India Takes Action Against Posing With Big Cats

India Takes Action Against Posing With Big Cats

Thank you the CZA. Now lets have other zoo organisations around the world follow suit. There is too much of this. Pulling cubs deliberately for photos or deliberately for hand rearing using any old made up excuse. Zoo staff the world over could do animals a favour by keeping their own 'posing' photos private. Posting on Facebook and elsewhere does more harm than most realise.

Leave the cubs alone!

By Chetan R, Bangalore Mirror Bureau

CZA orders probe against three individuals who posted pictures of themselves holding tiger and leopard cubs on social media, besides a Bannerghatta zoo official and an NGO

The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has taken serious note of the alarming trend of people posing with animals in Bannerghatta National Park and flaunting these pictures - which often go viral -- on social networking sites.
Clearly indicating its intention to clamp down on this fad, the premier body for zoos and zoo animals in the country has ordered a probe into individuals and an NGO in instances that are allegedly in gross violation of CZA rules. Based on a directive from their central body, which dashed off a letter on Thursday, the Karnataka Zoo Authority is probing three such cases. Such tactile association poses potential risk to the young wildlife, authorities warn. 

Wildlife activists in Bangalore first alerted the vigilance wing of the state forest department. The issue was also brought to the notice of the-now union minister Maneka Gandhi. Gandhi's People For Animals then took it up with the CZA. 

Under the scanner are an NGO, which allegedly facilitates pictures and selfies with wild animals, besides a forest official and individuals named in the complaint. 

In a directive to his counterpart in Karnataka on May 29, Bishan Singh Bonal, Member Secretary, CZA, ministry of environment and forestry, has stated, "Kindly cause an inquiry and take action as per the prevailing rule and regulations. Sub rule 5(6) of Rule 10 under Recognition of Zoo Rule 2009 (amendment 2013), reads, 'The curatorial -- The animals shall be handled only by the staff having experience and training in handling the individual animals'. Whereas, as per photographs, it seems that general visitors are allowed to pose for photography in violation of RZR, 2009 under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Your early action with status report is solicited." The whistleblower in this case is a 33-year-old MBA graduate Hari Krishna. Besides wildlife photography, he also runs adventure biking expeditions themed around nature and wildlife con
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http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/cover-story/Leave-the-cubs-alone/articleshow/35855127.cms

The Art And Science Of Hand Rearing

The Art And Science Of Hand Rearing

Registration Opens November 1, 2013

Details available at www.safariwestwildlifefoundation.org

Speak out against public handling of big cats!.

Speak out against public handling of big cats!.

It’s no secret that one of the biggest problems fueling the U.S. big cat trade is the fact that dozens of traveling zoos and roadside exhibitors, including many USDA-licensed facilities, regularly profit from charging the public a fee to pet, play with and take photos with tiger cubs and other big cats. 

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)’s big cat database provides a map of exhibitors who currently advertise these types of interactive opportunities online. Tragically, some exhibitors even allow the public to swim with big cat cubs, forcing the animals into water in order to make even more profit. 

To the frustration of many caring animal advocates these activities are, for the most part, legal, because of an informal rule created by the USDA to only prohibit contact with cubs under 8 weeks old when their immune systems are still developing and when they are over 12 weeks old when they are dangerous. 

The result is a 4 week window during which it is legal for the public to handle big cats, so hundreds of cubs are born each year to supply these profit-making schemes. 

Sadly, some members of the public are manipulated by the exhibitors into thinking that these opportunities contribute to big cat conservation and rescue. 

But nothing could be further from the truth. 

What happens to a poor cub when he gets bigger, stronger, more dangerous and less profitable? 

That is the big unknown—but all too often, it will come down to this: he will be kept in someone’s backyard; he will be sent to a roadside zoo; he will be incessantly bred to further fuel the cub handling trade; or he will simply be killed. 

There is no reason why any member of the public should ever come in contact with wild animals and their cubs. 

You now have the opportunity to let USDA know you object to this inhumane and dangerous trade. 

In recognition of the one-year anniversary of the Zanesville tragedy, last October IFAW joined the Humane Society of the United States and other animal welfare organizations as co-petitioner of a petition for rulemaking that urges the USDA to ban all public contact with big cats and certain other exotic species. 

Thankfully, the agency has made the petition available for public comment. 

IFAW

Volunteers to assist in the hand-rearing of cheetah cubs needed

Cheetah Outreach is currently seeking volunteers to assist in the hand-rearing of cheetah cubs next breeding season (approx. May - Oct 2011). We are looking for individuals to come to South Africa for a minimum of one month to volunteer on our cub raising programme.

In partnership with the Ann Van Dyk Cheetah and Wildlife Trust (previously the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust) we are responsible for the hand-rearing of cheetah cubs that may be abandoned or removed from their mother for other reasons, such as medical problems. These hand-reared cubs are then trained as ambassador animals and will be sent to zoo education programmes around the world where they do vital work in education and fund raising, thereby supporting conservation of cheetahs in the wild. For more information about the work of Cheetah Outreach please visit http://www.cheetah.co.za/  which provides details of our conservation projects (in-situ and ex-situ).

Volunteers for the cub-rearing project must have appropriate experience and/or qualifications in any of the following disciplines: animal husbandry, veterinary nursing, medical experience, zoo keeping, wildlife rehabilitation, or neonatal care. This is a very rewarding experience, but as with caring for any neonate, long hours and lots of cleaning is required. As we are dealing with pregnancy and young cubs, there may be times when cubs are expected but do not arrive, if this happens, volunteers would be able to assist at the main Cheetah Outreach facility, working with the adult cheetahs. A deposit of 3000 South African Rand is required to take part in the project.

Accommodation is provided free of charge and you will receive a nominal amount of money towards food costs. Please email cubrearing@hotmail.co.uk for more information on how to apply.

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SENIOR KEEPER - BIRD DEPARTMENT

SENIOR KEEPER - BIRD DEPARTMENT

Chester Zoo is one of the leading zoological collections in Europe with an international reputation for achieving its mission in conservation breeding programmes, research and education.

We currently have a vacancy for a Senior Bird Keeper, to join a large and busy section. This is not a post for a trainee.

The successful candidate will be largely based in our incubation and hand-rearing unit dealing with eggs from Waterfowl, Cranes, Galliformes, Softbills, and other species. They will also be required to assist with keeping on other sections within the bird teams, working with a wide range of bird species.

The successful candidate must have a proven track record in the management and breeding of captive birds in a zoological or conservation setting. They must have previous experience of incubation and hand rearing. They will be qualified to HND/BSc level in a zoological related science, or have equivalent practical zoo experience in an established public collection. They will have a desire to develop the Society’s bird conservation activities in the UK and abroad.

Salary is £16,791.84 increasing to £18,657.60 after satisfactory completion of the probationary period.

For an application form please ring the recruitment line on 01244 389477 or email recruitment@chesterzoo.org


Closing date for applications is 28th September 2009.