Animal Embassy the Message of the Animals

Contributing Authors: Dr. Matthias Reinschmidt, Zoological Director, Loro Parque Fundación Dr. David Waugh, Director, Loro Parque Fundación

ORO Parque was voted in 2015 the best in Europe and the second best in the world (by Trip Advisor, the largest Internet portal for attractions). This is not only a wonderful appreciation of the work done in Loro Parque Lfor the animals and visitors, but also an incentive to continue along the same path. The transparency shown in hundreds of TV documen- ON LOCATION SPAIN ON LOCATION taries for many years, where the audience can look behind the scenes of Loro Parque, is what we want to share now with all visitors in our latest project. Therefore, a completely new part of the park with more than 2,200 square meters has been developed.

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The second pavilion is dedicated to research. To this end, there is collaboration between Loro Parque the renowned German Max Planck Institute. From a darkened room, visitors can observe behavioural experiments with dif- ferent species of . The birds are not disturbed, because the examination rooms are designed so that viewers can see inside, but the birds in the rooms cannot see the audience. The main objective of the research is to examine in more detail the cognitive abilities of par- rots because, as with crows, parrots are among the most intelligent bird species and many researchers put them on the same level of intelligence as dogs, or even apes. The Director of the international research team is In this area themed as an African village, visitors have Princess Auguste von Bayern, who has a doctorate in the opportunity, in different pavilions separated by glass biology and internationally known in science circles for panels, to observe the employees directly in their daily her pioneering research on New Caledonian crows. Thus, work without disturbing them. We want to show how much Animal Embassy offers a unique opportunity to learn love and dedication with which our animals are cared for, more about our parrots and simultaneously therefore the but also how much expertise and effort is needed for such Zoo supports an important area of ​​research. a large animal population, to meet all the needs of the creatures entrusted to us. We also want to promote re- Continuing the tour, visitors pass in front of two huge spect for animals and the environment among our visitors, artificial, but completely realistic African baobabs, which to address our commitment for the preservation of the in the base of one is a large aviary for Grey parrots (Psit- planet and nature for future generations. So, in this new tacus erithacus). Like the group of Blue-headed part of the park visitors connect with the animal species (Primolius couloni) in a second aviary, these parrots are and nature conservation in a wonderfully clear and easily regularly integrated into the research programmes of the comprehensible manner. Max Planck Institute and otherwise live in this beautiful aviary. ON LOCATION SPAIN

On-site diagnostic laboratory - Abaxis, Inc. In a tour through “Animal Embassy”, the first African pavilion encountered houses the Baby Station for parrots. In the following pavilion are the Loro Parque laboratories, Here visitors can experience through the glass panes how which give visitors the chance to see with how much tech- our nurses lovingly feed the newly hatched chicks. nical equipment the two biologists are working with daily They can even see their growing stages and how they to manage the essential routine tests of a zoo like Loro finally perch in a large aviary where they become slowly Parque. Thus every day, sometimes several times, in all independent by starting to fly and, step by step, to eat pools and ponds at the orcas, dolphins, sea lions, the alone and become independent from the feeding syringe. aquarium and the lakes water samples are taken, which On average three hundred young parrots are reared by are immediately analyzed and evaluated. Furthermore, hand here every year, and especially in endangered par- many virus tests for parrots, such as Circovirus and Poly- rot species this is an important method to maintain and omavirus, are also done here. increase the populations.

Volume 56 | Vetcom | 43 ON LOCATION SPAIN the profilesovertime. and develop,tomapthechangesthattakeplace in to establishbloodprofilesofparrotchicksastheygrow recently extendedintofundamentalresearch,including professional relationshipbetweenthetwopartieshas of partnershipbetweenLoroParqueand Abaxis. This at closerange,thevisitorscanappreciateextent in particularfortheparrots.Withanalyzersonview consequent improvementsinwelfareandconservation, understanding ofthehealthanimalcollection,and in-house diagnostics,thenetresultbeingamuchbetter array of Abaxis bloodanalyzers,aswellrotors,for cooperation. This hasincludedtheconstantuseofan cion toprovideanout-standingserviceandfirst-class nered withLoroParqueandtheFunda most inevidence. Abaxis hasforfourteenyearspart and wheretheprofessionalcooperationwith Abaxis is next door. This iswherethebloodanalysestakeplace, diagnostic worktakingplaceintheclinic’s laboratory to helptheanimals.Visitors canseetheX-rayroomand the three-memberveterinaryteamandtechnicianswork the operatingtheatresandtoseewithhowmucheffort separated onlybyglasspanels,thetreatmentsandeven Here, visitorsalsohavetheopportunitytoseelive,and four visiblerooms,theclinicofLoroParqueislocated. This isfollowedbythreegroupedpavilionswhere,with 44 SPAIN | Vetcom | Volume 56 - - of naturehave tobelaid. children inwhom thebasicsforasustainable understanding to childrenand youngpeople,because it ispreciselythe animals, theirneedsandthe needtoprotectthem,closer way bywhichtheeducational departmentofLPFbringsthe of schoolsareregularlyconducted. This isaninnovative Embassy, videoconferencesdirectlyintothe classrooms student groupsofupto40 participants. Also from Animal equipped asaconferenceroomforvisitors,students or cious administrationandserviceareas. The LPFlibraryis the clinicandLoroParqueFundaciónhavetheirspa Here theBabyStation,MaxPlanckresearchcentre, Animal Embassyhasalowerlevel,reservedforthestaff. the LPFasaresultofexperiencing Animal Embassy. vation forvisitorstobecomemembersormakedonations to directly forprotectionprogrammes. This isanimportantmoti- animals, etc.,LPFhasthepossibilitytoinvestalldonations nance costsofLPF, suchassalaries,maintenance,careof ects. SinceLoroParquehascommittedtopayallmainte bership feesanddonationsflowstotheconservationproj any questions. The mostrelevantisthat100%ofthemem- In theLPFpavilionemployeesareavailabletoanswer gered.” leari) fromthecategory“CriticallyEndangered”to“Endan (Anodorhynchus norhynchus icterotis)andtheLear’s population figures,forexample,the Yellow-eared Parrot(Og been down-listedintheirthreatcategoryduetothepositive supported byLPFinconservationprojectsthefieldhave IUCN RedList.Now, ninespeciesofparrots thathavebeen cies areincreasingagain,aneffect mostclearlyseeninthe thirds oftheprojects,populationsendangeredspe lion in109different projects. As aresult,inmorethantwo years ofexistence,LPFhasinvestedalmostUS$16mil the projectsthatareinitiatedandsupportedbyLPF. Inits20 ish orGermanandpresentthemostimportantthingsabout tablets. The 30to40secondvideosareinEnglish, Span for endangeredspeciesbyusingoneofeightfront-mounted tors canselecteachoneofthe36currentprotectionprojects Parque Fundación(LPF)ispresented.Onavideowall,visi The tourconcludesinthelargestpavilion,whereLoro ------SPAIN

iving every day close to wildlife definitely inspires a Llove of nature. In this sense, the most important goal of Loro Parque with this new facility is that the animals of the park are the ambassadors of their own species, ON LOCATION SPAIN raising the awareness of the visitors to support their conservation in their natural habitats – the Message of the Animals

Founder: Wolfgang Kiessling, President, Loro Parque Fundación Website: www.loroparque-fundacion.org

Photos: Loro Parque Fundación Facebook: www.facebook.com/loroparquefundacion

Email: [email protected]

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