Zooquaria 86 - Summer 2014

Zooquaria 86 - Summer 2014

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A new phase for the Great Bustard Reintroduction

A new phase for the Great Bustard Reintroduction

The Great Bustard Trial Reintroduction has entered a momentous new phase. Up until this year the project has used only birds sourced from Saratov in Russia, and the UK Government restricted this to birds hatched from eggs rescued from destroyed or abandoned nests.

The difficulties in rescuing the eggs, combined with the huge distances and logistical challenges of working in Russia meant that the number of birds the project was able to import into the UK was small – often as low as six birds a year.

The Great Bustard Group received a tremendous boost last year however when Dr. Paul O’Donoghue of the University of Chester undertook a genetic comparison of European Great Bustard populations. He discovered that, contrary to the previously held belief, the Great Bustards in Spain form the closest living population of Great Bustards to the original UK population before its extinction.

The Great Bustard Group is very grateful to the museums and private collections that allowed genetic material to be removed from their specimens. Spain holds around two thirds of the world’s Great Bustard population with over 30, 000 birds, and that number is increasing.

Working with the invaluable support of local land owners and government officials in Spain, the Great Bustard Group undertook the collection of Great Bustard eggs from the Castilla la Mancha region. Having been granted the appropriate licences from the regional and national governments, a team of four GBG staff with two specially trained dogs and two staff from RSPB collected 56 Great Bustard eggs.

The eggs were exported in partnership with Madrid Zoo and transported by ferry to the UK to specialist bird park, Birdworld in Farnham, Surrey, home to the only public captive Great Bustard enclosure in Britain. Here park curator Duncan Bolton and a team of incubation experts undertook the incubation and hatching of the eggs with excellent results, achieving a hatch rate of over 82% of the viable eggs.  

The young chicks were then taken from Birdworld to the GBG Project Site in Wiltshire and reared by Great Bustard Group and RSPB staff. The young chicks need to be bill fed with a puppet and exercised as they grow. The rearing team wear dehumanisation suits to stop the chicks becoming imprinted on their human foster parents.

The project is now entering the release phase with a ‘soft release’ technique being used that gently allows the birds to find their freedom in stages. The first birds are now at the release sites. A total of 33 Great Bustards will be released this year at two secret sites in Wiltshire.

The use of Spanish birds promises to be a major step forward for the project. The previously released Russian birds have demonstrated a tendency to disperse in a South Westerly direction, often to their detriment. Studies in Russia by a German/Russian team, and by the GBG and its project partners in Russia - the Severtsov Institute of Ecology - have shown that some birds head South West to escape the worst of the Russian winter, but indicate that others do stay. It was thought that the mild UK winter would encourage the released birds to stay, but many of them dispersed, some even reaching French shores. Although many have successfully completed a return journey from France others are thought to have perished.

The Spanish Great Bustard population is the largest in the world. It is currently increasing and is largely sedentary.  

The cost of collecting the eggs and importing them to the UK was covered by the Rural Trust, whose support for the Great Bustard Group goes back to the beginning of the project when the first UK licences were being applied for.

The Great Bustard Trial Reintroduction was started in 2004 by the Great Bustard Group.

Since 2010 the Reintroduction Trial has been assisted by an EU LIFE+ grant which is coordinated by the RSPB. The LIFE+ programme covers up to 75% of eligible expenditure.

Contact:
David Waters
Director Great Bustard Group
davidwaters@greatbustard.org
Tel: 07974 785426

Raid on ex-zoo-chief Blaszkiewitz

Investigation for suspected illegal waste disposal

The Berlin public prosecutor, the private residence of the former head of the Berlin zoos and animal parks, Bernhard Blaszkiewitz searched. This was confirmed by Justice spokesman Martin Steltner on Friday. Background are the investigations against Blaszkiewitz in connection with the illegal disposal of contaminated soil on the zoo grounds. Be unclear whether a commissioned disposal company knew that it is contaminated soil. The search has already taken place on Wednesday of last week.

During the tenure of Blaszkiewitz mounds were in September 2013 in the rear part of the zoo near the farmyard filled up. It is estimated up to 30,000 tons Erdhub, which was allegedly given away to the zoo. According to media reports Blaszkiewitz should have planned to scatter the sand in the enclosures. However, the sand is to be contaminated with heavy metals. Since there is more than the amount of the accumulated excavated earth and its composition uncertainty and the cost of disposal can not be predicted, the Management Board and Supervisory Board of Zoo and Wildlife Park have not been approved for fiscal year. In consultation with the Senate Environment Management, a ground survey was commissioned, said the zoo. The prosecutor under investigation for illegal waste disposal and unauthorized operating a plant. The long-standing and controversial zoo boss Blaszkiewitz had to give up his post because his contract was not renewed.

Blaszkiewitz successor Andreas Knieriem occurred on April 1, to the service. He is also a zoological and commercial director of Zoo and Wildlife Park .

Translated by Google from:

http://www.morgenpost.de/printarchiv/berlin/article130074112/Razzia-bei-Ex-Zoo-Chef-Blaszkiewitz.html

China Admits to Tiger Skin Trade but not to Bones

China Admits to Tiger Skin Trade but not to Bones

So China has come out and admitted that :

 'we don't ban trade in tiger skins but we do ban trade in tiger bones,'

So does this make it any less bad? Most definitely not. The bones remain in the 'zoo' in which the tiger has been skinned. These will have been put into vats of rice wine and steeped for a few months to produce Tiger Bone Wine........

.......which, as far as I am aware there is no ban on trade. I daresay that the bones are rendered down afterwards to produce Tiger Bone Glue and other pseudo Medicinal Ointments.

So what has changed? Nothing! Again I am assuming that is still against the law in China to kill these tigers for the trade and so they are starved to death to keep this horrific trade going.

China 'admits' trading in tiger skins

11 July 2014

Learn More

The Terrible Truth About Tiger Farms

Siberian Tigers Starve To Death

Tiger Farming

Tiger Farms

And lets not forget the Rhinoceros

Rhinoceros Farming in China

Monkey Mauls Six Month Old Baby To Death

Monkey Mauls Six Month Old Baby To Death

A six-month-old baby has been mauled to death by a monkey in the Black Sea region of Crimea, a news report said Thursday.

The incident took place in city of Sevastopol after the monkey, which was kept in a private zoo, managed to escape from its leash while its 65-year-old owner was cleaning its cage, the Interior Ministry told news agency Interfax on Thursday.

The monkey then scaled a fence into a neighboring garden, where it launched an attack upon the six-month old child, who was lying asleep in a stroller.

The baby's parents were nearby at the time of the attack but were unable to save their child from the "aggressive animal," the report added.

An Interior Ministry spokesman told Interfax that investigators were looking into the incident.

It was unclear from the report what happened to the monkey.

Source:

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/monkey-mauls-to-death-6-month-old-baby-in-crimea/503256.html

Zoo Licensing for Zoo Keepers and Managers

Zoo and Wildlife Solutions Training Courses 2014

Zoo Licensing for Zoo Keepers and Managers

21st  and 22nd  July 2014 – Chessington World of Adventures

£95 +VAT for BIAZA Members and £125 +VAT for Non-Members

(includes drinks but not lunch available at canteen in zoo)

This training course will provide participants with a full understanding of zoo licensing. The course describes the law and what is required by licensed zoos, explains the licensing and enforcement process and provides in depth insight into what inspectors are looking for and how to prove your zoo complies with the requirements of the Secretary of Sates Standards of

Modern Zoo Practice. This is a highly interactive course based on small group exercises and practical tasks in the zoo.

Day 1

9.30 – Arrivals and Introductions

10.00 – The Zoo Licensing Act (1981) – Matt Hartley

Summary of the legislation including dispensations, powers of inspection and roles and responsibilities of the inspectors and the local authority. How to gain a new licence or modify your existing one.

11.00 – Small Group Exercise 1

11.15 - Coffee

11.30 – Conservation, Education and Research – Matt Hartley

Statutory requirements for conservation, education and research.

12.00 – Small Group Exercise 2

12.30 - Lunch

1.15 – Visitor Experience, Animal Contact and Zoonoses – Matt Hartley

Covering the requirement regarding visitors in the zoo.

2.00 - Small Group Exercise 3 - in the Zoo Assessing the Visitor

Experience and Public Safety Practical exercise in the zoo undertaking a mock inspection – will you identify the same issues as the zoo inspectors or will you find additional ones. Marc

Boardman Chessington Zoo Manager will be on hand to discuss his last inspection and how he has addressed the recommendations and conditions on his licence.

3.30 – Tea

 3.45 – Zoo Management – Matt Hartley

Review of the aspects of zoo management under focus – staff competence, staff training, firearms and escapes, record keeping etc.

4.30 - Small Group Exercise 4

5.00 – Discussion Session

Day 2

9.30 - Animal Husbandry, Welfare and Ethics and Animal Health - Matt Hartley

How to inspectors assess animal husbandry, welfare and animal health at a one off ‘spot check’ ? What evidence should you provide and how can you present your zoo in the best light ?

10.00 – Health and Safety – Marc Boardman

Elements of Health and Safety are included in the zoo licensing act – Marc explains how he manages Health and Safety at Chessington and how he has worked with the local authority to manage launching the new zoofari attraction.

10.30 – Working with your Local Authority – the zoos perspective – Marc Boardman

Marc provides a zoo operators perspective of zoo licensing and explains how he has turned the process into opportunity for staff training and development and why he has been commended by inspectors unique approach to inspections which made it a positive experience for everyone.

11.00 – Coffee

11.30 – Small Group Exercise 5 – Mock Inspection in the Zoo

A second exercise in the zoo – you will be escorted by a Chessington Keeper to undertake a mock inspection in areas of the zoo. We will come back and discuss your findings and how you would address any issues raised.

1.00– Lunch

1.45 – Enforcing the Zoo Licensing Act – Matt Hartley

What happens when conditions are needed ? What is a Direction Order ? Can the Local Authority close your zoo down. What are the aspects of the ZLA which you can get a criminal record for ? Matt shares his experiences of zoos gone bad !

2.30 – Small Group Exercise 6

3.15 - Tea

3.45- Final discussion session

Booking Information matt@zooandwildlifesolutions.com

46th Annual Association of Zoo Veterinarians

46th Annual Association of Zoo Veterinarians

21st Annual Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians Conference

13th Annual Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians Conference

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Lake Buena Vista, Florida

October 18-24, 2014

The 21st Annual ARAV and 13th Annual AEMV Conferences will be held October 18-24, 2014 at Disney’s Coronado Springs resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL. This will be yet another landmark event for these three groups as they will be meeting together for the second time. As always, experts in their respective fields from all over the world have been invited to participate making this a truly global continuing education experience. We realize these are still challenging economic times and appreciate the loyal support you have shown over the years whether through exhibits, sponsorship, auction donations, or supplies for labs. The live auction will be on zoo day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park on Tuesday, October 21, 2014. Information on who to contact and where to send you auction donations for ARAV will be included at the close of this letter.

Monetary sponsorship will be available at the following levels and is on a first come, first serve basis. We are also open to any ideas you may have such as coffee mugs, water bottles, pens, portfolio pads, registration “briefcases”, etc. if you would prefer to participate in that manner.

• ARAV Sessions - $750 each

o Infectious Diseases

o Physiology/Conservation

o Clinical Techniques

o ARAV/AEMV Joint Session

o Master Classes

o Pharmacology

o In Depth Sessions (Musculoskeletal System)

o Case Reports

o Fish Medicine

o Diagnostics and Imaging

• ARAV Labs/Workshops

o Statistics for the Zoo/Exotic Clinician (M. Mitchell, didactic) $750

o Designing Studies, Collecting Data and Interpreting It

o Exotic Animal Behavior: Applying the Science of Learning Across Species

to Optimize Animal Health and Wellbeing (L. Clayton, didactic) $750

o Special Focus: Tortoise Medicine (A. Maas, didactic) $750

o Diagnostic Hemotology and Cytology of Reptiles (N. Stacey, didactic) $750

o Basic (Lizard) Endoscopy (Divers & Stahl) $1250

o Intermediate (Chelonian) Endoscopy (Divers & Stahl) $1250

o Soft Tissue Surgery of Green Iguanas (A. Bennett) $1500

o General Reptile Echocardiography and Ultrasound (L. Schilliger) $1250

• Coffee Break- $1500 (there will be an am and pm coffee break Monday-

Thursday)

• Lanyards/Name Badges-$750

• Monday ARAV Business Lunch-$3000

• Continental Breakfasts (Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday-$3000

• AEMV/ARAV Banquet-$4500

• ARAV Past-President’s Breakfast-$500.00

Levels of Sponsorship (based on the contributions to the above):

Bronze - $500-$750

Silver - $751 – $2000

Gold - $2001 – $4500

Platinum - $4500 and over

Commitment for sponsorship deadline will be September 1, 2014. All sponsors will be

• listed in the program book

• signs with the company logo will be displayed at sponsored sessions/labs

• if a lunch and/or banquet is sponsored, will be allowed to give a brief

presentation at the event

• mentioned in the opening and closing remarks

Thank you for considering these opportunities and we look forward to seeing you in October. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

  

Nicole Johnson, DVMPlease contact at:

ARAV 2014 Development Committee Chairherpdvm@yahoo.com

ARAV 2014 Member-at-Largefor the shipping address for auction

ARAV 2014 Auction Chairitems

MARINE MAMMAL BEHAVIOR AND CONSERVATION

MARINE MAMMAL BEHAVIOR AND CONSERVATION

 LOS CABOS

Is a unique educational opportunity for those interested in learning more about whales, dolphins and sea lions. This is a cutting-edge workshop designed to teach from firsthand, personal experience how to create human-nature connections. You will also learn how animals under human care serve as ambassadors for their species and how sustainable, eco-tourism helps to promote environmental awareness.

Location: Los Cabos ,Baja California, Mexico

Date: 16-20 February 2015

Registration is Open.

For more information please go to www.abcanimaltraining.com/los_cabos

And contact Shelley Wood at  swood@abcanimaltraining.com

RAW 2015

 It is time to start planning for RAW 2015 in beautiful Monterey, California.  So you have some basic information, the conference will be held March 2nd through the 5th (or 6th) of 2015.  

March 2nd will be TAG day, and the general conference will take place on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th.  This is an early RAW, so plan accordingly.  The conference will be held at the Monterey Marriott with a rate of $139/night double-occupancy.  Registration fee will likely remain $75.  

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is also considering holding a "Jelly School" - a two day workshop on jelly husbandry, before the offical conference begins, on March 1st and 2nd.  Details will be made available in the future, but there will be an extra registration fee for this very limited space course.

For further information please click

HERE

25 Rheas (or ostriches) and a Chimpanzee Die In Wild Dog Attack

Mendoza Zoo: a pack killed 25 rheas and a monkey died infarcted

25 ostriches died attacked by a pack of stray dogs; while a chimpanzee died of a heart attack, authorities confirmed Mendoza Zoo Tuesday 1 July. Is that in the morning a pack of ten to twelve dogs attacked the premises of rheas and killed 25 of the 57 helpless animals inhabiting the area, said Los Andes . By yelling and stress, Charly died a chimpanzee 39 years.

Gustavo Pronotto, director of the Zoo, regretted the situation and said: "We are very concerned here. What we experienced was terrible, a real slaughter, one is a bad day for all of us here. " Is that on the death of rheas adds the chimp, 39, of natural causes.

Through a statement, the zoo reported that address a pack of stray dogs did "give the perimeter fence of the enclosure where the birds live." Of the 57 ostriches that were on site, were killed and 25 others injured.

"We are working to calm the animals were very scared after the attack and healing to those who are hurting. The dogs were ensañados, have attacked them directly to the neck and chest, "said Pronotto.

Fearing the animals, fattened by blood, again, the Zoo appealed to the rural police to guard the perimeter during the night.

It will ask for permission to the Heritage Office to install a strong perimeter fence around the stones, which do not damage the historic well, but to provide protection to the zoo animals, "he said.

Charly was born in France in 1975 and two years later came to Mendoza. Chimpanzees in captivity live between 35 and 45.

Translated with Google Translate from:

http://www.diaadia.com.ar/argentina/zoo-mendoza-jauria-mato-25-nandues-mono-murio-infartado-0