Birds in Zoos in England: an Assessment of Welfare, Conservation and Education in 2013

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Birds in Zoos in England: an Assessment of Welfare, Conservation and Education in 2013 Birds in Zoos in England: An Assessment of Welfare, Conservation and Education in 2013 Report by Craig Redmond Commissioned by the Captive Animals’ Protection Society This report has been researched and written by Craig Redmond on behalf of the Captive Animals’ Protection Society. Craig Redmond is an independent animal rights consultant who was previously CAPS’ Campaigns Director, having worked at the charity for over a decade. He has extensive knowledge of the zoo industry and has co- ordinated previous investigations and research projects into UK zoos. In addition, he has several years’ active involvement in programmes to protect migratory birds from illegal hunting across the Mediterranean. The Captive Animals’ Protection Society (CAPS) is a UK-based charity leading the campaign to end the use of animals in entertainment. Through a combination of undercover investigations, research, campaigns, political lobbying and education, CAPS aims to stop the exploitation of animals in entertainment, particularly in zoos, circuses and the exotic pet trade. The charity’s evidence-based campaigns and strong ethical basis ensure we can make a significant difference to the lives of animals in ending their exploitation. Working for a world without cages, CAPS encourages a more compassionate attitude and relationship between humans and other animals. The Captive Animals’ Protection Society is a registered charity and receives no government funding. Registered number: 1124436 We wish we could fly, We wish we could hear the tiniest of sounds And swoop gracefully and swiftly To the most definite of conclusions. The wind and wing’s secret is this; We do fly, We do hear the tiniest of sounds. We do arc and swoop, with ultimate grace To the most definite of conclusions. Jont, Mexico City, August 2005 (Quoted in Nozedar, 2006) Cover photo: Tethered Rüppell’s griffon vulture ( Gyps rueppellii ) All photos: Craig Redmond 2 Contents EXEEXECUTIVECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................... ............. 666 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................................... ........................................... 888 1.11.11.1 Legal definition of zoo ................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................ ........................................... 888 1.21.21.2 Methodology ................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................ .............................................................................................. ................. 888 1.2.1 Sampling of zoos .................................................................................................................................................. 8 1.2.2 Number of zoos to assess ................................................................................................................................ 9 1.2.3 Random sampling................................................................................................................................................ 9 1.2.4 Data compilation: .............................................................................................................................................. 10 1.2.5 Zoo visits ................................................................................................................................................................ 10 1.31.31.3 Selected Zoos ................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................ ........................................................................................... .............. 111111 1.3.1 Dispensation status ........................................................................................................................................... 12 1.3.2 Discussion on dispensation status for bird zoos ................................................................................. 16 1.3.3 Official zoo membership ................................................................................................................................ 17 1.41.41.4 Analysis of all ‘bird zoos’ in England ................................................................................................................................................................................... .............................................................................. ... 202020 1.51.51.5 Analysis of zoo stocklists ................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................ ........................... 252525 1.5.1 Species of birds in selected zoos ............................................................................................................... 28 1.61.61.6 Chapter discussion: IntrodIntroductionuction ................................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................... ....... 303030 CHAPTER 2 ENCLOSURES ................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................ ......... 313131 2.12.12.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................ .............................................................................................. ................. 313131 2.22.22.2 Legal requirements ................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................ ................................................................................ ......... 323232 2.32.32.3 Welfare analysis of enclosures in sampled zooszoos................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................... ............ 333333 2.42.42.4 Enclosure size ................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................ ......................................................................................... ............ 444444 2.52.52.5 Chapter discussion: EnclosuresEnclosures................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................ ........................................................................................ ........... 464646 CHAPTER 3 OTHER WELFARE ISSUES ........................................................................................................................................................................... ........... 474747 3.13.13.1 Injuries ................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................ ................................................................................................ ................................... 474747 3.23.23.2 Abnormal behaviour ................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................ ............................................. 484848 3.33.33.3 Assessment of abnormal behaviours at 20 zoos ..........................................................................................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Nogth AMERICAN BIRDS
    CHECK-LIST OF NOgTH AMERICAN BIRDS The Speciesof Birds of North America from the Arctic through Panama, Including the West Indies and Hawaiian Islands PREPARED BY THE COMMITTEE ON CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION SEVENTH EDITION 1998 Zo61ogical nomenclature is a means, not an end, to Zo61ogical Science PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION 1998 Copyright 1998 by The American Ornithologists' Union All rights reserved, except that pages or sections may be quoted for research purposes. ISBN Number: 1-891276-00-X Preferred citation: American Ornithologists' Union. 1983. Check-list of North American Birds. 7th edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. Printed by Allen Press, Inc. Lawrence, Kansas, U.S.A. CONTENTS DEDICATION ...................................................... viii PREFACE ......................................................... ix LIST OF SPECIES ................................................... xvii THE CHECK-LIST ................................................... 1 I. Tinamiformes ............................................. 1 1. Tinamidae: Tinamous .................................. 1 II. Gaviiformes .............................................. 3 1. Gaviidae: Loons ....................................... 3 III. Podicipediformes.......................................... 5 1. Podicipedidae:Grebes .................................. 5 IV. Procellariiformes .......................................... 9 1. Diomedeidae: Albatrosses .............................
    [Show full text]
  • Telecrex Restudied: a Small Eocene Guineafowl
    TELECREX RESTUDIED: A SMALL EOCENE GUINEAFOWL STORRS L. OLSON In reviewing a number of the fossil species presently placed in the Rallidae, I have had occasion to examine the unique type-an incomplete femur-of Telecrex grangeri Wetmore (1934)) described from the Upper Eocene (Irdin Manha Formation) at Chimney Butte, Shara Murun region, Inner Mongolia. Although Wetmore assigned this fossil to the Rallidae, he felt that the species was distinct enough to be placed in a separate subfamily (Telecrecinae) ; this he considered to be ancestral to the modern Rallinae. After apparently ex- amining the type, Cracraft (1973b:17) assessed it as “decidedly raillike in the shape of the bone but distinct in the antero-posterior flattening of the head and shaft.” However, he suggested that Wetmores’ conclusions about its relationships to the Rallinae would have to be re-evaluated. Actually, Tele- crex bears very little resemblance to rails, and the distinctive proximal flat- tening of the shaft (but not of the head, contra Cracraft) is a feature peculiar to certain of the Galliformes. Further, my comparisons show Telecrex to be closest to the guineafowls (Numididae), a family hitherto known only from Africa and Europe. DISCUSSION The type specimen of Telecrex grangeri (AMNH 2942) is a right femur, lacking the distal end and part of the trochanter (Fig. 1). Its measurements are: proximal width 11.6 mm, depth of head 4.2, width of shaft at midpoint 4.6, depth of shaft at midpoint 4.1, overall length (as preserved ) 46.1. Telecrex differs from all rails
    [Show full text]
  • Quantifying the Global Legal Trade in Live CITES-Listed Raptors and Owls for Commercial Purposes Over a 40-Year Period
    https://doi.org/10.30456/AVO.2019104 Avocetta 43: 23-36 (2019) Electronic Supplementary Materials of this article are available at: http://www.avocetta.org/articles/vol-43-1-evf-electronic-supplementary-material-for-panter-et-al-2019/ Quantifying the global legal trade in live CITES-listed raptors and owls for commercial purposes over a 40-year period CONNOR T. PANTER1,*, ELEANOR D. ATKINSON1, RACHEL L. WHITE1 1 School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom. * Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract – The global wildlife trade poses an increasing threat to the world’s biota. One-fifth of the global wildlife trade is fuelled by the demand for animals used as pets and entertainment purposes. The CITES Trade Database contains data on the declared trade of CITES- listed species from 1975 onwards. Previous research has focussed on the commercial trade of heavily persecuted species such as the Sak- er Falcon Falco cherrug. However there has yet to be an extensive review quantifying CITES trade data for live raptors and owls des- tined for global commercial markets. This study analyses trends in CITES trade data between 1975 and 2015 for live raptors and owls, highlighting key importer and exporter countries and discusses implications for raptor and owl conservation. Our results showed that the number of traded raptor and owl species has increased since 1975. We found that the most traded raptor species included hybrids in the genus Falco, the Gyrfalcon F. rusticolus and the Saker Falcon. In addition, our analyses revealed that the Eurasian Scops Owl Otus scops, Northern White-Faced Owl Ptilopsis leucotis and the Little Owl Athene noctua were the most commonly traded owl species.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix 1: Maps and Plans Appendix184 Map 1: Conservation Categories for the Nominated Property
    Appendix 1: Maps and Plans Appendix184 Map 1: Conservation Categories for the Nominated Property. Los Alerces National Park, Argentina 185 Map 2: Andean-North Patagonian Biosphere Reserve: Context for the Nominated Proprty. Los Alerces National Park, Argentina 186 Map 3: Vegetation of the Valdivian Ecoregion 187 Map 4: Vegetation Communities in Los Alerces National Park 188 Map 5: Strict Nature and Wildlife Reserve 189 Map 6: Usage Zoning, Los Alerces National Park 190 Map 7: Human Settlements and Infrastructure 191 Appendix 2: Species Lists Ap9n192 Appendix 2.1 List of Plant Species Recorded at PNLA 193 Appendix 2.2: List of Animal Species: Mammals 212 Appendix 2.3: List of Animal Species: Birds 214 Appendix 2.4: List of Animal Species: Reptiles 219 Appendix 2.5: List of Animal Species: Amphibians 220 Appendix 2.6: List of Animal Species: Fish 221 Appendix 2.7: List of Animal Species and Threat Status 222 Appendix 3: Law No. 19,292 Append228 Appendix 4: PNLA Management Plan Approval and Contents Appendi242 Appendix 5: Participative Process for Writing the Nomination Form Appendi252 Synthesis 252 Management Plan UpdateWorkshop 253 Annex A: Interview Guide 256 Annex B: Meetings and Interviews Held 257 Annex C: Self-Administered Survey 261 Annex D: ExternalWorkshop Participants 262 Annex E: Promotional Leaflet 264 Annex F: Interview Results Summary 267 Annex G: Survey Results Summary 272 Annex H: Esquel Declaration of Interest 274 Annex I: Trevelin Declaration of Interest 276 Annex J: Chubut Tourism Secretariat Declaration of Interest 278
    [Show full text]
  • Ghana Mega Rockfowl & Upper Guinea Specials 3 to 25 January 2016 (23 Days) Trip Report
    Knox Ghana Mega Rockfowl & Upper Guinea Specials 3 to 25 January 2016 (23 days) Trip Report Akun Eagle-Owl by David Hoddinott Trip Report compiled by Tour Leader Markus Lilje RBT Knox Ghana Mega Trip Report January 2015 2 Trip Summary Our private Ghana Mega trip proved yet again to be a resounding success! We notched up a fantastic species total in 23 days, where we covered the length and breadth of the country and a great variety of habitats in this superb West African country! Our tour started off with a visit to Shai Hills. This small but fabulous reserve has a nice variety of habitats including mixed woodland, grassland, wetlands and granite outcrops and therefore supports an interesting array of bird species. During our morning exploring the reserve we recorded African Cuckoo-Hawk, Western Marsh Harrier, Red-necked Buzzard, stunning Violet Turaco, numerous immaculate Blue-bellied Roller, Vieillot’s and Double-toothed Barbets, Senegal and African Wattled Lapwings, White-shouldered Black Tit, Red- shouldered Cuckooshrike, Black-bellied Bustard, Senegal Parrot, Senegal Batis and restless Senegal Eremomela. A number of migrants were seen including Willow Warbler, Whinchat and Spotted Flycatcher. Even mammals showed well for us as we had a number of Kob, Bushbuck, Olive Baboon, Callithrix Monkey and unusually good views of Lesser Spot- Blue-bellied Roller by Markus Lilje nosed Monkey! Well pleased with our morning’s birding, we left Shai Hills and made our way to Ho. En route we stopped for lunch near the Volta Dam where we enjoyed most memorable close-up encounters with Mangrove Sunbird and Bronze- tailed Starling.
    [Show full text]
  • (Aves: Phasianidae) from the Late Eocene of France
    ©Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 90 A 63-66 Wien, Jänner 1989 A new guineafowl (Aves: Phasianidae) from the late Eocene of France By JIRI MÜKOVSKY1) (With 1 plate) Manuscript submitted on November, 10lh 1986 Summary A new guineafowl, Telecrex peregrinus sp. n., is described from the late Eocene (Phosphorites du Quercy) of France. It represents the first record of the genus Telecrex outside of China and the second Tertiary record of the subfamily Numidinae. Zusammenfassung Aus dem Ober-Eozän Frankreichs (Phosphorites du Quercy) wird eine neue Perlhuhnart, Telecrex peregrinus sp. n., beschrieben. Es ist der erste Fund der Gattung Telecrex außerhalb von China und zugleich der zweite Fund der Unterfamilie Numidinae im Tertiär. The pheasants and their allies (Phasianidae sensu lato) are at present a widespread, highly diversified, and presumably rather ancestral group of birds. The group includes approximately 200-205 extant species, belonging to approxi- mately 70 genera (WOLTERS 1976). Rather much effort has been devoted to the study of the ecology and behavior of phasianids, because they belong to commer- cially important birds, but their comparative morphology, systematics and evolu- tion are still remarkably less understood. The comparative osteology has been studied in greater detail only in two phasianid groups so far, particularly in the tribe Odontophorini of the subfamily Phasianinae (HOLMAN 1961) and in the subfamily Meleagrinae (STEADMAN 1980), both of which seem to belong among the relatively young groups of the Phasianidae. The guineafowl (Numidinae) belong probably among the most ancestral groups of the Phasianidae. At present, they are confined, with one exception, to the subsaharan Africa, i.
    [Show full text]
  • Magnolia Bird Farm International Conure Association
    During the August 1997 American Federation of Aviculture National Convention in San Antonio TX, a ~l?J\D\SN~ group ofdevoted conure breeders and owners met to form the International ~~()~~l)§, Conure Association under the cooper­ ~"F,\e ative efforts of Sandi Brennan and ~trO~ D. Louise Kreutzer Brent Andrus. ~ P.O. Box 80035 The purpose of International ~ Conure Association (lCA) is to pro­ Bakersfield, CA 93380 International mote the keeping and breeding of call (805) 589-1941 conures by educating people on the fax (805) 832-1393 Conure needs of Conures in the home and the aviary. ICA will be publishing a quar­ Association terly newsletter dealing with both the pet care and breeding husbandry ofall Specializing in rare mutations, conures. and lovable, healthy, handfed babies. The Association will also begin Eric Antheunisse working on record keeping, tracking CEDARmLL he conure is one of the largest and stud books for the less common families of psittacines, second conures. A survey is being conducted BIRD only to the lory and lorikeet on the number of species currently ENTERPRISES T More than 70 family. The name is derived from held in captivity and currently produc­ species of birds ConuntS, an incorrect term previously ing offspring. This survey can be done 30 types of Conures, 8 types of Cockatoos used to identify this family of hook­ anonymously and ICA encourages any Macaws, Amazons & much more! (707) 578-3976 bills. Conures, in general, are small to and all owners of conures to partici­ 3442 Primrose Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95407 medium sized, with long wedge tails in pate so that we may better serve proportion to their broad large bills, conures in captivity.
    [Show full text]
  • The Gambia: a Taste of Africa, November 2017
    Tropical Birding - Trip Report The Gambia: A Taste of Africa, November 2017 A Tropical Birding “Chilled” SET DEPARTURE tour The Gambia A Taste of Africa Just Six Hours Away From The UK November 2017 TOUR LEADERS: Alan Davies and Iain Campbell Report by Alan Davies Photos by Iain Campbell Egyptian Plover. The main target for most people on the tour www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.1 Tropical Birding - Trip Report The Gambia: A Taste of Africa, November 2017 Red-throated Bee-eaters We arrived in the capital of The Gambia, Banjul, early evening just as the light was fading. Our flight in from the UK was delayed so no time for any real birding on this first day of our “Chilled Birding Tour”. Our local guide Tijan and our ground crew met us at the airport. We piled into Tijan’s well used minibus as Little Swifts and Yellow-billed Kites flew above us. A short drive took us to our lovely small boutique hotel complete with pool and lovely private gardens, we were going to enjoy staying here. Having settled in we all met up for a pre-dinner drink in the warmth of an African evening. The food was delicious, and we chatted excitedly about the birds that lay ahead on this nine- day trip to The Gambia, the first time in West Africa for all our guests. At first light we were exploring the gardens of the hotel and enjoying the warmth after leaving the chilly UK behind. Both Red-eyed and Laughing Doves were easy to see and a flash of colour announced the arrival of our first Beautiful Sunbird, this tiny gem certainly lived up to its name! A bird flew in landing in a fig tree and again our jaws dropped, a Yellow-crowned Gonolek what a beauty! Shocking red below, black above with a daffodil yellow crown, we were loving Gambian birds already.
    [Show full text]
  • A Contact Zone Between Mountain and Carunculated Caracaras in Ecuador.-Parker Et Al
    688 THE WILSON BULLETIN l Vol. 105, No. 4, December 1993 Wilson Bull., 105(4), 1993, pp. 688-691 A contact zone between Mountain and Carunculated Caracaras in Ecuador.-Parker et al. (1985) were first to report Mountain Caracaras (Phalcoboenus megalopterus) north of the Maranon depression at Cerro Chinguela in Peru. Fjeldsa and Krabbe (1990) found them on the border of Ecuador and Peru. Ortiz et al. (1990) did not consider the species present in Ecuador, but R. Williams (pers. comm.) found Mountain Caracaras to be fairly common on the Cordillera de Cyabanilla (4”34S,’ 79”22W)’ lo-15 km east of Amaluza in 1990. However, he saw none in this area in 199 1. Williams also recorded the species at 04”2 1S,‘ 79”45W’ near Sozoranga in 1990. E. P. Toyne (pers. comm.) recorded two adult Mountain Caracaras flying together at Ingapirca (3”41S,’ 79”13W)’ on 11 April 1992 immediately east of Acacana. I recorded Mountain Caracaras several times during ornithological fieldwork at 2950 m on the east side of Cerro Acacana (Acanama) (3”41S,’ 79”14W,’ Fig. l), Province of Loja, southern Ecuador, in May and June 1992 and report on those observations here. The area is characterized by “islands” of temperate cloud forest in an “ocean” of pastures. Just below and on the top of Acacana (3420 m), plramo vegetation was prevalent. I recorded Mountain Caracaras on 15 occasions, but never more than two together at one time. Fifteen records were of adults and four of juveniles. The greatest number of sightings in any one day was four.
    [Show full text]
  • Vpclistaug05 (.Pdf, 165.51KB)
    Vertebrate Pests Committee List of Exotic Vertebrate Animals in Australia Rev Aug 2005 Contact Details Background Vertebrate Pests Committee Secretary All species on this list (excluding those with B or C c\o Land Protection annotations) form a definitive record of the non- Department of Natural Resources & Mines indigenous vertebrate mammals, birds, amphibians GPO Box 2454 and reptiles held in Australia under State and Territory BRISBANE QLD 4001 legislation. (It is the responsibility of the holder of an Tel. 07 3405 5540 individual animal to ensure that they are also Fax. 07 3405 5551 compliant with Commonwealth legislation relating to Mobile. the possession and quarantine of exotic animals.) Email. [email protected] This list should be used as a reference by the Vertebrate Pests Committee and Commonwealth, Sustainable Wildlife Industries State and Territory agencies in controlling the entry, Environment Australia movement and keeping of exotic vertebrate animals. GPO Box 787 CANBERRA ACT 2601 This list may be subject to change from time to time Tel. 02 6274 2880 (with VPC approval), to incorporate changes in the Fax. 02 6274 1921Email. [email protected] taxonomic name of species. It may also be changed where additions have been made through the legal importation of new exotic species into Australia under References the provisions of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Christidis, L. and Boles, W. E. 1994. The Taxonomy Quarantine Act 1908. and Species of Birds of Australia and its Territories. RAOU Monograph 2. Each species, unless otherwise stated, has so far only be subjected to a general assessment of the risk it Frost, N.C.
    [Show full text]
  • February 2007 2
    GHANA 16 th February - 3rd March 2007 Red-throated Bee-eater by Matthew Mattiessen Trip Report compiled by Tour Leader Keith Valentine Top 10 Birds of the Tour as voted by participants: 1. Black Bee-eater 2. Standard-winged Nightjar 3. Northern Carmine Bee-eater 4. Blue-headed Bee-eater 5. African Piculet 6. Great Blue Turaco 7. Little Bee-eater 8. African Blue Flycatcher 9. Chocolate-backed Kingfisher 10. Beautiful Sunbird RBT Ghana Trip Report February 2007 2 Tour Summary This classic tour combining the best rainforest sites, national parks and seldom explored northern regions gave us an incredible overview of the excellent birding that Ghana has to offer. This trip was highly successful, we located nearly 400 species of birds including many of the Upper Guinea endemics and West Africa specialties, and together with a great group of people, we enjoyed a brilliant African birding adventure. After spending a night in Accra our first morning birding was taken at the nearby Shai Hills, a conservancy that is used mainly for scientific studies into all aspects of wildlife. These woodland and grassland habitats were productive and we easily got to grips with a number of widespread species as well as a few specials that included the noisy Stone Partridge, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Senegal Parrot, Guinea Turaco, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Vieillot’s and Double- toothed Barbet, Gray Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Greenbul, Melodious Warbler, Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, Blackcap Babbler, Yellow-billed Shrike, Common Gonolek, White Helmetshrike and Piapiac. Towards midday we made our way to the Volta River where our main target, the White-throated Blue Swallow showed well.
    [Show full text]
  • The Puerto Rican Parrot—A Story of an Amazing Rescue
    THE PUERTO RICAN PARROT- A STORY OF AN AMAZING RESCUE By Alan Mowbray1 HISTORY Five hundred and twelve years ago, on his second voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus dropped anchor off the Caribbean island he named San Juan Bautista. He and his crew of Spanish explorers saw white sand beaches bordered by high mountains covered with lush forests. They were warmly greeted by the native Taino inhabitants who gave them gifts of gold nuggets they had plucked from the island’s rivers. Hundreds of noisy bright-green parrots with beautiful white-ringed eyes swooped overhead. The Taino called these birds “Higuaca.” At the beginning of the sixteenth century, Spanish colonists estimated that there were nearly a million of these beautiful birds living in the island’s forests. Today there are less than thirty Amazona vittata living in the wild on the island we now know as Puerto Rico. Although there are future plans to expand the wild population to other locations on the island, at the moment, the 28, 000 acre (19, 650 hectare) Caribbean National Forest, known locally as El Yunque, is the sole remaining forest habitat where the few surviving wild Puerto Rican parrots find trees with cavities suitable for nesting and seeds and fruits to forage. Amazona vittata’s near disappearance is not unique. Of the three parrot species that inhabited U.S. territory at the turn of the twentieth century, all but one, the Puerto Rican Parrot became extinct by the 1940’s. There are 332 known psittacine (parrot) species. Approximately 31 of them are of the Neotropical Amazona genus that inhabits central and South America and the Caribbean islands.
    [Show full text]