solitairesolitairesolitaire Issue 20 (2009)

In this issue:

Tackling human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka

Breeding hoolock gibbons Peruvian poison dart frogs Developing the graduate network Rescuing a snow leopard Memories of Durrell Conservation of Indian amphibians Durrell at 50 Ecotourism in the Sunderban

Newsletter of the International Training Centre A year of celebrations!

50 opened his zoo in Jersey in 1959. Our 50th anniversary year was filled with celebrations, from an open day that attracted over 14,000 people, to a concert that saw

Colm Farrington the premiere of the Durrell suite by Derek Lawrence, celebrating some of the species Durrell has worked with.

As we reach the end of the year, a new exhibit has just opened in the Walled Former director buries a time Garden. It will be home to a variety of capsule in the new Kirindy Forest exhibit to mark Madagascar’s wildlife, and especially 50 years of saving species from extinction. species from the island’s dry forests.

The Trust welcomed its first trainee in 30 1979, finally breathing life into Gerald Durrell’s dream of a ‘mini-university’ that would help transfer all the knowledge and skills that the Trust’s staff were building up to those on the front line of conservation. More than 1800 conservation professionals have now attended ITC courses both in Jersey and overseas, and we are continuing to expand the topics we offer as well as find new ways to support graduates Durrell staff and Primate Conservation Husbandry once they return home. course participants relaxing at Les Noyers. 25 The first few trainees were housed off the site, but the Trust soon bought the neighbouring property of Les Noyers, Initially just a residence, over the next few years the buildings were transformed into a teaching centre and in 1984 the International Training Centre was formally opened. 2 Education joins the ITC!

The ITC grew in 2009 as it took on the teaching activities of the former Education Department. Conservation Education Officer Naomi Webster describes how

the two teams have been integrated into one. Jill Key

There have always been The move has allowed the training and overlapping areas between training education staff to work more closely and education (or Visitor Services and together and give each other advice, Education to use its full title) at Durrell, support and assistance. It is also an and last autumn the Trust’s senior exciting opportunity to review the management team took the education activities offered now and opportunity to review how the two develop new ideas for the future. departments operated and decided to split Visitor Services and Education into One such activity is the brand new its two constituent parts. Visitor Services Conservation Science School, a three- took on responsibility for the animal talks day course for 15-18 year olds, which programme on site and other visitor- ran for the first time this summer. The related activities, while the education course was thoroughly enjoyed by all staff joined the training centre to the participants and we hope to run create one department capable of the course twice in 2010, in February teaching anyone from 3 to 103! and August.

Meet the new staff...

Jo Wardd, the groups, running workshops, writing and Conservation producing newsletters for Education members and working on the signage Manager, has and interpretation in the grounds. She is been working at currently writing and directing her third Durrell since 1999. Durrell pantomime! She has a diploma in child development and a masters degree in education. Jo is responsible for the schools programme Mark Powell at Durrell and also organises activities for the Dodo Club, Durrell’s club for junior members.

Conservation Education Officer Naomi Webster attended the ITC’s summer school in 2004, and then volunteered with Durrell’s education department before being offered a job. Naomi’s Naomi takes a bow at a performance of the first responsibilities include teaching school Durrell pantomime, ‘A Parrot’s Tale’. 3 ... and a reminder of the rest of us!

The ITC’s staff has undergone several changes over the past few years and many of you won’t have met all of the current team. 2009 has been a busy year for us, with new courses being added to our roster and more in development for next year. So here’s an introduction to us all.

Jamie Copsey first worked at the ITC Catherine Burrows has as Programme Development Manager been the ITC’s and has been Head of the department Coordinator since 2006. since 2008. He has conservation field Catherine is responsible work experience in Mauritius, for the advertising, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and administration and Madagascar and recently obtained a logistics of the training masters degree in anthropology. He has programme and the ITC’s worked in biodiversity conservation for facilties, and organises Durrell’s work more than 15 years and is a qualified experience programme. Catherine has teacher, trainer and facilitator. a degree in English and history. She spent three years teaching English in Japan and is a keen traveller.

Mark Powell As the ITC’s Hostel Manager, Joshua Kogi runs Les Noyers, creating a home from home for our course participants and ensuring their stay is as Jamie (centre) as we rarely see him - in a starring comfortable as role in Durrell pantomime ‘A Parrot’s Tale’. possible. Originally from Kenya, Josh has lived in Jersey for seven years and has always worked in the catering industry.

Dr Jill Key, our Training and Network Development Dr Eluned Price is the Manager, joined the ITC’s Research ITC at the end of 2008. Resource Coordinator. As well as developing She runs the library, and delivering ITC produces Solitaire, and courses, Jill is helps Jill with the DCLN. responsible for After a PhD on tamarins coordinating the and field work on Durrell Conservation Learning Network primates in Brazil, Eluned worked for (DCLN). She is a specialist in invasive Durrell as a researcher and mammal species ecology and has worked in keeper before joining the ITC. She also many places around the world. writes the Trust newsletter On The Edge. 4 New courses for 2009

Invasive Species Management This ia a five-day course teaching the tools required to plan effective management of invasive plants, vertebrates and invertebrates in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems around the world, and the planning and implementation of cost-effective invasive species management strategies. Participants on the first Invasive Species Management course.

Primate Conservation Husbandry A week-long course on the skills necessary to successfully manage primates, particularly callitrichids and lemurs, in captivity, and how these techniques can support in-country conservation programmes. Durrell has decades of experience in the captive management and in-situ conservation of these species and this course is a tremendous opportunity to pass our accumulated knowledge on.

Getting stuck into enclosure design for callitrichids and lemurs!

And coming up in 2010...

An Introduction to GIS for will address the broad range of Conservation A five-day course diseases suffered by reptiles, their designed to provide participants with symptoms and practical methods of an understanding of Geographic treatment. Information Systems and how they can support conservation action. Captive Breeding and Conservation Husbandry of Birds A five-day course Integrated Pest Management for to help participants develop their skills in Wildlife Parks A three-day course on practical bird husbandry and their practical, cost-effective solutions to understanding of how such work can common pest control problems in zoos help in-situ conservation. and wildlife parks. For details of any of these courses, Reptile Veterinary Care and Health please contact the ITC. Management A two-day course that [email protected] 5 Help a community – help elephants! A story from Sri Lanka

Udawalawa National Park (UNP) in southern Sri Lanka supports a substantial population of the globally endangered Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). More than 600 elephants are attracted to this protected area of 80,821 hectares by the reservoir inside Jayantha Deepani and the availability of grasslands; the park supplies food and water to animals throughout the year.

UNP’s boundary is demarcated by an electric fence, but this is not continuous Working bull at Pinnawala elephant orphanage. at sections along the northern and eastern borders. These gaps are maintained as corridors connecting the park to other protected areas including practised around the UNP to address sanctuaries. Free movement of human–elephant conflict, with the Born elephants is seen along the corridors Free Foundation (BF), UK, we took a and in the sanctuaries, which also different approach. contain human settlements. During such movements loner elephants usually Rathambalagama’s villagers live in come into conflict with nearby villages, harmony with wild elephants despite a particularly in the dry lot of crop and season. Cereals, property damage. It is vegetables, banana and ‘The children know not uncommon to see paddy are the primary they have benefited villagers stop at a crops in the area. water hole to watch and learn to appreciate elephants bathing Rathambalagama, a and conserve wildlife.’ under the hot sun, remote village at the even when hurrying northeastern border of the park, has about their daily activities. We been affected by the elephants for understood and appreciated this many years. No farmland has escaped friendly interface. With the aim of from pachyderm crop raiders! compensating the farmers for their loss, BF suggested a community project to Friendly relations Although several help the village school with its basic other mitigatory measures are being needs. The expected long-term outcome is to help save the elephants, along with the other wildlife and biodiversity in the area.

Prioritising needs We first evaluated the facilities most needed by Rathambalagama School, which has

Deepani Jayantha about 270 children. Requirements were A bull cooling himself in northern Udawalala. prioritised with the help of the principal 6 Deepani Jayantha Deepani Jayantha Deepani

Left: Kids used a tube well for water. Right: Now clean water is drawn from the reconstructed school well, stored and easily distributed. and staff members. Clean drinking students grow for their practical lessons. water and an electricity supply were We are thinking at the moment how to identified as urgent needs. The parents control these visits. However, the school put a lot of hard work into construction children don’t regard this as an offence and the project cost about £4800. The by the animals; they know they have second phase will be supplying reading benefited at the school in some other tables and chairs for the school library. way, and learn that appreciating and helping to conserve wildlife is never Wild elephants still visit the school going to be a loss in their lives. premises and damage the crops BF wishes to extend this project in the coming years. There are more schools in need in this area, where the community is always affected by human-elephant conflict. A long-term project has been proposed to help the community, and we believe helping the

Deepani Jayantha community invariably helps the elephants!

Deepani Jayantha graduated from ITC in 2007 and also attended the 2009 Amphibian Conservation Husbandry course in Sri Lanka. She has worked on the behavioural rehabilitation of juvenile elephants as well as on sand dune restoration following the 2004 tsunami.

E-mail: [email protected] Elephant damage in paddy fields. 7 The Marañón poison dart frog: concerns and opportunities

The Marañón poison dart frog (Excidobates mysteriosus) is endemic to the upper Marañón river basin, near Cordillera del Cóndor in the north- eastern Peruvian Andes. Originally Marco Enciso Dendrobates mysteriosus (Myers, 1982), it has recently been reclassified (Twomey and Brown, 2008).

The frog is categorised by the IUCN as Endangered, because it is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation and The frog in its typical habitat, bromeliads. the illegal collection of individuals for a Brazilian veterinarian, Peruvian export to countries such as the USA biologist Germán Chávez, and myself. and Germany. Conservation action is therefore needed. The first step was to contact people in the Field work A grant ‘Mr Napoleón type locality, Santa Rosa sponsored by keeps watch over a de la Yunga, in Jaén Conservation little conservation province, department of International (CI) and the Asociación Peruana area known as El Cajamarca. During our first para la Conservación Tupire.’ field trip in May 2009, de la Naturaleza helped by German (APECO), ‘Programa Iniciativa de herpetologist Claudia Especies Amenazadas Becas Koch, we contacted Mr Napoleón, Koepcke’, has enabled us to study the manager of the Asociación de species in its natural habitat, update its Conservación y Ecodesarrollo Rural population status and distribution (ACONDECOR), who keeps watch over patterns and investigate any infectious a little conservation area known as El diseases that might be present. The Tupire, where there are several patches E. mysteriosus habitat. This species is research team consists of Sibylle Duran, of closely associated with bromeliads of the genus Aechnea, which live mainly in precipices and rocky areas, and also in some trees. We also evaluated other areas, such as Cerro Casapita and La Marco Enciso Yunga, where the first individuals were recorded by Rainer Schulte in the 1980s (Schulte, 1990).

We observed that in most areas (except El Tupire), the principal threat to E. mysteriosus is deforestation. The local people are destroying the mountains The beautiful Marañón poison dart frog from where Aechnea plants live, in order to Peru. cultivate coffee, oranges and other 8 To assess health status, we collected several skin swabs from the ventral zone of the frogs. Seventeen samples were subjected to bacteriological

Marco Enciso isolation in the Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM) in Lima, Peru. One sample was positive for Aeromonas sp., a bacteria that causes an important disease called ‘red leg’.

For chytridiomycosis PCR analysis, 21 samples will be sent to the Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory at the University of Georgia, USA. In a previous study, Twomey and Brown (2008) found no evidence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, the fungal agent of chytrid disease, in eight samples. We believe that the species’ habit of using bromeliads could be protecting it from chytrid, but more The species is endemic to the Peruvian Andes. data are needed.

The Marañón poison frog is a flagship fruits, and for cattle ranching. Mr species that deserves urgent Napoleón’s labours could be conservation action to maintain wild reinforced by the creation of more populations. In order to do this, more conservation areas, or other research is needed, as well as a strong conservation initiatives in the locality, to programme of environmental maintain the habitat of the species. education with the local people. Geographic variation? We found References more than forty individuals, but although Schulte, R. (1990). Redescubrimiento y this number seems quite high, it is very redefinición de Dendrobates mysteriosus dependent on habitat conservation. (Myers, 1982) de la Cordillera del Cóndor. We also observed some colour Boletín de Lima 70: 57–68. variation in individuals from different Twomey, E. & Brown, J.L. (2008). Spotted localities, expressed in the dark poison frogs: rediscovery of a lost species background pattern of some and a new genus (Anura: populations. Molecular studies could Dendrobatidae) from northwestern Peru. help elucidate this. Herpetologica 64: 121–137.

Marco A. Enciso attended the 2009 Amphibian Biodiversity and Conservation course in Bolivia. He is a Peruvian veterinarian with a Masters degree in ecology and conservation and interests in amphibian ecology and disease. He is currently an associate researcher of the Division of Herpetology of the Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad (CORBIDI), in Lima, Peru.

E-mail: [email protected]

9 Rescuing a female snow leopard

On 28 November 2008 local residents of Nimo – a village of about 150 households situated on the banks of the Indus river, about 35 kilometres from the town of Leh – informed the wildlife Mir M. Mansoor authorities that a snow leopard had barged into a sheep barn during the night and killed 22 of the 29 sheep in the flock, and was still there.

Immediately, a team of wildlife officers was dispatched to rescue the trapped The wounds were cleaned and disinfected. animal. Since I was about 600 km away, the Wildlife Warden concerned, Mr Tahir Shawl, contacted me for advice on female aged about three or four years. tranquillising equipment and drugs and She had two large open septic wounds, remained in contact till one on the lateral this precious animal was aspect of the thigh successfully captured. ‘Given our knowledge measuring 3 x 4 of the behavioural inches, and other on The weight of the snow the dorsal aspect of leopard was estimated biology of this the lumbar region to be around 35 kg. The species, the chances measuring 10 x 12 tranquillising agent used of a fight with inches and involving was Hellabrunn mixture superficial muscles. containing xylazine at 1 another snow leopard The animal was mg/kg body weight and are remote.’ transported ketamine Hcl at 7mg/kg straightaway to Leh body weight, and was administered Wildlife Office for immediate treatment using a blowpipe from a distance of 15 and two local veterinarians were called metres. in to assist. On physical examination, the captured Line of treatment The hairs around snow leopard was found to be a both the wounds were trimmed and the wounds were irrigated with povidone iodine. This was followed by a thorough application of antiseptic cream. The wounds were left open and a long- acting antibiotic (ciprofloxacin at

Mir M. Mansoor 15mg/kg body weight) was given intramuscularly. Finally, the animal was moved into a cage with proper bedding in a warm dark room. The snow leopard regained consciousness three hours after it was sedated. She was transferred to a large The snow leopard was sedated before being cage next morning and food and removed and treated. water were offered, to which she 10 responded positively. Some supplementary medicines, including Topicure wound spray, and a complete diet chart were prescribed for the recuperating animal. Mir M. Mansoor

Attacked by dogs? Although the wildlife warden reported a suspected fight between this animal and another snow leopard, given our knowledge of the behavioural biology of this species, the chances of such a fight are very remote. Looking at the nature of wounds inflicted on the animal, it is much more likely that this female snow leopard might previously have come across some Zanskari nomads’ dogs, which are famous for protecting their flocks from wild predators. As it could not then hunt its natural prey in the wild, the snow leopard may have taken the chance to catch some easy The snow leopard regained consciousness and prey, leading it to enter the sheep barn. was transferred to a large cage to recover. Dr Mir M. Mansoor is Chief Wildlife Biologist and Vet in Jammu and Kashmir State Wildlife Protection Department. He graduated from ITC in 1997.

E-mail: [email protected]

Many congratulations!

Congratulations to Brij Kishor Gupta And finally, Fernando Lima ([email protected]), who was ([email protected]) defended his made a Fellow of the National master’s dissertation “Estimativas de Academy of Biological Sciences (NABS) abundância e densidade populacional for 2008 at Chennai, India on 30th July, da jaguatirica através de modelos de 2009, in recognition of his contribution marcação–recaptura: estudo de caso to ex situ conservation of wildlife. nos remanescentes florestais do Pontal do Paranapanema, São Paulo” (Ocelot And to Rachmad Wahyudi density and abundance through ([email protected]) capture–recapture models: case study of the Sumatran Orangutan in Pontal do Paranapanema forest Conservation Programme (SOCP), who fragments) in June. His work will be very achieved his first goal after returning useful in developing methods for home from Jersey of getting married, estimating the size of small populations and has now followed it up with the isolated in forest fragments. birth of his daughter, Fauzanera Kulla Azmina.

11 Conservation Action Plans for India’ s amphibians

In January 2009, the Central Zoo Authority (Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India) organised a two-day workshop in Mysore to develop an in-situ and ex-situ Conservation Action Plan for Brij Kishor Gupta amphibians. The workshop was attended by more than 35 amphibian experts, including zoo biologists, university scientists and field biologists.

Targeting species With the help of the A panel discussion underway at the workshop. workshop participants, an expert group of the country was also taken into evaluated a list of 151 species account. obtained from the CAMP/GAA assessments for India. The major criteria Zoos in different regions will be able to used were ‘clarity in taxonomy’ and participate in ex-situ conservation ‘declining in native habitat’, and the breeding, which should greatly help the group finalised two lists: development of a one of 11 amphibian ‘This should help vibrant conservation species that will help in programme for India’s initiating conservation develop a vibrant amphibians. breeding, acquiring skills conservation and establishing programme for The workshop also infrastructure in India, identified the need for a and the other of 16 India’s amphibians.’ nationwide inventory of amphibian species that amphibians and will be long-term targets assigned responsibility for for ex-situ conservation this to the Wildlife breeding. Coverage of different parts Institute of India, Dehradun, national universities and other agencies involved in herpetological studies.

Protected area management A recommendation was made that the Ministry of Environment & Forests and State Forest Departments should put Brij Kishor Gupta out a general prescription for wildlife management in Protected Areas (PAs) that are located in high rainfall areas to carefully regulate the creation of new check dams and gully checks, with the aim of preventing soil erosion, which compromises crucial amphibian An unidentified species of frog from the Western habitat. Development projects such as Ghats. dams in and around PAs should also be 12 The 16 target species identified for planned conservation breeding programmes, and the 11 species selected for each zoo to start to exhibit and standardise protocols. (All = all India; Pen = Peninsular; WG = Western Ghats; NE = northeastern; AN = Andaman & Nicobar Islands; H = Himalayas.)

Zoo Practice species Target species

Arignar Anna Eyphylctis cyanophylctis (All) Nasikabatrachus Zoological Park, Hoplobatrachus crassus (All) sahyaderensis (WG) Vandalur, Chennai Hoplobarachus tigrinus (All) Melanobatrachus indicus (WG) (Tamil Nadu) Tylotoritan verrucosus (WG) Fejervavya murthi (WG) Indirana phrynodima (WG) I. gundia

Nandankanan Eyphylctis hexadactyla (All) Micrxalus kotigehavernsis (WG) Zoological Park, Indirana charls darwini (AN) Bhubaneshwar Philatus chalazodos (WG) (Orissa) Madras Crocodile Bufo melanostictus (All) Philatus ponmudi (WG) Bank Trust, Bufo stomaticus (Pen) P. shillongenesis (NE) Mamallapuram Rhacopharous (Tamil Nadu) pseudomalabaricus (WG)

Chennai Snake Uperodon systoma (All) Pedostibus kempii (NE) Park, Chennai Fajlrarya spp. (H) Scntiger occidentalis (H) (Tamil Nadu) Bufo himalayanas Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (All)

Rajiv Gandhi Microhyla rubra Rana hexadactyla (Pen) Zoological Park, Microhyla ornata Pune (Maharashtra)

examined by experts for impacts on Finally, all concerned – government and amphibian breeding habitats. state departments, the CZA and zoo operators – need to take steps to Options also need to be explored for sensitise policy makers, managers, zoo creating new conventional PAs, staff and visitors about the problems conservation reserves and community facing amphibians and the steps we reserves dedicated to amphibian need to take to address them. species in different parts of the country. Wildlife biologists should be attached to Brij Kishor Gupta works these areas to produce species for India’s Central Zoo inventories, monitor amphibian Authority and is closely populations, enumerate impacts on involved in developing amphibian populations and demarcate amphibian crucial breeding habitats for conservation plans in amphibians. The workshop also the country. suggested revising the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to include more E-mail: [email protected] species. 13 Ecotourism in the Sunderban delta

The Sunderban delta is a unique 10,000 square kilometre forest and salt water swamp forming the lower part of the Ganges delta. This natural resource is shared by both Bangladesh and India. Subhransu Pan Sunderban, the Indian portion, is 6–9 metres above sea level. This tidal estuary covers an area of over 4000 km2, about 2300 km2 of which is mangrove forest. The area was Tourist launch in Sunderban Reserve Forest. declared a national park in 1984. Watching an animal in its natural habitat Biodiversity UNESCO declared the is an exciting experience that serves as Sunderban a Global Biosphere Reserve a strong motivation for conservation in 2001 because of its rich among tourists. Those biodiversity. It is the largest ‘Although employed in tourism also contiguous mangrove beneficial so far, have an interest in helping forest, with 334 plant to conserve animals and species. The Sunderban is ecotourism now their habitats. also host to a large number constitutes a of animals within its forest growing threat to Tourism can provide funds and marine habitats, and is for conservation through the last stronghold of the biodiversity.’ entrance and permit fees Royal Bengal tiger. and generates employment for the people around Sunderban who provide Ecotourism: benefits Sunderban services and accommodation to became a World Heritage site in 1987 tourists. It also promotes improvement and thus an attraction for both in other sectors of the local economy domestic and international tourists, with through demand for products and 763 million tourist arrivals in 2004. In 2020 services from the tourism sector and it is estimated that there will be 1.6 provides a means of earning foreign billion. Domestic tourism has risen faster currency. than international tourism and the benefits have been multidimensional. Adverse effects Although beneficial so far, ecotourism now constitutes a growing threat to conservation of biodiversity in the Sunderban, both directly and indirectly. Animals that are subjected to disturbance will spend less time feeding and resting and more Subhransu Pan energy on trying to move away from the source. Disturbances are mostly caused by the tourists themselves, their vehicles, motorboats etc. Evidence of this type of behavioural change is evident in almost all species, especially Spotted deer (Cervus axis) grazing in Sunderban tigers, monkeys and birds. Recent Reserve Forest. studies have also revealed that animals 14 are subject to changes in physiological parameters, for example in stress hormone levels, food intake, sleep and metabolism. Disturbance is most prominent during breeding periods and juvenile stages, leading to overall Subhransu Pan breeding failure, a serious threat to population maintenance and survival.

Ecotourism is also resulting in habitat destruction of the Sunderban. Damage to vegetation, waste, cooking fires and leakage from fuel tanks are affecting both terrestrial and marine biodiversity. Small market at the boundary of the reserve catering for tourists. Indirect effects arise from construction for the tourism industry and the use of - Restrict construction within the natural resources to meet the demands conservation area and promote of tourists. Along with the unrestricted construction of non-permanent flow of tourists, poachers are also structures getting easy access in the forest. - Check vehicles and motorboats for silencers and fuel chambers. Taking action With the rapid growth of - Restrict dumping of waste by tourists tourism, steps need to be taken to within the conservation area and check the erosion of biodiversity: make aware them of the adverse - Allow tourism only to a level that is effects of this affordable without loss of biodiversity - Strictly enforce rules and regulations - Increase empathy among local regarding ecotourism. people for conservation As Kofi Annan once said, ‘We fundamentally depend on natural systems and resources for our existence and development. Our efforts to defeat poverty and pursue sustainable development will be in vain Subhransu Pan if environmental degradation and depletion of natural resources continue unabated.’

So we should always promote eco- tourism for the benefit of conservation, Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in not to its cost. Sunderban Reserve Forest.

Subhransu Pan graduated from ITC in 1999, and is now working as Professor of Animal Production and Management and Wildlife Management at West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, India. Co-author Siddhartha Shankar Layek is a postgraduate student in veterinary science and a conservation enthusiast.

E-mail: [email protected]

15 Conservation breeding of hoolock gibbons: a success story

Hoolock gibbons are the only apes with the approval of the Central Zoo found in India. The state of Arunachal Authority. Pradesh is home to both species of hoolock: the eastern hoolock (Hoolock To start with, five pairs of eastern leuconedys) is estimated to number hoolocks, and five juveniles, were about 150 animals, and the western rescued from the Delo area in hoolock (Hoolock hoolock) about 200. Arunachal Pradesh. The rescue operation targeted animals that had Habitat loss and fragmentation are been injured by dogs, gibbons jeopardising the gibbons’ survival. The debilitated by heavy parasite major threats are the expansion of tea infestations, juveniles that had been plantations following a blanket ban on rejected by their mothers, or isolated timber extraction; agricultural practices apes. Family members of the rescued such as Jhum cultivation, a traditional animals were also captured to avoid method of ‘slash and burn’; and displacement. encroachment by populations from neighbouring countries. All Enclosure design these drastically reduce ‘Health care is Considerable effort was gibbon habitat, leaving made to provide animals stranded. focused on the naturalistic enclosures. An keepers rather irregular area of 2500 m2, Dogs kill gibbons when they than the animals.’ with a high wall and a come down to the ground treatment area in the because of the huge gaps corner, is constructed for in the canopy. Dogs may also be the each pair of gibbons. Lots of tall trees sources of infestation with Toxocara, are incorporated into each enclosure, which affects almost all the gibbons. connected by ropes and bamboo bridges. Plant species eaten by Conservation breeding Many zoos hoolocks are planted inside the have tried breeding hoolocks, without enclosure, and a feeding platform is much success. The Biological Park, installed in the branches of a tree. Itanagar took up the project in 2006 Feeding A diet was devised that included both animal and plant protein along with vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, sugar and fat. A variety

Jikom Panor of tender leaves is provided. Some of the ingredients, such as sweet potato, were not easily accepted by the animals. To overcome this problem animals were given only those ingredients until they accepted them.

Health care The emphasis in health care is placed on the animal keepers Hoolock gibbons, the only ape found in India. rather than the animals. All keepers at 16 Enclosure design for hoolock gibbons.

the centre are given worm treatment in captivity, bowls of water, and lick and screened for zoonotic diseases them. They are also often seen licking every six months. Hygiene, both their own urine. personal and in the cleaning of enclosures, utensils, etc, is strictly Future plans The Itanagar zoo monitored. Health problems include successfully bred three hoolock viral influenza (which can develop with gibbons during 2008, and reintroduction poor housing, cold wet weather and a is the ultimate goal of the project. This lack of nesting trees) can be fatal if breeding centre may act as a nodal immediate treatment is not given for training centre for captive breeding secondary infection and pneumonia. and management of hoolock gibbons Toxocara infection is common, and both in situ and ex situ in the future. stools are examined for parasites every Strategies for monitoring and modifying month. De-worming is only done if ova management practices both in are detected to avoid drug resistance. captivity and in the wild will be developed, and plans will be initiated to Dehydration is often seen due to the rescue and rehabilitate animals from gibbons’ low water intake. Hoolocks the Delo area and other degraded usually wet their fingers in dew drops or, habitat.

Jikom Panor attended the Endangered Species Recovery course in 2006 and is the Veterinary Officer for the Biological Park, Itanagar. Please contact him for further information on the management of hoolock gibbons in captivity, including diet, anaesthetics and health problems.

E-mail: [email protected]

17 Memories of Jersey ...

Stas Vostokov ([email protected]), who trained at the ITC in 1995, has written a Gorilla fictional story in Russian based on the time he spent in Jersey and the friends he made. The book’s Russian title could be translated as ‘The island dressed in jersey’ or perhaps ‘The island in jersey’. ‘You meet a lot of funny situations when such different people from the other ends of the world meet in one place,’ Stas says.

The book also describes the work of the Trust, its aims and methods, and touches upon the history of the island. Other ITC graduates are likely to meet a lot of familiar people if they read the story.

The book was published in 2007 by the Vremya publishing house in Moscow and has received two national literature prizes. Stas illustrated the story with his own drawings, several of which are reproduced here. Aye-aye

Lion tamarin

Red-breasted goose 18 ... and of Gerald Durrell

Shubhobroto Ghosh made friends with many other colourful ([email protected]) characters: Ulysses the Scops owl and graduated from the ITC in 1999. He Quasimodo the pigeon in My Family and describes here how he first became Other Animals; Claudius the tapir and aware of Gerald Durrell through his Whiskers the emperor tamarin in books. This is an edited version of an ; gorillas Nandi, article first published in March 1995, in Npongo and Jambo, and Oscar the VOICES, The Statesman in School. orangutan in . The list is endless and includes humans like Gerald’s family, Larry, Leslie, Margo and I have been fascinated by animals ever Mother. since I can remember. My first meeting with Gerald Durrell took place in the school library when a friend handed me I feel that Gerald Durrell portrayed the a copy of Three Singles to Adventure. human race as it looked to him. Perhaps that is what made his books so On reaching enjoyable. His last book, Marrying off home I Mother, was sentimental but it still jumped at the provides us with a fine picture of human book and had nature. He not only loved animals but the joy of enjoyed life and wanted us to enjoy it journeying to with him. British Guyana with my hero. I I had one more dream to fulfil – to get went past associated with Gerald’s zoo, the magical rain Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust (as it forests full of was then). That dream was realised in birds and October, 1991. beasts of every colour Gerry, the little boy in golden Corfu, I and hope you can hunt for dung beetles in description. I heaven. was with Durrell when he caught teguxins, sloths, eels, iguanas, and, of course, Amos, the giant anteater.

Seven days seemed too short a period with Durrell but that was the introduction to a friend – who would be Bruno Melim my hero, mentor, guru and guide for the next six years until his death in January 1995.

As I grew up, to the consternation of my parents and relatives, my interest in animals, far from abating, grew stronger by the day, and with it grew the friendship with Gerald Durrell. I slowly got hold of more Durrell books and The statue of Gerald Durrell in Jersey. 19 Durrell Conservation Learning Network The Durrell graduate network was able to utilise enough of the network to established in the early 1990s. We now benefit. The site is accessible to network have getting on for 1800 people on our members via a password. database, and with the launch of our new web-based network we hope we As well as the internet home for the will be able to maintain regular contact network, a first regional meeting is with a large proportion of them. proposed for 2010 and north-east India has been suggested for the venue. An ITC listserve was first established in 2000 to allow us to pass on useful Network mission The DCLN aims to information and for graduates to use as help ITC graduates to turn their a means of keeping in touch and conservation training into conservation getting support for the issues they were actions through technical support and facing in their own work. After a recent encouragement. rethink of the best way both for the ITC to keep in touch with its graduates, and The web-based network site was to develop connections between launched in October 2009 and offers graduates so that they can help each several new ways of communicating. A other, we have now launched the news section allows both the ITC and Durrell Conservation Learning Network. graduates to pass on ideas for funding, contribute news about conservation In order to be effective, training issues, and celebrate activities and courses must be part of a continual achievements. Discussion forums will process of capacity building. The Durrell help promote peer learning, generate network has the great strength of being new ideas and provide technical developed from people who have all advice and support, while a been involved in the training downloads section makes documents programme in some capacity. Its main such as articles and application forms aim is to be an information exchange: easily accessible. as well as graduates from Durrell training programmes, we will be inviting A searchable database of network Durrell staff, members of partner members will be added to the website organisations, and other conservation in 2010, so that members can find other professionals who express interest to graduates in their professional and join. These are Durrell’s Army - a geographic areas. powerful force for change.

2009: the new network In 2009 funds were secured from the HDH Wills 1965 Please join! All graduates of ITC Charitable Trust to promote the courses can join the network, and network and support the development ultimately its success depends on of a new internet-based site, linked to you! If you are not already the ITC webpage.The aim was to registered, please sign up via the establish a system that is simple and graduate network section of Durrell’s user-friendly, so that less skilled internet website – www.durrell.org/network users or those with limited access will be

20 Durrell Conservation Award 2009: the winners

The Durrell Conservation Award is Preference was given to projects which available to graduates of the ITC who met the following criteria: are members of the network. The focus - Clear conservation benefits of the Award is to support individuals - High likelihood of success and to help them to become more - Clear benefits for the applicant in effective conservation biologists. terms of professional capacity Grants may be used to launch a new building initiative or continue an existing project. - Support the mission of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust A total of £3000 was available for the 2009 funding cycle and applications We are delighted to announce the were accepted in three categories: three winners of the 2009 awards: Rathin Barman, Eric Ramirez Bravo - Conservation projects and Kanchana Weerakoon. You can - Equipment read more about their projects - Capacity building overleaf.

21 Conservation projects

Rathin Barman, India (DESMAN 2009; [email protected])

Save Eastern Swamp Deer from Extinction Threat - A Pilot Study With about 600 individuals left in a single population in Kaziranga National Park in India, the eastern swamp deer Cervus duvaucelii ranjitsinhi is facing the threat of extinction, and creating a second population in a safer habitat has become a top priority. Manas National Park, where the species existed until the late 1980s, has been identified as a suitable location. Although the deer became locally extinct in Manas as a result of poaching during a period of unrest, peace has returned to the region, the habitat is probably intact and a reintroduction is planned.

Rathin’s project involves a pilot study to obtain information ahead of the reintroduction programme. He will survey potential habitat for the species in Manas National Park; study habitat utilisation by eastern swamp deer living in Kaziranga National Park for comparison; assess the health of the parent population in Kaziranga; record and evaluation protection measures in Manas; engage stakeholders and decision makers involved in the planning process; list potential problems and threats and methods of overcoming them; and list the official formalities that need to be observed so that the reintroduction project can be properly planned and executed.

Equipment

Eric Ramirez Bravo, Mexico (DESMAN2007; [email protected])

Carnivores in Cerro Colorado in Tehuacán, Puebla, Central Mexico

When the Biosphere Reserve of Tehuacan-Cuicatlan in Mexico was established, an area of 22,425 ha known as Cerro Colorado was left out despite its high importance for conservation and the possibility that it could serve as a corridor for several species in the region. Local people are interested in having the area declared protected and included in the management programme as they will benefit in terms of government aid, and have agreed to start a monitoring programme on their properties.

The area is especially important as there are historical reports of jaguars in the area. Confirmation of the presence of jaguars would modify the current

22 distribution of the species and help to indicate the existence of a corridor in the area, part of a corridor that in theory connects populations in northern and southern Mexico.

Camera traps and transects will be used to record the mammal species present in the area. Monitoring will be done during the dry season. The cameras will be placed along trails, dry river beds and dirt roads at a height of 30-40 cm and left for a month, after which they will be rotated to different sites in order to cover the most terrain possible. Photos will be used to determine relative densities of the species, and in the case of species where it is possible to recognize individuals, densities will be calculated. The results will be integrated with those obtained by other groups and presented to the state authorities in order to justify the creation of the protected area.

Capacity building

Kanchana Weerakoon, Sri Lanka (DESMAN 1999, ISM 2009; [email protected]

Scientific Publication Writing Course

Kanchana has been involved in various scientific research projects for the past eight years, some species-specific and others habitat or community-based. The organisation she started, Eco-Friendly Volunteers (ECO-V) has just run its first training course for young people.

The results of the projects carried out by Kanchana and ECO-V have been used in local awareness programmes and published as local project reports and some have been presented at international conferences on conservation biology. In order to gain more international recognition for ECO-V’s work, Kanchana now wants to develop her scientific writing skills so that her team’s research results will be accepted for publication in standard journals, enabling ECO-V to communicate more effectively with the international conservation community.

Kanchana hopes to have papers accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and for presentation at international conferences within six months of completing the course.

You can read more about ECO-V’s activities on its blog: http://ecofriendlyvolunteers.blogspot.com/

Details of the next funding cycle, (www.durrell.org/network), where for 2010, will be announced on you will also be able to download the graduate network application forms.

23 Contact us:

International Training Centre E-mail: [email protected] Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Tel: +44 (0)1534 860037 Trinity Fax: +44 (0)1534 860001 Jersey JE3 5BP www.durrell.org Channel Islands

24 Cover photo by Deepani Jayantha