RATEL The Journal of the Association of British and Irish Wild Animal Keepers Volume 36, No.2 June 2009
Ratel is sponsored by Twycross Zoo www.abwak.org www.twycrosszoo.com The Association of British & Irish Wild Animal Keepers (ABWAK) ABWAK is a non-profit making organisation catering for those interested in and involved with the keeping of wild animals. The aim of the association is: “To achieve and advance the highest standards of excellence in wild animal care” We believe that: • We are the voice of animal keepers in Britain & Ireland for whom excellent animal welfare is the highest priority • We can have a significant impact in welfare issues by bringing keepers and stakeholders together and by being a strong representative & consultative body • We can make a significant contribution to the training & development of animal keepers thus raising standards and increasing the recognition of wild animal collections • By developing the skills & expertise of our members we can make a unique contribution to conservation Membership rates for 2009 (membership runs from 1st Jan to 31st Dec): Professional or Associate £25 Joint Professional £45 Overseas £45 Subscription to RATEL only £25 Overseas Subscription to RATEL only £35 Subscription is for ONE copy of each issue of RATEL and does not give membership privileges or rights President: Stewart Muir www.abwak.org Vice Presidents: Jonathan Barzdo; Rick Green; Dr Miranda Stevenson ABWAK COUNCIL (2009) Acting Chair: Ross Snipp, Flamingo Land Honorary Treasurer: Richard Barnett, NEZS Chester Zoo Editor: Stephen Woollard, RZSS Edinburgh Zoo Acting Honorary Secretary: Marilyn Beech, Myerscough College Symposium Secretary: Laura Gardner, Leeds Castle Aviary Membership Secretary.: Alaina Macri, RZSS Edinburgh Zoo Other Members of ABWAK Council: Lynsey Jones, NEZS Chester Zoo Paul Howse, NEZS Chester Zoo Richard Champion, Reaseheath College Lesley Harmer Brendan Walsh, Dublin Zoo Mairee Vincent, Leeds Castle Aviary Chris Mitchell, South Sta ordshire College, Rodbaston Campus Lindsay Winwood, Capel Manor College John Ray Jamie Graham, ZSL
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RATEL is published four times a year: March, June, September, December. (Deadlines for submission 23rd Jan; 23rd April; 23rd July; 23rd Oct). We will try to publish your material as soon after receiving it as possible. All material should be sent to: Stephen P. Woollard, Editor RATEL, c/o RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, 134 Corstorphine Road, EDINBURGH, EH12 6TS Email: [email protected] Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the editor or ABWAK.
Advertising Full, half and quarter page advertising space is available (colour or black and white) – contact the Editor for rates. © Copyright 2009 Association of British and Irish Wild Animal Keepers ISSN 0305 – 1218 Contents Vol.36. No.2 June 2009
From the editor 2 ABWAK Symposium 2009 report 3 Zoo News - caracal lynx enclosure, Galloway 4
Parent rearing of hooded pitta (Pitta sordida mulleri) 5 Nicholas Ackroyd Living with elephants in Assam: a community based 9 Cover Photograph approach to conservation T. Davies, A. Zimmermann, S.Wilson, N. Hazarika, J.Chakrabarty “elephant enrichment” ABWAK Support for ICZ 13 Lawrence Bates West Midlands Safari Park Feeding enrichment on a shoestring 14 Lawrence Bates The use of visitors and school groups to create animal 18 enrichment devices James Silvey Searching for the Sulawesi crested macaque 20 Nicky Jago Visit to Mabula Ground Hornbill Conservation Project 24 Jane Finch It’s not all black and white 27 Terri Elizabeth Hill ABWAK Zoo Visits Programme
Writing for rAtEL We welcome a wide range of articles for publication, for example covering: • Animal husbandry – techniques, developments, reports • Zoo News and Developments • Conservation – news, projects, support and activities • Enrichment – for a wide range of species • Diet/Nutrition – research, developments and advancement • Role of the keeper – studbooks, TAGs, EEPs • ANCMZA and other courses - student projects undertaken Articles should be submitted to the editor (contact details opposite) preferably in electronic format, however, typed work will also be considered. Photos and illustrations are also welcomed either within articles or as separate files. Articles may be returned to the author for modification /revision if this is felt necessary and we reserve the right to edit articles as appropriate or not to publish. Feature articles are usually 4-6 sides of A4 (including illustrations); however, shorter articles are also welcomed together with news items and updates. Articles and photographs for the cover may be submitted at any time of year. N.B. All articles must be your own work and all photographs/illustrations properly credited. You must also tell us if your article has been published elsewhere. If published the article is copyright of ABWAK and the author and should not be reproduced without permission. Send articles and photos by email or by post to Stephen Woollard, Editor RATEL, c/o RZSS Edinburgh Zoo. 1 From the editor Conservation, education & research in a time of recession - a necessity or a luxury?
There is no doubt that we are in the midst of a of the UK population will stay at home this year and recession and financial hardship is facing more make local visits. people this year than in the past decade. It is Zoos across the UK have enjoyed good weather also clear that this is a global situation. over Easter - with significantly more visitors than Unemployment, lack of credit and investment, Easter 08, hopefully that is a sign of the year ahead increasing taxation and costs are all factors that can and the continuation and expansion of the significant have a negative impact upon the leisure ‘business’ and real contribution zoos do make to conservation, which provides the funding for UK zoos. education and research. This then is a time when the commitment given by UK At the time of writing the outbreak of “swine fever” is zoos to conservation, education and research may be a possible risk to visitor attractions if pandemic status tested. If zoos themselves feel the pinch and cut back, occurs, we can only hope this doesn’t happen, but it how many will be tempted to cut their conservation, is an indication of the unpredictability of events that education and research budgets and funding now or can impact on our work, and the need for us to ‘save for next year? for a rainy day’ as well, so that our work can continue in the long-term and ride through ‘rough times’. One of the biggest problems for in-situ conservation is securing funding. Whilst one-off donations are most I am delighted that this issue of RATEL has welcome, what most projects need is long term and a diversity of articles covering the range of activities consistent support. of keepers and zoos, from enrichment for elephants If zoos can provide long-term reliable funds to projects, to husbandry of hooded pitta, and field conservation the money will go further than one-off donations, simply & research in Assam, Sualwesi and South Africa, by enabling project teams to devote their efforts more to taxonomy and ancestry for breeding programme to their conservation, education or research work, management for plain’s zebra. and not be chasing funds all the time. There are also Thank you to all our contributors. advantages of building community relationships and real partners over a period of time that may lead to Stephen P. Woollard, Editor projects becoming self-sustaining and supported by the people in the area in which they take place. ABWAK Council News The continued commitment of zoos to in-situ work Recently after our AGM at Dublin Zoo there have (both at home and abroad) is even more essential been a few changes to the Association’s Council when other sources of funds and logisitcal support and the roles of some individuals. Please see are difficult to obtain. The sharing of skills, equipment inside front cover for the up-to-date council list and and advice is an under-rated but very important part contact information. of the support zoos give to conservation, education Ross Snipp has taken on the role of Acting Chair and research, so its not just about cash support. and Marilyn Beech as Honorary Secretary. We There is a brighter side to the current situation. The are also delighted to welcome back onto Council pound is weaker, the euro and dollar stronger, so Laura Gardner into the new positon of Symposium there is potential for more foreign visitors to the UK, Secretary. and at the same time a greater likelihood that more
2009 Events and Campaigns Darwin 200 Celebrations across the UK www.darwin200.org EAZA European Carnivore Campaign www.eaza.net www.carnivorecampaign.eu Year of the Gorilla www.yog2009.org www.abwak.org International Congress of Zookeeping www.iczoo.org 2 ABWAK Symposium Report 2009 - Dublin Zoo, Ireland
In 2007 the decision was taken to change ABWAK from the Association of British Wild Animal Keepers to The Association of British and Irish Wild Animal Keepers. With arrangements already made for the 2008 symposium, it seemed only fitting to hold our 2009 symposium in Ireland, and on 7th and 8th March 2009 over 100 delegates flocked to Dublin Zoo. The weekend was a massive success and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We were given behind the scenes tours of the zoo to see the developments which are being undertaken, from the state of the art, world class elephant exhibit, to the African Savannah habitat, which is due to open later in the year. A wide range of presentations were given over the two days from hand rearing and training to conservation projects and zoo developments, and we welcomed speakers from as far afield as Switzerland. We were given a real taste of Ireland during the conference dinner on the Saturday evening, no I’m not talking about the Guinness, but a performance from a group of local Irish Dancers, who were fantastic and really set the scene for the rest of the night. Staff at Dublin Zoo also organised a silent auction, which I am proud to say raised a total of €825 which is being donated to the EAZA European Carnivore Campaign. There was a real sense of growth and professionalism from the Association at the symposium this year, not least enhanced by Dublin Zoo’s involvement in the event, but also through our own hard work over the past year, with new pop up advertising and literature stands, a brand new range of ABWAK merchandise and the fantastic new look Ratel Journal, it was clear to see how far we have come in the past 12 months. A big thank you goes out to Dublin Zoo for their hospitality, and special thanks to Brendan for his work on the ground, before and during the symposium, and thanks to all our speakers without whom there would have been no programme, to the ABWAK Council for pulling everything together, and finally to all the delegates for their support. See you in 2010 at Flamingo Land.
Flamingo Land Enrichment Newsletters Available During the ABWAK conference at Dublin Zoo, we presented a talk on the environmental enrichment committee at Flamingo Land. Our committee produces a newsletter and, although we brought several with us, we unfortunately ran out of copies whilst we were there. If you or your organisation would like to receive a copy please contact us on [email protected] and we will send you one out! Louise Naylor and Faye Dandy, Zookeepers, Flamingo Land 3 ZOO NEWS New Caracal Enclosure, Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park John Denerley Conservation Manager Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park, Lochfergus Plantation, Kirkcudbright, Dumfries & Galloway
A major revamp on the previous wallabies’ enclosure has been completed for the caracal lynx (Felis caracal) after we have managed to achieve the fundraising of £10,000. The size has increased by six times from its former enclosure. Many thanks to the team of nine staff from Chester Zoo who helped build a strong enclosure for the two caracal lynxes. We are a small team at Galloway and needed extra hands and so the Chester team undertook this DIY SOS project with us. This is our biggest project since our opening in 2003. There are only a few caracal lynx in UK collections.
4 Parent rearing of the hooded pitta (Pitta sordida mulleri) in a mixed species, walk-through exhibit at ZSL London Zoo. Nicholas Ackroyd, Bird Keeper, ZSL London Zoo A version of this article has also been submitted to the Avicultural Society and its journal the Avicultural Magazine. www.avisoc.co.uk
Abstract In 2008 ZSL London Zoo successfully parent reared two hooded pitta chicks (Pitta sordida mulleri) in the recently refurbished Blackburn Pavilion tropical bird house. A key factor in the success of the parent rearing was a species specific feeding system. This provided an unlimited supply of earthworms and other rearing diet to the parent birds even when keeping staff were not present. The birds successfully incubated and reared the chicks to independence despite being on show to the public in a newly planted, walk through, mixed species aviary.
The hooded pitta in the wild The hooded pitta is found in eastern and south eastern Current housing at ZSL London Zoo Asia as far south as Malaysia. They are generally At ZSL London Zoo a pair of hooded pitta are encountered in forested woodland habitats including currently housed in the recently restored Blackburn overgrown plantations, orchards and scrub up to Pavilion tropical bird house. They are kept in a large, around 2000m in altitude. mixed species, walk-through exhibit. The enclosure In appearance they are small birds approximately 16 to size is approximately 50m wide by 20m deep by 19cm long. They have predominantly green upperparts 7m high. It houses more than 50 birds from over 20 with a black head and beak. The upperwing-coverts different species. The enclosure is not multi-taxa, are azure blue. The upper belly and tail are black. The housing only birds. The Blackburn Pavilion is heavily undertail coverts are bright red. They have a large planted and has overhead sprinklers providing white wing patch that is visible in flight and display. misting and daily rain showers. A large central pond and waterfall provide drinking and bathing water for Their wild diet includes invertebrates and invertebrate the birds. larvae including ants, beetles, earthworms, snails and others. They may take some fruit and berries As the pittas are housed in a mixed species exhibit encountered on the ground. it is difficult to quantify exactly what they are eating. Food dishes are placed throughout the enclosure When breeding in the wild, both adults build a ball and include the ZSL fish mix and egg mix, chopped shaped nest of loosely woven bamboo leaves, roots fruit and pulses. The birds also have access to and grass lined with softer material. It is constructed the diets of other species. The pittas readily take on the ground in thick cover. There may be a flattened livefood from scatter feeds, which are given pathway in front of the nest. three to four times during the day. 5 Successful breeding, nest building and incubation This system ensured the adult pittas had a ready 27.08.08 Pair seen mating and nest building. supply of livefood when keeping staff were present and more importantly when they were not. 30.08.08 The adult birds were seen sitting on the nest. The nest was not checked to avoid disturbance. Brooding the young 01.09.08 4 eggs were seen in the nest. The parent pittas were first observed carrying food 14.09.08 Parents were observed carrying food to the to the nest site on 14/09/08 so this was assumed to nest, so it was assumed the chicks had hatched. be the hatch date, day 0. Due to the unsuccessful 15.09.08 2 chicks and 1 unhatched egg were seen on previous breeding attempts the nest was not the nest. disturbed to check for chicks. Two chicks were Introduction of the “species specific feeding seen at the mouth of the nest on day 1 while both system” and target feeding adult birds parents were off the nest foraging. Due to competition with other species in the enclosure, On days 0 and 1 after hatch the parents were not keepers felt the adult pittas would not find enough seen feeding the young often. By day 3 the male livefood to sustain the developing chicks. To resolve this was doing nearly all the feeding. He would jump problem, approximately one week prior to the chicks into one of the livefood buckets, catch a worm, hop hatching a livefood feeding system and target feeding out again, then spend an extended period of time programme was established in the enclosure. Buckets breaking the worm up into small pieces. During (approximately 25cm in diameter and 25cm deep) were the initial stages earthworms were the preferred dug into the ground at two points where the pittas were food fed to the chicks. Earthworms were not gut often seen foraging. The lips of the buckets were level loaded and this appeared to have little effect on the with the substrate and a small amount (less than 1 cm) development of the chicks. Gut loaded mealworms of substrate was placed in the bottom of the buckets. In were offered 4 to 5 times daily. Both adults would the week leading up to the hatch date the pittas were also readily take crickets and chopped pinkies when fed a large number of live dendrobaena worms in the target fed. Keepers believed this varied livefood buckets as well as being target fed chopped pinkie diet aided the chicks digestion, helping to stop gut mice and other livefood in and around the buckets. impaction. The consistency and frequency of faecal This encouraged the birds to identify the buckets as a sacs produced by the chicks throughout the rearing source of food. showed no signs of digestive problems. During this time bouts of feeding were followed by extended periods of brooding, often with both parents in the nest. The female began foraging on day 3 after hatch but was not observed feeding the chicks until the afternoon on day 4 after hatch. For these first days, when out of the nest, the female spent much of her time foraging for food for herself, bathing, preening and gathering nesting material. Closer to the fledge date both parents were regularly feeding the chicks larger meals although at a lower frequency than in the first 7 days. Earthworms were still the livefood of Although the pittas were initially hesitant about jumping choice. The parents would vary the chick’s diet with down into the buckets, within days they were using mealworms and crickets when they were target fed them regularly. Other species in the aviary would not these items. Faecal sacs were produced by the enter the buckets, although Montserrat orioles (Icterus chicks regularly and were removed from the nest oberi) and crested wood partridges (Rollulus roulroul) by the parents. The parents would hide the sacs in would occasionally follow the pittas to the buckets and the drain grating at the exit of the enclosure. steal the food that the pittas carried out. The pittas Fledge would immediately jump back into the bucket to get more food if it was stolen. The buckets could be loaded Time from hatch to fledge for hooded pitta is 16 with worms in the evening to supply food through the days giving an estimated fledge date of 29.09.08. night and in the early morning. During the day keepers 13 days after hatch (27.09.08) the chicks were would target feed the two adults with live food as well. noted to be moving in the nest. This chick was moved to a holding enclosure to stop aggression but quickly lost condition and died. The second chick (sexed as a female) was later moved into another holding enclosure with an unrelated male and is currently doing well. Conclusions Keeping staff felt the bucket livefood feeder was very important in the success of the parent rearing process. The constant supply of livefood allowed the parents to feed the young at liberty throughout the day. Although quick to find and eat food, the pittas are unable to compete with many other species housed in a mixed exhibit. We believe this method of livefood feeding tailored to the The chicks fledged on the 28.09.08 at approximately pittas method of foraging allowed the parents 8.30am. to get enough food to the chicks. This method of targeted livefood feeding could be applied to all A member of staff remained in the aviary for much of species kept in mixed exhibits. By finding a way of the day, out of uniform. They noted the position of the supplying a specific species extra livefood during chicks and feeding carried out by the parents. Both breeding that other birds will not use, the success parents fed the chicks frequently. rate of parent rearing in mixed exhibits could be The male was observed calling during the afternoon increased. and showed far more aggression toward other species Minimal disturbance of the nesting birds is in the exhibit. He was observed making aggressive advisable if possible. However the adult pittas flights at the sunbitterns (Eurypyga helias), Montserrat seem comfortable with keepers and public around. orioles (Icterus oberi) and blue-bellied rollers (Coracias Monitoring of the nest to record developments is a cyanogaster). The female was not as aggressive and useful tool and keepers should use their judgement spent the majority of her time feeding the chicks. regarding how much disturbance will be tolerated The parents continued to use the feeding buckets after by the birds. Determining accurate hatch dates in the fledge of the chicks. The buckets were topped up a mixed exhibit enables the livefood system to be three times a day and ample food was left in them installed and the birds to acclimatise to it before overnight. the chicks hatch. Independence With more collections keeping species in mixed exhibits it is important to increase breeding success The chicks were first seen taking livefood themselves in this style of enclosure. We believe numbers of 16 days after hatch (30/09/08). However, they were not young birds successfully reared to independence seen using the food dishes in the aviary. The chicks could be increased by targeting livefood and became very interested in the keeping staff whenever rearing diet to breeding species with species they entered the aviary with buckets. They would come specific feeding systems. The hooded pitta has to the keepers doing livefood feeds and try to take food recently been upgraded to a European Studbook from the hand, although this was discouraged. (ESB) monitored species. Increasing the number The pair began nest building again the day after the of chicks reared would aid in the studbooks goal of chicks fledged (29/09/08). The female had laid 4 eggs creating a stable European population in captivity. by 11/10/08, when she was found dead in the enclosure. The eggs were removed from the nest and artificially incubated. Three chicks hatched successfully. However Acknowledgements the chicks did not survive past the third day of hand Thanks to John Ellis, Mick Tiley, Adrian Walls, rearing. Paul Atkin and all staff and volunteers on the ZSL The parent reared chicks were feather sexed, rung and London Zoo bird section for their assistance with wormed on 02/10/08. Around the 10/12/08 the adult the rearing and documentation of this breeding. male became aggressive, chasing the youngsters. One chick spent more time around the male and was consequently being chased more often. 7
Living with elephants in Assam: a community-based approach to conservation Tammy E Davies1,*, Alexandra Zimmermann1,2, Scott Wilson1, Nandita Hazarika3, Joydeep Chakrabarty3. 1) North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, UK 2) Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, University of Oxford, UK 3) EcoSystems-India, Guwahati, Assam, India *corresponding author: [email protected]
Introduction communities which, within the last decade, have resorted to poisoning and electrocuting elephants The North of England Zoological Society, which in desperate attempts to protect their lives and runs Chester Zoo, has nine major field conservation livelihoods (Gureja et al. 2002). Any species programmes around the world focusing on different negatively impacting upon people’s livelihoods regions or species, one of which is the Asian elephant erodes local support for conservation (Hill 1998) programme, the main component of which is the and therefore mitigating human-wildlife conflict is a Assam Haathi Project (Haathi is Hindi for elephant). conservation priority (Hill et al. 2000). The Assam Haathi Project (AHP) was initiated in 2004 in collaboration with EcoSystems-India, a local Human-elephant conflict (HEC) is a complex and Assamese NGO, and was awarded a three-year pervasive problem throughout the elephants’ range Darwin Initiative grant in 2007. in Africa and Asia. One of the major forms of HEC is crop raiding; which can be devastating for the Northeast India is recognised as a high priority area individual farmer as an entire year’s worth of crops for Asian elephant conservation (Choudhury 1999), can be destroyed in one night. Consequently, with Assam harbouring one of the last remaining HEC creates anger towards elephants from the large and viable, yet also most acutely threatened communities who live with them, which has lead to Asian elephant populations (c.5000). The current farmers killing elephants or turning a blind eye to population of 28 million people in Assam, coupled elephant poaching (Parker et al. 2007). Ultimately with the increasing demand for land rights, is resulting HEC undermines support for elephant conservation in habitat fragmentation through unsustainable and casts an ominous shadow over the future of extraction of forest products and slash-and-burn elephant conservation outside protected areas. agriculture. The most visible and immediate effect of Long-term strategies for elephant habitat restoration this is direct conflict between elephants and people and conservation are needed, but meanwhile (Tchamba 1996; Kushwaha & Hazarika 2004). community tolerance levels are rapidly deteriorating. Asian communities traditionally and culturally revere This needs to be urgently redressed so that rural wildlife, especially elephants, who are entrenched in communities re-gain their willingness to support and the Hindu and Buddhist religions. An indicator of the contribute to regional conservation efforts. severity of this conflict is reflected in the actions of the 9 In this paper we discuss how a community-based Conversely, visual tracking is an excellent way to approach can be used to integrate research with involve communities and also provides indirect grass-roots conflict mitigation, using the Assam Haathi education about elephants and conservation. Project as a case study. The AHP follows the latter method and actively The Assam Haathi Project involves local communities in all aspects of The AHP aims to promote extensive community monitoring elephant movements and conflict participation at all levels and focuses specifically on reporting. A team of 33 community members were the conflict mitigation need of the larger elephant selected and trained to enumerate HEC incidents conservation challenge, while also conducting research and employed by the project as field monitors; this on elephant spatial needs to determine solutions for prevents the problem of over-exaggeration by the long-term land-use strategies. farmers (Siex & Struhsaker 1999). Field monitors are stationed throughout the study area to ensure Study Area adequate coverage of the elephant range. Field monitors visit all areas where elephants have been reported, recording locations using a GPS unit, and verifying any HEC reports. Incident details are recorded on a standardized reporting form (cf Hoare 1999) including: elephant group size and composition, herd identification (if known), time of incident, any damage caused to crops and property, the mitigation methods used, and any human or elephant injuries. This low-tech approach facilitates repeatability across villages and districts and is easy to expand. In addition, it is self-sufficient and sustainable and can be continued by the The AHP works in two districts of Assam – Sonitpur communities without any outside input. This and Goalpara - both of which have high levels of HEC. extensive community involvement approach Within these districts AHP works intensively with 825 encourages leadership and responsibility at households from six villages and less intensively the community level, and promotes knowledge with a further 26 villages amounting to over 5000 sharing and capacity building. households. Both districts contain a mosaic of land-use and vegetation, including rice cultivation, homestead The use of GPS allows the conflict and movement gardens, villages, tea plantations, degraded secondary data to be mapped using Geographical Information forest and protected areas. The study site in Sonitpur System (GIS) software. This has enabled the district covers an area of 1,175km2 and is bordered identification of migration routes, conflict hotspots by the protected areas of Nameri National Park and and seasonal variation. The crop raiding “season” Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary to the north and in Assam runs for nine months from June to the Brahmaputra River to the south. The Goalpara February, with a peak from October to December district study site is a 1,325km2 transect delimited to coinciding with the harvesting of rice. As found in the south by the forested Garo Hills and to the north other studies on HEC; crop raiding takes place by the Brahmaputra River. The majority of people from late evening to early morning (Sitati at al. within our study sites are employed in land-based 2003; Venkataraman et al. 2005). There are activities; including farmers, tea-estate workers and two identified herds within Goalpara; one with a daily labourers. Much of the farming is subsistence mean herd size of 21 individuals and a recorded and therefore the effects of HEC impact heavily on the maximum of 50 individuals and the other herd has livelihoods of the local people. a mean herd size of 22 and a recorded maximum of 35. The Goalpara herds predominantly use the Community-based elephant monitoring forested Garo Hills to the south of the study site, In order to develop strategies for HEC management, moving north to the forested area by the river. it is essential to understand the spatial and temporal Both herds are found more frequently around patterns of crop-raiding and elephant movement. agricultural areas during crop harvesting season. Spatial monitoring of elephants can be achieved Seven herds have been recorded in Sonitpur, in various ways, ranging from expensive satellite with the average herd sizes ranging from three to telemetry studies to simply following elephants on 13 individuals. Most of the herds in Sonitpur leave foot or by vehicle. While telemetry provides accurate the protected forests in the north around June/ and ample data, it does not usually lend itself to July and travel to the banks of the Brahmaputra community involvement and is highly donor-dependent. River in the south, using tea-estates along the way for refuge. (Herd movements can be viewed at www. Most of these methods work better in combination wildlifetracker.co.uk/ElephantTracking). Understanding and communities are encouraged to alternate their the migration patterns of the herds and the landscape use to prevent elephants becoming habituated to variables which facilitate elephant movement enables one particular method. The losses incurred by the identification of conflict hotspots and prediction of elephants can be vast; the total losses of crops crop-raiding incidences, which allows intervention work and property from 2005-2008 in the AHP study to be targeted accordingly. areas amounted to almost £98,000 (damage illustrated). Thus, response to the mitigations has Community-based crop protection been positive with communities taking an active There have been various studies into how to mitigate role in their use and improving or adapting the HEC, and empowering the local community to take methods to best suit their needs. There has been responsibility of the problem is considered the most an observed reduction in crop loss in the Sonitpur sustainable solution (O’Connell et al. 2000; Osborn district from 227ha in the 2005/06 season to & Parker 2003). The AHP works with communities to 58ha for the 2007/08. Among the methods we develop intervention methods that enable them to have tried, we found hand-held spotlights to be protect their property, crops and family through non- the most popular option. In response to demand, lethal, low-cost and locally available means. There are the AHP developed a spotlight with a voltage different types of interventions, both passive and active regulator to withstand the fluctuations in the that generally fall into three main categories: local electricity supply (illustrated). Spotlights are 1) Early warning systems: alert villagers in advance that especially effective when used in conjunction with elephants are approaching, e.g. trip wire; watchtower. other methods such as noise, fencing and chilli smoke. 2) Barriers; prevent elephants from entering a particular area, e.g. trench; electric fence; chilli fence; buffer Community involvement is key for zone. conservation 3) Deterrents; discourage elephants from entering an Community-based conservation has been area and can also be used to chase elephants away, projected as the most practical approach to stem e.g. chilli smoke; spotlights. biodiversity loss in developing countries (Mehta & Kellert 1998), however, working successfully with communities to achieve mutually beneficial results poses numerous challenges. 11 Gaining the communities’ trust and engagement directly involved with AHP, such as growing chilli, through proving to the community that you are here building watch towers and testing trip wires. to help them, without any ulterior motives is one of the However, community-based HEC mitigation is biggest challenges and an important first step. This may ultimately only a fire-fighting solution and does take considerable time and does not usually produce not address the root cause of the problem. measurable results, but is critical to ensure long-term Therefore, once a participatory HEC management success. As learnt form the Assam Haathi Project, approach has been established and community ensuring good communication with the communities tolerance levels have steadied, the real challenge through regular meetings is important. In addition, begins: how to secure the long-term survival meetings should be followed with action, which the AHP of elephants on a landscape scale. Long-term achieved through employing and engaging community management plans should be devised from spatial members, which also helped to spread awareness data on elephant movement, but involving the of the project. Communication should be maintained local communities is also essential. As with most throughout and interim results from the collected data management strategies, communities should should be shared with communities regularly. This be involved in the decision making process and not only updates them on progress, but also helps participatory HEC management projects facilitate in understanding the bigger picture of human-wildlife this through developing the necessary structure conflict. Another key component for the success of and communication pathways. a community-based project is creating opportunities for leadership and responsibility at the community Conserving the Asian elephant is important, not level. For the AHP, once the community have decided only to enable the survival of ancient traditions and on the mitigation they wish to employ, field monitors beliefs, but also to maintain eco-system function. will coordinate and provide training to the villagers. Ensuring there is adequate habitat conserved This delegates responsibility to the community level for elephants through halting the fragmentation and minimises the potential of language or general and destruction of forests is a priority. However, misunderstandings. adequately protecting land requires legislation, enforcement and funds; which are often lacking The AHP is becoming demand driven, with communities in developing countries. The AHP is now working approaching the project and requesting assistance. In towards developing a long-term management plan order to meet this demand and facilitate increasing the in Assam and while there are many options and scope of the project, the AHP has produced a handbook potential challenges, the only certain aspect is “Living with Elephants in Assam”. This includes that all stakeholders will need to be unequivocal illustrated step-by-step methods on how to construct, in their aims and approach to achieve successful use and maintain the interventions tried and tested by conservation of the Asian elephant and its habitat. the project. It also contains background on elephant It is unlikely there will be a panacea for human- ecology, the causes of HEC and what not to do when elephant conflict, and as long as people continue to chasing elephants away. “Living with Elephants” has practice agriculture in areas shared with elephants been distributed to 45 villages in Assam and in order the conflicts will never be eradicated. However, to determine its effectiveness as an outreach tool, through raising awareness and education of household surveys are being completed pre and post non-lethal mitigation methods the conflict can be handbook distribution. managed and the impact reduced. The Future
It can be difficult to determine the success of For more information on the project please visit conservation projects with long-term aims, however www.assamhaathiproject.com, (the “Living for any project with a community-based component with Elephants” handbook will be available in a less quantifiable but essential measure of success English as a PDF from the website in due course). can be determined at the community level itself. Four years into the AHP, it is difficult to determine whether it References: has had any significant benefits for the Asian elephant, Choudhury, A.U. (1999). Status and conservation of the although there have been improved attitudes towards Asian elephant Elephas maximus in north-eastern India. elephants in project villages and reduced elephant Mammal Review. 29:141-173. injury and deaths. But more noticeable is the real Gureja, N., Menon, V., Sarkar, P. & Kyarong, S.S. (2002). and immediate difference to the lives of community Ganesha to Bin Laden: Human-Elephant conflict in members that are living with elephants in the project Sontipur district of Assam. Wildlife Trust of India, New target areas; through saving human lives, reducing Delhi. 58pp. serious injury and damage to property and crops. In Hill, C.M. (1998). Conflicting attitudes towards addition, there has been spontaneous adoption elephants around Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda. 12 of interventions by neighbouring villages not Environmental Conservation 25; 244-250. Hill, C.M., Osborn, F.V. & Plumptre, A.J. (2000). Human-wildlife conflict: identifying the problem and possible solutions. Albertine Rift Technical Report Series, No.1, Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, USA. Hoare, R.E. 1999. A Standardized Data Collection and Analysis Protocol for Human–Elephant Conflict Situation in Africa. IUCN African Elephant Specialist Group, Nairobi, Kenya. Kushwaha, S.P.S. & Hazarika R. (2004). Assessment of habitat loss in Kameng and Sonitpur Elephant Reserves. Current Science 87 (10) 1447-1453. Mehta, J.N. & Kellert, S.R. (1998). Local attitudes toward community-based conservation policy and programmes in Nepal: a case study in the Makalu Barun conservation area. Environmental Conservation 25 (4) 320-333. Osborn, F.V. & Parker G.E. (2003). Towards an integrated approach for reducing the conflict between elephants and people: a review of current research. Oryx 37 (1) 1-5. Parker, G.E., Osborn, F.V., Hoare, R.E. & Niskanen, L.S. (eds). 2007. Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation: A Training Course for Community-Based Approaches in Africa. Participant’s Manual. Elephant Pepper Development Trust, Livingstone, Zambia and IUCN/SSC AfESG, Nairobi, Kenya. 76pp. Siex, K.S. & Struhsaker, T.T. 1999. Colobus monkeys and coconuts: a study of perceived human-wildlife conflicts. Journal of Applied Ecology 36: 1009-1020. Sitati, N.W., Walpole, M.J. Smith, J. & Leader-Williams, N. (2003). Predicting spatial aspects of human-elephant conflict. Journal of Applied Ecology, 40; 667-677. Tchamba, M.N. (1996). History and present status of the human/elephant conflict in the Waza-Logone region, Cameroon, West Africa. Biological Conservation 75 (1) 35-41. Venkataraman, A.B., Sandeep, R., Baskaran, N., Roy, M., Madhivanan, A. & Sukumar, R. (2005). Using satellite telemetry to mitigate elephant–human conflict: An experiment in northern West Bengal, India. Current Science 88 (11) 1827-1831.
ABWAK Support for Members to attend ICZ ABWAK is one of the partners of the International Congress of Zookeepers, and we provide support to ICZ. www.iczoo.org We are also able to provide a small level of support for any of our members to attend the ICZ conference in Seattle. If you wish to apply for this small grant please write in 300 words or less why you should be considered for support and quote your membership number and contact details. Send your application to: Richard Barnett, ABWAK Treasurer, c/o NEZS Chester Zoo. email: [email protected] Please note a panel of ABWAK Council will assess applications & their decision is final. CLOSING DATE: 30th June 2009 13 Feeding Enrichment on a Shoestring Lawrence Bates Elephant Keeper, West Midlands Safari Park
Introduction Frequently in zoo keeping the budget for providing animals with enrichment is low or non-existent. Keepers therefore have to come up with ways of enriching the animals that are low cost. With animals such as elephants the problem is compounded, as their large size means that suitable enrichment often has to be on a grand scale. With foraging taking up around 80% of a wild elephants’ time, the provision of food in an absorbing and diverse way is vital in captivity to replicate the animals’ natural behaviour and satisfy its needs. However, finding enough feed to accomplish this without spending too much money can be problematic. The following are some examples of cheap feeding enrichment implemented at West Midlands Safari Park for their 3 African elephants, Loxodonta africana. Browse Although there are large grass paddocks at WMSP which the elephants can graze, this grass is soon consumed, dug up and destroyed – especially in wet weather. Commonly browse is provided to elephants to encourage natural feeding behaviour. It can be difficult to obtain enough browse to do this as few zoos have sufficient trees around that can be harvested regularly and those that do often find the trees are protected. Some zoos have been forced to start buying browse in, but this is expensive and gets worse as the herd size increases. To solve this problem it was decided to set up our own browse plantation of Willow trees (Salix sp.), as these are hardy and fast growing and would provide a self sustaining source of browse for the future. Having no budget to buy trees, we phoned around local garden centres towards the end of July, when some are looking to get rid of unsold stock as their planting season is coming to an end. From this, 150 Willow trees complete with rabbit guards were secured in exchange for 10 free passes to the zoo! A 2 acre area was set aside in a field at the back of the zoo, and a local volunteer group recruited to plant them. The only other equipment needed is a hosepipe to water the young trees in dry weather. After seeing the browse plantation, the gardener decided to add to it and purchased a further 200 trees at 15p a whip (30-40cm cutting). This is a great way to vastly increase the number of trees at little cost. WMSP now has a young plantation of around 400 trees at very little cost, once matured it will become a self sustaining 14 source of browse. 15 Local Help Whilst this plantation is maturing, other immediate sources of trees were explored. With this in mind a meeting was organised with the local forestry commission officer who looks after the Wyre forest down the road from the zoo. After some discussion it was agreed that the zoo could collect any browse that had been cut down in the forest. As the Wyre forest is over 6000 acres, this provided a near endless supply of pre-cut browse. The only problem was that most of the pre-cut branches had been lying on the forest floor for some time and therefore lost most of the leaves. Whilst the elephants would eat these, a supply of fresh browse would be better. The elephant staff organised a day out at the zoo for the forestry commission team to provide an opportunity to build relations and discuss the possibility of obtaining freshly cut trees from them. The team watched the keepers’ routine, had a personalised painting form our female elephant “five” and finished with pictures with the elephants in the paddock. The guys were so impressed with their day out that they agreed to cut trees for us whenever we go up. There are many forestry commission owned sites around the country and quite often these forests will have “weed” species such as silver birch and willow that are waiting to be cleared out. With a bit of persuasion it is possible that zoos could benefit from this like we did. To find your nearest forestry commission area go to www.forestry.gov.uk. Crops Another good source of feeding enrichment is to grow your own crops. A 30m by 10m area was set aside around the back of the elephant house and dung from the elephants was spread over this throughout winter which not only fertilised the ground but smothered and killed the weeds. It was decided to grow maize as this has been fed to zoo elephants before and is fast growing. A bag of maize costs around £50, but this will provide 5 years of crop for the area outlined above (only £10 a year). The fertiliser needs to be turned into the soil before planting which was done by hand (for larger areas a rotivator can be hired for a half day £15) The maize seeds were then planted by hand at the beginning of April. Again the only other equipment needed is a hosepipe if the weather is dry. The maize started to grow after 2 weeks and was fully grown by the end of summer. We then walked the females around to the plantation and let them go. The maize was also cut and thrown in for our male and into all the pens at night. There was such a lot that some was also distributed to other animals around the zoo. Growing crops every year will drain the soil of its nutrients; therefore it is a good idea to rest the area some years to allow the nutrient balance to be restored. We noticed that the crop was a lot less vigorous in the 2nd year, so it has been decided to rest the ground this year to allow it to recover. Fruit Growing your own fruit is a much longer term prospect as it takes time for mature trees to grow. However in the current climate of self-sustainability it is something that most zoos will endorse and should be looked at as a future source of feed. There is a mature apple tree at the back of the elephant house at WMSP and, although only 4m tall, it provides 3 bin-fulls of apples every autumn. Although this is only available seasonally, when it is combined with other sources of feed previously mentioned, it starts to build up a year round supply of free and low-cost feeding enrichment that will help keep your elephants busy. 16 advertisement Zoo Resource Management Foundation Science Degree at Sparsholt College Hampshire
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ppli a nts should ideall ha e a it uilds Advanced National Certificate in the Management o oo nimals o e ui a lent and ha e egula emplo m ent in the o o o mmunit o asso i www.sparsholt.ac.uk ated o u pational a ea he should ha e een emplo e d o at least one e a in a ele a nt animal o lle t ion su h as a o ologi a l pa a ua ium o natu e e nt e e ptions to this ma e o nside ed on an indi i dual asis please o nta t the o llege o u the in o mation The use of visitors and school groups to create animal enrichment devices James Silvey Education Officer, Edinburgh Zoo, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
Introduction Environmental and behavioural enrichment has become a mainstay in captive animal management throughout most zoological collections across the developed world. It has been found that even simple enrichment devices, such as cardboard tubes with food rewards hidden inside, can provide a novel stimulating experience for most animal species. One of the senior keepers helps a student install their Whilst a large proportion of a captive animal’s enrichment device in the African Aviary stimulation comes from its environment and husbandry techniques, the addition of basic enrichment items are often used as a method Materials used of providing quick and simple behavioural Materials used for enrichment are either collected stimulation. from the keepers directly or brought by the pupils The time constraints from the day to day husbandry themselves. If materials are to be brought in by pupils of a large animal collection often leave keepers with a list of appropriate items, (checked over by relevant little time to make such basic enrichment items. keepers) must be sent out beforehand detailing what It has therefore often been encouraged by keepers is, and what is not suitable, an example of the list sent that the building of basic enrichment devices out for the Global Classroom event is given below. is included in educational events attended by Clothes/Material (all buttons, zips and string members of the public and local pupils. must be removed) The use of schools and members of the public Plastic bottles (no tops and must be Throughout the year Edinburgh Zoo hosts various thoroughly cleaned) educational events that allow school groups to visit Hessian material the zoo and take part in day long environmental Large paper sacks workshops. Alongside these for four weeks every summer the Education Department becomes Cardboard boxes (all sizes) home to over 400 children aged 6-14 taking part in Cardboard tubes the zoo’s summer school programme. All materials used for the creation of animal enrichment Over the last year these events have been used as are first checked for any unwanted or dangerous items. an opportunity to involve pupils in the creation of All containers are thoroughly cleaned and any items simple enrichment devices, from various species brought in that have not been previously verified for of animals such as jaguars and gelada baboons. use by keepers are not used and where possible are Pupils are obviously extremely enthusiastic at the recycled. prospect of making enrichment devices for the Science Summer School and Global Classroom animals and enjoy the entire process. This time is also a perfect opportunity to teach pupils as well On the 25th and 26th of November 2008 Edinburgh Zoo’s as members of the public about the conservation Education Department hosted its “Global Classroom” story behind various species as seen in the science student conference, which took on board the enrichment summer school and global classroom events activity from our regular science summer school, which 18 described in this article. is a weeklong series of workshops. The science summer school is designed to enable students (15-17yrs) to investigate the application of science in the Zoo. The Global Classroom conference was designed to inspire and educate pupils (14-17yrs) in the subjects of climate change and the communication of scientific ideas. One of the workshops entitled, “Animals and Climate Change Workshop” aimed to teach pupils the plight of four species of animal that are directly affected by climate change in the wild, and which are currently in the collection at Edinburgh Zoo; jaguar, ring tailed lemur, gelada baboon and raven. After a talk regarding how climate change is affecting each species pupils were given the opportunity to create enrichment devices for one of Students making enrichment devices for primates using the four animals using the recycled materials that materials such as boxes, straw, and twine they themselves had brought in. They were then given the opportunity later in the day of seeing their creations given to the animals. The animal benefits from the enrichment directly, the Making the enrichment keepers benefit from having more time to dedicate Pupils were first given a quick demonstration of the to other tasks and the public benefit by observing type of enrichment device they could use and how an animal use the enrichment device they have to cater their enrichment depending on the species made, a memory that is likely to stay with them for a they were making it for, e.g. a large cardboard box considerable amount of time. made to look like a gazelle may be perfect for the However, care must be taken when allowing the jaguars but would likely scare ring tailed lemurs. public to make enrichment for animals in that they are Pupils were given free rein in their creations and aware that what they are making are items designed encouraged to think of the animal behaviours to stimulate natural animal behaviours and not simply, that could be expressed through their enrichment “toys” for the animals. Here is where the role of the devices. With this in mind devices typical of the present educator comes in. jaguar group were prey items such as practically The role of the educator is to: life size cattle and tapir models. These were made 1. Deliver the message of animal enrichment, all the more interesting for the jaguars thanks to the (an area most members of the public will not donation from the hoofstock department of strong be familiar with) smelling tapir bedding straw that was liberally, if not all that enthusiastically spread across the models by 2. Explain how modern zoos use enrichment to the pupils. Other creations of note were ingenious help stimulate natural behaviours such as pulley type devices designed for the ravens which foraging required them to haul in a length of twine with a 3. Direct the public into thinking of the behaviour food reward at the end and various puzzle boxes they are wanting the animal to express when designed with multiple compartments to encourage using the enrichment device e.g. foraging, foraging behaviour in the gelada baboons. play etc Later in the day pupils observed the various The opportunity must also not be missed to use these animals’ reactions to the enrichment devices. All enrichment “workshops” as a means to deliver the animals showed interest to the enrichment in some conservation message that relates to so many animals form however the main interest actually came in modern zoos. from the pupils. On average pupils observed the animals for the full 45 minute session even though The use of educational events to make basic enrichment they were not required too and they asked more devices has been a great success at Edinburgh Zoo questions on the particular species than other and will likely be a part of these events in the future. animals encountered around the zoo. Building on the success of these educational events Conclusion Edinburgh Zoo will also be looking to increase the opportunities that members of the public will have to The use of members of the public along with pupils create basic enrichment devices through enrichment to make basic enrichment items for animals is in workshops. essence a win win situation. 19 Searching for the Sulawesi crested macaque A zookeeper’s experience. Nicky Jago Mammal keeper, WWCT Paignton Zoo
Background Sulawesi is one of the largest of the Indonesian Survey Method islands, situated in what is known as the Wallacea region – an area identified as a biodiversity hotspot – Our study had several components: and supporting an incredible array of endemic bird and • Census of the current population of M. nigra. mammal species. These include at 7 different species of macaque, each of which is found in a distinct region Researchers based at the Wildlife Conservation of the island. Society Indonesian Programme, Sulawesi, helped identify 31 sites for potential surveying, spread all We were focussing on the Minahasa district of Northern throughout Minahasa, and covering the natural Sulawesi, in the most northerly tip of Sulawesi, where home range of M. nigra. Nine of these sites were the Sulawesi crested black macaque (Macaca nigra) found to be inaccessible or completely cleared of was once abundant. Currently listed as Critically forest and therefore were considered unable to Endangered in the IUCN red list (Supriatna and support any wildlife, but 22 sites were successfully Andayani, 2008), there have been several population surveyed. These areas included a range of surveys carried out on this species over the past few habitats, from protected forest, to secondary decades. In 1980 a survey carried out by Mackinnon forest and re-growth, to unprotected forest and Mackinnon suggested that there were over 300 farmland. Following the surveying methods used individuals/km2 in the region. Sugardito et al., in 1989, in the previous studies, we trekked over 150km of 2 reported 76 individuals/km and in 1998 Rosenbaum transects through these habitats. We started each 2 et al., found between 66.7-23.5 individuals/km . transect at about 6am, walking slowly and quietly, These results show a clear decline, so supported stopping every 100m to visually scan the area, by Paignton Zoo, the Whitley Wildlife Conservation and to listen out for the distinctive loud call which Trust, Universities Federation for Animal Welfare and would indicate the presence of macaques. Where the Zoological Society of London, our team set out macaques were sighted we recorded number of in April 2007 on a 3-month expedition to carry out a animals, age and sex composition of the group further survey to gain an insight into recent population and distance from the path. changes in Macaca nigra. • Evaluate human activity in survey areas. macaques living in a protected reserve which were Before we surveyed each site we visited the nearest habituated to the presence of researchers, and village to talk to the village chief. In each village we also pet macaques that we came across; the pets explained what we were hoping to achieve, and asked were usually the offspring of animals who had been for the chief’s support. We then carried out interviews hunted and killed for meat. We then carried out with as many villagers as possible (but attempting to McMasters analysis on these samples to quantify interview people who had not necessarily heard the and compare levels of nematodes present. answers from other respondents), asking a series of standardised questions including how often they • Monitor habitat quality in survey areas. visited the forest, when they last saw macaques, and At each site we carried out a vegetation survey, whether they thought there was much hunting in the to establish the types of vegetation and habitat region. favoured by macaques. At points along each • Evaluate human disturbance. transect we selected and marked off at least two 10m x 10m quadrats. In each quadrat a plant To assess the level of human disturbance at each species list was recorded to assess diversity, as site, we recorded the numbers of traps that had been well as factors such as vegetation density, and set by hunters, along each transect. trunk width of larger trees. • Monitor effects on animal health, caused by Survey Results proximity to humans. In 3 months surveying, 22 sights were visited, and In some previous studies it has been found that wild 150km trekked, we had just 8 macaque sightings, primates living in logged forests and areas which representing a total of 72 individual macaques. were in close proximity to humans carried a higher While it is not possible to make an accurate parasite burden, than those in undisturbed areas of estimation of the total population from this short forest. To test whether this was also true for M. nigra project, this is clearly a much lower figure than that we collected faecal samples from wild macaques, reported in other studies. Four of these sightings (60 of the 72 individual animals) were seen in the Tangkoko Nature Reserve. This is a protected area where long-term presence of researchers, combined with some small-scale ecotourism based around the monkeys, has afforded the macaques more protection from hunting and loss of habitat than available to other monkeys in the rest of their home range. As well as several wild troops, Tangkoko supports two large troops of habituated macaques. These macaques have become used to the presence of researchers and tourists, and will not attempt to avoid them, therefore making observations of monkeys here is very easy and it likely to have artificially increased population estimations based on sightings made in this area. Unfortunately this artificially high result may also be reflected in the previous studies discussed at the start of this report. The interview survey carried out highlighted the important role that the forest plays in the lives of the villagers who live around them. The vast majority of people asked said that they entered the forest every day if not every week, most of these people use the forest for farming, hunting (illegal) and timber collection (also illegal!). 21 While useful in building up a picture of the relationship habitats, such as abandoned farmland, scrubby that local people have with the forest, this interview grassland and secondary forest. The numbers of survey also allowed us to spend time with the local individuals surviving in properly protected reserves people, spreading awareness of the decline of wildlife such as Tangkoko show how successful this in Sulawesi. species could be. In the past small-scale attempts The numbers of traps observed along each transect at ecotourism, with local people acting as guides ranged from 0 to 50; where few traps were found to allow tourists to trek into the forests to look for habitat quality was usually very poor and interviews the macaques and other species such as spectral with villagers suggested that they considered the tarsiers (Tarsius spectrum) have provided local habitat devoid of animals and so didn’t set traps as people with a small income, and the motivation to they considered there was no wildlife to catch. The protect the forest wildlife. area where we came across 50 traps was a protected On the basis of this study, the Whitley Wildlife forest and our guide was the ranger whose job it was to Conservation Trust together with Paignton Zoo prevent illegal hunting and logging. When we pointed Environmental Park, aim to carry out fundraising out how many traps were present he explained that to support an Indonesian postgraduate student to he had to spend most of his time trying to prevent undertake further survey work and research. In logging, and had no time to catch the hunters setting July 2009, many interested stakeholders have the traps. He also commented that these hunters been invited to meet, discuss and hopefully draft were his neighbours, people he had to live alongside a long-term conservation strategy for this species and he had no wish to upset them. and the preservation of their habitats in Minahasa. The parasite survey showed that levels of all Possible future projects may include the support nematode species (except hookworm) were higher in of in-situ field sites, facilitation of ecotourism, the pet macaques than in wild macaques, and habituated creation of more reserves and much more. Most animals showed intermediate levels. This supports important of all, there is a need to raise awareness the theory that increased proximity to humans may amongst local people about the impact of current result in a higher parasite burden, and therefore practises on the habitat and species extinction, potentially compromised health and welfare. alongside suggested alternatives. Ideas being considered include the production of merchandise The vegetation surveys showed that the forests where such as ‘Save Macaques’ baseball caps, children’s’ the macaques were observed had a high variation in books and other publications. density of vegetation and visibility was low. Common tree species found in locations where macaques’ There is also important work which needs to be were observed were Macaranga sp, Ficus sp, and carried out to support the captive population of Pandanus sp. Many sites where macaques were M. nigra. It is possible that M. nigra may be an observed shared the same vegetation characteristics, ideal candidate for an International studbook and so any future macaques surveys will be focussed Global Species Management Programme (GSMP) around similar sites. in the future. So what future is there for Macaca nigra in Sulawesi? As a preliminary survey, this project has brought to light the major threats to the survival of the M. nigra. Illegal logging and habitat destruction (mainly to clear land for clove and coconut plantations) has dramatically reduced Minahasa’s rainforests to small fragments, easily accessible to hunters and trappers; the main cause of the macaques’ decline. Hunting of macaques to provide meat (considered a delicacy by the Christian communities in the region) and pets, is occurring at an unsustainable rate. It’s not all bad news though. M. nigra are a robust species, capable 22 of surviving in less than optimal Zoos can help by providing conservation education to increase ex-situ awareness, and we can also help by supporting Indonesian zoos and sanctuaries which work hard on a very limited budget to rescue pet macaques kept in appalling conditions as well as animals confiscated at markets. If areas of remaining forest can be protected, and the safety of the wildlife in these reserves can be assured, perhaps the rehabilitation and release of these animals will one day be possible. Acknowledgements I would like to thank Dr Vicky Melfi, who led the project, and the other team members; Frederic Houssaye, Andy Jonas, Bernart Sabintoe, Andhika Yosep and Ronald Kambey. This project would not have been possible without the help and support of Dr John Tasirin and other colleagues working for the WCS Indonesian programme – Sulawesi. I am also grateful for the support of the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Wildlife Conservation Society (Sulawesi programme), Universitas Sam Ratulangi, Sulawesi, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, and Dr Antje Englehardt (German Primate Research Centre, Gottengon).
References Fooden J 1969 Taxonomy and evolution of the monkeys of Celebes (Primate: Cercopithecidae). Bibliotheca Primatologica No. 10, S. Karger, BaselSupriatna, J. & Andayani, N. 2008. Macaca nigra. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
History The People The Project was set up some 12 years ago by a The Project headquarters is based on the Mabula British lady called Ann Turner, who had moved to the Private Game Reserve in Bela Bela. The Project Limpopo Province in South Africa. After seeing SGH consists of one small office and a house where Ann at a zoo, she enquired as to why there were none on lives. There are two caravans that make up the ‘staff the reserve where she had set up her home. After quarters’ and two tents for volunteers or visitors hearing of their decline, she was advised to contact like myself to stay in, and the basics like water the ornithologist Alan Kemp who happened to have and electricity are not a constant. The site itself is three juveniles in need of a wild release. And so the called Jacaranda, and the elephant, buffalo, rhino, Project was born. hippo, leopard, cheetah and all the other indigenous Over the past 50 years, the hornbills have lost over species are free to visit the plain as and when they 60% of their natural habitat, and the number of birds wish. is declining. They become victims of loss of habitat, Working alongside Ann are Nick Theron – research poisoning, predation, muti and shooting. One pair manager, Dee de Waal – administrator and hand- will only successfully rear a chick to adulthood, on rearer and Charles Mphamo – field assistant. average, once every nine years. And to achieve even Other volunteers help out, sometimes for weeks, that, they need other ‘helpers’ in their group – usually sometimes for months. juvenile males. With less than 1500 left, half of The birds which are on the Kruger National Park, and the slow reproduction rate, these birds may soon make their On my visit in 2007, there were 6 SGH at Mabula. way from ‘vulnerable’ to ‘endangered’ on the IUCN Storm is an adult male that the Project rehabilitated Red List. after the rest of his group was poisoned. Kingfisher is a hand reared female and is now 10years old. These The aim of the Project is to halt the decline of this two are the alpha pair. They live at Jacaranda and flagship species. They do this in several ways. Artificial sometimes accept other hand reared juveniles into nests are put up in places that historically used to have their group, to show them how to live as hornbills, SGH to encourage groups to claim a territory and foraging for food and avoiding danger. They were start to breed. Second hatched chicks are harvested joined by Thor, a 3yr old hand reared male, and and taken for hand rearing. They would normally Nkosi a 2yr old hand reared female. There were two naturally die after being out-competed for food by the other birds, Lindandu and Imvula who were being elder chick, so harvesting them has no detrimental kept in a boma on Jacaranda with the hope that impact on numbers. Research is also carried out into they would be able to join the group. However, on the habitat of the birds, including investigation into the my return in February 09, I learned that Lindandu numbers and types of insects and other food sources, had been predated by a honey badger in the boma. and the types and placement of trees they prefer for Subsequently it was decided that Imvulu and Nkosi nesting. Wild groups are followed and caught up should be moved as a pair, and they now live on to have transmitters placed on them, and for blood an adjoining reserve called Madikwe where they samples for genetic testing and other information to are shepherded my a local man until they are old be collected. ‘Ground-truthing’ is also carried out in enough to fend for themselves, or a wild male adult areas where there used to be hornbill groups – this is can be put with them. a physical search to see if there are indeed any birds in the area or, as suspected, not, and is the only way So there is now Storm, Kingfisher and Thor still living to prove the decline. on the plain. But there was good news to come. 24 Storm and Kingfisher had bred, and nested in the artificial nest that had been put up on the plain. Baby Jac has been reared entirely by them, and when happens to young females in a group once they I first arrived, was just a couple of weeks from fledging. reach maturity. It may be they are chased out of All 3 adults fed him, with everything from insects to the group or leave voluntarily to find a mate. Maybe snakes.. In my last few days there, the group were all they choose a sibling to breed with. With regard to at the nest, encouraging him to fledge by calling him. captive overseas populations, the genetics are just This is the same behaviour I had seen in the adult pair as important, especially if a subspecies is proved. at Cricket st Thomas when they parent reared their These are just a few of the things that are currently own chick. unknown, but the questions are now answerable. The importance of Baby Jac cannot be underestimated. The National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria, along He is the first chick to be born to a hand-reared with help from various other sources is now in the female who is living as a wild bird. This proves that position to be able to collate DNA information from these hand-reared birds may well habituate, but do the southern ground hornbill. A huge amount of not imprint. work has been done, and this opens up the way for future research. Current affairs I visited them whilst I was in South Africa, and The aims of the Project haven’t altered, but the focus after long discussions they provided me with blood has changed. It is now hoped that Johannesburg sampling kits to bring back to the UK for all the SGH Zoo will take over the actual physical hand-rearing of here to be tested. The samples are then to be sent chicks. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of to Paris for testing, with the results going back to immediate access to a vet when the need occurs. It is Pretoria for analysis. It is important that this is done a 3 hour drive to the nearest avian vet, and the chicks immediately because if Avian Flu returns to the do not travel well. Added to that is the increasing UK, then it will be many months until the export of workload on the Project as more is done on scientific samples can be resumed. research and therefore more time is spent out in the bush. When the chicks are harvested from Kruger Community and Education. National Park, it is a massive 9 hour drive there, with Southern ground hornbills are special for many a 9 hour drive back, after having spent even more reasons, from their prehistoric looks, to the hours searching nests for chicks. And this is all done fascinating behaviour they show in being cooperative without overnight stops, and can happen several times breeders, hunters and defenders. But one of their over a month or so. To do that, and then come back most endearing traits is their fearlessness and their and immediately start feeding chicks is exhausting to curiosity for everything around them, coupled with say the least, and combined with the other work the both their inventiveness and intelligence. These Project does is just too much for 3 or 4 people to do. traits, although admirable and fairly unique in avian If Johannesburg agree to do the rearing, the Project species, ultimately leads to problems when they will harvest the chicks and take them straight there. encounter areas occupied by people. In essence, They will then take over again as the chicks get to these birds are becoming victims of their own fledging age, and be responsible for any wild release personalities. or captive placement of them. Could you live comfortably if every time you looked I visited Johannesburg zoo whilst I was there. They out of your house you saw a group of delinquents, manage the Wattled Crane Recovery Program, and with bricks at the ready, to smash your windows? have state of the art hand-rearing facilities which The very same windows that you had just replaced they use for hand rearing the cranes. The staff are for the 3rd, 4th or 5th time? If every time you hard-working, dedicated and enthusiastic about chased those delinquents away, they just returned being involved with the hornbills. It is hoped that an later? If there was absolutely nothing to stop them experienced overseas SGH hand-rearer will be able continuing their destruction of your property? to teach them all about looking after these special Its not a pleasant train of thought, but this is what its birds, which will set the zoo up in good stead for future like to live with wild southern ground hornbills. They rearing. persistently attack their own reflections, smashing windows as they go. And so they get shot. Whole Genetics groups of them get shot. And a solution needs to be The future is definitely in genetics. Genetic testing will found – quickly. help to identify if there is a sub-species of SGH or any In one area of South Africa there are two farms, regional variations. It is also vital in understanding the owners of which are trying desperately to live the group dynamics. It has been impossible to say if alongside a group of SGH. The Project works closely juveniles in a group are the offspring of the alpha pair, with these people, who have done everything they or if they have been pushed out of a different group can to try and accommodate the hornbills and rejoined another. It has not been known what whose territory they just happen to be in. 25 Some of the windows were replaced with And indeed, the birds are still alive, but the huge polycarbonate, and this is the only thing that seems to Baobab tree that they used to nest in was destroyed, work permanently. But it is very expensive and other apparently deliberately. So the safety of the birds people may not be so hornbill-friendly are unlikely to cannot be guaranteed. The absolute last resort, want to spend that kind of money, or even have that before the birds are shot is for the Project to remove kind of money. Some windows were covered with a them from the area. Although this may seem an shade cloth blind, which could be raised up or down obvious solution, it will leave a vacant territory which when necessary. This worked for a while, but now may never be filled again, and even if it is, the school the birds are breaking the windows through the cloth. and therefore the problem will still remain. The So an enlarged photograph of a caracal was given children in the school will learn that killing the birds to the owners, and they duly moved it from window is perfectly acceptable and that same attitude will be to window on a daily basis. This really seemed to passed down through the generations. be the answer, but only worked for 4 months until Conclusion the hornbills wised up to it and started breaking the windows again. Lower windows can be painted out For such a tiny unit, the Mabula Ground Hornbill to remove the reflection, but who wants to live like Conservation Project has done huge amounts that? of work. And they are fully aware that there is still much to be done. Captive breeding and research on So the problem remains. And the solution needs captive birds needs to be furthered, and with no data to be cheap and permanent and cause minimal on the population of SGH in other African countries, disturbance to the owners. And it needs to be long it looks as though that is another direction they may term, as new tenants/owners will always come and have to take. go, but the hornbills will remain. It does seem that having a dog keeps the birds, monkeys and baboons None of this would have been possible without the away, but not everybody has or wants a dog. To help of businesses and individuals, to whom the build a ‘cage’ around windows is again expensive, Project are extremely grateful for their continued and would have to still allow the windows to be support. opened and cleaned etc. The project is now looking And neither would it progress if it wasn’t for the at a system of brackets with a few wires, or any other tenacity of the people involved who just refuse to let suggestion they get to try and resolve this issue. anything stand in their way. I truly hope that, together with these incredibly Long may their invaluable work continue. understanding and patient farmers, they will continue to try and out-wit the birds, and an example can be made of how SGH and humans can co-exist. Unfortunately, not everybody is as sympathetic to the plight of the species. In a different area of South Africa, a group of SGH lived near to a school. Consequently dozens and dozens of the school windows were smashed. The group of birds, which previously had 6 individuals, now has only 2, with the other four unaccounted for. The Project visited the village elders, to discuss ways of preventing damage to the school, and to ask for the protection of the remaining two birds.
26 It’s Not All Black & White Terri Elizabeth Hill “Plains zebras are Burchell’s zebras. Burchell’s zebras are common zebras. Common zebras are not always Burchell’s zebras. Burchell’s zebras are extinct. Burchell’s zebras are the most plentiful of the wild zebras. Burchell’s zebras are Equus burchelli. Equus burchelli are Equus quagga”. David Barnaby (1996) Confused yet? Imagine my confusion trying to monitor and possibly set up an ESB for plains zebras with so much taxonomic confusion! Just over a year ago I made my first visit to the small group of plains zebras held at Longleat Safari Park, this proved inspirational and the start of my active involvement with plains zebras. I had long been interested in zebras though my history is in domestic equids - running an equine business, teaching and competing. Having become a member of both ABWAK and BIAZA, I am in the process of trying to gain membership of EAZA. So what about the plains zebra populations? The species is listed on the IUCN red list as “least concern” (Hack & Lorenzen, 2008). Chapman’s zebra Equus burchelli chapmani
They are indigenous to Africa, from the Karoo in the Cape region up into Southern Ethiopia and Southern Sudan (Kingdon 1979). Over 30 subspecies have been described (Grubb 2005) though most are now obsolete. These lengthy lists mainly go back to the 19th century. The most commonly used classification today is that of Groves and Bell (2004), and Groves (2002), which currently recognise six races. Life for a taxonomist is never easy!!! There is also argument over the true scientific name for plains zebra. This author and most collections will use Equus burchelli (Gray, 1824) though some (including the IUCN) chose to use its precursor Equus quagga (Bodaert, 1785). It is now widely accepted that the Quagga was merely the southernmost subspecies of the plains zebra (namely Equus burchelli quagga) and not a full species in its own right (Rau, 1978). Though quagga, as a specific name, predates burchelli, many individuals and organisations (including the equid TAG) continue to use Equus burchelli to save further confusion. Here in the UK and Ireland three subspecies are held: Grant’s, Equus burchelli boehmi (or Grant’s-like) are represented in ten collections, Chapman’s Equus burchelli chapmani (or Chapman’s- like) in 12 collections and, our least plentiful plains zebra, the Damara Equus burchelli antiquorum (or Damara-like) in only four collections. In Europe a further taxon is represented in the shape of the maneless zebra Equus burchelli borensis (Lőnnberg, 1921), these look like Grant’s but are slightly larger, have white ears and the mane is absent in most adults. There is a question that this taxon is not a full subspecies in its own right but an aberrant sub- population of Grant’s (Groves, 2002).
Damara zebra Equus burchelli antiquorum What is the state of our zebra herds in the UK and Ireland? Although we have 25 public collections (one collection holds two subspecies) and approximately five other collections holding plains zebras in the UK and Ireland, we could and should want to improve the potential of breeding herds. 25 herds sounds a reasonable number but when you split the subspecies up and try to make the best of genetic diversity, allow for a few deaths and old and young animals, the situation looks less rosy. The last representative coordinator for plains zebras stood down in the 1990’s and that stud book is now proving elusive! So I have started from scratch and am now attempting to dig up as much historic data as possible and trying to prove that we can keep our plains zebra subspecies pure and to use mixed-race individuals in a responsible manner. Tracing living individual bloodlines back to their wild-caught ancestors will be an essential and fundamental task. Thank goodness for patient and friendly records keepers! My aim is to work closely with those responsible, to split the lumped zebra’s into subspecies for the sake of better management, to make recommendations to collections and to act in an advisory capacity wherever possible. Quagga !? Equus burchelli quagga
At the moment most UK collections are keeping their zebras subspecies separate but if that does not continue, or animals of mixed parentage are allowed to continue breeding, we will end up with ‘zoo’ zebras that are of use solely for exhibition purposes. I would like to obtain as much detail and information on plains zebras in captivity as possible. Although I am working on the taxonomy and ancestry of current UK populations I am also compiling a database of enrichment, housing design, hard standing structure, foot care and parasite control in order to integrate management and husbandry protocols from the domestic equine industry. Any information on your collection’s zebra husbandry would be gratefully received. Email: [email protected] Acknowledgements: I would like to acknowledge the generous help and continued support of Dr Bryan Carroll, Deputy Director of Bristol Zoo, and his wife Christine Carroll. A huge thank you to all the collections that are already cooperating and for the help and support of Sam Whitbread I am eternally grateful. References: Barnaby, D. (1996): Zebras Made Plain. ZOO! 3: 8-12 Groves, C.P. 2002 Taxonomy of Living Equidae. In Equids: Zebras, Asses and Horses – Status survey and Conservation Action Plan (ed Patricia D.Moehlman), pp 94-107. IUCN Groves, C. P. & Bell, C. H. 2004 New investigations on the taxonomy of the zebras genus Equus, subgenus Hippotigris. Mamm. Biol. 69, 182–196. Grubb, P. (2005): Perrisodactyla. In Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (eds. Don E. Wilson and DeeAnn M. Reeder), p.630. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. Hack, M.A & Lorenzen, E. 2008. Equus quagga. In: 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Kingdon, J. 1979. East African Mammals: an Atlas of Evolution in Africa. III(B). Large Mammals. Academic Press, London. Rau, R.E. (1978) Additions to the revised list of preserved material of the extinct Cape colony quagga and notes on the relationship and distribution of southern plains zebras. 28 Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 77, 27–45. ABWAK Zoo Visit ProgrAmmE ABWAK aims “to achieve and advance the highest standards of excellence in wild animal care” and we are delighted that many zoological collections have agreed to assist us in achieving this aim by offering either free or discounted admission to their collection for professional members of the Association. (Some also extend thi offer to Associate members). We can all learn a lot from each other by visiting other zoos. You should contact the zoo BEFORE your visit to check the terms of the offer (some allow free visit, others reduced entry, some exclude bank holidays). You MUST have a current ABWAK membership card for the day of your visit. Zoos have the right to contact ABWAK to confirm your membership status. Africa Alive! www.africa-alive.co.uk Amazona Zoo www.amazonazoo.co.uk Banham Zoo www.banhamzoo.co.uk Beale Park www.bealepark.co.uk Belfast Zoological Gardens www.belfastzoo.co.uk Bentley Wildfowl & Motor Museum www.bentley.org.uk Birdland www.birdland.co.uk Birdworld www.birdworld.co.uk Birmingham Nature Centre www.birmingham.gov.uk/naturecentre Blair Drummond Safari www.blairdrummond.com Blue Planet Aquarium www.blueplanetaquarium.com Bristol Zoo Gardens www.bristolzoo.org.uk British WIldlife Centre www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk Chessington World of Adventures www.chessington.com/chessington_zoo/chessington_zoo.asp Chester Zoo www.chesterzoo.org Combe Martin Park www.dinosaur-park.com Cotswold Wildlife Park www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk Cricket St. Thomas www.wild.org.uk Curraghs Wildlife Park www.gov.im/wildlife Drayton Manor Zoo www.draytonmanor.co.uk/Zoo/Zoo.aspx Eagle Heights Birds of Prey Centre www.eagleheights.co.uk RZSS Edinburgh Zoo www.edinburghzoo.org.uk Flamingo Park www.iowight.com/flamingo-park Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre www.gentleshawwildife.co.uk Harewood Bird Gardens www.harewood.org/birdgarden.shtml RZSS Highland Wildlife Park www.highlandwildlifepark.org Kielder Birds of Prey Centre www.kielderwaterbirdsofpreycentre.com Living Coasts www.livingcoasts.org.uk Longleat Safari Park www.longleat.co.uk National Marine Aquarium www.national-aquarium.co.uk Natureland Seal Sanctuary www.skegnessnatureland.co.uk Newquay Zoo www.newquayzoo.org.uk Paington Zoo www.paigntonzoo.org.uk Parrot Zoo www.parrotzoo.co.uk Porfell Wildlife Park & Sanctuary www.porfellanimalland.co.uk Port Lympne Wild Animal Park www.totallywild.net Seal Sanctuary Mablethorpe www.sealsanctuary.com The Cattle Country Adventure Park www.cattlecountry.co.uk The Raptor Foundation w ww.raptorfoundation.org.uk Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens www.thrigbyhall.co.uk Tropical Wings World of Wildlife www.tropicalwings.co.uk Twycross Zoo www.twycrosszoo.com Welsh Mountain Zoo www.welshmountainzoo.org West Midlands Safari Park www.wmsp.co.uk WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre www.wwt.org.uk WWT Washington Wetland Centre www.wwt.org.uk Vision: “To achieve and advance the highest standards of excellence in wild animal care”
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