the sea is warm. Surfing and 
swimming are both obtainable.  Turtles may be glimpsed at night.  

- Living in a Nature Reserve.  You live in a tree house or beach 
cabin and wake to the sounds of the forest, with the birds and 
monkeys not far away.  

- Nearby Civilisation.  Both sites tend to be a little remote, one 
more so than the other, but basic facilities are available, either a 
bike or bus ride away.

  What you might not like:

Food.  The food is good local fare – but be prepared to like "rice 
and beans". 

Insects. If you don't like snakes, scorpion and spiders, then field 
work is not for you.  

- Basic accommodation.  The cabins and tree house are basic!  There 
are loo's, washing facilities, and beds.  Nothing fancy.  Remember 
you are surrounded by wildlife. 
- Restricted electricity.  Being Costa Rica, the electricity does 
fail occasionally, so candles and torch are worth keeping with you. 
- Monitoring can get tedious. You will have to monitor the macaws at 
the feeding station for hours at a time, and if any nests are 
discovered in the breeding season, they will have be observed most 
days.  
- Lots of walking. The release sites cover a large area. You will 
certainly get fit !
  
Rules and Regulations.  The release sites  have their own rules and 
regulations and you are requested to abide by them whilst working on 
their property.
  
- Weather. It can be very hot and humid in Costa Rica. The rainy 
season during the winter months can get tedious!  And sometimes muddy

-  – or it can be scorching hot! 

- Lack of communication. There is not readily available internet or 
telephone connections.    These facilities are usually several 
kilometers away. 
If you are interested in helping with this highly interesting and 
groundbreaking work, then please contact us,  The Head Keeper, at 
richmar@racsa.co.cr  with a copy of your c.v. – stating previous 
experience with birds if any – and two references – and a covering 
letter. 

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Broaden your horizons? Great challenges under tropical skies!

The Schmutzer Primate Centre occupies a separate area in Jakarta's 
Ragunan Zoo (Indonesia). It is a state of the art primate facility 
with ambitious plans for further development. That is why the 
Schmutzer Primate Centre can offer unique opportunities for a number 
of differently skilled craftsmen in Zoo education. We are looking for 
people who are able to develop ánd make educational tools and would 
like to share these skills with their motivated and enthusiastic 
Indonesian (English speaking) colleagues. 

Do you* have experience with...

special acoustical effects for indoor exhibits & outdoor applications 
special light effects for indoor exhibitions 
model making techniques 
anima-tronics (electronics for moving animal models) 
`ape-costume' making (level of `Planet of the Apes') or painting of 
animal portraits on children 
or are you an expert in …

organising events, setting up themed restaurants (such as a 
vegetarian restaurant with a jungle menu), setting up a 
wildlife `Crime Lab', developing fund-raising ideas and skills, and 
so on?  
then we would like to hear from you. This is a challenging 
opportunity to make a change in a country with an amazing 
biodiversity that is under great pressure.

We offer board and lodging (up to maximum of 6 months) in the `close-
to-paradise' guesthouse of the Primate Centre. Other conditions and 
possibilities are negotiable and depend on experience and skills.

(*Or do you know somebody that meets this qualifications? Please 
inform him/her about this opportunities!)

Send reactions to priinfo@primata.or.id  or to hannah@primata.or.id

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Volunteer with the Orangutan Health Project in Sumatra, Indonesia
A research project, now in its 5th year, aims to discover more about 
the special behaviours and ecological conditions necessary for the 
maintenance of health in wild Orangutans.  MVDr. Ivona Foitova leads 
a truly international team of scientists in an attempt to improve the 
environment of captive orangutans, and the chances of work on the 
ground also helps to guard the forest against the devastating impacts 
of logging on the natural habitat of one of the last great apes.
As a volunteer you will be part of the team helping in every way - 
from simple data entry and getting supplies for our base, to 
locating, counting or following wild Orangutans in the forest of 
North Sumatra. This may not always be enjoyable, but it will 
certainly be memorable.  
For more information on the project and our volunteer program, log on 
to:
http://www.orangutan-health.org or email us at: 
orangutanhealth@indo.net.id

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Voluntary primate keepers needed

The Mona Foundation is the only primate sanctuary in Spain. Our aim 
is to provide a better life for primates who have been exploited by 
people. Here we rehabilitate and socialize the primates into family 
groups.

At the moment, our sanctuary is home to nine chimpanzees and three 
macaques. Our main enclosure consists of a space of more than 5000 
square meters, in which we aim to provide an environment as close as 
possible to that they would enjoy in the wild.

The Mona Foundation is looking for hard-working, dedicated people who 
are interested in helping us in our mission. Volunteer duties will 
depend upon the center's requirements which will vary according to 
the time of the year. Volunteer responsibilities include: cleaning, 
feeding, enrichment and general maintenance such as gardening, 
painting, and building work. Volunteers also help with administrative 
duties and in welcoming visitors for which good presentation skills 
are needed. 

Voluntary primate keepers must be able to commit to a period of six 
months working at the sanctuary and be present five days and five 
nights each week. All voluntary posts are subject to a one month 
trial period. 

The following skills and experience are considered valuable:
-previous work with animals, particularly wild animals.
-construction, electrical and mechanical skills.
-administration, fund-raising, public relations and good writing 
skills.
-a good general level of education.

To apply for a voluntary position at the Mona Foundation please 
contact us by e-mail: mona1@fundacionmona.org

For more information about the Mona Foundation please refer to our 
web site: http://www.fundacionmona.org

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

VOLUNTEER POSITIONS AVAILABLE 
at Munda Wanga's Wildlife Park and Sanctuary - Zambia

Three week volunteer opportunities available to keen and enthusiastic 
people looking to gain hand's on experience working at an African 
wildlife park and sanctuary.  Species that you could be working with 
include lions, tigers, wild dogs, various primates, an American black 
bear and a baby elephant.  Volunteer duties will vary hugely upon 
volunteer's interest, previous experience and the Park and 
Sanctuary's priorities, which will vary according to the time of year 
and what construction/relocation programmes are on at the time.

For more information contact Lee Stewart through e-mail: 
sanctuary@zamnet.zm or take a look at our website: 
http://www.mundawanga.com   Longer volunteer periods are available 
depending upon volunteer's experience.

Please mention you saw the advertisement in ZooNews Digest should you 
apply for this post

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More Zoo vacancies can be seen by visiting:

American Zoo and Aquarium Association - Job Listings
http://www.aza.org/JobListings/

American Association of Zoo Keepers' - Opportunity Knocks
http://www.aazk.org/aazknew/animalKeepersForum/opportunity_knocks.asp

European Association of Zoos and Aquaria - Vacancies
http://www.eaza.net

Australasian Society of Zoo Keeping (ASZK)
http://www.aszk.org.au/Zoo%20Positions%20Vacant.htm

Berufsverband der Zootierpfleger e.V
http://www.zootierpflege.de/stellen/stellenzooseiten/STzoowebseiten.ht
ml

Zoo Vets, Technicians and interns
http://www.aazv.org/job_openings.htm

Bird Jobs in the Field
http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/BJOB.html


Sites worth a visit:

American Nurseryman Magazine
"It's a Zoo in there."
http://www.zooplantman.com

The Ultimate Ungulate Page
http://www.ultimateungulate.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meetings

IMATA Regional Meeting Europe in 2005.
14th March 2005
info@animalconcepts.org
Chemin de la Suquette
Les Vergers de ValConstance
Villa 33
06600 Antibes
France
+33.6.18074363 mobile
+33.4.97213291 phone/fax

Fourth Sea Otter Conservation Workshop
18-20 March 2005
Seattle Aquarium
Pre-registration required - deadline 18 Feb
Further information :
shawn.larson@seattle.gov

Primate Society of Great Britain 2005 Spring Meeting
March 22-23 2005
Chester College
For information contact: Paul Honess, PSGB Meeting Officer, Dept of 
Veterinary Services, Univ, of Oxford, Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3PT, U.K. 
e-mail: meetings@psgb.org or see http://www.psgb.org

5th Animal Behavior Management Alliance Conference
10-15 April 2005
Further information :
http://www.theabma.org

Animal Learning & Behaviour
21st-24th April 2005
The new seminars program for 2005 on enrichment, animal learning and 
training is available on http://www.animalconcepts.org and new 
seminars coming up.

ASZK 2005 Conference
"Conservation and Conditioning"
29 April - 1 May 2005
Ciloms Airport Lodge Melbourne and Werribee Open Range Zoo
Abstracts must be submitted by 25 March 2005.
Information can be obtained from the ASZK website
http://www.aszk.org.au or email Liz Romer on slromer@bigpond.com

ARAZPA/SEAZA 2005
1st - 5th May 2005
Joint Conference
For further information please visit:
http://www.zoo.org.au/conference/

Fourth Rhino Keepers' Workshop
5 - 9 May 2005
Columbus, Ohio
Further information :
Adam.felts@columbuszoo.org

Environmental Enrichment
5th-7th May 2005
The new seminars program for 2005 on enrichment, animal learning and 
training is available on http://www.animalconcepts.org and new 
seminars coming up.

Ninth Elephant Ultrasound and Veterinary Procedures Workshop
Riddle's Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary 
Tuesday, May 17 through Friday, May 20,
For more information, or a registration packet, please contact Dr. 
Schmitt or the sanctuary office.
Dr. Dennis Schmitt
217 Karls Hall
SMSU – AG. Department
901 South National Avenue
Springfield MO 65804
USA
417-836-5091 phone
417-836-6979 fax
dennisschmitt@smsu.edu

The Eighth (2005) Canadian Parrot Symposium
Victoria Day Weekend
May 21-22, 2005
The Dunsmuir Lodge 
Victoria BC Canada
For information and registration:
http://www.parrotsymposium.com
cparrotsw@shaw.ca

Second  International Conference:
Animals and Zoos, Current Research Focus
24th and 25th of May 2005
Malta Training Centre, Wiankowa Str. 3.
Poznan, Poland
Address for correspondence                                
    
"ZOO Conference"
Ogród Zoologiczny w Poznaniu
Ul. Browarna 25, 61-048 Poznan
Tel. (+48 61) 61-8709502
Fax (+48 61) 877 35 33
e-mail: zoo.cwiertnia@interia.pl

BIAZA & EAZA Joint Zoo Horticultural Conference
19 - 22 June 2005
Held at Chester Zoo, Chester, UK
Please contact Mark Sparrow, Curator of Horticulture, 
Chester Zoo m.sparrow@chesterzoo.org for details and registration 
form 
Tel: +44 (0)1244 65023-6 / Fax +44 (0)1244 381352

Fifth World Congress of Herpetology
Conservatorium for Music, Stellenbosch University Campus,
Stellenbosch on 20-24 June 2005
Please visit the website http://www.wits.ac.za/haa/ 
or contact the organiser at conf@conferencesetal.co.za 
Dr Ernst HW Baard Manager: Scientific Services Western Cape Nature 
Conservation Board Private Bag 5014 7599
STELLENBOSCH Tel:  +27-21-866 8001 Fax:  +27-21-866 1523 Mobile: 082-
41 40
424 Scientific Services office no. +27-21-866 8000 Visit our website:
http://www.capenature.org.za

The 14th Annual Conference of the 
International Society of Anthrozoology
Exploring Human-Animal Relationships
11-12 July 2005
Niagra Falls, New York
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/CCAB/ISAZ14.pdf

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
COURSES FOR CONSERVATIONISTS 
Summer School 
18th July - 5th August 2005.
This three-week intensive course caters for 24 students and is aimed 
at young people looking to pursue a career in conservation or 
currently working within a zoo or conservation organisation. 
The aim of the course is to provide students with a theoretical 
foundation for future work and insights into the practical problems 
of captive breeding. 
A Certificate of Attendance is awarded. 
This intensive course includes lectures, study projects, practical 
instruction and workshops. 
The next Summer School is scheduled to run from 18th July - 5th 
August 2005.
Further details of the course in PDF format and application form in 
Word can be downloaded from
http://www.durrellwildlife.org/index.cfm?p=6
Closing date for applications is 31st January 2005.

"International Theriological Congress" (ITC)
July 31 to August 5, 2005
Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
In order to pre-register and /or confirm your paticipation, please 
contact the congress committee by e-mail: MAMMAL2005@hokkaido-
ies.go.jp
Updated info (newsletters) is available on the IMC9 webpage: 
http://www.hokkaido-ies.go.jp/mammal2005/

7th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT
UNIFYING THE ART AND SCIENCE OF ANIMAL ENRICHMENT
HOSTED BY THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY
AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK CITY
31st JULY – 5th AUGUST, 2005
All proposals must be submitted by 15th October, 2004 to 
ICEE2005@wcs.org The conference program committee will complete the 
selection of symposia, workshops, and organized discussions for 
inclusion at the 2005 conference by 1st November, 2004. Proposal 
authors will be notified of the committee's decision as soon as 
possible, so that organizers can acquire any necessary funding for 
their symposium. The Call for Abstracts will be published in November 
2004. For more information contact ICEE2005@wcs.org All symposia, 
workshop and discussion organizers must register for the conference.

First EAZA Training Seminar for Zoo Educators
15 - 21 August 2005
Copenhagen Zoo. 
For further inquiries, please contact Peter Haase (pnh@zoo.dk) at 
Copenhagen Zoo. 

28th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists
August 17-20 2005
Portland, Oregon
For more information, contact: Dr. Kristine Coleman, Chair of the 
local organizing committee, at colemank@ohsu.edu 

Second International Congree of Zookeeping (ICZ)
May 7 - 11 2006
Gold Coast, Queensland
Australia
Visit website: http://www.iczoo.org for latest information

2006 International Gorilla Workshop
23 - 26 June 2006
Paignton Zoo,
Devon,
England
More details as available

21st Congress of the International Primatological Society 
June 26-30 2006
Imperial Resort Beach Hotel
Entebbe, Uganda
For further info: wolupot@yahoo.com

First European Congress of Conservation Biology
23rd-27th August 2006
Please visit the website (http://www.eccb2006.org) for details, and 
register for new information.

ZooNews Digest is an independent publication, not allied or attached 
to any zoological collection. Many thanks. 

Kind Regards,

Wishing you a wonderful week, 

Peter Dickinson,

peterd482001@yahoo.co.uk

Tel: 
Mobile : 

Remember where you have been and know where you are going. Life is 
not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way."

-  Nikita Koloff -