Zero Extinction | P 2 the Edge of Extinction | P 14 WAZA Annual Report 2011

Home , Binder Park Zoo, Chiang Mai Night Safari, Night safari, North Carolina Zoo, Virtual zoo

May 2/12 2012

Zero Extinction | p 2 The Edge of Extinction | p 14 WAZA Annual Report 2011 | insert – Zoo Vienna Zoo –

Tigers at Tiergarten Schönbrunn. Jutta Kirchner © WAZA news 2/12

Gerald Dick Contents Editorial

Zero Extinction...... 2 Dear WAZA members and friends! New Zealand’s Worst Maritime Ecological The 77th Anniversary Year of WAZA Disaster Ever...... 5 has started with a series of interesting My Career: Greg Geise...... 8 activities. The commemorative volume WAZA Interview: was very well received by our members Angela Glatston...... 12 and the book is also selling relatively The EDGE of Extinction...... 14 well up to now. Please help to adver- Conservation of tise this interesting documentation of Freshwater Plants...... 16 our international zoo and aquarium community, which is available for Book Reviews...... 18 just 14,99 £ (follow the link on the Announcements...... 19 WAZA website). On the website you will also find details for the WAZA Animals@play at Annual conference in Melbourne and Johannesburg Zoo...... 21 the option to register as an early bird “Leap Here” till 31 May. Since early February WAZA at Singapore Zoo...... 22 is on facebook and interesting stories © WAZA Sumatra Tiger about animals, conservation and zoo Gerald Dick at Tierpark Berlin. GSMP meeting...... 23 activities let the number of friends grow Update: International constantly. Studbooks...... 24 Measuring WAZA was invited to take part in the held in Korea later in the year the plans Conservation Impact...... 25 IUCN SSC Specialist Groups Chairs’ for the decade on biodiversity will be Taipei Frog Gaorong meeting and a special workshop ad- discussed with WAZA members of the Wildlife Refuge...... 26 dressing the relationship of ex situ South and South East Asian region. WAZA Projects and in situ as well as the cooperation This roundtable is also supported by the Sabah Rhino...... 27 between IUCN specialist groups and IUCN SSC and IUCN Commission on Falémé Chimpanzees...... 28 zoos and aquariums were addressed. Education and Communication. With UNITE for the Environment..... 29 As a result this issue of WAZA News the support of WAZA president and New Member Applications...... 31 contains a contribution related to the his presence at such crucial interna- Obituary: Sue Mainka...... III ex situ and in situ component of con- tional meetings, the zoo and aquarium servation and another article is about community attracts further attention the potential role of zoos to conserve within the wider conservation com- threatened plant species – an outcome munity. of the IUCN gathering. At this year’s World Conservation Congress, to be Gerald Dick WAZA Executive Director

Imprint Edition: 550 copies © WAZA 2012 Editor: Gerald Dick, WAZA Executive Office IUCN Conservation Centre This edition of WAZA News Rue Mauverney 28 is also available on CH-1196 Gland www.waza.org (members’ area). Switzerland phone: +41 22 999 07 90 Founding Member fax: +41 22 999 07 91 Printed on FSC paper.

Layout and typesetting: [email protected] Print: Agentura NP, Staré Město, Czech Republic ISSN: 1662-7733 WAZA news 2/12 1

Jörg Junhold The President’s Page

At the end of February 2012 the Species Survival Commission Spe- …in many cases cialist Group Chairs’ meeting took place in Abu Dhabi, generously being all parts of small funded and hosted by the Environ- ment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD). SSC populations of chair Simon Stuart kindly invited me and our Executive Director Gerald endangered Dick to take part and contribute to the discussions and workshops from species should a zoo perspective. 300 participants engaged themselves and made this be intensively meeting a most beneficial experience. One focus was the improvement of managed as one © Zoo Leipzig in situ-ex situ links and a joint work- Jörg Junhold. shop was held on this topic. SSC’s meta population… Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) uses the so called ‘One Plan Approach’ to point out that in I trust that all our members are many cases all parts of small popula- aware of the 77th anniversary that our tions of endangered species should organization is celebrating this year. be intensively managed as one meta Additionally, there is a second, im- population no matter whether they portant and related anniversary: the live in zoos or in the wild. This is Getting to know the work of WAZA’s German Association of Zoo Directors a huge field for future commitment Executive Office in Gland much better (VDZ) is becoming 125 years of age! of zoos and I can only encourage you during the last months I am always to follow this discussion and con- very impressed by what our staff is Through WAZA’s commemorative tribute to it. This approach will need achieving with small resources and volume you will know that the Ger- major attention if we really want to limited time frame. It is not only that man association is by far the oldest combine forces to save species from we are represented in many interna- one and German zoo directors were extinction. One part of this issue is tional contexts and ensure that our crucial in establishing international the re-introduction guidelines which voice is heard but we are as also com- cooperation across our profession. will be revised till the IUCN World municating with the public better and I had the honour to join the ceremony Conservation Congress in Jeju (Korea) better. One example is the up-to-date at the occasion of this 125th VDZ later this year in September. Another website which is being used by the anniversary in Berlin and it was my important point of the chair’s meet- public far more often than in former pleasure giving a welcome address on ing was the idea of a World Species times. I like to draw your attention es- behalf of WAZA. It is my belief that Congress in 2015. WAZA is intensively pecially to the fabulous ‘conservation we can benefit a lot from these com- working towards being one partner of resource centre’ that provides useful mon roots that we share. this conference together with IUCN. information and links to a variety of Although not all possible topics of other organizations and documents such a congress are fully explored yet dealing with zoo and conservation it would be an opportunity to gather issues. Please don’t miss the chance all representatives of in situ and ex to have a look at it! situ conservation for the first time in one meeting. Once again a great chance for our community to take on a leading role for the benefit of species survival. 2 WAZA news 2/12

John E. Fa – Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust/Imperial College London How to Save More Species: ‘Zero Tolerance’ Conservation for Zoos

Zoos have indeed changed signifi- But, what if this paradigm for action Presently, and not only in zoos, cantly since their origins; important is too ambitious to achieve? After all, conservation programmes are often and valuable shifts in zoo policy have zoos have been advocating collabo- designed in isolation, not just of each occurred. Significantly, by participat- rating through breeding programmes other, but also of similar ones under- ing in endangered species conser- for the best part of 30 years, frankly taken by others (e.g. other regions); vation plans and environmental with only limited success. Given the a piecemeal approach that ignores education programmes, zoos support current biodiversity crisis, more of the the potential for making sure that the conservation of biodiversity. But, same may not make a difference to ‘snowballing’ effects can be achieved. there are still discrepancies between many species, IN TIME! How do we A system that can operate over zoos’ stated conservation goals and make zoos lead a ‘surge’ against bio- large scales by drawing on spatially their actual performance. diversity loss? Like any other organi- dispersed participants, e.g. across sation involved in conservation, zoos multiple conservation project sites To deliver clear measurable outputs should aim for the most favourable can result in an inter-communicated and outcomes in global biodiversity cost-to-benefit ratio, i.e. ‘the greatest system of project sites that together conservation zoos worldwide need to bang for your buck’. This means that can achieve cumulative change for establish an operational model that species cannot be seen in isolation of a multitude of species and land- allows them (jointly) to do this. Zoo- the ecological and human context in scapes. Is there already such a system logical gardens breed animals from which they live in and strategies that in place to which the global zoo com- threatened populations and can thus are practicable and more importantly munity can add and play a crucial role make a greater contribution towards that aim for cumulative or ‘snowball- in saving species from extinction? biodiversity conservation. The role of ing’ effects are crucial to instigate. zoos for species conservation must The term cumulative impacts have If, in a triage context, zoos are best not be underestimated. As recently normally been used in the context of placed at dealing with the ‘worst off’ reiterated by Delia Conde et al. in the culmination of many small-scale, species, i.e. those requiring immedi- their recent Science paper, while it is independent land-use decisions or ate interventions (including captive true ‘that the number of endangered activities into a major outcome. Typi- breeding), then taxa that are both species and individual animals at any cally, cumulative impacts arise from highly threatened and restricted to one zoo is small, if several institutions uncoordinated decisions, so the out- single locations should be of primary link up, zoological gardens will have comes are neither intended nor pre- conservation interest. This approach a considerable collective potential to ferred (thus they are often negative); alone is, of course, not sufficient to breed endangered animal species.’ the independent decisions generally prevent all species extinctions, as spatially (or temporally) dispersed. other threatened species are not Here, I offer an alternative, a mirror- confined to single sites. However, it is image to how cumulative impacts a first line of defence against predict- have been described. Zoos, together, able and preventable imminent spe- can make their individual efforts push cies losses, and is an urgent priority for a massive change to occur not just for the global conservation commu- within these but among them too. nity. Sites containing such species, which can be managed as a discrete unit, represent the extremes of threat and irreplaceability; two widely …by participating in endangered species accepted principles for prioritising conservation action. The Alliance for conservation plans and environmental Zero Extinction, a consortium of biodiversity conservation organisations, education programmes, zoos support identifies ‘trigger’ species sites. With small populations, extreme vulner- the conservation of biodiversity… ability to habitat destruction, and WAZA news 2/12 3

$9,998 ind./yr

Captive breeding costs $171 ind./yr are relatively low

Cost per Animal per Year Animal per Cost per for most animals Body Size (kg) except large mammals

Figure 1: Cost-body size relationship for the three main vertebrate groups kept in zoos.

limited conservation options, these The value of the AZE list of sites and working at regional and global scales. trigger sites face imminent extinction species to assist global biodiversity The AZE system would provide clear if no appropriate conservation action conservation has been recognised targets for zoos, perhaps led by TAGs, is taken. Furthermore, immediate re- by the Convention for Biological to organise actions towards assisting quirements for their conservation are Diversity (CBD), with the signing of the most endangered species and relatively straightforward – to con- an agreement between CBD and sites worldwide. Furthermore, there serve habitat and/or augment popu- AZE in 2010. This memorandum of is no reason why AZE species cannot lation numbers. There are already cooperation allows AZE expertise to sit comfortably side by side within a total of 587 sites recognised that support implementation of the CBD TAGs alongside taxa chosen as exhibit are the last refuges for 920 species Strategic Plan, particularly regarding animals, which is largely the case have been identified from ‘trigger’ the draft target of halting species now. sites. Because these species are likely extinction. AZE is able to assist the to become extinct unless immediate Parties to the Convention in integrat- Intervention with AZE sites by zoos and direct action is taken, these ‘trig- ing the zero-extinction target into would really push ex-situ institutions ger’ species’ sites require imminent national biodiversity strategies and to become much more effective protection, but almost half currently action plans. AZE provides a tool for conservation enterprises. Already, lack any legal protection and only just nations to comply with their obliga- zoos or in-situ captive breeding more than a third are fully contained tions under the Convention, and also programmes run by zoos maintain within a gazetted protected area. a cost-effective way to prioritise sites a number of AZE ‘trigger’ species. A sobering statistic is that there are for conservation. Examples of these include the blue- three times as many of the identified billed curassow and the Socorro dove single-site species at risk of extinc- Alas, despite the expertise in small in the National Zoo, USA, and Durrell tion as are known to have been lost in population biology, captive breeding Wildlife Conservation Trust’s conser- the same taxa over the last 500 years. and reintroductions that exist among vation programmes involving birds This result reinforces other estimates zoos, active involvement with AZE and reptiles in Mauritius, the plough- of accelerating extinction rates, due sites and species is still limited. Yet, share tortoise in Madagascar, and the in part to extinctions spreading from the AZE scheme is arguably exactly pygmy hog in India. The latter two islands containing ‘ecologically naive’ the sort of guidance zoos require to species do not appear in animal in- species toward continental terrestrial choose species to invest in. The AZE ventories such as ISIS because these biodiversity. list could function in a way similar to taxa are not currently in international the CBSG’s CAMP process, i.e. allow- cooperative breeding programmes. ing the prioritising of conservation This could be a reason for the low activities by species. This would be number of AZE species recorded in compatible with the TAG system cur- ISIS, but it is likely that the explana- rently in place, which would be able tion for this is that zoos have not to deploy their solid experience of focussed on these species. 4 WAZA news 2/12

» For this, AZE and zoos within them A total of 103 sites contain one trigger If one zoo-based organisation has can motivate and coordinate active species, but several contain five (e.g. been able to improve the fate of species conservation actions. This Massif de la Hotte, Haiti, with 13). Ac- as many as 20 AZE species, this is conservation strategy should be flex- cording to figures by Jim Larsen from a model that other zoos can apply to ible enough to operate at a variety of Conservation International potential many more AZE species. A number temporal and spatial scales, and with economic benefits from climate of AZE species have been effectively a huge potential to attack problems of change mitigation at these sites sub- supported through captive breeding continental significance. The out- stantially exceeded the management and new wild populations established come should be the exploration and cost of conserving them, delivering through reintroduction. Many more improvement of the wildlife value of a disproportionate value for at least AZE sites may require such interven- many landscapes, alongside building one ecosystem service at 89% of tions, but this currently needs looking skills networks and even contribute to AZE sites. Although many of these into. the capacity to face the consequences sites remain unprotected and all face of overpopulation, disease pandem- on-going threats, conserving them Involvement of zoos in protection ics, overconsumption of resources, would provide substantial and cost- of AZE ‘trigger’ sites alongside other and climate change. Opportunities effective human well-being benefits. organisations provides the ideal for successful ‘cumulative impacts’ opportunity for ex-situ conservation programmes increase especially Can zoos take responsibility for one bodies to actively engage in direct through the use of a network of AZE or more AZE site and deliver conser- and immediate biodiversity conserva- conservation projects, focussing on vation. The answer to this is a re- tion. By patronising one or more sites, achieving not only long-term viable sounding yes, because of cost-effec- not dissimilar to Ron Tilson’s ‘Adopt populations of endangered species, tiveness of delivering conservation in a Park’ idea from 1990s, zoos can be but also protection of ecosystems and developing countries of small-bodied more effective in avoiding impend- habitats, as well as the dependent hu- species. As an example, Durrell has ing extinctions. This can be done in man communities within them. managed and actively protected up a number of ways, according to the to 14 AZE species (two mammals, zoos’ internal technical abilities and That it is possible to conserve and seven birds, and five reptiles) and financial possibilities. Donations can even save from extinction many AZE five other single-site taxa. Success be used to safeguard sites through species is because it is not expensive. has not only being achieved in actu- land purchase or conservation ease- Costs of keeping animals in captiv- ally saving species from imminent ments (i.e. the right to use the land ity are generally related to their size. extinction (e.g. Mauritius kestrel without actually owning it). Institu- This is has been shown before in the Falco punctatus) and other birds on tions can be involved in community literature, but more extensive data the island of Mauritius, but Durrell’s management, or protected area have shown that the cost-body size contribution also has resulted in enforcement or even control of inva- relationship for mammals, birds, a number of ‘cumulative impacts’. In- sive species or disease. The ultimate reptiles and amphibians are actually vestment in these projects has varied would be for zoos to have all AZE very different (Fig. 1). Mammal costs by site and species (in some cases species actively supported and future increased dramatically with size, but more than 20 years for the Mauritius proofed. this is not the case for birds, and rep- birds) and complexity of activities. tiles and amphibians costs are much Most have resulted in the creation or lower. So, since small-bodied animals management support of protected References: by far make up the majority of AZE areas where the species are found. species (>96%), costs of delivering ef- Notably, the first national park in • Fa, J. E., Funk, S. M. & O’Connell, D. fective captive breeding programmes, Mauritius (The Black River Gorges) (2011). Zoo Conservation Biology. where needed, would not be expen- and three Ramsar sites in Madagas- Cambridge University Press, sive. Moreover most species in the car have been declared directly as Cambridge. AZE species are found in low and mid- a result of Durrell’s involvement. The • Alliance of Zero Extinction (2012). dle income countries. Thus, annual improvement in the management of Alliance for Zero Extinction: management expenditure per site in protected areas such as Menabe, Baly Pinpointing and conserving epicent- developing countries could be as low Bay and Lac Alaotra in Madagascar ers of imminent extinctions. as $470 but no more than $3 500 000 or the Manas National Park in India (median $220 000). Because a large stem from in-situ commitment by the proportion of AZE species (85%) are organisation. Durrell projects have found in developing countries, in-situ played a crucial part in the enhance- conservation costs are relatively ment of human livelihoods, whilst low. Protection of these sites would investing in training local researchers, To find out more: conserve more than the individual educators and managers as well as www.zeroextinction.org threatened species that trigger them. disseminating conservation science. WAZA news 2/12 5

Karen Simpson and Claudine Gibson – Auckland Zoo Auckland Zoo Staff Wanted: » Responding to New Zealand’s Worst Maritime Ecological Disaster Ever

The MV Rena oil spill, ranga. International Bird Rescue also Assistance from Auckland Zoo Bay of Plenty, New Zealand responded to New Zealand’s request for help, bringing with them exper- Auckland Zoo was called upon for At around 2.20am on Wednesday tise gained from working at oil spill assistance, specifically from expe- 5 October 2011, the MV Rena struck sites around the world. Thousands rienced keeping staff with skills in the Astrolabe Reef situated 12 nautical of volunteer groups and members of animal handling, husbandry, diet miles off Tauranga on New Zealand’s local communities offered assistance preparation, animal record keeping, Bay of Plenty coastline. Damage at in any way possible. tube-feeding and veterinary assis- several points in the vessel’s hull al- tance. lowed over 350 tonnes of hydraulic oil With oil continuing to leak from the to leak from the engine, resulting in an Rena in subsequent days, the job of New Zealand fur seals Arctocephalus oil slick approximately 2 km in length the wildlife response teams increased. forsteri were the early casualties of within hours of the incident. Searches of the 80 km coastline on the spill and experienced pinniped foot and by boat collected valuable keepers from Auckland Zoo were the information of the species and num- first to be despatched to the area to Initial response bers of wildlife affected and requiring assist with seal rehabilitation. How- assistance, as well as the condition of ever, within days, increasingly large The Bay of Plenty environment live wildlife. It also enabled monitor- numbers of affected avian wildlife provides a natural habitat to a wide ing of the distance the oil had spread, were being rescued and more skilled variety of avian and marine species. reporting where the oil had come staff assistance was required. Auck- Faced with a huge threat to both ashore, and the extent of the damage land Zoo keepers were tasked into aquatic and land living flora and to the environment. A large paddock two main areas, caring for oil-covered fauna, Massey University’s National was quickly converted into the Wild- little blue penguins Eudyptula minor Oiled Wildlife Response Team im- life Response Centre with structures and caring for Endangered Northern mediately launched a co‑ordinated erected for the various stages needed New Zealand dotterel Charadrius emergency response, involving spe- during the rescue effort. obscurus aquilonius. cialist organisations such as New Zea- land’s Department of Conservation, Auckland Zoo, Maritime New Zealand, Centre for emergency oiled wildlife response. the New Zealand Army, Bay of Plenty © Auckland Zoo Regional Council, and the Port of Tau-

…bringing with them expertise gained from working at oil spill sites around the world… 6 WAZA news 2/12

Little blue penguins

Hundreds of little blue penguins were rescued and brought into the Rescue Centre. On arrival, the health of the penguins had already been com- promised as oil from the Rena had coated the body to varying degrees, had in many cases been ingested, and impeded feeding. After a vet check, each penguin was fed a fish slurry containing necessary nutrients and hydrants until each was considered stable enough to endure the cleaning process. Once they were considered strong enough, the birds were taken through a series of tub washes using detergent and clean water. After © Auckland Zoo washing, the bird then moved to Auckland Zoo keeper, Nat Sullivan, a rinsing area to remove all traces of Northern cleaning little blue penguin. detergent. The washing and rinsing New Zealand dotterel could take up to an hour and a half, an exhausting process for the birds. The endemic Northern New Zealand Every morning, each bird was The bird was then placed in a special dotterel is classified as Endangered weighed. All birds had an initial pen with a net bottom to rest and by IUCN, with a global population of weight loss after arriving at the dry under pet grooming dryers. This just 1700 birds remaining. Approxi- Rescue Centre. Once intake weight washing, rinsing, and drying process mately 150-200 birds – 10% of the had been reached again, they were was carried out on consecutive days world’s population – are known to transferred from individual crates to until all traces of oil was removed nest in the Bay of Plenty region. Due purpose‑built aviaries. These aviar- from the bird. to the small size and fragility of the ies had been set up with sand, shells, population, and with 1000 tonnes of driftwood, seaweed, and teatree Nine large swimming pools were oil still threatening to leak out from branches to give a more natural set up for the penguins. The birds the stricken Rena, 60 dotterel were habitat. Collecting these items also were initially placed in a pool for up brought into the Response Centre two required special attention as oil had to 30 minutes to allow preening and weeks after the incident as a precau- contaminated beaches in the sur- bathing where they were closely tionary measure before they became rounding areas. Once self feeding and monitored as they would tire and too heavily oiled or ingested oil health were stable and nesting sites lose body heat quickly. At the end of through feeding. were confirmed as being free of oil the designated pool time, each bird and debris, the birds were ready for was assessed as to the extent of the Great care was taken to record the release back into the wild. Keeping waterproofing process. The amount exact location the birds were recov- pairs together, the birds were taken of time allowed in the pool was slowly ered from and which mate they were back to their original nesting location extended until the penguins had paired with. These details would prove and released. Members of the local reached full waterproofing and were important at the time the birds were community who had voluntarily moni- able to endure six hours in water. released back to the wild. As with any tored the birds over many years prior species recovered from the wild, this to the grounding, kept a watchful was a stressful exercise, but perhaps eye over the dotterel again. At worst, particularly so for the dotterel, who clutches of eggs and the disruption to are extremely sensitive birds prone to a breeding season ensued, rather than changes in eating patterns and other the loss of 10% of the global popula- ailments that result from an unnatu- tion of this Endangered species. ral habitat. Many of the dotterels had oil on their feet and feathers, which had to be removed once they reached the centre. WAZA news 2/12 7

Auckland Zoo: Conserving wildlife in wild places

It is recognised that in situ conservation is one of the vital roles of main- stream zoos and aquariums. Collectively, their 700 million visitors each year enables upwards of US$350 million to be contributed directly to support Two months later… species and habitat conservation in the wild. Zoos are uniquely positioned as modern conservation organisations, as not only can they offer direct By mid December, the majority of financial support, but they can also provide staff with unique skills and little blue penguins held at the Centre expertise across a broad range of zoo disciplines to actively participate in had been released and Auckland Zoo field conservation activities. Zoo staff skills are increasingly proving to be staff were able to stand down from enormously helpful in assisting with the conservation in the wild. the rehabilitation operation. Over the eight-week period from the incident, Auckland Zoo’s Mission is ‘To bring people together to build a future 24 Auckland Zoo staff members for wildlife’. One of our five key strategic intents to fulfil this mission contributed a total of over 1200 hours is:‘Conserving wildlife in wild places’, which we will do through: of time, providing a wide range of • contributing to the conservation of wildlife in natural environments by specialist zoo-keeping skills to the providing staff and expertise to programmes for priority species and habitats clean-up operation. and • supporting efforts to conserve wildlife in natural environments by raising and Seeing wildlife in such distress was allocating funds to programmes for priority species and habitats. heartbreaking, but every day rescue workers were determined to continue The specialist skills that are critical to caring for animals here at the zoo are making a difference.There were many skills that are proving to be enormously helpful in assisting wildlife that are emotional sights that brought the in real trouble in the wild. Auckland Zoo staff are increasingly spending time reality of the oil spill to the fore: spe- working out in the field with our conservation partners in New Zealand and cies covered in so much oil they were overseas, helping to monitor, manage and protect wild populations. At any unidentifiable; large bags of dead fish given time, we have the equivalent of two staff working full-time outside collected from beaches; little blue the zoo on field conservation projects. penguins completely coated in black, sticky oil; and the previously-pristine, Over the past nine months alone, our staff has contributed 2,700 hours, golden beaches coated in gooey oil working with more than 20 species in 15 field projects at 16 separate loca- and debris from the ship. Everybody tions. Activities have included rearing and releasing kiwi chicks on predator- working at the Rescue Centre was to- free offshore islands, capturing and translocating tuatara and shore plovers tally dedicated to the cause. Auckland Archey’ frog population monitoring, radio-tracking kokako, re-introducing Zoo staff found the opportunity to endemic freshwater fish, removal of invasive plant species on offshore and contribute to the emergency wildlife native bird disease surveillance and management. rescue operation extremely gratify- ing and seeing the wildlife go from near death to being released back to To find out more: their cleaned-up, wild habitat was the www.aucklandzoo.co.nz ultimate reward. 8 WAZA news 2/12

Greg Geise My Career A Battle Creek Wild Life

When my wife Joanne and I arrived in Upon completion of university in 1975 Although I knew that the organization Battle Creek, Michigan on 1 April 1977 I began actively looking for a “good” consisted of a group of volunteers I planned to get the as yet non-exist- starting position in a zoo in the U. S. with little knowledge of zoos and had ent zoo started and move on within With little success (please keep in very little money I was still surprised two years. And here I am retiring after mind that there were many fewer when I arrived in Battle Creek to find leading Binder Park Zoo for 35 years “professional” positions in zoos at that how little everyone realized what so clearly my plan failed. time in the U. S.) I decided to volun- they were getting themselves into teer at two zoos – Beardsley Zoo in and how modest their resources were. After completing three years in the Bridgeport, Connecticut and Roger But, they had a dream and worked Army and while attending graduate Williams Park Zoo in Providence, hard to encourage me to buy into it school at the University of Connecti- Rhode Island to build my experience and I was caught. I arrived with very cut I was drawn to a local privately and resume. Among other projects little experience at an institution that owned wild animal park in rural in Providence I helped write a grant was still the vision of a modest com- Connecticut. I was fascinated with proposal to fund several positions at munity and it was my job to make and drawn to the muntjac, raccoon the zoo which amazingly included that dream happen. dogs, and elk among others and a position as Zoologist that had visited them as often as I could. While such restrictive requirements that I quickly learned that the organiza- attending university I attended the I was the only person in the country tion in fact did not have the resources opening of the Wild Canid Conser- qualified to fill it. And thus I began my to pay me my extremely modest vation Center in St. Louis, Missouri professional career. beginning salary for more than a few and had the opportunity to talk with months and I was expected to fund Dr. William Conway for a few minutes. After about a year in Providence it was the rest of it myself with volunteer I asked him how I could find a job in clear that the messy political situation help. The zoo was based on a new the zoo business. His response was in the City and lack of funding for the model (for 1977) of all construction “there are always a very large number zoo were going to limit my potential and operating expenses being funded of people who apply to work in zoos and I decided to start exploring else- from earned income and gifts and but there are never enough good where to continue my career. At the grants from the private, corporate, applicants.” I determined that I would same time I attended the then AAZPA and the foundation community. Very be one of those. (now AZA) Management School which little or no resources were to come had a very large impact on me and my from any tax-based resource. thinking. Again, I found the job market limited; even with more than a year I did not understand at the time that of experience at Roger Williams. I was this was one of the factors that would applying for every position in the U. S. keep me at Binder for the rest of my …there are always that I felt I was at least partially quali- career. I learned that I am a com- fied for. I saw an add for a new position mitted entrepreneur and Binder as a very large number as director of a small start-up zoo in I developed it was a perfect fit. In Michigan. When checking around turn though, this orientation has of people who I could find no information about the often made it a challenge to work for zoo or its plans and I had no real inter- a board of directors made up of smart apply to work in est. But as Christmas 1976 approached professional community leaders who I felt that I didn’t want to feel that are committed to the zoo but are zoos but there are I had left any option for employment not zoo professionals and will never undone and sent a resume to Battle truly understand the challenges and never enough good Creek. The day after Christmas I was opportunities. They have also often called by the folks in Battle Creek and been more conservative in their ap- applicants.… told that I was one of the finalists and proach (as they should be in fulfilling could I come out for an interview in the fiduciary responsibilities) than January 1977? My wife Joanne and I who have often had this self image I agreed that we really did not want of my leadership as walking off the to move to a small city in semi-rural end of a plank into dense fog assur- Michigan but since they offered to pay ing everyone behind me that I knew all of the costs we felt that I had noth- where we were going. ing to lose and I boarded a plane and flew to Michigan. 9 »

But, early on I realized that there Among the other factors that have As the zoo developed with the open- were many truly wise people in the lead to my long and rewarding career ing of various exhibits from the late zoo community and in Battle Creek at Binder is being able to lead, nur- 1970’s through the 1980’s and into the and I made an effort to communicate ture, and work with a group of great 1990’s it was clear that we must take with some of them to give me advice, and talented people. When I arrived a large step to change Binder from share wisdom and help me see the in Battle Creek I firmly believed that a “very nice” small zoo in the forest to forest when I seemed to be spending people were paid to work so they something bigger and much broader my whole time dealing with trees. should get to work and get the job in its scope. And thus the Double The Certainly John Gwynne, now retired done whether they liked it or not. Al- Zoo Plan was conceived. The plan from The Wildlife Conservation though it took many years of gaining called for increasing the size of the Society, taught me a great deal about wisdom, I now realize that for an or- zoo by a factor of three and roughly exhibit and zoo design. Earl Wells, ganization to be truly successful the doubling the complexity of zoo founding director of the Fort Wayne people who work there must want programs and facilities with major Children’s Zoo, was a close friend it to be successful. Personal pride, growth in conservation and conser- and mentor who educated me in zoo satisfaction, respect, and camarade- vation programs as well as doubling operations, how to generate operat- rie among the staff members are far annual attendance. A large zoo office, ing income, and all other aspects of more important than money in devel- parking for over 1,000 cars, and zoo leadership and success. Locally oping an outstanding organization. a mile long interpretive boardwalk Russ Mawby, retired President of There are some days when the tasks through a 75 acre (30 hectare) indig- the WK Kellogg Foundation, William I have in front of me were unpleasant enous forest/wetlands area inside of LaMothe, retired President, Kellogg and daunting but I felt responsible to the zoo’s perimeter fence were the Company, and Bob Miller retired the people I work with and the volun- start of the project. But the highlight publisher of our local newspaper and teer board for whom I work to move was to be the 50 acre (20 hectare) president of The Miller Foundation all ahead and get it done. Wild Africa Exhibit. had huge impact on me. 10 »

With a saw whet owl A table in the Binder zoo combining both, in 1978 at the zoo. the educational and orientation purpose.

The key to acquiring the resources we all arrived on electric carts at the During all of these many years of needed to build all of this was selling hilltop. As we arrived I looked over fund raising – almost USD40 million the idea to the two largest potential at the refreshment table and to my in a small Midwestern city of mod- donors – Chairman of the Kellogg horror saw that, in the very short est resources, working to make our Foundation and the Chairman of the time it was unattended, raccoons had budget balance without tax support Kellogg Company. To facilitate this come out of the brush and ravages and continue with top notch educa- effort we arranged to have these two the table with their dirty feet sam- tion and conservation programs, and individuals and several of their staffs pling the delicacies. I thought that dealing with all of the issues relative come out to the zoo for a presenta- I was doomed but went on with my to running a small business, one tion of the dream made by me. On presentation enthusiastically waving outlet for me has been travel and the the morning of the presentation we my arms about describing the Wild friendship of scores of people around arranged to have an elegant side Africa and sharing our dreams. At the the world in the zoo business. I have table of coffee and other refresh- end of my presentation, Mr. LaMothe, led many safaris, attended meetings ments set up on the hilltop that the national corporate leader who for WAZA, ISIS, and PAAZAB all over overlooked the potential future 15 I had never met before stopped me the world, and all over North America acre (6 hectare) African Savannah in and stated that he had one question. for AZA. These have provided me Wild Africa. We had all of the food With that I could see myself packing the opportunity to learn from people arranged with white table cloth, my suitcases and moving on to some from very different points of view silver, and crystal, etc., the zoo staff other line of work in another state. and fields of knowledge, to come to departed and within a minute or so But, his question was “Greg, why realize that we are not alone with our didn’t you go into marketing in a ma- challenges in Battle Creek, and to jor national firm?” With that question relax and refresh before I returned to I knew that we were going to be able the challenges at home. to move forward. WAZA news 2/12 11 © Binder Park Zoo Kris Vehrs, Executive Director, AZA and Greg with ET receiving the plaque recognizing reaccreditation in 2009.

On my very first excursion out of the nesota some years earlier when he Over the past 37 years I have partici- country in 1984 I was most fortunate saw scores of white-tailed deer at pated in the development and expan- to travel to seven African countries as night driving down the back roads. sion of this industry in North America a participant in an elite safari group I, in turn, was polite but not overly and the world. It is exciting to see the as a gift from a donor. I recall sitting impressed as at that time there were zoo profession change from a mar- in the bar of our hotel in Keetman- more white-tails in the U. S. than all ginal and peculiar field in most of the shoop, Namibia talking enthusiasti- of the antelope species combined in U. S. to a respected career. cally with our driver/guide about how all of Africa and our major challenge excited I was to have seen my first was to not hit one with our car. But, wildlife in Africa that day, a flock of I learned an important lesson about 15 ostriches. He was polite but not the value of a wildlife experience and overly impressed. He then proceeded your frame of reference. to tell me of a trip he made to Min- 12 WAZA news 2/12 Angela Glatston WAZA Interview The red panda studbook has always been a means to an end

Angela has held several positions since she has worked in Rotterdam Zoo. She has been a research officer, the head of the research section and curator of primates and hoofed stock. In her current incarnation she is the head of Conservation and Research. Angela is also the International Studbook keeper for the Red Panda.

WAZA: How and when did you Could you describe your role as I also considered that it was im- become a studbook keeper? Angela: a studbook keeper and what does it portant to collect information on I guess I became the global studbook entail? The role of studbook keeper red panda pathology as part of the keeper for the red panda by accident. has changed over the years. When studbook as this allowed the possibil- When I started work in Rotterdam the red panda studbook was first ity to look for genetically determined Zoo I saw these cute animals in an en- established the role of the stud- problems as well as getting a general closure near the zoo entrance. I found book keeper was to ensure that the picture of the health problems to that very little was known about red identity of individual animals did which the red panda was susceptible. pandas in general and their behaviour not become lost when they were Today the compilation for the stud- in particular so, as a research of- transferred to new institutions. At book is much quicker. I no longer ficer, I initiated a behavioural project that time there was no ZIMS and the have to write to individual zoos to looking at their activity patterns and numbers of zoos participating in ISIS ask them for their studbook data. reproductive behaviour. were limited. Often when an animal Today I get this directly from the My then director suggested that it moved to a new institution it got regional coordinators. Some regional might be a good idea to develop a new accession number and its origi- coordinators provide me with the a studbook for them as part of this nal identity was lost. This meant that ARKS file for their region so I don’t work and the rest is history as they inadvertent inbreeding was always even have to input data myself. This say. The first international studbook a threat. Also, by ensuring animals re- means I only have to contact the few was published in 1980. tained their identity throughout their zoos which are not attached to any As I collected the data I became life, we were able to obtain reliable regional programme. As a result the more involved with the problems of demographic data. only work that I have to do myself is their captive management and the As that time husbandry and manage- to input data from one or two regions studbook gradually developed to give ment information on most species and then analyse the complete data- advice on exchanges of pandas as was limited so I also used the stud- set and so monitor the population. well as just registering individuals. book publication to inform zoos on various aspects of red panda research How much time do you spend for this and husbandry and management. mission? Do you find enough time to do it in your regular working hours? Red panda at Central Park zoo. In the early days of the studbook I cal- © Gerald Dick culated that on average I spent half a day a week on the studbook. How- ever this was essentially concentrated into a few weeks per year when I was collecting data and compiling, and producing the annual studbook. During these few weeks I often had to work at home to ensure that the studbook was produced on time, Today, the number of hours is much more limited. The actual data collection and studbook production and analysis take a couple of weeks of sporadic studbook work. WAZA news 2/12 13

Angela’s 3 wishes for the Zoo Genie

1. That the necessary legislations to ensure the survival of the red panda and its mountain habitat its in place and enforced throughout the red pandas range 2. A celebrity ambassador for the red panda 3. All zoos holding red pandas follow both the spirit and fact of the red panda husbandry and management guidelines © Rob Doolaard Angela Glatson with her book.

What would you say is your biggest Would you say being an international What benefits you see in making the challenge in your role? I guess I don’t studbook keeper is a satisfactory mis- Red Panda Program a “Global Species find the studbook itself a challenge; sion? Would you encourage people Management Plan” under the WAZA this is merely the collection and to become studbook keepers? I am umbrella? The red panda studbook compilation of data and most of that not sure I would call being an inter- already coordinates a global manage- data has already been collected by national studbook keeper a mission ment programme. However the rec- the regional coordinators. Today it is of itself. Collecting studbook data, as ognition of this existing programme more how you use that data that is in- I mentioned earlier, has become a lot under the GSMP umberella will give teresting and challenging. To me the simpler with regional breeding pro- it more status and hopefully will red panda studbook has always been grammes and ISIS and will become facilitate inter-regional exchanges of a means to an end. The challenge even simpler with ZIMS. The interest animals and encourage fuller coop- that I have is to ensure the red panda and challenge in being a studbook eration of the regional coordinators. survives in zoos. We know a lot about keeper is what develops from that, how these animals can be success- the development of breeding pro- How do you see the future of Interna- fully bred. When the first husbandry grammes, the possibility for research tional Studbooks and global popula- and management guidelines were into populations and the links you can tion management for the Red Panda, published the breeding success of the develop with field work and conserva- and in general? In the future world zoo population took a huge leap for- tion. of ZIMS I don’t see a role for interna- ward. Despite this, even today many tional studbook keepers as they are zoos do not implement these recom- What are the benefits of a global today. Most of the work which these mendations, and this compromises data collection for the Red Panda? people have conducted in the past the future survival of the population. On the one hand it allows you to see will now happen automatically. This what is happening to the population means we will have to redefine what As you know ISIS is producing the as a whole and on the other it allows we mean by studbook keepers if they new software “ZIMS”. Would it make you to compare and contrast the vari- are to continue to exist in the future. a change for you and how? It will save ous regional populations; how they I believe we will only call and interna- time required in collecting data from differ in fertility, mortality and gene tional studbook into existence when regional coordinators and putting it diversity and then to relate this to we need to manage a global popula- into a studbook and hopefully ensure differences in regional management. tion or when we want to monitor the standardisation of health and pathol- Also regional population managers performance of regional breeding ogy data. This means more time can are focussed on their own population, programmes against each other be spent on analysing the informa- and may be unaware of the whole and how they impact on the global tion and on running a breeding pro- picture, Even where a regional popu- population. This is a very different job gramme. However, the challenge will lation may not be of itself viable, is to that of the traditional studbook be to ensure that pandas maintained still may be an important component keeper but it is what I have been in non ISIS institutions are accurately of the global zoo population. doing with the red panda for two registered and to ensure that errors decades now. at the zoo registrar level are caught. 14 WAZA news 2/12

Katie Miller – ZSL Standing on The EDGE of Extinction

Elephants, rhinos and pandas maybe The achieve EDGE’s mission, its es- EDGE Coral Reefs pin-ups of the conservation world but sential that we raise awareness of few people have heard of the purple overlooked EDGE species such as In March 2010, the EDGE programme frog, the red slender loris or the pearl the Hispaniolan solenodon, a mam- expanded to include corals, identify- bubble coral. The EDGE of Existence mal that injects venom into its prey ing them as the backbone of a reef programme, based at the Zoo- akin to a snake, or the Chinese giant and as a lifeline for a myriad of fish logical Society of London (ZSL), was salamander which is as long as an and other organisms that depend launched in 2007 to conserve those adult human is tall. Through targeted on them. So far, there are around species that are often undervalued awareness campaigns, educational 93,000 recorded species of animals and overlooked. outreach and the EDGE of Existence and plants living on coral reefs, and website (www.edgeofexistence.org), yet this ecosystem takes up less than EDGE is an acronym for Evolutionar- EDGE is finally giving these species 0.2% of the total area of our seas, ily Distinct and Globally Endangered the attention they deserve. With making them the most biodiverse and aims to highlight and conserve more than 700 million people passing of all aquatic ecosystems. An esti- one-of-a-kind species on the brink of through their zoos and aquariums mated half a billion people are heavily extinction. These species are identi- every year, WAZA members are reliant on the ecosystem services fied through combining their IUCN uniquely placed to help raise their they provide and on top of that reefs Species threat category with a meas- profile and generate support for their supply around 10% of marine fisher- ure of their unique evolutionary conservation. ies landings. Despite their ecological history. Currently there are EDGE lists and social significance, coral reefs are for corals, mammals and amphibians, A whole host of organisations are under serious threat from a range of with sharks, birds and gymnosperms working under the EDGE umbrella problems. It is estimated that almost in the pipeline. to secure the future of those species 20 per cent have been lost already most at risk through raising aware- and another 35 per cent are under se- The mission of the EDGE of Exist- ness and developing conservation rious threat from rising sea tempera- ence programme is to prevent the projects. The EDGE Programme extinction of the world’s most unique seeks to build in-country conserva- species. This is no simple task. While tion capacity by awarding two-year Ditto de la Rosa diving and using coral finder guide. the aforementioned pin-ups are Fellowships to support local conser- © ZSL well known, the EDGE mammal and vation practitioners (EDGE Fellows) amphibian lists show that of the 100 to research and conserve poorly- highest-ranking species in each group, understood EDGE species. Through most (66% of mammals and 85% of providing them with funding, training amphibians) are receiving very limited and mentorship, the programme is conservation attention. The situation creating a global network of conserva- is even more alarming for the reef- tion practitioners who have the skills, building corals, where all but one of knowledge and support to prevent the ten highest ranking species are the extinction of the world’s most receiving no targeted conservation unique and threatened animals. Since action at all. By focusing on these 2007, the programme has supported “forgotten” EDGE species, the EDGE of 26 EDGE Fellows in 17 countries. The Existence programme aims to change Fellows have achieved some fantas- these statistics for the better. tic successes including leading the national conservation strategy for the wild Bactrian camel in Mongolia and implementing large scale community reforestation initiatives for the red slender loris in Sri Lanka. To find out more: www.edgeofexistence.org WAZA news 2/12 15

© Erik Brun This Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) can grow to 2 m high and 4 m wide and used to dominate reefs in the Caribbean. It is a fast growing species but populations have suffered massive declines in the last 30 years and it is now one of the ten EDGE Coral Reef focal species.

tures, ocean acidification, disease and invoke such grandiose images: the EDGE Coral Reefs is now planning to direct anthropogenic pressures. The free-living mushroom coral (Heli- expand its conservation efforts and latter is a metaphorical umbrella for ofungia actiniformis). But in the Polillo aims to fund an EDGE Fellow for each a whole host of problems of which Islands, Philippines, this species has of the 10 focal species. EDGE Fellow- many are often unsustainable and now become a flagship for broader ships give early career conservationists result in a dead or unproductive reef – conservation action thanks to the the support to become leaders in their to the detriment of the communities EDGE Fellowship programme. This field. Each Fellow receives a grant that depends on it. EDGE believes species is unusual because unlike of up to £5,000 per year, attend an that many of these challenges can most corals, where the polyps live intensive training course on essential be reduced or prevented through in colonies, it lives as a single free conservation skills, ongoing tutorship a combination of education initiatives, living polyp with a huge 3cm mouth through distance learning and receive community projects, targeted conser- at its centre. However like most other mentorship from a scientific advisor vation actions and changes in policy. corals, it has a symbiotic relation- based at ZSL or a partner organisation. ship with algae called zooxanthellae, Applications for the next cohort are The EDGE Coral Reefs programme which convert sunlight into energy due by 31 May 2012 with successful was set up a little differently to the the excess of which is transferred to applicants being announced by August other taxa as the phylogeny of scle- the host. The mushroom coral can 2012. Further information can be ractinian corals is currently not suf- also catch additional food with its found on our website. ficient to accurately produce a top 100. tentacles and feed through its mouth Instead, EDGE species were selected thus obtaining essential nutrients EDGE is keen to engage with more by a panel of experts in 2010 on the and minerals to fuel those essential WAZA members and will soon be basis of their IUCN Red List category metabolic processes. This species is launching a membership scheme for and the current understanding of their the sole member of its genus and it zoos and aquariums wishing to sup- unique evolutionary history. The panel lives in shallow waters of the Indian port the conservation of EDGE Coral selected 10 focal species on which and Pacific oceans. It supports other Reefs. Members will each receive an the EDGE Coral Reefs conservation organisms, like the popcorn shrimp EDGE Coral Reefs Education Pack, programme has now been established and pipefish which are only known which will include factsheets on the to promote the conservation and sci- to live on the species, and its major 10 focal coral species, children’s activ- entific knowledge of these species. threat is heavy harvesting for the ities, and general information about aquarium trade – around 44,650 wild the EDGE of Existence programme. With common coral names like pieces being exported annually from Additional membership benefits ‘elegance’ and ‘elliptical star’ they are Indonesia alone. Ditto is currently will include access to EDGE Fellows’ certainly intriguing species to work working to assess the impact of the updates, photos and video footage with, but Ditto de la Rosa, the first aquarium trade within the Polillo direct from the field for use in your EDGE Coral Reefs Fellow, is research- Islands and is working with the local zoo or aquarium. To find out more ing a species whose name may not communities to secure the future of about this opportunity please contact the species in the area. [email protected]. 16 WAZA news 2/12

Richard Lansdown – IUCN Freshwater Plant Specialist Group Zoos and Aquaria and the Conservation of Freshwater Plants

Off the southern coast of Crete, rock so that the pool and its contents Collaboration with one or more zoo separated from it by a channel deep plummet into the void below. The or aquarium enough for Sperm Whales to hunt graziers also often place large rocks • Collect seed and establish and ex- squid in the depths, lie two small over these pools to slow down loss situ cultivation programme. Whilst islands; Gavdos and Gavdopoula. of water by evaporation which could there is a reasonable basis of knowl- South of Gavdos, the next dry land also cause the extinction of C. pulchra. edge of the cultivation of many is in the Cyrenaica region of Libya Clearly there is an urgent need for water-starworts (Callitriche species), and the southern point of Gavdos is conservation action. Fundamentally, as far as we are aware, C. pulchra the southernmost point of Europe. action to protect C. pulchra will de- has never been maintained in culti- Gavdopoula (meaning little Gavdos) pend upon the goodwill of the people vation. Many zoos and aquaria have is small, fairly barren and uninhab- of the island, particularly those who suitable water bodies on site, but it ited, while Gavdos is large enough graze their stock around the village. is likely that establishment of a suc- to support a permanent population However the species is so rare than cessful ex-situ programme for C. of about fifty people, augmented in ex-situ conservation is also an urgent pulchra will require some particular summer by up to 3,500 visitors who requirement and this will be depend- and fairly quick intervention. flock to the island to make the most ent upon collaboration with zoos and of the quiet beaches. In the past it aquaria, while of course no action on Collaboration with Libyan botanists has supported a population of up to Gavdos will be effective or even pos- • Liaise with botanists in Libya to 8,000 with the result that much of the sible without the support of the Greek establish the location of potentially island is covered by abandoned vil- government and there is a need to suitable water bodies and then carry lages and terraces. In an abandoned return to Cyrenaica to hunt for the out surveys to locate populations of village on the south-eastern lime- other populations. C. pulchra. A team of Greek bota- stone plateau of Gavdos is a small nists have been working with bota- pool in the limestone pavement The following is an outline of the nists in Libya in recent years and it is which provides drinking water to work needed: likely that this existing collaboration the sheep and goats which graze the will provide the most effective basis island’s scrubby vegetation. This pool Collaboration with the residents for surveys of C. pulchra. also supports the only population of of Gavdos beautiful water-starwort (Callitriche • Find out from the shepherds and pulchra) (its beauty possibly being goatherds on Gavdos where all Cryptocoryne usteriana in the eye of the beholder) currently the stock watering pools are, to in cultivation, showing the spectacular known in the world. C. pulchra has enable a thorough census both of C. flower spathe. been recorded from another pool on pulchra and of potential habitat for © J. D. Bastmeijer Gavdos, but a recent search failed to C. pulchra. find this second pool. Equally, it was • Identify sites where small stock- recorded from three wadis in Libya in watering tanks could be constructed 1967 by the global expert on the ge- or installed to relieve pressure on nus; Henriette Dorothea Schotsman, the natural pools. but no-one appears to have searched • Identify individuals who could act these sites since and we cannot know as guardians of C. pulchra, ensur- if it still survives in Libya. ing that it is not damaged wittingly or unwittingly by tourists. Con- C. pulchra must be one of the most servation will not be effective if it threatened plant species in the world. depends on visits from outsiders. Not only is the pool in which it grows used extensively for stock watering Collaboration with Greek botanists and holds water for much less time • It is also obvious that the success of in an average year than it should, any programme for conservation of but these small pools sit over large C. pulchra will be dependent on the cave systems (as is typical of karstic support of Greek botanists who can limestone) and eventually the base maintain the project and support for of the pool dissolves the underlying the islanders following initiation. WAZA news 2/12 17

rare and dependent upon threatened habitats in the wild, but is available in almost every garden centre and may already be growing in tanks in some zoos and aquaria. The beauty of the idea is that for many of these species, Whilst the work to try to ensure Borneo, and five species are endemic the structures are already in place, all a self-sustaining population in the to the island of Sumatra, in Indone- that is needed is an organisation who wild is fundamental to the conser- sia. Two species have only been seen can provide the botanical information vation of C. pulchra, it is extremely in the wild once each by a botanist and support. Funnily enough I have urgent to establish one or more but can be bought over the internet. just the thing. ex-situ populations. This will not hap- However, significantly, all species can pen without the involvement of an easily be grown in cultivation and all In June 2011 a proposal was approved institution such as a botanic garden, sold for the aquarium trade. by the IUCN Steering Committee for zoo or aquarium. Whilst it may seem the establishment of a Freshwater appropriate that such work is un- One might say, so where’s the prob- plant Specialist Group under the dertaken by a botanic garden, most lem? However even though Cryp- Species Survival Commission. With zoos actually already have pools in tocoryne has a significant fan-base support from the Fondation Tour du reptile and amphibium sections that to the extent that rare cultivars are Valat and Plantlife International, the would be suitable for C. pulchra and it exchanged among collectors, there is Specialist Group will come into being would require a minimum of effort to no “safe” collection. Not only that, but in the next few weeks. The mission of establish plants. there is some “kudos” to be gained the FPSG is to assess the conserva- from having seen or even collected tion status of wetland-dependent Another different situation arises some of the rare taxa in the wild. The plants, identify their conservation where plants are available in the largest collection is held by a private needs and stimulate action to address aquarium trade or horticulture but individual and there is no evidence these. Our aim is to carry out Red List are rare in the wild. One of the most that any institution has a collection assessments for all the estimated striking examples comes from the for the purpose of conservation. What 30,000 freshwater wetland-depend- genus Cryptocoryne, a genus of about is needed is to obtain four or five ent plants, enabling us to prepare 60 recognised species plus a number cultivars from each recognised spe- an action plan for their conservation of hybrids, varieties and cultivars. cies, subspecies and hybrid combina- and ultimately support conserva- In the wild they occur in Asia and tion and establish them ex-situ. The tion action on the ground. However, Australasia, from Sri Lanka through beauty of this is that they are perfect there are some species which require India and Bangladesh to southern for almost any freshwater aquarium. immediate and urgent intervention China, then south through Main- This means that if an organisation such as beautiful water-starwort and land Asia, the Philippines, Sumatera, (such as the IUCN/SSC Freshwater others, such as the Cryptocoryne spe- Borneo to Papua New Guinea, with plant Specialist Group – of which cies and Ranalisma rostrata for which C. beckettii and C. wendtii established more later) were to develop a “stud- everything needed is in place and it as non-native in the USA. All except book” for the genus, almost any zoo seems a shame not to make the most about a dozen species have a rather or aquarium could, rather than buying of the opportunity. restricted distribution; only four can its aquatic plants at the local garden be described as widespread, C. albida centre, obtain a selection of plants The FPSG is an organisation that has and C. crispatula occur from eastern from the Cryptocoryne ex-situ conser- yet to fledge, it has a tacit member- India eastwards to southern China and vation collection. They are sufficiently ship of about fifty people worldwide south into Mainland Asia, C. cordata attractive that they are sold in almost but as we become established, this occurs in southern Thailand, Penin- every aquarists outlet and in some membership will be formalised and sular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo, of the larger freshwater tanks could is expected to increase. Whilst we while C. ciliata occurs from India become very striking. have our own mission and aims, we through Bangladesh, Thailand and are also in a position to support other Vietnam, south through Indonesia to Cryptocoryne species are not the only people’s conservation initiatives and Papua New Guinea. Three Islands sup- aquatic and wetland plants that are actions. It would be wonderful to link port nearly half the world’s species; widely available through the horti- an initiative to bring conservation nine species are endemic to Sri Lanka, cultural trade, Ranalisma rostrata of aquatic plants into zoos with the thirteen species are endemic to (classed as Data Deficient by IUCN) is establishment of the FPSG. 18 WAZA news 2/12

Gerhard Heindl – Tiergarten Schönbrunn/Zoo Vienna

The book can be ordered by: Book Reviews www.nhbs.com 77 Years: The History and Evolution of the World smaller zoos and to curators? Which Association of Zoos and topics should be the focus of its Aquariums 1935–2012 work? How should the association be by Laura Penn, Markus structured? What should be its future Gusset and Gerald Dick name? What role should the member WAZA, Gland, 2012, 200pp, zoos play and how could this content ISBN 978-2-8399-0926-6 be passed on to the public as effective as possible? At the beginning the Why producing a historical review „International Union“ was a European after 77 years, one may ask – but focused association with one or two isn’t any remarkable anniversary participants from the USA, later a un- good for a good story? And WAZA is ion of European and US-American indeed a good story! It is a story of Not only the Association was founded zoos, and today includes zoos from all progress and success: a story that in the 1930ies, emerging from the continents. As the „global playground“ stretches from the meetings of some expansion of the meetings of German changed over time, so did WAZA as of the German zoo-directors at the speaking zoo directors by including well. It continuously tightened and animal-auctions in Antwerp Zoo in some of those from middle, northern modernized its structure and at the the late 19th century to a first at- and western European zoos, con- same time became a real „global tempt of establishing an international servation measures were already player“. An office was established to zoo-organisation in 1935 and to the discussed as well. The zoo-directors take some of the workload off the rebirth as the „International Union had realized that species had been president’s shoulders. In our modern of Directors of Zoological Gardens“ threatened of going extinct or even world no member-zoo-director would (IUDZG) in 1946. Today WAZA is had already disappeared in the wild. be able to lead an organization like a well-structured association of more Those species were represented this in addition to his own work and than 300 leading zoological gardens by the bison, the wisent (European only with his own staff and resources. worldwide, keeping together its mem- bison), the Alpine ibex or the Prze- The written proof of its develop- bers through conferences, publica- walski horse. Therefore they set up ment and the main sources for this tions and information and supporting conservation programmes to face this book, are to be found in WAZA’s own scientific in-situ and ex-situ projects threats together with other zoologists records. Over the years an archive all over the world. and private people, who wanted to has grown, dating back to the 1930ies But the way from an IUDZG with only be involved and act responsibly. After with minutes, correspondence, consti- seven zoo-directors, having survived World War II the new zoo-directors as- tutions, membership-lists, programs both the cruelties and the political sociation started its cooperation with and much more. Nevertheless consequences of World War II to the „International Union for Conserva- someone needed to be found, who a modern dynamic association was tion of Nature“ (IUCN), and became was able to spend both time and pas- hard. The achievements that made a member of it in 1949. More than 60 sion to transform this big amount of it grand came step by step. A time- years later WAZA and its member- information into a publication. Laura table at the beginning of the book zoos were at the forefront of elaborat- Penn, Markus Gusset and Gerald Dick provides an overview of the chrono- ing the „Convention on International managed to do so in a pleasant and logical order of events. It is followed Trade in Endangered Species“(CITES, attractive way – as I know through by four chapters describing the first 1973) and are playing an important my own work a quite exhaustive task. attempts to initiate periodical inter- role in the IUCN „Species Survival The book which emerged out of this national meetings of zoo-directors, Commission“. This commitment to undertaking is not only a compila- the changes in the organisational conservation also lead to the foundation of facts and photos, it’s alive. structure up to nowadays WAZA, the tion of the „Conservation Breeding Information in text form alternates commitment to conservation and, last Specialist Group“(1979) and the pub- with contributions of merited and but not least, the evolving role of the lication and realization of „The World well-known people from zoos and zoos – all this against the background Zoo Conservation Strategy“(1993). befriended organizations, text-boxes, of a permanently changing world. Both are milestones on the way to pictures, documents and graphics. Appendices with transcriptions of a global network of protecting nature Most of all, everyone can benefit original documents from the WAZA’s and single species. from it: Established professionals in archive provide insight to readers with Despite such great results there have zoo life as well as people, who have a deeper interest. been struggles within WAZA for many never heard about WAZA. In the end years concerning the direction the it is a comprehensive book that can association should take. Should it be recommended to everyone who is remain a quite exclusive club for direc- interested in zoos and in „life sciences” tors of big zoos or should it expand to in general. WAZA news 2/12 Books 19

Gerald Dick – Kathy Traylor-Holzer – CBSG WAZA Executive Office Announcements Intangible Natural Heritage, New Perspectives on Natural Objects by Eric Dorfman Routledge, New York, London, 2012 192 pp ISBN 978-0-415-88492-1

The author is currently director of the Whanganui Regional Museum in New Zealand but also holds a PhD in wildlife ecology and a Masters in marine biology, additionally he serves as vice president of the International Council of Museums’ Committee for Museums and Collections of Natural © CBSG History. Together with nine contribut- PMx opening screen: ing authors, Eric tries to catch what is Opening screen of PMx. known as intangible natural heritage. This possibly means environmental Release of PMx 1.0 forces that create biological and geological entities, including in- The population management and • tools for evaluating supplementa- teraction with humans and human planning software program PMx has tion and release plans; communities. The concept started been officially released and is avail- • life-tables with age classes not lim- from UNESCO’s Convention for able for download at: www.vortex9. ited to one year; and safeguarding intangible cultural herit- org/PMx/PMx.html. PMx was devel- • options for evaluating inter-popula- age, but is meant to go even beyond oped by Jonathan Ballou (Smithso- tion transfers. that. Although originating from the nian Conservation Biology Institute, museum sector, when it was felt that SCBI) and Robert Lacy (Chicago Zoo- The PMx User Manual (version 1.0) environmental concerns should be logical Society, CZS) in concert with J. also has been completed and is taken more into consideration for P. Pollak (Cornell University) and with included in the software download the exhibition agendas, the concept support from the Institute for Muse- (or can be downloaded separately is thought to explore fields such as um and Library Services (IMLS). PMx from the same site). The PMx User ethology, sociobiology, evolution, expands upon the demographic and Manual is a product of the joint landscapes, human food security, genetic analytical tools provided by efforts of many population manag- climate, taxidermy and many oth- the PM2000 program, and includes ers around the world and is edited, ers. The extension of the cultural new features such as: produced and maintained by CBSG heritage concept should encompass • stochastic projections; (Kathy Traylor-Holzer). PMx has been indigenous knowledge of nature as • increased breeding and group man- translated into Spanish, Japanese and well as conservation. The objects or agement options; Chinese, and the manual will soon artifacts displayed in museums serve • the ability to analyze multiple be available in these languages. This a multiple purpose when being used potential parents (to take full ad- will be a dynamic document that will for education and tell different stories vantage of this, SPARKS version 1.6 evolve as PMx continues to improve about the mentioned issues above. now allow users to enter multiple and expand, and will be periodically The idea is very much about linking potential parents for offspring when updated, as will PMx itself. up cultural behavior of men with parentage is uncertain); phenomena in nature. The presented Training courses in using the new examples illustrating this range from software have begun in many regions giant pandas, great auks to kanga- and will continue in 2012. Contact roos. This concept not only aims at your regional zoo association or the reviving museums, but bridging the CBSG office if you are interested in gap between nature and culture and hosting a training workshop in your deepen the understanding of those area. Please send any manual correc- interdependencies, something zoos tions or suggestions to Kathy Traylor- and aquariums are into since some Holzer at the CBSG Office, or contact time already and moving the contem- us if you are interested in providing plation beyond the object or animal is translation into other languages an interesting way of seeing it! ([email protected]). 20 Announcements WAZA news 2/12

WAZA Executive Office Announcements George Rabb Award Presented to Bob Lacy WAZA at IUCN Conference Membership On 27 February 2012, at the closing ceremony of IUCN’s – SSC Specialist Directory Group Chairs’ Meeting in Abu Dhabi, Cover of book and Bob Lacy was presented the George Supplement highlighting Italian Rabb award. “In recognition of his pi- Since two years, WAZA members conservation projects. oneering work in the development of benefit from a special offer. On the Population and Habitat Viability As- member area of WAZA’s new web- “Building a Future for Wildlife” sessment as a practical conservation site a PDF is provided, containing Published in Italian tool, and his exceptional leadership all details of WAZA members. Put as chair of the Conservation Breeding in order alphabetically, per region, The WAZA book, entitled “Building Specialist Group”. IUCN established per country and per member- a Future for Wildlife, Zoos and Aquari- the award in honor of Dr George ship category and updated at ums Committed to Biodiversity Con- Rabb, Chair of SSC from 1989 to least every fortnight, you can be servation”, published in 2010 at the 1996, for outstanding innovation and sure to have the most up to date occasion of the International Year of creativity in species conservation. It is information about colleagues Biodiversity, has been translated into given to individuals in recognition of and the whole zoo and aquarium Italian language and complemented delivering transformational advances community. If you want to search with a brochure on Italian conserva- in conservation theory and practice. for a specific name, within the tion projects. This slightly updated It is a nice coincidence that at the PDF no problem, a few clicks and version of the original was rendered same day Bob received formal notifi- you are there! In case you prefer possible by Cesare Avesani Zaborra of cation from the US National Science a haptic print out, no problem; you Parco Natura Viva, Mille Grazie! Foundation that it will fund a 5-year can do it yourself easily. In order project in which together with Resit to stay accurate and up to date, Akcakaya (the other recipient of the please keep the executive office George Rabb Award this year!) he will informed about any address, name be leading an international network or telephone number changes. of 25 collaborators working to develop, test, and apply new methods for species risk assessments in a changing global environment.

WAZA Is Looking For New Friends! www.facebook.com/pages/World-Association-of-Zoos-and- Aquariums/103849909693281

WAZA joined Facebook on Febru- All your comments, additional info ary 8th. If you want to know more and feedback are more than wel- 2011 Proceedings of Prague about our news and events and all the come. Conference Published activities of our members, partners Join the th and friends visit our page and like us! The proceedings of the 66 An- World Zoo and nual WAZA Conference have been Aquarium community published and are available on the on Facebook! WAZA website. The full version of the proceedings are available on the members’ area (documents) whereas the technical congress papers only are again publically available under Marketing/Publications. WAZA news 2/12 Recent Updates 21

Razina Pandor – Johannesburg Zoo Experiences with Animals@play in the Johannesburg Zoo

The Johannesburg Zoo has launched Animals@play programme, aimed to Join Some of The educate zoo visitors about behaviour Biggest Zoos and Animal enrichment and enabled our animals Attractions to Become Part to forage for longer. of A Global Conservation Revolution… The program uses balls of different shapes and sizes, for example, large ZooVue is the World’s biggest decahedron balls were used for pach- virtual zoo where users can watch yderms, this allowed them to kick and © Candice Segal, Johannesburg Zoo LIVE footage of animals, under- play for longer periods of time with- Finally found where the delicious smell of food is. stand conservation projects and in- out breaking the ball. Papier-mâché teract with a global community of and treat balls were used for animals like-minded people. In association such as spectacled bears, lemurs, with WAZA, ZooVue offers zoos chimpanzees, and meerkats. Boomer and aquariums across the world balls were used for animals such as a unique opportunity to showcase lions, tigers and orang-utans. Rugby animals and conservation pro- and soccer balls were also used for jects to a truly global audience, in primates. Often the balls had holes return for a very small monthly fee. drilled into them and treats placed © Lorna Fuller, Johannesburg Zoo Currently in its first phase of devel- inside. Depending on the species, dif- That was a great game! Let’s do it again. opment, ZooVue is already home ferent types of treats were placed in to Paignton Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo, each ball. The balls were hidden and and Bristol Zoo Gardens amongst sometimes hung from structures and The male pot-bellied pig had a clever many others and is growing fast. branches within the enclosure. This idea to get all the treats from the ball. encouraged the animals to exercise, Using his head, he rolled the papier- ZooVue is also backed by FiN- swing, climb and search for food for mâché ball and watched as the treats ETra, the leading provider of LIVE longer periods. fell out, however the quick females cameras to zoos. With years of followed him and ate the all treats as experience developing and install- The sessions started in September they fell to the ground. ing LIVE camera systems for zoos and continued until December 2011. across the world, FiNETra can help In total we had 13 sessions. Before Triton the zoo’s soccer playing lion install and set up camera systems each session, the enrichment officer, chased and kicked the soccer ball in if required. Alternatively, ZooVue Nomusa Mhlungu, gave a talk about his enclosure, much to the delight of can simply be used to promote the benefits of enrichment, the the crowd. photos and video footage or other expected behaviour from the animals interactive information of ongoing and the reasons it is done. Both our The yellow baboons and meer- conservation projects. visitors and animals enjoyed these kats were shy of the crowds which sessions. The chimpanzees were the gathered but the scent of food lured So, to see how zoos from around most energetic and played for hours. them out of their night rooms. They the world are now accessing an They tackled, kicked, ran and sat on displayed great skill as they found audience never before possible the balls. One of the chimpanzees different ways to remove the treats visit the webpage! imitated our visitors by tearing a ball from each ball. in half and placing one half on his head, now he too had a hat to shield The weekday sessions were popular him from the sun. The black and amongst tour and school groups, To find out more: white ruffed lemurs scent-marked the while on weekends, the sessions www.zoovue.com balls and our lazy spectacled bears delighted and educated many rolled the balls to remove the treats families. from inside. 22 Recent Updates WAZA news 2/12

Yap Xinli – Wildlife Reserves Singapore “Leap Here!” for Frogtastic Fun at the Singapore Zoo

The Singapore Zoo celebrated the leap year with our amphibious friends who love leaping too! Frogs may not be the best animals to cud- dle up with, but they have a part to play in helping man, as pest control through their diet of insects, such as mosquitoes. Frogs also act as environmental bioindicators as their permeable skin easily absorbs toxic chemicals, making them sensitive to very slight changes in the environment. Singapore Zoo dedicated the weekend of 25th and 26th Febru- ary to our frog friends by hosting a frog-themed event, “Leap Here!”, for children aged 12 and below. The event aimed to create awareness and educate children on the native frogs of Singapore and their conservation through interactive games and activities.

Kids could collect stamps on their learning passports after the comple- © Yap Xinli tion of games at five stations which Children guessing the number of frog eggs in our clutch. educated them on different frog facts (such as their leaping ability, breeding, diet and life cycle) and the conservation of frogs. Each participant was rewarded with a goody bag and had a chance to enter a lucky dip when they have collected all the stamps. Those who were not keen to take part in the games took part in the event by leaving a wish for our local frogs on a message board and painted their bodies to declare their love of frogs.

The event ran successfully with close to 750 participants over the two days. It also provided a good opportunity for the 45 volunteers who helped out in the event to learn more about native frogs. © David Tan Eliminating pests alongside our frog friends. WAZA news 2/12 Recent Updates 23

Kathy Traylor-Holzer – IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group | Sarah Christie – ZSL Second Sumatran Tiger GSMP Meeting Held

Dr Retno Sudarwati, veterinarian at Taman Safari Indonesia, highlights recent conflict tiger activities and training for the GSMP committee. Critically Endangered in the wild, © Kathy Traylor-Holzer the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is managed by fiveex situ regional programmes – EAZA, ZAA, AZA, JAZA and PKBSI – with a total of 375 tigers held globally. A WAZA Global Species Management Plan (GSMP) was established for the Sumatran tiger in 2008, and held its inaugural meeting in Indonesia in 2010. The second meeting of the GSMP committee was hosted by Dreamworld in Australia on 2–3 March 2012, and was attended by species coordinators and advisors from all five regional programmes as well as the GSMP coordinator Sarah Christie (Zoological Society of London – ZSL) and GSMP population management advisor Kathy Traylor- Holzer (IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group).

The global ex situ population rep- Other opportunities for inter-region- As one of the first GSMPs, the resents about 95% gene diversity al cooperation include collaborative structure and administration of the contributed by 37 founders. The research efforts and in situ conserva- Sumatran tiger GSMP is serving as four populations outside of Indone- tion support. There is already consid- a test case for the further develop- sia each retain less than 90% gene erable zoo involvement in Sumatran ment of the GSMP framework by diversity and are descended, for the tiger conservation, demonstrated WAZA’s Committee for Population most part, from the same founders, most recently by a veterinary train- Management (CPM). emphasising the importance of the ing workshop for tiger conflict reso- range country population in Indo- lution held at Taman Safari Indonesia nesia for bolstering both regional in January 2012 with support from and global population viability. The ZSL and the UK government. This GSMP committee discussed regional workshop was part of a process that and global population goals, strate- hopefully will soon culminate in the gies and needs, and identified ac- production of the official Indonesian tions to address these needs. These guidelines for the management of include a few selected breedings conflict tigers. and inter-regional transfers of tigers to demographically and genetically strengthen regional populations. …Sumatran tiger GSMP is serving as a test case for the further development of the GSMP framework by WAZA’s Committee for Population Management (CPM)… 24 Recent Updates WAZA news 2/12

Markus Gusset – WAZA Executive Office Update on International Studbooks Sabah Wildlife There are currently 128 active inter- Transfer of ISBs to new Conservation national studbooks (ISBs), including keepers 163 species or sub-species (10 ISBs • On 16 February 2012, CPM ap- Colloquium cover more than one taxon). The proved the transfer of the plough- following events regarding ISBs oc- share tortoise (Astrochelys yni- 2012 curred since 1 January 2012: phora) ISB to Matt Goetz (Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, UK). • On 22 February 2012, CPM ap- WAZA was invited to participate ISBs archived proved the transfer of the Arabian in the Sabah Wildlife Conservation • On 12 January 2012, CPM decided to oryx (Oryx leucoryx) ISB to Ian Colloquium 2012, which took place archive the ISB for the Puerto Rican Goodwin (Marwell Wildlife, UK). in Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) on 9–10 crested toad (Peltophryne lemur). • On 19 March 2012, CPM approved January 2012, and to give a pres- the transfer of the blue-throated entation on “The Role of Zoos in ISBs established macaw (Ara glaucogularis) ISB Wildlife Conservation”. WAZA was • On 13 February 2012, CPM approved to Simon Bruslund (Loro Parque, represented by Markus Gusset from the establishment of an ISB for Spain). the Executive Office, Jörg Junhold as the blue-crowned laughingthrush President, and member representa- (Dryonastes courtoisi) kept by Laura Transfer of ISBs to new tives from Apenheul (The Nether- Gardner (Leeds Castle Foundation, institutions lands), Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark), supported by Chester Zoo, UK). • None. Leipzig Zoo (Germany), Woodland Park Zoo (USA) and Zoos Victoria Further decisions (Australia). Jenny Gray, CEO of Zoos • None. Victoria, gave a presentation on their palm oil campaign, “Don’t Palm us Pending issues Off”, and Jörg Junhold, in his capacity • As of 31 March 2012, ISBs for as both Director of Leipzig Zoo and the Edward’s pheasant (Lophura President of WAZA, delivered a greet- edwardsi), Vietnamese pheasant ing message at the welcome dinner. (Lophura hatinhensis), Chinese The strong zoo presence and visibility leopard (Panthera pardus japon- at this colloquium gave testimony ensis), maroon-fronted parrot to the prominent role the world zoo (Rhynchopsitta terrisi) and sand cat community plays in wildlife conserva- (Felis magarita) are vacant. tion on Borneo as one of the “hottest” biodiversity hotspots globally.

Catherine Barton – Chester Zoo, UK | Markus Gusset – WAZA Executive Office Measuring Conservation Impact

In recent years there has been growing international recognition for the need to measure the success of biodiversity conservation projects and show evidence of conservation impact. With threats to biodiversity growing and limited fund availability, zoos and aquariums supporting field conservation need to ensure that their investments in conservation are making a significant impact, and be able to show tangible and quantifi- able results.

In response to this, Chester Zoo and WAZA have developed a conservation impact form based on the © Chester Zoo methodology outlined by the Zoo Mauritius parakeet (Psittacula eques). Measures Group1. The form is designed to provide an easy format for project coordinators to summarise • Education: Enhancing public edu- given an overall score. This overall project achievements and for these cation and awareness: changing score can be used by the funding achievements to be evaluated for behaviour body to benchmark projects against their conservation impact in a stand- • Capacity Building: Enhancing the others, stimulate strategic review of ardised manner. capacity of conservation practition- conservation support and guide adap- ers who implement conservation tive management. The project coordinator must fill in • Communities: Enhancing the the form based on ‘project types’. capacity of communities in order to There are of course limitations to Each objective of the project is de- benefit biodiversity conservation methods measuring conservation fined as one of the following types: • Research: Undertaking research impact, and this form acts as a first and monitoring related to species version. We would welcome and ap- and habitat preciate any feedback relating to the • Species: Undertaking direct action form in order to aid future refinement to enhance species viability and of the method (conservation@ches- persistence terzoo.org). The Project Conservation • Habitat: Undertaking direct action Impact Summary Form can be down- to enhance habitat quality, viability loaded by clicking on Conservation 1 Mace, G. M., Balmford, A., Leader-Williams, and persistence Impact in the Conservation section of N., Manica, A., Walter, O., West, C. & Zim- the WAZA website (www.waza.org/ mermann, A. (2007) Measuring conserva- The form relies on a review system en/site/conservation/conservation- tion success: assessing zoos’ contribution. and is assessed not only by the impact). In: Zoos in the 21st Century: Catalysts for project coordinator but also by one or Conservation? (ed. by Zimmermann, A., more independent reviewers. Conser- Hatchwell, M., Dickie, L. A. & West, C.), pp. vation impact scores are then gener- 322–342. Cambridge: Cambridge University ated from the combined reviews and Press. 26 Recent Updates WAZA news 2/12

Sung-Lin Wu & Ming-Hsung Chang – Taipei Zoo, Taiwan A Sanctuary for the Taipei Frog: The Gaorong Wildlife Refuge

The Taipei frog is a threatened species in Taiwan. © Sung-Lin Wu

The Taipei frog (Hylarana taipehensis) Gaorong No. 731 pond, which is is small in size with an adult female a swamp in the north of Taiwan, is measuring roughly 4 cm in length and one of our long-term study sites and a male about 3 cm. Its body is slim, belongs to the Taiwan Water Corpo- with a bright green or yellowish green ration (TWC). Besides Taipei frogs, back and two obvious white-golden we also found 44 species of aquatic lines on each side. In the past, they insects, two species of molluscs, eight were widely distributed in low-altitude species of fishes, nine species of frogs, freshwater wetlands of western 19 species of reptiles, 34 species Taiwan, such as swamps, pools, paddy of birds, nine species of mammals fields and canals, which were also the and several species of endangered areas of human activity. Although aquatic plants. This indicates a high the species is listed as Least Concern biodiversity of the pond. In 2006, in by IUCN, the Taipei frog has become order to increase the level of water a threatened species in Taiwan storage, TWC decided to dredge the because of wetland loss or fragmenta- pond. Our team initiated the Taipei tion, excessive use of agrochemicals Frog Rescue Project once we learned Based on our investigations, the pop- on farmland and fallowed paddy about their plan. We cooperated with ulation of Taipei frogs in Gaorong No. fields over the past ten years. Taipei the local government of Taoyuan 731 pond has decreased every year Zoo started the Taipei Frog Conser- County, stressing the importance since 2006. Thus, we recommended vation Programme, which includes and ecological value of the pond to that the local government should population surveys in the field, habitat persuade TWC to pursue alternatives designate this pond as a wildlife preservation and improvement and other than the initial dredge plan. conservation area as soon as possible wetlands restoration, in 1999. In the Realising the value of conserving this to avoid any further habitat destruc- meantime, Taipei Zoo collaborates pond, TWC eventually modified their tion by human activity, and to protect with local government, community, plan and accepted our suggestion to the population of Taipei frogs and schools and non-governmental organi- preserve this pond. sympatric species. Under multi-party sations to carry out habitat restoration efforts, our government proclaimed and holds a lot of activities to raise that Gaorong No. 731 pond was des- conservation awareness. ignated as Gaorong Wildlife Refuge A sanctuary for the Taipei frog: on 8 March 2012. The total area of the the Gaorong Wildlife Refuge. pond is only 1.1 ha and it is the small- © Sung-Lin Wu est wildlife protected area in Taiwan. It was a breakthrough for us, which inspired us to continue promoting the Taipei Frog Conservation Programme.

In accordance with the Wildlife Conser- vation Law of Taiwan, the local government has to implement the conservation act to manage the protected area well, including long-term investigation, establishment of a wildlife database, promotion of conservation and education and restriction of human access. In the future, we expect to cooper- ate and try to develop a long-term partnership with the local government to promote the conservation of Taipei frogs and to provide Taipei frogs and other sympatric species with a natural habitat. WAZA news 2/12 Recent Updates | New WAZA Projects 27

Jörg Junhold – Leipzig Zoo, Germany

Sabah Rhino Research WAZA Project 11019 and Breeding

The Sabah rhino (Dicerorhinus sumat- rensis harrissoni) is a sub-species of the Sumatran rhino. This sub-species is critically endangered. About 30–50 individuals have survived in two sanctuaries in Sabah (Borneo), with a few animals still occurring in isolated patches of rainforest. This sub-species is under severe pressure as its habitat, the lowland rainforest, is being converted into oil palm plan- tations. The remaining individuals of the small population are dispersed and single individuals are isolated in small patches of rainforest.

The State Government of Sabah has set up a breeding centre in order to keep and breed Sabah rhinos that © Rasmus Havmoller were caught in isolated forest patch- Sabah rhino bull. es. If breeding is successful, offspring may be released into the reserves. Methods of assisted reproduction will be applied if natural breeding is not successful in order to increase © Frank Oberwemmer breeding success. The Leibniz Insti- Breeding centre at Tabin tute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Wildlife Reserve. (IZW) in Berlin is a world-leading institute for these methods and has already examined two rhinos in Sabah in the end of 2009. Leipzig The programme aims to: Measures for the next years include Zoo and the IZW have signed a MoU • establish numbers and distribution the veterinary and scientific as- with the State Government of Sabah. of Sabah rhinos in the wild; sistance of the IZW, which is partly Both institutions have worked out • catch and breed isolated individuals funded by Leipzig Zoo, training of a Rhino Management Plan together in the breeding centre; local keepers and consultancy by with local partners involved in the • train local keepers and learn more Leipzig Zoo animal keepers, devel- Sabah Rhino Programme – the about the conditions how they can opment of education and awareness Sabah Wildlife Department, a local be kept and bred successfully; methods, development of sustain- NGO “Borneo Rhino Alliance” and • adopt methods of assisted repro- able tourism, and consultancy of the other partners. duction already used in zoos to wild Sabah Wildlife Department about living Sabah rhinos if natural breed- international zoo standards. ing is not possible; • implement a reintroduction pro- Leipzig Zoo will present the conser- gramme after successful breeding; vations efforts for the Sabah rhino • create awareness in Sabah and in the tropical hall Gondwanaland, Europe for the Sabah rhino and the which opened in 2011, and start situation of the lowland rainforest; fundraising. • start a reforestation project. 28 Recent Updates | New WAZA Projects WAZA news 2/12

Kelly Boyer – Iowa State University, Ames, USA

Falémé Chimpanzee WAZA Project 11020 Conservation Project

The Falémé Chimpanzee Conserva- tion Project (FCCP) began in 2010 in response to increased mining activity in the chimpanzee habitat of south-eastern Senegal. West African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are an endangered species that have already been extirpated in Benin, Togo and Burkina Faso, and now face the same risk in Senegal where their numbers linger in the hundreds. The FCCP focuses on chimpanzee communities living in the Falémé region of Senegal, which has been targeted by multinational mining corporations for both gold and iron ore. The precious metals also attract local communities whose artisanal mining activities employ the poison- ous chemical mercury to separate gold from ore. Both large-scale open © Kelly Boyer pit mines and local artisanal mines Local community and village top: © Kelly Boyer incite habitat disturbance, degrada- education and awareness. Carrying her midday meal of Fara fruit tion and destruction and threaten (Piliostigma thonnigii), an adult female the country’s remaining chimpanzee • Research: To continue ongoing chimpanzee and her infant check out the new population, intensifying the need for data collection on the chimpanzee camera trap placed in front of their conservation efforts in the region. communities living in the Falémé cavern resting site. region. The cumulative results will be It is not possible to consider the used to determine the effects of the elimination of mining in Senegal, as mining and associated activities on • Education: To educate local com- the industry has the potential to chimpanzee population size, density, munities and school children about better the country’s economy and distribution, behaviour and health. the importance of both chimpan- reduce poverty at a local level, if Research goals are to (1) estimate zees and the habitats in which managed appropriately. The most chimpanzee population densities they live. Education programmes viable strategy now is to understand throughout the Falémé region using include (1) community sensibilisa- the effects mining has on the habitat surveys and nest counts, (2) deter- tion programmes that will meet and chimpanzee populations in mine current and proposed areas with villagers to discuss community Senegal and thus mitigate negative of anthropogenic habitat distur- attitudes and concerns about chim- impacts. By working with the local bance, such as mining operations panzees and the habitat, as well as communities, national and local gov- and human settlements, (3) identify provide information about chim- ernment agencies, private mining important resources (i.e. water) and panzees that may be unknown to industries and conservation organi- potential corridors for chimpanzees, the local people, (2) environmental sations to establish sustainable and (4) establish use of each habitat type education clubs at local and region environmentally sound practices, we by chimpanzees via nest surveys, (5) schools to encourage the youth can conserve and protect the chim- determine presence and prevalence to learn about the importance of panzees and the habitat in which of regionally observed behaviours preserving the environment. they live. (i.e. cave use, soaking in pools of • Collaboration: To collaborate with water) and putative chimpanzee stakeholders at all levels including To reach the conservation goals, the cultural behaviours (i.e. tool assisted community leaders, local officials, FCCP focuses its attention on the hunting, baobab cracking, termite regional forestry service employees three following objectives: research, fishing and ant dipping) using etho- and mining corporations, both ex- education and collaboration. archaeological and non-invasive ploration and exploitation industry methods such as camera trapping. members for gold and iron ore. WAZA news 2/12 Recent Updates | New WAZA Projects 29

Michelle Slavin – North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro, USA

UNITE for the Environment WAZA Project 11021

Movies for conservation: Films can be a powerful way to convey environmental messages. In 2010 UNITE partnered with Nature for Kids (a Dutch organisation that produces child-focused short movies about environmental issues) to translate four films and associated educational materials into Rutooro, the local language of our Ugandan students. Screenings of the films have been conducted in each of the UNITE communities. For many of the students, these were the first movies they had © Rebekah Slavin ever seen. Students and teachers UNITE hosted Uganda’s first Earth Day celebration in 2010. have responded enthusiastically and are learning how their actions can protect the natural resources upon The North Carolina Zoo’s UNITE Out of the classroom and into the which they depend. After seeing the for the Environment programme forest: One of UNITE’s newest initia- films, many students spontaneously in Uganda has been working with tives is providing field trips to natural organised environmentally friendly communities around Kibale National areas for students in rural schools. activities such as village clean-ups. Park since 2001. Kibale National Park Although these children live next to is a world-famous reserve and home one of Africa’s most visited national Uganda’s first Earth Day: In a monu- to East Africa’s largest population of parks, most have never visited the mental accomplishment, UNITE chimpanzees as well as the region’s park without taking from it. Field organised Uganda’s first Earth Day highest density of primates. UNITE’s trips take students to places like celebration in 2010. Hosted at Bigodi mission is to conserve wild areas in Kibale National Park (where they Primary School, over 1,500 people and around Kibale National Park by learn about its rich biodiversity and attended the event. Guests were promoting environmentally sound at- the need for protection of this unique treated to environmental songs, titudes, knowledge and skills of people ecosystem), a wetland sanctuary dances, poems and plays presented living in the area. UNITE provides (where they get the chance to learn by students and local dance and teachers with conservation educa- about ecosystem services and see drama groups. Participants enjoyed tion trainings and materials that wildlife) and a botanical garden walks in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctu- allow them to effectively convey con- (where they study the medicinal ary, nature movies, tree planting servation messages to their students. properties of plants and herbs). and demonstrations of fuel-efficient UNITE emphasises student-centred Exposing students to the natural stove building, wind energy and solar teaching methods while teaching wonders around them and educat- oven cooking. basic environmental knowledge and ing them about the interdependence environmental activities and games of all living things helps promote Collaborations: UNITE believes that can be integrated into Uganda’s the conservation of wildlife and strongly in partnerships and is national curriculum. Since its incep- wild spaces. UNITE also works with a founding member of the Kibale tion, UNITE has reached over 130 staff at each of these natural areas, Forest Coalition for Conservation teachers and has promoted innova- providing professional development Education, which is comprised of 16 tive ways to teach rural communities that offers teaching strategies and organisations working within five about conservation and the environ- inquiry-based learning techniques kilometres of Kibale National Park. ment. By helping educate teachers geared to enhance the experience UNITE also works closely with the and, in turn, young people about en- of visiting school children. Close to Uganda Wildlife Authority and the vironmental issues and giving them 1,500 students participate in the field Kamwenge District Education Office the skills to make informed decisions, trips each year. as well as numerous schools in the we are helping to ensure the future United States. of one of Africa’s most important national parks. 30 Recent Updates WAZA news 2/12

WAZA Executive Office

WAZA Executive Office Contacts • Executive Director: [email protected] • PA/Office management/accounting: [email protected] or [email protected] Call for Papers • Marketing/Communication: [email protected] 67th WAZA Annual Conference Contributions are especially • Conservation/International and Technical Congress 2012 will sought for the following topics: Studbooks: take place in Melbourne at the • Saving/protecting species [email protected] Melbourne Convention Centre, in human care 7–11 October 2012. The conference • Sustainable populations facility is situated right in the middle • Breeding for release of the city on the beautiful Yarra river. • Field work New WAZA Members • Community Conservation For delegates able to stay for the • Advocacy and actions • Weltvogelpark Walsrode | Melbourne Zoo 150th Birthday party • Research Germany | as institutional member on Saturday the 13th of October there • Marketing and fundraising • IBREAM – Institute for Breeding are a number of day options for Friday Rare and Endangered African Mam- 12th of October, such as the Philip Is- Please send applications only mals | UK | as affiliate member land Penguins, the Great Ocean Road in relationship to those topics, and the Werribee Open Range Zoo. selection will be carried out strictly in this respect. Registration is open since 29th March Deadline for submission of title New Directors 2012 and the early bird rate will be and abstract is the 31st May 2012. available till 31st May 2012. The link • Mats Olsson replaced for registering will be provided on the An application form for this Mats Höggren at Kolmården WAZA website (button on homepage). purpose is provided on the Wildlife Park, Sweden, as of WAZA website. 1 March 2012 The overall theme is • Masayuki Takahashi is new Fighting Extinction director at Osaka Municipal Tennoji Zoological Garden, Japan, as of 1 April 2012 • Lee Meng Tat replaces Isabella Loh as CEO at Wildlife Reserves Singapore as of 1 May 2012 Future WAZA • Suriya Saengpong replaced Conference Venues Sophon Dumnui at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Thailand • 2012 Melbourne, • Kanchai Sanwong replaced Australia (7–11 Oct 2012) Pimuk Simaroj at Dusit Zoo, • 2013 Disney’s Animal Kingdom, WAZA Membership Thailand USA (13–17 Oct 2013) as of 31st March 2012 • Louise Gordon is acting CEO ad • 2014 New Delhi, interim after Stephen van der Spuy India (9–13 Nov 2014) Associations 24 has left Johannesburg zoo, • 2015 Al Ain, United Arab Institutions 262 South Africa Emirates (11–15 Oct 2015) Affiliates 16 • 2016 Africam Safari, Corporates 14 Puebla, Mexico Life and Honorary members 101 WAZA news 2/12 Recent Updates 31

Recent Updates

Membership Application Nominated as institutional member

Chiang Mai Night Safari, Thailand

• Sponsors: Kanchai Sanwong (Dusit Zoo) and Suriya Sangpong (Khao Kheow Open Zoo) • Founded: 2005 • Area: 150 ha • Collection Mammals: 98 species and 1 060 specimens Birds: 26 species and 284 specimens Reptiles: 7 species and 58 specimens • Staff: 251 permanent, 98 temporary • Visitors: 210 000 paying and 50 000 free entrance • Owned by: Public Organisation • Director: Dr. Sarawut • Member: SEAZA (South East Asian Zoo Association) © Chiang Mai Night Safari Night feeling, a special • Address: 33 M 12 Tambon Nhong kway Amphoe Hang Dong, Chiang experience. Mai 50230, Thailand 5.

Chiang Mai Night Safari is considered to be the most beautiful night safari in the world. With over 150 hectare of natural land surrounded by Doi © Chiang Mai Night Safari Suthep-Pui National Park, the ‘nature Chiang Mai Night Safari, view from above. theme park’ offers visitors the chance to interact with real, wild animals. The Safari open plains tour shows Chiang Mai Safari activities Chiang Mai Safari Animals rhinoceros, giraffe, zebra and deer In arriving at our animal sanctu- The greatest animal attractions in the co-exist on the open plains, watched ary, the beautiful entrance of Lanna world, find them all here co-existing closely by a pride of lions. & African architecture welcomes in their natural habitats – nothing but tourists with the choice to discover the real safari experience can come the park walking around the ‘Walk- close. ing Zone’. The beautifully decorated safari trams leave every 30 minutes, What makes our safari special above during the day hand-feed the animals zoos is that you REALLY are amongst and at night feel the thrill of ventur- the animals – to touch and feed. But ing through the darkness. With family nothing beats the ‘eerie’ feeling at activities for children and an amazing night, as you see these creatures at water light show. their most active – it really does take your breath away!

To find out more: www.chiangmainightsafari.com 32 Membership WAZA news 2/12

Recent Updates

Membership Application Nominated as institutional member

Papiliorama Foundation

• Sponsors: Alex Rübel (Zürich Zoo) and Olivier Pagan (Basel Zoo) • Founded: 1988 (opening Papiliorama) 1995 (creation of not-for-profit foundation) • Area: 0.5 ha • Collection Mammals: 22 species, 519 specimens Birds: 24 species, 147 specimens Reptiles: 20 species, 60 specimens Amphibians: 4 species, 42 specimens © Papiliorama Aerial view of Papiliorama. Fishes: 36 species, 2 073 specimens Invertebrates: 270 species, ca 2000 specimens • Staff: 120 permanent, 35 FTE (full time equivalent) • Visitors: 223 000 paying and 12 000 free entrance • Owned by: Foundation (not-for-profit, charity status under Swiss law) • Director: Mr. Caspar Bijleveld van Lexmond • Member: EAZA (European Asso- ciation of Zoos and Aquaria), ISIS (International Species Information System), Zooschweiz and IABES (In- ternational Association of Butterfly Exhibitors and Suppliers) • Address: Moosmatte 1, P. O. box 160, © Papiliorama 3210 Kerzers, Switzerland Morpho peleides.

The Papiliorama complex in Kerzers younger generations, who are offered is a subtle mix between a zoological to experience natural beauty through institution, a botanical garden and wondrous exhibits, from fluttering a living museum. It does not harbor butterflies to free-flying toucans, as large wildlife, but aims at showing well as secretive nocturnal mammals. the public a sample of biodiversity, The outside gardens present local bio- both tropical and local. It strives to diversity along discovery paths and raise the awareness of the impor- playgrounds. Papiliorama actively tance and fate of biological diversity takes part in conservation through around the planet. The foundation’s its nature reserve in Belize, Central main target groups are today’s America (www.shipstern.org)

To find out more: www.papiliorama.ch WAZA news 2/12 Obituary III

Peter Karsten – Denman Island, Canada

Obituary Sue Mainka in Memoriam

Dr. Sue Mainka joined the Calgary Zoo staff as the head zoo veterinarian just in time when I assume extra duties as President elect of the American Asso- ciation of Zoos and Aquariums in 1982. Sue’s arrival at the zoo energized the entire zoo staff with her sterling class as a co-worker and team member, dedication to animal welfare and conservation, immense knowledge and drive to acquire more, tolerance to organizational limitations, which she countered by finding solutions and setting high but achievable goals.

One of her first patient was young female gorilla Tabitha, which battled a serious gastro intestinal infection. The gorilla underwent an operation with a team of paediatricians at the children’s hospital. Sue slept next to her after the animal was returned to the zoo hospital to monitor her re- covery. It is fair to say that the animal care staff fell in love with Sue.

She fostered a wonderful working relationship with me and the Zoo Board in directing veterinary science and animal care standards dovetailing with other administrators. It was Sue who coerced us to bring Giant Pandas her to Singapore and later to the PRC, Sue joined IUCN in 1997 as Deputy Co- to the Calgary Zoo for the winter where she did exactly what she had ordinator of the Species Programme Olympic year in 1988. She worked set out to do. The tributes to Sue re- of which she became Coordinator in tireless with us to attract funding leased by the IUCN and WAZA give an 2001. In 2004, she transferred to the to build a modern animal hospital account of her amazing accomplish- Global Programme Team as one of prior to the arrival of the pandas, ments in her later career. We missed three Senior Programme Coordina- researched their husbandry and even Sue dearly when she left us at the tors. In 2009, Sue was promoted to taught herself Mandarin. Calgary Zoo but were happy about her the position of Head – Science and quest. Sue left a gap, but had secured Knowledge Management. Soon her dream to work at the outstanding zoo veterinarians as Wolong Nature Reserve, Sichuan successors. Sue was a good friend of Sue passed away on Sunday 12 Febru- Province, to advance the technology our family and inspired our daughter ary 2012 after a five-month battle of hand-rearing orphaned cubs lured to become a veterinarian. Seeing her with cancer. Fare well Sue, we will photo in the IUCN communiqué gives always love you in our memories. us a hollow, helpless feeling. Peter Karsten and family WAZA news 2/12

www.waza.org

ISSN: 1662-7733