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

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

Peter Dickinson : Peter@elvinhow.prestel.co.uk

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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,

14 David Edwards Close,

Hen Golwyn,

Bae Colwyn,

Conwy,

Gogledd Cymru,

LL29 9UE

United Kingdom

Peter@elvinhow.prestel.co.uk

peterd482001@yahoo.co.uk

Tel: 0044-(0)1492-514053

Mobile : UK 07732 919 431

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 -