Animal Welfare Peer Review Committee Report 2013-14
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ANIMAL WELFARE PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT 2013-14 1. Introduction + A person with demonstrable commitment 5. Conclusion to, and established experience in, This is the sixth report of the Zoos Victoria The Animal Welfare Peer Review Committee further ing the welfare of animals who Animal Welfare Peer Review Committee. looks forward to playing an important role is not employed or otherwise by The Committee was established in 2008 by helping Zoos Victoria deliver open and Zoos Victoria the Zoos Victoria Board to deliver improved accountable reporting and the implement- accountability and transparency for animal + A Lay Person who is independent of ation of Industry best practice policies and welfare related matters for Melbourne Zoos Victoria and who is qualified to procedures in 2014-15 and beyond. Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee practice law Open Range Zoo. + Two persons representing the Board Guided by a Charter, the Committee’s The Chairperson of the Committee is a role is to: current member of the Zoos Victoria Board. + Review and provide advice to the Board Kylie White Chairperson in relation to animal welfare incidents at 3. Activities Zoos Victoria’s three properties, including Animal Welfare Peer Review Committee The Committee met on four occasions compliance with internal procedures. Zoological Parks and Gardens Board during the financial year. The Committee It also considers any other matters of 5 August 2014 confirmed currency of the Charter for a related nature referred to it by the the Committee. Board, provided that the work of this Committee does not conflict with, The Committee was presented with an or extend into, research and scientific overview of investigations and resulting procedures which are the responsibility reports on five animal incidents (Asian of the Animal Ethics Committee. Elephant, Eastern Barred Bandicoot, Little Penguin, Parma Wallaby and Red-tailed 2. Membership Black-cockatoo). There were no cases involving free-ranging wildlife found on The Animal Welfare Peer Review Committee Zoos Victoria properties. For all five (AWPRC) comprises a minimum of 6 and incidents the Committee considers that the a maximum of 8 members, each of whom actions and investigations were undertaken are appointed by the Board and who possess consistent with Zoos Victoria’s internal a genuine interest and commitment to the processes. The Committee recommended welfare of animals. additional actions for three cases The Committee make-up represents the (including additional recommendations). following attributes: The Committee noted quarterly Animal + A person with qualifications in veterinary Care Reports and the annual Animal science and with experience relevant to Health Report. captive wildlife management who is not The Committee continues to monitor employed or otherwise by Zoos Victoria implementation of all actions recommended + A suitably qualified person with in animal welfare incident reports. substantial recent experience in the captive management of animals in a zoo, 4. Inventories sanctuary or related field, who is not I attach the animal inventories for the employed or otherwise by Zoos Victoria three Zoos Victoria properties. The Inventories Report documents changes to animal numbers between 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2014 and the total number of living animals as at 30 June 2014. The statistics support high levels of animal care across Zoos Victoria and are consistent with industry standards. 2012-13 LIFE SCIENCES ADDENDUM • ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 1 ZV_Addendum2013-14_v01_TEXTONLY.indd 1 14/09/14 7:18 PM ANIMAL WELFARE RELATED INCIDENTS 2013-14 Eastern Barred Bandicoot – For nocturnal animals, check bandages The incident report recommended that: immediately following wet weather and The Eastern Bandicoot is one of Zoos + The procedure for exhibit cleaning/ then change if required. In addition, Victoria’s Fighting Extinction species. Zoos maintenance of the penguin facility be veterinarians to check and change Victoria’s support of the Recovery Program amended to include: bandages no less than weekly. It is includes delivery of veterinary care to noted that some species may become – The need for diligence in observing bandicoots who have been released. One stressed by daily handling, so weekly location and activity of penguins bandicoot was transferred from Woodlands rather than daily checks are recomm- when covers to drains and pipes have Historic Park for treatment of a fractured ended to determine if there has been been removed left hock. The bandicoot’s recovery any slippage or soiling of bandages – That when covers to drains/pipes progressed well, and due to the veterinary have been removed, that the exhibit facilities at capacity it was decided that Status: All recommendations have been should not be left unattended, even the bandicoot would be transferred to an implemented. for brief periods enclosure at Australian Bush. Two further veterinary checks confirmed that recovery Little Penguin + At the next Wild Sea staff meeting, the was continuing well. A further veterinary + During the breeding season, Little Supervisor shall remind all staff of the check was scheduled but delayed by three Penguins spend large periods of time in above requirements (including follow-up days. Video surveillance footage indicated nest-boxes. Husbandry practices seek with any staff members not present). the bandicoot to be moving well and having to minimise disturbance to nesting birds, + The potential to place cameras in a normal gait. The delayed veterinary check while seeking assurance that we can nest-boxes is determined, or alternatively, occurred, at which time the foot of the account for all penguins. An adult penguin modification of next-box design to enable injured leg was found to be dead as the known to be incubating eggs was reported more effective monitoring, so that bandage had become wet and subsequently missing. A search occurred, but neither accurate counting of all penguins in tightened around the bandicoot’s leg the penguin nor any remains were found. colony can occur on a more regular basis. cutting off blood supply. A decision was Some two months later an inspection of Status: Most recommendations have made for euthanasia of the bandicoot. The the balance tank (part of the Life Support been implemented. Assessing potential Committee agreed that the period between System for Wild Sea) occurred, and a dead for cameras. veterinary checks was too long given the penguin was retrieved from the tank. circumstances. Recommendations The most likely explanation is that whilst Asian Elephant regarding housing of injured bandicoots the penguin exhibit was being cleaned, and ensuring frequency of veterinary and covers removed from drains that the Asian Elephants are active nocturnally; and bandage checks have since been penguin had fallen in and was carried to zoos provide a range of enrichment items, implemented. the water balance tank where it later died. including suspended tyres, overnight to promote activity cycles comparable to The incident report recommended that: Due to the amount of time between the penguin’s disappearance and recovery, those of wild elephants. During an early + A procedure and training program for it has not been possible to be more morning check of the elephants, Sanook housing and monitoring animals with specific about events. a ten-month old calf was observed lying bandages to be implemented. This on the floor in the barn. Another elephant The Committee agreed with the should include: was standing near Sanook, and keepers recommendations provided in the report House animals with bandages indoors sensed that something was wrong. Closer and requested further consideration whenever possible, however if housing inspection indicated that Sanook was dead. be given to a physical head count outside is unavoidable then: A review of footage captured by surveill- immediately after cleaning or maint- ance cameras revealed Sanook’s head – For diurnal animals, keepers to check enance that has resulted in the removal had become caught in a suspended tyre. bandages daily for ,moisture, undue of the drain covers. Post-mortem results showed bruising soiling, slippage, unravelling and around the trachea and two fractured discomfort and report on findings to trachea rings, suggesting asphyxiation. In veterinary department. This practice response to this event, tyres are no longer is already in place, individual treatment used overnight for enrichment, but continue plans will stress the need for keeper to be used when keepers are on site. vigilance with this practice 2 2012-13 LIFE SCIENCES ADDENDUM • ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT ZV_Addendum2013-14_v01_TEXTONLY.indd 2 14/09/14 7:18 PM This event prompted the need to review Fence-lines were inspected to identify any The incident report recommended that: the safety of all enrichment items locations that may permit access by foxes. + Procedures are revised to ensure that following the transition from free-contact Housing of all animals that might poten- Job Safety Analyses (including the ZV to protected-contact. Whilst this was an tially be killed by foxes was assessed, and Wildlife Impact Assessment Protocol) unforeseen accident, the Committee felt if not considered fox-proof options for are compiled and read with all staff that it should be disclosed as an avoidable temporary re-housing were considered. involved (Horticulture/Works and Life death. The Committee discussed ways to Monitoring for presence of foxes continues. Sciences) prior