2012-13 LIFE SCIENCES ADDENDUM ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS Animal Welfare Peer Review Committee Report 20123 ­1 1 Animal Welfare Related Incidents 20123 ­1 2 Overview of Animal Inventory 4 Animal Inventories Melbourne Zoo 6 Healesville Sanctuary 34 Werribee Open Range Zoo 55 6 2012-13 LIFE SCIENCES ADDENDUM • ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT ANIMAL WELFARE PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT 2012-13 1. Introduction + a person with demonstrable 4. Inventories commitment to, and established This is the fifth report of the Zoos Victoria I attach the animal inventories for the experience in, furthering the welfare Animal Welfare Peer Review Committee. three Zoos Victoria properties. The of animals, who is not employed or The Committee was established in 2008 Inventories Report documents changes otherwise by Zoos Victoria by the Zoos Victoria Board to deliver to animal numbers between 1 July 2012 improved accountability and transparency + a Lay Person who is independent and 30 June 2013, and the total collection for animal welfare related matters for of Zoos Victoria and who is qualified as at 30 June 2013. The statistics Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary to practise law support high levels of animal care across and Werribee Open Range Zoo. + two persons representing the Board Zoos Victoria and are consistent with industry standards. Guided by a Charter, the Committee’s The Chairperson of the Committee role is to: is a current member of the Zoos + Review and provide advice to the Victoria Board. 5. Conclusion Board in relation to animal welfare The Animal Welfare Peer Review incidents at Zoos Victoria’s three 3. Activities Committee looks forward to playing an campuses, including compliance with important role helping Zoos Victoria The Committee met on four occasions internal procedures. It will also consider deliver open and accountable reporting during the report period. The Committee any other matters of a related nature and the implementation of Industry confirmed currency of the Charter for referred to it by the Board, provided best practice policies and procedures the Committee, and endorsed revised that the work of this Committee does in 2012­13 and beyond. associated Procedure documents. not conflict with, or extend into, research and scientific procedures The Committee was presented with an which are the responsibility of the overview of investigations and resulting <signature required> Animal Ethics Committee. reports on seven animal welfare incidents; four were collection animals (Australian Kylie White Journey, Blackbuck, Echidna and 2. Membership Chairperson Pademelon) and three were related to Animal Welfare Peer Review Committee The Animal Welfare Peer Review wildlife using Zoos Victoria properties Zoological Parks and Gardens Board Committee (AWPRC) will comprise (Swamp Wallaby and two for possum). a minimum of six and a maximum of eight For all seven incidents the Committee 4 September 2013 members, each of whom will be appointed considers that the actions and investig­ by the Board and who possess a genuine ations were undertaken consistent with interest and commitment to the welfare Zoos Victoria internal processes, and of animals. endorses the recommended actions. The desirability of ensuring that an The Committee noted quarterly appropriate range of skills, capabilities Animal Care Reports and the annual and experience is represented at AWPRC Animal Health Report. level at all times. The following key The Committee considered and endorsed attributes are required of the AWPRC. amendments to animal welfare reporting + person with qualifications in veterinary processes to align these with current science and with experience relevant organisation structure. to captive wildlife management The Committee considered and endorsed who is not employed or otherwise by criteria for the reporting of potential Zoos Victoria animal welfare incidents. + a suitability qualified person with The Committee continues to monitor substantial recent experience in the implementation of all actions recomm­ captive management of animals in a zoo, ended in animal welfare incident reports. sanctuary or related field, who is not employed or otherwise by Zoos Victoria 2012-13 LIFE SCIENCES ADDENDUM • ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 1 ANIMAL WELFARE RELATED INCIDENTS 2012-13 Cases involving Zoos Victoria + Review protocols for transferring wild echidna was found collapsed and taken collection animals animals in an open­range environment. for veterinary treatment. Investigation + investigate incident communications determined low glucose levels. A second and develop a strengthened approach echidna was found dead the next day. Australian Journey for future animal transfers. An immediate review and modification Australian Journey is a new exhibit that of diet occurred, with all four surviving has been developed at Werribee Open Blackbuck echidnas placed under veterinary care. Range Zoo. Brolga, Emu and Eastern Grey Two further echidnas did not survive. Werribee Open Range Zoo maintains Chital Kangaroo were to be transferred from the Deer, American Bison and Blackbuck in The incident report recommended: Volcanic Plains Exhibit to the new develop­ a large, vegetated open­range exhibit. The + Provide counselling to relevant staff to ment. In preparation for the transfer, emus Blackbuck group was to be transferred to ensure understanding of account abilities and kangaroos were conditioned to small another enclosure. The Blackbuck group for following and monitoring diets. holding yards. Keeping staff were happy included several infants. In preparation for with the calm state of animals in the + Implement procedures for echidna the transfer, the Blackbuck were allowed holding yards, and decided to progress with feeding that include: access to a holding yard, and were routinely the transfer. Four Eastern Grey Kangaroo fed in this area and over time appeared - Regular monitoring of echidna weights were secured in a holding yard and their comfortable using the holding yard. The - Recording echidna appetite, level conditioned monitored, all four animals decision was made to lock the Blackbuck of activity appeared calm. The animals were left into the yard and progress the transfer. unmonitored for about 60 minutes. When - Recording amount of diet offered Staff counted the number of adult and checked again, two kangaroos were dead, young Blackbuck locked in the yard, the - Record changes in food offered one had facial trauma, and the fourth had number tallied with animal records. Staff - Veterinary team to review procedures managed to escape from the holding yard observed the Blackbuck and no animal for animals that are prone to big back into the enclosure. On a separate day, appeared agitated. Two days later, a young shifts in metabolic change, and the the decision was made to progress with Blackbuck was found dead in the large manage ment for re­feeding of Emu transfer. Three Emu were secured enclosure. This infant had been left behind ‘starving’ animals. in a holding yard, captured, loaded onto when the group was moved. Although a vehicle and transferred. One of the three there were no visible signs of injury, post Pademelon Emu had a fractured leg and did not mortem findings indicated trauma. survive, a second Emu died a day later, with The initial phase of construction of the new capture myopathy identified as the cause. The incident report recommended: Front Entry involved demolition of the Volcanic Plains Exhibit. This meant that all The incident report recommended: + Provide training in the practice of ‘line ­walking’, a technique used to find animals needed to be reloc ated. Several + That lock­up facilities are developed signs of animal presence, including Red ­bellied Pademelon were to be for Australian Journey and that droppings and animal remains. transferred and were encouraged to use conditioning programs that promote a holding pen. Given the work program for + e R ­iterate to staff the need to avoid familiarity with such facilities are the new development, it became necess­ assumptions, and double­check implemented. ary to capture pademelons and transfer enclosures for any unexpected events, + That documented processes are them from the enclosure to the holding pen. such as presence of individuals not developed for transfer of kangaroos Following the capture and transfer to the previously reported. and emus; these should include need holding pen, three pademelons were found for conditioning and crate/trailer + Incorporate the following (i.e. 1 and 2 dead over the following two weeks. Four training as required. above) into checklists for movements pademelons survived after the transfer. of groups of animals: Post ­mortem findings found that the three + That time­lines for capital developments deceased pademelons were all obese, and specify any requirements for animal Echidna that capture myopathy had likely been transfers, and time required for animals the cause of death. to settle into new facilities. Several of Melbourne Zoo’s echidnas were found to be overweight and were subseq­ The incident report recommended: + That counselling is provided to staff uently placed on a weight loss diet. of the need to provide relevant animal + Veterinarians must be involved in the Echidnas continued to receive the weight­ management information for capital planning of all animal transfers and loss diet, but there weights were not developments. captures (excepting those procedures recorded. Some months later, one that routinely occur). 2 2012-13 LIFE SCIENCES