Zoo News Digest 27th January 2018 (ZooNews 981)
Peter Dickinson
elvinhow@gmail.com
Dear Colleague,
I think it a huge
pity that the International Zoo Educators Conference and the 6th International
Congress of ZooKeepers are taking place at the same time in 2018….One in Al
Ain, UAE and the other in Buenos Aires. No possibility of attending both. To
make things worse still IMATA is taking place at the same time in Portugal. We
were half planning to have a presence at each but that is no longer possible.
On the other hand
the WAZA conference and the SEAZA conference are both taking place in Thailand
this year and one following shortly after the other. No problems there.
You may be surprised
to learn that I have not yet made it out to visit the Dubai Safari Zoo since it
opened. Partly this is because of time and then again I don't own a car. This
puts me in the same position of the many hundreds of housemaids who used to
visit the old Dubai Zoo each week. Taxis are expensive and the Safari Zoo is a
long way out. There has been a lot in the press and the collection was swamped
with visitors the first couple of weeks. I wonder if this will continue. The
newspapers give some glowing reports but elsewhere there has been some
criticism. I am looking forward to making up my own mind.
Lots of interest follows.
*********
Did You Know?
ZooNews Digest has over 73,000 Followers on Facebook( and over 73,000 likes) and has a weekly reach often exceeding over 350,000 people? That ZooNews Digest has subscribers in over 823 Zoos in 154+ countries? That the subscriber list for the mail out reads like a 'Zoos Who's Who?'
If you are a subscriber to the email version then you probably knew this already. You would also know that ZooNews Digest pre-dates any of the others. It was there before FaceBook. It was there shortly after the internet became popular and was a 'Blog' before the word had been invented. ZooNews Digest reaches zoo people.
I remain committed to the work of GOOD zoos,
********
*****
***
**
*
*********
Did You Know?
ZooNews Digest has over 73,000 Followers on Facebook( and over 73,000 likes) and has a weekly reach often exceeding over 350,000 people? That ZooNews Digest has subscribers in over 823 Zoos in 154+ countries? That the subscriber list for the mail out reads like a 'Zoos Who's Who?'
If you are a subscriber to the email version then you probably knew this already. You would also know that ZooNews Digest pre-dates any of the others. It was there before FaceBook. It was there shortly after the internet became popular and was a 'Blog' before the word had been invented. ZooNews Digest reaches zoo people.
I remain committed to the work of GOOD zoos,
********
*****
***
**
*
Caring: A
Conversation with Stuart Strahl, President and CEO of the Brookfield Zoo and
Chicago Zoological Society
Dr. Stuart Strahl’s
love of nature began at a young age. "I was born on Manhattan within a few
blocks of Central Park, where my mother took me on frequent walks,” he
remembered. “She told me that I always loved animals, from pigeons to
squirrels. Mud puddles and the Central Park Zoo (which was a quite dismal zoo
at the time) were my favorites, and my mother found it easier to clean up after
a zoo outing. Some of my earliest
memories stem from those times. Luckily, my parents moved us to the suburb of
Pelham when I was two years old. My
brother and I grew up exploring the old-growth forests of Pelham Bay Park,
fishing the shores of Long Island Sound, and building rafts to catch frogs on a
½-acre wooded spring-fed pond, all within a mile of our home - it seems that we
were always outdoors, 'on safari' and exploring nature.” Visits to his grandparents' farm along a
tributary of the Wye River on the Eastern Shore of Maryland also added to his
sense of wonder about the natural world.
Dr. Ingrid Visser
(Free Morgan Foundation) and Co. banned from entering the premises of Loro
Parque
It is well known
that in November 2011, at the request of the authorities of the Netherlands,
Loro Parque has accepted at its modern OrcaOcean installations a young female
orca Morgan who was found helpless, in an extremely poor condition in the
waters of the Wadden Sea in June 2010. This decision to transfer the orca to
Loro Parque was made based on the opinions of the experts who came to the
decision that it was no longer possible to return her to the wild. Therefore,
this solution was the only way to save her life. Here, in Loro Parque, she is
now fully integrated into the existing orca group.
Nevertheless, ever
since Loro Parque has accepted the animal in need of help, the radical
activists from Free Morgan Foundation led by Ingrid Visser visit the park,
normally before court hearings or before events aimed at discrediting Loro
Parque. Inventing arguments supported by manipulated photographs, they are
communicating false information to the public in order to advocate for the
release of the orcas into the wild.
Despite the
unfriendly attitude of these activists and their smear campaigns against Loro
Parque, the park continued to allow them access to its installations, since
Loro Parque, recognized by TripAdvis
SEAZA conference
2018 will be held on
28 Oct-2 Nov 2018
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Humane Society CEO
Under Investigation for Sexual Relationship With Employee
The Board of
Directors of the Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s most
influential animal-welfare group, has hired a Washington law firm to
investigate an allegation of workplace misconduct against its longtime chief
executive, Wayne Pacelle.
The investigation,
which began last month, is being run by Grace Speights, who leads the labor and
employment practice at Morgan Lewis. Among the topics, insiders say, is an
alleged sexual relationship between Mr. Pacelle and a female employee.
In a statement, Eric
Bernthal, chair of the board of the Humane Society, said: “We believe it is
important to deal in substance and not rumors, and our process is designed to
ensure confidentiality and fair consideration of these issues.”
Mr. Pacelle, who did
not respond to an email seeking comment, continues to work there. He joined the
Humane Society in 1994, became its chief executive in 2004, and was paid about
$380,000 in 2016, according to the charity’s lat
OUR UNFOLDING STORY
– 52 WEEKS IN
52 WEEKS AFTER
CUMBRIA ZOO COMPANY LTD TOOK FULL CONTROL OF THE ZOO, WE LOOK BACK AT THE 52
POSITIVE CHANGES WE’VE MADE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE YEAR AHEAD.
Today marks one
whole year, 365 days, 52 weeks, since CZCL took full control of Safari
Zoo. It’s been a long, rollercoaster
ride of a 52 weeks but it has also flown in many ways! We’ve been through everything; threats of
closure, the serious time of applying for, and the nerve wrecking, gut
wrenching waiting game to see if we were to be awarded our first, very own,
license to operate.
It’s been tough, we
have the grey hairs and wrinkles to prove it, but we’ve made it through a whole
12 months and we have made some great strides in animal welfare with new and
revamped enclosures, dietary revolutions, brand new education team and partnership
with the best veterinary care team.
To mark this
monumental day, we have compiled our celebration of CZCL achievements, so make
yourself a brew, and maybe a cheeky snack as
Touch Tanks: The
Importance of Hands-on Education
Whether it’s
searching for starfish or petting a shark, touch tank experiences give aquarium
visitors a unique perspective of life underwater. Touch tanks allow people to
see, touch, and learn about marine life they may not otherwise encounter in
nature. At AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, the welfare of the animals is
just as important as the guests’ experience. Studies have shown that these
living habitats can encourage both conservation and animal care. Several AZA
facilities offer and promote these kinds of exhibits. Not only do touch tank
exhibits provide visitors with hands-on educational and scientific
opportunities, research suggests these experiences also offer social and
psychological benefits, too.
https://www.aza.org/from-the-desk-of-dan-ashe/posts/touch-tanks-the-importance-of-hands-on-education
Learn more at https://zoosymposia.blogspot.ae/
Indonesia hints
rhino sperm transfer to Malaysia may finally happen this year
Indonesia has
signaled it may finally send a sample of Sumatran rhino semen to a breeding
program in Malaysia, amid a growing urgency to keep the species alive.
Conservationists in
Sabah, in Malaysian Borneo, where only two Sumatran rhinos (Dicerorhinus
sumatrensis) remain, have since 2015 sought a frozen sample of sperm taken from
a rhino in Indonesia’s own captive-breeding program in Sumatra to kick-start an
artificial insemination attempt — but to no avail, as the Indonesian government
repeatedly ignored its requests.
Now, though, a
senior official says the sperm being stored at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary
(SRS) may be sent to Malaysia sometime this year.
“We have discussed
all of the aspects of the request, and submitted our analysis to the
[environment] minister,” Wirat
China Is Decimating
Southeast Asian Wildlife
The Chinese were
among the first foreigners to do trade with the island of Sumatra. Six hundred
years ago, villages would have been but infinitesimal specks in an
inconceivably vast and sublime rain forest. In 1416, a Chinese report on
Sumatra noted that “There are in the forests immense quantities of wild
rhinoceroses, which the king lets catch by men.” The rhinos, the author goes on
to explain, would be sent to China as “tribute” to the emperor. Later, in the
midst of compiling a list of agricultural products and minerals to be found in
Sumatra, the author’s mind drifts back to something even more valuable, and he
abruptly ends his list by reminding his Chinese reader: “Besides, there are
rhinoceroses.”
There are still
rhinoceroses in Sumatra today, perhaps as few as 30, and they are still hunted.
According to that 15th century Chinese account, as well as the testimony of
early European visitors and explorers, rhinoceroses once swarmed on the island.
Yet their population has all been but wiped out. What happened?
The answer is pretty
straightforward: They were hunted and slaughtered for their horns. Many of
those horns were sent to China, where they were used i
Can blockchain serve
business, people and planet?
It comes as no
surprise that most of the top risks identified in the latest World Economic
Forum Global Risks Report, from biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse to
water crises and extreme weather events, are environmental.
Make no mistake,
addressing their impact on our wellbeing, enterprise and prosperity requires a
profound shift in how we produce and consume, as well as in our orientation to
nature — from egocentric to ecocentric, balancing human and biosphere needs.
Nevertheless,
technology and human ingenuity have a significant role to play.
From quantum
computing and artificial intelligence to DNA sequencing and advanced robotics,
we have an opportunity to create transformative approaches for sustainability.
And of all n
Kingut the tapir
turns 40
Keepers at Port
Lympne Reserve in Kent are helping Malayan tapir Kingut celebrate a milestone
birthday.
The animal turns 40
on Saturday, which they say makes him the world’s oldest tapir of his kind.
Kingut is being
spoiled with lots of back scratches and his favourite edible treats – carrots,
apples, bananas and raisins – incorporated into a special cake.
Kingut was born in
1978 at Ragunan Zoo in Jakarta, Indonesia and was transferred to Port Lympne
Reserve from sister park Howletts in 2008.
Malayan tapirs are
the largest of the five species of tapir and are classified as endangered.
A closer genetic
look at the quagga, an extinct zebra
New DNA evidence
confirms that the recently extinct quagga is, indeed, a plains zebra. Science
writer Ricki Lewis, who has a PhD in genetics, discusses the latest Danish
research and a fascinating project in southern Africa to breed quagga-like
zebras. Her piece was originally published by PLOS Blogs.
Like the dodo bird,
heath hen, and woolly mammoth, the quagga vanished so recently that glimpsing
its evolution is possible, using DNA from museum specimens and breeding modern
relatives to select individuals bearing ancestral traits.
Turkish Cargo
relocated Humboldt Penguins
Relocating lion cubs
and endangered penguins to their new home, Turkish Cargo keeps protecting the
wildlife.
By a well-done
operation, Turkish Cargo relocated Humboldt Penguins, one of the eleven penguin
species threatened with extinction due to unfavorable circumstances resulting
from the climate change, to the Public Oceanic Aquarium in China from the Riga
Zoo.
The thriving
sub-brand of the flag carrier Turkish Airlines, Turkish Cargo not only achieves
customer satisfaction thanks to its special cargo transportation services to
120 countries worldwide, but also contributes to wildlife survival.
Giant new safari
park could be created on Norfolk quarry site
The visionary behind
the new Watlington Safari Park, near King’s Lynn, believes it would be the
first of its kind of the United Kingdom, bringing £3.57m per year to West
Norfolk’s economy and providing a popular attraction for residents and visitors
alike.
In a brochure sent
to villagers Edward Pope, the man behind the idea, said: “I am passionate about
the conservation of endangered animals and birds.
“For several years I
have been provided a refuge and breeding programme for deer and antelope at my
home in Norfolk.
“Now I want to build
on that work by expanding this refuge to create an inspirational centre for
education, a visitor experience that people can enjoy and a site for
extraordinary wildlife encounters.”
Animals Rotating
Habitats: A Conversation with John Walczak, Director of the Louisville Zoo
The Louisville Zoo
has long been known for its appetite for innovative exhibitry. This is shown by
its three AZA award-winning habitat complexes: Islands (the first American zoo
exhibit to rotate large animals), Gorilla Forest and Glacier Run. Additionally,
the zoo has taken a significant role in conservation by helping save the
black-footed ferret from extinction. Since 2004, the Louisville Zoo has been
led by John Walczak. Walczak's strong animal background, desire to create
innovative habitats and focus on improving staff relationships has helped the
zoo grow and flourish. Here is his story.
Beijing Zoo Pledges
to Conserve African Wildlife
The African Wildlife
Foundation and the Beijing Zoo today launched a partnership intended to enhance
China’s participation in sustainable conservation of Africa’s wildlife and wild
lands.
In an event at the
Beijing Zoo, the partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding signifying the
need for genuine concerted strategies and action in ensuring conservation of
the environment, wildlife, and wild lands in a modernizing Africa.
The African Wildlife
Foundation said the partnership “ushers in a new era of global allegiance to
wildlife protection.”
Speaking at the
signing ceremony, AWF President Kaddu Sebunya said, “China is increasingly
providing leadership on conservation through proactive policies, and Africa –
and the world – is watching.”
Founded in 1961 and
based in Washington, DC, the AWF claims to be the oldest and largest
conservation organization focused solely on the African continent. AWF today
expressed its commitment to amplifying the African voice in wildlife and wild
lands conservation, globally.
“This partnership
gives us an opportunity to bolster our work in China, and an ability to push
for greater Chinese involvement in Africa’s conservation agenda, in which China
is a key partner. I believe this collaboration, ultimately, will enhance opportunities
to promote greater China-Africa engagement in conservation as a whole,” said
Sebunya.
Beijing Zoo, owned
by the People’s Republic of China, is a public zoological park opened in 1906,
and claims to be the most authoritative center of zoological research that
studies and breeds rare animals from various sources, including Africa.
The Beijing Zoo is
visited by mor
Urgent appeal launched by Bristol Zoological Society to help gorillas in Africa
Today (Wednesday January 24) Bristol Zoological Society has launched an urgent appeal for £10,000 to help build a safe haven in Africa for orphaned western lowland gorillas.
They are the innocent victims of the brutal bush meat trade which sees thousands of adult gorillas slaughtered each year.
A total of 22 of these orphaned gorillas are being cared for by a sanctuary in Mefou National Park in Cameroon with which Bristol Zoological Society has worked for the past 20 years.
Gorillas such as Shufai, who was found as a baby with gunshot injuries after his mother was killed by hunters endured months of rehabilitation but eventually had to have his arm amputated above the elbow.
Similarly, Nona was hours away from death when she was rescued from a hunter’s camp. Wounded by the bullets that had killed her mother, she had been left for days without food or water. Nona was rescued just in time and taken to the sanctuary where she has grown into a beautiful young adult with a family of her own.
Now all the gorillas are in need of three bigger enclosures in which to live and remain safe.
Today Bristol Zoological Society is asking for help to raise the money needed for these enclosures. A team from Bristol Zoological Society is heading to Cameroon early in February to help build them.
Dr Grainne McCabe, head of field conservation and science at Bristol Zoological Society, said: “We hope everyone will want to help. These are amazing animals and every pound we receive will help to safeguard their future.
“When we started working with the sanctuary in 1998, all the orphaned animals were small and the initial enclosures were built with infant and juvenile apes in mind.
“Those orphans have now grown into formidable adults, and their space and grouping requirements have changed.”
She added: “Caring for orphaned apes is no easy task. While they may be cute and curious as infants, they soon grow into very large and very strong adults that are much more challenging to care for.”
Dr McCabe said larger enclosures built in the forest would allow several family groups and younger male gorillas to live together.
Western lowland gorillas are listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red of Threatened Species and without the efforts of sanctuaries like the one in Mefou National Park they could be lost forever.
If you would like to make a donation to the appeal, please go to www.Virginmoneygiving.com/fund/gorillaappeal
Bristol Zoological Society has been working on the conservation of western lowland gorillas in the wild since 2003 and also participates in a breeding programme which has seen two gorillas born at the Zoo since 2016.
Kuwait Zoo has no
sick animals – Director denies rumour
Director of Kuwait Zoo at the Public Authority
for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) Zahra Al-Wazan denied
rumor circulated that zoo has sick animals, reports Al-Jarida daily. Al-Wazan
said the management always removes and isolates any of the animals from the zoo
whenever they are found to be suffering from disease to protect the safety of
visitors, especially as the major objective of operating the zoo is to display
the animals for sight seeing.
She stated the zoo
is a modern landmark in Kuwait that receives over 500,000 visitors in a year;
mostly foreigners visiting the country in the winter. She declared the
management is planning to organize some activities for visitors every Tuesday
when there will be special educational and cultural programs, while opening the
doors to students in the m
Malaysia’s zoos are
cruel to the animals held
Reports last week of
the Wildlife Department finding nothing wrong with conditions animals are held
in at the Kemaman Zoo only serve to reinforce the general perception these
government officials always find in favour of zoos.
Often over the past
decade I have often wondered if this is because the department don’t know what
they are doing or, they don’t care about the welfare of animals.
Whenever a complaint
is made the Wildlife Department have always come to the defence of the zoo. The
department sees nothing wrong, hears nothing, and does nothing. This must make
its job easy and it doubtless means it can remain close friends with its buddies
responsible for all this cruelty. Pity the poor animals the department is
prepared to leave suffering.
The Wildlife
Conservation Act may as well have been written in invisible ink. It is not
enforced.
Most educated people
know Malaysia’s 40 or so zoos are, with one or two exceptions, places of
appalling cruelty. Profits are always put before animal care.
The baby trade
torturing orangutans to extinction
A horrifying, low
groan stopped us in our tracks.
It was hard to work
out which cage the noise was coming from. But then a long arm, with a massive
human-like hand, reached out and gave us our first glimpse of a desperate and
distressed ape.
This was Jono, an
orangutan from Borneo. He had been alone in this cramped cage for five years.
Smugglers keep
wildlife officials busy
It is only three
weeks into the year and already four attempts to smuggle animals or bush meat
into and out of the country have been foiled.
On Wednesday, the
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) thwarted an attempt to
smuggle seven pythons through a courier service in Larkin, Johor.
The sender, who is
believed to be from Taiwan, had declared the package as toys.
It is not known
whether the reptiles were alive when found.
Mnangagwa bans live
elephant trade
The previous
political regime of former president, Robert Mugabe, was notorious for brushing
aside such outcries.
But Mnangagwa, who
is hoping to charm the world by rolling back his predecessor’s policies,
appears to have hearkened to counsel and has since committed government to
conservation efforts.
In justifying its
elephant trade, government has previously argued that Zimbabwe has an
unsustainably high elephant population which, at 86 000, exceeds the ecological
carrying capacity of 54 000 elephants.
Conservationists,
however, argue that exporting the elephants — which prefer the temperate
Savanna climate to that of the Far East which fluctuates between the hot and
cold extremes —was not the solution.
Information at hand
indicates that following the December brouhaha, Mnangagwa gave audience to
representatives of two concerned international conservation organisations,
Tikki Hywood Foundation and the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF),
who had visited the country intending to raise their concerns with him.
Mnangagwa assured
them of his c
Caring: A
Conversation with Stuart Strahl, President and CEO of the Brookfield Zoo and
Chicago Zoological Society
Dr. Stuart Strahl’s
love of nature began at a young age. "I was born on Manhattan within a few
blocks of Central Park, where my mother took me on frequent walks,” he
remembered. “She told me that I always loved animals, from pigeons to
squirrels. Mud puddles and the Central Park Zoo (which was a quite dismal zoo
at the time) were my favorites, and my mother found it easier to clean up after
a zoo outing. Some of my earliest
memories stem from those times. Luckily, my parents moved us to the suburb of
Pelham when I was two years old. My
brother and I grew up exploring the old-growth forests of Pelham Bay Park,
fishing the shores of Long Island Sound, and building rafts to catch frogs on a
½-acre wooded spring-fed pond, all within a mile of our home - it seems that we
were always outdoors, 'on safari' and exploring nature.” Visits to his grandparents' farm along a
tributary of the Wye River on the Eastern Shore of Maryland also added to his
sense of wonder about the natural world.
Dr. Ingrid Visser
(Free Morgan Foundation) and Co. banned from entering the premises of Loro
Parque
It is well known
that in November 2011, at the request of the authorities of the Netherlands,
Loro Parque has accepted at its modern OrcaOcean installations a young female
orca Morgan who was found helpless, in an extremely poor condition in the
waters of the Wadden Sea in June 2010. This decision to transfer the orca to
Loro Parque was made based on the opinions of the experts who came to the
decision that it was no longer possible to return her to the wild. Therefore,
this solution was the only way to save her life. Here, in Loro Parque, she is
now fully integrated into the existing orca group.
Nevertheless, ever
since Loro Parque has accepted the animal in need of help, the radical
activists from Free Morgan Foundation led by Ingrid Visser visit the park,
normally before court hearings or before events aimed at discrediting Loro
Parque. Inventing arguments supported by manipulated photographs, they are
communicating false information to the public in order to advocate for the
release of the orcas into the wild.
Despite the
unfriendly attitude of these activists and their smear campaigns against Loro
Parque, the park continued to allow them access to its installations, since
Loro Parque, recognized by TripAdvis
SEAZA conference
2018 will be held on
28 Oct-2 Nov 2018
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Humane Society CEO
Under Investigation for Sexual Relationship With Employee
The Board of
Directors of the Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s most
influential animal-welfare group, has hired a Washington law firm to
investigate an allegation of workplace misconduct against its longtime chief
executive, Wayne Pacelle.
The investigation,
which began last month, is being run by Grace Speights, who leads the labor and
employment practice at Morgan Lewis. Among the topics, insiders say, is an
alleged sexual relationship between Mr. Pacelle and a female employee.
In a statement, Eric
Bernthal, chair of the board of the Humane Society, said: “We believe it is
important to deal in substance and not rumors, and our process is designed to
ensure confidentiality and fair consideration of these issues.”
Mr. Pacelle, who did
not respond to an email seeking comment, continues to work there. He joined the
Humane Society in 1994, became its chief executive in 2004, and was paid about
$380,000 in 2016, according to the charity’s lat
OUR UNFOLDING STORY
– 52 WEEKS IN
52 WEEKS AFTER
CUMBRIA ZOO COMPANY LTD TOOK FULL CONTROL OF THE ZOO, WE LOOK BACK AT THE 52
POSITIVE CHANGES WE’VE MADE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE YEAR AHEAD.
Today marks one
whole year, 365 days, 52 weeks, since CZCL took full control of Safari
Zoo. It’s been a long, rollercoaster
ride of a 52 weeks but it has also flown in many ways! We’ve been through everything; threats of
closure, the serious time of applying for, and the nerve wrecking, gut
wrenching waiting game to see if we were to be awarded our first, very own,
license to operate.
It’s been tough, we
have the grey hairs and wrinkles to prove it, but we’ve made it through a whole
12 months and we have made some great strides in animal welfare with new and
revamped enclosures, dietary revolutions, brand new education team and partnership
with the best veterinary care team.
To mark this
monumental day, we have compiled our celebration of CZCL achievements, so make
yourself a brew, and maybe a cheeky snack as
Touch Tanks: The
Importance of Hands-on Education
Whether it’s
searching for starfish or petting a shark, touch tank experiences give aquarium
visitors a unique perspective of life underwater. Touch tanks allow people to
see, touch, and learn about marine life they may not otherwise encounter in
nature. At AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, the welfare of the animals is
just as important as the guests’ experience. Studies have shown that these
living habitats can encourage both conservation and animal care. Several AZA
facilities offer and promote these kinds of exhibits. Not only do touch tank
exhibits provide visitors with hands-on educational and scientific
opportunities, research suggests these experiences also offer social and
psychological benefits, too.
https://www.aza.org/from-the-desk-of-dan-ashe/posts/touch-tanks-the-importance-of-hands-on-education
Learn more at https://zoosymposia.blogspot.ae/
Indonesia hints
rhino sperm transfer to Malaysia may finally happen this year
Indonesia has
signaled it may finally send a sample of Sumatran rhino semen to a breeding
program in Malaysia, amid a growing urgency to keep the species alive.
Conservationists in
Sabah, in Malaysian Borneo, where only two Sumatran rhinos (Dicerorhinus
sumatrensis) remain, have since 2015 sought a frozen sample of sperm taken from
a rhino in Indonesia’s own captive-breeding program in Sumatra to kick-start an
artificial insemination attempt — but to no avail, as the Indonesian government
repeatedly ignored its requests.
Now, though, a
senior official says the sperm being stored at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary
(SRS) may be sent to Malaysia sometime this year.
“We have discussed
all of the aspects of the request, and submitted our analysis to the
[environment] minister,” Wirat
China Is Decimating
Southeast Asian Wildlife
The Chinese were
among the first foreigners to do trade with the island of Sumatra. Six hundred
years ago, villages would have been but infinitesimal specks in an
inconceivably vast and sublime rain forest. In 1416, a Chinese report on
Sumatra noted that “There are in the forests immense quantities of wild
rhinoceroses, which the king lets catch by men.” The rhinos, the author goes on
to explain, would be sent to China as “tribute” to the emperor. Later, in the
midst of compiling a list of agricultural products and minerals to be found in
Sumatra, the author’s mind drifts back to something even more valuable, and he
abruptly ends his list by reminding his Chinese reader: “Besides, there are
rhinoceroses.”
There are still
rhinoceroses in Sumatra today, perhaps as few as 30, and they are still hunted.
According to that 15th century Chinese account, as well as the testimony of
early European visitors and explorers, rhinoceroses once swarmed on the island.
Yet their population has all been but wiped out. What happened?
The answer is pretty
straightforward: They were hunted and slaughtered for their horns. Many of
those horns were sent to China, where they were used i
Can blockchain serve
business, people and planet?
It comes as no
surprise that most of the top risks identified in the latest World Economic
Forum Global Risks Report, from biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse to
water crises and extreme weather events, are environmental.
Make no mistake,
addressing their impact on our wellbeing, enterprise and prosperity requires a
profound shift in how we produce and consume, as well as in our orientation to
nature — from egocentric to ecocentric, balancing human and biosphere needs.
Nevertheless,
technology and human ingenuity have a significant role to play.
From quantum
computing and artificial intelligence to DNA sequencing and advanced robotics,
we have an opportunity to create transformative approaches for sustainability.
And of all n
Kingut the tapir
turns 40
Keepers at Port
Lympne Reserve in Kent are helping Malayan tapir Kingut celebrate a milestone
birthday.
The animal turns 40
on Saturday, which they say makes him the world’s oldest tapir of his kind.
Kingut is being
spoiled with lots of back scratches and his favourite edible treats – carrots,
apples, bananas and raisins – incorporated into a special cake.
Kingut was born in
1978 at Ragunan Zoo in Jakarta, Indonesia and was transferred to Port Lympne
Reserve from sister park Howletts in 2008.
Malayan tapirs are
the largest of the five species of tapir and are classified as endangered.
A closer genetic
look at the quagga, an extinct zebra
New DNA evidence
confirms that the recently extinct quagga is, indeed, a plains zebra. Science
writer Ricki Lewis, who has a PhD in genetics, discusses the latest Danish
research and a fascinating project in southern Africa to breed quagga-like
zebras. Her piece was originally published by PLOS Blogs.
Like the dodo bird,
heath hen, and woolly mammoth, the quagga vanished so recently that glimpsing
its evolution is possible, using DNA from museum specimens and breeding modern
relatives to select individuals bearing ancestral traits.
Turkish Cargo
relocated Humboldt Penguins
Relocating lion cubs
and endangered penguins to their new home, Turkish Cargo keeps protecting the
wildlife.
By a well-done
operation, Turkish Cargo relocated Humboldt Penguins, one of the eleven penguin
species threatened with extinction due to unfavorable circumstances resulting
from the climate change, to the Public Oceanic Aquarium in China from the Riga
Zoo.
The thriving
sub-brand of the flag carrier Turkish Airlines, Turkish Cargo not only achieves
customer satisfaction thanks to its special cargo transportation services to
120 countries worldwide, but also contributes to wildlife survival.
Giant new safari
park could be created on Norfolk quarry site
The visionary behind
the new Watlington Safari Park, near King’s Lynn, believes it would be the
first of its kind of the United Kingdom, bringing £3.57m per year to West
Norfolk’s economy and providing a popular attraction for residents and visitors
alike.
In a brochure sent
to villagers Edward Pope, the man behind the idea, said: “I am passionate about
the conservation of endangered animals and birds.
“For several years I
have been provided a refuge and breeding programme for deer and antelope at my
home in Norfolk.
“Now I want to build
on that work by expanding this refuge to create an inspirational centre for
education, a visitor experience that people can enjoy and a site for
extraordinary wildlife encounters.”
Animals Rotating
Habitats: A Conversation with John Walczak, Director of the Louisville Zoo
The Louisville Zoo
has long been known for its appetite for innovative exhibitry. This is shown by
its three AZA award-winning habitat complexes: Islands (the first American zoo
exhibit to rotate large animals), Gorilla Forest and Glacier Run. Additionally,
the zoo has taken a significant role in conservation by helping save the
black-footed ferret from extinction. Since 2004, the Louisville Zoo has been
led by John Walczak. Walczak's strong animal background, desire to create
innovative habitats and focus on improving staff relationships has helped the
zoo grow and flourish. Here is his story.
Beijing Zoo Pledges
to Conserve African Wildlife
The African Wildlife
Foundation and the Beijing Zoo today launched a partnership intended to enhance
China’s participation in sustainable conservation of Africa’s wildlife and wild
lands.
In an event at the
Beijing Zoo, the partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding signifying the
need for genuine concerted strategies and action in ensuring conservation of
the environment, wildlife, and wild lands in a modernizing Africa.
The African Wildlife
Foundation said the partnership “ushers in a new era of global allegiance to
wildlife protection.”
Speaking at the
signing ceremony, AWF President Kaddu Sebunya said, “China is increasingly
providing leadership on conservation through proactive policies, and Africa –
and the world – is watching.”
Founded in 1961 and
based in Washington, DC, the AWF claims to be the oldest and largest
conservation organization focused solely on the African continent. AWF today
expressed its commitment to amplifying the African voice in wildlife and wild
lands conservation, globally.
“This partnership
gives us an opportunity to bolster our work in China, and an ability to push
for greater Chinese involvement in Africa’s conservation agenda, in which China
is a key partner. I believe this collaboration, ultimately, will enhance opportunities
to promote greater China-Africa engagement in conservation as a whole,” said
Sebunya.
Beijing Zoo, owned
by the People’s Republic of China, is a public zoological park opened in 1906,
and claims to be the most authoritative center of zoological research that
studies and breeds rare animals from various sources, including Africa.
The Beijing Zoo is
visited by mor
Urgent appeal launched by Bristol Zoological Society to help gorillas in Africa
Today (Wednesday January 24) Bristol Zoological Society has launched an urgent appeal for £10,000 to help build a safe haven in Africa for orphaned western lowland gorillas.
They are the innocent victims of the brutal bush meat trade which sees thousands of adult gorillas slaughtered each year.
A total of 22 of these orphaned gorillas are being cared for by a sanctuary in Mefou National Park in Cameroon with which Bristol Zoological Society has worked for the past 20 years.
Gorillas such as Shufai, who was found as a baby with gunshot injuries after his mother was killed by hunters endured months of rehabilitation but eventually had to have his arm amputated above the elbow.
Similarly, Nona was hours away from death when she was rescued from a hunter’s camp. Wounded by the bullets that had killed her mother, she had been left for days without food or water. Nona was rescued just in time and taken to the sanctuary where she has grown into a beautiful young adult with a family of her own.
Now all the gorillas are in need of three bigger enclosures in which to live and remain safe.
Today Bristol Zoological Society is asking for help to raise the money needed for these enclosures. A team from Bristol Zoological Society is heading to Cameroon early in February to help build them.
Dr Grainne McCabe, head of field conservation and science at Bristol Zoological Society, said: “We hope everyone will want to help. These are amazing animals and every pound we receive will help to safeguard their future.
“When we started working with the sanctuary in 1998, all the orphaned animals were small and the initial enclosures were built with infant and juvenile apes in mind.
“Those orphans have now grown into formidable adults, and their space and grouping requirements have changed.”
She added: “Caring for orphaned apes is no easy task. While they may be cute and curious as infants, they soon grow into very large and very strong adults that are much more challenging to care for.”
Dr McCabe said larger enclosures built in the forest would allow several family groups and younger male gorillas to live together.
Western lowland gorillas are listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red of Threatened Species and without the efforts of sanctuaries like the one in Mefou National Park they could be lost forever.
If you would like to make a donation to the appeal, please go to www.Virginmoneygiving.com/fund/gorillaappeal
Bristol Zoological Society has been working on the conservation of western lowland gorillas in the wild since 2003 and also participates in a breeding programme which has seen two gorillas born at the Zoo since 2016.
Kuwait Zoo has no
sick animals – Director denies rumour
Director of Kuwait Zoo at the Public Authority
for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) Zahra Al-Wazan denied
rumor circulated that zoo has sick animals, reports Al-Jarida daily. Al-Wazan
said the management always removes and isolates any of the animals from the zoo
whenever they are found to be suffering from disease to protect the safety of
visitors, especially as the major objective of operating the zoo is to display
the animals for sight seeing.
She stated the zoo
is a modern landmark in Kuwait that receives over 500,000 visitors in a year;
mostly foreigners visiting the country in the winter. She declared the
management is planning to organize some activities for visitors every Tuesday
when there will be special educational and cultural programs, while opening the
doors to students in the m
Malaysia’s zoos are
cruel to the animals held
Reports last week of
the Wildlife Department finding nothing wrong with conditions animals are held
in at the Kemaman Zoo only serve to reinforce the general perception these
government officials always find in favour of zoos.
Often over the past
decade I have often wondered if this is because the department don’t know what
they are doing or, they don’t care about the welfare of animals.
Whenever a complaint
is made the Wildlife Department have always come to the defence of the zoo. The
department sees nothing wrong, hears nothing, and does nothing. This must make
its job easy and it doubtless means it can remain close friends with its buddies
responsible for all this cruelty. Pity the poor animals the department is
prepared to leave suffering.
The Wildlife
Conservation Act may as well have been written in invisible ink. It is not
enforced.
Most educated people
know Malaysia’s 40 or so zoos are, with one or two exceptions, places of
appalling cruelty. Profits are always put before animal care.
The baby trade
torturing orangutans to extinction
A horrifying, low
groan stopped us in our tracks.
It was hard to work
out which cage the noise was coming from. But then a long arm, with a massive
human-like hand, reached out and gave us our first glimpse of a desperate and
distressed ape.
This was Jono, an
orangutan from Borneo. He had been alone in this cramped cage for five years.
Smugglers keep
wildlife officials busy
It is only three
weeks into the year and already four attempts to smuggle animals or bush meat
into and out of the country have been foiled.
On Wednesday, the
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) thwarted an attempt to
smuggle seven pythons through a courier service in Larkin, Johor.
The sender, who is
believed to be from Taiwan, had declared the package as toys.
It is not known
whether the reptiles were alive when found.
Mnangagwa bans live
elephant trade
The previous
political regime of former president, Robert Mugabe, was notorious for brushing
aside such outcries.
But Mnangagwa, who
is hoping to charm the world by rolling back his predecessor’s policies,
appears to have hearkened to counsel and has since committed government to
conservation efforts.
In justifying its
elephant trade, government has previously argued that Zimbabwe has an
unsustainably high elephant population which, at 86 000, exceeds the ecological
carrying capacity of 54 000 elephants.
Conservationists,
however, argue that exporting the elephants — which prefer the temperate
Savanna climate to that of the Far East which fluctuates between the hot and
cold extremes —was not the solution.
Information at hand
indicates that following the December brouhaha, Mnangagwa gave audience to
representatives of two concerned international conservation organisations,
Tikki Hywood Foundation and the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF),
who had visited the country intending to raise their concerns with him.
Mnangagwa assured
them of his c
WAZA Statement
Date: 2018/01/23
on Wild-Capture of Elephants in Zimbabwe
WAZA Statement on Wild-Capture of Elephants in Zimbabwe
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) welcomes the decision by the president of Zimbabwe to ban future sales of live elephants to foreign zoos, following the recent transfer of 34 wild-caught elephants to institutions in China that did not appear to meet the standards of animal welfare or conservation as agreed by the global captive-care community.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa also banned trade in other endangered species such as rhinoceroses, pangolins, and lions that are listed as Appendix I by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Media reports and images shared around the globe in recent weeks showed a crude capture of elephant calves from the Hwange National Park that does not conform to international guidelines, and fails to take into account the well-being of the animals themselves. Elephants estimated to be five years of age and younger were sedated by sharpshooters in helicopters, then taken away by trucks while helicopters scattered the remaining members of the herd.
Mnangagwa's decision reversed the policies of his predecessor, Robert Mugabe, who actively sought overseas markets for Zimbabwe's wildlife. The Government of Zimbabwe previously indicated that such sales were necessary to fund conservation activities in the country, but a lack of transparency made it difficult to track how the funds were spent.
Equally troubling is the lack of due diligence regarding the zoos in China that received the elephants and whether they meet international standards required as appropriate and acceptable destinations.
WAZA's Code of Ethics calls on all members to "ensure that the source of animals is confined to those born in human care and this will be best achieved by direct zoo to zoo conduct." In the event that the capture of animals from the wild is necessary, members "must be confident that such acquisitions will not have a deleterious effect upon the wild population."
None of the Chinese zoos that received the elephants are members of WAZA.
Elephants are highly intelligent animals with complex social structures, and require expert care and knowledge to ensure that their social, physical and psychological needs are properly met. WAZA guidelines are clear that all wild-caught animals should come from reputable sources, do not impact on wild populations or reinforce commercial production of wild animals, and avoid the negative welfare consequences of indiscriminate capture.
WAZA expressed similar concerns regarding a capture and sale of elephants from Zimbabwe to Chinese zoos in 2015, and WAZA calls upon the Chinese zoos that have obtained elephants to work with established and accredited zoo breeding programmes to ensure that these wild captures are not a conservation risk and that the welfare of the elephants is of the utmost importance.
WAZA is the global alliance of regional associations, national federations, private companies, zoos and aquariums comprised of nearly 400 members in over 50 countries. For more information, please visit www.waza.org or contact communication@waza.org.
Orangutan briefly
escapes enclosure at Greenville Zoo again
Greenville Zoo
officials confirmed that an orangutan, who briefly escaped his enclosure back
in July, squeezed out of his pen again Monday.
Zoo Administrator
Jeff Bullock said the orangutan named Kumar escaped around 1:45 p.m. Monday, as
contractors were working on his enclosure and repairing the mesh panels.
After crews left,
Kumar was let loose in the enclosure and he reportedly found a weak spot, made
a hole and squeezed out.
Bullock said Kumar
stayed on top of the mesh of the exhibit and holding building, and when staff
gathered around he went back inside the enclosure.
Kumar was reportedly
out of the en
Marghazar Zoo admin
fails to cater to animals in 2017
Despite repeated
attempts by media to highlight the plight of animals and birds in Marghazar Zoo
over the last year, the mismanagement and lack of attention from the high-ups
of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) persists and results in an unhealthy
environment for the animals at the zoo.
Dr Bilal Khilji is
the only veterinary doctor to look after the animals at the zoo and he too has
been given the charge of deputy director a few years back.
The management of
more than a hundred staffers of MCI is being managed by Dr Bilal which
disallows the required attention towards the daily check-up of the animals’
feed and the overall zoo environment.
In 2017, two
Nilgai’s died in the zoo, which is a slightly better statistic than in 2016,
when 17 animals died including a zebra, hog deer, ostrich male, zebra foal,
ostrich female, wolf, lion cub male, lion cub fe
Date: 2018/01/23
on Wild-Capture of Elephants in Zimbabwe
WAZA Statement on Wild-Capture of Elephants in Zimbabwe
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) welcomes the decision by the president of Zimbabwe to ban future sales of live elephants to foreign zoos, following the recent transfer of 34 wild-caught elephants to institutions in China that did not appear to meet the standards of animal welfare or conservation as agreed by the global captive-care community.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa also banned trade in other endangered species such as rhinoceroses, pangolins, and lions that are listed as Appendix I by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Media reports and images shared around the globe in recent weeks showed a crude capture of elephant calves from the Hwange National Park that does not conform to international guidelines, and fails to take into account the well-being of the animals themselves. Elephants estimated to be five years of age and younger were sedated by sharpshooters in helicopters, then taken away by trucks while helicopters scattered the remaining members of the herd.
Mnangagwa's decision reversed the policies of his predecessor, Robert Mugabe, who actively sought overseas markets for Zimbabwe's wildlife. The Government of Zimbabwe previously indicated that such sales were necessary to fund conservation activities in the country, but a lack of transparency made it difficult to track how the funds were spent.
Equally troubling is the lack of due diligence regarding the zoos in China that received the elephants and whether they meet international standards required as appropriate and acceptable destinations.
WAZA's Code of Ethics calls on all members to "ensure that the source of animals is confined to those born in human care and this will be best achieved by direct zoo to zoo conduct." In the event that the capture of animals from the wild is necessary, members "must be confident that such acquisitions will not have a deleterious effect upon the wild population."
None of the Chinese zoos that received the elephants are members of WAZA.
Elephants are highly intelligent animals with complex social structures, and require expert care and knowledge to ensure that their social, physical and psychological needs are properly met. WAZA guidelines are clear that all wild-caught animals should come from reputable sources, do not impact on wild populations or reinforce commercial production of wild animals, and avoid the negative welfare consequences of indiscriminate capture.
WAZA expressed similar concerns regarding a capture and sale of elephants from Zimbabwe to Chinese zoos in 2015, and WAZA calls upon the Chinese zoos that have obtained elephants to work with established and accredited zoo breeding programmes to ensure that these wild captures are not a conservation risk and that the welfare of the elephants is of the utmost importance.
WAZA is the global alliance of regional associations, national federations, private companies, zoos and aquariums comprised of nearly 400 members in over 50 countries. For more information, please visit www.waza.org or contact communication@waza.org.
Orangutan briefly
escapes enclosure at Greenville Zoo again
Greenville Zoo
officials confirmed that an orangutan, who briefly escaped his enclosure back
in July, squeezed out of his pen again Monday.
Zoo Administrator
Jeff Bullock said the orangutan named Kumar escaped around 1:45 p.m. Monday, as
contractors were working on his enclosure and repairing the mesh panels.
After crews left,
Kumar was let loose in the enclosure and he reportedly found a weak spot, made
a hole and squeezed out.
Bullock said Kumar
stayed on top of the mesh of the exhibit and holding building, and when staff
gathered around he went back inside the enclosure.
Kumar was reportedly
out of the en
Marghazar Zoo admin
fails to cater to animals in 2017
Despite repeated
attempts by media to highlight the plight of animals and birds in Marghazar Zoo
over the last year, the mismanagement and lack of attention from the high-ups
of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) persists and results in an unhealthy
environment for the animals at the zoo.
Dr Bilal Khilji is
the only veterinary doctor to look after the animals at the zoo and he too has
been given the charge of deputy director a few years back.
The management of
more than a hundred staffers of MCI is being managed by Dr Bilal which
disallows the required attention towards the daily check-up of the animals’
feed and the overall zoo environment.
In 2017, two
Nilgai’s died in the zoo, which is a slightly better statistic than in 2016,
when 17 animals died including a zebra, hog deer, ostrich male, zebra foal,
ostrich female, wolf, lion cub male, lion cub fe
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New Meetings and Conferences updated Here
If you have anything to add then please email me at elvinhow@gmail.com
I will include it when I get a minute. You know it makes sense.
Recent Zoo Vacancies
Vacancies in Zoos and Aquariums and Wildlife/Conservation facilities around the World
*****
About me
After more than 49 years working in private, commercial and National zoos in the capacity of keeper, head keeper and curator Peter Dickinson started to travel. He sold house and all his possessions and hit the road. He has traveled extensively in Turkey, Southern India and much of South East Asia before settling in Thailand. In his travels he has visited well over 200 zoos and many more before 'hitting the road' and writes about these in his blog http://zoonewsdigest.blogspot.com/
or on Hubpages http://hubpages.com/profile/Peter+Dickinson
Peter earns his living as an independent international zoo consultant, critic and writer. Currently working as Curator of Penguins in Ski Dubai. United Arab Emirates. He describes himself as an itinerant zoo keeper, one time zoo inspector, a dreamer, a traveler, an introvert, a people watcher, a lover, a thinker, a cosmopolitan, a writer, a hedonist, an explorer, a pantheist, a gastronome, sometime fool, a good friend to some and a pain in the butt to others.
"These are the best days of my life"
Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant
If you have anything to add then please email me at elvinhow@gmail.com
I will include it when I get a minute. You know it makes sense.
Recent Zoo Vacancies
Vacancies in Zoos and Aquariums and Wildlife/Conservation facilities around the World
*****
About me
After more than 49 years working in private, commercial and National zoos in the capacity of keeper, head keeper and curator Peter Dickinson started to travel. He sold house and all his possessions and hit the road. He has traveled extensively in Turkey, Southern India and much of South East Asia before settling in Thailand. In his travels he has visited well over 200 zoos and many more before 'hitting the road' and writes about these in his blog http://zoonewsdigest.blogspot.com/
or on Hubpages http://hubpages.com/profile/Peter+Dickinson
Peter earns his living as an independent international zoo consultant, critic and writer. Currently working as Curator of Penguins in Ski Dubai. United Arab Emirates. He describes himself as an itinerant zoo keeper, one time zoo inspector, a dreamer, a traveler, an introvert, a people watcher, a lover, a thinker, a cosmopolitan, a writer, a hedonist, an explorer, a pantheist, a gastronome, sometime fool, a good friend to some and a pain in the butt to others.
"These are the best days of my life"
Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant
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