The Research School at Nordens Ark 3-8 October 2010
A joint project between Nordens Ark and Hasselblad Foundation topics of conservation in the wild, rearing ex situ and reintroduction of threatened Felid species
Snow leopard at Nordens Ark / Photo Tom Svensson
Financed by the Hasselblad Foundation
Organized by Claes Andrén, Leif Blomqvist and Lena M Lindén (Nordens Ark) Conservation Biology at Nordens Ark 2010
A research school, October 3-8, aimed at postgraduate training in topics of conservation in the wild, rearing ex situ and reintroduction of threatened Felid species
(Updated August 20)
The school is centred around the Foundation Nordens Ark at the Åby Fiord in mid Bohuslän on the Swedish west coast. The school will combine seminar series of both theoretical and practical character. These will be carried out by teachers, both with a more traditional academic status, and persons with the genuine knowledge of animal husbandry, rearing in captivity, and re-introduction in the field.
Organizers: Claes Andrén, Leif Blomqvist and Lena M Lindén
The course will be in English and is mending for 15 Ph.D. students. We would also very much appreciate if the speakers are prepared to stay over night the day they have their talk, allowing the students to discuss their subjects under more relaxed forms in the evening.
Sunday 3. October
Arrival of students /registration, reception open to 10.00 pm. Possibility to have light evening meal /PUB
Monday 4. October
09.00- 09.30 Welcome and Presentation of Nordens Ark Speakers will be announced later
General aspects of felid conservation
09.30-10.15 Jointly managed ex situ populations of felids in the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) Alex Sliwa, EAZA Felid Chair, Cologne Zoo [email protected]
10.15-10.45 Coffe break
10.45-12.00 How can zoos and museums contribute to felid conservation? Alex Sliwa, EAZA Felid Chair, Cologne Zoo [email protected] Andrew Kitchener, Royal Museum of Scotland [email protected]
12.00-13.30 Lunch
13.30-14.00 The EAZA European Carnivore Campaign Lesley Dickie, EAZA Executive director [email protected]
14.15-15.15 Genetic and demographic management of conservation breeding programs oriented towards reintroduction Kristin Leus, CBSG Europe, Antwerp Zoo [email protected]
15.15-15.30 Coffe break
15.30-17.00 Guided tour in Nordens Ark
18.00 Dinner
Free evening in the PUB
Tuesday 5. October
In focus: The Lynx
09.00-09.30 The lynx situation and restocking attempts in Lithuania Linas Balciauskas, University of Vilnius [email protected]
09.45-10.15 Predator-prey interaction and population development of Eurasian lynx in Sweden Henrik Andrén, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Grimsö [email protected]
10.30-11.00 Coffee break
11.00-12.00 Reproduction biology and reproduction management in lynx Johanna Painer, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo Biology and Reproduction Management [email protected]
12.00-13.30 Lunch
13.30-14.00 The Iberian lynx conservation breeding program Antonio Rivas, Centro de Cria Iberíco el Acebuche [email protected]
14.15-14.45 In situ conservation of the Iberian lynx Miguel Angel Simón, Junta de Andalucia [email protected]
15.00-15.30 Coffee break
15.30-16.00 Sibling aggression in Iberian lynx litters: an unexpected challenge for the breeding program Anastasia Antonevich,Centro de Cria Iberíco el Acebuche [email protected]
18.00 Dinner
Free evening in the PUB
Wednesday 6. October
In focus: The wild cat Felis silvestris
09.00-09.45 A species-specific enclosure design for European wildcats: the key to natural behaviour and to successful reintroduction into the wild Marianne Hartmann, University of Zürich [email protected]
10.00-10.30 Assessing the rate of hybridization between the European wildcat and the domestic cat Beatrice Nussberger, University of Zürich [email protected]
10.45-11.15 Coffee Break
11.15-11.45 Status and conservation of the Scottish wildcat Andrew Kitchener, Royal Museum of Scotland [email protected]
12.00-13.30 Lunch
13.30-17.00 Excursion to a coastal area in Bohuslän
18.00 Dinner
Free evening in the PUB
Thursday 7. October
In focus: The snow leopard
09.00-09.30 Identification of genetic corridors and the use of non-invasive genetics and camera traps in monitoring wild snow leopards Tom McCarthy, Panthera, Snow Leopard Program [email protected] rg
09.45-10.15 Overview of snow leopard management and research across Central Asia Koustubh Sharma, Snow leopard Trust [email protected]
10.30-11.00 Coffee break
11.00-11.45 Conservation efforts for captive snow leopards in Japanese zoos Natsuko Kimura, Hitotsubashi University [email protected]
12.00-13.30 Lunch
13.30-17.00 Guided tour in Nordens Ark
18.00 Dinner party
Free evening in the PUB
Friday 8. October
In Focus: Large cats in the Russian Far East
09.00-09.30 The role of zoos in Amur leopard conservation Sarah Christie, Zoological Society of London [email protected]
09.45-10.15 Preparation for reintroduction of Amur leopards in the Russian Far East Sarah Christie, Zoological Society of London [email protected]
10.30-11.00 Coffee break
11.00-11.30 Methods used to count tigers and leopards in the Russian Far East Linda Kerley, Lazo Zapovednik , Zoological Society of London [email protected]
11.45-12.15 Survival rates and causes of mortality of Amur tigers in the Russian Far East. Linda Kerley, Lazo Zapovednik , Zoological Society of London [email protected]
12.30-13.00 Round table discussion
13.00-14.30 Lunch
18.00 Dinner for those staying over night
Saturday 9. October
07.30-09.00 Breakfast