Captive Care Standards an Overview of Standards for the Keeping of Wild Animals in Captive Care Settings in Malawi the Aap Foundation
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CAPTIVE CARE STANDARDS AN OVERVIEW OF STANDARDS FOR THE KEEPING OF WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVE CARE SETTINGS IN MALAWI THE AAP FOUNDATION WRITTEN BY ING. J IEPEMA DR. A. SALB ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS These Standards would not have been completed without the support of numerous organisations, stakeholders and individuals. They were produced by Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT) on behalf of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) and the Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development (DAHLD), with financial support from the AAP Foundation and technical input from a working group. Members of the working group included: Mr. W. Mgoola Assistant Director (Research & Development), DNPW Mr. C. M. Manda Deputy Director (Conservation Services), DNPW Dr. J. Nkhoma Animal Health Officer & Focal Point on Wildlife, DAHLD Dr. A. Salb Head of Veterinary Services/Wildlife Emergency Rescue Unit, LWT Ing. J. Iepema Sanctuary Manager, LWT Dr. J. Kazembe Senior Lecturer, Department of Environmental Sciences and Management, LUANAR Mr. E. Zakochera Senior Education Officer, WESM In the process of developing this document, many organisations and individuals from all over the world provided information regarding existing standards for keeping wild animals in captivity. Our thanks go to the Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (LSPCA), the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA), the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the American Zoo Association (AZA) and the European Associated of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). A special thanks goes to the AAP Foundation, which not only provided the funds to develop the Standards, but also provided valuable feedback during various drafts. CONTENTS Glossary.....................................................................................................................................06 Abbreviations............................................................................................................................07 Introduction...............................................................................................................................08 SECTION I SCOPE OF THE STANDARDS....................................................................................09 SECTION II GENERAL STANDARDS FOR THE KEEPING OF WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY.....13 SECTION III STANDARDS PER TAXONOMIC FAMILY AND SPECIES........................................19 01 Suidae (pigs).......................................................................................................................21 02 Hippopotamidae (hippopotamus)..................................................................................24 03 Bovidae (antelope)............................................................................................................27 04 Giraffidae (giraffe).............................................................................................................32 05 Equidae (horses).................................................................................................................37 06 Rhinocerotidea (rhinoceros).............................................................................................40 07 Elephantidae (elephants).................................................................................................43 08 Orycteropodidae (aardvark)...........................................................................................48 09 Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)..........................................................................51 10 Galagonidae (galago).....................................................................................................56 11 Felidae (cats).....................................................................................................................60 12 Viverridae/Nandiniidae (genets/civets).........................................................................65 13 Herpestidae (mongooses)................................................................................................68 14 Hyaenidae (hyenas)..........................................................................................................72 15 Canidae (dogs/foxes).......................................................................................................76 16 Mustelidae (mustelids).......................................................................................................80 17 Hystricidae (Old World porcupine)..................................................................................85 18 Sciuridae (squirrels).............................................................................................................88 19 Procaviidae (hyraxes)........................................................................................................91 20 Erinaceidae (hedgehogs).................................................................................................94 21 Leporidae (rabbits, hares).................................................................................................96 22 Manidae (pangolins).........................................................................................................98 SECTION IV CATEGORISATION OF SPECIES............................................................................99 Appendix I Taxonomic List of Species for Captive Care Standards...............................103 Appendix II Captive Care Standards Scoring Tool...........................................................105 GLOSSARY Abnormal Unnatural animal behaviour which is generally due to the inability to cope with Public facility Any facility whereby wild animals are kept in captivity and the public has the behaviour a particular combination of internal and/or external stimuli. Abnormal behavior opportunity to see the animals, whether paid or free of charge. often expresses itself in repetitive behaviours without obvious goal or function, self- inflicting behaviours or apathy. Quarantine A designated, isolated area to temporarily hold animals on arrival at a facility, or when they are suspected of suffering from an infectious/contagious disease, with the Animal The extent to which an animal is able to meet its physical or psychological needs by aim of providing an opportunity to screen the animals for diseases. welfare being able to live in harmony with its environment. Quarantine The time required to keep an animal in isolation to determine if it is free of any Act The National Parks and Wildlife Act 2017 (as amended). time infectious diseases. Captivity Any setting whereby an animal is being kept in a confined area, where it is Standards The Standards for the Keeping of Wild Animals in Captivity as referred to in section dependent on regular human care and support to fulfil its basic physical and 54A (3) of the National Park and Wildlife Act (Amendment 2017). psychological needs. State A Malawian or international veterinarian who is registered under the Department Caretaker A person who provides daily care to an animal to fulfil its physical and registered of Animal Health and Livestock Development as a legal practicing veterinarian psychological needs. veterinarian in Malawi. Chute A restricted area within an enclosure which contains one or more hydraulic or Surplus An animal which can no longer be kept in a group or facility due to behavioural or movable barriers that can “squeeze” together to restrict an animal’s movement. animal capacity reasons. Director The Director of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife. Wild animal An animal species that has not been domesticated. Domesticated An animal species which has been tamed as a result of being kept and bred under Wildlife farm A captive care setting where wild animals are commercially bred with the purpose of animal human controlled conditions, generally for production or companionship purposes. producing products like meat, skin or fur. Education A facility whereby wild animals are kept for professional education purposes, e.g. a Wildlife ranch A fenced-off area of land where animals are able to live freely and do not, or to a facility university. limited extend, depend on human intervention for their survival. Enclosure The primary accommodation in which a wild animal is confined, such as a cage or Wildlife The process of treatment and care of orphaned, sick, injured or confiscated wild fenced off area. rehabilitation animals with the aim of releasing them back into the wild whenever appropriate and feasible. Enclosure Any kind of physical barrier which helps to contain an animal in a restricted area. barrier Wildlife A centre which takes in and provides care for orphaned, injured and/or confiscated rescue centre wild animals in distress. Enclosure All natural and unnatural structures within an enclosure which allow an animal to furniture express its species-specific behaviours, e.g. providing opportunities to hide, climb, Zoo A facility with indoor and/or outdoor enclosures where living wild animals are kept swim, rest and shelter. for public exhibition. Enclosure The combination and connectivity of the main enclosure, shift yards, indoor rooms Zoonotic An infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. infrastructure and hatches. diseases Enrichment An animal husbandry principle that helps to improve the quality of life of captive animals by identifying and providing behavioural stimuli necessary for optimal ABBREVIATIONS psychological and physiological well-being. AZA American Zoo