APPLICATION FORM CONTAINMENT
Application for containment approval for new organisms under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
Send by post to: Environmental Protection Authority, PO Box 131, Wellington 6140 OR email to: [email protected]
Application number ERMA 200908
Applicant
Auckland Zoological Park (on behalf of all New Zealand zoos)
Private Bag,
Grey Lynn,
Auckland 1245
Key contact
Ms Tineke Joustra
www.epa.govt.nz 2
Application for containment approval for new organisms
Important
This application form should be used if you intend to import, develop or field test any new organism (including genetically modified organisms (GMOs)) in containment. These terms are defined in the HSNO Act. The HSNO Act can be downloaded from: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1996/0030/latest/DLM381222.html. If your application is for a project approval of low-risk genetic modification, use application form EPA0062. The HSNO (Low Risk Genetic Modification) Regulations can be downloaded from: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2003/0152/latest/DLM195215.html. Applications to field test GMOs will be publicly notified. The other application types may or may not be publicly notified. This application form will be made publicly available so any confidential information must be collated in a separate labelled appendix. The fee for this application can be found on our website at www.epa.govt.nz. If you need help to complete this form, please look at our website (www.epa.govt.nz) or email us at [email protected]. This form was approved on 21 September 2011.
September 2011 EPA0061 3
Application for containment approval for new organisms
1. What type(s) of containment activities are you applying for?
Tick where appropriate: Application type Type of new organism
GM Import into containment √ Non-GM
Develop in containment i.e. regeneration, fermentation or GM genetic modification Non-GM
GM Field test in containment Non-GM
2. Brief application description
Provide a short description (approximately 30 words) of what you are applying to do.
To import komodo dragons, naked mole rats, plumed basilisks and bush dogs into containment to aid conservation and education through public display.
3. Summary of application
Provide a plain English, non-technical description of what you are applying to do and why you want to do it. This application covers the following four species: Komodo Dragon Varanus komodoensis Plumed Basilisk Basiliscus plumifrons Bush Dog Speothos venaticus Naked Mole Rat Heterocephalus glaber
Auckland Zoo wishes to import into containment specified species (Class: Mammalia and Reptilia) from outside of New Zealand for public display, conservation and education. Holding these species in a zoo will attract visitors to the zoo, who are then exposed to conservation messages. Zoo staff will benefit from the import through refining and developing existing known husbandry techniques for the species. For the Komodo Dragon in particular, captive husbandry techniques have changed and evolved significantly in the last 5 years as the understanding of their biological requirements grows. Although two of our current staff have extensive past experience in the management and breeding of Komodo Dragons it is acknowledged that there is still much to learn about the requirements of the captive management of this species with regards to their biology and characteristics. The four species fall under different categories in the IUCN Red List of species threatened with extinction. The species selected (due to availability from captive institutions from Australia, Europe and the UK) are listed as follows: Least Concern (Naked Mole Rat), Near Threatened (Bush Dog), Vulnerable (Komodo Dragon) or not listed (Plumed Basilisk). Therefore, for some of these species, the establishment of a captive population in the
September 2011 EPA0061 4
Application for containment approval for new organisms
Australasian region is a significant step towards the development of sustainable, cooperatively managed global zoo-captive populations. Komodo Dragons (Varanus komodoensis) and Bush Dogs (Speothos venaticus) are classified under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), as a result of the threat of illegal international trade in the species. CITES permits will be applied for as part of the import of these species. The other two species are not CITES listed. The species selected are extremely strong wildlife ambassadors and powerful vehicles for the delivery of the zoo‟s key conservation education messages. In addition, revenue generated through the public display of these animals will be used to support conservation initiatives for the species in the wild. The Auckland Zoo has a long record of using revenue to support conservation in the wild. With the establishment of its Conservation Fund (in 2001) significant financial support and technical expertise has been provided to conservation initiatives around the world. All species will be housed in containment facilities to prevent escape and facilities will be monitored by MAF Biosecurity officers.
4. Describe the background and aims of your application
This section is intended to put the new organism(s) in perspective of the wider activities(s) that they will be used in. You may use more technical language but please make sure that any technical words used are included in a glossary.
N/A
5. Information about the new organism(s)
For non-GMOs: provide a taxonomic description of the new organism(s). For GMOs: provide a taxonomic description of the host organism(s) and describe the genetic modification (i.e. the experimental procedures and biological material to be used in the genetic modification and where the expression of foreign nucleic acid may occur). Describe the biology and main features of the organism including if it has inseparable organisms. Describe if the organism has affinities (e.g. close taxonomic relationships) with other organisms in New Zealand. Could the organism form an undesirable self-sustaining population? If not, why not? How easily could the new organism be recovered or eradicated if it established an undesirable self-sustaining population?
Genus: Varanus
Species komodoensis (Ouwens, 1912) (and strain if relevant):
Common name(s): Komodo Dragon
Type of organism: Animal; Reptile
September 2011 EPA0061 5
Application for containment approval for new organisms
Genus: Basiliscus
Species plumifrons (Cope, 1876) (and strain if relevant):
Common name(s): Plumed Basilisk, Green basilisk
Type of organism: Animal; Reptile
Genus: Speothos
Species venaticus (Lund, 1842) (and strain if relevant):
Common name(s): Bush Dog
Type of organism: Animal; Mammal
Genus: Heterocephalus
Species glaber (Rüppell, 1842) (and strain if relevant):
Common name(s): Naked Mole Rat
Type of organism: Animal; Mammal
Komodo Dragon: In the wild, an adult Komodo Dragon usually weighs around 70 kilograms, although captive specimens often weigh more. The Komodo Dragon has a tail as long as its body and about 60 frequently replaced serrated teeth that can measure up to 2.5 centimetres in length. It has a long, yellow, deeply forked tongue. There are no inseparable organisms, although see Section 9 for a discussion on oral bacteria. The closest affinity in regards to other species in New Zealand is at Order level (Order Squamata: lizards, snakes and worm lizards). New Zealand‟s climate is not conducive to the long term survival of this species in the wild as Komodo dragons are adapted to living on dry open grasslands, savannah and tropical forests in Indonesia on the islands Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang and Gili Dasami where the temperature rarely drops below 23oC. For Komodo dragons to establish a self-sustaining population in the wild, a male and female (though parthenogenesis (a form of asexual reproduction found in females of some species) has been reported on three
September 2011 EPA0061 6
Application for containment approval for new organisms occasions) or a gravid female would have to escape, evade detection and recapture, and produce offspring. Due to the size of the Komodo Dragon it is highly unlikely that an escaped individual would be able to evade detection. Besides this, they require heat to provide energy to move. Even if an adult animal(s) were able to evade recapture, it is highly unlikely they would be able to find suitable conditions to reproduce. The known incubation conditions for successful hatching of eggs could not be achieved in New Zealand‟s climate as eggs require constant 24hr incubation temperatures of 28-30°C for 250-270 days. In the incredibly unlikely event that these incubation requirements were met, any offspring emerging would then need a 24 hour ambient temperature of between 25 and 45°C in order to survive.
Figure 1: Komodo Dragon Plumed Basilisk: Plumed/ Green basilisks are bright green with small bluish spots along the dorsal ridge. These lizards grow up to 1m in length (most of which is tail), with an average length of about 0.6m. Males have three crests: one on the head, one on their back, and one on the tail. The females, however, only have one crest (on the head). Green basilisks are omnivorous and eat insects, small mammals (such as rodents), smaller species of lizards, fruits and flowers. Their predators include birds of prey, opossums and snakes. The females of this species lay five to fifteen eggs at a time in warm, damp sand or soil. The eggs hatch after eight to ten weeks, at which point the young emerge as fully independent lizards. There is no presence of inseparable organisms. The closest affinity in regards to other species in New Zealand is at Order level (Order Squamata: lizards, snakes and worm lizards). New Zealand‟s climate is not conducive to the long term survival of this species in the wild as Plumed/ Green Basilisk are found in humid, tropical environments in Central America where the temperature rarely drops below 21OC. This species is generally arboreal (lives in trees). For Basilisks to establish a self-sustaining population in the wild, a male and female (or a gravid female) would have to escape, evade detection and recapture, and produce offspring. Due to the bright colours of the Plumed Basilisk‟s skin it is highly unlikely that an escaped individual would be able to evade detection. This species can lay up to 15 eggs in warm, damp sand or soil. In New Zealand, night temperatures and average daytime temperatures are not warm enough to allow successful incubation, as it requires temperatures of a constant 27-30°C for eight to ten weeks.
Figure 2: Plumed/ Green Basilisk Bush Dog: The Bush Dog (Speothos venaticus) has soft long brownish-tan fur, with a lighter reddish tinge on the head, neck and back and a bushy tail, while the underside is dark, sometimes with a lighter throat patch. Adults weigh 5-8 kgs
September 2011 EPA0061 7
Application for containment approval for new organisms and are typically 55–75 cm long (head to tail) with an additional 13 cm for the tail. The shoulder height is 20–30 cm. The legs and snout are relatively short compared to body length. They are carnivorous and hunt during the day, preferably in wet savannahs and tropical and equatorial forests. Its typical prey is the paca (Cuniculus paca), a large rodent. Although it can hunt alone on occasion, the Bush Dog is usually found in small packs. However, some larger packs, of up to 10–12 individuals have been known to form in the wild, and these can bring down much larger prey, even a 250 kg tapir. However, there have never been any reports of them attacking humans. The closest affinity in regards to other species in New Zealand is, at Class level (Class mammalia: mammals). There are no inseparable organisms. New Zealand‟s climate is not conducive to the long term survival of this species in the wild as they are naturally found in wet savannahs and tropical rainforests. The Bush Dog is sexually mature at 1 year and lives for about 10 years. For them to establish a self-sustaining population in the wild, a male and female would have to escape, evade detection and recapture, and produce offspring. Considering bush dogs are pack animals, it is unlikely that several individuals would be able to evade detection, especially as the pack uses frequent whines to keep in contact with pack-mates. The gestation period is 63 days, and a litter can have up to six dark grey pups. Lactation is for an additional eight weeks. It is therefore unlikely that a lactating female and her pups could remain un- noticed.
Figure 3: Bush Dog Naked Mole Rat: Typical individuals are 8 to 10 cm long and weigh 30 to 35 grams. Queens are larger and may weigh well over 50 grams. They are well-adapted to their underground existence. Their eyes are quite small, and their visual acuity is poor. Their legs are thin and short; however, they are highly adept at moving underground and can move backward as fast as they can move forward. Their large, protruding teeth are used to dig, and their lips are sealed just behind the teeth to prevent soil from filling their mouths while digging. They have little hair (hence the common name) and wrinkled pink or yellowish skin. There are no inseparable organisms. The closest affinity in regards to other species in New Zealand is at Class level (Class mammalia: mammals). New Zealand‟s climate is not conducive to the long term survival of this species in the wild as Naked Mole Rats occur naturally in arid African deserts. For Naked Mole Rats to establish a self-sustaining population in the wild, the queen and one of the two to three breeding males in the colony would have to escape, evade detection and recapture, and produce offspring. Other females and males within the colony (also known as “workers”) are sterile until the queen dies. Gestation is approximately 70 days, after which on average eleven pups are born. The queen nurses them for approximately 1 month, after which the workers take over the care of the pups until they are old enough to fend for themselves. The Naked Mole Rat cannot generally regulate its body temperature in typical mammalian fashion. They can overcome this via behavioural means to keep a constant temperature, as when cold naked mole rats huddle together or bask in the shallow more sun-warmed parts of their burrow systems. Conversely, when they get too hot, they retreat to the deeper, cooler parts of their tunnel system. In New Zealand this behaviour adds to their chance of recapture.
September 2011 EPA0061 8
Application for containment approval for new organisms
Figure 4: Naked Mole Rat
6. For field tests: The nature and method of the field test
Describe the nature and method of the field test and the experimental procedures to be used.
N/A
7. Proposed containment of the new organism(s) (physical and operational)
Describe how you propose to contain the new organism(s) after taking into account its ability to escape from containment (i.e. the possible pathways for escape). All species will be housed in containment facilities to prevent escape. They will be in the care of highly trained, experienced staff that will have ongoing training in the handling of the species and checking integrity of containment facilities. Integrity of containment facilities is also monitored by our maintenance staff and monitored by the MAF Biosecurity Officer. The breach of containment by any of the species would be noted very rapidly, and most animals would be easily located. All animals in Auckland Zoo are checked several times a day. All of the animals would be conditioned to approach keepers for food, therefore in the unlikely event of a containment breach; the chance for recapture by luring them with food is great. For the species that rely on heat sources to provide them with energy to keep moving (Komodo Dragon and Basilisk), they spend a lot of time basking in the sun, and this behaviour would enable easy recapture due to the chance of spotting them while out in open sunny areas. Considering all the species mentioned above originate from tropical areas, they all rely on high temperatures for survival. Therefore, in the very unlikely case of an escape without recapture – even in summer months -escapees would only survive for a limited time outside their tropically heated enclosure because of the critically sub-optimal temperatures. The Auckland Zoo Containment Manual contains contingency plans in event of an escape of any containment species, including plans for re-capture or destruction as necessary.
8. Detail of Māori engagement (if any)
Discuss any engagement or consultation with Māori undertaken and summarise the outcomes.
N/A
9. Identification and assessment of beneficial (positive) and adverse effects of the new organism(s)
Adverse effects include risks and costs. Beneficial or positive effects are benefits. Identification involves describing the potential effects that you are aware of (what might happen and how it might happen).
September 2011 EPA0061 9
Application for containment approval for new organisms
Assessment involves considering the magnitude of the effect and the likelihood or probability of the effect being realised.
Consider the adverse or positive effects in the context of this application on the environment (e.g. could the organism cause any significant displacement of any native species within its natural habitat, cause any significant deterioration of natural habitats or cause significant adverse effect to New Zealand‟s inherent genetic diversity, or is the organism likely to cause disease, be parasitic, or become a vector for animal or plant disease?), human health and safety, the relationship of Māori to the environment, the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, society and the community, the market economy and New Zealand‟s international obligations. The importation of these species and the establishment of a captive population in the Australasian region is a significant step towards the development of a sustainable cooperatively managed global zoo captive population of the species as a safety-net against extinction. All four species will also have a defined Conservation Education role and will have specific conservation messages and actions associated with them that will help deliver on three of the zoo‟s strategic objectives; „Inspiring our community to value wildlife‟; „Building understanding of wildlife‟ and „Galvanising action for wildlife‟. Within their Conservation Education roles, each species will be used to help deliver one or more of the following indentified Key Conservation Messages for Auckland Zoo: A. Life Animals and plants are incredible in their beauty, complexity and diversity. If we all experience and connect with nature, then we will want to help save it.
B. Invasion In the last few hundred years, humans have introduced many thousands of animal and plant species into areas where they previously haven't been. These species can have devastating effects on natural environments and can remove or replace species that have been there for millions of years.
C. Conflict As the human population of our planet grows, we need more and more room to live, and we are increasingly competing with wildlife for their space.
D. Exploitation Humans are taking animals and plants from the wild faster than they can replace themselves. Populations of thousands of species are disappearing across the planet as a result.
E. Destruction The homes where animals and plants live are disappearing or being destroyed by human activities and species are going extinct.
The specific planned Key Conservation Messages for each species are as follows: Species Key Conservation Message Komodo Dragon Life; Destruction; Conflict Plumed Basilisk Life; Exploitation; Destruction Bush Dog Life; Destruction; Invasion Naked Mole Rat Life; Destruction
The diet of these animals consists of plant material and/ or meat or invertebrates. Therefore, if one of the species was to breach containment and form a self-sustaining population, they could potentially have very local effects on the New Zealand biota (through consumption). Komodo Dragons; Plumed Basilisk and Bush Dogs would be able to
September 2011 EPA0061 10
Application for containment approval for new organisms consume small to medium sized lizards; birds and rats. Naked Mole Rats would be able to consume tubers from plants. However, due to the ease of recapture of these animals any potential effect on the environment would be absolutely minimal and short term. Most animals are timid species that will hide from people, rather than try to cause injury. Therefore the risks to public health and safety would be minimal. Staff responsible for the care of these animals become very familiar with the individual animal‟s behaviours and are therefore capable of locating animals while they are hiding. The Komodo Dragon is considered by some scientists to be “venomous”, although the potency of this venom is insignificant in comparison to the potential potency of the cocktail of bacteria that occur in the saliva of wild dragons. The „venom‟ is considered extremely primitive and very similar in nature to that produced by other closely related varanid species such as the Lace monitor Varanus varius – a species already approved for import by the EPA under the HSNO act. The role of the „venom‟ in these varanids is not considered to be important in prey acquisition or immobilisation but instead, modified saliva, is thought to be utilised in pre-digestion of food. Much has been written historically about the potent cocktail of bacteria that live within the saliva and salivary glands of wild Komodo Dragons (e.g. Auffenberg (1981), The Behavioural Ecology of the Komodo Monitor). However, as a result of a cleaner diet and environment and the frequent use of preventative and palliative antibiotics, it has been established that captive-bred and captive raised dragons do not have the same levels of bacteria (Montgomery et al (2002). Appendix 1 is a letter from R. Gibson, R. Haeffner, G. Visser, J. Murphy, C. Ciofi and T. Jessop. These individuals are all recognised experts in Komodo Dragon natural history and/or captive husbandry and are the authors of numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications on the species. A letter was solicited from these individuals by Auckland Zoo in support of this application. Their letter addresses the potential venomous nature of the Komodo Dragon and the low likelihood of Komodo Dragons escaping and establishing in New Zealand.
10. For developments of GMOs that take place outdoors and field tests of GMOs: Alternative methods and potential effects from the transfer of genetic elements
Discuss if there are alternative methods of achieving the research objective. Discuss whether there could be effects resulting from the transfer of genetic elements to other organisms in or around the site of the development or field test.
N/A
11. For imports of GMOs: Could your organism(s) undergo rapid assessment (s42B of the HSNO Act)?
Discuss whether the GMO(s) to be imported fulfil the following criteria: The host organism(s) are Category 1 or 2 host organisms as per the HSNO (Low Risk Genetic Modification) Regulations. The genetic modifications are Category A or B modifications as per the HSNO (Low Risk Genetic Modification) Regulations and the modifications are not listed in the Schedule of these Regulations. The minimum containment of the GMO(s) will be as per the HSNO (Low Risk Genetic Modification) Regulations (PC1 or PC2 as per AS/NZS2243.3:2002).
N/A
12. Other information
Add here any further information you wish to include in this application including if there are any ethical considerations that you are aware of in relation to your application.
N/A
September 2011 EPA0061 11
Application for containment approval for new organisms
13. Appendices(s) and referenced material (if any) and glossary (if applicable)
Websites: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ERMA New Zealand: http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/new-organisms/popular-no-topics/Pages/zoo- animals.aspx Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species: http://www.cites.org/ International Species Information System: http://www.isis.org/Pages/default.aspx Australasian Zoo Keeping (AZK): http://www.australasianzookeeping.org/Husbandry%20Manuals.htm Montgomery JM, Gillespie D, Sastrawan P, Fredeking TM and Stewart GL. (2002). Aerobic salivary bacteria in wild and captive Komodo dragons. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 38, 545-551
14. Signature of applicant or person authorised to sign on behalf of applicant
I request the Authority to waive any legislative information requirements (i.e. concerning the information that shall be supplied in my application) that my application does not meet (tick if applicable).
I have completed this application to the best of my ability and, as far as I am aware, the information I have provided in this application form is correct.
Signature Date
September 2011 EPA0061