I would like to help 2008 London of Society Zoological The ZSL relies on external support and voluntary donations to sustain its valuable conservation work and scientific research, and to ensure our Zoos continue to engage visitors, inspiring future generations to protect and conserve the natural world. Whether you are an individual interested in any aspect of our work, or are involved in a company, charitable trust or foundation which shares our aspirations and goals, there are numerous ways that you can support the Society. If you would like to find out more about the ways in which you The Zoological THE YEAR IN REVIEW can get involved, please complete the form below and send it back Society of London to the Development Department, c/o Lucy Cannock, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, Outer Circle, London NW1 4RY. Registered Charity in Alternatively, please contact us on 020 7449 6583 or email England and Wales: [email protected] for more information. no 208728 2008 I would like more information on Regent’s Park London NW1 4RY and at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Dunstable I would like to make a donation towards ZSL Bedfordshire LU6 2LF Personal Details www.zsl.org Title First name

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frontcover_2.indd 1 6/5/09 10:25:37 ZSL LIVING CONSERVATION THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2008

Fast track The opening of Cheetah Rock at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo was just one of the many exciting new developments at ZSL during 2008

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04-05 President.indd 4 28/4/09 14:04:26 Sir Patrick Bateson reflects on ZSL’s many extraordinary achievements during 2008, across the various aspects of conservation, science, education and the Zoos. Full speed ahead for ZSL in 2008

It is among the many pleasures The enthusiasm and dedication they the animals’ range countries to protect granted to the role of President to be display year upon year is the backbone those whose futures are in peril. able to bring you our Annual Review. of our work. Without you all, we could EDGE Fellowships will add to our In 2008, that pleasure is even greater not achieve everything that we do. growing conservation and scientific than usual. The year was one of exciting network around the world. In these The year has been an exceptional progress at the Zoos. The beautiful fields in 2008 we became the first one for ZSL. We have seen significant creature you see opposite is a denizen organisation to photograph the conservation developments and of ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s wonderful elusive okapi in the wild, discovered successes around the world, we new Cheetah Rock exhibit, while the more about the pygmy hippo of have witnessed great strides by Blackburn Pavilion at ZSL London Zoo West Africa than was previously our researchers and scientists in is now full of a magnificent array of known, established new programmes the Institute of Zoology, and we glorious tropical birds. to protect the tiger, discovered a have enjoyed wonderful new Both new exhibits have offered new fish species in the Thames, attractions at ZSL London Zoo and a fine opportunity to develop the and led and participated in literally ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. educational side of our work, and the hundreds of other programmes of First, however, I would like interactive interpretation at Cheetah conservation importance. to pay tribute to our many staff, Rock as well as the fascinating ‘digital You’ll discover much more about supporters, members and volunteers. book’ at the Blackburn Pavilion are both these many projects in the pages good examples of what our Discovery ahead. I’m sure you will agree with me This was a year of great and Learning team can achieve. that, across the board, 2008 was a year Science and conservation combined for ZSL to be proud of. progress. But without once more this year in the launch your enthusiastic of a brand-new EDGE programme which, similarly to last year’s mammal support and dedication programme, focuses on amphibians we would not be able to that are not just endangered but also genetically distinct. achieve all that we do As before, the long-term aim is to Sir Patrick Bateson FRS create conservation programmes in President, Zoological Society of London

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04-05 President.indd 5 28/4/09 14:07:57 As the human population continues to increase, and our use of resources grows at a similar rate, so the chance of long-term survival for wildlife and habitats lessens. How can ZSL meet this growing threat? The challenge that lies ahead

The growing human population and of ecosystems, so entire habitats threatened with extinction – and there the accompanying increasing need for are beginning to disappear, and the could be many more. resources, have been putting intolerable natural barriers against the effects This may seem a very gloomy picture, pressures on the planet’s wildlife in of climate change are starting to fail. but it is a realistic one. This planet is, recent decades. A mere 50 years ago that As global traffic increases, so does in fact, quite capable of housing many population stood at under three billion. the international spread of disease, more billions of people alongside all its By 2000 it had reached six billion. In less and many amphibian species are current wildlife, but only if we can find than a decade since then, a further three- disappearing faster than we can a way to coexist more successfully and quarters of a billion have been added. track them. with far less consumption. The world isn’t getting any larger The latest IUCN Red List of There is a way, but it will take to accommodate our increasing Threatened Species (the world’s most thorough research, powerful lobbying, numbers, and so something has to comprehensive inventory of the global practised conservation skills and a deep give. Today it’s the wildlife and their conservation status of plant and animal understanding of wildlife and its needs habitats. Tomorrow it could be the species), with great input from ZSL, in order to develop it. human race itself. shows that at least 1,141 of the 5,487 ZSL is uniquely placed to spearhead As a result, maintaining sustainability known mammal species are now the search for a solution. With more is no longer just about trying to preserve than 180 years of experience in science what already exists. As the human and conservation, an extensive network population continues to grow, our of conservation projects around the emphasis has to be on finding a way globe, internationally recognised in which humankind and nature can scientific leadership and the presence to more successfully coexist. educate and inform, ZSL can – and must Signs that the fabric is already – play a leading role. beginning to tear lie everywhere. Today the wildlife is struggling. As climate change forces polar bears Tomorrow it will be humanity itself. further south, they’re now beginning ZSL, along with many partner to come into conflict with other wildlife organisations and the support of people Left The growing human population leaves and humankind itself. As deforestation less room for wildlife Above The tiger around the globe, is working very hard continues to devastate huge swathes struggles to live alongside humankind to stop that happening.

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06-07 State of the world.indd 7 28/4/09 14:10:05 ZSL LIVING CONSERVATION THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2008

How ZSL is meeting the challenge The challenge ahead is clear and the problem is increasing, but what does that mean in reality? How does ZSL focus to achieve the greatest impact on the conservation of animals and their habitats? Our overall mission is defined by four strategic aims, which help us to focus resources and efforts to achieve the greatest result.

STRATEGIC AIM 1 We will undertake and promote relevant high-quality zoological and conservation research, to help us achieve our conservation objectives and to inform and influence conservation policy

ZSL will achieve this strategic aim by:

■ Encouraging and rewarding excellence in the performance and communication of science, conservation and animal husbandry ■ Attracting and engaging a diverse range of people and organisations in the science of zoology and conservation – from students to leaders ■ Using our unique convening in their field role as a leading learned society to foster and achieve international excellence in science relevant to our core conservation priorities

■ Raising the profile of conservation issues and priorities, and ensuring they ■ Managing and developing are well represented at policy a relevant and useful body level and in the media of zoological knowledge

■ Providing policy makers, conservationists and the general public with the information needed to make informed decisions on conservation issues

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08-11 Intro to ZSL's work.indd 8 6/5/09 09:57:56 STRATEGIC AIM 2 To encourage and motivate all our stakeholders to support and engage in conservation

ZSL will achieve this strategic aim by: ■ Improving and developing ■ Enabling and inspiring our contributions to the all ZSL staff, students and education and conservation volunteers to become awareness of groups of all ages ambassadors for our and to education providers conservation mission

■ Raising and maintaining our ■ Running world-class Zoos profile among target audiences with the highest standards of animal welfare, husbandry and exhibit design

■ Ensuring that all visitors have an enjoyable, inspiring and educational experience ■ Using our research and field activities to inspire and educate people about conservation

■ Communicating science-based conservation messages ■ Enhancing the value delivered to ZSL members

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08-11 Intro to ZSL's work.indd 9 28/4/09 14:18:14 ZSL LIVING CONSERVATION THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2008

STRATEGIC AIM 3 To implement and achieve effective and appropriate in situ and ex situ conservation programmes for priority species and habitats

ZSL will achieve this strategic aim by:

■ Ensuring that conservation efforts are informed by the best science

■ Applying objective criteria for setting priorities for our ■ Measuring conservation conservation activity efforts and evaluating their and measuring against outcomes to enable more successful outcomes effective management

■ Predicting, prioritising and ■ Developing our own and responding effectively to new others’ capabilities, expertise conservation issues and resources in order to build capacity in zoology and conservation

■ Working with other organisations and across disciplines to ■ Engaging and working achieve our common with communities in conservation objectives support of conservation and sustainable livelihoods

■ Working with government and industry in support of conservation

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08-11 Intro to ZSL's work.indd 10 28/4/09 14:21:45 STRATEGIC AIM 4 To further ZSL’s mission by maximising opportunities to generate funds

ZSL will achieve this strategic aim by:

■ Making continued investment in our sites and infrastructure

■ Developing our business acumen ■ Developing innovative opportunities to generate revenue

■ Building up and extending our supporter base ■ Raising our profile to increase funding to ZSL

■ Utilising ZSL assets and resources to generate funds within the framework of a registered charity

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08-11 Intro to ZSL's work.indd 11 28/4/09 14:28:13 ZSL Living conservation the Year in review 2008

2008the year in review

january Highlights EDGE is a unique ranking system for Launch of EDGE Amphibians highlighting animals in dire need ZSL launched the EDGE (Evolutionarily Distinct and of conservation focus, based on a combination of their Evolutionary Globally Endangered) Amphibians programme, Distinctiveness (ED) and their Global a conservation initiative, which highlights some Endangerment (GE). It helps us to pinpoint animals that are close to of the world’s extraordinary creatures threatened extinction, and which once lost leave with extinction. behind nothing similar.

Stocktaking at both Zoos Following on from the great success All keepers are involved in this annual event and we of EDGE Mammals in 2007, EDGE Amphibians was launched on 21 had a bumper year in 2008 for babies and new arrivals January to huge media coverage. at both Zoos. Features in national newspapers and BBC programmes helped to highlight New elephant calf at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo the plight of many of the world’s Donaldson, born to mother Azizah, arrived quickly amphibians to millions, and it wasn’t long before strong funding started after a short labour, while keepers kept a close to arrive. Already, four EDGE Fellows eye on the proceedings. The calf was born after a have been identified for the EDGE Amphibians programme and they are 630-day gestation period and the birth was the due to begin receiving support in early first daytime delivery of an elephant calf at the Zoo. 2009. The programme will focus on the Sagalla caecilian (Kenya), purple frog He is 24-year-old Azizah’s second-born calf and he (India), South African ghost frog and weighed in at a healthy 103kg (220lb). Chile Darwin’s frog.

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This latter species is of particular interest, and Helen Meredith, Sally Wren and James Reardon undertook a three-week expedition to central Chile late in the year to survey for this possibly extinct focal species. They also sought to elucidate the reasons for its decline and train EDGE Fellow Claudio Soto-Azat in amphibian surveying and long-term conservation techniques.

Meanwhile, the EDGE Mammals programme moved on in leaps and bounds in 2008. There was an EDGE Fellows training course in late summer at ZSL London Zoo to provide training on various aspects of conservation, including practical monitoring skills, project planning, environmental education, fundraising, communicating conservation and conservation action planning. A host of expeditions were also held throughout the year.

One particularly caught the media’s EDGE Amphibians was eye, when the Institute of Zoology’s Ben Collen, Janna Rist and Olivia Daniel launched in 2008 with travelled to Sapo National Park in great success, while Liberia. They established a monitoring programme using camera traps, focusing the EDGE Mammals on the pygmy hippo and other rare and programme moved on threatened species in the area. Unique images of pygmy hippos were quickly in leaps and bounds captured, and the new evidence has been fed into a wider biodiversity monitoring programme at the park, run by the Liberian Forest Development Agency.

Other conservation work included a trip by Kate Jones to Thailand where she ran an iBats workshop on monitoring bat populations using vehicle-mounted bat detectors; a visit by Raj Amin and Carly Waterman to Sri Lanka where they met potential EDGE collaborators and Fellows to initiate the red slender loris project in the country, an important area rich in biodiversity; two expeditions to the Boni Forest in northern Kenya by EDGE Fellow Grace Wambui to carry out an inventory of mammal fauna in the area (which resulted in the possible discovery of a new species of elephant shrew); and an expedition to China by the Institute of Zoology’s Sam Turvey to investigate Top Donaldson was an exciting and popular new addition to the herd at ZSL Whipsnade possible causes of extinction in Yangtze Zoo Centre Malagasy rainbow frog, one of the EDGE amphibians Bottom Stocktaking at freshwater cetaceans. both Zoos was carefully monitored

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12-29 Year review.indd 13 28/4/09 15:04:43 ZSL Living conservation the Year in review 2008

January was also the month in which ZSL Research Fellow Trent Garner was awarded £1.5m from EU BiodivERsA for European chytrid surveillance and amphibian conservation work.

Furthermore, Chris Ransom organised a meeting at Portcullis House, chaired by Jonathan Baillie and attended by Barry Gardiner MP, CEOs and directors of NGOs and businesses, to discuss additional legislative options to combat illegal logging. A second meeting was held a few months later in the

The year began with a major planting of the Clore Rainforest Lookout, using plants from a sustainable nursery in Costa Rica

year to discuss draft legislation on february illegal timber ahead of its first reading in April as a Private Members’ Bill. Highlights The horticultural team oversaw the planting in the Blackburn Pavilion, Opening of Rhinos of Nepal designed and carried out the soft The new Rhinos of Nepal exhibit at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo landscaping for the new Outback highlights ZSL’s work with the Nepalese government and exhibit, and oversaw a developing role for plants in animal enrichment provides a fantastic new home for these giants. The £1m techniques and exhibit furnishings. development features indoor heated pools so the rhinos At ZSL Whipsnade Zoo the planting around the new elephant arena, as well can enjoy wallowing in muddy water all year round. A as the meerkat exhibit, were high on the spacious viewing area allows the public to get a close-up team’s list for 2008. The Butterfly Garden was successfully revamped by a weekly view of the rhinos indoors. horticultural volunteer. Thermal imaging At ZSL London Zoo, the year began with A set of thermal images taken around ZSL London Zoo a major planting of the Clore Rainforest showed the variety of ways that animals use or reserve Lookout, using plants sourced from a sustainable nursery in Costa Rica. their own body heat, from hot-headed penguins to cold-nosed sloths. Good progress was also made with the work on the Zoo Plant Wiki, a British and Titi monkey makes an appearance Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums A tiny red titi monkey was the first baby to be born in (BIAZA) Plant Working Group project that was initially trialled at ZSL. The team ZSL London Zoo’s new rainforest biome. and contractors also nearly completed all recommendations made in the December Above left Thermal images, such as these showing tamarins in the Clore Rainforest Lookout, 2006 tree risk assessment survey of the provided useful information for vets and keepers alike Above right That same exhibit also grounds and the car park. produced its first baby, a tiny titi monkey

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12-29 Year review.indd 14 28/4/09 15:12:38 JF MAMJJASOND

It's a fact Most of the many species of titi monkey are monogamous – once they've paired up, they stay with The birth of the titi monkey in the Clore Significant breeding each other snakes, plumed basilisk, Rainforest Lookout was just one of a host achievements with reptiles for life death adders, emerald tree of significant births at ZSL’s Zoos during and amphibians included boas, Gila monsters, and the year. Mammals included Panay beaded lizards, red-tailed racer Philippine and sailfin lizards. bushy-tailed cloud rats, a warthog, two snakes, bicolored dart frogs, Saharan Breeding trials were established for the Sulawesi crested macaques, two white- spiny-tailed lizard, blue poison dart ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Annam pond, naped mangabeys, two guereza colobus frogs, Himalayan newts, rhinoceros rat Kwangtung River and striped box turtles. and a Malayan tapir at ZSL London Zoo, while ZSL Whipsnade Zoo welcomed Not to be outdone, the invertebrates a southern white rhino, a Przewalski’s provided 108 daughter colonies of horse, a scimitar-horned oryx, a various corals in the aquarium, Partula reticulated giraffe, a Persian onager and rosea (extinct in the wild), Hercules a gemsbok. In addition to Donaldson, beetles, imperial scorpions, Bermudian the new baby elephant, Karishma land snails and red barbed ants. the elephant was also confirmed as pregnant, while Kaylee’s foetus appeared Great progress has also been made to be doing well. The new elephant on the native species front, with an arena was completed during the year, extra grant from Natural England too, and the animals’ demonstrations being approved for fencing off the went down very well with the public. Site of Special Scientific Interest area at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. There were plenty of exciting chick hatchings across the two Zoos too, Research is key to ZSL’s scientific including toco toucans, a parent-reared endeavour, and an example of the hyacinth macaw, Mindanao bleeding- kind of work undertaken by our teams heart dove, Abdim’s stork, hooded was the paper published by ZSL’s pitta, Mount Apo lorikeet, hammerkop, Kate Jones and colleagues in Nature. Above The red tape was nearly cut in Stanley cranes, smew, black-billed advance at the opening of the new Rhinos It analysed spatial and temporal whistling ducks and rosy flamingo. of Nepal exhibit global patterns in emerging infectious

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12-29 Year review.indd 15 7/5/09 12:47:51 ZSL Living conservation the Year in review 2008

human diseases and revealed that most march diseases come from areas where large human populations come into contact with areas of high biodiversity. This Highlights highlights the importance of managing human-wildlife interactions to Sprinters speed in to open Cheetah Rock minimise the risk of future British Olympic sprint hopefuls, Chris Clarke and Joey outbreaks, and emphasises Duck, cut the red tape on ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s again the importance of conservation to human new £1m exhibit, Cheetah Rock. Visitors have health and well-being. close-up views of the fastest land mammal on It is important for their landscaped rock lookout. scientists to publish in key journals, and ZSL Secrets of the sky revealed produces two such publications itself. The new £2.5m tropical bird experience, Blackburn Animal Conservation, now in its 12th Pavilion, brought the beauty and tranquility of the year, provides a forum for the rapid publication of peer-reviewed research on tropical skies to the heart of London. Its opening day the conservation of animal species and was widely covered in the press. their habitats. Pygmy hippos survive two civil wars The Journal of Zoology is a monthly ZSL conservationists set up a network of camera traps to publication dedicated to academic zoology. In 2008 ZSL launched the monitor the endangered pygmy hippo, and discovered it Journal podcast, which features had survived in Liberia despite two civil wars. interviews with authors of recently published papers. Rhinos counted from elephant-back ZSL and in-country partners carried out a Nepalese The International Zoo Yearbook is an international forum for the exchange national greater one-horned rhino count. More than of information on the role of zoos 200 field personnel, with 50 elephants, implemented a in the conservation of biodiversity, species and habitats, and the timely standardised system for counting, and found 408 rhinos. focus of 2008’s Volume 42 was the global extinction crisis facing amphibians, and the coordinated response of zoos and aquariums, governments, museums, universities, botanical gardens and private-sector collaborators. All volumes are now available online.

The Conservation Science and Practice book series has continued apace, with each title in the series addressing the multidisciplinary aspects of conservation.

Being published is one thing – giving speeches is another. Helen Meredith’s talk to 200 people at the ‘Life in Cold Blood’ event at the University Museum of Zoology in Cambridge was just one example of many presentations given by ZSL staff throughout the Above Camera traps year, both in the UK and around revealed pygmy the world. hippos in Liberia

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12-29 Year review.indd 16 28/4/09 15:19:28 J f m a m J J a s o n d

april Highlights Secret seahorses in the Thames The discovery of short-snouted seahorses in the Thames during routine conservation surveys proved that the water quality of the river was improving – Above A lookalike Queen Victoria, and a lilac-breasted roller, at the opening of the and it was also a reminder to people how important it Blackburn Pavilion is to maintain the cleanliness of British waterways. The opening of the Blackburn Pavilion was a true highlight of the year, and Precious monkey gets to grips with to date, even though the building has surrogate mum only been open for a short period, the The tiny white-naped mangabey monkey, Conchita, exhibit has produced excellent breeding results. The building’s restoration, who took YouTube by storm, was born at ZSL London generously supported by the Blackburn Zoo and was hand-reared by keepers after an family, has retained elements of the historic nature of the building while emergency caesarian. providing an excellent visitor attraction and upgrading the facilities for both birds and staff. The operation of moving the The decline of India’s white-backed and has plunged by 99.9% since 1992. birds back into the house ran smoothly vultures has been shocking in its The cause of the catastrophic decline and the first bird released into the free- acceleration. Research carried out is diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory flight area was a Socorro dove, an iconic by ZSL’s Andrew Cunningham and treatment for livestock. Captive breeding first species – due to it being extinct in collaborators revealed that its population is now the last hope for these vultures the wild – to celebrate the building. has fallen by more than 40% each year, and, encouragingly, two oriental white- backed vultures were hatched in Pinjore Work began to refurbish the aquarium captive breeding centre and fully reared too. Reproduction was very successful – the first recorded successful breeding in the aquarium during the year, with of this species in captivity in the region. six spiny seahorse fry being reared. ZSL’s Andrew Routh has been a technical adviser on this programme. Meanwhile, There were also the first eggs from construction of the first phase of the the newly arrived endangered Charco vulture centre in Kasara, Nepal was pupfish, Corfu killifish hatchings, completed, with 14 white-backed significant reproduction of programme vultures introduced there. livebearers, pupfish and native seahorses, with spawning also observed Another Asian creature, the long-eared in black bar myleus for the first time. jerboa, featured highly in the news in April when its appearance in ZSL’s newly ZSL staff were busy attending meetings launched video feature on www.zsl.org around the world. These included input caught the imagination of the public. into a new Shark Trust strategic plan and application to the Esmée Fairbairn The surveys that revealed seahorses in Foundation, Brian Zimmerman’s the Thames were just one example of presentation on ‘Aquarium Freshwater the underwater projects that formed a Fish Conservation’ in Chester, a vital part of ZSL’s conservation work in sustainable acquisition workshop at 2008 – work that is increasingly drawing the International Aquarium Congress support from funders around the world. in Shanghai, discussions on coral Alex Rogers, for example, was awarded trade issues, and Heather Koldewey’s £358,397 from the Natural Environment presentation at the first Wildlife Research Council (NERC) to assess the Top A short-snouted seahorse was a Reintroduction Symposium at Lincoln fascinating discovery in the Thames benthic biodiversity of seamounts in the Park Zoo, Chicago, USA. Above White-backed vultures south-west Indian Ocean. Seamounts

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12-29 Year review.indd 17 28/4/09 15:25:55 ZSL Living conservation the Year in review 2008

Above Conchita, the baby white-naped mangabey – already a YouTube star the CoralFISH project, which will assess full induction before launching into the interaction between corals, fish and their many vital aspects of work, host spectacular communities of corals, fisheries, in order to develop monitoring which in 2008 included a presence sponges and other attached fauna, and modelling tools for ecosystem- in Meet the Monkeys and the Clore along with a high diversity of associated based management in the deep waters Rainforest Lookout, as well as Gorilla species. This project will deploy the of Europe and beyond. The project is Kingdom and Butterfly Paradise public UK’s remotely operated vehicle, capable a consortium of 16 European partners areas, providing live interpretation. of diving to 6,500m depth, to film, from academia and industry. photograph and sample species. A similar role was carried out in April was also the month in which a ZSL Whipsnade Zoo's Lemur Island There was a further award of £344,680 new six-session evening class on the exhibit, where two roles – Horticulture from the European Commission for animal kingdom was launched for all Volunteer and Graphics Volunteer – new volunteering recruits at the two were created. The post of Volunteer Zoos. Volunteers are an integral part of the Society, and a new post of Volunteer Groups of volunteers are always Programmes Manager Programmes Manager was created to welcome, and this year the RAF and was created to show demonstrate our recognition of the volunteering organisation Yu-Act important role they play. provided one-day volunteer events to our recognition of the refurbish the railway station, remove important role they play Throughout the year, 123 ‘Learning’ scrub from the penguin pool and clear volunteers and 95 ‘Assistance’ bamboo for the new butterfly garden at volunteers were recruited, each receiving ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

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12-29 Year review.indd 18 28/4/09 15:40:54 J f m a m J J a s o n d

may Highlights Painless technique for blood-sampling zoo animals Vets at ZSL London Zoo employed kissing bugs as part of a revolutionary pilot project, to suck blood samples from animals who would normally need to be anaesthetised for the simple procedure. Kissing bugs successfully took blood samples from a hippo, cheetah, giraffe, elephant and white rhino. Recycled Sculpture Show ZSL London Zoo showed that modern art is rubbish, showcasing 21 remarkable sculptures made of recycled materials, including discarded hubcaps, plastic bags and old tyres, as part of the Love London Recycled Sculpture Show. New female gorilla joins Gorilla Kingdom New addition Mjukuu, affectionately known as Jookie, joined Gorilla Kingdom and proved popular with all the gorillas on the island. She was a hit with the late silverback, Bobby – the pair consummated their Top Recycled artwork at ZSL London Zoo Bottom A kissing bug, part of a new relationship 17 times in just four days. technique for blood sampling

At the Mikongo Conservation Centre in staff in wildlife-monitoring techniques respect to their cholesterol levels. The central Gabon, habituation and research and socio-economic investigation, department submitted a summary into gorilla ecology and health was ahead of making wildlife management of this work for consideration of an ongoing throughout the year. A total recommendations to the companies award with BIAZA and received a of 254 tourists visited the site in 2008. later on in the three-year Darwin commendation. Other ongoing research Meanwhile, Stella Kondylas, a successful Initiative-funded project. includes the use of a thermography applicant to the ZSL Field Conservation camera to detect seats of lameness in Fund, spent three weeks in Gabon May’s pilot blood-sampling project larger mammals, troponin as a marker of working on an eco-tourism strategy for was just a part of the expansive role of cardiac disease, assessment of UV light Mikongo. The findings of this work and ZSL’s vets this year. Among the many supply to a number of species, faecal the eco-tourism strategy were presented intriguing projects was major surgery on hormone levels in the female giant later in the year. a Jamaican boa that had failed to give anteater and the value of sainfoin as a birth, insulin injections for a diabetic food for forage. Also in west-central Africa, crested macaque, surgery for a rhino’s collaborations with timber companies abscess and continued veterinary care On the international scene, ZSL took part and local universities continued for for the ravens at the Tower of London! in the formation of a new Wildlife Health the Wildlife Wood Project (WWP) Conservation Programme, which focused in Ghana and Cameroon, with new Research continues to play an important on enabling countries throughout the MoUs signed with Pallisco and SFID role in the veterinary department and, world to address the growing number companies in Cameroon. The WWP is this year, management of the meerkats of conservation-related wildlife health supervising MSc students’ field projects and their diets has been one example challenges. Meanwhile, Richard Kock and training them and timber company of ongoing research, in particular with completed a six-week consultancy in

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Gondar, Ethiopia, to produce a wildlife june health module for the University Veterinary Faculty. He also spent time in Gujarat State, India, on request of Highlights the state government and Indian Forest Department, to examine the problem of Corncrakes calling again nilgai antelope, crop depredation and Hand-reared corncrakes, bred at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, advise on potential solutions, including were successfully reintroduced at the Nene Washes capture and translocation. reserve in Cambridgeshire. The distinctive call of this In May Nepal was declared a republic. bird that had become scarce in England can now Despite ongoing political upheaval the Nepal Darwin Initiative project produced be heard again thanks to the successful breeding a number of key outcomes, including: programme at ZSL. a major census of rhino (and invasive species); introduction of new policy Giant butterflies land at ZSL London Zoo initiatives on anti- An exhibition showcasing giant butterfly poaching and rhino sanctuaries; prints, photographed in microscopic and a revitalised detail, revealing features like cells, hair education output in the Bardia National and scales, launched in BUGS as part of Park communities, National Insect Week. including the development of a Keeper swaps Father’s Day for significant community theatre initiative in Nepal performed feathers day locally in Kathmandu and around ZSL London Zoo bird keeper Darren Jordan became the Terai parks, attracting many a surrogate dad to three young owlets. The first-time thousands of people. The play was also performed in London and at the World father, who’s worked at the Zoo for eight years, rescued Conservation Congress in Barcelona. the burrowing owl chicks from their underground nest Also in May, ZSL hosted an international box after heavy rains threatened to flood it. symposium – ‘Avian Reintroduction Biology: Current issues for science and management’. For the first time in the corncrake This is a record and exceeded the project, chicks were blood-sampled previous record set in 2007 by 4%. A second symposium was held later in for sexing. Eventually 94 chicks were Meanwhile, 33,698 pupils visited the year – ‘Halting the Global Decline in released and 15 were kept behind for ZSL Whipsnade Zoo during 2008, Amphibians: Research and practice’. overwintering at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo an increase of 7% over 2007 figures. for release next spring. The fantastic At ZSL London Zoo, 431 outreach result of 14 males returning to the sessions were delivered to 17,115 pupils Nene Washes is hopefully the start of at 137 schools from 16 Local Education a sustainable population of corncrakes Authorities. A small number of outreach in South East England. sessions were also delivered from ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. ZSL Whipsnade Zoo also saw the introduction of meerkats, in a new There was a big move at both Zoos to exhibit funded by Sir Donald Gordon. introduce more experiential learning Four moved up from ZSL London Zoo, sessions – to get out of the traditional dubbed John, Paul, George and Ringo classrooms and use the unique resources after the Fab Four. of the collections. At ZSL London Zoo, new sessions included a safari at Into Meerkats are extremely popular with Africa, a look at birds in the Blackburn schoolchildren, who flocked to both Pavilion, and the use of teaching areas Above Mjukuu, the new addition to Zoos this year. In total, 102,388 pupils in the Clore Rainforest Lookout. The Zoos Gorilla Kingdom visited ZSL London Zoo during 2008. continued to offer an Edexcel A-level

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12-29 Year review.indd 20 28/4/09 15:45:26 J f m a m J J a s o n d

course where students interact with ‘real’ scientists from the Institute of Zoology. A number of Animal Encounter days were run for schools from deprived areas. Classrooms at both Zoos were completely redesigned, with exciting new graphics, models and, at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, lifesize animal banners.

Teaching training programmes were further developed at ZSL London Zoo, with sessions for Postgraduate Certificate in Education students and links with London University’s Institute of Education.

Rosie Davison, a ZSL Education Officer, won the BIAZA annual award for the best formal education project for her work with a clinical psychologist on phobias. Commendations were received for the Edexcel programme and the Climate Change exhibit in BUGS.

A growing Discovery and Learning department needs funding and ZSL is pleased to report that the Mayor of London’s scheme to fund visits by Greater London state schools entered a new three-year agreement in 2008. The new Mayor, Boris Johnson, strongly supports the scheme as did his predecessor, Ken Livingstone.

June was also the month of the AGM and Sir Stamford Raffles Lecture, delivered this year by Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General. ‘Common Wealth: Economics for a crowded planet’ examined the challenges of sustainable development in the twenty-first century.

In addition, Scientific Meetings were held monthly throughout the academic year, covering diverse topics ranging from ‘Shark Biology and Conservation’ to ‘Biodiversity and Oil Palm: Integrating science and policy’ and ‘Saving Africa’s Athletes: Conserving cheetahs and wild dogs’. These increasingly popular meetings were extremely well attended by Fellows, conservation practitioners and scientists, and a lively programme Top Three burrowing owl chicks take a liking to their surrogate father Above A meerkat explores its new home of meetings is already underway at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo for 2009.

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12-29 Year review.indd 21 6/5/09 10:01:43 ZSL Living conservation the Year in review 2008

july

Highlights The Cornish dolphin strandings this month received huge media coverage, Health checks for the nation’s frogs and this year the Cetacean Strandings ZSL and Froglife called on the public to look for and Investigation Programme (CSIP), report sick and dead frogs in an attempt to expand coordinated by ZSL and project managed by Rob Deaville and Paul Jepson, research into the state of the nation’s amphibians. The received significant funding from Defra UK’s amphibians are being affected by two significant to develop a web-accessed database to allow the integration of all data collected diseases – ranavirus and the chytrid fungus. Ranavirus on strandings of cetaceans (whales, kills thousands of frogs, toads and newts in the UK each dolphins and porpoises) in the UK since 1990. The database will enable partner year and the chytrid fungus, implicated in extinctions of organisations to enter information on amphibian species around the world, has been identified strandings directly via a web portal. in the UK. Elsewhere this month, ZSL contributed to the first-ever monitored translocation Zoo Nights at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo of wild ‘problem’ tigers for Indonesia Dom the sea lion was the star of the show at Zoo Nights, (and only the second in the world) by which was his first late-night experience. Tiger talks, lending our satellite radiocollar to the Indonesian government for use on one acrobatics and a breathtaking firedance finale made for of two tigers translocated from Aceh. a memorable night. Also in Sumatra, in 2008 ZSL established ZSL works to understand strandings a base in Berbak National Park, ZSL veterinary pathologists were in the spotlight Indonesia, and carried out exploratory survey work. Berbak is a peat swamp after 26 dolphins stranded around the south Cornwall and extremely important for carbon coastline. Post-mortem examinations were carried sequestration. As well as basic protection and survey work in the out on 11 dolphins at the scene and more dolphins park, ZSL is leading the Berbak Carbon were transported back to the pathology lab for Value Initiative, which is the subject of an application to Darwin for further investigation. 2009-2012 and of a partnership with

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12-29 Year review.indd 22 28/4/09 15:49:42 J f m a m J J a s o n d

august Highlights Zoo Nights at ZSL London Zoo Another fantastic night-time bash, showcasing the Zoo to an evening audience. With a popular bar area on the main lawn and regular talks and feeds to show off the gorillas, tamarins, penguins and hunting dogs, there was plenty for everyone to see and do. First Green Fair at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo was the place to have fun and learn about how to be green. The Zoo’s first-ever Green Fair had plenty to inspire and inform, including green trails. Excelsior turns 100 Left Night-time at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo th Centre Mountain chicken Above ZSL’s The Jumbo Express celebrated the 100 birthday of the Library is developing information resources engine Excelsior with a special time-warp trip featuring ERM Indonesia, which is assisting us explainers dressed in period costume. with the politics and economics of the project. The goal is to establish a scientifically robust carbon-trading A cold spot where polar bears once exhibit demonstrates how difficult programme that will generate sufficient roamed was heated up in August after it is for animals to survive in harsh, funds to run the national park as well becoming a new home to wallabies dry conditions. as help Indonesia meet its emission and emus. The Mappin Terrace, once reduction targets. home to ZSL London Zoo’s polar bears, In 2008, major animal care facility now plays host to the Zoo’s very own upgrades were realised in the Reptile Each month, the ZSL Library runs an Outback exhibit – marking a new phase House and for the invertebrates at both Artefact of the Month exhibition, for the historic landscape. The Terrace, Zoos. 2008 saw tropical butterflies and in July it was the turn of the built in 1913, has been transformed re-established in the Discovery Centre, landmark papers that launched Darwin into a sweeping Australian plain Butterfly Paradise refurbishment, a stick and Russel Wallace’s work to get the and is home to a mob of more than insect exhibit and improved aquatic spotlight, celebrating 150 years since 20 wallabies and four emus. The exhibit quality. they were read to the Linnean Society.

During 2008, almost 2,500 books were added to the online catalogue at the Library, 3,500 journal issues were received and 3,600 loans were made to Fellows and ZSL staff. The online catalogue now lists more than 23,000 books and all our journal holdings. The catalogue was accessed almost 27,000 times during the year.

Through generous funding from the Michael Marks Charitable Trust, ZSL was able to install a ‘Turning

the Pages’ kiosk in the Blackburn credit photographer Pavilion, enabling visitors to digitally Above The Mappin Terrace, once home to ZSL leaf through the pages of some of our London Zoo’s bears, now resembles Australia’s most rare and delicate publications. outback, emus and wallabies included

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12-29 Year review.indd 23 6/5/09 10:02:47 ZSL LIVING CONSERVATION THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2008

SEPTEMBER research revealed the emergence of the pathogen in up to nine countries in Europe. A new Institute of Zoology Highlights collaboration with Zirichiltaggi SWC, a Sardinian-based NGO, led to the Flexible elephants discovery of the pathogen in the The ZSL Whipsnade Zoo herd participated in a study with endangered Sardinian brook newt. the Royal Veterinary College about elephant joints and This discovery was cause for great concern, as the Sardinian amphibian demonstrated their flexibility and movement by enjoying fauna is the most distinct and highly a kick-about with giant pilates balls. endemic in Europe and B. dendrobatidis has the capacity to spread with alarming Okapi caught on camera for the first time speed. Surveillance has now been Camera traps set up by ZSL and the Congolese Institute established across Sardinia in order to monitor progress of the disease. for Nature Conservation (ICCN) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) captured landmark pictures Following a three-month joint ZSL- ICCN survey of okapi and other of the mysterious okapi in Virunga National Park – wildlife of the Watalinga Forest in the proving that the species is still surviving there despite northern sector of Virunga National Park, ZSL held a workshop in Goma more than a decade of civil conflict. to discuss the study’s results and produce an action plan for okapi BIAZA awards conservation in the park. This was ZSL scooped a handful of BIAZA awards at the annual detailed in a report published by ZSL, ceremony, taking away three awards for Best Field available at www.zsl.org/virunga, where you can also read the DRC project blog. Conservation Project for Project Seahorse, Best Education Project for the development of the post-16 phobias Over 300 of Britain’s rarest ants were released back into the wild session at ZSL London Zoo and Best PR Campaign for this month on Chobham Common, the Blackburn Pavilion. ZSL was also awarded seven Surrey, after being reared in a specially- designed quarantine facility at ZSL commendations, including one for Best Sustainable London Zoo. Red barbed ants only Collection for the eco-friendly Rhinos of Nepal exhibit survive on the Isles of Scilly and in Surrey and were reintroduced as part at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. of a three-year project. By the end of the year it was confirmed that around 10 of the 20 released colonies were During a special event hosted by and Biodiversity’ database was further still surviving. Sir David Attenborough, ZSL scientists developed and distributed, a ZSL site- reported that half of Europe’s based mosquito-monitoring project Additionally this month, the process amphibians could be extinct by 2050, was implemented, a display at ZSL of Field Conservation Education was due to factors including climate change, London Zoo on the effects of climate included in the EDGE Fellows training habitat destruction and disease, unless change was created, and ZSL course. The programme is a new important steps were made in planning was commended in the BIAZA one, and it aims to help for future amphibian conservation. awards for our climate It's a fact Conservation Programme Despite its size, With generous support from Professor change visitor engagement the okapi was not Managers, and others John Beddington, a new display was feature in BUGS. discovered by science throughout ZSL, integrate until 1901, by Sir Harry produced for the mountain chicken human elements into Johnston, who had frog unit at ZSL London Zoo to Back on the amphibian strong connections their conservation highlight ZSL conservation and research front, there was ongoing with ZSL programmes and projects. into this species. research at the Institute of Understanding the human Zoology into Batrachochytrium elements of conservation is With climate change one of the main dendrobatidis, the agent of central to the success of almost all ZSL threats to amphibians, the Climate chytridiomycosis, the disease that has conservation projects and this is now Change Impacts Group was particularly caused amphibian species declines a main strategic theme in the new ZSL busy in 2008. The ‘Climate Change and extinctions around the world. The Discovery and Learning Policy.

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12-29 Year review.indd 24 6/5/09 10:03:44 J f m a m J J a s o n d

ZSL held a workshop in Goma to produce an action plan for okapi conservation in the Virunga National Park

Top This was one of the very first photographs of an okapi in the wild, taken by camera trap during a joint ZSL and ICCN survey in the northern Virunga National Park Left EDGE Fellows get together Right Sir David Attenborough draws attention to the plight of amphibians worldwide

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12-29 Year review.indd 25 6/5/09 10:06:59 ZSL Living conservation the Year in review 2008

october underpins national and international conservation planning towards the Convention on Biological Diversity and Highlights UN Millennium Development Goals. To further this work, Jonathan Baillie and New fish species discovered in the Thames Ben Collen were awarded £184,800 from ZSL discovered a new species of fish in the tidal the Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation to fund the project ‘Delivering the IUCN Thames – the greater weever fish. The fish was found Red List of Threatened Species and as part of a two-year monitoring programme looking Global Biodiversity’. A website with an online database will also be established at fish populations. for Regional Red Lists, to support New hope for the red squirrel nations in understanding the conservation of biodiversity in their Scientists at ZSL discovered that a number of red countries and at a regional level. The squirrels have developed an immune response to the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation also awarded Jonathan Baillie and Ben squirrelpox virus, responsible for huge declines in red Collen £271,950 to fund the IUCN squirrel populations. Sampled Red List Index.

New home for Kenyan rhinos Finally, in the Democratic Republic of A milestone was reached in Kenyan black rhino Congo, ZSL’s Tim Wacher conducted a two-and-a-half-week training course conservation when the Tsavo Intensive Protection Zone in mammal identification, which was was set up and a free-ranging rhino population was attended by rangers from Virunga re-established in the park by the Kenya Wildlife Service National Park. (KWS), ZSL and partners.

In addition to the discovery of the fish, and a workshop on sustainable fish species in the Thames, an MSc acquisition in aquariums at the research project was completed on the International Aquarium Congress in population increase of pipefish in the Shanghai. In addition, the 11th annual Thames Estuary linked to the population Reef Conservation UK conference was explosion in the North Sea. Further hosted by ZSL. afield, Project Seahorse, BIAZA Best Field Conservation Project, also gained a October was the month that the 2008 further £40,000 from BBC Saving Planet IUCN Red List of Threatened Species was Earth to support ‘Rapid Assessment released, and showed that at least 1,141 of Seahorse Populations and Habitats of the 5,487 mammals on Earth are Across the Danajon Bank (central known to be threatened with extinction. Philippines) for Conservation Action’. ZSL’s own Indicators and Assessments Heather Koldewey and Alison Debney Unit is directly linked to these issues, co-hosted a well-attended scientific and work there in 2008 continued to meeting at ZSL on UK seahorse and provide clear evidence of how practical pipefish populations. A series of posters objectives can be underpinned by good- on Project Seahorse’s work in Europe quality research. The unit facilitated was presented, and the documentary the addition of 4,850 newly assessed film featuring research by its biologists species to the IUCN Red List, enhancing was awarded the Algarve Maximus knowledge of poorly known groups of Award for the media category. animals, and setting a baseline from which biodiversity decline can be more Other fish projects included the Darwin accurately gauged. Initiative Sustainable Management of Ornamental Fish in Mamiraua, Brazil, The development of scientifically Top Pumpkins were a great treat in Gorilla where ZSL is assessing the feasibility robust global biodiversity indicators is Kingdom Above A monitoring programme of a sustainable trade in ornamental essential to provide the information that in the Thames revealed a new species

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12-29 Year review.indd 26 28/4/09 15:56:08 J f m a m J J a s o n d

Above From ZSL archives: two camels and november an elephant are walked through Dunstable on their way to Whipsnade in 1932

Highlights ZSL’s Jakob Bro-Borgensen discovered this month that male eland antelopes ZSL breeds rare snake for the first time use a novel approach to entice females. Zookeepers at ZSL London Zoo captured on camera Not content with the usual muscle the moment a rare rhino rat snake emerged from its flexing, they click their knees. The signal is used to establish mating rights among shell. This is the first time that this species of snake the males, without the need to resort has been bred in a European zoo and has greatly to physical fights. Also in November, Jon Bielby organised and attended the helped with the captive breeding programme. annual swift nest box check at BUGS.

ZSL opens photo archives As the year drew to a close, it became Elephant rides through Bedfordshire are just clear that ZSL’s technical support is in one of the incredible images featured in historic much demand. Technical partnerships were initiated with zoos in Ghana and photos released from the ZSL photo archive. Nepal, with MoUs prepared for a five- The images are on sale through the ZSL print store year programme, while discussions and planning continued for a proposed at www.zsl.org/printstore. Centre of Excellence in Ghana. ZSL provided technical support to a number Model helicopter catches whale blows of other zoos too, including Giza Zoo, The inventive work of a scientist from ZSL was Kabul Zoo and Lahore Zoo, through showcased on a major BBC TV series, Oceans. correspondence and visits. Funding was obtained from the Universities The innovative method of looking for whale diseases Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) by flying a toy helicopter over whales’ blows to collect for a project in the Zanzibar islands. With the European Association of Zoos the gases and mucus that they exhale is groundbreaking. and Aquaria (EAZA) Technical Assistance Scientists can use the samples to find out what and Animal Welfare Committee, Nick Lindsay contributed to programmes in pathogens are being carried. Romania as well as in Belgrade Zoo.

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Right Mark Habben, seen here with a december kestrel, was one of the adoptable keepers for Christmas

Highlights Philip Award and Marsh Prize for best sixth-form project (won by Anthony Review of the academic departments Ng) and Charles Darwin Award for best December saw the release of the results of the undergraduate thesis (Janet Maclean) government’s 2008 Research Assessment Exercise to the Thomas Henry Huxley Award and Marsh Prize for an exceptional PhD (RAE). The RAE is a six-yearly review of the quality of thesis (Dr Tim Hawes). Significant and all UK academic departments and the Institute of original contributions by professional zoologists are acknowledged with the Zoology received an excellent score of 2.55, higher than Scientific Medal (Professors Tim Coulson comparable departments at top universities including and Sunetra Gupta) and Frink Medal (Professor Tom Cavalier-Smith), while Bath, Durham, Liverpool and University College London. the work of eminent amateur zoologists This score reflects the exceptional quality of research is celebrated with the Stamford Raffles Prize (Professor Ted Benton). The Marsh being carried out at the Institute of Zoology. Awards for Conservation Biology Adopt a zookeeper in time for Christmas For the first time ever, two of ZSL London Zoo’s ZSL recognises zookeepers were put up for adoption to help raise extra achievements in funds for animal conservation. Mark Habben and Darren conservation and Jordan joined the likes of Lucifer the lion and proved to research through its be successful adoption candidates. presentation of awards Keepers’ Little Helpers return The keepers at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo were given a helping (Dr Stuart Butchart) and Marine and hand to prepare festive treats for all of the animals at Freshwater Conservation (Dr Simon Jennings) recognise exceptional the Zoo. Every weekend throughout December, young contributions of fundamental science visitors were able to become a Keeper’s Little Helper and and its application to the conservation of animal species and habitats. The make a unique Christmas treat for a chimp. Thomson Reuters/Zoological Record Award (Dr Matthew Cobb) and ZSL’s Silver Medal (Ian Andrews, representing There was sad news at the end of the and hosted ‘Jungle Bells’ – a celebration the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club) are year when Bobby, the male silverback of all things tropical. The explainers awarded for distinguished contributions gorilla, died overnight after a number of led a fun-packed new stage show, and to the communication, understanding periods of ill health throughout the year. visitors were encouraged to bask in the and appreciation of zoology and wildlife ZSL was overwhelmed at the response it humid weather of the Clore Rainforest conservation. We would like to thank received from the public. Lookout, Blackburn Pavilion and the Marsh Christian Trust and Thomson Butterfly Paradise. Reuters for their continued support of In Russia, our three-year Darwin grant ZSL’s awards. for Amur leopards and Wildlife Health ZSL recognises outstanding finished on 31 December, although achievements in conservation and The prestigious ZSL Gold Medal was work on sampling continued until the zoological research through the awarded to Dame Vivien Duffield DBE end of March 2009 with additional presentation of awards and prizes in recognition of her, and her family’s, funds. A major achievement here was throughout the year, and we round off long-standing and continuing support the renovation of a wildlife diagnostics our review of 2008 by congratulating of ZSL and ZSL London Zoo. The ZSL laboratory owned by project partner the the many people out there who are Honorary Fellowship was awarded to Primorskii State Agricultural Academy. actively furthering our understanding Professor John Beddington CMG FRS, and protection of the natural world Government Chief Scientific Adviser ZSL London Zoo opted for a less around us. The awards are relevant to all and Head of the Government Office traditional approach to Christmas 2008 levels of achievement, from the Prince for Science.

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12-29 Year review.indd 28 6/5/09 10:07:47 JFMAMJJASON D

It's a fact Although keepers are no longer up for grabs, there are at least 17 different animals at ZSL’s two Zoos that can now be adopted

ZSL Scientific Awards From left to right: Brian Marsh OBE (Marsh Christian Trust), Ian Andrews, Professor Ted Benton, Dr Simon Jennings, Janet Maclean, Professor Sir Patrick Bateson FRS, Dr Stuart Butchart, Professor Tom Cavalier-Smith FRS, Dr Tim Hawes, Dr Matthew Cobb, Professor Sunetra Gupta, Nigel Robinson (Thomson Reuters), Professor Tim Coulson, Ruth Upsall (Concord College)

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12-29 Year review.indd 29 6/5/09 10:08:36 ZSL LIVING CONSERVATION THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2008

ZSL has achieved plenty of success in 2008, but there is still so much more to be done. Here we take a look at how we plan to take our work into 2009 and beyond. Looking ahead

From 2009 ZSL will continue to build We will also be helping Thailand ■ Engaging tomorrow’s decision-makers upon the strategic aims established incorporate our elephant conflict project will be a major focus, building on in 2008. At ZSL London Zoo, the new into the country’s environmental plans Animal Adventure and the launch of children’s zoo, Animal Adventure, has from 2009 to 2011. In both cases, ZSL’s a children’s zone on the website. been launched with great success. work will be directly impacting the ■ We will improve visitor experience Animal Adventure gives children the conservation of endangered species through better customer care and a new chance to immerse themselves in the at a national level. customer relationship database. sights, sounds, smells and experiences ■ Scientific priorities for the year of life in the animal kingdom. In addition: will continue to include wildlife Meanwhile at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, ■ By raising our charity profile and health and disease, behavioural and the Big 5 is a celebration of five large improving our customer service, we will population ecology, and The Bushmeat and amazing mammals. maximise our opportunities to generate Research Programme. While the Zoos increase awareness funds while further striving to improve ■ We will play an active role in the of wildlife and the issues it faces, our cost efficiency. celebration of Darwin’s bicentenary and ZSL’s conservation and scientific ■ The new corporate communication through this we will enhance our on-site teams will continue to explore and strategy will renew the emphasis communication of science, in addition protect that wildlife across the globe. on amphibian decline, the to a special programme of scientific To showcase just two examples, ZSL state of our oceans and Thames meetings, symposia and awards. will be supporting the Bangladesh Estuary conservation. ■ These achievements will only be government in ■ We will continue our commitment possible with the continued hard work its Tiger Action to field conservation initiatives, with and dedication of staff and volunteers. Plan through focus on the South Asian Vulture To support this we will be continuing 2009/10. Recovery Programme, gorillas in training and offering a professional Central Africa and EDGE top 100 qualification programme. priority species. ■ Priorities for action in the Zoos are the Galapagos tortoise exhibits at ZSL Left Elephants in Thailand will continue to get our support Right Red pandas London Zoo and the improved brown are just one of the many attractions at bear enclosure at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. Animal Adventure

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30-31 Future.indd 30 6/5/09 10:11:22 It's a fact Through our scientific accomplishments and research, active conservation work and commitment to raising awareness of wildlife conservation in the UK and around the world, ZSL is perfectly placed to tackle the many environmental issues that lie ahead

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30-31 Future.indd 31 28/4/09 14:32:16 ZSL Living conservation the Year in review 2008

Financial information

ZSL recorded a consolidated surplus expenditure on new and existing refurbishment and expansion of Wild on operations of £0.7m, but an overall facilities to improve the effectiveness Bite Café (formerly Café on the Lake) deficit of £0.3m after £1m losses on of ZSL, as well as general wage and at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo was completed the revaluation of investments. These inflation rises. on time and has increased both compare with figures of £3.5m for The total capital spend of £6.4m capacity and our ability to produce operating surplus and overall surplus (2007 £7.9m) included: completion improved food choices. Early results achieved in 2007, with only minimal of the new 2008 exhibits – Blackburn are very encouraging. losses on investments. The actuarial Pavilion (Tropical Birds) and Outback loss on the Pension Fund was £4.1m at ZSL London Zoo and Cheetah Rock, Trustees’ statement accompanying the (2007 no loss or gain). This leaves Rhinos of Nepal and Wild Bite Café group summarised financial statements Net Movement in Funds as a deficit at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo; continued The group summarised financial of £4.4m. commitment to improving the statements are not the statutory ZSL remains dependent on its two Society’s compliance to the Disability accounts but a summary of information Zoos for the bulk of its income. In Discrimination Legislation and its relating to the group statement of 2008, ZSL London Zoo visitor numbers sustainability profile; and significant financial activities and the group were 1,039,030, a decrease of 69,511 progress on the Animal Adventure balance sheet. The full Trustees’ Report (6.3%) on the previous year, which exhibit which opened at ZSL London and financial statements, from which was the highest for 15 years. ZSL Zoo in spring 2009. the summarised financial statements Whipsnade Zoo visitor numbers were As a result of the stock market are derived, have been externally 468,669, a decrease of 6,953 (1.5%) turbulence during the credit crunch examined by Baker Tilly UK Audit on the previous year, also the highest and economic downturn, the value LLP and its audit report on them is for 15 years. The total number of of investments held in ZSL’s Pension unqualified. The full Trustees’ Report visitors for the two Zoos was 1,507,699 Fund decreased significantly and the and financial statements and Baker Tilly (2007 1,584,163). fund fell into a deficit position. The UK Audit LLP’s audit report on them Income figures benefited from Gift pension scheme deficit of £0.4m (2007 were approved on 21 April 2009 and Aid recoveries on day membership, £3.4m asset) will be held within ZSL’s 27 April 2009 respectively and will be which amounted to just over £1.9m unrestricted Pension Reserve. This submitted to the Charity Commission. (2007 £1.8m), and in total on all leaves the Society’s overall General Copies can be obtained from the sources of income £2.2m (2007 £2.1m). (Free) Reserves at £4.9m. The ZSL Finance Director at The Zoological Both the Institute of Zoology and Trustees increased the funding to Society of London, Regent’s Park, conservation programmes maintained 13% in 2008 and further to 15.5% London NW1 4RY. their revenues with new grants received from 1 January 2009 to fund future in 2008, but these related to specific liability levels. This will continue to Signed on behalf of the Trustees on projects and, while supporting the be monitored by ZSL and the Pension 27 April 2009. mission of the Society, they do not Fund trustees on a regular basis. add to the overall surplus to fund Our main trading subsidiaries, Zoo future development. Enterprises Ltd and Whipsnade Wild Our costs rose compared to 2007, Animal Park Ltd, continued to produce in areas that included utilities, results in accordance with Trustees’ Paul Rutteman CBE BSc (Econ) FCA maintenance, depreciation and revenue expectations. The investment in the Treasurer

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32-35 Finance.indd 32 28/4/09 14:37:09 Group Summarised Financial Statements Summary group statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 December 2008

Year Year to 31.12.08 to 31.12.07 £000 £000 Incoming resources

Incoming resources from generated funds: Voluntary income 2,727 2,775 Activities for generating funds: Subsidiaries’ trading turnover 9,763 10,009 Other 26 12 Interest and investment income 842 1,043 Incoming resources from charitable activities: Animal collections 20,053 21,080 Science and research 4,583 4,170 Conservation programmes 1,753 1,018 Other incoming resources – Biota 539 -

Total incoming resources 40,286 40,107

Resources expended

Cost of generating funds: Costs of generating voluntary income 604 591 Fundraising trading: Subsidiaries’ costs of goods sold and other costs 7,093 6,941 Other 958 865 Investment management costs 28 31 Charitable activities: Animal collections 22,220 21,237 Science and research 5,264 4,710 Conservation programmes 2,646 2,062 Governance costs 159 166 Other resources expended – Biota 615 -

Total resources expended 39,587 36,603

Net incoming resources before other recognised losses 699 3,504

Other recognised losses: Loss on investments (972) (8) Actuarial loss on pension scheme (4,100) -

Net movement in funds (4,373) 3,496

Reconciliation of funds

Total funds balance brought forward 50,167 46,671

Total funds balance carried forward 45,794 50,167

The above results are in respect of continuing operations. No statement of total recognised gains and losses has been prepared as all such gains and losses have been included above.

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Group Summarised Financial Statements (continued) Summary group balance sheet at 31 December 2008

31.12.08 31.12.07 £000 £000

Fixed assets Tangible assets 35,573 32,294 Investments 2,862 3,902 38,435 36,196

Current assets Stocks 571 485 Debtors 2,933 3,492 Cash at bank and in hand 8,894 11,365 12,398 15,342

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (4,629) (4,697)

Net current assets 7,769 10,645

Total assets less current liabilities 46,204 46,841

Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (10) (74)

Net assets excluding pension scheme (liability)/asset 46,194 46,767

Defined benefit pension scheme (liability)/asset (400) 3,400

Net assets 45,794 50,167

Funds Unrestricted – General 4,949 37,673 – Designated 35,596 3,707 Unrestricted funds excluding pension (liability)/asset 40,545 41,380 Unrestricted – Pension reserve (400) 3,400 Total unrestricted funds 40,145 44,780

Restricted – Endowments 986 1,220 – Other 4,663 4,167

Total funds 45,794 50,167

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32-35 Finance.indd 34 28/4/09 14:40:49 Independent We have examined the group’s statement on the summary financial summarised financial statements set out statement’ issued by the Auditing Auditor’s Statement on pages 33 to 34. Practices Board. Our report on the to the Trustees of charity’s full annual financial statements Respective responsibilities of Trustees describes the basis of our audit opinion The Zoological and Auditors on those financial statements. Society of London The Trustees are responsible for preparing the summarised financial statements in Opinion accordance with the recommendations In our opinion the summarised financial of the charities Statement of statements are consistent with the full Recommended Practice (SORP). financial statements of The Zoological Our responsibility is to report to you Society of London for the year ended our opinion on the consistency of the 31 December 2008 and comply with the summarised financial statements within recommendations of the charities SORP. the summarised Annual Report, with We have not considered the effects of the full annual financial statements any events between the date on which and its compliance with the relevant we signed our report on the full annual requirements of the charities SORP. financial statements (27 April 2009) and We also read the other information the date of this statement. contained in the summarised Annual Report and consider the implications for our report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the summarised financial statements. Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP Chartered Accountants Basis of opinion 1st Floor, 46 Clarendon Road We conducted our work in accordance Watford, Herts WD17 1JJ Above Mara with Bulletin 1999/6 ‘The Auditors’ 27 April 2009

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32-35 Finance.indd 35 28/4/09 14:41:09 ZSL Living conservation the Year in review 2008

ZSL would like to extend thanks to all our supporters, Members, Friends, Fellows and volunteers for their invaluable contribution and commitment in 2008. We simply could not carry out our vital work without your ongoing dedication and support. Special thanks go to those mentioned on these pages. Thank you for your support

The Development Francis and Jo Beddington Crispin & Borst Advisory Committee Dame Margaret Booth Environmental Business Products Professor Sir Patrick Bateson FRS The Countess of Chichester ExxonMobil Lord Moser David and Ruth Coffer Greggs plc Max Alexander Dr David Cohen CBE and HA Bennett and Sons pty Professor John Beddington Mrs Jillian Barker Heath Lambert The Countess of Chichester Mo and Andi Duncan Mitsui Sumitomo Dr David Cohen CBE John and Sheila Franks RWE npower Mo Duncan Stamford Galsworthy Stamford Galsworthy Sir Donald Gordon Statutory and other Sue MacGregor Dame Anne Griffiths grant-making bodies Lady McAlpine Lady Hobson Big Lottery Fund International Lord Paul Tim and Stephanie Hunt Communities Programme Cynthia Rusis Marina, the Lady Marks Department of Environment, Food and Lady Solti Ewan and Eve McGregor Rural Affairs (Defra) Grace Wang Nicholas and Camilla Miller Environment Agency Camilla Whitworth-Jones Jay Patel European Commission Bob and Sarah Rihal Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Honorary Patrons Stuart and Bianca Roden Mayor of London The Sir Stamford Raffles Patron Martin and Nevine Rose Ministry of Nature and Environment The Blackburn family Armins and Cynthia Rusis Natural Environment Research Dame Vivien Duffield DBE Adam and Jessica Sweidan Council (NERC) Lord Moser Paul Zuckerman New Zealand Department Lord and Lady Paul of Conservation Corporate Supporters The World Bank ZSL Patrons and Members United States Fish and Wildlife Service Robert and Jenny Akester Abbey National plc Asian Elephant Conservation Fund Professor John and American Express United States Fish and Wildlife Service Mrs Caroline Beddington CMO Global Without Borders

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36-37 Thank yous.indd 36 28/4/09 14:47:33 Individuals Jenny Akester David Allen and Judy Joo Alok and Anna Basu Professor John Beddington David Blackburn John and Joan Digby Further thanks William Elfers ZSL would also like to Sir Donald Gordon thank all of our supporters Lady Hobson who could not be named individually and to Jay Patel those who specifically Lady Pelham wish to remain Bob and Sarah Rihal anonymous Armins and Cynthia Rusis Non-governmental organisations, societies, zoos and universities Adelaide Zoological Gardens Antwerp Zoo Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) Auckland Zoo Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria Above The Blackburn family mark the opening of the Blackburn Pavilion after Blackpool Zoo generously supporting its redevelopment Boise Zoo Conservation Fund British Ecological Society Trusts and Foundations Michael Marks Charitable Trust Cambridge Infectious Diseases Alan Evans Memorial Trust The National Bird of Prey Trust Consortium (CIDC) Ambika Paul Foundation Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Centre for Ecology and Evolution Bat Conservation Trust (Hong Kong) Chester Zoological Gardens BBC Wildlife Fund Panton Trust Copenhagen Zoo Cecil King Memorial Foundation People’s Trust for Endangered Deakin University, Melbourne, The Charities Advisory Trust Species (PTES) Australia Clore Duffield Foundation Rose Foundation Edith Mary Pratt Musgrave Fund John S Cohen Foundation Rufford Maurice Laing (University of Cambridge) Ruth and David Coffer Foundation Environment Canada Charitable Foundation The Dr Mortimer and Hull City AFC D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust Theresa Sackler Foundation Minnesota Zoo Foundation Dreamworld Tiger Science Foundation Ireland National Centre for the Replacement, Conservation Fund Stanley Foundation Ltd Refinement and Reduction of Animals Esmée Fairbairn Foundation Stanley Grundy Foundation Ltd in Research Gilchrist Educational Trust Synchronicity Foundation Natural History Museum Heritage of London Trust The UK Trust for Nature National Institute of Water and Hobson Charity Limited Conservation in Nepal Atmospheric Research, New Zealand Jacqueline and Michael Gee The Royal Society Charitable Trust Legacies from Shepreth Wildlife Park James Gibson Charitable Trust the estates of: St Louis Zoological Park John Ellerman Foundation Mrs Maria Beck United Nations Environment Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund Frances Elizabeth Brodie Programme (UNEP) Kolmarden Wildlife Foundation Gertrude Daw The Universities Federation for Korea Amur Leopard Mrs Marjorie Kathleen Marchant Animal Welfare Conservation Fund Miss Gladys Winifred Pyman Utah Zoological Society The Leslie Mary Carter Mr Leonard Ashby Monk World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Charitable Trust Mrs Joyce Elfrida Smith Zebra Foundation for Veterinary Leverhulme Trust Marion Towler Zoological Education

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36-37 Thank yous.indd 37 28/4/09 14:48:02 ZSL LIVING CONSERVATION THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2008

As a charity, we are dependent on the generosity of our supporters. There are many ways to get involved and ZSL offers unique benefits in return. For information visit www.zsl.org or contact the ZSL Development Team on 020 7449 6583 or [email protected]. How you can support us

Trust and statutory support ■ The Mayor of London’s free school visits Project support programme continues ■ Abbey National plc to go from strength funded the tipi at to strength Animal Adventure

Become a patron ■ Patrons enjoy exclusive insights into ZSL, including a special events programme

Unique events ■ Mitsubishi organised an employee volunteering day

Corporate promotion ■ Haven Holidays promotes the importance Individual support of conservation ■ Dame Vivien Duffield DBE to its customers received ZSL’s Gold Medal in recognition of her, and her family’s, support of ZSL London Zoo through the Clore Duffield Foundation

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38 Support.indd 38 28/4/09 14:56:59 ZSL Living conservation the Year in review 2008

Patron Her Majesty The Queen Our Vision Please affix stamp here A world where animals are valued, Council members 2008 The following were Council members at 24 April 2009 or served during the year to 31 December 2008. and their conservation assured. President Professor Sir Patrick Bateson PhD ScD FRS Secretary Professor Paul H Harvey CBE BA MA DPhil DSc FRS Treasurer Paul Rutteman CBE BSc (Econ) FCA Vice Presidents Sheila Anderson MBE BSc (Hons) FBAASc Our Mission John Edwards MA FLS

To achieve and promote the Richard Melville Ballerand* BSc (Econ) Alastair Land* MA FLS BSc DCoun FLS FRUSI Hon Sir William McAlpine BT worldwide conservation of Robin Bidwell* CBE PhD Azra Meadows OBE MSc PhD CBiol Jonathan Boyce DM MA MSc MIBiol FLS FRCP FFPH Mark Ridgway+ BSc PGCE animals and their habitats. Martin Cooke MSc MA VetMB MRCVS Sean Rovai+ DCA MTSI Cert VPH(MH) Martin Rowson MA David Dixon FIBiol Anthony Sheridan* BSc (Econ) If you are a company you can get Andrew Greenwood+ MA VetMB Ken Sims involved in: DipECAMS FIBiol FRCVS Robert Wingate MSc n licensing and promotion Ray Heaton CertEd BEd GIBiol MSc Professor Roger Wotton+ PhD n project sponsorship FRGS FLS Professor David Houston BSc DPhil n event sponsorship Nick Jackson MBE + to June 2008 n employee fundraising Andrew Kitchener BSc PhD * from June 2008 n cause-related marketing n corporate hospitality Directors If you are an individual you can: Director General Human Resources Director Development Director n sponsor an exhibit, a scientist, Ralph Armond MA Ian Meyrick BA FCIPD Jackie Tanner BSc or a conservation project Finance Director Director of the Institute Marketing and n become a Patron Mike Russell FCMA of Zoology Communications Director n Tim Blackburn BSc DPhil Rich Storton MA become a Member or Fellow Conservation

n sign up for payroll giving Programmes Director Zoological Director DepartmentDevelopment c/o Lucy Cannock London of Society Zoological Park Regent’s Circle Outer NW1 4RY London n take part in one of our Jonathan Baillie BA MES PhD David Field BSc MBA challenge events n become a volunteer n leave us a gift in your Will Publication acknowledgements Design and editorial coordination: Think Publishing How we can support you in return: Managing editors: Emma Kenly and Kendall Munns Editor: Malcolm Tait Designer: Ewan Buck n unrivalled experiences Sub-editor: Marion Thompson n access to amazing venues, including This Annual Review is printed by The Westdale Press on Challenger our world-famous Library offset, an FSC accredited paper, meaning it comes from a n visits to field conservation projects well-managed forest. n private previews of new Zoo exhibits We extend our thanks to ZSL staff and individuals for the use of photos in this publication: n insights into the minds of our world Brian Aldridge, Karina Acevedo-Whitehouse, Jonathan Baillie, Emma Burton, Cravens, experts in conservation Sarah Durant, Eladio Fernandez, Richard Gibson, James Godwin, Monirul Khan, Steve Lowe, Uuganbadrakn Oyunkhishig, James Reardon, Angela Smith, n rare animal encounters Dan Sprawson, Justin Sutcliffe, Yvonne White. With thanks to MRAG for coral picture n exclusive Patron benefits on page 10. Cover image of Victoria crowned pigeon copyright Justin Lambert. n unique events n the chance to learn about our pioneering conservation science n commercial benefits such as positive Director General’s Office 020 7449 6207 corporate image Membership 020 7449 6228 n enhanced consumer loyalty Library 020 7449 6293 www.zsl.org n increased brand awareness ZSL London Zoo 020 7722 3333 Registered charity in England and Wales: n motivated company staff ZSL Whipsnade Zoo 01582 872171 no 208728 If sending a donation, please put this form inside an envelope 2 39

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