Friday, June 21, 2019

Zoo News Digest 21st June 2019 (ZooNews 1033)

Zoo News Digest 21st June 2019  (ZooNews 1033)

Can you see the tree?


elvinhow@gmail.com

 

Dear Colleague,


I know it has only been just over two weeks since I had my stroke but I am impatient to recover. It is so limiting to what I can do and achieve. My left leg is now working. I am glad about that because people no longer think I am drunk when I walk out. The left arm is still next to useless though with almost continuous exercise and massage it is slowly regaining function. I am assuming the extreme lethargy I feel is down to the medication. I find the urge to sleep every two hours too strong to resist.

Top this off with my WiFi on go slow it does not do a lot for my mood. Trying to keep on top of things. It can only get better...I hope.

I find that asking an Elephant Kraal FAD issues eviction order for historic elephant kraal established for 200 years being given just 30 days to move a bit hard to understand. Finding homes for one or two elephants is difficult enough. But this.


"good zoos will not gain the credibility of their critics until they condemn the bad zoos wherever they are." Peter Dickinson

Lots of interest follows

To inform, to educate

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Did You Know?
ZooNews Digest has over 110,400+ Followers on Facebook( and over 110,500 likes) and has a monthly reach often exceeding over 1000,000 people? That ZooNews Digest has subscribers in over 900 Zoos in 155+ 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,
not DYSFUNCTIONAL zoos.
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Walking the Talk of Animal Welfare: The Story of Cincinnati Zoo and Ndume the Gorilla
They say, “If you’re going to talk-the-talk, then be prepared to walk-the-walk.” Talk is cheap and easy, but progress and accomplishment requires investment of talent and treasure, and a willingness to accept the risk of falling short or failure. Well, our colleagues and friends at Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden have just shown us what it looks like to walk-the-talk of animal welfare.



Victory! Ndume the Gorilla Arrives at Accredited Cincinnati Facility
Victory! Ndume, a gorilla who was being held in solitary confinement inside a trailer at an unaccredited California pseudo-sanctuary called The Gorilla Foundation, has been returned to the Cincinnati Zoo—where he was born and where he can have the opportunity to live and interact with other members of his species. PETA and more than 68,000 compassionate people took action in support of moving him, and now he’s finally going to receive expert care in the best possible captive conditions, with a multigenerational social group.



Of Whales and Man: A Reflection
It was just another hot, humid, and sunny day at SeaWorld San Antonio in August of 2010 when my counselor led our camp group to Shamu Stadium to watch an afternoon presentation of the show, Believe. Although the trainers were no longer doing any water works with the orcas at that point, they were still interacting with them during the show, and doing the regular behaviors they would often do during the show, regardless if there were waterworks, or not. After the show ended, and everyone left to see the other animals at the park, our group stayed behind at the stadium to watch baby orca Sakari interact with her mother Takara, and paternal half-sister, and “foster” aunt Unna, and talk to the traine




The big cat in the room: The problems with European rules on exotic pets



 New research could lead to a pregnancy test for endangered marsupials
Many women realise they are pregnant before they’ve even done the test – perhaps feeling a touch of nausea, or tender, larger-than-usual breasts.

For a long time, biologists had thought most marsupials lacked a way to recognise a pregnancy.

But new research published today shows a marsupial mum knows – in a biological sense – when she’s carrying a young one before they make their journey to the pouch.


Endangered rhinos ready to be sent from Europe to Rwanda
Five critically endangered eastern black rhinos from wildlife parks in three European countries are ready to be transported back to their natural habitat in Rwanda, where the entire rhino population was wiped out during the genocide in the 1990s.



How to Find a More Ethical Zoo
It wasn’t that long ago when Harambe, a gorilla, was shot and killed after a three-year-old boy fell into his enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo—giving rise to a particularly dark meme in recent history. It’s incidents like these, and problems of overcrowding, that have called into question the general treatment and welfare of zoo animals everywhere.



This elephant’s plight sparked outrage. Here’s an update
LAST JUNE, BEHIND a stadium in the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand, I stood in front of a young elephant that was chained to a pole. His leg was swollen and bent unnaturally. He had a bloody sore at his temple from lying on the hard ground. His eyes wouldn’t focus.



500 vultures die in Botswana after eating poisoned elephants
More than 500 endangered vultures died of poisoning after eating the carcasses of three elephants killed by poachers in Botswana, the government said in a statement.
A total of 537 vultures, along with two tawny eagles, were found dead at the site in the north of the African country.



FAD issues eviction order for historic elephant kraal
The Fine Arts Department (FAD) has issued an order to relocate the famous Elephant Kraal of Ayutthaya, as it comes under increasing pressure to clean up the historical precinct that has been listed as a World Heritage site by Unesco.

Provincial governor Sujin Chaichumsak confirmed the relocation order has been issued, and said the plot on which famed kraal stood for more than two centuries must be cleared within 30 days.



15 Frogs Saved by the Global Zoo and Aquarium Community
Frogs are an integral part of the ecosystems they evolved in, serving as prey for some species and predators for others. Additionally, they are an indicator species for environmental health due to their skin’s indiscriminate absorption of everything in their habitat’s water. This characteristic makes amphibians especially vulnerable to global warming and the chytrid fungus outbreak, thrusting them into their own amphibian extinction crisis amidst the ongoing 6th mass extinction event.



Pakistan struggles to save pangolins from poachers
Despite efforts of local conservationists, demand from China for scales, meat and traditional medicine has made the endangered pangolin the world's most trafficked animal.
On a Sunday evening last month, Masood Akhter, a 45-year-old government worker



Narlugas Are Real
In the late 1980s, an Inuit subsistence hunter named Jens Larsen killed a trio of very strange whales off the western coast of Greenland.

He and his fellow subsistence hunters would regularly catch two species: narwhals, whose males famously have long, helical tusks protruding from their snouts; and belugas, with their distinctive white skin. But Larsen’s new kills were neither. Their skin wasn’t white, nor mottled like a narwhal’s, but uniformly grey. The flippers were beluga-like, but the tails were narwhal-esque. In all his years of hunting, Larsen had never seen anything like them. He was so struck that he kept one of their skulls on the roof of his toolshed.



Belugas Fly in Tomorrow
Two beluga whales from Shanghai, China, will arrive at Keflavík International Airport tomorrow morning, mbl.is reports. Their arrival, originally scheduled for mid-April, was delayed until it was certain they could be transported to Vestmannaeyjar islands from Landeyjahöfn harbor, which  opened unusually late for the season, due to weather, which prevented the annual dredging work. The belugas were not believed to be able to survive the much longer journey from Þorlákshöfn harbor.



Trafficked: How Exotic Pet Trade Funds International Crime | Complex News Presents
Owning an exotic animal has become a status symbol of the rich and famous. But the cost of having an unconventional pet goes far beyond the bank.

In the latest episode of our Complex News Presents docuseries, we take a look at the multi-billion dollar exotic animal trade and explore the harm caused by this illegal operation and the organizations trying to combat it. To get a better grasp of the situation, Complex News' Speedy Mormon visited Southern California's Animal Tracks Inc., an animal sanctuary that houses exotic pets.



Pretoria Zoo strikers hope to pick up tools again tomorrow
Pretoria Zoo employees, still demonstrating and demanding the immediate payment of unpaid benefits, yesterday said they were hopeful they would be returning to work tomorrow.
Employees affiliated to the National Trade Union Congress, who have been on strike since last week, said union representatives had given positive feedback from discussions held in collaboration with the Department of Environmental, Forestry and Fisheries and zoo management.



Should zoos exist?
The high-profile death of the gorilla Harambe, who was shot dead in 2016 at the Cincinnati Zoo after a young boy fell into his enclosure, sparked a massive outcry—and conversation—about what is still one of the most hotly contested debates involving animal welfare. Just this past weekend, activists turned up at the Bronx Zoo to demand the release of Happy the elephant, chanting in unison that “Happy is not happy.” Indeed, the idea that keeping animals in captivity is morally acceptable has long been questioned by those who argue that zoos infringe upon animals’ freedom. In recent years, an increase in research on the ethics of captivity has helped to dispel the



Dan Ashe
In the last two years, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has undergone significant changes.

By adopting a member-driven model, the organisation has enjoyed significant growth, which has included the expansion of its primary conservation initiative, resulting in investments of more than US$200m a year by its members.

The AZA also enhanced its already rigorous accreditation standards to reflect the latest in scientific research and animal welfare assessments, as well as acquiring the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance, which works to reduce the purchase and sale of illegal wildlife and wildlife products.



Alternate Reality in the Koala
The term, “go back to the Reality”, refers to the movie “Back to the Future”, starring Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd who play the characters of Marty McFly and Doc-Brown. Doc discovered in a fictional story how to go back in time, and right the wrongs of the past, to set Marty and his family’s life back on track. But, of course, there’s always the drama in between, which makes for good entertainment. So much so that there are three movies based on the journeys backward and forward in time.



Flying into extinction: Understanding the role of Singapore’s international parrot trade in growing domestic demand
South-East Asia’s bird trade is of global conservation concern as it has massively depleted wild populations of many species. Parrots (Order Psittaciformes) are especially vulnerable because they are the most heavily traded group of birds globally under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) appendices. Singapore’s involvement in the global pet bird trade as a transhipment hub is well documented, particularly for parrots. Yet, much less is known about the links between its domestic and international trade. We attempt to quantify this relationship by comparing bird trade data on the CITES database with past market surveys of pet shops, complemented with semi-structured interviews with 30 parrot owners in Singapore. We report a decline in total imports and exports of CITES-listed birds in Singapore from 2005 to 2016, consistent with global trends after the European Union trade ban on wild bird imports. However, parrots continue to make up the majority of total imports; and there was a yearly increase in the percentage of parrot imports out of total imports. In addition, we report a difference in imports and exports of 54,207 CITES



Conservation charity launches ten-year action plan to protect sun bears
The wildlife conservation charity Free the Bears has just released a ten-year action plan to ensure the survival of the world’s least-known bear species, the sun bear.

The new Global Status Review and Conservation Action Plan is the first ever range-wide conservation action plan for a terrestrial bear species. It sets out an ambitious strategy and details priority actions to be taken up to 2028.

 www.zoolex.org in June 2019

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Hello ZooLex Friend,
We have worked for your enjoyment!

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NEW EXHIBIT PRESENTATION

The Africa Exhibit at Zoo Landau In der Pfalz in Germany is an upgrade
of outdated single species ungulate enclosures into a mixed species
exhibit that allows breeding blue wildebeest and red duikers and shows
them together with a bachelor group of Hartmann's mountain zebras:

https://www.zoolex.org/gallery/show/1900/

               ~°v°~

ZOO DESIGN CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

Proceedings from the 2017 zoo design conference in Wroclaw, Poland, can
be orderd from Wroclaw Zoo, Lidia Przybylska: l.przybylska@zoo.wroc.pl

The price is 50PLN (about 11,6 Euro) plus postage (about 5 Euro).
Please provide details for an invoice if you which one to be issued.

               ~°v°~

We keep working on ZooLex ...

The ZooLex Zoo Design Organization is a non-profit organization
registered in Austria (ZVR-Zahl 933849053). ZooLex runs a professional
zoo design website and distributes this newsletter. More information and
contact: https://www.zoolex.org/page/about/


In Thailand, You Can Ride an Elephant. But Should You?
More than half of Thailand’s 7,000 elephants live in captivity. It’s been that way ever since 1989, when the country suspended almost all of the commercial logging that had employed them for generations. Jobless elephants, often with their keepers, ended up on the streets, wandering across farmlands or taking shelter in dangerous spots like highway underpasses.

Today almost all of the captive animals work to ent



 Tick that box: penguin parasites pose no potential problems
The first comprehensive study on African penguin parasites has just been completed, and the results raised no red flags - for now.

Marcela Espinaze of Stellenbosch University spent four years studying the ticks, fleas and internal parasites that live off SA’s flippered friends to learn how they might affect penguin colonies.

But the types and levels of parasites recorded were of no surprise, as they were consistent with the common pests associated with African penguins, according to the 36-year-old Chilean veterinarian.



Zoo Authority no to minister’s giraffe plans
Though state tourism minister Gautam Deb planned to release a pair of giraffe (camelopard) to attract more tourists in the North Bengal Wild Animal Park, popularly known as Bengal Safari in Siliguri, the Central Zoo Authority of India objected to the same, it is learnt.

Interacting with reporters at Gazoldoba near Siliguri recently, the minister said: “I wished to bring a pair of giraffe for the Bengal Safari, but I could not do so as the Zoo Authority of India is allowing us to keep only birds and animals that belong to the Himalayan range.”



Captive breeding plan sheds light on saving endangered pangolin
A captive-bred baby Sunda pangolin is expected to be born in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region later this month - a milestone in artificial propagation that might save the critically endangered species from extinction.

The baby pangolin will be the third generation of captive-bred Sunda pangolins at the Pangolin Research Base for Artificial Rescue and Conservation Breeding in Guangxi.

Next year, the base will cooperate with wildlife experts from Beijing Forestry University and conduct further research on pangolins' physiological conditions to gain a better understanding of the species.



Alternate Reality in the Koala
The term, “go back to the Reality”, refers to the movie “Back to the Future”, starring Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd who play the characters of Marty McFly and Doc-Brown. Doc discovered in a fictional story how to go back in time, and right the wrongs of the past, to set Marty and his family’s life back on track. But, of course, there’s always the drama in between, which makes for good entertainment. So much so that there are three movies based on the journeys backward and forward in time.





Conditioning For A Transport Box
How do you move an animal from an enclosure to the other? From a backstage are to a presentation area? To the veterinarian or to another zoo?

A transport box would be the answer. But how do you train such a behaviour is a question we often get here at Zoospensefull. It’s not as difficult as one might think but often, certain important details are overlooked.




No animal cruelty at Phuket Zoo, say officials
Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana ordered inspection in response to National Geographic posting on its official Instagram account a photo of a tiger chained on a podium, pacing back and forth in only metres of space. (See here.)

The National Geographic post on Instagram, without alleging that Phuket Zoo had conducted the practice, also noted, “Tigers are often declawed and/or drugged to make them safer for interacting with tourists.”



Lynx in Turkey: Noninvasive sample collection provides insights into genetic diversity
A team of scientists collected data and samples (feces, hair) from the Caucasian Lynx (Lynx lynx dinniki), in a region of Anatolian Turkey over several years. The results of the genetic analyses indicated an unexpectedly high genetic diversity and lack of inbreeding despite the recent isolation of the study population.




Why Canada Got it Wrong:
Bill S-203 (“Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act”) is Bad Policy Based on Bad Information
On June 10, 2019, the Canadian Parliament passed a bill to ban the public display of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) in Canada. Groups opposed to zoos and aquariums had lobbied for this bill for several years, and finally convinced enough legislators that this would be good policy.



Dogs' eyes evolve to appeal to humans
If a dog has eyes that seem to be telling you something or demanding your attention, it could be evolution's way of manipulating your feelings.

Researchers have found that dogs have evolved muscles around their eyes, which allow them to make expressions that particularly appeal to humans.

A small facial muscle allows dog eyes to mimic an "infant-like" expression



What Canada's icy relations with China could mean for the Calgary Zoo's pandas
With experts saying China-Canada relations are colder than they’ve been since the two countries began a diplomatic relationship, the four giant pandas at the Calgary Zoo are a reminder of positive ties between the countries.

The zoo’s panda cubs — Jia Yueyue and Jia Panpan — will make the journey home to China in the fall as part of the partnership agreement with the Chinese government. However, Charles Labrecque, the research manager of Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, said if relations continue to deteriorate, while it’s unlikely, it isn’t unprecedented that China could threaten to demand the return all four of the black-and-white bears.



Hunting the Elusive Rhino-Horn Cartel of Thailand
From an outpost in northeastern Thailand, a couple of shadowy men have for years been running the world's most elaborate poaching ring—earning an enormous fortune by destroying some of the planet's most exotic creatures. Now can an enterprising vigilante finally bring down an untouchable smuggling syndicate?




Woman Who Fatally Injured Greek Tortoise at Budapest Zoo Caught and Appeared at Court
The woman who is suspected of fatally injuring a Greek tortoise with a stone at the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden last Wednesday afternoon, was caught by the police last week and her preliminary hearing took place at a Budapest court on Sunday.

The preliminary hearing of the 20-25-year-old woman from Ózd was closed to the public, so it is still unknown what she said in court about her motives. However, the woman



The tragic great ape escape
Over his 22-year lifetime, a chimpanzee named Reuben ran free just once, in 2005. His brief liberty did not end well.

For two decades, Reuben was top attraction at a quirky little zoo in Royal, a gone-to-seed hamlet in the sticks of northeast Nebraska.



Animal maulings and horror on rides ...blood and gore at Southend’s Kursaal
“There was a young lady from Rayleigh who went to the Kursaal quite Gayleigh. When the dancing began. She met a young man who said that his name was Bill Bayleigh”

This was the winning entry back in 1906 when bosses at the Kursaal held a competition to find the best limerick about the Southend attraction. Over the years it’s fair to say the Kursaal inspired many a limerick, poem and story.



12 incredible facts about jellyfish
As beach season gets underway, reports are already emerging of jellyfish sightings and stings. Lion's Mane jellyfish were spotted in Dublin, Ireland; several beaches in Mexico's Sinaloa state were closed after hundreds of reported stings; and several Portuguese man-of-wars (a jellyfish relative with a painful sting) have washed ashore in South Carolina.



Kakapo Threatened by Fungal Infection! Know Interesting Facts About World’s Fattest Parrots
Dubbed as the world’s fattest parrot, Kakapo is very unusual of its kind that is mostly found in New Zealand. The researchers are mounting a monument effort to save it from extinction. However, recent news has worried the scientist, as the world’s plumpest parrots are dying as they are being killed by a fungal infection






Fancy bears: Russia's animal cruelty problem and the sexy bears of Instagram
Pets with their own social media following are nothing new.

However as an eight-foot, domesticated Russian bear, Stepan Panteleenko stands out from the usual crowd of pug dogs and miniature pigs.

Often pictured with aspiring social media stars in the woods surrounding his native Moscow, Stepan is something of a heartthrob.

The furry 300kg hunk appears in regular photo shoots accompanied by lingerie models and has over a dozen film credits to his name.



2 arrested inside zoo after gunfire, crash
Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo was put on lockdown Friday while police officers arrested two men in front of zoo visitors.

According to Sofia Rosales-Scatena, spokeswoman for the Fort Wayne Police Department, the two men had crashed a black Chrysler 300, reported stolen at 1:12 p.m., into a utility pole across from the Nestle Dreyer’s plant in the 3400 block of Wells Street while they were being pursued by the car’s owners.



Colchester Zoo pays tribute to Rajang the orangutan on his 51st birthday
COLCHESTER Zoo has paid tribute to one of its best-loved residents on what would have been his 51st birthday.

Rajang the orangutan had to be put to sleep late last year following a period of worsening health.

He had spent more 35 years at the Maldon Road attraction, becoming a particular favourite of both visitors and keepers alike.

On Friday, the zoo posted a message about the great ape on its social media channels.




NSPCA calls for boycott of facilities that host wild animals
The National Council for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) has called for a boycott of all facilities that host wild animals.

This comes in the wake of the announcement that the Joburg Zoo acquired 2 elephants this week to keep its lone elephant, Lammie, company.



Connect&GO explores how zoos & aquariums can use RFID to increase engagement
In a newly published whitepaper, Connect&GO has been examining the benefits of RFID technology, and how it can be used to increase visitor engagement for zoos and aquariums. This type of attraction has always been a popular pick for a day out, and now many are integrating RFID solutions to ensure guests get even more out of the experience. RFID wristbands not only replace a paper ticket, but they can also offer extra services and opportunities for guests. Facility operators can also use them to learn more about their visitors.



Manila Zoo employees experience calm, loneliness after closure
These days, animal keeper Weng Iloseo is able to devote most of his time looking after the cubs.

It has been more than four months since Manila Zoo was closed to visitors, shortly after it was discovered that the facility was dumping untreated sewage into Estero de San Antonio de Abad, which flows into Manila Bay.

But because of the May elections, it will take a while before the necessary purchases and installations are made. The Manila Zoo management is hoping that they can re-open within the year.



No doc for animals at Bir Talab zoo as hospital lying locked
The veterinary hospital at Bir Talab zoo has been locked for over a year. As a result, whenever any animals and birds require treatment, the zoo authorities have to take help of other veterinary hospitals situated in the city.

This hospital houses






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After more than 50 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/Hubpages http://hubpages.com/profile/Peter+Dickinson
Peter earns his living as an independent international zoo consultant, critic and writer. Until recently 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 storyteller, 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"


photo 
Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant







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