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July 2013 Volume 40 No. 7

Animal Behavior Institute

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ACCREDITED

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ABOUTTHE COVER 305

FROM THE PRESIDENT &

CEO/CFO 306-307

ISSUE SPONSOR 308

Smithsonian Nationai Zooiogicai Park & the
Nationai Capitai AAZK Chapter

COMING EVENTS 309

FEATURE ARTICLES
312-315

A Comparative Study of Visitor Perception
Between Naturai and Non-naturai Enrichment in
Two Different Primate Exhibits

316-317

The Successfui Mixing of Two Banded Mongo(^e
Coionies Using Vick's Vapor Rub®

TRAINING TALES 318-319

Muitipie Snakes, Muitipie Probiems

ENRICHMENT OPTIONS 320-325
Contra Freeioading at the Phoenix Zoo

BOWLING FOR RHINOS 326-327
Javan and Sumatran Rhinos: Fiagship
Species for Biodiversity Conservation

MY AAZK 328-329

2012 Orangutan SSP Fieid Trip

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MISSION STATEMENT

American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc.

The American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. exists to
advance exceiience in the animai keeping profession,
foster effective communication beneficial to animal care,
support deserving conservation projects, and promote
the preservation of our naturai resources and animal life.

ABOUT THE COVER

This month's cover comes to us from Mehgan Murphy of Smithsonian National
Zoological Park. The image is of their male lion Luke, and one of seven cubs
at the National Zoo which were born to two sisters, Shera and Nababiep, in
August and September of 2010. The three had come to the Zoo in 2006 from a
private reserve in South Africa with a specific recommendation to breed from the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP) for African lions.
Because the trio’s genes were not represented elsewhere in North America, they
were among the most genetically valuable lions in the country. Any offspring they
produced would play an important role in a sustainable captive population.

Lions are the second-largest felid and the only cat with a tufted tail and mane.
They stand three feet (one meter) tall at the shoulder and weigh 300 to 500 pounds
(136 to 227 kilograms). In Africa, lions still live in most countries south of the
Sahara Desert although East and southern Africa are home to the majority of the
continent’s lions. In West Africa, numbers have declined greatly and throughout
the continent, they are becoming increasingly rare outside protected areas.

Lions are the only social big cat, with prides of females and young accompanied
by one or more (usually two) adult males. In more arid areas where prey is less
common and more dispersed, pride sizes are lower. A single male or coalition of
males holds tenure over one or more prides, effectively excluding strange males
from siring cubs with pride females. Source: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/SCBI/
AZA/FeiidTAG/Species/Factsheets/iion.cfm

AMERICAN

ASSOCIATION
of ZOO KEEPERS

Articles sent to An/ma/ Keepers’ Forum will be reviewed by the editorial staff for publication.
Articles of a research or technical nature will be submitted to one or more of the zoo
professionals who serve as referees for AKF. No commitment is made to the author, but
an effort will be made to publish articles as soon as possible. Lengthy articles may be
separated into monthly installments at the discretion of the Editor. The Editor reserves
the right to edit material without consultation unless approval is requested in writing by
the author. Materials submitted will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped,
self-addressed, appropriately-sized envelope. Telephone, fax or e-mail contributions of
late-breaking news or last-minute insertions are accepted as space allows. Phone (330)
483-1104; FAX (330) 483-1444; e-mail is shane.good@aazk.org. If you have questions
about submission guidelines, please contact the Editor. Submission guidelines are also
found at: aazk.org/akf-submi.ssion-guidelines/.

Deadline for each regular issue is the 3rd of the preceding month. Dedicated issues may
have separate deadline dates and will be noted by the Editor.

Articles printed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the AKF staff or the American
Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. Publication does not indicate endorsement by the Association.

Items in this publication may be reprinted providing credit to this publication is given
and a copy of the reprinted material is forwarded to the Editor. If an article is shown to
be separately copyrighted by the author(s), then permission must be sought from the
author(s). Reprints of material appearing in this Journal may be ordered from the Editor.
Regular back issues are available for $6.00 each. Special issues may cost more.

A Printed By

*jakprint$

Create Yours Now"’'

ANIMAL KEEPERS’ FORUM

TO CONTACT THE AKF EDITOR:

Shane Good, Media Production Editor
P.O. Box 535, Valley City, OH 44280
330-483-1104
shane.good@aazk.org

AAZK Administrative Office

American Association of Zoo Keepers
8476 E. Speedway Blvd.

Suite 204
Tucson, AZ 85710
520-298-9688 (Phone/Fax)
E-mail: Ed.Hansen@aazk.org
Chief Executive/Financial Officer: Ed Hansen

MEDIA PRODUCTION EDITOR

Shane Good

ASSISTANT MEDIA PRODUCTION EDITOR

Elizabeth Thibodeaux
SENIOR EDITOR
Becky Richendollar, Riverbanks Zoo
ENRICHMENT OPTIONS COLUMN COORDINATORS
Julie Hartell-DeNardo, Saint Louis Zoo
Ric Kotarsky, Tulsa Zoo & Living Museum
ATC COLUMN COORDINATORS
Kim Kezer, Zoo New England
Jay Pratte, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Beth Stark-Posta, Toledo Zoo
CONSERVATION STATION COORDINATORS
Amanda Ista, Milwaukee County Zoo
Mary Ann Cisneros, Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden

Animat Keepers' Forum is published monthly by AAZK, Inc. Ten dollars
of each membership fee goes toward the annual publication costs of
Animal Keepers' Forum. Postage paid at Tucson, AZ.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT: Bob Cisneros,
San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA 92112-0551

VICE PRESIDENT: Penny Jolly, Disney's Animal Kingdom,
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000

Kelly Wilson, Detroit Zoological Society
Royal Oak, Ml 48067

Deana Walz, The Living Planet Aquarium
Sandy, UT 84094-4409

Denise Wagner, Phoenix Zoo
Phoenix, AZ 85008

COMMinEES/COORDINATORS/
PROJECT MANAGERS

BY-LAWS

Chair - Ric Kotarsky, Tulsa Zoo

GRANTS COMMITTEE

Chair - Shelly Roach, Columbus Zoo

BEHAVIORAL HUSBANDRY COMMITTEE

Chair - Julie Hartell-Denardo, Saint Louis Zoo

BOWLING FOR RHINOS NATIONAL PROGRAM MANAGER

Patty Pearthree, Cary, NC

ETHICS

Penny Jolly, Disney's Animal Kingdom

CONSERVATION COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS

Amanda Kamradt, Zoo New England
Christy Poeiker, Saint Louis Zoo

AWARDS

Janet McCoy, The Oregon Zoo
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Melaina Wallace, Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Ellen Vossekuil, Utah's Hogle Zoo

SOCIAL MEDIA

Sean Walcott, SeaWorld San Diego, Project Manager
CONFERENCE PROGRAM MANAGER
Victor Aim, Oakland Zoo
ICZ COORDINATORS

Norah Farnham, Woodland Park Zoo
Sara Wunder Steward, Busch Gardens Tampa

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

Data Transfer Forms available for download at aazk.org
AAZK Publications/Logo Products/Apparel
available at AAZK Administrative Office/Tucson or at aazk.org

FROM THE PRESIDENT

“Success is your dreams with work clothes on. Unknown
Proudly Passionate

“Your passion will send you to the poorhouse” summarized J. Maureen Henderson in a Forbes,

Inc. article last February. The author continued by contending that those who follow their passions
end up in fierce competition with others vying for the same job. The end result, according to
Henderson, is that few people achieve financial success in pursuit of their passions. The author
continues, “Following your passion over your career pragmatism is a recipe for ending up in the
poorhouse.” Henderson further states:

“Very often, living is about finding solutions, workarounds, fixes and methods to get your needs met
and these solutions, workarounds, fixes and methods often involve difficult, unpleasant work that
doesn’t allow for much creative self-expression. None of us are owed a life in which we get paid to
do exactly what makes us happiest and the sooner you get over your resentment at the rarefied few
who do make a living from their love, the better off you’ll be.”

Mistakenly, the author implies that the pursuit of passion and achieved success are mutually exclusive. I submit that those of us who proudly
work in the profession of animal care have achieved success, though not on any great financial level. All the same, we have sought the solutions
for our own career paths, often involving difficult, and unpleasant work, long hours, extra Jobs, volunteering on weekends and anything else that
would bring us closer to landing a Job in the profession of our passion. The author is correct when she states that none of us are owed a life in
which we get paid to do exactly what makes us happiest. Her mistake is assuming that only a few achieve that status and that hard work and
dedication account for nothing.

A Passion Celebrated

Beginning every third Sunday in July, we celebrate National Zoo Keeper Week. It’s a week of celebration but more importantly a week of
awareness for the work that we do and the impact that we make on the lives of the animals in our care. It’s a week when focus is placed on
one of the most passion-based professions in the industry. For many of us, that passion came with a price; years of sacrifice and toil that
made it possible for us to succeed in the quest of the profession of our passions. I am proud of what we do but moreover, I am in awe of the
amount of dedication it took many of us to get here. I am reminded daily through my interactions with my fellow keepers.

A Matter of Pride

I have a morning ritual; one that originated 15 years ago when I had a dog. I spend my first moments on my back porch sipping my first cup of
coffee. Originally, it was guard duty, a sentry watch ensuring that my yard was free of skunks or raccoons while my dog did his morning routine.
While it’s been several years since my dog has passed, I still enjoy that first moment of quietness. Too early for the additional sounds of traffic,
the ambient sounds of my neighborhood are reduced to rustling leaves and the bark of some distant dog. I can’t recall the first time I heard it
but there is an additional sound that greets me almost daily. Ironically, it’s not the sound of local fauna that I hear. Rather, the sound comes
from work, a little over a mile away. It’s Mbari, the male Transvaal lion who is one of many magnificent animals in my area. It’s unmistakable
when I hear his call, and it is as if he is reminding me where the rest of my day will be spent. Even in the solitude of my backyard, I remain
connected to the profession for which I am greatly passionate.

I consider myself to be a member of the fraternal order of the fortunate. I am, by career, one who works in a vocation where we utilize both heart
and mind to great benefit. I am proud of what I do and even more so, I am proud to be included in the circle of so many who worked so hard (and
still do) to pursue the passion of their dreams.

As always, I welcome your thoughts and input. E-mail me at bob.cisneros@aazk.org: I would love to hear from you. Happy National Zoo Keeper Week.

References

Henderson, M.J. 2013. 3 Reasons Following Your Passion Will Send You to the Poorhouse. Forbes.com. Accessed 11 Feb 2013

NATIONAL

ZOO KEEPER

WEEK 21-27 JULY 2013

SUPPORTED BY

Fostering professionalism
in animal care
among Zoo Keepers

ASSOCIATION

of zoo KEEPERS

306 I ANIMAL KEEPERS’ FORUM

American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc.

FROM THE CEO/CFO OF AAZK

To state the obvious, this is not the Animal Keepers' Forum you are used to receiving in the mail.

Pleasejoin meincongratuiatingShaneGood, Media Production Editorand Elizabeth Thibodeaux,

Assistant Media Production Editor, of AAZK, for all their work in the evolutionary process of
converting the AKF to a new look. Recently, these two individuals have given the Forum new life,
and now they have given the Forum a new vessel. This has been a long and sometimes difficult
road to navigate.

For most individuals, change is good. For other individuals, change can be difficult to accept.

The Forum has existed in 6" x 9” format for decades. Recently, readers have seen a change to
color covers, two-color printing and color pictures in the article content. Evolution has now brought
the Forum to standard magazine format with a four-color print process. The intent is to make the
publication more attractive to both reader and advertiser, without changing the foundation of the
magazine which is the dissemination of information for the animal care professional.

The look of the Forum is the first of many changes as the Board of Directors and Staff of AAZK begin to modernize your Association, making
AAZK work more effectively for our membership at all levels.

Let’s talk. Let me know how the Forum works for you and if you have any questions regarding the future of AAZK.

Ed.Hansen@AAZK.org

WILDLIFE REFUGE

We would like to remind our Zoo Keeper Artist Members
about the Bowling for Rhinos Logo Contest! Please
submit your artwork TODAY!

These are the parameters to follow:

» All Five species of rhinos /

» “AAZK” k

» "Bowling for Rhinos” ^

» An element to signify that BFR encompasses whole ecosystems and
not just rhinos. ^

» The designer may also include a bowling element, but not mandatory.

» Four Color PROCESS (or “4 color” or “CMYK') and Black and White printing
process options. No SPOT process colors.

» Submitted as an .eps file with text converted to outlines.

August 20th deadline for artwork to be electronically submitted to
AAZK at penny.jolly@aazk.org. Please e-mail Penny if you have any questions

Our new BFR Logo will show more of what Bowling for Rhinos is and does and will be easier to use for ali
types of media and Chapter use. The announcement of the winner for the new iogo wili be at
the 2013 AAZK Conference. The contest winner wiii receive a certificate of appreciation,
recognition in all AAZK media and a specialiy-painted bowiing pin trophy.

BIG CAT INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE

Join us in

“Saving Tigers One by One”
As seen on Animai Pianet®
“Growing Up Tiger”

Learn about Big Cat Management. Internship involves
Animal Care Apprenticeship and Public Education.
We offer experience that counts towards employment.

This issue sponsored by Smithsonian National Zoological Park
& the National Capital AAZK Chapter

Smithsonian
National Zoological Park

Celebrate

The National Capital AAZK Chapter was founded in 2006 at Smithsonian's National Zoo and has grown exponentially. NCAAZK
is currently the largest AAZK Chapter, reaching 100 members in 2012! Our members are a true mix of keeper and non-keeper
staff, volunteers, and zoo supporters.

Smithsonian's National Zoological Park celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2014! The National Zoo and the Smithsonian
Conservation Biology institute (SCBI), headquartered in Front Royal, Virginia, teach and inspire people to protect wildlife,
natural resources, and habitats. The National Zoo and SCBI oversee six science centers, world-class lab facilities, and teaching
opportunities for future generations of scientists and conservationists.

Educate

Professional Development is one of NCAAZK's tenets, and we offer multiple opportunities for our members:
In DEPTH (Development, Education, Professionalism, Training, and Husbandry): Monthly
lunchtime seminars give keepers the ability to share research with the greater zoo community.

Short Seminars: NCAAZK facilitates hands-on body scoring classes, photo-taking safaris, and field
trips to our Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the Maryland Zoo.

Long Courses: Multiple-session courses, involving 12 to 16 hours of coursework, focus on a specific
zoo keeper skill set. NCAAZK has offered two of these detailed courses — Behavioral Research
Methods and Population Management.

Travel Grant: NCAAZK offers an annual $500 scholarship to any member who completes work-
related travel but does not receive full funding from the zoo.

Participate

NCAAZK promotes and participates in conservation programs worldwide and in our own backyard. Since 2006, our Chapter
has donated $37,600 to conservation organizations across the world, including Bowling for Rhinos. In 2013, we became the
host Chapter for the keeper-led initiative Chopsticks for Salamanders.

Learn More

Follow us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/ncoazk.

Support NCAAZK through our online store at www.ncoozk.org/store.

Get involved with Chopsticks for Salamanders at www.chopsticksforsalamanders.org.

Learn about the National Zoo and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute at www.notionalzoo.si.edu/SCBI.

August 7-10, 2013
11th Annual Symposium on the
Conservation and Biology of
Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles

Co-hosted by the Turtle Survival
Alliance and the lUCN-TFTSG
in St. Louis, Missouri. Please
visit turtlesurvival.org for more
information, or contact Heather
Lowe at Hlowe@turtlesurvival.org.

September 5-9, 2013
(AZVT) Association of Zoo
Vet Technicians National
Conference

Hosted by Alaska Sealife Center,
Seward, Alaska. For more
information go to: www.azvt.org

October 3-6, 2013
Advancing Bear Care 2013

Woodlands Wildlife Refuge,
Clinton, NJ. For more information
visit bearcaregroup.org

October 24-27, 2013
From Good Care to Great
Welfare Presented by the Center
for Zoo Animal Welfare, Detroit
Zoological Society
Limited scholarship opportunities
available. For information contact:
Elizabeth Arbaugh,

Curator of Animal Welfare,

Detroit Zoological Society
E-mail: czaw@dzs.org

COMING EV

September 15-20, 2013
(IBA) international Conference
on Bear Research and
Management

Hosted by Brigham Young
University, Provo, UT. For more
information go to:
http://ce.byu.edu/cw/bear/

October 14-16, 2013
Orangutan SSP Husbandry
Workshop

Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical
Gardens in Los Angeles, California
For more information go to:
Iazoo.org/orangutanssp2013

September 2-6, 2013
International Penguin
Conference

Hosted by the University of Bristol,
UK. For more information go to:
combine.es. bris.ac.uk/ipc

Seivtember 22>26, 2013
AAZK NATIONAL
CONFERENCE

Hosted by North Carolina
Zoo and North Carolina AAZK
Chapter, Asheboro, NC. For
more information go to:
ncaazk.com/

2013nationalconference.htm

October 15-18, 2013
(ICEE) International Conference
on Environmental Enrichment

Hosted by the National Zoological
Gardens of South Africa. For more
information go to:
http://www.nzg.ac.za/icee2013/

November 10-14, 2013
Zoological Association of America
(ZAA) Annual Conference

Phoenix, AZ

For more information go to
zaa.org. Deadline for abstracts is
April 1, 2013.

April 13-18, 2014

ABMA’s 14th Annual Conference

Dallas, TX

For more information go to:
theabma.org

Zoo Tested.
Brown Bear Approved.

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A Comparative Study of

Visitor Perception

Between Natural and
Non-natural Enrichment
In Two Different ' *

Primate Exhibits

Mary Yoder, Animal Keeper
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

ABSTRACT

In the last few decades there has been much controversy in zoos
as to whether or not the addition of non-natural enrichment
in animal exhibits should be permitted. Animal enrichment
is a key component for maintaining and encouraging natural
behaviors while animals are housed in a captive environment.
Enrichment can take on a variety of forms ranging from
natural, which includes bedding, such as straw or burlap sacks,
to non-natural, resembling large toys or puzzle feeders which
are essentially man-made objects that require manipulating in
order for the food to be retrieved. Unfortunately, there is little
documented evidence on how the public perceives non-natural
enrichment in zoo exhibits as it relates to animal health and the
“naturalism” of the exhibit. This study used a survey to compare
visitor perception of natural and non-natural enrichment in
two very different primate enclosures; a concrete Bornean
Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) exhibit and a vegetated Francois
Langur (Trachypithecus francoisi) exhibit. The purpose was to
determine which had a greater effect on a zoo visitor’s perception
of quality animal care; an exhibit with natural or non-natural
enrichment. The study also assessed which enrichment type the
public preferred to see in an exhibit. The results of this study
proved that there was no notable difference in public perception
between non-natural and natural enrichment.

INTRODUCTION

Zoos play an important role in educating the public about
conservation initiatives and raising awareness about species
in danger of extinction. One of the many ways that zoos
connect visitors to the animals is through the placement of
environmental enrichment in animal exhibits. Enrichment
can be defined as anything that promotes natural behaviors as
well as discouraging abnormal behaviors (McPhee et ah, 1998).
Enrichment can be designed into the exhibit, but typically most
enrichment devices are added and removed daily (Markowitz &
Aday, 1998).

Environmental enrichment involves adding objects into exhibits
that promote natural behaviors. These items can take on a
variety of forms such as bedding, browse or vegetation, spices,
and other natural-looking objects, or the enrichment can be
non-natural or man-made items, which include puzzle feeders,
boxes, and other toys. Due to enrichment enhancing an animal’s
natural behavior, visitors watching animals interact with
enrichment devices can often lead to learning opportunities for
the guest, while at the same time making the education process
enjoyable (Tofield et ah, 2003).

312 I ANIMAL KEEPERS’ FORUM

Amciicijii Association of Zoo Kec|jcrs, Inc.

Typically, most zoos have enrichment plans that are based on
a species natural history and involve increasing the animal’s
behavioral choices. Depending upon the zoo, some management
practices allow only natural enrichment to be displayed. These
policies are due to an underlying and untested assumption that
non-natural enrichment devices within an exhibit negatively
affects the visitor’s perception of the exhibit and can weaken
the educational message about the species (Hutchins et ah,
1979, Hancocks, 1980, Shepherdson, 1989). There also tends
to be more resistance towards putting non-natural enrichment
in exhibits that are more naturalistic in appearance, such
as those with plants and vines. Unfortunately, allowing only
natural enrichment into animal exhibits limits the options for
enrichment variety, which can negatively affect the animal.

A study conducted by Reade and Waran (1996) concerning
visitor perception of enrichment in animal exhibits showed zoo
visitors rated the provision of daily enrichment to be highly
important, regardless of trying to maintain a naturalistic
exhibit. McPhee et al. (1998) and Kutska (2008) reaffirmed this
stance by documenting that enrichment objects generally had
little impact on zoo visitors’ opinions concerning animal exhibits,
but rather being able to see the animal was most important.

Connecting visitors to animals is a key component of many zoos,
and research has shown that visitors take pleasure in coming
to the zoo to experience captive wildlife, which thereby helps
to shape their environmental awareness (Fraser et al., 2007).
Understanding visitor perception and expectations of zoos is an
important aspect to developing educational messages regarding
animal exhibits (Kutska, 2008). Enrichment is often used to
showcase the animal in a way that keeps the visitor engaged
and compels them to consider their personal ethical values in
relation to the environment and wildlife (Fraser et. al., 2007).

As zoos continue to place importance on enrichment in exhibits,
questions about visitor perception need to be addressed.
Currently, there are many studies documenting how enrichment
affects animal welfare; however, there are few studies that
focus on visitor perception of enrichment. Therefore, a study
was designed and visitors were surveyed comparing two very
different primate exhibits, one concrete and the other vegetated,
to determine which had a greater effect on a visitor’s perception
of quality animal care; an exhibit with natural or non-natural
enrichment. The study also assessed which type of enrichment
the public preferred to see in an exhibit. Based upon the research
of Kutska (2008) and MacPhee et al. (1998) the prediction was
made that the public would view both enrichment types positively,
with a potential preference to non-natural enrichment, as well as
viewing quality animal care as equal.

METHODS

Within the Rainforest at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, two
exhibits located across from each other were chosen to be the
study sites. The Orangutan exhibit was selected, as it is a non-
natural, concrete exhibit, and the Frangois Langur exhibit was
chosen because it has real plants and painted foliage on the walls
giving it a more naturalistic appearance.

The survey was comprised of five statements using a five-point
scale from strongly agree (1) to strongly disagree (5) concerning
the visitor’s perceptions on the enrichment within the animal

What do you think? Negatively affecting visitor perceptions with
non-natural enrichment or engaging visitors with natural foraging?

exhibit. The same survey was conducted for both natural and
non-natural enrichment. The five statements are as follows:

1. I feel the enrichment takes away from the naturalism of
the exhibit.

2. The animal enjoys its enrichment.

3. The enrichment makes me feel more connected to the animal.

4. I have a better understanding of the animal due to its use
of enrichment.

5. I feel that the enrichment is beneficial to the animal.

The study began on September 4, 2011 and ended on November
24, 2011. Due to time constraints and other variables, the
enrichment survey for the Francois Langur exhibit was
conducted online using a one- minute video of the animal playing

Based upon this study, visitors are more
concerned with the animal’s welfare, as well as
being able to view the animal up close, rather
than the type of enrichment within the exhibit.

with the enrichment. A link to the two different YouTube
videos, one with natural enrichment, (www.youtube.com/
watch?v=18mb8K8MkOA) and one non-natural, (www.youtube.
com/watch?v=En9P9DHXLvO) was sent to various people
using Facebook (www.facebook.com) and e-mail. The surveys
obtained in front of the Orangutan exhibit were administered
orally by either the keeper or the educational docent, who was
trained on how to properly conduct the survey.

The natural enrichment for the Francois Langurs consisted of
hanging willow branches, and the non-natural enrichment was
comprised of puzzle feeders with grapes hanging from perching.
Browse, herbs, and wood-wool were used for the natural
enrichment within the Orangutan exhibit, and forage feeders
and boxes were strung up with rope for non-natural enrichment.

No. 40, Vol. 7 July, 2013 | 313

Orangutan Exhibit

H Enrichment Is beneficial to animal

H Visitor has a better understanding of animal
because of enrichment

■ Enrichment makes visitor feel more
connected to animal

I Animal enjoys its enrichment

Enrichment takes away from the naturalism
of exhibit

Francois Langur Exhibit

0 1 2 3 4 5

Figures 1 & 2. Comparison of non-natural vs. natural enrichment in the Orangutan and Francois Langur exhibits, using a 1-5 point scale
with 1 representing strongly agree and 5 strongly disagree.

Regarding the Orangutan enrichment, 82 surveys were
completed for non-natural enrichment and 41 surveys were
tallied for natural enrichment. The surveys for the Francois
Langurs totaled 38 for non-natural enrichment and 54 for
natural enrichment. Once all the data were collected, the
Fisher’s exact test was used to determine statistical levels of
significance (McDonald, 2009).

RESULTS

Only two percent of people surveyed felt that the non-natural
enrichment in the Orangutan exhibit took away from the
naturalism of the exhibit, whereas three percent of people
thought the natural enrichment took away from the naturalism
of the exhibit. Seven percent of visitors perceived the non-natural
enrichment in the Francois Langur exhibit took away from the
naturalism of it, and 13% believed the natural enrichment made
the exhibit look less natural. This was the only statistically
significant result from all the data collected, and even then it
was only slightly significant with a p value of 0.063.

One hundred percent of people agreed that the natural
enrichment was beneficial to both the Francois Langurs and
Orangutans. Ninety-nine percent of visitors thought that
the non-natural enrichment provided to the Orangutans
was beneficial and 96% of people perceived the non-natural
enrichment for the Langurs as being beneficial to the animals.

About one third of the visitors commented that they would
like to see the entire Orangutan exhibit look more natural
and be vegetated. The comments regarding the naturalism of
the Orangutan exhibit was not a question on the survey, but
rather the visitor taking the survey, unprompted, offered this
information. Visitors who viewed the Francois Langurs playing
with puzzle feeders commented that although the items would
not have existed in the jungle, it added more interest to the
visitors than what it took away in naturalism. A few surveyors
also commented, regarding the Francois Langurs playing with
the puzzle feeders, that it was fascinating to see the animal’s
reasoning skills in use.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS

It is interesting to note that there was only a small difference in
visitor perception between non-natural and natural enrichment
in animal exhibits. These findings are particularly evident in
regards to the Orangutans as seen in Figure 1. If anything,
visitors perceived natural enrichment to have a slightly more
negative effect on the “naturalism” of an exhibit. Surveyor’s
opinion of natural exhibitory was also more affected by

enrichment in the vegetated exhibit of the Francois Langurs,
rather than the concrete Orangutan exhibit as evident from
the results of the Fisher’s exact test (p=0.063). It is unclear as
to why the natural enrichment would actually take away the
perceived naturalism of a more natural exhibit, rather than non-
natural enrichment in a natural exhibit. However, McPhee et al.
(1998) discovered similar results in their study of environmental

Surprisingly, natural enrichment had a slightly more negative
effect on the naturalism scores of an exhibit.

enrichment in exhibits, noting that, “In the vegetated grotto, the
exhibit with non-natural objects received higher naturalism
scores than an exhibit with natural enrichment” (p. 528).

Overall, visitors enjoyed watching the animals play with the
enrichment and their opinions of the animals were not affected
by enrichment type. As mentioned earlier, the public enjoyed
seeing the Orangutans and Langurs up-close and many made
comments about the enrichment allowing them to get a better
look at the animal. Without enrichment strung up in the exhibit,
the Orangutans tend to spend most of their time on the second
level of the exhibit, which is out of public view.

The decision to use two different survey methods, one with
video and one in person, did not seem to produce significantly
different results. However, another study conducted using the
same survey approach should eliminate this as a variable. Also,
a study done during the summer months when the Rainforest
receives additional visitors would ensure a larger sample size
and more comparable data. Measuring visitor stay time in front
of an exhibit with varying enrichment would also enhance this
study. Unfortunately, this was not incorporated due to a lack of
manpower and time.

314 I ANIMAL KEEPERS’ FORUM

Air ':rican Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc.

Based upon this study, visitors are more concerned with the
animal’s welfare, as well as being able to view the animal up
close, rather than the type of enrichment within the exhibit.
Currently, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo allows non-natural
enrichment within animal exhibits. The keepers make an effort
to use minimal cardboard or paper in newer animal exhibits that
are vegetated or more naturalistic in appearance, compared to
older exhibits that are more rustic. It is important to change
out the enrichment daily, so boxes and other items do not sit in
the exhibits too long and become “furniture.” Another important
element of adding enrichment in with the animals is using the
opportunity to engage visitors in conversation. Many people do
not know the definition of enrichment, but taking the time to
describe its benefits along with important information regarding
the species is a key component of many zoos.

Several zoos still perceive non-natural enrichment in animal
exhibits as taking away from the educational message zoos
are trying to convey; however, as evident in this study, as well
as MacPhee et al. (1998) and Kutska’s (2008) studies, visitor
perception is not altered based on enrichment type in exhibits.
As zoos continue to play a significant role on educating the
public about conservation messages, visitor perceptions and
motivations need to be studied to ensure that the public is
walking away with a positive experience after viewing animals
on exhibit. The use of enrichment has been proven to enhance
animal welfare, and as more options of enrichment variety
are available, the better-equipped animal care staff will be
providing exemplary care to its collection. Hopefully, as more
studies are conducted concerning the perception of visitors
regarding enrichment type, more zoos will consider allowing
non-natural enrichment to be offered to their animal collection.

REFERENCES

Fraser, J., Gruber, S., and K. Condon. 2007. Exposing the tourist value
proposition of zoos and aquaria. Tourism Review International, 11(3),
279-293.

Hancocks, D. 1980. Bringing nature into the zoo; Inexpensive solutions for zoo
environments. International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems
1:170-177.

Hutchins, M., Hancocks, D., and C. Crockett. 1979. Naturahstic solutions to
the behavioral problems of captive animals. AAZPA Annual Conference
Proceedings 198-213.

McDonald, J.H. 2009. Handbook of Biological Statistics (2"“* ed.). Sparky House
Pubhshing, Baltimore, Maryland. 70-75.

Kutska, D. 2008. Variation in visitor perceptions of a polar bear enclosure
based on the presence of natural vs. un-natural enrichment items. Zoo
Biology, 28, 292-306.

Tofield, S., CoU, R.K, Vyle, B., and R. Bolstad. 2003. Zoos as a Source of Free Choice
Learning. Research in Science & Technological Education, 21(1), 67-99.

Markowitz, H. and C. Aday. 1998. Power for animals: contingencies and nature.
Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press.

McPhee M., Foster, J.S., Sevenich, M., and C.D Saunders. 1998. Public
perceptions of behavioral enrichment: assumptions gone awry. Zoo
Biology, 17, 525-534.

Reade, L., and N. Waran. 1996. The modern zoo: How do people perceive zoo
animals? Applied Animal Behavior Science 47:109-118.

Shepherdson, D. (1989). Review of environmental enrichment in zoos. Ratel
16:35-40.

Natural or

Non-Natural?

What do you think?

Submit your Letter to
the Editor to
shane.good@aazk.org

No. 40, Vol. 7 July, 2013 { 315

The Successful Mixing of Two
Banded Mongoose Colonies
Using Vick’s Vapor Rub®

In May of 2011, we had to divide one of our
two banded mongoose (Mungos mungo)
colonies into two smaller colonies due to an
injury to a tail. After several failed attempts
to reintroduce the two smaller colonies back
together the decision was made to leave
them separated until a new method of
reintroduction could be devised. After a lot
of research and monitoring of behavior, a
new method was developed to mix the two
smaller colonies using Vick’s Vapor Rub®
to basically “erase” their identities. This
new method was successfully performed
at the end of September 2011, and all
the mongoose have been living together
peacefully ever since.

The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo currently
houses 13.12 banded mongoose. These
animals are divided into two colonies.
The Kijani colony consists of 8.5 banded
mongoose and the
Zambarau colony
is comprised of 5.7
banded mongoose.

One afternoon, Sasa,
a female from the
Zambarau colony,
injured her tail during
an altercation with a
conspecific and was
left separated for the
night to keep the other
mongoose from chewing
on it. The next day
a couple mongoose
from her colony were
successfully mixed back
with her during the
day, but were separated
again overnight.

However, the next
attempt at mixing
was not so successful.

Shortly after mixing,
a female named Bendi started attacking
Sasa which resulted in a keeper having
to physically separate them. Later
that day three other conspecifics were
mixed back with Sasa and they remained
together overnight. The next day a few

more mongoose were mixed back with
Sasa, but at one point other females
were picking on her and Sasa had to be
separated out once again. At the end of
the day four other mongoose were mixed
back with her and the group of five was
left together overnight. The next day a
mongoose from her old Zambarau colony
in an adjacent pen was able to pull Sasa’s
tail under the caging and started chewing
on it, further injuring her tail. At this
point the Zambarau group of 5.7 was
divided into two colonies: a group of 5.2
mongoose including Sasa, and a group of
0.5 mongoose. These two colonies were left
separated for 10 days until all aggression
between the two colonies through the
enclosure mesh seemed to have subsided.
At this point we attempted to mix more
mongoose back in with Sasa. A female
named Kundi was mixed back with Sasa’s

group and fairly quickly after doing so a
fight broke out between the two, so Kundi
was separated back out. It was observed
that the other females from Sasa’s colony
seemed to be the ones fighting with her,
and the males could freely be mixed into

both smaller colonies with no aggression.
So until another method of mixing could
be developed these two colonies were left
separated.

During the few months that the two
Zambarau colonies were left separated
they were always housed on opposite sides
of the enclosure mesh so that they could
always see, smell and hear each other,
but there continued to be intermittent
fighting through the cage wiring. There
were also a couple of routine vet procedures
during this time that resulted in successful
reintroduction of the individual back
into its respective colony. The method
of reintroduction used following each
vet procedure is to spray any non-toxic
chemicals used on the animal during
the procedure, such as Nolvasan®, all
over the other mongoose and the holding
area. This helps the
reintroduction process
by making the smell
familiar and neutral
before mixing. After
spraying the solution
around the holding
area the mongoose are
then slowly mixed back
one at a time in with
the rest of the colony,
starting with less
dominant mongoose, if
possible.

Throughout my research
I read on a listserv how
one European zoo was
able to use Vick’s Vapor
Rub® to successfully
mix two meerkat
colonies together, and
so I decided to try this
method of mixing for our
two smaller groups of banded mongoose.
As a test, I smeared a little Vick’s Vapor
Rub® on the floor of a pen to see what
reaction the mongoose would have to it,
and immediately all the mongoose started
rolling around in it and did not seem to be

Introducing a new mongoose to an existing coiony can be a chaiienge.

316 I ANIMAL KEEPERS’ FORUM

bothered by the smell at all. It was decided
that the mixing would occur on the same
day as a scheduled immobilization for six
of our females to receive their Deslorelin
birth control implants. That morning,
in preparation for the mixing, the entire
building was disinfected thoroughly to
remove as much of their scent as possible.
Plenty of enrichment and puzzle feeders
were given to help distract and entertain
the mongoose. While the animals were
immobilized, staff was able to rub Vick’s
Vapor Rub® on the bodies and noses of the
mongoose, and also on the inside of their
catchboxes. The mongoose that we did not
transport to the vet hospital were caught
up individually in catchboxes that were
already coated in Vick’s Vapor Rub®. We
were able to apply more Vick's Vapor Rub®
to their noses when they stuck their noses
through the one-inch diameter hole in the
catchbox door. They also all were sprayed
with a Vick’s Vapor Rub® solution through
the enclosure wire. One solution was made
by soaking Vick’s Vapor Pads® in water
and the other solution was made by mixing
Vick’s Vapor Liquid® with water. Both
solutions worked well, but the solution
made from soaking the Vick's Vapor Pads®

seemed to be a little stronger smelling.
Once the vet procedures were completed
and all of the mongoose were returned to
the mongoose holding area, we smeared
Vick’s Vapor Rub® around all the pens.
We also sprayed the Vick’s Vapor Rub®
solution around all the pens and had a
Vick’s Vaporizer® running to emit the
smell into the air in the building. At this
point all of the mongoose and everything
in the building smelled like Vick’s Vapor
Rub® and it was time to mix. We began
by mixing one mongoose back in at a time
and monitored closely for any fighting. The
less dominant mongoose were mixed in
first, followed by the more dominant ones.
If we did see the start of any fighting we
would spray them with the Vick’s Vapor
Rub® solution and that seemed to break
up any fights. Immediately after mixing
there was a lot of communal scent marking
all over each other and everything in their
enclosure. After several minutes of close
monitoring, once everyone seemed to be
getting along well we would mix another
mongoose back in. At one point a fight
broke out between two mongoose that
lasted about two minutes that required
the mongoose to be physically separated

by the keeper. After being left separated
for some time so they could calm down,
they were again mixed together and this
time there were no incidents of aggression.
Overall, the mixing went very well and by
that afternoon all twelve mongoose were
sleeping together in a giant heap.

Banded mongoose rely heavily upon scent
for identification of other mongoose and
things in their environment. By masking
each individual's scent using Vick’s Vapor
Rub®, we were able to basically “erase”
the identity of the different mongoose
and successfully mix the two smaller
colonies back into one colony. When
they were initially mixed together they
scent marked all over each other, which
resulted in all the mongoose smelling the
same, and therefore individuals could no
longer distinguish who was from which
colony. This mixing method seemed to
work extremely well and at the time this
article is being written the mongoose have
been living together in one big, happy
colony for over eight months with no more
aggression seen.|^i|jl^

AAZK

TRAINING TALES

Training Tales Editors
Jay Pratte, Henry Doorly Zoo
Kim Kezer, Zoo New England; and Beth Stark-Posta, Toledo Zoo

Multiple Snakes,
Multiple Problems

Janis Gerrits and Lauren Augustine, Animal Keepers
Reptile Discovery Center, National Zoological Park,

Smithsonian Institution, 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

The staff at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park,
much like other institutions, works hard to create exciting
and interactive exhibits. At the Reptile Discovery Center we
exhibit three juvenile false water cobras (Hydrodynastes gigas)
together, achieving our goal of creating an active exhibit. False
water cobras are rear-fanged, venomous colubrids that are a
fairly active, diurnal species. As such, these snakes are treated
as other venomous snakes in the collection. They are hooked
out of the enclosure for cleaning and separated for feedings.
Hooking these snakes out of the exhibit would be a daunting
task, especially during feedings because all three snakes are
extremely active and aggressive feeders. To ease the daily and
weekly maintenance of this exhibit the animals were trained to
trail a blue and white buoy out of their enclosure (Figure 1) and
into individual cans, which are typically used for snake holding
and feeding.

These snakes arrived at the Reptile Discovery Center on 5
August 2012 and were placed in an exhibit measuring four
by six feet. Training began immediately after the animals
arrived, as the primary keeper (JG) found training to be a less
stressful management technique then hooking all three lively
snakes out of the exhibit. A blue and white buoy at the end of
an appropriately lengthen dowel rod is used as a target stick.
When working with venomous species it is important that
the tools are of a suitable size in comparison to snake length
(Altimari, 1998). The snakes are approximately four feet long
and the dowel rod used is a little over three feet long with the
buoy on the end (Figure 2). A can with some type of perching
(cork bark or a branch) and three dead mice in the bottom is
placed at the keeper access door to the exhibit, still leaving
space for the keeper to safely manipulate the snakes if needed.
The keeper always has one hook in hand and a second hook
is in close proximity. The buoy is rubbed on a mouse to scent
the target, which is than presented to the snake closest to the
exhibit door. The snake immediately trails
the buoy into the can. Once in the
can, the snake is secured and the
exhibit door is closed. The
next can is placed
outside the

exhibit and the
door is safely
opened with
a hook. The
next snake
is presented
with the buoy,
contained and

then the third.

From the first time these snakes were presented with the
scented target, they quickly followed it. Occasionally the snakes
will hang the majority of their bodies into the can, while still
holding on to the door-frame of the exhibit with their tails, as
the bottom of the can is a three-foot drop. At this point, the
keeper hooks the remainder of the snake into the can.

Keepers have noticed some interesting behaviors during
training. The snakes almost always exit the exhibit in the same
order, snake A, B and then C. This may suggest a dominance
hierarchy within the group which has been described for
pythons (Barker et al. 1979). In one instance, when attempting
to shift the animals into the can, JG noticed two snakes, A and
B, alert and facing the door. She decided to present the target
anyway, but removed the mice from the can, anticipating that
both snakes would respond by crawling into the can. Snake A
responded immediately and advanced toward the target and
crawled into the can. Snake B did not move. The keeper fed
and secured snake A and went back to train Snake B, who
immediately followed the target into the next can. From this
point forward mice were no longer put in the can before the
snake, to prevent injury due to food aggression. The snakes are
shifted and then fed. Once each animal has finished its meal,
each snake is allowed to climb back into its exhibit from the
can. Often a keeper will facilitate by hooking the animal, but
in most cases the animals move themselves back on to exhibit
using the cork bark or branch.

The snakes almost always exit the exhibit
in the same order.. .This may suggest a
dominance hierarchy within the group...

Figure 1^ Snake following
target pole out of exhibit

Figure 2: Following target into can..

Figure 3: Snake entering can for feeding.

On 30 May 2012 it was decided to stop scenting the target and
twelve days later the snakes were presented with an unscented
target for the first time. All three snakes performed the
behavior impeccably.

The benefits of training these three snakes to individually
follow a target outside of their enclosure and crawl into a
secure can are numerous. Primarily, this training increases
the safety of working with these animals. Attempting to hook
a lively snake with two other snakes in close proximity can be
risky. The extra excitement can cause snakebites, injury or
even accidental escapes. Additionally, this training reduced
the amount of handling and stressful interactions between the
keeper and the animals. By training these snakes to follow the
target into a can for food, the keeper no longer has to hook them
out of the enclosure (Figure 3). Lastly, this training greatly
reduced the amount of time needed to manipulate these snakes
for maintenance and feedings.

We look forward to continuing this training and hope that
this paper encourages other reptile keepers to utilize operant
conditioning when working with snakes. It is important to
thoroughly understand the natural history of the snake species
when attempting to train this behavior. Although this works
for our animals, it may not be feasible with all snake species.
Safety should always be any animal keeper’s first concern.
Take the proper precautions when attempting to train any
dangerous animals and make sure to follow your institution’s
procedures when attempting this type of training.

REFERENCES

Altimari, W. 1998. Venomous snakes: A safety guide for reptile keepers. Society
for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. St. Louis, MO.

Barker, D.G., Murphy, J.B. and K.W. Smith. 1979. Social behavior in a
captive group of Indian pythons, Python molurus {Serpentes, Boidae)
with formation of a hnear social hierarchy. Copeia (3):366-371.

All photo credits to the author.

BHC comments by Jay Pratte:

Reading this Tale left me super-excited about the
creativity we see evolving in zoological facilities in regard
to training and enrichment, particularly in areas that may
not historically rely as heavily on these techniques for
animal management. While we read periodic accounts of
excellent reptile training, it is not as prevalent as we see in
the worlds of mammals and birds. It is heartening to see
this evolution of approach.

That being said, the authors have clearly outlined the steps
taken in achieving the training goals: knowing the natural
history of the species, accounting for exhibit and population
dynamics, and all with a very clear level of detail for safety.
Not just safety for the staff training/handling the animals,
but also the animals themselves. Recognizing a shifting
pattern and respecting it is an excellent approach for any
species, and while it is one taken for granted in social
groups like primates and even hoofstock, it may be less
expected in reptiles. The trainers have done an amazing
job of considering all aspects of training. Also, by beginning
with the animals when they are younger, there are fewer
“undesirable” behaviors to unlearn, and the training will
stay with them throughout their lives with appropriate
ongoing reinforcement.

Lastly, I want to point out the documented transition from
“luring/baiting” (mice in the bottom of the cans) to a true
cue->behavior->reward scenario. By the end of the Tale it
is clear the snakes are following the target and exhibiting a
trained behavior, and not just following a trail to the food.
Great job, and very inspiring!

This article was also featured in ABMA's Wellsprings
Volume 13 (1): 9-10.

ENRICHiVlENT OPTIONS

AAZK

Contra Freeloading

(Working for Food) at the Phoenix Zoo

Hilda Tresz

Behavioral Manager, The Phoenix Zoo

Although contra freeloading (against free feeding) is not a new
concept, it is not very well known and practiced in captive
nonhuman animal care. Animals show a preference to work
for their food in the presence of identical freely available food
items. In theory, it is self-reinforcing and allows them to perform
certain species-typical behaviors. In the wild, “working for food”
is one of the most frequently observed species-typical, time-
consuming behaviors, yet many captive animals are deprived of
this stimulation. It is our strong belief that foraging programs
should require animals to “work” for food items to help elicit
these natural behaviors. The Phoenix Zoo promotes contra
freeloading in its management practice. Request for reprints
should be sent to Hilda Tresz, Behavioral Manager, The
Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ, 85008, USA.
E-mail: htresz@thephxzoo.com What is contra freeloading? It
is common that nonhuman animals show a preference to work
for their food in the presence of identical, freely-available items.
Animals have an “apparent behavioral need” to forage (Dolins,
1999, p.85). It is self-reinforcing (finding after seeking promotes
additional seeking) and allows them to perform certain species-
typical behaviors.

Contra freeloading is not a new concept!

Robert Yerkes wrote in 1925 that “The greatest possibility
for improvement in our provision for captive primates lies
in the invention and installation of apparatus which can be
used for play or work.” (Tudge, 1992). This phenomenon
was later explored in several studies. In 1986, Inglish
and Ferguson found that “starlings preferred to obtain
72% of their food by working (extrinsic exploration) even
though identical food items were freely available” (Day,
J.E.L.; Kyriazakis, I. & Rogers. P.J., 1998). Another study
“provided 9 adult male Mongolian gerbils with the choice of

Cricket feeders promote natural foraging.

digging for 30 sunflower seeds buried in a dish of sand, or eating
from 1000 identical seeds which were given freely available in
another dish. The gerbils preferred to obtain, on average 67% of
their food by digging” (Forkman 1993).

Why is working for food important?

Non-food related enrichments such as sensory and manipulative
items, structure and substrate, etc. are extremely important but
are short-term enrichments. Gustatory enrichment (as part of
sensory enrichment) that offers novelty food items, only provides
short-term eating behaviors as well. In the wild, working for
food is one of the most frequently found species-typical, time-
consuming behaviors. In various situations animals prefer
to work for food even when free food is available. Several
hypotheses have been put forward to explain this phenomenon,
most of them either suggesting that a learned behavior may
be self-reinforcing or that the animal has an intrinsic need to
perform a certain species-specific behavior (Forkman, 1993).
“Foraging is a time-consuming process including searching for,
retrieving or acquiring, and processing food. Foraging does not
equal eating!” (Tresz, 2007). Feeding schedules often only allow
animals to eat but not to forage. Therefore, foraging programs
should require captive animals to “work” for their food items,
concentrating on offering the original prescribed diet first and
novelty food items as well, if available.

Phoenix Zoo’s definition of contra freeloading
Contra freeloading by exact translation means against free
feeding (against exploitation of freely accessible food). By
necessity, zoos do employ some free feeding; therefore modifying
the strict meaning of contra freeloading was necessary within
zoo settings to reach truthful and positive goals. In Phoenix,
not all animals were equally part of the program and/or had
the opportunity of choosing to work for their food when at the
same time free food was available. Sometimes diet was offered
only by contra freeloading (feeding devices, in substrates,
behind and under furniture, smeared onto walls, etc. or just
simply scattered in very small pieces). Other times animals had
both options (working for food and free feeding). Depending on
feeding schedules and their time frames, every so often only
novelty food items (such as enrichment diet) were offered via
contra freeloading. Often the texture of the diet was changed
to extend foraging time (pureed and frozen diets were given, for
example). Geriatric and disabled animals (due to reduced eye
sight or complete blindness, arthritis, tooth problems, missing
limbs, etc.) were not always offered manipulative devices.
Animals that required veterinary care or specially prepared
diets were sometimes temporarily excused from the program.

Therefore, a new definition better suiting the Phoenix Zoo’s
program was developed: contra freeloading was defined as “diet
offered with the help of different devices, substrates, locations,

320 I ANIMAL KEEPERS’ FORUM

xCei

and preparation to decrease or completely eliminate free feeding
in order to extend foraging time.”

Institutional goal: Contra freeloading as a minimum
standard + additional daily regular enrichment

Randomly offered puzzle feeders, diet in substrates, and/or
offering hidden food items to help animals forage longer, etc.
were already a well known practice at the Phoenix Zoo, with
the key word being “randomly.” The program had to be further
evolved and structured. It was decided that foraging enrichment,
when provided only as part of enrichment schedules, was no
longer sufficient. Contra freeloading was to be elevated to a
minimum standard practice accompanied by non-food related
enrichment items that are offered daily as well when possible.
The long term goal was divided into two phases; informal and
formal plans.

Providing clear definitions of enrichment and its
categories and further defining contra freeloading

c

Informal Plan

D

c

Provide clear definitions of enrichment

^ Find resourc^

^ Inventory and increase current supply of enrichment J

^ Promote staff buy^ >

^ Follow existing examples^^

Enrichment items can serve several purposes. For example:
puzzle feeders need to be worked by the animal in order to gain
food. Should the feeder be considered foraging enrichment or a
manipulative device? To distinguish between categories, staff
members were asked to try to determine the main purpose of
the enrichment. We set an example to help decide: if a person is
grocery shopping and at the same time chews gum; is the person
grocery shopping or chewing gum? Obviously, the main purpose
is to grocery shop, regardless of whether the person is chewing
gum or not (or might have to drive and then walk, open and
close doors, grab a cart and all other behaviors that are being
performed while shopping).

To follow this logic, all definitions that could have been
cataloged into several categories were clarified and redefined
to fit into only one group. This system also further helped with
cataloging and searching for enrichment items. The following
six categories were outlined:

1) Foraging enrichment:

Foraging is a time-consuming event involving searching for food,
retrieving or acquiring food, and processing food. To promote
psychological well-being it is important to increase processing
time (contra freeloading = working for food), stimulate the
senses by providing diet other than what is typically fed (variety
of food and consistency of food), and periodically change the
availability of food in time and space (varying feeding time and

location of food).

A variety of foraging devices can be utilized, although the type
of device should be appropriate for the species, age group, and
individual preferences. Items cataloged under foraging include:

• Forage presentation/placement: hiding, scattering food, puzzle
feeders (plastic containers, suet baskets. Boomer Ball® feeders,
peg boards, etc., Kong® toys, paper or wooden boxes, burlap sacks,
doormats, pine cones, etc.) - although substrates can ehcit foraging
behaviors, they will be grouped under Structure/Substrates

• Live prey

• Browse - herbs, flowers, buds, gum arabic, and other fresh
plants that are consumed quickly and do not extend foraging
time, but rather serve as different tastes, are catalogued
under Sensory (Gustatory) enrichment. Novelty food items
are categorized under Sensory (Gustatory) enrichment

2) Manipulanda:

Objects that can be moved, used, or altered (manipulated) in
some manner by the animal. The item can be artificial or natural.
Toys stimulated curiosity and may increase play and hunting
behaviors; however, animals lose interest in or habituate to toys
over time. Rotating toys and other objects on the basis of texture,
shape, and color helps to maintain interest (NRC/ILAR 1998).
Examples include objects without food with the sole intention of
manipulation: fire hose balls, kegs, barrels, cardboard, pinatas,
wheels, rubber toys, punching bags, feathers, clothing, balls
(golf, tennis. Boomer Ball®, jungle and planet), rocks, wood, sea
shells, pine cones, plastic or paper objects such as boxes, paper
towel tubes, containers, etc.

3) Structure/ Substrate:

In order to accommodate species-appropriate behavior,
enclosures need adequate space for resting, locomotion
(terrestrial and/or arboreal as appropriate), and sanitation. The
most basic component of the physical or inanimate environment
is the enclosure structure (its size, shape, and design) and the
substrate within it. In the enrichment context, structure refers
to temporary furnishings such as perches and shelves, swings,
ropes, ledges, nest boxes, culverts, water features (swimming
pools, waterfalls turned on and off, etc.), branches and logs,
hammocks, etc.

No. 40, Vol. 7 July, 2013 | 321

The term “substrate” commonly refers to the “base on which an
organism lives” and would include flooring, artificial and natural
turf, sand, gravel, mud, bedding/foraging materials (shredded
paper, woodchip, leaves, hay, straw), etc.

4) Sensory enrichment or stimulating all five senses:

• Visual stimulation involves the use of color dyes, murals, cool-
spectrum (green) lights, mirrors, motion (TV, video, DVD, video
games), sun catchers, disco balls, etc.

• Auditory stimuli consists of vocalization from other animals,
sounds from the natural environment, music, and nature
sounds, etc.

• Tactile stimulation can be provided by touching and feeling
inanimate objects such as scratching posts, scrub brushes,
snake skins, etc., or changing the consistency of items (snow,
bubbles, ice, etc.)

• Olfactory enrichments are spices, perfume, animal scents and
lures, urine, feces, and extracts

• Gustatory enrichment differs from foraging enrichment by not
necessarily increasing foraging time. Gustatory enrichment
increases the variety of sensory characteristics:

» Different tastes (novelty food)

» Preparation of food
» Textures (pureed food)

» Consistency (frozen items)

» Size (whole or chopped)

» Color (food dyes)

c

Formal Plan

^ Outline and approve written plan ^

^ Introduce mandatory plan ^

^ Staff training ^

^ Zoo wide scheduling

Work out glitches

)

c

Zoo wide documentation

J

^ Work out glitches ^

^ Evaluate/Re-adjust^

c

Transfer online

ine^

J

5) Training:

May include classical and operant conditioning. Although
training could be considered as a social enrichment, it was
not grouped in this category because it is considered a more
structured type of social enrichment.

An elephant uses its trunk to search
for food in an enrichment device.

6) Social enrichment:

Stimulation can be provided by conspecifics and non-
conspecifics (physical contact such as grooming, petting, verbal
communication, etc.).

Finding resources to support the program
The Phoenix Zoo’s monthly emichment budget was not nearly
enough to support such a high caliber program at a fast pace. The
plan relied on donations as well. The Zoo’s Women’s Auxiliary
(volunteer support group that has supported the zoo for decades)
and the Guardians (Member support group) instantly offered
their help and purchased a large amount of feeders and other
foraging devices. Smaller donations were received from the City of
Tolleson Fire Department, Boomer Ball® owner David Schultz and
contributions from private individuals such as the Mitchell family.

Increase in current enrichment supply
A plan was developed by the end of 2006 to acquire as many
foraging devices of different types as possible within the next
two years. Behavioral Enrichment Committee Representatives
(B.E. representatives) needed to complete an inventory and
submit a list of enrichment items that needed to be purchased
to complete the program.

Staff buy-in

At the beginning, the program was not mandatory and ideas
were quietly filtered down the system. New items were
introduced almost “one at a time,” accompanied with a lot of
explanations and evaluated by constant feedback. Staff needed
to become acclimated to the idea of offering either basic diet or
novelty food enrichment via foraging devices on a daily basis.

Following of existing examples

Since elephant enrichment and most of the primate enrichment
were up to standards since 2002, following their examples, the
plan was to switch over all hoofstock, amphibians and reptiles,
and new primate species to contra freeloading by 2007. Carnivores
and birds were scheduled to be fully included by the end of 2008.

322 I ANIMAL KEEPERS’ FORUM

A-'-icai Association of Zoo Keepers, liif.

After all areas had the necessary tools to support the plan,
the program became mandatory. The goal was to help the
staff understand (and therefore not oppose) the new program,
to schedule all enrichment as soon as possible, have staff and
animals used to new enrichment ideas and their schedules,
work out all glitches, have staff trained to fill out enrichment
paperwork zoo-wide daily, and online, and to evaluate and re-
adjust the program based on constant feedback.

Outlining and approving written plan

The contra freeloading master plan was finished and submitted
for managerial approval on 06-18-08. The Living Collections
Department at the Phoenix Zoo is divided into several trails and
different strings (sections within trails). B.E. representatives
had to submit a list of all species within all strings to the
Behavioral Management Coordinator, and managers were
asked to provide time for B.E. representatives to accomplish
their tasks. The coordinator was tasked to create new
enrichment log templates and to assign Behavior Observation
Team (BOT) volunteers to duplicate these templates as master
B.E. calendars. These calendars were cataloged by strings, and
each worksheet included all species within that string. Each
trail had 5-6 documents depending on the number of strings on
their species cataloged under them.

Colors are used to categorize the species progress in the
program. Green is used if animals were already transferred
over to contra freeloading; natural color if animals have
a weekly schedule but are not transferred over to contra
freeloading yet; and red if animals have no weekly schedule
made yet whatsoever. Primary keepers of strings and the B.E.
representatives together fill out the blank schedules for the
species or individual animals by using existing weekly/monthly
schedules and enrichment approval log books. If an animal can
not work for its food, keepers need to indicate the reasons. Sick,
geriatric, or otherwise incapacitated animals are excluded from
the program unless staff suggested otherwise. Program animals
that received their entire diet through training are considered
working for their food as-is, and do not necessarily need to be
part of the program. Sometimes animals are only required to
work for part of their diet.

The zoo continued to maintain USDA standards. For example,
if an animal is to be fed from puzzle feeders in a way that
would allow food to fall on the ground, then feeders need to be

All enrichment is scheduled, recorded and evaluated daily.

Domestic goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) and miniature zebu (Bos
taurus indicus) rolling Boomer Ball® feeders in the Contact Yard -
photo by Bridget Cardwell

hung above concrete areas, over grass areas, have rubber tubs
under them, or be placed into troughs, etc. If animals (such as
Galliformes) are to forage from substrates (pellets, or seeds in
dry leaves, hay, straw, etc.), the substrate with diet needs to be
offered in boxes, trays, tubs, etc. Feeders can also be constructed
and filled the day before (if applicable) to save time.

New online schedules must be developed, with keepers indicating;

• How animals will work for their food (easy feeder, hay feeder.
Boomer Ball® feeder, amazing graze, food in substrate, scatter
diet, hide diet, whole prey, carcass feeding, food in paper
products, insect feeders, etc.).

• What type of additional behavioral enrichment will be provided
for the day

• Keeper’s initials

• Enrichment rating and explanation

All animals that were currently being fed only from dishes and
are therefore new to the concept of working for food are to be
taught to search for their food. All types of enrichment listed
on the monthly calendars must be evaluated by the rating
scales or yearly by a more detailed format. If an animal had
50 different types of enrichment approved, staff can choose 10-
20 of the best enrichments to evaluate yearly. The rest of the
evaluations are scheduled as time allows. B.E. representatives
are required to submit schedules to the behavioral management
coordinator and area manager for review. Paper copies of
monthly calendars are posted in each area as needed (by the
night houses on clipboards, inside kitchen areas, wooden hay
boxes, etc.) where they are safe from weather. Copies are
collected by the B.E. representatives at the end of each month
and scanned onto the zoo’s shared computer network drive.
Managers and the coordinator review the documentations
monthly. Some areas (with smaller collections such as Animal
Care Center, Equine, Avian Propagation Center, and Animal
Resources) are required to document online and all larger areas
are to be transferred online as soon as possible. Providing
contra freeloading is a long process requiring team effort from
inter- and intra-departmental staff and volunteer support. The
Horticulture Department provides materials for bamboo and log

No. 40, Vol. 7 July, 2013 | 323

feeders, volunteers help to gather pine cones and plastic jars for
bird feeders, the Operations Department helps with modifying
plastic products and Fire Departments were asked to donate fire
hoses for use as browse and meat feeders.

Introducing mandatory plan to all staff
After managerial approval, the program was introduced by an
inspirational e-mail to all Living Collections Staff on 07-29-08
outlining the necessity of contra freeloading, the goals of the
program in greater detail, and assuring staff regarding the
program’s slow implementation and flexibility. It was determined
that all schedules would be developed and transferred onto the
new format by November 1, 2008.

Staff training

Staff training was done in several different levels:

• Directions via e-mail

• Coordinator training management staff during management
meetings

• Coordinator training B.E. representatives during B.E.
meetings

• B.E. representatives training keepers

• Coordinator training staff at all levels via e-mail or one on one

• Coordinator training volunteers one on one

Creating zoo-wide enrichment schedules

Creating templates — Coordinator and the B.E. representatives

created new enrichment log templates, utilizing volunteer help

THE 2013 NATIONAL AAZK CONFERENCE
WILL BE HELD IN GREENSBORO, NC
FROM SEPTEMBER 22-26, 2013

The NC Chapter AAZK is excited to invite you to our little area of the country and show you some real southern hospitality, where you can get
your tea sweetened and your little heart blessed. We have beaches and mountains and God liked us so much, he made the sky Carolina blue!

REGISTRATION

This year, registration will be offered online only. To register, please
visit our website: www.ncaazk.com and click on “2013 National
Conference”. For registration questions, send e-mails to registration®
ncaazk.com. Early registration deadline is August 15, 2013.

CHAPTER CHALLENGE

Help the North Carolina Chapter fund this year’s conference and get
a chance to win free registration and/or accommodations. Entries
must be received by June 30*1 Winning Chapters will be notified by
July 12*1 For more information e-mail: bsigafoos@nczoo.com.

EXHIBITOR INFORMATION

Exhibitors can be an AAZK Chapter, Conservation Partner,
conservation organization or company that could use exposure in the
zoo world. Please contact Brigitte Thompson at zukeeprl4@hotmail.
com for more information on becoming an exhibitor. Send faxes to
336-879-7637 (Attn: Gisela Wiggins)

AUCTION EVENTS

The 2013 Conference Committee is looking for items to be donated for
both the Silent and Live Auctions. For any information on the auctions,
please contact Brigitte Thompson at zukeeprl4@hotmail.com.

SPONSORS

Sponsors are always needed at various levels. Please contact
Brigitte Thompson at zukeeprl4@hotmail.com for more information
on becoming a sponsor.

PRE- & POST-CONFERENCE TRIPS

Duke Lemur Center and Durham Museum of Life and Science:

September 22. 2013

DLC is a leader in conservation, education and research and houses
over 22 species of lemur. The tour will include an extensive behind
the scenes tour of the facilities and information on the animal care
program. After the tour we will be getting lunch in Durham (included
in fee) and heading to the Durham Museum of Life and Science. This
facility includes a museum and an 84-acre interactive science park.

Sylvan Heights Bird Park. North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke

Island and the Nags Head. NC Coastal Area: September 19-20

Our first stop will be a tour of Sylvan Heights Bird Park whereyou will visit
one of the world’s largest bird collections. Then we will travel to Nags
Head on the Outer Banks of NC, where we will explore coastal, ecological
and historical landmarks, along with the North Carolina Aquarium on
Roanoke Island for a tour of the facilities and lunch.

Asheville. NC Post-conference trip:

September 27 & 28. 2013

The first stop will be the Biltmore Estate and Vineyards. Biltmore is the
Vanderbilt family’s 8,000- acre estate, the largest privately-owned home
in the United States. The evening will include exploring beautiful Asheville
and overnight accommodations (single and double occupancy available).
The morning of the 28*** participants will head to the Western Carolina
Nature Center which features one of the largest collections of Southern
Appalachian animal species in the world.

Y’ALL COME JOIN US AT THE 40^“ ANNUAL AAZK NATIONAL CONFERENCE!

324 I ANIMAL KEEPERS’ FORUM

American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc.

when needed. The templates needed to reflect both contra
freeloading and additional enrichment scheduled that day.

Creating schedules — Primary keepers of area strings... B.E
representatives and the coordinator prepared the new monthly
schedules and submitted them for approval to area managers.
Schedules were done by March 5, 2009.

Working out glitches during scheduling phase

Challenges (in regular type) and solutions (in italics):

Convincing staff to use feeding devices instead of the
usual food dishes

Some people believed that animals would never be able to And or
retrieve their diets from the feeders and therefore only wished
to risk additional, novelty food items. Staff developed “training”
feeders by, for example, making holes (temporarily) bigger for
animals to succeed faster
and easier. Once animals
learned how to use the
feeders, the holes went
back to their original sizes
by inserting the original
rubber rings back.

Training staff to
be inventive

Some staff members were
ready to quit ideas “cold
turkey” the minute the
enrichment did not seem
to be successful. Leading
members of the program
at all levels (managers,
keepers, representatives,
coordinator, etc.) had a
great effect on convincing
everyone to put extra effort
into modifying ideas instead

of abandoning them. If their encouragement failed, management
stepped in and staff was required to brainstorm and improve the
idea. Sentences such as “it is impossible, this will never work, it
is useless, ” etc., were cast out of the vocabulary. Problems were
evaluated until solutions were found. Staff needed to prove that
every possible option was exhausted and only then were the ideas
allowed to be abandoned with managerial approval.

food, stopped the birds from eating altogether. Attempts at using
this enrichment became variable for these birds. Paper was
discontinued later due to safety reasons (it stuck onto the food
and was sometimes ingested together with diet) and only natural
items such as edible leaves and sticks were used for covering food.

Frustrating the animals

Especially after a long wait, such as overnight, some animals
(horses, rock h3n’ax, etc.) became frustrated when the morning diet
was received in Boomer Ball® feeders and could not be ingested
fast enough. Some horses simply left their diet in the balls and
chose not to eat. Horses were free-fed their pellets first thing in
the morning and only after the animals returned from working
(carriage rides, riding classes, etc.) were they required to work for
their food by retrieving hay from puzzle feeders, for example. The
hyrax was fed at least his morning and mid-day diet prior to being
asked to work for some of his produce used as enrichment.

Going too fast with
introducing enrichment

Sometimes people did not
realize that animals were
at different stages in their
learning. It was especially
difficult for the relief keepers
tr3dng to keep up with all
the changes. People were
doing things the animals
were not ready for, such
as placing too much paper,
hay, etc. to cover food, and
the animals ended up not
eating. B.E. representatives
increased verbal and written
communication, providing
easy to follow instructions
placed by the cage doors. For
safety and continuity, they
themselves took over doing the
majority of the enrichment training.

Ingestion of non-food related enrichment.

Paper products that became moist from the food stuck to diets and
were sometimes ingested. This idea was modified to use paper to
cover dry food (pellets, grains, etc.) and whole fruit only, and paper
was exchanged with leaves and sticks as mentioned above.

Carcass-feeding is another way for carnivores to work for their meal.

Desensitizing animals to new objects

Sometimes animals reacted to devices with fear, were not be
able to comprehend how to use them, or became aggressive
towards them. New enrichment was introduced gradually, in a
safe manner, and often was altered to better suit use. Most of the
animals became accustomed to new enrichment quickly.

Teaching animals how to search for food
Some animals had never been fed from anything but plastic,
metal, or rubber dishes. They had never been asked to search for
food; they acquired their diet easily and ate at a fast pace. Bird
Trail developed a program to teach birds that have always been
fed by traditional food dishes to look under paper slices, wooden
sticks, or dry leaves that covered their food. Starting out with
one piece of shredded paper, gradually increasing to a handful,
the birds learned searching behaviors fast and most of the time
without much stress - with the exception of some raptors, when
larger pieces of papers (up to two inches), though not covering

Dealing with animals that are too smart

“Likits” (flavored boredom breakers) are good at holding equine
attention, but the majority of the herd figured out how to bite
them and snap them in half, thus defeating the purpose, since
they all fell to pieces on the ground where they were accessible.
Warthogs learned to retrieve pellets from the Moultrie® Easy
Demand feeders much faster than was intended. Staff started
ordering “Likit hanging balls” that prevented horses from being
able to bite the treat in half. Warthog demand feeders had to be
reinforced / modified to create more difficulty in getting grain, as
well as making the feeders sturdier against the powerful animals.

You can find Part 2 of this article
in the August Issue of AKF.

No. 40, Vol. 7 July, 2013 | 325

AAZK

Bowling for Rhinos

Photo by Yayasan Badak Indonesia (YABI)

Bill Konstant, Program Officer, International Rhino Foundation

Javan and Sumatran rhinos

are arguably the two large terrestrial mammals most at risk of
extinction today. Anti-poaching efforts that help ensure their
survival also benefit dozens of other threatened species as well,
thus we can refer to these critically endangered animals as
“flagship species” for Indonesian biodiversity conservation.

Few strongholds remain for these rare and poorly known
pachyderms. With the last of Vietnam’s Javan rhinos having
been killed by poachers a few years ago, less than fifty individuals
are believed to survive in Ujung Kulon National Park on the
western tip of Java. The Sumatran rhino is more numerous, with
perhaps 150 to 200 individuals left. However, only three viable
populations exist in three Sumatran national parks — Bukit
Barisan Selatan, Gunung Leuser and Way Kambas. A small,
fragmented population barely hangs on in Sabah, Malaysia in
extreme northeastern Borneo, but biologists have determined
that it is essentially no longer viable in the wild.

Currently, Rhino Protection Units (RPUs) at work in Ujung
Kulon, Bukit Barisan Selatan and Way Kambas receive support
from the American Association of Zoo Keepers thanks to the
success of annual Bowling for Rhinos events and other special
fundraising efforts. The RPU program is managed jointly by

the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) and its Indonesian
NGO partner, Yayasan Badak Indonesia (YABI). A total of 16
four-man patrol units are employed full-time to cover the three
national parks, as well as a separate intelligence-gathering
team that services the entire program. Collectively, the RPUs
are responsible for the survival of close to 50% of the world’s
remaining Sumatran rhinos and 100% of the remaining Javan
rhinos. In addition, Indonesia’s RPU program helps protect
nearly 60 other terrestrial vertebrates on the lUCN Red List of
Threatened Species, including three amphibians, two reptiles,
17 birds and 35 other mammals. Bukit Barisan Selatan
National Park harbors 38 threatened terrestrial vertebrates in
addition to the Sumatran rhino, Way Kambas 36, and Ujung
Kulon National Park 24, in addition to the Javan rhino.

The king cobra, Asian small-clawed otter, smooth-coated otter,
binturong, and Malayan pangolin are threatened species found
in all three national parks patrolled by RPUs. Zoo keepers that
help support Sumatran and Javan Rhino protection efforts can
take satisfaction that these programs also benefit such prominent
endangered species as the white-winged wood duck, Javan
banteng, Javan gibbon, siamang, Malayan tapir, Javan leopard,
Sumatran tiger and Sumatran elephant - some of which must be
considered “flagship species” in their own right.

326 I ANIMAL KEEPERS’ FORUM

Common

Name

Scientific Name

lUCN

BBSNP (S)

WKNP (S)

UKNP (J)

AMPHIBIANS

Javan torrent frog

Huia masonii

VU

•

Kalophrynus minusculus

VU

•

Fanged river frog

Limnonectes macrodon

VU

•

•

REPTILES

King cobra

Ophiophagus hannah

VU

•

•

•

Burmese python

Python bivittatus

VU

•

BIRDS

Blue-banded kingfisher

Alcedo euryzona

VU

•

•

Sunda nightjar

Caprimulgus concretus

VU

•

•

Javan coucal

Centropus nigrorufus

VU

•

Short-toed coucal

Centropus rectunguis

VU

•

•

Sunda blue flycatcher

Cyornis caerulatus

VU

•

•

Lesser adjutant

Leptoptilos javanicus

VU

•

•

Crestless fireback

Lophura erythrophthalma

VU

•

•

Salvadorl’s pheasant

Lophura inornata

VU

•

Black partridge

Melanoperdix niger

VU

•

•

Great slaty woodpecker

Mulleripicus pulverulentus

VU

•

Wallace’s hawk-eagle

Nisaetus nanus

VU

•

•

WhIte-wInged wood duck

Cairina scutulata

EN

•

•

Sumatran ground cuckoo

Carpococcyx viridis

EN

•

Storm’s stork

Ciconia storm!

EN

•

•

Green peafowl

Pavo muticus

EN

•

Nordmann’s greenshank

Tringa guttifer

EN

•

Black-winged starling

Sturnus melanopterus

CR

Collectively, the RPUs are
responsible for the survival
of close to 50% of the
world’s remaining Sumatran
rhinos and 100% of the
remaining Javan rhinos.

I N T E R N A T I @ N A L

RHIN(»

POUN^ATION

IwT

Common

Name

Scientific Name

lUCN

BBSNP (S)

WKNP (S)

UKNP(J)

MAMMALS

Aslan small-clawed otter

Aonyx cinerea

VU

•

•

•

Binturong

Arctictis binturong

VU

•

•

•

Sumatran serow

Capricornis sumatraensis

VU

•

Brook’s dyak fruit bat

Dyacopterus brooks!

VU

•

•

Malayan sun bear

Helarctos malayanus

VU

•

•

Banded civet

Hemigalus derbyanus

VU

•

•

Smooth-coated otter

Lutrogale perspiciUata

VU

•

•

•

Pig-tailed macaque

Macaca nemestrina

VU

•

•

Rajah spiny rat

Maxomys rajah

VU

•

•

Whitehead’s spiny rat

Maxomys whitehead!

VU

o

•

Sunda clouded leopard

Neofeiis diardi

VU

•

Sumatran striped rabbit

Nesoiagus netscher!

VU

•

Dark-tailed tree rat

Niviventer cremoriventer

VU

•

•

Javan slit-faced bat

Nycteris Javanica

VU

•

Greater slow loris

Nycticebus coucang

VU

•

•

Whiskered flying squirrel

Petinomys genibarbis

VU

•

•

Temminck's flying squirrel

Petinomys setosus

VU

•

•

Javan deer

Rusa timorensis

VU

•

Sambar

Rusa unicoior

VU

•

•

Horsfield'starsier

Tarsius bancanus

VU

•

•

Javan leaf monkey

Trachypithecus auratus

VU

•

Javan banteng

Bos javanicus

EN

•

Dhole

Cuon aipinus

EN

•

•

Sunda otter civet

Cynogaie bennettii

EN

•

•

Agile gibbon

Hyiobates agiiis

EN

•

•

Javan gibbon

Hyiobates moloch

EN

•

Malayan pangolin

Manis javanica

EN

•

Javan loris

Nycticebus javanicus

EN

•

Javan surili

Presbytis comata

EN

•

Smoky flying squirrel

Pteromyscus pulverulentus

EN

•

•

Siamang

Symphalangus syndactylus

EN

•

•

Malayan tapir

Tapirus indicus

EN

•

•

Sumatran elephant

Elephas maximus sumatrensis

CR

•

•

Javan leopard

Panthera pardus melas

CR

•

Sumatran tiger

Panthera tigris sumatrae

CR

•

•

38

36

24

Key to Table

BBSNP: Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park

WKNP: Way Kambas National Park
UKNP: Ujung Kulon National Park
(S): Sumatra: (J): Java
VU: Vulnerable; EN: Endangered;
CR: Critically Endangered

MY AAZK

2012 Orangutan SSP Field Trip

Matang Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and Tanjung Putang National Park

By Ida Lewis, AAZK Professional Travel Grant Recipient

In the fall of 2012, the Orangutan
Species Survival Plan® (SSP) took a
group of volunteers to Matang Wildlife
Rehabilitation Center and Kuboh National
Park, outside of Kuching, Sarawak in
Malaysia. We worked with the Sarawak
Forestry Department and the volunteer
organization. Project Orangutan. We were
there from October 14 through October 20,
2012. The center rehabilitates confiscated
or orphaned orangutans and if possible.

Figure 1. Caregiver and young rescued orangutan

releases them into the surrounding
park. While there we did see two baby
orangutans that they were rehabilitating
to prepare them for release back to the
forest (Figure 1). Just before we left, one
of the caregivers said they were going
to spend several days in the forest with
them to help get them used to being in
the trees and watch to make sure they
start to build night nests on their own.
The center also houses other animals such
as sun bears, gibbons, birds, reptiles and
hoofstock. The park is open to the public.
There were 14 people who participated in
this trip. Ronda Schwetz, Field Adviser,
Megan Elder, Vice Chair of the SSP and
International Studbook Keeper, and Carol
Sodaro, Husbandry Advisor, were the
representatives of the Orangutan SSP.
Other participants were Vince Sodaro,
Christine Nelson, DVM, Cindy Cossaboon,

Crystal Champeau, Joe Myszkowski,
Laura Mayo, Louis Divincenti, DVM,
Matthew Mayer, Guillaume Feldman,
Graham L. Banes and myself.

Before the trip, we were given instructions
on what we may need by Ronda and
REACT, the organization founded by
Guillaume Feldman, that helped set up the
trip along with the Orangutan SSP. They
explained what vaccinations we would
need, malaria prevention, type of clothing,
paperwork, identification, along with a lot
of mosquito repellant! We were also given
information about local customs, including
the proper way to interact with the local
people and a little background on the area.
They also explained what to expect when
traveling and staying in Borneo. For me,
this was a very unique opportunity to learn
firsthand about another culture. The trip
was very well-planned, even for the first-
time traveler. The cost of these trips is
rather high, but the chance to see what is
happening in Borneo and the conservation
and rehabilitation work being done is
invaluable. I did not go as a representative
of my zoo and I was self-funding my trip
so expenses added up quickly! The $1,000
Professional Travel Grant I received
from the American Association of Zoo
Keepers (AAZK) was a tremendous help.
I would highly recommend these trips to
any keeper or individual who wants to
learn and experience firsthand what is
happening in Borneo.

I and others took donated medical supplies
(Figure 2) to the rehabilitation center
and the local Fort Worth AAZK Chapter
donated $200.00 to assist the center’s
work. Ronda also shipped a gas powered
drill to the center! One of our goals was

Figure 2 Donated medical supplies

to build a climbing structure for sun bear
enrichment. The other goal was to show
some of the staff how to carry out positive
reinforcement training.

Fl5dng to Malaysia is an experience in
itself! The flight is about 25 hours. This trip
took me from Dallas to Chicago to Hong
Kong to Kuala Lumpur to Kuching. We
were met at the airport in Kuching by Leo
Biddle. He runs the volunteer program at
the center along with Natasha Beckerson
(Figure 3). We arrived at Matang and got
settled into our long houses (Figure 4). We
had bunk beds, western toilets, a shower,
and running water, but no hot water.
The room had a floor fan and a small
refrigerator. Food and bottled water were
provided by the center.

We had a wonderful local cook who
made our meals. Being a vegetarian I
did not mind all the rice and vegetables!

328 I ANIMAL KEEPERS’ FORUM

Ai lericsn A'sotA^tion 4 Zoo keepers. !nc.

MY AAZK

Personally, I am a big coffee drinker
so I traveled with several packets of
Starbucks Via®. I enjoyed the food and
was always willing to try something new.
They did have meat dishes and seafood.
It was the start of the rainy season so it
rained almost every day. Temperatures
were in the upper 80's and very humid.
Staying hydrated was very important.
Everything stays damp. Even after a
shower you never felt dry. The scenery
around our long house was beautiful and
we saw many types of wildltfe (Figure
5). Day one was a workshop with the
center’s staff members. It started with the
Orangutan SSP representatives giving
overviews about what their roles are in
the SSP. Ronda spoke about what a field
representative does, Megan described how
the studbook works and Carol talked about
orangutan husbandry (Figure 6). Next we
taught them about positive reinforcement
training. Megan gave an overview of
how it works, then Melanie Bond and I
demonstrated the training game. The staff
then split into smaller groups and worked
on clicker training as our group observed
and offered suggestions (Figure 7). After
the first day our group split into two

smaller groups. Some went to work with
the center’s staff on animal training while
others worked on the sun bear climbing
structure. I worked on building the sun
bear climber. The center’s volunteer staff
had the main steel poles already cemented
in place. Joe and Vince were the main
carpenters. Christine, Matthew and I
worked on sanding and staining the wood
planks (Figure 8). We had about a week
to complete the structure and Joe was
the driving force that made us all want
to see it completed. The going could get
tough sometimes, especially when it really
started to rain. The construction had to
stop until the rain let up. There really
was not very much covered space at the
center, so the sanding and staining took a
while to do. Everything was hand-sanded.
Our arms got a great workout! Toward
the end of the week Crystal joined us and
was a great help to the builders. She was
fearless in climbing up and helping build.
While we worked on the climbers the rest
of the group continued to work with the
staff on positive reinforcement training.
While we were there one of the previously
released orangutan females and her infant
traveled through and was spotted around

(top) Figure 3. Leo Biddle from Project Orangutan
(middle) Figure 4. Long house In Matang
(bottom) Figure 5. Aslan horned frog at Matang

Figure 6. Carol Sadoro giving her presentation
Rgure 7. Forestry personnel learning the training game
Figure 8. Sanding planks for the sun bear climber

the center a few times.

It was not all work. I think one of the best
aspects of these trips is the opportunity
to meet the people who work there on
the ground and the local people. The
first night we had a gathering with the
center’s staff, their families and some of
the other volunteers. One day we visited
another park called Semenggoh Nature
Reserve. This is also run by the Sarawak
Forestry Department. It was exciting to
see orangutans up in the trees (Figure 9).

Toward the end of our week in Matang,
our group spht again with some of
the members taking medical supplies
to another rehabilitation center in
Ketapang. Along with the supplies, Dr.
Christine Nelson, DVM, went and she
will spend a year in Ketapang. The rest
of us were determined to finish building
the climber so we could see the sun bears
out on it before we left. Some of the rest
of the group joined us to help finish the
climber. Through hard work we were able
to complete the climber and on our last
day there we were able to watch the sun
bears on their new climber (Figure 10),^^'

Figure 9. Orangutan feeding at Somongal
National Park.

Figure 10. Sun bears on the climbing structure

No. 40, Vol. 7 July, 2013 | 329

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