2011-12 LIFE SCIENCES ADDENDUM ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS Animal Welfare Peer Review Committe Report 2011-12 1 Animal Welfare Related Incidents 2011-12 2 Overview of Animal Inventory 4 Animal Inventories Melbourne Zoo 6 Healesville Sanctuary 34 Werribee Open Range Zoo 55 ANIMAL WELFARE PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT 2011-12 1. Introduction + A person with demonstrable 4. Inventories commitment to, and established It is with pleasure that I present the fifth I attach the animal inventories for the experience in, furthering the welfare report of the Zoos Victoria Animal Welfare three Zoos Victoria properties. The of animals and who is not employed Peer Review Committee. The Committee Inventories Report documents changes or otherwise by Zoos Victoria was established in 2008 by the Zoos to animal numbers between 1 July 2011 Victoria Board to deliver improved + A Lay Person who is independent and 30 June 2012, and the total accountability and transparency for animal of Zoos Victoria and who is qualified collection as at 30 June 2012. The welfare related matters for Melbourne to practice law statistics support high levels of animal Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee + Two persons representing the Zoos care across Zoos Victoria and are Open Range Zoo. Victoria Board consistent with industry standards. Guided by a Terms of Reference, the The Chairperson of the Committee Committee’s role is to review and provide is a current member of the Zoos 4. Conclusion advice to the Board in relation to animal Victoria Board. The Animal Welfare Peer Review welfare incidents at Zoos Victoria’s three Committee looks forward to playing an properties, including compliance with 3. Activities important role in helping Zoos Victoria internal procedures. It also considers any The Committee met on four occasions deliver open and accountable reporting other matters of a related nature referred during the report period. The Committee and the implementation of Industry best to it by the Board, provided that the work confirmed currency of the Terms practice policies and procedures in of this Committee does not conflict with, of Reference for the Committee, and 2012-13 and beyond. or extend into, research and scientific endorsed revised associated Procedure procedures which are the responsibility documents. of the Animal Ethics Committee. The Committee was presented with an 2. Membership overview of investigations and resulting reports on five animal welfare incidents Kylie White The Animal Welfare Peer Review (Red-bellied Pademelon, Cuttlefish, Chairperson Committee (AWPRC) comprises a minimum Possum, Eastern Barred Bandicoot and Animal Welfare Peer Review Committee of six and a maximum of eight members, Gould’s Wattled Bat). For all five Zoological Parks and Gardens Board each of whom are appointed by the Board incidents the Committee considers that and who possess a genuine interest and 23 August 2012 the actions and investigations were commitment to the welfare of animals. undertaken consistent with Zoos Victoria Members represent the following internal processes, and endorsed the categories: recommended actions. + Person with qualifications in veterinary The Committee reviewed draft versions science and with experience relevant of the Zoos Victoria Animal Collection to captive wildlife management and Management Policy, noting that this who is not employed or otherwise by included consideration of animals being Zoos Victoria fit for purpose and of appropriate quality. + A suitability qualified person with The Committee noted quarterly Animal substantial recent experience in the Care Reports and the annual Animal captive management of animals Health Report. in a zoo, sanctuary or related field, The Committee considered and endorsed who is not employed or otherwise by changes in animal welfare reporting Zoos Victoria processes to align processes with current organisational structure. The Committee continued to monitor implementation of all actions recommend- ed in animal welfare incident reports. 2011-12 LIFE SCIENCES ADDENDUM • ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 1 ANIMAL WELFARE RELATED INCIDENTS 2011-12 Since 1 July 2011, three incidents have been + Amend induction procedures for + Development of a preventative reported; all incidents involved the death contractors working in animal enclosures maintenance plan to include a review of the Zoo’s existing alarm system and of an animal and formal animal welfare + Ensure that relevant keepers are advised investigations were completed on three when any staff are working in animal seek recommendations to install further occasions consistent with Zoos Victoria’s enclosures (other than the keepers alarms to ensure that we do not have welfare procedures. A further two incidents responsible for that round), and that any ongoing risks of tanks going dry. were reported during the 2010-2011 year, keepers check enclosure security after Furthermore, until an alarm has been with resulting investigation reports and ‘works’ personnel have departed installed in the isolation tank system, recommendations being considered by the this area is to be used only for Committee during 2011-12. + Keepers to check predator proof fence emergency housing of single animals. and all enclosure perimeter gates on Therefore the importation of six Rock a daily basis Red-bellied Pademelon Lobsters and a replacement Cuttlefish + Modify closure mechanisms for all has been postponed until the alarm A group of Red-bellied Pademelon are animal enclosure gates so that they is installed housed in Werribee’s walk-through Volcanic cannot be left ajar (e.g. chains should Investigate the possibility of Plains Exhibit. This mixed species exhibit + not be longer than required) establishing remote access to the Wild features several Australian native bird Sea LSS computer system to enable and macropod species. Keepers found that + Following construction of the feral ‘on call’ keeper to access it from home a gate had not been properly secured animal-proof fence, develop procedures overnight and it was assumed that this for access by staff, contractors and Zoos Victoria has since implemented gate had not been properly secured by the other visitors in order to ensure the or is in the process of implementing these contractors working in the area at the time. security of the fence is not compromised recommendations. The contractors had received training in Zoos Victoria has since implemented how to secure the gate. Keepers were not or is in the process of implementing these Possum aware of the fact that contractors were recommendations. working in the exhibit, so had not conduct- A Melbourne Zoo Keeper working in an ed additional checks of the exhibit. Initially off-limits area where wheelie bins were Cuttlefish it was noted that up to six pademelons stored noted a smell coming from the were missing. The likely explanation was Melbourne Zoo acquired a Cuttlefish for vicinity of the bins. Upon inspection the that a fox had entered the enclosure and display in the Wild Seas exhibit complex. remains of a possum were found in a bin. taken the pademelons. Of the six ‘missing’ The Cuttlefish was housed in a quarantine The bin had no lid and was partially filled pademelons, three were later found in pool for newly arrived specimens at Wild with water. The contents of the bin, the enclosure. This species is small, and Seas. On arrival at work, Melbourne Zoo including the possum remains, were tipped fairly cryptic, spending time hiding in staff found that the tank was empty, and onto a garden bed. Being in storage, vegetation; daily head counts rarely the Cuttlefish was dead. Investigation this bin was not checked on a daily basis. include all individuals that are housed in revealed that an ‘O-ring’ had split causing It was assumed that the possum had the exhibit. water to run out of the system. climbed into the bin and drowned. This Furthermore there was a leak in the floor was a wild possum. drain of the tank housing the Cuttlefish. Findings and Recommendations The report on this incident made four Post mortem findings indicated that the recommendations including: The report on this incident made seven Cuttlefish was in good health, and it was + That procedures for maintenance recommendations including: concluded that death had been caused by and storage of 240L bins be confirmed + Counsel contractors on the importance lack of water. for currency, including reference to of securing gates including providing The report on this incident made three provision for welfare of wildlife. further instructions to ensure gates are recommendations including: Any required amendments should be not left unsecured at any time + That the external Life Support made and then endorsed by the Zoo’s + Place signs on the gate advising of the System expert engaged to develop head of operations need to close gate completely a preventative maintenance plan for + That the procedures for maintenance Wild Seas be requested to include and storage of 240L bins is disseminated a review of O-rings in areas of high to all relevant staff and process to ensure water turbulence that staff have read and understood the procedure is clarified 2 2011-12 LIFE SCIENCES ADDENDUM • ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT + That weekly monitoring of bins stored + That all section supervisors remind all + That the scope of wildlife impact at Melbourne Zoo occurs, and that any keepers on their sections that keepers assessments be confirmed and non-compliance is reported. This are responsible for the daily wellbeing communicated