I c j' I f f' [ The Journal of the American Association of Zoo Keepers, inc. JULY 1996 ANIMAL KEEPERS^ FORUM. 635 S.W. Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606-2066 Julv 1996 Phone; 1-800-242-4519 (U.S.) 1-800-468-1966 (Canada) FAX 913-273-1980 \7 j n Managing Editor: Susan Chan • Associate Editors/Enrichment Options VOl. ZJ, JMO. 7 Coordinators: Kayla Grams, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum & Gretchen Ziegler, Sequoia Park Zoo • Book Review Coordinator: Andrea Bemee, Chaffee Zoological Garden • Legislative Outlook Column Coordinator: Georgann B. Johnston, Sacramento, CA. • Editorial/Office Assistant: Jeremy Gum Animal Keepers* Forum (ISSN 0164-9531) is a monthly journal of the American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. Ten dollars of each membership fee goes toward the annual publication costs of Animal Keepers’ Forum . Third Class postage paid at Topeka, KS. Postmaster - Please send address changes to; American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc., Administrative Offices, 635 S.W. Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606-2066 - attn: Barbara Manspeaker, Administrative Secretary AAZK Executive Director: Ed Hansen, AAZK, Inc., Topeka KS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ric Urban, Houston Zoological Garden, Houston, TX 77030 Diane Callaway, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, NE 68107-2200 Janet McCoy, Metro Washington Park Zoo, Portland, OR 97221-2799 Marilyn Cole, Box 335, Pickering, Ontario, Canada LIV 2R6 Lucy Segerson, North Carolina Zoological Park, Asheboro, NC 27203-9416 David Luce, Chaffee Zoological Gardens of Fresno, Fresno, CA 93728-2891 Michael Illig, Metro Washington Park Zoo, Portland, OR 97221-2799 President Vice President Immediate Past President COMMITTEES Nominations& Elections Chair - Sheri Leavitt, Houston Zoo Conservation. Preservation & Restoration Chair - Brett Sellers, Metro Washington Park Zoo Annual Conferences Coordinator - Ed Hansen, AAZK, Inc. Awards Chair - Janet McCoy, Metro Washington Park Zoo Exhibit Pe?ign Resource Ngtebook Michael Demlong, The Phoenix Zoo AAZK Inspection Standard? Manual -- Rachel Watkins Rogers, Byilaws John Phillips, North Carolina Zoo Ethics Janet McCoy, Metro Washingto Park Zoo Rc$Carch/Grant$ Diane Callaway, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo Marketing Re.?.Qurgc,§ David Luce, Chaffee Zoological of Fresno AAZK Chapter Logo Products Jay Christie, Cohanzick Zoo, Bridgeton, NJ El Paso Zoo MEMBERSHIP SERVICES LlNJC^Coordinatpr Mark de Denus, Assiniboine Park Zoo ZpQ Uni.ver$i,ty Li$t Mike Illig, Metro Washington Park Zoo Keeper Accommodations List Todd Cleveland, Denver Zoo Enrichment Committee Dianna Frisch, Columbus Zoo Animal Data Transfer Fprm Bemie Feldman, Burnet Park Zoo Staff Exchange Dale Frerking, Kansas City Zoo AAZK Hi$tprian Mark Levin, Philadelphia Zoo AAZK Training Material? Adrienne Whitley, Burnet Park Zoo International Outreach - Jeanette Beranger, Roger Williams Park Zoo (Chair/Coordinator Technical Assistance); Lesa Scheifele, Norwich, CT (International Affairs); Lois Johannes, L. A. Zoo (Foreign Member Sponsorship Program); Kathy Kelly, National Zoo - Project M.A.R.C. (Making A Realistic Contribution) PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORS/LIAISONS AZA Liaison Janet McCoy, Metro Washington Park Zoo Bowling for Rhinos Patty Pearthree, Indianapolis, IN Zoo Registrars Association Terry Fisher, San Antonio Zoo Elephant Managers Association Liaison Dinah Wilson, Marine World Africa USA Oliver Claffey, Metro Toronto Zoo Int'l Marine Mammals Trainers Association Dave Force, Sea World of California AAZK PUBLICATIONS - CONTINUING DATA COLLECTION Zoo Infant Development Project - Teri Maas-Anger/Maggie Liguori, Philadelphia Zoo (Birds/Nonpasserines); Jennifer Hackshaw, Lowry Park Zoo and Suzanne Chacon, Costa Rica (Birds/passerines); Jeanne Stevens, Newark Museum Mini-Zoo (Reptiles); Linelle Lone, Denver Zoo (Amphibians) Diet Notebook. Mammals. Vol. II - Susan Bunn Spencer, Rockford, MI Incubation Notebook Project - Scott Tidmus, Sedgewick County Zoo, Wichita, KS Exhibit Dresign Resource Notebook - Mike Demlong, The Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix, AZ ^ printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based ink products ^able of Contents Information for Contributors 382 From the Executive Director. 383 - 384 AAZK Announces New Members 385 Coming Events 386 Center for Ecosystem Survival Expands to Include Marine Conservation 387 - 388 Animal Behavior Concerns & Solutions (Sea Lion) 390 - 393 Animal Reintroductions and Endangered Species, Part 2 394 - 398 Baby Elephant Walk 399 Enrichment and Training of Lappet-Faced Vultures 400 - 402 Bowling for Rhinos Update 403 Election '97 - Call for Nominees 404 AAZK Election Nominator/Nominee Bio Forms BLUE INSERT Internet Address Update 405 Enrichment Options (elephants/primates) 406 - 407 Conference '96 - Detroit - notes & reminders ;....408 - 409 The North American Crisis Management Survey. 410 - 420 Book Reviews (In The Country of Gazelles ; Phyllis, Phallus Genghis Cohen and other creatures I have known) 421 - 422 Legislative Update 423 - 424 Eenrichment Committee Seeks Items for Notebook 425 Chapter News Notes 426 Opportunity Knocks 427 - 428 Information Please (Cougar Housing) 428 About the Cover..... This month 's cover features a male American kestrel (Falco sparverius) drawn by John Heine, a keeper at the Riverside Zoo in Scottsbluff NE. Also called the Sparrow Hawk, this hovering falcon is the smallest of the true falcons, measuring 20-28cm and weighing between 100-200g. They are found in about 20 subspecies from Alaska and Newfoundland to Tierra del Fuego. Their main prey is field mice although they also eat other small rodents, locusts, beetles etc. and are very beneficial to man because of their "pest species" diet. They do not build nests but will use the abandoned nests of crows or magpies. They also will lay their 4-6 egg clutch in a hollow tree, a crevice on a rockface, or in niches of manmade structures like barns, old churches, etc. This species, like most raptors, has remarkable eyesight which help make it such a successful hunter. Thanks, John! Information for Contributors Animal Keepers’ Forum publishes original papers and news items of interest to the animal keeping profession. Non-members are welcome to submit articles for consideration. Articles should be typed or hand-printed and double-spaced. Articles may be submitted on disk by arrangement with the Editor. All illustrations, graphs, charts and tables should be clearly marked, in final form and should fit in a page size no greater than 5.5” x 8.5” (14cm x 22cm). Literature used should be cited in the text (Brown, 1986) and alphabetically in the final bibliography. Avoid footnotes. Include scientific name (as per ISIS) the first time an animal name is used. Thereafter use common name. Use metric system for weights and measurements (standard equivalents may be noted in parenthesis). Use the continental dating system (day-month-year). Times should be listed as per the 24-hour clock (0800, 1630 hrs. etc.). Glossy finish black and white photos only are accepted. Color slides should be converted to black and white prints (minimum size 3” x 5” [8cm x 14cm] ) before submission. Clearly marked captions should accompany photos. Please list photo credit on back of photo. 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 v/ill not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed, appropriately-sized envelope. Telephone and FAX contributions of late-breaking news or last-minute insertions are accepted as space allows However, long articles must be sent by U.S. mail. Phone 1-800-242-4519 (US); 1-800-468-1966 (Canada); FAX (913) 273-1980. Deadline for each regular issue is the 10th 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 AAZK, Inc. 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. Reprints of material appearing in this journal may be ordered from the editor. Back issues are available for $3.00 each. 382 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 Jrom the executive Director The longer that I am involved with this Association, the more I learn that there is one thing that is constant - change. (Well, maybe stress). Members progress up the ladder to management or leave the profession to avoid starving. Board Members come and go, projects and committees are formulated and chairs appointed. Work progresses, we communicate effectively and meet every year to chart progress. Every once and awhile goals are met, work completed and the profession reaps the rewards. We change and we move on. You may have noticed recent changes have occurred in our Bowling for Rhinos program. This conservation fundraiser is recognized throughout the profession as an unparalleled success. I would like to take a moment to explain the changes that have occurred and to bring the rumors under control. Anna Merz, the matriarch of the Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary, has retired. She has left the Sanctuary for a quiet and well-deserved restful life in South Africa. Anna will continue to travel and promote the Sanctuary at every opportunity. The management of the Sanctuary has been undertaken by the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (LWC), of which Ian Craig, long a part of Lewa Downs and manager of the Sanctuary, is the director. AAZK, Inc. has pledged to work directly with LWC and form a partnership to oversee application and management of the BFR funds. In addition, as a facet of this partnership, LWC has pledged to create a research station on the grounds of the Sanctuary for AAZK members to have at their disposal. As LWC investigates and seeks to take limited advantage of the ecotourism dollar, as a means of offsetting expenses, it is exciting and comforting that the AAZK membership and our ability to perform research on the grounds of the Sanctuary is of paramount importance to the Directors of LWC. The partnership mentioned above also includes the Ngare Sergoi Support Group, Inc. In the past, NSSG, Inc., Andy Lodge, Director, has generously supported and absorbed all expenses associated with BFR. In addition to the ties to the BFR program, the partnership of AAZK, LWC and NSSG has recently negotiated a change in focus that will allow NSSG to spend more time in the public sector, soliciting donations on behalf of LWC. NSSG has pledged to forward 80% of all donations received to LWC. This includes monies received by NSSG in association with BFR talks, after fees and expenses. Twenty percent of donations will be retained to offset expenses associated with the operation of NSSG. Andy Lodge will continue to represent the BFR program for AAZK to the membership and the public through his talks. I have encouraged him to charge a nominal speaker fee and reasonable expenses for these talks, which is only fair. We encourage Chapters to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and financially support both LWC and Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 7, 1996 383 NSSG and their educational programs. Up to date promotional materials regarding LWC, for use in future BFR events, will be available soon through NSSG and/or AAZK,. In 1990, AAZK pledged to our membership that we would send 100% of all BFR funds realized to Africa in support of the Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary. In 1992, in response to membership concern, it was decided that all monies realized over $100k would be sent to Ujung Kulon in support of the Javan rhino. To date, you have contributed over $700,000.00 in support of the rhino and 100% of money raised has gone to these fine programs. But as I stated previously, time usually dictates change. With partial loss of funding resulting from the retirement of Anna, LWC cannot meet the expenses associated with managing BFR. NSSG is financially unable to continue their support at the previous level, and AAZK, Inc. only has a total operating budget of $70,000, yet you raise over $120,000 a year to contribute to conservation programs outside this Association. Financial management of the Bowling for Rhinos must come from the program itself Starting with the 1996 BFR event, AAZK will utilize 4% or $4000 of the funds received to pay for BFR - i.e. printing forms, mailings and associated expenses only. This money will also be utilized to pay for the contest winners” trips to the Sanctuary, a reward that LWC, NSSG and AAZK agree is essential to the continued success of the event. I write this to you in an effort to maintain honesty and integrity with our membership. Bowling, Rummaging, Rockin, etc. for Rhinos is high profile, successful and makes a direct impact in wildlife conservation. One hundred percent of the money that you raise this year and in the future will go directly to support the BFR program and the wildlife of Africa and Indonesia. As always, any comments you have on this or any other issue are welcome. Please take the time to write to me c/o Administrative Offices and we can discuss whatever is on your mind. 384 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol 23, No. 7, 1996 AAZK Announces New Professional & Contributing Members Donna Giunta, Staten Island Zoo (NY); Lynne Von Haggin, Flag Acres Zoo (NY); Lisa A. Jandrasits, Pittsburgh Zoo (PA); David Jobe, Mill Mountain Zoo (VA); Steve DeCreise, Central Florida Zoological Park (FL); Sylvia Inglefield, Lowry Park Zoo (FL); Marisa Paulet, St. Paul Como Zoo (MN); Laurie Mitchell, Montgomery Zoo (AL); James Hardy, Ober Gatlinburg Municipal Black Bear Habitat (TN); Peggy Gann, Knoxville Zoological Gardens (TN); Deborah Scanlan, Memphis Zoo (TN); Steve Parker, Jackson Zoo (MS); Jane McEvoy, Columbus Zoo (OH); Jennifer Howard and Elisha Taylor, Indianapolis Zoo (IN); William Anderst, City of Manitowoc/Lincoln Park Zoo (WI); Karla Sioux Stilley, Greg McCumsey and Karen Shaw, (Greater Baton Rouge Zoo (LA); Maureen O’Leary, Tulsa Zoo (OK); Barbara Staples, Dallas Zoo (TX); Jill Cox, Utah’s Hogle Zoo (UT); Lorraine McBride, no zoo listed, Phoenix, AZ; Rhonda Saiers, Albuquerque Biological Park (MN); James F. Peddie, EATM Program/Moorpark College (CA); Wattie N. Anderson, Chaffee Zoological Gardens of Fresno (CA); Gregory S. Hamilton, Honolulu Zoo (HI); Laurie L. Brogan, Oregon Coast Aquarium (OR); Tonya Buzzard, Wildlife Safari (OR); Mike Teller, Woodland Park Zoo (WA); Jean R. Joseph, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (WA); Shannon Salter, Metro Toronto Zoo (Ontario). Renewing Contributing Members Richard Block, Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis, IN Susan Moy-La Veau, Keeper, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL Kathy De Falco, Volunteer, San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA John Bretton, San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA Norman Gershenz, Director Center for Ecosystem Survival, San Francisco, CA New Contributing Members Jean A. Marson, Docent, Detroit Zoo, Detroit, MI THE GOURMET 0^ RODEN'f" RATS AND MICE Bill & Marcia Brant 6115 SW 137th Avenue Archer, FL 32618 (352) 495-9024 Fax (352) 495-9781 © All Rights Reserved Need to Reach AAZK? 1-800-242-4519 (U.S.) 1-800-468-1966 (Canada) Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. CT FAX: (913) 273-1980 or write AAZK, Inc. 635 S.W. Gage Blvd. Topeka, KS 66606-2066 U.S.A. Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 7, 1996 385 Coining Events 1996 Central Regional Volunteer Conference - August 2-3, 1996 at Sioux Falls, SD. Hosted by The Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum. For information contact: Jackie Goosen or Vanessa Lambert at (605) 367-7003 or fax (605) 367-8340. Animal Behavior Society 33rd Annual Meeting* - August 3-8, 1996 at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ. There will be a pre-meeting symposium July 31-August 2: A Synthetic Approach to Studying Animal Cognition: Examples from Specialized Domains. For information contact: Dr. Con Slobodchikofif, Dept, of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011; email: Con.Slobodchikoff@nau.edu. For S5anposium information contact Dr. Russ Baida - emaihRussell. Balda@nau.edu. American Federation of Avicultinre 22nd Annual Convention - August 7-10, 1996 in San Francisco, CA. Focus will be on Asian and Indonesian birds, with a special program on finches and softbills. Conference will feature many guest speakers, local tours of SF area and Marine World/Africa USA. For further information contact the AFA Business Office at (602) 484-0931. Association of Avian Veterinarians 1996 Conference - August 27- September 1, 1996 in Tampa, FL. Meeting includes sessions on medicine, diagnostics, ratites, infectious diseases, environmental practice, etc. Also included will be practical application labs on surgical topics, parasitology, avicultural medicine. For more information contact the AAV Conference Office at (303) 756-8380. ZOOMANIA - 96 - Southeast Regional Docent Conference - September 13-15, 1996 at Gulf Breeze, FL. Registration and hotel information available by contacting the Docent Council or Curator of Education at THE ZOO (904) 932-2229, ext. 27. Association of Zoological Horticulture International Conference - October 4- 12, 1996 in Greensboro, NC. For further information contact: Virginia Wall, North Carolina Zoological Park, 4401 Zoo Pkwy, Asheboro, NC 27203; (910) 879-7400. 23rd Annual National AAZK Conference - October 5 -10, 1996 in Detroit, ML Hpsted by the Detroit AAZK Chapter and the Detroit Zoo. Watch AAF for information/forms. Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians 16th Annual Conference - October 29 - November 1, 1996 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Will include sessions on reptile, avian, primate, exotic hoofstock and aquatic medicine, immobilization, hematology, clinical pathology, hospital techniques and case reports. There will also be a wet-lab. For more information contact: Jenni Jenkins, LVT, National Aquarium at Baltimore (410) 659- 4256; fax (410) 576-1080. For membership information contact Lisa Kolbach, LVT at White Oak Conservation Center at (904) 225-3396. 386 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 7, 1996 Center for Ecosystem Survival Expands to Include Marine Conservation Since 1989, the Center for Ecosystem Survival has played a significant role in bringing together a consortia of more than 70 zoos, aquaria, and conservation- minded institutions to address, in a creative way, the commitment of their resources and the resources of the public toward real on-the-ground, in-situ conservation and science. Originally headquartered out of the San Francisco Zoo, the Center has found a new home at San Francisco State University where the Department of Biology and the college of Science and Engineering have graciously agreed to host this highly successful conservation program. As we approach the millennia, I believe protection of coastal and marine ecosystems worldwide will become one of our greatest conservation challenges. Addressing that need and through the generous support of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, CES created and developed the first ten prototype Marine Conservation Meters. The Marine Meter is part of an innovative fundraising campaign to engage the public in supporting critical aquatic habitat protection. Over the course of last year, all ten Marine Conservation Meters were successfully placed into aquariums and zoos across the United States to raise funds and awareness for ocean conservation. The following institutions have placed Marine Conservation Meters: Monterey Bay Aquarium, National Aquarium in Baltimore, John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, New Jersey State Aquarium, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Dallas World Aquarium, Marine World Africa/USA, Houston zoological Gardens, the Detroit Zoo and the Columbus Zoo. The combined attendance for the listed participating institutions has the potential to reach up to 10, 650,000 zoo and aquaria visitors, generating understanding and financial support for in-situ coral reef conservation. The Center for Ecosystem Survival in concert with aquaria, zoos. The Nature Conservancy, and other conservation groups has identified three marine protection sites and programs to receive 100% of all funds collected through the CENTER FOR ECOSYSTEM S U R V I V A L Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 7, 1996 387 Marine Conservation Meter program. They are Parque Nacional del Este in the Dominican Republic; Komodo National Park in Indonesia; and the Republic of Palau in Micronesia. Financial support includes on-site protection and science work, such as installation of buoys to prevent anchor damage, long-term monitoring of fish and coral reefs, survey programs, ecological assessments, and in-country educational outreach programs. In addition to prototyping the ten Marine Conservation Meters, the Center for Ecosystem Survival completed, with the generous underwriting of the Pacific Telesis Corp., the design, development and production of educational outreach materials for school groups, zoos, and aquaria, and the general public. CES created the Adopt A Reef® program and brochure to raise funds from elementary school students and the general public across the nation for the conservation of endangered coral reefs and awards honorary deeds for gifts toward coral reef preservation. Brochures describing the Adopt A Reef® and the earlier Adopt An Acre® programs are available to AAZK Chapters and AAZK members interested in promoting these projects by contacting Center Director Norman Gershenz at the address given below. For those not familiar with CES history, the Adopt an Acre program works to protect rainforest habitats around the world. CES has also expanded its Adopt An Acre program with the addition of a new conservation site in the Pantanal National Park in Brazil which offers the public the unique opportunity to purchase and protect 148,000 acres of ecologically important land, expanding the protected area by 43%. Other conservation sites under the Adopt An Acre® program are the Talamanca-Caribbean Biological Corridor in Costa Rice and the Amboro National Park in Bolivia. For more information or to request brochures contact: Norman Gershenz, Center for Ecosystem Survival, San Francisco State University, Dept, of Biology, 1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco, CA 94132 388 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 7, 1996 Quality exotic animal diets O T^r^I TILl balanced ^JL 1 1\UJV1 Fixed formulation • Economical When you need a complete line of high-quality dry and frozen animal diets for your feeding program, call Animal Spectrum. NKBRASKA BRAND h i SPECTRUM BROOD-RITE HEATERS Frozen feline diets Frozen bird of prey diets Frozen canine diet Chunk and chopped horsemeat, hearts, livers, rib, shank, knuckle bones, and tailbones Banana flavored psittacine/primate, 20% protein dry Banana flavored primate. Pro-Plus 25% protein dry Leaf Eater primate dry Omnivore dry Marmoset/T amarin dry Polar Bear dry Ratite dry Bulbless heaters— nothing to break Safe around all animals and bedding material. Even heat distribution in 240. 500, or 750 wattages. One call does it all FREE 1-800-228-4005 FAX 308-534-7015 Animal Spectrum, Inc. P.O. Box 721 North Platte, NE 69103-0721 ABC ^ Animal behavior Concerns & Solutions A Question and Answer Forum for the Zoo Professional Py Diana Guerrero Independent Dehavior Consultant, Ark Animals of California, Can Die^o, CA BEHAVIOR EVALUATION: CALIFORNIA SEA LION (Zalophus californianus) QUESTION Over the past year and a half our institution has begun conditioning two California sea lions {Zalophus californianus) for husbandry purposes. We have recently been encountering some difficulty along with some aggression. Do you have any recommendations? BACKGROUND The two animals in this scenario are male sea lions, the older animal is twice the age of the younger. Neither animal has been worked previous to the training efforts of this institution. The older male has some difficulty with visual acuity due to loss of eyesight. He is less curious but shows keen interest in sessions and in performing well. The younger male is more human oriented and is very curious. He will antagonize the older male. He was neutered at a young age to minimize antagonistic behavior between the males due to natural competition. ANIMAL PROFILES Both animals show high interest in their training programs. Each exhibit behavior readily when asked. The younger male grasps training concepts quickly and learns with two or three repetitions (if the trainer is clear) while the older male takes six or more. It is suspected that the older male sees shadows and/ or movement. He appears to get frustrated or confused and will engage in time-out behavior (going into the water) when he approaches that point. ADDITIONAL NOTES There have been up to six different trainers/keepers working these animals. Each has individual variances that affect behavior. This has resulted in some superstitious behavior being trained. Recently the training staff has been reduced to four individuals. All are highly motivated in their involvement with the program and show a good aptitude for training. All use variable reinforcement to the same degree and the protocol is clearly delineated to avoid confusion of staff or animals. The commitment and cooperation between training/keeper staff members toward the program is exceptional and although there are differences each staff member is committed to making the program work. Team meetings occur once a month. For training stability and progress it is 390 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol 23, No. 7, 1996 recommended that the trainers informally discuss sessions, concerns, and feedback at least weekly. CHALLENGE AREAS Any time training is done involving several animals there are more d3mamics and complications which must be attended to. This is further complicated when you involve multiple training personnel. Cross communication before, during, and after sessions is important. The record keeping and criteria is very clear and concise. However, staff interpretation of responses seem to be more human oriented versus the animal oriented viewpoint. Since some of the staff have traditional training background, there is a tendency to push ahead quicker than necessary or desirable. In addition, striving for consistency has resulted in some predictability in the training patterns. Consistency refers to being clear and constant in criteria, level of performance, rewards, and bridging. Predictability is when behaviors are asked for in the same sequence, in the same areas, or in the same repetitive manner. The animals begin to chain the behaviors or anticipate what will be asked. ACTION STEPS Recommendations for improvement are minor. Staff has evolved beyond the beginning area and just need minor adjustments and guidance. The following notes are specific to this scenario but also to numerous others since these “growing pains” are common trends for new trainers and new animals. 1. STOP WHEN YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL It is not necessary to complete training a behavior in one session. End on a good note instead of continuing the session with other behaviors. One or two behaviors worked allow fine tuning which form a more stable foundation and will result in stronger training results later. Focus on nuances such as relaxed body posture, longer duration of a behavior, and more specifics. EXAMPLE: On a down first get the down, then get a relaxed position, then a relaxed position without animal movement, then a relaxed position while you move around, etc. 2. WHEN YOU ARE EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY WITH A BEHAVIOR GO TO ANOTHER BEHAVIOR THAT IS PREDICTABLY SUCCESSFUL. REASSESS YOUR APPROACH FOR NEW BEHAVIORS. If you are having difficulty go to another behavior and get success. Don’t reward this with a primary reinforcer use a conditioned reinforcer. Get the behavior again and then reward with a primary reinforcer. You can then move back to try the first behavior. Only ask once, if you don’t get the behavior then either end the session or move into something else and leave it. NOTE: Make sure to troubleshoot if the same behavior is causing difficulty repeatedly. Check to see how other trainers are experiencing that behavior. 3. PAY ATTENTION TO NUANCES Watch for behavioral clues. Body tension, tail and whisker positions, and breathing will give you clues to how your animal is feeling or liable to react. If you are bridging for a target make sure the mouth is shut or you will reinforce a superstitious behavior. Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 7, 1996 391 4. WORK QUALITY NOT QUANTITY Work more on fine tuning behaviors versus all the repertoire. This will help with boredom and predictability. You will need to decide on some variations or new behaviors to train in the near future to keep both animals and trainers healthfully occupied. 5. AVOID DISTRACTING TRAINERS FROM THEIR SESSIONS Verbal interactions from staff and public should be minimized to avoid problems caused through distraction. Distractions can result in improper bridging, and aggression. 6. RESIST TEMPTATION TO REPEAT COMMANDS OVER AND OVER AGAIN Repetition is unnecessary and can result in the animal desensitizing to the trainer’s directives. 7. REVIEW AGGRESSION PROTOCOL In at least one instance it appeared that an animal showed minor aggression (threat) to the working trainer and although the trainer got the animal to respond, the trainer rewarded the animal with a primary reinforcer (which, in essence rewarded the aggression.) NOTE: This individual trainer was bit by the same animal shortly after that incident. OTHER With the older sea lion use brighter tools. Be sure to note responses from each side of the animal and which appears to get stronger or more predictable response. Sunlight could also blind/prevent the animal from responding properly so be aware. Ask for a behavior only once or twice and then move on or take action as you see appropriate. Multiple commands for one behavior serve no purpose. Do not go to the animal, get them to respond to you. Most new trainers will allow the animal to lead or crowd them. Reinforce stationary behavior on the target to correct this. Move the target not your body to adjust or reposition. Feel free to use the conditioned reinforcer (bridge) more frequently to train more specifics. Make sure you are not just using this tool at random. The older sea lion will benefit from this feedback and can be expected to catch on better. Go slow and easy with the older sea lion. He is like working with a senior citizen and although he has learned to learn he is slower to process and needs more time to think and respond than his younger counter part. Taking slower steps will make sure you are all successful. Get the base behavior secure and solid before you relocate it to a new area or introduce other variables. Be very clear and concise in what you want and in the cues. When training new behaviors only one person should be working on that behavior until it is completed. That person should then train and check off other trainers on the behavior for consistency. When the animal is non-responsive do not automatically assume it is refusal on the animal’s part. You may not be clear and the animal could be confused or 392 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 frustrated. The older sea lion tends to engage in a time-out when he gets to that point. What your interpretation is of a behavior is not always what the animal’s interpretation is. EXAMPLES: A “stay” behavior was engaged in being trained. What I observed was the animal interpreting the behavior to be opening the mouth. I also interpreted the behavior requested to be the open mouth based on the bridging and cue of the trainer. Then the trainer introduced more variables before the behavior was trained. The sea lion began offering variations and other behaviors to try and determine what the trainer wanted. Slower steps and bridging smaller nuances would have resulted in success. In domestic training this can be seen with a dog being trained to “sit.” While the behavior is a position to us, it is not to the dog. This is easily seen after the dog has been trained to lower the hips to the ground for a “sit” and then is requested to “sit” from a “down” position. The dog will often look at the owner and not move since his interpretation has been the movement. Once encouraged to move up into the position from the “down” the dog can make the connect to one of position rather than movement. The common error many new trainers make is to assume the animal is refusing to respond when the animal is thinking or not understanding the directive. It is anticipated that forward momentum can be re-established after consistent application of these recommendations. Staff acquisition of new skills suggested is estimated at 30 to 45 days of consistent practice. Next month Chimpanzees! (About the Author: Since 1978 Diana has been active both in the U S. and England working with zoos, private collections, an oceanarium, a marine aquarium, and other animal-related organizations involving captive wildlife. She has a broad base of animal experience involving movie & television training, zookeeping, show performances with live animals, education, behavior management, modification and enrichment, rescue and rehabilitation as well as captive breeding and management of endangered species. She currently works as an Animal Behavior Consultant and Trainer for Ark Animals of California working with both exotic and domestic animals. She has authored numerous articles on animal behavior and training. If you have questions for Diana, you may contact her at 1-800-818-7387 or visit her Home Page at http: // www.ni.net ! brookhouse. com) Correction Please note the following clarifications on the article “The Philadelphia Story- A Keeper’s Grief’ which appeared on pages 209-215 in the May 1996 issue of AKF: 1) The 0.1 lowland gorilla, Jessica, currently in San Diego, is mother- rearing both kids with no need of human intervention; 2) In the two-page photo spread of the animals lost in the fire, the photo showing species interaction between 1.0 white-handed gibbon Octavian and 0.1 Bornean orangutan Jingga Gula was taken by Tom Hartman not Dana B. Grubb, corrections submitted by JoAnne Adams, The Philadelphia Zoo. Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 393 Animal Reinti^oductions and Endangered Species, Part 2 By Terry D. Wehb, Sr. Keeper, Primate Department Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield, IL Guidelines For Reintroductions Most authorities and specialists understand in order for a reintroduction plan to be attempted and be of long-term benefit, a strict set of guidelines must be followed (Brambell, 1977; Junguis, 1978; Temple, 1983; Wemmer & Derrickson, 1987; Shepherdson, 1990, and Olney, Mace, & Feistner, 1994). In lUCN/SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group, the ICBP, the International Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, and David Shepherdson and M.R. Brambell of the Zoological Society of London all describe and recommend a set of guidelines to be followed when a plan is to be considered (Brambell, 1977; Junguis, 1978; Shepherdson, 1990; & Olney, Mace, &Feistner, 1994): 1) . Feasibility Study: Determine the ecological status of the species and its environment, current and future biological and non-biological changes to the ecosystem, socio-economic costs to the human population, availability and suitability of animals to be reintroduced, and if there are existing national and international laws to protect the animals. If the guidelines of the feasibility study are met it is recommended to proceed with the plan if adequate and suitable areas of habitat are present to support a viable population, if the causes of extinction have been removed or no longer pose a threat, if there are no risks to the human population, and if the released animals will not threaten any existing populations when released or in the future. 2) . Planning/Preparation: The animals need to be in excellent condition and examined for health concerns before release. There must be no health concerns at the release site. The strategy for release (season, time of day, acclimatization time, group composition) must be agreed upon. Proper funding must be available throughout all phases. Pre- and post- release monitoring plans must be developed. Approval from all government departments and conservation agencies must be secured. 3) . Assessment: The project should be assessed as soon as possible with the findings being published and available to reputable sources for evaluation (Gipps, 1991). The literature reviewed placed a strong emphasis on the priority to maintain natural ecosystems and biological processes. The reintroduction should be a multi-disciplinary plan involving a broad ecological and socio-economic strategy to restore, maintain, and protect all aspects of an ecosystem. There are many issues relevant to the success or failure of a reintroduction. The effectiveness of a reintroduction involves both biological and non-biological factors. There must be a commitment to all the criteria in 394 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 order for a program to be developed, implemented, maintained, and successful. It should be concluded that reintroduction will only be realistic for certain species. The Roles of Zoos and Conservation Organizations Zoos and other conservation organizations have developed programs (Taxon Advisory Groups, Captive Breeding Specialist Groups, Species Survival Plans, and Reintroduction Specialist Groups) all with an interest in captive breeding and in situ conservation. The reintroduction specialist groups of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (lUCN) had completed twenty-four Action Plans by 1992 which were developed to determine how often reintroductions are recommended (Olney, Mace, & Feistner, 1994). The methodology most often utilized within these Action Plans is Protected Area Management. Protected Area Management is the maintenance and protection of ecosystems. Establishment and management of these protected areas is essential to ensure sufficient habitat will exist for reintroductions to occur and to protect the biodiversity in the area. These Action Plans involve 68 threatened animal species. Most species are not chosen for reintroduction due to loss of habitat. Any factors that have contributed to the extinction of a species must be eliminated. Many authorities prefer to concentrate their efforts on preventing the disaster which would force the use of reintroductions (Mallinson & Durrell, 1987; Shepherdson, 1990; & Sunquist ,1993). Returning animals to the wild may only be a display of man’s ability to “fix something”. This problem may not be fixable, even if the species is returned to the natural areas in which it once thrived. It is vital to hold on to natural areas, as Kleiman demonstrates with the question, “Can man save enough species to recreate and maintain an ecosystem with all its biodiversity?” (Sunquist, 1993). Ulysses Seal, Chairman of the lUCN-World Conservation Union’s Captive Breeding Specialist Group views are that reintroductions are essential: “...My philosophy is that the ark provides options. If we don’t do something now, then in 35 years we will lose somewhere between 1000 and 2000 vertebrate species; they won’t be around for the options to be tested” (Sunquist, 1993). Stanley A. Temple asks if chese plans are realistic goals. “Not all birds bred in captivity can be successfully reestablished in nature, but for those that can, for those that meet the criteria for success, we should pursue reintroduction programs as vigorously as we can” (Temple, 1983). David Shepherdson believes that the reintroduction of captive bred animals into the wild will only play a relatively minor role in conservation (Shepherdson, 1990). Norman Myers states, “Several analyses show we are losing between 50-150 species daily, or 15-20 percent of all plant and animal species within 20 years” (Myers, 1993). Betsy Carpenter points out that, “Biologists estimate that one- third of the plant species face extinction over the next two centuries” (Carpenter, 1992). The conservation efforts of zoos and other organizations with reintroduction programs ensures that all species receive local and international attention and arouse support from society. The consensus is that many species require programs to be put into place, but only certain species will ever become candidates for reintroduction. Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 395 Lindburg states, “Reliance on any single strategy actually increases the risk of extinction to an unacceptable level” (Lindburg, 1992). Single minded approaches to conservation increase the risk of extinction by over-selling one idea. It is very important to approach conservation efforts from a large scale perspective. Social, political, and economic issues must be considered when making a conservation decision. Scientific studies, policies, and responses of government agencies and conservation groups need to interface during the decision making process. The lUCN recommends that species be reviewed and the type of conservation effort chosen be of a category most appropriate for that species, ranging from education to trade controls. The “back to the wild” choice should be made when it is feasible and applicable for species under consideration for reintroduction. Criteria for Determining Success of a Reintroduction The success of a plan should only be measured against its goals and objectives. Colin Tudge is assertive and confident that the end point of captive breeding is reintroduction (Olney, Mace, & Feistner, 1994). Most specialists note that it is difficult to find objectivity with the effectiveness of reintroduction programs as a conservation method. At a symposia of the Zoological Society of London, Mark R. S. Price detailed all factors relevant to a successful reintroduction. He linked non-biological and biological factors through an elaborate interface which would yield a successful plan of attack for a reintroduction (Gipps,1991). To begin with, establishment of a viable self-sustaining population is a long term process and most projects have not been up and running long enough for an accurate assessment to be made. Release strategies and follow-up monitoring activities for each species are difficult to develop and pose imique problems which take time to refine. Finally, some programs were poorly planned without record keeping or post-release monitoring. Current reintroductions in place or in the planning stages are carried out more conscientiously. The estimates of success may be provisional and the indirect benefits could often be more beneficial to conservation where a viable population may never occur. The programs considered to be of the greatest success have all been multi-disciplinary and comprehensive involving many individuals and resources. Overall it is clear that all authorities and sources will at least explore and consider reintroductions as an option for the conservation of a species. The extent to which reintroductions have been carried out and documented has been limited. Hopefully, future programs will have greater documentation which will expand the data base. This should allow for an easier determination for this approach and for the measurement of a program’s success. These ideas are foremost in the eyes of the Reintroduction Specialist Group of the lUCN: “...the objective of this group will be to collect and disseminate information on all reintroductions, in the hope that this may be of practical help to those contemplating reintroduction. One of their first tasks will be to compile a bibliography of reintroductions and translocations”. (Shepherdson, 1990). Bibliography Baker, Anne (1989). “Aboard the Ark-Species Survival Plans”, Brookfield Zoo Bison Vol. 4, No. 1. 4-9. 396 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 7, 1996 Banko, Winston E. (1980). The Trumpeter Swan. Lincoln& London: University of Nebraska Press. 166. Beck, B.B. (1991). “Managing Zoo Environments for Reintroduction”, American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums Annual Conference Proceedings. 436-440. Bouman, Jan & Inge (eds.) (1982). Breeding Przewalski Horses in Captivity for Release into the Wild. Rotterdam: Foundation for the Preservation and Protection of the Przewalski Horse. 17-81. Bowles, Martin L. & Christopher J. Whelan (eds.) (1994). Restoration of Endangered Species: Conceptual Issues. Planning and Implementation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 243-297. Brambell, M. R. “Reintroduction”, International Zoo Yearbook. Vol.l7. 112-116. Carpenter, Betsy (1992). “Upsetting the Ark”, US. News and World Report. August 24. 57-60. Casey, Denise (1985). Black-footed Ferret. New York: Dodd, Mead,& Company. 28. Clark, Tim W. (1990). “Black-Footed Ferrets On The Road To Recovery”, Endangered Species Update. Vol. 8 No. 1. 86-88. “Creatures of Habitat: Animal Reintroductions”, (Spring 1991). Brookfield Zoo Preview. Chicago Zoological Society. 4-7. Dolan, J. (1991). “Reintroduction-The Sensitive Side”. American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums Annual Conference Proceedings. 147-151. Durrell, L. & J. Mallinson (1987). “Reintroduction as a Political and Educational Tool for Conservation”, Dodo. Journal of the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust. Vol. 24. 6-19. Gipps, J. H. W. (ed.) (1991). Bevond Captive Breeding. Reintroducing Endangered Mammals to the Wild. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 28-127. Johnson, Robert R. (1990). “Release and Translocation Strategies for the Puerto Rican Crested Toad, Peltophryne lemur ”, Endangered Species Update. Vol. 8 No. 1. 54-57. Jungius, H. (1978). “Criteria for the Reintroduction of Threatened Species into Parts of Their Former Range”, Threatened Deer. Morges, Switzerland: lUCN. 342-349. Karleva, Peter (1994). “Ecological Theory and Endangered Species”, Ecology Vol. 75. 583-626. Kaufman, Les & Kenneth Mallory (1986). The Last Extinction. Cambridge, Mass.: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 148-149. Kleiman, Devra G. (1990). “Decision-Making About a Reintroduction: Do Appropriate Conditions Exist?”, Endangered Species Update. Vol. 8 No. 1. 18-19. Kleiman, D, B. B. Beck, A. J. Baker, J. D. Ballou, L. D. Dietz, & James Dietz (1990). “The Conservation Program of the Golden Lion Tamarin, Leontopithecus rosalia ”, Endangered Species Update. Vol. 8 No. 1. 82-85. Konstant, Bill (1990). “Captive Breeding and Reintroduction: An Overview”, Endangered Species Update. Vol. 8 No. 1. 3. Kuehler, Cyndi (1990). California Condor Studbook Update 1990. Zoological Society of San Diego. 4. Lindburg, Donald G. (1992). “Are Wildlife Reintroductions Worth the Cost?”, Zoo Biology. Vol. 11. 1-2. Mills, Judy (1991). “The Swan That Would Not Fly”, National Wildlife. Oct/Nov. 8-10. Myers, Norman (1993). “Noah’s Choice”, Earthwatch. July/Aug. 20-21. Nowak, Ronald M. (ed.) (1991). Walker’s Mammals of the World. Vol. 2, 5th ed. Baltimore & London: John Hopkins University Press. Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 7, 1996 397 Olney, R J. S., G. M. Mace, & A. T. C. Feistner (eds.) (1994). “Reintroduction as a reason for captive breeding”, “Reintroduction of captive born animals”, “Criteria for reintroductions”. Creative Conservation: Interactive Manage- ment of Wild and Captive Animals. London: Chapman & Hall. 243-303. Phillips, Michael K. (1990). “Measures of the Value and Success of a Reintroduction Project: Red Wolf Reintroduction in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge”, “The Red Wolf: Recovery of an Endangered Species”, Endangered Species Update. Vol. 8 No 1. 24-26 7 79-81. Price, Mark R. Stanley (1989). Animal Re-introductions: The Arabian Oryx in Oman. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 26-169. Seal, Ulysses S., Tom E. Thorne, Michael A. Bogan, and Stanley H. Anderson (eds.) (1989). Conservation Biology and the Black-footed Ferret. New Haven & London: Yale University Press. 6-230. Sheldon, Jennifer W. (1992). Wild Dogs: The Natural History of the Non- DomesticCandidae. San Diego: Academic Press, Inc. 51-52. Shepherdson, David (1990). “Beyond Captive Breeding: Re-introducing Endangered Species to the Wild“, International Zoo News. Vol. 37 (2). 4-8. Soule, M.E. & B.A. Wilcox (eds.) (1980). “Is Reintroduction a Realistic Goal?”, Conservation Biology: An Evolutionary- Ecological Perspective. Sunderland, Mass.: Sinauer Associates, Inc. 263-269. Sunquist, F. (1993). “Should We Put Them All Back?”, International Wildlife. i Vol. 23 (5). 34-40. Temple, S. (1983). “Is Reintroductions a Realistic Goal?”, Proceedings of the Jean Delacour/IFCB Symposium on Breeding Birds in Captivity. N. Hollywood CA: International Foundation for the Conservation of Birds. 597-605. The Point Defiance Zoological Society (1993 & 1994). Red Wolf Newsletter. Vol. 6 & 7 No. 1. Tacoma, Washington. 1-4 & 5. Thomas, Warren D. (1990). “A Salvage Operation”. Zoo View. Los Angeles County Zoo. 8-11. Tolson, Peter J. (1990). “Captive Breeding and Reintroduction: Recovery Efforts for the Virgin Islands Boa, Epicrates monensis grantV\ Endangered Species Update. Vol. 8 No. 1. 52-53. Toone, William D. & Thomas Hanscom (1991). “The Biopolitics of Reintroductions”, American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums Annual Conference Proceedings. 137-142. Tudge, Colin (1992). Last Animals at the Zoo. Washington, D. C. <& Covelo, CA: Island Press. 138-167. Wallace, Michael (1990). “The California Condor: Current Efforts for its Recovery”, Endangered Species Update. Vol. 8 No. 1. 32-35. Weise, Robert J. & Michael Hutchins (1994). Species Survival Plans. Strategies for Wildlife Conservation. American Zoo and Aquarium Association, W. VA. 10-57. Wemmer, C. & S. Derrickson (1987). “Reintroduction: The Zoo Biologist’s Dream Prospects and Problems of Reintroducing Captive-Bred Wildlife”, American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums Annual Conference Proceedings. 48-65. Wilbur, Sanford R. (1978). The California Condor. 1966-76: A Look at its Past and Future. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, North American Fauna, No. 72. 1-42. Wirth, Roland (1990). “Reintroduction- Sometimes a Conservation Problem”, International Zoo News. Vol. 37 (4). 13-17. 398 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 7, 1996 Bahy Elephant Walk.... Night Keeper John O’Faolain of The Oakland Zoo, Oakland, CA sent in this photo of six-month-old male African elephant calf, Kijana, walking the park grounds with Keeper Greg Gilbert. The youngster, who weighed 190 lbs. (86kg) was rejected by his mother, Lisa, and is being raised by a relay of keepers and volunteers. Two calves were born a few weeks apart to different mothers at the facility. The calf born to Donna was injured at birth and had to be euthanized. Kijana was born in the outside yard and fellto the ground during delivery. The other calf was born indoors and fell to a concrete floor, possibly accounting for the injuries. The Elephant House staff believe that both females may be pregnant again as their bull. Smoky, has been seen breeding both cows. The third cow, M’Dunda, will not let the bull near her. We will await further updates from Oakland. Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 399 fznnchment and draining of £appet~Jaced Vultures (Torgos tracheliotus) at the l^altimore Zoo by Carolyn Atherton^ Bird Keeper II Baltimore Zoo, Baltimore MD Until the summer of 1995, the Baltimore Zoo exhibited a pair of sibling Lappet- Faced Vultures who were hatched at the zoo in 1991 and 1992. They were exhibited by day in a yard approximately 10.7 meters by 6.1 meters (35 feet by 20 feet). There was always adequate perching available, though the birds prefer to stand on the ground during the day. At night, they were moved to indoor quarters. We found that these birds were very destructive to plants in their exhibit. They uprooted and shredded ornamental grasses and stripped any bushes or tree branches within reach. We surmised that they were exhibiting behaviors that are natural in the wild, where they would spend a considerable amount of time tearing and shredding carcasses while feeding. To cut down on the destruction of the exhibit, we began looking for enrichment items to keep them occupied. The materials we use for enrichment items are primarily food items and sisal rope, which are cheap and readily available. Food items used consisted of chicks, mice, rats, as well as bones purchased through the local grocery store. The vultures’ main diet consists of Nebraska Brand Bird of Prey Diet, so these other items are considered treats for them. We use 1/2” sisal rope for wrapping perches for vultures housed indoors. (Sisal rope has very short fibers, so if the birds pick at it, the loose fibers are not likely to wrap around toes or any other extremities, as can happen with nylon rope fibers.) Since some of the vultures routinely strip the rope from their perches, we decided to try it as an enrichment item. The sisal rope worked very well for t3dng “toys” to trees in the yard. We tied small dead bushes, old tree roots, and stalks of bamboo to the largest tree in the yard, and left them dangling within reach of the vultures. The objects were tied loosely enough that a reasonable amount of tugging would bring them down where the vultures could then shred them at their leisure. Another way we used the sisal rope was by itself We cut pieces about one meter in length and tied them into a large knot. Then the knots were thrown out into the yard, one per bird. The birds usually spent anywhere from thirty minutes to a full hour pla3dng with the ropes initially and they would return to 400 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 7, 1996 them several times during the day to pick over the pieces. At the end of the day, when the birds were moved back to their indoor quarters, clean-up took just a moment with a rake. Occasionally, we would cut long pieces of bamboo and stick them in the ground in one corner of the vulture’s yard. This would provide a small shade area, and if they wanted to, the vultures could pull out the bamboo and tear it up. We also hid small food treats, such as a rat or a few chicks, in the middle of a bundle of small sticks tied together with sisal rope. Once a week, all of the vultures are given bones to pick at. We give them either marrow bones, sawed into 3" pieces, knuckle bones, or pork neck bones. These are purchased at the local grocery store on the day they are to be fed. The Lappet-Faced vultures seem to respond very well to food and so we decided to try to set up a short presentation about vultures. The training of Kenya and Kalahari, two juvenile lappets, was accomplished by using food as a reward. They were trained to jump up on perches and spread their wings on cue for zoo guests while a short presentation was being given. We began training with the female vulture, Kenya (hatched in 1991). She was the dominant bird of the pair. Five days a week, Kenya was given a training session first thing in the morning in the exhibit, while Kalahari was left in the overnight quarters. As soon as she finished her session, Kalahari would be let out into the exhibit. It was discovered that mice were Kenya and Kalahari’s favorite treat food, so they were deleted from their daily diet and used solely for training. At first Kenya was offered pieces of mice from a pair of 40" snake tongs. A training whistle was blown each time she accepted a piece. Once she caught on that the whistle meant food, we began using the food to lure her over to her perch, and then to jump up on the perch when given a hand signal. Individual training sessions were kept short, no more than ten minutes a day, so she would not get tired or frustrated. The sessions were also progressive so that she always had to do a little more, or a little better, each day to receive all of her mice. Kenya showed considerable learning ability. The commands for “up” and “down” from the perch were mastered in about three weeks. A cue for her to spread her wings and hold them extended was learned in about another month. This was accomplished by lightly tapping her wings when she was immediately rewarded with food. Eventually blowing the whistle after each command was completely phased out and Kenya responded totally to hand signals and vocal commands only. Several months later, Kalahari (hatched in 1992) was allowed out in the yard to Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 7, 1996 401 watch Kenya in her training session. After watching only three sessions, he began to jump onto the perch next to Kenya for his own food reward. He caught onto the entire routine in less than two weeks, just by learning from Kenya’s example. Both birds were used for informal presentations for two years. As might be expected we found that Lappet-Faced vultures respond well when provided with enrichment opportunities. Enrichment eases boredom for the birds, cuts down on exhibit destruction, and provides the public with the opportunity to see the birds active. In addition, the short presentations we gave with Kenya and Kalahari provided our zoo guests with information on a much maligned group of birds and their role in the wild. Acknowledgments: Many thanks to Liza Herschel of the Education Department for her information on bird training techniques, and to James Ballance, Senior Keeper of the Bird Department for his assistance and support. Freshly Frozen Mice & Rats CRY-O-VAC Packaging Flash Freezes & Sucks out oxygen. Extends shelf life from 6- 12 months to S-W years. NO EXTRA CHARGE. ZPRO CHANCE OF FREEZERBURN! PONT RISK GIVING YOUR SNAKE TAPE WORM. riCKS. MITES OR OTHER PARASITES. FEED FROZEN MICE & RATS BECASUSE REEZING KILLS PARASITES DEAD! 9 out of 10 Snakes Prefere frozen, because they never bile & are easy to catch. • Pinkys, Fuzzys Hoppers & Adults always available. • Door to door next day aiiv same rate 48 states • Guaranteed Dead Arrival • Quantity Discounts, Minimum order 100 mice or 50 rats. Institutions: purchase order, net 30 days. Public, Visa, M/C or Check ALL R\RASITES KILLED BV FREEZING - "DEADER IS BETTER" • FREE PRICE LIST. Call Now... Joe Brant i-800-GET-RATS 1.800-438-7287 tct ™ 1-800-593-9267 402 Animal Keepers' Forimi, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 I^owling for Rhinos Update * » submitted by Patty Pearthree, BFR Coordinator Indianapolis, IN Bowling fopr Rhinos is not limited to just bowling. Some other BFR funds are raised through Rock n’ for Rhinos, Rummage for Rhinos, Run for Rhinos, Recycle for Rhinos, Gambling for Rhinos, or donations. If you have any questions, please call me at (317) 322-8723. Checks should be made payable to “AAZK, Inc.” and mailed to: Patty Pearthree c/o Bowling For Rhinos, P. O. Box 199026, Indianapolis, IN462 19-9026. If you have not done so already, please drop me a line to let me know your event date and how interested parties can join your event. I get quite a few inquiries from around the country and would like to be able to give current information. **Bowling for Rhinos Sanctuary** Trip Rules 1. The top two money raisers each year in “Bowling for Rhinos” will each win a two-week trip to the Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary near Isiolo, Kenya. 2. The two (2) individuals will visit the Sanctuary together and arrange their trip with the assistance of the BFR Coordinator and through the Administrative Office of AAZK, Inc. 3. The two winners may each bring a guest, but the guest must pay their own expenses and be able to lodge in the same room as the winner. 4. The winners’ trips are paid for from a fund administered by the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and AAZK, Inc. These funds are derived from 4% of the yearly BFR monies raised and/or funds contributed by LWC and AAZK, Inc. The allowance for each plane ticket shall not exceed $1700 (1996). 5. The winners must be a paid. National AAZK members at the time of their bowling event. 6. The same person can only win the trip once. This is to encourage more people to try to win, and give an opportunity for more people to visit the Sanctuary and see the benefit of their hard work. 7. Canadians count their total funds raised in Canadian currency. Therefore, if a Canadian member raises $5,000 but it only equals $3,000 in U. S. dollars, the $5,000 amount counts in the contest. 8. Only money which is turned in to the BFR National Coordinator by 1 September of the same year can be counted in the contest. Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 403 ELECTION. '97 Hey, Everyone! Do you know anyone who wants to be more involved in AAZK? Well, it’s election time again, so put on your thinking cap and put in your nominations for who you want on the Board of Directors. There are three positions open - those held by Ric Urban, Janet McCoy and Michael Illig whose terms expire at the close of the 1997 National Conference. New board members will serve a four-year term from the close of the 1997 National Conference until the conclusion of the 2001 National Conference. Please fill out the following Nominator and Nominee Biographical forms and send to the address listed. Why is this first call for nominations so early? TIME is the answer. Nominations, candidates verification and tallying mailed ballots require time. We also wish to notify winners early enough to allow them to make arrangements to attend the National AAZK Conference before they assume office. This will enable the new Board Members to become familiar with Board responsibilities and AAZK activities before they assume responsibility for our organization. Duties of the Board of Directors For a more detailed explanation of the expanded duties of the Board, refer to the By-Laws (available upon request from Administrative Offices in Topeka, KS). 1) Select, appoint or remove officers, committees, agents and employees of the Association, including - prescribing powers and duties. 2) To control and manage the Association and its property, passing upon acquisition and disbursements with approval of a majority of the Board. 3) To formulate policies, rules and regulations in accord with the Constitution & By-Laws. 4) To uphold the Constitution of AAZK and the policies of the Association. 5) To appear at Board meetings, to accept Board assignments and to devote the time to communications pertinent to all Board business, including answering correspondence promptly and efficiently. Qualifications for Nomination 1) Nominee must be a Professional Member of AAZK, Inc. in good standing and must have been a member of the Association for at least one year. 2) Nominee must be presently employed as an animal keeper/attendant, veterinary technician, research technician or other personnel directly connected with the care, feeding and educational display of captive wildlife in a recognized zoological park, aquarium, animal reserve or other animal care facility in the U.S. or Canada and must have been in the zoological field for at least two years. 404 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 Nomination Procedure 1) Nominator Form: a.) List the name of the nominee, phone, address, and institution. b) State in 150 words or less the reason(s) why the nominee warrants election to the Board of Directors. c) Nominator signs forms and mails to NEC Chairperson. d) Notifies nominee that they nominated him/her for the Board. 2) Nominee Biographical Form: a) Professional background: places of employment, length of service, titles. b) Membership in AAZK: National and local chapters, number of years, offices held, involvement in activities. c) Educational background. d) Membership in Affiliate Organizations: (AAZPA, Audubon, etc.) e) State in 500 words or less why you would like to be on the BOD and any other pertinent information, (optional) f) References (one or two) g) Nominee signs forms and mails to NEC Chairperson. NOTE: Candidate is ineligible for nomination if both the nominator and nominee biographical forms are not complete and returned to the NEC Chairperson by 31 January 1997. Send to: Sheri Leavitt NEC Chair, Hous- ton Zoological Gardens, Children's Zoo, 1513 N. MacGregor Way, Houston, TX 77030; fax (713) 525-3330. Nomination Form for AAZK Board of Directors Qualifications for Nomination; 1) Nominee must be a Professional Member of AAZK and must have been a member of the Association for at least one year. 2) Nominee must be presently employed as an animal keeper/attendant by a recognized zoological institution or aquarium in the U.S. or Canada and must have been in the zoological field for at least two years. 1. Name of Nominee: Address: Phone: Institution: Director: 2. State in 150 words or less the reason(s) why the nominee warrants election to the AAZK Board of Directors. 3. Signature of Nominator: 4. Form must be received by the NEC Chairperson bv 31 January 1997. Send to: Sheri Leavitt NEC Chair, Houston Zoological Gardens, Children's Zoo, 1513 N. MacGregor Way, Houston, TX 77030; fax (713) 525-3330. Nominee Biographical Form for AAZK Boamof Directors (To be completed by Nominee) 1. Name: Address: Phone: PLEASE LIST THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION 2. Professional Background: (places of employment, length of service, titles) 3. Membership in AAZK: a) National: number of years Activities: b) Local Chapter (s): number of years, offices held, involvement in activities. 4. Educational Background: 5. Memberships in Affiliate Organizations: (AZA, Audubon, WWF, etc.) 6. State in 500 words or less why you would like to be on the BOD and any other pertinent information, (optional/use additional paper if needed) 7. References (one or two): give name, address and phone number where they can be reached: 8. Nominee’s Signature: 9. Form must be received by NEC Chair bv 31 January 1997. Send form to: Sheri Leavitt NEC Chair, Houston Zoological Gardens, Children's Zoo, 1513 N. MacGregor Way, Houston, TX 77030; fax (713) 525-3330. Internet Address Update For those of you who like to cruise the Net here are the World Wide Web addresses of some environmentally “green” groups you might like to check out: 1. E/The Environmental Magazine - http://www.emagazine.com 2. Ecomall - http://www.ecomall.com/ecomall/ 3. Econet - http://www/econet.apc.org/econet/ 4. Envirolink Network - http:www.wnvirolink.org 5. Environmental News Network - http://www.enn.com:80 6. Essential Information - http://www.essential.org/monitor/monitor.html 7. Green Market - http ://www/greenm arket.com 8. Greenpeace International - http://www.greenpeace.org 9. League of Conservation Voters - http://www.Icv.org/ 10. National Audubon Society - http://www.audubon.org/audubon/ 11. The Nature Conservancy - http://www.tnc.org 12. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)- http://envirolink.org/arrs/peta/Index.html 13. Rainforest Action Network - http://www.ran.org 14. 20-20 Vision - http://www.2020vision.org 15. African Wildlife Update - http://www.africanwildlife.org 16. WebActive - this is not specifically an environmental site, but includes lots of environmental information and links. WebActive’s speciality is con- necting activists to information and action items - http://www.webactive.com If you find you have trouble finding your way around on the Internet, it may help to use one of several “search engines”. These “search engines” help you cruise the Web by entering a “keyword” such as “zoos” or “wildlife”. The most popular of these Internet helpers are: Yahoo - http://www.yahoo.com/ Lycos - http://www.lycos.com/ Webcrawler - http://webcrawler.com/ InfoSeek - http://www2.infoseek,com/ The GreenDisk Journal has recently published a comprehensive guide to the environment online, listing over 1,000 Websites, listservers, online databases and bulletin boards. It is available in either IBM or Macintosh formats for $25 from Greendisk, P.O. Box 32224, Washington, DC 20007. Do you visit a Website that you find particularly interesting to you as a zoo person? Share the address with your fellow professionals. Send info to AKF and we will try to run regular Website address updates. Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 405 4 ^;i,PsycN5iogic^T^imiilariorf^ ft# '^Behavioral EnrichnnentV^ Activity Manipulation'^ Occupational Husbandry %w By Kayla Grams, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Gretcken Ziegler. Sequoia Park Zoo DISCO FEVER - Has your cat or dog ever chased the beam of a flashlight or the reflection of your watch? Zoo animals can be equally as intrigued. This inexpensive and easy to make apparatus simulates the random moving spots of light of a ‘disco ball’. Take a plastic cup/tumbler (like the souvenir cups sold at refreshment stands) and super glue two dozen or so 1 xl-inch plexiglass mirrors (found at hardware stores) to the sides in a random pattern. Punch holes in the lip and hang mouth up with a string. Natural sunlight and a slight breeze create a flashback to twenty years ago. We placed ours in an outside, off- exhibit small cat holding area. The ocelot and bobcat have showed the most interest, but it can be used with a variety of animals. We have also tried this with our magpie jays. — Taylor Edwards, Keeper Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ ELEPHANTS - The ToyBox shown on the opposite page was designed for our Asian bull elephant. Coco, who, if given a toy without any protection, would break it or tear it apart. The Columbus Zoo pachyderm crew came up with the idea from the hanging feeder barrels we would hang outside his transfer pen. The ToyBox is basically a cage that can be hung on the outside of his enclosure or mounted to the floor or wall. This allows him to play with a variety of toys from Boomer Balls® to browse. The ToyBox is a steel cage that telescopes. This allows it to go from 6 ft. at the shortest to about 11 ft. at its full length. The ToyBox is two feet wide and three feet tall. 406 Animal Keepers' Forum, VoL 23, No. 7, 1996 ToyBox — Richey Placek, Keeper Columbus Zoo, Powell, OH PRIMATES - Summertime enrichment! Freeze grapes when they are on sale and offer them to monkeys on hot days. This lesser spot-nosed guenon (Cercopithecus huttikoferi) loves frozen grapes, but draws back his lip and makes a face — and eats them more slowly than regular grapes. — Camille Dorian, Keeper Monkey Zoo, Orinda, CA (Ideas appearing in this column have not necessarily been tested by the editors for safety considerations. Always think ahead and use good judgement when trying new ideas. Eds.) Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 407 American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. 1996 National Conference ''We Have The Tools To Change Our Environment October 6-10, 1996, Detroit, Michigan Hosted by the Detroit Chapter of AAZK and The Detroit Zoological Institute The Conference site will be the Cobo Exhibition/Conference Center across the street from the Conference hotel, the Crowne Plaza Pontchartrain. This site has direct access to the People Mover Monorail which will put delegates within minutes of many local attractions, restaurants and shops. Windsor, Canada with its casinos is only minutes away via the Ambassador Bridge or Tunnel. This diverse Conference will include business meetings, paper presentations, workshops, zoo & aquarium tours, exhibitors, poster presentations, a journal room, silent & live auctions and international speakers such as Dr. Birute M. F. Galdikas, well-known for her research on orangutans in Indonesia, and Anna Merz, founder and patron of the Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary in Kenya. Tony Vecchio, Director of the Roger Williams Park Zoo, will also be giving a presentation on Earthwatch. Areas of interest for aquarists will include programs on sharks and SCUBA. Also planned is a riverboat cruise from the Belle Isle Zoo &: Aquarium to Downtown Detroit, an Icebreaker at 'The Top of the Pontch' overlooking the Detroit River and Canada, and a Cobo Riverfront Ballroom Closing Banquet. A Reminder that a Pre-Conference Trip (Michigan Loop - 1 day) is scheduled for Saturday, 5 Oct. and will include the Binder Park and John Ball Zoos. Cost is $30 per person and reservations are due by 1 Sept. 1996. Pre-Conference contact person is: Stephen Weaver (810) 398-0903. A Post- Conference Trip (Ohio Loop - 3 days) is scheduled for Friday. 11 Oct. - Sunday, 13 Oct. It will include visits to The Wilds, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Sea World of Ohio. Trip includes all transportation, 2 nights hotel accommodations (double occupancy), 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches and costs $230 per person. A $125.00 deposit is due by 1 Sept. 1996. Post-Conference Trip contact person is: Michelle Seldon-Koch (810) 398-0903 Ext. 3153. Pre- and Post-Conference Trip Reservations should be sent to: Michelle Seldon-Koch, Detroit Chapter of AAZK, Detroit Zoological Institute, P.O. Box 39, Royal Oak, MI 48068- 0039. Make checks payable to Detroit Chapter of AAZK. Exhibitor's Tables: If your Chapter is interested in having a table in the Exhibition Hall, contact Kervin Koch at the address above. Tables are $30 member/$60 nonmember. Registration/Hotel Forms/Travel: Are available in the April and June 1996 issues of AKF or contact AAZK Administrative Offices (10800-242-4519). AO can also provide you with information on Continental Airlines travel arrangements. Keep in mind that special Conference hotel rates are guaranteed only until 20 Sept. Late Conference Registration fees are charged after 1 Sept. 408 Animal Keepers’ Forum, VoL 23, No. 7, 1996 Aldabra tortoise, Bactrian deer, Zebra mussel. Mandrill, Pinktoe tarantula. Chocolate chip starfish, Pudu, Emu, Discus, Sea apple. Red kangaroo. Slow loris. Bladder snail. Chimpanzee, Giant anteater, Wyoming toad. Ruffed lemur, Bowfin, Ocellated stingray. Emperor scorpion, Marconi penguin. Greater kudu, Komodo dragon, Indian elephant. Wolverine, Striped hyena. Sloth bear. Cobalt blue tarantula, African greater flamingo, Galapagos tortoise. King penguin, Vervet, Japanese macaque, Matschie’s tree kangaroo, Przewalski’s wild horse. Rock hyrax, Aardvark, Spotted gar. Harbor seal, Asian arowana. Lion-tailed macaque. Maned wolf, Shetland pony. Western lowland gorilla, Mexican giant musk turtle, Mudpuppy, Grevy’s zebra, Sumatran tiger, Mexican wolf. Spectacled bear. Boat- billed heron, Cinerous vulture, Andean condor. Black spur-winged goose. Giant Columbian apple snail, Mombasa golden starburst tarantula, Addax, Wild boar, Masai lion. Polar bear. Alpaca, Blesbok, Partula snail. Greater rhea, Rockhopper penguin, Taveta golden weaver. Snowy egret, Guanaco, Bactrian camel. Nilgai, Scimitar-horned oryx, Siamese crocodile. Spectacled langur. Grizzly bear. Cape clawless otter, Talapoin monkey. Ring-tailed lemur. Three-toed amphiuma, Solomon Islands leaf frog. Hourglass treefrog. Green spotted puffer. Archerfish, Black rhinoceros, Anna’s hummingbird, Asian fairy-bluebird. Scarlet macaw. Barn owl, Chilean flamingo. Grant’s zebra, Arctic fox, Trumpeter swan. Red-crowned crane. Smew, Red-rump baboon tarantula. South African crested porcupine. Black-tailed prairie dog. White-handed gibbon, Coati, Aruba Island rattlesnake, Mexican beaded lizard, Julia butterfly. Red seminole ramshorn snail, Capybara, Hippopotamus, Reticulated giraffe, California sea lion. Lake sturgeon, American eel. North American otter. South American tapir. Raccoon butterflyfish, Australian lungfish. Domestic cattle, Saudi goitered gazelle. Slender-horned gazelle. Reticulate gila monster, Oriente knight anole. Turnip-tailed gecko, Tentacled snake, Birchir, Dwarf stringray, Black-chinned hummingbird. Magpie goose, Violet plantain-eater, Inca tern. Barnacle goose, Glossy ibis. Bald eagle, Pondicherry vulture, Siberian white crane, Stanley crane, Siberian tiger, domestic goat. Collared peccary. Golden spider monkey, Thorold’s deer, African lion, Mexican cascillian. Squirrel treefrog, DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL INSTITUTE Puerto Rican crested toad, kokai dart-poison frog. Waxy treefrog, African clawed frog, Scheltopusik, Natal midlands dwarf chameleon, Henkel’s leaf-tail gecko, San Esreban Island chuckwalla, Bufflehead, Red coachwhip. Mangrove snake. Ball p5d;hon. Yellow anaconda. Green tree python. Peach-throated monitor. Corn snake. Domestic rabbit, Vietnamese pot-bellied pig. Domestic sheep, Blue-and-yellow macaw, Goliath pinkfoot tarantula. Giant African millipede. Wild turkey. Bar-headed goose, Egyptian goose, Mexican red-legged tarantula. Common peafowl. Miniature donkey, Asian elephant. Dolphin-headed morm5n*id, Colorado squawflsh. Twig catfish, Pia thepa catfish. Blind cave characin. Alligator snapping turtle, Blanding’s turtle. Big-headed turtle. Giant hill turtle, African pancake tortoise. Striped headstander, Shovelnose catfish. Electric eel. Red-breasted piranha. Madder seaperch. Walleye, Four-eyed fish, Sarus crane. Demoiselle crane. Gray-crowned crane. Secretary bird. Lappet-faced vulture. Hooded vulture, Sunbittern, Luzon bleeding-heart pigeon. Owl finch, Bali mynah, Sudan golden sparrow. Blue-gray tanager. Red-billed hombill. Ostrich, Saddle-billed stork, Hamerkop, Boeseman’s rainbowfish. Golden skiffia. Desert pupfish. Freshwater drum. Green bird wrasse. Pennant coralfish. Giant marine toad, Surinam toad, Cuban treefrog, Coqui frog, Green-and-black dart-poison frog. Panther chameleon. Mountain chameleon. Giant plated lizard, Madagascar spiny-tailed gecko, Matamata, Inland bearded dragon. Dwarf caiman, American alligator. South American snake-necked turtle. West African sideneck turtle. Round Island skink, Dumeril’s ground boa. Emerald tree boa. Crocodile lizard, Jamaican boa. Casque-headed skink. Long-nosed vine snake. Cat-eyed snake. Black forest cobra. Northern copperhead, Burmese python. Horned sand viper. Eastern massasauga, Sri Lankan tree viper, Sonoran sidewinder. Eastern diamond rattlesnake. Brown newt, American toad. Blue-spotted salamander, Irish Dexter cow, African pygmy goat, Romney sheep, Jersey steer. Common blue bloom tarantula, Gambian spur- winged goose. Zebra butterfly, Costa’s hummingbird. Domestic goose. Speckled mousebird. Snowy- headed robin-chat. Scarlet-crested sunbird. Yellow-billed cardinal. Spice finch. Red-eared firetail finch. Superb starling. Common crow. Boat-billed heron. Greater snow goose. Green iguana. Giant Texas millipede, Turkey vulture. Black vulture, American wigeon. Blue-winged teal, Mandrian duck. Lesser White-fronted goose. Pacific white-fronted goose, African spoonbill. Roseate spoonbill. Scarlet ibis. Black-necked swan. White-faced whistling duck, Ruppell’s griffon vulture. Old World comb duck, Andean goose. South African black duck. Lesser scaup, Laysan teal, Hottentot teal, African pygmy goose, Indian black vulture. Blue penguin, Costa Rican zebra tarantula. Brook stickleback, Texas rat snake. Eastern fox snake. Desert monitor. Blue-tailed monitor. Prehensile- tailed skink. Frilled lizard, Axoloti, Curlicue anemone... igYir ET(^ ET'^ Animal Keepers* Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 409 Tlie ^ofth /Imencan Crisis JVlanagement Survey By William K. Baker, Jr., Zoologist 1209 Tom Temple Dr., Lufkin, TX 75904-5560 Patricia M. Hainley, Zoo Keeper Ellen Trout Zoo, Lufkin, TX 75904 Kermit W. Seubert, Zoo Keeper Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham, AL 35223 Introduction In today’s modern zoological facilities the potential for a crisis management situation is an ever-present concern when managing captive zoological specimens. This has made the preparation for and response to the crisis management situation an important facet of the operation and management of zoological institutions and aquariums. As a result, facilities have developed contingency plans that reflect a balance between the needs of management, staff, and the specimens. This is no easy task, as the priorities of each group are different and may conflict with the interests of another group. Yet, to their credit, facilities overcome this and develop comprehensive strategies for reacting to a crisis situation. This survey is an attempt to provide a statistical overview of how zoological facilities in North America prepare, train, and respond to crisis management situations. Methods The survey packet was composed of a cover letter, a four-page questionnaire that incorporated 38 questions, and a SASE. Survey packets were sent only to AZA-accredited institutions, aquariums, and related organizations located in North America. Respondents were guaranteed anonymity in publishing due to the sensitive nature of the data. If a major discrepancy was noted on a survey response, the respondent was contacted by telephone and given the opportunity to clarify or amend their response. This survey was independently designed and funded by the authors for the purpose of studying crisis management in zoological facilities. Whenever possible survey questions were designed to reflect that management often utilizes more than one method or technique to address a problem or situation. When respondents provided specific answers to the Other category, these answers were identified and included in the results; while unspecified Other category answers were left under Other in the results. Data analysis was performed on a Microsoft Access 2.0 Relational Database using an Os-2 Warp Operating System on a 386/40 MHz CPU with 8M RAM. 410 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 General Results Total number of surveys sent . 187 Abstentions 2 Damaged beyond recognition in return transit 1 Total number of surveys received 79 Percentage of response 42.25% Survey Results Note: Numbers in brackets indicate facility responses and percentages indicate the statistical response. Multiple field questions indicate and reflect that more than one choice was possible. Crisis Management Survey Does your facility have an Emergency Response Team or Crisis Management Team? [55] Yes 69.62% [24] No 30.38% [ 0] N/A 0.00% Does your facility have an emergency procedure for escaped animals? [75] Yes 94.94% [ 3] No 3.80% [ 1] N/A 1.26% Does your facility have an emergency procedure for escaped dangerous animals? [69] Yes 87.34% [ 9] No 11.39% [ 1] N/A 1.26% Does your facility have an emergency procedure for natural disasters? [68] Yes 86.07% [111 No 13.92% [ 0] N/A 0.00% Does your facility have an emergency procedure for incidents that occur after hours? [67] Yes 84.81% [12] No 15.19% [ 0] N/A 0.00% Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 411 Does your facility have an escaped animal protocol agreement with your local law enforcement? [33] Yes 41.77% [44] No 55.70% [ 2] N/A 2.53% Does your facility maintain emergency capture and restraint equipment in the event on an animal escape? [75] Yes 94.94% [ 4] No 5.06% [ 0] N/A 0.00% Does your facility maintain emergency first aid and trauma equipment kits for use in the event of staff injury? [72] Yes 91.14% [ 7] No 8.86% [ 0] N/A 0.00% Does your facility maintain emergency support equipment in the event normal operations were disrupted? [65] Yes 82.28% [14] No 17.72% [ 0] N/A 0.00% Does your facility maintain emergency first aid and trauma equipment kits for zoological specimens? [66] Yes 83.54% [13] No 16.45% [ 0] N/A 0.00% How is your staff contacted in an emergency situation? [65] Radio 82.28% [ 3] Horn 3.80% [57] Telephone 72.15% [ 1] Intercom 1.26% [42] Pager 53.16% [ 1] Media 1.26% [31] Cellular Phone 39.24% [ 1] Strobe Light 1.26% [30] Public Address 37.97% [ 1] Seucephone 1.26% [27] Alarm 34.18% [ 1] Other 1.26% [ 5] Siren 6.33% [ 0] N/A 0.00% 412 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 Does your facility have an alternative means of contacting staff after hours in an emergency situation? [70] Telephone 88.61% [ 1] Media 1.26% [47] Pager 59.49% [ 1] LE Dispatch* 1.26% [23] Cellular Phone 29.11% [ 1] Other 1.26% [14] Radio 17.72% [ 1] N/A 1.26% *LE Dispatch - Law Enforcement Dispatch Who is in charge in an emergency situation? [56] Most senior staff member on the scene [22] Chain of Command [12] Emergency Response Team Leader [ 2] Situational [ 1] Security Manager [ 1] Facility Manager [ 0] Other [ 0] N/A Note: 15 respondents use more than one method Does your facility conduct scenarios or practice drills for a possible animal escape situation? 70.89% 27.85% 15.19% 2.53% 1.26% 1.26% 0.00% 0.00% [49] Yes 62.02% [30] No 37.97% [ 0] N/A 0.00% How often does your facility conduct scenarios or practice drills for a possible animal escape? [22] None 27.85% [ 3] Random 3.80% [20] Quarterly 25.32% [ 2] Review Protocol 2.53% [17] Yearly 21.52% [ 1] Bi-Yearly 1.26% [ 6] Semi-Annually 7.59% [ 1] Post-Incident 1.26% [ 6] Monthly 7.59% [ 1] Other 1.26% [ 5] N/A 6.33% [ 0] Weekly 0.00% What is the policy of your facility should a dangerous animal situation threaten human life? [20] Attempt to Distract 25.32% [35] Attempt to Contain 44.30% [60] Destroy/Euthanize 75.95% [ 1] Other 1.26% [ 6] N/A 7.59% Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol 23, No. 7, 1996 413 [10] 2-Stage Response Contain/Destroy [17] 3-Stage Response Distract/Contain/Destroy 12.66% 21.52% Note: Numerous respondents indicated the above choices and this additional data is included to reflect this. What is the policy of your facility should a dangerous animal attempt to leave the groimds of your facility? [14] Attempt to Distract 17.72% [41] Attempt to Contain 51.90% [53] Destroy/Euthanize 67.09% [ 0] Other 0.00% [10] N/A 12.66% [13] 2-Stage Response Contain/Destroy 16.45% [12] 3-Stage Response Distract/Contain/Destroy 15.19% Note: Numerous respondents indicated the above choices and this additional data is included to reflect this. Has your facility ever had an animal escape? [61] Yes 77.21% [18] No 22.78% [ 0] N/A 0.00% If your facility has had an animal escape, would you classify the escaped specimen(s) and provide the number of applicable escape(s) for each classification. (e.g., One Siberian Tiger escapes. = [X] Dangerous 1 ) Type of Escape Reported Escapes Total # Escapes Sample Mean Standard Deviation [49] Non-threatening 62.02% 208 2.63 ±5.43 [23] Threatening 29.11% 44 0.55 ±1.15 [16] Dangerous 20.25% 34 0.43 ±1.37 Has your facility ever had a member of your staff injured or killed due to human-animal interaction? [55] Yes 69.62% [24] No 30.38% [ 0] N/A 0.00% 414 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 Has your facility ever had a member of the public injured or killed due to human- animal interaction? [22] Yes 27.85% [57] No 72.15% [ 0] N/A 0.00% Has your facility ever had a zoological specimen injured or killed due to human-animal interaction with a member of the public? [19] Yes 24.05% [60] No 75.95% [ 0] N/A 0.00% Has your facility ever had a zoological specimen injured or killed due to feral animal interaction? [50] Yes 63.29% [29] No 36.71% [ 0] N/A 0.00% Has your facility ever had a zoological specimen injured or killed due to a natural disaster? [16] Yes 20.25% [63] No 79.75% [ 0] N/A 0.00% Has your facility ever had a zoological specimen injured or killed due to a man- made disaster? [ 9] Yes 11.39% [70] No 88.61% [ 0] N/A 0.00% Does your facility maintain firearms on site for dangerous animal escape situations? [58] Yes 73.42% [20] No 25.32% [ 1] N/A 1.26% Has your facility ever had to use firearms kept on site for a dangerous animal escape situation? [14] Yes 17.72% [60] No 75.95% [ 5] N/A 6.33% Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 415 Has your facility ever had to discharge firearms kept on site during a dangerous animal situation? [13] Yes 16.46% [60] No 75.95% [ 6] N/A 7.59% What types of firearms does your facility keep on site, (number, caliber, and action)? [e.g, (1) 375 H&H bolt-action rifle] Firearm Type Firearm Action Firearm Chambering Firearm Total Pistol Unknown Unknown Unk U Revolver 38 Spl. 2 a Revolver 357 Mag. 5 « Revolver 44 Mag. 1 u Semi-Auto 9mm Luger/9xl9 3 Rifle Unknown Unknown Unk u Bolt 22 L.R. 10 u Bolt 7mm Rem. Mag. 2 u Bolt 308 Win./7.62 NATO 4 u Bolt 30-06 Spr./.30 US 19 u Bolt 300 Win. Mag. 1 a Bolt 338 Win. Mag. 2 u Bolt 357 Mag. 1 (( Bolt 375 H&H Mag. 7 u Bolt 378 Why. Mag. 1 a Bolt 412 Rem. Mag. 1 ii Bolt 458 Win. Mag. 4 u Lever 30-30 Win. 5 u Lever 348 Win. 1 u Lever 45-70 Govt. 1 u Pump 22 L.R. 1 a Semi-Auto 22 L.R. 1 ii Semi-Auto 22 Mag. 1 (( Semi-Auto 223Rem./5.56 NATO 2 iC Semi-Auto 30-30 Win. 2 66 Semi- Auto 30-06 Spr./.30 US 1 66 Semi-Auto 44 Mag. 1 Shotgun Unknown Unknown 1 66 Unknown 12 Gauge 14 66 Pump 12 Gauge 52 66 Pump 20 Gauge 1 66 Pump 410 Gauge 1 66 Semi-Auto 12 Gauge (3” Mag.) 5 66 Semi-Auto 20 Gauge 1 66 Break 12 Gauge 8 416 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 Does your facility have a training program for the use of firearms? [49] Yes 62.02% [23] No 29.11% [ 7] N/A 8.86% How often do you practice with firearms? [24] N/A 30.38% [ 3] Random 3.80% [22] Yearly 27.85% [ 2] Under Development 2.53% [17] Quarterly 21.52% [ 2] Other 2.53% [ 4] Semi-Annual 5.06% [ 1] Weekly 1.26% [ 4] Monthly 5.06% Where do you practice with firearms? [33] Law Enforcement Range 41.77% [ 4] Other 5.06% [24] N/A 30.38% [ 1] City Range 1.26% [16] Public Range 20.25% [ 1] Military Range 1.26% [ 6] Private Range 7.59% Does a law enforcement agency assist you in your firearms training? [35] [21] [23] Yes (if yes, see next list) No N/A [29] Local 36.71% [ 2] County 2.53% [ 1] Federal 1.26% [ 1] Military 1.26% 44.30% 26.58% 29.11% [ 1] Private 1.26% [ 1] Other 1.26% [ 0] State 0.00% [ 0] N/A 0.00% How many staff members are designated shooters or allowed access to firearms kept on-site in an emergency situation? [ 5] 1-2 6.33% [10] 6-8 12.66% [ 3] 12-14 3.80% [ 0] 18-20 0.00% [21] N/A 26.58% [10] 2-4 12.66% [ 4] 8-10 5.06% [ 3] 14-16 3.80% [ 1] 20-22 1.26% [21] 4-6 26.58% [ 1] 10-12 1.26% [ 0] 16-18 0.00% [ 0] 22-24 0.00% Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol 23, No. 7, 1996 417 What qualification standards does your facility set for access and use of firearms? [37] In-house Training 46.83% [23] Annual Qualification 29.11% [21] N/A 26.58% [17] Marksmanship 21.52% [16] Determined by Instructor 20.25% [16] Prior Knowledge 20.25% [ 1] Outside Training 1.26% [ 1] Review Protocol 1.26% [ 0] None 0.00% [ 0] Other 0.00% Does your facility provide First Aid & CPR training for staff members? [66] Yes 83.54% [13] No 16.45% [ 0] N/A 0.00% Are the designated shooters trained in CPR & First Aid? [48] Yes 60.76% [12] No 15.19% [19] N/A 24.05% Would your facility be interested if a course was offered in crisis management, emergency procedures, and firearms training that was specific to the needs of a zoological facility? [49] Yes 62.02% [30] No 37.97% [ 0] N/A 0.00% Discussion In conducting this survey it became obvious that most of the responding facilities have given a significant amount of time and effort in preparation for crisis management situations. This has resulted in the development of an infrastructure within the facilities that utilizes management procedures, equipment, and communications. Yet, upon closer examination there was a trend that deserves commentary. In certain instances there exists a notable difference between infrastructure and training. Examples of this would be: While facilities have emergency procedures for escaped animals (94.94%), escaped dangerous animals (87.34%), and maintain capture and restraint equipment in the event of an animal escape (94.94%), fewer facilities actually conduct scenarios or practice drills for a possible animal escape (62.02%). It should also be noted that a considerable number of 418 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 facilities do not conduct scenarios or practice drills at all (37.97%). These differences become relevant when compared to the facilities that have reported animal escapes (77.21%). Another example of this trend is that a significant number of facilities maintain firearms on site for dangerous animal escape situations (73.42%), while fewer facilities have a training program for the use of firearms (62.02%). There is also a notable difference between the facilities that provide CPR and First Aid training to their staff members (83.54%) and the designated shooters who are trained in CPR and First Aid (60.76%). This is noteworthy when compared to the facilities that have reported a member of their staff has been injured or killed due to human-animal interaction (69.62%). This would seem to indicate that a need exists for first aid training for all staff members. These observations are not intended as criticism; however, they are intended to indicate areas that could be addressed to improve the effectiveness of the response to a crisis situation. One other area of the survey deserves some discussion. The question on who is in charge in an emergency situation 3delded 15 respondents that have more than one method of determining who is in charge. While in most situations the use of more than one technique to respond to a crisis allows flexibility, this is not one of those situations. It is the opinion of the authors that it is essential that the person in charge of the crisis response should be clearly defined. The reason for this is that a crisis is a complex and sometimes confusing situation that requires clearly defined leadership to prevent a failure in communication and the subsequent response. Comments Numerous respondents took the time to write in additional comments on the survey that were not directly part of the data. In a effort to provide as much information as possible, these comments are included. Two institutions indicated that they had chosen not to use lethal force in an animal escape situation. One institution indicated that firearms access is controlled by keeping a key behind glass for the general staff and giving direct key access to designated personnel. One institution has an EMT as part of their Security Department and is on grounds 16 hours a day. Another institution uses a code phrase in the local media to notify staff that a crisis situation exists at their facility. The last question in the survey on facility interest in a crisis management course is noteworthy as it provoked a considerable number of written comments and a few telephone calls. These comments ran across the spectrum expressing support, limiting factors, and also questioning motivation. The last point, motivation, deserves some explanation. This question was included to indicate interest in a crisis management course for zoological professionals in the hope that a management school, similar to those already in place, might one day be developed. With a positive response of 62.02% to the question, the interest is present. Animal Keepers' Forum, VoL 23, No. 7, 1996 419 Conclusion The zoological profession is unique in that it provides us with the opportunity to work, study, and perform research in close proximity to captive animals. These opportunities allow for captive propagation of endangered species, conservation, and environmental education. Yet, it is also this proximity that conversely provides an inherent safety risk when managing captive animal populations. For this reason there will always be a need to prepare for the crisis management situation. However, the preparation should include training and practice that is a practical application of the emergency protocol that is instituted by a zoological facility. Protocol should be the beginning of the crisis response, not the end of it. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank all of the facilities that responded to the survey;- without your support this research could not have taken place. To the institutions and their staff that sent letters of encouragement, words can’t describe how important they were to us. To all of the individuals who took the time to write in comments on the survey and questions, they are being integrated into the next survey model; it’s been a learning experience for us too. Bibliography Hogg, Ian V., ed. Jane’s Directory of Military Small Arms Ammunition. London: Jane’s Publishing Company Ltd., 1985. Hogg, Ian V., Rob Adam, eds. Jane’s Gun Recognition Guide. 1st. ed. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1996. O’Brien, Bill, ed. Gims & Ammo Annual. 1996 ed. Los Angeles: Peterson Publishing Company, 1996. Wahl, Paul, ed. Gun Traders Guide. 16th ed. South Hackensack: Stoeger Publishing Company, 1993. (About the Authors: Since 1985, Bill has been active in the fields of science, zoology, and wildlife management. His education and experience include a B.S. in Wildlife Management and post-graduate studies in Zoology, Lab and Museum Assistant, Shoot Team Leader, ERT-member, Senior Keeper and Large Mammal Keeper at various AZA facilities. His area of research is crisis management in zoological institutions, which draws upon practical experience and training as a Rescue Diver, Hunter Safety Instructor, NRA Firearms Instructor, and Red Cross CPR/ First Aid Instructor. He is currently on research sabbatical studying crisis management. Patti's education and experience includes a B.S. in Psychology and extensive experience as an animal trainer and Zoo Keeper at private and AZA facilities. Her animal training experience includes cetaceans, pinnipeds, and pachyderms. She is currently working at the Ellen Trout Zoo. Kermifs education and experience include a B.S. in Biology and Zoology and extensive experience at AZA facilities. He has been a Shoot Team Member., Large Mammal Keeper, and specialized in free and protected contact for pachyderms as a trainer. He is currently pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine.) 420 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 Book Review In The Country of Gazelles By Fritz R Walther Indiana University Press (1995) 601 North Morton St., Bloomington, IN 47404-3797 Bloomington, Indiana Hardback, 162 pgs. Price: $24.95 Review by Harland Deckert Docent, Los Angeles Zoo Member, L. A. Zoo and AAZK, Inc. Los Angeles, CA The author, born and raised in Dresden, Germany and a teacher at Texas A&M University for 14 years, spent 30 years on and off studying gazelles in and around Tanzania National Park in East Africa. The bulk of his studies were of the Thomson’s gazelle, (Gazella thomsoni) and the Grant’s gazelle, {Gazella (Nunger) grand). In his last chapter, he also describes the activities of the fringe-eared oryx, (Oryx beisa callotis) which is closely related to the highly endangered, but recovering Arabian oryx now being bred in a number of zoos in the United States. A very thorough coverage of the behaviors and adaptations of the two species of gazelle is included in the book. The author goes into considerable detail about the territorial, breeding, and migrating habits of the animals. He discusses their trials and tribulations as prey for many carnivores as well as their means for survival (RUN, RUN, RUN). Very interesting descriptions of how the females protect their very young calves are given. Some use the “lying-out” method, where the calf stays motionless in the underbrush. Others depend upon their calves being able to run at a very early age. Males are territorial, but females come and go into the various male territories. The males try to keep as many females in their harems by herding them back in when they try to leave the territory. There is fighting among males over their territories and harems. Real damage to the males is seldom seen. Most of the fighting is ritual, with the dominant male (usually the largest) chasing off the other. Mr. Walther uses an interesting technique for his narration. He picks individual animals, gives them names, then follows their activities over a number of years. This ploy makes the book interesting and a pleasure to read. Actually, once started, this reviewer found it hard to put down. Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 421 The illustrations (drawings and photos) are done by the author. His drawings are particularly excellent. They are placed strategically in close proximity to the explanatory text so that the reader can readily visualize the actions being described. This book will be of particular interest to gazelle and antelope keepers, but will also be valuable to any zoo staff members or volunteers. Phyllis. Phallus. Genghis Cohen and other creatures I have known by Fredric L. Frye DVM Krieger Publishing Company P.O. Box 9542, Melbourne, FL 32902-9542 Reprint Edition 1994; copyright 1984 155 pages Cloth Price: $16.50 Sacramento Zoo, Sacramento, CA Phyllis, Phallus, Genghis Cohen was originally published in 1984. This book is a reprint with some added material. Most reptile keepers will be familiar with Dr. Frye’s more scholarly work such as Biomedical and Surgical Aspects of Captive Reptile Husbandry. Phyllis, Phallus, Genghis Cohen is a different type of book entirely. It is a collection of stories and anecdotes that Dr. Frye experienced as a youth and primarily while he was a practicing Veterinarian at the Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital in California. Dr. Frye has stories to tell about all kinds of animals, particularly exotic pets and reptiles. One chapter details his collection trip for Indus River dolphins for Steinhart Aquarium. This book was enjoyable and fun to read. Many of the stories were strikingly similar to calls from the public we receive at the zoo. This book’s easy reading style will make it humorous reading for anyone interested in animals or veterinary work. 50% DISCOUNT FOR AAZK MEMBERS A GUIDE TO AMERICAN ZOOS & AQUARIUMS by Darcy & Robert Folzenlogen Illustrated with photos. Ideal for zoo lovers and travellers! Visitor Information, Special Exhibits, Seasonal Festivals, Breeding Achievements & Research Activities for 173 Institutions Now only $8.50 for AAZK members. No shipping fee in the U.S. Willow Press, 6053 S. Platte Canyon Rd., Littleton, CO 80123 422 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 1, 1996 Cegislative Update Compiled by Georgann Johnston Legislative Advisor Sacramento, CA Red Legged Frog First Species To Be Listed By USFWS As Threatened Following Lifting Of The Moratorium The frog made famous by Mark Twain as the “celebrated jumping frog of Calaveras County” has won notoriety again — this time as the first species to be listed as threatened following a lifting of the Congressionally imposed moratorium on designating endangered species. Mollie Beattie, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service stated that many agencies and organizations in California have already taken this species into account in their planning efforts. Conservation measures for the frog will be made easier by the species’ designation as “threatened”, a category only slightly less serious than “endangered”. This amphibian is the largest native frog in the western United States, ranging from 1.5 to 5 inches in length. Its habitat is primarily wetlands and streams with deep water pools close to dense stands of overhanging vegetation. When Mark Twain wrote about the frog over 100 years ago it was quite common throughout California but has disappeared from 70 percent of its habitat today. The population decline has been attributed to reservoir construction, exotic predators, grazing, drought, and the fact that the frog was harvested for food around the turn of the century. In 1992, prior to the moratorium on the listing of endangered and threatened species imposed by Congress, the red-legged frog was first proposed as an endangered species. Following a review of its status and significant -public comment and surveys, that proposal was downgraded to threatened in 1994. The frog then had to wait two years for actual listing until President Clinton lifted the moratorium as part of the 1996 omnibus appropriations act. Source: USFWS News Release 20 May 1996; Sierra Club Action Alert #208, A Leap to SurvivaF, 20 May 1996 Comments Sought On Amending Waterfowl Baiting Regulations The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment on new and modified regulations which prohibit hunting over natural vegetation which has been “mowed or otherwise artificially manipulated to attract waterfowl.” Commonly referred to as “illegal baiting”, hunters and landowners frequently mamipulate moist-soil areas to make them more attractive to overflying geese and ducks. Animal Keepers' Forum, VoL 23, No. 7, 1996 423 The USFWS has identified three issues in the proposed regulations including: (1) do current regulations impose too much of a burden on landowners without any economic incentive to retain waterfowl habitat; (2) will changing the regulations actually increase or decrease waterfowl populations; and (3) will there be additional fiscal impact on law enforcement agencies because of the changes. The primary proponents of change include hunting and sporting interests. The Service is soliciting comments from wildlife biologists and others with an interest or expertise in the area of waterfowl management who can advise the Service of their views on the need for reform. Copies of the proposed changes can be obtained from the Director FWS/NAWWO, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 110 ARLSQ, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240. Source: US. Fish and Wildlife Service News Release, 21 May 1996 Wetlands Destruction May Doom Cape Sable Sparrow The number of endangered Cape Sable sparrows dropped dramatically from over 6,000 sparrows to less than 2,500 in the past three years according to the Miami Herald. The South Florida Water Management District and the Army Corps of Engineers has flooded much of the remaining habitat of the sparrow. Craig Johnson of the US Fish & Wildlife Service says, “This bird.is the proverbial canary in the mine. Its survival is closely tied to those wet prairies around the edges of the Everglades.” NRDC intends to sue unless the agencies take emergency measures to protect the sparrow. Source: GREENLINES #136 6-3-96 / Grassroots Environmental Network Second Marine Mammal Threatened With Extinction The first extinction of a cetacean species and only the second marine mammal to disappear from the west coast since the Steller sea cow could occur if the vaquita disappears from Mexico's Sea of Cortez, reports the Sacramento Bee. An article in the Bee says that according to “several new scientific reports" the species is "on the verge of extinction, a victim of commercial gill net fishing.” Mexico created a reserve in part to protect the vaquita but “many contend that the reserve is a sanctuary in name only,” says the Bee. Among the steps being discussed to protect the species is a US embargo of Mexican seafood, the article says. “If the US embargoed fishery imports from the northern sea because of the plight of the vaquita,” the Bee quotes an unnamed scientist, “Mexico would infuse millions of dollars into the area and solve the problem right away.” Source: GREENLINES #140 6-7-96! Grassroots Environmental Network 424 Animal Keepers' Forum, VoL 23, No. 7, 1996 SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT, YOUR ASSIGNMENT IS In preparation for the upcoming Enrichment Workshop at the National AAZK, Conference in Detroit, the AAZI^ Enrichment Committee would like to put together a booklet of enrichment ideas currently being used at your institutions. We are anticipating covering all species, so include as many per institution as you want. On standard size {& 1/2 x 11 inch) paper include (print or type all information): Enrichment Item Animal(s) Used for Materials needed Dimensions Drawings Your Name, Institution & Phone Number To have your enrichment item included in this booklet, pleased send it by 51 August 1996 to: Dianna Frisch, AAZK Enrichment Committee Chair, Columbus Zoo, 9990 Riverside Dr., PO. Dox 400, Powell, OH 43005; (614) 645-3515. The AAZK Enrichment Committee would like to make these booklets available at the Conference, one per institution representative. (Note: 3e certam to obtain permiseion, if required, from your institution before 5ubmittin0 enrichment ideas for publication in this booklet.) Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 425 Chapter pjews Alotes Pueblo Zoo AAZK Chapter Newly elected officers for the Pueblo Zoo AAZK Chapter (Pueblo, CO) are: President Dale Berryman Vice-President Bob Hicks Secretary. . . . .Audrey Adams Treasurer..... Melanie Ha3nies Chapter Liaison Jason Garnett Dallas Zoo AAZK Chapter Our Chapter held our most successful Bowling for Rhinos event on 16 May. In addition to bowling, we held our third silent auction. New to our event this year were original design T-shirts - the black design of a mother and calf black rhino is screened onto a 100% We still have T-shirts available for sale at $15.00 each (includes s&h) in adult sizes, S, M, and L; a few XXL are also available - on a first come, first served basis. Any AAZK Chapters wishing to exchange T-shirts for auctions, raffles, etc. are welcome to contact: Lisa Fitzgerald, Dallas AAZK, 621 E. Clarendon, Dallas, TX 75203. Fax at (214) 670-6717; e-mail cybennett@aol . com . — Lisa Fitzgerald white cotton T-shirt (see inset). Due to the generosity of the artist, Janie Coleman, and the T-shirt underwriter. Rhino Linings of North Dallas, all proceeds from the sale of the shirts will be contributed to Bowling for Rhinos. 426 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 7, 1996 Institutions wishing to advertise employment opportunities are asked to send pertinent data by the lOthofeach month to: Opportunity Knocks /AKF, 635 S.W. Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606-2066. Please include closing date for positions available and when setting these dates keep in mind that because of bulk-mail, most readers do not receive the AKF until the middle of the month or later. There is no charge for this service and phone-in or fax listings of positions which become available close to deadline are accepted. Our phone is 1-800-242-4519 (U.S.); 1-800-468-1966 (Canada). Our FAX is (913) 273-1980. EDUCATION CURATOR.,.Responsib\e for the development and implementation of all education programs. Assists in the production of promotional materials including newsletters, visitor information, and educational exhibits. Must be able to supervise staff, communicate effectively and be team oriented. Assists in planning for educational aspects of all new exhibits. Bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) in ornithology, biology, education or a closely related field and four years experience in education (zoo, aviary or natural history setting preferred) including one year in supervisory position. Bird handling experience helpful. Excellent communication and writing skills a must. Salary commensurate with experience. Send letter, resume and three (3) references and salary history to: Maralyn Cragun, Executive Director, Tracy Aviary, 589 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84105. ANIMAL KEEPER/MAMMALS ...each candidate must have one year of paid experience in the care and handling of a variety of animals, excluding pets; or six (6) months experience in the care and handling of animals in a zoological institution; or have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in biology, zoology, animal science or veterinary technology. Under the direct supervision of a Sr. Keeper and/or Curator. Send resume to: Personnel Dept., Baltimore Zoo, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD 21217. HEAD KEEPER^.mmi have a minimum of two (2) years paid experience and the ability to deal with a diverse collection of animals. Growing zoo only one mile from Gulf of Mexico. Approximately 300 animals - everything from alligators to zebras. Prefer someone with supervisory experience. Responsible for daily care, feeding, habitat upkeep, breeding programs, record keeping, training of keeper staff, coordination with staff veterinarians, and interfacing with public. Should have the ability to set up computer record keeping program. Very competitive salary that is commensurate with experience. Send letter, resume and references to: Troy A. Peterson, Director, Zooland Animal Park, P.O. Box 2589, Gulf Shores, AL 36547. Position open until filled. ZOOKEEPER/ASIAN Z)OMA/A...requires good written/oral communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment. Associate’s degree in biology or related field and one year’s experience preferred or equivalent combination of training/experience in the care of mammals, preferably elephants, carnivores and ungulates. Will work elephants in a free-contact program. Salary Commensurate with experience. Send resume to: Rhonda Votino, Assistant Curator of Mammals/Asian Domain, Audubon Institute, P.O. Box 4327, New Orleans, LA 70178. EOE ANIMAL CARE KEEPER. ..mmi have a minimum of two (2) full years of practical experience with captive exotics in a professional zoo setting. The successful candidate will be exposed to a diverse animal collection within a small progressive zoo environment. It is important the applicant be proactive with a positive work attitude. Salary $10,920.00 - $13,500.00 with added benefits. Send resume with references by 1 August 1996 to: Dale J. Bakken, Director, Heritage Zoo, 2103 West Stolley Park Road, Grand Island, NE 68801. KANGAROO KEEPER...(AZA Related Organization) requires five (5) year’s experience in management/care of zoological animals, emphasis on marsupials. Full-time duties include responsibility for all aspects of animal care, ranch operations. Must be physically strong. Competitive salary. Copy of full job description available to serious candidates, including possible relocation to new ranch in San Antonio, TX. Send resume (including salary history) to: Nelson’s Twin Oaks Farm, 13305 Bethany Rd., Alpharetta, GA 30201. FAX (770) 475-6001, or e-mail: Roofarm@aol.com. Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 427 BAT KEEPER.,KQ(\\x\vts one year's experience working with captive animals. Responsible for daily maintenance/care of the Old World fruit bat collection, including providing assistance to researchers, giving medication, giving presentations on bats, and record keeping. Education may be substituted for part of experience. Salary $6-8/hr. with the added benefit of a retirement plan/life insurance policy. Applicants must have TB test and updated tetanus vaccination prior to hiring. Send resume/ references by 22 July 1996 to: Dana LeBlanc, Animal Supervisor, The Lubee Foundation, Inc., 1309 NW 192nd Ave., Gainesville, FL 32609. EOE. (no phone calls). SENIOR WILD ANIMAL KEEPER ...vQqmrQ?, a degree in animal science and 3+ year's experience caring for mammals, birds, and/or reptiles in a zoo setting. Will be responsible for animal care and exhiit maintenance at the recently renovated Prospect Park Wildlife Center in Brooklyn, NY. Salary $27,635 to start, rising to $31,366 after one year. Benefits include 3 weeks vacation plus health, dental, and retirement plans. Send resume with cover letter to: John Fairbaim, Human Resources, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10460. (718) 220-5119 Fax - (718) 220-2464. Information Please We are looking for information on enclosures for cougars {Felis concolor). We are especially interested in shifts, wire, watering systems, and feeding systems. This exhibit will house 0.2 cougars, both are completely declawed. Information on anything (furniture, pools, etc.) that has worked well for your cougars would be appreciated. Please send information to: Carin peterson, c/o Austin Zoo, P.O. Box 91808, Austin, TX 78709-1808; Fax - (512) 288-3972, or e-mail: austinzu@aol.com. marmosets ... and etc)$29.95+s/h $5.00. medium(capuchins and etc)$35.95+s/h $5.00 CO.D's are welcome. MC & Visa accepted. Napsacks Hassocks are specially designed primate sleepers.They provide comfort and an improved quality of life for these incredible creatures.The material used is cooj enough for warm conditions and thick enough to prevent chilling in those cold winter months. ]^Ma^:from soft and durable cotton canvas; f^^acks are completely machine washable and altach to any thin horizontal bar in Two sizes are available :small(squirrel monke your existing exhibit. U- bolt brackets are also available for attachment to vertical bars. (Pleos^ enquire when ordering). If you care about your primates heot^ and well-being, then do them a favour (and us too!).Buy one now! Please fax or phone order to: " - vines Inc. Box 1 1 75 Jaf .N.^ (2011-422-9337 Y. N.Y.10016 428 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 7, 1996 AAZK Membership Application check here if renewal [ ] Name __ Address City State/Province Zip □ U.S. Members Canadian Members $30.00 Professional Full-time Keepers u $35.00 Professional Full-time Keepers □ $25.00 Affiliate Other staff & volunteers □ $30.00 Affiliate Other staff & volunteers □ $25.00 Associate Those not connected with an animal facility □ $30.00 Associate Those not connected with an animal facility □ $50.00 or up - Individuals Contributing/U. S. □ $55 or up - Individuals Contributing/Canada □ $75.00 or up InstitutionalAJ.S. Organizations / Institutions (requires Board approval) I 1 $75.00 or up Institutional/Canada Organizations ! Institutions (requires Board approval) n International Members n. Library Onlv $40.00 International All members outside US. & Canada regardless of category “ 25.00 Library Available only to public & university libraries Zoo Affiliation (if any) Zoo Address Title Work Area □ My check is enclosed (AAZK, Inc.) □ Please charge my credit card MASTERCARD VISA Card # - - - ___ Name on card Expiration date Signature Mail this application to: AAZK Administrative Offices, Topeka Zoo, 635 S. W. Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606-2066. Make checks/money orders payable to AAZK, Inc. Must be in U.S. FUNDS ONLY. Membership includes a subscription to Animal Keepers' Forum. The membership card is good for free admission to many zoos and aquariums in the U.S. and Canada. PRINTED IN U.S.A © 1996 AAZK, INC. ''Dedicated to Professional Animal Care ANIMAL KEEPERS’ FORUM. 635 S.W. Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606-2066 AugUSt 1996 Phone: 1-800-242-4519 (U.S.) 1-800-468-1966 (Canada) FAX 913-273-1980 V 1 INJ Managing Editor: Susan Chan • Associate Editors/Enrichment Options VOi. Zjj INO. o Coordinators: Kayla Grams, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum & Gretchen Ziegler, Sequoia Park Zoo • Book Review Coordinator: Andrea Bemee, Chaffee Zoological Garden • Legislative Outlook Column Coordinator: Georgann B. Johnston, Sacramento, CA. • Editorial/OfGce Assistant: Jeremy Gum Animal Keepers’ Forum (ISSN 0164-9531) is a monthly journal of the American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. Ten dollars of each membership fee goes toward the annual publication costs of Animal Keepers’ Forum . Third Class postage paid at Topeka, KS. Postmaster - Please send address changes to: American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc., Administrative Offices, 635 S.W. Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606-2066 - attn: Barbara Manspeaker, Administrative Secretary AAZK Ex^gptivg PirgQfffir; Ed Hansen, AAZK, Inc., Topeka KS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ric Urban, Houston Zoological Garden, Houston, TX 77030 Diane Callaway, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, NE 68107-2200 Janet McCoy, Metro Washington Park Zoo, Portland, OR 97221-2799 Marilyn Cole, Box 335, Pickering, Ontario, Canada LI V 2R6 Lucy Segerson, North Carolina Zoological Park, Asheboro, NC 27203-9416 David Luce, Chaffee Zoological Gardens of Fresno, Fresno, CA 93728-2891 Michael Illig, Metro Washington Park Zoo, Portland, OR 97221-2799 President Vice President Immediate Past President COMMITTEES Nominations& Elections Chair - Sheri Leavitt, Houston Zoo CQn§grvahQn.,Prc.servaUQn..&ReMQ.mtiQn. Chair - Brett Sellers, Metro Washington Park Zoo Annual Conferences Coordinator - Ed Hansen, AAZK, Inc. Awards Chair - Janet McCoy, Metro Washington Park Zoo Exhibit Design Resource Notebook Michael Demlong, The Phoenix Zoo AAZK Inspection Standards Manual — Vacancy By-law?. John Phillips, North Carolina Zoo Ethics Janet McCoy, Metro Washingto Park Zoo Rg,Sgarc,h/G.r.ant? Diane Callaway, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo Marketing Resources David Luce, Chaffee Zoological of Fresno AAZK Chapter Logo Products Jay Christie, Cohanzick Zoo, Bridgeton, NJ MEMBERSHIP SERVICES L.I.N.K. Coordinator Mark de Denus, Assiniboine Park Zoo Zoo University Li?t Mike Illig, Metro Washington Park Zoo Keeper Accommodations List Todd Cleveland, Denver Zoo Enrichment Committee Dianna Frisch, Columbus Zoo Animal Data Transfer Form Bemie Feldman, Burnet Park Zoo Staff Exchange. Dale Frerking, Kansas City Zoo AAZK Historian Mark Levin, Philadelphia Zoo AAZK Training Materials Adrienne Whitley, Burnet Park Zoo International Outreach - Jeanette Beranger, Roger Williams Park Zoo (Chair/Coordinator Technical Assistance); Lesa Scheifele, Norwich, CT (International Affairs); Lois Johannes, L. A. Zoo (Foreign Member Sponsorship Program); Kathy Kelly, National Zoo - Project M.A.R.C. (Making A Realistic Contribution) PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORS/LIAISONS AZA Liaison Janet McCoy, Metro Washington Park Zoo Patty Pearthree, Indianapolis, IN Zoo Registrars Association Terry Fisher, San Antonio Zoo Elgphant.ManagCr$A??Q£ia.tLQD-Liai?Qn Dinah Wilson, Marine World Africa USA CAZPA Liaison Oliver Claffey, Metro Toronto Zoo int'l. Marine M.ftmpfial?Traitie,r? Association Dave Force, Sea World of California AAZK PUBLICATIONS - CONTINUING DATA COLLECTION Zoo Infant Development Project - Teri Maas-Anger/Maggie Liguori, Philadelphia Zoo (Birds/Nonpasserines); Jennifer Hackshaw, Lowry Park Zoo and Suzanne Chacon, Costa Rica (Birds/passerines); Jeanne Stevens, Newark Museum Mini-Zoo (Reptiles); Linelle Lone, Denver Zoo (Amphibians) Diet Notebook. Mammals. Vol. II - Susan Bunn Spencer, Rockford, MI Incubation Notebook Project - Scott Tidmus, Sedgewick County Zoo, Wichita, KS Exhibit Dresign Resource Notebook - Mike Demlong, The Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix, AZ o printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based ink products ^able of Contents About the Cover/Information for Contributors 430 Message from the President...... 431 Coming Events.......... 432 AAZK Announces New Professional/Contributing Members 433 ABC^s Column: Chimpanzee Evaluation 434 - 436 Legislative Update........ 438 - 439 Can You Zoo Doo?,,. 440 - 445 Turtles With Injured Shells Require Special Treatment ...445 - 446 Husbandry Alert (elephant browse)/Publication Available 447 Enrichment Options (Giraffe/Primates/Ape Pipe Puzzle) 448 - 449 DNA Sequencer at San Diego....... ..450 - 451 AZA Regional Conference Schedule ................451 AZxA. Conservation Workshop Scheduled at Detroit 452 Materials Sought for Enrichment Notebook 452 Development of a Zoo Keeper/University Student Research Project: Tree Kangaroos Estrous 453 - 460 Book Reviews (Serengeti II and Lemurs of Madagascar) ..461 - 462 Wolf Reintroduction Project Update .463 European Wild Boar Birth at Utica Zoo 464 Management of Live Arthropod Exhibits Workshop. 465 Plight of the Quistococha Zoo: An Update 466 - 471 Sulawesi Fruit Bat Conservation Project T-Shirts Available. ...471 Chapter News Notes..................... 472 - 473 Opportunity Knocks........ .....474 - 476 Information Please... ..476 Conference '96 - Detroit: Conference Notes and Reminders, Schedule of Paper Topics and Workshops, Registration and Hotel Reservation Forms TAN INSERT About the Cover. This month’s cover features a Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) which belongs to the family Scarabaeidae in the sub-order of beetles known as Polyphaga. One of the world’s largest beetles, this species reaches a length of 16cm (6.8 in.). The males fight using the spiny, hairy grip of horns extending from the head and thorax, the ultimate goal being to slam the rival onto his back. This cover shows the species at approximately true-to-life scale. The artwork was done by Mike Demlong of The Phoenix Zoo. Thanks, Mike! Information for Contributors Animal Keepers’ Forum publishes original papers and news items of interest to the animal keeping profession. Non-members are welcome to submit articles for consideration. Articles should be typed or hand-printed and double-spaced. Articles may be submitted on disk by arrangement with the Editor. All illustrations, graphs, charts and tables should be clearly marked, in final form and should fit in a page size no greater than 5.5” x 8.5” (14cm x 22cm). Literature used should be cited in the text (Brown, 1986) and alphabetically in the final bibliography. Avoid footnotes. Include scientific name (as per ISIS) the first time an animal name is used. Thereafter use common name. Use metric system for weights and measurements (standard equivalents may be noted in parenthesis). Use the continental dating system (day-month-year). Times should be listed as per the 24-hour clock (0800, 1630 hrs. etc.). Glossy finish black and white photos only are accepted. Color slides should be converted to black and white prints (minimum size 3” x 5” [8cm x 14cm] ) before submission. Clearly marked captions should accompany photos. Please list photo credit on back of photo. 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 and FAX contributions of late-breaking news or last-minute insertions are accepted as space allows. However, long articles must be sent by U.S. mail. Phone 1-800-242-4519 (US); 1-800-468-1966 (Canada); FAX (913) 273-1980. Deadline for each regular issue is the 10th 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. Reprints of material appearing in this journal may be ordered from the editor. Back issues are available for $3.00 each. 430 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 JVlessage from the President Greetings from the Lone Star State! In little zoo keepers’ dreams, drains flow smoothly in one direction, shift doors close without getting hung up, locks never need oiling and every animal is enriched. Many of these will remain dreams, while others can come true. Sometimes you just have to look for the answers. Well, an easy place to find answers to your dreams and compare nightmares would be at a national conference. Yes, it is just around the comer. The 23rd National AAZK Conference in Detroit, MI is quickly drawing near. The National Conference offers a great opportunity to meet zoo professionals from all around the country. Paper sessions, poster presentations, workshops or hospitality room chat, the exchange of information is inevitable. Conferences also mean the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors of AAZK, Inc. Customarily, the AAZK Board conducts an executive session meeting the day before the conference officially begins. This year it will be on Saturday, 5 October. The executive session Board Meetings allow the Board members time to discuss and clarify all AAZK projects, the activities of the committees, the future of AAZK, its policies and the budget. As an AAZK member, this is your opportunity to express your concerns on matters that will direct the future of your Association. Please send your comments to any of your Board of Directors, the Administrative Office or to me directly, I will place them on the agenda for discussion. The open Board Meeting, Committee and Project Meetings will be on Saturday, 6 October. Any interested members will have the opportunity for input at this time. I look forward to seeing you in Detroit. Animal Keepers* Forum, Vol 23, No. 8, 1996 431 Coining Events Association of Avian Veterinarians 1996 Conference - August 27- September 1, 1996 in Tampa, FL. Meeting includes sessions on medicine, diagnostics, ratites, infectious diseases, environmental practice, etc. Also included will be practical application labs on surgical topics, parasitology, avicultural medicine. For more information contact the AAV Conference Office at (303) 756-8380. ZOOMANIA - 96 - Southeast Regional Docent Conference - September 13-15, 1996 at Gulf Breeze, FL. Registration and hotel information available by contacting the Docent Council or Curator of Education at THE ZOO (904) 932-2229, ext. 27. 12th Annual International ChimpanZoo Conference - Communication and Respect: A New Perspective of Hand Rearing Chimpanzees - September 28 - October 2, 1996, hosted by the Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, KS. Opening address to be given by Dr. Terry Maple, Director Zoo Atlanta. Feature speakers to include: Doctors Jane Goodall, Kim Bard of Yerkes and Aleccia A. Lilly of LABS. Workshops will include: a new perspective for hand-rearing chimpanzees and primates without moms. For more information contact: Dr. Virginia Landau, Director of ChimpanZoo (520) 621-4785, 800 E. University Blvd., RM 308, Tucson, AZ 85721. Second Annual Red Panda SSP Keeper Training Workshop - October 4-6, 1996 at Knoxville Zoological Gardens, Knoxville, TN. For further information and registration materials, contact Greta McMillan, Conservation Research Curator, P. O. Box 6040, Knoxville, TN 37914 - (423) 637-5331 ext. 380, fax (423) 637-1943, e-mail: knoxzoo@utkux.utk.edu Association of Zoological Horticulture International Conference - October 4-12, 1996 in Greensboro, NC. For further information contact: Virginia Wall, North Carolina Zoological Park, 4401 Zoo Pkwy, Asheboro, NC 27203; (910) 879-7400. Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians 16th Annual Conference - October 29 - November 1, 1996 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Will include sessions on reptile, avian, primate, exotic hoofstock and aquatic medicine, immobilization, hematology, clinical pathology, hospital techniques and case reports. There will also be a wet- lab. For more information contact: Jenni Jenkins, LVT, National Aquarium at Baltimore (410) 659-4256; fax (410) 576-1080. For membership information contact Lisa Kolbach, LVT at White Oak Conservation Center at (904) 225-3396. 432 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 8, 1996 AAZK Announces New Professional & Contributing Members Theresa M. Andrews, Greenville Zoo (SC); Suzanne Pearson, Zoo Atlanta (GA) ; Benny L. Dent, Timothy D. Jones, Eddie Holsey and Robert Myler, Chehaw Wild Animal Park (GA); Jennifer Reddish, Miami Metrozoo (FL) ; Donna J. Ladd, Lion Country Safari (FL); Christy Freeland, The Florida Aquarium (FL); Dan Haggerty, Detroit Zoo (MI); Jacquelyn Fallon, Minnesota Zoo (MN); M. Angela Andrewson, Rolling Hills Refuge (KS); Boyd Ford, Audubon Zoo (LA); Anne C. Ashley, Tulsa Zoo (OK); Kris Becker, El Paso Zoo (TX); Krishna Merkley, Ross Park Zoo (ID); Joanne Milosevich, The Living Desert (CA); Mary Rosolowich, Honolulu Zoo (HI); and Melanie Gauthier, Zoo de Granby, Inc., (Quebec). Renev^^ing Contributing Members Discovery IslandAValt Disney World Lake Buena Vista, FL Debra Burch, Miami, FL Andy Lodge Ngare Sergoi Support Group Columbus, OH Cate Werner Denver Zoo, Denver, CO THE " GOURMET 0^ RODENf ' RATS AND MICE Bill & Marcia Brant 6115 SW 137th Avenue Archer, FL 32618 (352) 495-9024 Fax (352) 495-9781 © All Rights Reserved Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol 23, No. 8, 1996 433 ABC ^ Animal Behavior Concerns & Solutions A Question and Answer Forum for the Zoo Professional Py Diana Guerrero Independent Dehavior Consultant, Ark Animals of California, San Die^o, CA CHIMPANZEE EVALUATION (Pan troglodytes) Zoo, Primate String QUESTION We currently house an unrepresented male common chimpanzee and have been unsuccessful in getting him to breed our females. It would be advantageous for us to attempt semen collection without the standard procedures for electroejaculation. Can you suggest any specific strategies to do this? BACKGROUND The male chimpanzee was a wild-caught individual and has been housed with a reproductively sound female for several years. Although he is a viable male he has not successfully bred with this female. He becomes highly aroused with new female keepers and will self-stimulate until ejaculation occurs. We would like to redirect this behavior for collection of semen since he is unrepresented in the captive gene pool. The facility is temporary since a new primate exhibit is scheduled to be constructed shortly. The exhibit is small and consists of a small yard and several internal bedrooms. The bedrooms are small and open into a keeper area. Chimps are separated from each other and the walls facing the keeper area are small reinforced mesh. PROBLEM Animal has not bred current female. Part of the difficulty may be due to the amount of time spent housed with her which has been fairly long or perhaps there is some incompatibility He has bred with another female but the offspring did not survive. Access is difficult and based on his age, electroejaculation is a less than desired option. Training to an artificial vagina (AV) would be beneficial since he is currently unrepresented in the captive gene pool. He exhibits dominance displays and will masturbate when new human females are introduced. Although it may not be the case, part of the breeding difficulty may be from his focus on human females due to his early socialization. 434 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 ANIMAL PROFILE Upon further research it was discovered that the male (approximately 37 years of age) was imported in 1959 and reared in a household. He performed in numerous animal acts and television shows. He has a history of being highly aggressive to female humans and of extremely high intelligence for his species. This intelligence shows in his understanding of training parameters and “fooling” or distracting his conspecifics or his trainers. OTHER NOTATIONS The male chimpanzee has recently had a change of companions. The interest shown in this female is high compared to the former. Grooming and other activity is taking place after a very short period of time and it is anticipated that breeding will occur. In addition, urine samples are being collected from the current female to monitor and track her cycles with more accuracy. Suggest strategic training for urine collection to assist with this. PROBELM BREAKDOWN The scenario is pretty simple since the desire is to collect semen and not specifically breed a female. The scenario will consist of training for collection by keeper staff using primary training to determine how much the chimpanzee remembers of training and then shaping and redirecting his behavior to the AV. APPROACHES The paradigm would consist of the following: 1. Facility alterations to adapt to collection 2. Pairing a primary reinforcer with a conditioned reinforcer 3. Establishing the conditioner reinforcer 4. Establishing a discriminative stimulus for the behavior 5. Capturing the current behavior 6. Shaping the captured behavior and approximating to what is wanted 7. Desensitizing to the AV and surrounding activity 8. Establishing criteria around the finished behavior ACTION OPTIONS For training I suggest starting to pair the primary reinforcer (food) with a verbal or audio bridge. Once trained, progress can be made and other behaviors can be taught if desired. Subduing level of dominance display is one idea. NOTE: There are behaviors that the chimpanzee may remember which might be offered and staff will need to decide whether or not to accept them and if they want to do more training separate from the project. Construction of an AV will need to be done and adaptations to the fine mesh in the den area will also be necessary. Please note that access to keepers should be limited due to the past history of the animal (including severe attacks on zoo personnel). AV construction directions are detailed in Gould (9190) and Fussell Animal Keepers* Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 435 et al. (1973). Warm water and an airspace are necessary in addition to other strategies for proper collection and success (J. Johnson-Ward, personal communication). The behavior can be captured initially by the introduction of a new human female to the keeper area. A new discrimination stimulus can be paired with the behavior so it can be illicited when desired. Once predictable, it can be approximated into the preferred performance. Sessions should be delineated clearly to get the desired behavior as quickly as possible since this behavior is also self-reinforcing. OTHER Training progress should go quickly depending on the staff experience and skill. Anticipate swift results based on the animal’s background and experience. RESOURCES Fussel, Franklin & Frantz: Collection of Chimpanzee Semen with an Artificial Vagina. Lah. Anim, Sci. 23:252-255 (1973) Gould, K: Techniques and Significance of Gamete Collection and Storage in the Great Apes. J. Med. Primatol. 19:537-551 (1990). Special thanks to Ms. Johnson-Ward and Dr. Gould and the helpful staff at Yerkes Regional Primate Center. Next Month: Elephants (About the Author: Since 1978 Diana has been active both in the U. S. and England working with zoos, private collections, an oceanarium, a marine aquarium, and other animal -related organizations involving captive wildlife. She has a broad base of animal experience involving movie & television training, zookeeping, show performances with live animals, education, behavior management, modification and enrichment, rescue and rehabilitation as well as captive breeding and management of endangered species. She currently works as an Animal Behavior Consultant and Trainer for Ark Animals of California working with both exotic and domestic animals. She has authored numerous articles on animal behavior and training. If you have questions for Diana, you may contact her at 1-800-818-7387 or visit her Home Page at http: II www.ni.net / brookhouse. com) 436 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 SPECTRUM Quality exotic animal diets Nutritionally balanced Fixed formulation • Economical When you need a complete line of high-quality dry and frozen animal diets for your feeding program, call Animal Spectrum. NEBRASKA BRAND S 1 SPECTRUM BROOD-RITE HEATERS Frozen feline diets Frozen bird of prey diets Frozen canine diet Chunk and chopped horsemeat, hearts, livers, rib, shank, knuckle bones, and tailbones Banana flavored psittacine/primate, 20% protein dry Banana flavored primate. Pro-Pius 25% protein dry Leaf Eater primate dry Omnivore dry Marmoset/T amarin dry Polar Bear dry Ratite dry Bulbless heaters— nothing to break Safp around all animals and bedding material. Even heat distribution in 240. 500, or 750 wattages. One call does It all FREE 1-800-228-4005 FAX 308-534-7015 Animal Spectrum, Inc. P.O. Box 721 North Platte, NE 69103-0721 £egislative Update Compiled by Georgann Johnston Legislative Advisor Sacramento, CA 1997 Federal Budget Proposes Cuts In Environmental Funding Congress has begun the arduous process of developing the FY 1997 budget and associated appropriations packages. Because this is an election year, many representatives hope to see a quick resolution to budget disputes in time for the 1 October 1996 recess when they will return to their districts and presumably be called upon to answer by their constituents. Both the House and the Senate have already passed Budget Resolutions. Budget Resolutions set the guidelines for broad spending categories and are the first step in the annual appropriations process. Since these two versions differ, they will both go to a conference committee which will try to iron out the differences between them. Unfortunately, both Resolutions call for spending reductions for environmental and natural resource programs and assume significantly increased revenues from drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (See story below.) After the House passed its form of the Budget Resolution it turned to setting preliminary spending levels for each of its subcommittees. There are 13 subcommittees in all including the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee which funds the Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Biological Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service. All departments are facing significant proposed funding cuts in the total range of 16 percent. An alternative method for influencing the environment and spending in particular, both positive and negative, is through ''riders" on appropriations bills. This is the means by which listings on the Endangered Species Act was brought to a screeching halt over a year ago. Legislation for funding for certain defense costs carried a "rider" shutting down the ESA. From a citizen's standpoint, the use of riders to influence environmental spending is the equivalent of an end run in football. Citizens tend to follow bills of interest to them and are oftentimes not aware when a bill on a completely unrelated subject has an impact on that citizen's interest target because of the use of riders. Some preliminary reports from Congress-watchers say that one potential rider will attempt to overturn a recent court decision enforcing the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and halting logging on seven timber "lots" in Georgia. Conversely, other experts believe that representatives up for reelection will try to avoid any controversial riders this year in an attempt to head off problems at the polls. Source: Sierra Club Action Alert #214, "Confused by Budget Process", 29 May 1996 438 Animal Keepers* Forum, VoL 23, No, 8, 1996 Arctic Refuge In Danger From Oil Drilling Plan 1997 Budget Resolutions from both the House and the Senate contain provisions assuming that the Arctic Refuge (the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge) will be reopened for oil drilling. The Refuge covers hundreds of thousands of acres in Alaska which is home to caribou, waterfowl, fish, and other mammals, many of which are threatened or endangered species. The plan is to lease approximately 1.5 million acres along the coastal plain. In order to develop the area for oil exploration and drilling, 280 miles of roads, hundreds of miles of pipelines, 11 production facilities, and 2 ports for ship transport would have to be built. Proponents of the plan claim that wildlife has thrived since oil production in other areas of Alaska began. Opponents say that while Porcupine caribou populations have increased slightly, this is due to a decrease in a number of other animals who were previously predators in the caribou's calving grounds. Furthermore, opponents of the plan point to the fact that grizzly bears, arctic foxes, and gulls residing in the area of the current oil fields have had to become scavengers to sustain themselves where they previously had smaller prey to eat. Ninety-five percent of the land in Alaska with high or favorable oil and gas potential are already open to the oil industry. The coastal plain is deemed to be "the biological heart" of the Arctic Refuge and many feel it should be protected as wilderness. In exchange for selling oil and gas rights, the U.S. government would receive anywhere from $850 million to $1.3 billion depending on who is projecting the figures. Source: Sierra Club Action Alert #208, "Facts About Arctic Drilling", 17 May 1996 Surf The Net To Find Out Who Is Lining Your Representative's Pockets PAC's (Political Action Committees) are currently the major source of funding for the campaigns of U.S. Senators and Congresspersons (not to say state legislative representatives). Now, you can find out which PAC's are contributing to your Senator or Congressperson. Called "Where You Live", a World Wide Web site developed by the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit environmental research organization in Washington, D.C., allows you to access online data about the environment, economy, and politics in your state, county or home town. PAC contributions for members of Congress are listed back as far as 1990. To access this information, go to http:/ / www/ ewg/ org then click on "Where You Live". Source: Sierra Club Action Alert #215, 30 May 1996 (Note: OK, you guys, you have absolutely no excuse now for not communicating your ideas, news flashes, and gripes to me directly because I have a nation-wide 800 number. It is 1-800-338-7438 and you can call me anytime between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Paciific Time. If you want more information about something you read here, if you know about some legislation in your state which affects wildlife, or if you just want to moan and groan about the state of the world qnd its governments, you can call me.) —Georgann Johnston, Legislative Advisor Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 8, 1996 439 Can You Zoo Poo? by Tom Gannon, Woodland Park Zoological Garden Seattle, WA It was back in 1984 when landfill prices in Seattle skyrocketed to the then unprecedented high of around $35.00 a ton. This prompted Woodland Park Zoo to search for options to reduce the amoimts of solid waste being transported to the transfer station and save some money. Armed with this mission to reduce landfill bills, a grant from Seattle’s Solid Waste Utility, and an ethic that embraces the conservation of resources, the Woodland Park Zoo’s Zoo Doo Program was born. If there is one thing that all zoos have in common, it is the quite obvious fact that they contain animals. Equally obvious is that these animals eat. One elephant will consume upwards of 100 tons of food every year. Of that 100 tons that goes in, 45 tons go out in the form of some of the best manure available anywhere for composting. Traditionally, zoos in the USA have taken advantage of low landfill fees and brought their manures to a local dump; but the days of cheap landfill fees are gone. This presents both a problem and an opportunity. The problem is more money goes to things that do not directly affect the quality of the zoo; and the opportunity is one of reducing costs, generating income, and creating great publicity by having a made-for-the-media vehicle for demonstrating a zoo’s commitment to resource conservation. The 1994 figures for Zoo Doo in Seattle speak for themselves. Our Zoo Doo program saved the zoo nearly $60,000 in landfill costs and generated nearly $19,000 in revenue. The net profit from sales was approximately $9,000. In’ addition. Zoo Doo has been featured in the local press, television, and radio, and has gotten national radio exposure. The program has proven to be so successful that other zoos and institutions are using the Woodland Park Zoo program as a model to install their own Zoo Doo programs. So, Can You Do Zoo Doo? Yes, you probably can. Will you be able to realize significant savings in landfill fees? Will you be able to generate significant revenue from sales? What I hope to do with this article is give a general overview of what is necessary to start a Zoo Doo Program and answer some of those questions in the process. Minimum Basic Requirements Most horticulturists know the basics of composting. Put a bunch of fresh organic matter in a pile, wet it down, let it rot, and eventually you will have compost. Maybe not the best compost, but compost nonetheless. A successful Zoo Doo operation requires a little more effort; however, the first basic requirement is commitment. We at WPZ have found the program works best if one person 44Q Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 assumes responsibility for the composting operation. This does not mean your zoo has to go out and hire a “Compost Coordinator,” but it does help if one person on the grounds crew is willing to take up the reigns and coordinate the effort. This person should also be responsible for contacting the health department concerning the composting operation; but more on that later. The second basic requirement is space. Space can be a limiting factor for many zoos. In March, I was invited to give a small workshop on composting at the Honolulu Zoo. One of their problems is that land in Honolulu is at a premium, and that includes the land on which the zoo sits. As a result, nearly every square foot on the zoo grounds is being utilized or is slated for some future use. The size of the space needed depends upon the amount of manure available for composting. The Zoo Doo yard at Woodland Park Zoo is 135’ x 70’ (41.1m x 21.3m) This gives us ample room to have a manure collection area, where the manure is deposited prior to incorporation into a pile (termed windrow), and for seven to eight windrows to be actively composting or curing at a time. In this space, we compost approximately 650 tons of manure, bedding material, etc., yearly. The Honolulu Zoo has been able to utilize space currently designated as a future elephant exhibit, and will hopefully be able to utilize other areas as they become available. In other words, a dedicated space, though desirable, is not necessary; and you can move the composting area as conditions require. The third basic requirement is water. A standard 3/4" (19mm) garden hose is adequate, though 1 1/2" (38mm) is even better. Adequate water pressure is also highly recommended. The fourth basic requirement is some sort of machine that can enable you to turn the piles. This can be anything from a tractor with a front end loader, to a skid loader, to a Terrax® bucket loader, to a D-9. The method of composting I recommend is a hot windrow style of composting, and this requires air to get into the piles. In most instances, this means using a front end loader to turn the piles and ensure air saturation. It also gives you a chance to add water if needed. With these few things, a zoo is pretty much ready to begin composting its manures using a turned windrow style of composting. There are other factors that must be considered first, including what materials to use for composting; ensuring that all materials suitable for composting are composted; and keeping contaminants out of compostable materials. Materials We at Woodland Park only compost herbivore manures and bedding materials, leaves, grass clippings, amd assorted other non-woody landscape debris. Other types of compostable material are sent to a local commercial composter. This is largely because I do not have the necessary equipment to grind the large amount of landscape debris we generate into a compostable mix. The benefit is that I create a much better compost by not having to use these materials, which can Animal Keepers' Forum, VoL 23, No. 8, 1996 441 be difficult to break down in any form without depleting nitrogen levels. Herbivore manure is used exclusively because of disease factors associated with carnivore and primate manures. Some diseases, such as Toxoplasmosis, are transferable to humans through feces (in this case feline). The high temperatures of windrow composting are enough to kill these diseases, but the risk is still prohibitive. Diseases spread to humans through contact with herbivore manure are extremely rare and are of no real concern when properly composted. There are certain exceptions as to what herbivore manure can be composted, however. If an animal is newly imported, the USDA requires that its manure be disposed of on-site (i.e. incinerated) for a period of six months. After six months, if the animal shows no signs of disease, the manure may be composted. Your zoo vet will have information concerning this regulation. It largely has to do with the concern over the spread of hoof and mouth disease. It is important to work with the keepers to ensure that they do not contaminate the manures at the unit pickup site with uncompostable materials. Many keepers may be used to throwing out refuse with the manures since it’s all going to the landfill. By working with the keepers you can assure yourself of having high quality compostable materials. It will also be necessary to establish manure pickup rounds that ensure compostable and non-compostable manures are not mixed. Windrow Construction Once enough material is collected, it is time to create a new pile. This takes about two weeks at WPZ. At one time we attempted to keep different materials separated at the collection phase. This was done in an attempt to get the best possible mix of nitrogenous to carbonaceous materials. The best carbon to nitrogen ratio is about 30:1, 30 being the carbon. High carbon materials include wood shavings, leaves, and straw. High nitrogen materials include manures and grass. Various mixes were tried, but it became apparent that the easiest solution was the best solution. Currently we just mix everything we get thoroughly and have found that the resulting C/N ratio is just fine. The pile is constructed using the front end loader. In the initial phase the pile can be quite large, larger even than what is normally recommended for turned windrow composting. My first stage piles are no more than 7 feet high and 14 feet wide (2.1m x 4.2m) and may be of any convenient length. As the materials being slowly shaken down into the pile by the bucket loader, water should be sprayed into it. Try to get something like the consistency of a wrung out sponge. Too much water will squeeze out air and reduce composting action. Too little water will result in extremely high temperatures, also reducing the composting action and possibly posing a combustion threat. Pile Maintenance Within a day or so of constructing the first pile, the temperatures inside the ^2 Animal Keepers' Forum, VoL 23, No. 8, 1996 windrow should be between 140-150°F (60-65° C) . I record the temperature of each pile weekly. By doing so I can ensure that each pile stays above 140° (60° C) for at least three consecutive days, providing an opportunity for the destruction of weed seeds and pathogens. The temperatures tj^Dically stay above 140° for even longer as the heat-loving bacteria continue the composting process. I take the temperatures using a 20" (50cm) probe thermometer that I insert as deeply into the pile as is practical. Four temperatures are taken at the east, west, north, and south points, and an average recorded on the data sheet. After two weeks of composting, the first pile is ready to be turned. The available oxygen is greatly diminished by this time and even the best made windrows do not breathe enough to get more air into them to continue composting. Forced aeration would allow the pile to sit in the same spot indefinitely, but that is a topic for a future article. As the pile is turned, it is important to judge the moisture level and to continue mixing the material. If the piles are too dry, continue to add water. If the piles are too wet, it may be necessary to incorporate some dry material into the mix. Experimentation is the key to pile maintenance, and before long you will become an expert in what it takes to maintain your piles. The second two weeks will also see a period of hot composting. The temperatures at the end of the first two weeks will have dipped down somewhat; but with the incorporation of more air through turning they will shoot right up again for at least another two weeks. Around this time the bacterial decomposition action will be giving way to fungal action, and there will continue to be a steady decrease in the temperatures. Each time the pile is turned, it is normal to have a temporary rise in temps as more air becomes available and some materials not fully composted become available to the organisms responsible for decomposition. By the third or fourth turn however, the windrows will continue to dip in temperature. This is the curing phase, as most of the bacterial action is completed and the fungi have begun work on the decaying matter. The leading cause of compost failure is the use of unfinished compost. Incorporating unfinished compost into a garden will result in a loss of available nitrogen. As a result, it is necessary to ensure that the compost has completely cured. There is no standardized field test to be sure about this; but by giving the windrows at least three months to actively decompose and cure, most compost failure problems can be avoided. Slightly unfinished compost is fine to incorporate into the garden in fall, and according to some gardeners even preferable. In spring however, rmfinished compost will do more harm to a garden than good. Marketing Zoo Doo I plan on writing a future article detailing various options of marketing Zoo Doo compost. Until then. I’ve outlined some general ideas that have worked for our zoo as well as others that have Zoo Doo programs. Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 443 The market for Zoo Doo falls into two broad categories; bulk sales and novelty sales. We at WPZ sell our compost in bulk twice a year during the Spring and Fall Zoo Doo Fecal Fests. The sales are scheduled for March and September to take advantage of the times when most people are working on their gardens and trying to improve the soil. Zoo Doo has proven so popular in Seattle that it is necessary to sell the compost by appointment only. I schedule two people to come in every 15 minutes. This provides a smooth flow of customers going in and out and minimizes waiting time. All compost is loaded by the customer using shovels and pitch forks. We do not use the front end loader due to liability issues concerning injury and vehicle damage. We charge $16 a cubic yard, which translates into $40 for a full size pickup, $30 for a short bed pickup, and $25 for a small pickup. Odd-shaped trucks or receptacles are eye-balled and an estimate is made based on the $16 per cubic yard price. I always err in favor of the customer. Zoo Doo is a hot selling commodity in Seattle and we have never failed to sell out. Demand outstrips supply by about 2:1 and many people get genuinely upset if they can’t get their Doo. We have a special phone number set up for people who are interested in bu3dng Zoo Doo which is called the Poopline. By calling (206) 625-POOP, people can get the latest information concerning the most exotic compost in the Pacific Northwest. Before each sale, there is a designated sign-in day when people who are interested leave their day and evening phone numbers. I begin getting calls at midnight of that sign-in day and I’m totally sold out by 2:00 in the afternoon. I keep an alternate list of people who will not be guaranteed any Doo, but will be called if any is left. While the bulk compost sale is widely popular and is responsible for selling the vast volume of compost generated, it is the novelty sales that the economics of Zoo Doo really come together. Zoo Doo is the only compost in the world that can sell for $10 for 4 gallons if marketed right. Our big money-maker in the novelty end of the market is the Holiday sale. We make approximately 1,000 two gallon bags and 750 ten gallon buckets, and sell these for $5 and $10 each, respectively. They are attractively packaged and are very popular gift ideas for the Holidays. By marketing it this way we are getting at least $500 a cubic yard for our compost rather than $16. Zoo Doo is the only t3qDe of compost anywhere in the world that can command that kind of price, and I plan on taking full advantage of it. We currently plan on selling small pint and gallon size containers of Zoo Doo in our Zoo gift shop, thus expanding our novelty market. I hope to generate revenues in excess of $25,000 this year, and continue that kind of growth until all Zoo Doo markets are explored and exploited. Few opportunities present themselves to zoos the way that Zoo Doo does. I see zoological parks as vehicles for getting out a message of respect for the natural environment and the conservation of resources. This message is lost if zoos continue wasteful practices and only talk the talk of resource conservation. Zoo Doo is a wonderful vehicle for zoos to show that they also walk the walk and can make a little money in the process. My next articles for the AZH Newsletter will go into much more detail concerning composting methodology and marketing of the product. 444 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 So until next time, this is Tom Gannon, alias Dr. Doo the Prince of Poo, signing off from Compost Command. Anyone who has any questions concerning starting or improving a Zoo Doo program can feel free to contact me at (206) 684-4828. Reprinted with permission from The Association of Zoological Horticulture Newsletter; May / June 1995; Vol. 29, Iss. 3 - May / June 1995. Turtles with Injured Shells Require Special Treatment The number one cause for turtles needing human help is falling victim to road injuries. The resulting shell fractures are the most common turtle injury, a be fatal. Examine an injured turtle thoroughly. If injuries appear only minor, take a closer look, because sometimes a superficial check is not enough. If there is just a minor crack in the turtle’s shell, it may not warrant keeping the creature in rehabilitation. A minor crack will heal by itself More severe injuries will probably inhibit the turtle from surviving without medical help. Check for soft tissue damage beneath the shell. If any of the internal organs can be seen with the naked human eye, the turtle’s injury needs flushing and suturing. If you are capable of this kind of repair, do so. If not, seek veterinarian help. Inspect the injury site for debris, maggots and any signs of infection. Flies often choose to lay eggs in open wounds. Fly eggs look like very tiny, elongated, white objects. This is before they hatch into larval maggots. Flush the site of injury with lactated Ringer’s or any commercially prepared saline solution to cleanse it. Warning: do not flush reptile wounds with common tap water. It may remove electrolytes from reptile tissue. During the initial examination, make sure the abdominal cavity is not open. This is technically called the coelomic area. Bacterial invasion is common when the abdominal cavity is exposed to injury. After cleansing the abdominal area, sprinkle with an antibiotic powder to help fight infection. Diluted Betadine solution works well. Box turtles suffering cracked shells can be mended with 1/2 or 3/4 inch adhesive tape. Wrap three or more layers around the shell, pulling the obvious crack together. Remember to leave an opening to allow drainage. If the wound is completely sealed, internal bacterial growth can lead to septicemia, which is usually fatal. This procedure does not work well with wood or aquatic turtles as the adhesive tape will not stick with these species. nd can Animal Keepers* Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 445 Another common method of turtle shell repair is with epoxy and fiberglass. Use the five minute type epoxy because it gives you time to line up the shell as it should be naturally, and it requires only a maximum time of five minutes to set. Before using the epoxy, clean all areas of the shell break with acetone to make them very dry. If the break surface appears too smooth, rough it slightly with fine grade sandpaper to make the epoxy hold better. Purchase fiberglass mesh at an auto-repair shop to use as a substrate for the epoxy. Apply the epoxy first to one side of the cracked shell and then place a mesh patch across it. This creates a bridge patch over the open wound. Then apply a light coat of epoxy over the fiberglass patch. Do not allow any of the epoxy to get into the wound and always allow holes for drainage and saline flushing. After appl5dng the initial epoxy-mesh bandage, allow it to dry for eight to ten minutes. Then apply a second coat and allow to dry. Turtles are usually very slow healing creatures. The epoxy-fiberglass shell should be used only on adult turtles, not growing ones as it can interfere with their shells. An adult shell can take up to a year to heal after repair. When using the above procedure with an aquatic turtle, keep it dry for three to five days and then return the turtle to the water. After returning it to the water, make sure the wound site is kept clean daily. Flush it with hydrogen peroxide a couple of times daily. House recuperating turtles in an enclosure full of leaves and minimize human contact as much as possible. Reprinted with permission from Wild Talk Published by The North American Wildlife Health Care Center RO. Box 155 Black Mountain, NC 28711 VISUALS UNLIMITED Dr. John D. Cunningham Mail Address: P. . Box 146 East Swazey, NH 03446 50 Sawyer’s Crossing Rd. West Swazey, NH 03469 Courier Address: Tel: (603) 352-6436 • Fax: (603) 357-7931 ‘Helping to Provide a Better VU of the World’ Photo Agent • Photo Research • Editor Biology, Earth Sciences, Geography Environmental, and General Stock ^6 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol 23, No. 8, 1996 Husbandry Alert A 34-year-old Asian elephant cow (Elephas maximus) was fed silver maple {Acer saccharinum) as a browse enrichment item. A very small amount was actually consumed before it was removed from the holding unit. A 26-year-old African elephant cow (Loxodonta africana) also had access to this maple but refused it. The next morning there was evidence of profuse bloody diarrhea in the holding stall. Upon examination of both elephants it was found to be coming from the Asian. Salmonella culture taken via rectal exam on both elephants was negative. Complete Blood Cell (CBC) revealed the Asian cow to be slightly anemic and Heinz bodies were also seen. Dark, tarry stools were passed throughout the day by this elephant. The elephant was off her feed for the day, but exhibited no other clinical signs and no treatment was initiated at this time. By the next morning, the stools were normal and follow-up CBC showed no evidence of anemia of Heinz bodies. Investigating all husbandry practices had led us to believe that the silver maple may have been responsible for the transient anemia, bloody diarrhea, and tarry stools seen in this elephant. Red maple {Acer rubrum) is known to be toxic to horses. The toxin is currently unknown but is believed to be a strong oxidizing agent. This oxidation denatures hemoglobin and results in Heinz bodies. Heinz bodies alter the red blood cells, which are destroyed and result in anemia. It is possible that the maple also had some local effect on the gastrointestinal tract that resulted in the blood diarrhea and tarry stools. Silver maple is found on the approved browse list of many institutions. It is not unreasonable to believe that related species of plants may have the same potentially toxic effects. Although there is no scientific documentation that we are aware of to indicate that any maple species other than red is toxic, common sense and good husbandry practice dictate that serious consideration be given to feeding maple as browse to any zoo mammal. — submitted by Ray Ball, DVM, Topeka Zoological Park, Topeka, KS and the Elephant Management Team Publication Available A second printing of the North American River Otter Husbandry Notebook is available from the John Ball Zoo. This 129-page volume contains sections on Taxonomy, Distribution, Status, Identification and Description, Behavior, Social Organization and Natural History, Reproduction, Captive Management, Hand- Rearing, Diet, Health Care, Behavioral Enrichment, and a general bibliography. The notebook may be purchased for $10.00 plus $2.50 s/h from John Ball Zoo, Attn: Otter Husbandry Notebook, 1300 W. Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI 49504; (616) 336-4301. Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 447 GIRAFFE - We suspend pine trees and/or browse branches from the wire mesh at the “overlook” of their quarters. Giraffe are observed spending a large portion of the day rubbing against the trees, butting the trees and eating the leaves. We use “eggbutt horse balls” (from Valley Vet Supply) and reinforce the handle with duct tape. Balls are secured to the mesh of “overlook” with chains. Animals rub, butt and lick at these balls during the day. It does seem to reduce signs of boredom when animals are confined to the building. A piece of PVC pipe is attached to the mesh (on the outside of pen). PVC has numerous holes of various sizes drilled in it at different angles to allow insertion of bamboo and/or browse branches. We use this bucket to dispense items and reduce boredom while confined indoors. A resealable, plastic bucket (handle removed) has an eye bolt attached to both sides using nuts and washers to ensure a tight fit. The bolts are used to firmly attach bucket to wire mesh. The lid of bucket has a 4-inch diameter hole cut in the top to dispense items without having to remove the bucket. The front portion of the bucket has a rectangular section removed near the base. All edges of this hole are sanded smooth so it is not abrasive. Giraffe use their tongues to search the bucket bottom for a variety of produce treats and/or dietary pellets. — Wendy L. Shaffstall, African Plains /Rhino Keeper Kansas City Zoological Gardens, Kansas City, MO PRIMATES - We give our spider monkeys and chimps warm Tang® or fruit juice in sturdy rabbit water bottles attached to the outside of their wire mesh. If they enjoy the juice, they spend some time licking and sucking the liquid. — Sequoia Park Zoo Staff Sequoia Park Zoo, Eureka, CA 448 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 APES - An easily made toy we have found to work well with our large primates is something I like to call a PVC Pipe Puzzle. The puzzle can be as large as your facility can handle. PVC pipes (1-inch diameter) are stacked on top of each other and screwed together with a long bolt on either end (see diagram 1 below). Holes large enough for monkey chow to fit through are cut between the stacked pipes on alternating ends (these holes must be drilled before bolting the pipes together). Finger holes on the side facing the primate are drilled along the pipes, too small for the monkey chow to fit through, and this is how the primates receives the food. On the back of the top pipe there is also a hole large enough for the monkey chow, which is used to load the puzzle. The monkey chow is loaded by the keeper in the top hole and then the primate must push the chow through the levels of the puzzle using the finger holes until the chow gets to the opening and the primate can retrieve it. These puzzles can be mounted on the outside of cages for the more manipulative primates or inside for the less destructive ones. The most effective way of mounting I have found is with pipe ties run through holes in the PVC pipe and then around the cage bars. This toy has been used successfully with chimpanzees, orangutans, mandrills, and siamangs. It was given to Diane monkeys with less effectiveness. — Linda Pastorello, Head Primate Keeper The Zoo, Gulf Breeze, FL or\ Hole, iro locxA (Ideas appearing in this column have not necessarily been tested by the editors for safety considerations. Always think ahead and use good judgement when trying new ideas. Eds.) Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 449 High-Tech Gift Helps Answer Nature's Most Nagging Questions Excerpted From A San Diego Zoo News Release What does a romantic female panda look for in a mate? And just which one of these mountain gorillas is that baby’s father? Check the DNA evidence! In a transfer of cutting-edge technology most widely known from criminal courtrooms, geneticists at the San Diego Zoo are stepping up the pace of advanced DNA sequencing investigations in support of rhinos and gorillas in Africa, koalas in Australia, and giant pandas in China. The Zoological Society of San Diego’s Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES) is now the world’s first zoo research team with its own Automated DNA Sequencer and DNA Fragment Analyzer package, thanks to a major in- kind donation of the high-biotech equipment by manufacturer Perkin-Elmer, the leading global supplier of analytical and bioresearch systems for research and analysis. “In the race for survival of precious wildlife, we’ve been walking at a determined pace. Perkin-Elmer just gave us a new car,” said Dr. Oliver Ryder, the Zoo’s lead geneticist. “We can now do this DNA work 10 times faster,” Ryder said. “This powerful tool will give us greater insights into the family structure of gorillas, and can help settle nature’s most nagging paternity disputes. In a pioneering way, this links the high-tech lab with field biologists’ efforts to save the animals in their habitat.” DNA sequencing involves the chemical splitting of tiny strands of genetic material and the search for distinct combinations of chemicals within the DNA strands. These unique chemical sequences become genetic landmarks when scientists compare DNA samples. Finding a unique sequence repeated in DNA samples from two giant pandas, for example, might indicate one is the father of the other. Conversely, if the genetic marker is absent, panda parentage may be ruled out. DNA sequencing for wildlife can also help identify both the species and gender of animals when this basic information is not obvious by appearance. Biologists collect DNA samples from wild animals by gathering naturally shed hair or feathers, fecal droppings and other animal residue. A CRES study recently checked hair samples left in the sleeping nests by a group of wild mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The DNA evidence showed the big, strong, dominant male gorilla in the troop was NOT the father of all the babies, as had been usually assumed. Some of the smaller, subordinate gorilla males are finding the ways and means to succeed at breeding. DNA data help answer critical questions of wildlife migration patterns over 450 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 time, identify deadly viruses, and guide decisions in designing effective wildlife preserves, among other applications. CRES opened the zoo world’s first molecular genetics lab in 1975. Today it provides training, material and technical support to wildlife genetics field stations in Kenya, Mongolia, China and Brazil, while continuing to lead numerous other zoo- and habitat- based studies. AZA Regional Conference Schedule AZA Eastern Regional Conference, March 19-22, 1997 - Memphis, TN. For further informatio n,contact Carol Cratin, Memphis Zoo, 2000 Galloway Ave., Memphis, TN 38112 (901) 725-3450. AZA Western Regional Conference, April 9-12, 1997 - Phoenix, AZ. For further information, contact Bruce Bohmke, The Phoenix Zoo,m 455 North Calvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008 (602) 273- 1341. AZA Central Regional conference. May 15-18, 1997 - Cleveland, OH. For further information contact Jim English, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Brookside Park Dr., Cleveland, OH 44109 (219) 661-6500. -rfJ ‘jM Two sizes are available :small(squirrel monkeysj marnsisets ... and etc)$29.95+s/h J5.00. medium(capuchins and etc)$35.95+s^h $5.00 are & Visa (Slacks are completely machine (ch to any thin horizontal bar in ||U-bolt brackets are also |h.ment to vertical bars. (Pbase ir primates 1 Napsagks I Na^sacks are specially designed primate sleepers.They provide comfort and an improved quality of life for these incredible creatures.The material used is cool enough for warm conditions and thick enough to prevent chilling in those cold^ winter months. Made from soft and durable cotton canvas; washable and at your existing exf available forattc enquire when or< If you cafe afibut well-being, then c too!). I 'hi* ; Please fax or phone order to: TreeTops and vines Inc. P.O. Box 1175 Jaf .N.Y. N.Y.10016 (2011-422-9337 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol 23, No 8, 1996 451 Workshop on AZA Conservation Programs Scheduled for Detroit Conference At the 1996 AAZK National Conference in Detroit there will be a workshop on the AZA Conservation Program and how to get involved. The Workshop is being organized by Robert Wiese, AZA Assistant Director of Conservation and Science. In order to make this workshop as useful as possible, we are making two requests. (1) We are looking for keepers who participate in various aspects of the AZA Conservation Program (e.g., studbook keepers. Advisory Group members, etc.). We need you to share your experiences and answer the variety of questions which arise during the Workshop. (2) We would like those interested in becoming involved to submit questions that you would like answered. This will allow us to tailor the Workshop to your interests and needs. If you can help or wish to submit questions, please contact Robert Wiese at AZA Executive Office, 7970-D Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814 or (301) 907-7777 or bobwiese@aol.com. American Zoo and Aquarium Association Materials 6ought by Enrichment Committee for Conference Enrichment Handout This is a reminder to send your enrichment ideas and items to be published and distributed at the National Conference in Detroit. All information should be typed or printed on standard (8 1/2 X 11). Be sure to include the following: Your name, institution, address and phone #, animal(s) enrichment used for, materials needed, item dimensions, and sketch of item. Mail or fax as many item designs as you would like to: Dianna Frisch, Columbus Zoo, 9990 Riverside Dr., P. O. Box 400, Powell, OH 43065; Fax - (614) 645-3465; Phone - (614) 785-9951. 452 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 1996 AAZK NATIONAL CONFERENCE DETROIT, MICHIGAN OCTOBER 6-10, 1996 Conference ‘96 is approaching quickly. Don’t miss these important deadlines: * 1 September 1996 - Conference Registration Late Free charged after this date. 1 September 1996 - Pre- and Post-Conference trips reservations and deposits are due. * 1 September 1996 - Exhibitors registration forms and fees are due. * 20 September 1996 - Conference rates for hotel rooms are guaranteed up to this date. This year we’ll be testing new waters. We’re going to use that part of the anatomy which Keepers must use most in order to survive.. .our brains. We’re going to play relay with our synapses and stretch our minds to the limit. So leave the wheelbarrow in the barn. And leave the physical events to the Olympians in Atlanta. Join us in the 1996 Zoo Olympics of the Mind! It’s more than just trivia. It’s more than just a game. It’s what we know that counts. Would you like to help raise money for National AAZK, Inc. and the ‘96 Conference? It’s easy! Just bring or send auction items to the conference as donations to the Silent and Live Auctions. 33% of an monies raised by the auctions is allocated to AAZK, Inc. for general operations. For further information, contact Kevin Koch at 1-810-398-0903 ext. 3183. For those people flying into Detroit Metropolitan Airport, shuttle service is available for transportation to and from the Crowne Plaza Pontchartrain Hotel and Cobo Conference/ Exhibition Center. The rates are $13.00 one-way or $24.00 round trip. For further information, dial 1-800-488-7433. If you are driving to the conference, please leave plenty of extra time on your agenda to visit some of the numerous animal facihties in the Great Lakes region. Many zoos are within driving distance of Detroit. AAZK Chapters in this region invite you to stop in for a tour. If your are interested in driving to the Toronto Metro Zoo or Windsor Casino, it is advisable for Americans to have your birth certificate or passport accessible. Calling all videos... Don’t forget to bring educational, entertaining, zoo or animal related videos to share in an informal setting. There will be a VCR available in the Hospitality Suite for video viewing. Continental Airlines will be handling conference travel arrangements. For further information, please contact Susan or Barabara at the AAZK administrative Offices: 1-800-242-4519 (U.S.) or 1-800-468-1966 (Canada) Anyone interested in doing a Poster Presentation, please contact Linda Wachsberg to reserve space, etc. 1-810-398-0903 ext. 3185 It’s not too late! 1996 AAZK National Conference Detroit, Michigan October 6-10, 1996 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM Name: Address:. City: Zip: State/Province: Phone/Fax: ( )_ Zoo Affiliation: Title: Primary fields of interest: AAZK Chapter: AAZK Membership Status: Number of AAZK Conferences you have attended: Presenting a Paper, Poster or Workshop? Yes Title: No AAZK Committee member? Bringing an Auction Item? Interested in a T-shirt? Vegetarian? Arrival Date and Time: Yes Yes_ Large. Yes No No X-Large No T5rpe: CONFERENCE FEES Full Conference Rates: AAZK Member or Spouse $110.00 Non-Member $120.00 Late Fee* $ 10.00 Daily Conference Rates: Icebreaker $10.00 Wednesday Monday $25.00 Thursday Tuesday $30.00 Banquet Late Fee* *Late Fee charged after 9-1-96 Total Amount Due: \ $30.00 $20.00 $20.00 $ 3.00 Fee does not include cost of Conference Proceedings. Fee includeds $20.00 contribution to AAZK National. Make checks payable (U. S. Funds) to: Detroit Chapter of AAZK. Return form and all fees to: Pat Cranberry & Beth Johnson, Detroit Chapter of AAZK, 8450 West 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48068-0039. 1996 AAZK National Conference Detroit, Michigan October 6-10, 1996 HOTEL REGISTRATION FORM NAME: ADDRESS: CITY: STATE/PROVINCE ZIP: PHONE/FAX: ( ) Indicate form of pa3nnent: Check Credit Card Credit Cards Accepted: —VISA _MC -AMEX -DISC (check one) —Diner's Club CREDIT CARD #: - - - Exp. Date: Name as it appears on credit card: CONFERENCE ROOM RATES (Add 14% Room Tax) $70. 00 Single 1-2 People per Room (1 Double Bed) $80.00 Double 3-4 People per Room (2 Double Beds) ***AAZK Conference Room Rates are guaranteed until September 20, 1996. Reservations made after this date will be on a space available basis only. Arrival Date and Time: Departure Date and Time: ___^_ Hotel Check-in: 3:00 PM - Check-out: 12:00 noon Hotel Parking Fee: $3.50 per day To make reservations by phone, dial 1-800-2-CROWNE or send this form to: CROWNE PLAZA PONTCHARTRAIN HOTEL TWO WASHINGTON BOULEVARD DETROIT, MI 48226-4416 A Sample of Speakers, Workshops and Papers of the 1996 AAZK National Conference *Orangutan Conservation. BiruteM. F. Galdikas (Orangutan Foundation International) ^Strategies & Actions for Field Conservation: Coalition for Reefs & Rainforests. * An Ecosystem Survival Workshop. Norman Gershenz (Center for Ecosystem Survival). *Biodiversity in Zoos: or Not All Animals Have Hair. * International Bear Parts Trade Linda Wachsberg (Detroit Zoo). ^Social Relationships in Wild Baboons. Dr. Barbara Smuts (University of Michigan). *Hippopotamus Underwater Behavior and Communication. ^Hippopotamus Training: Implications for Veterinary Care. Stephen Krueger (Toledo Zoo). ^Contraception. Dr. Cheri Asa + Ingrid Porton (St. Louis Zoological Park). ♦Creation of an Age-Diversified Gorilla Group Through Alternative Means. Susan White (Columbus Zoo). ♦The Fund Raising Success Story of Bowling For Rhinos. Patty Pearthree (AAZK ). ♦The Elephant “Hump”; A special method to hold and use water. ♦Elephants Never Forget. Dr. Jeheskel (Hezy) Shoshani. (Elephant Research Foundation). ♦Safety First, and Always. ..At the Jackson Zoo. Tom B. Brown (Jackson Zoo). ♦Mustached Tamarins on the Loose. Linda Pastorello (Gulf Breeze) ♦Nectar-feeding as an Enrichment Technique with Island Flying Foxes. Dana LeBlanc (Lubee Foundation, Inc.). ♦Hands-on Hoof Trimming. Dr. Ross Brown & Dr. Dalen Agnew (Detroit Zoo) ♦Record Keeping with Word Processors, Spreadsheets and Databases. David Merner (San Diego Wild Animal Park) ♦ Management/Employee Relations. Toni Vecchio (Roger Williams Park Zoo) ♦Red Uakari Research in Peru. Suzi Leonard (Detroit/Dallas Zoos WRE Program) ♦Friends of Rare Amphibians of the Western Gnats (FRAWG) Fred Swengel (Minnesota Zoo). ♦Water Conservation: What Keepers Can Do. Jennifer Brown & Pat Fabian-Chavez (Rio Grande Zoo). ♦Zoo Ethics. Dr. Ron Kagan (Detroit Zoological Institute). ♦From Rags to “EN” Riches. Lucy Sergenson (North Carolina Zoo). ♦Detection and Treatment of a Possible New Disease Syndrome in a Captive Black Rhinoceros. Christine M. Bobko (Denver Zoo). ♦The Water Bucket or Speaking of Tools, Don’t Look at Me, I Didn’t Take It. Leslie Keys (Detroit Zoo). ♦Bat Conservation. Bob Benson (Bat Conservation International). Giraffe Squeeze Techniques. Beth Johnson (Detroit Zoo). ♦A Successful Reintroduction of an Initially Rejected Pan troglodytes Newborn to it’s Natural Mother. LeeAnn Anderson (Honolulu Zoo). ♦Buffalo Zoo Predator Exhibit. David E. Bringham (Buffalo Zoo). ♦The Care and Procedures Involved in Mending a Broken Leg of a Two and a Half Year Old Giraffe - A Keeper’s Perspective. WilMam Pender (Rio Grande Zoo). ♦The Pet Primate Trade. Scott Carter (Detroit Zoo). ♦’’Inhlovudawana” or “Little Elephant”: Managing Warthogs Through Operant Conditioning. J. Phillips, V. Cloninger & G. Laule (North Carolina Zoo). ♦Enrichment Diana Frisch (Columbus Zoo and AAZK Enrichment Committee). ♦Carnivore Enrichment. Dr. Ann Duncan (Detroit Zoo and Veternary Advisor to AAZK Enrichment Committee). ♦Rhino Conservation. Andy Lodge & Anna Mertz. (Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary) ♦Asian Elephant Nail Patch. David Nestale (Detroit Zoo). ♦Conservation and Reintroduction of the Costa Rica Scarlet Macaw and the Great Green Macaw. G. Suzanne Chacon (Aves de las Aves) ♦♦AZA Conservation Program and Keeper Involvement. Dr. Bob Weise (AZA Conservation Acadamy) A special Professional Education workshop brought in by AAZK, Inc. This is just a sample of the presentations expected to be at the ‘96 Conference in Detroit. There will be many more.... Don’t miss out! Development of a Zoo Keeper/ University Student l^esearch Project by Judie Steenberg, Zoo Keeper, Woodland Park Zoological Gardens (WPZG), and Lisa Dabek, Ph.D. University of Washington (UW), Tree Kangaroo SSP^ Research Coordinator The following information is based on a Tree Kangaroo Research Project funded by an AAZK Research Grant. The experiences involved in developing and carrying out this project can be applied to other keeper research projects. The primary purpose of this paper is to share this information and encourage keepers to collaborate with university students to conduct research projects. Neither of the authors could have accomplished this project without the cooperation of the other party. In May, 1990, the authors each presented a paper at a Tree Kangaroo Symposium in Washington, D.C. (Dabek and Hutchins 1990, Steenberg & Smith 1990). During a long bus ride to visit the National Zoological Park’s Conservation and Research Center (CRC) at Front Royal, VA, to see the tree kangaroo collection, we talked about the various problems in the captive management of tree kangaroos, especially the questions regarding reproduction. Little did we realize that this brainstorming would result in a major research project, or that a zoo keeper and university student would collaborate to become major participants in the Tree Kangaroo SSP^. The gestation period for the Matschie’s tree kangaroo {Dendrolagus matschiei) is an average of 44 days; this has been well documented by the CRC Staff (Collins, 1986, Heath et al, 1990, Mullett et al, 1988 and Wemmer, 1985). However, the estrous cycle of female tree kangaroos remained vague; a range of 51-79 days was reported in the literature (Heath et al. 1990). It is also generally accepted that female Matschie’s tree kangaroos do not exhibit physical signs of cycling, and are receptive to males for a very short period of time. The female tree kangaroo’s period of receptivity can be as short as 24 hours based on personal experience (Steenberg), communication with Larry Collins, CRC Mammalogist and records at the CRC and Woodland Park Zoological Garden (WPZG). Therefore, if estrus is missed, it would be approximately two months before another estrous period occurred. To properly manage the reproduction of tree kangaroos it is important to have a well established estrous cycle for each female. The estrous behavior of female Matschie’s tree kangaroos is subtle and can easily be missed by the untrained or uninformed Keeper. To help solve the problems associated with the variation in estrous cycles (51-79 days), the lack of physical signs of estrus and the short period of receptivity, a research project was developed. Initially, Scott Barton, WPZG Senior Keeper, suggested that fecal steroid assays might be used to help determine the estrous cycle in Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 8, 1996 453 Matschie’s tree kangaroos. Subsequently, Judie Steenberg, WPZG Keeper and j Lisa Dabek, who was at that time a University of Washington (UW) Doctoral ji Candidate, developed a research project to better define the female Matschie’s tree kangaroo’s estrous cycle through use of a fecal steroid assay (FSA) technique. The results of the FSA’s would be correlated with simultaneous behavioral studies. i I The questions we wanted to answer were: - Are there behavioral cues indicating a female is in estrus? - Can fecal steroid analysis be used to correlate levels of estrogen and progestin with estrous behavior? ! Encouraged by colleagues involved with the captive management of tree kangaroos, we applied for several grants (this was an experience in itself), i Although we “came close”, we did not receive the funding needed for a joint six- j month project. This was our first experience appl3dng for a grant, and in the final scoring we were 0.4 points shy of the cut-off score to receive funds. There were moments like this, when the thought of giving up on the whole project seriously crossed our minds. I Overall, the reviews of our grant application were quite encouraging, which | was an important incentive to continue our efforts. However, some of the I reviewers felt our project was too ambitious, primarily because FSA had never j been tried on a marsupial species. If you are going to get involved in a project ! such as this, be prepared to be persistent, patient and flexible when necessary. | At this point it seemed that the next logical step would be to conduct a pilot i study to clear up the question of using FSA on a marsupial species and test the feasibility of our proposed project. It was decided that Steenberg would go to j CRC for a one-month period to determine if the FSA process worked on tree j kangaroos and do observations to begin documenting estrous behavior. Again, i funding was a factor; WPZG provided an airline ticket, matching paid leave, a ! video camera and tape for the pilot study. The CRC provided housing, office j space and use of the laboratory on a gratis basis. The Staff at CRC’s Small Animal Facility (SAF) provided steadfast support throughout the project. The i 18 tree kangaroos at SAF provided the largest available study population to test the preliminary question of whether or not a tree kangaroo estrous cycle |i could be charted using the FSA process. I; To fully utilize the time spent at the CRC on the pilot study, the following jl tasks were to be accomplished: i 1. To determine the feasibility of keepers collecting “fresh” fecal samples from female tree kangaroos and getting them into a freezer within 30 minutes of defecation. a) . Would CRC keepers be able to collect sufficient samples during the course of the daily routine to conduct a reliable study? b) . Would assistance by other personnel be necessary? 454 Animal Keepers' Forum, VoL 23, No. 8, 1996 2. To observe and document tree kangaroo behavior on a scan sampling basis at one-, two- and four-hour intervals, with two 24-hour observations of the entire collection, during the course of the study. a) . What basic behavior patterns could be determined for individual animals? b) . What were the confoimding factors to be considered in a long term study? c) . Did any of the females cycle during the study? 3. To review CRC tree kangaroo records, both current and historical, for reproductive and life history data to answer the following questions. a) . What type of information could be collected from existing records? b) . How could these data be utilized to provide information about estrous behavior and to establish life history traits? 4. To collect feces from tree kangaroos to assay for levels of estrogen and progestin. a). Could fecal steroid assays be used to determine levels of these hormones in tree kangaroo feces to more closely define the estrous cycle? b.) Would modifications need to be made in the process to assay marsupial fecal samples? By now it was the summer of 1991. During Steenberg’s one month stay at CRC, Collins, and the entire SAF keeper staff, gave their full support to the pilot study. In order to collect feces and have them in the freezer within 30 minutes of defecation, it became necessary to include all CRC keepers, the researcher and anyone else who happened to see a female tree kangaroo defecate. An occasional fresh sample was collected by CRC keepers during the daily routine of caring for the animals. However, it soon became apparent that it would be difficult for keepers to collect sufficient fresh samples for analysis without previously monitoring and documenting normal times of defecation for each female tree kangaroo in the study This finding was a major factor in the proposed long- term project and required further review and planning. Task one accomplished. A primary objective of the pilot study was to determine if FSA would work on tree kangaroo feces. Feces collected at the CRC from a female, just before and after copulation, gave good evidence that the FSA process did work on tree kangaroo fecal matter. There was definite variation in her estradiol levels, consistent with estrus. These variations correlated with a one-day change in behavior of this female, just prior to copulation. Also of interest is that the concentration of estrogen in tree kangaroo feces was significantly higher than Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 8, 1996 455 A review of the CRC tree kangaroo specimen records contained valuable information on reproduction that would be useful in compiling data for Matschie’s tree kangaroo life history characteristics. Additional data from St-cpVNan; over 3000 samples of tree kangaroo behavior collected during the pilot study has also given us valuable insight regarding tree kangaroo behavior. Task three was also accomplished. in that of yellow baboons (Papio strepipus); this required a different dilution for the assay of tree kangaroo feces. At this point.... tasks two and four had proved feasible. Dr. Sam Wasser, noted for his work in developing the fecal steroid assay process for use in reproductive studies, and Research Laboratory Technician, Niki Presley, generously provided training in the process and carefully supervised this first testing of FSA on tree kangaroo feces. In November 1991, the Tree Kangaroo Research Project gained added importance when the Tree Kangaroo Species Survival Plan (TK-SSP) was formed and ! reproductive studies were determined to be of primary importance for the long- term management of Matschie’s tree kangaroos. The TK-SSP 1993-94 Master Plan’s Research Goals and Objectives included a statement to continue fecal | steroid assay studies to resolve questions regarding female reproductive cycles. i The next step was to further test the possibility that keepers could collect daily , samples of tree kangaroo feces within the 30-minute time restriction. This work was accomplished at the Woodland Park Zoological Gardens (WPZG) in | Seattle, Washington. With the approval of WPZG Senior Staffs Australasian keepers Tina Mullett and Allison Barr agreed to work with researchers and ] participated in a six-month long, daily collection of feces from three female ji Matschie’s tree kangaroos. Keepers also used a daily check sheet to document '| behavior. ! To establish whether there was a time frame when tree kangaroos defecate, during the course of a routine day, a week-long tree kangaroo “poop-watch” was jl conducted by a group of WPZG’s, dedicated Docent Research Observers. After seven days of observing WPZG’s three females, from 0800-1600 hours, it was I determined that each female had a rather specific time frame during which she i defecated. WPZG Australasian Unit keepers also found that defecation could 456 Animal Keepers' Forum, VoL 23, No. 8, 1996 i be stimulated by the early morning feeding of a stalk of celery The 30-minute time element of getting the fecal samples into a designated freezer was still a limiting factor. USD A regulations require that feces be stored separate from any food items; the closest non-food freezer was on the other side of the Zoo. An article was published in the Woodland Park Zoological Society’s Newsletter about the Tree Kangaroo Research Project and a request for a freezer was added to their “Wish List” for donations. The USDA regulation problem was solved by the donation of a new 12 cu. ft. freezer by the Elfund Society, Seattle, WA, specifically for this project. The freezer was set up in the Australasian Unit. In December 1991, well behind our projected schedule, daily behavioral check sheets were started and daily fecal samples were collected on WPZG’s three female Matschie’s tree kangaroos. Collecting continued for a six month period to insure that data from a minimum of two full estrous cycles would be collected. Another confounding factor soon became evident, at WPZG. The sand substrate in the tree kangaroo exhibit stuck to the fresh feces. Since the feces dropped from a distance of anywhere from one to fifteen feet, they often rolled and were completely coated with sand. Not to be daunted, daily collecting continued while we determined the best way to remove the sand from the feces. During fecal steroid assay all debris must be removed, since the weight of the fecal both fresh and after freeze-drying is critical to the analysis. We learned that it was best to partially freeze the feces and then use a soft toothbrush to whisk off the sand. The thank-you letter to Steenberg’s dentist, for the donation of two dozen toothbrushes, became quite a topic of conversation in his office. Once a fecal sample was collected it had to be cleaned, weighed, logged and smashed.... smashing facilitated freeze-dr5dng the sample in a lyophilizer. It is important to emphasize the dedication of the keepers who worked the Australasian Unit during this time, especially Unit Keeper Mullett. Collecting and processing three fecals daily, in a timely manner, can get tedious and often required extra time to accomplish. Meanwhile more grants were written and Dabek submitted a proposal to go to the CRC to conduct a six-month long study on six of CRC’s tree kangaroos. Dabek would work on the correlation of their estrous behavior with fecal steroid assay of both estrogen and progestin. Additionally, fecals and behavioral data from the three WPZG females were sent to CRC for analysis. By now it was the summer of 1992, more than two years after we started planning the project. An important lesson here is that research projects can take a lot longer than you expect. Be realistic and liberal in your time estimates. As a part of the long-term study, data were collected from CRC’s animal records to better define the basic life history characteristics for Matschie’s tree kangaroos. Additional information on joey developmental milestones was also collected. Collectively, these studies were to be the basis for Dabek’s doctoral dissertation (1995). Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 457 During this time we received notification about a large grant that had been re- applied for and learned the Tree Kangaroo Research Project qualified ....but the fund ran out of money!!! It was time for creative financing. The $750.00 from the AAZK Research Grant, a privately donated airline ticket, UW special funding, the Puget Sound AAZK Chapter’s $400.00 grant and the use of some personal funds comprised the financial support of the Tree Kangaroo Research Project. To reduce the cost of analyzing the WPZG fecals, a volunteer for the Australasian Unit made arrangements with a UW lab to use their lyophilizer to freeze-dry the fecals. Volunteer Mary Welch personally re-weighed and recorded each of 300+ samples before and after freeze-drying them. This reduced the cost of analysis by approximately 50%. WPZG helped again by covering the cost of shipping the samples to CRC via Federal Express Overnight Delivery. The samples had to remain frozen imtil they were to be analyzed. They were shipped on dry ice, in a styrofoam cooler, and arrived at the CRC still frozen solid. Throughout this project both the CRC and the WPZG provided office space, office and lab supplies, the use of various equipment and long distance telephone/ FAX service at no cost to the project. While it is difficult to put a dollar value on this type of support, it was very important to the research project. Perseverance was a key element in achieving the goals and objectives of this i project. A few people were serious roadblocks in seeking funds to conduct this ; project. Even though they were people of position we did not let their biased opinions and lack of support stop us. The important message here is that our I project was valid, represented an opportunity to collect critical information for the improved propagation of the species, and was supported by the TK-SSP. I Instead of being discouraged, we re-evaluated our goals and obj ectives, consulted with other people knowledgeable about the subject, and found a way to accomplish the project. | The $750.00 AAZK Research Grant was a critical element in completing the project. We could collect all of the fecal samples we wanted but without funds to conduct the analysis it didn’t mean much. Because of this project the Tree ' Kangaroo SSP® now has a proven method to determine an exact estrous cycle in female Matschie’s tree kangaroos. However, this project is really not finished. The next step is to better define the ' critical time element for getting feces into the freezer; freezing stops the I metabolic processes in the fecal sample. WPZG Keepers collected additional fecal samples for a test study to determine if overnight samples, collected the first thing in the morning, would have satisfactory levels of estrogen and progestin; preliminary test results were good. The question is: will overnight fecals, when compared with fresh samples, give comparable, reliable data? If overnight fecals prove to be suitable, we have a tool that can be used by all zoos to define any female tree kangaroo’s estrous cycle. Of importance is that it could then be done in the course of a Keeper’s daily routine, thereby insuring 458 Animal Keepers' Forum, VoL 23, No. 8, 1996 consistent sampling. A key factor for keeper involvement in any research project is the impact it has on available time; it has to “fit” in with all of our other routine duties. The results of Dabek’s work, “Behavioral Aspects of Breeding Captive Matschie’s Tree Kangaroos (Dendrolagus matschiei): Estrous Cycles of Females and Development of the Young “ have provided data of immediate use, as well as a foundation for subsequent ex-situ reproductive studies. There is also a strong possibility that the FSA process can be applied on an in-situ basis as well. In 1993-94, Dabek received funding to conduct an in-situ feasibility study of wild tree kangaroos in Papua New Guinea. During that trip both Dabek and Steenberg presented papers at the Australasian Region Association of Zoological Parks/Australasian Society of Zoo Keepers (ARAZPA/ASZK) Conference, in Darwin, Australia (Dabek 1995, Steenberg 1995). Dabek also met with field biologists in Australia and Papua New Guinea and wildlife personnel in Australia who were interested in learning about the use of FSA in tree kangaroo reproductive research. Steenberg (1994) presented a paper at the AAZK National Conference in Omaha, which reported the mean estrous cycle of 55 days (Dabek 1995) for Matschie’s tree kangaroos. Subsequent articles on various aspects of the original project (FSA methodology, tree kangaroo developmental milestones, and life history traits) are being submitted for publication in Zoo Biology (Steenberg, Collins and Dabek, in prep.) and the Journal of Reproductive Physiology (Dabek, Wasser and Steenberg in prep.). Due recognition will be given to AAZK for the Research Grant which helped fund this important science project. In closing, we would encourage other keepers interested in doing a research project to consider collaborating with a graduate student from a local University. You will need to thoroughly discuss the project, carefully define each other’s role, and be exceedingly open and honest with each other. Respect one another’s contributions and limitations, and pull together to accomplish the end goal. During the course of this project we did not always agree, but we always resolved differences and got back on track. Because of this project, there is the promise of continuing to answer other questions about tree kangaroo reproductive biology using a non-invasive technique. There is also further potential for utilizing this technique and knowledge for in-situ conservation projects. You just never quite know where a project might lead. Acknowledgments: The success of a major project such as this is the result of help and cooperation from many people. To the Advisors and Staff from the Conservation and Research Center (CRC) Larry Collins, John Watson- Jones, Angie Heath, Greg Peterson, Bobby Rodden, Melissa Rodden, Mary Willeford Bair, Dr. Sam Wasser, Niki Presley and Laura Flicker; University of Washington (UW) Staff: Drs. Joan Lockard and Margaret Thoughless and Mary Welch; WPZG Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 8, 1996 459 Administrators: David Towne and Judy Ball; with special thanks to WPZG Docent Observer “Poop Watchers”, WPZG Keepers Tina Mullett and Allison Barr | and to the many Volunteers who helped clean tree kangaroo fecals we extend our sincere appreciation. All of you are to be commended for your commitment to this project. It couldn’t have happened without your help. References: Collins, L. 1986 Big foot of the branches. Zoogoer, July-August, 35-40. Published by the National Zoo, Washington, DC .(1990-1992) personal communications (letters/telephone calls) Dabek. L. 1995. The reproductive biology and behavior of captive female Matschie’s tree kangaroos {Dendrolagus matschiei). Ph.D. diss., University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Abstract in Dissertation Abstracts International 55(11B): 4748. 1 . 1995. Reproductive biology and behavior of captive female Matschie’s tree kangaroos | Dendrolagus matschiei. In Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and \ Aquariums (ARAZPA) / Australasian Society of Zoo Keeping (ASZK) 1994 Conference \ Proceedings. 196-208. Darwin Australia: ARAZPA. i Dabek, L. and M. Hutchins. 1990. The social biology of tree kangaroos {Dendrolagus \ spp. ) and its implication for captive management. In AAZPA Regional Conference ■ Proceedings. 528-35. Wheeling: WV. AAZPA. Edited version in Roberts and Hutchins, | eds., 1990, 17-23. | Dabek, L, S. Wasser and J. Steenberg. In preparation. Reproductive cycles of female j Matschie’s tree kangaroos {Dendrolagus matschiei) using fecal steroid assay. ! Heath, A., K. Benner, and J. Watson- Jones. 1990. A case study of tree kangaroo husbandry | at CRC. In AAZPA Regional Conference Proceedings. 518-27. Wheeling, WV: AAZPA. j Edited version in Roberts and Hutchins, eds., 1990, 25-32. j Mullett, T., D. Yoshimi and J. Steenberg. 1988. Tree Kangaroo Husbandry Notebook. ' 8:10. Seattle: Woodland Park Zoological Gardens. Roberts M., and M. Hutchins, eds. 1990. Bulletin No. 1: The Biology and Management of Tree Kangaroos. Wheeling, WV: AAZPA Marsupial and Monotreme Advisory Group. ! Steenberg, J. 1993. Tree Kangaroo SSP Master Plan 1993-1994. Seattle: Woodland Park i Zoological Gardens. ' . 1995. A report on health and reproductive challenges in the captive management of Matschie’s tree kangaroos {Dendrolagus matschiei). In 1994 AAZK Conference | Proceedings. 110-115. Omaha: AAZK.and, In Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (ARAZPA) /Australasian Society of Zoo Keepers (ASZK) ! 1994 Conference Proceedings. 175-179. Darwin, Australia: ARAZPA/ASZK. Steenberg, J, L. Collins and L. Dabek. In preparation. The Reproductive Biology of I Matschie’s Tree Kangaroos {Dendrolagus matschiei). j Steenberg, J. and R. Smith. 1990. Current status of tree kangaroo {Dendrolagus) j populations. In AAZPA Regional Conference Proceedings. 510-17. Wheeling, WV: [ AAZPA. Edited version in Roberts and Hutchins, eds., 1990, 9-16. j Wemmer, C. 1985. A decade of research. Zoogoer. March/April, 10-15. Published by the J National Zoo, Washington, DC. i 460 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 Book Review Serengeti II- Dynamics. Management, and Conservation of an Eco- system Edited by: A.R.E. Sinclair and Peter Arcese, 1995 By the University of Chicago Press 5801 South Ellis Ave. Chicago 60637 rr , i i 665 pgs. Paperback Price: $34.00 f ^ Sr. Mammal Keeper San Diego Wild Animal Park Escondido, CA Don’t let the size and apperance of Serengeti II intimidate you too much. Despite its textbook resemblance I found this book very informative and fascinating reading. Serengeti II is by no means an easy read, but with patient concentration most laypersons can traverse its numerous topics of discussion. In the first volume written on the Serengeti-Mara area, Serengeti: Dynamics of an Ecosystem, research undertaken in the area through 1977 was covered with the main goal being to understand the ecological principles that promote biological diversity in natural ecosystems. In this second volume, Serengeti 11. the results of this research has been compiled in order to “advise managers who plan for, and respond to, the social, political, and environmental perturbations that affect conservation policy.” The presented research has been grouped into five main categories to aid in facilitating focal interest. An overview is divided into two chapters covering the Serengeti-Mara’s past and present, and the Serengeti in the context of worldwide conservation efforts. The next four areas of concentration are divided into : plants and herbivory, herbivores and predation, predator demography and behavior, and conservation and management. Each area of concentration presents from three to nine research studies focusing on aspects of that particular concentration. By having the topics outlined so clearly, I was able to easily pick and choose which studies I wanted to read. I read a few studies from each of the areas of concentration and was surprised not by how much I learned, but by how much I enjoyed the learning. As I stated earlier, this is not a book of stories but a collection of research that can be read and for the most part understood by any layperson with the desire to learn about the Serengeti-Mara. The studies presented have a balanced blend of statistical jargon and well defined concepts so that even non-scientists can understand the general research and conclusions of each study. All the studies in Serengeti II culminate in the final essay in a model to evaluate alternative management policies. A workshop was held in 1991 at the Serengeti Wildlife Reasearch Centre to assist in the transfer of scientific knowledge from the researchers Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 461 to the managers of the Serengeti-Mara region. To assist in the coordination of research and policy evaluation, a computer model was generated to simulate and explore six scenarios that reflected a variety of natural and human-induced changes in the Serengeti given the comprised statistical data. The scenarios reflected what the model predicted could happen rather than a best scientific estimate since the four-day workshop was primarily organized to facilitate channels of communication and identify research priorities. Seeing how individual research studies can work together and with the local people and governments in planning the future course of action for a particular region gave me hope. The process of the workshop was more important than the product by showing how we all come together to work towards the same goal even if we’re coming from different directions. I strongly recommend reading or at least perusing Serengeti II to anyone interested in the current and future plight of the Serengeti-Mara region. Not only will the reader gain a better understanding of the past and present mechanics of the region but become familiar with current research and concerns in the area and some suggestions as to their future direction Lemurs of Madagascar By Russell Mittermeier, Ian Tattersall, William Knostant, David Meyers, and Roderic Mast. 1994 Conservation International, 1015 18th St. NW, Suite 100 Washington D.C. 20036 Paperback, 356 pgs. Price: $35.00 Review by Kelly K. Miles, Zoo Volunteer Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, WA Lemurs of Madagascar is the first in a new series of Tropical Field Guides published by Conservation International. This compact guide covers a very wide range of information. From lemur origins, their discovery and field studies, to extinct lemur history, existing lemur behavior, distribution, and conservation. The guide is well-organized and incredibly easy to use. Chapter six, which is 200 pages long, consists of detailed descriptions of living lemurs. There is a complete listing of the 32 lemur species and 50 lemur taxa currently recognized. Included for each genus is a distribution map. Each species and subspecies is described in detail covering five categories: Identification, Geographic Range, Natural History, Conservation Status, and Where To See It. The guides illustrations are done by Stephen D. Nash and they alone could justify purchasing this book. With 35 color plates of photographs and lifelike drawings, 135 postural, locomotor and behavioral line drawings and over 28 black and white photos, the reader is able to quickly learn how to identify and appreciate these fascinating animals. This guide could be of great value not only to those planning to visit Madagascar, but keepers who work with prosimians, education/conservation staff and any zoo library. 462 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 Wolf Reintroduction Project Update Reintroduction of the gray wolf in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and in central Idaho has been so successful that no new releases will be made in either area in 1997, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt announced last month. “The wolves already released have reproduced well and suffered few losses and the program so far is not only under budget but ahead of schedule,” Babbitt said. Ralph Morgenweck, the Service’s regional director in Denver, CO, said, “If the wolf population in one recovery area does appear to lag, we have the option of moving animals from one area to another.” “Forgoing releases in 1997 will also help reduce potential wolf pack conflicts,” said Ed Bangs, the wolf reintroduction program coordinator. Seven wolves have been lost in Yellowstone in 1996 -- two adults and one pup were believed killed by other wolves, two were illegally killed, one was hit by a car, and one died after falling into a hot spring. Seven litters of wolves were believed born this spring to reintroduced parents in in central Idaho. Four of the reintroduced Idaho wolves died in Idaho in 1996 according to the Nez Perce Tribe, which monitors wolf activity in Idaho. One was shot, one was killed by a mountain lion, one drowned, and one death was from undetermined causes. (continued on next page) Met m tetr Freshly Frozen Mice & Rats Freshly CRY-O'- VA Cpackaoiria FLASH FREEZES & sucks out Oxygen, extends shelf Life from 6- 12 months to 5- W years NO EXTRA CHARGE ZERO CHANCE OF FREEZER BURN PONT RISK GIVING YOUR SNAKE TAPE WORM. TICKS. MITES OR OTHER PARASITES. FEED FROZEN MICE & RATS BECASUSE .. . 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Bangs said while wolf mortality in Yellowstone was slightly higher than in Idaho, the rate remains below predictions. “With the two litters born last year to the Yellowstone wolves, we started off much better than expected.” Bangs said any reintroduction proposals beyond 1997 will be evaluated on a yearly basis. Prior to the reintroduction of the gray wolf, the animals had been absent from Yellowstone and central Idaho since the late 1920s. The reintroduction goal calls for establishment of 10 breeding pairs in each of three recovery areas for three successive years, which would result in a recovered wolf population and removal of wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains from the endangered species list by 2002. Central Idaho and Yellowstone National Park are two of the recovery areas; northwest Montana is the third, although it is not a reintroduction zone. --U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior News Release 7115196 The Utica Zoo. Utica, NY, welcomes the first-time birth of eight European wild boar (Sus scrofa). The six males and two females were born on 24 May 1996. They are the offspring of a 16-month old, first-time mother that is one of only a handful of genetically pure wild boars in the U.S. all eight offspring are being mother-raised and are on exhibit with their mother. (Photo courtesy of Utica Zoo) 464 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 1/Zeport on the Mt^nagement of Cive Arthropod Exhibits Workshop By Eric R. Eaton, AAZK Associate Member Cincinnati, OH With insect exhibits and butterfly houses becoming increasingly popular fixtures at zoos, aquaria, and other public attractions, it is important that opportunities for keeper training in invertebrate cultures be made more widely available. To that end, a one-day workshop on the subject was held on 19 May 1996, at the Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center in Westminster, CO. The event, sponsored and organized by the Terrestrial Invertebrate Taxon Advisory Group (TITAG), was a suffix to the Western Regional Conference of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) in Denver. The 332 attendees were briefed in a variety of areas related to the management of live arthropod exhibits. Federal officials from the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USD A) helped immensely in clarifying the often-confusing permit requirements for importing exotic insect species; and simplifying the procedures required for passing facility inspections related to quarantine and containment. The second half of the workshop was devoted to animal care, including the task of selecting which species to exhibit by deciding what concepts you wish to convey to the public in the arthropod exhibit. Choosing species then becomes a matter of finding ones that best demonstrate ideas like camouflage, metamorphosis, sociality, etc. The care of cultures in captivity, and techniques for housing and propagating species were also discussed briefly. Since arthropods represent well over 80% of the animal kingdom, and are generally low-cost and low-maintenance, exhibiting these creatures should become a priority in furthering zoo educational missions while cutting costs and maintaining, or even increasing, exhibit diversity. It is up to keepers with an interest in the six- and eight-legged to raise the profile of these animals in the minds of administrators and planners. To learn more, you may contact: Rachel A. Williams, TITAG Treasurer, c/o Rocky Mountain Butterfly Consortium, RO. Box 3777, Westminster, CO 80030-0377; Tel. (303) 469-5441, or contact the author at 2812 Price Ave. #3, Cincinnati, OH 45204-1485; Tel. (513) 921-1593. Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 8, 1996 465 This scenic shot shows one of the many raised walkways at the Quistococha Zoo which wind through ^nd into the Amazon rainforest. (Photo bv Antony Tassart) ^he plight of the Quistococha Zoo An Update By Antony Taggart, C. E. O. of Zoo Peru Inc. and volunteer keeper at the Quistococha Zoological Park in Iquitos, Peru. Those of you who are regular readers of AKF, may recall an article that I wrote in the April of 1994 edition entitled “The Power of One”. Within this article I told you about my early experiences working in a voluntary capacity for the Quistococha Zoo in Iquitos, Peru after leaving my homeland of Australia back in 1993. So as to give you a general recap on the situation, the Quistococha Zoo would have to be set on one of the most majestic settings of any zoo anywhere in the world. Found some 16 miles from the main square in Iquitos, the Quistococha Zoo is situated on nearly 900 acres (360 hectares) of secondary rainforest with a 125-acre (50 hectare) spring-fed natural lake found close to the front of these grounds. Another unique quality about this zoo is the fact that it only houses indigenous species of animals local to the Peruvian Amazon and that nearly all the animals have been either donated by members of the public, or confiscated from poachers. 466 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 I began working in a voluntary capacity for the Quistococha Zoo when I realized that the zoo had no qualified staff trained in animal husbandry, and that many of the animals were poorly housed in small overcrowded cages which generally were in a bad state of repair. Realizing that this problem was a lot bigger than I had originally envisioned, I decided to go to the United States in the hope of gaining financial, material and personnel assistance from other zoos and zoologically based institutions. My first real break through came from the Zoological Society of Florida in the early stages of 1994. This organization graciously allowed me to base my operations temporarily out of their offices and begin my outreach. It was not long before interest began to be generated and some small, but never the less important, donations started to come in. The major leap forward however, came from when I managed to scrape together my nickels and dimes to get to the 1994 AZA Conference based in Atlanta, GA. Here I gave an informal slide presentation and talk to a group of interested colleagues. Little did I know of the interest and of the snow-balling effect that this simple presentation would generate. The first days of the new year saw the formation and legalization of Zoo Peru Inc. within the U.S. Within the months to come , Zoo Peru Inc. gained its 501(c)(3) status, with the whole purpose of the organization at this stage, being to assist the Quistococha Zoo in Iquitos, Peru. Later that month, I was informed by my colleagues in Peru, that the zoos one and only giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) was under attack by a female caiman, which unfortunately shared its exhibit. It was then that the first major breakthrough for the Quistococha Zoo was generated, as the Zoological Society of Philadelphia came to the rescue. Within days I found myself jetting back to Peru with enough finances to treat the giant river otter of his wounds, build a new caiman facility to house and relocate the zoo’s 10 caiman, re-landscape and secure the river otter exhibit, and have enough money to live on for an entire month. It is amazing what you can do with U. S. $ 1,200.00 in your pocket. The next major headway came when I attended the “Zoos Committing to Conservation Conference” hosted by the Columbus Zoo in Columbus, OH in July of 1995. This unique conference format really seemed to bring together a exceptionally dedicated group of people, and once again I found myself seizing the moment and giving an impromptu talk on the situation at Quistococha. From this conference I gained more financial, moral and material support than what I ever thought possible. By the time the conference had concluded,! already had financial donations, material supplies on the way and the chance of having the future involvement of not only the Columbus Zoo itself, but also the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, FL. This hectic pace of networking continued, with my attendance at both the AZA and AAZK conferences later that year. Once again these conferences also proved fruitful as I was able to generate more valuable and much needed support. Animal Keepers' Forum, VoL 23, No. 8, 1996 467 November saw my return to South America once again after receiving generous financial assistance from the Zoological Society of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia AAZK Chapter as well as the funds generated earlier in the year from the conference in Columbus. I was also extremely fortunate in gaining free air travel courtesy of Fourth Dimension Tours, Miami, FL. Shown above is the zoo's single giant river otter (Pteronura j hrasiliensis) feeding on a live fish in his exhibit which was j renovated and landscaped in February of 1995. (Photo by Antony Taggart) I Upon visiting the zoo I was not suprized to find that not only did we have new ' animal additions, but also quite a number of thefts during my absence. ; Unfortunately our gaint anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) and brown- i throated three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus) were two of many animals that were missing. This, although hard to get used to, is the unfortxmate stem of |: reality down here in Iquitos at the present moment. | Within about 10 days of my arrival I was able to witness one of those rare sights j, that you just do not get to see too often, this being a jaguar birth. During my absence from Peru in the mid stages of last year, our female jaguar conceived from the male sharing her exhibit. These two cats, that came in nearly three years ago as cubs after being donated from the Admiral of the Peruvian Navy, were soon to continue the cycle of life themselves. ' Like that of many of the exhibits at the zoo, the jaguar exhibit is old, poorly | designed and offers very little mental or physical stimulation for the animals. 46^ Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 The more immediate and concerning question that faced us was; “Where were we going to place the female once she was about to give birth?” Because no one had recorded the date of likely conception, all we knew was that we did not have much time and that we had better get an exhibit built quickly. But Mother Nature beat us to the mark. On the 27th of November 1995, our female jaguar gave birth to the first of 1.1 cubs. Fortunately for the mother, I was there during her early stages of labor with the first cub and managed to get her off display and separated from the male sharing her exhibit. I still remember watching the female walk into her Im x 2m x Im (approx. 10’ x 6.5’ x 10’) exhibit with the cub just beginning to come out. By the time she was in the exhibit the first cub had fully emerged. The second cub was born soon after. Once that it was established that the cubs were nursing well and would hopefully not need to be pulled, we began to put the finishing touches on the new jaguar facility. The new exhibit included a corridor system which would allow the female jaguar to wander through on her own accord and transfer the cub over from the old to the new facility. This photo shows the mid-construction stage of the new jaguar exhibit. (Photo by Antony Taggart) It was to the great advantage of the Quistococha and Zoo Peru Inc. that on 2 December 1995, we were joined by two staff members from the Columbus Zoo, and the Curator of the Brevad Zoo. During this two weeks that we had assistance from these zoological institutions, we were able to achieve a great deal towards enhancing the future development of the zoo. An updated animal inventory was established, and Zoo Peru Inc. staff membel-s were trained in recording and maintaining animal records. These visiting zoo professionals generated al ot of ideas about how to improve the zoo’s situation. Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 8, 1996 469 After a complete investigation of her new quarters, the female jaguar pauses before moving her cubs from the old exhibit, through the transfer and into their new exhibit. (Photo by Antony Taggart) The 1.1 jaguar cubs are shown sleeping peacefully in their new exhibit after being transferred from the old unit by their attentive mother. (Photo by Antony Taggart) 470 Animal Keepers' Forum, VoL 23, No. 8, 1996 Currently the situation of Zoo Peru Inc. in Iquitos is that we shall soon have our non-profit status in Peru, and will be submitting a proposal to take control of the Quistococha Zoo to the regional government. Until this can be accomplished, animals will continue to be poached off zoo property and confiscated animals will continue to come in. It is the aim of Zoo Peru, Inc. upon obtaining control of the zoo and the grounds that it is situated on, to make the Quistococha Zoo one of the most powerful conservational and educational tools within South America. The road so far has not always been easy and at times it feels like you are going in reverse, but the chance of success through a team effort certainly outweighs any thoughts of failure. Our thanks go out again to all of those groups and individuals who have supported this project either financially, morally or through material assistance over the past two years. It is thanks to you people, and you alone, that the Quistococha Zoo has now come this far. Anyone reading this article who would like more information on the Quistococha Zoo, please do not hesitate in reaching me at the following address: A.Taggart, Loreto 680, Iquitos, Peru; Fax: 51- 94 - 24 -1389. Sulawesi Fruit Sat T-Shirts Available A T-shirt with a Styloctenium wallacei in three colors on the front and the words “Sulawesi Fruit Bat Conservation Project” in English and Indonesian surrounding the bat has been produced to assist in fudning the study of human predation on fruit bat populations in Sulawesi. Scott and Kirsty Zahnke-Heinrichs are the researchers on this project. Shirts are 100% cotton in preshrunk sizes S, M, L, and XL. They are $12 plus $3 s&h. To order, send quantity desired, sizes, and a check or money order (U.S. funds only, please) made payable to Scott and Kristy Zahnke-Heinrichs at the following address: 5721 W. Higgins, Chicago, IL 60630. If you hjave questions, their telephone/fax is (312) 685-5747 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 8, 1996 471 Chapter Alews ^otes Rio Grande AAZK Chapter Hello from the High Mesa. We of the Rio Grande AAZK Chapter figured it was time to let you know that we exist and that we’re doing well. In our first four months we have established ourselves with 14 members (a small but enthusiastic group), had a Keeper Information Table at the zoo’s Earth Day festivities - which included a “Meet the Keeper” sign and samples of animal feed (very popular, by the way), and sold flowers at the zoo on Mother’s Day as a fundraiser. We gained acknowledgment and support from our administration with whom we are working closely. They have added to our experience by providing continuing education and by increasing our involvement in the growth and development of our biological park. For the future we are discussing possible fundraisers (isn’t everyone?); improvements we can help with around the zoo such as enrichment items; acquisition of books to increase our libraries in each animal area; and our role in assisting the Albuquerque Biological Park, which includes our zoo, in hosting the 1997 National AZA conference (Hope to see you there!). If anyone has any advice or ideas for fledgling Chapters, please write to be care of the Albuquerque Biological Park, 903 Tenth St., S.W., Albuquerque, NM 87102. We are also pleased to unveil our Chapter logo which was designed by Chapter members Gregg and Stacey Sekscienski. — Bill Pentler, Sr. Keeper / Mammals and Rio Grande Chapter Liaison Greater Baltimore AAZK Chapter In May we were lucky enough to have Andy Lodge speak at the Baltimore Zoo. We passed the hat and collected a j good donation for Andy. He also did a : brisk business in selling T-shirts, coffee ! mugs and books. His talk was excellent ^ and everyone really looked forward to ^ our Bowling for Rhinos event which | was held on 9 July. j Our Chapter offered a $500.00 grant to any department in the zoo that gave us a proposal for improving their area. We received three proposals and decided to | split the money evenly between two of them. The recipients were the Mammal Dept, for a ! wheelbarrow to use in the farmyard area of the Maryland Wilderness, and to a joint proposal by Horticulture, Maintenance, and the Bird Dept, for Biologs® to use aroimd the farm pond AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOO KEEPERS ry>f > RIO CRANDE CHAPTER 4,12 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 to prevent erosion. We hope to do this again next year and to have more proposals from the departments. — Rick Jones, Chapter Liaison Topeka AAZK Chapter Hello from Topeka! Our Bowling for Rhinos event was a big success. We were able to raise $881.75 due to the hard work of Jennifer Agee, Warren Waters, and all the other volunteers who helped round up prizes. We are looking forward to next year. The Chapter has experienced a recent change in its officers. We would like to wish Darrell Agee good luck at his new job at the Kansas City Zoo. With his resignation, Warren Waters became the Chapter’s new President and Dina Signorelli has been appointed to fill the position of Vice-president, formerly held by Warren. The Chapter would also like to extend its best wishes to Max and to Barb Grisham. Max is Kansas’ first gorilla that was recently transferred to the Santa Barbara Zoo where Barb is his keeper. We hope Barb enjoyed her stay at the Holidome of Topeka (courtesy of the Topeka AAZK Chapter) and can someday get Max to go out on exhibit without keeping his foot in the door! — Michael Davis, Chapter Liaison San Diego Zoo AAZK Chapter It’s already summer and how this year has fiown by. Our Bowling for Rhinos fundraiser was a huge success. We raised over $7,000.00. A big thanks goes out to the Los Angeles Zoo and their AAZK Chapter for joining us to raise over $2,000.00. We also want to thank Tony and Julie Nichols for organizing the raffle (which was outstanding), and Ann Dahl and Ron Ringer for organizing the event. Without donations and volunteers we would not have much to celebrate about, so of course our appreciation goes out to them as well. Our new officers for 1996 are: President Nicki Boyd Vice President Trisha Glow Treasurer..... Vickie Steele Secretary..... Joann Haddad Our newest Board Member is Janet Spevak. Our membership has been maintained thanks to our newsletter The Keeper, and we want to thank everyone for their support. Our latest edition should be printed by the time this is in the next AKF. We recently moved to a new printer so we apologize for the delay. Our local Chapter has been treated to many wonderful speakers this year and we want to thank Nancy Caine, Ph.D. for her talk on Lessons Learned from the Natural History of Marmosets and Tamarins; and Diane Ledder and Jackie Ogden, Ph.D., both from the Zoological Society of San Diego, for their talk on the Guyana Project currently underway. We hope everyone has a great summer. — Nicki Boyd, Chapter President Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 8, 1996 473 Institutions wishing to advertise employment opportunities are asked to send pertinent data by the 10th of each month to: Opportunity Knocks /AKF, 635 S.W. Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606-2066. Please include closing date for positions available and when setting these dates keep in mind that because of bulk-mail, most readers do not receive the AKF until the middle of the month or later. There is no charge for this service and phone- in or fax listings of positions which become available close to deadline are accepted. Our phone is 1-800-242-4519 (US.); 1-800-468-1966 (Canada). Our FAX is (913) 273-1980. ELEPHANT PROGRAM SUPERVISORIKnoxville Zoological Garden... requires experience working with elephants in a free contact system, excellent personnel management and communication skills. Knoxville will be establishing a program of protected contact from an existing free contact system over the next several years. Currently holding 1.3 African elephants, Knoxville has plans for a new facility in the masterplan. The program supervisor will oversee and coordinate animal operant conditioning, bam management, and personnel development. Will be expected to attend meetings pertinent to the profession and be staff representative for the Elephant SSP. Excellent benefits package, salary commensurate with experience. Interested parties should send resume and references to: Becky Hargis, Mammal Curator, Knoxville Zoo, P.O. Box 6040, Knoxville, TN 37914, Phone: (423) 637-5331, ext. 321. BIRD KEEPER WA/VT'£D...with wide experience in softbills, gamebirds, cranes, etc. Experienced in developing diets, disease control, record keeping, ARKS & SPARKS desirable. Willing to undertake studbook management. Residence provided. Written contact is faster at our US facilities down the road: David Hancock, 1431 Harrison Ave., Blaine, WA 98230; 1-800-938-1114; Fax 800-983-2262. ZOOKEEPER /...the North Carolina Zoological Park is accepting resumes from keepers ! for anticipated openings in the Afncan section of the zoo. For one position, experience j with birds and herps is preferred, but the incumbent will work with a variety of mammals i as well. The other position involves working with giraffe, zebra, warthog, ostrich, chimps, j lions and baboons. A degree in a biological science, as well as experience at an accredited ! zoo are preferred. Starting salary is $16,760, increasing to $17,597 upon satisfactory j completion of probation, plus benefits. Send resume and cover letter by 30 August i 1996 to: Human Resources, North Carolina Zoological Park, 440 1 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, j NC 27203, Attention: Zookeeper I; Fax (910) 879-2891. I ZOO KEEPERS WANTED,„\Aon Country Safari, Inc. in West Palm Beach, FL is currently seeking two (2) experienced Zoo Keepers. Preference will be given to those i with a degree in biological sciences and experience in a recognized zoological facility. We ! are also prepared to train candidates with a minimum high school education and experience in a related field. Experience with birds and/or reptiles would be an asset. , Lion Country Safari offers an excellent benefit package and salary commensurate with education and experience. Please send resume, including three (3) references and social ; security number to: Ms. Cathy Toomey, Personnel manager. Lion Country Safari, Inc., P.O. Box 16066, West Palm Beach, FL 33416-6066. ZOO DIRECTOR. ..responsihle supervisory and administrative work in directly all ' activities of the Capron Park Zoo under the policy direction of the Park Commission and under the administrative direction of the Mayor. Performs highly responsible duties requiring the exercise of considerable independent judgment in planing projects and , activities for the zoo. Acts as technical advisor to the Park Commission recommending policies and procedures for the zoo. Directs the operations and activities of the zoo and rain forest; directs the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance of the zoo. Bachelor’s degree in zoology, animal science or biology. Master’s degree preferred; 474 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 five years of experience in a zoological facility, at least two of which have been in a supervisory capacity; or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Extensive knowledge of objectives, principles and methods, techniques of modem zoo administration, and of the function, design, operation and maintenance of zoo facilities. Mail or fax resume (Fax# 508-222-3046) or apply to the City of Attleboro Personnel Dept., 77 Park St., Attleboro, MA 02703. Position open until filled. KEEPER,,,reamres a degree and one year of experience with captive exotic animals. Two or more years of experience may substitute for the degree. Responsibilities include all aspects of daily animal care, routine exhibit maintenance and public education. Two positions are available: Bird Keeper and Open Relief Keeper. To apply send cover letter and resume to: Human Resources, The Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 West Girard Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19104. ANIMAL CARE SPECIALIST SUPERVISOR...Reauires two years of college level course work, two years experience in the care, handling, training of wild/exotic animals. Excellent presentation skills and experience with outreach or educational programs. Must be an outgoing individual who is able to motivate/supervise others and work as a team member. Please send resume to: Human Resource Dept., Six Flags Magic Mountain, P.O. Box 5500, Valencia, CA 91386, Attn: Animal Care Specialist Supervisor or call (805) 255-4770 for more information. EOE. CHILDREN'S ZOO SUPERVISOR/Gladvs Porter Zoo...full-time, working position available for qualified applicants. Additional staff includes experienced nursery supervisor and two (2) keepers. Collection includes 75-plus animals consisting of small carnivores and primates, barnyard/petting area, nursery and birds. Prior keeper experience required; prior supervisory and/or educational experience preferred. Must be able to relocate and start as soon as possible. Salary in the mid-teens, plus benefits. Send resume to: Michelle Willette Frahm, D.V.M., Gladys Porter Zoo, 500 Ringgold St., Brownsville,TX 78520 or fax to (210) 541-4940 or send by e-mail to vet@gpz.hiline.net. The following two (2) positions are available with S & R Productions, P,0, Box 4082, Las Vegas, NV 89127-0082, If interested submit resume and letter of interest to address given above. ANIMAL CARE COORDINATOR. ..Regwires degree in animal management related field, experience in the care/handling/training of wild/exotic animals, two years supervisory experience, and excellent oral/written/interpersonal skills. Responsible for daily animal care, observations, exhibit maintenance, staff supervision. ANIMAL CARE SPECIALIST SUPERVISOR.. .requires two years of college-level course work, two years experience in the care/handling/training of wild/exotic animals, excellent presentation skills, ability to motivate/supervise others and work as a team member. ANIMAL KEEPER...\iYeieT Biology or related 4-year degree, paid zookeeping or volunteer experience. Will care for a variety of species. Elephant experience desirable. Responsibilities include feeding, health maintenance, exhibit care, interaction with the public. Send resume to: Julia Parker, Animal Care Supervisor, Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens, 500 Ninos Dr., Santa Barbara, CA 93103. The following three (3) positions are available at the El Paso Zoo. Official City application due back by 4:00 p.m, on 4 October 1996. For all three positions contact: Kate Shaughnessy, City of El Paso Personnel Dept., 2 Civic Center Plaza, third floor, El Paso, TX 79901-1196. (915) 541-4085. Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 8, 1996 475 zoo DIRECTOR, ^veqniTes Bachelors in Business or Public Administration, Biological Sciences or related field, plus eight years of progressively responsible experience in zoo operation and administration, including four years as a second-level supervisor of animal care or other operational unit with medium-to-large staff Salary $50,424.00 to $80,158.00. ZOO DEPUTY DIRECTOR. ..requires DVM or VMD plus six years in the practice of veterinary medicine including four years of comprehensive and varied experience in exotic animal medicine and surgery, and two years in program administration and management. Salary $47,506.00 to $75,481.00. ZOO VETERINARIAN. ..requires DVM or VMD plus three years experience in the practice of veterinary medicine, including two years of comprehensive and varied experience in exotic animal medicine and surgery. Salary $38,434.00 to $52,539.00. ELEPHANT KEEPER,, .requires high school diploma and at least one year’s paid experience in the care/maintenance of elephants. Must possess interpersonal skills, accept direction and work as a team member in a free contact (females) and protected contact (males) elephant program. Salary range $1,300,00 to $1,507.00 monthly with excellent benefits. Position closes Friday, 13 September 1996. Please submit resume to: Human Resource Dept., City of Fort Worth, 1000 Throckmorton - Lower Level, Fort Worth, TX 76102. Attn: Wanda Smallwood. Information Please Work on a supplement to the 1994/1995 North American River Otter Husbandry Notebook is currently underway. I am looking for information in the following areas: enrichment, common health problems, bladder and uteran infections in females, normal blood values and hormone levels, target training, detailed diet analysis, and exhibit design, particularly problem areas. Your information could help solve someone else’s problem! Please send as much detail as possible to: Jan Reed-Smith, John Ball Zoo, 1300 W. Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI (49504-4301) or e- mail -jrsotterCg) aol.com. We currently house 0.1.1 rheas {Rhea americana). They have laid over one dozen eggs. The rhea that is unsexed is very aggressive. We would appreciate any information on them, such as their behavior, how to sex them, their gestation, has anyone had successful hatchings, were the eggs separated, were the parents separated, diet, and enrichment. Anything would be helpful! Please send information to: Suzanne Smith, ZooQuarium, 674 Rt. 28, W. Yarmouth, MA 02673 or call (508) 775-8883. 476 Animal Keepers' Forum, VoL 23, No. 8, 1996 AAZK Membership Application check here if renewal [ ] Name _ Address City State/Province Zip U.S. Members Canadian Members □ $30.00 Professional Full-time Keepers □ $35.00 Professional Full-time Keepers □ $25.00 Affiliate Other staff & volunteers □ $30.00 Affiliate Other staff & volunteers □ $25.00 Associate Those not connected with an animal facility □ $30.00 Associate Those not connected with an animal facility □ $50.00 or up - Individuals Contributing/U.S. □ $55 or up - Individuals Contributing/Canada □ $75.00 or up Institutional/U, S. Organizations 1 Institutions (requires Board approval) 1 ^ $75.00 or up Institutional/Canada Organizations i Institutions (requires Board approval) n International Members n. Librarv Onlv $40.00 International All members outside US. & Canada regardless of category " 25.00 Library Available only to public & university libraries Zoo Affiliation (if any) Zoo Address ______ Title Work Area □ My check is enclosed (AAZK, Inc.) □ Please charge my credit card MASTERCAaD Name on card - VISA Card # -Expiration date Signature Mail this application to: AAZK Administrative Offices, Topeka Zoo, 635 S. W. Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606-2066. Make checks/money orders payable to AAZK, Inc. Must be in U.S. FUNDS ONLY. Membership includes a subscription to Animal Keepers' Forum. The membership card is good for free admission to many zoos and aquariuiris in the U.S. and Canada. PRINTED IN U.S. A © 1996 AAZK, INC. '‘Dedicated to Professional Animal Care Hi ^ •£1. ^ :rr o r- rT £i »X« "5 Hl. 1^.4 o ■“ • •<■. 9- o ja ►-»- ir:? n o !ii. ro -o CM •C-* 0‘ 3- 03 .-j ANIMAL KEEPERS^ FORUM. 635 S.W. Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606-2066 September 1996 Phone: 1-800-242-4519 (U.S.) 1-800-468-1966 (Canada) FAX 913-273-1980 V 1 XT Managing Editor: Susan Chan • Associate Editors/Enrichment Options VOl. Zj, JNO. o Coordinators: Kayla Grams, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum & Gretchen Ziegler, Sequoia Paik Zoo • Book Review Coordinator: Andrea Bemee, Chaffee Zoological Garden • Legislative Outlook Column Coordinator: Georgann B. Johnston, Sacramento, CA. • Editorial/Office Assistant: Jeremy Gum Animal Keepers’ Forum (ISSN 0164-9531) is a monthly journal of the American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. Ten dollars of each membership fee goes toward the annual publication costs of Animal Keepers’ Forum . Third Class postage paid at Topeka, KS. Postmaster - Please send address changes to: American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc., Administrative Offices, 635 S.W. Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606-2066 - attn: Barbara Manspeaker, Administrative Secretary AAZK Pir?gtQr; Ed Hansen, AAZK, Inc., Topeka KS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ric Urban, Houston Zoological Garden, Houston, TX 77030 Diane Callaway, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, NE 68107-2200 Janet McCoy, Metro Washington Park Zoo, Pordand, OR 97221-2799 Marilyn Cole, Box 335, Pickering, Ontario, Canada LIV 2R6 Lucy Segerson, North Carolina Zoological Park, Asheboro, NC 27203-9416 David Luce, Chaffee Zoological Gardens of Fresno, Fresno, CA 93728-2891 Michael Illig, Metro Washington Park Zoo, Pordand, OR 97221-2799 COMMITTEES N9mi,natiQns& Elections Chair - Sheri Leavitt, Houston Zoo Conservation. Preservation & Restoration Chair - Brett Sellers, Metro Washington Park Zoo Annual Conferences Coordinator - Ed Hansen, AAZK, Inc. Awards Chair - Janet McCoy, Metro Washington Park Zoo Exhibit Posign Resource Notebook Michael Demlong, The Phoenix Zoo AAZK Inspection Standards Manual — Vacancy MEMBERSHIP SERVICES LLNJK.,..CQ0rdihatQr Mark de Denus, Assiniboine Park Zoo Asst. L.I.N.K. Coordinator Wayne Hazlett, Milwaukee County Zoo Zoo University List Mike Illig, Metro Washington Park Zoo AAZK Historian Mark Levin, Philadelphia Zoo Enrichment Committee Dianna Frisch, Columbus Zoo International Outreach - Jeanette Beranger, Roger Williams Park Zoo (Chair/Coordinator Technical Assistance); Lesa Scheifele, Norwich, CT (International Affairs); Lois Johannes, L. A. Zoo (Foreign Member Sponsorship Program); Kathy Kelly, National Zoo - Project M.A.R.C. (Making A Realistic Contribution) Elephant Managers Association Liaison Dinah Wilson, Marine World Africa USA CAZPA Liaison Oliver Claffey, Metro Toronto Zoo Int’l Marine Mammals Trainers Association Dave Force, Sea World of California AAZK PUBLICATIONS - CONTINUING DATA COLLECTION Zoo Infant Development Project - Teri Maas-Anger/Maggie Liguori, Philadelphia Zoo (Birds/Nonpasserines); Jennifer Hackshaw, Lowry Park Zoo and Suzanne Chacon, Costa Rica (Birds/passerines); Jeanne Stevens, Newark Museum Mini-Zoo (Reptiles); Linelle Lone, Denver Zoo (Amphibians) Diet NotebooL Mammals. Vol. II - Susan Bunn Spencer, Rockford, MI Incubation Notebook Project - Scott Tidmus, Sedgewick County Zoo, Wichita, KS Exhibit Dresign Resource Notebook - Mike Demlong, The Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix, AZ PRESIDENTIAL APyigORg/LIAISONS AZA Liai?ou Janet McCoy, Metro Washington Park Zoo Patty Pearthree, Indianapolis, IN Zoo Registrars Association Terry Fisher, San Antonio Zoo By-laws Jeffrey Phillips, North Carolina Zoo Ethip? Janet McCoy, Metro Washingto Park Zoo Rp?p,arg,h/Grant? Diane Callaway, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo Marketing Resources David Luce, Chaffee Zoological of Fresno AAZK. c.hap.tpr Logo Product? Jay Christie, Cohanzick Zoo, Bridgeton, NJ Animal Data Transfer Form Bemie Feldman, Burnet Park Zoo Keeper AgfiQmniQdfltifin? Li$t Todd Cleveland, Denver Zoo Staff.E.xch.aDge. Dale Frerking, Kansas City Zoo AAZK Training. Materials Adrienne Whitley, Burnet Park Zoo President Vice President Immediate Past President o printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based ink products ^ ^able of Contents About the Cover/Information for Contributors 478 Scoops & Scuttlebutt 479 Coming Events 480 Message from the President 481 ABC's Column: Elephants 482 - 485 AAZK Announces New Professional/Contributing Members 486 My Plans for the Future (Anna Merz) 488 - 490 Captive Breeding For Macaw Conservation in Costa Rica 491 - 493 Chapter News Notes 494-496 Legislative Update 497 - 500 Conditioning Unrestrained Black Rhinoceros for Venipuncture 501 - 507 Information Please 507 Enrichment Options (Bears/Shy Primates) 508 - 509 Book Reviews (Self-assessment Color Review of Reptiles and Amphibians; Our Living Resources: A Report to the Nation on the Distribution, Abundance and Health of US. Plants, Animals, and Ecosystems; and Arena Birds - Sexual Selection and Behavior) 510 - 512 Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Answers for the Curious 513 AAZK Publications Available 514 Opportunity Knocks 515 - 516 Conference ‘96 - Hints & Reminders/Deadlines/Schedule of Events/ Conference Registration Form TAN INSERT /Ibout the Cover..... This month's cover features the Asian Lion (Panthera leo persica). This species is rare in captivity and exists primarily as a population of several hundred in the Gir Forest (Kathaiwar, India), a protected area. It remains endangered however, because the Gir Forest was until recently overgrazed by domestic cattle and the lions could find very little wild prey themselves. Currently the Indian government is moving villages out of the Gir Forest, and grazing has been reduced and is now more controlled. The cover was drawn by Ric Urban, a keeper in the Aviculture Dept, at the Houston Zoo and current AAZK President. Thanks, Ric! Information for Contributors Animal Keepers ’ Forum publishes original papers and news items of interest to the animal keeping profession. Non-members are welcome to submit articles for consideration. Articles should be typed or hand-printed and double- spaced. Articles may be submitted on disk by arrangement with the Editor. All illustrations, graphs, charts and tables should be clearly marked, in final form and should fit in a page size no greater than 5.5” x 8.5” (14cm x 22cm). Literature used should be cited in the text (Brown, 1986) and alphabetically in the final bibliography. Avoid footnotes. Include scientific name (as per ISIS) the first time an animal name is used. Thereafter use common name. Use metric system for weights and measurements (standard equivalents may be noted in parenthesis). Use the continental dating system (day-month-year). Times should be listed as per the 24-hour clock (0800, 1630 hrs. etc.). Glossy finish black and white photos only are accepted. Color slides should be converted to black and white prints (minimum size 3” x 5” [8cm x 14cm] ) before submission. Clearly marked captions should accompany photos. Please list photo credit on back of photo. 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 and FAX contributions of late-breaking news or last-minute insertions are accepted as space allows. However, long articles must be sent by U.S. mail. Phone 1-800-242-4519 (US); 1-800-468-1966 (Canada); FAX (913) 273-1980. Deadline for each regular issue is the 10th 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. Reprints of material appearing in this journal may be ordered from the editor. Back issues are available for $3.00 each. 478 Animal Keepers* Forum, Vol. 23, No. 8, 1996 Scoops <£. Scuttlebutt ^ Board Election Upcoming Are you thinking “What can I do for AAZK?”. Why not become more active in AAZK by becoming a Board member or nominate some one else to run for a Board position. There will be three positions open - those held by Ric Urban (Houston Zoo), and Janet McCoy and Michael Illig (Metro Washington Park Zoo) whose terms will expire at the close of the 1997 National Conference in Houston. New Board Members will serve four-year terms from the close of the 1997 National conference until the conclusion of the 2001 National Conference. Election information and Nomination Forms appeared in the July 1996 issue of AKF and will be published again in the November 1996 issue. AAZK NEC Position Open There is a position available on the Nominations and Elections committee. Any AAZK member continuing “in good standing’' who wishes to fill this vacancy is eligible. A committee member is responsible for assisting the Chair in coordinating the election process of the AAZK Board of Directors and the President and Vice-President. Must have good reporting skills and computer literacy is helpful. If interested, send resume or for more information contact Sheri Leavitt, NEC Chair, Houston Zoological Gardens, Children’s Zoo, 1513 N. MacGregor Way, Houston, TX 77030. Thanks Go Out to the Columbus Zoo For the second consecutive year the Columbus Zoo has graciously provided underwriting for the printing of the 1996 Animal Data Transfer Forms (ADT). The AAZK Board of Directors, the AAZK staff and membership wish to express their sincere appreciation for this assistance on a project which is both useful and important to the entire zoological community. The utilization of the ADT Forms assures that vital information on an animal, its health, diet, breeding history, etc. is passed along to its new institution and staff when the animal is shipped. The ADT Form had its beginnings in 1978 and thousands of forms have been used since its inception. Forms are provided free of charge to zoological institutions as a professional service of AAZK, Inc. AAZK also wishes to thank member Beth Pohl who has been instrumental in securing this funding for the project. Anyone interested in obtaining a supply of ADT Forms should contact: Bemie Feldman at the Burnet Park Zoo, 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse, NY 13204. Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol 23, No. 9, 1996 479 Coining Events 12th Annual International ChimpanZoo Conference - Communication and Respect: A New Perspective of Hand Rearing Chimpanzees - September 28 - October 2, 1996, hosted by the Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, KS. Opening address to be given by Dr. Terry Maple, Director Zoo Atlanta. Feature speakers to include: Doctors Jane Goodall, Kim Bard of Yerkes and Aleccia A. Lilly of LABS. Workshops will include: a new perspective for hand-rearing chimpanzees and primates without moms. For more information contact: Dr. Virginia Landau, Director of ChimpanZoo (520) 621-4785, 800 E. University Blvd., RM 308, Tucson, AZ 85721. Second Annual Red Panda SSP Keeper Training Workshop - October 4-6, 1996 at Knoxville Zoological Gardens, Knoxville, TN. For further information and registration materials, contact Greta McMillan, Conservation Research Curator, P. O. Box 6040, Knoxville, TN 37914 - (423) 637-5331 ext. 380, fax (423) 637-1943, e-mail: knoxzoo@utkux.utk.edu Association of Zoological Horticulture International Conference - October 4-12, 1996 in Greensboro, NC. For further information contact: Virginia Wall, North Carolina Zoological Park, 4401 Zoo Pkwy, Asheboro, NC 27203; (910) 879-7400. Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians 16th Annual Conference - October 29 - November 1, 1996 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Will include sessions on reptile, avian, primate, exotic hoofstock and aquatic medicine, immobilization, hematology, clinical pathology, hospital techniques and case reports. There will also be a wet- lab. For more information contact: Jenni Jenkins, LVT, National Aquarium at Baltimore (410) 659-4256; fax (410) 576-1080. For membership information contact Lisa Kolbach, LVT at White Oak Conservation Center at (904) 225-3396. 17th Annual Elephant Managers Workshop - January 24-27, 1997 in Jacksonville, FL. Hosted by Jacksonville Zoological Gardens. For further information, contact: Steven M. Wing, Curator of Mammals, Jackson vile Zoological Gardens, 8605 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218 (904) 757-4463 or (904) 757- 4315 [fax]. 480 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 9, 1996 /Message Jrom the Piresident Greetings from the Lone Star State! Conference time is upon us. In a few weeks we will be gathering in Michigan for the 1996 AAZK National Conference. The folks in Detroit are making those last minute preparations for a wonderful conference. Conferences are one of the most effective ways in our profession to communicate and exchange information. Much of the information is never printed or formally presented. It is exchanged during small group discussions and workshops. The face-to-face meetings are what make conferences unique and so important. In Detroit delegates will have the opportunity to select the site of the 1999 AAZK National Conference. As Chapters, now is the time to make a bid to host the conference in your city. I won’t deceive you. It is a lot of hard work that in the long run will 5deld great dividends. For more information contact Ed Hansen. Nominations are being accepted for the 1997 Board of Directors elections. Take a moment and look at the duties and responsibilities of the Board. Talk to current or former Board members and ask questions. This is a challenging position that will affect the direction of this Association. (Editor’s note: information on the election and nomination forms may he found in the July 1996 issue ofAKFor contact Administrative Offices in Topeka.) I am looking forward to seeing the delegates in Detroit. Watch for the Houston delegation. Ric Urban, President, AAZK, Inc. Houston, TX ATTENTION CHAPTERS As of publication deadline, I have not received any inquiries from Chapters in regards to hosting the 1998 Annual Conference. Conferences are vital to the health of your Association. Any Chapter interested may contact me through the Administrative Offices for further details on the bid process. Ed Hansen, Executive Director Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol 23, No. 9, 1996 481 ABC ^ Animal Behavior Concerns & Solutions A Question and Answer Forum for the Zoo Professional Diana Guerrero Independent Dehavior Consultant, Ark Animals of California, San Die^o, CA BEHAVIOR EVALUATION: Elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) Zoo, Elephant Department QUESTION: Our facility has converted over to a Protected Contact Management system with our elephants. Recently there has been increased aggression in the herd. Both humans and elephants are involved. A predominant amoimt centers around one female. What kind of suggestions do you have? BACKGROUND: The conversion to “protected” contact from “free contact” at this facility has involved shifting of animals, staff members, management, and design. In essence, there is still a state of instability in the department. Over the past two years there has been a constant change in personnel and the herd dynamics appear to be influenced by the changes. Demands for husbandry work, exhibit maintenance, show performance, and training have escalated and staff is constantly challenged to meet the daily scheduled workload requirements. “Always rushed” would be a good description. The facility allows for the animals to be separated in the bam as well as in several other areas. Separation can be done but behavior breaks down under slight stress scenarios. The main animal involved may only be worked by certain individuals and has been restricted from other training procedures due to her aggression. PROBLEM: One animal has progressively become more aggressive toward keeper staff At first, one person seemed to be the target but it has progressed to injury of another. This animal also experiences aggression from other herd members and is often displaced and has been cmshed against exhibit barriers and hit or kicked by other herd members. Other repercussions include breakdown of behaviors such as routine stationing, screaming, and stress overload (nonresponsive). 482 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 9, 1996 ANIMAL PROFILE: The animal who is aggressing towards keeper staff and who is being aggressed on by other herd members is a hypersensitive individual (see Elephant Manager’s Journal, Fall 1995 Issue for social style descriptions). She has a bond with another herd member and seeks reassurance from that individual. When stressed (Often), she will break station, scream, or not respond to commands. She has also engaged in stalking behavior, displacement of aggression, overt aggression, and has been displaced or crushed into exhibit barriers by her conspecifics. OTHER NOTATIONS: Further background seems to support the fear/avoidance reaction based on experiences which include: aggressive behavior from conspecifics; low rank in herd; inconsistency in handling and training criteria; aversive reaction to negative voice commands and raised tones; frustration or confusion in training scenarios. In addition, the animal may have learned to choose to aggress in order to terminate interactions with certain humans. PROBLEM BREAKDOWN: Behavior can be broken down into inconsistencies in handling, aversion to aversive keeper staff, lack of desensitization, lack of confidence in handlers and in social status, fear/overt aggression, stress related behavior. APPROACHES: This particular scenario has escalated into one that needs to be addressed immediately. Ideally it would have been corrected in the early stages. The animal needs more training work and activity to overcome the problem. This should be done in slow, small, systematic steps with lots of encouragement, and even tones of voice. Time allocation needs to be made so this animal is not rushed and sessions are completed successfully. All sessions should begin and end positively and be kept short. Each session should be delineated clearly between staff before training commences. The routine prevents extensive training to be done due to a shortage of keeper staff and extremely heavy demands on the area. Recommend that two individuals be assigned to work with this animal through the problematic time until new behaviors can be introduced. ACTION OPTIONS: The following suggestions are recommendations towards solving the problems: a) Assign specific trainers to animal b) Eliminate aversive tones and raised voices Animal Keepers' Forum, VoL 23, No 9, 1996 483 c) Work animal with slow clear steps delineated before any session transpires d) Work with intermittent reinforcement e) Increase verbal encouragement f) Maintain consistency in established behaviors g) Introduce new simple behaviors h) Work sessions for desensitization (and only desensitization not other behaviors) i) Maintain station control of all animals prior to any movement or training j) Introduce variables in stationing behavior for desensitization k) Anticipate problematic scenarios before they transpire and avoid setting up possible stress situations between animals BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACTION STEPS: Initially stick to regular routine and prioritize work with this individual. Perhaps management should look into hiring training staff since work overload prevents faster progress from being made. Job description does not appear to have training or show responsibilities listed and it appears that other departments at the institution have specific training/show personnel. At Einy rate, two individuals with different days off and overlap work days should team train for consistency and faster initial progress. Training should be consistent and focus on “short & sweet” frequent sessions. Behavior criteria should be sharpened and when the animal makes a mistake or hesitates, a calm and even tone of voice should be used. If the animal refuses to respond either take a short time-out and try another behavior or ask for a simple behavior to obtain success and begin again. No repetition should be done on a behavior that has been exhibited successfully and to proper criteria — ask once and move on. The individual does behaviors well when asked, so nuances or variations can be taught without too much additional stress. Small new behaviors could be introduced after a week or two of consistent performance. Training criteria should be on intermittent reinforcement. Bonus reinforcement should only be used when animal exhibits high criteria of behavior, or when responding in the next level of distraction (in desensitization work). Initially, simple behaviors or husbandry behaviors would be the best to work on in higher levels of distraction. Bonus those first successes heavily and end the session. When shifting or preparing for training sessions be sure to place animals in areas where displacement activity will not be easy to exert. For example, do not place a higher ranked animal between the enclosure to be worked and the female you are trying to stabilize. If she refuses to pass the dominant animal you sabotage the effort. Also make sure all animals are stationed before you attempt to move any. 484 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol. 23, No. 9, 1996 Eventually variations in the release should be attempted. Once desensitization in a new area is successful and the animal is performing well with few breakdowns in behavior you can start variations. For instance, three animals can be released while two remain in the bam (bonded pair with hypersensitive female). Also the reverse, two animals released (bonded pair with h3rpersensitive female) then the other three, and other small variations. The facility has the design to do this and if this desensitization work is done it will increase stability in other stress scenarios and with the other herd members. Please note: Extinguishing the aggression is possible but due to various skill levels and variables that is beyond the scope of this column. On-site consultations are available should you require that type of assistance. Next month: Nursery Behavior - Felids (About the Author: Since 1978 Diana has been active both in the U S. and England working with zoos, private collections, an oceanarium, a marine aquarium, and other animal-related organizations involving captive wildlife. She has a broad base of animal experience involving movie & television training, zookeeping, show performances with live animals, education, behavior management, modification and enrichment, rescue and rehabilitation as well as captive breeding and management of endangered species. She currently works as an Animal Behavior Consultant and Trainer for Ark Animals of California working with both exotic and domestic animals. She has authored numerous articles on animal behavior and training. If you have questions for Diana, you may contact her at 1-800-818-7387 or visit her Home Page at http: // www.ni.net / brookhouse. com) 9 out of 10 Snakes Prefere frozen, because they never bite & are easy to catch. Freshly Frozen Mice & Rats CPV-O’VAC Packaging Flash Freezes & Sucks out oxygen. Extends shelf life from 6- 12 months to years. NO EXTRA CHARGE. ZERO CHANCE OF FREEZERBURN! PONT RISK GIVING YOUR SNAKE TAPE WORM. TICKS. MITES OR OTHER PARASITES. FEED FROZEN MICE & RATS BECASUSE FREEZING KILLS PARASITES DEAD! • Pinkys, Fuzzys Hoppers & Adults always available. • Door to door next day air, same rate 48 states • Guaranteed Dead Arrival • Quantity Discounts, Minimum order 100 mice or 50 rats. Institutions: purchase order, net 30 days. Public, Visa, M/C or Check ALL PARASITES KILLED BV FREEZING • ’’DEADER IS BETTER” • VrEE PRICE LIST. Call Now ... Joe Brant 1 -800-GET-RATS 1-800-438-7287 Vitct -U-lf tct ™ 1-800-593-9267 Animal Keeners’ Forum, Vol. 23, No. 9, 1996 485 AAZK Announces New Professional & Contributing Members Joan Diebold, Franklin Park Zoo (MA); Matthew J. Schwoebel, Baltimore Zoo (MD); Carolyn Massicott, Stone Mountain Park Wildlife (GA); Jeffrey A. Carter, Jacksonville Zoological Gardens (FL); Julie Reynolds, Discovery Island (FL); Mamie Gire, Randy Gire and Margo McKnight, Busch Gardens (FL); Kimberly Gail Bailey, Nashville Zoo (TN); Bonnie Jo Rogers and Sharon Tackett, Jackson Zoological Park (MS); Staci Goforth, Mesker Park Zoo (IN); Tina Starr, Sea World (OH); Nicola L. Livingston, Indianapolis Zoo (IN); Jeff Mitchell, John G. Shedd Aquarium (IL); Andrew Stadther and Michael Mihelich, Detroit Zoological Institute (MI); Jenny Kempken, Elizabeth A. Christmas, Beth Roszak, Tracey Dolphin, Laurie A. Talakowski, Patricia Lepianka, Patricia A. Forget, Earl Conteh-Morgan, Carol Deer, Claire Hubmann, and Jacqui Mundell- Wachowiak, Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens; Christopher Mascarella and Amy K, Maehler, Phillips Park Zoo (IL); Amy Hohulin, Miller Park Zoo (IL); Tom Weaver, Grand Island Heritage Zoo (NE); Peter Pruett, Tulsa Zoo (OK); Kathryn Fowler and Meaghan McCeig, Caldwell Zoo (TX); Christy Mann, Gladys Porter Zoo (TX); Carrie Heisler Hill, Hogle Zoo (UT); Eric D. Jones, Albuquerque Biological Park (NM); Steven Schenk, Tropicana Hotel (NV); Deborah Jones, Zoological Society of San Diego (CA); Jackie Buck, Valley Zoo (Edmonton, Alberta). Renewing Contributing Members John Seyjagat, Director, The Lubee Foundation, Inc., Gainesville, FL Charles H. Hoessle, Director, St. Louis Zoological Park, St. Louis, MO Marilyn R. Lemrow, Rancho San Diego, Spring Valley, CA John T. Hartley, Volunteer, Dallas Zoo, Dallas, TX THE GOURMET RODEN'T’' RATS AND MICE Bill & Marcia Brant 6115 SW 137th Avenue Archer, FL 32618 (352)495-9024 Fax (352) 495-9781 ^ © All Rights Reserved Need to Reach AAZK? 1-800-242-4519 (U.S.) 1-800-468-1966 (Canada) Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. CT FAX: (913) 273-1980 or write AAZK, Inc. 635 S.W. Gage Blvd. Topeka, KS 66606-2066 U.S.A. 486 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 23, No. 9, 1996 Quality exotic animal diets Nutritionally balanced Fixed formulation • Economical When you need a complete line of high-quality dry and frozen animal diets for your feeding program, call Animal Spectrum. SRASKA BRA S i Frozen feline diets Frozen bird of prey diets Frozen canine diet Chunk and chopped horsemeat, hearts, livers, rib, shank, knuckle bones, and tailbones SPECTRUM Banana flavored psittacine/primate, 20% protein dry Banana flavored primate. Pro-Plus 25% protein dry Leaf Eater primate dry Omnivore dry Marmoset/T amarin dry Polar Bear dry Ratite dry BROOD-RITE HEATERS Bulbless heaters— nothing to break Safe around all animals and bedding material. Even heat distribution in 240. 500, or 750 wattages. One call does it all 1-800-228-4005 FAX 308-534-7015 Animal Spectrum, Inc. P.O. Box 721 North Platte, NE 69103-0721 My Plans For The Future Anna Merz, founder and fatron N0are Serial fhino 5anctuary/Lewa Wildlife Coneervancy It is more than a year now since I realized, and first mentioned to Ian and Jane, that increasing age, arthritis and lack of agility, meant a re-thinking of my life style. Age and lack of agility I cannot do too much about but it does mean that watching rhinos on foot and many near misses with elephants are providing me with more excitements than even I appreciate. Arthritis I can do something about if I stop the main cause of my troubles which seems to be forty years of driving heavy 4 wheel drives over lamentable roads of Africa or virtual absence thereof So in March, having discussed the matter with Ian and Jane, I went down to South Africa with the idea of finding myself a little cottage on the coast to which I might retire. What actually happened was not at all what I anticipated. But it has made me very happy. I met Clive Walker, the South African rhino expert and internationally known wildlife artist and his wife Conita. Clive is Chairman of the Wilderness Trust and the Rhino and Elephant Foundation; he is also manager of the Lapalala Rhino Sanctuary. His wife Conita has, like me, raised a baby rhino and is now raising and rehabilitating a young hippo. Clive is also thinking of partial retirement and he put to me a proposition which I found quite irresistible — that I should join forces with him and help him to create a rhino museum. The more I thought about this and discussed it with Clive, the more sense it made. I would hopefully be doing something still for rhinos but more within my present physical capacities. I would also be living somewhere where the physical side of life is a lot easier, good roads and so on. Those of you who have visited with me here will understand me when I say that Lewa is truly beautiful and that life here is unendingly exciting and demanding. But, it is not quite the most suitable place to grow old in. So it seems to Clive, the Wilderness Trust and I that a museum, named for my beloved Sarnia, could be a major tool in creating awareness of rhinos, their lives, their evolutionary history, their zoology, their behavior, and their history in art and literature. Also included would be every aspect of the trade in horn which is their undoing. And not just the African rhinos but all three species of Asian rhino as well; the Indian, the Javan and the Sumatran would be featured. Clive is highly active in environmental education and the museum will be situated close to both the Lapalala Rhino Sanctuary and the Lapalala Wilderness School. It will be in 488 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol 23, No. 9, 1996 the center of an area three hours drive from Johannesburg. Both of us believe that its educational potential will be enormous and that we can make it into a potent tool for rhino protection and appreciation. Personally I feel that this is the best way in which I can perpetuate Sarnia’s memory and say thank you to her for eleven wonderful years of enjo3dng her love, trust and fiiendship and for the brief joy her baby gave me. Early this year my friend, the writer Cynthia Salvadori, edited and put onto a computer file all my black rhino observations taken over a period of thirteen years. This information is now with another South African rhino expert. Dr. Eugene Joubert of the University of Pretoria. I hope he may be able to bring some useful information about black rhino behavior out of it all because I have no idea how to analyze it, nor do I understand computers. Here on Lewa our work continues and progresses. At the end of February we had the great pleasure of welcoming the winners of the “1995 Bowling for Rhinos”, Katrina Osborne with her friend Jennifer and Ken Smith with his son Douglas. We had so many laughs and I do hope they enjoyed coming as much as I enjoyed them being here. The health care clinic built by Janet and Spencer Gelsthorpe and their team of volunteers from Guernsey is virtually finished and we owe both them, and the wonderful people in America who have sent supplies for it, a huge debt of gratitude. We hope it will be functional by August under the supervision of Dr. Marjorie Harmon. Our April rains virtually failed again but the female black rhino calf born to Juniper in January continues to make good progress. A female calf was also bom to the young white rhino cow Ntombele who came to us from Natal; this is also her first calf. If drought conditions continue we shall shortly have to supplement all lactating females with lucerne, some are already getting it. In May, tragedy stmck twice. The Chairman of our Board of Directors, Nigel Sandys-Lumedaine, lost his only son Nyles, in a car accident. Nyles was well known to all of us here and loved for his humor, his willingness to help with any project on hand and his enthusiasm. We extend to Nigel our sorrow and S5nnpathy and our appreciation for his life. On the night before my return from three weeks in Madagascar Shaba, the female black rhino well known to all my guests for her regular appearances near house, was killed by Kenu in the valley below. I mourn her loss; she also was my friend and this time there was no doubt, as with Sarnia, regarding Kenu’s guilt. He fought and killed her and to add to our sorrow she was virtually full term with a female calf, his. Why is he such a violent animal? I do not know. Rhinos differ as much in personality as do people and elephants. And life for Kenu has not been easy, he has no ears, only two holes in his head; again we don’t know why, hyenas or genetics are the most likely possibilities. But without protection, a lot of dirt may get into his ears and cause him pain and suffering. Also, when captured he was the sole survivor of a once large population Animal Keepers* Forum, Vol 23, No. 9, 1996 489 of rhinos; what effect has this had upon him? Again the answer is that I don’t know but it provides much food for thought, as when Jane Goodall found one of her chimps was a cannibal. But one thing is certain and that is Kenu is now a proven danger to his own species and thus last weekend the K.W.S. vet came up and darted him and he is now in one of our holding pens pending the K.W.S decision as to what to do with him. As some of you may remember last year I went on a rafting holiday to Madagascar and I have just been again, this time to go down the Mongoky River, another big river in the S.W. Before rafting we first visited two National Parks in the rain forest area in the east, Perinet and Ranomafana. At Perinet we once more both saw and heard the Indri, the largest of the surviving lemur, whose haunting song is of such breath taking beauty. In Ranomafana we saw three other lemur species and also a fossa, a small genet like carnivore, also many beautiful orchids and we were discovered by many not so beautiful but very hungry leeches. We followed this by a three day hike on the Isslo Massif, a spectacular area of deep narrow gorges, limestone pinnacles and amazing indigenous vegetation, not to mention gloriously elegant white sifaka lemurs. The Mongoky itself was wide, shallow and majestic, moving through a landscape of low mountains and dry forest. Several of our camp sites were visited by curious groups of lemurs who viewed us from aloft. The most enchanting were the ring tailed lemur with their huge fluffy tails. We finished up in an area called the Spiny Forest where there is the most bewildering array of vegetation wholly unique to Madagascar. To call it spiny is an understatement, but more amazing are the shapes into which these weird plants grow appearing to defy all norms of plant behavior. No less strange are some of the small creatures that live there, chameleons and such. So, as for the future I hope you will wish our museum enterprise well. I will most happily remain on the Lewa Board of Directors Euid hope to spend several months each year here and in particular I hope to come back and help host the winners of each year’s “Bowling for Rhinos” as they are always people I should hate to miss meeting. As from the end of the year I can be contacted at either the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy address or at RO.B. 157, Vaalwater, Transvaal, 0530 South Africa. (Editor's Note: As of this writing, Anna is scheduled to he in attendance at the 1996 AAZK National Conference in Detroit, ML We hope many of you will have the opportunity to meet this remarkable woman during the conference week and hear her update on the progress at the Sanctuary.) 490 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Vol 23, No. 9, 1996 Captive breeding For Macaw Conservation In Costa Rica By G. Suzanne Chacon, Avian Propagation Specialist, Amigos de las Aves, Costa Rica Amigos de las Aves is a Costa Rican, non-profit society dedicated to the conservation of the two endangered species of macaws endemic to Costa Rica. Founded by Margot and Richard Frisus in 1992, the facility concentrates on breeding the Great Green macaw {Ara ambigua) and the Scarlet macaw (Ara macao) for reintroduction into their native habitat. The Great Green or Buffon’s macaw was listed on Appendix 1 of Cities in 1991 Due to the rare sightings population numbers are hard to estimate, the most recent study indicates it may be as low as 30 breeding pair (Rivera 1996). Without implementing a conservation plan it is likely it will soon be extirpated from Costa Rica (Bjork & Powell 1995). The wild population has not increased due to continued deterioration in habitat, poaching and their naturally slow reproduction rate. Their movements are migratory and they require large tracts of broad-leaved forest. Unlike many other macaws, the captive populations of Buffon’s is very small. Numbers need to be increased to maintain a viable and self-sustaining population. Breeding success has been scattered and inconsistent in the United States and has been non-existent in Costa Rica. Unfortunately, in the United States, hybridizing has taken place with the Military macaw (Scientific name). The Scarlet macaws were once abundant throughout the Caribbean and Pacific lowlands (Stiles & Skutch 1989); they are now reduced to the Pacific slope, in three areas with between 400-600 total individuals (Abramson et. al 1995). Although bred in captivity in Costa Rica, the number of birds currently reproducing in individual collections is not likely to contain the genetic diversity for a wild flock to be established. In the United States hybridization between the three probable subspecies of Scarlets has occurred; in addition generations of captive bred birds are more likely to produce offspring which cannot adapt to native food sources. It is a dream of Margot and Richard Frisius to release flocks of Scarlet macaws and Great Green macaws hatched at their breeding facility into protected areas. That dream has quickly become an important conservation effort. After living in various places around the world, the couple settled in Costa Rica in 1980. Their 8.5 acre (3.4 hectare) estate, “Flor de Mayo”, in Rio Segundo de Alajuela was once the summer home of the famed 19th century botanist Sir Charles Lankester. Entrusted by the government of Costa Rica, many of their macaws were acquired from owners with guilty consciences who were unable to adequately care for their birds. In 1986 the Frisiuses were credited as the first aviculurist to breed macaws in Costa Rica. Since then, they have reared 70 Scarlet macaws and Blue and Gold macaws. To add genetic diversity to the breeding stock, chicks are traded for non-related adults. Their avian collection now consists of 76 macaws of various species. Their facility was expanded in 1994 by a donation which included the use of eight acres of land across the road. In an 24m x 9m (80’ x 30’) flight cage built on the new property, ten non-breeding Scarlet macaws were introduced as a flock to naturally pair off in the roomy Animal Keepers* Forum, Vol. 23, No. 9, 1996 491 aviary. After a year, the birds were moved to spacious, newly-built breeding cages. Currently, with help from a donation from Chiquita Bananas, more breeding cages are being built on the property to house seven pair of Buffon’s macaws. Another donation was used to build a well from which a mist system for the birds was installed and it is used for irrigation during the dry season. The land hosts an organic vegetable garden which helps to feed the birds. The bulk of the daily diet consists of rice, com, beans and locally grown fruits and vegetables. Supplements of protein items, imported nuts and commercially processed macaw food are offered when available. The author tending one of the macaw chicks hatched at Amigos de las Aves. This facility concentrates on the breeding of Great Green and Scarlet Macaws for release to the wild. (Photo provided by author) Veterinarians Adrienne Allison Otto and Matthew Bond have been health screening the birds to make an initial determination as to the suitability of the birds as breeders for the release program. Their studies indicate the captive flock may be good candidates from which to produce releasable birds (Otto & Bond). Possible “soft release” sites are available but the food sources on the land need to be studied prior to seeking government approval. The biological controversy continues for opponents for and against release but, unlike the release program, the necessity for captive breeding goes unquestioned. Small, isolated wild populations may need genetic diversity to recover and research can be conducted on the captive birds. Captive birds can be used for conservation education and be a focal point for ecotourism within the species’ natural range. With regulation, surplus birds produced in captivity could be sold to alleviate pressure on poaching wild birds for the pet trade. Like the Spix macaw (Scientific name), if we wait too long to establish captive populations we may see more animals dwindle away to critical levels. As our world tries to cope with 492 Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol 23, No. 9, 1996 human population pressure, people like Richard and Margot Frisius at Amigo de las Aves will need to be the caretakers of our shrinking wildlife; in hopes of one day returning it to the wild. Literature Cited Abramson, J; Speer, B.L.; and Thomsen, J.B(1995). The Large Macaws: Their Care, Breeding and Conservation. Fort Bragg, California: Raintree Publications. Bjork, R.; Powell, G.V.M. (1995). Buffon’s Macaw: Some Observations on the Costa Rican Population, it Lowland Forest Habitat and Conservation. In Abramson, J.; Speer, B.L.; and Thomsen, J.B: The Large Macaws: Their Care, Breeding and Conservation. Fort Bragg, California: Raintree Publications, 1995. pp.387-392. Rivera, S.R., (1996). La corroza tica sin una lapa. La Nacion, 25 Enero 1996. p 14A. Stiles, EG., Skutch, A.F. (1989) A Field Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press. Otto, A. A.; Bond, M. (1995) Screening Captive Macaws and Other Psittacines in Costa Rica: A First Step Towards Possible Reintroduciton. Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. 1995. pp. 115-120. For more information or if you would like to help, write to our courier service at: SJO 465, P. O. Box 25216, Miami, FL 33102-5216; Phone/Fax: (506) 441-2658; E-Mail: richmar@ticonet.co.cr. Special tours are available for Zookeepers Pictured above are some of the macaws used in the captive breeding program at Amigos de las Aves. (Photo provided by the author) Animal Keepers' Forum, Voi 28. No. 9, 1996 493 Greater Houston Chapter of AAZK Chapter ^ews piotes Great Lakes Regional Council Summer Conference Report The Great Lakes Regional Council of AAZK’s Summer Conference was held 17-18 July. The 17th was spent at the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend, IN and on the 18th, those attending spent the day at the Washington Park Zoo in Michigan City, IN. The Conference’s guest speaker was Peter Gros of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. Ten zoos from five states were represented with over 32 delegates in attendance. Topics discussed included the upcoming National AAZK Conference, the suspension of the Regional Coordinator system, the position of Regional Liaisons, the future of the Regional Council and plans for 1997 meetings. Those attending also had behind-the-scenes tours at both facilities, a barbecue dinner at Potawatomi Zoo, and a continental breakfast provided at the Potawatomi Zoo by Washington Park Zoo staff. Many delegates who camped out on the zoo groimds were imfortimately caught in overnight thunderstorms. Of the former RCs for the region, three of the five were in attendance. Members Dan Powell (Potawatomi) and Jan Weinig (Washington Park), with support from their respective Directors, put this conference together. Thanks go out to all departments at the facilities involved for their support and help with this highly successful and memorable Regional Council meeting. — submitted by Wayne J Hazlett, Assistant L.I.N.K Coordinator The GHCAAZKhas their 1996 Bowling for Rhinos T-shirts for sale. They are grey shirts with a red, white and black design of a rhino holding a bowling pin in its mouth