Management of Captive Animals

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Management of Captive Animals Management of Captive Animals Global evidence for the effects of selected interventions Coral S. Jonas, Lydia L. Timbrell, Fey Young, Silviu O. Petrovan, Andrew E. Bowkett & Rebecca K. Smith SYNOPSES OF CONSERVATION EVIDENCE SERIES Management of Captive Animals Global evidence for the effects of selected interventions Coral S. Jonas, Lydia Timbrell, Fey Young, Silviu O. Petrovan, Andrew E. Bowkett & Rebecca K. Smith Synopses of Conservation Evidence 2 Management of Captive Animals Global Evidence for the effects of selected interventions www.conservationevidence.com Copyright © 2018 William J. Sutherland This document should be cited as Jonas, C.S., Timbrell, L.L., Young, F., Petrovan, S.O., Bowkett, A.E. and Smith, R.K. (2018) Management of Captive Animals: Global Evidence for the Effects of Selected Interventions. University of Cambridge, Cambridge. Cover image: Amur Tigers, Dartmoor Zoo, © Dartmoor Zoo All rights reserved. Apart from short excerpts for use in research or for reviews, no part of this document may be printed or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, now known or hereafter invented or otherwise without prior permission. 3 Contents Contents ....................................................................................................... 4 About this book ...................................................................................... 11 1. Species management: Ex-Situ conservation – Increasing natural feeding behaviours in primates in captivity ............................................. 18 Key messages – Food Presentation ............................................................ 18 Key messages – Diet manipulation ............................................................. 19 Key messages – Feeding Schedule .............................................................. 20 Key messages – Social group manipulation ................................................ 20 Species Management: Food Presentation .................................................. 20 1.1. Scatter food throughout enclosure 20 1.2. Hide food in containers (including boxes and bags) 22 1.3. Present food in puzzle feeders 23 1.4. Present food which requires the use (or modification) of tools 24 1.5. Present food in water (including dishes and ponds) 24 1.6. Present food frozen in ice 25 1.7. Present food dipped in food colouring 26 1.8. Present food items whole instead of processed 26 1.9. Present feeds at different crowd levels 27 1.10. Paint gum solutions on rough bark 27 1.11. Add gum solutions to drilled hollow feeders 28 1.12. Provide live vegetation in planters for foraging 28 1.13. Maximise both horizontal and vertical food presentation locations 28 Species Management: Diet Manipulation .................................................. 29 1.14. Formulate diet to reflect nutritional composition of wild foods (including removal of domestic fruits) 29 1.15. Provide gum (including artificial gum) 31 1.16. Provide nectar (including artificial nectar) 31 1.17. Provide cut branches (browse) 31 1.18. Provide live invertebrates 32 1.19. Provide herbs or other plants for self-medication 32 1.20. Provide fresh produce 33 1.21. Modify ingredients/nutrient composition seasonally (not daily) to reflect natural variability 33 Species Management: Feeding Schedule .................................................... 34 1.22. Change the number of feeds per day 34 1.23. Change feeding times 34 1.24. Provide food at natural (wild) feeding times 35 1.25. Provide access to food at all times (day and night) 35 1.26. Use of automated feeders 35 Species Management: Social Group Manipulation ..................................... 36 1.27. Feed individuals separately 36 1.28. Feed individuals in social groups 36 1.29. Feed individuals in subgroups 37 4 2. Species management: Ex situ conservation - breeding amphibians ... 38 Key messages – refining techniques using less threatened species ............ 39 Key messages – changing environmental conditions/ microclimate ........... 39 Key messages – changing enclosure design for spawning or egg laying sites ........................................................................................................... 40 Key messages – manipulate social conditions ............................................ 40 Key messages – changing the diet of adults ............................................... 41 Key messages – manipulate rearing conditions for young .......................... 42 Key messages – artificial reproduction ....................................................... 42 Refining techniques using less threatened species ..................................... 43 2.1. Identify and breed a similar species to refine husbandry techniques prior to working with target species 43 Changing environmental conditions/ microclimate .................................... 44 2.2. Vary enclosure humidity to simulate seasonal changes in the wild using humidifiers, foggers/misters or artificial rain 44 2.3. Vary enclosure temperature to simulate seasonal changes in the wild 44 2.4. Vary quality or quantity (UV% or gradients) of enclosure lighting to simulate seasonal changes in the wild 45 2.5. Vary duration of enclosure lighting to simulate seasonal changes in the wild 46 2.6. Simulate rainfall using sound recordings of rain and/or thunderstorms 46 2.7. Allow temperate amphibians to go through hibernation period 46 2.8. Allow amphibians from highly seasonal environments to have a period of dormancy during a simulated drought period 47 2.9. Vary water flow/speed of artificial streams in enclosures for torrent breeding species 47 2.10. Provide artificial aquifers for species which breed in upwelling springs47 2.11. Vary artificial rainfall to simulate seasonal changes in the wild 48 Changing enclosure design for spawning or egg laying sites ...................... 49 2.12. Provide multiple egg laying sites within an enclosure 49 2.13. Provide natural substrate for species which do not breed in water (e.g. burrowing/tunnel breeders) 50 2.14. Provide particular plants as breeding areas or egg laying sites 51 2.15. Provide particular enclosure furniture for calling sites, breeding areas or egg laying sites 52 Manipulate social conditions ..................................................................... 53 2.16. Provide visual barriers for territorial species 53 2.17. Manipulate adult density within the enclosure 53 2.18. Manipulate sex ratio within the enclosure 53 2.19. Separate sexes in non-breeding periods 54 2.20. Play recordings of breeding calls to simulate breeding season in the wild 55 2.21. Allow female mate choice 56 Changing the diet of adults ........................................................................ 57 2.22. Vary food provision to reflect seasonal availability in the wild 57 5 2.23. Formulate adult diet to reflect nutritional composition of wild foods 57 2.24. Supplement diets with vitamins/ calcium fed to prey (e.g. prey gut loading) 58 2.25. Supplement diets with vitamins/ calcium applied to food (e.g. dusting prey) 58 2.26. Supplement diets with carotenoids (including for colouration) 58 2.27. Increase caloric intake of females in preparation for breeding 59 Manipulate rearing conditions for young ................................................... 60 2.28. Formulate larval diets to improve development or survival to adulthood 60 2.29. 60 2.30. Leave infertile eggs at spawn site as food for egg-eating larvae 61 2.31. Manipulate humidity to improve development or survival to adulthood61 2.32. Manipulate quality and quantity of enclosure lighting to improve development or survival to adulthood 62 2.33. Manipulate temperature of enclosure to improve development or survival to adulthood 62 2.34. Manipulate larval density within the enclosure 63 2.35. Allow adults to attend their eggs 64 Artificial reproduction ................................................................................ 64 2.36. Use hormone treatment to induce sperm and egg release 64 2.37. Use artificial fertilization in captive breeding 65 2.38. Use artificial cloning from frozen or fresh tissue 65 2.39. Freeze sperm or eggs for future use 65 3. Species management: Ex-Situ conservation – Interventions in reference to feeding captive carnivores to improve health and welfare. 66 Key message – Diet and food type ............................................................. 67 Key Messages – Food presentation and enrichment .................................. 68 Key Messages – Feeding Schedule.............................................................. 69 Key Messages – Social feeding ................................................................... 70 Species Management: Diet and food type .................................................. 70 3.1 Feed commercially prepared diets 70 3.2 Feed whole carcasses (with or without organs/gastrointestinal tract) 73 3.3 Provide bones, hides or partial carcasses 75 3.4 Feed a plant-derived protein diet 77 3.5 Supplement meat-based diets with prebiotic plant material to facilitate digestion 78 3.6 Supplement meat-based diet with vitamins or minerals 79 3.7 Supplement meat-based diet with amino acids 79 3.8 Supplement meat-based diet with fatty acids 80 3.9 Increase variety of food items 80 Species Management: Food Presentation and Enrichment ........................ 81 3.10 Hide food around enclosure 81 3.11 Change location of food around enclosure 83 3.12 Scatter food around
Recommended publications
  • AJ Blok 3 2019 Sestava 1 8.11.2019 12:47 Stránka 3
    AJ_obalka 3_2019_Sestava 1 8.11.2019 12:43 Stránka 1 the magazine for friends of the Brno Zoo No. 3 november 2019 In the desert AJ_obalka 3_2019_Sestava 1 8.11.2019 12:44 Stránka 3 s Content In the past months s 04 In the desert 12 Rescue Station the senses and encourage the animal to A place where extremes Drought and domestic animals “search” or play. The smell of sheep or are common camel hair is something unusual for ti- the magazin for friends of the Brno Zoo gers, as if an unknown animal had run through their territory, and the whole enrichment element is something that november 2019 requires them to make a thorough exa- No. 3/19, volume XXI mination of what seems suspicious, but publisher four times per year perhaps might be catchable. MK ČR E 17723 The idea of proclaiming July 29World Tiger Day was the result of the "Tiger Editor: Summit" held in 2010 in St. Petersburg, Brno Zoo and Environmental Education Russia. For the first time ever, represen- Centre, semi-budgetary organization tatives of all 13 countries where tigers The tigress Satu attacked the sheep without hesitation. Photo: Michal Vaňáč U Zoologické zahrady 46, 635 00 Brno, live in the wild gathered to agree on Czech Republic a common approach to protect this big In the desert IČ: 00101451 cat. Among other things, the negotiati- 16 13 SEV Hlídka tel.: +420 546 432 311 Camels: Majestic rulers of the desert Water at Hlídka ons resulted in an ambitious commit- fax: +420 546 210 000 ment to double the number of tigers in e-mail: [email protected] the wild by 2022.
    [Show full text]
  • ATIC0943 {By Email}
    Animal and Plant Health Agency T 0208 2257636 Access to Information Team F 01932 357608 Weybourne Building Ground Floor Woodham Lane www.gov.uk/apha New Haw Addlestone Surrey KT15 3NB Our Ref: ATIC0943 {By Email} 4 October 2016 Dear PROVISION OF REQUESTED INFORMATION Thank you for your request for information about zoos which we received on 26 September 2016. Your request has been handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The information you requested and our response is detailed below: “Please can you provide me with a full list of the names of all Zoos in the UK. Under the classification of 'Zoos' I am including any place where a member of the public can visit or observe captive animals: zoological parks, centres or gardens; aquariums, oceanariums or aquatic attractions; wildlife centres; butterfly farms; petting farms or petting zoos. “Please also provide me the date of when each zoo has received its license under the Zoo License act 1981.” See Appendix 1 for a list that APHA hold on current licensed zoos affected by the Zoo License Act 1981 in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), as at 26 September 2016 (date of request). The information relating to Northern Ireland is not held by APHA. Any potential information maybe held with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Northern Ireland (DAERA-NI). Where there are blanks on the zoo license start date that means the information you have requested is not held by APHA. Please note that the Local Authorities’ Trading Standard departments are responsible for administering and issuing zoo licensing under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.
    [Show full text]
  • Psichologijos Žodynas Dictionary of Psychology
    ANGLŲ–LIETUVIŲ KALBŲ PSICHOLOGIJOS ŽODYNAS ENGLISH–LITHUANIAN DICTIONARY OF PSYCHOLOGY VILNIAUS UNIVERSITETAS Albinas Bagdonas Eglė Rimkutė ANGLŲ–LIETUVIŲ KALBŲ PSICHOLOGIJOS ŽODYNAS Apie 17 000 žodžių ENGLISH–LITHUANIAN DICTIONARY OF PSYCHOLOGY About 17 000 words VILNIAUS UNIVERSITETO LEIDYKLA VILNIUS 2013 UDK 159.9(038) Ba-119 Apsvarstė ir rekomendavo išleisti Vilniaus universiteto Filosofijos fakulteto taryba (2013 m. kovo 6 d.; protokolas Nr. 2) RECENZENTAI: prof. Audronė LINIAUSKAITĖ Klaipėdos universitetas doc. Dalia NASVYTIENĖ Lietuvos edukologijos universitetas TERMINOLOGIJOS KONSULTANTĖ dr. Palmira ZEMLEVIČIŪTĖ REDAKCINĖ KOMISIJA: Albinas BAGDONAS Vida JAKUTIENĖ Birutė POCIŪTĖ Gintautas VALICKAS Žodynas parengtas įgyvendinant Europos socialinio fondo remiamą projektą „Pripažįstamos kvalifikacijos neturinčių psichologų tikslinis perkvalifikavimas pagal Vilniaus universiteto bakalauro ir magistro studijų programas – VUPSIS“ (2011 m. rugsėjo 29 d. sutartis Nr. VP1-2.3.- ŠMM-04-V-02-001/Pars-13700-2068). Pirminis žodyno variantas (1999–2010 m.) rengtas Vilniaus universiteto Specialiosios psichologijos laboratorijos lėšomis. ISBN 978-609-459-226-3 © Albinas Bagdonas, 2013 © Eglė Rimkutė, 2013 © VU Specialiosios psichologijos laboratorija, 2013 © Vilniaus universitetas, 2013 PRATARMĖ Sparčiai plėtojantis globalizacijos proce- atvejus, kai jų vertimas į lietuvių kalbą gali sams, informacinėms technologijoms, ne- kelti sunkumų), tik tam tikroms socialinėms išvengiamai didėja ir anglų kalbos, kaip ir etninėms grupėms būdingų žodžių, slengo,
    [Show full text]
  • What You Will Learn in This Course
    What you will learn in this course In this course you will learn how to use the various substances such as essential oils, minerals and macerated oils. You will learn how to offer them to the animals and how to read their responses. At a theoretical level you will learn about the world of plants and how they have used essential oils for millennia. Then you will see how animals have evolved to make use of these substances which the plants secrete for their own purposes. You will learn the basic science of essential oils and the compounds they contain. The next major component is pharmacology, learning how the constituents of plants work in the body to achieve the desired effects. Of course our animals are not concerned with pharmacology. They will simply select what they need, but it is helpful for us to understand how these oils interact with the various organs. Finally you will learn a little about the processes of producing the various substances that we normally use. It is important to understand that the list of oils and other substances explored in this course is not exhaustive or exclusive. There are many therapeutic plants on this planet which may vary from one geographical region to another, but this is a starting point. Later, once you have assimilated the nucleus of the work, you may find that you wish to experiment further including other plants in your kit. How the Course Works This is essentially a home study course so you will work through the various modules at your own pace.
    [Show full text]
  • EAZA NEWS Zoo Nutrition 4
    ZOO NUTRITION EAZANEWS 2008 publication of the european association of zoos and aquaria september 2008 — eaza news zoo nutrition issue number 4 8 Feeding our animals without wasting our planet 10 Sustainability and nutrition of The Deep’s animal feed sources 18 Setting up a nutrition research programme at Twycross Zoo 21 Should zoo food be chopped? 26 Feeding practices for captive okapi 15 The development of a dietary review team 24 Feeding live prey; chasing away visitors? EAZA Zoonutr5|12.indd 1 08-09-2008 13:50:55 eaza news 2008 colophon zoo nutrition EAZA News is the quarterly magazine of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) issue 4 Managing Editor Jeannette van Benthem ([email protected]) Editorial staff for EAZA News Zoo Nutrition Issue 4 Joeke Nijboer, Andrea Fidgett, Catherine King Design Jantijn Ontwerp bno, Made, the Netherlands Printing Drukkerij Van den Dool, Sliedrecht, the Netherlands ISSN 1574-2997. The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria. Printed on TREE-FREE paper bleached without chlorine and free from acid who is who in eaza foreword EAZA Executive Committee Although nourishing zoo animals properly and according chair Leobert de Boer, Apenheul Primate Park vice-chair Simon Tonge, Paignton Zoo secretary Eric Bairrao Ruivo, Lisbon Zoo treasurer Ryszard Topola, Lodz Zoo to their species’ needs is a most basic requirement to chair eep committee Bengt Holst, Copenhagen Zoo chair membership & ethics maintain sustainable populations in captivity, zoo and committee Lars Lunding Andersen, Copenhagen Zoo chair aquarium committee aquarium nutrition has been a somewhat underestimated chair legislation committee Jurgen Lange, Berlin Zoo Ulrich Schurer, Wuppertal Zoo science for a long time.
    [Show full text]
  • Supplement - 2016
    Green and black poison dart frog Supplement - 2016 Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Living Coasts & Newquay Zoo Supplement - 2016 Index Summary Accounts 4 Figures At a Glance 6 Paignton Zoo Inventory 7 Living Coasts Inventory 21 Newquay Zoo Inventory 25 Scientific Research Projects, Publications and Presentations 35 Awards and Achievements 43 Our Zoo in Numbers 45 Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Living Coasts & Newquay Zoo Bornean orang utan Paignton Zoo Inventory Pileated gibbon Paignton Zoo Inventory 1st January 2016 - 31st December 2016 Identification IUCN Status Arrivals Births Did not Other Departures Status Identification IUCN Status Arrivals Births Did not Other Departures Status Status 1/1/16 survive deaths 31/12/16 Status 1/1/16 survive deaths 31/12/16 >30 days >30 days after birth after birth MFU MFU MAMMALIA Callimiconidae Goeldi’s monkey Callimico goeldii VU 5 2 1 2 MONOTREMATA Tachyglossidae Callitrichidae Short-beaked echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus LC 1 1 Pygmy marmoset Callithrix pygmaea LC 5 4 1 DIPROTODONTIA Golden lion tamarin Leontopithecus rosalia EN 3 1 1 1 1 Macropodidae Pied tamarin Saguinus bicolor CR 7 3 3 3 4 Western grey Macropus fuliginosus LC 9 2 1 3 3 Cotton-topped Saguinus oedipus CR 3 3 kangaroo ocydromus tamarin AFROSORICIDA Emperor tamarin Saguinus imperator LC 3 2 1 subgrisescens Tenrecidae Cebidae Lesser hedgehog Echinops telfairi LC 8 4 4 tenrec Squirrel monkey Saimiri sciureus LC 5 5 Giant (tail-less) Tenrec ecaudatus LC 2 2 1 1 White-faced saki Pithecia pithecia LC 4 1 1 2 tenrec monkey CHIROPTERA Black howler monkey Alouatta caraya NT 2 2 1 1 2 Pteropodidae Brown spider monkey Ateles hybridus CR 4 1 3 Rodrigues fruit bat Pteropus rodricensis CR 10 3 7 Brown spider monkey Ateles spp.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecommons@Cornell
    BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES The biology major provides a unified curricu­ 6 credits selected from BIO G 109-110, 101 5. Enrollees in those courses in the bio­ lum for undergraduates enrolled in either the and 103 plus 102 and 104, 105-106 or logical sciences in which animal use is College of Agriculture and Life Sciences or the 107-108 or from specified courses in chem­ a component may, at the professor’s College of Arts and Sciences. Courses in bio­ istry or physics,, discretion, be asked to sign copies of this statement (USE OF ANIMALS...) at logical sciences are integral to many Switching from one introductory biology the first meeting of the course.” disciplines and are basic requirements in sequence to another at midyear may not be many schools and colleges at Cornell. possible because of variation in presentation Graduate study in the biological sciences is of topics. Students must receive permission of administered by more than a dozen special­ the instructor to switch sequences. Taking ized fields within the Graduate School, as sequences in reverse order is strongly discour­ ADVANCED PLACEMENT described in the Announcement of the aged in BIO G 101-104. For information on credit for advanced place­ Graduate School. ment in Biological Sciences, please see / www.bio.cornell.edu/advising/ap.cfm. USE OF ANIMALS IN THE ORGANIZATION BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Many different departments participate in the THE MAJOR biology major. CURRICULUM: CORNELL UNIVERSITY The major of biological sciences is available to Students wishing to enroll in biology (“BIO”) Student services are provided by the Office of students enrolled in either the College of courses should know and understand the fol­ Undergraduate Biology (OUB), www.bio.
    [Show full text]
  • ECOCYCLES Open Access Scientific Journal ISSN 2416-2140 of the European Ecocycles Society
    ECOCYCLES Open access scientific journal ISSN 2416-2140 of the European Ecocycles Society Ecocycles, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 52-87 (2020) DOI: 10.19040/ecocycles.v6i1.166 CASE STUDY Collection, cultivation and processing of medical plants, herbs and spices in the Balaton Ecomuseum – herbal medicine as intangible cultural heritage Sándor Némethy,2,3,4 Tamás Takács1, László Szemethy2, Bosse Lagerqvist3, Zoltán Barócsi2, Anikó Dinya4, Ilona Péterffy Némethy5 1Zánka Herb Valley Visitor and Training Centre, Zánka, Hungary; 2University of Pécs, Institute of Regional Development, Hungary; 3University of Gothenburg, Department of Conservation, Sweden; 4Eszterházy Károly University, Károly Róbert Campus, Gyöngyös, Hungary; 5Lake Balaton Development Coordination Agency, Siófok, Hungary e-mail: [email protected] Abstract –The Balaton Ecomuseum, which is being continuously developed since 2017, will have a holistic approach, where the objectives of the ecomuseum embrace the whole cultural landscape of Lake Balaton as one unit with several thematic routes in one system and shall not be restricted to one particular subject area or a part of local heritage. One of these thematic routes is the recently developing Herbs and Spices Network, led by Zánka Herb Valley Visitor and Training Centre based on the collection, cultivation and processing of medicinal plants, herbs and spices. The place of herbs and spices in the diet needs to be considered in reviewing health benefits, including definitions of the food category and the way in which benefits might be viewed, and therefore researched. Here we describe the already established system of the Zánka Herb Valley Visitor and Training Centre, the potential of the Balaton Region in the development of herbal medicine illustrated by the scientific presentation of the 30 most collected herbs in the region and examples of other herbal centres, which are intended to become a part of the network.
    [Show full text]
  • In Our Hands: the British and UKOT Species That Large Charitable Zoos & Aquariums Are Holding Back from Extinction (AICHI Target 12)
    In our hands: The British and UKOT species that Large Charitable Zoos & Aquariums are holding back from extinction (AICHI target 12) We are: Clifton & West of England Zoological Society (Bristol Zoo, Wild Places) est. 1835 Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (Jersey Zoo) est. 1963 East Midland Zoological Society (Twycross Zoo) est. 1963 Marwell Wildlife (Marwell Zoo) est. 1972 North of England Zoological Society (Chester Zoo) est. 1931 Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (Edinburgh Zoo, Highland Wildlife Park) est. 1913 The Deep est. 2002 Wild Planet Trust (Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts, Newquay Zoo) est. 1923 Zoological Society of London (ZSL London Zoo, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo) est. 1826 1. Wildcat 2. Great sundew 3. Mountain chicken 4. Red-billed chough 5. Large heath butterfly 6. Bermuda skink 7. Corncrake 8. Strapwort 9. Sand lizard 10. Llangollen whitebeam 11. White-clawed crayfish 12. Agile frog 13. Field cricket 14. Greater Bermuda snail 15. Pine hoverfly 16. Hazel dormouse 17. Maiden pink 18. Chagos brain coral 19. European eel 2 Executive Summary: There are at least 76 species native to the UK, Crown Dependencies, and British Overseas Territories which Large Charitable Zoos & Aquariums are restoring. Of these: There are 20 animal species in the UK & Crown Dependencies which would face significant declines or extinction on a global, national, or local scale without the action of our Zoos. There are a further 9 animal species in the British Overseas Territories which would face significant declines or extinction without the action of our Zoos. These species are all listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List. There are at least 19 UK animal species where the expertise of our Zoological Institutions is being used to assist with species recovery.
    [Show full text]
  • Zoo-Based Research
    Student and voluntary research placement 2020-2021 Zoo-based research The Wild Planet Trust owns three zoos: Paignton Zoo, Livings Coasts & Newquay Zoo. The Field Conservation and Research department is responsible for co-ordinating the research conducted at our zoos. We mainly concentrate on applied research, aiming to enhance knowledge and understanding that will lead directly to better practice in all aspects of zoo operations. Placements students will be carrying out research at any of our three zoo sites. Research themes include behavioural management, breeding and parenting behaviours, human-animal interactions and nutrition. Zoo-based studies may require collection of a variety of data including behaviour, vocalisations, personality assessment, food intake and faecal sampling. Research involves working closely with other departments in the zoo, particularly the animal, veterinary, education and garden departments. PAST PROJECTS Several students have achieved awards, including best speaker at the Annual BIAZA Research Symposium. Past projects include: Extinct in the wild? Investigating breeding behaviours and chick rearing in the critically endangered Edwards’s pheasant in captivity. The effects of feeding schedules on Sumatran tiger behaviour and dry matter digestibility. The effect of artificial UVB on primate behaviour. POTENTIAL PROJECTS Research topics may include monitoring the behaviour of bird species, as a model for in situ conservation efforts and investigating the efficacy of breeding management for primate species which are part of European captive breeding programmes. A key area for development is monitoring the impact of our future zoo-site developments. We also conduct regular observations on the behaviour of our Hamadryas baboon troop, to help support management decisions and monitor breeding.
    [Show full text]
  • Zoopharmacognosy Self-Medication in Wild Animals
    GENERAL ARTICLE Zoopharmacognosy Self-Medication in Wild Animals Rajasekar Raman and Sripathi Kandula The study of parasites and their likely influence on optimal foraging and mate-selection in animals has attracted much attention in recent times. The possible effects of parasites on the host include the manipulation of host behaviour by para- sites and the emergence of host behavioural adaptations for protecting against parasitism. Self-medication in wild ani- (left) Rajasekar Raman is a PhD student in the Depart- mals is believed to be the behavioural adaptation evolved ment of Animal Behaviour primarily against parasites and associated diseases. In this and Physiology, Madurai article, we have briefly reviewed some types of unusual Kamaraj University. His behaviour observed in mammals, birds and insects which can research interests include behavioural ecology and be considered as self-medication. conservation of bats. Presently he is studying the Introduction roosting ecology of the tent- making fruit bat Cynopterus The concept of self-medication in non-human vertebrates was sphinx. first proposed by Daniel H Janzen (1978), an ecologist at the University of Pennsylvania [1]. He is the first one to compile all (right) Sripathi Kandula is a Professor in Neurophysiology, the anecdotal accounts of possible self-medicating behaviour in a Department of Animal variety of animals. Janzen argued that energy requirement alone Behaviour and Physiology, is not sufficient to explain these unusual feeding habits and raised School of Biological Sciences, the possibility that animals can use plant secondary metabolites Madurai Kamaraj University. His research interests are in as stimulants, laxatives, antiparasitic and antibiotics or as anti- the fileds of echolocation, dotes for previously consumed toxins.
    [Show full text]
  • An Evaluation of Conservation by UK Zoos RESULTS
    ANIMAL ARK OR SINKINGAn evaluation of SHIP? conservation by UK zoos Photo © Dr Joseph Tobias, University of Oxford Photo © Charles Smith, United States Fish and Wildlife Service July 2007 At least 5,624 species of vertebrate animals are Annual Reports, published accounts and animal threatened with extinction worldwide1. inventories5; BIAZA6 published data; data on Humankind’s contribution to the rapid loss of the European Co-operative Breeding Programmes (EEPs earth’s flora and fauna is now a widely & ESPs7) from EAZA8; ICM Research public opinion acknowledged phenomenon. To date, 190 survey (May 2007)9. countries have pledged to make a concerted effort to conserve the world’s threatened species Full details are available in Born Free reports: Is the by signing up to the Convention on Biological Ark Afloat? Captivity and Ex Situ Conservation in UK Diversity. Zoos (2007) and Committed to Conservation? An Overview of the Consortium of Charitable Zoos’ In The involvement of zoos in the conservation of Situ Conservation Dividend (2007). Both reports biodiversity, and specifically ex situ conservation2, available at www.bornfree.org.uk/zoocon became a legal obligation in Europe in 2002 with the implementation of the European Zoos Directive. The Directive was fully incorporated into UK zoo The IUCN Red List of Threatened legislation in 2003. Perhaps recognising an SpeciesTM compared to species in the CCZ opportunity to refute growing scepticism over the The IUCN Red List catalogues and highlights those keeping of animals in captivity, zoos assumed the taxa facing a higher risk of global extinction. In this role of animal ‘arks’ and promoted their new review, the Red List status for all mammal, bird and conservation purpose.
    [Show full text]