October 2014, Volume 41, No. 10 IMAL BEHAVI Advance your Career & EDUCATION ONLINE! Our programs in Zoo & Aquarium Science and Wildlife Rehabilitation give you the training you need to grow and advance in your field. Small class sizes and professional faculty guarantee you a personal education with the individual attention you deserve. START TODAY AND EARN YOUR CERTIFICATE IN AS LITTLE AS SIX MONTHS! PafEfTSr ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS CW AQUARIUMSOC Visit us at WWW. An imalEdu .com Toil free (866) 755-0448 Animal Behavior Institute a more personal education ACCREDITED BUSINESS 269 ABOUT THE COVER 270 FROM THE PRESIDENT 273 COMING EVENTS FEATURED ARTICLE 274-276 The Growth and Development of Two Hand-reared Cheetahs at Wildlife Safari Beth Benjamin CONSERVATION STATION 284-287 Zoo Keepers Getting Dirty for Conservation: It’s Not Just in a Day’s Work! Kym Janke TRAINING TALES 288-290 Training Degus (Octodon degus) for better management; an account of successes and failures Cheryl Frederick & Kristen Volpi AWARDS 278-281 AAZK Awards 282-283 AKF Awards OCT 1 4 2014 4/BraR\^ Savings that Stack up! Order online! www.RoclentPro.com It’s quick, convenient and guaranteed! RO. Box 118 Inglefield, IN 47618-9998 Tel: 812.867.7598 Fax: 812.867.6058 E-mail: info@rodentpro.com PayPal' ©2013 Rodentpro.com, lie. MICE 1 1 1 1 1 1 RATS Discover what tens of thousands of customers — including commercial reptile breeding facilities, veterinar- ians, and some of our country’s most respected zoos and aquariums — have already learned: with Rodentpro.com®, you get quality AND value! Guaranteed. RodentPro.com® offers only the highest quality frozen mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and quail at prices that are MORE than competitive. We set the industry standards by offering unsurpassed quality, breeder direct pricing and year- round availability. With RodentPro.com®, you’ll know you’re getting exactly what you order: clean nutritious feeders v/ith exact sizing and superior quality. And with our exclusive shipping methods, your order arrives frozen, not thawed. We guarantee it. COM RABBITS • CHICKS • QUAIL ® AMERICAN ASSOCIATION of ZOO KEEPERS MISSION STATEMENT American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. The American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. exists to advance excellence in the animal keeping profession, foster effective communication beneficial to animal care, support deserving conservation projects, and promote the preservation of our natural resources and animal life. About the Cover This month's cover features a cheetah {Acinonyx jubatus) by Kym Janke of the San Diego Chapter of AAZK. This photo was taken in Kenya, and her article in this month's AKF, "Zoo Keepers Getting Dirty for Conservation..." was inspired by her time doing volunteer work for the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia. It is always educational and inspiring when zoo keepers can find the opportunity to spend time in the field and work in situ v^fith wildlife. Hopefully Kym's article inspires more of you to look for ways to dedicate your time to conservation efforts. The cheetah is the world’s fastest land animal and Africa’s most endangered cat. With its long legs and very siender body, the cheetah is quite differentfrom all other cats and is the only member of its genus, Acinonyx. Today, cheetahs are found in only 23% of their historic African range and are extinct in their Asian range except for a small population in Iran of about 100 individuals. According to the Cheetah Conservation Fund, most of the reasons for the cheetah's endangerment can be grouped into three overarching categories: A.) Habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, B.) Human-wildlife conflict, C.) liiegai wildlife trade. If you are interested in learning more about cheetah conservation, you can visit the Cheetah Conservation Fund's website at cheetah.org. You can also participate in Bowimg for Rhmos. Proceeds from BFR directly support our partner Action for Cheetahs in Kenya and their website can be found at actionforcheetahs.com. Articles sent to Animal Keepers’ Forum will be reviewed by the editorial staff for publication. Articles of a research or technical nature will be submitted to one or more of the zoo professionals who serve as referees for AKF. No commitment is made to the author, but an effort will be made to publish articles as soon as possible. Lengthy articles may be separated into monthly installments at the discretion of the Editor. The Editor reserves the right to edit material without consultation unless approval is requested in writing by the author. Materials submitted will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed, appropriately-sized envelope. Telephone, fax or e-mail contributions of late-breaking news or iast-minute insertions are accepted as space allows. Phone (330) 483-1104; FAX (330) 483-1444; e-mail is shane.good@aazk.org. If you have questions about submission guidelines, please contact the Editor. Submission guidelines are also found at: aazk.org/akf-submission-guidelines/. Deadline for each regular issue is the 3rd of the preceding month. Dedicated issues may have separate deadline dates and will be noted by the Editor. Articles printed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the AKF staff or the American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. Publication does not indicate endorsement by the Association. Items in this publication may be reprinted providing credit to this publication is given and a copy of the reprinted material is forwarded to the Editor. If an article is shown to be separately copyrighted by the author(s), then permission must be sought from the author(s). Reprints of material appearing in this journal may be ordered from the Editor. Regular back issues are available for $6.00 each. Special issues may cost more. MIX /I V Paper from FSC sources www.rse.ofg FSC®C1 12081 ANIMAL KEEPERS’ FORUM TO CONTACT THE AKF EBITOR: Shane Good, Media Production Editor P.O. Box 535, Valley City, OH 44280 330-483-1104 shane.good@aazk.org AAZK Administrative Offiee American Association of Zoo Keepers 8476 E. Speedway Blvd. Suite 204 Tucson, AZ 85710-1728 520-298-9688 (Phone/Fax) E-mail: Ed.Hansen@aazk.org Chief Executive/Financial Officer: Ed Hansen MEDIA PRODUCTION EDITOR Shane Good ASSISTANT MEDIA PRODUCTION EDITOR Elizabeth Thibodeaux ENRICHMENT OPTIONS COLUMN COORDINATORS Julie Hartell-DeNardo, Saint Louis Zoo Casey Plummer, Caldwell Zoo Ric Kotarsky, Tulsa Zoo & Living Museum ATC COLUMN COORDINATORS Kim Kezer, Zoo New England Jay Pratte, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo Beth Stark-Posta, Toledo Zoo CONSERVATION STATION COORDINATORS Amanda ista, Milwaukee County Zoo Mary Ann Cisneros, Disney's Animal Kingdom Animal Keepers’ Forum is published monthly by AAZK, Inc. Ten dollars of each membership fee goes toward the annual publication costs of Animal Keepers’ Forum. Postage paid at Tucson, AZ. BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Bob Cisneros, San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA 92112-0551 VICE PRESIDENT: Penny Jolly, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000 Kelly Wilson, Detroit Zoological Society Royal Oak, Mi 48067 Deana Walz, The Living Planet Aquarium Sandy, UT 84094-4409 W'endy Lenhart, Philadelphia Zoo Philadelphia, PA 19104 COlWftHITTEiS/COORDINATORS/ PROJECT MANAGERS BY-LAWS Chair - Ric Kotarsky, Tulsa Zoo GRANTS COMMITTEE Chair - Shelly Roach, Columbus Zoo BEHAVIORAL HUSBANDRY COMMilTEE Chair - Julie Harteil-Denardo, Saint Louis Zoo BOWLINS FOR RHINOS NATIONAL PROGRAM MANAGER Patty Pearthree, Cary, NC CTHiCS Penny Jolly, Disney’s Animal Kingdom CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Christy Poelker, Saint Louis Zoo AWARDS Janet McCoy, The Oregon Zoo PROFESSIONAL BEVEL0PMENT Melaina V/aiiace, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Ellen Vossekuii, Utah’s Hogle Zoo SOCIAL MEDIA Sean Walcott, SeaWorld San Diego, Project Manager CONFERENCE PROGRAM MANAGER Victor Aim, Oakland Zoo ICZ COORDINATORS Norah Farnham, Woodland Park Zoo Sara WunderStevfard, Busch Gardens Tampa COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE Bethany Bingham, Utah's Hogle Zoo MilVIBERSIIIP SER¥ICES Data Transfer Forms available for download at aazk.org AAZK Publications/Logo Products/Apparel avaliabie at AAZK Administrative Office/Tucson or at aazk.org AAZK.ORG October 2014 | Vol. 41, No. 10 | 269 FROM THE PRESIDENT It's easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference. -Tom Brokaw An Organization's Journey of Self-Discovery During the 2014 Conference in Orlando, I presented our Board of Directors and Chapter leaders with a very simple question: What is the “bottom line” of our organization in its simplest form? The “bottom line" is our mission and if we could simplify our reason for being, our purpose, and in the end, what we want to be remembered for, it comes down to a very simple phrase: We change lives If you consider the four divisions of our organization, it’s not hard to find the many ways that lives are changed through our organization. Consider the following examples: COMIVIUNICATION • Animal Keepers' Forum (AKF) provides current articles on improving animal care and bettering our skills as animal care professionals and conservationists. • The Communication Committee, newly formed this year, is dedicated to providing communication through e-blasts, social media and on-line content • AAZK Online, our Collaborative Learning Environment, provides an opportunity for Chapter Officers, AAZK Committees and Programs, and Conference attendees to network, create discussions, and share resources. For the first time in our conference history, conference attendees are connected with the conference, workshops, and each other. CONSERVATION • Bowling For Rhinos (BFR): Since its genesis as a National Program in 1990, BFR has generated over $5 Million for rhino conservation. Last year AAZK raised over $481,000 and if our projections for this year are accurate, we will be well over the $500,000 mark • Conservation Committee provides updated information regarding opportunities to engage in in situ conservation. This committee also selects the winner of the BFR Conservation Resource Grant and the Certificate of Merit in Conservation Award. EDUCATION • Both the Professional Development (PDC) and Behavioral Husbandry (BHC) Committees strive to bring our membership resources through AAZK Online and our annual conferences. Dedicated workshops, designed to help you improve your skills as an animal care professional have been in place since the 2011 conference. • AAZK Online provides learning opportunities through online learning modules through both AAZK and San Diego Zoo Global Academy. • Certification workshops had their debut recently at the Orlando 2014 Conference. AAZK will continue to provide two 12-hour certification workshops at every conference. • The AKF is a continuous resource for animal care providers on enrichment, husbandry, and all other aspects of animal care. RECOGNITION • Each year, the Awards Committee recognizes excellence in animal care and leadership. • Over $5000 in grant funds are awarded each year by the Grants Committee • National Zoo Keeper Week is a national program. We are still looking for a Program Manager who can lead the Association in helping Chapters and Institutions recognize animal care professionals. Originated by AAZK, National Zoo Keeper Week highlights your profession during the third week in July. Forging ahead to make a difference We change lives. That’s our bottom line. What we do as an organization centers on helping you in your profession, providing you with opportunities for growth and success. Our vision is to be the leader in the zoo and aquarium industry, fostering professional development and personal connections that advance animal care, animal welfare and conservation. As we work towards that vision, our commitment to our membership will hopefully impact our profession in a profound way. The end result is that we help you change lives. As animal care professionals, we make a positive impact on both the animals we care for and the guests with whom we interact. On a daily basis, through husbandry, exhibition, enrichment, training, and education, we change lives. As an Association, that’s our bottom line. As animal care professionals, it’s your bottom line too. As always, I welcome your thoughts and input. E-mail me at bob.clsneros@aazk.org ; I would love to hear from you. CtktWr- 270 I ANIMAL KEEPERS' FORUM American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. /^^ARNIVO^- CARN1V05E INTRODUCING CARNIVORE ESSENTIALS SitiioJjicdiljL Swine Resources Carnivore Essentials is the first all-pork complete diet formulated specifically for zoo carnivores. Years of extensive field research and testing proves Carnivore Essentials to be a safe and nutritious dietary alternative for all carnivores including felids, canids, ursids and birds of prey. www.CarnivoreEssentials.com 800-890-7039 sales@CarnivoreEssentials.com Natural Hollow^ Hollow log is a man-made tree hollow, the result of a new age milling technology. We have developed an eco-friendly patented technology for creating Hollow Logs from solid log chunks, a healthy alternative to naturally hollowed logs. • Half Hollow Log • Hollow Wood Cylinders • Nesting Boxes The Natural Choice for Animal Enrichment Now finding hollow logs is easy! PayPal' VISA Natural hollows by 1C Wood LLC; the better choice for natural animal enrichment products. www.icwoodllc.com LIKE US ON ICWOODLLC I COMING EVENTS Post your upcoming events here. E-mail sliane.good@aaik.org November 10-13, 2014 Z.AA National Conference Gulf Breeze, FL Hosted by Gulf Breeze Zoo For more information go to: zaa.org. November 21-22, 2014 Advancing Zoo Animal Welfare Science and Policy Detroit, Ml Hosted by The Detroit Zoological Society’s Center for Zoo Animal Welfare (CZAW) For more information go to: czaw.org December 8-12, 2014 Training and Enrichment Workshop for Zoo and Aquarium Animals Galveston, TX. Hosted by Moody Gardens. Presented by Active Environments and Shape of Enrichment. For more information contact: doisen@moodygardens.com. April 13-18, 2015 Animal Behavior Management Alliance fABMAI Conference Copenhagen, Denmark For more information visit: theabma.org. February 16-20, 2015 Marine Mammal Behavior and Conservation Los Cabos, Baja California, Mexico For more information visit www.abcanimaltraining. com/los_cabos or contact Shelley Wood at swood@a bean i ma Itra i n ing.com . September 9-13, 2015 International Congress on Zookeeping Leipzig, Germany Hosted by Leipzig Zoo and the international Congress of Zookeepers (ICZ). For more information visit: iczoo.org. September 17-21, 2015 AZA National Conference Salt Lake City, UT Hosted by Utah's Hogle Zoo For more information visit: aza.org. September 27 - Oct. 1, 2015 AAZK National Conference St. Louis, MO Hosted by Saint Louis Zoo and AMERICAN St. Louis Chapter of AAZK ASSOCIATION of zoo KEEPERS More details to come! October 2014 | Vol. 41, No. 10 | 273 The Growth and Development of Two Hand-reared Cheetahs at Wildlife Safari Beth Benjamin Cheetah Keeper, Wildlife Safari Winston, OR CURRENT CASE On March 1, 2012, 1.1 cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) born on February 29 were pulled to be hand-reared due to maternal neglect, resulting in low body temperature, weakness, and inability to nurse. The female cub was the stronger of the two, but because maternal instincts were not present, it was deemed necessary to pull both. Wildlife Safari had hand-reared two cheetahs within the past ten years, along with several others in their forty-year history, but there was no set protocol for caring for two at once. A new protocol was developed to specify formula composition, amount, and frequency of feeding, medications/ supplements to diets, weights, sleep schedule, keeper bonding, and separation/training time. HAND-REARING IN CAPTIVITY Cheetahs are very difficult to breed in captivity (Wachter et ah, 2011), and only a handful of facilities in the U.S. are equipped to do so. Conception rates in captivity are very low due in part to stress induced by human interaction and other improper management techniques (Wielebnowski et ah, 2002). Because successful pregnancies are so rare, cubs that are carried to term and are born alive are very valuable. While it is desirable for litters to be mother-raised, it is sometimes necessary for humans to hand-raise them. Reasons for this include maternal neglect, illness, or educational purposes (Bell, 2005). In addition to these factors, hand-rearing may be necessary if the litter consists of only one cub. While the exact reason for abandonment is not known, mothers may reject a single cub due to insufficient production of milk, or to simply become pregnant again and give birth to a larger litter (van Oorschot, 1998). Days 5 & 6: 60% KMR Formula. 325mL of KMR, 25mL of 50% dextrose water, 191mL of tap water, 2 drops Simethicone. Keep refrigerated. Fed nine times daily. Day 7: 75% KMR Formula. 325mL of KMR, 12mL of 50% dextrose water, 96mL of tap water, 2 drops Simethicone. Keep refrigerated. Fed nine times daily. Days 8-10: 85% KMR Formula. 325mL of KMR, 6mL of 50% dextrose water, 51mL of tap water, 2 drops Simethicone. Keep refrigerated. Fed nine times daily. Days 11 & 12: 95% KMR Formula. 325mL of KMR, 2 mLof 50% dextrose water, 15mL of tap water, 2 drops Simethicone. Keep refrigerated. Fed eight times daily. Days 13-41: 100% KMR Formula. 325mL of KMR, 2 drops Simethicone. Keep refrigerated. Fed seven times daily. Dropped to 6 feedings/day at 22-days-old, then 5 feedings/day at 29-days- old. Meat-flavored baby food offered (33g) at 29-days. Raw meat offered (60g) at 35-days. Dropped to 3 feedings/day at 43-days. AMOUNT FED DAILY The amount of formula offered each day was based on cub weight. Each cub received 20”/o of his or her body weight, and this amount was evenly divided between the number of feedings each day. To ensure that the cubs were gaining weight at a healthy rate, “ideal weight” was determined each day by calculating a 5% increase in weight from the previous day. In looking at the current case, the mother began rejecting the male at one-day-old for unknown reasons. Keepers watched from a surveillance camera as she repeatedly placed him in a corner of the den alone, only allowing the female to nurse. After observing the situation for several hours, it was determined to be in the best interest of the male to be hand-raised. Unfortunately, female cheetahs will not care for a single-cub litter, so the female was pulled as well. FEEDING Because neither cub was able to nurse from their mother for long, they struggled to understand how to take to the bottle. After a few awkward attempts, the female began feeding from the bottle. The male, however, was too weak and was fed with an eye dropper for the first few days before attaching to the bottle’s nipple. Both cubs preferred to feed with their bodies at an angle with their front paws off the ground and over time became more enthusiastic about finishing the formula. Throughout the hand-rearing process, each cub received medications, such as Simethicone to reduce excess gas, Metoclopramide to treat nausea, and Laxatone to lubricate the digestive track, as necessary. The initial formula was a mixture of Kitten Replacer Milk (KMR), dextrose water, and tap water. Not much research has been conducted about the nutritional content of a mother’s milk (Bell et ah, 2011), but KMR is an adequate substitute. Store-bought meat-flavored baby food for humans was introduced at one month of age, which neither cub really enjoyed, and raw meat was offered at 38-days-old. After about a week, each cub was eating the majority of meat offered. At 42-days-old they were exclusively offered meat. FORMULA COMPOSITION Days 2-4: 50% KMR Formula. 325mL of KMR, 37mL of 50% dextrose water, 288mL of tap water, 2 drops of Simethicone. Keep refrigerated. Fed nine times daily. WEIGHTS Mchumba (0.1) Day 1 = 540.0g Day 16 = = 1002.0g WEEKLY Day 2 = 520.0g Day 17 = = 1030.0g Day 37 = 2190.0g Day 135 = = 11.34 kg Day 3 = 540.0g Day 18 = = 1050.0g Day 44 = 2410.0g Day 142 = = 11.57 kg Day 4 = 560.0g Day 19 = = 1060.0g Day 51 = 2600.0g Day 149 = = 11.79 kg Day 5 = 580.0g Day 20 = = 1090.0g Day 58 = 2990.0g Day 6 = 620.0g Day 21 = = 1120.0g Day 65 = 3.40 kg Monthly Day 7 = 660.0g Day 22 = = 1140.0g Day 72 = 3.85 kg Day 179 = = 13.61 kg Day 8 = 690.0g Day 23 = = 1170.0g Day 79 = 4.31 kg Day 215= = 18.37 kg Day 9 = 720.0g Day 24 = = 1230.0g Day 86 = 4.99 kg Day 245= = 21.77 kg Day 10 = 760.0g Day 25 = = 1280.0g Day 93 = 6.58 kg Day 275= = 24.27 kg Day 11 = 800.0g Day 26 = = 1340.0g Day 100 = 7.26 kg Day 305= = 27.67 kg Day 12 = 850.0g Day 27 = = 1390.0g Day 107 = 8.62 kg Day 335= = 29.03 kg Day 13 = 900.0g Day 28 = = 1470.0g Day 114 = 9.53 kg Day 365= = 29.94 kg Day 14 = 950.0g Day 29 = = 1480.0g Day 121 = 10.43 kg Day 15 = 980.0g Day 30 = = 1580.0g Day 128 = 10.43 kg Khayam (1.0) Day 1 = 480.0g Day 16 = = 860.0g WEEKLY Day 2 = 490.0g Day 17 = = 890.0g Day 37 = 1890.0g Day 135 = = 10.43 kg Day 3 = 450.0g Day 18 = = 940.0g Day 44 = 2190.0g Day 142 = = 12.02 kg Day 4 = 420.0g Day 19 = = 990.0g Day 51 = 2420.0g Day 149 = = 12.25 kg Day 5 = 440.0g Day 20 = = 1020.0g Day 58 = 2730.0g Day 6 = 440.0g Day 21 = = llOO.Og Day 65 = 3.16 kg Monthly Day 7 = 470.0g Day 22 = = llOO.Og Day 72 = 4.08 kg Day 179 = = 15.42 kg Day 8 = 500.0g Day 23 = = 1130.0g Day 79 = 4.54 kg Day 215 = = 19.51 kg Day 9 = 540.0g Day 24 = = 1170.0g Day 86 = 5.44 kg Day 245 = = 24.95 kg Day 10 = 590.0g Day 25 = = 1190.0g Day 93 = 6.35 kg Day 275= = 27.90 kg Day 11 = 630.0g Day 26 = = 1230.0g Day 100 = 7.03 kg Day 305 = = 29.71 kg Day 12 = 670.0g Day 27 = = 1280.0g Day 107^ = 7.26 kg Day 335 = = 31.07 kg Day 13 = 710.0g Day 28 = = 1340.0g Day 114 = 7.71 kg Day 365 = = 33.57 kg Day 14 = 780.0g Day 29 = = 1390.0g Day 121 = 9.30 kg Day 15 = 810.0g Day 30 = = 1460.0g Day 128 = 10.21 kg AAZK.ORG October 2014 | Vol. 41, No. 10 | 275 SOCIALIZATION To ensure that both cubs bonded equally to their four keepers, rotation schedules were made so that each individual spent the same amount of time with each cub. For the first five and a half months of the cubs’ lives, keepers spent 24 hours/day with them. During the first month the focus was on ensuring that they were eating, gaining weight, taking medications, relieving themselves (with the help of stimulation by the keepers), and expanding their motor skills. Because their biological mother was not present and it was not an option to reintroduce cubs after removing them from the birthing hut, keepers took on the role of “mother” as best as possible. After the cubs began gaining strength, keepers began “play” sessions, which consisted of letting the cubs walk on a sterile surface to investigate the room, people (one per cub), and one another. To help form a bond, keepers would scruff the cubs when they had wandered too far, bring them close, and purr as a cheetah mother would. Each individual has a unique purr, and the cubs soon learned to differentiate between their “moms” and other helpers. It was decided that the two cubs would be raised as ambassadors, meaning that they would be trained to accompany keepers in educating others about their wild counterparts. After allowing time for mobility and human bonds to strengthen, keepers began training at around nine weeks of age. Training consisted of multiple steps, such as stranger socialization, foreign object socialization, and operant conditioning. In beginning these steps, keepers wanted to establish themselves as a comfort zone. If, for example, the cubs were to become stressed out for any reason (i.e. seeing a large crowd, a dog, or umbrella for the first time), they would know to focus on the trainer for support and guidance. This not only helps ensure safety during interactions with the public, but it also helps the cubs to feel safe and at ease in all situations. After establishing the four core trainers as “comfort zones,” cubs were introduced to a wide variety of objects including Boomer Balls®, strollers, umbrellas, flamingos, park mascot, etc. Some of It was decided that the two cubs would be raised as ambassadors, meaning that they would be trained to accompany keepers in educating others about their wild counterparts. these things were greeted with curiosity and investigation, while others prompted apprehension and hissing. Regardless of level of unease, however, the cubs would routinely check in with their keepers to make sure everything was alright. In desensitizing the cubs to being around the public, harnesses and leashes were introduced at two months of age to begin taking walks. Once again utilizing the human comfort zones, cubs were asked to only focus on the trainer, thereby ignoring the crowds of zoo guests. This trainer-cheetah bond was extremely important to establish and maintain throughout their ambassador training so as to keep the experience enjoyable and safe for everyone. A crucial component in training the two ambassadors was the use of operant conditioning. A clicker, which is a commonly used training bridge, was used to shape behaviors (Ramirez, 1999). Keepers started using clicker training when the cubs were nine-weeks-old and began by forming an association between the clicker and reward (i.e. hear the click, get a piece of meat). From there the cubs learned a range of behaviors helpful for medical procedures, educational outreaches, daily enrichment, etc. Working on establishing new behaviors also helped strengthen the bond between the cubs and their keepers. One factor that was considered in the raising of the ambassadors was that one was male and one was female. Not wanting them to become too bonded to one another and be traumatized when separation became necessary at sexual maturity, gradual alone time (with a keeper) was introduced. At a month and a half of age, keepers began separating the cubs during feeding time, which was three times per day. Separation time slowly increased over time until each cub spent most of the day (around 18 hours) alone with a keeper. This alone time allowed for the keeper-cub bond to strengthen, but due to over-representation of his biological mother’s genes, the male was neutered at almost nine months of age. After being neutered, cubs once again spent most of their time together. Today the cubs are thirteen-months-old and are still living at Wildlife Safari continuing their ambassador training. Their biological mother went on to give birth to a litter of three females in June of 2012 and has been very attentive to them from day one. REFERENCES Bell, K. 2005. Morbidity and mortality in hand-reared cheetah cubs. Animal Keepers’ Forum 32(7/8):306-314 Bell, K., Rutherfurd, S., Cottam, Y., and W. Hendriks. 2011. Evaluation of Two Milk Replacers Fed to Hand-Reared Cheetah Cubs (Acinonyxjubatus): Nutrient Composition, Apparent Total Tract Digestibility, and Comparison to Maternal Cheetah Milk. Zoo Biology, 30(4):412-426. Ramirez, K. 1999. Animal training: Successful animal management through positive reinforcement. Ken Ramirez and the Shedd Aquarium. Chicago, IL. Van Oorschot, W. 1998. Booklet: Cheetah single cub litters in captivity. Wachter, B., Thalwitzer, S., Hofer, H., Lonzer, J., Hildebrandt, T.B. and R. Hermes. 2011. Reproductive history and absence of predators are important determinants of reproductive fitness; the cheetah controversy revisited. Conservation Letters, 4(l):47-54. Wieiebnowski, N.C., Ziegler, K., Wildt, D.E., Lukas, J. and J.L. Brown. 2002. Impact of social management on reproductive, adrenal and behavioural activity in the cheetah {Acinonyx jubatus). Animal Conservation. 5:291-301. 276 I ANIMAL KEEPERS' FORUM American Association of Zoo Keepers. Inc. Talire the AAZK Trees for You & Me Challenge. Compete for polar bears, win for your Chapter! Better nutrition? How can you meet the nutritional needs of many different wild animals, including otters? Milk Matrix, a line of five milk replacers from Zoologic® Nutritional Components, is the winning formula. Blended or alone, Milk Matrix closely simulates the fat, protein and carbohydrate content of mother's milk to supply everything an animal needs for optimal health. Electronic formulation guidelines, nutritional analyses, species-specific data sheets and exact mixing instructions are available. To learn more, call 1-800-323-0877 nutritional components Our experts say yes. AAZK.ORG October 2014 | Vol. 41, No. 10 | 277 2014 AAZK Awards American Association of Zoo Keepers, inc. Lifetime Achievement Awards Nancy Reinert, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Nancy Reinert’s zoo career began 25 years ago on Disney’s Discovery Island with a diverse collection of mammals, birds and reptiles. At times she worked around-the-clock on the island and had to be a “jack of all trades" to do what was needed. In addition, she took it upon herself to manage the commissary and attend Cornell University’s Nutrition Certification Program to ensure that the feeding of animals was in alignment with their nutritional requirements. She mentored interns and was a champion for team building and making work a positive place to be. In the late 1990s she transferred to the Animal Nutrition Center in preparation for the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. With her promotion to Nutrition Assistant specialist, she was instrumental in training and coaching all the cast and helped establish Standard Operating Guidelines and training checklists. She was very supportive of diet and preparation changes and their implementation when a Nutritionist came on board. Nancy has been involved with many projects supported by Disney’s Wildlife Conservation Fund. She was awarded a Disney internal grant which supported the Florida Scrub Jay Project in Clermont, FL and bought building materials for the NatureFest at Lake Louisa State Park to teach children and families about wildlife. She has collected items for the Center for Great Apes Sanctuary in Wauchula, FL. She has been an integral participant in organizingand running the BFR event each year, the annual fund raising yard sale and has served on the Turtle Survival Alliance Conference Team for ten years. She has been awarded the Presidential Volunteer Award several years in a row for her volunteer hours to the Groveland Senior Center, Disney BlanketEARs who craft for the community. Toys for Tots and Gift for Teaching. Nancy not only has been a hero to those who worked with her, but to the causes that she supported including the American Association of Zoo Keepers. Jean Ragland, Woodland Park Zoo Jean Ragland began her zoo career in 1987 at the Woodland Park Zoo in the Animal Flealth Department and moved on to Waterfowl, Family Farm, Primates, Elephants, Raptors, The Northern Trial and Australasia. She mentored volunteers, gave educational presentations and assisted in research projects. On a six months job exchange with the Healesville Sanctuary in Australia, she specialized in Australian flora and fauna. Beginning in 1998 at the Louisville Zoo she worked as a commissary keeper. Animal Department Assistant, night keeper where she was the liaison with local law enforcement, animal control and fire department to handle on-grounds, off-hours emergencies and primary primate and primary elephant keeper. In 2002, she became the lead mammal keeper at the Cougar Mountain Zoo where she introduced operant conditioningtrainingasa husbandry and educational tool and increased the visibility and scope of the animal enrichment program. In 2005, Jean returned to the Woodland Park Zoo where she worked as a night keeper and a day keeper in Savanna ungulates, giraffe and Raptors. In the Australasia Willawong Aviary, an educational, public interactive experience with Australian bird species was provided. Besides her keeper duties, she has volunteered in various in situ wildlife projects in Australia and participated in zoo and AAZK fundraising efforts. For twenty-seven years, Jean has remained passionate about her work and has provided the best possible care for animals under a wide variety of area responsibilities. Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award Jack Hanna, Columbus Zoo This award is in recognition of his contribution to AAZK and Bowling For Rhinos. Jack has devoted his life to educating people about the need to preserve and protect animals of all kinds. Flis support for BFR through his Public Service Announcement will provide a continuous endorsement for our signature conservation event. For his distinguished commitment as a champion for conservation through his public support for BFR, it is with both pleasure and honor that we bestow this award to "Jungle" Jack Flanna. AAZK.ORG October 2014 | Vol. 41, No. 10 | 279 280 2014 AAZK AWARDS CONTINUED... Lutz Ruhe Meritorious Achievement - Professional of the Year Award Lauren Augustine, Smithsonian’s National Zoo This award is in recognition of her outstanding commitment to professionalism during her distinguished career as a zoo keeper. Specially noted is her work leading the local conservation initiatives for the AAZK Chapter and the zoo, founding Chopsticks for Salamanders and conceiving the idea of a small conference to give first-time presenters a chance to present in a small comfortable environment. She is also a prolific researcher, publisher and professional presenter, the SSP Coordinator for Cuora galbinifrons and serves on the AAZK Conservation Committee and the National Zoo’s Professional Development Committee. Lauren embodies the AAZK mission to advance animal care, promote public awareness, enhance professional development and contribute to local and global conservation. Jean M. Hromadka Excellence in Animal Care Award Mexican Gray Wolf Team, Rachel McKee, Mary Ann Cisneros, Sarah Duncan and Bobbi Crouch, Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden This award is based on the Mexican Gray Wolf Team of four keepers for putting in over seven hundred hours during the hand-rearing of 2.0 Mexican gray wolf pups and their fostering to the adult pair of wolves. The pups they helped salvage from certain death and place in a family pack were the highest mean kinship pups in the program. The efforts of these four talented keepers will have a lasting effect upon the genetics of the Mexican gray wolf. Certificate of Merit for Zoo Keeper Education Award NCAAZK Mini Regional Conference Committee, Lauren Augustine, Colleen Bernard, Elise Bernardoni, Hilary Colton, Chelsea Grubb and Kenton Kerns, Smithsonian’s National Zoo for hosting the 2014 one-day regional conference “The Science Behind Animal Keeping” comprising 17 formal presentations and 25 poster presentations. It increased sharing and cooperation between local institutions, provided zoo professionals a comfortable venue to practice presentations and to give zoo professionals an opportunity to socialize with their peers. ANIMAL KEEPERS' FORUM CuriOdyssey for providing opportunities for staff to further their education and skill with a conference budget for four Wildlife Staff to attend conferences, workshops and conservation training. Keepers can also work with the Western Pond Turtle field researchers through Sonoma State University. Monthly Brown Bag lectures and activities enrich and engage the staff. CuriOdyssey also supports the AAZK Chapter by offering its grounds and buildings for meetings and mini-conferences. Puget Sound Chapter of AAZK, Woodland Park Zoo for dedicating its time and resources to further knowledge, skills and abilities of its members through three grant-based programs, networking with neighbor institutions and a webinar lecture series. The Conservation Grant is used for field- based projects with emphasis on individual participation. The Professional Development Grant is used for conferences, classes, seminars or research projects. The Heidi Fund can be used in a variety of ways. American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. Certificate of Merit in Conservation Award Kathy Brader, Smithsonian’s National Zoo, for creating the only “Meet a Kw/i” program in the United States where visitors can observe the brown kiwi up close and learn about their conservation. Kiwi in zoos are rare and under her care and instruction, the zoo has hatched and raised six kiwi between 2005 and 2012. She vi/orks closely with the New Zealand Embassy and the New Zealand Department of Conservation and is the SSP coordinator and studbook keeper for all brown kiwi outside of New Zealand. Matt Neff, Smithsonian’s National Zoo, for starting a Frog Watch Chapter which monitors several DC metro area sites. Under his leadership of the salamander ambassador project, the group raised just under $50,000 for a new salamander exhibit. He is dedicated to helping the Turtle Survival Alliance, the Orianne Society, Chopsticks for Salamanders, teaches conservation classes for the Friends of the National Zoo and applied for grants to fund emerging disease research at a local nature center. Norah Farnham, Woodland Park Zoo, for founding and running Zoos for Environmental Conservation at the Lincoln Park Zoo. At the Woodland Park Zoo she began Bowling for Rhinos with the A^K Chapter and spearheads efforts to support Lewa's local schools with basic supplies. At Lewa, she guides groups to view where conservation dollars are turned into concrete conservation efforts. Certificate of Appreciation Disney’s Animal Kingdom 2014 AAZK National Conference Host Institution Distinguished Service Award Greater Oriando AAZK Chapter 2014 AAZK National Conference Host Chapter Chapter of the Year Puget Sound AAZK Chapter Woodland Park Zoo Certificate of Recognition ' * Jack Hanna, Columbus Zoo, for your promotion of AAZK's BowiingFor Rhinos through your Public Service Announcement video. Your endorsement of our flagship conservation program will be key in the continued success of supporting conservation efforts in both Africa and Asia. * Amanda Kamradt, Zoo New England, for serving as Co-Chair of the Conservation Committee * Shelly Roach, Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, for serving as Chair of the Grants Committee * Kerri D’Ancicco, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, 2014 National AAZK Conference Co-Chair * Penny Jolly, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, 2014 National AAZK Conference Co-Chair AAZK.ORG October 2014 | Vol. 41, No. 10 | 281 And the Winner Is... congratulations to all our winners! f Susan D. Chan Author of the Year Supporting Avian Reproduction in a Mixed-Species Aviary Deb Dial, Senior Aviculturist National Aquarium Baltimore, MD ■n f Excellence in Journalism Awards Let Me Get the Door for You Sarah Smolinski Formerly at Roger Williams Park Zoo Currently at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo Using Ethograms to Develop Research Skills in Students Jacque Williamson Educator, Brandywine Zoo Wilmington, DE Keepers Lend a Helping Hand: Training Leo for Treatment of his Chronic Condition Judy Sievert, Keeper Stephanie Payne, Keeper Traci Colvi/eli, Keeper Hugh Bailey, Lead Keeper Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, WA 282 I ANIMAL KEEPERS' FORUM American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. 2014 AKF Cover Photography Awards AKF COVER OF THE YEAR "Lion" July 2013 Mehgan Murphy Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park Washington, D,C. "Gecko" January 2014 Amanda Westerlund Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium RUNNER UP Multiple Snakes, Multiple Problems Janis Gerrits, Animal Keeper (left) Lauren Augustine, Animal Keeper (right) Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park Washington, D.C. Feeding Browse Year Round in a Northern Climate Heidi Manicki Claffey, Keeper Grade III (right) Ali Veila-Irving, Keeper Grade III (left) Toronto Zoo AAZK.ORG October 2014 | Vol. 41, No. 10 | 283 AAZK CONSERVATION STATION Zoo Keepers Getting Dirty for Conservation: It’s Not Just in a Day’s Work! Kym Janke, Lead Keeper San Diego Zoo San Diego, CA Many zoo keepers today view their jobs as much more than just a 40 hour work week where they clock out at the end of the day and turn off all thoughts of work until the next morning. Instead, their work often translates to a lifestyle which displays a great commitment to conservation and animal care that extends well beyond formal work hours. While zoo keeping is an extremely rewarding profession, many keepers still feel the “call of the wild” and desire to contribute to conservation efforts outside of their home institutions by volunteering their time. Zoo keepers are not the only people interested in volunteering their time for a cause they are passionate about. In fact, volunteer tourism is becoming much more common within the general public based on their desire to contribute to a variety of causes such as humanitarian efforts, religious foundations and, of course, conservation. Recently, a number of studies have been published examining the volunteer tourism industry and the motivations of participants (Cousins et ah, 2009; Ellis, 2003; Halpenny and Caissie, 2003; Konstantinos and Richard, 2009). A large number of volunteer opportunities work with conservation projects and many are available to anyone who wishes to participate, regardless of profession or background. Often these volunteers have not been formally trained in conservation or animal-related fields. Cousins et al. (2009) reported that only 14% (n=22) of the volunteers she interviewed were even members of a conservation or animal welfare organization. This lack of conservation mindedness represents a major difference between the average volunteer tourist and a zoo keeper interested in participating in an in situ conservation project; the latter are trained professionals who often have a wealth of prior knowledge concerning the projects for which they volunteer. Research has shown that a desirable project location (Cousins et ah, 2009; Keese, 2011) and the opportunity to get up close and personal with a favourite animal species, can often be linked to the motivations of the volunteer tourist (Cousins et ah, 2009). This could mean that conservation is more of an afterthought. A zoo keeper, on the other hand, will likely make their choice based on the conservation potential and credibility of a project. Species preference may certainly play a role in the selection of a project, but this comes from a knowledge and experience standpoint, not simply from a dream to touch a lion, for example. While numerous studies have been conducted examining the volunteer tourism industry, there has been very little information collected about the role of animal care professionals in these types of working holidays. Most of the literature examining the connections of zoo keepers and independent conservation action focuses on fund raising activities and membership in conservation organizations such as the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK), not on actual hands-on experiences (Hummel, 2009; Poelker & Fischer, 2010). Similar to zoos, which are promoting themselves more frequently as conservation and research organizations and not just entertainment facilities (Carr and Cohen, 2011; Packer and Ballantyne, 2010); zoo keepers are also identifying themselves more often as conservationists. Many zoo keepers will tell you that working closely with a species in 284 I ANIMAL KEEPERS’ FORUM American Association of Zoo Keepers, inc. captivity brings about a desire to learn more about that animal in its natural environment. Many improvements to captive animal husbandry can result from learning the behaviours and natural histories of animals in the wild. Keepers are also better equipped to discuss conservation strategies with guests and coworkers if they have experienced them firsthand. In 2009, 1 had the opportunity to travel to Namibia for five weeks to volunteer for the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). Having worked with captive cheetahs for seven years, it was an amazing experience to finally see the in situ work being done to save these amazing cats! I was so inspired by the work being done by CCF that upon my return home I helped found a local chapter of the organization. After hearing similar stories from many zoo keepers across North America, I began to wonder how large of an impact zoo keepers have in global conservation efforts outside of their professional roles? Is our reach far enough to touch each continent? How can other keepers be inspired to get out there and volunteer as well? This paper aims to highlight the conservation efforts of zoo keepers in projects around the world and to demonstrate the reach of their impacts. It is my hope that this research can generate excitement and prompt conversation so that more keepers get involved in in situ conservation projects themselves. METHODS The free version of the online program, Sru’vey Monkey® was used to create a brief, six question survey that sought to answer some basic questions about the locations of conservation work being performed by zoo keepers. The survey also sought to determine if the conservation actions of the individual keepers led to future partnerships between their home zoological park and the conservation project. Finally, the survey asked if AAZK had provided any support to facilitate the keeper’s participation in the project. Survey participants were only asked for their current location and the number of years they had spent working in animal care and were not asked for any identifying information during data collection. Data collection took place from November 2012 to January 2013 and then again from January to February 2014. The survey was distributed in several different ways. First, a link to the survey was posted on the AAZK Inc. website (www.aazk. org). Additionally, individual Chapters were contacted through listed e-mail and Facebook pages and asked to distribute the survey to their local membership. Finally, the survey link was made available to zoo keepers through the Facebook groups “ZooKreepers” and “You know you’re a zookeeper when”. Using the methods of Seeger and Hertel (2009) as a template, Google Maps software was used to plot the locations (city and country) of conservation projects across the globe where North American zoo keepers have volunteered outside the scope of their professional duties. RESULTS The survey received responses from 59 zoo keepers but seven were removed from data analysis because they had not actually volunteered for an in situ conservation project. The remaining 52 respondents contributed to conservation projects on every continent, except Antarctica, encompassing 26 different countries. Several projects received the support of more than one survey respondent and 23 respondents had volunteered for multiple projects. In total, 79 unique projects were supported by zoo keepers volunteering around the globe (Fig. 1). Respondents reported having between 2 and 31 years of animal care experience, but length of service did not appear to correlate with the number of projects that each individual participated in. Following the in situ volunteer period 30 respondents (58.8%) indicated that their experience lead to an extended involvement with the conservation organization. These individual relationships, however, only lead to a partnership between the keeper’s home organization and conservation project for 19 participants (38%). Finally, only eight respondents (14.8%) reported that their involvement in the conservation project had been facilitated by AAZK. DISCUSSION Many zoo keepers feel they were destined to work in the zoological field and so have a moral obligation to animal care (Bunderson and Thompson, 2009). Even with this passion for their occupation and a strong belief on the vital importance of conservation, there are two factors that are continually cited as being the reasons that zoo keepers do not volunteer their time for conservation projects outside of their daily duties. The first is a lack of personal funds to finance their involvement and the second is that they may not even realize that there are opportunities for them to become involved. AAZK.ORG October 2014 | Vol. 41, No. 10 | 285 Many volunteer projects can be an expensive commitment once airfare, meals and lodging are all factored in. Zoo keepers are often paid much less comparatively to other occupations requiring the same level of education. In 2012, the median annual wage for non-farm animal caretakers was $19,690. While this group includes occupations such as pet groomers and sitters, the figure rises only slightly to $25,270 per year for persons identifying themselves as animal trainers (Bureau of Labor statistics, 2014). In 2000, a survey conducted by AAZK found that 75% of zoo keepers earned between $15,000 and $30,000 (as cited in Crosby, 2001) and it is not unlikely that this remains true today. Despite these income considerations, there are many ways to help offset the costs associated with the volunteer opportunity in order to make the conservation experience possible. For instance, certain organizations like CCF attempt to alleviate the financial burden by offering a reduced fee for food and lodging to zoo keepers. Zoo keepers may be surprised that funding, even if only partial, may be available to them from their home institutions. After all, from a management perspective, improving the knowledge and experiences of staff can lead to an enhancement of guest experience since tales from the field can be exciting and gain the attention of an audience. Additionally, involvement in professional organizations such as AAZK may lead to funding and scholarship opportunities at both the local and national levels of the organization. Finally, keepers may look for local opportunities where travel is not required and they can coordinate their volunteer commitment with their work schedule. Volunteer conservation opportunities are often not well advertised and so keepers may not realize that an opportunity exists. Additionally, many zoological facilities employ teams of research scientists, separate from their keeper staff, whose formal roles are to participate in in situ conservation projects. While most zoo keepers already know of many projects that interest them, the presence of research staff may discourage them from approaching their own supervisors to seek approval for the time off needed to participate in a project themselves. Alternatively, zoo keepers may be discouraged by the ground work needed to arrange a volunteer opportunity if conservation involvement is not common at their facility. It has been my experience that people do not want to be the first to attempt something. In general, people would like some sort of assurance that their requests or goals are attainable before seeking approval. For example, several of my peers have approached me to question the methods I used to gain approval for my professional leave to volunteer at CCF. Some of these keepers have gone on to volunteer for conservation projects themselves, but may not have approached their supervisors without any comparative examples of volunteer involvement in outside conservation organizations. Despite an extensive literature review no studies were found examining the effect of peer involvement on an individual’s motivation to join a cause. The response rate to this study was somewhat disappointing and lower than expected. My target was to have 100 participants and this did not seem to be an unrealistic goal based on the fact that there are an estimated 232,100 zoo keepers in the United States alone (Bureau of Labor statistics, 2014), and over 2600 AAZK members from 250 animal-related facilities. Since responses were only solicited from keepers who had participated in in situ work there is no way to determine whether response rate was low due to a general lack of survey participation or due to a lack of conservation participation. If this study were to be repeated it is recommended that all keepers be invited to respond with the option of answering that no in situ work had been done. Future studies should also seek to identify the motivations and prohibitory causes to volunteer involvement. It was quite surprising that so few respondents had received support from AAZK considering the fact that the majority of data collection was conducted through members of this organization. This raises the question of whether respondents had approached AAZK and been denied funding or if they are unaware of the opportunities available. As AAZK attempts to attract new members and retain their current membership it may be beneficial to examine the knowledge and perception of zoo keepers towards the benefits of AAZK membership. It may also be helpful to examine the opportunities for financial aid at the Chapter level. The locations of the projects that zoo keepers participated in seem to be clustered in regions of the world that one could consider safe and relatively stable with regards to political and cultural balance. This is in agreement with the findings of Keese (2011), where safety was the number one reason given for the selection of an area by non-governmental organizations participating in volunteer tourism. It would be interesting to investigate in a future study whether zoo keepers tend to volunteer in these established regions due to personal safety concerns or if it is due to the established, readily available opportunities in these regions as opposed to seeking out opportunities in less travelled countries. CONCLUSION Overall zoo keepers are shown to contribute positively to conservation efforts outside of their professional lives, and this willingness to participate is something that many conservation organizations could use to their advantage. Keepers who have participated in conservation projects are encouraged to share their experiences, not only of the actual trip but also the process of planning, with their peers to help guide and inspire others to follow in their footsteps. As more zoological organizations promote conservation as a goal, it may be easier for individuals to acquire support for involvement in in situ projects. Hopefully this paper will serve as a tool to open dialogue between keepers and their The author conducting in situ wildlife research. 286 I ANIMAL KEEPERS’ FORUM American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. supervisors and allow for additional conservation contributions. In the end all zoo keepers should be proud of their dedication and involvement with conservation issues, as we are clearly making a difference both at home and away! Where have you dreamed of making a difference? ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank AAZK and my co-worker Julie Anderson for helping me distribute the survey for this research. Additionally I would like to thank the members of the Conservation Science & Community and Professional Media Workshop classes of Project Dragonfly at Miami University for their help in editing this manuscript. REFERENCES Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Animal Care and Service Workers, on the Internet at http://www.bIs.gov/ooh/personal- care-and-service/animal-care-and-service-workers.htm (visited April 08, 2014). Bunderson, J., and J.A. Thompson. 2009. The call of the wild: Zookeepers, callings, and the double-edged sword of deeply meaningful work. Administrative Science Quarterly, 54(l):32-57 Carr, N., and S. Cohen. 2011. The public face of zoos: Images of entertainment, education and conservation. Anthrozoos, 24(2):175-189. doi: 10.2752/17530371 1X12998632257620 Cousins, J.A., Evans, J., and J.P. Sadler. 2009. Tve paid to observe lions, not map roads!’ - An emotional journey with conservation volunteers in South Africa. Geoforum, 40(6): 1069- 1080. doi:10.1016/j.geoforum.2009.09.001 Crosby, 0. 2001. Wild jobs with wildlife: Jobs in zoos and aquariums. Occupational Outlook Quarterly, 45(1):2-15. Ellis, C. 2003. Participatory environmental research in tourism: a global view. Tourism Recreation Research, 28(3):45-55. Halpenny, E.A., and L.T. Caissie. 2003. Volunteering on nature conservation projects: Volunteer experience, attitudes and values. Tourism Recreation Research, 28(3):25-33. Hummel, H. 2009. Conservation roles of zoo keepers today. Animal Keepers’ Forum, 36(7):290-291. Keese, J.R. 2011. The geography of volunteer tourism: Place matters. Tourism Geographies 13(2):257-279. doi: 10. 1080/14616688.2011 .567293 Konstantinos, T., and B. Richard. 2009. Volunteer tourism: Working on holiday or playing at work? Tourismos: An International Multidisciplinary Journal of Tourism, 4:331-349. Packer, J., and R. BaUantyne. 2010. The role of zoos and aquariums in education for a sustainable future. New Directions for Adult & Continuing Education, 127:25-34. doi:10.1002/ace.378 Poelker, C., and M. Fischer. 2010. Creating and maintaining partnerships for conservation: Two perspectives. Animal Keepers’ Forum, 37(9):401-404. Seeger, C.J., and C. Hertel. 2009. Visualizing and querying community survey data with Google maps. Journal of Extension, 47(5):l-7. TIGEi WSLPUFE REFUGE ^EEIC Join us in AVAILABLE “Saving Tigers One by One” As seen on Animal Planet® “Growing Up Tiger” Learn about Big Cat IVlanagement Internship involves Animal Care Apprenticeship and Public Education. We offer experience that counts towards employment Tliii MliitMi um EOUNDATIQII • TliEi iiraMUyfE iEPyiE • Apply at: www.tigercreek.org AAZK.ORG October 2014 | Vol. 41, No. 10 | 287 AAZK TRAINING TALES Training Degus (Octodon degus) for Better Management; an account of successes and failures Where you can share your training experiences! TRAINING TALES EDITORS Jay Pratte, Henry Doorly Zoo Kim Kezer, Zoo New England Beth Stark-Posta, Toledo Zoo Cheryl Frederick, Associate Professor of CWCE and Kristen Volpi, CWCE Student Unity College, Unity, Maine INTRODUCTION: Unity College has recently started an animal program to support majors such as Captive Wildlife Care and Education, Wildlife Biology, and Sustainable Agriculture. As part of this expansion, the College created a small animal room housing a variety of species commonly used in education outreach programs. The room supports classes in which students handle, observe, or work with these animals for health, husbandry, and education program goals. A few trained students work as caretakers in the room throughout the academic year. The 2012-2013 team of students learned pretty quickly that big challenges sometimes come in small packages. The addition of degus (Octodon degus), a diurnal species, quickly proved to be wonderful for class behavioral observations, but difficult for staff to manage for husbandry. Escapes were not infrequent, and minor bites occurred during routine handling attempts. Degus are small (~300 g) rodents native to the arid shrubland of Chile (Nowak, 1991) that are a popular species in the international pet trade (WAZA.org) as well as being part of some zoo animal collections (e.g. the National Zoo and Saint Louis Zoo). Therefore, when four, eight-week-old female siblings became available we gladly accepted this donation to our program. These females lacked strong individual identification marks but had fairly distinct behavior and temperament differences which refiected their status in the dominance hierarchy. Dominance behaviors such as boxing, mounting and pinning, accompanied by agonistic vocalizations, were typically displayed at feeding time. To address this we started adding more food bowls, ultimately ending up with as many bowls as degus. Individual degus’ reactions to handling or training attempts appeared to correspond to their place in the hierarchy. The degus were maintained in a 24" x 16" x 36" split level cage (Figure 1) of one-inch-square coated wire mesh containing a running wheel, hay bedding and other varied furnishings. Enrichment items such as cardboard tubes, boxes, paper for nesting, and sticks for gnawing and chewing were provided regularly. Dust bathing opportunities were provided every other day. They were fed an ad libitum pelleted diet. Two to three times per week the degus were moved to an alternate enclosure so that cage cleaning could take place. Difficulties encountered during these moves prompted a training program to better manage the animals. TRAINING: Moving the degus by capture and restraint to transport them to an alternate site (a clear 66 quart tub 17 %" x 24 V2" x 13 Vd' with lid) during cleaning resulted in a variety of problems including escapes and injury of caretakers. Bites by degus only occurred following prolonged attempts to trap and secure them by band. Subordinate degus were the most wary, which made them more difficult to capture, and therefore also more likely to bite. Although wearing gloves lessened the chance of injury it did not alleviate the potential stress experienced by the degus or increase their cooperation. 288 I ANIMAL KEEPERS' FORUM American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. When the degus first arrived (September), all moves to an alternate site were paired with a positive outcome. They were catch-handled briefly, before being given food, cover, and a dust bath. Most of them immediately began using the dust bath upon release, which suggested they were not overly distressed by the process. What we observed over time was a quicker recovery and greater apparent comfort with their new location, but continued anxious behavior by the two lowest ranking animals whenever we tried to handle them. Behaviors manifested were typical for a prey species, for example, rapid flight or crouching and hiding under cover. Whenever we shifted degus from one location to another it always required two people. Stage one (October) of training started by considering the degus’ natural history. In the wild they use an elaborate system of tunnels and communal burrows, seeking shelter in dark, narrow spaces (Nowak, 1991). Therefore, we tried a tube-shaped, cardboard, oatmeal container to attract them inside for transport. The more dominant animals readily explored the container and we used sunflower seeds to bait the more reluctant degus. When they all began to enter readily (after several sessions) we eliminated the seeds as bait. Although using this container for transporting the degus was going well, we suffered a set-back following an escape and bite during recapture. This refocused our attention on the need to get them more comfortable with handling. Stage two (November) involved moving the degus to a new alternate cage (see Figure 2) using the tube-shaped container previously described. This new alternate cage had a removable top allowing easier access to the animals for work on handling and transfer. At first we offered sunflower seeds to all approaching animals, though the higher ranking degus sometimes kept the others back or displaced them. We next narrowed the criteria for the readily approaching, dominant degus, rewarding them only after they tolerated a quick pick-up and put down. We also rewarded them for subsequent approaches. Although their behavior (approaching both before and after handling) indicated that they were progressing well, we still needed sufficient incentive for cooperation so that any individual could be handled from any location. Stage three (January-May) started after we noticed nuts, especially almonds, were the degus favorite enrichment item. Thus the “nut incentive training program” was born; degus were given the opportunity to approach an open hand while being shown a nut. Degus that actively approached and touched the hand were given a nut. The criteria for desired responses were then narrowed to stepping out fully onto a hand, and finally to being held briefly and carried to the other cage. Approaching and stepping onto the hand were followed by brief hold and carry as an established sequence. The degus’ cooperation was completely voluntarily and while this happened more readily in the alternate cage, it did occur in both. By the end of May this method worked consistently with three out of four degus; the exception was the lowest ranking degu who refused to even approach the trainers. We continued to use two trainers so that one could focus on the degu being handled while the other secured cage doors, monitored, or worked with other degus. Stage Four (June) consisted of routinely using both handling and the tube-shaped container for transport between cages. Not all caretakers participated in handling, and the cue-to-hand-for-pick- up method always required more time and patience. We now scaled back on using nuts and I’eplaced them with sunflower seeds that had fewer caloi’ies, could be dispensed more frequently, and eaten quickly by the degus (Figure 3). In addition, the cue “load” was added to the presentation of the container. It was unclear if the degus understood the verbal cue we paired with it, but they did clearly respond to the visual presentation of the container. ADMITTING DEFEAT: Throughout our training of the degus we tried a number of things that simply did not work. In early November while training the degus to use a tube-shaped container for transport we also tried placing a nest box in the cage. The idea was to introduce a more permanent version of a "burrow” in the hopes that we could also use it to facilitate transfer. This failed because they did not use the box with any consistency and never used it all at once. Following the “nut incentive training program” the degus became so comfortable with approaching the front of the cage, we risked escapes when doing simple husbandry such as adding food bowls. We therefore attempted training them to station, but our degus did not appear to grasp the concept of the clicker-as- a-bridge and showed no signs (e.g. orientation) of associating its noise with the presentation of a primary reinforcer. Perhaps a different choice of secondary reinforcer, such as a whistle, would have been more effective. Last but not least, we also suffered a major regression in their willingness to be handled after they were moved to a new, larger, subdivided cage (Figure 4) last July. No Figure 3. Degu training sequences AAZK.ORG October 2014 | Vol. 41, No. 10 | 289 Membership with the American Association of Zoo Keepers includes a subscription to Animal Keepers’ Forum and free or discounted admission to many zoos and aquariums in the U.S. and Canada. To download an application or to apply online, please visit AAZK.ORG. AAZK is a nonprofit volunteer organization (U.S. 501 c3) made up of professional zoo keepers and other interested persons dedicated to professional animal and conservation. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION of ZOO KEEPERS Figure 4. The larger, subdivided holding area. mishaps were associated with this move, but still the change in housing resulted in a profound setback in trust and cooperation. WHERE WE ARE TODAY: Although the new degu cage allowed us to shift animals between two separate sections, it still required their complete removal weekly to be fully cleaned. Unfortunately, the degus would no longer step onto our hands and only the most dominant degu would consistently enter the transport container. We therefore built a chute that lined up with the cage’s lower doors and once again baited it with treats, hay, and a dust bath. In what we now recognized as typical degu fashion, the higher ranking animals entered readily but the subordinate ones took a lot of time. This pattern meant a lot of running in and out by all group members and our reliance on eventually trapping them in the chute. Fortunately, their comfort with it has recently increased. Now three of them enter it readily, and we wait, but for not too long, for the fourth. We are now pursuing modifications to the chute so that it can be subdivided to lock some animals in while waiting for others, and rewarding after entry versus baiting. Finally, their recent approach behavior (intermittently reinforced with seeds) and demeanor when interacting with us indicates that we can at last start working towards handling again.... at least with three of them. We would like to thank CWCE students Patricia Preston, for her assistance with training the degus, and Brian Klotzbier, for designing and building the excellent degu chute. REFERENCES: http://www.waza.org/en/zoo/visit-the-zoo/rodents-and-hares/ octodon-degus Nowak, R. and E. Walker. 1991. Walker’s mammals of the world. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Some examples of zoos with degus: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/News/degus-2014.cfm http://www.stlzoo.org/animals/abouttheanimals/mammals/ rodents/degu/ Lyon ProCare Nebulization Unit Delivering treatments and medicine through nebulization can be a complicated and stressful process. Lyon's Nebulization unit was designed with Veterinarians to address issues of patient stress, effective and efficient delivery of medication and post treatment clean-up. Easy access and sized to give the patient a secure and calming environment without the use of masks or other direct contact methods. Lyon's dedicated nebulization unit allows you to provide better, faster more effective treatment with less medica- tion; for one or multiple patients. Quick clean-up, no more messy situations nebulizing in larger care spaces and wasted time cleaning them. The Nebulization Unit, another solution for the care and preservation of companion, exotic and endangered ani- mals. Lyon ProCare Products designed with Professionals for Professionals. STANDARD FEATURES • Sized for efficient delivery • Single or Multiple Patient • Top Observation Window « See Through Guillotine Door • 2 Flip Doors for Smaller or Multi Patient • includes Easy Dose Nebulizer Cup • Powder Coated Steel Construction • Designed with Vets for Vets • Made in the USA • 2 Year Warranty Lyon ProCare Nebulization Unit P/N 912-105 Characteristic Dimensions Overall Height, Width, Depth 12x13x18 Compartments (with divider installed) 12x 6 1/2 X 18 Observation Window lOx 14 Main Door 12x13 Flip Doors (2) 5 1/2x3 1/2 All dimensions are in inches Specifications subject to change without notice. ^Exceffence in J^nimaC Care Since 19] S Lyon Technologies Inc. 1690 Brandywine Ave, Ste A. Chula Vista, California USA, 91911 619 216-3400 info(5)|yonusa.com AMERICAN ASSOCIATION of ZOO KEEPERS “Dedicated to Professional Animal Care 8476 E. Speedway Blvd. Suite 204 Tucson, AZ 85710-1728 U.S.A. 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