’N0liniliSNI_NVIN0SHiWs‘^S3 I aVa 8 Ill'Ll B RAR I Es“'sMITHSONIAn‘ ■) Z \ y^. ^ ^ - oQ v-^rSf^S^ - ^ ^ o x^osv^ix z: o z _j z LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOlinUlSNI NVINOSHillNS S: z z r- z e . .rn /C®^x 2 x55s^ - O (/) NOlinillSNI NVINOSHIIINS SBiaVdail LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN If z 03 Z ... 03 Z f-/ A/j. ' z z LIBRARIES SMITHS0NIAN_INST1TUTI0N NOlinillSNI NVINOSHlll^S S NOlinillSNl'^NVINOSHimS S3 I dVd 8 Ill'Ll B RAR I ES^ SMITHSONIAN’^lf LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOlinillSNI NVINOSHIIINS S LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOlinillSNI NVINOSHIIINS S an LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOUnillSNI NVINOSHilW ION NOUniliSNI NVINOSHillNS SBIBVaaiT LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAI CO z ^ w z w -r- O > 2 '' > __ _ 2 (/) • 2 an LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOliniliSNI NVINOSHIIW o pc^ ~ o _ X^-tixs^ o ■|ON^NOIiniliSNI*^NVINOSHillNS S3 I d Vd 8 IT LI B RAR I ES SMITHSONIA 2 ^ V Z r- 2 CO z; c/> _ an LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOIinillSNl NVlNOSHim /n ^ ^ - o ^ fMf'W; o - w I ION 'N0UniliSNI_NVIN0SHilWs"’s3 I a Vd 3 M^LI B RAR I Es"’sMITHSONIAI 5 (/) P “ 5 5 m _J 2 _| 2 _j an LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOliniliSNI NVINOSHillM riON^ NoiiniiiSNrNviNosHiiiAis'^sa I a va a n“Li b rar i es'^smithsonia CO 2 CO Z ... t/> s < S ,,£ s "Animal An imal Care JANUARY 1981 i I JANUARY 1981 VOLUME EIGHT NUMBER ONE ANIMAL KEEPERS' FORUM, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 ISSN 0164-9531 Executive Editor: Mike Coker Managing Editor: Lois Bogia Editorial Assistant: Diana Brey Art Consultant: Elaine Shea kvujnaZ. 1-oH.um is a monthly journal published by the American Association of Zoo Keepers, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, Kansas 66606. Second class postage is paid at Topeka, Kansas. Return postage is guaranteed. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOO KEEPERS NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, 635 GAGE BLVD., TOPEKA, KS 66606 Bn.mda JoAboo., Adm-lyuj>tAcitlvQ. SdcAoXcuty BOARD OF DIRECTORS Pat Sammarco, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL 60614 VAQ.i>d.d pAoud to pACient the talents o^ the keepoAl oAti^t^ and theJji poAtAayoLs oi the eveAydaa It^e oi a keepeA. Thanks! SCOOPS — andr- — Scuttlebutt COVER ART AWARD In 1978, the AvumaJi KeepeA' 6 VoAum offered keepers an opportunity to express their artistic abilities for AKF covers. The response has been overwhelming. AKF has benefit ted as well as the artist /keeper and all the members. The publication is totally keeper-oriented, cover and contents . The AKF staff has felt a need to express their gratitude to these artists. We decided an award should be given each year to honor the best cover drawing on the AKF's covers. The award, similar in style to the present AKF Journalism awards, will be decided by the AKF Editorial Staff. the "Award for Artistic Achievement" would be announced at the Annual Conference of AAZK. BOOK REVIEWS .......... ElZen Leach, Cleveland MetAoPaAki> Zoo I hope to start receiving new animal- and zoo-related books from publishers for review in AKF. We need volunteer reviewers. If you are interested, please send me your name, address, a list of subjects of interest to you and some idea of how technical the book can be. In return for the review, you will be permitted to keep the book. Before sending a book, I will contact three prospective reviewers. I will describe the book and state a deadline and length of review expected. The choice for reviewing will be made according to the response received from this initial contact . I will try to "spread the wealth^' on this project. At this time, I do not know what to expect as far as number of books we will receive. I would like to have lots of reviewers lined up and ready. £ S.J n * J *■ World Wildlife Fund has made a plea JTOfH tm iTiStdiflt for assistance in helping to insure the survival of the Rhinoceros. Their ads in such magazines as Awdabon, Newsweek, Time and Omni, November issues) , give box scores on the sizes of the remaining populations of White, '.Black, Sumatran and Javan Rhinos, and the steps that need to be taken to save them. I would like to suggest that each member make an effort to support WWF by making contributions personally , by initiating chapter fund raisers for the cause, and by educating the public who visit our zoos about the plight of the Rhino. Please note that you are an AAZK member when making these donations so that we, as an association, can indicate our support. Thank you. BIRTHS HATCHINGS BABY WOOLLY MONKEY AT LOUISVILLE ZOO Moai^ Jo Ua/Uikatt The Louisville Zoo is proud to announce the birth of a Woolly Monkey on November 7, 1980. The baby was not expected until the 15th of December and came as a great surprise to all. It is the second offspring in two years from "Willie" and "Penny." The infant is doing very well, enjoying attentive parents and three "aunts." CHEETAH CUBS BORN AT WILDLIFE SAFARI, WINSTON, OR. .... lauxlo. MoAkeA I Two Cheetah cubs were born at the Wildlife Safari on October 28, 1980 ' at about 2:30 p.m. The birth of these two cubs brings the number of cubs born here in 7 years to a total of 31 cubs in 8 litters. The two cubs were born to Jezebel who had been born here on October 15, 1975. This is her first litter. The male. Black Tip, was also born here on September 8, 1973; this is his 3rd litter. These two cheetahs, as well as the 6 others, live in the 8 acre Cheetah Drive-thru area. Jezebel was moved into a acre cubbing compound adjacent to the main drive- thru area shortly before cubbing. The birth of these cubs marks the first full 2nd generation Cheetah cubs born at the Wildlife Safari. We are very proud of our cub survival rate with 25 of these 29 cubs having been reared to maturity, and the 2 new cubs have past the critical first week. At this time, 10 days after birth, the cubs look to be very healthy and active, and Jezebel is taking excellent care of them. Compiling information on captive Cheetahs through-out the world is becoming even more important for the survival of Cheetahs. PLEASE, if all Cheetah keepers would send information to Laurie Marker, at the Wildlife Safari, P.O. Box 600, Winston, OR 97496. The information I’m most interested in is: How many Cheetahs are in your zoo’s collection? Where did they originally come from? How old are they? How many Cheetahs •have been at your zoo through-out the years? How many have died, from what, and at what age, if known? Any CBC and blood chemistry results would also be appreciated. We are hoping to compile a more exact count of how many Cheetahs are in captivity, and information which would be helpful to all zoos. THE M.T.Z. GANG - HAMADRYAS BABOONS l/ane^sa Phelan Metro Toronto’s Hamadryas Baboon group was reduced by the sale of 5 i individuals in January, 1980, bringing the number down from 22 to 17 . j It has now risen to 21 again with the survival of 1.3 of the 7 births this j year. Our "gang" consists of 8 males and 13 females. The four new infants, all born late August/early September, appear healthy and active, i Only one, now 2^ months old, has been seen pinging around the exhibit away from her mother — no tall holder, this "mom"! Little "Lena" plays with last year’s very rowdy juveniles, spends long periods of time with her brother "Tom" (born in 1978) and now and then visits with her father "Jude", our only full adult male. The other 1.2 infants (one is a second generation MTZ birth) are still anchored to their sometimes over-anxious | mothers and any attempt at independence is firmly squashed. All 4 black 2 1 Hamadryas Baboons, aontlnu^d infants are eating solid food and have been seen drinking water. None, of course are near weaning. 1980 WAS A VERY BUSY YEAR FOR METRO TORONTO ZOO! . . . .[/an^^^a Ph^an The births and hatchings at the Metro Toronto Zoo in 1980 include: 1.0 Masai Giraffe; 3.1 African Lions; 1.2 Siberian Tigers; 5.3 Bactrian Camels; 1.0 Springbok; 2 Patas Monkeys; 2 Debrazza Monkeys; 1.0 Lion Tail Macaque; 1.3 Hamadryas Baboons; 1.1 South African Cape Fur Seals: 1.2 Damara Zebra; 6 Nubian Ibex; 1.0 Pere David's Deer; 1.1 Sitatunga; 3.2 Dali's Sheep; 3.4 Arctic Wolves; 3 Wisent; 2 Wood Bison; 2.1 Barasinga; 3.0 Sable Antelope; 0.1 White Tailed Gnu; 2.0 Gemsbok; 3.1 Wapiti; 3 Ball Pythons (hatched in an incubator); 4 Black Necked Swans ; 5 Black Footed Penguins ; 5 Reynaulds Ground Cuckoos ; 2 Argus Pheasants; 8 Peach Faced Lovebirds; 2 Marbled TeaJ; and what is believed to be an M.T.Z. first in 'Canada, from 2 nesting pairs, 3 Grey Cheeked Hornbills . HATCHING OF GREY-CHEEKED HORNBILLS AT METRO TORONTO ZOO. . . Linda En.vlm Three grey-cheeked hornbills were hatched this year by two pairs in separate free-f light aviaries. These hatchings are believed to be the first in the western hemisphere. We were particularly pleased that both pairs reproduced. All four birds were originally housed in the same aviary several years ago. When Roger showed a distinct preference for Rhoda, they were moved to another aviary at the other end of the pavilion. Wilbur and Wilma remained in their aviary, along with red crested touracos and vulturine guinea fowl. Prior to this year, some courtship behaviour and mating were seen, but nesting never followed. In February of 1980, nest boxes were installed for both pairs, (Roger and Rhode's had been put up the previous year), filled with shavings to the bottom of the entrance hole, and the hole partially clayed up. Both pairs chipped off the clay and threw out or rearranged the shavings and added grass, twings, leaves, etc. from their exhibits. Before mating in April, the males fed favoured items to the females. The females both went in and out of the box many times before finally settling down to be locked in with clay. They seemed to want to be very sure the males would continue to feed them while they were in the box! The wet clay needed for filling the entrance holes was provided in bowls. Each pair had its own design of feeding slot by the time it was done. Rhoda was in her box from May 7 to August 26, and Wilma from May 18 to September 17. During this time the males continued to bring nesting materials. The diets were increased on July 7 and number of feedings increased to three times per day. It was interesting that while Roger craved pinkies, crickets, etc., Wilbur largely ignored them and fed grapes and bananas first to his family. Although we knew the chicks would be almost fully grown when they emerged, it was still a surprise to see such large, fully feathered 'babies' come out of the boxes. As of November 3, Roger and Rhoda are still feeding their two young and Wilbur and Wilma their one. The sexes of the chicks have not yet been definitely determined. 3 irey-cheeked Hornbills, contlnuo^d Please write if any further information regarding diet, nest boxes or aviaries is desired. UNUSUAL HATCHING AT ABILENE ZOO UchaoZ HlggM On August 26, 1980, the Abilene Zoological Gardens successfully hatched an Abyssinian Ground Hornbill BudO^VCU) db^^'ivilc.LLi, . As far as can be determined this species has been bred in the U.S. only at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, where the birds are living under virtually patural conditions; and at Franklin Park Zoo in Boston which artificially incu- bated and handraised their first bird of this species this spring. Our birds share an irregularly shaped moated exhibit with three Giraffe, 30m X 18m. An artificial nesting site is available in the center of the exhibit, a fibergalss tunnel 244 cm long, 61 cm high and 76 cm wide with a 45° angle 60 cm from the entrance. The entire tunnel is covered with soil and rock and inside the substrate is also soil. The overall effect is a simulation of an excavation in a hillside, a typical nest site for the species. Mating occurred extremely rapidly, the male arriving at the zoo only nine months before the egg was laid. The female is a long time resident of the zoo. After spending the winter separated indoors, the birds were released in their exhibit in the spring. The pair interacted with several instances of billing (a behavior where the pair align their bills side by side and then rapidly slap them together several times) , female to male food transfers, and carrying of material to the nest by the male. The same behaviors occurred at random daily for several weeks when a circular nest bowl 46 cm in diameter and 10 cm deep was discovered at the rear of the tunnel. Copulation was observed shortly afterward and the female laid a single egg. After an incubation period of 36 days, the chick hatched — naked, blind, and weighing just 61.5 g. Live crickets and mouse pinks dusted with vionate (a vitamin/mineral supple- ment) were provided early each morning and the male would kill each one and carry all to the nest in one trip. From the few observations risked the male would drop the food beside the nest and the female would feed the chick the food whole, not regurgitating as some species of hornbills though not ruling out that method of feeding entirely. The male took his role very seriously. If the female attempted to get food the male would defend it from her, wait until she returned to the nest, and then carry the food to the nest himself. Weight gains were monitored daily and as the chick grew it became necessary to increase the diet to adult mice, rats, and finally to guinea pigs, all cut in pieces small enough for the chick to eat. Development occurred in three clearly defined stages. The first four weeks were marked by the chick's eyes opening, a weight gain of 1500 g., and virtually no feather growth. Extremely rapid feather growth took place from week four to six and an additional 1500 g. were gained. From week seven to twelve, feather growth slowed and though the chick con- tinued to gain weight there were brief periods of weight loss of about 150 g. despite no dietary changes. At twelve weeks of age the chick was pulled from the nest weighing 3.5 kg. Oh lb.), as it was obviously stressed from several days of near freezing temperatures even though the nest was maintaining a temperature about 12° above the ambient. After 24 hours indoors the chick was behaving normally, feeding on whole mice and day-old chicks and displaying aggressiveness toward keepers. 4 RECENT BIRTHS AND HATCHINGS AT THE SEDGWICK COUNTY ZOO ^ St^v^ Klngu)6ood The hatching of a Double-crested Basilisk and three Black-necked Swans are recent breeding firsts for the Sedgwick County Zoo. On July 30, 1980, the female Basilisk appeared gravid and on August 18 she laid fourteen eggs. The eggs were immediately removed for artificial incubation at a temperature of 80° F. A hatchling emerged on October 22 and is currently doing well on its own. A second egg had begun to hatch on October 23, but the young basilisk could not free itself from the shell and died. The remaining twelve eggs did not hatch. During July 1980, our pair of Black-necked Swans behaved as if they would be making a nesting attempt. The female frequently occupied one corner of the exhibit accompanied by the male. At this point keepers leveled the site with rocks and placed hay and straw nearby for nesting material. The swans responded by using the hay and straw to build a nest. On August 13, the first egg was laid and by August 20 four eggs were being incubated by the female. The clutch began hatching on September 23 and on they next day three cygnets were present. They are being cared for by their parents. Other birds successfully reared during September and October include seven Painted Quail, four Speckled Mousebirds, and three Superb Starlings. On September 24, 1980, a Bruijn’s Pademelon joey was first seen with its head out of the pouch, and on the same day 2.1 White-nosed Coatis were born. The zoo's fifth Fringe-eared Orys, a male, was born on September 25. At our breeding farm alpacas were bom October 11 (a male) and October 18 (a female). This brings the number of our alpaca births to twelve since 1977. RECENT BIRTHS AT THE ATLANTA ZOO Alan Shcuipld^ September 6, 1980, saw the birth of a male Grant’s Zebra Equu^ buJiC-hdULi. This is the first Zebra to be born at the Atlanta Zoo in just over five years. The colt along with his mother have been separated from the stallion, as past experience here has shown the father to be aggressive towards the foal. This group was established with the arrival of 1.2 Grant's Zebras from Grand Prairie Lion Country Safari, Texas, on June 1977. A female American Bison Ei^OVl bZ^on was born to our adult pair on Sept- ember 19, 1980, and is thriving. A female White-Handed Gibbon HytobdteJi toA was born on November 11, 1980, in the Children's Zoo. This is the first pure-bred Gibbon ever born at the Atlanta Zoo. (A hybrid Gibbon x Siamang Hytoboto^ motoch X Symphdlan- gcU 4> yndactytiU) was born in 1975.) This birth now brings the total number of our Gibbon colony to six (2.4). GILA MONSTERS HATCH AT ATLANTA ZOO Vennl6 W. H^an The most successful year "reproductive-wise" for the Atlanta Zoo's Depart- ment of Herptetolgy was capped off by the emergence of a Gila Monster, HoXodeAmcL 6Ui&p^cXuum on November 20, 1980. Five eggs were laid July 20 after a gravid-looking female was removed from the colony in June. The eggs were incubated in a styrofoam box filled with dry vermicu- lite at a temperature of 26-27° C (80°F) . Two eggs were found discolored three weeks later and opened. One contained a dead embryo; the other 5 Gila Monsters Hatch at Atlanta Zoo, continued was infertile. The three remaining eggs hatched on November 20, 26, and 20 after an incubation period of 123, 129, and 133 days respectively. Each lizard remained in its shell 2-3 days after slits had appeared. Weights and measurements of the neonates were taken approximately 30 min- utes after each had emerged. The ranges of weights and measurements are as follows: Weight: 21.6-29.2 g. (x=26.2 g) ; Snout-vent length: 9.56-10.79 cm (5^10.28 cm); Tail length: 3.19-4.45 cm (x=3.93 cm); and total length: 12.75-15.24 cm (^14.20 cm). This marks the first time that the Atlanta Zoo has bred Gila Monsters and as far as we can determine, only the fourth such breeding in U.S. zoos. The department staff is still anxiously awaiting the hatching of twelve Beaded Lizard eggs that were laid by two females in September. RARE MONKEYS ARRIVE AT ATLANTA ZOO Alan ShoAple^ On November 6, 1980, the Atlanta Zoo received a pair of rare Lion-Tailed Macaques Macaca ^lZ on breeding loan from the Milwaukee County Zoo. These monkeys are the first animals received at the Atlanta Zoo with an Animal Data Transfer Form, ADT, which was most helpful in getting them settled in their new surroundings. I strongly recommend the use of the form anytime an animal moves from one zoo to another. CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ANNOUNCES RESOURCES DIRECTORY The Center for Environmental Education announces the availability of its newest publication, Th^ VlAdcto^y 0^ EnvlAonmentol Education Rc6oun.cc^ {VEER), VEER is a guide to national and international organizations that provide information on the environment. Sources include industry, private organizations and government agencies. VEER lists organizations with the most up-to-date account of the kinds of hfelp each has to offer. This invaluable 64-page reference include 275 information sources. Every resource is cross-referenced three ways for greater accessibility. Other directories and guides for reference are included and a compre- hensive bibliography of career information. VEER may be purchased for $3.95 (plus 90C postage and handling) from the Center for Environmental Education, 1925 K Street, NW, Suite 206, Washington, DC 20006, Attention: Circulation Manager. A.A.Z.K. INITIATES "INFANT DEVELOPMENT" PROJECT by Ucutdla CluvtiYiQQA, Vn-oidct CooKcLinaton. A new project concerning infant development has recently been organized by A.A.Z.K. This project will be involved with collecting data on parent-reared animals that would be useful to someone trying to hand- rear the same species. Information on both birds and mammals will be collected. We are interested in collecting data on both the physical and behavioral development of parent-reared infants. Data forms will be distributed to anyone interested in contributing to this project. When the data is collected it will be published as a separate chapter to the A.A.Z.P.A.’s "Infant Diet /Care Notebook." When more information is available on the development of parent-reared animals, we can learn from it and improve our hand-rearing methods. Below are sample data forms that will be used for collecting data on mammals. Similar forms will be used for birds. Form //2 serves as a guideline to give examples of what type of Information would be appro- priate under each heading. Obviously, it would be rare for someone to have data on all the areas listed and some individuals will have inform- ation that is not suggested. The guidelines are meant to provide suggestions to contributors, and are not meant to be strictly followed. Because we have limited the data form to one page, it may be difficult for some keepers to record all the data that they want to contribute. When this happens the basic information can be recorded on the data form with a notation in the "Remarks" section stating that further details will be given in the form of an article in the "Articles" section of the Notebook. The information we are interested in collecting will be useful not only to people involved in hand-rearing, but to all keepers with these species hatching or being born in their areas. Comparisons can be made by consulting our chapter in the Notebook to determine if there are any problems occurring in an animals* development. The data forms I have included are rough drafts only — many changes could be made before the final forms are printed and distributed. I am asking that anyone interested in learning more about this project and contributing to it, or having any suggestions for improving the data forms would please send comments to me at the address below. Marcia Clevenger 5436 N.E. Grand Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111 Ed. Not^: Tfie (U pnlwtzd on the. next page have been abbreviated by etunlnatlng i>paee provided ^or more detailed avibwer^. Each {)orm covers one standard page. 1 FORM #1 Common Name Scientific Name Submitted by Institution Position Reproductive History Birth Environment Suckling Physical Development Behavioral Development Remarks (include cause of death, if applicable) FORM #2 Common Name Scientific Name Submitted by ^Institution_ Position Reproductive History Primiparous 0.1 or previous births No. in litter Previous infant mortality Birth Environment Description of exhibit, denning area Duration of labor Date of birth, weather conditions Cleaned by parent? Other animals present Suckling Milk analysis, if available Frequency, duration of suckling Position of infant during suckling First suckling observed Special stimulus needed to induce suckling? Physical Development Weights, if available Teeth erupting Eyes opening Shedding Stool frequency, consistency First solid food accepted Weaning -- beginning , ending Stimulated for urination, defecation? Behavioral Development Amount of parent /inf ant contact Contact with others Activity patterns Play behavior Remarks (include cause of death, if applicable) For more details, see "Articles” section. ZOO-NEWS FROM JAPAN THE BREEDING AWARD FOR 1980 IN JAPAN by Vo6ki. VoyiQ.tayil looVELIIoo VoJilgn B Education Lab, Kobe, Japan 1 have a report of the "Animals which received the Breeding Award for 1980" in our country. The Japan Zoo Aquarium Association gives recognition for the first captive bred animals who have grown up to over 6 months. It is returned for a member organization of the JZAA at every year. This award has two classes, "Natural breeding" and "hand raising." This year was highlighted by several very significant births in the Japanese Zoo’s animal collections. The total winning official commenda- tion is 21 institutions and 36 species. There were 13 species of mammal births, 16 species of birds and 2 species of reptiles. I'll introduce the principal subjects to the American public. Kushiro Zoo, Kushiro City, Hokkaido South American Sea Lion Higashiyama Zoo, Nagoya City Tama Zoological Park, Tokyo Black and white Colobus Pere David’s Deer Tennoji Zoo, Osaka City Nogeymam Zoo, Yokohama City South American Tapir Ring-tailed Lemur Takarazuka Zoo, Takarazuka City Siberian Lynx Patas monkey South African Fur seal Tokiwa Yuen Zoo, Ube City Toyohashi Zoo, Toyohashi City Toque monkey Japanese hare (kyusyu-type) Japan Monkey Centre Toba Aquarium, Toba City Lesser Galago Finless Porpoise Slender Loris Birds Ueno Zoo, Tokyo Pied Imperial pigeon Ocellated Turkey Swinhoe’s Pheasant Tama Zoological Park, Tokyo Scarlet Ibis White Ibis Glossy Ibis Fulvous Whistling duck Lesser White-fronted duck Wigeon Inokashira Park Zoo, Tokyo Maned Goose Yumemigasaki Zoo, Kawasaki City Chaco Chachalaca Nogeyama Zoo, Yokohama City Andean Condor Cuban Whistling duck Tennoji Zoo, Osaka City Temminck’s Tragopan Nagasakibana Parking Garden, Kagoshima City, Kyushu Red bird of Paradise Yatsu-Yuen Zoo, Chiba City Little Egret Reptiles Tokushima Zoo, Tokushima City Spectacled Caiman Tennoji Zoo, Isaka City Homatop-sJ^ buccata Fish Oarai Aquarium, Ibaragi Pref. Agonomalas paobo6cldatu Enoshima Aquarium, Kanagawa Pref. Sckyzothoaax 6p. Tokai University Aquarium, Shizuoka Pref . V to don kolacanthai) Takeshima Aquarium, Aichi Pref SeAAa^almiu ncuttcn.2Al Shlma Marine Land, Mie Pref. Octopus do{)tctnt do{)Zetnl 9 DOUBLE-WATTLED CASSOWARIES by Cant F. UfcuUon ki>^Uita.YVt ViAQ,CJt0K. LoLuUyiana PuActoe Gcuiddn^ S loo After maintaining Double-wattled cassowaries at our zoo for over six years, this year was earmarked a success by the hatching of a chick. The female had previously been with a male and laid clutches of eight eggs or more for three successive years prior to his inadvertent death in the spring of 1975. Following the absence of the male, she ceased egg production. In 1976 a young replacement male was obtained from the Baltimore Zoo. This spring was the first mixing of these two birds which have been kept on separate islands with approximately a 30 foot water space dividing the islands, allowing only limited visual contact. Breeding Program In late February the male cassowary was making low "whining” sounds which had not been heard previously. His aggression towards keepers, also, subsided about this same time. The two birds were mixed on April 1, introducing the male to the female. Instant aggression occurred from the female for approximately 10 minutes. Brief flair-ups developed during the course of the day, but very infre- quently, and only when the male approached the female too closely. By late afternoon all confrontations had halted. From this point on the birds remained together. The only observed breeding attempts were on April 6 and 7. The male would slowly approach the female which would be in a sternal resting position. He would peck the ground around her moving to her anterior. If she did not rise immediately, he would peck her back several minutes then assume the sitting position behind her, move forward and breed her. She would stand immediately after copulation and walk off. The actual copulatory act was very brief. On April 19, the first egg was laid. Both birds seemed to be developing more aggression towards keepers. The male exhibited no signs of interest in the egg, which we removed for artificial incubation. Mulch nesting material was placed at the egg-laying site the following day. On this nest was placed an infertile Rhea egg. Egg number two was laid April 24 adjacent to the Rhea egg which had been moved from the "nest.” Again we substituted an infertile Rhea egg for the cassowary egg. Aggression towards keepers was definitely increasing. The third egg was laid April 28, in close proximity to the Rhea eggs as was the fourth egg laid May 2. On April 30, prior to the laying of the last egg, I noticed an interesting behavior of the male. The birds were placidly walking around. The male made his way to the area of the "nest” and sat down. Soon after, he began pecking at debris on the ground and tossing it on his back. I suspect this to be signs of nesting interest. He was observed repeating this behavior on only one other occasion after this observation prior to actual nesting. Incubation of the Rhea eggs was undertaken by the male on May 3, using the "nest” that had been supplied him. Aggression from both birds was at a peak. On May 18, the infertile Rhea eggs were replaced by four viable Rhea eggs which the male immediately accepted. One egg was found broken away from the nest on June 4 and another on June 27. The remaining two eggs were candled on June 30. Both eggs showed normal 10 Double-wattled Cassowaries , contlmo-d development, scheduled to hatch within a few days. On July 1, both eggs were missing from the nest, only fragments of egg shell around the nest remained. During the entire incubation period of the eggs, the male never sat fast to the nest. He would always react to people by running to the fence. His food intake tapered down, but he ate consistently throughout incuba- tion of the eggs. Artificial Incubation Incubator temperatures were maintained at 97° F. and 84-85 wet bulb for the duration of incubation. The range on D-w cassowaries is 47-53 days. Because of the egg shell thickness and coloration, it was impossible to candle the eggs. We decided on egg weights during incubation to help monitor development. The following chart and graph are the weights taken during incubation. DATE EGG WEIGHTS IN GRAMS 5/2 1) 579 2) 625 3) 639 4) 606 5/14 1) 530 2) 575 3) 595 4) 555 5/28 1) 510 2) 560 3) 570 4) 540 6/13 1) 465 2) 540 3) 555 4) 515 No. 1 was removed from the incubator on 6/16 with blood spot development. No. 2 was removed from the incubator on 6/20 and opened. It had slightly more development than egg one. No. 3 hatched on 6/22 after 53 days on incubation. No. 4 was removed from the incubator on 6/26. It contained a dead fully developed chick. 11 Double-wattled Cassowaries , contlnand Hand-rearing The surviving chick weighed 365 grams at hatching. Daily weights on the chick were taken. Below is a list of monthly weights: 365-347 grams 343-685 grams 735-1040 grams 1040-1800 grams June July August September There are fluctuations within each month, but we tried to stay with Denver's recommendation of 10-20 grams gain/day for the first several weeks. Weights were taken prior to afternoon feeding. If the daily gain exceeded 30 grams the protein was excluded from the p.m. diet, receiving only fruit and lettuce. At this point we monitor the weight and food, but are not overly concerned if daily weight exceeds 40-50 grams. The initial feeding was offered 72 hours after hatching. Diet consisted of chopped apple, banana, and finely chopped lettuce floated in water, offered twice daily. Feeding was stimulated by tapping on the food bowl. After the fifth day, the chick's diet consisted of chopped apple, banana, crumbled hard-boiled egg and shell, chopped lettuce floated in Salsbury's vitamins and electrolytes, vionate, dolomite powder, and kelp powder sprinkled on the food. On the eleventh day, the chick's diet was altered to our present diet of chopped fruits, Ratite Diet pellets (initially crumbled), soft-billed bird pellets, Bird-of-Prey Diet, crumbled hard-boiled egg and shell, chopped lettuce floated in ‘water, vionate, dolomite powder, and kelp powder added to the diet. The amount of food is upped according to weight and consumption, but still fed twice daily. Grapes, raisins, and crickets were offered but rejected, literally tossed out of the food bowl. Exercise Exercise is, of course, a major necessity for ratite chicks as it is with the precocial birds. The first several weeks, the cassowary chick was "walked" twice daily in a grass pen for a 30-45 minute exercise period. As the chick grew it would be left outside in the morning and brought back into its "night" stall last thing in the afternoon. Originally, the idea of giving the chick a comparably-aged companion Rhea chick to stimulate activity was considered. However, cassowary chicks exhibit remarkable aggression to other ratite chicks even at this early age. As a result, the chick has been raised virtually by himself. Adjacent to his outside pen, we maintain a small flock of Rhea chicks allowing visual contact . We vent sexed the chick at 3h weeks of age as a male. Special thanks to Denver Zoo, San Antonio Zoo, Baltimore Zoo, and Mickey Olson for much needed advice and information on artificial incubation and hand-rearing of cassowaries . This success could not have been realized without our staff at Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo. I would be interested to hear from anyone who has information on breeding artificially incubating, and/or hand-rearing of cassowaries. The Washington Park Zoo in Portland, Oregon has an ongoing behavioral research program in which undergraduate students are trained in obser- vational techniques. Students receive academic credit at their home university for their work at the zoo. One of the requirements of the course is a paper detailing some aspect of their observations . Keepers and other zoo staff receive copies of these papers, which provide addi- tional information about the animals under their care. The following ‘is one such paper. Jill D. Mellen, Research Coordinator Washington Park Zoo, Portland, Oregon SOCIAL PLAY IN A CAPTIVE INFANT ORANGUTAN Pongo pggmaeiu aholyil by Havicy A. Johiuon WcLAkington Pa/ik loo Orangutans Pongo pygmao^LiA abo^yil have been studied in the wild (Horr, 1977; MacKinnon, 1974, 1979), yet little is known about infant-parental interactions. The social structure of wild orangutans is such that maternal interactions with infants are much more frequent than are paternal-infant interactions. In fact, there are indications that in the wild the adult male does not interact at all with his offspring. In some zoo situations, the adult remains in relatively close proximity (necessitated by the boundaries of the enclosure) to his infant. In a captive family of orangutans at Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center in Atlanta, Georgia, strong mother- inf ant bonds have been observed. However, adult male infant interactions have been described as being weak or nonexistent (Maple et al., 1978; in press). Mother-infant and father-infant social play interactions were examined during an infant orangutan's first year of life at the Washington Park Zoo in Portland, Oregon. Social play was used as an indicator of social behavior involving infant and parents. Methods Subjects. The group of orangutans Pongo pygmaCiU abe^tLoi at the Washington Park Zoo (WPZ) in Portland, Oregon, consisted of one adult male, Harry; one adult female, Inji; and their infant male, Kalimantan. Both adults were wild born Sumatran orangutans; the male's age was estimated to be 21 years and the female's age was estimated to be 18 years. The infant was born March 6, 1979. This study was initiated on the day Kalimantan was born. The adult male was not separated from the female at any time during pregnancy, parturition or after birth, and he was never observed to be overly aggressive toward the female or infant. Housing and maintenance . The orangutans were housed in an indoor glass- fronted enclosure measuring 6.1m wide x 4.3 m. deep x 4.6 m. high. The ceiling was welded wire mesh. Metal climbing structures and two sleep- ing platforms were located in the exhibit. Each day after cleaning, approximately 13 kg of straw were scattered on the floor for nest building and foraging. Plastic tubs and burlap sacks were provided as toys." Feeding occurred once a day and consisted of Purina Monkey Chow in the amounts as follows^ adult male, 102 pieces of chow; adult female, 72 pieces; infant, 10 pieces. In addition, 2.5 kg of mixed 13 Social Play in a Captive Infant Orangutan, aontZnu^d fruits and vegetables fortified with Geveral and Multi Vita-Min were given daily to the trio. The animals were hand-fed by the keepers to insure that each animal received the appropriate amount of food. Data collection procedure. Data were collected utilizing the scan sampling method (Wilson, 1977). Behaviors were recorded as they occurred at the instant ending a pre-defined time interval. During the first six months of the study the time interval used was 60 seconds. During the final six months, 30 second intervals were adopted to attain increased accuracy in estimating' the percent of time spent in each behavior studied. During the infant’s first twelve months a total of 201.69 hours of data were collected by undergraduate students participating in the WPA Behavioral Research Program. Total hours of observation ranged from six hours to sixty hours per month, with an average of twenty hours per month. The ethogram used consisted of 25 distinct behaviors (Mellen, 1980). This study focused on one of these behaviors, social play. Social play was defined as wrestling, chasing and/or gnaw wrestling (reciprocal, non-agonistic biting of another individual) . Play was accompanied by a wide open play-face and play-panting (Maple, et al. , 1978). Students’ ^-test for paired observations was used to compare the amount of time spent in social play between mother-infant and father-infant pairs. Results Figure 1 summarized the percentages of time spent in social play between mother and infant and father and infant. Social play was observed between mother and infant beginning in Kali’s first month and continued to increase throughout the year. There was a dramatic increase in social play between mother and infant during the infant’s sixth month. At eight months of age, the infant began playing with his father. No social play between father and infant was documented in the ninth month, but in the final month of the study the infant’s rate of play with both parents increased. The infant spent significantly more time playing with his mother than with his father during this first year of life (p .05, t = -2.51, df = 9). Discussion The early appearance of mother- infant social play in the WPZ orangutans is an indicator of a strong mother-infant bond. This strong mother-infant bond has been documented in other captive groups (Zucker et al., 1977, 1978a, 1978b). A pronounced increase in the amount of play between Kalimantan and his mother occurred during his sixth month (Figure 1). Rijkesen (1978) noted that wild orangutan infants began to break physical contact with mothers and started to explore their surroundings at the age of five to seven months. Also at six months of age, mother- inf ant dyads in the wild were seen to engage in gentle gnaw-wrest ling bouts (active social play) . The combination of increased activity in general and a shift in the quality of play occurring in a confined zoo setting may serve as an explanation for the peak of social play between Kali and his mother at six months. 14 contlnae.d Social Play in a Captive Infant Orangutan, c,ontinii2.d \ Figure 1. Comparisons of the percentages of social play activity between mother-infant and father-infant pairs. A The percentage of time of social play between father and infant. B = The percentage of time of social play between mother and infant. C = The accumulated percentage of time of social play of the infant with either parent. - No data collected during these months. Father- infant social play began at a much later time in the infant’s life than did mother-infant play. The first pronounced occurrence of play between Kali and Harry began when Kali was in his twelfth month. Zucker et al. (1978 a) have noted that adult male orangutans do possess a potential for intense social interactions with Infants and that this potential may be expressed under the appropriate conditions. It is likely that a zoo enclosure, which provides reduced opportunity for the normal daily routine of a wild orangutan, is the appropriate condition for an adult male to exhibit social play activity with an infant. In the wild, eating, foraging, and locomotion take up much of the active time of the individual. A zoo setting, on the other hand, allows more time for social interactions. In Rijksen’s study (1978) of wild orangu- tans, mother-infant dyads in which the infant was older than one year, ]5 Social Play in a Captive Infant Orangutan, cowtinui^d were seen to engage in temporary association with similar dyads . It is at this point in Kali’s life (one year old) that he began to inter- act more vigorously with Harry, his only potential pla3nnate besides his mother. Conclusions Mother- infant social play occurred in the WPZ orangutans during the first month of life and is in agreement with Horr's findings (1977) for wild orangutans. The first pronounced occurrence of father-infant play began in the infant’s twelfth month. Harry, the adult male at the WPZ, did indeed demonstrate a potential for social behavior, i.e., social play with his infant. The specifics of this phenomenon will only be understood through future field and captive studies. Acknowledgment s I wish to extend my gratitude to Jill D. Mellen and Nancy E. King of the Washington Park Zoo Research Center for their continual support and assistance in preparing this paper. I would also like to thank Ann Littlewood and Dr. John Crabbe for their helpful suggestions about the manuscript. References Horr. D. 1977. Orangutan maturation: growing up in female world. Primate Bio*“Social Development: Biological, Social, & Ecological Determinants , S. Chevalier, S. Kolmikoff and F. Poirier (eds.). Garland, New York MacKinnon, J. 1974. The behavior and ecology of wild orangutans Pongo pt/gmaeu6. Animal Behavior, 22:3-74. MacKinnon, J. 1979. Reproductive behavior in wild orangutan populations. In: The Great Apes, D. Hamburg and E. McCown (eds.). Benjamin/ Cummings, Menlo Park, California. Maple, T., M. Wilson, E. Zucher, and S. Wilson. 1978. Notes oh the development of a mother-reared orangutan: the first six months. Primates, 19 (3) : 593-602 . Maple, T. and E. Zucker. (in press). Ethological studies of play behavior in captive great apes. In: Social Play in Primates, E. 0. Smith (ed.). Academic Press, New York. Mellen, J. 1980. Student packet: Behavioral Research Course I. Washington Park Zoo Research Center, Portland, Oregon. Rijksen, H. 1978. A Field Study on Sumatran Orang-utans Ponqo pL/gmaQ,Uy!> aboJUA.: Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation. H. Venneman and Zonen, Wageningen. Wilson, C. C. 1977. Methods of observational research in the zoo setting. In: Applied Behavioral Research, C. Crochett and M. Hutchins (eds.). Pika Press, Seattle. 16 contZnuad Social Play in a Captive Infant Orangutan , c-orvUnu^d Zucker, E., M. Wilson, S, Wilson, and T. Maple. 1977. The development of sexual behavior in infant and juvenile male orang-utans Pongo pygmae.li6. Paper presented at the Inaugural Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists , Seattle. Zucker, E. , G. Mitchell, and T. Maple. 1978a. Adult male-offspring play interaaction within a captive group of orang’-utans Pongo pygmcidiU) . Primates , 19(2): 379-384. Zucker, E. F. and S.G. Puleo. 1978b. Patterns of peer play in Pongo pygmae.LU. Paper presented at the 24th annual meeting of the South eastern Psychological Association, Atlanta. ^ PROGRAM LIBRARY Ette.n Leach, Cleveland MetAoPoAfhS loo ■ Keepers! Chapters! Here's a way to get some $$ back out of AAZK! The National AAZK is now planning to provide funds for keepers or chapters to make slide programs which can be used by other chapters. AAZK will : pay for slide and cassette tape copies for the accompanying taped talks. I will be the clearing house for the program loans. A standard rental fee of $5.00 will be charged for each loan. Half of the fee will go to : AAZK National, the other half will go to the producing chapter or individual. Talks and slides that many of you have presented at conferences would be ' perfectly suited for the program library. Other suggestions are: a ‘ tour of your zoo, a special birth, a necropsy, how you do your routine, fete. 1 Let me know if you have a slide program for lending or if you need money i to put one together. PAPERS FROM REPTILE BREEDING FOUNDATION AVAILABLE Karen Starr Wakeland, International Coordinator, received two papers for distribution to interested keepers: A new captive propagation centre for the Reptile Breeding Foundation and The Reptile Breeding Foundation, A unique approach to conservation by Thomas Huff. Contact her at Karen Starr Wakeland Route 2, Box 770 Midlothian, TX 76065 chapter news FRESNO Chapter had a membership drive in October resulting in 8 new members. They have a goal of 30 by conference time. Their activities include selling Fresno Zoo T-shirts, and a Christmas Bake sale to raise seed money for the National AAZK Conference. TULSA Chapter plans to show one movie a week. Their first turnout was good, and they sold popcorn, cookies and tea and shared an interesting and educational time. METRO TORONTO Chapter is working with their newspaper, Tfie Toronto Sta/i, in a weekly column for children with a picture of one of the Zoo’s animals and a description written by a Keeper from the Chapter! They may also have a question and answer section. The Keepers get experience in writing, the column generates publicity for the Zoo and AAZK, and the Chapter gets some funds. TOLEDO Chapter sold peacock feathers < snake sheds, and Polaroid pictures of members holding a' 5-7 foot boa at their annual Member’s Day. They also had a chapter cook-out. SANTA FE Chapter sponsored a barbeque in August, a Dog Wash in September and built a dock in the Pelican exhibit during the autumn months. The Chapter voted to undertake the production of "From the Zoo," a TV show written, directed and produced by student Keepers featuring the Santa Fe Community College Teaching Zoo. It aired over cable TV and production is underway for the second install- ment. The Chapter sponsored development and sales of Zoo and Keeper T-shirts at an Open House. They are also sponsoring graphics depicting and explaining the types of food they feed the animals. They recycle aluminum cans to raise money for the building of an eagle aviary. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all the chapters that have made 1980 an exciting and productive experience for me. May 1981 show continued growth and strength in AAZK’s Chapters. Please be concerned about the plea made by The World Wildlife Fund regarding the survival of the Rhinoceroses. Bqayilh VzZdmcLn CooKcUnaton. Ion. CkaptoJi INFORMATION PLEASE! Anyone who thinks their zoo has a good record keeping system for their collection is urged to send a sample card or a description to Rise DmytriW; Keeper, in care of the Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc., 3120 I East 30th St. Indianapolis, IN 46218. Thank you. 18 coming events AAZPA REGIONAL WORKSHOPS SOUTHERN March 8-10 Asheboro, North Carolina March -22-24 NORTHEASTERN Hershey, Pennsylvania April 5-7 WESTERN Salt Lake City, Utah April 26-28 GREAT LAKES Peoria, Illinois May 3-5 CENTRAL Kansas City, Missouri 4th INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE FILM FESTIVAL April 10-12 University of Montana Missoula, Montana 5th ANNUAL REPTILE SYMPOSIUM ON CAPTIVE PROPAGATION AND HUSBANDRY June 12-14 Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma Papers are still being accepted by Dr. Merten J. Rosenberg, Case Western University, Biology Department, Cleveland, OH 44106. This year's Symposium co-ordinator is Thomas Huff, Director, Reptile Breeding Founda- tion, P.O. Box 1450, Picton, Ontario, Canada KOK 2T0 Information with regard to accomodations should be addressed to Darell Pickering, Oklahoma City Zoo, 2101 N.E. 50th, Oklahoma City, OK 73111. ************************************ INFORMATION CENTER ^llm Uach, Cleveland MettLoPagk6 Iqq I have received some response to my call for bibliography and/or library Information. A very interesting item was submitted by Mr. Ken Kawata of Tulsa Zoo. He provided the following addresses of persons in charge of circus-oriented collections. Mr. Robert Parkinson Librarian Circus World Museum Lynn, Baraboo, WI 53913 Do you know of any other special collection relevant to zoo keeping that may be an important source for some keeper? 19 Richard Reynolds, III 1186 Warrenhaul Lane, N.E. Atlanta, GA 30319 Book bi/ Helen Bathe Oklahoma CUiy loo Applied Behavioral Research, Edited by Carolyn Crockett Wilson and Michael Hutchins. Pika Press, 2647 Perkins Lane West, Seattle, Washington, 98199. 407 pages. Available in limited edition for $8.00 plus $1.00 for postage and handling. Washington State residents must add 43 cents for sales tax. This is a most comprehensive book published on the behavior of zoo animals. To support and promote the formal bond of cooperation between the University of Washington and the Woodland Park Zoological Gardens, it was completed with the cooperation, participation and encouragement of the keeper staff of the Woodland Park Zoo research program and the Department of Psychology, University of Washington. The research policy and procedure of the Woodland Park Zoo is explained. The planning of fifteen exhibits is explained in clarifying language and appropriate vocabulary with video tape procedures in some exhibits. The formulation of a problem and the methods of observational research in the zoo setting is explained with research designs. Ethograms, the behavioral inventory of the animal's behavior, and taxonomy, a category of the animal's behavioral repertoire are included. The following is a partial list of the table of contents: The Nocturnal Mammal House at the Woodland Park Zoo Gardens. Behavior of Primate Species Before and After the Public Opening. Activity ’Rhythms: of Ten Species of Nocturnal Animals as a Function of Light Intensity. Territorial Behavior of Golago cAa^^teaudotiUi in a Simulated Natural Environment . Study of Two Nocturnal Mammals in a Naturalistic Enclosure. Enclosure Utilization and Social Behavior of the Vampire Bat. Cage Utilization by the White-Handed Gibbon. Study of Enclosure Utilization of Black and White Ruffed Lemurs. Artificial Stimulation of Reproduction in Lion-tailed Macaques. Behavioral Adaptation of a Wolf Family CanJjb llipiLS of Zoo Habitat. Activity Cycles and Reproduction Behavior in the Snow Leopard. Preliminary Observations on the Spring Activity Patterns and and Spatial Utilization in a Captive Group of Elk. Introduction of a Young Male to an Adult Female HtppopotamcU amphtbtiU>. Kubwa Sana and Gertie. Captive Breeding of the Peregrine Falcon Valeo peAegHtnu^ Enclosure Utilization and Activity Patterns of Captive Bog Turtles. Co^ectton: i^om the SeptembeA tsme oi AKV, page 195. "The Keeper 06 an Edueatton Re6ouAee" Ma6 uj/Utten by Robert BeoghateA and poe^ented by Pottle Kuntzman. 20 conference 81 KiJXy Kenyon, Con^eAence Coo^diinatoA. Fresno, the site for the 1981 AAZK Conference, has a population of over 200,000. Located between two mountain ranges, in the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley, it is noted for grapes and other fruits, almonds and other nuts, cotton, olives, cattle, poultry and a large wine industry. The weather in September should be warm, but nights are usually cool. This will give us the opportunity to have a night buffet at the zoo and other outdoor functions. Fresno is four hours drive from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacra- mento, three hours to the Pacific and a short drive to Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks with the redwoods, wildlife and the natural beauty of the Sierra Mountains. Both are great places to camp, bird watch or fish. Bird watching is good in many nearby places as they fly south from Alaska and Canada. From this list you can see that we will have many options as to pre- and post-conference tours. If you have preferences, please fill out the form published in the December page 271. Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento zoos are all willing to host an AAZK post-conference tour. The hotel we have chosen has a helpful and enthusiastic staff. The accomodations will be first class. It is near several nice restaurants, fast-food outlets and many stores for souvenir shopping. For those on a restricted budget we will provide limited keeper accomodations on a first-come basis. The Fresno Zoo is a medium sized zoo which houses about 1,000 animals. Our director, Dr. Chaffee, is the 1981 President of AAZPA. We have a fairly new Reptile Facility which is unique in having environmentally controlled modules to house individual animals. Presently we are having a drive to build an Asian Elephant exhibit and hope to have it partially completed by the conference. A baby bull elephant has been purchased. We are renovating many exhibits — a new Galapagos tortoise exhibit, a tropical bird house and some hoofed stock areas. A Bison/Tule Elk exhibit and new front entrace were completed last year. The sea lion and lion/ tiger exhibits will be renovated by the conference time. Births for 1980 included cotton-top Marmosets, lowland gorilla, Malaysan Sun Bear, orangutan, tigers, wolves, rattleless rattlesnakes, alligators, Hamadryas baboons, flamingos, rheas, Tule Elk, zebra, Nile hippo and Masai giraffe. We have a lot of cooperation between the adminstration and staff at our zoo. The atmosphere is one of professionalism with a lot of keeper in- put. With the cooperation of our adminstration, zookeepers and auxil- iary societies, we should have a great conference. If you need any further information, please contact Kitty Kenyon at the Fresno Zoo, 894 West Belmont Ave. Fresno, CA 93728. 21 NEW PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS Karen Armstrong BARTON 5629 Western Ave. Omaha NE 68133 Jeff BURGLUND 1769 Calle Poniente Santa Barbara CA 93101 John Ellis BRADLEY 914 MCLaughlln Cr. Bellevue NE 68005 Karen Elizabeth BRASHIER P.O. Box 7 Hamilton 5, Bermuda Tami M. CURTIS 3837 S. 23rd St. //2 Omaha NE 68107 Rise DMYTRIW 4620 Hinesley St. Indianapolis IN 46208 Nancy FALASCO 146 Hilltop Farm Lane Elkton MD 21921 Joan FERGUSON c/o Roger Williams Zoo Providence, RI 02905 Laurence GLEDHILL 5615 Phinney Ave. N //306 Seattle WA 98103 Alan G. HOLST 2911 Twin City Drive Council Bluffs lA 51501 Sally LIEB 3200 S. Dixie Hwy West Palm Beach FL 33405 Dennis MARTIN 20 Steere Ave Providence RI 02909 Anita MARTZ 8856 Lake Nora Arms East Drive Apt. C Indianapolis IN 46240 Harold MASTERS //23-252 Home St. Winnipeg Manitoba R3G 1X3 CANADA Brian K. MAYBERRY 122 Knepper St. Council Bluffs lA 51501 Amy MORRIS 1414 South Canton Tulsa OK 74112 Daniel J.’ MORRIS 2405 Hanscom Blvd. Omaha NE 68105 Cindy REDMAN 8726 Bridington Dr. San Antonio TX 78239 Bruce ROBERTS 26 Town East Circle Monroe LA 71203 Randall W. ROCKWELL 12770 A Street Omaha NE 68114 Wayne SAGER 10946-125 Street Edmonton Alberta CANADA Renee Kolcoyne SOWARDS 732 A. Allen Mesa AZ 85204 Paula STEWART 54 North 11th St. #1 San Jose CA 95112 John Lafayette STOKES 175 Williford Memphis TN 38112 Ted A. STRIKWERDA 1326 Carling Ave Oshawa Ontario LIH 7P2 CANADA Tami THOMPSON 11 Rosewood Dr. Monroe LA 71203 Mark A. THURSTON 1312 West 7th St. Wilmington DE 19805 Lynne VILLERS 750 W. Hampton Indianapolis IN 46208 22 Kathy W. VIRES For an official AAZK decal, send Box 254, Route 73 the coupon and $1.50 to Omaha NE 68123 Mike Maybry, Decal Project Memphis AAZK Chapter David Robert WATT 1887 Crump Ave . , 1631i^ N. Harris Handord CA 93230 Memphis , TN 38107 Andrlenne WRIGHT 1 1 j Please send me ^decal (s) at P.O. Box 145 j $1.50 each. Charlestown RI 02813 1 1 j Name Christine ZSCHOKKE 37 Park St. 1 1 j Address Malden MA 03148 1 1 1 icity 1 1 State Zip BROCHURE AVAILABLE: "WORTH REPEATING, SPECIAL RULES FOR BRINGING PET BIRDS INTO THE UNITED STATES" FROM USDA An informative brochure "Worth Repeating, Special Rules for Bringing Pet Birds into the United States" outlines the rules effective January 1980. The US Department of Agriculture requested help from the AAZK "...help us in our efforts to prevent the importation of exotic Newcastle and other serious avian diseases which have in the past devastated our poultry and pet bird industries, and can do it again." The brochure defines a pet bird (and what is poultry) , lists the import rules, lists the port of entry and the quarantine period and describes the special exceptions. Please write to United States Dept, of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspecition Service, Information Division, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 1653, New York, NY 102Z8 for however many copies you may need. keeper’s alert The Proceedings and Papers of the Annual Conference of AAZK, 1980, will be published in 1 volume in the spring. Professional members and those who attended the conference will receive a copy. Affiliate and Associate members who wish a copy must order it in advance at a cost of $2. Please fill out the coupon below to reserve your copy. Mail it to the National Headquarters, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 PLEASE SEND ME A COPY OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1980 CONFERENCE. 1 enclose $2. Name Address_ Street City State ZIP 23 We oAe Zndo.btdd to thu AAZPA Nm-i>l.2JX2A {^on. atlowtng lU to n. ^acJU-oin. ^Kom thoJji "Po^ttloiU AvaJ^abt^" LUttng^. TkUi ti> a. monthJiy ^eAvtcQ, to 06, {jOn. you. PRIMATE KEEPERS,., two full-time positions available immediately. Experience preferred, but not mandatory. Salary $11,025 - $11,588, plus benefits. Send resume to: Ralph Harris, Zoological Curator, Oklahoma City Zoo, 2101 N.E. 50th, Oklahoma City, OK 73111. CURATOR/REPTI LES. . . individual must have degree in Biology, Zoology, or closely related discipline, with at least 2 years’ experience in care, breeding and feeding of reptiles, and amphibians. Some supervisory experience desirable. Responsible to Zoo Director for overall management of rep tile /amphibian department, being familiar with federal regulations, design and implementation of captive propaga- tion program, develop new exhibits, and give lectures. Salary $19,847 - $21, 596 plus benefits. Send resumes and two letters of reference to: Peg Wallace, 1100 Jackson St., Toledo, OH 43624. CURATOR/MAMMALS . . . under general curator's ditection, responsible for card' and management of large mammal collection. Knowledge required in husban-| dry, reproductive biology, captive behavior and personnel supervision. I Four year’s experience (three of which should be in a curatorial or super-1 visory capacity) at zoological park or related facility. Four-year degre^ in Zoology, Biology or related field required. Salary $16,700. Send resume by 31 Janaury 1981 to: Bill Zeigler, Metrozoo, 12400 S.W. 152nd Street, Miami, FL 33177. EXHIBIT CURATOR... requires background in art, graphics design, planning and staff management. Involves developing exhibit concepts, site planning and land use studies. Salary $14,908 - $19,711, with benefits. Address resumes by 1 February 1981 to: Personnel Department, Oklahoma City Zoo, 2101 N.E. 50th, Oklahoma City, OK 73111. YOU LEARN LESS IF EVERYBODY AGREES WITH YOU "In 20 years we bring in a new millenium. That doesn’t happen too often! At the last one we barricaded our doors at night against the wilds. With the new one, we may barricade the wilds from us . In the Zoo World, we hold remnant lives in our hands. But we hold also the tools to bring citizens in great numbers to the cause of understanding and to commit- ment to our meadows, woodlands, and waters and the dependent lives therein. " EdwoAd Kohn, Gm^al VviiLctoK, Mtnno^ota loologtcal GoAdm 24 AAZK MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION • Name Ckdck hojld KdmWClt [ ] I I Address I $20.00 Professional I Vult-tlmd KddpdU onJiy I and IntoAnatlonal \kmhQAi, 1 $15.00 Affiliate I Otk(Vi. i>ta^ and voluntddn^ I \VAjid(iton.y I n^o motion \Too WoAfe kma Special I Mail this application and check or money order, payable to American I Association of Zoo Keepers, to: AAZK National Headquarters, Topeka Zoo, 1 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606. I iMemberships include subscription to the kYiimot KddpQJU>' VoKum. I The membership card is good for free admission to many zoos and aquariums I in the U.S. and Canada. $10.00 Associate IndlvldaaJU not conndctdd ivtth an antmat aoxn lacltity $50.00 Contributing 0n.gantzatlon6 and tndlvtdual^ INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS Animat KddpeA^ ' fo^um publishes original papers and news items of interest to the Animal Keeping profession. Non-members are welcome to submit articles. Articles should be typed or hand-printed. All illustrations, graphs and tables should be clearly marked, in final form, and should fit in a page size of no more than 6" x 10” (15 cm. x 25h cm.). Literature used should be cited in the text and in final bibliography. Avoid footnotes. Include scientific names. Articles sent to Animat. KddpdA^' FoAom will be reviewed for publication. No commitment is made to the author, but an effort will be made to publish articles as soon as possible. Those longer than three pages will be separated into monthly installments at the discretion of the editorial staff. The editors reserve 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 envelope. Telephoned contributions on late-breaking news or last minute insertions are acceptable. However, phone-in contributions of long articles will not be accepted. The phone number is 913 272-5821. DEADLINE FOR EACH EDITION IS THE 20th OF THE PRECEDING MONTH. Ahtloto^ pnlntdd do not ndcd^^anlly fiditdct tkd opinions o^ the. Animat Ke.epe/LS ' Von.um e.ditoniat 6ta{i{^ OA ol the. Amehlaan Association ol loo KedpeJvs. Items in the publication may be reprinted. Credit to this publication is requested. Order reprints from the Editor. •-{ TT Animal Keepers' Forum Symposiu dicated to Professional Animal Care FEBRUARY 1981 ANIMAL KEEPERS^ FORUM, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 FEBRUARY 1981 ISSN 0164-9531 VOLUME EIGHT NUMBER TWO Executive Editor: Mike Coker Managing Editor: Lois Bogia Associate Editor: Connie Cloak Editorial Assistant: Diana Brey Art Consultant: Elaine Shea kviXmoX, KddpOMJi' foA.UJ7l is a monthly journal published by the American Association of Zoo Keepers, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, Kansas 66606. Postmaster: Please send Form 3579 to address below. Thank you. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOO KEEPERS NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, 635 GAGE BLVD., TOPEKA, KS 66606 B/imda Ja/iboo,, kdimlvili>tKatlv(i SQ,cAztCLn.y BOARD OF DIRECTORS Pat Sammarco, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL 60614 VK2^X.d-LdQyit Denise Bartenfelder , Baltimore Zoo, Druid Hill Pk, Baltimore, MD 21217 Mike Coker, Topeka Zoo, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 i Bernard Feldman, Miller Park Zoo, 1020 S. Morris Ave. , Bloomington IL 617|'l COORDINATORS AND COMMITTEES Coordinator for Chapter Affairs Coordinator for International Affairs ji B^Ana/id Feldman, MXtteA Pcuik Zoo KoAm StoAA Wakoland i Legislative Informational Committee I Knvln ConwcLy, CoiUOAvation and Ccnte.^, VAont Royal, {/A v LoAAy SammoAco, Linaoln RoAk Zoo, Chicago, JL , Nominations and Election Chairperson Mlko. UaybAy, MmphJj> Zoologlaat PoAk S AquoAum TW 'j Awards Committee Rcfee CAockzA, V-ickeA6on PoAk Zoo, MO |* Mcfee V^^, Lo6 Angtle^ Zoo, CA Mike. CokeA, Topeka Zoo, KS Vick SodeAlund, BAook^leld,Zoo, JL i/lcky LaRuc, AZ ; Coordinator of Infant Development Project i MoAcla ClevcngeA, Oklahoma City Zoo, OK Phil Ed Robe/uU vacancy Venice BoAtcnleZdoA Kevin Conway EveAett Hoaau HeAb Klng^ibuAy LoAAy SammoAco Llnette BAown LauAa SlAlckland Vee Nel&on GoAy TlbbetU vacancy Jane HansjeAgen B Mike CoApenleA Kathy Rettle Regional Coordinators PAewett, Memphis Zoo, TN, VlAectoA WalteA V, Stone Mem, Zoo ME, MH, MA, MV BaltlmoAe Zoo PA, NJ, MV, VE PAont Royal, CRC l/A, WU BlndeA PoAk Zoo MI Cincinnati Zoo JM, OH, KT Lincoln PoAk Zoo WJ, JL, MO, MM, Knoxville Zoo TM, NC, SC MontgomeAy Zoo ^L, AL, GA Audubon PoAk Zoo AR, MS, LA Rio GAande Zoo TX, .MM, CO, OK ,KS, WA, OR, JV, MT, SacAomento Zoo Phoenix Zoo CA, MV, AZ, UT, MetAo ToAonto Zoo HJ CANAVA {jJ^k thJji VQ,b^UL(Viy -Is^ue. AKf bOyCng devoted entUAeZy to the "Jn^ant CoAe Sympo^tum" 6pon^oA.ed by the LocoUvMe ChapteA o^ AAIK, tt 6eemed moU cepp/Lop^tate to have a baby antmal ^on. the eoveA. Bob [/Ineham, KeepeA n oi the Ainlean Paddochi oi Met/io ToAonto Zoo, dAew tkU eovefi oi( ''GAoveA" , the second ^ua ^eaZ pap bo An theAe. GAoveA mo^ bo An tn 1978 and u)a6 ^ouA months otd at the time o^ thiA poAtAoiX. The MoAeh U^ae oi AKV will. Include the Ae^t o^ the napeAb iAorr\ the Symposium. UoAy Jo HoA&hall wcu^ .symposium eooAdtnatoA. ^^*^Mir''''^CUTTLEBUTT AKF STAFF WELCOMES CONNIE CLOAK Connie Cloak has joined the AKF staff as Associate Editor. She has already demonstrated her professional abilities as Keeper in the Topeka Rain Forest, her curiosity and writing abilities in her research, and her energy and dedication as President of the Topeka Chapter of AAZK. We’re glad to have her help. FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS FOR 1981 CONFERENCE It's time to start thinking about presenting papers at the 1981 confer- ence. The Fresno Chapter's Conference Coordination Committee would like to publish the list of papers in the AKF before the conference, so are setting a deadline of June 15th. Send abstracts to Kitty Kenyon, Coordin- ation Committee Chairman, Fresno Chpater AAZK, 894 West Belmont, Fresno, CA 93728. For more details on the conference and papers, see p. 55. Please return the Tour Preference Form, page 271, December AKF to help the committee with their planning. NATIONAL BUFFALO ASSOCIATION INVITES KEEPERS TO DISCUSSION The National Buffalo Association has extended an invitation to AAZK members to participate in a round-table discussion on "Keeping Buffalo for Public Display" on March 13, 1981, at their meeting on Catalina Island. For further details on the program, contact AAZK or David R. Raynolds, Table Mountain Ranch, Route 63, Box 105, Lander WY 82520 PRESIDENT PAT SAMMARCO ENCOURAGES LETTERS ABOUT OSTRICH CHICK GIFTS. Pat Sammarco would like to encourage members to comment to Neiman-Marcus on the ad in their catalog for pairs of ostrich chicks as the "In" present for Christmas. JIM HIGGINS AWARDED KEEPER OF THE YEAR BY LINCOLN PARK AAZK CHAPTER At the January meeting of the Lincoln Park Zoo AAZK Chapter, the chapter award for "Keeper of the Year" was presented to Jim Higgins, Senior Keeper at the Ape House. Secretary Diane Weinhardt calls it "a well deserved award." Congratulations, Jimmy! 25 HAND REARING TWO LESSER PANDAS AT THE DENVER ZOO by Cyyitkla BXckeX and Lo^na Slmon6m Two red panda cubs KitvJux^ ^uXg^n-6 were born on June 19, 1977, ,at the Denver Zoological Gardens. This was the second litter for the mother. Although she cannibalized her first litter, it at first appeared she would successfully rear these two cubs. As time progressed, however, her nervousness increased, shown by her continual carrying of the infants, resulting in physical harm to the female Beth, At this time Beth was transferred to the hospital. The male, Bobby, was removed from his mother’s care when it became apparent she might also cause him injury. Upon their arrival at the hospital the cubs were 47 days old; Beth weighed 1 lb. 4 oz. and Bobby weighed 1 lb 10 oz. (567 gms. and 737 gm.) The cubs were begun on a formula consisting of 12 oz. water, 6 tbs. Esbilac^, 2 tbs. Gerbers High Protein Cereal^ (GHPC) and 1 ABDEC^ pet drop, all of which were mixed in a blender. When they reached the age of 53 days, the pet drops were increased to 3. Apple and banana were offered in a bowl starting at an age of 74 days. At later times, grapes and spinach were also offered. We had to hand feed solid foods at first; they would not take it from a bowl. The formula was also changed by increasing the Esbilac to 12 tbs. and the GHPC to 12 tbs. The amount of GHPC was subsequently decreased from 12 tbs. to 9 tbs. when they were 87 days old as they developed diarrhea. The diarrhea was attributed to the increase. At the age of 92 days pygmy bamboo SoAa pygmaea was offered. Since this was a real treat for them we continued to offer them bamboo every day. When the cubs were 127 days old, we began to offer them 2 tbs. of a gruel blend consisting of 2 parts protein cereal, one part Purina dog chow^ and 2 parts monkey chow. To compensate for the increase in solid foods, the GHPC in the formula was decreased to 8 tbs. The pet drops were increased to 4 and one half of an apple was also mixed in with the formula. To facilitate flow through the nipple, the apple was peeled and chopped before it was blended with the formula. At the age of 136 days, the gruel blend was increased to 5 tbs. with an addition of 2 tbs. honey to the formula and decreased of GHPC to 5 tbs. Thereafter, the gruel blend was increased with the concomitant decrease of GHPC until at the age of 154 days, the GHPC was eliminated from the formula. When the pandas first arrived at the hospital, they were fed 4 times a day at 8 a.m. , 12 noon, 4 p.m., and 10 p.m. The 10 p.m. feeding was eliminated when they reached the age of 63 days. The amount of formula offered per feeding was restricted with a gradual increase occurring during the growth of the pandas. We began offering them 46cc when they first arrived with the maximum of lOOcc being offered at the age of 121 days. Amount of formula offered was increased by 5cc every 5 days. When the pandas began to refuse the noon bottle, the noon feedings were discontinued at the age of 108 days. Thereafter they were fed solids twice a day with their subsequent transferral to the mammal exhibit at the age of 189 days. BEHAVIOR The pandas demonstrated a distinct dislike for human contact, such as petting or holding. Thus we did not handle the pandas during feeding unless we had to move them out of hiding places, as in : the linen closet 26 or in their hollow log, to be able to offer them the bottle. This is not to say they avoided people completely; they would use people as a climbing pole. They would wrap themselves around our legs and climb up in order to get to the shoulders where they would perch for a short time and then climb down. They seemed delighted in this activity and they would repeat it several times in succession. Their play included chasing each other and wrestling, sometimes with "chirp- ing" vocalizations. Part of their play routine was pouncing behavior characterized by sitting erect on their hind quarters with front paws held vertically, followed by a pounce on the other panda. They also would exhibit this erect posture with paws held up when they were startled by a noise, or a person entering the nursery room. This usually was accom- panied by a bark or hiss, but it was not followed by the pounce. At around the age of 79 days, the pandas began to suck and lick at each other’s genitalia. This coincided with the elimination of the noon bottle.. To distract them from this behavior, we decided to place honey on their forepaws, which the pandas licked from their toes until they fell asleep. At about 180 days, there were attempts at scent marking, but there was no production of spray. They scent mark by rubbing their anal area on objects. OFFERING BOTTLE It was necessary to tube feed the cubs at first. Bottle feeding was attempted; the cubs continually struggled, with great danger of aspirating formula. At 54 days of age, the cubs were not removed from the nursery box for feedings. Formula was offered from a bowl and eye dropper, to which the pandas responded favorably, and subsequently switched to human preemie nurser at 55 days of age. MEDICAL HISTORY The continual carrying of the infants by the mother seriously scratched Beth’s right eye, and caused both cubs to have multiple cutaneous abscesses around the neck from which P-6£.udonioyi(Z6 CL2ALig'ino6(l was isolated. Injectable Gentocin^ antibiotic was given once a day for 3 days as the initial treat- ment beginning at 47 days of age. Gentocin opthalmic and Atropine eye drops were applied four times a day for 7 days. At 50 days of age, Beth’s eyelids were sutured closed over her injured eye for protection. By noon the 60th day, the eye developed infectious keratitis and anterior uveitus with hypopyon. The treatment then changed to ulser drops^, the gentocin opthalmic ointment was continued. Due to the unresponsiveness to treatment, the eye was surgically removed. Beth was then placed on 5 mg injectable KanamycinS twice a day for 5 days:. The pain and discom- fort of the injured eye caused Beth to become anorexic for two days. Bobby also was inappetent, but only for a few feedings, and his problem^ was attributed to over eating. At 80 days of age, Beth developed bloody diarrhea. (This coincided with the pandas sucking on each other’s gentilia) Pending culture and sensi- tivity of feces, the cubs were prophylacticly started on injectable Kantrim Kantrim and oral Amforal^. Later the antibiotic was changed to oral Chloromycetin palmitate . To help replace fluids lost through diarrhea, the cereal was discontinued in the formula and electrolytes^ were added r to the bowl of drinking water. 27 At 94 days of age the cubs again developed diarrhea, but free of blood. Fecal examination revealed a moderate infestation of coccidia, which was successfully treated with Amprolium^. On occasions, the cubs would be- come constipated and this was remedied with a glycerine suppository. Thereafter no debilitating illness was encountered. The cubs were vaccinated at 9, 12, and 15 weeks of age with Felocine^, feline panleukopenia vaccine, killed virus. CONCLUSION Compared to other infants raised in the nursery, Bobby followed a normal pattern of development, with a few moderate problems. Beth, on the cont- rary, required close observation and much more of our time and patience, as evidenced by her poor appetite and weight gain associated with her medical problems. (see chart) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Our appreciation is extended to the keepers and senior staff of the Denver Zoo, for their support and professional guidance: Clayton F. Frieheit, Director; Paul N. Linger, Assistant Director; Edward Schmitt, General Curator; Charles R. Williams, Zoo Foreman; Ernest E. Lienemann, former Assistant Foremen; and in particular to Dr. Donald B. LyVere, former Zoo Veterinarian. PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THE TEXT a. Esbiliac: dog milk substitute, manufactured by Borden Chemical Co., Borden, Inc., Norfolk, VA, 23501 USA. b. Gerber Baby Foods: manufactured by Gerber Products Co., Fremont, MI, 49412, USA. c. ABDEC: multivitamin solution, manufactured by Parke-Davis & Co., Brockville, Ontario, Canada. d. Purina, dog and monkey chow: manufactured by Raison Purina Co., Checkerboard Square, St. Louis, MO 63188, USA. e. Gentocin: injectable antibiotic and ophthalmic ointment (Gentol- micin sulfate) manufactured by Schering Corp., Kenilworth, New Jersey, 07033, USA. f. Atropine: ophthalmic, 1% atropine sulfate, manufactured by Pharma- derm inc., Hicksville, NY 11082, USA. g. Kantrim: injectable antibiotic (kanamycin sulfate) manufactured by Bristol Laboratories, Syracuse, NY 13201, USA. h. Amforol: oral suspension (kanamycin sulfate) manufactured by Bristol Laboratories, Syracuse, NY, 13201 USA. i. Chloromycetin palmitate: oral antibiotic (chloramphenicol), manu- factured by Parke-Davis and Co., Detroit, MI 48232, USA. j. Lactated Ringer’s: injectable USP eletrolytes, manufactured by Cutter Laboratories liic., Berkley, CA 94710, USA. k. Amprolium: "Corid", oral coccidiostat , manufactured by Marck & Co, Inc., Rahway, NJ 07065, USA. l. Felocine: feline distemper vaccine, manufactured by Norden Labora- tories, Lincoln, NE 68501, USA. 28 Age versus weight on Two Lesser Pandas "Bobby"* "Beth" p 1. Teething 7. Gruel Blend started 2. Nite feeding discontinued 8. 4.GHPC1‘ Gruel 3. Formula changed GHPC 9. Discontinued GHPC 4. 4. GHPC 10. Discontinued 4 pm feeding 5. Diarrhea 11. Weaned from 8 am bottle 6. Noon Bottle discontinued 12. Weaning complete REFERENCE 1. Ulcer drops: Veterinary Ophthalmology Notes Second Edition: P. 178, by Glen A. Severin, DVM, MS, Professor, Department of Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine and Bio- medical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co, USA 29 HAND-REARING AND DEVELOPMENT OF A ROTHSCHILD'S GIRAFFE G-Oia^^a cmoZopan-doLU Koth^cklZdl AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO by MoAcla A. Cl2.vmgQA ABSTRACT On 31 July 1979 a Rothschild's giraffe GiAalloi comoJiopcUidaZAj) K.othi>cJnAZ(ii displaying severe muscle and tendon weakness was born at the Oklahoma City Zoo. Since the animal was unable to nurse from his mother, he was taken to the Zoo Nursery. Methods used for hand-rearing are discussed, including a description of the calf's condition at birth, formula fed, apparatus used, dietary supplements given, and housing facilities. The giraffe's physical development, growth rate, vocalization and medical history are described. The calf was returned to the Giraffe Area at four months of age and his transportation to these facilities and reintroduction to the herd are also discussed. INTRODUCTION In July of 1979, the giraffe herd at the Oklahoma City Zoo consisted of an adult male, four adult females, and 1.1 calves born in March and June of 1979. The animals are exhibited in a sermicircular grass lot that is 2^. acres in size. The giraffe barn is divided into four stalls and is not designed for public viewing. In addition to the giraffe herd, 1.2 blue-necked ostriches StALUtkio aarm£.LL6 motybdopkaneA and three species of African vulture are displayed in this exhibit. At 0730 on 31 July 1979, it was discovered that one of the Rothschild's giraffes had given birth during the night. The calf, a male, appeared to be much weaker than normal and had difficulty standing. After observing the calf for three hours, it became obvious that he was not capable of nursing from his mother. The decision was made to take him to the Nursery for hand-rearing. During the period after his birth, the calf's mother showed normal mater- nal behavior towards her offspring and had cleaned him by the time he was discovered. She gave every indication of being willing to care for the calf, but he simply was not able to stand to nurse from her. This female had been at the zoo since 1967. She had been reproducing regularly and had taken care of all past calves without problems. When the calf (named Livingston) entered the Nursery, he weighed 9Sh lbs. (44.7 kg.) and was approximately 5 ft. 3 in. (1.6 m.) tall. According to Mac Clintock (1973), the average newborn calf is about 6 ft. (1.8m.) tall and weighs 100 - 150 lbs. (45.4 - 68.1 kg). It was speculated that the calf was born prematurely, although the exact gestation was unavailable. His hooves were quite soft and much tissue had been worn away during his attempts to stand. His horn cartilages were upright rather than lying against his skull, but were soft and freely moveable. The calf was examined by Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Jim Jensen and his inability to stand was attributed to temporary dysplasia. Livingston had severe muscle and tendon weakness in all. four legs, which was particularly 30 evident on the right side of his body. His hocks pointed so far inward that at times they would be crossed over each other. Both knees were set extremely far back on the leg, or what is often referred to as ’calf- kneed.' In addition, all four pasterns were extremely weak. Most of the calf's weight appeared to be supported by his left front leg. It is difficult to describe the full extent of this animal’s leg problems. Because exercise had corrected similar but less severe problems in Nursery- reared ungulates. Dr. Jensen prescribed a diet supplemented with vitamins A, D, E, and calcium, and exercise to solve this problem. It was hoped that these conformation problems would correct themselves as the animal grew and that further medical treatment would be unnecessary. hand-rearing procedures When Livingston entered the Nursery, his temperature was 98.6°F and all vital signs were normal. His umbilicus was treated with iodine to pre- vent infection., He received 12 cc of Bovine Antibacterial Serum both orally and subcutaneously. Three hours after his entry, he was offered 20 oz. (600 cc) of goat colostrum and nursed well after 3-5 minutes. Two doses of Lacto baCyittiU aCA-dopfUtiU were given in his formula at 1530 on Day 1 and 0800 on Day 2. A 2 quart (1.9 1.) plastic bottle and rubber calf’s nipple were used for feeding. All equipment was sterilized between feedings. After the first feeding of goat colostrum, 20 oz. (600 cc) of whole cow’s milk was offered at 0800, 1030, 1330, and 1530 with a supplemental feeding in the late evening for the first few days if required. The giraffe was housed in the Hoofed Mammal Nursery in a stall measuring 9 X 7 ft. (2.7 X 2.1 m) with 6 ft. (1.8m) partitions isolating him from the other hoofed stock. Thick rubber mats with a rough surface were placed on the floor to provide good traction for him. No other bedding was provided initially to reduce the chance of his slipping. A hay and grain feeder was attached to the wall Ah ft. (1.4m) above the floor and water was provided in a bucket on the floor. When Livingston was 6 weeks old, his enclosure was enlarged to 13 x 7 ft (4 x 2.1 m) and a small amount of prairie hay was provided for bedding. An outside exer- cise lot measuring 19 x 14.6 yds (17.4 x 13.3 m) was connected to the building. Because of the unstable condition of the calf’s legs at birth, we feared that he might fall and lie with his legs spraddled and do even more harm to his muscles and tendons. To prevent this, Livingston was placed on a 24-hour watch for the first three days of his life. During the first night, he would rise about once every hour and at one point was on his feet for 40 minutes. He often had difficulty lying down in a correct position and was assisted by the person observing him. At 0400 on Day 2 he passed his first stool (meconium) which was normal in consistency. Severe diarrhea began on Day 2 and lasted for 32 hours. During this period, the calf refused to nurse and was fed cow’s milk, glucose solu- tions, and amino acid solutions by stomach tube. Fluids were given intravenously and subcutaneously to improve his hydration. Vitamins A, D, E and B vitamins, corticosteroids, neomycin, and ampicillin were administered. His formula was reduced to a mixture of 8 oz. (240 cc) whole milk and 8 oz. (240 cc) water. 31 By 1600 on Day 3, the diarrhea had stopped and his appetite began to improve. He received an additional dosage of neomycin on Day 4 as a a precautionary measure and dosages of IT. aCA,aopl^UZuU) were repeated on Days 5 and 6. From this point on, the amount of milk in his formula was gradually increased and the amount of water decreased until he was re- ceiving 16 oz. (480 cc) whole milk/feeding on Day 13. It was also neces- sary to give Livingston two mineral oil/warm water enemas on Days 7 and 8 to prevent constipation. He began normal stools on his own on Day 11. Livingston also received 12 cc of anti-bacterial serum subcutaneously at weekly intervals until he was 6 weeks old. After Livingston was two weeks old and was receiving whole milk rather than a milk/water mixture, the amount of formula was increased by 2 oz. (60 cc) /feeding every other day. At one month, he was receiving 32 oz. (960 cc) /feeding. From this point on, his formula was increased by 4 oz. (120 cc) /feeding once each week until 40 oz. (1.2 1.) /feeding was being offered. No further increases in volume were made after this. For the first three weeks, Livingston received vitamins A,D, and E in the form of 5 cc of Inj acorn intramuscularly. This was given once on Day 3 and Day 15. After this, vitamins A and D were given orally in the formula for as long as he remained on it. His formula was also supplemented with calcium beginning Day 18 and ending at six weeks of age. By that time enough solids were being consumed so that Clovite could be substituted for the calcium. One tablespoon (15 cc) was added to his grain daily until he was five months of age. DEVELOPMENT Our exercise program for Livingston began on Day 5. At this time, we felt he was strong enough to be exercised in the outside lot. He was taken outside twice daily for 30-45 minutes and encouraged to walk from one end of the lot to the other. It was possible for him to take 3 or 4 steps at a time, but he tired easily and would try to lie down when he became tired. When this happened, he was encouraged to resume his exercising. The periods he spent outside were gradually Increased until he was spending 4 hours/day outside by Day 8. When Livingston was two weeks of age, we felt he was walking well enough to be introduced to the other hoofed stock we were raising. These con- sisted of 1.1 saiga Saiga taXaJiica tatoAica, 1.0 Persian gazelle Gaz2H.a ■6ubguttuAo-6a ^ubgLittuAo-6a, 1.1 barasingha CeAVLU duvauceXif and 1.0 Grant's zebra Equa& boAchdULi bohmi. We hoped that his interest in these animals would encourage him to exercise more and spend less time lying down. He was allowed outside with these at 0800 to exercise at will until 1600. Photographs of Livingston's legs were taken at two week intervals begin- ning Day 6. Although some improvement could be seen on a daily basis, the greatest improvement by far occurred between Day 6 and Day 20. The right front leg improved most rapidly. Although the knee was still obviously set too far back, a definite improvement had been made. Both hocks still pointed inward but did not cross. Further improvement was made between Day 20 and Day 34. At this time, both knees were positioned normally and the pasterns appeared to be strengthening. The hocks still pointed inward, however. After Day 34, Livingston's leg improvement progressed more slowly. By Day 48, his legs appeared normal to the casual observer. At two months of age, the hocks were poisitioned correctly and all four legs appeared normal in every way. 32 Livingston’s height was measured weekly for the first two months. According to Dagg and Foster (1967) , a giraffe calf may grow anywhere from 23 cm (9 in.) per week to 7-13 cm (2. 8-5.1 in.) per month during their first year of life. Livingston’s growth rate was in the lower range of these values. He averaged an increase of 2.5 cm (1 in.) each week or 10.1 cm (4 in.)' per month. As mentioned previously, when Livingston entered the Nursery his horn cartilages were upright, but freely moveable. By Day 12, the horns were becoming attached to the skull. More ossification was evident by Day 18 and by five weeks of age, the horns were 90% ossified. The horns’ fusion with the skull was complete at six weeks of age. At two months of age, the median horn first became noticeable as a small bump on the forehead. Solid foods consisting of alfalfa hay and sweet feed were offered begin- ing Day 12, and a variety of tree braches were offered beginning Day 30. Although Livinston showed some interest in solids at two weeks of age, he was not eating solids regularly until one month of age. At this time he was eating alfalfa and browse well and a small amount of sweet feed occasionally. At 2% m.onths he was eating all forms of solid food regu- larly. Rumination (cud-chewing) was first observed when he was six weeks old. Livingston’s first attempts to bend his head down to the ground to eat stray pieces of alfalfa or leaves did not occur until he was 3h months. His first attempts to accomplish this were done with his front legs straight and spread wide apart. Later he would reach the ground by bending his knees slightly. These actions may have been accomplished earlier if his motor control and coordination had been better. Livingston received 40 oz (1.2 1.) of milk at four feedings/day until weaning began at four months of age. At this time, the 1030 feeding was eliminated. Two weeks later the 1330 feeding was eliminated. Livingston was transferred to the Giraffe Area at this time. He received two feedings/day until he was seven months old and was weaned completely at eight months of age. During the 4^ months that the giraffe was in the Nursery, only one vocal- ization was heard. This occurred on Day 3 when he was given an intra- muscular injection of B vitamins and he gave a short bellow of pain. Only two medical problems were encountered after the first two critical weeks and these were relatively minor. When Livingston was two months of age, he had another case of diarrhea which lasted four days. Stools turned from normal to watery overnight and his appetite became very poor.. He was medicated with both neomycin and a sulfonamide, and stools were back to normal on the fourth day. His formula was reduced to ig milk and h water and then gradually increased to all milk, as we had done previously. The rubber mats used in Livingston’s stall provided excellent traction, but caused callouses to form on his elbows. These injuries were super- ficial, but some hair had been worn off and the areas were quite tender We felt that the benefits gained by using these mats far outweighed the disadvantages and felt the mats were at least partially responsible for his rapid improvement. 33 REINTRODUCTION TO THE GIRAFFE HERD When Livingston was four months old, we began our preparations to move him back to the Giraffe Area. A wooden crate measuring 6 x 6 x 2 ft (1.8 X 1.8 X .2 M) was placed in the exercise lot and braced so it would be secure. The front of the crate was foam padded and covered with burlap to prevent injuries. The railing on the outside of the crate which was normally used as the handle for carrying it was positioned at such a height that we could stand on it and coax Livingston inside the ■ crate using the bottle. We fed the calf his bottle while he was standing inside the crate for one week. He would enter the crate without hesitation and back out when he finished eating. On 6 December 1979, Livingston was returned to the Giraffe Area. He was coaxed into the crate and it was closed behind him. The crate was loaded on a trailer, taken to the Giraffe Area, and then unloaded. Livingston seemed to be stressed very little by the move and did not fight while inside the crate. The calf was unloaded into a stall at one end of the Giraffe Barn that measured 18 x 20 ft. (5.5 x 6.1 m). This stall was equipped with a hay and grain feeder and an automatic waterer positioned at a convenient height for calves. Chain-link fencing separated him from the next stall, but plenty of visual and tactile contact with the other giraffes was possible. Although he was obviously nervous in his new surroundings for the first few days, his appetite for both solid food and formula continued to be normal. Livingfeton stayed in a stall by himself for five weeks and was then intro- duced to the giraffe herd. During 16-18 January 1980, he was given access to both the outside lot and the rest of the giraffe stalls. For the first two days, he was afraid to go outside, and the other members of the herd wandered in and out of his stall at will. There was much nosing and sniffing but no aggression was observed between any of the animals. Livingston's mother was also shifted into his stall and the two of them were left together for several hours at a time. On 18 January 1980, Livingston finally summoned up enough courage and went into the outside lot with the rest of the herd. He was chased briefly by the male ostrich, but there. was no aggression from the giraffe herd. Weather did not permit the herd to have access to the outside again until five days later. This time Livingston was chased briefly by the 1.1 juveniles, but they soon settled down without incident. Livingston was housed by himself at night for two more weeks and then housed with his mother if it was necessary for the herd to remain inside. Livingston was accepted into the giraffe herd with a minimum of stress and no aggression directed towards him. The herd appeared to react to him in the same way that they react to a new calf when it is introduced to the herd along with its mother. The introduction was done gradually, and this probably accounted for the ease in which he was accepted by the herd. As mentioned previously, Livingston continued to receive at least one bottle feeding/day until he was eight months of age and was weaned completely at that time. CONCLUSION At one year of age, Livingston had been completely accepted into the giraffe herd. Although still considerably smaller than the two calves born in the same year, his legs appeared to be completely normal, with 34 no signs of the dysplasia he was born with. He showed a great deal of interest in people; however, he did not seem particularly imprinted on them. Hopefully even his interest in people will decline as he matures. In the beginning, it seemed that raising this animal was a lost cause. His conformation was so bad that it seemed impossible for him to develop into a normal animal. However, with many hours of attention and hard work, a supplemented diet, and a good deal of luck we were able to return him to the herd as a normal, healthy calf. BRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THE TEXT Bovine Anti-bacterial Serum, manufactured by Anchor Laboratories, St. Joseph, Missouri, 64502. Clovite, manufacured by Fort Dodge Laboratories, Inc., Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501. Injacom, manufactured by Hoffman-La Roche, Inc., Nutley, New Jersey 07110 LITERATURE CITED Dagg, A. I. And J.B. Foster. 1967. The Giraffe : Its Biology, Behavior, and Ecology. New Yorks Van Nostrand Reinhold co. Mac Clintock, D. 1973. A Natural History of Giraffes . New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. Tku papeA WCL6 oAtgXnatty pAe^ented out tho, 1980 UatlonaZ AAZK Con^eAmc^ Xn MontgormAy, Alabama. HAND-REARING TWO BABY HIPPOPOTAMUSES Hippopotamus amphtbtus AT THE KANSAS CITY ZOO by UoAgoAet. Cook, HuASOAy KmpoA In December, 1979, at the Kansas City Zoo, two hippopotamuses were born within a period of 19 days. Their father, Mark Hippo, was obviously a very persistant male. Mark and Cleo, now 31 and 30 years old respectively, have produced nine offpsring. The offspring were sent to various zoos around the country except for the seventh, a female born in 1970, who stayed in Kansas City and was named Mamma Cass. Mark, Cleo and Mamma Cass almost filled their very small quarters. They were subsequently given and transferred to an animal park in Texas. For several days around the first of December, area keepers noticed that Cleo and Mamma Cass were very short-tempered toward Mark. It seemed they were ganging up on him for some reason. The reason became apparent on December 5 when Cass had her first offspring, baby Hugo. There was quite a commotion as both Cleo and Mamma Cass claimed the baby. 35 , The keepers became alarmed at the fighting. Because the baby received several abrasions and was in danger of being trampled, the decision was made to remove him for hand-rearing. The dollar value hasn’t increased for everything. For example, Mark came to the zoo in 1953 and cost Kansas City $5,000. Another $5,000 was paid for Cleo, his mate, in 1954. Today the bottom has dropped out of the •hippo market ’ , causing our Director, Ernest Hagler, to exclaim "Get that baby weaned as soon as possible!" Of course, those were not his exact words, but we had no trouble understanding what he meant. Our first task was to get the hippo to nurse at all! He was shaky and chilled, unable to stand out of water. His temperature was 30°C (86°F) , far below normal. We put him in a stock tank partially filled with warm water. His temperature came up to 36°C (98.6°F), and he became active in the water. The umbilical stump was covered with white nodules. We didn't know if this was normal and sent a specimen to be checked. The pathology report indicated that it was normal tissue. He was born with hair and many prominent tooth buds that came through in the first few days. The canine teeth were already through the gums. He weighed 66 pounds (30 kg). After he was warmed, he started searching around the sides of the tank for a nipple and he would nurse our fingers. That is all he would nurse, however, and when we offered him cows' colostrum through a calf's nipple, he would have nothing to do with it. Two hours later, he had taken about five swallows. Tough times were ahead for us! We checked with several other zoos around the country and all had used a calf's nipple. None, however, had raised a hippo from birth. They had all started when the hippos were several weeks old. We continued with the calf's nipple through the night, with no luck. We also tried a lamb's nipple, a syringe, the palm of our hand, everything! We had to lift him out of the tub each time, as he was afraid of us and was too agile in the water. At 2:15 a.m. , after working for another hour, we cut a big hole in a regular Evenflo baby nipple and had success! He nursed and took three ounces, and also passed the meconium. At 7 a.m., through red eyes, we saw that he took four ounces. At 11 a.m., Hugo, looking more alert than we, was filmed by the press and television taking six ounces. He wanted to take the whole bottle in his mouth, so we put the nipple through a hole in a large sponge for him to push against. He became much stronger and could stand and walk out of the water. Later we read that other hand-reared hippos would not readily accept a calf's nipple. On day 2, Dr. Roger Brannian, our staff veterinarian, calculated his caloric intake and devised the following formula: ounces of cows milk 4 tablespoons of Meritene Powder* (protein supplement) ounces of heavy whipping cream tablespoon butter 1 egg yolk We offered this every three hours. He took a total of eight ounces each feeding, six ounces of formula and two ounces of water. On day 3 he developed diarrhea. His temperature was 35.8°C (96.5°F) with in the normal range which we found to be 35.8°C (96.5°F) to 37.2°C (99°F) We took the butter out of the formula and diluted the feeding to half 36 formula and half water. We gave Kaopectate and added acidophilus cultures to the formula. Three days later his stool was normal-yellow and rope- like. By day 11, he was taking (ih oz. of formula and 3^ oz of water. We left him in the tank during the day and let him out at night . He was hosed off with tepid water at each feeding through the night. As hippos de- fecate primarily in the water, we filled a small pool for him to enter during the night. This worked out fairly well, as it allowed us to put fresh water in at each feeding. At this point he developed abscesses at pressure points on his body, feet and legs. They were lanced and treated with Betadyne*. Aeromonas hydro- philia, a Beta hemolytic- streptococcus , and Staphylococcus aureus were cultured from the lesions, but they healed without complication. By age 19 days, his nursing ability had improved. We stopped the 5 a.m. feeding and increased his formula to Ih. oz and water to 4% oz . On Christmas Eve, another male hippo was bom! This time to Cleo, after ten years of rest. Mark had been at it again! This bolstered our belief that the unrest between the three hippos had been caused by both females experiencing maternal instincts at the same time. We ruined our Direct- or's vacation by telling him the glad tidings. Again, I cannot tell you his exact words. There was still no room at the inn and number two, "Harpo", was brought to the nursery. Harpo adjusted more easily and nursed well. Or were we more relaxed? Or perhaps, just numb from shock! We started Harpo on the same formula, oz of formula and 2^1 oz of water, every three hours. We substituted cow's colostrum for the milk in the formula the first two days. Harpo received much more colostrum than Hugo. He weighed 69 pounds (31 kg) and was quite active and much stronger than the first baby. As a test we tried him on the calf's nipple again, and he didn't want anything to do with it. We offered the Evenflo nipple and he took to it immediately, nursing so strongly he would almost collapse the plastic bottle. The third day Harpo also had diarrhea. We started .3 cc Neovet M* eight times a day and gave half formula and half water for five days. His temperature was 36.7°C (98.1°F). On the eighth day, his stool returned to normal, ropey in consistency. On the 27th of December, Hugo, the first baby and 22 days old, developed a swelling in his right carpal joint. It was painful to the touch and he was limping on it. A yellowish, thick fluid was aspirated. Viewed microscopically there were numerous white blood cells and gram-positive coccal bacteria. A specimen was submitted to an outside laboratory for culture, but no growth was reported by the lab. He was put on in- jectible antibiotics: Lincocin*, 5 cc once daily and 4 cc of Flocillin* every other day. His temperature was 35.9°C (96.6°F) and later went up to 39.4°C (103°F) . He refused his formula and would not get up. Dipyrone* (2 cc) was given in an attempt to bring his fever down. Two days later his temperature was down to 35.8°C (96.4°F). By January 2, he was not limping and seemed better. His appetite returned and his treatment was discontinued on January 4. 37 After this severe illness his health returned and both hippos are now thriving and gaining weight steadily. Hugo weighs 208 pounds and has gained 142 pounds in 175 days. Harpo weighs 187 pounds, a gain of 118 pounds in 156 days. Hugo currently takes 21 oz of formula, 17 oz of water. Harpo takes 18 oz of formula and 13 oz of water twice daily from the bottle, and the third feeding in a pan with a little omelene. All night feedings were gradually omitted. We have introduced grain and hay and they are licking a little grain. Both have been weaned from the baby nipples and are using calf’s nipples. We scrub their tank and room daily with a disinfectant. Initially, we kept the tank water temperature at about 85°F (29.4°C), but we gradually cooled it to room temperature as they grew older. A ramp was built for them to go in and out of their tank. In the teething process they like to chew on old rubber boots, rubber feeding pans, a large rubber ball, and keepers’ legs. By the time they were 100 days old, it was no longer safe to put a hand in their mouth to count teeth, as quite a few had broken through the gum. At the begin- ning we gave them a pillow to put their head on at night as we noticed they liked to have their heads elevated. They now rest their heads on each other and in the hay. We first noticed their red skin secretions around the 71st day. They have different personalities, Hugo being the most independent and the leader, perhaps because he is older and larger. Harpo is not as ’tame’ as Hugo, and was not handled as much in the beginning. Harpo seems the more intelligent of the two, rapidly learning to walk up a ramp to be weighed. For a long time Hugo had to be pushed, shoved, and coaxed with a bottle for this procedure. We weighed them once a week and found this data to be important in regulating their intake. They have several traits in common. Stubborness is very apparent and they are both shy. Sh3mess is sometimes overcome by curiosity. They are intelligent and soon caught on to the daily routine. They like to go outside and bask in the sun and they interact with the public by lying close to the fence. Perhaps this is due to their close association with their keepers. They play with each other, chasing and running around. Their bodies don’t always go in the desired direction which has resulted in some scrapes and scratches. We call them by imitating their grunting sound and they respond. They also know the meaning of ’no’. We did not attempt to play with them or make pets of them, but they seem to be very social animals and both adults and children love to watch them. These two little hippos have given us many anxious moments and sleepless nights, but the day they leave for another zoo will be a sad one for the keepers at the Kansas City Zoo. FORMULA ounces of cow’s milk 'ih ounces of heavy whipping cream 1 egg yolk 4 tablespoons of Meritene Powder* (protein supplement) cc Vidaylin (Multi-vitamin)** 38 FEEDING PROGRAM OF HippopotmiU amp(vCb-liL6 "Hugo" 5 December 1979 DAY DATE WEIGHT FORMULA + WATER TIMES /DAY 1 12-05-79 66 6J^ oz 3 oz 8 9 12-14-79 80 6h oz 3ig oz 8 13 12-18-79 7h oz hh oz 7 17 12-22-79 8 oz 4% oz 7 29 01-03-80 102 8h oz 5 oz 7 38 01-12-80 111 9h oz 6 oz 6 44 01-18-80 112 llig oz 8 oz 5 50 01-24-80 120 12h oz 9 oz 5 57 01-31-80 125'^ 13 oz 10 oz 5 64 02-07-80 128 13h oz 10 oz 5 78 02-21-80 145 Ibh oz 13 oz 4 85 02-28-80 149 17 oz 14 oz 4 105 03-20-80 167 17 oz 14 oz 4 a. 144 04-24-80 201 17 oz 14 oz 4 b. 147 05-01-80 201 21 oz 17 oz 3 c. 168 05-22-80 205 21 oz 17 oz 3 d. 175 05-29-80 208 21 oz 17 oz 3 d. a. Introduced grain/hay (eating a little grain) . b. Eating a little alfalfa - weaning. c. Last feeding in pan with grain. d. Eating more grain and alfalfa. "Harpo" 24 December 1979 DAY DATE WEIGHT FORMULA + WATER TIMES /DAY 1 12-24-79 69 oz 2 oz 8 12 01-05-80 81 6^1 oz 4ii oz 8 16 01-09-80 85 Ih oz 5 oz 7 19 01-12-80 89i^ 8h oz 6 oz 6 25 01-18-80 93ii IQh oz 8 oz 5 45 02-07-80 109 11 ooz 9 oz 5 59 02-19-80 123 14 oz 12 oz 4 66 02-28-80 124 14i^ oz 12 oz 4 86 03-20-80 140 14^1 oz 12 oz 4 a. 121 04-24-80 166 oz 12 oz 4 b. 128 05-01-80 169 18 oz 17 oz 3 c. 135 05-08-80 174 18 oz 17 oz 3 d. 142 05-15-80 174 18 oz 17 oz 3 e. 149 05-22-80 185 18 oz 17 oz 3 f. 156 05-29-90 187 18 oz 17 oz 3 f. a. Introduced grain and hay (not eating) . b. Introduced fruit and vegetables (not eating). c. Last feeding in pan' with a little grain. d. Weaning process e. Drinks from pan and eats a little grain f. Drinks Hugo’s share - cutting down formula in pan. 39 210 205 200 195 190 185 180 175 170 165 160 155 150 145 140 135 130 125 120 115 110 105 100 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 )UCTJ idyn< '•ron< :ill; L320; locii Lten( ret- GROWTH CHART weight in pounds c»tncsicoor^ lan now to attend. 1980 CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS AVAILABLE SOON The Proceedings and Papers of the Annual Conference of AAZK, 1980, will be published in. one volume in the spring. Professional members and those who attended the conference will receive a copy. Affiliate and Associate members who wish a copy must order it in advance at a cost of $2. Post-publication cost will be $4. Please fill out the coupon below to reserve your copy. Mail it to the National Headquarters, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 i PLEASE SEND ME A COPY OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1980 AAZK CONFERENCE. I enclose $2. iNAME ADDRESS Street City State ZIP 55 We ax.(L(itton i^om thdtn. "Vo^dXloyiS AvaUZablo." tMtingi>. Tka> Aj> a. monthly ^(^Avtco, to lU, {^ofi you. l/ETERISIARV ASSISTANT . . . wanted for Animal Health Care Center at the Audubon Park Zoo, New Orleans, La. Duties to include: lab work, radiographic techniques, surgical assistance, record keeping, maintenance and supervision of zoo hospital and commissary. Job available March 1st. Experience re- quired. Send resume to Dr. Andrew Gutter, Sudubon Park Zoo, P.O. Box 4327, New Orleans, La 70178 ANIMAL HANVLER . . . The Ringling Brothers and BArnum and Bailey Circus, Orlando, Florida, is now accepting applications for the position of Animal Handler in the Elephant Department. Circus World offers excellent working conditions and an out- standing benefits program. If interested in this challenging opportunity, write Personnel Manager, P.O. Box 800, Orlando, Florida 32801. 305-422- 0643. EOE PACHVVERM KEEPER... primarily responsible for two African cows, approximately 12-15 years of age. Must have previous elephant experience. Salary negotiable. Contact Mark D. Pyritz, Riverbanks Zoo, 500 VJildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC 29210 or call (803) 779-8717 for anpointment . ********** ************************* coming events AAIPA REGIONAL WORKSHOPS SOUTHERN Asheboro, North Carolina NORTHEASTERN Hershey, Pennsylvania WESTERN Salt Lake City, Utah GREAT LAKES Peoria, Illinois CENTRAL Kansas City, Missouri ***********************************5*; INFORMATION PLEASE! Information concerning the captive management and breeding of the Marabou Stork and Lappet-faced Vulture is requested. Of particular Interest are special preparations to induce breeding . , egg incubation (natural and artificial), and rearing of young. Please reply to Steve Kingswood, Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 Zoo Blvd, Wichita, KS 67212. Thank you.i March 8-10 March 22-24 April 5-7 April 26-28 May 3-5 56 I Name I Address 1 $20.00 Professional I Vult-tcme, KeepeAA only I and IntoAnaCionat MmboA^ I $15.00 Affiliate I OthoA 6tall and voZuntaa/Uy I \VAji(L(iX.on.y In^o^atZon I I I Zoo WoA,k kfida Special ZnteAe^ts I I Mail this application and check or money order, payable to American I Association of Zoo Keepers, to: AAZK National Headquarters, Topeka Zoo, 1 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606. I I Memberships Include subscription to the AnZmoZ Ke2.pe/u' VoH.um. I The membership card is good for free admission to many zoos and aquariums I in the U . S . and Canada . INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS AnZmaZ Ke.2.peA6 ' foA.um publishes original papers and news items of interest to the Animal Keeping profession. Non-members are welcome to submit articles. Articles should be typed or hand-printed. All illustrations, graphs and tables should be clearly marked, in final form, and should fit in a page size of no more than 6" x 10" (15 cm. x 25^$ cm.). Literature used should be cited in the text and in final bibliography. Avoid footnotes. Include scientific names. Articles sent to AyUmaZ Kcepe/U' foA.um will be reviewed for publication. No commitment is made to the author, but an effort will be made to publish articles as soon as possible. Those longer than three pages will be separated into monthly installments at the discretion of the editorial staff. The editors reserve 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 envelope. Telephoned contributions on late-breaking news or last minute insertions are' acceptable. However, phone-in contributions of long articles will not be accepted. The phone number is 913 272-5821. DEADLINE FOR EACH EDITION IS THE 20th OF THE PRECEDING MONTH. AxtZaZQA pnlwtdd do not ndao^^a/uZy K2.^Z^ct tko, optnton6 oi tko. AntmaZ K^z.p2Ju’ To^um zdltonlaZ 6ta(^l on. oi tko, AmoAlaan fiii^dctatton Zoo Keepe/u. $10.00 Associate JndUvtdaaJU not connected wttk an antmaZ coAe ^acltuty $50.00 Contributing Onganlzattowfi and tndtvtdaati. AAZK MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Ckzak koAo. li AmmaZ [ ] Items in the publication may be reprinted. Credit to this publication is requested. Order reprints from the Editor. ^ CO m -s to — * ?r jrg ; “ 0“ 3-1 c/) o*s : poYii>on.ed by the LouLsvtlZe Chapten. ol AAZK. The coven. tltoUitnatton deplete a. veny antque tn{,ant cane 6ttaatton ^aced by the bind ^taii aX. the Bnook^teld loo. Please hee page 58 ^on details o{i the hatching and cane the [/lolet-eaned humming binds . AKf thanks Flel Luna o^ the Topeka loo ^on his caneluZ neconstnactlon o{i the jmeZen' 6 loupe ^nom the nmspapen photo and Lucy Gemlo’6 dexcnlp- tlon^and ^on his dloviaLUm thu 10' 6 to thu SO' Registrations: $45 for AAZK members, $55 for non-members SECOND CALL FOR PAPERS: Submit outline or abstract by June 15 Suggested topics in February AKF, page 55. Additional topics are : Influences of keeper professionalism as shown by animal records of longevities, breedings, etc. The changing attitude of the public towards keepers and their zoos . TENATIVE SCHEDULE Saturday Pre-conference tour Tuesday Papers Zoo Lunch Workshops Volleyball Night at the Zoo Dinner Friday Post-Conference tour ji| AAZPA CENTRAL REGIONAL WORKSHOP The staff of the Kansas City Zoo cordially invite you to attend the ? 3-5 May 1981 AAZPA Central Regional Conference to be held at the Sheraton i Royal Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. Monday's program will feature a general session on zoo administration and i animal husbandry, a session on elephant management and four concurrent workshops covering the areas of education, diets and nutrition, infant ^ care, and records and forms. Monday evening will feature an exhibit of j; international zoo posters and an English ' double ' decker ' bus will be [ available to transport delegates to the Plaza/Westport area of Kansas ;; City. I' On Tuesday, the morning activity will be the presentation of papers j on the captive propagation, rehabilitation, and reintroduction of birds | of prey followed by lunch and a tour of the Kansas City Zoo. A post- | conference tour of the Topeka Zoo is scheduled for Wednesday, 6 May. |1 For further information, please contact Mike Blakely or Sharron , I Kelly, Kansas City Zoo, Swope Park, Kansas City, MO 64132. 816 333-7406. j 60 1; Sunday Board Meeting Pizza Ice Breaker Wednesday Papers Workshops "Come as Your Favorite Animal Contest Monday Papers Zoo Lunch Workshops Thursday Papers Picnic Lunch Membership meeting Banauet-Auction NOMINATIONS FOR AAZK BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dear Members; Here is the nomination information for the Board of Directors election. Two seats are up for re-election — those held by Pat Sammarco and Bernie Feldman, whose terms expire in December of this year. Nominations must be postmarked no later than April 30. The committee will then qualify each nomination received and prepare a short biographical sketch for that nominee. During the first week of July, ballots will be sent to each professional member to elect the two new members. Please send the completed nomination forms to me: Michael R. Maybry, NEC Chairperson Memphis Zoo and Aquarium Memphis , TN 38112 DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (from the AAZK By-Laws, Article III) 1. To confirm appointments made by the President. 2. To control and manage the Association and its property, passing upon acquisition and disbursements with approval of a simple majority of the Board. 3. To formulate policies, rules, and regulations in accord with the Constitution and the By-Laws. 4. May hire a secretary to conduct the business of the Association. 5. A Board member must agree to uphold the Constitution of AAZK and the policy wherein the Association is not a labor organization nor can it be utilized as such; must agree to appear at Board Meetings; must agree to devote time to communications pertinent to all Board business, answering correspondence promptly and efficiently; must agree to accept Board assignments. QUALIFICATIONS FOR NOMINATION 1. Nominee must be a Professional member of AAZK, must have been a member of the Association for at least one year. 2. Nominee must presently be employed as an animal keeper /attendant by a recognized zoo or aquarium in the U.S. or Canada; must have been in the zoological field for at least two years. NOMINATION PROCEDURE 1. List name of nominee, address, phone, and institution. 2. A brief statement by the nominator as to why the nominee warrants election to the Board. 3. A biographical sketch presented by the nominee with the data; a. Professional background, places of employment, titles, length of service. b. Educational background. c. Membership in AAZK: National and local chapters, number of years, offices held, involvement in activities, AKF contri- butions, etc. d. Membership in affiliate organizations: AAZPA, NWF, Audubon, etc. 4. A brief statement by the nominee as to why he/she would like to be a member of the Board. This information should be signed by both nominator and the nominee. It should be understood that false information or failure to provide the information requested will void the nomination. 61 REQUEST FOR NOMINEES FOR AAZK AWARDS Nominations for the Annual AAZK Awards for Excellence in Zookeeping, and the Certificate of Merit for Zoo Keeper Education are requested. Please send your nomination by June 1, 1981, to: Mike Crocker, Awards Committee Dickerson Park Zoo Springfield, MO 65803 The Awards Committee will select the winners and present the awards at the AAZK Annual Conference, September 20-24, 1981, at Fresno, Calif. EXCELLENCE IN ZOO KEEPING QUALIFICATIONS 1. The nominee must be a full-time Animal Keeper employed in any North American Zoological institution or Aquarium. 2. The nominee must have been employed at least two years on a permanent status at a Zoo or Aquarium 3. The nominee must be nominated by his or her peers who have also been employed at that same Zoo or Aquarium. NOMINATION PROCEDURES 1. List name, position, institution, years of service in the field and the recommendation of a peer or colleague. 2. List outstanding achievements: exhibits, breeding, education, etc. 3. List any extra activities outside of Zoo or Aquarium work; working with conservation groups, youth, wildlife officials, etc. SELECTION PROCEDURE The Awards Committee, consisting of five people, will independently review each nominee. CERTIFICATE OF MERIT FOR ZOO KEEPER EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS 1. Any North American Zoological institution or Aquarium is eligible 2. The keeper training program must have been in existence for at least one year. NOMINATION PROCEDURES This award will be given to the zoo most actively promoting educa- tional programs for zoo keepers — Keeper training courses, staff seminars, and reimbursement for formal education, etc. If you feel that your zoo merits such an award, please submit a letter of nomination, mentioning specific education programs. 62 AAZK RESEARCH COMMITTEE A Research Committee has been established by the Board of the AAZK. Its purpose is to encourage research to be conducted by keepers in zoos and aquariums. Grant applications will be accepted from April 1 to July 1 of each year. The screening of applications will be completed by August 1, then project funding will be approved. Persons interested in submitting for grants should send a written inquiry to the Research Committee. The Committee has enlisted the expertise of Frank Kohn for helping • keepers write the grant proposal. The Research Committee members are: Mike Coker, Chairman; Frank Kohn, Research Advisor; Pat Sammarco, Denise Bartenfelder ; Bernie Feldman; Jill Grade. Direct inquiries to Topeka Zoo, c/o Mike Coker, Research Committee Chairman, 635 Gage Blvd. , Topeka, KS 66606. Qualifications ; 1. Keepers would submit a research proposal to the committee for approval. Upon approval of a project, funding would be available. The funding furnished by AAZK would be to offset expenses such as computer work, data collection , stationery, supplies, telephone expenses, library expenses, etc. 2. The funding would not exceed $250.00 for a 12 month period. Funding would not be applicable (a) for the purchase of any living animal specimens for a project, (b) to offset or pay any wages of a keeper. 3. The project must be finished in 12 months. The written paper will be presented to the Research Committee at that time. If the project is not finished, then the recipient must present a status review of the project. The recipient can reapply for an additional 12 months period. Re-application would not be accepted after a 24 month time for the project. 4. The written report of the finished project must be filed with the AAZK Research Committee and one copy filed with the KviunoJi Ke.e,peAA' FoAim. AKF will be the first publisher for the project. After being printed in the AKF, it may be reprinted by permission of the author and the AKF editorial staff. 5. To qualify for funding, the recipient must be a full-time and permanent keeper with at least two years experience in the zoo or aquarium profession. 6. Recipients of the funds must account for the use in a written report to the Committee. 7. Frank Kohn of Audubon Park Zoo will serve as advisor. The Committee can be invaluable for encouraging on-the-job, quality keeper research. The committee will not fund more than 4 projects per calendar year. A recipient funded for 1 year must reapply for funding extension. Funding is not automatically given unless the Committee rules it to be. 63 The Research Committee can terminate a recipient's project by notification in writing. Termination of the project would result from known violations of project restrictions. Any research fund recipient can initiate another research project and submit it for funding after one year has passed from the previous project. The committee’s purpose must be to help fund, totally or partially, small research projects conducted by keeper. This will help zoo keepers develop into zoo professionals as a permanent career . Spring is here and besides the earth TTOlfl Iflc 1 I awakening, seasonal bir things and the need to get our areas in order for the increasing visitor flood, a sure sign of the time is the approach of the AAZPA Regional Workshops. It is again time to seek the stimulus of contact with other zoo professionals. This is an especially important year for us all to attend the AAZPA Regional Workshops, since besides the opportunity to further our profes- sional knowledge to benefit those in our care, we have the ability to show the interest that Keepers have in cooperating with our fellow zoo professionals. AAZK has been working for three years to establish a Keeper category of membership within AAZPA, a category that will give us recognition as an integral part of the zoo world. This category will give us the same recognition now enjoyed by part-time Zoo Veterinarians and other non-adminis'trative staff. This fall the AAZPA board directed that a proposal be drawn and ready for a vote. AAZK Membership Chairman, Dennis Grimm, has been working with their committee. All AAZK members who are interested in the professional recognition that this special category within AAZPA will give to Keepers are encouraged to be present at the workshops. Keeper attendance at these meetings has been impressive in the past, and our continued obvious participation should encourage AAZPA members to accept us as fellow professionals dedi- cated to providing captive wildlife with the best possible care, having a vested interest in improving our institutions. Thank you for making AAZK a fine professional association. Sincerely , Patricia E. Sammarco ZOO VETERINARY TECHNOLOGISTS An interested group of Zoo Veterinary Technologists are forming a profes- sional organization. The first annual meeting will be scheduled the weekend prior to the AAZV convention in Seattle, Washington, Fall 1981. Seminars and round table discussions will take place, as well as an exchange of ideas and experiences. We are also in the process of organizing a directory and monthly newsletter. Enthusiasm and a joint effort from all concerned are essential to make this organization a success. Those interested please contact: Rita Nargiso, Penrose Research Laboratory, Philadelphia Zoological Garden, 34th St. and Girard Ave., Philadelphia, PA. 19104. (215) 243-1100 ext. 308 64 wmwm Photo by lain and Oria Douglas-Hamilton To many Africans, her tusks are worth a years wages. Poachers kill for them. Those Ivory Tiisks Are Killing Her A poaching explosion is hilling Africa’s elephants. The World Wildlife Fund nee^ your help to stop it. The market value of ivory has soared in the last five years. Like gold and silver, it has become a “liquid commodity.” A single pair of elephant tusks weighing 22 pounds will fetch up to $500 — an amount equal to a year’s income for many people in Africa. So poachers kill to get them. Tfie current epidemic of “ivory fever” is the deadliest since before World War I. If something isn’t done about it — and soon — the world’s largest land mammal may not survive. Future generations may never see a wild elephant. Elephant killers operate singly and in gangs. They kill with snares, poisoned arrows, firearms and even sophisticated automatic weapons. Recently there have been reports of poisoned water holes and poisoned fruit set out along elephant trails, often killing whole families. Today, there are estimated to be 1.3 million elephants left in Africa. Of these, poachers for the ivory trade slaughter between 50,000 and 150,000 each year. "Fhe handwriting is on the wall. This may be the ele- phant’s last chance. The World Wildlife Fund has created an African Elephant Action Plan. They need $1.1 million to implement it. The Action Plan will: • Finance heavier anti-poaching efforts in Africa’s national parks. • Regulate the ivory trade more closely, using bans where necessary. • Launch action to halt destruc- tion of the elephant’s habitat. • Award wildlife training scholar- ships to African students and fund local environmental education. • Carry out action projects in each of the 35 African nations where the elephant still exists. Sam- ple costs include Uganda ($55,000), Tanzania ($163,000) and C.A.R. ($175,000). One thing is absolutely vital to the success of the Action Plan: your financial help. To preserve the wonders of natural wildlife for your children— and their children — please send your tax-deductible contribution to World Wildlife Fund-U. S., Dept. E, 1601 Connecticut Avenue, N.W, Washington, D. C. 20009. This advertisement was prepared as a public service by Ogilvy & Mather RAPID SERUM TESTS FOR ADEQUATE TRANSFER OF MATERNAL IMMUNOGLOBULINS (ANTIBODIES) IN NEONATE HOOFED STOCK by KatheAlno. O’RouJike, Bo-6ton Zoological Society^ Bo^ton^ Hcu,6achuActt^ All zoo nursery and hoofed stock personnel are probably familiar with the disease patterns in neonate hoofed stock. The young animals, whether in the nursery or with their dams , appear normal and seemingly healthy for several days. They may then develop diarrhea, pneumonia, joint infections, low grade fever and loss of appetite, or an overwhelming septicemia. A major factor in neonate hoofed stock disease is the fail- ure of the newborn to ingest an adequate amount of the mother’s antibody- rich colostrum (1, 2, 3) resulting in a severe deficiency in one of the components of the immune system, the immunoglobulins or antibodies. The mammalian immune system is a complex interaction of several types of cells. The leukocytes and marcophages engulf antigens (bacteria,, viruses, foreign particles) and digest them through a series of bio- chemical reactions. The T-lymphocytes , found primarily in the circulating bloodstream, attack antigens with a variety of destructive enzymes, and coordinate the action of the leukocytes and the B- lymphocytes . The B- lymphocytes themselves are found in cetain "filtering" tissues, such as the spleen and lymph nodes, as well as in the bloodstream. These cells manufacture antibodies, proteins which enter the circulation and travel to the site of infection to neutralize viruses and toxins and assist the other immune cells in the destruction of antigens. An antibody is custom-made to attack only one kind of antigen, and there is a seven to ten day lag period after the antigen is first introduced to the body before good antibody levels are reached. By the time an animal is an adult, it has made antibodies to the diseases it has been exposed to and has stored the "formulas" for these antibodies in "memory" B-cells, which shortens the lag time after subsequent exposure to only three days. (4) How is the newborn protected from disease? While mammals are born with an immune system capable of responding to antigens, it would be an inefficient system if the animal had to manufacture antibodies to all the antigens flooding into its system through the respiratory tract, the digestive system and the umbilical stump. During the seven to ten day lag period before antibody levels were high, the bacteria or viruses could establish colonies and produce pneumonia, diarrhea or septicemia. To prevent such neonatal losses, a number of mechanisms for transferring a complete set of antibodies from the mother to the newborn have evolved. (5) These maternal antibodies last from six to sixteen weeks and help protect the animal while it is making its own antibodies. In many mammals, such as primates and carnivores, these antibodies cross the placenta to the fetal bloodstream during gestation, and the baby is born with a set of antibodies. However, in hoofed animals the structure of the placenta blocks passage of the antibodies and the neonate is born with virtually no antibodies. During its first twelve to twenty- four hours, the animal must ingest the dam’s antibody-rich colostrum. The antibodies reach the small Intestine where they are absorbed intact and transported to the bloodstream. After about twenty-four hours (but less if the animal is stressed) the small intestine loses the ability to transport these proteins and no more antibodies can be picked up systemically . 66 How do we determine the neonate hoofed animal's immune status? The behavior of the mother and infant may give some clues about whether nursing has occurred. A hungry camel or a zebra mare with a full udder can often suggest failure of the baby to nurse. However, some of the antelope species and deer "hide" the calf or fawn, whch will lie quietly whether it has nursed or not. Even observed nursing can be misleading, since some infants nurse avidly on an empty udder. For individuals or species for which one doesn't want to take a chance, several blood tests are available. Some, like serum protein electrophor- esid, are expensive and time consuming. Others, such as single radial immunodiffusion, require a different, specially manufactured reagent for each species. There are a number of rapid, inexpensive tests, developed for field use in domestic herds, which are based on the reaction of the antibodies in the serum sample with certain chemical reagents, producing a visible change in the mixture if the animal has nursed. These tests are reliable for domestic species and for some non-domestic species . The glutaraldehyde agglutination test (6), developed for domestic calves, is rapid, inexpensive, easily read and requires no equipment other than a standard centrifuge. A small amount of serum is mixed with 10% glutaraldehyde. If the immunoglobulin level is adequate, the serum will form a solid gel. If the animal has not nursed, the mixture will rem^ain a clear liquid. This procedure has been found reliable in a preliminary test on water buffalo, yak, bison, and Congo buffalo. (7) The zinc sulfate turbidity test was developed for domestic horses. (8) A foal's serum is mixed with a dilute zinc sulfate solution and the mixture is allowed to sit for one hour. If the foal has an adequate level of immunoglobulins, the mixture will become cloudy. This cloudiness can be measured with a spectrophotometer, or compared visually with a control tube prepared with serum from an adult animal of the same species. Care must be taken with the reagent in this test; the zinc sulfate solution must be stored with a carbon dioxide absorbent material since the presence of CO2 will alter the test results. This test has not been studied in non-domestic species, but will probably be found to be reliable in zebra, onager and other wild equines. The sodium sulfite test (9) is similar to the zinc sulfate test; when mixed with serum, if causes the immunoglobulins to precipitate out as small white flakes. This test has been used for domestic ruminant animals, and is currently being assessed for use in nondomestic species, such as exotic sheep, goats, deer and antelope. If an animal is deficient in antibodies, what can be done to protect it from disease? Whether the animal is with its dam or in the nursery, the Immunoglobulin deficiency must be corrected. If the mother is tame enough to milk, her colostrum can be collected and fed to the infant. In some species, colostrum from domestic cattle, sheep or goats can be used. However, since the uptake of proteins stops after twelve to twenty-four hours, it is usually necessary to provide the antibodies through intravenous or subcutaneous injections of plasma. Rather than having to draw blood from an adult on an emergency basis for the trans- fusion, zoo health personnel might find it beneficial to draw blood from healthy adult animals being immobilized for transport or hoof trimming. The plasma can be spun down by any hospital blood bank and stored in a household freezer set at -20° C. Transfusions of 10 to 300 mis., depending on the size of the animal, can be given daily until the animal has a positive test for immune status. The immunoglobulin levels can 67 , be monitored and a booster transfusion given at three to four weeks if necessary. In summary, the immunological needs of the hoofed stock neonate are as important as its nutritional and behavioral needs. The transfer of immunoglobulins from mother to cff spring is crucial. Screening newborns and providing immunoglobulin supplements where necessary can be one of the keys to a successful hoofed stock propagation program. Acknowledgements: This work was funded by a donation from Ladd M. Levis for endangered species conservation research and done in cooperation with Dr. William C. Satterfield, DVM, Director of Biomedicine, Boston Zoological Society. We are grateful to Gail Watts, MT, and Janis Ott, DVM, for providing serum samples from the Brookfield Zoo. References 1. McQuire, T.C., Pfeiffer, N.E., Weikel, J.M., and Bartech, R.C. 1976 Failure of colostral immunoglobulin transfer in calves dying from infectious disease. JAVMA 169: 713. 2. McQuire, T.C., Poppie, M.F., Banks, K.L. 1975. Hypogammaglo- bulinemia predisposing to infection in foals. JAVMA 166(1): 71 3. Sawyer, M. , Willadsen, C.H., Osburn, B.I., McGuire, T.C. 1977 Passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins from ewe to lamb and its influence on neonatal lamb mortality. JAVMA 171(1): 1255 4. Tizard, I. 1977. An Introduction to Veterinary Immunology. Philadelphia: Saunders 5. Brambell, F.R. 1970. The Transmission of Passive Immunity from Mother to Young. New York: American Elseiver Publ. Co. 6. Tennant, B. , Baldwin, B.H., Braun, R.K. , Norcross, N.L. and Sandholm, M. 1979. Use of the glutaraldehyde coagulation test for detection of hypogammaglobulinemia in neonatal calves. JAVMA 174(8): 848. 7. Satterfield, W.C. and O’Rourke, K.I. 1981. manuscript in prepara- tion for publication in Journal of Zoo Animal Medicine 8. Rumbaugh, G.E. , Ardans, A.A. , Ginno., D. and Trommershausen-Smith, A. 1979. Identification and treatment of colostrum-deficient foals, JAVMA 174(3); 273 9. Pfeiffer, N.E. and McGuire, T.C. 1977 A sodium-sulfite precipitation test for assessment of colostral immunoglobulin transfer to calves. JAVMA 170: 809 yoa itmlzn on yooA Incomd Tax, be 4uAe to check you/i p^o^eyi>6tonal due^ to AAZK and othoA p/LO^c66tonaZ oAgantzattons , any con^eAcncc cxpcn^eA not /LcimbuAScd, and p^o{^c^6tonat books. 68 NURSERY OPERATION AT LINCOLN PARK ZOO by Mcuik A. RoimthaZ CuJidton. oi MammaZ6, Chicago, IttinoZs The beginning of the nursery started at Lincoln Park Zoo in 1963, 17 years ago. The original home was a wooden structure on the main floor of the Lion House. It was a bit cramped and primitive, but was a new and unique concept for the thousands of people who spent hours watching babies being hand reared through the large viewing windows. That was the beginning. It lasted only 6 months in this location, for already a new nursery was being completed in the Children’s Zoo building. The old nursery was a start — a place where new diets, philosophies and ideas were tried. Some proved worthwhile while others were discarded. The nursery has always served as a place of learning where new techniques are constantly being practiced or old ones refined. How the times change! One of the original job responsibilities of the zoologists was to exercise the young cats every morning. The Lion House would be closed and cats would romp over 3500 sq . ft. of main floor. Quite a luxury for any zoo nursery these days I One thing has not changed over the years and that is the zoo’s philo- sophy of its nursery operation. The main goal is to provide care for animals rejected by their mothers. At no time was the nursery ever seen as an area that had to have animals on display. Because of this general policy, the nursery has times when no animals are present and hectic periods when it is jammed with youngsters. I should add that the nursery operation has also fulfilled some other minor operational needs. It has become a section where young or delicate animals that arrive at the zoo can receive intensive care. More than one time, this ability to receive T.L.C. (tender loving care) has pulled a new arrival or a young motherless baby through the critical period. Many people have different ideas of what a nursery operation should be. Some in fact reject the idea of nursery operation and would rather let nature take its course. If a young animal won’t nurse well, that’s the way it was meant to be. But, of course, we are not in the wild, so a certain amount of zoological management must be exercised in running a zoo. If I may digress from our nursery operation for a moment and mention the philosophy of some of the European zoos that I had the opportunity to visit recently. While there, I asked about their nursery operations. In general, the comments were that if it was a ’’special" animal that was not nursing they would attempt to handrear it. This was generally the director’s decision. What was a "special" animal? — usually an endangered species. Some of the operations were behind closed doors with no attempt to allow the public to see the handrearing procedures. What a pity, because there is so much public interest in the handrear- ing of zoo babies. When the opportunity presents itself, the public should be allowed to see behind the scenes . There are some drawbacks , like a popular baby that does not survive, but, in general, a look behind the scenes is good. The nursery at Lincoln Park has both of its side walls glass-lined from floor to ceiling. This gives the public optimum viewing areas. The 69 nursery is 40 x 14 feet (12 x 4.2 m). It can be divided into two separate areas by the use of glass partitions. This is handy for isol- ating specimens or having two different animals on the floor without coming directly into contact with one another. Contrary to popular belief, they don’t always play peacefully with the other. This ability to divide the area has come in quite handy. In one specific instance, one half of the section v^as partitioned off to attempt handrearing of a polar bear. Limited personnel had access to the area and this isolated section was a plus in the management program. The nursery operation is managed by one full time animal keeper and a relief keeper. Each day 2 volunteers work the section, or sometimes 2 work in the morning and 2 others will work the afternoon shift. They are responsible to the animal keeper and take their daily orders from this person. At the present time, we have 42 volunteers for a 7-day- a-week operation. Volunteers have a 3 day training period before they can work the nursery. As one can imagine, there is a long waiting list for these positions and a number of volunteers who have no regular duty day are available if someone calls in absent or sick. The nursery is a closed operation and is open only to the keeper on duty, daily volunteers and senior staff. While in the nursery all volunteers wear I.D. badges. Press coverage is done from the outside of the glass and only rarely are they allowed into the nursery. Daily routine consists of a number of prescribed steps to insure continuity on a daily basis by all volunteers. Each day all animals are weighed. Incubators and cages are then cleaned. Formulas and food plates are prepared for the day and evening feedings. After all bottles are cleaned and sterilized, the animals are exercised. In winter this is done inside the nursery, but in good weather animals are taken to an open grassy area behind the nursery. Sunlamp treatment is provided during the winter months and medication is administered as directed by the veterinarian. The animal keeper is responsible for this entire operation as well as checking all formulas, charts and making sure that night feedings have been recorded. When new animals arrive at the nursery, the keeper has the main responsibility for their handrearing. After the animals have settled down, then the keeper will start to have the volunteers help with the feedings. Depending on the animals, this period may be 2 weeks or 2 months. Although the nursery is not a complete sterile section, every attempt is made to keep it as clean as possible. Volunteers change from street shoes to other shoes used only in the nursery. Hands are washed before and after handling of all animals. Safety in the nursery is important. As young cats grow older they potentially become more dangerous. Usually cats are kept in the nursery no longer than 3 months. Although the volunteers would rather they stay longer, a needless accident of an eye being scratched could be very dangerous to all concerned. At one time volunteers were allowed to visit animals they raised in other sec- tions of the zoo, but when an unfortunate accident occurred to one young lady who was badly hurt by her "pet" leopard, the practice stopped. Keepers are responsible for maintaining all diets and formulas. Any changes are checked with senior staff members before they are made. Each diet is kept on file at the nursery and over the years, a large reference file has been built up. If there is a possibility that young may come to the nursery, diet cards and incubators are made ready. All incubators are donations from local hospitals. Nursery feedings are made 6 times during .a 24-hour period. Four times during the day at 0830, 1100, 1330, and 1600 hours. Night keepers make feedings at 1930 70 and 2230 hours. The system is quite flexible and, if additional feedings are needed, arrangements can be made. On more than one occasion, keepers and volunteers have spent time in the nursery on around-the-clock feedings. Over the years many animals have passed through the nursery system at Lincoln Park, Some species have been cared for many times, while others only once. Certain techniques have been refined that have saved species which did not fare well in earler years. The ability to handrear and raise these animals to adulthood has added immeasureably to the genetic blood lines available in zoological institutions. In this one function alone, the nursery operation has proved its worth as a management tool. The proof — in the 17 year history of the nursery 741 animals have come through the doors. Examples are as follows: Species Total Number Raised Expired Indian Lion 10.18 20 8 Bengal Tiger 28.15 32 11 Snow Leopard 11.17.1 10 19 Gorilla 3.9 12 Chimpanzee 9.8 15 2 The philosophy of the nursery is not just to handraise rejected youngsters but to return them to their group or re-establish them in breeding situations. To that end, young great apes stay in the nursery for about 1 year and then are brought back to be re-introduced to their mother or a maiden aunt. This technique has worked successfully with a number of animals. The ability of a mother to raise her youngster in captivity is something we constantly strive for, but if conditions are such that it can not happen, then the nursery operation stands by to help. Now I would like to discuss our handrearing procedures with two animals, the Hoffmann’s Sloth ChoZo£.ptU hoi^^manyil ho^i^mannZ and Neotropical Fruit Bat khXJJom^ jamciice.yU)-l^ . A young bat was brought to the nursery after being found abandoned by the female. The animal weighed 14 grams on arrival and was estimated to be about a week old. There was a sparse coat of hair over its pink belly and back. Teeth were just starting to erupt. The animal was able to hang upside down with no difficulty. He was placed into an incubator at 80-85°F (26-29°C) and medium, humidity. A branch was placed at a low level in the incubator in case the bat fell, but this never happened. Formula was straight (Borden-Kitten Milk Replacer) fed 6 times daily. The feeding position was upside down wrapped in a soft cloth. Formula was fed in a small bottle with a soft latex nipple made at Lincoln Park. Age Fluid Intake Weight Solids Avg./ feeding 1 week Ih cc bottle 14 gram — 2 weeks Ih cc bottle 18 gram 3 weeks 2h cc 22 gram % tsp cereal mashed banana and formula (lx) 4 weeks 3 cc self feeding 25 gram 1 tsp. of above. bits of banana. orange , grapes 5 weeks 4 cc 33 gram same as above 6 weeks 4 cc 36 gram same as above flying 7 weeks 6 cc 38 gram same as above 71 After each feeding the bat would urinate or have a bowl movement upon being put back on the branch. Most stools were yellow and soft formed. At three weeks tsp. cereal, mashed banana and formula were added to the 1100 hour feeding and would be taken from the finger eagerly. By the end of the 3rd week, the bat was taking all feedings from a dish placed below him while he hung from the branch. At 5 weeks solid food was offered 2 times a day. At six weeks the bat was noted to start flying at night and was moved to a larger nursery cage. As a precaution all nursery per- sonnel were instructed to wear gloves when handling the bat as the animal grew and became a bit aggressive. A female Hoffmann’s sloth was born 11 June 80. The animal was pulled from the female when it was determined that she had no milk. This was done on the 3rd day. On day 4 the sloth weighed 15 oz. No teeth were present but did start to appear on day 17. The incubator was kept at 85-90°F (29-32°C) with a medium/high humidity range. Formula was 1:1 canned milk and water. The sloth was placed on a thick roll of sheep- skin to which it clung quite well. Formula was given with a 20 cc bottle that had a long thick-based nipple, tapered to a thin end. The sloth was taken out of the incubator for feedings and kept on the rolled sheep- skin. The baby never really nursed by herself and the keepers got milk into her by squeezing a few drops and waiting until she swallowed. This was a time consuming job and each feeding, of which there were 6, took from 20-45 minutes. Even with cautious feeding, milk bubbles appeared in nostrils and were removed with an aspirator. This happened for about the first 2 months but stopped soon after this period. The animal’s first bowel movement was recorded on day 14. A second bowel movement occurred 3 days later. A bowel movement would occur approximately every 9-10 days. The sloth started climbing on available branches at 14 weeks . Age Weight Average Fluid Solids Intake Per Day 1 week 16 oz 35 cc — 3 weeks 1 lb. 1 oz . 40 cc 6 weeks 1 lb. 3 oz . 50 cc slices of banana apple , escarole 12 weeks 1 lb. 8 oz . 60 cc 18 weeks 1 lb. 15 oz 90 cc These are but 2 examples of the positive results a good nursery operation can have in the management of the zoo. It takes dedicated personnel both professional and volunteer to carry out the task of handrearing young animals. The reward is not only a personal one, but the chance to contribute in a very positive way to the survival of a species. Products mentioned: Borden, Kitten Milk Replacer, Borden Chemical, Borden Inc., P.O. Box 419, Norfolks, VA 23501 Carnation Evaporated Milk, Carnation Co., Los Angeles, CA 90036 Gerber Rice Cereal, Gerber Prod Co., Fremont, MI 49412 SPECIAL OFFER Foa a timltdd time., back i^^iie^ o{^ AKF o/lc available by the i>eJ: ^on. poAt yca/u> . The co^t Xoa 197S $6; 12 t64>ac6 1979 co6t $S,50; 19 SO ti avatZablc $9. Thu, o{^{^eA loHZ cxptKc 31 \kay 1981 ok. ai> long tkc supply la^ti>. 72 TEACHING NURSING TECHNIQUES TO A CHIMPANZEE by Vat SenT.o/L Keepe./t CkiZdAmt loo, ItncoZn Va/ck loo On December 31 , 1968, the Lincoln Park Zoo received a young female chim- panzee from Africa. "Shauri" weighed in at 11 pounds (5 kg.) and was thought to be about one year old, even though her canines had not come through yet. At the same time we had a female chimp that we were hand rearing in the nursery. "Suki" had been born at the zoo on March 20, 1968. Her mother rejected her at three months of age. Her weight was 14 pounds (6.3 kg.) and she also had not cut her canines. Suki cut her teeth the week of her first birthday and Shauri cut hers on the following week.- For personal reasons, I gave her the date of March 27 for her birthday. Because Shauri was sick at the time of her arrival and needed special care, I was put in charge of her. For the first week she stayed in the hospital of the monkey house. After that she was taken to the Children's Zoo where she lived in the girls' locker room because of temperature control, t small electric heater maintained a temperature of 80-85°F. A week later I had some time off and the director of the zoo gave me permission to take Shauri home. Since her condition was still not good and she had accepted me as her new "mom", I felt that it was important for her health to stay with me. Jn that week and a half, Shauri and I got to know each other very well and developed a very close relationship that has remained. Shauri remained a resident of the Childrens' Zoo until she was four years old. At that time she weighed about 85 pounds (38.3 kg,). She was moved to the Monkey House where her old friends Sam and June were happy to see her. She remained there until June 1976 when the Great Apes were moved to the new Ape House. While in the Monkey House Shauri, at the age of 7, gave birth to her first infant, a female, on August 27, 1975. Shauri cleaned "Margaret" off after birth, carried her around, and in every way seemed to be a good mother. Everything was looking good except Shauri would not let the baby nurse. After three days the baby was pulled for hand rearing which was successful. Shauri 's second baby was born in the Ape House on June 20, 1977. Unfor- tunately this birth ended in tragedy. The baby, a male, was killed within 15 minutes of his birth. There were conflicting stories as to what happened. Somehow the male Sam had hold of the baby and started to display at the attendants in the building. During the display he smashed the baby into the window, probably killing him instantly. At the time of the Ape House opening, I was transferred there along with the great apes. It was like old home week. since I had worked with many of them both at the Children's Zoo and the Monkey House. I was able to take up the 'relationship with Shauri once again. In the Ape House Shauri was one of a troop of chimps consisting of the adult male SAm, females June, Vicki, Donna, and Vicki's infant son, Vic, Jr. 73 Shauri was pulled from the group in June of 1978 because of a medical problem with her leg. She needed medication and hot compresses applied a couple of times daily. During this time I was able to be with her and pay very close attention to her. Because of her very large belly 1 sus- pected she was again pregnant. The staff laughingly said that she was just fat, fat, fat. I asked Dr. Fisher to examine her. Before we went into the cage he asked what would happen if she got upset. 1 told him that she would just get up and walk away, but she would not be aggressive. Luckily she did just that. She let him touch her, but the second he tried to use the stethoscope she got up and climbed to the top of the cage. She let me use the stethoscope on her but 1 didn’t know what I was listening for. On July 26, 1978, I arrived at work about 7:45 a.m. Everything seemed normal. I went down to cut food for the morning feeding. I said "Hi" to Shauri and everything appeared normal. At 8:15 a.m., I went to feed Shauri her oranges and she wasn't alone — she had just had a baby! I called the office to inform the staff. Shauri cleaned off the baby, but did not cut the cord or eat the afterbirth'. We waited until 10:30 a.m., then I went in with her. I cut the cord leaving about 12 inches in length. 1 poured iodine on the cord, tied it with cat gut, then cut it. We did not see the baby nurse. Shauri let me check her nipples but there was no fluid yet. If I tried to touch the baby, Shauri would cover the infant with her hand. When I tried again she would put her hand in front of mine. She wasn't upset — only protective and maternal. On July 27 we still had not seen the baby nurse. Some fluid (just a few drops) was in the left nipple but nothing in the right. At 10:30 a.m. I tried to get the baby on thfe nipple. No luck! Shauri got nervous and tried to get away or cover the infant, but she was not aggressive. Off and on during the day I tried to get the infant on a nipple but still had no luck. It seemed that every time the infant got high enough, Shauri pulled him down to her lower abdomen. When she sat up and crossed her legs, the infant slipped into the hole her legs made. In the afternoon we found that there was fluid in both breasts. At 5 p.m. Dr. Fisher and I talked about my staying after closing. Jimmy Higgins, the Senior Keeper, offered to stay, too, in case there was any trouble. We stayed until 7 p.m. We had no luck except that Shauri was now letting me touch the infant. Every- time the infant started to grab the short hairs on her chest, she pulled him down again. Shauri was being a good mother except she wouldn't let the infant nurse- Jimmy and I came in early the next day (July 28) to try again. Shauri still got upset about the hair pulling. At 10 a.m. , Dr Masehgan, the veterinarian came to see what was happening. He decided to try the drug PSYMOD to see if that would calm Shauri enough so we could put the baby on a breast. Shauri got 10 ml. tablets crushed up in some cereal at 10:20 a.m. It started working about 11:30. She was yawning and a bit sleepy but resisted when I tried to put the baby to the breast. At this point Mark Rosenthal, the Curator of Mammals, came into the building and told us that if the infant did not nurse by 5 p.m. we would have to take him for hand rearing. I was determined to get Shauri to nurse the infant. I went to the Nursery and got some formula and a nippled bottle. I went in with Shauri and the infant; my thoughts were if nothing else I could get some formula into the infant. It might prolong having to take him. Shauri saw the bottle and wanted it. I said, "No''. She reached again for the bottle. Again I said, "No". The third time she reached for the bottle I slapped her hand away without thinking. She whimpered and put her hand out for reassurance. I touched her, reassured her, and said everything was alright. Since she was submissive I took the infant by his right hand, pulled him up in position and on the breast. I took the back of his head and pushed him 74 into Shauri's right breast. This was about 1:20 p.m. The baby started to nurse. Shauri began to push him away. I took her hand and put it on top of her head. "Don’t move," I said. She didn’t. The baby nursed for three minutes! Then Shauri pushed him off. All this time Shauri was lying on her back. I went back a bit later to try again. Shauri kept her hand covering the infant. She finally allowed me to put the infant on the left nipple. He nursed for about five minutes with Shauri lying on her back. The infant stopped on his. own and started to fall asleep. Because of the two feedings, the staff was willing to wait one more day to make the decision about hand raising. At 5:25 p.m. we went back in with Shauri and the baby, who was sleeping. Shauri got up and went for a drink of water. Baby was still sleeping, she started to groom the baby, but he slept on. At 6:10 p.m. the baby was awake. I tried to get Shauri to put the infant on the breast, but she wouldn't. I finally got the baby on the right nipple. He nursed for about three minutes. He lost the nipple and I helped him find it again. Shauri lay on her back the whole time with her hand over the infant. As he was nursing, Pat Sammarco came in to make her night rounds. She was then the night keeper on duty from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Shauri sat up to greet her, but I continued to support the baby and he continued to nurse for another full minute. He lost the nipple when Shauri pulled my hand away, but he didn't try to find it again. Before Shauri sat up, I let go of the baby and she continued to hold him. At 8:30 p.m. the building was dark and both animals were sleeping when I arrived. The baby was lying- high up on Shauri 's chest near the left breast sound asleep. I didn't bother them but quietly left the building. On July 29 at 7:20 a.m., I gave Shauri 10 Im. tablets of PSYMOD with cereal and juice. The baby was awake and restless, perhaps looking to nurse. At 7:35 a.m. and at my "suggestion" Shauri attempted to put the baby up to the breast. First he was too high and then too low. I finally helped him find the left nipple. He nursed for about two minutes. He lost the nipple at this time so I helped him find it again but Shauri did most of the work holding him in place. When I left the enclosure she was on her back with the baby in a nursing position. At 9:35 a.m. the baby was looking for a nipple and tried nursing on Shauri 's abdomen. She started to pull the baby towards the nipple when I asked her, but she wasn' t getting him close enough. I started to help but she pushed the baby down. I then moved him back to the breast, but Shauri 's hand was covering the nipple. I helped get the baby's mouth on the right nipple and held his right hand while Shauri nestled the baby in her right arm. The baby nursed for 12 minutes. He stopped on his own, but stayed in nursing position sleeping. I praised Shauri and left the enclosure. At 11:45 a.m. the baby was again searching for the nipple. Shauri was on her back and was playing with the infant. The baby urinated and had a b.m. on Shauri. The b.m. was yellow in color; until this time it was dark brown. I guessed the milk was getting through. I again helped the baby get the right nipple and he nursed for 17 minutes. He stopped on his own and stayed near the breast sleeping. At 2:50 p.m. the baby was awake and searching. Shauri put the baby near the breast and I helped him find the right nipple. The baby nursed for about 5 minutes. I tried to get the baby on the left nipple but Shauri wouldn't let me. She did let him nurse on the right nipple and he again stopped by himself. At 4:50 p.m. I watched Shauri from the keeper's alley, and the baby was searching for a nipple. Shauri pulled the baby upwards towards the right nipple and he missed by only a small inch. I went in to help. Shauri sat up to eat and the baby was searching for the breast. She put the 75 baby up and he reached for the nipple but slipped away twice. He still searched. She lay down on her back and moved the baby upward but past the nipple. She watched him nuzzle, then pushed him down and nearer to the nipple. With me helping he found the nipple and started to nurse. After 1 left the enclosure she moved the baby and he was off the nipple for she was holding him too high. We did not give PYSMOD that afternoon and with luck it would not be needed. At 6s 20 p.m. the baby woke up and searched for a nipple. 1 stood in the service area encouraging Shauri to hold the baby up to her breast. She almost did it, but then stopped. So 1 again entered the enclosure. The baby was still searching. Shauri lay on her back and held the baby up but he kept missing the nipple. With my help he found it and nursed for a full 5 minutes. Shauri was busy eating but she kept one hand on the baby. The baby moved off the right nipple but still nuzzled at her chest. I moved the baby to the left nipple and he nursed for about a minute. The breast was full of milk and some oozed out of the infant’s mouth. He lost the nipple, didn’t try to find it again, but seemed to be resting. At each feeding 1 felt more positive that Shauri was learning what was expected of her. She held the baby higher up on her chest now, especially when she was resting on her back. He was also moving in a more positive direction when searching for the nipple. On July 30 at 7:10 a.m., 1 gave Shauri her orange and warm tea. The baby^ was moving with his eyes open and searching. In a sitting position Shauri moved the baby up towards the right nipple. The baby tried, didn’t find the nipple but kept searching, so 1 helped him again. After a few minutes he lost the nipple. With help he found it and nursed for about 2 minutes. Shauri was on her back and he nursed on the right nipple. She covered the baby with her arms and he nursed for about 1 minute. When she moved her arms, the baby lost the nipple but wasn’t upset. Shauri did most of the work herself getting the baby up high enough to nurse. That morning was the -time. k.Ki a 6-VtXA.ng po6d-tlonl The infant looked good and the navel was clean. Shauri cleaned him by turning him upside down. At 9:42 a.m. the baby nursed for 9 minutes on the right breast while Shauri was on her back. She almost got the baby to the nipple without my help. At 11:50 a.m. Shauri was in a sitting position with the baby in the crook of her left arm. The baby was on the left nipple but lost it, started searching and found the nipple on his own. Shauri seemed very relaxed the whole time. The baby seemed content and was just resting in her arms . At 12:20 p.m. Denny Meritt and his family stopped to see Shauri who was lying on her side with the baby in the crook of her right arm. She sat up to greet the family. The baby was awake and searching for the nipple. Shauri pushed the baby up to the left breast and he found the nipple and started to nurse. At 2:25 p.m. Shauri took some tea; the baby was searching for the nipple. She pushed the baby to the right breast; he found the nipple and started nursing. He lost it, found it again, and nursed for 5 or 6 minutes. He stopped and fell asleep. At 3:05 p.m. Shauriwas fed and the baby was sleeping. We finally decided on a name for the baby — it is "Mchawi" which means Witchdoctor or Warlock in Swahili. Mchawi was sleeping when I went in with them at 5:40 p.m. While she ate an orange and began playing with me,. Mchawi woke up and started searching for a nipple. Even though he tried, 76 ^ he could not find the nipple while Shauri was in a sitting position. With Mchawi still searching Shauri lay down on her back and brought j Mchawi up high enough on her chest for him to find it. With a little 'help he found it, began to nurse, nursed for 2 minutes, lost the nipple, I and found it again. He nursed for a couple more minutes until she moved I him off the nipple to the center of her chest. Mchawi did not seem up- I set by being moved and soon fell asleep. Later in the day we saw Shauri lying on her back holding Mchawi up in the air. She used her feet to hold his legs and her hands to hold his arms . She moved him down towards her and then back up in the air several times. After this exercise she cradled Mchawi in her arms. On July 31, I got to work at 7:45 a.m. and went into Shaurl’s enclosure to give her breakfast. While sitting and eating an orange, Shauri lifted Mchawi up to her right breast. He found the nipple, started nursing, and nursed for a full minute before losing the nipple. At 8:10 a.m. I gave Shauri some hot tea. As she drank the tea she pushed Mchawi up to her right breast where he nursed for 1 minute before stopping. She lifted him again and pushed his face into her left breast where he found the nipple and nursed for a few seconds before stopping. He seemed con- tent. At 10:25 a.m. Shauri put Mchawi on her right breast. He nursed for about 2 minutes with Shauri in a sitting position. She put the baby up to her right breast at 11:50 a.m. After a minute of nursing he dropped the nipple and Shauri moved him to her lower abdomen. He started searching for anipple again, so she held his hand and pushed his face directly into her right breast. He was still nursing when I left the enclosure 2 minutes later. I again saw Mchawi searching for a nipple at 1:20 p.m. Shauri started to push him up to her breast, but Mchawi started to have a b.m. so she moved him between her legs until he was through. She then moved him to her right breast and he began to nurse. At 4:45 p.m. he was awake and began nuzzling her; she put him up to her right breast and he began to nurse. He nursed for 2 minutes and was still when I left the enclosure. When Shauri started nursing Mchawi without anyone’s help, we watched to see if a pattern would be established. After a few days a pattern' seemed to emerge where Mchawi nursed about every three hours. He would nurse for 2-5 minutes with the average time of 3 minutes. When Shauri put Mchawi up to her breasts, she preferred to put him on the right. But when she was lying down and he searched for himself, he would some- times nurse on the left nipple. On August 8 at 1:30 p.m. Shauri put Mchawi up to the right breast and he started to nurse, but lost the nipple. While hanging on to her with his hands, he ^tood up (for the first time) to find the nipple. On August 26, we noticed that Mchawi was starting to get some white hairs on his fanny. Since Shauri had become a "good mother" and Mchawi was getting stronger each day, the time had come to re-introduce them into the chimp group. We decided to start with one of the female chimps. June was the logical choice since she and Shauri had been raised together in the Children’s Zoo and in case of any problems June could be handled. On Septeinber 5, we separated June from the group by locking them on the 3rd level. At 10:30 a.m. we let Shauri and Mchawi into the habitat with June. Shauri climbed to the top of the habitat hooting chimp greetings 77 with Mchawi clinging for all he was worth. Shauri didn’t seem to be concerned about his ability to hand on, but if he started to slip Shauri supported him. June was seen touching Mchawi 's foot once. Shauri spent most of her time on the large shelf in the habitat. Mchawi was seen nursing three different times in the habitat. We separated Shauri and Mchawi from June about 3 p.m. The next day we repeated the procedure. There was more social contact than before. June was seen gently touching the baby while Shauri was grooming her. Shauri started to put Mchawi on her back, but when she did, she turned him around so his head was facing the ground instead of the other way around. It was much more difficult for him to grasp her hair and he slipped. When Shauri felt him slipping she would sit down and, reaching behind herself, pull Mchawi around to her front. For one week we continued to put Shauri and Mchawi into the large habitat with June. Each day there was more and more contact between the three of them. On September 13 we introduced Donna into the habitat with June, Shauri, and Mchawi. Donna was very interested in Mchawi and attempted to pick him up but Shauri wouldn't allow her to. On September 15 Shauri put Mchawi on her back with his head towards her rear and began walking around the habitat with June walking beside her patting Mchawi ’s back. June seemed to be very interested in getting Mchawi to come to her. Everytime Shauri relaxed, June started lifting Mchawi 's arms up. Shauri did not seem to mind unless Mchawi started to cry, then Shauri would change Mchawi ’s position away from June. The girls, Shauri, and Mchawi were left in the habitat during the day for eight days. On the ninth day we added Sam, the adult male, into the large habitat. He went right over to Shauri, greeting her and touching the baby. Everything looked good. We separated Shauri and Mchawi from the group at 4 p.m. Mchawi was very active and nursed from both breasts. Sam paid a lot of attention to Shauri and the baby. He looked as if he enjoyed touching Mchawi, especially patting him on the head. Everything in the group was going fine, so a week later we added the last female , Vicki , with her youngster, Vic Jr. The biggest problem we had was that Jr. was fascinated with the baby, but did not know enough to be careful. Shauri allowed Jr. to come close and even to touch Mchawi, but Jr. was not satisfied and continually tried to get the baby to himself. He finally succeeded on November 21. Shauri left Mchawi alone when she went to get a drink. Jr. rushed over, grabbed - Mchawi, and climbed up the wire to the top of the habitat with Mchawi clinging to him. He sat holding the baby for a few minutes until Shauri climbed up and took Mchawi away. After that, Jr. was allowed to play and hold Mchawi unless he cried out, at which point Shauri would reach over and pick up Mchawi. Once in awhile, Jr. would try and get away with Mchawi, but Shauri always caught up with him. Since Shauri and Mchawi fitted in without any trouble, we stopped keep- ing a daily report on the group. When Mchawi was seven weeks old, he started cutting his teeth. Two upper teeth had broken through the gums. The teeth were not his front 78 teeth but the ones on either side. I also noticed one middle tooth on the bottom was cutting through. This occurred on September 13. On October 2, he cut another tooth on his lower right side. On October 8, the tooth on his lower left side was in. Mchawi started to cut the top two front teeth on October 14; the white showed through the gums, but the teeth could not be felt. Oi? I saw Mchawi 's teeth on October 30. I was sure they were through before this, but I had been off work. Another thing I noticed that day was that since being in the group, if anyone touched him, he attempted to bite. It appeared to be a reflex to the other chimps in the group. On November 10, the two back teeth were already through the gums. this fhtst. I would like to say thanks to the crew in the Ape House at the time of Mchawi 's birth — Jimmy Higgins, Senior Keeper; Peter Clay; A1 Johnson; and Marge Seymour. Without their help this project would never have been a success. Also special thanks to Dr. Fisher and the Lincoln Park Zoo Staff for giving the Ape House crew the go-ahead. Last, but not least, thanks to Denny Merit for taking the time to read this paper and giving me the encouragement I needed. NOCTURNAL ANIMALS NEEDED TO SET UP BREEDING PAIRS AT CINCINNATI ZOO I am looking to pair up three species of Nocturnal Animals for the Cincin nati Zoo in hopes of propagation. I would like to obtain the animals on a breeding loan basis. However, a sale or open trade may be worked out also. These animals are needed: 0/1 Slow loris Nyctl(i . Anyone with any of these animals who would like to place them at the Cincinnati Zoo for the purpose of propagation and display, please contact Mike Dulaney, Headkeeper, Nocturnal House, Cincinnati Zoological Park, 3400 Vine Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45220. 79 HAND REARING OF A BACTRIAN CAMEL AND REINTRODUCTIQN TO THE HERD AT THE MINNESOTA ZOO by John TobJcL6, Jk. The Minnesota Zoo’s Bactrian camel herd consisted of 3.4 animals at the time of calving in early March 1980. During the day all of the camels were exhibited in an enclosure of approximately 15 acres. During the night all of the camels were brought off-exhibit and kept in a holding pen, 100 feet by 60 feet. Following the birth of the first calf, the bulls were separated from the herd. The four cows and the newborn male ' were kept in the holding facility and not placed on exhibit. On March 17, 1980, our second calf of the year was born. "Patty” was the second calf born to this female. In order to give the newborn camels more room, it had been decided to move the two females which had not calved to another holding pen separate from the one containing the two mothers and their young. This was done within an hour of Patty’s birth. Up to this point the dam had shown some interest in her new baby. She had attempted to assist it to stand by taking the head in her mouth and trying to lift it up. After the two calf less cows had been moved, the mother’s interest in the new calf seemed to decrease as she became increasingly upset over being separated from the two cows. She paced along the fence and continually bellowed towards the separated cows. The calf did not attempt to nurse from her m.other, but she did suck on variou! objects in the pen including the water tank rim, the bars of the feeder, and the support poles of the barn roof. By late afternoon the two cows had been brought back to the herd group, but Patty’s mother showed no interest in her nor did Patty try to nurse. By noon of the 18th, it was decided to bottle feed Patty. A formula of exaporated milk and water mixed 1-1 was used. No vitamins or other addi- tives were used. At first the formula was given at room temperature, but corr.sumption was low. The first day of botcle feeding she took 21 ounces, on the 2nd 30 ounces. On the 3rd day of feeding the formula was given warm and her consumption increased considerably to 58 ounces. Pattj^’s weight on the 18th (1 day old) was 105 pounds. For the first four days she was fed in the herd pen with the other camels. It was hoped that she might try to nurse from one of the cows if left with them. By the 5th day, it was decided that there was too much interference from the other camels during the bottle feedings and that Patty would have to be separated from them. Patty was isolated when she was 6 days old; her weight had dropped to 100 pounds. At this time she was given iron, B-12, and vitamins A and E by injection. Her formula intake had increased to 107 ounces. She was being fed 6 times a day. When Patty was 7 days old she showed signs of being ill. Her legs were weak and wobbly. She would not stand for her bottle, but did continue to eat well. It was determined that she was suffering from an infection, possibly resulting from her navel not being treated after birth. She was treated by the zoo veterinarian with 14 cc of serum made from the blood of her mother. She was also given antibiotics, Keflodin, Gentocin and Loridane over the next 7 days. Patty responded very rapidly to this treatment and by the time she was 12 days old she was fully recovered and her weight had increased to 109 lbs. and she was receiving 36 ounces-., of formula 6 times a day. 80 On April 4, we began a gradual re-introduction of Patty to the camel herd We began by placing Patty on exhibit with the herd, which by this time contained 2 more calves. Feedings that were scheduled during the day were given on exhibit. Patty at this time would come to the keeper with the bottle when called. The other camels showed some curiosity but no aggressiveness as was the case with the earlier feedings. Patty would be brought into the isolation stall during the night. When Patty was first put out with the herd, she was tolerated by them but they showed neither aggression or protection towards her. The other calves did show some interest in her. We hoped that she might be accepted by one of the three lactating cows and be allowed to nurse. On April 5, Patty weighed 119h lbs., a gain of lOi^ lbs in 8 days. On April 10, her diet was increased to 44 ounces offered 6 times daily. This amount was taken so readily that on the following day it was increased to 48 ounces. On April 13, her weight reached 129 pounds. Patty was weighed by being picked up by a keeper and then the pair would stand on a scale. Then the keeper’s weight would be subtracted from the total. On April 14, Patty was observed eating grain. On the 15th, her weight reached 135 pounds. At this time she was beginning to be a little difficult to weigh. On April 16th, Patty started to remain with the herd overnight instead of being separated. She seemed to be totally accepted by the herd members, but we had not seen any nursing and her appetite was as large as ever. On April 17th, Patty weighed 139 pounds, a ten pound gain in four days. Because of this sudden increase in weight gain we were sus- picious that she was nursing. At this time the night feeding was dropped and her diet was increased to 60 ounces but 5 daily feedings. Patty would not take all 60 ounces at a feeding. On April 18th she took 242 ounces of the 300 offered. On April 22, Patty was observed nursing from one of the cows, not her mother. She was also taking grain and alfalfa. Her formula consumption for the day was only 154 ounces. By this time she was showing some reluctance to come to the keeper with the bottle and had to be coaxed. On the 24th of April she was observed nursing from all 3 lactating camels Patty did not nurse from her mother, nor did any of the other calves. On this day she took only 88 ounces of formula. Ten days later she took only 13. For the next two days she refused all bottles; on April 29 she took her last formula again 13 ounces. On May 1, bottle feeding was discontinued. Patty’s last weight of 156 was taken on April 26; after this she was too big to hold. At this time we felt that Patty’s re-introduction was successful beyond our greatest expectations. Her acceptance by the other members of the herd, especially the cows, was complete. She no longer responds to her name and in no way can it be detected that she had been rejected by her mother, hand-raised, suffered a serious illness and finally adopted by the other cows. She is a total member of the camel herd. ******** Have you sent in your form about the pre~ and post-conference tours? T/ig. Con^£A£.nc2. o{^ Roo^cLing Pa/ik Zoo ^06 pZannZyig pA.£.-cL(znd po^t-aon^eAmce, tonu and Mould tike, to know thd p/L^eAmc^^ oi tko^o. who OAQ. planning to cUXznd. A iom U on pago. 271 oj tk^ AKf. Send to Coni^eAmce Committee, F/ie^no Chapter AAZK, 894 We^t Blemont fhe6no, CA 93728 * 81 RAISING NATIVE MAMMALS AND THEIR RELEASE by i VZana {iJeA.nh.aAdt Ltncoln PoAk Zoo The five maminals I will cover will be: squirrels , rabbits, opossum , skunksj beaver, and raccoons. These are probably the most common orphans of the ; Midwest area. After talking to a few zoos in this area, I believe these are the most commonly brought in for hand rearing. When you first look at that helpless bundle of fur, think of it as an I investment in time, patience, sometimes a little money, lack of sleep, and, most important, love. All of a sudden you have not only become a food source, but warmth, security, playmate and parent! After you decide you are ready for this sudden splurge of responsibility, start giving the little one a good looking over. Color of mouth, tempera-^ ture of body (warm or cold to the touch), parasites, dehydration (Gatorade is a good way to help that and they even like the taste) , and color and condition of the BM, are all tell-tale signs what kind of shape the baby is in. After the examination, the next thing to do is to warm up the baby slowly. Aquariums with a heating pad are great starts. Aquariums are for the most part draft-free, and it is easier to check on the baby without disturbing it. At home I have a pile of old towels that I use for bedding along with a few stuffed animals, for the babies to snuggle up to. Note keeping is vital! Amounts of formula consumed, changes in formula and the reactions to it, condition and times of BM, and the time of feed-- ings , are some of the most important things to note. For example, if the baby has a change of appetite it could be that he ate twice as much at the last feeding and is still full. It also helps when trying to keep an eye on constipation. Keeping' records of weight gain is also important. If possible weigh the baby every day. Kitchen scales work as well as nursery scales. Weight gain is a sure sign everything is going well. One of the last general points I would like to make is when raising babies paper towels are going to be your best friend. Cleaning up little milky faces is only the beginning. Whatever goes in one end must come out the other. Which brings me to purpose number two for paper towels — piddling is usually done by mom, stimulating the genital area with a wet nose or tongue. When taking over mom’s job that comes along with it.... not neces- sarily the same way.... wet paper towels or a wet finger will cause the same effect. Without piddling the body waste may build up and kill the baby. SQUIRRELS Squirrels are born hairless and stay that way for about 2% weeks, which means keeping the little guys warm at all times. This is when the good ol' heating pad comes in. I keep my squirrels in a "nest” of layers of soft bedding. This gives the individual the choice of being toasty warm or anwhere in between. The eyes open at about 5 weeks. Piddling is also a necessity. At about 2-3 weeks mine started on their own (wet blankets are the first indication) but I continued to piddle them until they had, a BM on their own. The formula that worked the best for me (and I had a lot of trial and error) was 1:3 Esbilac and water, every 2 hours around the clock. I used 82 I the nipples that we make at the Lincoln Park Zoo initially. The tips I are small enough for their mouths and you also can control the flow of , the milk with your finger which helps in preventing milk inhalation which |! may lead to inhalation pneumonia. At about 4-6 weeks when I started them : on cereal (in their formula) I went to a pet nurser. i| A sure sign that they are ready to start on solids is when they start j chewing on their bedding. Cereal, soft fruits, bread, and even a little 1 rodent chow are good starts. This is also a good time to put them in I cage with some kind of climbing facilities. From 8 weeks on they can eat nuts , seeds, etc. A good indication that they can be released shortly I' is when they can crack a walnut shell. A nest on the top part of the cage would get them used to sleeping high and hiding nuts in cedar chip floor bedding with a few leaves added gives them the idea to forage. I Teaching them to beg for peanuts isn’t a bad idea either. When you do release them make sure it is before late July or early August so that they have plenty of time to find a place to live and store up enough I food for the winter. RABBITS Rabbits are one of the most commonly found "orphans." Nests are uncovered and people call the zoo confessing their sin and ask if we can help. The first week they are bald, eyes closed, and ears flat to the head. Formula can be one of two — 1:2 Esbilac to water (which is the better) -or 1:2 canned milk to water. Again, the aquarium is a good place to keep them warm with the heating pad. They also need to be piddled at this early age. At about lig weeks old, fur starts, eyes open, and you can take away the heating pad and start with a grassy bedding. Some sources have fed baby rabbits cereal at this age. I usually go from bottle to lettuce, little pieces of carrots and celery at 2 weeks. In the wild the rabbits would start leaving the nest at three weeks. To prepare rabbits for release, I usually go a week without handling and them take them to a forest preserve area and let them go at about 4 weeks of age. OPOSSUM Opossum are another hairless baby that needs the aquarium heating pad treatment. The formula is 1:2 parts Esbilac to water with 2-4 drops of vitamins added and fed every 3 hours from a pet nurser bottle. They also need to be piddled. Each 10 days you can cut out one feeding time. If your are like me, the early morning feedings are the first to go. Their eyes open at 62 days (at this point they are about the size of a mouse) and they become furred at the age of a month and a half. Weaning time follows shortly. They simply refuse the bottle. Feeding bits of Zu-Preem before this might help the transition to solids. When first weaned, they should be fed three times a day. I fed them Zu-Preem, fruit and small pieces of fish. By the time they are "ready to be released they should be down to one large meal a day. If you have access to mice or pinkies, they are a welcomed treat. Releasing them to a nice wooded area required no training period, and they revert quickly. BEAVER Lincoln Park Zoo has never been brought a beaver, but I thought the whole idea was interesting. St. Louis has raised several in the past few years 83 and their Children's Zoo helped out with their notes. They also have raised muskrats in a similiar fashion. [ The particular baby beaver that I will be talking about was one pound (0.45 kg) at approximately ten days old when it was brought to the zoo. It was fed a formula of 1:1 canned milk to water with a little cereal and a couple drops of vitamins. A regular baby bottle with a preemie nipple was used and the baby was fed every 3 hours. At sixteen days a little cooked sweet potato and carrots were Introduced. The little guy seemed to like them. He was then cut to every 4 hour feedings. At 6 weeks he was fed every 6 hours. At 17 weeks, the diet consisted of three ounces of formula, cereal, solids (fruits and veggies) willow leaves, vitamin supplements, and rodent chow. He was fully weaned at three months. At nine weeks they started in a stream in the back of the Children's Zoo (which was about two feet deep.) Normal stool for baby beavers was noted as extremely watery. Information about his release is not possible because "Moses" because he was found on a bed of reeds as a baby) now resides St. Louis Zoo in his own enclosure complete with a stream and SKUNKS Skunks are usually born in April and May. They are born hairless though their stripes show. Eyes open at 3 weeks; they become very active at 6 weeks and are weaned at two months. The formula fed to baby skunks was 3:1 Esbilac to water, 1 vitamin drop per ounce of formula and cereal fed from a pet nursery every 4 hours. The baby should be kept warm, and enjoys some sort of a nest box up until he is 5-6 weeks old. Skunks are known carriers of rabies and for this reason we at LPZ are not allowed to "adopt" skunks. Rabies can be transmitted from mother to baby. Baby skunks for pet purposes can be obtained from a breeder, de-scented and rabies free. They can make good pets, easily housebroken, but since they are de-scented they can never be returned to the wild. If you plan on a skunk as a pet. Canine and Feline Distemper shots should be given as a precautionary measure. If you do end up raising a wild baby skunk with the intention of releasin. it, they are ready at the age of four months and revert very quickly. RACCOONS I saved the best for last .... raccoons . This year I raised 3 boys. Each one had his own personality. Lenny and Smokey were two of a litter of ! four that another girl at the Children's Zoo and I split thinking that | two was a nice number — one for each hand. Two week later, right before j we closed the building, a man came running in with a box. Enter raccoon number three, Mickey. I planned to take him home just for the night, | but the first night after everything I went through with him, I could not : give him up. Mickey looked like he could have been the runt of the litte:| that got lost in the shuffle. The man found him in a park lying there all by himself screaming. So he picked him up, fed him cow's milk, then switched to canned milk and, because of all the screaming Mickey was doing, brought him to the zoo. His stomach was as tight as a drum, 84 (named at the dam! his rectum was prolapsed, and his BM was a bright yellow liquid. I had my doubts about his survival. My next hurdle was to sneak him in the house. Two raccoons were enough for one household. Sneaking in aside, screaming raccoon was not real easy. I did manage it until the screams reached the second level of the house and dad figured out there was something else in the house because the original two were just fed and soundly sleeping in the living room. Two hours of belly massaging, dry sugar on the rectum (believe it or not, it worked) and a little bit of formula and Mickey was set for the night. After all that, I could not give him up and he was so adorable — he became raccoon number three. I started all of them on a formula of three ounces of KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer), five ounces of water, and one tablespoon cereal every three hours. They took anywhere from 2^-3 ounces around the clock. The first few nights I set my alarm clock for the 3 a.m. feeding, but the little screams were right on time and after the first night 1 just waited for the screams. Formulas with an Esbilac base have been known to cause cataracts in raccoons. Early vitamin deficiency can also cause cataracts as well as hair loss. A regular baby bottle with a choice of preemie, flashed, and juice nipples are standard feeding equipment. Personally, I feel eyedroppers for any animals are unnatural and increase the chance of inhalation of milk, but I also know of many animals raised successfully with eyedroppers. The juice nipple was used at about 3 weeks of age until weaning. This was also the time I started adding baby food to the formula and egg yolks (good to solidify loose stools), along with a tablespoon of fruit, vege- table, and strained meat baby food. As their formula got thicker they ate every four hours, took almost four ounces, and slept through the night. Their eyes open at about 2-3 weeks and at about 5 weeks the real fun starts! Teething. .. .it lasts about 3 days, but for me with three little ones screaming, it was a whole week of wall-to-wall diarrhea, screaming, and wanting the bottle but because of the soreness of their gums, not being able to suck. Bath tubs are great for the first couple of eating- out-of-bowl lessons since they had no idea what to do with the cereal, mashed bananas, and formula. So cereal coated fingers started the new- found love for this food. That worked with Smokey who also knew little paws did not belong in bowls and was the neatest eater of the three. Lenny wanted the cereal, the bottle, my breakfast, or anything else he could get in his mouth. Mickey always had to be spoon-fed until the day he switched to solids. After a week or two of the cereal they slowly started getting more and more solid food. Vegetables, fruits and a commercial canned food called PD (Prescription Diet) and less and less cereal made up their meals three times a day. Grapes and bananas became all time favorites. Some zoos have the raccoons go from the bottle to soaked dog food with no betweens. Both methods worked. Mine were just extremely spoiled. About the age of 8 weeks, I started taking them for walks in the back of our Children’s Zoo in a few inches of water in the duck pond. They liked it until they had to start swimming. Lenny loved it; Smokey would take it or leave it; Mickey, at every chance he had, would take a flying leap up into my arms; and I got wet alot! At the age of 12 weeks, because raccoons at LPZ are handled by the public, they are given Canine and Feline Distemper shots as a precautionary measure 85 As raccoons get bigger so did their cages. What they finally end up in is the "Coonrad Hilton” complete with sleeping accommodations, climbing posts, and a built-in swimming pool which was, on certain days, a cray- fish pool. Crayfish lessons were given one to two times a week. They started out • in a pan with sand, rocks, pebbles, and water. Dump in a few bags of minnows and crayfish and stand back. They have a riot! The crayfish get attached to noses, raccoons tend to flip them off and, more than a few times, I got hit with a crayfish. This started them on their way to getting used to natural food. Every day they were fed herring and when available, a duck egg or two, which they loved. Towards September, we start fattening them up, try to de-peoplize them, and then set a date and find a place to release them that is away from people, traffic, and has access to a lot of* water since most of their survival school was geared around that. This year we released 9 raccoons in groups of 5 and 4 in two areas . In closing, I would like to stress a few points; there is not a right way or a wrong way to raise babies. You might have done something totally the opposite of what I mentioned, but this is what worked for me, some other colleagues or other zoos . My second point is that you have to go in with the attitude that you are going to do your best; but also, remember that the baby was abandoned for a reason, and if it does not survive, don’t get discouraged. My final point is that raising the raccoons was ,so far, the most reward- ing experience. The close bond that all four of us shared was something good, but all good things must come to an end, especially when it means returning them back to the world from which they came. It was really hard for me, to say the least! I figured that there I would be standing in the middle of this big forest blubbering like a Big Baby Huey when I let them go, but I surprised myself. When they came out of their cages, Smokey tore up a tree, Lenny and friends with their fat little ring-tails ran down the path, while my little baby Mickey looked up at me from under a log. His big eyes looked kind of confused, wondering why when everyone was running all over, how come I wasn’t screaming "Get back here!” Then his look changed, and he gave me a look that seemed to say "Bye, thanks for everything! Don’t worry. Mom, this is our home; this is where we belong!” I knew everything I did was worth it, including the 3 a.m. feeding. Even now I wonder about them. To me there will ■ never be another Smokey, Mickey or Lenny, but next year, there will pro- bably be another threesome. If anyone has any comments to make about raising a certain baby, I would be glad to hear from you! Write me care of Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614 Keeper’s Alert Watch for Dugan Rosalini’s new film ZooKeepers , to be aired soon on PBS. His other film, Otto; Zoo Gorilla will be aired again March 17 on PBS. HAND RAISING A HIPPOPOTAMUS AT THE DENVER COLORADO ZOO by John Tob-i(i6, Ke.cpeA M^nn^ota Stouto, loo On July 8, 1977, a male ten-day-old hippopotamus HippopotomamuM a/iipfiZbJ,Li6 lost his mother following a fatal accident when the dam and sire were being re-introduced. The staff decided to attempt to hand raise the young hippo. When the orphan hippo was first approached, it was somewhat defensive, grunting and making open-mounted threat gestures. After the infant was gently separated from the body of his mother, he was taken to the pool and led into the water by a keeper. Within an hour, the hippo had accepted the keepers and had developed an attachment for them. During the entire period when the hippo was at the zoo, he showed no aggressive behavior towards the keepers. This may well be attributed to his early acceptance of them. A formula was developed based on information received from the Birmingham, Alabama, Zoo. It consisted of 1 part evaporated milk and 1 part water with 1 drop of ABDEC vitamins per ounce and 1/2 tablespoon of Neo-calgulcon calcium supplement per 8 ounces. The formula was given warm, but not hot. The first attempts at feeding were made with astandard 2 quart calf bottle with the hippo out of his pool. Although some formula was taken by the hippo, successful feeding was not accomplished until a regular baby bottle was used and the hippo was fed in his pool. It took approxi- mately 24 hours from the time of the death of the infant's mother until it began nursing well from a bottle. After ten days of using the baby bottle, we were able to switch to the larger calf bottle with no problems. There were no further problems getting the hippo to take the bottle. For the first four days, the hippo was offered 8 ounces of formula every three hours. On the fifth day, the feeding schedule was changed to five times daily with the amount increased to 12 ounces each feeding. On day 12 of hand raising, the number of feedings was dropped from 5 to 4 a day with the amount at 18 ounces per feeding. On the 17th day of hand raising the ratio of the formula was changed from 1:1 to 3:2 parts milk to water. It was felt that the hippo's weight gains were too small on the former ratio and it was hoped that the slightly richer diet would boost his weight gain. For a two week period between the 21st and the 34th day of hand raising, Pablum was added to the formula. Within five days the hippo developed diarrhea. When the Pablum was stopped, the diarrhea ceased. With the discontinuation of the Pablum, ground calf manna was added to the formula. The effectiveness of the calf manna is questionable. Although it did not give the hippo diarrhea, it apparently was passing through the animal without being digested. During the daily cleanings of the pool, the calf manna would be found on the floor. Its use did continue throughout the hippo's stay at the Zoo. By the end of October the amount of the daily feedings had increased to 70 ounces per feeding. At this time diet increases were roughly 2 ounces per day for each of the 4 feedings. Starting in November, the daily feedings were increased 5 ounces every five days. The diet increases were not made on a rigid schedule, but were adjusted depending on how well the hippo was handling the increases. 87 On November 22, the hippo reached his highest daily intake of formula, 120 ounces 4 times a day. At this time, his night feeding intake began to drop and on December 6, the daily feedings were decreased to 3. They remained at this level for the duration of the hippo's stay at Denver. It was felt that the weaning process was starting. When the hippo was approximately 4 months old, he was offered hay, grain and soaked calf startena. At first he ate very little of these solid foods, but by the time the night feedings were discontinued, he was eating some of the free choice hay and most of the 2 pounds of grains he received at night. Attempts were made to convert the hippo to drinking out of a rubber tub, but he refused totally. He did, however, use a rubber tub as a toy and security object in the pool. He would push the tub around the pool and sleep with it touching him. If the tub floated away, he would shift until he was touching it again. The hippo's temperature was taken for the first several days as a means of monitoring his health. The temperature ranged between 97.0°F and 98.6°F with an average of 98.0°F. Except for the diarrhea connnected with the Pablum there were no health problems involved with the hand- raising of this hippo at the Denver Zoo. The hippo was weighed for the first time when he was 19 days old. His weight then was 136 pounds. By the end of July, he had gained only ten pounds. It was after this time that the richer milk ratio began to show its affect. The hippo was weighed weekly from August until November 14 when he weighed 300 pounds. At this time weighing was stopped because the hippo's size surpassed the means for weighing him. During this time, his weekly weight gain averaged 10 pounds. When he was weighed at shipping on Janizary 20, 1978, he weighed 425 pounds. He was then 7 months old. The hippo was sent to the Oakland Baby Zoo. Information received on him from this point on is rather scanty. He did develop diarrhea within a week of arriving. But, his formula was changed from 3:2 evapoarted milk to water to 2:1 water to condensed milk, plus baby cerea The diarrhea lingered, but was cleared up before he was weaned sometime in August of 1978. From all indications, he is a well-adjusted animal, but, as could be expected, somewhat imprinted. !NF0RMAT!0N PLEASE! The Akron Zoo is currently having a problem with Bumblefoot in one of the Golden Eagles. I would like Information from anyone with a similar problem in the birds of prey on how to cure or cope with it. Please write : Carleton Bailie c/o Akron Zoo 500 Edgewood Ave > Akron, Ohio 44307 NOTES ON THE EARLY HAND-REARING OF AN ORANG-UTAN AND ITS SUBSEQUENT REINTRODUCTION TO THE MOTHER by VZanm Vzv^oyl, Gn.ad Avattablo.” tLi>tlng6. Thti> Li a monthly 62AvtcQ, to ua, Ion. yon. AMIMAL KEEPER - NIGHTS... responsibilities include periodic tour of park. checking all animal buildings and exhibit areas. Check all cages, doors and utilities, including monitoring of dolphin- arium filter system. Must have sufficient knowledge of animal behavior to be able to make observations and report illness, injury or unusual behavior in animals. Water, feed, and administer simple medication as directed. Maintain, harvest, and seed hydroponics unit and care of the feed animal colony. Previous zoo experience preferred as well as collegiate background in biological field. Excellent starting salary and benefit package. Send resume to Personnel Manager, Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL 60513. o p p o r t u n k n o c k s t y AQUARIUM SUFERl/ISOR. . . . position available located in Florida Keys. Minimum of two years’ aquarium experience is desired. Collecting experience preferred. Competitive starting salary, with out- standing benefits program. Interested applicants should mail resume to: Professional Staffing, Sea World of Florida, 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando, FL 32809 EOE, M/F PACHVVERM KEEPER... primarily responsible for two African cows, approxi- mately 12-15 years of age. Must have previous elephant experience. Salary negotiable. Contact: Mark D. Pyritz, Riverbanks Zoo, 500 Wild- life Parkway, Columbia, SC 29210, or call 803 779-8717 for appointment. AUICULTURJST. . . responsible for maintenance and propagation of tropical birds and small colony of pelagic birds. Closing date 30 March 1981. Send resume to National Aquarium in Baltimore, 10 South Str. , Suite 301 Baltimore, MC 21202. EOE SENIOR ZOO ATTENVANT/BIRV VEPT . / SUPERVISORY . . . responsible for care of large bird collection and tropical plants. Will work directly with Curator of Birds. Also responsible for supervision of six full-time employees. Required minimum of two years’ paid professional experience in aviculture, and one year’s supervisory experience in zoo work or related field. Formal education helpful but not mandatory. Salary $10 ,615/ yr; plus benefits. Send resume to: Robert L. Wilson, Curator of Birds, Walter D. Stone Memorial Zoo, 149 Pond St., Stoneham, MA 02180. LECTURER- KEEPER /HERPETO LOGY .. . duties would consist of giving two separate lectures (one on crocodilians and one on snakes) , care of large and varied reptile collection. Forty-eight-hour week, salary $10,816 - $12, 844/year. Contact: Ken Earnest, Curator, California Alligator Farm, 7671 La Palma Ave., P.O. Box 236, Buena Park, CA 90620. (&14) 522-2615. MOVING? PLEASE SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO Dolly Clark, Administrative Secretary American Association of Zoo Keepers National Headquarters, 635 Gage Blvd. Topeka, KS 66606 92 AAZK MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Che,ak heA^ finnmat [ ] Name Address_ $20.00 Professional ValZ-tme. Ke.&peA6 only and JntoAnatLonal MembeA6 $15.00 Affiliate Othe/L 6tall and vohintdOA^ VZn.dcton.y Information $10.00 Associate Indlvldacdj, not conndctdd ivlth an animal aa/id facJJbity $50.00 Contributing 0rganlzatloni> and Individuals Job Work kn.da Special IntoAdSts rlail this application and check or money order, payable to American Association of Zoo Keepers, to: AAZK National Headquarters, Topeka Zoo, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606. Memberships include subscription to the knimol Kddpe/U' forum. The membership card is good for free admission to many zoos and aquariums in the U.S. and Canada. INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS Animal KddpeAS ' forum publishes original papers and news items of interest to the Animal Keeping profession. Non-members are welcome to submit articles. Articles should be typed or hand-printed. All illustrations, graphs and tables should be clearly marked, in final form, and should fit in a page size of no more than 6" x 10" (15 cm. x 25^^ cm.). Literature used should be cited in the text and in final bibliography. Avoid footnotes. Include scientific names. Articles sent to Animal KddpCAS' forum will be reviewed for publication. No commitment is made to the author, but an effort will be made to publish articles as soon as possible. Those longer than three pages will be separated into monthly installments at the discretion of the editorial staff. The editors reserve 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 envelope. Telephoned contributions on late-breaking news or last minute insertions are acceptable. However, phone-in contributions of long articles will not be accepted. The phone nximber is 913 272-5821. DEADLINE FOR EACH EDITION IS THE 20th OF THE PRECEDING MONTH. Artlclzs prlntdd do not ndces^arlly rdfldct thd opinions of the. Animal Keepers ' forum e.dltorlal I 4taff or of the. kneAlaan Psi>6claZlon of loo Ke.e.pers. i Items in the publication may be reprinted. Credit to this publication is requested. Order reprints from the Editor. s: 03 fD w rt rt or H* Hv H- o O 03 3 13 OQ 03 03 rf H* M O 03 tS3 N >-0 0 o o tJ M O O IT* CTQ H- H* CT O fi P 05 M i-{ \nimal Keepers^ Forum Dedicated to Professional Animul Care APRIL 1981 APRIL 1981 VOLUME EIGHT NUMBER FOUR ANIMAL KEEPERS' FORUM, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 ISSN 0164-9531 Executive Editor: Mike Coker Managing Editors: Lois Bogia and Susan Chan Associate Editor: Connie Cloak Editorial Assistant: Diana Brey Art Consultant: Elaine Shea kyuMCkZ. ' Fo^um is a monthly journal published by the American Association of Zoo Keepers, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, Kansas 66606. Postmaster: Please send Form 3579 to address printed below. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOO KEEPERS NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, 635 GAGE BLVD., TOPEKA, KS 66606 Dotty CloAk, AdmlnyUtA.atlv2, Slnyvi, a. keeper In the Vampcis/ Outback exhibit at the Sedgwick Co. Zoo, Wichita, Kansas. She titled It "A 6nake In the hand i^ wohtk two In the QKai>6." It it a ^ young common wateA 6nake and wot done {^^om ll{^e} the held the tnake In one hand and d/cew it with the otheA. Thankt, Vel^l! Scuttlebutt AKF WELCOMES NB^ MANAGING EDITOR AKF welcomes a new managing editor this month, Susan Chan. She holds a degree in journalism and has been actively involved in the Docent Program at the Topeka Zoo for about four years. Susan is also currently volunteer editor of the docent newsletter Cowabunga News . She also serves on the board of directors for Topeka Friends of the Zoo. PROGRAM LIBRARY PROJECT SEEKS INPUT In the January 1981 Animal Keepers’ Forum, Ellen Leach announced the formation of a Program Library project. Please reread her article and give it some serious thought. Give it some input. Are you looking for other fund-raising projects? Well, give this Program Library a chance. It is an excellent way to put more money into your chapter treasury, improve the quality of any slide program you or your chapter may have, and give further support to our National AAZK. Contact Ellen Leach c/o Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Ave. N. , Seattle, WA 98103, and help make the Program Library a truly professional keeper success. 1980 CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS NOW AVAILABLE The 1980 Annual Conference Proceedings, containing all the papers pre- sented and a brief summary of the Board Minutes, have been mailed to all Professional and Institutional members and those who attended the conference. For those who wish to receive a copy of the proceedings, a coupon is available in either the January or February AKF, or just send your name, address and check for $4.00 to the Headquarters. from the President In conjunction with the Southern Regional AAZPA Conference, the Board of Directors of the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums met, and one of the issues decided during this mid-year meeting was to approve a proposed amendment to their Bylaws that would create a special category within AAZPA for Animal Keepers . The issue will now be present-^ ed to the AAZPA voting membership within 90 days to become part of the Bylaws . AAZK, through the continued efforts of Dennis Grimm, has been seeking this Keeper category within AAZPA for a long time, and although this classi- fication will involve no voting privileges, it will afford Keepers the recognition of our fellow professionals. Notice of the needed qualifications and sponsorship requirements for trans- fer to this new category will come from the AAZPA Executive Office once the proposal is approved by the membership. 93 VatAicla E. SammoAco BIRTHS HATCHINGS RECENT SUCCESSFUL BREEDINGS AT SEDGWICK COUNTY ZOO. . , Klngmood On January 7, 1981, the Sedgwick County Zoo hatched a Double-crested Basilisk (SdS-llZscilS ptur)ld.^/LO H6 } in the zoo’s herpetarium. Ten days later the entire clutch of eleven had emerged. All the young basilisks, including the zoo’s first (hatched October 22, 1980) are currently thriving on a diet of quarter-inch crickets and fruit flies. The zoo’s second successful clutch of the Eastern Rosella {?Zad:yc.2ACLll6 e.xJMLa6 ] , was recorded in the recently opened Pampas-Outback exhibit on January 7, 1981. Four newly hatched rosellas were seen in a nest box. All were fledged under the care of their parents. Two Kookaburra [Va.(l 6e,ctU,on ^/Lom theJjt "Fo^ltloyn Available." lyUtlng-i>. Thu l6 a monthly 6eAvlc.e, to lu, {^oh. you, KEEPER. . .position available immediately. Experience working with venomous snakes desirable. Modest salary — excellent fringe benefits. Great opportunity for advancement. Send resume to S.M. Campden-Main , Reptile Supervisor, Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo, P.O. Box 123, Monroe,^ LA 71201. ZOO CURATOR. . . responsible administrative and professional position open in the development, operation and maintenance of a municipal zoo facility. Duties include development of expansion plans, purchasing and trade of specimens to maintain and expand collection, design and development of exhibits, maintain liasion with lay volunteers, conduct public relations and educational activities, pre- pare and maintain animal care and zoo management records , participate in medical treatment of animals under the direction of veterinary consultant and supervise manage- ment of zoo concessions and rides. Minimum requirements include high school degree and experience in animal care. Supervisory capabilities a must. Salary $13,270 to $18,366 annually. Closing date for applications is May 4, 1981. Submit resume to Personnel Department, City Hall, 11th & Poyntz, Manhattan, KS 66502. PRIMATE KEEPER. . . full-time position. Request prior ex- perience with diversified primate collection, specializing in lemurs and guenons. Prefer zoological or related field degree; experience may be considered as substitute for academic qualifications. Send resume to: Carl F. Watson, Assistant Director, Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo, P.O. Box 123, Monroe, LA 71201. O P P 0 r t u n 1 t y k n o c k s CURATOR. . . completely responsible for maintaining small animal collection. Must be able to supervise personnel, insure accuracy in record keeping. Should possess fiscal management acumen. Minimum degree in biological science or related field. Salary $13,000-$16,000, depend- ing on experience, plus benefits. Send resume and three professional letters of recommendation to: Alan E. Rozon, Executive Director, Central Florida Zoological Park, P.O. Drawer 2078, Sanford, FL 32771. EXHIBIT CURATOR... requires background in art, graphics design, planning and staff management. Involves developing exhibit concepts, site plan- ning and land use studies. Salary $16,370 -$21,632, with benefits. Send resume to: Personnel Dept., Oklahoma City Zoo, 2101 N.E. 50th, Oklahoma City, OK 73111. ZOOLOGIST/CURATOR... position to handle mainstream collection. Duties include ISIS and other record keeping, implementation of husbandry, para- site and pest-reduction programs, public contact, supervision of keeper force, animal restraint and transfer. A four-year degree is preferred in an appropriate science discipline, as well as zoo experience. Salary $8, 000-$ 12, 000, depending on experience, plus benefits. Closing date is April 20, 1981. Send resume and references to: Herb Emmerson, Director, Utica Zoo, Steele Hill Rd., Utica, NY 13501. Or call (315) 798-3280. 112 AAZK MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION I Name Check kcn.c ii /icnmaZ [ ] I Address I I $20.00 Professional I ¥iM-tanc Kccpcu onZy I and JntQAnatlonal McmbeA^ I $15.00 Affiliate I OtkoA 6ta^£ and votantceA^ $10.00 Associate InduvldaaJU not connected wtth an antmal codie lacJJUXy $50.00 Contributing OKgantzatlon^ and tndtvtdaats \Vtn,ecton.ij InionmaJiion I I 1 Zoo WoAfe kfiea Special lYvtoAestA I I Mail this application and check or money order, payable to American (Association of Zoo Keepers, to: AAZK National Headquarters, Topeka Zoo, I 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606. (Memberships include subscription to the Animal Keeper' Vo^wm. I The membership card is good for free admission to many zoos and aquariums ( in the U . S . and Canada . INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS Animal KeepeU ' fo^um publishes original papers and news items of interest to the Animal Keeping profession. Non-members are welcome to submit articles. Articles should be typed or hand-printed. All illustrations, graphs and tables should be clearly marked, in final form, and should fit in a page size of no more than 6” x 10" (15 cm. x 25^$ cm.). Literature used should be cited in the text and in final bibliography. Avoid footnotes. Include scientific names. Articles sent to Animal Keepe/U’ fo/Lum will be reviewed for publication. No commitment is made to the author, but an effort will be made to publish articles as soon as possible. Those longer than three pages will be separated into monthly installments at the discretion of the editorial' staff. The editors reserve 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 envelope. Telephoned contributions on late-breaking news or last minute insertions are acceptable. However, phone-in contributions of long articles will not be accepted. The phone number is 913 272-5821. DEADLINE FOR EACH EDITION IS THE 20th OF THE PRECEDING MONTH. Antlclci> panted do not neciiA^anlly veiled the opinions 0^ the Animal Keeper * Vo/iim editorial iitall on. ol the Amenlcan Ai,i>o elation oi Zoo Keepen^. Items in the publication may be reprinted. Credit to this publication is requested. Order reprints from the Editor. s: z 2 p il) pi: O O P P P P P ^'3 N V. O O o o tp H* o o OQ H* CT O ^ P P ^ ■ P N5 O o o 00 M 2: S- S-§3: “ P“ ?:S CD O J ?r 2 w o^St§ 3! S alS « ? o?-" g ^ ^ s 0, 3 TT Animal Keepers' Forum dicated to Professional MAY 1981 ANIMAL KEEPERS' FORUM, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 MAY 1981 ISSN 0164-9531 VOLUME EIGHT NUMBER FIVE Executive Editor: Mike Coker Managing Editor: Susan Chan Associate Editor: Connie Cloak Editorial Assistant: Diana Brey AvUmaZ Keeper' Vo^um is a monthly journal published by the American Association of Zoo Keepers, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, Kansas 66606. Postmaster: Please send Form 3579 to address printed below. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOO KEEPERS NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, 635 GAGE BLVD., TOPEKA, KS 66606 Votly CloJik, AdmIyiyUtAatIvQ, SzcaoXoaij BOARD OF DIRECTORS Pat Sammarco, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL 60614 Jill Grade, Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL 33612 [/acancy Mike Coker, Topeka Zoo, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 Bernard Feldman, Miller Park Zoo, Bloomington IL 61701 COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN l/Zce.-p^e^Zdznt Awards Committee Historical Committee iliefee CH.ockvi, VlckoA^oYi VoJik loo Vick Swcmc^y, San Vl^go Zoo, CA Nominations and Elections Committee Mtfee l^ayb^y, MmphU, Zoo, TM PROJECT HEADS Coordinator for Chapter Affairs BcAna/id FeZdman, UllZeA Zoo, IL Keeper Data Survey take. Hayb/iy, Meiripkls Zoo, TN Legislative Information K^vln Co may, CRC, l/A Animal Data Transfer Form Coordinator for International Affairs Ka/ien Sta/iA Wakuland, Midlothian, TX Infant Development Project Ma/icla ClevengeA, Oklahoma City Zoo, OK Keepers' Accommodation List Fn.an JuAncA, Toronto Zoo, Onlanlo Book Reviews BoAna/id Feldman, MltteA Zoo, IL Elle,n Leach, Woodland PoAk Zoo, WA Program Library & Information Center Ellen Leach, llJoodland PoAk Zoo, WA Mike Ed RobeAhi vacancy vacancy Kevin Co may EveAett Hoaau HeAb Klng-sbuAy LoAAy SammoAco vacancy vacancy Vee Nel6on GoAy Tibbetts vacancy Jane Hans jeAgen S Mike CoApenteA Kathy Retiie Regional Coordinators CoApenteA, Phoenix Zoo, AZ, VlAectoA iJJalteA V. Stone Mem. Zoo ME, \JT , NH, MA, RI, CT MV FAont Royal CRC BlndeA PoAk Zoo Cincinnati Zoo Lincoln PoAk Zoo Audubon PoAk Zoo Rio GAonde Zoo SacAamento Zoo Phoenix Zoo MetAo ToAonto Zoo PA, NJ, MV, VE l/A, m MI IN, OH, KT WI, IL, MO, MN, lA, MO TN, NC, SC FL, AL, GA AR, MS, LA TX,NM,C0,0K,KS,NE,SV,NV WA, OR, IV, MT, WV, AK CA, NU, AZ, UT, HI CANADA I Tfuu month' >6 AKF coveA oAtut JameA M. Bu^h, a ioAmoA feeepeA cut thz j f^ontgomoAy Zoo, MontgomeAy, Alabama. Ht6 6keXch 6ho(A}6 a KdzpoA bottto.- ! ^e.e.cUng an oAphan Mktt^-taJl-zd ^cmn. Tkanlu, Jame^l scoc SCUTTLEBUTT DATA FORMS FOR "INFANT DEVELOPMENT" PROJECT NOW AVAILABLE The data collection forms for the "Infant Development" project are now available to all keepers interested in participating in the project. This project, aimed at collecting data on parent-reared animals, was described in detail in the January 1981 AKF. Anyone interested in receiv- ing the data forms and instructions should contact: Marcia Clevenger, 5436 N.E. Grand Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73111. LAST CALL FOR PAPERS FOR 1981 CONFERENCE The Fresno Chapter’s Conference Coordinating Committee reminds all AAZK members that June 15th is the deadline for submitting abstracts for papers to be presented at the 1981 Conference. The Committee would like to pub- lish a ‘list of papers in AKF prior to the Conference. A list of suggested topics can be found on p. 55 of the February 1981 issue of AKF. Send abstracts to Kitty Kenyon, Coordination Committee Chairman, Fresno Chapter AAZK, 894 West Belmont, Fresno, CA 93728. KEYNOTE SPEAKER ANNOUNCED FOR FRESNO CONFERENCE The keynote speaker for the 1981 Conference will be Kurt Benirschke, M.D., who is Research Director at the San Diego Zoo. His field is in cyto-genetics and many of you are probably familiar with his work in exotic animal genetics and bird sexing. He is an excellent speaker and the Fresno Chapter is delighted to have him on the Conference agenda. ANIMAL -RELATED ITEMS SOUGHT FOR CONFERENCE AUCTION The Fresno Chapter has already received a number of items from local artists to be sold at the Conference Auction. These range from needlepoint to paintings and from sculpture to photography. Some local businesses are also donating merchandise. Everyone planning to attend the 1981 Conference is reminded that an animal-related item from their zoo or community for use in the auction would be greatly appreciated. There is no need to send the item ahead of time, just bring it with you. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ADDITION Due to the rising costs of currency exchange through the AAZK bank account, we are now requiring that all fees be remitted in "U.S. Currency ONLY". Foreign members are asked to send fees in U.S. currency money orders. This will eliminate the currency exchange charges made by the bank and help to speed up processing of foreign memberships. Scoops and Scuttlebutt continazd WILDLIFE REVIFw' INDEXES AKF ARTICLES Contributors to AKF may be pleased to know that papers and articles on individual species are now being indexed in Wildlife Review, an indexing and abstracting publication of wildlife literature issued quarterly by the Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Department of the Interior. Anyone wishing to subscribe to Wildlife Review may do so by remitting $8.75 ($11.00 Canada and foreign) for one’s year's subscription to: The Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents Washington, DC 20402 "Subscription to Wildlife Review" should be clearly written on the check. from the President | During the AAZPA Southern Regional Conference, Sue Pressman of the Humane | Society of the United States presented the views of the HSUS on captive I animal care. Since the condemnation of roadside "zoos" and support of re- sponsible zoological facilities are mutual goals, we owe it to ourselves to learn more of the HSUS efforts in encouraging good captive animal care. There were three pamphlets available at the regional from the HSUS: ZOOS IN TRANSITION, HSUS efforts to improve zoos gathers momentum. reprinted from the Fall 1980 Humane Society News HSUS CLOSE-UP REPORT, roadside zoos are not zoos CAPTIVE WILDLIFE These pamphlets are available by writing the Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037. ?(vUvicila. E. SammaAeo ZOO VETERINARY TECHNOLOGISTS An interested group of Zoo Veterinary Technologists are forming a profes- sional organization. The first annual meeting will be scheduled the weekend prior to the AAZV convention in Seattle, Washington, Fall 1981. Seminars and round table discussions will take place, as well as an exchange of ideas and experiences. We are also in the process of organizing a directory and monthly newsletter. Enthusiasm and a joint effort from all concerned are essential to make this organization a success. Those interested please contact: Rita Nargiso, Penrose Research Laboratory, Philadelphia Zoological Garden, 34th St. and Girard Ave., Philadelphia, PA. 19104. (215) 243-1100 ext. 308 114 BIRTHS HATCHINGS CRESTED PORCUPINE BORN AT FRESNO ZOO.... Mcl/li/ L. Smmon The Fresno Zoo recently announced the birth of African Crested Porcupines h CAAJ)taXa] on 2 March 1981. We know this is not a rare event in I the zoo world, but it was the first birth of this species at our zoo. Of I course the fact that we had two females for nearly 10 years and no maids I had a lot to do with the delay. Then a sort of comedy of errors arose. Through a clerical error, we ordered yet another female to replace one that died last summer, instead of the male we needed. One arrived plain- j ly labeled a female. The AAZK transfer form said the animal had been fighting with its cage-mates . It was immediately obvious on introduction to our female that this was definitely a male porcupine — and fighting was ; the last thing on his mind. I Even so the birth of twin porcupines in March was a happy suprise for us. We also learned that pregnancy is not obvious in porcupines. One offspring ! did not survive the first night, but the other is thriving and is a real hit with the public. The mother is over 12 years old and has never had young before. The male is three years old. Sex of the surviving baby is unknown. It weighed 1 lb. 4 oz. at birth. Both parents take excellent care of the baby. LOUISVILLE ZOO LISTS RECENT BIRTHS Stuan ?(VU>om The following is a list of births that have occured from Nov. 1980 through March 1981 at Louisville Zoological Gardens: Woolly monkey (1.1 (0.1), Axis deer (0.1), Polar bear (0.1), Reeves muntjac (0.1), Dwarf Zebu (0.1), Masai giraffe (1.0), Addax (1.0), Brocket deer (1.0), Aoudad (2.1) (1.0), Gelada baboon (1.0.1), Giant anteater (0.1), Eland (1.0), Serval (0.1) and Sun conure (0.0.3). COTTON-TOPPED TAMARINS BORN AT FRBNO ZOO KUty Kmyon The adult pair of Cotton-topped tamarins which produced a set of twins in August of 1980,, has had another set of twins born 27 March 1981. Sex is as yet unknown, but the babies are doing well and are being reared by the parents . TOPEKA ZOO SPRING BLOSSOMS CokeA The Zoo staff is pleased to announce its new additions: 0.0.2 Scrub Wallabies; 0.1 North American Porcupine; 0.0.3 Bali Mynahs and 0.0.1 Japanese Macaque. The latter was born 19 April 1981 and is being cared for by the mother. 115 ANIMAL REVIEW AT THE PHOENIX ZOO By iiicfee CoAp^nteA, Ke.epeA II The first quarter of 1981 has been interesting for the Zoo. For the first time in three years we have gotten through spring without a major flood and attendance figures are up significantly thanks in part to our three Bengal tiger cubs, born in September and on public display for the past three months. The completion and opening of a new elephant exhibit and the intro- duction of our Asian elephant to two new African youngsters and all three to the exhibit had added to public interest. We've installed a Blackbuck herd there also. Our Arabian oryn hers continues to grow and prosper with a female born on 13 Feb. being our 110th since the animals arrived in 1963. Several Red Kangaroos have left the pouch recently and several more are still in the pouch. Our kangaroo mob now numbers at least 14 individuals. A DeBrazza Guenon was born on 17 Feb, the second birth in 10 months, and older sister is not too happy about that development. In the past two months we have added a pair of young Sitatunga and a young female Reticulated giraffe to the zoo collection. A new nocturnal exhibit to house Vampire bat. Ringtail, Kit fox, and Kangaroo rat, is nearing com- pletion and a new Mountain lion exhibit to house a beautiful pair of young- sters currently residing in our animal care center, is underway. We have hatchings in several parrot species, the most recent being a trio of Rose-breasted Cockatoos. We've also hatched Black Crake and numerous Black swans. The reptile department is currently incubating Red-footed tortoise eggs with fingers crossed. They have recently acquired two female Aldabra Tortoise as partners for our male and we hope for a new exhibit in the near future. With a new cheetah exhibit and a remodeled Arabian oryx exhibit on the drawing board, we hope the remainder of 1981 goes equally well. INFORMATION PLEASE! AAZK is currently updating its 1970 edition of the Qestation Booklet. This new edition will cover exotic mammals, birds and herps . Data for each species will cover: gestation, age at sexual maturity, litter size. This new edition will cover birds and herps whereas the 1970 edition covered only mammals. Please send gestation data to: Mike Coker, c/o Topeka Zoo, 635 Gage Blvd. , Topeka, KS 66606. AAZK is planning its new edition for publication in early 1982. Metro Toronto Zoo has just received two Silver Propagation Awards; one for Hamadryas Baboons and one for Dali's Sheep. These awards were pre- sented by the AAZPA. Metro Toronto Zoo has recently built three new cat exhibits in the Canadian Domain — to exhibit Cougars, Bobcats and Canadian Lynx. 116 A STATE OF THE ASSOCIATION REPORT TO FELLOW ZOO KEEPERS By VaJyvLcla E. SammaAco AAZK ?h.2^ld kydAOchcieAyUi) in an Outside Enclosure Mark A. Thurston, Animal Keeper II, Brandywine Zoo, DE Treatment of Acanthocephalous in the ScLnqLiincu> rriidcLS ^-LdcUi Nancy M. Falasco, Animal Keeper II, Brandywine Zoo, DE Time was also provided by Troy Stump, conference coordinator, for me to give the AAZK theme presentation. Throughout the conference AAZK material (ADT forms, directories, patches, buttons and AKF's) was available to the delegates at a conveniently located table. There was a good response from the delegates to both the theme presentation and the materials /informa- tion available at the table. During the AAZPA Board Report, Executive Director Robert Wagner announced that the AAZPA membership committee had unanimously voted to establish a keeper category in AAZPA and the motion will be put to the general member- ship vote this year at the National AAZPA convention. Additional details about the keeper member category should be available in the April or May AAZPA newsletter. As with any conference, the nightly hospitality suite provided a forum for the delegates to swap information, techniques and tall tales. Tuesday afternoon the delegates had lunch at the spectacular Hotel Hershey, toured the delicious Hershey Chocolate World and finally were dragged off to see ZooAmerica. ZooAmerica is a theme park which includes: The Grassy Waters exhibit dis- playing birds, reptiles, fish and mammals native to the environment. The Cactus Community again displays plant and animal species one would find in the desert environment. Most of the Cactus Community building contains a nocturnal viewing area which was very effective in exhibiting species 123 Northeast Region AAZPA Conference, C.ontlnuQ,d such as bats and scorpions (under black light) . The Gentle Woodlands exhibits White-tailed deer and wild turkeys and the North Woods exhibit of timber wolves is very impressive. Finally the Big Sky Country exhibits bison, eagles, mountain lions, Steller's jays and prairie dogs. Zoo employees did note that their *s is often a sweet smelling job due to the fact that they are separated from the Hershey chocolate factory by only a chain link fence. The ZooAmerica staff is to be commended for the displays they have created when considering their lack of space, or when faced with the task of how to restructure existing buildings to house their displays, while making sure their park is both educational and enjoyable. Metro Toronto Zoo, Canada, was selected to host the 1982 Northeast region AAZPA confreence. conference The following is a preliminary list of workshops which will be presented by members of the Fresno AAZK Chapter in the afternoons at the zoo dur- ing Conference week. The Coordinating Committee encourages other work- shop suggestions from those interested in attending. Reptile House Tour Zoo Educational Activities Landscaping and Renovation Baby elephant training Skull Preparation Bird Taxidermy Special Nursery Tour (emphasis on hand- rearing gorilla) Birds of Roeding Park Submit suggestions for workshops to: Sally J. Smith, Fresno Chapter AAZK, Roeding Park Zoo, 894 Belmont, Fresno, CA 93728. Anyone planning to attend the 1981 Conference is urged to send the Coordinating Committee their ideas on possible pre and/or post conference tours. Please fill out the form below and mail to: Brenda Lodge, Secretary-treasurer Fresno Chapter AAZK 894 West Belmont Ave. Fresno, CA 93728 ^San Francisco Zoo Back-packing Day Trip Trip to Pacific Ocean Monterey, California Please check: Pre-Conference — Saturday, September 19th Post-Conference — Friday, September 25th Name Address City_ State Zip Los Angeles Zoo Sacramento Zoo Yosemite Day Trip thanks: see you there: 124 Conference 81 Please cut out, fill in and return the forms below with your fee to: Kitty Kenyon, Chairman Conference Committee, Roeding Park Zoo, 894 Belmont, Fresno, CA 93728. HOTEL RESERVATION REQUEST (Ramada Inn, 324 E. Shaw, Fresno, CA.) NAME: ARRIVAL DATE: ADDRESS: ARRIVAL TIME: CITY: STATE : ZIP: NO. OF DAYS: PHONT: (Reservations held until 6 p.m. without deposit) ACCOMODATIONS REQUESTED NO. IN PARTY: ONE KING BED RATES : (CIRCLE ONE) SINGLE (one person, one bed) . . . . $28 . 00 DOUBLE (two persons, one bed) . . . $34 . 00 TV7INS (two persons, two beds) . . . $36 . 00 QUAD (four persons, two beds) ... $38.00 TWO QUEEN BEDS SPECIAL REQUEST TO BE MATCHED WITH A ZOOKEEPER ROOMATE : MALE: FEMALE : SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: CONFERENCE REGISTRATION NAME AAZK Membership status ; and fee ADDRESS Member & spouse $45.00 CITY STATE Non-Member Late-registration $55.00 $55.00 ZIP PHONE TOTAL fees enclosed $65.00 ZOO AREA OF INTEREST (One day rates are available. contact Kitty Kenton for details) Will be using bus? yes no Will be submitting paper? yes no (On acceptance of paper a $20.00 will be refunded) Would like to participate in "COME AS YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL" contest? Yes No MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO AAZK FRESNO CHAPTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE AUGUST 15, 1981 125 Book Review By Tom Goldi>b2AAy So^aWid, WA Vocton. Rat by iUMlam KotzivTnkld. Al{^^dd A Knop^, Jnc. J976 Bantam Edition, 1977. So{jt CovdA. ?Alcd $2.25. Where did your cat really go when you put it out last night? When your dog greeted you this evening, was it actually a greeting or could he have been calling you a dirty name under his breath? After reading Doctor Rat you may have second thoughts. William Kotzwinkle has taken the oft-told theme, the revolt of the animals, and turned it into a scathing satire of Swiftian stature. Medical researchers may snap their scalpels in indignation, government officials may snort ( in triplicate, of course ) even zoo directors and keepers may squirm a bit, but no one will put Dr. Rat down until the final tragic, soul-searing page. The myopic New York Times describes this book as, "a wildly comic master- piece”. Wild it is; a masterpiece it is; comic it is not. There is noth- ing comic about a trayfull of live kittens being cooked like knishes ; or a chimpanzee who, after an operation on her motor cortex which paralyzes her arm, gleefully chews off the ends of her fingers in frustration, and exposes all the muscles from her wrist to her forearm. Hoi Hoi Hoi New York Times I Kotzwinkle ’s raconteur. Dr. Rat, is the ultimate laboratory rat turned honorary human. After serving his apprenticeship in the Fishbinder Prob- lem Box, the Creighton Starvation Equipment, and the Shock Discrimination Box, Dr. Rat has become a Learned Prof essor , whose days in the laboratory are now spent writing newsletters, keeping records on promising young graduate students, and consoling his fellow animals that this is the rol- licking life they were born to lead. A few disagree, and to the ends of the earth the cry goes up — "Go to the Great Meetingl" Stray dogs are the first to heed the call; then the cat- tle in the slaughterhouses; the whales, snakes, wild chimpanzees. Zoo animals cheer as the door to the eagle cage is ripped off by the philo- sophical elephant who gives children rides. All echo the call and soon the continents tremble as the animals travel to meet Man and demand their rights and their share of the planet. But Man never comes. The author's clever literary device of interweaving his references through- out Dr. Rat's narration instead of lumping them altogether at the back of the book, unread, adds power to the book. The biting, free-swinging rhymes ”... petrify and purify, codify and clarify, justify and falsify, but above all never simplify if you want your grant come mid-July...” keeps the read- er on the ropes and makes you feel sorry for the speed reader who will miss them. The final moment of truth for the bears and the poignant drama of the whales are outstanding for the empathy they reveal and the tragedy they convey . It's comforting to know that after you've finished Dr. Rat and thrown it back on the shelf to gather dust, that such a thing could never happen. Or could it? /1#S 126 RAPTOR REHABILITATION REPAIRING THE WARRIORS OF THE SKIES by John Stoker Ki>hiMta.nt Q,uA.aton. BJacU, MmphJj, loo B kqncuviim Throughout the generations, Man has enjoyed a strange relationship with the Birds of Prey (or Raptors as they are sometimes called) . Man has done everything from praise raptors and elevated some forms to diety, to the other end of the specturm — a full-scale war on the much maligned birds. It’s hard to estimate the number of hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures that have been killed in recent times, but to give a shocking example, from 1917 to 1952, over 100,000 Bald Eagles were killed in Alaska alone. The Federal Government placed a bounty on the American Symbol for uninves tigated claims that the eagles were destroying the salmon fisheries . But, finally someone got the bright idea that over- fishing by man ^Raptors have had it pretty rough in America since \ the Colonists arrived from Europe. The raptors lost habitat due to \ alteration of land and lost again through relentless killings. It \wasn't until recently that some of the pressure has been taken off \the Birds of Prey. Although protected by law, raptors in some locales are still being shot because of ignorance. It seems that "Homo neanderthalis" still survives in our "modern" society and his favorite prey is raptors. We still have a number of hawks brought to the zoo that have been shot. Luckily for the hawks and their kin. Raptor Rehabilitation Programs have sprung up vail over the nation. With better public awareness, more people have aided in the recovery of these superb creatures. The Memphis Zoo is currently involved in its own rehabilitation program and so far we have been fairly successful. Most of the Incoming birds have been wounded by Caveman Clyde and his pals, but we also receive orphan owls and hawks that are raised by the zoo staff. One of the most 127 Raptor Rehabilitation, contlnu2.d unusual cases we have ever had to rehab was an inunature Red-tailed Hawk that came in covered with cooking oil. Either she was bobbing for french fries and fell in or she luckily escaped from the nearest outlet of Col. Sanders Kentucky Fried Chicken Hawks. Zoo Veterinarian Mike Douglass and his assistants Virginia Barber and Kathy Goble have done a laudable job in caring and repairing distressed raptors. Although Mike’s favorite phrase is "don’t get your hopes up", he seems to have the magic healing hands that have so far been pretty successful . When an injured raptor arrives at the zoo, it is first checked from head to tail. In most cases, it is a wing that has been injured, and in about 50% of the cases the bird has been shot. Collision with auto- mobiles accounts for a fairly high percentage, also. The bird is then x-rayed to determine the extent of the injury and the necessary treatment is then administered. Occasionally, a bird will come in that cannot be released. We then try to find an educational institution that might take the bird. In a few cases, the bird is in such bad shape that it must be euthanized. After the initial treatment is administered, if conditions permit, the bird is then placed in an outside holding pen. During the course of its stay, the bird is weighed and fecal samples are taken to check for parasites. If any are found, proper medication is given to rid the raptor of Ronnie Roundworm and friends. After the bird is healthy enough to fly from the bottom of the holding cage to the upper most limbs, it is then put into the final stage of recovery. If the bird’s wing has been broken, it takes some period of time before the muscles have rebuilt proper tone and strength. It is very similar to the con- dition when a human breaks his or her arm and after the cast is removed a period of exercise is required to get the arm back in shape. The final exercise period with a hawk or owl may be a short three days to as long as a month or more. Ideally, you want a raptor to exercise on its own in a large flight cage until it is in good flying condition and then release the bird. But we don’t have a large flight cage available at this time, so we rely on an exercise program that is an offshoot from falconry. For this final stage you need two people, a long braided nylon line, some leather jesse straps, and a bird to exercise. The first person holds the bird and launches it into the air. He is referred to as the caster. The second person is called the runner and logically runs behind and controls the bird’s flight. At first, a caster throws the bird only a few feet into the air. This allows the bird to rebuild its muscle tone. Once the bird is flying better and further, the caster throws the bird higher. The runner’s nylon line, or creance, is attached to the raptor by means of a swivel and comfortable leather jesse straps. The creance we use is 50 feet in length, but in the future we plan to use a 100 foot creance to give the bird more flying distance. With this method of a man running behind the bird, we can evaluate and control the bird’s flight while cutting out time consuming taming and training of the bird. For the two to three weeks of this training both the runner and raptor receive quite a workout. Once a raptor has regained its flying strength, a suitable release point is selected. All aspects of the bird’s successful return to the wild are considered. We try to match the bird with its habitat. For example, a Barred Owl is native to river bottomlands. Logically, it would be 128 Raptor Rehabilitation, (ioYVtlviaQ.d released near a river. Red-tailed Hawks prefer wooded areas with plenty of fields around in which to hunt. We try to give the bird the best possible chance by putting it in a habitat that provides suitable roost sites and abundant prey. The Shelby County Penal Farm provides one of the best release points for nearly all species of raptors we are likely to encounter and consequently it is used extensively for this purpose. j To close, I must say it is immensely satisfying to work with these 'magnificent creatures and it is a thrilling sight to see a bird fly ; away that only weeks before was pretty much on the low side of life. These birds give so many people pleasure in watching them soar and ' perform that it is only a small price to pay to repair them and see !; them return to freedom and nature that so badly needs them. .RdpJvivitiid {joitk p2Am'U>i,lon. ^K-om The, l^mpluJ, loo "he, oAt eooAk accompanying thAJ> ajvtictc Ma6 done by knJjta WoAtz, dleXielan md animal keepeA at the Indianapolis Zoo. The sketch lb oi "Shantee" , 1 Red- tolled hawk that Is canxently being Aehabllltated at the Indlan- ipolLs loo. Coming Events AAZPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE September 13-17 New Orleans, Louisiana AAZK NATIONAL CONFERENCE September 20-24 Fresno, California 5th Annual Reptile Symposium on Captive Propagation and Husbandry June 12-14 Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma Coordinator: Thomas Huff Director, Reptile Breeding Foundation P.O. Box 1450, Picton Ontario, Canada KOK 2T0 Joint Annual Meetings I Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles & I The Herpetologists' League j August 9-14 Memphis State University Memphis, Tennessee SECOND ELEPHANT WORKSHOP September 25 & 26 San Diego Zoo & San Diego Wild Animal Park ^^®“^6gistration deadline 1 August 1981. No Fee. Please indicate areas Df interest regarding elephants or papers you would like to present. Contact : Red Thomas: 3743 Brems, San Diego, CA 92115 or Mike Kachuba: 4145 Wilson Ave., San Diego, CA 92104 129 Chapter The Topeka Zoo Chapter of AAZK sponsored a tree sale through the National Arbor Foundation as a fund-raising project and made over $900 for their treasury. The Topeka Chapter also recently sponsored as part of their monthly program series, a slide show and lecture by Herb Malzacher, who is an elephant keeper from Madison, WI. This was the presentation given at the Chicago AAZPA con- ference and at the Elephant Workshop held this year in Tulsa. The Louisville Chapter of AAZK announces the following officers for 1981: President. .. .Butch Haft Vice-Pres .... Susan Parsons Secretary. . . .Paula Reiss Treasurer. .. .Rod Wainscott News AAZK is pleased to welcome the newly formed Chapter in Omaha, NE and the reactivated Chapter in Indianapolis, IN. 1981 officers for the Topeka Chapter are: President. .. .Connie Cloak Vice-Pres. . . .Marlena Young Secretary ... .Kelly Kimble Treasurer ... .Kitty Shipman M.T.Z Has New Chapter Crest The Omaha Chapter has elected the following officers: President. . . .Daniel Morris Vice-Pres. . . .Alan Holst Sec/Tres Sondra McDaniel The Indianapolis Chapter has elected the following officers: In 1980 the Metro Toronto Zoo Chapter of AAZK held a competition to find the best design for a Chapter crest. All the designs submitted were exhibited for a few weeks and the winner was selected at one of our chapter meet- ings. The Chapter members voted to adopt the Canadian Lynx crest designed by Keeper Richard Johnstone. Paul Harpley (our resident Canadian wildlife artist who works in the Zoo Graphics Dept.) sketched the lynx crest for the manu- facturer. They are available to AAZK members in other zoos for $2.00 each including postage. Write to: Oliver M. Claffey c/o AAZK, Metro Toronto Zoo, West Hills, Ontario, Canada MIE 4R5. Pres/Sec. ... Rise Dmytriw Vice-Pres/Tres . . . .Anita Martz Through various projects in the past several months, the Louisville Zoo AAZK Chapter has raised additional funds for the renovation of an existing building to house the Raptor Rehabilitation Program. While they admit to still being a long way from their goal, they are steadily increasing their Raptor Rehab Fund. B.eAyUe Feldman Coo^cUnatoA. ChaptzA k{{^ainh 130 REQUEST FOR NOMINEES FOR AAZK AWARDS n anticipation of the 1981 AAZK conference, nominations for the Annual AZK Awards are being accepted. There are three award catagories : xcellence in Zookeeping, Certificate of Merit for Zoo Keeper Education, nd Excellence in Journalism. iXCELLENCE IN ZOO KEEPING i Qualifications ; 1. The nominee must be a full-time animal keeper, employed in any North American zoological institution or aquarium. 2. The nominee must have been employed at least two years on a permanent status at a zoo or aquarium. 3. The nominee must be nominated by his or her peers who have also been employed at that same zoo or aquarium. Nomination procedures ; 1. List name, position, institution, years of service in the field, and the recommendation of peer or colleague. 2. List outstanding achievements: exhibits, breeding, education etc. 3. List any extra activities outside of zoo or aquarium work: work- ing with conservation groups, youth, wildlife officials, etc. Selection Procedure: The Awards Committee, consisting of five people, will independently review each nominee. :ertificate of merit for zoo keeper education Qualifications : I 1. Any North American zoological institution or aquarium is eligible. 2. The keeper training program must have been in existence for at ' least a year. Nomination Procedure: This award will be given to the zoo most actively promoting education* al programs for zoo keepers — keeper training courses, staff seminars, and reimbursement for formal education, etc. If you feel that your zoo merits such an award, please submit a letter of nomination, mentioning specific education programs. Nominations for the EXCELLENCE IN ZOO KEEPING award and the CERTIFICATE OF MERIT FOR ZOO KEEPER EDUCATION will be accepted up to June 15, 1981. Winners will be selected by the Awards Committee. Awards will be pre- sented to the winners at the AAZK National Conference, September 20-24, 1981 in Fresno, California. 131 Legislative News c-omp-iZo^d by KevZn Co may INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION GOALS TRIMMED BY REAGAN President Reagan has withdrawn U.S. support from some of the key conser- i vat ion positions by Carter-appointed delegates to two international con- ; ferences. Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig Jr. fired the top officials! of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference | just before its tenth session, and put at least a temporary hold on ap- proval of agreements previously reached. And the Administration reversed pro-conservation positions that Carter-appointed delegates had intended | to support at the conference of parties to the Convention on International | Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). l The Law of the Sea Treaty, aimed at regulating use of the oceans and their riches, has been in the making since 1974. Elliot Richardson, who head- j ed the U.S. delegation under President Carter, predicted last summer that ■ the treaty would be signed at the six-week session that has just opened | in New York. But Haig killed hope of a treaty at that session when he | announced that any agreement reached in New York would be subject to a | policy review before the U.S. would sign. The action was foreshadowed by a plank in the Republican platform adopt- : ed last summer, warning against international treaties that jeprodize "long-term security requirements." The platform cited Law of the Sea as an example, saying the "negotiations have served to inhibit United States exploitation of the sea bed for its abundant mineral resources." It add- ed that "too much concern has been lavished on the nations unable to carry out sea-bed mining, with insufficient attention paid to gaining early American access to it." At the CITES conference this month in New Delhi there was controversy over parrots and whales. On both issues, the U.S. delegates appointed by President Reagan dropped the strong stand that had been taken by their predecessors, and in both cases the United States wound up on the losing side . World trade in parrots is now estimated to run as high as a million birds a year. Some of the species are endangered, and some plentiful, but among the plentiful species are some that look so much like rare ones that only an expert can tell them apart. Therefore the former U.S. delegation, at the urging of the International Council for Bird Preservation and Traffic (U.S.A.), had agreed to support a proposal that would subject dealers to regulations to ensure that no endangered species of parrots were slipped past inspectors as common species. This proposal was approved by the conference. But it was approved over the opposition of the Reagan-appoint- ed delegation, which favored listing only parrots that are actually endang- ered or threatened. The CITES nations also voted to ban all trade in fin, sei, and sperm whales. The Reagan appointees supported an exception for whales of these species taken under quotas of the International Whaling Commission in areas where 132 ^Legislative News, coyitinao-d I they still can be hunted legally. The total ban was adopted in a vote in which only Japan opposed and only the United States and Russia abstained. Audubon LdudoA AAZPA CALLS MEETING OF ZOOLOGICAL PROFESSION AND GOVERNMENT ON MARINE MAMMAL REGULATIONS jAAZPA hosted a meeting of marine mammal experts and government officials from appropriate agencies in Washington D.C. on 23 and 24 February. Mem- bers of the zoological profession met in the offices of Steele and Utz, Inc. on Monday, 23 February in an all-day session to prepare the zoological jprofession' s case on needed changes in the marine mammal regulations. Those in attendance were Robert Wagner, Executive Director, AAZPA; Don iBruning, Chairman, AAZPA Legislative Committee; Barbara Heffer, Sea World, Washington Representative; Martin Jacobs, Coinsel, AAZPA and Richard Frank, [former Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- tion (NOAA) ; Ed Asper, Special Advisor to President Chaffee on marine mam- imals; Lanny Cornell, Sea World; and Joe Geraci, marine mammal expert. The problem -areas under discussion included average adult size, sexual dimorphism, dimention of pool and haul-out areas, regulations regarding f terminal facilities and transportation of marine mammals, temperature re- quirements, water quality, animals in isolation, rehabilitation of stranded animals, research activities, grouping of animals and necropsy require- ments . Since new regulations are currently being considered, it was decided at the close of the meeting that AAZPA would present a formal set of recom- mendations to the concerned agencies for their review. Dr. Robert Crawford, U.S. Department of Agriculture indicated that proposed new regulations should be published in the Federal Register in July or August of this year, with the final regulations being in place by the beginning of 1982. I BILL INTRODUCED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC INFORMATION ON WILDLIFE PRESERVATION i AND ENDANGERED SPECIES On 26 February 1981, Mr. Purcell (R-MI) , and Mr. Gilman (R-NY) and Mr. Beilenson (D-CA) introduced legislation entitled the "Wildlife Information and Learning Development Act of 1981." j The purpose of this Act is to establish a Wildlife Information Clearing- I House within the Office of Endangered Species of the Fish and Wildlife [ Service, Department of Interior, to improve public knowledge on endangered I species. This Clearinghouse would evaluate, consolidate and distribute information concerning endangered species and wildlife conservation. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries . AAZPA Nm-6leXteA 133 THE STRUGGLE SURVIVAL SEARCH CONTINUES FOR BLACK-FOOTED FERRET The Wildlife Preservation Trust has awarded a grant of $9,500 to Mr. John P. Messick to continue the search for populations of the black-footed ferret (MiUtuZa yilgAApQJ>) in six western states. The Fish and Wildlife Service has not allocated funds in its 1981 budget for work with the black-footed ferret. They have been attempting to secure and establish captive populations of the ferret for the past 15 years, with little success. This project consti- tutes a last-ditch effort to save this important and rare animal from extinction. The black-footed ferret is one of North America’s rarest mammals. Its disappearance is directly related to cam- paigns to exterminate the prairie dog on agricultural and grazing land, because the ferret feeds on prairie dogs and uses their burrows for shelter. As of 1974, the black- footed ferret has been sighted only 213 times in the pre- vious 75 years. This species in on the Endangered Species List, and federal regulations require that prairie dog towns be surveyed for ferrets before extermination. As it is quite difficult to make a complete survey, it is likely that many ferrets perish along with the prairie dogs . ANOTHER RECORD YEAR FOR WHOOPING CRANES America’s wild whooping cranes are continuing their slow but steady recovery from near extinction with a record number of birds on their wintering grounds. The main flock of 78 birds, two more than last year, have begun migrating from the Texas Gulf Coast to nesting grounds in Canada. Meanwhile, a transplant- ed flock with their ’’foster" sandhill crane parents are migrating from the Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico to the Rockies . Prospects for future growth in the main flock are even more encouraging, with about half of them — 19 pairs — now active breeders. Six young hatched last spring are among the 78 whoopers that wintered at the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Aransas National Wild- life Refuge in Texas after their 2,600-mile fall migration from Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park. Upon arrival at Aransas, families and breeding pairs staked out territories of about 400 acres where they feed on clams, blue crabs and occasionally acorns. Refuge officials say there is ample space at Aransas for the hoped-for expansion of the flock. 134 AAZK T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE ' AAZK T-shirts imprinted with the official emblem are now available. The I price is $5.49 plus $1.00 for shipping and handling for each shirt. Sizes Small, Medium and Large are available in tan, red, lemon yellow ! and royal blue. Size Extra-large is available in tan and royal blue only. I To order, please complete coupon below and send with check or money order I to: 5 Carleton Bailie I c/o Akron Zoo i 500 Edgewood Ave. j Akron, OH 44307 li 3 'Please send T-shirt(s) at $5.49 plus $1.00 for shipping and I 'handling. j ' Size: small medium large extra-large I 1 \ 'Colors: ^Tan Red Lemon-yellow Royal blue i ' Name Address City State Zip AAZK ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE DECALS The official AAZK decal is avail- able through the Memphis Zoologi- cal Park and Aquarium AAZK Chapter. The decal is a black and white reproduction of the AAZK rhino logo, suitable for any smooth, hard surface, especially a car window. Cost is $1.50 complete, prepaid. Make checks payable to the Memphis Chapter, AAZK, and send directly to Mike Maybry, Decal Project Coordinator, 1887 Crump Ave., Memphis, TN 38107. For a "Keepers Care" Button, send the coupon and 50<: for each button to Larry Sammarco, Lincoln Park Zoo 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614 Please send but ton (s) for 500 each. Name Address City State Zip 135 We a/te IndMo^d to tkt AAZPA Nm6le.tteA atlomng lu to fi2,pHA.Yit po^itlovu, oi tku 6zctlon ^K-om theJji "Vo^tttom Avatlable." tUttng^. TfoU X6 a. movXhl-y ^dAvtoo. to u.4, ^on. you, MAMMALOGIST . . . curatorial position at St. Catherine's Island Wildlife Survival Center in Georgia. Applicant responsible for overall man- agement and propagation of rare and endangered species and supervis- ion of small staff. Some writing for technical and popular audiences required, plus budget preparation and planning. Salary commensurate with experience. Send resume to; James B. White, Personnel Manager, New York Zoological Society, 185th St. & Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10460. AQUARIUM CURATOR. . . advanced degree in marine biology required. Experience and ability to handle management and exhibition of diverse aquatic animals. Must be able to write for technical and popular audiences, take charge of projects and manage animal-care staff. Good salary, plus benefits. Send resume to: Timothy O'Sullivan, Deputy Director, Admin., New York Zoological Society, 185th St. and Southern Blvd. , NY 10460. ANIMAL TECHNICIAN (SENIOR KEEPER)... requires completion of associate degree in life science, plus two years of specialized experience in husbandry of exotic birds. Prior supervisory experience desirable. Salary $979-$!, 393 per month, plus benefits. Send resume by 30 June 1981 to: Earl Unell, Chief Examiner, City Hall, Personnel Dept., 414 East 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106. ANIMAL CARE SPECIALIST TRAINEE. . . will be trained in animal care techniques for marine mammals, waterfowl and aquatic birds. Should be high school graduate, strong swimmer and possess willingness to learn. Competitive starting salary and outstanding benefits. Mail resumes to: Personnel Dept., Sea World of Florida, 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando, FL 32809. AQUARIUM SUPERVISOR. . .position available located in Florida Keys. Mini- mum of two years' aquarium supervisory experience is desired. Collect- ing experience preferred. Competitive starting salary, with benefits. Mail resume to: Professional Staffing, Sea World of Florida, 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando, FL 32809. O P P 0 r t u n 1 t y k n o c k s ****************************** MOVING? PLEASE SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO Dolly Clark, Administrative Secretary American Association of Zoo Keepers National Headquarters, 635 Gage Blvd. Topeka, KS 66606 136 AAZK MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION I Name_ Check hefie xenmat [ ] I Address 1 I $20.00 Professional I VuJUi-tme Keepen^ onty I and Inteh-natlonat Hemben^ $10.00 Associate IndUvldaaJU not connected M^h an avumal caxe ^acttity $50.00 Contributing 0-figantzatton6 and tndlvtduoLi I U.S CURRENCY ONLY PLEASE U.S \Vtn.ecton.y Zn^omatton 1 I Zoo Wo/ife A^ea Spectat tnt2AQJ>t!> I Mail this application and check or money order, payable to American I Association of Zoo Keepers, to: AAZK National Headquarters, Topeka Zoo, I 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606. I iMemberships include subscription to the Anwiot KeepeU’ VoH-lM. I The membership card is good for free admission to many zoos and aquariums I in the U.S. and Canada . INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS Antmat Keepeu ' foKum publishes original papers and news items of interest to the Animal Keeping profession. Non-members are welcome i to submit articles. Articles should be typed or hand-printed. All illustrations, graphs and tables should be clearly marked, in final form, and should fit in a page size of no more than 6" x 10" (15 cm. x 25% cm.). Literature used should be cited in the text and in final bibliography. Avoid ! footnotes. Include scientific names. ! Articles sent to AntmaZ Keepe/U' FoAum will be reviewed for publication. I No commitment is made to the authbr, but an effort will be made to i publish articles as soon as possible. Those longer than three pages will be separated into monthly installments at the discretion of the I editorial staff. The editors reserve the right to edit material j without consultation unless approval is requested in writing by the I author. Materials submitted will not be returned unless accompanied ^ by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. I Telephoned contributions on late-breaking news or last minute insertions ! are' acceptable. However, phone-in contributions of long articles will I not be accepted. The phone number is 913 272-5821. DEADLINE FOR EACH EDITION IS THE 20th OF THE PRECEDING MONTH. AnttcZoJi pntnted do not neca^^a/uJiy Jie{,lect the optnton6 oi the Antmal Keepeu ' fo^um editohJjoJi 6tall on. oi the Amentcan X{>^o elation o^ loo Keepe'u. Items in the publication may be reprinted. Credit to this publication is requested. Order reprints from the Editor. 7r 03 CD « OvsH QOi N O ONOacS S P-03 On y 03 •t TT of Zoo Keepers *'°**“*® dedicated to Professional Animal Care JUNE 1981 ANIMAL KEEPERS' FORUM, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 JUNE 1981 ISSN 0164-9531 VOLUME EIGHT NUMBER SIX Executive Editor: Mike Coker Managing Editor: Susan Chan Associate Editor: Connie Cloak Editorial Assistant: Diana Brey Atu/nal Keepe/L6 ' VoK-um is a monthly journal published by the American Association of Zoo Keepers, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, Kansas 66606. Postmaster: Please send Form 3579 to address printed below. r AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOO KEEPERS NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, 635 GAGE BLVD., TOPEKA, KS 66606 k Volty CtoAk, Admln^t/iative. S^cAztoAy BOARD OF DIRECTORS Pat Sammarco, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL 60614 Vn.QJi^d(lvlt Jill Grade, Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL 33612 \J.ic.2.-pH.(l6-Ld(LYVt Mike Maybry, Memphis Zoological Park, Memphis, TN 38112 Mike Coker, Topeka Zoo, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 Bernard Feldman, Miller Park Zoo, Bloomington IL 61701 COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Awards Committee Historical Committee Aicfee C/LOcfeeA, VlckoMovi Pa/ik loo VZok Smemy, San V-lago loo, CA Nominations and Elections Committee iUtfee Uayb^y, MmpftU Zoo, TSI PROJECT HEADS Coordinator for Chapter Affairs BoAnoAd Feldman, HltteA Zoo, IL Keeper Data Survey Mcfee MaybAy, Memphis Zoo, TSI Legislative Information K^vln Co may, CRC, 1/A Coordinator* for International Affairs KoAen StoAA iUalzeZand, Midlothian, TX Infant Development Project MoAcla CZe.ve,ngeA, Oklahoma City Zoo, OK Keepers* Accommodation List FAan TuAne/L, ToAonto Zoo, OntoAto Animal Data Transfer Form Book Reviews BeAnoAd Feldman, MllleA Zoo, IL E-tle.n Le.aah, Woodland VoAk Zoo, WA Program Library & Information Center Elle,n Le,aak, Woodland PoAk Zoo, WA Regional Coordinators Mike CaApe,nteA, Phoenix Zoo, AZ, VtAe.cXoA Ed RobeAls WalteA V, Stone. Mem. Zoo ME, \JT , NH, MA, Rl, CT vacancy vacancy Kevin Comay EveAeXt HoaaU HeAb Kings buLAy LoAAy SammoAco vacancy vacancy Vcc Nelson GoAy Tibbetts vacancy FAont Royal CRC BlndeA PoAk Zoo Cincinnati Zoo Lincoln PoAk Zoo Audubon PoAk Zoo Rio GAande Zoo NV PA, NJ, MV, VE \JA, WV MI IN, OH, KT WI, IL, MO, MN, lA, MO TN, NC, SC FL, AL, GA AR, MS, LA TX,NM,C0,0K,KS,NE,SV,NV WA, OR, IV, MT, WV, AK Jane HansjeAgen B Mike CoApenteA Kathy Rettle SacAomento Zoo Phoenix Zoo MetAo ToAonto Zoo CA, NV, AZ, UT, HI CANADA The. June. AKF aoveA mcu d/iawn by Ulke. CH.oc.keA, Se.yU.oH Ke.e.peA at the. VtckeA- 6on PoAk Zoo tn SpHing^teZd, MO. f^tke., who t6 PHe.6tde.yit o{^ thetn AAZK ChapteA, Ju6 lnvoloe.d with P2.ptlte^ and Gnaphlc^ iOt Vlckejuon PoAk. The. dHowtng l6 o^ a tank dlveA feeding a poHpot^e. Thank6, Mtkel Scoops and Scuttlebutt AAZK NATIONAL ELECTIONS COMING IN JULY In early July, all professional members will be receiving from the Nominations and Election Committee biographical sketches of the candi- dates and a ballot. Voting members are asked to mail their ballot in the enclosed envelope marked "Ballot" to the National Headquarters in Topeka, KS. The unopened ballots will then be forwarded on to Mike Maybry, head of the Election Committee at Memphis. MEMBERS ENCOURAGED TO FILL VACANT RC POSITIONS A number of vacancies exist in the listings of Regional Coordinators. The position of RC is an important one to the Association because it assures that each geographical area is well-represented and their in- formation and input into AAZK is coordinated with the National Head- quarters. For any member who would like to serve as a Regional Coor- dinator— check the listings on the page opposite to see which states are currently listed as having a vacancy. Mike Carpenter of the Phoenix Zoo is RC Director and interested members should write him at the follow- ing address: Mike Carpenter, Phoenix Zoo, Box 5155, Phoenix, AZ 85010. HAVE A PIECE OF YOUR ZOO AT NATIONAL AAZK HEADQUARTERS All members and Chapters are encouraged to send a poster or patch from your institution to be displayed at the National Headquarters in Topeka The staff of the Topeka office are here to serve the membership and would like to see each institution represented by some visual artifact. So send us your posters, patches, decals etc. and when in Topeka, stop by to see your National Headquarters. 1980 AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS AVAILABLE The Australian Society of Zookeepers (ASAK) is offering its 1980 Con- ference Proceedings to interested individuals. It contains 11 papers together with the opening address given by Jack Throp, Director of Taronga and Western Plains Zoos. Many facets of animal house construc- tion and husbandry /breeding techniques relating to Australian collections are presented. Copies are available from the Secretary, A.S.Z.K., P.O. Box 74, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. The cost is $5.00 per copy (Australian) . 137 Births|^ Hatchings AUDUBON PARK ZOO LISTS RECENT BIRTHS LI& Glcu>co ^he following is a list of recent births and hatchings at the Audubon Park & Zoological Garden, New Orleans, LA: 0.1 Sable antelope, 1.0 Guanaco, 0.0.1 Axis deer, 0.0.1 Thompsons gazelle; 0.0.2 Golden lion tamarins, 0.0.10 emus, 0.0.2 Red-necked ostriches, 0.0.1 Plush-crested jay, 0.0.8 Fulvous tree ducks, 0.0.1 Toco toucan and 0.0.1 Cereopsis goose. W.D. STONE ZOO ANTICIPATES DOUBLE BIRTHS Ed RoboAti, Gigi, our 8-year-old Lowland gorilla is expecting her first offspring around the second week of June, and Betty, our orangutan, is due to have her fourth baby at about the same time. Much media coverage and publicity have been given to Gigi since this will be her first. Dr. Deborah Schildkrautj an animal behavior psychologist, has been spending time daily with Gigi, instructing her through various hand and voice signals, on the proper care of an infact gorilla. The instruction Gigi is receiving by a human is supposed to be, as close as possible, the instruction she would receive if she were with a group of lowland mothers from whom she could learn mothering techniques . Both Gigi and her mate Sam were purchased from the Cinncinati Zoo in March of 1980 and were flown, uncrated, but in cargo nets and under anesthesia by a rented Lear jet. Dr. William Satterfield, the staff veterinarian, supervised the transport. Betty, the orangutan, has received far less publicity since this is not her first offspring. Her last baby is now on breeding loan to the St. Louis Zoo, was born in 1975. The W.D. Stone Zoo was also a recent recipient of an award by the AAZPA on the raising of a Hammerkope and the first successful hand-raising of an Abyssinian Hornbill. So far 13 mouflons (0VA6 mLi6-unon) have been born this spring and our yellow-backer duiker is expecting. FRESNO ZOO ANNOUNCES RENNOVATIONS/RECENT BIRTHS SMy J. Smith. Fresno Zoo is a flurry of activity this spring as we are now renovating the Marine Mammal Exhibit, building a beautiful shady arborway, and will soon be renovating the large cat exhibit. We hope to break ground very soon on the first phase of our new Asian Elephant Exhibit. Births this spring have included Addax, Scimitar-horned Oryx, Mouflon Sheep, Tule Elk, Japanese Raccoon Dogs, Cottontop Marmosets, Nile Hippo, and African Crested Porcupine. JAPANESE ZOOS RECEIVE RARE PRZEWALSKI HORSES Vo^hl. VoneXani The Tama Zoological Park in Tokyo has recently received 2.3 Przewalski horses (Equ.a6 pAzewaZskij from the London Zoological Society. Of these horses, 1.2 were born at the Whipsnade Park Zoo and 1.1 were born at the Marwell Zoological Park, a private zoo in England. All five animals were born between April and July of 1980. The females are named Jovanka, Nadia and Bala and the males are named Nureyev and Harry. 138 Births and Hatchings, continued The Tama Zoo has built a new $300,000 building and outdoor yard to house the Przewalski herd. The one-story concrete structure has five sleeping, rooms, two delivery rooms with electric heaters and a keeper’s area. The floor space of the barn is 134.2 sq. meters. The outdoor yard has an area of 1148 sq.m. In addition it has a 2 x 50 m. observation way and a 3.5 x 52 m. keeper way. The total size of the enclosure is 2090 sq. m. It was opened to the public on April 11, 1981. The Przewalski horses were obtained in an exchange. The Tama Zoo’s male Indian Rhinocerous (named Sai-taro) was sent in December of 1978 on breed- ing loan to the Amsterdam Zoo. He was born on Dec. 20, 1973 and was the first successfully raised captive born of his species. Three zoos — in England, the Netherlands and Japan — were involved in the breeding loan agreement. The Fuji Safari Park has received a pair of Gerenuk Litltta(iA.ioHm2^ , continued Listing Listing (all species except those on App. 1 and except Metop-ilttucil iundulotiU IbudgeAtgo/i} ^ Nymphtcui holZandlcui (cockattel) B P^tttacula k/imoAl {^06y-(A}lngcd paAakcct] . Order Galliformes; PeneXope atblpc-nn^ (White-Winged guan) Not listed I Peru Order Psittaciformes : lPaA/L0t6, macaws and aJiti(Li>] Not listed II United Kingdom Tt cu Go a. a (0 13 ro i-i ^ f! Cfi 3 s ^ (D I ^ m O O ►tJ o (t) fD (D (B fD fD 3 CL t-j CL t-j (i. S tl) 3 fB 3 CD 145 Amendments to Appendices I and II as of June 6, 1981 The Appendices amendments listed here do not include those amendments for plants. Species Present New Proponent Party Listing Listing CLASS MAMMALIA AAZPA CENTRAL REGIONAL REPORT By MXfee CokeA, kfiaa. SulPOAv-Uok. Tope.ka Zoo Kansas City Zoo hosted the Central Regional this year — a really good conference. The conference featured International Zoo Poster Displays, Zoo support organization meetings and workshops for Zoo docents . The General Animal Management Session was highlighted with special work- shops: Elephant Management, Education, Nutrition, and a Raptor Workshop was held at the Kansas City Zoo. A number of keepers were featured as speakers : Connie Cloak of the Topeka Zoo on "Cotton-headed Tamarins" Ernie Galbraith of the Kansas City Zoo on "The K.C. Zoo's African Elephants" Ted. W. Findlay of the Dallas Zoo on "Captive Management and Behavior of the East African Bongo" Mark Swanson of the Tulsa Zoo on "Captive Behavior of the Siamang" David Carlson of the Sedgwick County Zoo on "Pros and Cons: Rat/Mice Rearing in Zoos" Claudia Newman of the El Paso Zoo on "Hand-raising Felines and Primates in a Small Zoo" Herb Malzacker of the Henry Vilas Zoo on "Elephant Training Program" The AAZK Association Report was presented to AAZPA delegates by Mike Coker of the Topeka Zoo. The papers presented were excellent, especially hav- ing a large turnout of keepers as speakers . AAZK had accessories available — T-shirts, patches, membership brochures. AAZK Animal Data Transfer Forms were made available to the delegates. The Conference was a very pleasant and relaxing way to meet zoo people. Hope to see you all in El Paso next year for their AAZPA Central Region- al Conference. Coming Events AAZPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE September 13-17 New Orleans, Louisiana AAZK NATIONAL CONFERENCE September 20-24 Fresno, California SECOND ELEPHANT WORKSHOP September 25 & 26 San Diego Zoo & San Diego Wild Animal Park Pre-registration deadline 1 August 1981. No Fee. Please indicate areas of interest regarding elephants or papers you would like to present. Contact: Red Thomas: 3743 Brems, San Diego, CA 92115 or Mike Kachuba: 4145 Wilson Ave., San Diego, CA 92104 146 SUCCESSFUL BIRTH AND REARING OF FENNEC FOXES AT THE CINCINNATI ZOO By UickcLel Vutan2.y He.adke,e}M NocXuAnaJi Home Until recently the Cincinnati Zoo had not had any successful births of the Fennec Fox ife.nn£.C.U ZQAda) . Our first recorded birth was on 14 February 1980. The three pups, however, were abandoned by the mother and had died by 16 Feb. There was, I feel, several reasons for the mother’s reaction of ignoring the pups. The reasons are as follows: the sire had been removed from the exhibit one week prior to the birth. very little in the way of dietary changes had been made. the nesting box (which attached to the rear of the display area) was too small and being constructed of metal was too cold. -the exhibit was bothered too much for cleaning and feeding purposes after partuation. Our adult pair of Fennec Fox (the male was born in Germany and the female came from the Milwaukee County Zoo) were observed breeding on the morning of 8 July 1980. Mounting was observed, however we did not witness the characteristic "tieing" which usually occurs in canids. Using a 50 day gestation p&riod calculation from the breeding date, I estimated that if the breeding was successful, the pups should be born around 28 August 1980. On 2l August, 1980 during a routine physical examination of the female, she was palpated and at least two pups could be felt. Within the following two weeks from that date, the female's nipples had enlarged and on the morning of 27 August 1980 at least one pup was spotted in the nesting box. We had, in anticipation of the upcoming birth, made a number of changes to insure a better atmosphere for the female in hope that she would raise this most recent litter. Though the Fennecs are housed in a cage that was on public display, the nesting box is attached to the rear and below the exhibit and the box was darkened to provide the female with more of a sense of security. Also, to lessen stress, we allowed the sire to remain with the female. This proved to be an ideal situation as there was a great deal of interaction between the parents as there must be in the wild. For example, when food was placed in the exhibit both parents would proceed to bury much of it in the substrate provided. The male, who could usually be found guarding the entrance hole to the nesting box, would often dig up pieces of food several hours later and take it to his mate in the nest- ing box below. Variations in the food provided also occurred. The normal diet for these animals at the Cincinnati Zoo included Zupreem (a synthetic meat mixture) ; apple, banana, orange and cooked carrot. We modified the diet to also in- clude a daily ration of mice and ground meat. All of the food provided was sprinkled with powdered milk to insure an increased vitamin and cal- cium intake. The nesting box had also been modified. Not only was the basic construc- tion material converted from metal to wood, but the new box was twice as large as the old L-shaped box and was constructed in the shape of a "T” with the stem being the main entrance way branching off to either a right 147 Successful Birth and Rearing of Fennec Foxes. (loyutiyiUi2.d or left compartment. These compartments could be shut off if needed by sliding partitions and each had a keeper service door should it become necessary to retrieve the offspring. I might add that straw had been provided to the female for the February birth, however, she had removed it from the "nest” prior to giving birth. Therefore no nesting material was provided at this time. We felt that our biggest mistake with the first litter was in not leaving the female and pups undisturbed for any length of time after parturition. For this reason, as soon as we realized that pups had been bom, we dis- continued cleaning the exhibit for one week and actually only disturbed the unit once a day to feed. After this week, we began cleaning the cage every three or four days hoping all the while that this was not too much of a disturbance. We had no idea until. 17 September 1980 that there had been two pups born. The Fennecs at the Cincinnati Zoo are displayed on a day/night light re- versal in order to have the animals awake and active during Zoo operat- ing hours. From approximately 100 to 200 hours, the Fennec exhibit is lit by a 1.4 meter fluorescent tube light spray painted a dark blue. From 200 to 1000 hours the exhibit is lit by the same size white fluorescent tube light. Little variation occurs in the Photo-period of our Fennec exhibit and I therefore feel that, for at least our Fennecs, a photo- period simulating their natural cycle was not necessary for reproduction. The initial entrance of a pup into the public display area occurred on the morning of 9 October 1980, when it was 43 days old. It was not cer- tain if the pup had climbed out of the nesting area on its own or if the mother had carried it out from the lower nesting box. The sire was very curious about the pup who had entered his "territory", but he was very gentle and even playful with his offspring. Both offspring are females,. I feel that our recent success has proven that you do learn from your mistakes and I feel that we have made great progress in reproducing the Fennec Fox at our zoo. If we continue to follow the guidelines we have laid down for ourselves, we should have little difficulty in successfully breeding this smallest of the fox family who in the wild is found in Africa. /l^ The Center for Environmental Education announces the availability of Whale, Seal, and Sea Turtle Information Packets. Three separate sets of fact sheets on whales, seals and sea turtles totaling 48 pages pro- vide hundreds of facts and figures along with beautiful black-and- white drawings of each species and suggestions on what can be done to protect these animals. All three packets (48 pages) are available for $6.25 plus $1.50 postage and handling; individual packets are $2.50 plus $.80 postage and handl- ing. Please specify whales, seals or sea turtles. Write: Center for Environmental Education, 1925 K Street, NW, Suite 206, Washington, DC 20006. Reduced prices available for bulk orders. 148 Ibian . pourri A NEW CAPTIVE PROPAGATION CENTER FOR THE REPTILE BREEDING FOUNDATION By Thomas A. V-Oi^cto/L, ReptZl^ BA.eecUng Foundation Ptcton, OntoAlo, Canada The new facility of the Reptile Breeding Foundation was completed in Feb- ruary of 1976, after two years of extensive planning and a five-month con- struction period. The 457m2 concrete block structure was built at a cost of $230,000 (complete) and is located on 3*55 hectares of land near Picton (Prince Edward CQunty) , Ontario. The building was designed and constructed solely for the purpose of breed- ing and rearing rare and endangered species of reptiles in captivity. Con- sideration of the public in the choice of materials and design, a priority with zoo exhibits, was therefore not an important criterion. The Founda- tion is open to the public only by appointment and guided tour; aesthetic displays, ease of public viewing, etc. were not even included in our list of priorities. Although it was not the intention to build a showplace, we feel that we have done so, and believe that this building may serve as an example of what can be done, both publicly and privately, towards the captive propagation of endangered species. Alan D. Martin Limited of Don Mills, Ontario was engaged as construction manager for the project. This company offered design coordination, draft- ing services and supervised the actual construction. Many hours were spent, in consultation with our staff, discussing various materials and designs before we settled on the final plan. We have occupied the new facility just over two years, as of this writing, and feel that our final choice of design and materials was the proper one; we have found very few things which we would change. The building is divided into three sections (see Fig. I). The first con- tains the office, library and lounge and includes washrooms, showers, and a workshop /utility area. The central section consists of three rooms — the adult snake room, wet room and nursery — which house the main reptile collection, together with a laboratory, kitchen and food preparation area, clean-up room, and a storage/equipment room. The third section, which is systemically separate from the rest of the building, houses the rodent colony, and contains three isolation rooms and a large storage room. In the total design, it was necessary to consider the individual requirements of each of these areas . Of the various essential features, climate control was perhaps the most critical. In the cold Canadian climate the high humidity required was a potential source of damage and great care was taken in the selection and installation of vapour barriers, insulation materials, and the type of construction which was necessary to maintain the proper high tempera- tures and high humidity within the building, without harming the structure itself. We settled on cavity-wall construction with concrete block. The vapour barrier, a trowel led-on type, also served as the adhesive for the fiberglass cavity wall insulation. Each of the animal rooms as well as each section of the building is heated and provided with air-condition- ing via electrical roof-top units. Electrical units were chosen because of the the difficulty of obtaining fossil fuels during a severe storm and because they were the most competitive in price. They are also cleaner. 149 Reptile Breeding Foundation Center, continued easier to maintain, and, being roof units, conserve valuable space within the building. The desirable temperature indices are pre-set and the heat- ers or air-conditioning come on automatically as required. Humidifers are incorporated into the main air-circulation units, and humidistats in each area allow the desirable relative humidity in each section to be pre- set. The lighting in each of the animal rooms consists of Vita-lite fluorescent tubes in series, which can be controlled either manually or by pre-set timers. We feel that the need to create natural diurnal cycles is an im- portant consideration in the captive propagation of reptiles. One of the few errors made in the construction was the placement of some light switch-?: es. In the central storage room the manual light switch, which was incon- veniently placed inside the room, behind the door, should have been situat- ed outside the room. Also, we failed to put a dual control light switch in the storage room adjacent to the rodent room to enable the lights to be operated at either entrance. This has subsequently been corrected. Security was an important consideration. First, there was the concern that should an animal get out of its individual cage it might be able to find its way outside or into an inaccessible region within the building. Secondly, was the concern that unwanted vermin or pests might find their way in and thirdly, there was the usual problem of preventing unwanted members of the public gaining access. All the doors are steel clad and very tight fitting. As an added precaution, they are fitted with inter- locking thresholds to prevent the movement of even the smallest animal into and out of the rooms. All floor drains and ventilation ducts are provided with a fine mesh copper screen to prevent escape or entrance. The only windows in the building are in the of f ice/library/lounge section and are double thermal pane, fixed, sealed units. 150 Reptile Breeding Foundation, ciovitlnu.Q,d Ease of maintenance is an important consideration in the design and con- struction of any building, but we were particularly concerned because of our relatively small staff. The less time spent in general maintenance, the more could be spent on the care of our animal collection. With this in mind, all rooms are fitted with stainless steel sinks, floor drains ,and hoses. All the floors in the work areas are concrete treated with jan epoxy-aggregate seamless coating with an intregral covered base. The interior walls are concrete black covered with a sprayed-on plastic wall coating, making general cleaning very easy. In the rodent area, where the animal bedding creates a good deal of dust and the animals themselves create an undesirable odor, an electronic air-cleaner and special char- coal filters were installed. Other basic requirements were met by the installation of electrical out- lets every 1.8 m (three in a line running up the wall) in the animal rooms, the installation of ground fault interrupters in the wet room I (turtles, tortoises and crocodilians) to prevent electric shock in the event of a short circuit, and a special trough leading to the drain in the wet room so that this area could be hosed out regularly and easily. Power failure lamps and fire extinguishers have been installed throughout the building in case of electrical failure or fire. Being a rural area we rely on a well for our water supply. We installed two 1135 litre water storage tanks with a chlorinator. After the water has been chlorinated whilst in the tanks and any harmful bacteria destroy- ed, it is passed through a water filter which removes the chlorine. When a number of turtle tanks are filled at the same time, tne storage tanks help to cut down on the demand on water from the well and prevent it being overtaxed, particularly in the late summer months. ; The isolation rooms are separated not only physically but systemically [ from the rest of the building and have their own separate ventilation I system to prevent potentially harmful bacteria being carried through the ! system into the main reptile rooms. They are equipped with foot-operated faucets on the sinks, so that if precautionary procedures are in opera- tion, we do not have to touch a possibly contaminated surface with our ■ hands. Shoe baths are set up to disinfect footwear upon leaving the area I when the rooms are in use. l! The outside surface of the building is split concrete block which gives ij a decorative appearance. We have also invested in a good deal of land- I scaping to improve the general appearance of the property. Around a stream running through the back of the lot, extensive planting is creat- ing a natural, undisturbed sanctuary for indigenous forms of wildlife, . including foxes, raccoons, hawks, many species of song birds and several species of reptiles, all adding to our enjoyment of the area and our new 1 home . We have plans for construction of outdoor enclosures for use in the summ- er months for turtles and tortoises to give them the opportunity to graze and feed under more natural conditions. We have also set up a section to be used to grow certain vegetables, unobtainable locally, for the tortoises and, in addition to this garden, there is an old orchard with eight apple trees which supply a good deal of fresh fruit. The building was designed with the thought of future expansion, an impor- tant consideration because we are optimistic that the Foundation will con- tinue to flourish and that in the near future we will require additional 151 Reptile Breeding Foundation, lovi thz author {^n.om the. lYitoxvicutloYial. loo Vdcvtboc \Jot. 19, 7979. Information Please Does anyone know where one can obtain Sea Tabs (supplement for marine mammals)? Our supplier has discontinued its manufacture. Please reply to A.G. Wine, 2426 Oahu Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii 96822. REMINDER .... The deadline for grant applications in Animal Care is 15 July, 1981. For more information contact Mike D. Coker, Topeka, Zoo^ 635 Cage Blvd. , Topeka, KS 66606. WHERE WILL WE BE IN 1983??????? The 1981 AAZK conference will be in Fresno, CA. The 1982 will be held in Toronto, Canada. Where will we be in 1983? All Chapters are encourag-i ed to consider hosting the 1983 AAZK national conference at your zoo. Chapters are asked to submit their location bids to President Pat Sammarcc Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Rd., Chicago, IL 60614. 152 BROOKFIELD’S BLACK RHINO TREATED TO UNUSUAL PEDICURE BV E. OU, P.l/.M. Clvtcago loologZcat Pcuik IVeterinari^in^!^ ke83ers. Sometime in recent months, Brookfield Zoo’s 12-year-old female black rhino. Brook, developed cracks in the toenails of both of her front feet. Much like the separations that horses can sometimes develop in their hooves, complications can, if left unattended, lead to infection and even lameness. To remedy Brook’s condition, Brookfield’s veterinary staff, assisted by personnel from the Illinois Equine Hospital and Clinic in Naperville, set about mending the cracks with a procedure previously used on horses but never tried before on a rhino. The operation was done very carefully and quickly (start to finish ap- proximately 65 minutes) with an epoxy substance. First the 3,000-pound rhino was completely anesthetized. Then, work began simultaneously on the nails of both feet, with the epoxy laid in the cracks so the nail can grow in and mend. At the same time, general data on Brook was gathered; this included taking blood for future workups, and tracking her heartbeat and respiration rate to monitor %er condition during the procedure. There was also some gen- eral "nasicure” work done on Brook that included filing a little of her horn, which had become pointed enough to seriously injure one of the other black rhinos — Judy, 11, or Brook’s intended future mate, 2 1/2 year-old Embu — in the course of normal play. Brook came to Brookfield Zoo on December of 1973 and, at 12 years of age, is still relatively young. Longevity of the species extends sometimes into the mid-30’s, with the record-holder in this country having been Brookfield Zoo’s Mary, who died there in 1980 at the age of 47. Black rhinos are native to eastern and South Africa and are on the endang- ered list. In the 1977 International Zoo Yearbook census, there were about 190 black rhinos listed in captivity in the world. Keeper’s Alert The following notice from Donald E. Moore, Zoologist at the Burnett Park Zoo, Liverpool, NY, is for your information: The Burnett Park Zoo recently lost a wild found, 20 gram long-tailed weasal {^H-Zncita] due to suffocation by a 30 cm x 30 cm heat- ing pad. The pad was tightly wrapped in a towel and placed in a 30cm x 30 cm box, then covered with loose toweling to make a "nest". The weasals (1.1) used the vertical toweling as a thermal gradient, and were fine for four days. The male was placed directly on the towel- wrapped pad after a 10 a.m. feeding; he then tunneled through the towel- ing and under the center of the pad, where he apparently was suffocated by the weight of the pad before the noon feeding. We have not been confronted by this problem while raising small mammals before, but we now recommend that all heating pads be kept on the outside of infant holding boxes to prevent death by suffocation. 153 Chapter The South Florida AAZK has really turned on I They had another suc- cessful meeting at which Mandy Rodriguez and his co-worker gave a slide presentation about the Institute for Delphinid Research. The facility itself is very unique for it is situated right in the open waters of the Florida Keys. The dolphins are allowed to come and go as they please, but what’s amazing is that they choose to stay. They have had their fifth dolphin birth and expect another one this year. They have also started their own bird sanctuary for all the in- jured birds that are donated year- ly along with those that make it in on their own. The membership donated $20 towards the sanctuary which depends on private contribu- tions for its operation. The Chapter is also planning a Dog Wash as a fundraiser. The Santa Fe Chapter in Gainesville, FL is planning a weiner roast/pot- luck social for the 40 new students coming in next term. The Chapter hopes to be able to interest the new students in joining both the national and local AAZK. Other proposed Chapter activities include: dog washes, raffles and T-shirt sales . 1981 officers for the Santa Fe Chapter are: President ... .John LaMedica Vice-Pres ... .Patty Jansson Secretary. . . .Janet Skipper Treasurer ... .Cindy Brown Project Director .. .Michelle King Program Director .. .Kristil Lyle Newsletter Editor. .Jay Last The Fresno Chapter’s officers are incorrectly listed in the new direct' ory. The correct list of officers is as follows: President ... .Mary L. Swanson Vice-Pres . . . .Mary Cott Secretary Kathleen M. Kenyon Treasurer Sally J. Smith News The Los Angeles Chapter has a vari program format including slide pre sentations of recent trips taken t Keepers to Curators from other zoc At their meetings, they hold a boc raffle, a good source of income. Last year they invited the San Die Chapter to their annual "Walk Thro the Zoo at Night" and it was a gre success. Their Chapter provided a pot luck dinner and San Diego broug dessert. They also held their fir annual banquet and the turnout was very good. 1981 officers for the Los Angeles Chapter are: President ... .Michael Dee i Vice-Pres. — Larry Sorcl j Sec/Tres Jennifer Chatfield ' Bzavilz f Oldman CooK-dinaton. {^ofi ChaptoA 154 MORE THAN A MILLION ELEPHANTS - BUT THEY FACE EXTINCTION Can an animal which still numbers around 1,343,000 be considered endanger- ed? This was the problem faced by lUCN’s Survival Service Commission when it held it 53rd meeting in Kenya. There are still elephants in 35 African countries, but in 27 of them stocks are declining. Only five countries have an elephant density of more than one per five square kilometers. Four of these are grouped together in south central Africa: Zambia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Malawi, with a total of just over half a million elephants between them. Zaire has more elephants than any other African country, but its estimated 377,700 animals are spread out over its huge area of nearly 2 million sq. km. The most serious plight is that of the Uganda elephants, now well on their way to extinction because, as the head of the Uganda In- stitute of Ecology, Dr. Eric Edroma, told the meeting, the poachers were in control of the parks. The elephant must be considered in danger of extinction in the wild before the end of the century if trends that apply to the whole of Africa are not reversed. The root of the trouble is the high price of ivory since the world instability of money following the 1973 oil-price hike. A kilogram of ivory was worth $7.25 in the 1960s, but $74 in 1979. World exports of African ivory (there is little Asian ivory in trade because so few Asian elephants are left) have multiplied ten times to over a million kg a year. In recent years four-fifths of this has ended up in either Japan or Hong Kong. These facts, of elephant populations and the ivory trade, come from the two lUCN/WWF enquiries, conducted most ably by Iain Douglas-Hamilton and Ian Parker respectively, which formed the background to the SSC meeting. lUCN/ WWF is not against a legitimate trade where stocks can stand it, for rogue animals have to be eliminated. The problem is to prevent illegal elephant killing destroying populations, as has happened in many parts of East Africa in recent years. lUCN/WWF plans a four-pronged approach to this major wild- life conservation problem: 1. To request Governments to cooperate in closing the loopholes which allow ivory smuggling to take place and apprehending the culprits, some of whom are known to occupy official positions; 2. To promote the strengthening of CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. In this connection the recent adhesion of Hong Kong and imminent adhesion of Japan should greatly help to stamp cut illegal ivory trade. Specific measures to be explored include standardiz- ing trade documents and making them forgery-proof, marking exported raw ivory, and establishing a scientifically based ivory expert quota for each exporting nation. 3. To promote elephant conservation in the field, with projects for strengthening national parks, equipping park rangers and anti-poaching units, training wildlife staff and educating the African public; especially young people, through wildlife clubs and in other ways. 4. And last, but not least important, to attempt to understand and in- fluence the ivory trade. No legitimate trader is unmindful of the public relations aspects of his trade, and legitimate traders will always cooper- ate in reasonable measures designed to safeguard their future sources of supply. It is difficult for their, to do this while illegitimate traders are making hugh profits on the side. ORVX, Zoological Society o^ London 155 THE FREE LOADERS By CokoA AA-Q-CL SupQAVAJ>OA, Topeka Zoo Every zoological institution has them — the free loaders — roaming or flying freely about the zoo. There are starlings, sparrows, grackles, i^ts, mice, cockroaches, flies; all the extra species of animals you, are blessed with at your zoo. , These creatures cause problems for any zoo keeper. The mice, no zoo ' is complete without these creatures scurrying about. The cockroach, i always finding a meal, if empty feed sacks or food dishes are laying idle too long. And the flies, no hot summer day is complete without being bitten and pestered into a state of hysteria by flies. ' All of these creatures cause problems in any zoo whether large or small, old or new; the freeloaders are there to stay. Many zoos try extermin- ation as a method to control these residents, but money is usually wasted. The Control System established to eliminate th^se free loaders costs money to maintain and why waste so much money? As a keeper, my primary concern is for the animal's health, and then for the public's health. Why do zoos use toxic chemicals to spray for roaches (Baygon) , flies (Vapora-Bug It), for rodent blocks, and to poison starlings? The free loaders do not cause a concern with me, if I know the animals are healthy. I do not advocate lack of control, but zoo personnel should be more careful as to the selection, preparation, and administration of any "free loader" control program. Just consider for one moment, could there be an educational function for cockroaches and flies and mice? Sure there is! These animals are opportunists existing in an environment which is functioning under homosapien influences, but to their benefit.' These animals occupy a niche in the biosphere. , We in the Animal Keeping Profession are here to encourage' conservation of all species, plant or animal. We are considered intelligent beings 1 by our egos. We'll fight quite a battle to save a Bald Eagle, Galapagos Tortoise, or Panda; yet we try to exterminate flies, mice, roaches. These free loaders are not worth the money to completely eradicate, but some common sense is in order. Instead of using a fancy spring loaded trap for mice, how about eliminating the food sources: keep feed stor- age containers secured and floors cleaned of spilled feed. The cock- roaches live because of our laziness — dropping feed, a feed sack, laying a jacket down and thereby providing food and a home and a mode of tran- j sport to other areas of the zoo. The flies are too well adapted to be | to removed for good, so keep animal units, tools, the service area and the public area as clean as possible. The free loaders are here to stay, common sense is the only way to control these creatures. These animals are part of the ecology of the zoo, so learn more about them. Use your brains to outwit these crea- tures, instead of polluting your zoo environment with unwarranted use of chemicals that are harmful to plant and animal life. Remember every time you use a chemical to control these free loaders — are you shortening the life expectancy of your charges and yourself because of continued exposure over a period of time. Is it really worth the risk? 156 J AGENDA FOR 7TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOOKEEPERS Hosted by the Fresno Zoo AAZK Chapter at: Ramada Inn 324 E. Shaw Fresno, CA. Saturday, Sept. 19, 1981 Pre-conference Tour Sunday, Sept. 20, 1981 Board Meeting Registration Icebreaker — beer, wine, pizza Monday, Sept. 21, 1981 Welcome and Introduction Papers Zoo Lunch Workshops Goodies in Lounge Discussion Time Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1981 Papers Zoo Lunch Workshops Volleyball Night at the Zoo Dinner Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1981 Papers Zoo lunch Workshops "Come as your favorite Animal Contest" Thursday, Sept. 24, 1981 Papers Picnic Lunch General membership meeting Banquet — Auction Friday, Sept. 25, 1981 Post-conference Tour The Keynote speaker for the Fresno Conference will be Kurt Benirschke, M.D. who is Research Director at the San Diego Zoo. His field is cyto-genetics and many of you may be familiar with his work in exotic animal genetics and bird sexing. He is an excellent speaker and the Fresno Conference Committee is delighted to have him on the agenda. All AAZK members planning to attend the Fresno Conference are asked to remember to bring an item for the auction. The auction is not only a lot of fun for everyone, but helps to offset the conference expenses. So bring an animal-related item from your zoo and be represented at the auction. The Fresno AAZK Chapter would like to extend a special invitation to attend the Conference to any original AAZK members who attended the first AAZK conference held in Fresno in 1969. The following workshops have been scheduled for the after- noons at the Fresno Zoo during Conference week: Reptile House Tour, Zoo Educational Activities, Landscaping and Rennovation, Baby Elephant Training, Skull Preparation, Bird Taxidermy, Birds of Roeding Park and a Special Nursery Tour with emphasis on hand-rearing gorillas. 157 Conference 81 Please cut out, fill in and return the forms below with your fee to: Kitty Kenyon, Chairman Conference Committee, Roeding Park Zoo, 894 Belmont, Fresno, CA 93728. HOTEL RESERVATION REQUEST (Ramada Inn, 324 E. Shaw, Fresno, CA.) NAME : ARRIVAL DATE: ADDRESS ARRIVAL TIME : CITY: STATE: ZIP: NO. OF DAYS: FRONT: (Reservations held until 6 p.m. without deposit) ACCOMODATIONS REQUESTED NO. IN PARTY: ONE KING BED TWO QUEEN BEDS RATES : (CIRCLE ONE) SINGLE (one person, one bed) . . . . $28 . 00 DOUBLE (two persons, one bed) . . . $34 . 00 TVJINS (two persons, two beds) . . . $36 . 00 QUAD (four persons, two beds) ... $38.00 SPECIAL REQUEST TO BE MATCHED WITH A ZOOKEEPER ROOMATE : MALE: FEMALE : SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: CONFERENCE REGISTRATION NAME AAZK Membership status and fee ADDRESS Member or spouse -$45.00 CITY STATE Non-Member Late-registration -$55.00 -$55.00 ZIP PHONE TOTAL fees enclosed $65.00 ZOO AREA OF INTEREST (One day rates are available. contact Kitty Kenton for details) Will be using bus? yes no Will be submitting paper? yes no (On acceptance of paper $20.00 will be refunded) Would like to participate in "COME AS YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL" contest? Yes No MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO AAZK FRESNO CHAPTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE AUGUST 15, 1981 158 AAZK T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE AAZK T-shirts imprinted with the official emblem are now available. The price is $5.49 plus $1.00 for shipping and handling for each shirt. Sizes Small, Medium and Large are available in tan, red, lemon yellow and royal blue. Size Extra- large is available in tan and royal blue only. To order, please complete coupon below and send with check or money order to: Carleton Bailie c/o Akron Zoo 500 Edgewood Ave. Akron, OH 44307 Please send T-shirt (s) at $5.49 plus $1.00 for shipping and handling. Size: small medium large extra-large Colors: Tan Red Lemon-yellow Royal blue Name Address City State Zip AAZK ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE DECALS The official AAZK decal is avail- able through the Memphis Zoologi- cal Park and Aquarium AAZK Chapter. The decal is a black and white reproduction of the AAZK rhino logo, suitable for any smooth, hard surface, especially a car window. Cost is $1.50 complete, prepaid. Make checks payable to the Memphis Chapter, AAZK, and send directly to Mike Maybry, Decal Project Coordinator, 1887 Crump Ave., Memphis, TN 38107. For a ’’Keepers Care” Button, send the coupon and 50c for each button to Larry Sammarco, Lincoln Park Zoo 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614 Please send button(s) for 50d each. Name Address City State Zip 159 We oAe Zndd-btdd to tkd AAZPA Now^loXtdX iofi atloivtng U6 to A-dpAtnt ponttom, oi tkii 6dction {^A,om tkoAx ”?oi,yUtlom AvattabZd" tUting, Tku ts a moYithly 6QA\)tc.d to 04, Ion. you. AMIMAL HEALTH TECHN J Cl AN /ZOO HOSPITAL .. .required completion of two-year course in animal technology with major course work in bacteriology, micro- scopy and related chemistry and laboratory techniques, plus two years’ zoo experience preferred. Send complete curriculum vitae and resume by 1 July, 1981 to: Craig R. Machado, D.V.M., San Fransisco Zoological Gar- dens, Zoo Road and Skyline Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94132. EVUCATION CURATOR. .. responsible for management of zoo education depart- ment, with ability to develop and design new programs. Requirements include a degree in Zoology, teaching or related field. Ability to supervise management of a zoological library and a volunteer force of adults and youths. Salary $14, 887-$ 19, 689, plus fringe benefits. Send resume to: Herb Smith, Personnel, Oklahoma City Zoo, 2101 N.E. 50th, Oklahoma City, OK 73111. SUPERl/lSOR/ LJl/E ANIMAL UN/IT. . .supervise the operation and maintenance of animals used in education program, includes teaching and the administration of permits. B.S. in biology or related field and one year experience in maintaining live animals required. Submit applications to: Russel Daws, Academy of Natural Sciences, 19th and the Parkway, Phila- delphia, PA 19103. EVUCATJON COORDINATOR. . .responsible for coordination of zoo’s education and volunteer programs. Requirements include animal handling, teaching experience and degree from accredit- __ ed college or university. Must possess effective writing y and speaking abilities. Salary $11,000-$12,000, plus bene- fits. Submit resume by 30 June, 1981 to: Paul E. Myers, Exec. Director, Ross Park Zoo, 185 Park Avenue, Binghamton, NY 13903. Tkd {fOttoMtng po6ttloyi^ oJid aocuZabld at tkd San Antonto Zoo and Aquantum, 3903 N. St. Many' 6 St., San Antonto, TX 78212. AQUARIUM SUPER[/ISOR. . .must be familiar with personnel supervision, tech- nical requirements, husbandry and exhibit design. Experience in public aquarium preferred. Salary $10,420-$14,622, with benefits. Send resvime to: Russel Smith, Staff Zoologist, above address. EVUCATION COORVINATOR. . .responsible for development, supervision and coordination of education programs. Requires degree in education or biology and working experience in a zoo. Salary open. Send resume to Louis R. DiSabato, Director, above address. O P P k 0 n r o t c u k n s 1 MOVING? PLEASE SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO Dolly Clark, Administrative Secretary American Association of Zoo Keepers National Headquarters, 635 Gage Blvd. Topeka, KS 66606 160 AAZK MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION , Check koAc li [ ] Address $20.00 Professional Vutt-tmc Kecpcn^ only and JntoAncutlonal Mcmbeu $15.00 Affiliate OtheA ^tali and voljantcQAi> $10.00 Associate IndLivldaaJU not connected with an animal ccuie laaJJiity $50.00 Contributing OAQanizatiowii and individuals ViAectoAy ln{iOnmation U.S CURRENCY ONLY PLEASE loo (fJo^k kh.ea Special inteAests Mail this application and check or money order, payable to American Association of Zoo Keepers, to: AAZK National Headquarters, Topeka Zoo, 1 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606. I I Memberships include subscription to the Animal KeepeAS' foAum. I The membership card is good for free admission to many zoos and aquariums in the U.S. and Canada . INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS Animal Keepeu ' FoAum publishes original papers and news items of interest to the Animal Keeping profession. Non-members are welcome to submit articles. Articles should be typed or hand-printed. All illustrations, graphs and tables should be clearly marked, in final form, and should fit in a page size of no more than 6" x 10" (15 cm. x 25^^ cm.). Literature used should be cited in the text and in final bibliography. Avoid footnotes. Include scientific names. Articles sent to Animal KeepeAS’ foAum will be reviewed for publication. No commitment is made to the author, but an effort will be made to publish articles as soon as possible. Those longer than three pages will be separated into monthly installments at the discretion of the editorial staff. The editors reserve 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 envelope. Telephoned contributions on late-breaking news or last minute insertions are’ acceptable. However, phone-in contributions of long articles will not be accepted. The phone number is 913 272-5821. DEADLINE FOR EACH EDITION IS THE 20th OF THE PRECEDING MONTH. AhticlQJS pAinted do not nece^^oAily Aeilect the opinions 0^ the Animal KeepeAS ' foAurn editoAlal ^ta^^ OA 0^ the AmeALcan Association oi loo KeepeAS. Items in the publication may be reprinted. Credit to this publication is requested. Order reprints from the Editor. TT ?ro I. - p5tS ^s§ = CD «) ^■8 os COcS 3 ^ R* On S ^ SCLp ON :p 0) iecohd Class Postage Paid At Topeka Animal Keepers Forum Dedicated to Professional Animal Care JULY 1981 ANIMAL KEEPERS' FORUM, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 JULY 1981 ISSN 0164-9531 VOLUME EIGHT NUMBER SEVEN Executive Editor: Mike Coker Managing Editor: Susan Chan Associate Editor: Connie Cloak Editorial Assistant: Diana Brey AyianciZ Keepe/L6 ' Fo^um is a monthly journal published by the American Association of Zoo Keepers, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, Kansas 66606. Postmaster: Please send Form 3579 to address printed below. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOO KEEPERS NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, 635 GAGE BLVD., TOPEKA, KS 66606 Vott^ CloA-k, AdminAj>tn.cLtlv2. S2.cA2.taAy BOARD OF DIRECTORS Pat Sammarco, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL 60614 Jill Grade, Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL 33612 Mike Maybry, Memphis Zoological Park, Memphis, TN 38112 Mike Coker, Topeka Zoo, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 Bernard Feldman, Miller Park Zoo, Bloomington IL 61701 COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN P/l2Atd2.nt \Jtc2.-p^2^td2.yit Awards Committee Historical Committee Aiifec CKockcA, Vtck2Aion PoAk Zoo Vtak SW2emy, San Vt2.go Zoo, Nominations and Elections Committee Hitfee UaybAy, M2jnpkl6 Zoo, TN CA PROJECT HEADS Coordinator for Chapter Affairs B2AnaAd F2Jidman, UJJX2A Zoo, IL Keeper Data Survey jVlLfee MaybAy, M2Jmpkt6 Zoo, TN Legislative Information Kevtn Conway, CRC, l/A Animal Data Transfer Form B2AnaAd F2l.dman, N-IIZ2A Zoo, IL Coordinator for International Affairs KaA2.n StoMA Wak2Jiand, Htdlotktan, TX Infant Development Project MoActa Ct2.v2.nQ2A, Oktakoma Ctty Zoo, OK Keepers’ Accommodation List FAan TuAn2A, Toronto Zoo, Onta/Uo Book Reviews Mtk2. Ed Rob2Ati vacancy v)fLcancy Kevin Conway Ev2A2Xt HoaaU H2Ab Klng-6bLAy LoAAy SammoAco vacancy vacancy Vcc NeZson Candy Kao it vacancy Jane Han6j2Agen 6 Hike CoApenteA Kathy Rettle Etten Leach, Woodland PoAk Zoo, WA Program Library & Information Center Ellen Leach, Woodland PoAk Zoo, WA Regional Coordinators CoApenteA, Phoenix Zoo, AZ, VlAectoA WalteA V. Stone- Mem. Zoo ME, l/T, NH, MA, RI, CT NV pAont Royal CRC BlndeA PoAk Zoo Cincinnati Zoo Lincoln PoAk Zoo Audubon PoAk Zoo Rio GAande Zoo SacAomento Zoo Phoenix Zoo MetAo ToAonto Zoo PA, NJ, MV, VE l/A, 0/1/ MI IN, OH, KT Wl, IL, MO, MN, lA, MO TN, NC, SC FL, AL, GA AR, MS, LA TX,NM,C0,0K,KS,NE,SV,NV WA, OR, IV, MT, WV, AK CA, NV, AZ, UT, HI CANAVA Tka JuZy AKf covqa u)a6 d/imvi by AndUim Main Mko at the, {jJttltngton \}}iZd AntmoJi VoAm tn HaAt{^on.d, CT. The. ptctuAe. deptcX6 a keepeA Ci6-6t6tlng a newboAn tlama. Tkaniu, AndAewl Scuttlebutt AAZK ANNOUNCES NEW COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS AAZK is pleased to announce that Candy Kroft, Rio Grande Zoo, has assumed the position of Regional Coordinator for the states of Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, North and South Dakota. This posi- tion was previously held by Gary Tibbets, also of Rio Grande Zoo. There are still several vacancies in a number of states and we would encourage members to consider filling these vital positions. The following members have been selected to serve on the National Election Committee: Phil Prewitt, Houston Winbigler and Kathy Goble, all from Memphis Zoological Gardens and Aquarium; and John Ward from the Jackson Zoological Garden in Jackson, MS. New members of the Infant Development Committee are: Mary Keiter and Harmony Frazier-Taylor , both of the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, and Sally Smith from the Roeding Park Zoo in Fresno, CA. ELECTIONS DRAWING NEAR— DON'T FORGET TO VOTE Late this month all Professional Members should be receiving their ballots for voting for national officers. Members will receive a biography synopsis on each candidate, a ballot and a return envelope to be sent to National Headquarters. It is important that your ballot be returned in the envelope plainly marked "BALLOT” as they are merely collected at the 1 national office unopened and then forwarded to the Election Committee for i tabulation. So watch your mail and please return your vote promptly I I from the President Because of personal commitments, Denise Bartenf elder is no longer able to serve as a member of the AAZK Board. We all owe Denise our thanks for the time and efforts she has contributed to making AAZK the fine professional ''association it is. ll[ Mike Maybry, of the Memphis Zoo and Aquarium, has accepted the Board appointment to serve the association during the term through 1983. Mike has been active in AAZK for a number of years in various capacities, and is currently the Nominations and Elections Committee Chairman. We can all be confident that this full and active board will continue to serve AAZK in coordinating the activities of our association. VatAtcta E. SammoAco 161 Births|^ Hatchings COLUMBUS ZOO HATCHES ONE BALD EAGLE Yvonne CUpplngeA Columbus Zoo avian personnel are happy to announce the hatching of one Bald eagle HdtlaetuU) teucocephcitiJLi] on 27 March 1981, after a 39-day incubation period. On 26 March, the nest was checked to discover that one egg was pipped. The nest was again checked on 27 March, one eaglet had hatched and the second egg was still observed in the nest. This was the first time that the parent Bald eagles had hatched one egg and not destroyed the second egg in the nest. We assumed the second egg to be fertile. However, much to our dismay, after a 45-day incubation, the second egg had not hatched. On 2 April 1981, personnel removed the second egg from the nest. It was sent to the Ohio State University for analysis. The report stated that the embryo had developed between 25-30 days of age. The Columbus Zoo is still in a program with the Ohio Department of Natur- al Resources to place captive bred Bald eagles back into the wild. Our parent Bald eagles raised the eaglet until it was 42 days old. On 8 May, department personnel removed the eaglet from the nest and took the fol- lowing measurements : Wingspan: 137cm. Length: 56cm. Beak: 6.5cm. Weight: 7h lb. Age: 42 days The eaglet was taken to Don Scott Air field in Columbus and flown to the Land Between the Lakes in Tennessee where it was placed in a hacking tow- er for release. This was the third successful hatching of Bald eagles at the Columbus Zoo. If anyone would like more information concerning our Bald eagle program, feel free to contact: Yvonne Clippinger /Keeper-Birds Columbus Zoo 9990 Riverside Drive Powell, OH 43065 AUDUBON PARK ZOO LISTS NEW OFFSPRING LU Gl(U6co The following are a listing of recent births and hatchings at the Audubon Park Zoological Gardens in New Orleans: 0.0.2 plush crested jays, 0.0.5 fulvous tree ducks, 0.0.5 ruddy shelducks, 0.0.2 kookaburras, 0.0.2 tree shrews, 1.0 Jersey, 1.0 Gurtnsey, 0.0.1 barasingha, and 0.0.2 Thompson’s gazelles. TOPEKA ZOO'S SUMMER SHOWERS V. CokeA Topeka Zoo keepers are pleased to announce some new additions to their animal collection: 1.0 Common Eland, 0.0.4 Common Green Iguanas, 0.0.1 Bobcat, 2.0 Common Tree Shrews, and 0.0.1 American Golden Eagle. 162 Births and Hatchings , continued FT. WORTH ZOO ANNOUNCES RECENT BIRTHS Bonnie. He.ndeA6on The Ft. Worth Zoo is pleased to announce their most recent additions: 0.0.4 Demoiselle Cranes and 0.0.2 Lapuring Plovers. WILDLIFE SERVICE ANNOUNCES BIRTH OF RARE MEXICAN WOLVES After several unsuccessful attempts, the highly endangered Mexican wolf has been bred in captivity for the first time, giving hope to U.S. and Mexican wildlife officials in their joint effort to save this species from extinction. The only female in captivity and possibly the last hope for saving the species, produced a litter of four pups on 20 May at the Wild Canid Sur- vival and Research Center in St. Louis. Wildlife biologists were especially pleased that three of the pups are females. As a precaution- ary measure against catastrophe, two have been moved to the St. Louis Zoo, which has special facilities and experienced personnel for caring for young animals. The other two pups are being cared for by the mother in her isolated den. Service officials hope that the females, along with the six males already in captivity at the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson, AZ, can form the nucleus of a captive breeding program. The Mexican wolf, a subspecies of the gray wolf that occurs in the U.S. and Canada, is rapidly nearing extinction in Mexico with fewer than 50 of the elusive animals scattered over remote areas of that country. The new mother wolf was captured in the wild and biologists have not been able to locate another female in the wild, giving added importance to the arrival of the three "she-pups" in captivity. Information Please AAZK is currently updating its 1970 edition of the Gestation Booklet. This new edition will cover exotic mammals, birds and herps . Data for each species will cover: gestation, age at sexual maturity, litter size. This new edition will cover birds and herps whereas the 1970 edition covered only mammals . Please send gestation data to: Mike Coker, c/o Topeka Zoo, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606. AAZK is planning its new edition for publication in early 1982. MISSING LYNX COLUMN SUGGESTED FOR AFFILIATE MEMBERS Affiliate Member Angela D. Wessel of Washington, DC has suggested that a column be included in the Forum which would cover the varied aspects of zoo work done by affiliate members — behavorial observation, teaching, guiding etc. This could conceivably run every few months on a regular basis. But to Initiate such a column, we need input from all those mem- bers who work at zoos in a non-keeper capacity. So get out your paper and pens and let us know what you’re up tol We would hope to compile our first "Missing Lynx" column by early Fall. 163 MAYOTTE ISLAND LEMURS {LmuA {sulvii6 macaco) GIVE BIRTH AT LAFAYETTE ZOOLOGICAL PARK By Louuuq, LaRocka and Bonnlo, Lcuuon, ZoofeeepeA4 Layiay^XZo. PaAk, Uo^olk, l/A Our pair of Mayotte Island Lemurs (LemuA ^uZvaS macaco) on breeding loan from the St. Louis Zoological Park gave birth to a single young on 5 April 1981. This pair has successfully reared 2 of the 3 infants to which she has given birth since 1977. The fourth and most recent birth is the first for Layfayette Zoological Park since the pair arrived in June 1980. On 24 March 1981, the female was placed in a separate den (6x3. 5x4 ft) within the exhibit. The separation den was purposefully designed to be small since some species of lemurs often abandon their young if allowed other distractions (e.g. other members of the colony). The female was physically separated from the male, having only auditory and olfactory communication. She adapted immediately with an increase in her food consumption. On 5 April 1981 we discovered what seemed to be a strong and healthy infant clinging laterally to the female’s stomach. On the third day we began to see some movement and observed nursing. One week after birth, we allowed the adults visual and limited physical access through a chain link panel. Some tugging and pulling of the infant by the male was noted, but the female usually moved beyond his reach if he be- came too rough. We decided to reintroduce the female and the young to the male 2J$ weeks after birth. Upon reintroduction, the male immediately began genital scent-marking the entire exhibit, including the female’s body. The male initiated his encounter with the infant by licking his face repeatedly and gently touching him with his hands. On 17 May 1981, the six-week-old infant was more than twice the size he was at birth. On this same day, it was first observed entirely off his mother moving about not more than six inches away for periods of not longer than two minutes. We believe that separating the female lemur, as described in the litera- ture, played an important part in the success of this lemur birth. For further details, feel free to write us at the following address: Bureau of Zoo/Lay fayette Park, 3500 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23504. The Center for Environmental Education announces the availability of Whale, Seal, and Sea Turtle Information Packets. Three separate sets of fact sheets on whales, seals and sea turtles totaling 48 pages pro- vide hundreds of facts and figures along with beautiful black-and- white drawings of each species and suggestions on what can be done to protect these animals. All three packets (48 pages) are available for $6.25 plus $1.50 postage and handling; individual packets are $2.50 plus $.80 postage and handl- ing. Please specify whales, seals or sea turtles. Write: Center for Environmental Education, 1925 K Street, NW, Suite 206, Washington, DC 20006. Reduced prices available for bulk orders. 164 bird calls THE HYBRIDIZATION OF YELLOW-CROWNED AMAZON AND FESTIVA AMAZON By Mau/ixzTo P^aom Cu/LoXoA-, Rome Zoological GoAdm Rome, Italy Everybody knows that though hybridization among P^-iXtCLcldae isn’t too frequent, we have heard many times about viable hybrids among Amazon species. The following case may be interesting for the conditions under which hybridization was possible. The two specimens concerned live in the third aviary of the left Bird Department in the Roman Zoological Garden. That non-acclimatized aviary is part of a series of nine contiguous boxes of about 4 x 3 x 3 mt., enclosed by a wall and a net connected to the outward rooms of about 5 X 4 X 3 mt. each of them with a net, by two great doors. These boxes are always accessible, both in and out, during the day to visitors. The wooden nests inside are approximately 2.30 mt. in height and there are several kinds and sizes, some of which are not too proper for specimens of the Amazon’s size. I think that some experts on the subject know that, except for some P6lttcLCA,da.e which reproduce in a colony, the best condition to obtain reproduction is generally to separate them in two, isolated brace, in some quiet protected area. That isn’t always possible, either here or in other zoos for many reasons besides the obvious institutional needs for ostensible order. In fact, often times bird cages shelter some crowded groups of several kinds and species which live together peace fully. In this case, the unit is shared by four Amazonldae [Amazona ^e^tlva Ae^tlva a.; OchJio cephala o.) and four blue-headed Parrots [PlonuM mevi&tJumM H.abKlgalaJhl^] . The hen of A.f. has been in the Zoo since 1963 when it was sent directly from the land of the Amazon by the present Managers; the other specimens of A. were given by some private individu- als, who had domesticated these birds completely. Keepers often alternate in this department and go into the enclosures at least twice a day for various care operations. Only the writer is constantly the fixed Curator for the custody and supervision of the department; in this way the results of direct observation have been the following : The hen of A.f. prevailing in this group, layed two or three eggs in the last three years in various nest boxes. The eggs were always given up and proved to be infertile. Since 1979, this hen has been used to make a love parade on the outer grassy ground with the other hen (A.ae.) which is incapable and lazy in the flight. The two cocks have been constantly ignored since the spring of this year when, after seemingly bloody struggle, the A.f. hen literally imposed its company on the less aggress- ive cock. The other cock died being the victim of some rat bites which occured during the night. 165 The Hybridization of Yellow-Crowned Amazon and Festiva Amazon, continued After a short time, I was successful to perceive the evening coupling of these animals and longer and longer and more laborious halts of the hen in question in one of the highest and narrowest of the nest boxes. Since July, this hen had nearly disappeared and there were sometimes doubts about its survival. But, observing the numerous calls of the cock in the nest and the large consumption of fruits, I felt I had sufficient evidence to the contrary, and resisted the temptation to disturb the pair unnecessarily. This was not easy to do. The confirmation of a positive result took place on 13 October 1980 at 17:30 hrs. I was making my rounds in the internal passage that was still lit by sunlight when I perceived the parents leading the young parrot from the manger. This young bird had a perfect plummage and was complete- ly grown. I enjoyed that moment, even if it was just as I had expected it to be. I withdrew so as not to trouble this typical scene of domes- tic imtimacy, locking all the entrances behind me. The next morning, I watched as the parents lead their pupil out on the branches in the sun light. The hybrid specimen has these characteristics: a limpid green colour, lightly clearer than the standard; the back and the alary bar are red and yellow, but they are shorter than those of the father; some little red feathers in the crupper; its forehead and apex have a small red spot and a slightly imperceptible yellow dot. There is not the red spot of the mother’s back nor the azure eyebrow; the rings around its eyes are bare and its eyes are clear, grey and dull orange. The following is the diet given the specimens: sunflower seeds, barley, maize; wholemeal bread; every fruit in season; now and then some stems of hard vegetables; some water and sugar treated with water-soluable proteinous vitaminic products. Final Note: At the present time the manners of this bird are confiding, almost domestic. It feeds by itself, but still occasionally asks its parents for their beakful. Its flight is steady and the state of nourish- ment seems very good. The plummage is dense and bright. The bird haa.a frequent resonant song. One may consider first of all that the specimens reproduced in a crowd- ed aviary with a continuous transit of strangers on the outside. Even if the nest was not very suitable for its size and shape, it was chosen from among other nests by the pair after many years of of unsuccessful reproduction attempts in nests considered more proper. Considering these not excellent pre-existing conditions, one must not be astonished at the result of a single offspring of this hybridization. {Editor' -{> notz.: The, o^gTncLt thAJ> oAtlcZe. wcu ionJJXe.n -In ItaZlan. It t/ian^late.d Into English by M.A. Ltbonatl Ma^atda Antonta, tant Vtdattica at the, Rome loologtcaJi Ga/ide,n. I have, e,dlte,d and! on. n.e,phia^e.d only MheAe. I {^e,lt It ne.cLe-i>6aAy ion. (iJie.aA.eA. undeA^tanding tn on.deA not to compAomt^e. the. ilavoA on. tnte.nt oi the. ontgtnal.) 166 HAND-RAISING KOOKABURRAS BV JoAnJ^Q, ConAdtt and CZndy \/adm Se.dgtA}ick County Zoo, {UlchJXa, KS The SedgT^ick County Zoo has successfully hand-raised two kookaburra chicks [Vaodto novadguyinzan) , our first for this species. Previously, our pair of kookaburras began incubating their eggs but would never raise the chicks, either destroying the eggs before hatching or eating the chicks. This time we decided to artifically incubate their eggs. Our pair of kookaburras are housed during the winter in a flight cage, one of 22 units. In this cage we provided a nest box (20''xl0"xl0*') with a hole 4 inches in diameter. Prior to breeding, the pair continually enter- ed the nest box to "work" on the interior by pounding on its walls with their beaks. Cedar chips were used to line the bottom of the nest box. On 16 December the pair were observed breeding and on 26 December they began to incubate. On 30 December we removed three eggs, one of which was cracked, for artificial incubation. We have found the best time to pull the eggs is 4 to 5 days after the birds begin to incubate to make sure we get the eggs before they are destroyed. The eggs were incubated at a dry bulb temperature of 99 °F and a wet bulb reading of 86°F. Both eggs pipped on 15 January 1981 (day 21). The chick designated #1 hatched unassisted on 16 January, but #2 was breech and had to be helped from the shell. We began feeding #1 at 8:30 that morning and #2 at 2:30 p.m. using the diet published by the Ft. Worth Zoo (in IZY) , we fed them every 2 hours beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m. with a supplemental feeding at 7 p.m. This extra feeding was discontinued after one week. Chick #1 lost 6.3gm the first day and was fed hourly thereafter through day six. Both gained steadily after that, from 24.1gm. to 400. 6gm. for //I. Chick #2 was approximately 20-30g, behind. They were moved to a larger incubator at 95 °F on day seven. The temperature was gradually reduced as feathers developed. Most shafts had split by day 31. They were testing their wings, perching, and even "laughing" a little by that date. On day 37 they were moved to a large cage and at two months were observed eating on their own. The following is a diet summary: Day 1 - chopped rat or mouse pinks, water with polyvisol drops and 2 drops nut r ament 7 - chopped crickets added 8 - Bird of prey added 9 - ground skinned mice instead of pinks 13 - chopped half rats or adult mice (skinned) and Bird of prey; no crickets 21 - partially skinned chopped mice and Bird of prey 60 - eating on their own, mouse, 2 oz. Bird of prey References: Kookaburras , by Veronica Parry 167 THE DAY THE ZOO WENT CONDO By Tom GotcUb^Axy , SdottZo., WA. No one really remembers how it all began. True, the zoo had begun to stagnate a bit in the mid 70* s. Although it had once boasted of hav- ing a collection of over 400 animals, there had been ho significant births in recent years, no new exhibits had been built, and the Zoo Scoety mem- bership had dwindled so low that its monthly meetings and occasional pro- jects had become mere social events. The city had remained supportive and, if not overly enthusiastic about the annual budget increases, at least tolerant. The mayor and 4 of the 7-man City Council who were all strict "no-growth" proponents enjoyed the zoo as much as they enjoyed throttling any new building developments within the city. The strongest opposition to both the no-growth policy and the zoo came from the editor of the local newspaper. He opposed the no-growth policy on general principles, and the zoo because once many years ago his 8-year-old son had suffered a broken arm when knocked down by a pygmy goat in the children's zoo. He never forgot it. The director, a former shipping executive, operated the zoo in a sound business-like manner, if not innovatively . The keeper staff was generally conscientious and was judged by the City Personnel Office to be fair to mediocre — a fact that was reflected in their pay scale. The zoo might've drifted along like this indefinitely had it not been for an event that occurred in December of 1978. On a balmy Sunday afternoon while the city had been experiencing an unseasonable warm spell and a good crowd was on hand, two rival city gangs chose the zoo for a "rumble" When it had finally been brought under control by the city police who had dis- patched 7 squad cars to the scene, 14 gang members had been injured and several zoo patrons had been roughed up including a 67-year-old woman who had been pushed over a railing after her purse had been snatched. Keepers cleaning up after the melee had discovered a knife in the side of the polar bear and a young tapir who had been garrotted with a bicycle chain. The newspaper waited three ominous days before firing its first of many broadsides against the zoo. In sanctimonious tones it stated that "the zoo should either be closed permanently or at least reduced in size to allow for better surveillance and crowd control. Letters to the editor ran 2-1 against the zoo, most of them chiding the zoo for lack of security. Two keepers quit the following week and the Chief of Security was fired. The spring and summer were relatively quiet. Attendance was down about one-third and letters to the editor continually sniped at the zoo for not having enough toilet paper in the rest rooms and the erratic concession stand hours. In November of that year a tragic accident occurred that marked the begin- ning of the end for the zoo. The mayor, along with his friend and long- time supporter on the City Council, were both killed one evening in an auto accident while returning home from an out-of-town speaking engage- ment. Appointed to finish out the vacant terms were two men solidly corn- mi ted to city expansion. Overnight the City Council had reversed itself and now stood 4-3 in favor of growth, with a sympathetic mayor in the driver's seat. Two weeks later the mayor gave his first public address. 168 The Day The Zoo Went Condo, continued It was a real good ol' boy, down-home, tub-thumpin’ speech for boosteriam and expansion. The newspaper proclaimed it "our ticket out of the Middle Ages". By the end of 1979 building permits had zoomed up more than 22% from the preceding year. In March 1980 a team of out-of-town developers arrived in town to discuss obtaining Special Land Use Permits for choice parcels around the city. Following an afternoon tour of the city, the developers mentioned how im- pressed they had been with the zoo. The mayor and the zoo director beamed: Yes, they did have some fine looking animals. It wasn’t the animals that had impressed the developers however, the zoo could’ve been empty for all they noticed. Instead, it had been the physical layout of the zoo grounds and the accessibility of the city’s freeways which had impressed them. After a few informal luncheons and meetings later that week with the City Planning Commission and the mayor, hand shakes were exchanged and the developers flew home. When they returned again in May they learned of a miracle wrought by the City Planning Commission that rivaled virgin birth for originality. The developers were told that a CPC clerk ferretting around in the City Hall archives had discovered that the zoo had never been zoned in the first place; and, that because it had been at its present location for so many years, and had established a historical land use pattern by predating the zoning ordinances, the zoo, in its present capacity did not reflect actual land use. This municipal fuzzification was interpreted by an enthusiastic Commission to mean that the zoo grounds could now be zoned according to the priority determined by the Commission, which by this time meant high density develop- ment— especially condominiums . By this action the developers could now legally circumvent the Special Land Use Permit which ordinarily would have been required, but they still had to meet the other criteria. Within two weeks the developers were back in town; this time with a surverying crew, two architects, and a ground team to take core samples. By November a short plat had been drawn up, notices mailed to people in the neighborhood and published in the newspaper, and a 412-page Environ- mental Impact Statement written. The development would consist of three phases; three buildings, each one the maximum allowable height of 160’. The entire development would encompass 47 of the zoo’s 51 acres. Since the land was now zoned RVM (high-density) the number of units allowed per acre would be 155, and the total number of possible units 7,285. The actual number of units would be slightly less depending on the street frontage, alley access, setback and parking provisions, etc. A.,public hearing was scheduled for a Sunday afternoon in January 1981 at a neighborhood school. Unfortunately that turned out to be Super Bowl Sunday and only 13 residents showed up, and three of them left early to catch the second half of the game. The EIS was glanced at and approved. It must be remembered that "environment" was no longer the magic word it had been in the 60s and 70s. By the 1980s a new breed of writer had evolved who specializes in' preparing EIS’s. Much like their predecessors, the grants writers, they had learned what would sell and what wouldn’t. By adroitly shuffling around all the usual platitudes and cliches, and by shrewdly anticipating public apathy, any hack writer could now pre- pare an acceptable EIS. As usual, they were right. The only public comment made pertained to a phrase which read "...all reasonable efforts will be made to preserve and protect indigenous species..." A few people 169 The Day The Zoo Went Condo » continuad didn't know the meaning of the word "indigenous" and others thought it meant the zoo animals would be protected. The Hearings Examiner issued a Certificate of Approval subject to any appeals filed within 30 days. Meanwhile the developers obtained the necessary Demolition Permits and Sewer Capping Permits and were ready to move. Thirty days passed and as might be expected, no appeals had been made. The project was swiftly approved in turn by the Department of Community Development, the CPC, the mayor, and the City Council. Construction began in March in what had been the old hoof stock area. Someone neglected to tell the sole remaining nilgai, however, and upon hearing the first whine of the bulldozer as it loomed over the hill in an adjacent pen, she promptly spooked and charged full speed into the concrete retaining wall at the south end of her enclosure, breaking her neck and several miscellaneous vertebras. The following day construction workmen inadvertently left a portion of the wire picket- type fence which now served as perimeter fence open; that night a pack of stray neighborhood dogs entered the grounds and tore to shreds a pair of springbok. Two days later the director and the veter- inarian were called before a special meeting of the City Council. After everyone had grown tired of swearing at everyone else, both the director and the veterinarian had been fired, leaving a stunned bird curator and an equally bewildered veterinary technician in charge of the zoo. Immediately following their dismissals the older keepers, mindful of their city seniority, requested transfers to other divisions while the younger keepers now spent their evenings writing resumes and filling out applica- tions for other zoos. The developers had originally intended to leave the waterfowl pond and the birds intact. This pleased the Phase I tenants who were delighted to discover that a crushed beer can could just about sail across the pond, especially if you lived on the top floors. Not to be upstaged by their frolicsome neighbors in Phase I, Phase II tenants, who were already piqued because the racquetball complex had not been completed on schedule as the brochures had promised, dusted off their hunting rifles and air guns and would occasionally practice a little target shooting from their lanais while grilling steaks. After one particularly hilarious all-night party, the surviving birds were immediately sold. The bird keeper and her friend quit the following day and eventually moved to another city where they opened an antique shop. A month later both the feline house and the primate house had been de- molished and the animals sold. By now all of the former keepers had either been discharged or quit and the few animals left were attended to by a parks employee who would wander over sometime during the day, hose down, and throw some food in the cages before going back to his weeding. He never noticed the surprised look on the lion's face the morning he shoved a head of lettuce and two bananas into the cage; though he did duly note in his daily report that for some reason the lion had refused to eat that day. One summer day in June, 1981, after the project had been completed, a young secretary who had recently moved into Phase III met with a friend of hers for lunch. During the course of the meal, the secretary mention- ed that she now lived in the new condos near the zoo. "The zoof" her friend said, "I didn't know we had a zoo anymore". "Of course we do," the secretary replied. "I walk through it every morning. We have a cage full of squirrel monkeys, two mynah birds and a 14-year-old lion." 170 Alternatives... Education and P.R RHINO RESCUE PARTY IN ATLANTA ktoLYi Ska/ipl2Ji kttavita loo On 16 November, 1980, a fund-raiser was held at the Dunfey's Royal Coach Hotel to help finance conservation efforts for the Black Rhinoceros (PXc- 2Ao^ bi.c.ohnLii) . The event was organized by many concerned citizens, with assistance from the Women's Auxiliary of the Atlanta Humane Society and the Atlanta Zoological Society. Approximately 800-1000 people attended the "Rhino Rescue Party." The theme of the program was "Join the Rhino Rescue—Help Save A Horny Friend." Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville from Kenya, who are noted for their efforts on behalf of the Rothschild's giraffe, were scheduled to present a program on the Black Rhino. Unfortunately, unforseen circumstances caused the cancellation of their presentation. Oria Douglas-Hamilton, co-author (along with her husband Iain Douglas-Hamilton) of the book Among the Elephants , replaced them as guest speaker and spoke of the plight of both the Black Rhino and the African Elephant, and how the fate of each animal depends on the other. A very amusing and enlightening film on the study of the only known case of elephant twins was shown and greatly appreciated by all in attendance. The event raised a total of $10,000. Direct contributions totaled $3,000 to $4,000, the balance came from the proceeds of a wildlife art auction and sales of T-shirts, tote bags and related items at an "African Boutique.' Oria Douglas-Hamilton autographed copies of Among the Elephants , which were sold at the boutique. The proceeds of the event were sent to the World Wildlife Fund and the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife. Coming Events AAZPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE September 13-17 New Orleans, Louisiana AAZK NATIONAL CONFERENCE September 20-24 Fresno, California SECOND ELEPHANT WORKSHOP September 25 & 26 San Diego Zoo & San Diego Wild Animal Park Pre-registration deadline 1 August 1981. No Fee. Please indicate areas of interest regarding elephants or papers you would like to present. Contact : Red Thomas: 3743 Brems, San Diego, CA 92115 or Mike Kachuba: 4145 Wilson Ave., San Diego, CA 92104 171 BALI AND OTHER DELIGHTS By HeZm MaddeA. Royal Melbou/im Zoo’^ Eduacution SoAvloo, MelbouAm, AiutAatca BALI — to be the centre of the universe for Andrew, John and myself for the next few weeks. Here we were jetting off over the azure horizon with gay abandon. Upon arriving in this beautiful land, we were immediately struck not only by the intensity of the heat, having come from Melbourne's winter, but a certain pervading, exotic, mystique. This new sensation that had just begun to envelop us, was only the beginning of an unforgetable experience. Of course our initial aim was to turn our 'whiter shade of pale' bodies a darker blend. With the perpetual haggling which confronted us every- day, this seemed an obvious necessity for making life easier. So we grad- ually became less glaringly naive "rip-off" targets and also a little wiser after learning snippets of the native language. Leaving the rat race of Kuta beach, we discovered that there were places where the atmos- phere of remoteness and rugged grandeur seemed to have scarcely changed. Enchanting views of terraced mountain slopes sweeping down into lush valleys and precipitous ranges in the far distance were apparent. Rice fields terraced every available slope, and now and then the familiar beat of the thrashing of rice would subtly stir the tranquility. The people, both old and young, possess a certain gaiety and serenity, even though they work hard in their fields from dawn to dusk. Sometimes laugh- ing and talking while chewing betel-nut and carrying multitudes of assort- Having attended various legendary tradition- al dances and ceremonies, it seemed that these portrayed a prime objective of the Balanise in maintaining a balance between good and evil. These are believed to exist side by side with the good forces necessar- ily outweighing the bad. Similarly with their funerals; spectacular processions of the ornamented dead, climaxing in cremation when the souls are joyously released to be reincarnated. Their own. form of Hinduism is literally a living religion being acted out in their social and cultural activities. To the Balinese, ancestoral spirits are with them at all times as evidenced by the ancest- ral shrines in every home in Bali. Daily offerings are made to these and prepared in various forms with flowers, rice and tobacco as gifts to their gods. Our leisurely explorations of our new surroundings were rapidly curtailed following an attack of the dreaded ' Bali-belly" .' This is a form of gastro- enteritis which attacks travelers overseas. In my feverish delerium, I sweated it out with the help of my nursing-aid Andrew, confined to bed and listening to the ever-present geckos on the walls and ceiling. Mean- while Jon had gone to Komodo Island... We did manage to go to Ubud where there was a fascinating monkey forest. Crab-eater Macaques ava- 172 BALI AND OTHER DELIGHTS, continued lanced from the tree tops in swarms after bananas which I was thought- lessly holding. . .but not for long’. Jon, in true Harry Butler style, was investigating the forest’s other inhabitants — a few assorted reptiles, mostly lizards. Bird life in Bali seemed to be sparse until reaching tropical rain forests where passerine species were present in abundance for the keen ornithologist. This habitat presented itself as a narrow corridor of native bush immediately behind the beach and preceding the intensively managed agricultural land. From Bali we traveled to Sumatra where among other things, we visited Medan Zoo. We were not overly impressed, concerned as we were with keep- ing standards and enclosures. The latter were particularly depressing. Even more pitiful were the animals themselves. These included a Black Bear wallowing in ankle-deep faeces in a 9’ by 6’ cage and a dehydrated baby elephant, chained and exposed to the blazing sun. Live ducks were retained in the Reticulated Python enclosure, simply marking time until falling prey to the resident snakes which were still covered with pieces of old skin. These are some of the more outstanding examples of neglect- ful animal practices. One had the feeling that the zoo, in fact, repre- sented the city and its populance. These people were totally ignorant of zoos in general and completely lacked appreciation of their own zoo. It was almost as if their adherence to their customs left almost no time for education or the understanding of animals in general. Leaving Medan's squalor, we bumped off in a dilapidated bus, teeming with Indonesians balancing chooks, children and over-loaded baskets. There was literally bulging out of the windows as we headed for Lake Toba' — a five-hour endurance test, but an interesting experience never- theless. Lake Toba is surely a place not to be missed and is much like a fantasy from the "Never-Never^ lands . All the beauty, grandeur and serenity of Indonesia seemed to be epitomized in this place. Dotted amongst the bush vegetation were ornate, triangular, batak houses with roofing made from thousands of pieces of bamboo laid one upon the other 1 and thatched with leaves which hang down like fringes. These are unique to Lake Toba's island and legend tells us that they reflect the design of the ships which carried the first people there. There were many buffalo present as well. The Indonesians attach a high spiritual value to these animals and a man's wealth and prestige within the community may be gauged by his buffalo. It wasn't too long before we were on our way back through Java where our faith was restored somehwat by a visit to Surabaya Zoo. We were made most welcome, introduced to the Director and given a conducted tour of the zoo's enclosures and facilities. We appreciated the more profes- sional approach shown to maintenance, exhibits and animals of this. 173 BALI AND OTHER DELIGHTS, co yvUnazd reputedly the best of Indonesia’s zoos. However, there is no comparison with the standards of Australian zoos, particularly with regard to hygiene. The animals here were in good condition and enclosures allowed for space for activity. The overall feeling in this zoo was that of a real interest in maintaining a respectable standard. They also seemed to be more inter- ested in educating the public by use of graphic signs on each enclosure rather than displaying the animals as some freak exhibit. There still existed a few areas that were not particularly desirable, such as the cramped conditions of the animals in the shanty-like hospital. Back to Bali where we spent our last three days indulging in massages, Indonesian style, with rice husks, eucalyptus and coconut oil. We also caught up with some of the wonderful Indonesian taste sensations such as gado-gado — a vegetable and rice dish flavored with peanut sauce. Our last few rupeah were spent at a leisurely pace, after four weeks of perpetually galavanting through the islands. We managed to see a lot in a short time, but it was well worthwhile to gain the flavour of the various places visited. Perhaps this will spur us to re-visit this beautiful country on a smaller scale but in a larger dose. ThyU oJiXi-diQ. Ui p2Am-l6^lon tko, author ThylacilnLU , thd jouJiYLoZ the, kuii>txaJitoin Society Zoo l/o£. 5, No, 2, 1980. Hele.n maintains the. aviunaJU, {^on. the Royal UeZbouAne. loo' h Educa- tion Se/Lvice.. She. Lvai accompanle.d to Bali by {yellow kecpeA6 Jon Bvikett and Andhiew BleltcheA in July 1979. Chapter A Congratulations and Welcome to the newly formed Chapter at the San Antonio Zoo. Their recently elected officers are: President ... .Janiece Solomon Vice-Pres ... .Robert Hudson Sec/Tres Susan McDonald The Dickerson Park Zoo AAZK, in conjunction with Friends of The Zoo and the Docent Auxiliary, will host an elephant workshop sometime this September or Oct- ober. They are currently sell- ing balloons at the Zoo on week- ends to make money to support this project. They have also elected to annually buy books to add to the Zoo Library and raise money to help send Keepers to Conferences . News 174 BeMiie. EeZdman Coordinator ior Chapter OBSERVATIONS ON BREEDING AND REARING THE FENNEC FOX (FENNECUS lERVA) IN CAPTIVITY by Rmee. ICClcoym Soiva^cU Pkoe.yUx Zoo ,he Fennec fox (Fenne.ca6 zeAda) ^ smallest of the foxes, is found in the andy areas of Arabia and the Sahara Region of Africa. The Fennec is ^asily distinguished by its huge ears which act as a body heat regulator. It appears to lead a social life and feeds on insects, rodents and small irds. Very little research has been done on the Fennec in the wild state! 'ut it is often kept and observed in captivity. he Phoenix Zoo’s Fennec fox collection is comprised of three animals:^ he male was acquired from Brookfield Zoo, Chicago, in 1975 and one pair as acquired from Milwaukee Zoo in 1979. The group is housed together n an outdoor enclosure measuring 16’ x 25’ x 8’ (see illustration). The xhibit is a gunite rock formation sprayed over re-bar and wire mesh, he public viewing windows are set in a wall constructed of railraod ties, hen the temperature drops below 40- degrees Farenheit, the nighthouse is eated with a heat lamp. The exhibit is cooled in the summer by an evapor- tive cooling system, with ducts into the nighthouse and the exhibit, he substrate of this exhibit is made up of decomposed granite, with arger rocks scattered throughout most of the exhibit, with the exception if a portion which is directly below the viewing window, which is approxi- lately 36 inches deep. This exhibit is open to the public year round. GUNITE ROCK - OVER- HANG I ^PUBLIC VIEWING—^ .n August 1979, the pair acquired from Milwaukee were introduced into •his exhibit which, up to this time, had housed our lone male. The intro- luction went well and no signs of any serious aggression were observed. )ne month later, the vixen was seen digging a den in the exhibit. Both 175 Observations on Breeding and Rearing of Fennec Foxes , co/itcnucd males kept their distance from the den opening. It should be noted that up to this time no courtship or breeding behavior had been observed. The denning activity went on for approximately one month. The first indication of courtship behavior was observed in March 1980. This courting took place between the pair acquired from Milwaukee. Typical courting behavior was observed, which included romping and play- ing as kits would play together. No copulation was observed at this time. The other male showed no interest at all in the vixen. In April of 1980, the vixen began showing peculiar behavior . She would not come out of the nighthouse when the keeper entered the area to feed. This was considered unusual because all of the foxes were always anxious to be fed. (See supplement sheet for diet). On April 29 and 30, the first breeding attempts were observed. Penetration was observed, but no copulatory tie was witnessed until May 1. These breeding attempts and copulatory tie were between the pair who were courting earlier this year. Again, the other male showed no interest. May 12 marked the beginning of agressive behavior between the two males. There was a lot of barking, chasing and threatening between the two. From May 22 to June 10, the breeding male was observed bringing food to the vixen, who would spend most of her day in the den which she had dug. Several times during this period, the pair were observed breeding, the male mounting the vixen and performing thrusting motions typical of copulation, but no penetration was observed. One June 10, the keeper observed blood in several places on the exhibit walls. The breeding male was found in the nighthouse with a few superficial wounds. When keepers attempted to catch the breeding male to treat his wounds, the other male attacked him and caused more injuries. There were several puncture wounds on the rear and facial areas of the breeding male, and it was decided at this time to remove him from the exhibit. Fortunately no serious injuries were incurred and he is presently recuperating at our hospital. This brought our exhibit population down to two, the non- breeding male and the assumed pregnant vixen. A week later while the exhibit was being serviced, the male charged, threatened and bit at the keeper. This aggressive behavior by the male was thought to be due in part to the fact that the keeper was too close to the den opening where the vixen was, and that perhaps birth was emin- ent. It is interesting to point out that this male was not the male that had bred the vixen. He had never previously shown any interest in the vixen . On June 21, the vixen was out of the den for a short period of time. She had a reddish vaginal discharge, which was presumed to be blood. This was exactly 50 days after the copulatory tie was observed between the breeding pair. Fifty days is the gestation period for this animal. The vixen spent most of the next three days in the den, with the male bring- ing food to her and dropping it at the entrance to the den. During the evening hours, the vixen would enlarge the den and make additional entrances. The keeper now began feeding from the roof of the exhibit in order to prevent caving in the extensive network of dens which the vixen had dug throughout the exhibit. At feeding time a week later, the vixen came out of the den and charged the male whenever he wandered too close to the den openings. On July 1 a kit was seen being carried out of the den by the vixen. It did not appear to have its ears or eyes open. A single kit was observed for very short periods of time during the next two days. 176 )bservations on Breeding and Rearing of Fennec Foxes, continued 'wo weeks later, on July 14, while the keeper was feeding from the roof if the exhibit, two kits were observed at one of the den entrances sampl- ng some of the food which was tossed into the exhibit. One of the kits ppeared to have a scratch below its right ear. Ten days later a kit 'as found dead near the entrance to one of the den openings. A necropsy revealed that the kit, which was a male, had several wounds, including jj.he one below the ear which had punctured the skull into the brain, here were also several old puncture wounds through the ribs and lungs. [e weighed 7 oz. Although we had no substantial proof, we suspected !.his trauma was inflicted by the remaining male. Recently the male was ihserved entering the den. After considering his actions toward the Ireeding male, it was decided to remove him from the exhibit. in August 4, the vixen was removed from the exhibit so our veterinarian !;ould treat an infection she had developed in her left eye. At this i;ime the remaining kit was caught and sexed as a female. She weighed 0 oz. One day later the vixen was returned to the exhibit where the •eintroduction with the kit was uneventful. jApproximately two months later, the vixen was removed from the exhibit gain, to be housed at the hospital, as the eye infection required treat- ment three times daily. Since the kit was weaned by this time, it was ecided to put the unrelated male into the exhibit with her. The kit xhibited typical submissive behavior when introduced to the male. .s of this date, the exhibit houses our female kit and the unrelated lale. The breeding adult pair are being temporarily housed at our ospital. Our long-range plan is to establish two breeding pairs set ip in separate exhibits. I DIET 'rior to the birth of the kits, the liet was as follows: Following the birth of the kits, the diet was as follows: 74 can of K-D per animal 1/4 can Ruff Dog Food per animal L medium carrot ; chopped, divided 1 medium carrot. chopped , divided imong all three animals among all three animals l-D Prescription Diet* Ruff Dog Food** !]rude Preotein Min. 3.5% Crude Protein Min. 10.0% brude Fat Min. 5.0% Crude Fat Min. 2.0% ’rude Fiber Max. 1.0% Crude Fiber Max. 1.5% lloisture Max. 70.0% Moisture Max. 76.0% |i.sh Max. 2.0% Calcium Min. 0.2% ’hosphrous Min. 0.1% ' Manufactured by Hill's Division, Riviana Foods, Topeka, KS Manufactured by Evanger's Dog and Cat Food Co., Inc., Wheeling, IL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS would like to thank the Phoenix Zoo staff for their cooperation and upport. Specifically I would like to thank Tracey Fazio and Mike eidman. Keepers, for reporting their observations. Ralph Jones for his ssistance in the required graphics for this article and Denise Bounous or her aid in compiling the information on diets and necropsy results. 177 ELEPHANT SET BV Ed. Rob^/uU , Sdvilon. Ayimat VlvUilon SapeAv^oA. Stom Zoo, Stonzham, MA There is something about elephants that is many times unique and wonder- ful. Here you have the largest of land animals exhibited in zoos, cir- cuses and parks for the last 2000 years or so for the edification of the public. Very few people realize that this is not a dumb animal. We, thos of us who have the honor and pleasure of working these hugh beasts, know that they have a high degree of intelligence. We have also learned that these animals are social and group together for companionship. i If you ever stop and figure out why elephants are so intelligent, you ! will realize that in their behavior, they are very much like humans. [i Their life span is about the same as ours. They have their likes and i dislikes of certain people, just like we do, and in their habits they alsc appear very human-like. They can love and hate with equal vigor, but oncfjl you have befriended an elephant and it returns that friendship in throat rumblings and ear flappings and other ways only an elephant person can understand, then you have made a friend for life. Mistreat an elephant and watch out from then on. It will wait patiently and when it is ready, he or she will get you. And they will have their own cute way of doing it... wall pinion, foot stomp, trunk smash, head stand, shoulder charge, sitting or even rolling over on you... are some of the ways they get even with you. My guess is that the elephant, realizing it is in captivity, will tend to make up its own mind on who the particular person taking care of it will be. I have seen many people try working elephants, but for some reason or other, just couldn’t hack it. They mean well and may start out great under a qualified trainer, but the elephant did not readily respond. Per- haps the reason was too obvious — the elephant did not care for that par- ticular person. Remember the elephant is an intelligent creature and perhaps that could have been the reason. Not much has been written about elephant psychology. Maybe it’s time someone looked into it. Good elephant people would be a great source of information on a subject like this . The most widely used system of elephant control is the bull hook or ankus. You use the hook to train the elephant to do certain things such as lying down for brushings and cleaning. You use the hook for lifting feet to look at pads. You use the hook to move the elephant in or out, turn it around, back it up, sit, swivel, salute etc. But most of all, it is also a disciplinary tool. We never intentionally hurt an elephant. Discipline is only administered if the animal does something it should not have. Sometimes a verbally enunciated ”N0” is not enough and this must be follow ed up by a slap on the rear quarter with the flat part of the ankus. Since elephants are notoriously curious, they will get into everything and can cause alot of unnecessary damage. So, as you must discipline your elephat! so it must be said that this discipline is the force behind the respect you will get from the animal. You temper your discipline with love and respect for your elephant and it will, in return, love you. This and other subjects will be further discussed in future issues of AKF and I would request that ALL elephant people sincerely contribute their articles on elephant behavior, either general or specific. Any information would greatly enhance further knowledge for our profession- al elephant keepers. So, write in you guys and gals— let’s hear from youl 178 I Legislative News |coinpii.e.d by K2,vZvl Comay jSENATE COMMITTEE REPORTS OUT LACEY ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1981 'The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works reported out S. 736, the "Lacey Act Amendments for 1981" with one substantive amendment. This legislation is designed to curb illegal trade in wildlife; the amendment attempts to target the most serious offenders, who are engaged in commerc- lial or international traffic in illegal wildlife. It is also designed to protect unwitting or innocent purchasers, who may be caught in a viola- jtion of the Act, from a felony charge. ;In order to obtain a felony conviction under the Act, as amended, the jgovernment must prove knowledge of the underlying law, and that either the activity involved a commercial transaction in excess of $350 or that jiimport /export of wildlife was involved. The Act will now be referred jto the Senate Judiciary Committee for thirty days, for possible action iby that Committee. The House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife Con- servation and the Environment is expected to hold its mark-up of the House version of this bill on 21 May. It was likely that it would include jthe Senate language. ^MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT REAUTHQRIZATIQN SOUGHT iBoth the House and Senate Committees with jurisdiction over the Marine jMammal Protection Act completed their work on the reauthorization of this jleglslation in early May. Both Committees were working to report out a •reauthorization bill before the statuatory deadline of 15 May. The full Senate Commerce Committee met in markup session on 6 May and reported out a two-year authorization. However, the Committee specified 'that the bill be held on the calendar until 31 July. During this interim, 'it expects substantial progress to be made by all involved groups towards resolving some dif f iculities which remain regarding the Act. If, in the Committee’s judgement, such progress is not made by that date, then the iCoinmittee will go to the Senate floor with an amendment to reduce the authorization to one year. The purpose of this compromise is to allow iall Interested parties more time to come to terms regarding specific pro- visions of the legislation. The House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife Conservation and the Environ- ment met on 7 May to markup H.R. 2948, Congressman John Breaux’s bill, which called for a one year authorization of the Act. Congressman Glenn Anderson (D-CA) offered an amendment which called for a straight two-year .reauthorization of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. His amendment pass- ed by a 15 to 13 vote. (However, on 13 May, when the full House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee met in its markup session. Congressman Don Young (R-AK) offer- ' ed an amendment which would limit the reauthorization of the legislation to one year. This amendm.ent carried by a vote of 19 to 16. It is obvious that all parties involved in this legislation have strong [Commitments regarding the Act. Both the Senate and House Committees are attempting to provide a framework within which problems concerning the I Act can be worked out and an amended piece of legislation brought to 179 Legislative News, continued Congress for a longer reauthorization. Congressman Breaux has promised to hold oversight hearings in the early summer so that all of the issues regarding this important piece of legislation can be fully aired. The current authorization for the Marine Mammal Protection Act will run out at the end of September 1981. COMMERCIAL IMPORTATION OF KANGAROOS ALLOWED As of 29 May 1981, the U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service will permit the importation of Red {MigotOyia fiUila] , Eastern gray {Ma.cAopa6 gi-QCintza^] and Western gray iMacAopu6 } kangar roos , and their parts and products. This is a final rule which was pub- lished in the Federal Register, Vol. 46, No. 82, on 29 April 1981. It will remain in effect for two years. There has been a ban on the commercial importation of these species and their parts and products since they were listed as Threatened on 30 Dec- ember 1974. The affected Australian states have now established to the satisfaction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that their kangaroo management programs are effective and that commercial importation of kangaroos (including their parts and products) will not result in detri- ment to the species. Those desiring further information regarding this action should contact John L. Spinks, Jr., Chief, Office of Endangered Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Dept, of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. AAZPA Jane. 1981 H.R. 3048— ELEPHANT PROTECTION ACT UPDATE i I Legislation to control U.S. trade in elephants and their products was introduced 7 April by Rep. Anthony Beilenson for himself and 56 colleagues. H.R. 3048, identical to the bill (H.R. 4685) passed by the House last Congress, would restrict ivory imports from African nations which do not '•curb the rampant killing of their country's elephants." It would impose a six-month moritorium on the import or export of any elephant or ele- phant product to or from the U.S. (with a three-month exemption on worked ivory purchased abroad by tourists for personal use and a 10,000 pound exemption on scrimshaw ivory). During the moritorium, the Dept, of the Interior would develop a permit program to allow ivory trade with countries which meet strict criteria (strong elephant conservation programs, sound recordkeeping) . Elephant product imports would be limited to the ports of New York and Seattle, with first time offenders subject to a civil penalty of $10,000 and a criminal penalty of $20,000 or one year imprison- ' ment or both. Exempt would be elephants/products for zoological, educa- ! tional, scientific, or exhibitional purposes; musical keyboard ivory; and | legally-taken hunting trophies. H.R. 3048 would also direct the Secretary : of State to establish programs to help nations conserve, manage, and pro- j tect elephants and their habitat. Funding levels during fiscal years | 1982-85 would total $7.5 million for DOl's enforcement program and $18.3 j million for the State Dept.'s conservation assistance program. H.R. 3048 j was referred to the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee. j ComeAvcuUon Repo ■'it National \)Sll.dlile fedeAotlon 180 AGENDA FOR 7TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOQKEEPERS Hosted by the Fresno Zoo AAZK Chapter at; Ramada Inn 324 E. Shaw Fresno, CA. 'aturday, Sept. 19, 1981 I Pre-conference Tour [unday, Sept. 20, 1981 ; Board Meeting [ Registration ! Icebreaker— beer , wine , pizza onday. Sept. 21 , 1981 Welcome and Introduction Papers Zoo Lunch Workshops Goodies in Lounge Discussion Time juesday. Sept. 22 , 1981 Papers Zoo Lunch Workshops Volleyball ’ Night at the Zoo Dinner Wednesday , Sept . 23 , 1981 Papers Zoo lunch Workshops *’Come as your favorite Animal Contest” Thursday , Sept. 24, 1981 Papers Picnic Lunch General membership meeting Banquet — -Auction Friday, Sept. 25, 1981 Post-conference Tour — -The Keynote speaker for the Fresno Conference will be Kurt .Benirschke, M.D. who is Research Director at the San Diego Zoo. His field is cy to-genetics and many of you may be familiar with his work in exotic animal genetics and bird sexing. He is an excellent speaker and the Fresno Conference Committee is delighted to have him on the agenda —“All AAZK members planning to attend the Fresno Conference are asked to remember to bring an item for the auction. The auction is not only a lot of fun for everyone, but helps to offset the conference expenses. So bring an animal-related item from your zoo and be represented at the auction. — The Fresno AAZK Chapter would like to extend a special invitation to attend the Conference to any original AAZK members who attended the first AAZK conference held in Fresno in 1969. - — The following workshops have been scheduled for the after- noons at the Fresno Zoo during Conference week: Reptile House Tour, Zoo Educational Activities, Landscaping and Rennovation, Baby Elephant Training, Skull Preparation, Bird Taxidermy, Birds of Roeding Park and a Special Nursery Tour with emphasis on hand-rearing gorillas. 181 Conference 81 Please cut out, fill in and return the forms below with your fee to: Kitty Kenyon, Chairman Conference Committee, Roeding Park Zoo, 894 Belmont, Fresno, CA 93728. HOTEL RESERVATION REQUEST (Ramada Inn, 324 E. Shaw, Fresno, CA.) NAME: ARRIVAL DATE: ADDRESS: ARRIVAL TIME: CITY: STATE: ZIP: NO. OF DAYS: PHONT : (Reservations held until 6 p.m. without deposit) ACCOMODATIONS REQUESTED NO. IN PARTY: ONE KING BED RATES : (CIRCLE ONE) SINGLE (one person, one bed) . . . . $28 . 00 DOUBLE (two persons, one bed) . . . $34 . 00 TV7INS (two persons, two beds) . . . $36 . 00 QUAD (four persons, two beds) ... $38.00 TWO QUEEN BEDS SPECIAL REQUEST TO BE MATCHED WITH A ZOOKEEPER ROOMATE : MALE: FEMALE : SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: CONFERENCE REGISTRATION NAME AAZK Membership status and fee ADDRESS CITY STATE Member or spouse-— Non-Member———— Late-regist ration—— $45.00 $55.00 $55.00 ZIP PHONE TOTAL fees enclosed $65.00 ZOO AREA OF INTEREST (One day rates are available, contact Kitty Kenton for details) Will be using bus? yes no Will be submitting paper? yes no (On acceptance of paper $20.00 will be refunded) Would like to participate in "COME AS YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL” contest? Yes No MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO AAZK FRESNO CHAPTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE-— AUGUST 15, 1981 182 AAZK T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE 'aAZK T-shirts imprinted with the official emblem are now available. The price is $5.49 plus $1.00 for shipping and handling for each shirt. I Sizes Small, Medium and Large are available in tan, red, lemon yellow land royal blue. Size Extra-large is available in tan and royal blue only. To order, please complete coupon below and send with check or money order to: ^ Carleton Bailie ! c/o Akron Zoo i 500 Edgewood Ave. i Akron, OH 44307 li I 'Please send T-shirt(s) at $5.49 plus $1.00 for shipping and ji handling. I' ' Size: small medium large extra-large !' Colors: Tan Red Lemon-yellow Royal blue ' Name I' !' Address ' City State Zip , AAZK ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE DECALS The official AAZK decal is avail- able through the Memphis Zoologi- jcal Park and Aquarium AAZK Chapter. Ihe decal is a black and white jreproduction of the AAZK rhino (logo, suitable for any smooth, hard surface, especially a car [window. Cost is $1.50 complete, [prepaid. Make checks payable jto the Memphis Chapter, AAZK, and send directly to Mike Maybry, [iDecal Project Coordinator, 1887 ijcrump Ave., Memphis, TN 38107. For a "Keepers Care" Button, send the coupon and 50C for each button to Larry Sammarco, Lincoln Park Zoo 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614 Please send button(s) for 500 each. Name Address City State Zip 183 We aA.2 lYLd^bt2.d to tho. AAZPA Umi,l(ittQA {^ofi alloMtyig u4 to xzpKtrJ: pontlon^ o{f thU ^^.citlon {,Kom tholn. "po^ttloi^s Avatlable." tUting. ThyU ti a monthly to 06, ^OK you., SENIOR ANIMAL NATURALIST. .. senior professional position for multifaceted nature center, responsible for native species collection. Duties include developing and implementing an adopt-an-animal program. Candidate must ha-ve supervisory experience in zoo field with demonstrated interest in design, construction and promotion. Salary $12,000-$16,000 range. Apply by resume to: Melville C. Thomason, Director, Western North Carolina Nature Center, Gashes Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28805. REPTILE KEEPER. .. requires experience in care and maintenance of reptiles and amphibians. Experience in husbandry of exotic species desirable. SENIOR KEEPER /REPT I LES . . .requires minimum of two years zoo experience in reptile husbandry. Duties include care of collection, some public speak- ing, management of breeding projects. Mail resumes to: Dan MacDonald, Cur . /Herpetology , Knoxville Zoological Park, P.O. Box 6040, Knowville, TN 37914. GENERAL CURATOR. .. responsible for managing the zoological department (including diversified collection emphasizing aquaria and marine mammals f reporting to zoo superintendent. Requires 4 years’ pro- gressively responsible, applicable supervisory experience in zoo or aquarium, the last two years of which in a man- agement capacity; and a Bachelor's degree in Biology, Zoology, Marine Biology or a related field; or an equiva- lent combination of experience and academic training. Submit resume with references to: Point Defiance Park, Tacoma, WA 98407. Thz iolloijotng "Po^ttlon^ Available.” MOM.e i>ent dvteotly to the PoKum inborn the adveAtlilng Institution . ZOO KEEPER. .. small private zoo located 60 mi. north of Yellowstone Park is looking for a full-time zoo keeper. Duties include cleaning, feeding and handling. Immediate opening. Please call evenings (406) 446-2022/Tom or Linda Averill, Red Lodge Zoo, Box 820, Red Lodge ,MT 59068. The following positions are available at the Oklahoma City Zoo, 2101 NE 50th, Oklahoma City, OK 73111, (405) 424 3344. PACHVVERM KEEPER. . .have a chance to wo/ik with A^ Alcan, Aslan elephants, black Ahlnos and hippos, Indian Rhinos aXAlvlng soon, ExpeAlence needed, SalaAy Aange $5 ,28-$5,55, ELEPHANT TRAINER/AREA SUPERi/ISOR. , , expeAlence In handling and t/ialnlng Hequlked, A^AlcanS ull and cow ana Indian cow; Black Ahlnos, hippos and 1.1 Indian Rhinos on Aoute, Potential {^oa elephant Aides and shows, SalaAi Aange $6.12-$6.52. Contact Nick EbeAhoAdt, AAea CuA.at6A at addAcss above, BIRD KEEPER, , ,gAowlng biAd depoAtment needs keepeA willing to woAk haAd and develop a coAeeA. Independent AeseoAch pAojects and bAeeding pAo- gAarriS aAe encouAaged at the keepeA level, ExpeAience helpful in bitids, Salaxy Aange $5.28-$5.55. ANIMAL KEEPERt,,^oa Hospital! o^{^ exhibit bAeeding aAea needs a haAd woA.keA and coAeeA oAlented peASon with expeAlence in cats, bi/ids, pAl- mates, Sable and Addax heAd, Hill have oppoAtunlty to woAk with most new animals coming in as they pass thAough quoAantlne, 40 acAes ioA o{;{^ exhibit aAea, NO PUBLIC TO VEAL HITHl ReseoAch pAojects in behaviouA and husbandAy oAe encouAaged at the keepeA level. SaloAy Aange $5.28- $5.55. Contact BAuce MilleA, CuAatoA o^ Aacos, at above addAess. o p P k 0 n r o t c u k n s 1 t y 184 AAZK MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Check hcAc li /immal [ ] I Name I Address I I $20.00 Professional I ViM-tlmc KccpcnM only I and InteAnatlonal MembeA^ I $15.00 Affiliate I OtkoA ^tali and volantccn^ I' U.S CURRENCY \\Vln.ccton.y Jn^oAmahon $10.00 Associate Jndlvlduats not connected wtth an animal ca/ie facility $50.00 Contributing On.ganlzatloyi(> and Individuals ONLY PLEASE I Zoo WonKlUea Special InteAests I I Mail this application and check or money order, payable to American I Association of Zoo Keepers, to: AAZK National Headquarters, Topeka Zoo, 1 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606. iMemberships include subscription to the Animal KeepCAS' foAum. I The membership card is good for free admission to many zoos and aquariums I in the U.S. and Canada . INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS Animal KeepeAS ' foA.um publishes original papers and news items of interest to the Animal Keeping profession. Non-members are welcome ' to submit articles. ! Articles should be typed or hand-printed. All illustrations, graphs and tables should be clearly marked, in final form, and should fit in a page size of no more than 6" x 10" (15 cm. x 25h cm.). Literature i used should be cited in the text and in final bibliography. Avoid i footnotes. Include scientific names. I Articles sent to Animal KeepeAS' foAum will be reviewed for publication. No commitment is made to the author, but an effort will be made to publish articles as soon as possible. Those longer than three pages j. will be separated into monthly installments at the discretion of the editorial staff. The editors reserve the right to edit material jj without consultation unless approval is requested in writing by the II author. Materials submitted will not be returned unless accompanied !| by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. !i Telephoned contributions on late-breaking news or last minute insertions i' are acceptable. However, phone-in contributions of long articles will I not be accepted. The phone number is 913 272-5821. ’ DEADLINE FOR EACH EDITION IS THE 20th OF THE PRECEDING MONTH. AAtlclcs pAlnted do not neccssoAlly Aeilect the I opinions ol the Animal KeepeAS ’ VoAum edltoAlal j sta{^{^ oA ol the AmeAlcan Association o^ loo KeepeAS. Items in the publication may be reprinted. Credit to this publication is requested. Order reprints from the Editor. TT ?r5 : ? O" 3-f On D3cg a SI ^ ?* S* (1 On S ^ - * SCLp On 75 0) TT ^ iz: s5 P3 P3 pi CD rt rt ^ H- H- O O .^3^3 3 QQ P3 3 rt H* M O tS3 N '*.00 ' O O O M o o t-* . OQ H- H‘ O 3 03 03 M 3i 3 3 3» & Zoo, TN Legislative Information Kevin Conway, CRC, l/A Animal Data Transfer Form Bennand Feldman, Mlllea Zoo, JL Program Library Coordinator for International Affairs Kaaen Staxn lakeland, Midlothian, TX Infant Development Project MoAcla ClevengeA, Oklahoma City Zoo, OK Keepers' Accommodation List Faan Tannen, Toronto Zoo, Ontanlo Book Reviews Fllen Leach, Woodland Paak Zoo, WA & Information Center Ellen Leach, Woodland Pank Zoo, Wk Ed RobentX) vacancy vacancy Kevin Conway Eveaett Hanjil^ Heab Klng^bu/iy LaAny SammoAco vacancy vacancy Vee Nelson Candy KAo^t vacancy Jane Han6jeAgen S Mike CanpenteA Kathy Rettle Regional Coordinators Mike CaApenteA, Phoenix Zoo, kZ, VlAectoA WalteA V. Stone Mem. Zoo ME, l/T, NH, Mk, RJ , CT NY FAont Royal CRC BlndeA Rank Zoo Cincinnati Zoo Lincoln Pank Zoo kudubon PoAk Zoo Rio GAande Zoo SacAomento Zoo Phoenix Zoo MetAo ToAonto Zoo Pk, NJ, MV, VE l/A, 0/1/ MI IN, OH, KT WJ, IL, MO, MN, Ik, MO TN, NC, SC FL, kL, Gk kR, MS, Lk TX,NM,C0,0K,KS,NE,SV,NV Wk, OR, TV, MT, WV, kK Ck, NY, kZ, UT, HI CkNkVk The August AKf coveA dUplay^ tkz cuvtUtlc. talnyvU HoAbdAt J. RobeATi, a Keeper at The loo ojj AAkan^a^ In Ltttld Rock, AR. The tine dAawtng depteti a feeepeA bottle- feeding a young lion cub. Thanks HcAbl Scoops and Scuttlebutt AAZK PINS/CHARMS AVAILABLE NOW Enameled three-quarter inch pins and charms featuring the official AAZK logo are now available. They are done in the same colors as the AAZK patch and the charms are suitable for necklaces (you provide the chain). The price per pin or charm is $3.00 which includes postage. To order send your name, address, number of pins or charms desired to: Patrice Carbaugh, 5456 Abbott Place, Los Angeles, CA 90042. Make checks pay- able to Patrice. ILLINOIS DECLARES JULY AS ZOO AND AQUARIUM MONTH In an official State proclamation, Illinois Governor James R. Thompson designated July 1981 as Zoo and Aquarium Month in his state. The docu- ment read in part: "Illinois’ zoological parks and aquariums serve our citizens of every age. These institutions are entertaining recreational resources, educational facilities and conservation centers. For the majority of people these unique nature preservations provide the only direct experience with native and exotic wild- life as well as valuable public awareness of the survival of many kinds of living things." How about working next year towards getting such a proclamation declared in your state? Our continued efforts to impress upon the public as well as our state and local officials the vital importance of zoos and aquariums for the future survival of the world’s wildlife resources is a desirable and vital goal. AAZK 1980 CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS STILL AVAILABLE The 1980 Annual Conference Proceedings, containing all the papers pre- sented and a brief summary of the Board Minutes, is available from the AAZK National Headquarters in Topeka. The cost is $4.00 per copy. A coupon for ordering can be found in either the January or February AKF or simply send your name and address with your remittance to Adminis- trative Secretary Dolly Clark, AAZ^ National Headquarters, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606. HERP PROCEEDINGS AVAILABLE The Proceedings from the Melbourne Herpetological Symposium held at the Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens, Victoria, Australia in May 1980 are now available to AAZK members. The collection of 35 papers and expanded abstracts covers Australian frogs and lizards, venom research, tortoises and turtles, and Australian crocodiles. Further papers discuss such topics as reptile diseases, herpetological communities, conservation and taxono- mic studies. Copies are available for $12.00 (Australian) each which includes postage and handling. Send name, address , number of copies desired with your remittance to: Symposium Secretary, The Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens, P.O. Box 74, Parkville, Victoria, Australia 3052. Make checks payable to Zoological Board of Victoria. 185 POPULATION EXPLOSION AT FOLSOM CHILDRENS ZOO Lau/Ue This past spring proved to be a very productive one. Our two species of tamarins started it off with our pair of Cotton-top tamarins giving birth to twins on 17 February. The adults abandoned them however and handrear- ing was required. Our nursery personnel successfully reared one and he has now been reintroduced to the adult pair. One of the two pairs of Golden lion tamarin we have on loan from the National Zoo also gave birth to twins on 17 February. On 4 May the other pair gave birth to twins making these the 15th and 16th of this species born at our Zoo in less than three years. Both family groups are doing well. On 10 March our female Serval "Patches" gave birth to 2.1 kittens and successfully raised them. Being a very nervous mother, we eliminated any sort of disturbance by moving her to a more secluded exhibit and placed a large amount of bedding on the floor so the only time she was disturbed was when fed or watered. ^ On 18 April a Japanese Macaque was born to our troop. This is the fourth young born in as many years. May finished the population boom with our female Bobcat "Petunia" giving birth to 1.3 cubs. Petunia has faithfully produced a litter each year since 1977. On 6 May one of Petunia's cubs from three years ago gave birth to 1.0 cubs. LZz GI(U6co AUDUBON PARK ZOO ANNOUNCES RECENT BIRTHS The Audubon Park Zoological Garden, New Orleans, LA are pleased to an- nounce the following recent births and hatchings: 1.2.1 Whitd Tail Deer, 0.0.1 Blue and Gold Macaw, 0.1 Eclectus Parrot, 0.0.2 Canadian Geese, 0.0.2 North American Wood Duck, 0.0.1 Road Runner, 0.0.3 Black Necked Swan, 0.0.7 Fulvous Tree Ducks, 0.0.1 Barheaded Geese and 0.0.2 Toco Toucan. MT-fee V. CokdK TOPEKA ZOO ANNOUNCES RECENT ADDITIONS The Topeka Zoo staff is pleased to announce the following births at their Zoo: 0.0.15 Pygmy Hedgehog Tenrecs , 0.0.1 White-breasted Waterhen and 0.0.4 Giant Indian Fruit Bats. The Zoo's female Grant's zebra is also due to foal soon and their pair of Sarus Cranes, which have been at the Zoo for 16 years without successful propagation, have laid a pair of eggs and are currently incubating them. The Zoo is also pleased to announce the acquisition of Sabtu, a 14-year-old female Bornean orangutan on loan from Lincoln Park Zoo. She, along with the Zoo's resident pair, Djkarta Jim and Daisy, will soon be on exhibit in the new Discovering Apes Complex. 186 THE EASE OF PROPOSING A GRANT What follows is a sample grant proposal of a study that seems very simple. The purpose of the sample is to demonstrate that all grant proposals need not require lengthy introduction, methodology or other section as is com- monly associated with National Science Foundation (NSF) grants. This sample is nowhere near flawless, but few are. If any questions come to mind concerning a grant proposal for AAZK that you would like to submit, please feel free to contact me. Frank B . Kohn AAZK Research Advisor Audubon Zoological Gardens P.O. Box 4327 New Orleans, LA 70178 An Analysis of the Development and Seasonal Variation of the Nasal Scent Gland of the Capybara, and Individual Variation in Coat Goloration. The capybara [HydAocko^AuU) hydAOckaeAJji] is the largest living rodent, currently ranging from 10 ° N to 30 ° S latitude on the South American continent. Ojasti (1973) and Schaller (1978) have provided broad ac- counts of the social organization in the wild of this species, and several others (Jorgenson, in press) are conducting ongoing research. Supplemental information on breeding and management techniques have also been presented in relation to zoo work (Zara, 1973, Donaldson et. al. 1975). I have been conducting an ongoing study of the social organization and development of capybaras for about nine months and have collected data challenging other zoo work. This difference in findings is based on our zoo’s ability to maintain the animals in an outdoor exhibit year round thereby minimizing interference of their social behavior. Several field workers have pointed out the difficulty of carrying out studies which require close proximity to the animals, especially those projects concerned with morphology of living animals. The goal of my proposed research, part of the larger study described above, is to carefully document the development of the nasal scent gland used by both sexes (although more by males) and correlate its size and secretion ( if possible) with intensity and frequency of marking behavior as well as with age and size of the animal. Secondly, I also plan to document variation in coat coloration which may vary greatly with- in one nuclear family although the species may display an extended family group . Nasal gland analysis will serve to help zoo managers determine by either gland size or marking frequency: 1) the age of the animals of unknown origin; 2) whether an animal constitutes a threat to other younger or submissive members (leading to infanticide) ; 3) the sex of the individual at;, an early age if direct sexing is not a desirable or feasible procedure, either because of exhibit size or other restrictions. Coat coloration analysis will serve as an additional contribution to the species description although later studies may lead to more revealing aspects of the animal. 187 The Ease of Proposing A Grant, aon;Unae.d Method: The zoo currently maintains 11 animals (5.4.2) in an exhibit close to 2 acres in size with a large lagoon comprising half the total area. The exhibit is similar to the animals’ natural habitat. I plan to undertake the analysis purely through photographic methods and the use of a small holding pen to maintain consistent distance for proper measurement of the gland. Coat coloration will only require color photography. Other data that will be correlated with photographs include: Date, time of day, age, weather conditions, social group dis- position, hierarchy, pregnancies, and other pertinent factors. As the zoo has allowed me to undertake the above described study of social organization, I have their permission for other work which does not in- volve gross animal manipulation. Bibliography Donaldson, S.L., Wirtz, T.R. & Hite, A.E., 1975, The Social Behavior of Capybaras HydAO(lhoeJi(A hydAOckaOA^ at Evansville Zoo, IZY 1975 Ojasti, J. Estudio Blologico de Chiguire o Capibara, Caracas: Fondo National de Investigaciores Agropecuiarias . Schaller, G. , Social Organization of Capybaras, Source Unknown Zara, J.L., Breeding and Husbandry of the Capybara at Evansville Zoo, IZY, 1973. Expenses 100 feet Kodak Tri-X black and white film $20.00 Processing $10.00 100 feet Kodak Kodachrome 64 ASA color film $50.00 Processing $80 . 00 TOTAL $160.00 Justification of Expenses: The black and white film is used for nasal gland analysis since size is important rather than color. I can bulk load my own film rather than buy individual rolls which reduces the cost by about two-thirds since 100 ft. roll equals about 30 rolls. These are equivalent to about $60.00. I can also process and print the film myself at a minimal cost. Color film is obviously necessary for coat coloration which varies from light beige to dark brown. Again I can bulk load the film and save about one-half on the price of store bought individual rolls. Processing how- ever, would be cheaper to send out since I would require a darkroom color outfit totaling $100.00 to process Ektachrome film which is more expensive than Kodachrome. Although I have been a full-time keeper for only Ih years, I feel that this project is a worthwhile endeavor. If the Committee wishes me to elaborate further on the study or desires additional information, I would be happy to supply it. A copy of my resume is also enclosed to further demonstrate my research background. 188 Bird Calls how the hierarchies of were combined. Social Hierarchy in Chilean Flamingos iFhoe.n^copt(2AiL{> At The Fort Worth Zoo By VntoA W. shannon Audubon PoAk, New OAlzaru,, LA The purpose of this study was to determine if a social hierarchy exists among non-breeding Chilean flamingos {Phoe,nl(lopteAu^ Clkite,yi^'i})) in a captive situation. Further, if such a structure exists, two distinct groups would be affected if the groups The birds studied were part of the collection at the Fort Worth Zoo. In January 1978 the zoo had 7 Chilean flamingos. The last of these seven had been added to the collection in October 1976. Therefore, all of these birds had been together for over one year. During the spring and summer of 1978, 11 more birds were added to the existing flock, the last of these arriving on 10 October, 1978. On 20 December a group of 9 birds, all from a larger flock, were received. This brought the total number of flamingos up to 27. The pecking order study was devised in anticipation of the arrival of these last 9 birds. The first step was to develop a method of identifying individual birds at a distance. Our solution was to employ red and blue plastic bands with printed I.D. numbers. One or two bands were placed on each bird in either one or two of the four possible band positions (i.e., above or below the joint on each leg). Using this method, 32 identification possibilities existed : 4 birds - one red band only 4 birds - one blue band only 6 birds - two red bands - two band positions 6 birds - two blue bands - two band positions 12 birds - one red/one blue band - two band positions With the aid of binoculars, individuals could be identified at a dis- tance by the color /position combinations or, occasionally by the band I.D. number. The initial series of observations took place indoors in the winter quarters with the existing flock (birds 1-18) in one room and the new group (birds 19-27) in another. Each room had an area of approximately 10' by 10'. All but four hours of observations with the groups separated were done indoors . All observations with the groups combined were done outdoors. The 1980 observations began in late April after the birds had been put outside for the summer. Throughout the previous winter (1979-80) they had been ran- domly divided in the winter quarters and the flocks had been mixed and redivided regularly. There were no observations done during this time. 189 Social Hierarchy 1n Chilean Flamingos , continued Determination of pecking order was based on aggressive and submissive behavior among the birds. An aggressive bird was defined as one that struck out with its beak at another individual. Two birds "sparring" with their beaks were labeled "mutually aggressive". A submissive bird was defined as one that was physically displaced ( i.e., forced to move from the encounter site) following an aggressive attack by another bird. Similarly, if a bird yielded during a mutually aggressive encounter, that bird would be labeled submissive. The following data was collected and recorded on each encounter: 1. The birds involved; 2. Which bird was the aggressor; 3. Which bird was submissive; 4. Whether a mutually aggressive encounter occurred; 5. Whether the subordinate bird moved away with its head lowered or raised. (The significance of this observation was not known but it was easily recorded so we did so) . Only those events where aggressive physical contact or attempted aggress- ive physical contact occurred were recorded. Many fights seemed to begin and end spontaneously with no apparent aggressor or submitter. These were recorded as mutual aggression only. In some cases an aggressive bird would instigate an interaction which would result in a mutual ag- gression with no loser. These were recorded as such. The, of course, there were situations in which an aggressive bird evoked immediate sub- mission by another. Due to the number of birds involved, many events went unrecorded because several events might occur at once or the birds could not be positively identified. Although there were many subtle indications of dominant/ subordinate relationships, this data was not recorded in order to insure the validity of the study. Also not considered were fights involving three or more birds because of the one-on-one nature of the study’s design. In addition, once a bird indicated submission, any Immediate subsequent attacks on that bird were not recorded since the act of showing submission tended to evoke aggression from nearby individuals. Our first step in interpreting the data was to chart the following infor- mation on each bird: 1. Which birds had been submissive to it and the frequency; 2. Which birds it had been submissive to and the frequency; 3. Which birds it had been aggressive to and the frequency; 4. Which birds it had mutual encounters with. In each chart, if an individual appeared in both the win and lose columns those encounters were eliminated one for one on each column. For example, in charting the data for bird "x", if we found bird "y" in the win column 2 times and the lose column 4 times, we would eliminate 2 wins and 2 loss- es giving us an overall 2 wins - ) losses for bfLrd "x". Thus, if an indi- vidual won more encounters with the bird in quebtion, it was considered dominant (i.e., "x" would be dominant to "y") • ' Conversly, it it lost more than it won, it was considered submissive. 190 Social Hierarchy In Chilean Flamingos, continued In the following tabels, "W” represents the number of birds the individual was dominant over. "L" represents the number of birds the individual was subordinate to. "W-L” provides a basis for the initial ranking. The high- er the resulting number, the higher the bird’s place in the hierarchy. The premise here is that the highest ranking individual will be dominant to the greatest number of birds and subordinate to the least. Likewise, the low- est ranking , individual will be dominant to the least number of birds and subordinate to the most. HIERARCHY TABLES Each number represents an individual bird. The highest ranking bird appears at the top, the lowest at the bottom. Table 1 January 4 - March 21, 1979 Groups Separated Group //I (13 hr. 38 min. of observation) W-L 6 17 1,5,14 9 2 4,11 .13 2,8,10,12 3 18 15,16 W-L + ^ 6 17 1,5 14 9 7 4 11 13 8 2,10 12 3 18 15 16 Group //2 (7 hr. 30 min. of observation) W-L 24 23* 21 19* 25,26* 22 27 24 23* 21 19* 26* 25 22 27 *Surviving birds from Group 2 191 Social Hierarchy in Chilean Flamingos , dovutinuzd Due to the relatively small data base (1059 events recorded over 31h hours of observation time) , clumping occurred in several places along the hierarchy. Aggression was therefore incorporated into the formula as a means of spreading out the clumps. "A" represents the number of birds that each individual was aggressive to. The assumption here is that the aggressor is most likely to win the encounter and thus be the dominant bird. Of the 1059 events, in only one case did the aggressor lose. //lO attacked /H9 and lost. But, in the resulting hierarchy, #10 ranks above #19. One half "A” was used in the formula so 'as not to give this factor too much weight. The inclusion of "A" did not cause any major shifting of the order, it merely stretched out the clumping. (See Tables 1-3) A major flaw of this study was the limited number of recorded events. More observations might have eliminated the need to include "A” in the formula. Nevertheless, there does appear to be a pecking order among Chilean flamingos. Since Tables 1 and 2 represent consecutive observa- tion periods, it is not likely that they would differ dramatically. The time separation between the results shown in Tables 2 and 3 and the rela- tive stability of the ranking over this period, however, lends credence to the notion of a flexible hierarchy. Table 4 shows the number of posi- tions gained or lost by each bird between Tables 1 and 2 and Tables 2 and 3. The average change in position (either + or - ) of 1.75 for all the birds and the mean change of 2 for all the birds from Table 1 to Table 3 indicates a fairly high degree of stability over time. Since we were faced with an initial high mortality rate, our study on the effect of combining two distinct hierarchies is inconclusive. With- in the first four months of the study (January - April 1979) five birds of the new flock and two of the existing flock died of various causes. Due to the need for an initial hierarchy, they were included in the cal- culations for Table 1 until their debilities were obviously forcing them to the bottom of the pecking order. In subsequent calculations these birds were eliminated for consideration. It is interesting to note the progress of the three surviving birds from the new flock throughout the study ( #19, #23, #26 ). In relation to each other, #23 remained on top. After some jockeying for position between Tables 1 and 2, #19 held on to second place. It is also significant to note that while all three started out near the bottom of the hierarchy for the combined flocks (Table 2), #19 and #23 had both made substantial advances by the end of the study. In fact, they made the greatest change in position ( either up or down ) of any of the birds (see Table 4 ) . The conclusion to be drawn here is that within a fairly stable hierarchy, a new individual has the potential to rise to any level of dominance and presumably hold the position once it has been attained. Comparing the resulting hierarchy with the data concerning submission with head lowered or raised, there does not appear to be any correlation be- tween head position and ranking. Likewise, there does not appear to be any connection between rank and the likelihood of mutual aggression. The primary objective of this study, namely the establishment of the presence of social hierarchy in non-breeding Chilean flamginos, appears to have been demonstrated. Although loosely constructed, there is a dominant-subordinate relationship among the members of the established flock. Due to the high mortality among the second group, the question concerning the effect on the hierarchies of two flocks when combined can- 192 Social Hierarchy In Chilean Flamingos, c.ontlnu^d not be answered. However, there is a suggestion that the new birds would have maintained their intra-flock order while fitting into that of a larger group. Further observations over time should serve to substantiate the stability of the pecking order. HIERARCHY TABLES (continued] Groups Combined Table 2 March 23 - May 26, 1979 (10 hr. 24 min. of observations) W-L 17 5.6 1.7 10 13 14 2 3.4 9,21,23* 8 26* 16,19 12 15 W-L + hA 17 6 1.5 7 10 13 14 2 4,21 3,9 8,23* 26* 16 19* 12 15 Note; birds #s 11, 18, 22, 24, 25, & 27 died during the obser- vation period covered in Table 1 and so do not appear. Table 3 March 4 - June 8, 1980 (5 hr. 55 min. of observations) W-L 1 17 14 5 6 23* 7,10 8,9,19* 3,4,13 12 26* 16 2 15 W-L + hA 1 17 14 5,6 7,23* 10 8 9,19* 4,13 3 12 26* 2 16 15 Note; bird #21 died in spring 1980 so does not appear *Surviving brids from Group 2 193 Social Hierarchy In Chilean Flamingos, continued Position changes for each bird from Tables 1 to 2, Tables 2 to 3, and the net gain or loss of position from Tables 1 to 3. Deceased birds not included. # of positions # of positions Net # of I gained or lost gained or lost gained Bird from Table 1 to 2 from Table 2 to 3 from Table ^ 1 0 +2 +2 2 +2 -5 -3 3 +2 0 +2 4 ■ -2 0 -2 5 0 -1 -1 6 -1 -2 -3 7 +2 -1 + 1 8 -2 +4 +2 9 -5 +2 -3 10 +5 -1 +4 12 -4 +4 0 13 +2 -3 -1 14 -3 +4 +1 15 -3 +1 -2 16 0 -1 -1 17 +1 -1 0 19 - +6 - 23 - +6 - 26 - 0 - For the net number of positions changed from Tables 1 to 3, the average change is 1.75 and the mean is 2. My thanks to the staff of the Forth Worth Zoo bird department for assis- tance when I needed a third hand and for going out of their way to pro- vide relevant information I might not have found otherwise. And special thanks to Mary Young for her excellent editing. Information Please We are in the process of hand-rearing a Spider monkey kteteii geo{^{^^oyt] . I would greatly appreciate any information (first-hand experience, re- prints, references etc.) concerning hand-rearing and reintroduction. Please send to: Louise T. LaRoche, Zookeeper and Bonnie J. Larson, Zoo- keeper at Layfayette Zoological Park, 3500 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23504. I am currently having difficulty obtaining studies (or for that matter any written material) regarding Patagonian Cavies . I would appreciate hearing from anyone with information or special interest in these fas- cinating animals. Please write to: Chris Rasums, P.O. Box 400, Cabot, AR 72023. 194 "BLOOD" By ^Idhadt L. Hughes, V.UM RoJildmt V ^t^/iina/ilan Gladys VonXoji loo The substance that carries oxygen, food, vitamins and minerals to nourish the body's cells also removes waste products of cell metabolism and depos- its them at portals of exit. Blood is also an invaluable diagnostic tool for the medical clinician. Blood has negative connotations for many people. Blood, if found on the surface of an animal or in an animal's enclosure gives rise to concern about that animal's health status. Blood is not only used as an indicator when found outside of the body, but samples collected relatively painless- ly without patient damage and then handled by a competent laboratory, re- veal many things to a clinician about his patient. Blood flows through an animal’s body acting as a transport medium for most all the body's nutrients and wastes as well as many other substances such as hormones. Because of this, the identity and concentration of blood components can be used by the clinician to help determine, first, if his patient is sick and, second, what his sickness may be. Before one can begin to understand the use of blood as a diagnostic tool, one must have a basic idea of what blood is. Everyone should know that blood is a red fluid substance that flows through the body via an intri- cate network of blood vessels. Eight per cent of the body's weight is blood. This is about 40 cc (cubic centimeters) of blood for each pound of body weight. Therefore, a 150- pound human will have about eight pints of blood. Sixty per cent of the blood volume is fluid and is called plasma. Serum, the fluid portion of blood that has been allowed to clot or gel is used for testing. The other forty per cent of the blood volume is composed of cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.) Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and are responsible for oxygen transport* Red blood cells can live up to 180 days, but normally are replaced after 100 days of circulation. Therefore, everyday, one per cent of the body's red blood cells are replaced. In a human, that adds up to million cells per second. Old red blood cells are removed from circulation by the spleen, liver, and bone marrow. White blood cells are responsible for protecting the body against foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses. White blood cells are produced mostly in the bone marrow and most live only a matter of hours or days before being used up. Some lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) may live a year or more. These cells are responsible for retained immunity after vaccination or disease process. When a physician orders a blood test, a small amount of blood, usually less than a ounce, is drawn, placed in tubes and transported to a labora- tory. The lab tachnician will perform the requested tests. Counts of total numbers of cells may be done manually with the use of a microscope or by machines which do the job faster and more accurately. IVetcrinarians , Kle^pirs, 195 Blood" , contLnLLQ.d microscope or by machines which do the job faster and more accurately. Instruments are also available to perform the myriad of tests possible by using plasma or serum. The differential white blood cell count is done by making a thin smear of blood on a microscopic slide. A stain is applied that makes the white blood cells more visible. The slide is placed on a microscope and the different kinds of white blood cells are counted and expressed as a percentage of the total white blood cell count. The cells are magnified 1000 times for this purpose. Cells in blood can tell us many things about the body’s health status. The number of red blood cells is an indicator of anemia. If anemia is detected, the size, shape, and color density of the cells can lead us toward a list of possible causes of the anemia. As stated before, white blood cells act as one of the body's defenses against foreign substances. They do this by releasing enzymes and anti- bodies that attack the invader. Some white blood cells may ingest the foreign material. When a clinician looks at a total white blood cell count combined with the percentages of the different cells that make up that total count, he can learn many things about his patient. An increased total WBC (white blood cell) count may mean a bacterial infec- tion is present; a decrease in the total WBC count may mean a viral in- fection. The numbers of the various types of white blood cells are very useful to the trained clinician. Some cancers are diagnosed or confirmed via the differential WBC count. Thrombocytes or platelets, if present in decreased numbers, might indi- cate a possible clotting problem although this is not hemophilia. The plasma and serum are used to measure innumerable body functions. Blood sugar is measured to help diagnose a type of diabetes. Some waste products are measured to determine kidney function. Enzymes are measur- ed to check the metabolism of many organs. These are a very few examples of how serum and plasma testing can help the medical clinician. Even with the multitude of information available from one small blood sample, however, the clinician must first evaluate his patient on the basis of history, symptoms and a physcial examination. If laboratory procedures are desired, many are available to confirm the clinician’s initial diag- nosis . Here at the Gladys Porter Zoo, blood samples are taken from sick animals and analyzed by our technician. We also make use of several local labora- tories as well as some out of town facilities. Hematology ( the study of blood) is in its infancy in zoo animal medicine, therefore, many healthy animals are sampled simply to establish a list of normal values with which to compare values from sick animals. With over 400 species in the Zoo, we still have many animals without re- liable norms. This is because it is hard to compile a significant number of samples on very rare species. Some species are too small to allow adequate sampling, and some species present problems in just obtaining the blood. Because of this void, our Staff will continue to compile all information possible. Other zoos are doing the same and an effort is being made to bring the information from all zoos into a central pool of normal blood values. If, during a visit to the Zoo, you notice the veterinarian collecting blood, it may be that the animal is not sick but merely contributing to the list of normal blood values for its species. Rep/tcnted uu^th thd autkon. Gladys VoKtoJi loo Uol. 8, No. 6, Hov.-Vq.cl. 1979. PANDA PROPAGATION AT NATIONAL ZOO UNSUCCESSFUL BV Vo-VKa G. KleyCman H^ad, Vepa/itrmyLt oi loologlc-cil Re^e.aAch Mcutional Zoo£.ogd,cal Pa/ik Chia-Chia, the male giant panda from London, arrived in. Washington on 6 March 1981. %e had high hopes that he would mate with Ling-Ling during her annual spring estrus. Although each animal initially showed interest in the other’s scents, their first visual contact through the fence on 7 April was not encouraging. Ling-Ling growled and barked at Chia-Chia, and he responded with growls. Ling-Ling then climbed a tree in her yard and would not descend until the following day. On 10 April 1981, Ling-Ling began to show signs of impending heat such as scent-marking, walking backwards, and bleating. Although Hsing-Hsing responded from his indoor cage, Chia-Chia showed no interest. Since Ling-Ling continued to avoid Chia-Chia and growled and barked at him across the fence, we could not determine whether she was in breeding condition. Therefore, she was placed with Hsing-Hsing on the morning and afternoon of 14 April to gauge the stage of her cycle. It was clear through their interactions that Ling-Ling was in estrus, about three weeks earlier than in recent years. Although fully receptive to Hsing-Hsing, she still growled at Chia-Chia whenever she saw him, and he either ignor- ed, avoided, or growled at her. Chia-Chia and Ling-Ling were introduced at 10:30 p.m. on 14 April. Dur- ing their encounter, Chia-Chia was extremely aggressive and showed no sexual interest. He dominated Ling-Ling and would not release her while biting her repeatedly, especially on her hinglegs. It was only after Chia-Chia was exhausted and left Ling-Ling that the animals could be sep- arated. Ling-Ling's Injuries were difficult to judge, but for several days she was reluctant to move about and ate and drank little. She was too sore to be placed with either male before her spring estrus ended. Artificial insemination was not considered due to her physical condition and declining sexual receptiveness. For about two weeks she received daily injections of antibiotics. On 23 April she was anesthetized so that veterinarians could evaluate and treat her wounds. Ling-Ling con- tinues to make satisfactory recovery, but she is still being closely watched for any signs of secondary problems. Although the Chinese and Mexico City Zoo officials have indicated that giant pandas may be very aggressive during the reproductive period, the intensity of Chia-Chia’ s behavior was suprising since he had been living with a female in London for many years and was fully socialized, although he had not previously mated. The NZP experience indicates, as the Chinese have suggested, that giant pandas may be very individualistic in their preference for mates. Chia-Chia was returned to London in early June. Despite the lack of success in breeding Ling-Ling this year, we are all grateful to the Zoo- logical Society of London for permitting Chia-Chia to visit NZP. It is only through loans of rare and valuable animals that the breeding of some captive species can be achieved. 197 Panda Propagation at National Zoo Unsuccessful , continued During Chia-Chia’s visit, the normal routine at the Panda House was dis- rupted and the Zoo staff had to respond to many requests, often with little notice. In spite of the inconveniences, everyone showed flexi- bility and concern. There are many people who should be thanked person- ally. Instead, I would like to express my gratitude to the entire Zoo staff for their responsiveness and service during this period. The keepers, medical staff, police, maintenance personnel, public affairs staff, and Friends of the National Zoo staff and volunteers were especially involved and deserve a special vote of thanks. CHINESE AND NZP SCIENTISTS AGREE TO COLLABORATE ON GIANT PANDA ECOLOGY STUDY BV Va. John F. BucnbeAg A66t6tant VlAcctoA Animal Vn.ogn.am6 On 15 April 1981, NZP field ecologist Dr. John Seidensticker , program man- ager Mr. Ross Simons of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and I departed for a three-week visit to the People’s Republic of China. The purpose of the trip was to draft an in- itial agreement and action plan for one year’s research in a wildlife reserve to be selected after preliminary discussion in Beijing. The Chinese had arranged for us to visit three giant panda reserves allowing us some flexibility in the selection of a research site. The goal of the project is to increase the scientific understanding of the behavorial ecology of the giant panda. Only recently have Western scientists been allowed to study this rare, little-known animal of China. To augment our knowledge, the giant panda must be studied in the context of the reserve ecosystem in which it lives and reproduces. An essential part of the project will also be the study of mammals, birds, and habitat in the reserve selected. After preliminary discussion and agreement in Beijing, the three of us departed for the capital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu on 22 April. Chengdu is a city of 3.5 million people and the headquarters for the provinicial ministry of forestry which controls access to and work within protected 198 Giant Panda Ecology Study, continued forested areas of Sichuan. On 23 April, we visited the Chengdu Zoo where they have achieved recent success in the artificial insemination of cap- tive pandas. We began our survey of the three possible reserve sites on 24 April. These sites included: Tang Jia He, Wang Lang and Fong Tong Zhae . (Hsing-Hsing , our male giant panda, was captured at Fong Tong Zhae.) Upon our return to Beijing on 3 May, we finalized the initial action plan with our Chinese colleagues and reached a decision to carry out our first year’s research in Tang Jia He Reserve. This reserve covers 100,000 acres in the Min Shan Mountains of northwest Sichuan with elevations ranging from 5,000 to 9,000 feet. Twenty-four protected species of vertebrates inhabit the reserve and the giant panda is abundant, as are the golden monkey, musk deer, takin, serow, blue-eared pheasant, golden pheasant and giant salamander. Tang Ji He offers an interesting habitat contrast to the research studies being conducted by the World Wildlife Fund and the New York Zoological S ociety in the Woolong Reserve. Field work at Woolong commenced last fall under the leadership of Dr. George Schaller. We are extremely enthuiastic about our opportunity to do an ecological reconnalsance of higher vertebrates and their distribution in the Min Shan Mountians of Sichuan. Departure of Smithsonian scientists is schedul- ed for mid-February 1982. The initial field team will include Dr. John Seidens ticker and field researcher Dr. Melvin Sundquist. RepHlnted with, penmos^ton the authon^ {^n.om TtgoAtalk, hiatlonat m Zoologtcal Peutk/ Smithsonian Jnstitutcon, Washington, V.C., Hay 1981. Coming Events September September September AAZPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 13-17 New Orleans, Louisiana AAZK NATIONAL CONFERENCE 20-24 Fresno, California SECOND ELEPHANT WORKSHOP 25 & 26 San Diego Zoo & San Diego Wild Animal Park For more information contact Mike Kachuba, 4145 Wilson Ave., San Diego, CA 92104; OR Red Thomas, 3743 Brems, San Diego, CA 92115. AMERICAN PHEASANT AND WATERFOWL SOCIETY (AP&WS) AND INTERNATIONAL WILD WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION (IWWA) JOINT CONFERENCE September 23 - 26 Ramada Inn Bloomington, MN All Keepers interested in aviculture are invited to attend the joint con- ference. For further information contact Ron Johnson, Curator, Minnesota jZoological Garden, 12102 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN 55124, j(612) 432-9010, extension #278. 199 AGENDA FOR 7TH NATIONAL AAZK CONFERENCi Hosted by the Fresno Zoo AAZK Chapter at: Ramada Inn 324 E. Shaw Fresno, CA Kitty Kenyon, Ckatman Con^eAence Committee. Sally J. Smith CoYif^oAmee Coordinating Committee Saturday, Sept. 19, 1981 Pre-Conference Tour at Los Angeles Zoo (contact Jennifer Chatf ield-Dee) Sunday, Sept. 20, 1981 9-5 Board Meeting 4-7 Registration 7-10 Icebreaker (pizza, wine. Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1981 9-12 Papers 12-2 Zoo Lunch 2-5 Workshops of Birding Field Trip 7- 8 Committee Meeting 8- 10 Come as Your Favorite Animal Contest Monday, Sept, 21, 1981 Welcome and Introduction 9-12 Papers 12-2 Zoo Lunch 2-5 Workshops 5-7 Goodies in Lounge 7- 8 Infant Development Committee Meeting 8- 10 Film or Speaker Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1981 9- 12 Papers 12-2 Zoo Lunch 2-4 Workshops 4-6:30 Volleyball 7-10 Night at the Zoo Dinner Thursday, Sept. 24, 1981 9-12 Papers 12-2 Lunch on your own' — Hotel 2-4 General Membership Meeting 6 : 30-7 : 30-No-host cocktail party 7 : 30-10 : 00-Banquet/Auction Dr. Kurt Benirschke, Speaker Friday , Sept. 25, 1981 8 a.m. Bus Trip - Yosemite PLEASE NOTE: Some Keeper Accomoda- , ' tions are still avail- able. Contact the Conference Chair- man for details. WORKSHOPS : Reptile House Tour Zoo Educational Activities Landscaping and Renovation Baby Elephant Training Bird Taxidermy Skull Preparation Special Nursery Tour Birding Field Trip Special Section Tours Zoo Mobile CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORMS AND FORMS FOR HOTEL RESERVATIONS MAY BE FOUND IN THE MAY, JUNE OR JULY ANIMAL KEEPERS ' FORUM. HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE CONFERENCE:::! KEEPERS ARE REMINDED THAT ITEMS ARE STILL NEEDED FOR THE AUCTION . ANY TYPE OF MIMAL-RELATED ARTICLE IS SUITABLE AND PROCEEDS FROM FROM THE AUCTION WILL HELP OFFSET EXPENSES OF THE CONFERENCE. 200 OFFICIAL AAZK CONFERENCE LOGO The Orangutan featured on the 1981 AAZK National Conference logo is a female named "AAZK" who was born during the very first AAZK national conference held in Fresno in April of 1969. 1981 AAZK Conference Scheduled Conference Papers 1. The Management of Ruby - Joan Stinson, Phoenix Zoo 2. Zookeepers: The Missing Link - Sherman Rosenfeld, Discovery Center, Fresno 3. Keeper Participation In The Operation Of A Small Zoo - Mike Crocker, Dickerson Park Zoo 4. Training An Asian Bull - Paul Barkman, Marine World-Africa U.S.A. & Sally Smith, Fresno 5. A New Horizon In Professionalism - Liz McLaughlin, Roger Williams Park Zoo 6. The Death And Birth Of A Zoo - Jean Hromadka, Miami Metro Zoo 7. Gorilla Keeping At Lincoln Park Zoo - Pat Sammarco, Lincoln Park Zoo 8. How To Get A-Head At The Zoo - Mary Swanson, Fresno Zoo 9. Zoo Elephants, Part III - Val DeLeon, Oakland Zoo 10. Dickerson Park Zoo's Bald Eagle Program - Craig Moran, Dickerson Park Zoo jll. Exhibit Renovation: An Economic Adaptation “ Dr. Paul Chaffee, Director Fresno Zoo 12. Interactions Of Infant Baboons In Captivity - Lynne Villers, Indian- apolis Zoo 13. Observations And Breeding Of Hartlaub's Touraco - Bernie Feldman, Miller Park Zoo 14. A Look At Some Zoos And Wildlife Sanctuaries In India - Mike Dee, I Los Angeles Zoo 115. Reproduction And Propagation Techniques For Greater Flamingos At I Fresno Zoo - Linda Cover, Fresno Zoo 16. Native Wildlife: Exotic Animal Interface At The National Zoological j Park, Conservation and Research Center - Greg Sanders, National Zoo- ; Logical Park 17. Keeper Education At The Rio Grande Zoo - Candace Kroft, Rio Grande Zoo 18. The Humane Society Of The United States' Responsibility To AAZK - Jeanne Roush, HSUS 19. Capturing Desert Bighorn Sheep - Mike Dee, Los Angeles Zoo I 20. How Can We Help: Re-thinking An Old Problem - David Grubbs, California State University, Fresno 21. The Ape House At Lincoln Park Zoo - Jim Higgins, Lincoln Park Zoo 22. MOVIE: Zookeepers - Pat Sammarco, Lincoln Park Zoo 23. A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Zoo - Ron Tremper, Fresno Zoo 201 Legislative News Compllo^d by Ko^vln Com}ay INCREASED NUMBER OF NATIONS PARTICIPATE IN CITES MEETING Delegates from 50 out of the 67 nations party to the Convention on Inter- national Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) , as well as 16 nonparty delegations, were present at the third biennial meet- ing of the treaty members in March. At the 1979 meeting in Costa Rica, delegates from 34 out of 51 CITES nations, plus 16 nonparty delegations participated. Meeting from February 25 through March 8, 1981, in New Delhi, India, the member delegates discussed and voted on numerous proposals affecting im- plementation of the treaty and revisions of the lists of species it pro- tects. Members of 8 international organizations and 72 nongovernmental organizations, nearly half of which were from the United States, con- tributed to general discussions. Ronald E. Lambertson, Associate Director-Federal Assistance, who headed the U.S. delegation, summarized the objectives of the U.S. delegation as follows: (1) To place emphasis on administrative actions to properly implement the CITES; (2) to stress the function of CITES as a trade con- vention designed to control detrimental utilization of wild fauna and flora, rather than to preclude trade in wild specimens; and (3) to resist broad listings of species on the appendices without meeting established criteria. Regarding the accomplishments of these objectives, Lambertson stated, "We were at least partially successful in achieving all of our objectives. We were particularly successful, however, in achieving our first objective of making the Convention work. With our strong support, a number of actions were taken in this area." Eleven separate actions were taken which will assist with day-to-day administration associated with the proper implementation of the Conven- tion. 1. A uniform import/export and re-export permit form will be adopted. This permit will provide uniform information, which will facilitate en- forcement at ports of entry, while providing standardized information for reporting. 2. Standard permit requirements have also been developed for use in trade with nonparty countries. This equivalent documentation will assure that the CITES requirements are met by nonparty countries, while facilitat- ing trade with these countries. 3. Guidelines for the preparation and transport of live animals and plants ; were adopted, as well as a voluntary reporting system for stressed specimen 4. Security papers for permits and a new CITES security stamp were approved and will be available for use by the Parties in the near future. This will be an important contribution toward the elimination of forgery of CITE permits . 5. The Parties extended their commitment to the development of an identi- fication manual for use by port inspectors. Preparation of the manual is underway and the first sections will soon be available for purchase by the Parties . 6. A system of standardizing annual reports was, approved. 7. A permanent Technical Expert Committee was established which will fac- ilitate the handling of enforcement and administrative issues during the two-year intervals between meetings of the Parties. In addition, a resolu- tion was approved continuing and broadening the mandate for the Standing (or executive) Committee, which will function on behalf of the Parties be- tween the biennial meetings. 202 CITES MEETING, conUnu^d 8. A resolution was approved establishing new standards for the documenta- tion and identification of raw or slightly worked ivory. This new system, when fully implemented, should be a significant step in reducing the illegal trade in elephant ivory. 9. A resolution was also approved requiring additional attention and con- trols on the trade of rhinoceros horn, which continues to endanger these animals . 10. A new 10-year review procedure was approved, which recommends that Regional Committees review existing listings with the intention of pro- posing the removal of those species which do not meet the listing criteria or changing the listing of those species which are on the wrong appendices. 11. A resolution was adopted providing for the development of a mechanism by which confiscated Appendix I parts, products, and specimens can be disposed. EndangeAed Sp TechyUcal BulZdtin ApM 1981, Uol. VI, Wo. 4 NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY CRITICAL OF REAGAN ' s BUDGET CUTS The National Audubon Society, in an "Emergency Dispatch" sent to its mem- bership, has announced its intention to mount a "grassroots" backlash against what they consider to be anti-environmental maneuvers being proposed by the Reagan administration. A portion of this "Emergency Dispatch" reads as follows: "In Washington, D.C., the new Administration has declared war on our natural heritage. Under the guise of eliminating government waste and ending inflation, an anti-environment wrecking crew led by Interior Secretary James Watt has begun to wipe out the hard-won gains and safeguards by a generation of active and caring citizens. Here are just a few early results of their frightening meat-ax approach... . . .ABANDON The Tradition of Stewardship and Conservation. By elimin- ating 87% of the funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund this Administration — without public discussion or debate — has declared that America will no longer set aside unique natural areas, national parks, forests and wildlife refuges. . . .DECIMATE Our Capacity to Protect the Environment. By slashing ' 73% of the budget of the Environmental Protection Agency this Administra- tion— with callous disregard for the public’s health — has effectively abandoned the task of disposing of hazardous wastes and cleaning up dan- gerous toxic substances. I . . .DESTROY The Council on Environmental Quality. By gutting what has [been called the "Envionmental Conscience" of the White House this Admin- ;istration has clearly demonstrated its willingness to turn its back on I our natural heritage and the vast majority of Americans who treasure [that heritage." In order to stop this anti-environmental onslaught, the National Audubon i Society is launching the Citizen Mobilization Campaign, to inform people I about what cuts and legislation is being proposed and what the effects twill be on our environment. It is hoped this campaign will alert and i organize the public to demand a halt to actions which will endanger the environment. More information may be gained by writing The National Audubon Society, 950 Third Ave. , NewYork, N.Y. 10022 203 ^ .t JAPANESE CRESTED IBIS UPDATE NEWS FROM UENO ZOO, TOKYO By Vo^kl. VomtavU. This is an updated report on the artificial propagation project for Japanese Crested Ibis i Myippon-Ca vilppon] which is being promoted by the Wildlife Protection Division of the Nature Conservation Bureau of the Environmental Agency and Yamashina Institute of Ornithology (see May 1981< AKF) . Since the capture this past January, the five ibises have been keeping well in captivity at the Ibis Protective Center — Conservation at Niibo Village, Sado Island. As a result of chromosomes studies from blood samples taken from the birds and studied at Hokkaido University, it was determined that the specimens were 1 male and 4 female. At the same time, the only male seems of an advanced age. According to this finding, the possibility for any artificial propagation is very difficult to see in the near future. It is generally known that this species holds to the hard monogamous life during the term of nest building. So we think the breeding effort should continue by means of refrigerated sperm. Moreover, we had bad news again. One female bird among those caught died on 17 June. After the necropsy at the Ueno Zoo, the cause of her death from hepatitis is doubtful but many parasites of the duodenum were detected. The persons concerned with the project are examining preven- tive methods against the occurences of parasites which may be induced by the newly-devised man-created feeding of the birds. In recent years, the Basel Zoo in Switzerland has developed a new, safe food for birds that has been quite successful. The Japanese Crested Ibis in the wild had at one time increased to 12, but now have disap- peared and no new fledglings have been sighted. At the present time, these living ibises are 1 male and 4 females (including the former bird of hand-rearing) in the world. We are faced with the major problem of inducing them to breed and raise chicks. P.S. We caught good news from North China at the end of June. In that district at about 1200 meters above sea level, 7 wild birds — "Toki" (Japanese Crested Ibises) were discovered after an interval of several years with no sightings. It was just before the time when the declara- tion of "extinction" was officially announced. Three young ibises were contained among the group. This is a very fortunate matter against the future of "Japanese Crested Ibis". Don’t forget to Vote!! 204 INFANT DEVELOPMENT DATA FORMS AVAILABLE Data forms and instructions are now available for the Infant Development Project ( see Jan. 1981 AKF for details). I am also starting to receive a few completed forms. The following is a form submitted by Gordon Swan- berg of the Woodland Park Zoo which can be used as an example for keepers , interested in contributing to this project. I’m sure many of you have excellent data on your animals, and I hope this example will illustrate how easily your data can be presented on this form. (Thanks go to Gordon for submitting his data and for letting m.e use it in this way.) Anyone interested in receiving data forms or learning more about this project should contact me at the following address: Marcia Clevenger, 5436 N.E. Grand Blvd. , Oklahoma City, OK 73111. AAZK Infant Development Project Parent-reared Mammals Common Name Snow Leopard Scientific Name PaviihsAa uyi^ca Submitted by Gordon Swanberg Institution Woodland Park Zoo Seattle, WA Position Senior Keeper Date Subm.itted 6/2/81 Reproductive History: Has had 13 cubs in 6 births, all survived except one. Birth Environment : Mother's Diet: Feline Diet (Nebraska Brand), rabbit and chicken bones twice/week. Den boxes: (2) measured 4' x 4' x 6'; each had closed circuit TV. Labor on 5/4/81 lasted 2 hrs . Offspring cleaned by mother. Suckling: Observed suckling after both cubs were born. Back nipple preference shown. Mother was on side when feeding young. Physical Development: Gestation period was 95-100 days. Weight at birth was 2 lb. 1 oz. Teeth erupted at 3 weeks. Eyes opened after 7 days. No shedding observed. Mother stimulation for defecation. Behavioral Development: Mother was with cubs constantly except while she was eating. Cubs were socialized with humans for h hr. /day. Not very active for first 4 weeks — slept most of the time after feed- ing. After 5th week cubs played with each other and mother. Rem.arks : Alexandra, our mother Snow Leopard, has been an excellent mother. When we socialize with the cubs, we put her out with her mate. When cubs are weaned we will put them out with the miale and he will play with and help raise themi. 205 PRIMATE PREDATION Great Ape a,'^■<^^emonVl^ Several recent articles in the Laboratory Primate Newsletter (Caine et al. , 1979, 1^ (1), 25-26; Hughes & Lang, 1980, ^ (3), 11-12; Kessler et al. , 1980, ^ (2), 9-10; Rhine et al. , 1981, ^ (2), 5-7) have reported preda- tory behavior in captive primates. We suspect that many investigators witness these, but do not report them due to their seemingly anecdotal nature. Therefore, we have initiated a survey of predatory behavior in captive primates in order to ascertain how common it is. If anyone has witnessed captive predatory behavior, please help us by completing the following questionnaire and mailing it to the address below, even if the information is incomplete. Any help you can give will be greatly appre- ciated. Send completed survey to; Susan Clarke/G. Mitchell, Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616. PRIMATE PREDATION SURVEY Your Name Primate Species Captive or wild-born? Gender Age Approx, date of predatory incident if known, approx, dura- tion of incident (capture to end of consumption Name of captive facility Caging environment (describe size, habitat etc.) Indoor Outdoor Time of day Number of animals in cage Prey species How many animals participated in capture? How many animals participated in consumption? If more than 1 animal consumed prey, describe how consumed (was there food sharing, snatching, etc.)? What part of prey was eaten first? Was the prey killed before eating? What remains were not eaten? Describe capture Please describe normal diet in as much detail as possible Any additional comments/impressions. AAZK T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE 'AAZK T-shirts Imprinted with the official emblem are now available. The price is $5.49 plus $1.00 for shipping and handling for each shirt. Sizes Small, Medium and Large are available in tan, red, lemon yellow and royal blue. Size Extra-large is available in tan and royal blue only. To order, please complete coupon below and send with check or money order to: Carleton Bailie c/o Akron Zoo 500 Edgewood Ave. Akron, OH 44307 Please send _ T-shirt (s) at $5.49 plus $1.00 for shipping and handling. Size: small medium _large extra-large Colors : ^Tan ^Red Lemon-yellow Royal blue Name Address City State Zip AAZK ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE DECALS The official AAZK decal is avail- able through the Memphis Zoologi- cal Park and Aquarium AAZK Chapter. The decal is a black and white reproduction of the AAZK rhino logo, suitable for any smooth, hard surface, especially a car window. Cost is $1.50 complete, prepaid. Make checks payable to the Memphis Chapter, AAZK, and send directly to Mike Maybry, Decal Project Coordinator, 1887 Crump Ave., Memphis, TN 38107. For a "Keepers Care" Button, send the coupon and 50<: for each button to Larry Sammarco, Lincoln Park Zoo 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614 Please send button(s) for 50c each. Name Address • City State Zip 207 We o^e lnd(ibt2.d to tkd AAZPA Um^l^ttdA ^on. alloLVtng a6 to ^2.pAyint pontU.oyu> oi tht6 6(ictlon {^xom thoJA. "Vo^ttioyn kvatlabtii" tl^tlng^. Tku> -Ui a. moYithty i>Q.fwtc,Q, to ul6, (^on. you. CURATOR /MAMMA LS . . .requires public contact and experience in management of mixed exhibits. Minimum of Bachelor's Degree in Zoology or closely related field and three years of supervisory experience required. Salary $1, 474/mo., plus benefits. Send resume to : Dale Stastny, Audu- bon Park and Zoological Gardens, PO Box 4327, New Orleans, LA 70178. AQUACULTURJST. . .experience required in culture and reproduction of wide variety of fish. B.S. degree not required but preferred. Opportunity for inhouse research. Pay rate $5 . 82-$6 . 09 /hr . , plus benefits and opportunity for advancement. Submit resume to: David Grow, Oklahoma City Zoo, 2101 N.E. 50th, Oklahoma City, OK 73111. ^ ANIMAL RTEPER. .. requires some experience in care and mainten- ance of wild animals; some college educational background des- irable. Salary $9,500, plus benefits. Send resume to: Tim Krause, Asst. Director, Jacksonville Zoological Park, 8605 Zoo ^ Road, Jacksonville, FL 32218. Q AQUARIST / AQUARIST TRAINEE. . .responsible for maintaining salt f and freshwater displays, which includes food preparation, waters analysis and systems testing, mortality and disease treatment. I Requires a B.S. or equivalent in Marine Science, scuba certi- ficate and excellent physical condition. Send resume and re- quest for application to: Personnel Dept., Sea World of Ohio, m 1100 Sea World Drive, Aurora, OH 44202. U k n o c k s ANIMAL KEEPERS ... two positions available (one in mammal section, one in bird section) ; responsible for husbandry and care of || variety of animals in major collection. Applications trust be filed by 30 August 1981. To obtain an application, mail resume|^ to Larry 0. Calvin, Director, Dallas Zoo, 621 East Clarendon Drive, Dallas, TX 75203. White Mice for feeders. iORATOR:^NIMALS, inc ' FARMEUSBURG, INDIANA Phone (812) 696-2245 208 AAZK MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Ckuck hQAz li n. not connected u)tth an animal coJie iacJJJXy $50.00 Contributing O^ganlzatton^ and IndlvldaoLs ONLY PLEASE I Too (jJonJT~ATea Special lnteAe6t6 I Mail this application and check or money order, payable to American I Association of Zoo Keepers, to: AAZK National Headquarters, Topeka Zoo, I 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606. I iMemberships include subscription to the Animal KeepeA6' Fo^am. I The membership card is good for free admission to many zoos and aquariums I in the U.S. and Canada. INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS Animal Keepe/U ' fo^uum publishes original papers and news items of interest to the Animal Keeping profession. Non-members are welcome to submit articles. Articles should be typed or hand-printed. All illustrations, graphs and tables should be clearly marked, in final form, and should fit in a page size of no more than 6" x 10" (15 cm. x 25h cm.). Literature used should be cited in the text and in final bibliography. Avoid footnotes. Include scientific names. Articles sent to Animal Keepe^i^' ¥o^m will be reviewed for publication. No commitment is made to the author, but an effort will be made to publish articles as soon as possible. Those longer than three pages will be separated into monthly installments at the discretion of the editorial staff. The editors reserve 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 envelope. Telephoned contributions on late-breaking news or last minute insertions are acceptable. However, phone-in contributions of long articles will not be accepted. The phone number is 913 272-5821. DEADLINE FOR EACH EDITION IS THE 20th OF THE PRECEDING MONTH. Antlcloj) pointed do not nece^2>a/Uly veiled the opinions oi the Animal Keepeu' VoKum edltonlal da^^ Oh. ol the Amehlcan A62>o elation o^ Zoo Keepers, Items in the publication may be reprinted. Credit to this publication is requested. Order reprints from the Editor. sH ot^ csi S- ?> C/5«> 0‘S J gjgcS § g S < o* G oP-9i. S ON y 0> € Dedicated to Professional Animal Care SEPTEMBER 1981 ANIMAL KEEPERS' FORUM, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 SEPTEMBER 1981 ISSN 0164-9531 VOLUME EIGHT NUMBER NINE Executive Editor: Mike Coker Managing Editor: Susan Chan Associate Editor: Connie Cloak Editorial Assistant: Diana Brey Kyimat foKum is a monthly journal published by the American Association of Zoo Keepers, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, Kansas 66606. Postmaster: Please send Form 3579 to address printed below. i AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOO KEEPERS NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, 635 GAGE BLVD., TOPEKA, KS 66606 Dolly Clcuck, AdmlyU^t/LOutivii SdcJi^XnAy BOARD OF DIRECTORS Pat Sammarco, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL 60614 Vn.2Jild(lvit Jill Grade, Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL 33612 Mike Maybry, Memphis Zoological Park, Memphis, TN 38112 Mike Coker, Topeka Zoo, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 Bernard Feldman, Miller Park Zoo, Bloomington IL 61701 COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Awards Committee Historical Committee IVLcfee. CA.oc.keA, VlakeA^on ?aAk loo LoAAy SammoAco, Lincoln PaA.k Zoo Nominations and Elections Committee Mike MaybAy, Me/nphl6 Zoo, TN PROJECT HEADS Coordinator for Chapter Affairs BeAnoAd Feldman, UllleA Zoo, IL Keeper Data Survey Mike MaybAy, Memphis Zoo, TN Legislative Information Kevin Comay, CRC, l/A Animal Data Transfer Form BeAnoAd Feldman, MllleA Zoo, IL Program Library & Ellen Leach, Woo( Coordinator for International Affairs KoAen SloAA lakeland, Midlothian, TX Infant Development Project MoAcla ClevengeA, Oklahoma City Zoo, OK Keepers' Accommodation List FAan TuAneA, ToAonto Zoo, OntoAlo Book Reviews Ellen Leach, Woodland VoAk Zoo, WA Information Center Hand VoAk Zoo, WA REGIONAL COORDINATORS Mike CoApenleA, Phoenix Zoo, AZ, VlAectoA Ed PobeAtM {fJalteA D. Stone Zoo ME, l/T, NH, MA, RL , CT vacancy NV vacancy PA, NJ, MD, DE Kevin Co may FAont Royal CRC DA, 0/1/ EveAett HoaaJJ) BlndeA PoAk Zoo MI vacancy IN, OH, KT LoAAy SammoAco Lincoln PoAk Zoo WJ, IL, MO, MW, lA, Diane Kauq RlveAbanfi6 Zoo TN, NC, SC vacancy FL, AL, GA Dee Nelson Audubon PoAk Zoo AR, MS, LA Candy Kao^I Rio GAande Zoo TX, NM,C0,0K,KS,NE,SD,ND LauAence Gledhlll Woodland PoAk Zoo WA, OR, ID, MT, WV, AK Jane Hayu>jeAgen S SacAomento Zoo Joan Stln6on Phoenix Zoo CA, ND, AZ, UT, HI Kathy Rettle MetAo ToAonto Zoo CANADA Tho, Kz.z.pQA.-aAZU>t io^ tkU SeptembeA 1918 Mo^na Holden. Homa Is a bnoJi feeepeA at tho. National Zoological Vank In inJashtngton, V.C. The dAowlng U oi a HammoA-hcaded iAutt bat {Hyp^lgnatkuus movistAouiS] . Many thanks to Mo Ana loA hen. anttstlc contntbuttonl Scoops and Scuttlebutt ATTENTION ALL FORMER REGIONAL COORDINATORS Your assistance is needed to locate missing R.C. files for the areas currently listed as vacant (see inside front cover) . If you are not currently an active R.C. and have regional files in your possession, please send them to: Mike Carpenter. Director of Regional Coordinators, c/o Phoenix Zoo, Box 5155, Phoenix, AZ 85010. TRAVELING MEMBER ENCOURAGE USE OF K.A.L. Recently received from Don Bloomer: "Recently I had the opportunity to visit zoos in several states. Many keepers that I contacted through the Keepers Accomodation List gracious- ly opened their homes to me. I highly recommend keepers traveling on vacation take advantage of this method of meeting your co-workers across the nation. It is a most enjoyable way to learn more about zookeeping. However, there are still some zoos which do not have a contact person listed on the Keeper Accomodation List. If you would like to be the contact person for your zoo; or if you are planning to visit other zoos, write to : Fran Turner, K.A.L. , Metro Toronto Zoo, Box 280, West Hill, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, MiE 4R5. FIRST CALL FOR LOUISVILLE SYMPOSIUM PAPERS Steve Taylor, Louisville Symposium Chairman, has issued a first call for papers to be presented at the meeting to be held November 6,7 & 8. Key- note speaker for the Symposium will be Dr. Diane Fossey, well-know for her work with the mountain gorillas of Virunga. Among the special work- shops planned are ones on Primates, Nutrition and Herpetology. The Symposium will be held entirely at the beautiful Louisville Zoo. For more details contact Steve at the Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevillian Way, Louisville, KY 40213. HAVE A PIECE OF YOUR ZOO AT NATIONAL AAZK HEADQUARTERS All members and Chapters are encouraged to send a poster or patch from your institution to be displayed at the National Headquarters in Topeka The staff of the Topeka office are here to serve the membership and would like to see each institution represented by some visual artifact. So send us your posters, patches, decals etc. and when in Topeka, stop by to see your National Headquarters. 209 PHOENIX ZOO ANNOUNCES REGENTS BIRTHS JooLYiiz Stinson On 18 April 1981 "Old Miss", a 21-year-old Spider Monkey (At^Zo^ ) , gave birth to her third offspring in our island colony. Mother and baby are doing fine. This is our fourth birth on the island in 18 months, each of our adult females is currently caring for an offspring. On 22 May 1981, our female Cotton Top Tamarin ISagZnui) oe.dipti6} gave birth to triplets. We had been forced to separate her from our male due to aggression 185 days previous. We were suprised at the birth as recorded gestation for the species is 140 days. We were also concerned about her raising them without the male to carry them. She proved a perfect mother though she was unable to nurse all three. After two days the weakest animal was pulled for hand rearing. We unfortunately lost this animal after 13 days when it became entangled in its heating pad. The two remaining offspring ( all three were males) are still with the mother and doing fine. Kristin Buhl, our senior bird keeper, is currently playing surrogate mother to a pair of Red-breasted Toucans {RampkcU>to-i> cUcoZo^UA) tossed from the nest at approximately one week of age. Both are strong and nearly feathered and Kristin is preparing a paper on their care and development. Finally we recently experienced the 113th birth to our herd of Arabian Oryx [0H.yx Znuco^yx] . We are anxiously awaiting the completion of our new oryx exhibit and breeding complex and additional oryx births. KojZ NakcuhZma JAPAN MONKEY CENTRE OFFSPRING ANNOUNCED 12 January 1981; twin (2.0) Red-bellied tamarins were born. They are the third and fourth babies for their parents, 16 January 1981; one Night-monkey was born (1.0). This baby is the fourth born to his parents. His oldest brother, born in May 1978, has gone to Yokohama. 10 March 1981: twin Pygmy marmosets were born (1.1) This birth came after a ten year interval with no offspring for the adult pair. 12 March 1981; one Goeldi’s monkey was born (0.1). The mother bore nine babies from Jan. 1975 to March 1981 and six of them have survived. The total number of Goeld’s monkeys in the collection is nine. 17 April 1981; twin Lesser galagos were born (0.2). They are the ninth and tenth babies for their parents. Their body weight was 15 grams each when they were 3 days old. One of them died on 30 April (13 days of age) Ten weeks later, the surviving baby’s weight was 90 grams. 6 May 1981; a tuf fed-capuchin was born (1.0) This is the second baby for his parents. SAN ANTONIO ZOO HAS 'BIRTHS' BOOM CZndy RogeA The San Antonio Zoo is pleased to announce the following births and hatch- ing from January 1981 to the present. A "first" in the Large Mammal Dept, was the birth of 0.1 Black Rhinocerous. Other noteable births include 210 Births and Hatchings , dontlna^d 0.1 Greys ’s zebra, 1.5 Topi, 1.0 Lesser Kudu, 0.1 Kirk’s Dik Dik, 0.1 Lady Grey’s Waterbuck, and 1.1 Dama Gazelle. In Small Mammals, a single litter of 0.0.4 Ruffed Lemurs is being raised by the female. This department has also produced 0.0.2 Grizzled Grey Tree Kangaroos, 2.0 Black-tailed Marmosets, 2.0 Snow Leopards, and 1.1 Rocky Mountain Goats. The Aquarium hatched 0.0.20 second-generation Dusky Pipefish. The Reptile Department’s African Spurred Tortoise produced and hatched a clutch of six eggs. "Firsts" include 0.0.4 Herman’s Tortoise and 3.2 Palestine Vipers. Other noteable births include 0.0.7 Cantil, 0.0.9 Leopard Geko, and 0.0.8 Ground Boa. The Bird Department has outshone all other departments with its number of births and "firsts". "Firsts" include 2.1 Galah, 0.0.7 Toco Toucan (2 clutches), 0.0.4 Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, 0.0.1 Reichenow’s Guinea, 0.0.3 Golden Conure, 0.0.3 White-fronted Amazon Parrot, 0.0.1 Crested Screamer (4 hatched; 3 DNS), 0.0.1 King Vulture, 0.0.1 Black-breaSted Button Quail and 2.0 Andean Condor. Additional important hatchings include 0.0.6 Green Wood Hoopoe, 0.0.2 Black-necked Swan, 0.0.2 Nene Goose, 0.0.4 Arrow Marked Babbler, 0.0.2 Sacred Ibis, 0.0.3 Palawn Peacock Pheasant, 0.0.4 Demoiselle Crane, 0.0.1 Inca Tern, 0.0.7 Lilca-breasted Roller, 0.0.3 Pygmy Kingfisher 0.0.3 Scarlet Ibis, 0.0.6 American Flamingo, 0.0.2 Lilford Crane, and 0.0.1 Stanley Crane. Coming Events AAZK NATIONAL CONFERENCE September 20-24 Fresno, California SECOND ANNUAL ELEPHANT WORKSHOP September 25 & 26 San Diego Zoo & San Diego Wild Animal Park The Workshop will feature a number of interesting papers and films on it? program as well as an opportunity to exchange ideas. Special accomoda- tion rates are being offered by the Best Western Seven Seas Motel, 411 Hotel Circle South, San Diego, CA (phone: (714) 291-1300. Rates are $30 for a single and $34 for a double. Reservations for this rate MUST be made directly to the motel (preferably by 9-11-81). Transpor- tation will be provided to and from the motel on request. Those needing transportation from the airport please provide flight number and arrival time. If you would like to present a paper please send subject and name. Copy of program will be mailed to all registrants. There is NO registra- tion fee and free lunches and Bar-B-Q are planned. Please direct all inquiries to Gerald (Red) Thomas, 3743 Brems, San Diego, CA 92115, phone number (714) 287-8232. 211 ELEPHANT SET ELEPHANT CARE AT SEDGWICK COUNTY ZOO By Kouty Lake and Steve Ktngmood Keeper, Sedgwtek County loo, {^teklta, KS As a direct result of the Elephant Symposium sponsored by the Tulsa Zoo in October 1980, the Sedgwick County Zoo has developed an improved ele- phant care program. From the notes and policies acquired at the s3rmposium, the Keepers and staff had two meetings to apply different ideas in order to fit our specific needs. As professional zookeepers, we are of course concerned with both the physical and mental needs of captive animals. Thus, we feel that this guideline is special by incorporating the ethics and philosophy of ele- phant management. Since this guideline was produced through the inter- action of many experienced people, we'd like to continue by receiving other zoo's policies or people's ideas regarding elephant management. Anyone interested in receiving this quideline may write the AAZK Chapter of the Sedgwick County Zoo which will sponsor the printing and postage. This paper is intended as a .guide to elephant care and not as hard and fast rules because conditions and/or situations often vary. 1. In order to clarify for all Zoo personnel any contact with our ele- phants, the following general policies will be adopted: A. Veldt Keepers & Staff All persons having necessary or probable contact with the elephants must be "authorized.” A person may become "authorized" by understand- ing this written guideline and its application through daily practice and experience. This should include the staff. Veldt, relief, and night keepers. For safety purposed, nobody should ever be in the exhibit with the elephants unless a second person is within sight, preferably another "authorized" person. All cleaning, feeding and training will be thus scheduled, but keeper judgement must be used in special instances. All "authorized" persons are subject to review and evaluation as deemed necessary. B. Other Zoo Personnel and Visitors All non-public areas of the Veldt are off limits to other Zoo person- nel unless permission is obtained from the staff and they are accom- panied by an "authorized" person. This is for their own safety, as they may not be aware of the great agility or potential danger of these animals. All visitors of Zoo personnel or educational groups must have permission from the staff to enter the non-public areas of the Veldt Building. An "authorized" person should be notified beforehand so that the area can be prepared and time made available. C. What should always be done 1. When entering the exhibit area or even when in probable contact, the ANKUS or elephant hook must always be carried. An "authorized" person should know the proper utilization of the hook, as it should be only an extension of one's dominance and is never used as a weapon. 212 Elephant Care at Sedgwick County Zoo, contlnuo^d 2. Always announce yourself loudly and clearly before approaching or entering the exhibit areas. Familiarity with the elephants’ normal dispositions is necessary in order to recognize unsafe situations that may arise due to excitement or stress. 3. Always move carefully and naturally when around the elephants. 4. Use the elephants’ names often to establish a bond. 5. Always let the elephant know exactly where you are and always know exactly where they are. Give them your undivided attention. Be alert and aware of every movement. D. What should never be done 1. Never enter the enclosure unless certain that the elephants are in a calm and manageable condition. 2. Never let the elephants displace or crowd you against the walls, bars, each other, etc. Instead, move them by vocal and hook com- mands . 3. Never leave tools, buckets, hoses, etc. unattended. Not only can the animals destroy these things quickly, but possibly ingest broken items or incident ially hit you with them. 4. Don’t let the elephants push or get visitors dirty. 5. Try to never let the public misunderstand the management or discipline of the elephants. II. Daily Routine: A. Schedules for cleaning and feeding During the Zoo’s public hours it is important for the elephants to be in their outside exhibit unless there is an unusual situation such as poor weather, excess mud, repair work in progress, etc. The mini- mum temperature the elephants can comfortably tolerate is approximate- ly 40^F, but when overcast and windy the minimum temperature at which the elephants can go out should be raised to account for these con- ditions. When it is raining or if the pen is excessively muddy, the elephants should remain indoors. Storms producing lightning and thunder may cause the elephants to become excited; thus, it is advis- able for the elephants to be inside and possibly even chained. Al- ways consult the curator or supervisor if in doubt. 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Elephants in: As soon as the building animals are checked, the indoor elephant enclosure cleaned (manure removed, floor wetted and scrubbed with disinfectant, floor rinsed and squeegied, water troughs cleaned and refilled) . It is important to hose and scrub the elephants dur- ing this time, especially the anal area, back, feet, or anywhere they might be soiled. When finished, the elephants should be unchained and fed. At this time the chains should be secured by passing them through the drain slots and attaching them to a secure object. The elephant exhibit should be spot-cleaned and the elephants fed at these approximate times: after morning break (10:30 a.m.), after lunch (1:00 p.m.), and before the afternoon break (3:00 p.m.) if the ele- phants have not been worked. The elephants should be worked about 2:30 p.m. (spot clean before and after). The elephants should be chain- ed and fed about 4:00-4:30 p.m. Before feeding, the exhibit should be spot cleaned. Elephants out: As soon as the building animals are checked, the elephants should be fed a flake of hay each. This should be done without entering their enclosure. Before morning break (10:00 a.m.) 213 Elephant Care at Sedgwick County Zoo, continued the elephants should be unchained and led outside. The outside ex- hibit should have been previously cleaned and supplied with hay. The elephants should be fed hay at these approximate times; once before lunch ( 11:00 - 12:00 noon), after lunch (1:00 p.m.), and before the afternoon break (3:00 p.m.). At 2:30 the elephants should be worked. They should be brought in for night around 5:00 p.m. At this time they are to be chained. Their inside exhibits should have been previously cleaned and their food placed out. 9:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. Elephants in: Follow the same procedure for cleaning, feeding, and chaining as on the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule. Whether in or out, it is preferable to work the elephants about 2:30 p.m. B. Chaining When chaining, the following schedule is to be practiced: right foot on even numbered days, left foot on odd numbered calendar days Upon the command "Chain," the elephants should always have their trunk and foot raised when chaining and unchaining. Two' extra sets of chains (one with brummel hooks at both ends) should be readily available should the ones being used break. C. Veterinary Inspections Regular visits should be made to the elephants by the veterinarian so that they become used to him and do not become overly excited during inspections. During these visits, it is suggested that the veterinarian check different parts of the elephants so that they become used to being handled this way. Ill, Obedience Training Sessions A. Who, When, and Where At least two "authorized" persons (with the possible addition of a trainee) should be present. Optimally, it should be possible to work the elephants at any time of the day; yet on a regular daily basis, training occurs at 2:30-3:30 p.m. Procedures vary slightly when working indoors as opposed to outdoors. B. Procedures and Commands Prior to entering the elephant exhibit, a brief discussion should cover the current status, any special plans, or extra work involv- ed for that day. Several seconds should be sufficient for the ele- phants to greet Individuals present for training whom they haven’t seen previously in the day. With the exception of always starting and stopping with the Line-up and Salute commands, the following commands are flexible: 1. Line-up: Both elephants stand side by side at the fixed spots. 2. Salute: Trunk, right front and left back legs raised in the air 3. Lead: Elephant should follow trainer, keeping pace with left leg by that person’s body. 4. Stop: Elephants come to a complete stop. 5. Steady: Used with different commands to hold animal in position with no movements at all. 6. Trunk: Trunk raised over head with tip touching head. 7. Foot: Each foot raised and kept up while toenails and bottom of pad checked or worked on. 8. Back: Elephant walks directly backward. 214 Elephant Care at Sedgwick County Zoo, aontinued 9. Down: Elephant lies down square. 10. Over: Elephant lies on side — either left or right. 11. Up: Elephant stands up and holds steady. 12. Come: Elephant goes to location of trainer. 13. No: Used to stop elephants' actions; vocal discipline. 14. Chain: Elephant raises trunk and foot to be chained and unchain- ed. All commands should be audible to the elephants, yet given with minimum of repetition. If a command is ineffective, it should be re- peated along with a sharp jab (avoid steady pressure) with the Ankus. Be sure the Ankus is used only on fleshy parts of the elephant's body, never around the eyes, trunk, or bony areas. C. Reward and Discipline When the elephants perform well in a training session, the trainer should lavish praise in a pleasant tone of voice, calling them by name, using "good girl" and/or "all right" plus affection by pet- ting. Usually they are given a flake of hay each, but this can be occasionally changed from alflafa hay to prarie hay or even omit- ted. When discipline is required, be sure to use judgement and discretion. Always try vocal discipline prior to physical discipline. If necessary, bring the elephants inside and/or chain them; never let them get away with being drastically disobedient. Try not to let the public observe discipline. If public is present, be sure to offer an explanation of the necessity of discipline. D. Talking With the Public Attempt to talk with the public about elephants and their manage- ment whenever possible. Be prepared on special days by having a third person talking and answering questions. Major points to discuss are the safety needs for keeper dominance, veterinarian inspections, the stimulus offered to captive intelligent animals, and the natural history of elephants. IV. Summary and Goals A. Future Expectations of our Elephants 1. To add more commands and procedures for improved control and to better care for the elephants. 2. To have the ability to chain the elephants at any time, inside or outside, front and/or back legs. 3. To modify certain behaviors (i.e. fecal throwing) 4. To conduct periodic measurements of their anatomy for health records . 5. To make the changes necessary as the elephants reach full growth and sexual maturity. B. Philosophy of Keeping Elephants - R.L. Blakely, Zoo Director Keeping animals in captivity is one of man's oldest activities. It predates writing, schools and other cultural activities. Today it serves some very definate and useful purposes. Zoos are far and away the most popular and heavily-attended cultural and public in- stitutions. With their large audiences and the appeal of their exhibits, they can do a significant job of educating the general public. Since their exhibits are living and can breed, the zoo can also keep alive rare species that have literally been crowded out of their native habitats by encroaching human populations. Other 215 Elephant Care at Sedgwick County Zoo, dowtiyuxo^d functions which zoos can perform are recreation and scientific studies. These later functions may be hard to measure, but they are also very important. When one accepts the responsibility of a captive animal, one is morally and ethically bound to care for that animal in a thoroughly professional manner. The term "care” implies more than merely feed- ing and cleaning up after the animal. It means taking complete care of all the animal's needs, physical and mental. Taking a few minutes every day to socialize with the animal, if he enjoys it, is just as important as providing the right food. Elephants need more attention than most wild animals. The reason for this is twofold: they are very intelligent and they are high- ly social animals. The social structure of the elephant herd is very similar, in many respects, to our social structure. Because of these needs and their great size and strength, elephants are treated differently than most zoo animals. The constant handling and close contact that should exist between keeper and elephant make for a close emotional bond that is equalled only by that of a person and their pet dog. The elephant keeper must not be blinded to the fact that, while the emotional bonds that he forms with his charges are important, an elephant "plays by different rules" than does the keeper. We do know that the keeper must become the herd leader and that this in- volves giving commands, discipline, affection, and acquiring the animal's trust. We must cater to what they need (not necessarily what they want), and we must always remember that, while similar to us in so many ways, they are governed by drives and impulses we, as yet, are only vaguely familiar with. Elephants are potentially dangerous. The necessity for close keeper- elephant contact increases this danger. Elephants are elephants and people are people. This does not mean that one is "better" than the other, but it does mean they are different. We probably will never have all the answers . The really good elephant keeper keeps both his eyes and his mind open. Publications Available The Inventory of Live Reptiles and Amphibians in North American Collections, Current January 1981, by Frank L. Slavens is now available. This book contains 200 pages of information compiled from 160 (70 public and 90 private) reptile and amphibian collections. Detailed information, such as the location and sex of all individual specimens of 1,244 forms of 927 species; a list of species bred during 1980; and miscellaneous breeding information (including dates of egg laying and hatching, types of incuba- tion material used, and temperatures); is included. The Inventory is available in paper cover for $15.50 (includes $.50 handling) or Plain brown hardcover for $22.50 (includes $1.00 handling). To order send name and complete mailing address , plus desired number and type of copies to Frank L. Slavens, P.O. Box 30744, Seattle, WA 98103. 216 Prim^t^Profiles PATTERNS OF EJACULATION IN MALE MACAQUES {Macaca mutcutXa, M. /lacUcutoi, M. ^a^CAAcuZa/vu) AND A REQUEST FOR FURTHER INFORMATION By CoAol Skivvy and G, MAtchM. Ve.paAtm^yvt Psychology UnlvQASlty ol CalLloH-Yila, Vav-is We have been studying single-mount (SME) and multiple-mount (MME) ejacu- latory patterns in three species of male macaques. An ejaculatory sequence was defined as a series of any number of mounts, on any female or females, complete with intromission, ending in ejaculation on the final mount. An ejaculatory sequence was defined as beginning after a prior ejaculation or after 20 minutes of observation on the focal male in which it did not associate with any females. Termination of the sequence was determined by observation of fresh semen on the male and/or female. Any ejaculatory sequence in which ejaculation occurred on the first mount was considered SME, all other ejaculatory sequences were counted as MME. In rhesus (n=5) , we observed 11 complete sequences, 91% of which were MME. In bonnets (n=8) , we observed 22 complete sequences, 91% of which were SME. In crabeaters (n=7) , we observed 17 complete sequences of which 51% were MME and 49% were SME. We found no invididual pattern preference in the crabeaters. That is, no individual was either exclusively SME or MME. All subjects were housed under identical conditions in multi-male, by species, in half-acre outdoor field cages at the California Primate Research Center. Our findings agree with those of other investigators for rhesus (Kaufman, 1965) and bonnets (Rahaman & Parthasarathy , 1969), but not for crabeaters (deBenedictis , 1973; Furuya, 1961-62; Kanagawa, Hafez, Nawar, and Jaszczaks, 1972). Crabeaters have been reported to be SME or MME, whereas our find- ings suggest they are both. Liontail macaques (M. Sllcnus) may also show both patterns (Lindburg, personal communication), but results on this species are still preliminary. It has also been reported in the literature that stumptail macaques (M. OActoldcs] are SME (Goldfoot, Slob, Scheffler, Robinson, Wieland & Cordds , 1975) ;Japanese macaques (M. {jUSCOXa] MME (Tokuda, 1961); pigtail macaques (M. n&nost/vina) 'MME (Tokuda, 1968); Celebes macaques (M. nlg^a) MME (Dixon, 1977); and barbary macaques (M. sylvanus) SME (Taub, 1980). Why should such closely related species show different patterns in sexual behavior? It may be that different social and ecological pressures are involved. We are interested in finding out what others know about ejacula- tory patterns in primates whether similar or different from what we have observed and reported. We have included a questionnaire pertaining to various social and ecological pressures that might be involved in the pat- tern preferences shown by these species. We would appreciate any infor- mation on this topic. Our data concerning the sexual behavior of the three species we studies are available on request. 217 Patterns Of Ejaculation In Male Macaques, continued References de Benedictis , T., 1973, The behavior of young primates during adult copulation. Observations of a McLCCLdCL Vta6 colony. American Anthropologist, 75(5), 1469-1484. Dixson, A.F., 1977, Behavior of the "Black Ape": of Celebes (Mo-caca nlgA,a} , Journal of Zoology, 182 , 63-84 Furuya, Y. , 196l-162b, On the ecological survey of the wild crab-eating monkeys of Malaya. Primates , ^(1), 75-76. Goldfoot, D.A. ; Slob, A.K. ; Scheffler, C.; Robinson, J.A.; Wieland, S.J. and Cords, J. , 1975, Multiple ejaculations during prolonged sexual tests and lack of resultant serum testosterone increases in male stump tail macaques (M. OActo^do^) . Archives of Sexual Behavior, j4, 547-560. Kanagawa, H. ; Hafez, E.S.E.; Nawar, N.M.; Jaszczak, S., 1972, Patterns of sexual behavior and anatomy of copulatory organs of macaques . Zeitshrift fur Tierpsychologie , 31 , 449-460. Kaufman, J.H. , 1965, A three-year study of mating behavior in a free- ranging band of rhesus monkeys. Ecology, 46(4), 500-511. Rahaman, H. ; Parthasarathy , M.D., 1969, Studies on the social behavior of bonnet monkeys. Primates , 10 , 149-162. Taub, D.M., 1980, Female choice and mating strategies among wild Barbary macaques [Macaca i>ytvanuU> L. ) . In D. Lindburg (ed.) The Macaques. New York; Von Nostrand Reinhold, 287-345. Tokuda, K. , 1961, A study on the sexual behavior in the Japanese monkey troop. Primates , _3(2) , 1-40. Tokuda, K. ; Simonds, R.C.; Jensen, G.D., 1968, Sexual behavior in a captive group of pigtailed monkeys. Primates, 9, 283-294. {Editor' 6 noto-t Thd amtko^ havd fidqmo^tdd tko^d IntoAd^tdd to c.om- ptdtd tko, ^ottoivtng que^tionncuAd, Vuo, to AKf 6pacd ttmttcitloyi6 , we havd dondMdd tkd qu^tlonnaOid [t.d. not Idavtng ^pacds ^oA question completion} . SkouZd you tike to poAtlclpatc In the ^uAvey, you may etthoA wAtte up youA oivn Ae6pon^e using the following questions OA you may Aecelve a copy o^ the {^ouA-page questlonnalAe by sending a stamped set{i-addAessed envelope to the AKE o^^lce, 635 Gage Blvd, , Topeka, KS 66606, Completed suAveys should be mailed tot C, Shively B G. Mitchell, Vept, ol Psychology, UnlveASlty o^ Call^oAnla, Vavls, Vavts, CA, 95616} 218 EJACULATORY PATTERNS QUESTIONNAIRE Your name, address. Animal Genus-Species, Where housed/institution and Housing Condition. Cite references when possible for the information you report. 1) Are these animals; single mount-to-ejaculation SME, multiple mount- to-ejaculation MME or both? If both, do you know what proportion? If both, does the ejaculatory pattern vary with rank? 2) Do you observe sexual competition for female^ between males? At what age does intermale competition begin? 3) Do all males housed together engage in sexual behavior? How many males are housed together? How many females are housed with these males? How old are the males? How old are the females? If some males do not engage in sexual behavior, are they subordinate animals? dominate animals? old animals? young animals? 4) How much interindividual tolerance does this species exhibit: with the same sex (female)? with the same sex (male)? between the sexes? On this question you may wish to compare your species with rhesus, who are described as having little intermale tolerance, medium interfemale tolerance and little male-female tolerance in contrast to stumptails which show a lot of interindividual tolerance between all age-sex groups throughout the year. 5) Do males, females or both initiate sexual contact? If both, do you know in what proportion? Do you observe consortship in this species? 6) How much sex skin coloration and swelling changes do you see associat- ed with the estrous cycle in the females of this species? (Again, you may want to use rhesus females as a comparison) Do you notice any other behavioral or physiological changes associated with estrous? please describe. 7) Do males investigate the female genital region by sniffing with the nose or touching with the finger? If so, how frequently? Every time they contact a female? More than 50% of their interactions? 50% of their interactions? Less than 50% of their interactions? Very in- frequently? 8) Are these animals subject to predation in the wild? by what predators? to what extent? (heavy predation, some predation, little predation?) 9) Does male social rank correlate with relative accessibility to estrous females? Please describe the relationship. How many different part- ners might you expect an individual female to have through an estrous cycle? 10) Does male age correlate with relative accessibility to estrous females? Please describe the relationship. 11) Does SME or MME pattern vary with age? Please describe. 12) Does this species live in unimale, age-graded or multimale groups in the wild? 13) In considering a continium with dominance and territoriality at the extreme opposite endpoints, what is the degree of territoriality in this species? (You may wish to use a scale with dominance = 1 and territoriality = 5. e.g. dominance territoriality 1 5 14) Is the dominance hierarchy in this species rigid and linear or more labile and prone to modification, by the formation of alliances? 15) Does the male attention to particular females increase at the time of ovulation? 219 OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS! By Km Kawata, Tcitsa Zoo In many zoos, keepers are no longer "blue collar" workers. More and more young people with college education are entering the keeper work force. Sooner or later, many of them will look for supervisory jobs or branch out to become specialists. More than likely they keep their eye on the AAZPA "position directory" column to see what is available. Toni Hill, an Oklahoma State University zoology student, compiled data on zoo job openings during fiscal years 1979 and 1980 (from July, 1979 to June 1981) from the AAZPA Newsletter (see table) . Excluded from the survey are non-zoo institutions such as research laboratories, nature centers and museums (with the exception of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum) ; also ex- cluded are zoo support organizations (such as a zoological society) admin- istrative positions. Animal (safari) parks are included in this survey. Zoos are classified into three categories; large, medium-sized and small, in accordance with Bob Truett's definition in Zoological Parks & Aquariums in the Americas 1970-71, AAZPA. Category A and Category B in Bob’s account are classified as large zoos. Category C as medium-sized. Category D as small, respectively. Aquaria and aquarium-related institutions are included in the table under a separate category due to their special nature of operations and requirements . It is not customary for a few zoos to advertize the job through AAZPA; in- stead, they use flyers or other means of recruitment. Some zoos tend to elevate staff members from within the organization or hire from the local community instead of importing professionals from outside, thus creating an "inbreeding" situation. In other words, the figures on the table do not necessarily indicate all zoo job openings in the U.S. and Canada. Generally speaking, however, it is probably safe to assume that staff positions of most mainstream zoos are advertized in the AAZPA Newsletter. I hope that the information in this article serves as a "yardstick" for job markets for those who are interested in career advancement. A total of 177 job openings were published in a two-year period ending June, 1981. Directors : Thirteen directorships and 4 associate/assistant directorships became available. College education was a requirement in 11 of these, in- cluding one master’s degree requirement. Needless to say a previous super- visory experience is a prerequisite for such a position. Of the assistant directorships one was for managing an animal collection, one for planning and development and two appeared to be for "generalists". Curators ; Nearly a quarter of all available jobs were curatorial, ranging from general curators to specialized curators. Almost all curatorial jobs concern management of animal collections. An interesting point is that there was not a specialized curator job opening advertized by a small zoo. On top of experience, college degrees in zoology, biology, animal science or related fields were a requirement, or at least preferred, in the vast majority of curatorial positions. Doctorate was mandatory in two large zoo curatorships ; another zoo indicated that an advanced degree was desirable. In other cases a bachelor’s degree appeared to be a requirement. 220 Opportunity Knocks!, continued As for specialized curatorships , mammal specialists were much in demand, I compared with other types of specialists, especially in large zoos. It ! certainly helps to be a specialist, although like any other business there is a "luck factor" that opens the door. I Keepers : As in curators nearly a quarter of all job openings were keeper- I ships. Another paralleling phenomenon was that mammal specialists were much in demand — 40 per cent of keeper job openings were mammal-related. ' Specfically, there seemed to be a shortage of qualified elephant /pacy- derm keeper/trainers . One particular zoo repeatedly advertized an ele- phant care position. Again, folks, it pays to be a specialist! Next to mammal keepers, reptile keeperships were on the most wanted list. Requirements for college education in keeper categories are not quite as steep as in curatorial jobs. Interestingly, however, in some specialized areas, a degree may be preferred. For example, in three out of six reptile keeper jobs, college education was either required or preferred, a clear contrast to the requirements for mammal keeperships (with the exception of primate keepers — two zoos indicated that a college degree was either required or preferred for primate keeper applicants.) Other animal care jobs; Head/senior keeperships and foreman/supervisor positions come between curators and keepers in terms of hierarchy. So- ! called anim.al tachnician is often a vague term and it is difficult to determine exactly what the job consists of. At times it is a synonym for a veterinary assistant; in some cases it is a glorified title for ! a keeper. At any rate, in this "technician" category, some type of college I degree was a requirement in three out of four cases. Veterinarians ; With more zoos hiring full-time staff veterinarians, there was a demand for experienced zoo veterinarians during the study period, especially by larger zoos. I ! Educators : Another rapidly growing area in today's zoos is education, i Roughly ten per cent of job openings during the period consisted of 1 educators -with varied titles. Including curator, coordinator, supervisor ( and assistant. In most cases a college degree was required, including master’s (2) and "graduate" (1). Aquarium jobs; A total of 24 jobs were advertized by nine institutions; four were a part of a "parent" zoo; three were traditional aquaria in- dependent from a zoo while the rest (2) were commercialized oceanariums. The 24 jobs included: supervisor/curator (12); keeper/handler (4); exhibit specialist (2); educator, aviculturist , mammalogist, lab technician, mem- bership, and' filtration engineer (one each). I might add at this point that 11 out of 24 jobs were from a new East Coast aquarium which should I be open by the time this article is published. In other words, aquarium jobs may not become available quite as frequently during an "average" two-year period. Other jobs: These non-animal related staff positions in various zoos consisted of: Visitor services and public relations (two each); business manager, concession manager, development manager, graphics specialist, planning/construction and registrar (one each). 221 Other Animal Care Jobs Head/Senior Keeper Foreman/Superv. O ?d W 'tJ cl W S fD H- H 3 1-1 to H» i-i H* OP fD g 1 !-■ rt G. 3 C 'Td 3 I G H* ffl to I-* C 03 i 03 opowsro ixiwopdtPS^ci ro H* to o fo X m G* 3* "G 3 O G 3 ^ ^ i H* 3* 3 cn H* OP 3 O O 00 v£3 O U3 1 U3 O hO N3 O 1 M K) 1-1 I-* VO GOOJS3 00(— GN)K> OW O .O O O O G O OOQO OOOOOO OOV O 00 O •l>' VO M N3 OVN3 (jJ t*3 O N3 222 Assist/Assoc. Director BOVID CROSS-SPECIES EMBRYO IMPLANTATION By Mac Hdlnty^z, Zoofeccpc^ Nm Sank Zoological Vank A unique project conducted by Dr. Janet Stover, one of the veterinarians at the New York Zoological Park, has just been concluded yielding invalu- able knowledge into the little known field of cross-species embryo im- plantation. Embryos from Gaur (Bo4 GauJiOJ>] , a wild bovid native to Burma, India and Malaysia, were implanted into domestic Holstein cattle with hopes of assuring the future of this endangered species. About ten months ago a female Gaur was hormonally induced to "super ovu- late" thus producing more eggs than would be produced in a normal repro- ductive cycle. The female was then allowed the breed naturally with one of the herd bulls at the Park. Several days later, a team led by Dr. James Evans flushed five embryos from the female Gaur. Four of these embryos were implanted in surrogate Holstein cows at an analogous stage of their reproductive cycles. The remaining embryos were frozen to be used at a later date if this experiment proved unsuccessful. Of the four implanted embryos, one failed to take and another was spon- taneously aborted a short time later. On 27 July, the third of the Bronx Zoo's surrogate mothers passed a stillborn baby Gaur. By appearance, it was obviously a full-term Gaur, except for the fact that it was half the size of a normal baby Gaur. Upon preliminary examination it was found that the non-pregnant horn of the Holstein's uterus was not in the same reproductive condition as found in the other normal bovid pregnancies. At this time no other explanation for this occurance could be cited. On 11 August, two days after labor was induced, a healthy male Gaur was born to a surrogate Holstein at the New York Zoological Park. The calf weighed 73 pounds (about 33 kilograms) and started nursing shortly there- after. This surrogate method is not a new one. This process has already been successful with domestic sheep and goats carrying wild sheep and goat embryos to birth. This is, however, the first of its kind with the bovid species. We here at the New York Zoological Park are very proud of Dr. Stover and her accomplishments in the preservation of natural populations that are threatened with extinction. & Publications Available What's For Lunch: Animal Feeding At The Zoo, a 128-page story of how the animals are fed at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., is now available from the publisher. The author, Sally Tongren, takes the reader behind the scenes as she explains the part that the growing science of animal nutrition plays in the preservation of many species. Lunch is available in hardcover for $12.95 and paperback for $8.95. The book in- cludes 60 B/W full-page animal portraits. To cider send your name and complete mailing address along with number and type of copies desired to GMG Publishing, 25W43 Street, New York, N.Y. 10036. Make checks payable to the publisher. 223 THE STRUGGLE SURVIVAL TRAPPING OF CALIFORNIA CONDORS TO BEGIN THIS MONTH G. Ray Arnett, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, has announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will begin trapping California condors this month as the start of a "last ditch" captive breeding and research program designed to save the endangered bird. Arnett said that initially only two condors will be captured and fitted with radio transmitters. Each will be released and then carefully monitored before permission is sought from the California Fish and Game Commission to capture additional condors . The Commission unanimously approved the State permit on 7 August, authorizing the capture and handling this season of a maximum of nine condors for captive breeding, radio telemetry, and other research purposes. Three of these birds will be kept in captivity as breeding stock, including one as a mate for "Topa-topa", the only condor presently in captivity . "We are pleased with the Commission’s vote of confidence," Arnett said. "That confidence is well placed in the Fish and Wildlife Service, with its proven record of success in breed- ing endangered species in captivity. While no one can guaran- tee that our efforts with the condor will succeed, I am con- vinced that the program is biologically imperative. Time is running out for the California condor." Fewer than 30 of the giant vultures are thought to remain in the rugged mountainous terrain some 70 miles north of Los Angeles. With a nine-foot wingspan, the condor is one of the country’s largest birds and also one of the slowest to repro- duce in the wild, laying only one egg every two years. Experts estimate the condor population has declined steadily by about 2.5 birds a year since 1966. "Unless this trend is reversed," Arnett said, "the condor could become extinct within the next decade and could be functionally extinct before then. We will continue to work closely and cooperatively with California wildlife officials and all those who are concerned with saving this majestic bird for future generations." — V2.pa/iXm Twiss, Executive Director of the Marine Mammal Commission, felt the pro- I posed amendments "will enhance the operation of the MMPA." j H.R. 4084 was referred to the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, i CoVL62AVCitlon R^po/U I National {^iZcLU.{,2, Vdd^xatloyi FINAL NOAA RULING ON SEIZURE, FORFEITURE AND DISPOSAL PROCEDURES I The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Dept, of Commerce, has revised a number of laws enforced by NOAA with regards to the seizure, forfeiture and disposal -of fish, wildlife and other property involved in violations of law. This revision of NOAA's forfeiture regulations clarifies existing procedures and establishes uniform procedures for disposal of for- feited and abandoned items seized. This rule does not allow for the sale of marine mammal or endangered species items, since it is the intent of the statutes governing them to eliminate trade in such items. i VQ,dQA.(jJi RQ.QiMt2A 227 Chapter The Topeka Zoo AAZK Chapter; July was a busy month for the Topeka Chapter. They have just finished ratifying their new consitution and by-laws and are preparing for annual elections. Their second Dogwash, while not as successful as last years, made some money and local publicity. Topeka Zoo's nev7 Explorer Post co- operated with the Chapter on this event. Topeka Chapter provided funds to help sponsor a visit from Dr. Terry Maple of Audubon Park Zoo. Dr. Maple has set up a behavorial observation pro- ject staffed with volunteers includ- ing some AAZK members, to study changes in the behavior of the zoo's orangs and gorillas as they are introduced to the new Discovering Apes exhibit. The newly elected officers for the Toledo AAZK Chapter are ; President Michael Dilley Vice-Pres Donald Redfox Sec/Tres Willis Whittaker News The monthly program series continues Topeka Keepers Alice Miser and Kitty Shipman, both graduates of Santa Fe Teaching Zoo, presented a slide show on the Teaching Zoo in May. Local environmentalist Brad May gave a talk Secretary on Urban Ecology in June, highlighting ecological concerns in the immediate environment . The newly elected officers of the Zoo of Arkansas AAZK Chapter are: President. . Vice-Pres . . ..Kelli F. Westbrook ..Steven Rogers . .Marie Schmude ..David G. Westbrook The project they are most actively involved in in their Raptor Re- The post-post-conference party spon- kabilitation Program. They have sored by the Chapter after the Kansas relatively good success with City Central AAZPA conference in May ^hey have received, is already ancient history. Six zoos ^^ast year they were able to re- were represented at the party, much lease all but two eagles they beer and food consumed, and a good time had by all I The newly elected officers for the Topeka Zoo Chapter are: President.... Marlena Cooper Vice-Pres Kitty Shipman Secretary Alice Miser Treasurer ... .John Brannian Welcome to AAZK I The newly formed Dallas Zoo Chapter recently elected the following officers: received (approximately 10) . They have also released all the re- leasable birds of prey that had been kept at the Zoo. They now have only non-releasable birds in their flight pen. They are also trying to raise money to purchase a van to use as a Zoomobile. They are also putting together a Zoo Guide Book and their newsletter is currently on HOLD. Good luck to the Zoo of Arkansas AAZK in Little Rock.' President ... .W. E. Lamereaux III Vice-Pres .... James Walker Sec/Tres Beth Lasher Communications Coordinator .. .J.W. Albert 228 ^ ^ ft ft ■ BqaviI^ FMman CooA,cUncUo^ ^oA. CkaptoA AUoaaa The Central Florida Chapter of AAZK which includes Busch Gardens , Central Florida Zoo, Circus World, Cypress Gardens, Discovery Island at Disney World and Sea World, recently held elections for officers. They are : President. . . .Rick Rubinstein Sea World Vice-Pres . . . . Alyce Orr Central Florida Zoo Secretary ... .Joe Blanc Cypress Gardens Treasurer ... .Greg Liland Busch Gardens They had 36 members attend the election meeting. The group watched a film on veterinarian medicine plus Dr. Tim Swango, resident vet for Cypress Gardens, gave a lecture on the role of the Keeper in helping the vet keep the animals in good shape. Jill Grade of Busch Gardens and VP for AAZK National, commented that this type of Chapter is unique insofar as most chapters are just one institution where they have six institutions which form the one chapter. They voted to have a meeting every eight weeks at each of the member institutions which should give them not only a great deal of variety in their meeting place, but will give the members a chance to see how the other parks are run. News The South Florida AAZK Chapter is really on the move I At their May meeting there were twenty Chapter members driving up from Miami to the Dreher Park. They were given a tour of the Zoo where all the improvements are done in house. Later on they went to the Pine Jog Environmental Center for a lecture on the Florida ecosystem by Bob Bergen. Bob allowed them to use his tape recorder so they were able to get a copy of his talk for their speaker library. Hopefully they will soon be able to afford their own recorder after a successful fundraiser. Planned for the future is a canoe trip down the Loxahatches River, one of Florida's last natural rivers. Many of the members are requesting a variety of field trips for the future. Their June meeting started with Barbara Roths tein who has her doctorate in animal behavior and previously observed the Lemur troop at Crandon Zoo as part of her study. Her talk not only bene- fitted the primate keepers, but the general membership as well. They discussed the possibility of spon- soring their first "Nite Walk" the beginning of August. They had to cancel their "Dog Wash" until Labor Day because of the water shortage. Some time back one of the members invited all the keepers over for a spaghetti dinner where they were able to stir up some Chapter ideas for the future. Keep up the super good work South Florida AAZK — you are an inspiration to all of us I 229 THE 23rd ANNUAL WESTERN REGIONAL AAZPA WORKSHOP AS SEEN BY A KEEPER By Joaul^ StZvUiOn, KenpoA ll Pkonyilx Zoo The weekend of April 5-7 I had the pleasure of attending the 23rd annual western regional workshop for the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums hosted by the Hogle Zoological Garden and the Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City, Utah. The weather was beautiful helping to contribute to a wonderful time for all those in attendance. Held at the Ramada Inn, the workshop featured papers covering everything from "Measuring Your Worth" presented by Christopher Lee of Animal People Environments to "Parvo Virus in Sea Lions" presented by Ross Anderson of the Hogle Zoo. Ralph Crane, Assis- tant Director of the Los Angeles Zoo showed us how to make ends meet and "make things look natural" using telephone poles, old concrete and railroad ties . I was impressed by the "Educational Programs at Hogle Zoological Gardens and Plans for Today" as presented by Rich Hendron, education coordinator and Jo Staddard, a docent from Hogle. My only disappointment was in the poor turn-out by keepers and that no papers were presented by keepers. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage my fellow keepers to demonstrate their interest and make an effort to experience a conference, be it the annual AAZPA workshops or the annual conferences of the AAZK. You as a keeper are the most impor- tant factor in your animals’ care. There are new discoveries being made all the time toward better animal care and one of the best places to dis- cover these is at a conference where you have an opportunity to meet the people involved and answer many of your own questions. I guarantee you will find it a very enjoyable experience. Michael Carpenter gave a report on the current happenings in AAZK which was met with interest and enthusiam. I would like to thank Hogel’s Direc- tor LeMar Farnsworth for arranging our speaking time, handling our mail and making table space for our display. In spite of the poor representa- tion by keepers at the conference itself, we had a turn-out of approximate- ly 20 people for our AAZK interest meeting held after a delicious barbecue on the zoo grounds . We gained several new members . In addition to the fourteen papers presented, the conference included tours of the Tracy Aviary, Hogle Zoological Garden and the reptile facility at Veterans Hospital. The 1982 AAZPA Western Regional Workshop will be held at the Okanagen Game Farm, British Columbia and the 1982 National Conference will be held here in Phoenix at the Phoenix Zoo. I hope to see a large representation of keepers at that event. Keeper’s Alert The data collection forms for the "Infant Development" project are now available to all keepers interested in participating in the project. This project, aimed at collecting data on parent-reared animals, was described in detail in the January 1981 AKF. Anyone interested in receiv- ing the data forms and instructions should contact: Marcia Clevenger, 5436 N.E. Grand Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73111. 230 AAZK T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE AAZK T-shirts with the official emblem are now available. The price is $5.49 plus $1.00 for shipping and handling. Sizes Small, Medium and Large are available in tan, red, lemon yellow and royal blue. Size Extra- Large is available in tan and royal blue only. To order, please complete the coupon below and send with a check or money order to: Carleton Bailie, c/o Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave., Akron, OH 44307. 1 Please send T-shirt (s) , at $5.49 plus $1.00 shipping and handling. Size: ^small medium large ^extra-large Colors : ^Tan Red __ Lemon yellow Royal blue Name: Address : City: State: Zip: AAZK ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE Decals : The official AAZK decal is Buttons : For a "Keepers Care" available through the Memphis Zoo Button, send the coupon and 50c Chapter. The decal is a black and to: Larry Sammarco, Lincoln Park white reproduction of the AAZK rhino Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, logo, suitable for any smooth, hard IL 60614. surface, especially a car window. Cost is $1.50 complete, prepaid. Make checks payable to the Memphis Chapter, AAZK and send directly to Mike Maybry, Decal Project Coordina tor, 1887 Crump Ave., Memphis, TN 38107. h'ns And Charms: Enameled three- luarter inch pins and charms with ;he official AAZK logo are now ivailable. They are done in the same colors as the AAZK Patch and the charms are suitable for lecklaces (you provide the chain) . Che price per pin or charm is $3.00 i^hich includes postage. To order send your name, complete mailing address, number of pins or charms iesired to : Patrice Carbaugh, 5456 Abbott Place, Los Angeles, CA 90042. Make check or money order payable to Patrice Carbaugh. 231 Please send button(s) for 50<: each. Name : Address : City State Zip We oAe Inde^btiid to tka AAZPA Hm^hittoA Ion. (MoMtng 06 to n.2.pHlYit po^itlom oi tkt6 6(L(ittoYi in.om thoAJi "?o^tttovu> koo^Jjabtod' lifting. Tku> Aji a. monthly ^OAotoo, to o6, you.. CURATOR /MAMMALS. ♦ .responsible for management of diverse mammal collection. Considerable knowledge in husbandry, captive behavior and personnel super- vision. Practical experience needed in long-term management programs. Minimum of 5 years’ experience in zoological park or related facility (three years in curatorial or supervisory capacity). B.S. in Zoology or related field. Salary commensurate with experience ($18,900-$24,500) . Send resume to : Bill Zeigler, Metrozoo, 12400 S.W. 152 Street, Miami, FL 33177. CURATOR/BIRVS , . .requires extensive experience in management of captive birds and their exhibition. Individual must possess cura- torial experience and proven supervisory ability. Position includes designing and implementing captive propagation pro- grams and developing new exhibits. Requires graduation from accredited four year college or university with major course work in the required field of specialization and two years’ related experience; or any equivalent combination of educa- tion and experience. Salary $1, 511-$2, 044/mo. , plus benefits Apply by 16 October 1981 to: Earl Unell, Chief Examiner, Personnel Dept., 414 East 12th St., 12th Floor City Hall, Kansas City, MO 64108. BIRV KEEPER. . . full-time position, requiring prior experience with diversified avicultural collection. Prefer zoological or related field degree; experience may be considered as substitute for academic qualifications. Modest salary plus benefits. Send resume to: Carl F. Watson, Asst. Zoo Direc- tor, Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo, P.O^ Box 123, Monroe, LA 71201. O P P 0 r t u n 1 t y k n o c k s EVUCATION SUPERI/ISOR. . .seeking individual to head education department. Responsibilities include supervision and operation of zoo publications and programs. Applicants must possess a minimum of Bache- lor’s Degree in Education or Biology. Management, zoo or similar experi- ence and teaching background also highly desirable. Salary $12,000 plus benefits. Send brief resume and letter describing qualifications to: Director, Binder Park Zoo, 7500 Division Drive, Battle Creek, MI 49017. MOVING? PLEASE SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO Dolly Clark, Administrative Secretary American Association of Zookeepers National Headquarters, 635 Gage Blvd. Topeka, KS 66606 232 AAZK MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION iName^ Cfiedfe li KtYimal [ ] I I Address I $20.00 Professional I Vixlt-tlmz Kdo^pun^ oyity I and JntQAnatyional. MembeAA I $15.00 Affiliate 1 OtkoA i>tall and voZantQ,2/u> $10.00 Associate JndlvlduuoJU not conmcXad wtth an antmal coAe ^acULcty $50.00 Contributing OKganlzattoyiS and lndtvldaati> I U.S CURRENCY ONLY PLEASE \VtA.' foAum. I The membership card is good for free admission to many zoos and aquariums I in the U.S. and Canada . INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS AntmaZ Ke.e,peA^’ FoA.UJn publishes original papers and news items of interest to the Animal Keeping profession. Non-members are welcome to submit articles. Articles should be typed or hand-printed. All illustrations, graphs and tables should be clearly marked, in final form, and should fit in a page size of no more than 6" x 10" (15 cm. x 25h cm.). Literature used should be cited in the text and in final bibliography. Avoid footnotes. Include scientific names. Articles sent to AntmoZ Ke.2.peA6' VoAum will be reviewed for publication. No commitment is made to the author, but an effort will be made to publish articles as soon as possible. Those longer than three pages will be separated into monthly installments at the discretion of the editorial staff. The editors reserve 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 envelope. Telephoned contributions on late-breaking news or last minute insertions are acceptable. However, phone-in contributions of long articles will not be accepted. The phone number is 913 272-5821. DEADLINE FOR EACH EDITION IS THE 20th OF THE PRECEDING MONTH. AAttaZu^ pnlvitdd do not mcK^^oAily A2.iZ2.ct th2. optntoyu oi tk2. AntmaZ K^ep 2A6 ’ Vo Aim 2.dUtoAlaZ 6taii oA oi th2. Am2At(ian Aii^octatlon oi Zoo Items in the publication may be reprinted. Credit to this publication is requested. Order reprints from the Editor. :s: p: CD rt ^• p" H* H- H- O C a !rj CTQ CD p: rt M O P N IS2 -- O O O O O M ^ o o ir* CTQ H« cr O CD PJ M hd P3 ND O o o 00 Animal Keepers' Forum ^dicated to Professional Animal Care OCTOBER 1981 ANIMAL KEEPERS' FORUM, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 OCTOBER 1981 ISSN 0164-9531 VOLUME EIGHT NUMBER TEN Executive Editor: Mike Coker Managing Editor: Susan Chan Associate Editor: Connie Cloak Editorial Assistant: Diana Brey KyumoZ Ke2.pCA6 ' VoKum is a monthly journal published by the American Association of Zoo Keepers, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, Kansas 66606. Postmaster; Please send Form 3579 to address printed below. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOO KEEPERS > I NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, 635 GAGE BLVD., TOPEKA, KS 66606 Vo tty CtoA-k, kdmlvuJitKoutivQ, S2,cAQ,taxy j BOARD OF DIRECTORS Pat Sammarco, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL 60614 VH.QJitd not changed du/itng the preceding 12 months . EXTENT AND NATURE OF CIRCULATION Average No. Copies Each Issue during Preceding 12 months Actual No. Copies of Single issue Published nearest to Filing Date Total Number 1340 1325 Copies Printed Mall Subscriptions 1190 1196 Copies not Distributed 90 70 (Office use, left-over) TOTAL 1340 1325 I certlly that the ^statements made by me above are correct and complete. Signature and Title of Editor 246 ALL YOU NEED IS Zu/Rieem. HIGH IN PAIATABILITY • OPTIMUM NUTRITION • SIMPLE PORTION CONTROL • ECONOMICAL PERFORMANCE PROVEN DIETS-THE SUPERIOR WAY TO FEED EXOTIC ANIMALS •Primate Canned •Primate Dry •Feline Frozen i •Feline Frozen II •Feline Canned •Feline instant •Birds of Prey •Marmoset Canned •Omnivore •Ratite •Poiar Bear Dry For More Information, Write, Wire or Call Hil^ 247 1981 AKF Journalism Award Winners Best Mammal Article; "Observation of the Estros Cycle of the African Lion" Anm Moody Sckmldt and Leo^tce A. Nadal Washington PoAk Zoo, PoAtland OR Best Bird Article: "Double-Wattled Cassowaries" Ca/it F, Watson, Louisiana PuAchase loo MonAoe, LA Best Herpetology Article: "Fresno's Unique New Reptile Facility" MoJiy L, Swanson, Raiding Pcutk loo fAesno, CA Best Narrative Article: "The Greatest Show On Earth" Jay Haight, Washington PoAk loo PoAttand, OR Best Vet Tech Article; "Rapid Serum Tests for Adequate Transfer of Maternal Antibodies in Neonate Hoofed Stock" KathoAlm O'RouAke., Boston lootoglaat Sodo-ty Boston, MA Best Art Cover Award: April 1981 Issue of Animal Keepers * Forum VeI{^I MessIngoA, Sedgwick County Zoo Wichita, KS AAZK Publications Available The following AAZK Publications are available for sale for a limited time only: AAZK Conference Proceedings (1980) Montgomery Regularly $4.00^ now $2.00 AAZK Conference Proceedings (1974) Chicago (limited supply) Now $1.00 Animal Keepers' Forum 1977, 1978 (78 sets available) 1977 (set of 12 issues) $5*00 1978 (set of 12 issues) $7.50 Animal Keepers' Forum, indivdual issues for 1979, 1980, 1981 are available from the AKF Editorial Office for $1,00 each. A 12 issue set for these years costs $8.50 for 1979; $9.50 for 1980; and $10.50 for 1981. 1981 sets will be available after 1 Jan. 1982. AAZK 1980-81 Membership Directories $3.00 for members $6.00 for non-members 248 Legislative News mpltdd bi^ KevZn Conway ARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT REAUTHORIZED I early April of this year, both the House Subcommittee on Fisheries, ildlife Conservation and the Environment and the Senate Commerce Com- ittee held hearings concerning the reauthorization of the Marine Mammal rotection Act . There appeared to be widespread agreement that the Act aeded changes to rectify several inequities before being reauthorized. ie deadline for reauthorization was 30 September 1981. The major groups aeking to change portions of the Act were the American tuna industry, rie State of Alaska and certain elements of the fur industry. ince all reauthorization bills had to be reported out of their congres- Lonal committees by 15 May, the first round of activity concerned the angth of the reauthorization period. Both committees determined, through agotiations with the interested parties, that consensus on amendments Duld not be reached prior to the 15 May deadline. Therefore, the Senate ommerce Committee reported out a two-year reauthorization bill with the roviso that the bill be held on the Senate calendar until 31 July. The ommittee directed all involved groups to make substantial progress dur- ig this interim toward resolving their differences. If, in the Commit- ae's judgement, such progress was not made by the end of July, they Duld change the bill on the Senate floor to a one-year reauthorization. Cl the House of Representatives, the full Merchant Marine and Fisheries ommittee reported out a one-year reauthorization bill with a promise rom Congressman John Breaux, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Fisher- as. Wildlife Conservation and the Environment to hold full oversight aarlngs during the summer to air all problems regarding the present Act. II interested parties wanted to avoid reauthorization for only one year; cid much substantial progress was made during late May and June toward rafting amendments which would be acceptable to industry, environmental roups and congressional committees. a 9 July, Congressman Breaux introduced a bill, H.R. 4084, ’"The Marine ammal Protection Act Amendments.” Hearings were held on 13 July, with ark-up sessions following closely. The bill was reported out of the all Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, with amendments, before the Duse recessed for the August break. !ie bill as reported returns the authorization level from a one-year to I three-year authorization. One major provision allows the tuna indus- :y to satisfy the "zero mortality" goal for incidental take of porpoise continuing to use the "best marine mammal safety techniques and equip- jmt that are economically and technologically practicable." Tuna Ishermen will, of course, still be required to receive permits from the icretary of Commerce, who will set acceptable quota levels. e other major provisions of Breaux’s bill pertain to a process being rked out whereby the states (particularly the State of Alaska) can fsume management of marine mammal populations. Under the bill, permits ir the taking of marine mammals for scientific research or public dis- ay purposes will continue to be issued at the federalllevel. However, 249 Legislative News , (iontlnu.e,d a state which has management authority over a certain species could veto such a permit if it was determined to be inconsistent with that state’s management plan. AAZPA HmhtoXtQJi SeptmbeA 1981 FMS PROPOSES NEW RULE ON AFRICAN ELEPHANT The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) , Dept, of the Interior 5 has proposed a new rule concerning the African elephant and its products. The new proposal focuses the efforts of the FWS on importation of ivory and ivory products and brings U.S. regulations more into line with the international system agreed to by the Parties to the Convention on Inter- national Trade in Endangered ..Species (CITES) at the 1981 meeting. The proposed rule will completely replace the existing special rule on African elephants. Permits for interstate commerce in African elephants and their products will no longer be required. Live elephants may be imported from any country (including non-CITES countries) as long as they have the proper documentation as required in the rules implement- ing CITES. Imports of raw ivory will be accepted only if they originated in a CITES Party country and are being imported from a CITES Party. Documentation must clearly show the country of origin, and the ivory must be marked. To provide for an adjustment period for the new rules, the FWS will allow imports of unmarked ivory for a period of one year, provided the legality of the export from the CITES country of origin can be shown and the ivory is marked prior to final entry for consumption or re-export. Imports of worked ivory and all other elephant products will be accepted only from CITES Parties with the appropriate documentation. Those who are in the business of importing or exporting raw ivory must also be licenses by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Exports of live elephants or elephant products, including ivory, will not be covered by this pro- posal. L, SchJioe.deJL AAZPA HomloXtoJi SdptmboA 1981 THE LAW IN SWEDEN On 14 December 1978, the new Swedish Animal Protection Act came into being to protect domestic and other animals kept in captivity. The general provisions include broad requirements for adequate housing and nutrition, good working and transport conditions, and proper slaughter practices. Docking of ears and tails is either totally prohibited, as in the case of ear-docking in dogs, or permitted under special circum- stances, e.g. to cure disease. Permission to use animals in biomedical research must be obtained from the Board of Agriculture. IwtoAnatloYiat JouAviat the. Study ol AntmaZ ?/iobtm6 1981 250 Alternatives A SMALL PLANT CAN HELP SAVE THE LEVITHAN A plant that produces a liquid wax with properities unique to the plant kingdom. A plant that provides, in the words of the Australian govern- ment’s InqiLViy Iwto and Wka£A.ng, "a suitable substitute for sperm- whale oil in almost all applications." A plant that thrives in near- rainless desert where other plants would withe.r and die. The name of this miracle plant? Jojoba — • S-lmmoncUiXa ckln€,i^6-ly6 . Demand for the precious oil — unlike sperm oil it is so pure it needs virtually no refining — is growing apace and more and more desert countr- ies are becoming producers. The world’s richest jojoba project is in Costa Rica. There the government-owned company Rancko San Ra^aeX SA, is busy transforming several thousand acres of arid desert into a flourish- ing and highly lucrative plantation. The jojoba’s roots go deep to tap the ground water 30 feet down, and once the bushes have reached maturity (3-5 years) every acre is expected to yield an annual profit of $12,000. Another country interested in jojoba is Argentina. Animal Wlefare In- stitute has heard from Luis Carpinineti who works for the country’s Forest Institute Research Department (IFONA) . He says jojoba is being experimentally cultivated in various parts of Argentina. He points out some of its incidental virtues. It grows happily in salty soil, makes appetizing forage for wildlife and livestock, and "is ideal for those who like green salads — and is also good for people who have high blood pressure. " All this from just one little nut treel Jn{^onmatlon R2.pon.t Animal Wel^oAe In^tltuLto. SummeA 1981, \]ol. 10, No. 2 Ho ho ba yu ga (Jojoba oil is) * id? i'' Kujira inochino ^ (Of whale’s life) ^ m Suku i garni (The Savior) Courtesy of Thontas K. Mima, Miwa Jojoba Laboratories Po^tSC-Alpt: Jojoba is among dozens of former Indian crops that today lie unloved and untended within U.S. borders ... Indians , who have long roast- ed jojoba beans for, "coffee" and used the oil as hairdressing, have spear- headed a drive to bring the crop into modern agriculture. . .Indian reserva- tions in the Southwest harbor some of the worst poverty pockets in the nation. The land is useless for conventional crops, often two-thirds of the work force is unemployed. In five or ten years jojoba could bring self-sufficiency to reservations that have depended on federal services for a century... So great is demand that in 1980 the San Carlos Apaches in California received as much as $3300 for a barrel of jojoba oil, the yield of a single well-tended quarter acre. National Geog/iapklc, Mag 1980 ^ 251 Chapter BoJinle, Feldman Coordinator ^or Chapter A^^atr^ The South Florida AAZK Chapter has had a busy sunmier and also has many plans for the coming year. At their July meeting, Ralph Curtis from Ralph Curtis Zoo Books talked about how to go about setting up a Zoo library. He pointed out the differences in which books could be useful to Keepers and which would be useless. The Keepers are also trying to arrange a "Nite Walk” for next year. The Miami Metro- zoo is still under heavy con- struction, so planning a public affair of this sort has to coincide with the completion of the African Lobe. For their August meeting, Hugh Blake, their Reptile Keeper, gave a slide presentation on venomous reptiles. Their Dog Wash, originally planned for May and then cancelled due to the water shortage, was held over Labor Day. Their secretary suggested that everyone in the Chapter bring a few slides to each meeting so they can share them with one another. Another member brought in a book of films that they could rent and they are hopeful of planning to have some movie nights. The Chapter also discussed the importance of the AAZK Animal Data Transfer Forms and encouraged members to use them. At the August meeting, they also voted to have an annual banquet at the end of the year and they are hoping to form a volleyball team. So much is still in the planning stages but they hope to be able to accomplish some of their goals be- fore the year is over. They are going to start having some of their meetings at the Zoo, taking one Keeper's area at a time and allow- ing that Keeper to explain his or her routine and the animals he or she works with. The newly formed Dallas AAZK Chapter has a few things go- ing. They are hopeful for a successful Dog Wash sometime next year. At the present time, they are running bi- monthly bake sales for the Zookeepers in order to keep money circulating for bigger events . Many of their mem- bers are amateur photographers and they have a "Photograph Day” planned where they will sell enlargements of photos of some of the zoo's animals. Good luck and congratulations to the newly formed Dallas Chapter I News The Philadelphia AAZK Chapter is on the move I The Keepers often take trips to other zoos in the area. They have also gone on "bear tagging” trips in Pike County, PA with Gary Ault, a wildlife biologist with the Fish and Game Commission. They have a monthly slide presentation on Africa given by one of the zoo’s docents. She has a safari park in Africa and is constantly getting new material. They have been raising money for their Chapter by having cake sales and selling photos and drawings done by the Keepers . They have recently begun having meetings with a psychology professor who is doing research on animal conditioning in hopes of being able to do some with their own animals . And finally, they are giving lectures to Zoo members and at the local college this fall. Keep up the good work Philadelphia! 252 Missing lYnX BROOKFIELD DOCENT PROMOTES ZOO EDUCATION By Ed Soby, BA.ook^Ield Voce.nt Greetings from Brookfield Zoo (Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield, IL) . My capacity is that of Docent, which at Brookfield involves s 1) Providing guided tours (primarily for school children) through ihe various houses and outdoor exhibit areas, 2) Manning our Predator Ecology Exhibit: five small cats (Sand, Pallas, Lynx, Margay and Fishing) each shown in a very naturalistic setting, i.e. Desert, Himalayas, Amazon Valley, etc., 3) Being stationed in houses and areas to answer questions from zoo visitors. In addition to our docent uniform, we wear a sash for this function which reads "Have a question— Ask Me". Our docent program is a dynamic, growing one with about one hundred enthusiastic people on duty throughout the week. Another class of 50 is now being formed. Most docents are women. However, there are a few men, who like myself, enjoy this activity tremendously. Whether men or women, we all feel we are making a viable contribution to our visitor’s zoo experience. It was my good fortune to learn at the outset of my docent career that my Keeper friends could be of inestimable value in building my knowledge of the animals under their care. Being busy people, they cannot take time to solicit my questions. However, I have yet to find a Keeper who if approached on an "at your convenience" basis , has not been more than generous with time and anxious to provide helpful and interesting animal Information. As a result of my appreciation and respect for their vast knowledge and their important contribution to the zoo, I support AAZK as an Associate Member. [Tkl6 month tnlttatu the. ^AJiAt ouJt "Muring Lynx” columns Mklck m hope to be able to n.an pentodteaZly , This column dealt tpeclf^tcally Mlth those Individuals who oAe associated with a zoological Institution^ but not dlAectly Involved In a KeepeA capacity. We know theAe must be many 0^ you out theAe who oAe Involved tn AeseoAch, behavonlal obseAvatlon^ education etc. Let us heoA ^Aom you and tell us what makes up the many "Missing Lynx” within the stAuctuAe o^ youA zoological Institution] HAVE A PIECE OF YOUR ZOO AT NATIONAL AAZK HEADQUARTERS All members and Chapters are encouraged to send a poster or patch from your institution to be displayed at the National Headquarters in Topeka. The staff of the Topeka office are here to serve the membership and would like to see each institution represented by some visual artifact. So send us your posters, patches, decals etc. and when in Topeka, stop by to see your National Headquarters. 253 Keeper’s Alert POPULATION AND GENETIC STUDY SYSTEM HELPS DETERMINE PROPER BREEDING COEFFICIENTS By Chxli) K. NonMyU, Animal Technician Knoxville Zoological ?a/ik The natural habitats of endangered species throughout the world are steadily shrinking. Unless this trend can be halted (an unlikely prospect) the only hope for the survival of many species are zoological parks . But in controlled habitats natural selection is no longer a viable method for improving or even maintaining a species. Genetics is the key to survival. Zoological parks in the United States are increasingly aware of the necessity for maximum variability within the gene pool of captive populations in their charge. The Knoxville Zoological Park has just completed A Population and Genetic Study of the Asian Lion [PanthcAa leo fpeulca] in the United States of America. Information was collected from the eight zoos in the U.S. hous- ing Asian Lions. In this study a chart of inbreeding coefficients, a chart of covariance and an arrow diagram pedigree were produced for the species using the genetic covariance-averaging system developed by Dr. J.L. Lush, professor of Animal Science at the University of Iowa. By using this method, the entire U.S. population of 49 Asian Lions was charted so that every combination of lions appears on the chart and shows the inbreeding coefficient (the percent of homogeneous genes) for the resulting offspring. Dr. Lush’s genetic covariance-averaging system lends itself to studies of this kind. Not only does it lower your margin of error (a problem with arrow diagram systems), but all information is on three charts for easy reference (instead of doing each calculation singly) . This is an invaluable tool for animal curators to use in determining breeding pairs to prevent excessive inbreeding. With information of this kind, zoo directors can address the issues of inbreeding and line breed- ing and set guidelines on acceptable percentages in genetic crossings. Zoos can easily locate animals unrelated to their strain and strengthen the gene pool to help assure survival of endangered species. If you are interested in a copy of Dr. Lush’s system write; Records Dept., Knoxville Zoological Park, Box 6040, Knoxville, TN 37914. A list of literature about Birds of Prey, which is a complete inventory of the largest collection of its kind ever held by a public library, has just been published for the second time in a revised and enlarged edition. The latest issue of the "List of Books, Papers, Articles on Birds of Prey Comprising a Library Collection" totals 22 pages. The entire compilation has been computerized to simplify future revisions. A copy of this pub- lication can be obtained free of charge by writing to the Society for the Preservation of Birds of Prey, P.O Box 891, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. 254 AAZK T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE AAZK T-shirts with the official emblem are now available. The price is $5.49 plus $1.00 for shipping and handling. Sizes Small, Medium and Large are available in tan, red, lemon yellow and royal blue. Size Extra- Large is available in tan and royal blue only. To order, please complete the coupon below and send with a check or money order to: Carleton Bailie, c/o Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave. , Akron, OH 44307. Please send T-shirt(s) at $5.49 plus $1.00 shipping and handling. Size: ^small medium ___ large ^extra-large Colors: Tan Red Lemon yellow Royal blue Name: Address : City: State: Zip:^ AAZK ACCESSORIES AV^AILABLE Decals : The official AAZK decal is available through the Memphis Zoo Chapter. The decal is a black and white reproduction of the AAZK rhino logo, suitable for any smooth, hard surface, especially a car window. Cost is $1.50 complete, prepaid. Make checks payable to the Memphis Chapter, AAZK and send directly to Mike Maybry, Decal Project Coordina- tor, 1887 Crump Ave., Memphis, TN 38107. Pins And Charms: Enameled three- quarter- inch pins and charms with the official AAZK logo are now available. They are done in the same colors as the AAZK Patch and the charms are suitable for necklaces (you provide the chain) . The price per pin or charm is $3.00 which includes postage. To order send your name, complete mailing address, number of pins or charms desired to : Patrice Carbaugh, 5456 Abbott Place, Los Angeles, CA 90042. Make check or money order payable to Patrice Carbaugh. Buttons : For a "Keepers Care" Button, send the coupon and 50c to: Larry Sammarco, Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614. Please send button (s) for 50d each. Name:_ Address: City State Zip 255 We 0/12. Xnde.bted to tko. AAZPA {^o/i aJUiowtng 06 to /Kipnlvit po/i- tloyis ol this /iZcXtoYi ^Aom thoJji "Vo^ttlovis AvcuZabte," tUtlng. This is a movithty 62A.vtcQ. to uus, ^o/i you. 100 CURATOR. . .requires degree, experience and demonstrated administrative ability. Salary $20,808-$31,224. Contact: Dave Zucconi, Director, Tulsa Zoological Park, 5701 E. 36th Street North, Tulsa, OK 74115. SUPERVISOR-REPTILES/ AMPHIBIANS. . .requires related supervisory experience. Duties include daily management of large collection, reproduction pro- grams, some public speaking and some writing. Opportunities for in-house research. Mail resumes to: David Grow, Zoological Curator, Oklahoma City Zoo, 2101 N.E. 50th, Oklahoma City, OK 73111. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/ AQUARIUM. . . directs operations of aqua zoo. Develops, modifies, supervises and evaluates exhibit and building maintenance procedures, specimen care and seawater life support systems. Requirements include B.S. (Masters preferred) in Marine Biology, Oceanography or related field and four years’ related experience, one year of which must have been at supervisory level. Candidate must become a resident of the City of Pittsburg and obtain PA driver’s license prior to appointment. Salary $26,823/yr. Applica- tions accepted through 30 October 1981. For application and additional information write: Civil Service Commission, Room 401 City-County Bldg., Pittsburg, PA 15219. Tfie {^ottom.ng "Po/>ttton6 AvcUiabte" ads W2A2. 6e,vit diAdctty to AvxtmaJi KzQ,pcnd pe/itincnt tn{^o/matlon, /Le.quiAcmcnts eXc. Ion. youn. avaiZablc job ope.ning to oun e-dltontat o{^^tcejs, 635 Gage BZvd., Tope.ka, KS 66606. ANIMAL CARETAKER. . .part-time position open at Playboy Mansion Zoo. Will work primarily with birds, some primates and small mammals. Median salary range/excellent fringe benefits. For specifics contact John Huston, c/o Playboy Mansion Zoo, 10236 Charingcross Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90024 or call (213) 273-6774. o p P k 0 n r o t c u k n s 1 t y MOVING? PLEASE SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO Dolly Clark, Administrative Secretary American Association of Zookeepers I I National Headquarters, 635 Gage Blvd. I ^ i Topeka, KS 66606 256 AAZK MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Cfiecfe k(^All li fimmat [ ] • Name I Address I I $20.00 Professional I VvJUi-tmd Ke.e.pe/i6 onty I and JntaAnatlonat MmbeA^ I $15.00 Affiliate I Otkox i>tall and volunteeA^ $10.00 Associate Indlv-ldiioLi) not conmcted wttk an avumat coAe {^acJJJXy $50.00 Contributing O^ganlzattovis and tndlvtdaaJU ' U.S CURRENCY ONLY PLEASE \Vln.z(iton.y Jn{iOmatA,on ^ I Zoo Wo/^fe kH.z.a Speatal tnteAe^ti I Mail this application and check or money order, payable to American I Association of Zoo Keepers, to: AAZK National Headquarters, Topeka Zoo, I 635 Gage Blvd. , Topeka, KS 66606. I Memberships include subscription to the Animat Kee.peA6’ fo^um. I The membership card is good for free admission to many zoos and aquariums I in the U.S. and Canada. INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS Animat Ke.e.peA^ ’ fo-'Lum publishes original papers and news items of interest to the Animal Keeping profession. Non-members are welcome to submit articles. Articles should be typed or hand-printed. All illustrations, graphs and tables should be clearly marked, in final form, and should fit in a page size of no more than 6" x 10" (15 cm. x 25h cm.). Literature used should be cited in the text and in final bibliography. Avoid footnotes. Include scientific names. Articles sent to Animat Keeper' FoAom will be reviewed for publication. No commitment is made to the author, but an effort will be made to publish articles as soon as possible. Those longer than three pages will be separated into monthly installments at the discretion of the editorial staff. The editors reserve 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 envelope. Telephoned contributions on late-breaking news or last minute insertions are acceptable. However, phone-in contributions of long articles will not be accepted. The phone number is 913 272-5821. DEADLINE FOR EACH EDITION IS THE 20th OF THE PRECEDING MONTH. Antlct^^ pAtnt2,d do not n2.C22>^anAty fi^to^ct tko. optnions oi tkd Animat /(eepeA6 ' Fo/iom Q,dito/Uat 6ta^£ ofi oi tkd knaxtaan A^^octatlon o{^ loo Keepe7L6. Items in the publication may be reprinted. Credit to this publication is requested. Order reprints from the Editor. xl CD O On ^ Si Dal'S &\ S n oP-fc Animal Keepers' Forum dkated to Professional Animal Care NOVEMBER 1 981 ANIMAL KEEPERS' FORUM, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 Executive Editor: Mike Coker Managing Editor: Susan Chan Associate Editor: Connie Cloak Editorial Assistant: Diana Brey NOVEMBER 1981 VOLUME EIGHT NUMBER ELEVEN AyUmal K2.2.pQJii' FoA.um (ISSN 0164-9531) is a monthly journal of the American Association of Zoo Keepers, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606. Five dollars of each membership fee goes toward the annual publishing costs of kYiimoJi K(lQ,pQAJi' Fo^um. Second Class postage paid at Topeka, KS. Postmaster: Please send change of addresses to address printed below. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOO KEEPERS NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, 635 GAGE BLVD., TOPEKA, KS 66606 Vott^ CloAk, AdnU-nyUt/LoJU-VQ, S2.cn.2.taAy BOARD OF DIRECTORS Pat Sammarco, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL 60614 { Jill Grade, Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL 33612 l/^ce.-pA,eA-ldent | Mike Maybry, Memphis Zoological Park, Memphis, TN 38112 |j Mike Coker, Topeka Zoo, 635 Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66606 t Bernard Feldman, Miller Park Zoo, Bloomington IL 61701 I COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Awards Committee Historical Committee Mcfee C^odkoA, Vlcktn^on Vcuik loo Ld/uiy SammoAco, ■ Lcnooln Pcuik Zoo Nominations and Elections Committee iUtfee HaybAy, Menipkl6 Zoo, TN PROJECT HEADS Coordinator for Chapter Affairs Patti Kuntzmann, PhAladzlphla Zoo Keeper Data Survey Mtfee MaybAy, Memphis Zoo, TN Legislative Information Kevin Comay, CRC, l/A Animal Data Transfer Form BoAnoAd Feldman, MttleA Zoo, IL Program Library & Ellen Leach, lilooc Coordinator for International Affairs KoAen StaAA ^lakeland, Midlothian, TX Infant Development Project MoAcla ClevengeA, Oklahoma City Zoo, OK Keepers* Accommodation List FAan ToAneA, ToAonto Zoo, OntoAlo Book Reviews Etlen Leach, {iJoodland PoAk Zoo, WA Information Center Hand PoAk Zoo, WA REGIONAL COORDINATORS Mike CoApenteA, Phoenix Zoo, AZ, VlAectoA Ed RobeAts [fJalteA V. Stone Zoo ME, VT, NH, MA, NV PA, NJ, MV, VE l/A, Wl/ RI, CT vacancy Kevin Co may FAont Royal CRC EveAett HoAAyU BlndeA PoAk Zoo MI vacancy LoAAy SammoAco Lincoln PoAk Zoo IN, OH, KT m, IL, MO, MN, lA, Plane KAug RlveAbanks Zoo TN, NC, SC Alan ShaAple& Atlanta Zoo FL, AL, GA Vee Neti>o'n Audubon PoAk Zoo AR, MS, LA Candy KAo^t Rio GAande Zoo TX, NM,C0,0K,KS, ,NE,SV,NV LauAence Gledkltl {fJoodtand PoAk Zoo WA, OR, TV, MT, WV, AK Jane HansjeAgen S Joan Stinson SacAomento Zoo Phoenix Zoo CA, Ml/, AZ, UT, HI Kathy Rettle MetAo ToAonto Zoo CANADA TkUi month' ^ KdQ^poJt/ kitiht aj> S^teue ConnoAb Mho a Ko^dpoA at Chdymnd Mountain Zoo in Colomdo SpAcng^, CO. Hi6 cUawing^ ^datuAd^ tMo o^ thd tMdtvd King Pdngain^ at Chdydnnd Mt. Ad^ting a{^tdA thdiA moAning 6Mim. Many thanfu, Stdvdl Scoops and Scuttlebutt NEW CHAPTER AFFAIRS COORDINATOR NAMED Bernie Feldman has handed the files of the post of Coordinator for Chapter Affairs to Patti Kuntzmann, Philadelphia Zoo AAZK, 34th and Girard Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19104. May all the Chapters continue their enthusiasm and growth under Patti’s coordination. All those in AAZK wish to thank Bernie for the outstanding job he has done in this post and wish Patti much good luck and success as AAZK's new Coordinator for Chapter Affairs’. ANIMAL DATA TRANSFER FORMS REQUEST During the 1981 AAZK Conference at Fresno, CA, I had lost a list of those Keepers desiring to have Animal Data Transfer Forms delivered to their Zoos. May I please ask those Keepers to send me a letter of their wants and to accept my apologies for this inconvenience. Send requests to: Bernie Feldman, Miller Park Zoo, 1020 S. Morris Ave., Bloomington, IL 61701. AKF PLANS FOR PUBLICATION OF CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS The editorial staff of AKF is planning to publish a double issue in December 1981. This issue will include an index of material for the past year. We are also planning to publish the Board of Director ’^s minutes from the National Conference and as many of the papers that were presented as are available. Conference proceedings will not be pub- lished separately in an effort to cut our costs, but will be included in the Forum. 1981 NATIONAL AAZK CONFERENCE By MoAy Swanson, ChaptoA VAZAiddwt The Fresno Chapter wishes to thank everyone who contributed to the great success of the 1981 National AAZK Conference in Fresno in September. Our own coordinating committee (Kitty Kenyon, Chairman, Brenda Lodge, and Sally Smith) worked hard for many months in preparation. Then in the last couple weeks before the conference, Kitty had to leave for vet school and Sally wasn’t free to help. In this critical period, Brenda and Linda Cover and chapter president Mary Swanson took over the bulk of the nitty gritty work. Many others helped, too. At the end we also became short-handed at the zoo for our regular work. So our volunteers stepped in and devoted extra time to help us, for which we are eternally grateful. During the conference, we were amazed by the 257 Scoops and Scuttlebutt, continued generous offers of delegate keepers to come in and help us with our work at 5 a.m. We also got lots of help from delegates at the conference itself We received generous donations from local artists and our own members of items for the traditional auction. But the response of the visiting dele- gates was overwhelming — they donated so many outstanding items, we had well over 100 auction articles. This, combined with the outstanding work of our auctioneer, Ron Tremper, made this the biggest and best auction ever. Two weeks before the conference, we were worried about breaking even. Instead, we ended up with 110 delegates attending, representing 39 zoos, 20 states and Canada. And our chapter and national AAZK will share a very nice profit. So we wish to thank the many people who helped us locally, and the dele- gates themselves, for making this a most memorable conference. Birthsj^ Hatchings TOPEKA ZOO ANNOUNCES RECENT BIRTHS ^Uke Co ken. The Topeka Zoo is pleased to announce the following births and/or hatch- ings: 0.0.1 Brown-headed Tamarin 0.0.1 Blue Crowned Pigeon, 0.0.2 Sarus Crane and 0.0.2 Hyrax. The Zoo has also recently acquired a male Jaguar named "Conan” from the San Francisco Zoo which is on exhibit with the zoo's Black Jaguar "Leia" . SPECTACLED OWL HATCHING AT OKC ZOO Steve Clevengen The staff of the off-exhibit breeding area of the Oklahoma City Zoo is pleased to announce the successful hatching and parent-rearing of a single Spectacled Owl {Put^at/Llx peuplclltata] chick. The parents have laid eggs for the last five years, but each of those times was during the southern hemisphere breeding season - which happens to be late November through late December. The past two years the pair has produced fertile eggs with the 1979 youngster dead upon hatching and last year's chick succumbing to a sub-teens cold snap at 10 days of age. Incubation was carried out by both parents, but the male incubated only about three per cent of the time. Incubation was 37 days. By day 34, the owlet had started to show the characteristic juvenile plumage with a black facial disc and entirely white head and breast. On day 51, the youngster appeared on the edge of the nest and was ob- served sitting there at the morning check for the next few days. The first observed flight of the youngster (fledging) occurred on Day 56. The parents remain extremely defensive of the youngster, which at fledg- ing is adult sized. 258 Wildlife Research By Joy VavAji FJjih and SeAui-ce. VnpaAtmdnt thu IntoJvioK WILL MICROSCOPIC "FINGERPRINTS" ON FINS, FEATHERS, AND FUR REVEAL NEW INFORMATION ABOUT WILDLIFE? They are so small they escape the notice of animals indelibly marked by them, but microscopic plastic particles as distinctive as fingerprints may soon have a big impact on wildlife research. The particles, now be- ing tested by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, could reveal valuable information long sought by scientists who study the ways of wildlife. Microtaggants — salt-sized, color-coded plastic chips originally manufac- tured by the 3M Company to trace explosives used in criminal acts — may revolutionize the time-honored practice of marking animals for various purposes. "Recognition marking" was attempted before the nineteenth cen- tury by ornithologists and ichthyologists to establish ownership, send messages, and learn bird and fish movements. Izaak Walton’s The Compleat Angler in 1653 alluded to experiments where young salmon had ribbons tied to their tails to demonstrate their return to spawn. The earliest known bird marking dates back to ancient Rome. Today, marking is a basic tool of fishery and wildlife biologists who use tags, streamers, dyes, even radioactive isotopes, to learn behavorial information not otherwise available. Microtaggants could make marking easier for researchers, safer for animals, and cheaper for the Federal government, with unique codes, durability and ease of detection and re- covery . The tiny tags are made up of up to 10 layers, of inert plastic sandwiched in a special color sequence to make an identifying code. Available with fluorescent and ferromagnetic layers, they can be quickly spotted under ultraviolet light and easily picked up for decoding with a small magnet. Although the particles are unobtrusive and do not inter fer with animal behavior, they can be detected and decoded by any field researcher with a portable microscope. Application methods now being tested may further increase the usefulness of the particles; for example, aerial spraying may make mass markings of birds practical for the first time. Blackbirds and starlings can spread disease or cause considerable damage to crops. Researchers need more information about these birds, which sometimes congregate in roosts by the millions, so they can be effectively controlled. Specialists at the Denver Wildlife Research Center — the first Fish and Wildlife laboratory to test the particles — are conducting a field study to determine the practicality of aerial applications. Preliminary tests indicate most birds in a roost sprayed with a mixture of particles and liquid adhesive were sufficiently marked, and particles remained on penned birds for more than 90 days. The tags' inconspicuous size, durability and other features have prompted Service fishery biologists to consider them for a broad range of studies, particularly to monitor populations. The striped bass, a popular food and sport fish, has drastically declined in recent years. The particles could be used to Indicate survival rates of released bass and other fish, and could be an improved means of measuring the success of stocking pro- grams. Particles implanted in a fin or under scales may prove more per- manent than various paints and dyes now in use. 259 Microscopic "Fingerprints" , continue.d With the tags, researchers trying to restore endangered fish species may be able to effectively mark small (l%-,2-, and 3-inch) species for the first time. Specialists who work with fish on the threshold of extinct- ion look forward to retrieving tagged fish during studies without having to sacrifice them. They could also use the particles to learn if and when, after reintroduction, fish reproduce in the wild. Fish and wildlife fed food laced with the flakes could give biologists important short-term information. Service scientists continue to study predator-prey relationships, and the markers may help solve nature's "whoodunits" — identifying preying species and evaluating their effects. To learn how mink affect the duck population in a certain area, for example, a researcher could mark eggs or ducklings in nests, and mink droppings could be tested for the marker’s presence. The markers do not interfer with digestion and pass intact through the system. Added to toxic baits and eaten, the particles could provide a quick means of identifying specific toxicants in pest control programs without ex- pensive or time-consuming chemical analysis. Using the mini-markers to identify toxic substances also may help document secondary hazards poisons pose to predators. Service researchers anticipate that the miniscule chips, slated for use in a variety of studies, will uncover much important information that has so far eluded them. Coming Events CHEETAH BREEDING CONFERENCE December 4-6, 1981 Winston, Oregon Wildlife Safari is sponsoring this three-day event which will feature discussions on: the status of the cheetah, breeding in captivity, facil- ities, compounds and programs, and disease and nutrition. A tour of Wildlife Safari's Cheetah Breeding facilities is also planned. Registra- tion is $25.00 which includes materials and a barbacue party on 5 Dec. For registration or further information, contact: Laurie Marker, Wild- life Safari, P.O. Box 600, Winston, OR 97496 or call (503) 679-6761. CRANE PROPAGATION WORKSHOP December 5, 1981 Tyler, Texas The Caldwell Zoo is planning to hold a Crane Propagation Workshop entail- ing slides, films and panel discussions on captive crane management. The workshop will begin at 10 a.m. and end at approximately 4 p.m. Anyone interested in attending or participating in the program should contact B.R. Smith, Assistant Head Keeper, Caldwell Zoo, P.O. Box 428, Tyler, TX 75710 or call (214) 593-0121 for more information. 260 ELEPHANT SET THE BASIC ELEPHANT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM Part One By MaZzachsA, Elephant handlex/ tAolnoA. He^yiAy l/Zttca loo, Madison, MI (The ^olZowlng papeA was pn.uented at the 19 SO AAZPA Con^e/ience tn Chicago. HeAb has been an elephant handler / tAolneA at the HenAy l/Itlas Zoo loA {^ooA yeoAS, working with a small gAoup o^ Aslan elephants. In addUXlon to his zoo mAk, HeAb has peAlocUcally seAved as a consultant on elephant handling and ccute to otheA zoos and clAcases. Mltkln the last yecut, he has woAked iolth the ^olloujlng zoos In voaIous capacities .* Mllwaakee Zoological PoAk; Omahal fienAy VooAly Zoo; Lansing Michigan's PoAteA Zoo; AlbaqueAqae' s Rio GAande Zoo and the Chicago Zoos.} In Rwanda, a small central African country, in 1975, heliocopters drove 132 elephants toward two riflemen who shot all 106 adults. That done, the 26 young were tranquilized and released in a large fenced area in a park. Of the elephants killed in Rwanda, 35% had parts of their trunks severed or damaged by snares, or had wires in their legs. It is estimated, in Kenya, that elephants are being reduced at a rate of 10,000 to 20,000 a year. Tanzania is shooting several thousand a year. Personally, in 1972, I saw a herd of 34 African elephants in the Masai Mara Game Park. They do not exist today. In Sri Lanka I saw a herd of 26 that became separated from the main herd in the National Park. To survive, they began to pass through farms and plantations naturally "stealing** food. This is an example of the frag- mentation that is going on all over the world with those animals that travel long distances for better food and water. In Sri Lanka, the elephants are an intricate part of the country's social and economic structure. The elephants are increasing in numbers, but this small country cannot support an expanding elephant population. This is a testimony to the intensity of the collision between animals and man. These harsh facts are the plight of the elephant in the wild. Therefore, we in the zoo world must think about keeping elephants alive longer. As a matter of fact, we have to start breeding and raising elephants in zoos- something we seem to be afraid of. The harsh facts about the plight of the elephant in zoos is that we don't have a very good record of handling or breeding them in captivity. This is because of two reasons i First, up to now, most zoos have inadequate buildings to handle elephants— especially the handling of males and raising young. Second, and most important, there is bad elephant man- agement . 261 The Basic Elephant Maintenance Program, continued Bad elephant management can be illustrated by the elephants that are on "display” in zoos and are neglected; by looking at the age at which ele- phants die in captivity; and by recalling that on the average, at least one person is killed each year by zoo or circus elephants. I don't expect every zoo with elephants to be committed to a breeding program. But we could give elephants a long and healthy life through a good management program. In the past, my philosophy for managing elephants has been to work with them as much as I can - training them to do as many things as possible. In Madison, we have a program showing circus behavior patterns and also working with heavy logs. It took a lot of work, over a three-year period, to get what we have today. I did it to get the experience of finding out about the animal, but I also found out a lot about myself. Now, what will happen, to my; program, when I leave? What will happen to any program that has been thought of and implemented by one person? The program is likely to be scrapped by management, or by the next person handling the elephants. So what is the answer for the people who want to do their job and man- age elephants safely? What is the answer for those people who don't have an elephant trainer or the right facilities? THE ANSWER IS A BASIC MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. In order to implement a good elephant program you have to think about: 1. the needs of the elephant; 2. the needs of your people; 3. the needs of the zoo; and 4. the facilities you have available. This has to be thought through carefully, then a maintenance program planned and instal- led in the safest possible way for your facility. For example, this thinking could include: Which foot is the safest to unchain first? Where is the nearest exit? Do you have to go between the wall and the elephant? And, how many different people will work with the elephant? When a zoo has trouble, it is usually the people they have trouble with, rather than the animals. Examples of this could include: ego trips, lack of communications, over-reacting with a punishment, resisting change, etc. A basic maintenance program will reinforce what your people know, motivat- ing them to keep up the program and to train new people. A basic main- tenance program will make it as safe as possible for the people as well as the animals. Consistently applied, a basic maintenance program should reduce the number of accidents and reduce the number of elephants having to be destroyed because of the lack of good management or because of no management at all. Part TWO of this article will outline and describe the basic maintenance program. The maintenance program does not teach circus behaviors or Southeast Asian logging techniques, but does provide the care and handling needed for zoo elephants. 262 All YOU NEED IS Zu/Rieem. HIGH IN PALATABILITY • OPTIMUM NUTRITION • SIMPLE PORTION CONTROL • ECONOMICAL PERFORMANCE PROVEN DIETS-THE SUPERIOR WAY TO FEED EXOTIC ANIMALS •Primate Canned ‘Marmoset Canned •Primate Dry •Feline Frozen I •Feline Frozen II •Feline Canned •Feline Instant •Birds of Prey •Omnivore •Ratite •Polar Bear Dry For More Information, Write, Wire or Call HU^ 263 BREEDING OF THE CONGO PEACOCK AT THE BRONX ZOO (NYZSl By AngoZo T. Ajiana, B^Ad Ke.^peA Our pair of Congo Peacocks (A^^opavo cong&yi6Z6 } arrived on 29 August 1981 from the Antwerp Zoo. After the required quarantine period, they were put out in our large African Jungle exhibit (measurements roughly 45' x 40' and a height of about 120'). This exhibit houses a variety of African species of birds. The exhibit has lush natural vegetation and a waterfall which empties into a shallow pool. We put up many extra perches and food pans through- out the exhibit. The diet was difficult at first, but we finally settled on two mixed pans: one with cooked rice, meat, insectivorous food, fruit cocktail, mealworms, shelled peanuts, and ground carrots and the other pan contained pellets, soaked grains and pigeon feed. About four fruit baskets which are about 2' in diameter and 18" deep and lined with straw were placed throughout the exhibit in hopes that the hen would choose one for nesting. About five months after being placed together, the male started to display. Two weeks after, the female chose one of the nests. The nest was on a wooden pedestal about 5' off the ground. She began laying her first clutch on 4 February 1981 with the first egg weighing 65.7 grams. The hen had a total of three eggs which were laid every other day ending on 18 Febru- ary. Two eggs were removed to an incubator and replaced with two dummy eggs. Two of the three eggs were fertile, but failed to hatch. Her second clutch began on 29 April 1981 and again consisted of three eggs, ending on 3 May. All three eggs remained in the nest but none hatched. Like the first clutch, the eggs that were fertile resulted in early embryonic death. Her third clutch was the one with positive results. The first egg was laid on 14 July and the third and last egg on 18 July. The three remain- ed in the nest for the full incubation period of 26 days. On the after- noon of 12 August 1981, when the hen went to feed, we noticed that one of the eggs had pipped. We removed all three eggs to be weighed and placed them in an incubator. To our great disappointment, two of the eggs were infertile and therefore discarded. The pipped egg with a weight of 55.5 grams hatched out the following morning on 13 August. The chick weighed 46.2 grams. The chick was brown with the wings al- ready in pin feathers. The chick was brought up to our Brooder Room and was hand-raised on turkey crumble, soft food, egg yolk, chopped kale and small mealworms. The chick is growing fast and will be the first American Congo Peacock. AvJikoh.' note,: Ai> tkU> n,Q,pofit u;cu being Mnltte.n, the. he.n woa fitting on heji iovJith clutch thAcc cgg^. ^ 264 ^ FIRST GORILLA BORN USING ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION By E. Ulckael. VoaglcL66, P.l/.M. MtmphyU loo and Aqua/Uum On 31 August 1981, a twenty-year-old gorilla at Memphis, Tennessee, gave birth to the first infant gorilla conceived by artificial insemination. This may also be the first primate, other than man, produced from frozen semen. Unfortunately, the baby died at 3% days of age due to a systemic bacterial infection. Nevertheless, several individual goals were accom- plished during this project which should be of benefit to other institu- tions concerned with artificial reproduction in primates. A brief history of gorillas at Memphis will explain why this project was undertaken and allow a better understanding of events which occurred that necessitated this method of reproduction. In the spring of 1961, Memphis received three gorillas, purchased from a dealer and all estimated to be two years of age. As it turned out, instead of one male and two females, which had been ordered, one female and two males were received. All three animals did very well for the first four or five years, with only minor medical problems. In December 1966, there was a opportunity to sell one of the males which left the zoo with only a single pair, a male, Dinga, and a female, Tammy. As the pair matured, very little breeding activity was observed, and it is difficult to substantiate any of the reported attempts. Whether or not the pair has bred, even to this date, is debatable and highly unlike- ly. At any rate, Tammy never became pregnant, so in June 1973, she was shipped to another zoo, which was breeding gorillas. After several months it was evident she was incompatible with the male and was returned. The next few years were no different, with little if any sexual behavior from either animal. As knowledge of gorilla reproduction was increasing, prior mistakes became apparent. Another female should have been pursued originally since no more could be obtained from the wild and other zoos were reluctant to part with female gorillas. Also, it is rare to breed a single pair of gorillas, so another female, or the male sold as a youngster, might have helped stimulate reproductive behavior. In order to reproduce the species it was obvious that additional animals were needed so a search was initiated. In February 1978, a seventeen-year-old female, Beta, was obtained from another zoo on breeding loan. Within thirty days of her introduction to the male, Dinga, she was seen being mounted. In fact, that day she was mounted at least three times. After the third copulation, when the male pulled away a drop of seminal fluid fell on the cage floor. The animals were shifted immediately and the fluid collected for examination. There were no sperm in the sample, with only a few odd cells being present. This was the first time his semen had been examined and it was hoped that spermatogenesis would increase with further sexual stimulation and copula- tion. During the next few months Dinga mated with Beta regularly. Pregnancy tests were performed several times but were always negative. The fertil- ity of the male was now in question, especially since the female was a proven breeder, and a further evaluation was necessary. However, Dinga IVcterinariaij^i^ keepers. 265 First Gorilla Born Using Artificial Insemination, contcnue.d was eighteen years old and had never been immobilized in his life. Con- sidering his prior medical history, the curatorial staff was reluctant to immobilize him, but after several weeks of persuasion it was agreed upon. In November 1978, Dr. Kenneth Gould of the Yerkes Regional Primate Re- search Center came to Memphis, to perform an electro-ejaculation and testicular biopsy of Dinga. These were performed in a routine manner and the results obtained were predictable - total azoospermia and asperm- atogensis. When extrapolated from human data, the chances against re- versal were considered to be about 00:1. If a very low sperm count or a high percentage of abnormal sperm had been found the fertility prog- nosis would have been much better, but this was not the case here. A complete profile of reproductive hormones was also within the normal ranges which limited any possibility of hormonal therapy. Clomiphene was considered but not used, since it has an indication more for oligo- spermia. This left the zoo with two prime breeding-age females and no fertile male. Again a search was begun, but the availability of a breeding- age male was considered low. A further problem was the time necessary to introduce the animal into the group, once it was located. Sending the females out on breeding loan was considered - but this had been tried before and could also mean a long time lag, and one female was already on loan to Memphis on the understanding she would be in a breeding situa- tion. Gorillas had also become very popular with the news media and general public, especially after recent press releases concerning the breeding program, which compounded our reluctance to move the females to another institution. After consideration of all alternatives it was decided to attempt artificial insemination with the females while continuing to search for another male. Even though this had not been accomplished before, there were no known reasons why a concerted effort might not be successful. It would also allow an active effort at reproducing the species until another male could be found. Yerkes had agreed to provide semen from their males, so plans were formulated for the initial stages of the project. The most obvious problem in artificial insemination in any species is the time of insemination. Without a fairly precise plotted cycle, any attempts would be futile. Originally it was decided to work with the Memphis female, Tammy, since she was the healthiest and had a better conformation. In the past keepers had tried to plot her cycle based on observation of behavior but had been unsuccessful. Therefore, she was separated from the others and urine specimens were collected daily. Two tests were performed each day on the urine, a dip stick and a sub- human primate pregnancy test. The dip stick was used to pick up traces of blood in the urine associated with menses. The pregnancy test was performed in an attempt to pick up an LH peak which should occur 24 hours prior to ovulation. According to Yerkes, this LH peak will result in a slightly positive ring formation in the test tubes; not truly a positive reading but a large more poorly defined ring, in other words, midway between positive and negative. These tests were performed daily for three and a half months, but no clear-cut determination could be made. Blood appeared sporadically in the dip stick, and no LH peak could be detected. Whether or not she was cycling was now questionable and it appeared that a laparoscopic examination would be necessary before any insemination attempts were tried. 266 First Gorillas Born Using Artificial Insemi nation , continued This meant a further time lag and at this point we were anxious to attempt an insemination to at least get any kinks in the plan resolved, even if the chance of success was minimal. With these points in mind, it was decided to concentrate our efforts on the other female. Beta. Dinga had continued to copulate with Beta regularly and by now an ade- quate number of cycles had been plotted to predict a date for insemina- tion. Dinga was therefore serving the same purpose as a vasectomized bull in artificial breeding programs of cattle. Beta’s cycle length based on these observations were approximately 31 days and an insemina- tion date for July 1979 was scheduled. Unfortunately, she became ill the month prior to this, which required an immobilization for evaluation of the problem. This made it necessary to postpone the insemination till Augus t . On 7 August 1979, Yerkes electro-ejaculated a male gorilla and stored the semen in a warm water bath. By prior arrangement, a private plane was waiting at the airport in Atlanta to pick up the semen and transport it to Memphis. At about 1 p.m.. Beta was immobilized with 750 mg Keta- mine for the insemination. A glass vaginal speculum, about 3 cm in dia- meter, was inserted into her vagina and using a fiberoptics light source, the cervix was examined. She did not appear to be in estrous at this time with the vaginal mucosa being pale and dry, having an erect tight cervix, and no visible uterine secretions. Nevertheless, the semen was drawn into an insemination pipette using a 12cc syringe and deposited just inside the cervical os. Her hindquarters were elevated and she was left in this position until awakening. Prior to instilling the se- men, a small drop was checked for motility on the microscope, and was very good. Although we were fairly sure the ovulation date had been missed, preg- nancy tests were performed after 45 days. They were all negative. We believe that the illness a month earlier may have interrupted her cycle to some degree and resulted in an incorrect date of insemination. At least now a dry run had been conducted, which should have been beneficial in future attempts. Dinga did continue to mount her regurlarly and anoth- er attempt was to be scheduled as soon as possible. This time the in- semination was not to be carried out until two estrous periods had been observed at approximately 31 days length, and the day of insemination would be the morning after copulation was observed at the beginning of the third estrous period. January 7, 1980, was the. anticipated beginning of the third estrous cycle. At about 10s 00 a.m. that day, copulation was observed and so the insemination was planned for the next day. Yerkes this time im- mobilized two gorillas, and shipped two samples. One was fresh in a water bath, the other frozen on dry ice. A private plane was not available this time so the samples were shipped by a commercial airline with a special air freight handling service. To our disbelief, the shipment was lost I Even though we had the waybill number, flight number, etc., the airlines could not locate the package. After 7 or 8 hours it was finally found, still at Atlanta Airport, and set aside in an area for dangerous parcels since it contained dry ice. This was regardless of the fact that all packaging and labelling was done in accordance with federal regulations . 267 First Gorilla Born Using Artificial Insemination, continued At 10:00 p.m. the package arrived and the fresh semen examined. All sperm were dead with zero per cent motility. The frozen semen was still frozen and the insemination was postponed until the next day. We had originally planned to use the fresh semen that day and the frozen semen the second day to increase the chance of success, but now we had to rely on the frozen semen alone. The next morning Beta was immobilized for the insemination. After darting her, the vial of semen was taken out of the dry ice and allow- ed to thaw at room temperature on a shelf. When thawed a small drop was checked for motility, which was estimated to be 3-4 per cent and very poor. A few minutes later it was checked again and motility was im- proving. The vial was then held by hand for a little additional warmth and rechecked. Motility was approximately 10 per cent and still con- sidered poor. Consideration was given to aborting the attempt due to the low motility, but the female was immobilized and ready so the semen was again deposited just inside the cervix. This time there was a notic- able difference in the cervix, compared with the first attempt - now it was edematous, very congested, and relaxed. The chances of success were again considered poor due to all the prob- lems encountered. Sporadic sexual activity did occir over the next 45 days, with no correlation to the estrous cycle. After two more months though, no further copulation was observed, and pregnancy tests were performed which were consistently positive. Pregnancy tests remained positive until late in the third trimester. Urinary hormone levels also confirmed the pregnancy. Ultrasonography, to evaluate the pregnancy, was considered, but rejected due to possible harm to the foetus from the im- mobilization of the female. It was decided to recheck Dinga’s fertility at this point to make sure there had been no reversal in his sterility. Accordingly, on 13 May, he was immobilized for an EEJ and biopsy of both testicles. No sperm was found in several ejaculations, and no spermatogenesis was present in the testicular tissue. On one testicle, a piece of epididymis was re- moved accidentally. This organ, which is a storage area for sperm, had no sperm within its lumen. On 31 August, 1980, after a gestation of 235 days. Beta gave birth to a male infant of approximately four pounds. After 15-20 minutes of in- difference and dragging the baby by the unbilical cord, she began to care for it. Although it was very difficult to observe nursing due to the mother hiding the baby in her arms, he remained strong and active until 3^ days of age. At 11:00 p.m. the first signs of weakness were noted. Beta was again immobilized and the baby removed but it was al- ready dead. Necropsy revealed a severe, acute interstitial pneumonia and ulcerative enteritis, believed to be due to Salmonella. Needless to say, we were quite disappointed with the death of the infant but several goals were accomplished and several questions answered. The first gorilla was produced from artificial insemination, although this was not our original goal - to produce a baby gorilla while another male was located. An eleven-year-old male from Canada was brought into the group two weeks after the death of the baby. A method of timing estrous or ovulation within a day or two proved suc- cessful, even though it would not be practical in many situations. How- ever, with the use of radiommunoassays for. urinary LH, or better results 268 First Gorilla Born Using Artificial Insemination, continued with LH detection by pregnancy test kits, the same end result could, be obtained. Several zoos are now using pregnancy test kits, to plot the cycle of their female gorillas for future artificial insemination attempts, with good success. Frozen semen was used successfully in this project although it was not our aim to test this process. However, it is useful to know that the technology for freezing semen in other species is also applicable to gorillas, especially since this may be the first primate other than man produced from frozen semen. The poor motility in the sample was reason for concern, but evidently uterine secretions stabilized and enhanced sperm survival. We were concerned about the effect of chemical immobilization on ovula- tion, but in this instance there was no apparent effect. Since the vast majority of artificial inseminations are performed on manually restrain- ed animals, we had no idea of what side effects might result from both the stress and the chemicals in this particular species. We were concerned about whether the semen obtained from an electro- ejaculation was a physiologically normal sample. It must be based upon the pregnancy obtained, however other factors such as the volume of semen produced may not be normal. We proved that long-range insemination projects like this can be under- taken successfully between two cooperating institutions. Gorillas with their poor reproductive rate, except in a few select institutions, have a even poorer chance for longterm survival in captivity unless avenues of increased reproduction are explored. Short-term breeding loans have been successful, in producing babies, but in zoos where this is imprac- tical, artificial insemination is now a viable option. Many gorillas imported into the United States in the 1960s are now reach- ing the end of their reproductive life span in non-breeding situations. It is surely imperative that these animals reproduce, not only to in- crease the population but to contribute to the gene pool available in the future. {Editor' 6 Note: TkU ouiticZe oAlgtnatty appcoAcd -In T-WtoJincLtlonaZ loo Ncm, VoZ. 2S/1, No. 170, 19S1. It being n.epnlnted ken.e with poJi- m-U6lon 0^ both Its author and IZN. OuA thanfis to them ^OK the oppor- tunity to pubtlsh thts artlcZe ^or our readers.) AWARD PRESENTED TO METRO TORONTO ZOO The Metro Toronto Zoo was recently honoured with the Thomas R. Baines Award for its success in breeding the African elephant. The zoo’s group of eight African elephants grew by one on 18 October 1980, when "Tequila" gave birth to a 200 lb. calf named "Thika". The award was presented to Lawrence Cahill, Director of Live Collections at the zoo, during the recent Canadian Association of Zoos, Parks and Aquariums (CAZPA) conference in Quebec City. The handsome award is a carved, wooden replica of a west coast totem pole depicting the Kwakiutl Thunder Bird and Killer Whale. It was named after Tom Baines who was director of the Calgary Zoo from 1929-1964. He was also president of the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA) during 1961-62. xhe Metro Toronto Zoo also recently received awards from the AAZPA for breeding both the Dali Sheep and Hamadryas Baboon. 269 Legislative News FINAL RULE ON MIGRATORY BIRDS Comp^2.d by Kzvln Co may The Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published a final rule regarding the deletion of the permit requirement to import and export migratory birds. The notice appeared in the Federal Register, Vol. 46, No. 163, pp. 4279-42680. Importers and exporters of lawfully possessed migratory birds, including their parts and products, will no longer be required to obtain a permit from the Service. The notice stressed, however, that in most instances, a permit is still required to lawfully possess a migratory bird. Lawful possession refers to possession within the United States and not in the foreign country where the birds are acquired. The Service made an additional change in its regulations to allow captive- reared and properly marked migratory waterfowl to be lawfully acquired outside of the United States from persons other than holders of valid waterfowl sale and disposal permits. The effective date of the final rule is 23 September 1981. Further infor- mation may be obtained from John T. Webb, Branch of Investigation, Divis- ion of Law Enforcement, Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of In- terior, P.O. Box 28006, Washington, D.C. 20005, telephone (202) 343-9242. L. Sc-hAondoJi AAZPA EXTENSION OF THE NORTH PACIFIC FUR SEAL TREATY The Senate on 11 June voted 94-0 to ratify a protocol on North Pacific fur seal conservation which extends for four years a treaty with Canada, Japan and the USSR regarding annual kill quotas. An amendment offered by Sen. Carl Levin (Mich.) was adopted which: 1) calls for a study of fur seal feeding habits, food requirements, and migration and distribu- tion patterns, 2) calls for a determination of alternate employment sources for Aleuts engaged in sealing (e.g. commercial fishing, bird sanctuary, tourism), and 3) permits the U.S. to reduce its 70 per cent share of the annual 25,000 take. Under this four nation agreement, entered into in 1911 to stop wasteful pelagic (at sea) harvesting of a dwindling popula- tion, fur seal numbers on the Pribilof Islands have increased tenfold to nearly two million. Sen. Levin spoke against spending over $3 million in federal money to "subsidize a slaughter which no longer serves a legiti- mate purpose." Since the U.S. has expanded its territorial claims from three to 200 nautical miles, he claimed, it would no longer be profitable to seal pelagically, because the creatures do not move in large numbers outside the 200 mile limit. Japan and Canada have threatened to return to pelagic sealing if the U.S. fails to continue the convention, which gives them each 15 per cent of the yearly kill of bachelor male seals in return for their promise not to seal on the open sea. 270 ConseAvatlon Re,ponX NatlonaZ {jJaXcLLI^^z fQ,dQAatlon Legislative News, c.ovLtinae.d PROPOSAL TO REMOVE THE BOBCAT FROM APPENDIX II OF CITES The United States, as a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) , may propose changes in the list of animal and plant species included in Appendices I and II for protection by this treaty. Under the terms of CITES, the party nations may consider such proposals either at their biennial meetings or through a postal procedure between the meetings. This notice announces a preliminary determination that the bobcat is in- appropriately included in Appendix II. Information obtained since its listing in 1976 shows that the bobcat is not potentially threatened with extinction unless international trade is controlled and that such control also is unnecessary in order to effectively regulate international trade in other listed species. It is evident that the bobcat is not a currently or potentially threatened species, and that its removal from CITES Ap- pendix II will have no adverse effects on its survival or on the effective- ness of CITES in controlling international trade in other Felidae. l/ol. 46, No. Ill Sept. 14,1981 _ WOULDN'T IT BE NICE FOR ALL? OA Tivleve To Imp/iove PeA6onneI Relattomhtp-{> 1. If you open it, close it. 2. If you turn it on, turn it off. 3. If you unlock it, lock it. 4. If you break it, repair it. 5. If you can't fix it, report it. 6. If you make a mess, clean it up. 7. If you use it, don't abuse it. 8. If you move it, put it back. 9. If you don't know how to operate it, leave it alone. 10. If you borrow it, return it promptly. 11. If it belongs to someone else, get permission before taking it. 12. If it doesn't concern you, don't mess with it in the first place. Soa/ice: Unknom Submitted by: Judle SteenbeAg, {jJoodtand Pa/ik Zoo 271 Publications Available Recent Developments in Research and Husbandry at the Washington Park Zoo 1981, edited by Jill Mellen and Ann Littlewood. This publication demonstrates what can be accomplished in a small zoo with a dedicated and innovative staff. Five of the eleven articles are by keepers, the rest by the veterinary staff, students and associates. Topics are venipuncture in the elephant, establishing a nutritional program, the behavior of captive chimpanzees and llamas, genetic analysis in zoo man- agement, hand-rearing Humboldt penguins, breeding elephant shrews, tools for elephant foot care, blood values in great horned owls, development in feline husbandry, and a description of the research educational pro- gram. The focus of all articles is practical information useful for captive management of animals. 92 pages. $5.00 plus $1.50 postage. Send orders to: Jill Mellen, Wash- ington Park Zoo, 4001 S.W. Canyon Road, Portland, OR 97221. Procedures for Designating Endangered Species - The listing process which gives endangered and threatened species official protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act has been summarized by the Fish and Wild- life Service in a new pamphlet. A description of the legal process and criteria for listing a species is included in the pamphlet, which is intended primarily for scientists, universities, other government agenc- ies, and conservation groups that wish to petition. Copies of Placing Animals and Plants on the List of Endangered and Threatened Species may be obtained by writing the Director (OES) , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240. ANNUAL REPORT ON MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT - a 29-page report, which covers the period of April 1, 1980 to December 30, 1980, describes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service management activities related to marine mammal species (polar bears, walruses, sea and marine otters, manatees and dugongs) under its jurisdiction. The report also discusses finan- cial grants to help States develop and implement protection, management, and educational plans, and to conduct research on these mammals. Single copies may be obtained from the Director (PUB), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. 1980 A.S.Z.K. Conference Proceedings Now Available The 1980 Conference Proceedings of the Australian Society of Zoo Keepers is now available. It contains 11 papers together with the opening ad- dress which was given by the Director of Taronga and Western Plains Zoos, Jack Throp. Many facets of animal house. construction and husbandry /breed- ing techniques relating to Australian collections are presented in some detail. It is printed in the same format as Thylacinus . Copies are available from the Secretary, A.S.Z.K., P.O. Box 74, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; for $5.00 Australian currency including postage. 272 Great Ape ^'^‘<^6^emon^<5> DISCOVERING APES COMPLEX BECOMES A REALITY AT THE TOPEKA ZOO By Siuan Chan Topeka ZoologTaal Va/ik It has been an exciting sunmier at Topeka Zoological Park this year with the long-awaited opening of the Discovering Apes Complex. Discovering Apes represents a 1.2 million dollar project that spanned a decade from initial idea to grand opening. In 1972, the Topeka Friends of the Zoo funded a feasibility study for the project. This study determined that the Topeka Zoo should concen- trate its efforts on a high quality exhibit to house its collection's two species of great apes - lowland gorillas and Bornean orangutans. Another priority for which building space was considered in the early planning was the educational impact of the display. Early on it was decided to allocate space of equal prominence to the live animal exhibits for educational graphics, display cases and similar materials which would give the visitor a better understanding and appreciation of these animals. From this concept grew the exhibit theme, "Discovering Apes". Construction was funded in November 1979 through the issuance of General Obligation bonds to be repaid by Zoo admissions. Final plans for the construction phase were completed and bids were let in July 1979. Initial bids received exceeded the funding available and after negotiations with those involved, a contract for construction was finally signed and ground- breaking ceremonies took place on 7 October 1979 for Phase I of the pro- ject. This phase included the orangutan exhibit, public space, and the off-exhibit holding units for both the orangutans and the gorillas. The building was completed in May 1981 and special exhibit furnishings - concrete and steel-reinforced trees and an Indonesian tree house for public viewing - were completed during the months of June and July. The dedication and grand opening took place on 17 July 1981. Discovering Apes is designed to provide zoo visitors an environment for viewing the great apes which is naturalistic and educational. The animal spaces are intended to give the animals great freedom to behave as they would in their native habitat. Off-exhibit areas have been planned for maximum safety for keepers as well as sanitation, safety and comfort for the animals. The building is constructed primarily of reinforced concrete and is rough- ly "H" shaped with the two major exhibits located at the north and south ends. The graphic display space, holding quarters and keepers* space are centrally located between the two exhibits. The orangutan exhibit is nearly 50 feet in length and 24 feet in width I with artificial trees branching out in all directions. The overall height of this exhibit space is equivalent to that of a four-story building. The great volume of space is required to allow the animals, which are aboreal, the freedom to swing naturally from tree to tree without being confined by a low ceiling or close walls. 273 Discovering Apes Becomes A Reality, continue.d The trees in the exhibit were formed with steel reinforcing rods and then sprayed with gunite. Sculptors and painters then shaped and colored the concrete to make it appear the same as the VyptQJiOCCUip trees which are found in the tropical rain forests of Indonesia. The bark of these trees runs in rings around the trunk and branches as opposed to the ver- tical bark of the temperate climate trees. Another feature of the orangu- tan exhibit space is the live tropical garden growing from a bed below the treehouse to provide treetop foliage near the platform rail. The keepers’ area provides a desk and record keeping space, diet kitchen, circulation space, locker room and shower room. Connected to the keepers! area are two off-exhibit holding areas for the apes. These holding areas are two-stories high and feature windows and skylights for a natural light- ing effect, individual fresh water units as well as individual heating and air conditioning controls. Each holding area is divided into seven rooms which join a center corridor or core. The rooms vary in size and color and give the keepers greater flexibility in placing and transferring ani- mals when they are not in the exhibit space. The holding spaces are con- trolled by a transfer system of pneumatic doors, operated from an elevat- ed plexiglass platform. Keepers are able to observe the movements of the animals very closely and yet are fully separated from them during the transfer process. Keepers can feed the animals from this elevated plat- form through individual feeding slots into each holding area. There are five separate heating and cooling systems that prevent cross- contamina- tion of air between animals and people, which is important since apes and humans are susceptible to the same illnesses. 274 Discovering Apes Becomes A Reality, continued The visitor enters the orangutan exhibit by crossing over a bridge with a sunken jungle garden on either side and into a tree house made of real bamboo imported from Taiwan. The guard rails and the tree house were constructed by the City’s chief horticulturist. Bob Foster, and his crew from bamboo ranging in size from a diameter of six inches to fishing pole width. The effect is that of an Indonesian setting, which is the native habitat of the orangs . The orangutans, "Djkarta Jim” and ’’Daisy” are viewed through glass which also helps prevent the spread of illness between people and apes. The entire orangutan area is filled with large gunite-concrete tree trunks with many branches. In the crotch of several trees are small pockets with running water leading to them. These offer the animals open access to drinking at will. There are two entrances from the night quarters into the exhibit area. This was specially designed in case one dominant orangutan decides to sit in the entrance and not allow others into the exhibit. Designed for social family groups of great apes. Discovering Apes is an innovative facility which presents visitors with an experience unparallel-^ ed in Topeka Zoo history. {Edltox'6 note.: kt tki^ iA}nyitA.nQ, "Sabtu" , a 14-ye.oA.-old {^e.maZe. BoMne.an OAangatan on bAe^ding loan ^Aom Lincoln PoAk loo tn Chicago, woA undeA- golng qaoAantlne. pAloA to be^ing lnte.gAate.d 06 poAt o^ the. foetal unit 01 oAangatam In VtdcoveAlng Ape^ . The. Tope.ka Zoo l^ al6o anticipating the. acquisition o^ a young male. oAangutan ^Aom the. Salt Lake. City Zoo. The. zoo's two lowland gonJJULas , "Max" and "Tl^^any" oAe. cuAAe.ntly not on exhibit since the public viewing space ^OA the goAlllas has not as yet been completed. Jn conjunction with the move o^ the gAeat apes to the new lacltity, a behavlouA obseAvatlon study has been undeAway. PoAt 2 Of) this oAtlcle, outlining the study, Its methods etc. will appeoA undeA "GAeat Ape Pandemonium" next month.) Information Please i WANTED : Names and addresses of manufacturers of large cotton throw I nets used for restraining sea lions. Please send informa- tion to: Jeff Berglund, Santa Barbara Zoo, 500 Ninos Drive, , Santa Barbara, CA . Information is requested on melanistic Geoffroy’s cats having spotted I offspring. Anyone having had a similar experience is requested to contact Bob Cooper, Little Rock Zoological Park, No. 1 Jonesboro Drive, i Little Rock, AR 72205. Anyone having information concerning taxonomy in Crested porcupines (HyStAlx Spp. } is requested to contact Connie Waters tradt. Zoo Keeper, Lafayette Zoological Park, 3500 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23504. The Milwaukee County Zoo would appreciate receiving information on any captive breeding program (successful or not) for turtles of the Genus Podocnemis , especially expansa. Send any information to: Reptile Section, Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 West Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226. 275 THE STRUGGLE SURVIVAL LOUISIANA RECLASSIFIED ALLIGATORS TO REFLECT THEIR IMPROVED STATUS The Interior Department’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced that the alligator is no longer threat- ened in Louisiana. The announcement capped a 17-year effort by State and Federal wildlife officials to bring the alligator back from the brink of extinction. In publishing the notice, the FWS changed the alligator’s status in Louisiana from "threatened" to a less restric- tive category under the Endangered Species Act. The re- classification gives Louisiana the option to permit a regulated alligator harvest throughout the State. The reclassification of Louisiana alligators does not affect alligators in other southern states, where they remain classified as "endangered" or "threatened’. Louisiana alligators are now listed under a category in the Endangered Species Act called "threatened by similar- ity of appearance." This category is used for species that are not biologically in danger of extinction, but that so closely resemble other species that are listed as endangered that it is difficult for law enforcement officials to distinguish between the listed and unlisted animals. The "similarity of appearance" category is need- ed for Louisiana alligators to protect alligators in other states where they are still listed as endangered or threat- ened. The alligator’s status has imporved because of the success of strong State and Federal efforts to protect and manage the species. Louisiana ended alligator hunting in 1964 when the species was declining rapidly, mostly as a result of excessive hunting. The alligator was placed on the first Federal endangered species list in 1967, and Fed- eral restrictions were subsequently placed on interstate and foreign trade in alligators. A vigorous law enforce- ment effort aimed at stemming the flow of illegal alliga- tor hides and products was also undertaken by State and Federal wildlife agents. These actions, coupled with the alligators high reproductive rate, attentive care of its young, and ability to adapt to a variety of aquatic habi- tats have resulted in the increase of alligator numbers in Louisiana. A limited alligator harvest is already permitted in 12 parishes of Louisiana, so this new ruling now gives the State the option to allow alligators to be harvested throughout Louisiana. Tight controls have been retained on all of these activities, however. Louisiana operates a licensing and tagging procedure for the alligator har- vest and is closely monitored by FWS officials. 276 Keeper’s Alert INTERNATIONAL POLAR BEAR STUDBOOK INITIATED The Rostock Zoological Park has initiated an international studbook for Polar Bears. The studbook was approved by lUDZG and lUCN; and question- naires are being sent to all known owners, with the request that they be returned to the studbook keeper as soon as possible. Owners not receiving a questionnaire are urged to send the following data to the studbook keeper: sex, house name, date and place of birth (zoo or country of origin), date of arrival, supplier, parents and any other pertinent remarks. The data should reflect the owners' inventory on 31 December 1979, along with the number of males, females and unsexed young in the institution since 1973. It is important to include the animal suppliers, as many of these animals have been involved in a number of transactions spanning several continents. Responses should be sent to: G. Fricke, Studbook Keeper, Zoologischer Garten Rostock, Rennbahnallee 21, 2500 Rostock, German Democratic Republic. A. ShomakoA in AAZPA Nm.i>lQXteA AAZK Publications Available The following AAZK Publications are available for sale for a limited time only: AAZK Conference Proceedings (1980) Montgomery Regularly $4.00, now $2.00 AAZK Conference Proceedings (1974) Chicago (limited supply) Now $1.00 Animal Keepers ' Forum 1977, 1978 (78 sets available) 1977 (set of 12 issues) $5.00 1978 (set of 12 issues) $7.50 Animal Keepers * Forum, indivdual issues for 1979, 1980, 1981 are available from the AKF Editorial Office for $1.00 each. A 12 issue set for these years costs $8.50 for 1979; $9.50 for 1980; and $10.50 for 1981. 1981 sets will be available after 1 Jan. 1982. AAZK 1980-81 Membership Directories $3.00 for members $6.00 for non-members 277 Book Review THE GIANT PANDA Edited by Zhu Jing and Li Yangwen. Published by Science Press, Beijing, China, 1980. Distributed by Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. Ro-v-lm by K^vZn Camay is worth a thousand words" if you judge them by this book. Except for a preface and chronicle of events, this volume consists entirely of photographs with captions. The editor's note in the preface that the photographs have been taken as data for research; "and they are bound to be affected by the limitations of our working conditions as well as by our individual taste." The book is divided into four parts: ecology, growth, protection and the mission of the giant panda as a "messenger of friendship." The book's preface gives a very good capsule description of the giant panda and the scientific information which has been collected on it. The first photo section in the book depicts distribution, habitat and the bamboo jungle. Mountainous terrain, alpine meadows and lakes and subalp ine coniferous forest belt, the giant panda's main habitat, are all shown in color photographs . Other photos depicting the ecology of the giant panda include bamboo, dense forests of bamboo, droppings from various food sources (including bamboo) , carcasses found in the wild and the regeneration of bamboo it- self. Here the editors point out the life cycle of arrow-bamboo and its effect on giant panda populations. Once every one-hundred years, arrow bamboo flowers and dies. Seeds of arrow-bamboo take from one to two years to germinate. Another fourteen to fifteen years elapse before the bamboo grows to seven to eight millimeters in diameter and about three meters in height . The remaining photos show a giant panda cub develop from birth to two years old. The majority of these photos include the mother panda and a great deal of maternal/offspring behavior is shown. Photos also show copulation between a pair of pandas at the Beijing Zoo, an electroejacula- tion sequence and group behavior in a zoo environment. The final section of the book shows the distribution of preserves the Chinese have estab- lished for the giant panda. It also includes a photo album of giant pandas sent as gifts to other zoos around the world as "messengers of friendship". The chronicle of events about the giant panda finishes the book. It traces the recorded history of the giant panda from 1869 to the present with additional information not found in the preface. The Giant Panda contains over two hundred and thirty photographs , most are in color, but there are black and white photos as well. While there are plenty of giant panda photos some are very poor quality to be in- cluded in this volume. While The Giant Panda would make an excellent coffee table book for the most dedicated panda watcher, its price ($30) is rather steep for the buyer interested in hard facts about the giant panda and the niche it occupies . 278 AAZK T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE I i, AAZK T-shirts with the official emblem are now available. The price is ; $5.49 plus $1.00 for shipping and handling. Sizes Small, Medium and Large are available in tan, red, lemon yellow and royal blue. Size Extra- ' Large is available in tan and royal blue only. To order, please complete the coupon below and send with a check or money order to: Carleton Bailie, I c/o Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave. , Akron, OH 44307. [ Please send T-shirt (s) at $5.49 plus $1.00 shipping and handling. 1 Size: ^small medium large ^extra-large j Colors : ; ^Tan Red Lemon yellow Royal blue j Name : Address : ICity: State : Zip: AAZK ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE Decals : The official AAZK decal is available through the Memphis Zoo Chapter. The decal is a black and white reproduction of the AAZK rhino logo, suitable for any smooth, hard surface, especially a car window. Cost is $1.50 complete, prepaid. Make checks payable to the Memphis Chapter, AAZK and send directly to Mike Maybry, Decal Project Coordina- tor, 1887 Crump Ave., Memphis, TN 38107. Pins And Charms: Enameled three- quarter inch pins and charms with the official AAZK logo are now available. They are done in the same colors as the AAZK Patch and the charms are suitable for necklaces (you provide the chain) . The price per pin or charm is $3.00 which includes postage. To order send your name, complete mailing address, number of pins or charms desired to : Patrice Carbaugh, 5456 Abbott Place, Los Angeles, CA 90042. Make check or money order payable to Patrice Carbaugh. Buttons : For a "Keepers Care" Button, send the coupon and 50c to: Larry Sammarco, Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614. Please send ___ button(s) for 50<: each. Name: Address: I City State Zip 279 We oA-Z i.ndQ,bt2,d to the, AAZPA Nm^ldtteA. loK aZtowlviQ ua to /L2.p/Ltnt pofi- ttowb o{^ thU> section l^om tkoJji '’Po^ttlovUi Avcoitabte," tlAtlng. Tkts Aj> a. monthty ^OAotod to 06, loH. you.. PACHVVERM KEEPER. ♦ ♦primarily responsible for two African cows. Must have previous experience. Salary negotiable. Contact: Mark D. Pyritz, River- banks Zoo, 500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC 29210 or call (803) 779- 8717 for appointment. ANIMAL CARE SPECIALIST TRAIMEE. . .will be trained for full-time position in animal care techniques. Applicant should be high school graduate, strong swimmer and possess willingness to learn. Competitive salary and benefits. Applicants should mail resumes to: Attention: Personnel Dept., Sea World of Florida, 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando, FL 32809. FOE, M/F. ANIMAL KEEPERS .. full-time positions .Requires some experience in the care and maintenance of exotic wildlife in captivity. Some college desirable. Salary $9,400 plus excellent fringe benefits. Send resume to: George Felton, Director, Greater Baton Rouge Zoo, P.O. Box 60, Baker, LA 70714, ANIMAL KEEPER. . .requires experience in the care / maintenance of wild animals. Send resume to Art Wolz, Kings Dominion, P.O. Box 166, Doswell, VA 23047. Tha {.otto(A}tng "Po^ttlom AvcuZablz." adU woAd ^ent dUAdctty to Animat Ke^peA^' Eo^um {^K.om the. adv2AtJj>lnq IvUttttutlon. Any Institution doAlAtng to placo. ^uak an ad {l{, you do not alAtgn and Edacatton Lab at the, ltabai>hA, ChttdAe.n'^ Zoo tn Kob^, Japan. Vo^ht'6 antuoofik hai> be,e,n le,atuJie,d on AKF oooeja be,ion.e, and tt t^ a ple,aiuAe, to once, agatn ,{>hoMccu>c (vU oAtuttc talents on oiin, holiday coveA. Many thanfi6, Vo-i>hll /-— "gCUTTLEBUTT FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK j The editorial staff of AKF is pleased to bring AAZK members this expand- [ ed edition which not only includes some of our regular features , but also the fine papers presented at the National AAZK Conference in Fresno and an Index of articles from the past 12 issues of the Forum . Also included is an Overview of the AAZK Board Meetings held in Fresno to update the membership on what has been going on within the Association for the past 1 year and what is planned for 1982. We would like to take this opportun- ity to thank all the many members who have submitted material for AKF over the past year — without your continued interest and support, we can not continue to grow and mature into the truly professional journal we j strive to be. We encourage your continued support via articles, birth and hatchings updates from your institution, ideas, suggestions etc. 1981 has been a great year for the Forum and we hope to continue to serve the membership in the exchange and dissemination of information and ideas, j Copies of this Special Edition will be sent to all members. A limited number of additional copies have been ordered and may be purchased from the National Office for $5.00 each. ‘ NOTE TO BOOK REVIEWERS: Some of you may have agreed to review a book, but have not yet received the book. One of the publishers has received a large order for books from me, but has not yet sent the books. I believe they are waiting for a review to be published for the one book they did send. So please be patient — I haven’t forgotten about anyone. Thanks, Ellen Leach, Book : Review Project Coordinator,. Coming Events WILDLIFE REHABILITATION SYMPOSIUM February 18-21, 1982 Glen Ellyn, Illinois The Symposium will feature Workshops, Paper Sessions and National Keynote Speakers. For information, write: Willowbrook Wildlife Haven, 525 S. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, Attn: Dr. Paul Beaver. AAZPA NORTHEASTERN REGIONAL CONFERENCE March 7-9, 1982 Toronto, Ontario, Canada AAZPA SOUTHERN REGIONAL CONFERENCE March 21-23, 1982 Montgomery, Alabama 281 Conference 81 from the President OVERVIEW OF THE 1981 AAZK BOARD MEETINGS By Vat SammoAco, AAZK V^o^ldzYit The 1981 annual meeting of the Board of the American Association of Zoo Keepers came to order at 9 a.m., in the Zoology Room of the Ramada Inn in Fresno, CA. President, Pat Sammarco, Vice-president Jill Grade and Board member Bernie Feldman met with interested members during the day and in- cluded Board member Mike Coker (unable to attend) in the discussions via conference phone call. Board member Mike Maybry could not be reached to be included in the conference call. He also was unable to attend. AAZK National Office and AKF The report on the activities of national headquarters, as submitted by Administrative Secretary Dolly Clark was read. Proposals to give Dolly Clark and Susan Chan 7% pay raises were approved. The proposed budget was approved as a guide for the association’s finances, allowing for changes as necessary. The incorporation proposal was approved by the Board, to be submitted to the membership for vote. The proposal with an explanation of its importance from Pat Sammarco and attorney Vernon Jarboe will be put before the membership either through separate mailing or through the Forum. The report on the status of the Animal Keepers ’ Forum was read as sub- mitted by Managing Editor Susan Chan. It was suggested that occasional letters from the editor encourage submission of articles both more and less technical in nature. The Forum is ever-improving in quality and content, and the editorial staff is to be thanked. The Brookfield Zoo AAZK Chapter has written the text and provided some funds for the production of a career brochure that will be available in the future. Mike Coker is working on a new edition of the AAZK Gestation Booklet, available in early 1982. 282 Overview Of The 1981 AAZK Board Meetings, continued Nominations & Election Committee Discussions on the Nominating and Election Committee will be tabled for the Toronto meeting. All seemed to go very well this year, and the com- mittee did a fine job. A suggestion to reduce the committee size, and another to move up the timetable by two months will be discussed next year. Because offices may change with the results of the members’ vote on incorporation, adding a necessary secretary to the Board, election of officers will be accomplished by mail with the new Board members voting. There was some discussion of dividing the responsibilities of association administration among the Board members, and this discussion was tabled as well. Directory Pat Sammarco reported on the Membership Directory, asking that members who wish their phone numbers published, add them to the Directory Infor- mation section on their membership renewal forms, and noting home and work numbers. Animal Data Transfer Forms I Animal Data Transfer Forms were presented in the newest revised form by 1 Bernie Feldman. The survey asking for use and opinions on the form seems j to indicate that use and acceptance of the forms is increasing. Keepers I are advised to use the forms, and request information if they receive I animals without them. The ADTF will be further revised as keeper input i suggests. I Chapter Affairs i Bernie Feldman presented a very encouraging report on the status of chapters and their activities over the year. Bernie has been doing an excellent job as Chapter Affairs Coordinator, but due to family obliga- tions is resigning this post. Patti Kuntzmann will be stepping into this position. Regional Coordinator System Mike Carpenter reported on his activities since assuming the Head Region- I al Coordinator position, and has done very well in establishing communica- tions with the RCs who have been working and has asked the Board to ap- ; prove Joan Stinson, Patrice Carbaugh, Alan Sharpies and Lynne Villers as Regional Coordinators to fill existing vacancies. It has been emphasized that RCs are a communication link between members and national AAZK, and should be coordinating activities within their regions to encourage pro- fessionalism and comraderie. Legislative Committee The Legislative Committee's report was read as submitted by Kevin Conway. Kevin has been very active in keeping the membership aware of legislative action concerning wildlife, and has on three occasions advised the as- sociation on making official replies to federal agencies. All members are encouraged to remain personally active in commenting to their repre- sentatives, and to use Kevin’s knowledge of the issues for advice. 283 Overview Of The 1981 AAZK Board Meetings, continued International Affairs The International Affairs report was read as submitted by Karen Starr Wakeland indicating little correspondence from foreign associations, but some from keepers in the form of articles for the Forum. We will again send the foreign associations a report of AAZK activity and hope that will aid in a better exchange of information. Professional Standards Jill Grade presented the report on the progress of the Professional Standards Committee in collecting information on how zoos establish keeper standards. The committee will continue collecting information that will help us define professionalsim in zoo keeping. Keeper Data Collection Dave Orndorff has resigned from the post of Keeper Data Collector, due to increased professional responsibilities, and will be replaced in this position by Mary Slaybaugh of the San Antonio Zoo. Mary will be develon- ing the questions to find out what we want to know about zoo keepers. History Committee - Larry Sammarco reported that the committee is continu- ing to collect information on the AAZK formative years, and will appre- ciate the help of all members in collecting facts on the good old days. Keeper Accomodation List - Fran Turner reported that the KAL got little use over the year, but worked well for those who did use it in their travels. A suggestion was made to publish the experiences of those using the list to encourage others . This is a great way for keepers to travel cheaply and establish professional contacts across the continent. Infant Development Committee - Sally Smith read the IDC*s report as sub- mitted by chairwoman Marcia Clevenger. Data is being collected and organ- ized for publication in the Infant Diet /Care Notebook. Forms for sub- mitting data are available from Marcia at 5436 N.E. Grand Blvd. , Okla- homa City, OK 73111. Film Project - The report on the film "Looking To The Future" was read as submitted by Karen Starr Wakeland. Karen has been gathering infor- mation on zoos, noteworthy exhibits, and representative keepers for the film which will show zookeeping from our point of view. An advisory committee has been established and a writing team organized. This will be a long, large project, and the finished product will put zoo keepers in the public eye as professionals. Before fund-raising for the film begins, Karen, her committee and all of us, will be organizing the focus of the film and get it written. All who have thoughts on the film and what it should say about our profession are encouraged to contact Karen. Book Review/Program Library - Ellen Leach reported on the high level of activity of the book review project, with 30 books now in the hands of reviewers, and more available. Reviews will be published in the Forum so that we may all share these current publications, and other sources of professional information. Ellen reported that she has only 4 programs available at this time, but with her efforts at the conference, we should soon have a number of keep- er-produced slide show/lectures available for mutual education. The Information Center Project report was also made by Ellen and indicat- ed that this is moving slowly, waiting for zoo libraries to organize. 284 Overview Of The 1981 AAZK Board Meetings, contlnue-d Research Grants Committee - Frank Kohn and Mike Coker’s report was read as submitted. Two grant applications were reviewed by the Board and approved for funding. These are: Investigation into Maintaining, Breeding and Exhibiting the Tailed Frog, AicaphnS tAliOA., in a Zoological Park from Stanley Held, Animal Keeper, Washington Park Zoo, Portland, OR. Captive Maintenance of the Echidna, TcLch^gZo^6Li6 a(iuZ^at.iJi6 , : Applications of Research in nutrition, reproduction, and thermoregulation to current management practices, from John Brannian and Connie Cloak, Topeka Zoo, Topeka, KS. Research advisor Frank Kohn has also been appointed to be AAZK’s rep- resentative on the Board on the new research journal, ZOO BIOLOGY. AAZK Accessories Reports - Reports were submitted by Mike Maybry on Logo decals, Patrice Carbaugh on logo charms, Carleton Bailie on logo T-shirts, and Larry Sammarco on KEEPERS CARE buttons. All projects seem to be do- ing well. Discussions led to the guidelines being redefined to the effect that profits from projects will be shared by national AAZK, and chapters, but not by individuals contributing to other associations. Mike Crocker asked for opinions on bumper sticker designs that the Dicker- son Park Zoo Keepers may make available in the future. Awards Committee - this report was made by Mike Crocker and suggestions from the committee led to the decision to produce Certificates of Merit for those occasions when keepers have been of exemplary service to the profession. Five Excellence in Zookeeping awards were made this year: to Raymond Navarro and Mary Swanson of Fresno; Patricia Kuntzmann of Philadelphia; Carole Udell of Los Angeles; and Jim Higgins of Lincoln Park. A Certificate of Merit for Zoo Keeper Education was awarded to the Rio Grande Zoo. The editors of Animal Keepers’ Forum presented sev- en Journalism Awards at the banquet and their Art Award was mailed. Five Awards were presented to the Keepers who were involved in the projects that won their institutions the AAZPA Bean Awards. Discussions about the problems incurred by the time needed to prepare for the awards presentation led to the proposal that the awards committee delay the presentation of the Bean-related awards for a year, giving the committee time to contact the appropriate personnel and have the certifi- cates drawn. The winners will also be invited to present papers on the award-winning project so that we may all share the experience and exper- tise involved. A new award will be created to express the Association’s appreciation of all those involved in hosting the National Conferences. The awards will be sent to all the past conference hosts, and continue for future confer- ences . The members voted unanimously to award Ron Kaufman, Topeka Zoo, a Certif- icate of Merit and Life membership for his dedication to AAZK and in thanks for his conception and development of the Animal Keepers’ Foriom. Upcoming Conferences - Philadelphia Chapter was accepted by the Board and the membership as the host for the 1983 national conference. Fran Turner reported that all is going well in planning for the 1982 Metro-Toronto National Conference, with the dates set at October 3-8. The facilities and the zoo seem to be inviting a great meeting. Thanks to all in Fresno for providing such a good opportunity for busi- ness, professional contact and parties. This was a chance for us to remember AAZK’s beginnings, since Fresno was the site of the first con- ference, and look to the future of AAZK and professional zookeeping . flf 285 ZOOKEEPERS: MISSING LINK TO THE PUBLIC? By Vk. ShoJunan ExucLutive, VAjidctofi Tkd VAJiCovzAy Co^wt^A, Fac6 no, CA A. INTRODUCTION Like the animals they display, modern zoos have evolved. Beginning with the domestication of animals in pre-historic times, man-managed collec- tions of animals progressed through the menageries of great kings to the French Revolution, when the Menagerie du Parc of Louis XIV became the first public zoo. Today, the modern zoo has four functions: recreation, research, conservation, and education (Conway, 1969). From an historical perspective, education has been the last zoo function to evolve. Yet more and more zoos are beginning to place more emphasis on this edu- cational role, and for obvious reasons. The world-wide wildlife crisis is becoming more and more acute. We are destroying natural habitats and driving thousands of species toward extinction. Clearly zoos have an obligation to help people learn about wildlife, to help stop this fright- ening trend. Might zookeepers have a role in this educational effort? I think there are good reasons that they do. This paper presents a rationale for zoo- keepers becoming more involved in public zoo education and suggests spec- ific ideas detailing how this might be done. B. THE NEED FOR INFORMAL EDUCATION IN ZOOS Over 130 million people visit zoos across this country each year, more than the combined annual attendance at all major professional sports I Yet, if we are interested in zoo education we must ask ourselves this question: "What concepts and attitudes do these casual visitors bring with them, and how does the zoo visit experience affect these concepts and attitudes, if at all?" There is strong and compelling evidence that (1) many zoo-goers have mis- taken concepts and childish attitudes about animals, and (2) the typical zoo visit experience does little or nothing to change these concepts and attitudes. Here is some of the evidence: 1. Prevalent concepts and attitudes about animals. Most zoo-goers appear to look at animals as humans, especially children, as their frame of reference. For example, Kellert (1976) conducted a nation-wide study of attitudes toward animals and identified zoo-goers as having "humanistic" and "moralistic" attitudes toward animals, in contrast to groups such as birdwatchers, who have "ecological" or "scien- tific" attitudes toward animals. In other words, they tend to view zoo animals as pets. Morris (1977) has shown that the popular zoo animals among children have anthropomorphic features, such as hair, a high fore- head, and an upright stance. These studies highlight the way animals are portrayed in our culture. Between 60-70% of American households own pets (Time magazine, December 23, 1974), and these animals are popular precisely because they are made to conform to human needs. Nietchmann (1977) had identified the prevalent American attitude towards animals as "the Bambi factor," in reference to 286 Zookeepers : Missing Link To The Public?, aontlnu^d the tremendous impact cartoons and children’s stories have on our way of looking at animals (note that in many children’s stories, animals are really humans in disguise, with human needs and characteristics) . 2. Impact of the zoo visit. Zoo-visitor studies strongly indicate that zoo visits have very little impact on the prevalent concepts and attitudes discussed above. Indeed, the zoo visit often functions as an outlet for visitors to express these concepts and attitudes. For example, how do zoo visitors relate to the signs and descriptive labels attached to animal exhibits? Generally speaking, not well at all. In one study (Rosenfeld, 1980) , sign-reading occurred at only 8% of the exhibits visited. In another study, only 1/6 to 1/9 of the visitors read zoo graph- ics (Lee, 1976). And in two studies (Rosenfeld, 1980; Brennan, 1978) visitors who did read signs overwhelmingly chose not to share the informa- tion with others. What do visitors talk about at the animal exhibits? Generally speaking, many comments are anthropomorphic in character, i.e. they seem to relate more to humans than to the animals; furthermore, these comments are often derogatory in character (e.g. see Rosenfeld, 1980) . To summarize, the evidence presented above indicates there is a definite need to improve informal education in zoos. C. INSIGHTS FROM ZOO VISITOR RESEARCH Do studies of zoo visitors, such as those mentioned above, offer any con- structive insights regarding the problem of informal education in zoos? I believe they do. Briefly, they give us a clear picture of the zoo visit- ors’ criteria of success ,i.e. , what they value in the zoo visit. Know- ing what actually happens during the zoo visit and what visitors find important, we can be better able to respond accordingly. Here is a brief summary of some of this knowledge, largely based on studies I conducted at the San Francisco Zoo and the Lawrence Hall of Science (Rosenfeld, 1980) 1. The zoo visit is foremost a social outing. In a national interview study of over a thousand adults, Cheek (1973) concluded that visiting the zoo is "a unique social occasion.” In my San Francisco Zoo study, I found that motivations for visiting the zoo were largely "context-dependent” (i.e., relating to features of the setting other than the animals; as one girl said, tthe zoo is a park with lots of extras.”). I also found that the strengthening and maintaining of family ties was a dominant motivation for the visits. Despite the "public” nature of the visit, few groups in- teract with members from other groups; they focus their energies on indi- viduals within their groups (Brennan, 1978) . 2. Visitors spend relatively little time at each exhibit . In the San Francisco Zoo study, I found that most of the 97 animal exhibits were visited briefly; over 80% of all the exhibits were visited for an average of between 15-90 seconds. This finding has been reported in a variety of other zoos, aquaria, and museums; the average time spent at most exhibits is less than 90 seconds. 3. Visitors spend considerable more time at exhibits where the most animal-animal and human- animal interactions occur. The single most predictable pattern of the zoo visits can be described as the "search for Interaction.” Suppose that one graphs each animal exhibit in terms of its "attractiveness” (the percentage of people who visit it) and 287 Zookeepers: Missing Link To The Public?, contlnund its "holding power" (the average time people stay at the exhibit). It can be clearly demonstrated that those exhibits that have the highest values for "holding power" are those where the most animal-animal or human-animal interactions occur. For example, in the San Francisco Zoo study, feeding the non-captive pigeons and squirrels held visitors' at- tention longer than did 80% of the animal exhibits'. The strong relation- i ship between "holding power" and level of interaction has been noted as well in numerous museum studies (Thier and Linn, 1976) . 4. Human-animal interactions hold visitors' attention far longer than animal-animal interactions . This is a very significant finding. The former type of interactions include those between zookeepers and animals, as well as between visitors and animals. 5 . Visitors prefer exploratory to in-depth observation of the animals. Visitors — especially first-time visitors — engage in "Browsing" behav- ior. They usually spend significantly more time at an exhibit the second time they visit it. It appears that visitors scan their environment, looking for something "interesting" (i.e., usually where some interaction can take place or is taking place) . 6 . Visitors often use themselves as benchmarks or frames of reference while looking at animals. As mentioned earlier, this behavior can lead to anthropomorphic and derogatory remarks about the animals . But this need not be so, as will be shown shortly. D. APPLYING THESE INSIGHTS TO INFORMAL EDUCATION IN ZOOS ^ With the above knowledge about zoo visitor behavior, it is my belief that we can design better methods for "getting the message across". For example, signs can be designed that (a) are based on animal interactions, (b) pro- mote social interactions between group members, and (c) provide visitors with the opportunity to compare themselves with the animals. My predic- tion is that these signs would be read far more than the traditional tax- onomic zoo signs. Providing visitors with the opportunity to compare themselves with animals I can lead to the development of sound concepts and attitudes about animals. I developed a mini-zoo at the Lawrence Hall of Science which was based on this "compare yourself" approach. Visitors were invited to compare how far they jumped, how fast they ran, how tall they were, how similar or | different their body parts were, and how fast they could shell and eat i sunflower seeds — all in relation to other (i.e., non-human) animals. ' These comparisions involved visitor interaction. As might be expected, these interactive activities had more "holding power" as a group than the non-interactive animal exhibits (parenthetically, the latter exhibits scored higher on the "attractiveness" variable). Furthermore, the activit- ies were designed to lead into the concept of animal adaptation, one of the most basic and important concepts in biology. E. WHY ZOOKEEPERS HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN ZOO EDUCATION The above examples illustrate how a knowledge of zoo visitor behavior can be applied to the successful design of educational aides. I think this same line of thinking suggests a powerful rationale for zookeepers playing a more active role in zoo education with the general public. : Simply look at the "insights from zoo visitor research" and answer these j questions: Which zoo employee is most likely to interact with animals? Which zoo employee is most likely to be present and noticable along with 288 Zookeepers: Missing Link To The Public?, continued the zoo visitors? Which zoo employee has constant contact with the ani- mals and the visiting public? Zookeepers are clearly in a position to enhance the educational experience of the casual zoo visitor. How might they do this? First, zookeepers can incorporate the educational role within their regular tasks. This can be done simply by communicating what is being done with the animals — and why — to the general public. Such communications can take the form of on-the-job talks, specially- designed signs and/or specially-designed brochures. Second, zookeepers can become an educational link to the visiting public within special pro- grams , Behind-the-scenes tours, special talks or demonstrations, and/or special question-and-answer sessions are all possibilities. WTiat is im- portant to keep in mind are the "insights from zoo visitor research," e.g., the importance of interactive activity (particualrly human-animal inter- action) , the social nature of the zoo visit, etc. In this way, I believe zookeepers could make an important contribution in helping dispel common myths about animals, in provoking visitor curosity, interest, and question-asking, and in communicating important concepts relating to conservation, animal management, and wildlife biology. Certain conditions must be met if this is to happen. Attention must be given to adequate funding for these programs (e.g., f ee-f or-service , existing budget, grants, volunteer work). Cooperation with zoo directors, educators, zoo societies, etc. is another prerequisite. Also, interested zookeepers from different zoos need to keep in contact with each other. Finally, there must be plenty of iniative, imagination, persistence and creative energy. But given these conditions, it is clear to me that zookeepers can be a vital and valuable link to the zoo public. REFERENCES Brennan, Thomas J. "Visitor Watching: What People Do At the Zoo." Brookfield Bison, Augus t /September , 1976, pp. 1-8. Cheek, Neil H. "People At The Zoo." Animal Kingdom, June, 1973, pp.9-14 Conway, William C. "Zoos: Their Changing Roles." Science , Vol. 163 (1969), pp. 48-52. Kellert, S.R. "Perceptions of Animals in American Society." Trans . N . American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, 41: 533-546, 1976. Lee, Alfred T. "A Report on Educational Graphics and Reading Behavior", Unpublished manuscript, Zoological Society of San Diego, Sept. 1976. Morris, Desmond, Manwatching: A Field Guide to Human Behavior , Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 1977. Nietschmann, Bernard. "The Bambi Factor," Natural History, Vol. 86, No. 6 (August, 1977), pp. 84-86. Rosenfeld, Sherman B. "The Context of Informal Learning in Zoos." Roundtable Reports, Vol. 4, No. 2 (1979), pp. 1-3, 15-16. . Informal Learning in Zoos: Naturalistic Studies of Family Groups, Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, University of California, Berkeley (Science/Mathmatics Education), 1980. Serrell, Beverly, "Looking at Zoo and Aquarium Visitors," Museum News , November /December , 1980, pp. 37-41. Thier, Herbert D. and Linn, Marcia. "The Value of Interactive Learning Experiences in a Museum," Curator, 10/1 (1976), pp. 233-245. 289 ELEPHANT SET By HoJiboAt MalzacheJi, Elephant handleA/t^cUneA Hizyuiy U-lllcu Zoo, Maduon, WI THE BASIC ELEPHANT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM PART TWO M Basic Maintenance Program 1. Chaining 2. Handling The Ankus 3. Knowing What The Word *NO* Means 4. Foot Up 5 . Trunk Up 6. Lead And Back Up 7. Line Up And Steady 8. Stretch On Sternum 9. Lay Down On Both Sides ONE - In the beginning, it is safer for keepers to train with the animal in chains. Chains aid in controlling the animal and enables the keeper to take time to think things out carefully. The everyday use of the chains is essential for the basic maintenance program as it gets the ani- mal use to chains, and eventually provides security for the animal. Using chains every day can protect one elephant from another, and can be useful when the animal needs special attention, medication, or if an emergency should arise. TWO - Before going in with the elephant, the staff should know how to handle the ankus. The ankus is used as an extension of your arm and not as a weapon. Begin first by using it on each other: by trying to pick up a foot or by backing a person up or making them come forward. Trying this first will let you know what it feels like to be manipulated, and will aid you to properly guide the elephant. THREE - The first thing you must teach an elephant, or any animal for that matter, is what the word "NO" means. This will involve its first punish- ment, a disciplinary act that will be the most important thing the animal will learn. This is also important for your well being. For example, my i first experience was with Judy, the elephant in Oklahoma City. Judy would not let me out of the pen when I was through using a wheelbarrow and shovel. I took the shovel, hit her on the back foot, and at the same time yelled "NO". She let me out of the pen - it was that simple. Of course, it’s not always that simple; sometimes people don’t get a chance to see what hit them. I was lucky, Judy was just playing. That is something to re- member, an elephant will sometimes try to bluff or worse yet, try to take a new person. You must be prepared at all times. Never get overconfident. FOUR - Foot up for inspection. FIVE - Trunk up for inspection. SIX - The next thing to teach an elephant is to lead and back up. You should be able to lead them to a "line up point" before you bring them in or out of their enclosure. 290 The Basi c Elephant Maintenance Program, contlnuo^d SEVEN " A "line up point" is any spot you choose inside or outside the enclosure. Use the same spot every time. This control could specifically help you to deal with clumsy or nervous elephants. Let me give you some examples of the line up command to illustrate how potentially dangerous situations are now handled more safely: - Some keepers were going into a small enclosure with a big African male. They did not line him up, or have him in their control. Now they tell him to line up before they go in and he will go right to the line up spot and stay there. Believe it or not, he will stay for a half an hour or longer, without chains. - In another zoo, the female African came into heat, and there was breeding. For about two or three weeks, the male was reluctant to respond to any commands , but because of their consistent maintenance program, they could still line him up and chain him. - Lastly, in Madison, before we give the command, our elephants line up automatically when they hear the restraining doors open. We are in control even before we go in with them. EIGHT - The stretch position enables upper body and head examination and is a prelude to laying the elephant down. NINE - Laying the elephant down on both sides provides another safe way for examining and rubbing. Laying them down enables examination of the elephants, puts the elephant in a position of control, and provides a better way for a veterinarian to examine them without drugs. While in this position I recommend daily bathing and rubbing to properly care for the elephant’s skin. Earlier I mentioned that the basic maintenance program must be carefully thought through, planned and implemented in the safest possible way for your facilities. Below I have listed some considerations management must make when implementing this program. (1) A good staff/animal ratio is always a must. As a minimum, I recommend two keepers be with an elephant whenever it is being handled. Start out in the morning by having two keepers observe your elephant's behavior. The keepers should determine if its behavior is normal or not. If there is a change in behavior, you will quickly see a change in the routine and can then act accordingly. (2) Before you go in with your animal know what you are going to do. You should not discuss what is going to be done when you are in with the ani- mals. The animals will get nervous and sense the uncertain! ty of the sit- uation and react with bad behavior. (3) I also feel strongly that throughout the day you should make "contact" with the animal; cleaning or feeding every two hours or so. These contacts should fit into the daily schedule. If the people working with the ele- phants also work another area, they should adjust their routine so that they drop in periodically on the elephants: lining them up, cleaning, feeding etc. Zoo management must give elephant people time in the daily schedule to keep up the all important contact that it takes to keep ele- phants safe and healthy in captivity. 291 The Basic Elephant Maintenance Program, co ntinund (4) The basic maintenance program involves other people besides the "reg- ! ular elephant crew". With shared communications, anybody should be able | to do the full routine. This is essential in case of an emergency. How- | ever, this does not mean you can rotate the people working the elephants you must have a nucleus of people that work the elephants. Once this ■ nucleus is well established, and the basic maintenance program is in place,; then you can begin to orient poeple from other zoo areas and zoo super- visors. These other people would learn the "routine" of handling and cleaning, and could then be involved with providing assistance or pro- viding backup. These other people may be future elephant handlers. When you reach this stage, you have a solid basic maintenance program. In conclusion, there is no mystique necessary in the elephant barn. I strongly believe that only a little knowledge, if based on principles, is preferable to the many situations I have seen where elephants are cared for with ignorance. The elephant would, with a low vibrating purr, most gratefully appreciate the extra attention which intelligent knowledge could substitute for wrong management or cruel neglect. & CAPTURING DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP By Hlcka^Z Pee, Se.nio-'L Animal KnnpeA. Lo6 AngoZej) Zoo, Lo^ AngeZe^, CA The Desert Bighorn Sheep, 0vl6 canaden6yC6 CAe.mnobate^ , has been a protect- ed species in California since the late 1800s. Surveys made during the last twenty years have found that many desert bighorn populations are de- clining. This is due to a number of factors such as loss of habitat, stress and possible inbreeding. One area that has been studied is the Santa Rosa Mountain Range south- east of Palm Springs, CA. This area offers good bighorn habitat, but the recent decline in lamb population has caused some concern with wild- life biologists. Ewes with lambs were seen during the lambing season, but few lambs were surviving to yearling age. In February 1981, the Research Team from the Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep began field investigations of the bighorn herds in this range to study the cause of the high lamb mortality. The first phase of the study would encompass capturing 10 to 15 sheep for radio telemetry and blood sampling. The team located bighorn concentrations in the study area and was able to pick possible capture sites where drive netting would be feasible. On 28 April, 1981, the Sheep Society Research Team showed the Department of Fish and Game personnel the study area by surface roads and then by heliocopter. The capture was scheduled for the following morning at dawn. 292 Capturing Desert Bighorn Sheep, contlnund On 29 April, 1981, the capture teams and equipment were flown into the capture site. A thousand yards of net were set up, and the teams were divided into groups with a veterinarian in each group. The nets were placed in two rows over a gully which the sheep would hopefully use as an escape route. After the nets were up, the heliocopter crew found small bands of bighorn and the teams were stationed at the end of each row of net. The sheep were slowly driven towards the net. When the animals hit the net, they would tangle as the net collapsed. The teams converged on the captured sheep from their hiding places, grabbing them and removing them from the net. The sheep were then blindfolded and hobbled to calm them and keep them from escaping while being handled. Team members then measured the sheep, took hair, blood and fecal samples, noted general health condition, and attached ear tags and color-coded radio collars. The entire process took less than 15 minutes per animal from the initial hands on to the release. During the three-day capture, 13 sheep were caught: two adult rams, 10 ewes, and a three-to-four-day-old male lamb. Both rams were radio col- lared, as were seven ewes. The remaining ewes received color-coded collars while the lamb was ear tagged. One of the adult rams was darted from the heliocopter on the second day of capture. The temperatures dur- ing the capture ranged from 75° to 106°, and the sheep were not driven towards the net when the temperature rose to approximately 95°. The ram that was darted died on 15 May. The radio collar indicated a mortality frequency on 14 May and upon finding the remains, the animal appeared to have been dead from one to four days. Coyotes had fed on the carcass, so cause of death could not be determined. Later, blood data showed the animal had high titers to both Bluetongue and PIS. After six months in the field, it has become apparent that these sheep are in trouble. The young lamb that was captured died three months later and most of the other lambs of this year's crop have also died. At the present time, there is only one lamb left from approximately 35 born. Desert Bighorn sheep at the Los Angeles Zoo and the San Diego Wild Ani- mal Park are just holding their own. Of the three lambs born to the Los Angeles group in 1980, none survived past three months. The 1981 lamb crop of three is doing a little better with a pair still surviving. The San Diego Wild Animal Park group is down to a total of two. " Hopefully, the studies of the Research Team of the Society for the Con- servation of Bighorn Sheep will shed some light on the problems these magnificent animals are having in their native habitat Acknowledgement I would like to thank the Research Team for the Society for the Con- servation of Bighorn Sheep for their support and especially Team Leader James De Forge for critic- ally reviewing this manuscript. 293 ALL YOU NEED S Tu/Ptem, HIGH IN PALATABILITY • OPTIMUM NUTRITION • SIMPLE PORTION CONTROL • ECONOMICAL PERFORMANCE PROVEN DIETS-THE SUPERIOR WAY TO FEED EXOTIC ANIMALS •Primate Canned ‘Marmoset Canned •Primate Dry ‘Omnivore •Feline Frozen I ‘Ratite •Feline Frozen II ‘Polar Bear Dry •Feline Canned •Feline Instant •Birds of Prey mu^ 294 KEEPER PARTICIPATION IN THE OPERATION OF A SMALL ZOO By CAockeA., SenloA K^^peA Vlckejuon PoAk Zoo, SpAing{^-lQl.d, MO Dickerson Park Zoo is a small zoo located in Springfield, MO. It occupies a total of 109 acres, with approximately 65 acres currently being used for the "zoo proper". It employs a total of 15 full-time personnel: a direct- or, curator, secretary, two maintenance people, senior keeper, and nine animal keepers. The animal collection currently numbers 382 specimens, representing 132 species. The zoo is a division of the city parks system and is primarily funded by the city. As a small zoo, it offers many advantages to its staff that often are not available at other zoos. Ideas, suggestions, and participation by the keepers are encouraged and often required in many phases of the zoo op- eration. Both the director and the curator were animal keepers before moving into their management positions, and they recognize the value of keeper input to the system. Keeper input occurs in many forms, some of them very important, integral parts of the zoo’s organization. The most important of these are the safety committee, "circle" meetings, the local AAZK Chapter, and the ele- phant committee. The zoo safety committee was formed in 1979 in an effort to reduce or eliminate accidents by zoo personnel. It originally was composed of the senior keeper, maintenance craftsman, and an animal keeper. The com- mittee's main functions are to investigate all accidents involving zoo personnel, determine what caused them, and then determine what actions are to be taken to prevent a recurrance of that type of accident. They also make periodic safety inspections of the zoo to locate and correct any potential problems. The committee operates as an independent unit and reports directly to the zoo director. Thorough investigation and discussion of all accidents and problems is demanded, and no restrictive measures are imposed on the committee. They are to determine courses of remedial action to be taken, which must be supported by their investigation findings and committee discussions. If this has been properly done, the director then takes ac- tion to see that the committee’s suggestions are carried out. The committee also periodically reviews employee accident histories to see if any patterns of carelessness are developing. The safety committee has the power to recommend employee counselings and other disciplinary actions, if they feel the situation warrants, and this has been done occasionally as a result. The work of this committee, currently composed of keeper personnel, has resulted in many changes in the area of safety at the zoo. "Circle" meetings were begun in 1980 to serve as a discussion format for keepers to identify problems and formulate possible solutions to them. This idea was patterned after a newspaper article on modern Japanese in- dustry. Rather than management strictly setting forth and governing all policies and methods, the Japanese have allowed the work force to form circle groups which periodically discuss problems with their manufactur- 295 Keeper Participation In The Operation Of A Small Zoo, continued ing processes and try to find better and more efficient ways to do their jobs. Management has the option to use the ideas or not and obviously not all are used, but through this method, many changes have occurred. It has resulted in better morale and increased production, and it has been suggested that this may be largely responsible for the current success of Japan as an industrial nation. We have applied this to our situation at the zoo. All keepers are requir- ed to attend the circle meetings, which normally meet once a week. They choose their own chairperson to moderate the activities and no manage- ment personnel attend the meetings. They discuss problems and try to find possible solutions to them or find new ways to improve on things. They keep records of what they discuss and the chairperson is then respon- sible for transmitting it to the senior keeper, who in turn sends it to the curator and director. These meetings are not always productive, often getting bogged down in arguments or discussions of items which are not always applicable to our situation. However, many improvements have resulted from these meetings, probably the most noteworthy being greatly imporved communication between the keepers themselves, between keepers and the various management levels, and between the supervisors. The group pinpointed several problem areas in this regard and made management aware of them. Management then took action on the problem and greatly improved communication has resulted. The local chapter of AAZK is beginning to become more involved in zoo activities and exert more influence on administrative action. For sever- al years, the chapter was inactive, but reorganized in late 1980 and began to organize activities for the coming year. Members frequently would propose suggestions which were submitted to management. As a re- sult of this more active participation in the zoo function, management has been submitting more ideas and questions to the chapter for discuss- ion and action. This has helped improve morale, as the keepers are made to feel more a vital part of the zoo. Another very important area in which the animal keepers participate in policy making is in regard to the zoo's elephant management program. The zoo director, curator, senior keeper, and several of the animal keepers are involved with the elephant program. We currently have three Asian elephants — two males and one female — and are looking for an additional female. Our long-range goal for the program is to breed the elephants, based on the concept which has been used suc- cessfully at Portland, OR. This is based on domination of the females by every elephant handler in our program, whereas the bulls remain undom- inated. Our program has been in existence since October 1977, and for it to con- tinue successfully, it must involve several people at all levels in the zoo's organization. Otherwise, attrition of personnel, which is so common in most zoos, would eventually lead to the disruption and possible complete breakdown of the program were there not others present to con- tinue the program and train new volunteers to the program. Involvement in the program for most keepers is strictly voluntary. To ensure the continuing, smooth operation of the elephant program, a committee has been established with the task of setting policy and pro- cedure. The committee is composed of the zoo director, curator, senior 296 Keeper Participation In The Operation Of A Small Zoo, contlmo-d keeper, and all animal keepers directly involved in the elephant program. The committee is chaired by the zoo director, and by the curator in his absence. The committee, as a group, determines all procedures relating to the ele- phant program. No variation from the established guidelines are permit- ted without approval of the committee. Doing so may result in termina- tion from the elephant program and further disciplinary action. The committee, as a group, has used this power to eliminate people from the program. It is felt that these types of measures are sometimes necess- ary in order to avoid damaging the program and keeping it as safe as possible for those involved with the elephant. The committee periodically reviews the program to determine if any changes need to be made. The committee trys to meet once a month, and, addition- ally, may meet when deemed necessary by at least three members of the group to discuss any problems which may have arisen or to evaluate sug- gested changes in the program. All recommendations must pass before the committee chairperson. The curator and director reserve the right to overrule a decision of the committee and may intervene during emergencies or other special cir- cumstances . Many of the changes which have occurred at our zoo have taken place within the past six years. The zoo has undergone a lot of change and rennova- tion. The old line keepers have gradually been replaced with people who have a true interest in the zoo and operate in a professional manner. With these changes has come a greater responsibility for the zoo keeper, and along with it, the opportunity to participate more in what takes place With the involvement and input of more people, many of them keepers, the zoo has become more professional, more popular with the public, more known in professional circles because of what it is achieving, and the morale at the zoo has greatly improved. For us to continue to meet our goals and overcome the challenges of today’s economy, we will need to continue with this cooperation among all levels of staff at the zoo if we are to survive. m Information Please Information is needed on the husbandry, breeding and hand-rearing of the Malayan Sun Bear [H2ZaJioto6 Mota^aniuj . We are anticipating a birth in late December. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Please contact: Patrick Maluy c/o Atlanta Zoological Park, 800 Cherokee Ave. S.E. Atlanta, GA 30315. Phone (404) 658-7059, Information is needed on the nutritional requirements of gemsbok {0A.yx gCLzelZa] . Anyone having such information Is requested to write to: Margaret J. Welke, 515 Morrill Hall, 505 S. Goodwin, Urbana, IL 61801. Information is requested on melanistic Geoffrey's Cats (feXL6 having spotted offspring. Anyone having had similar experience is reques- ted to contact Mr. Robert Cooper, #1 Jonesboro Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205. 297 HOW TO GET A-HEAD AT THE ZOO By Ma/iy L. StvaMon, Zoo Attendant II f/LC^no Zoo, f^e^no, CA I? When an animal dies at a zoo, whether it dies of old age, illness or ac- cident, its usefulness is usually ended. At the Fresno Zoo we found a way to have the animal continue to be useful in helping us to educate people about animals, even after death. In 1977 we began keeping at least the skulls of animals that died. The skulls, and a few skins, have been used in our education program. We have also shared duplicate skulls with the California State University, Fresno, and we loan out parts of the col- lection for educational purposes. We didn't know much about cleaning and preserving skulls, so our first attempts were trial and error. The first ones we tried were an eland and a 25-year-old giraffe. Since they were very large skulls, we used a gar- bage can to boil them in — setting it on bricks over a propane burner. Boiling two ruminant skulls together was a big mistake — the teeth fell out and it was like working a jigsaw puzzle to put them back in the right ^ skull. Boiling also causes delicate bones like those in the nose to dis- f. appear, and ruins the beak coverings of birds. It's also a very smelly, ^ time-consuming process. So we abandoned that idea. Next we tried soaking skulls in a solution of chlorine and water. We used the powdered chlorine we had on hand for cleaning pools and drinkers, and also tried liquid chlorine. I had to guess at concentrations. There were some very undesirable results of the bleaching method. Some skulls disin- | tegrated is left to soak too long, or the solution was too strong. Teeth | also fell out with this method. A caracal skull turned greenish. Worst j of all, completed skulls began to flake after a few weeks of storage. A taxidermist suggested using the old lye soaking method. Skulls disin- | tegrated quickly if not constantly monitored. Both lye and bleach were dangerous to use. I The safest method to use is to have a colony of dermestid beetles. They I have been in use by museums for cleaning bones as far back as 1922. I j wasn't sure where I could get them and knew that housing them can be a j problem — they eat anything so you don't want them getting out. Then ! one day I found some accidentally in our collared peccaries' feeder. At j the bottom were J^-inch long, fuzzy brown larvae. I took them to one of ; our keepers who was taking entomolgy. She identified them as a large species of dermestid beetle, VQJmUte6 VLLlptnLl6 The adult beetle is j 3/8 inch long, black dorsally, and white vent rally. I now had the nucleus of a dermestid colony at hand. Now that I knew what they looked like, I found them elsewhere — even in a cat food feeder I j had outdoors at home. We were soon to discover that they come out of nowhere in hot weather, to invade rotting meat or dry feed. The eggs the adults lay hatch within 72 hours. The first 20 days of life the larvae eat voraciously, and then excavate a site to pupate. The entire cycle takes 45 days per generation. Average egg production is 426 per female ;j in a life span of 100 days . , At first I kept my small colony in plastic buckets covered with screen- ing. Dermestids need ventilation, but also like darkness. They require materials to hide in and reproduce in. So we often cover the skulls with| 298 How To Get A-Head At The Zoo, continae.d burlap. Cardboard provides good nest space, too. I now use cotton bat- ting for nest space. To maintain a colony one must feed them between skulls. They like high protein food like lab chow or omnivore diet. Re- cently my colony was not doing well, and I learned that they require lip- ids. So I started feeding them fat and meat trimmings from the Big Cats* weekly bone meat ration, and the colony built up again. Dermestids prefer a temperature of about 85°. If I need skulls cleaned in the winter, I keep the can on a heating pad set on "low". They can be refrigerated in between skulls, and they will go dormant. But, mostly they live in my hot garage at home and are fed when not working. I learned the hard way that they eat anything. They ate holes in a plas- tic can and got loose in my garage. They can crawl up a long horn protru- ding from the can, and then work their way out from under the screen on top. There was a bit of unhappiness when they got loose in the reptile house where I housed them briefly. Dermestids may be the answer to the problem of biodegrading styrofoam. We discovered they eat it fine. One of our sources of dermestids has been that they come in with our weekly cricket shipments to the reptile house — we found them burrowed in the crickets* styrofoam feeding trays. Because they do eat almost anything, the safest thing to house a dermestid colony in is a galvanized garbage can. I use a flexible nylon screen net- ting over the top, secured with a large rubber band. One project would not fit the can — ■ a galopagos tortoise shell. So we built a plywood box 30" X 30" X 30**. It has a screen fastened inside the lid. The seams were sealed with silicone cement. To waterproof it against blood soaking into the wood, we coated the bottom with a boat coating called *'Glov-It**. Since this is slick after it dries and cures in a week, it was painted on the upper 4** of the inside of the box to prevent the larvae from crawling out. However, a wood container is useful only for a short time, as the larvae eat the wood, too. Before skulls are put into the colony for cleaning, they must be prepared. The larvae cannot cope with a fully fleshed head. There is too much meat, which quickly rots and molds. The dermestids can be killed by the soupy mess and the mold. So first the head must be roughed out, removing most of the flesh. I use a skinning knife, scapel, and forceps as my main tools, removing as much flesh as possible. The palate should be removed on anything larger than a squirrel monkey — the palate becomes so hard when it dries that the lar- vae do not eat it all. The brain must also be removed. A long forceps or a tool called a brain scoop (available from taxidermy suppliers) should be used, and then rinse out the brain cavity. It*s not necessary to remove the brains of small birds or alligators, as their brains are too small to bother with. The biggest danger in skull preparation is exposure to bacteria if you nick yourself during dissection. I got a staphylococcus infection while doing a mandrill skull. Wearing rubber gloves while working would help prevent infection. After dissection the skull should be frozen at least one hour. I have had to dissect some large skulls outdoors, and flies laid eggs on them while I worked. Later these hatched in the colony and that was a terrible mess. Fly maggots and dermestids are incompatible. So now I routinely 299 How To Get A-Head At The Zoo, continued freeze all work before putting it in the colony for cleaning. Freezing kills dermestids , too, so after a skull is ready for removal from the colony, I brush off most of the dermestids, use a small tool like a cro- chet hook to get them out of crevices and cavities, and then freeze the skull to kill the remaining ones . Dermestids work best with drier specimens. I dry larger skulls in a slow oven of about 200° for a short time, or use a microwave oven to dry them. They should not actually be cooked. If a skull has horns there is another preparation step required. Apparent- ly horn material is especially attractive to larvae. They attack it first and leave unsightly tracks. So I protected the horns by wrapping them in plastic and tape. (Plastic underneath prevents tape marks.) The larvae do dig under the horn sheath, eating the tissue between core and sheath. Often the sheath loosens and comes off, but can usually be glued back on. Now I use another method to protect horns or tortoise shells. Dermestids are repelled by formaldehyde, so I paint it on the horns or shell full strength. It works well on bird beaks, too. However, the formaldehyde must be re-applied every third day, as it seems to wear off. After preparation the skull is put in the colony in a warm, dry place. It must be put where your co-workers or others will not complain about it, because the first few days it smells terrible. The work must be checked regularly to see it it is complete — if you don’t you can lose a skull as the larvae will eat the whole thing it it’s left too long. A problem can be that some parts are clean enough, while others are not done enough. Painting finished areas with formaldehyde repels the larvae, while applying bacson greese attracts them to areas you want cleaned more. When the skull is adequately cleaned, it is removed, and dermestids brush- ed or washed off, and the skull forzen to kill remaining dermestids. The time it takes to clean a skull depends on the size of the skull and on the size of the colony. A small colony of a couple hundred larvae can take weeks to clean a medium size skull like a leopard, while a colony of a couple thousand can clean such a skull in less than 24 hours. My colony is so large now, it took only 5 days to clean a zebra skull. The next step is to remove any residue of flesh, and try to de-grease the skull. I use a solution of water softner and de-greaser or detergent, and boil the skulls briefly. The time depends on the size of the skull, but I rarely boil more than 10 minutes. If any teeth fall out in the col- ony or in the boiling, they are saved in marked containers. Some work presents unusual dif ficulities . Bear skulls are extremely greasy. Soaking in white gas should remove most of the grease. Galapagos tortoise shells are incredible — they can drip grease for years. After final cleaning, the work is aired for at least a week, until there is no perceptible odor. Large skulls like bison may require several weeks of airing. I put things in an old cat carrier to air, to prevent cats and dogs from getting at the work. After airing, loose teeth are glued in place. Heavy tacky white glue works the best. The two halves of the lower jaw must be glued together at the 300 How To Get A-Head At The Zoo, continued front — set the jaw in proper position against the skull to dry. Some- times this junction must be reinforced with thin fiberglass fabric and glue. When dry, the patch hardly shows and is quite strong. The fiber- glass is good for repairing breaks, too. The skull is then sprayed with varathane to protect against soil. Labels are wired to the skull and jaw, and sometimes the jaw is wired to the skull to demonstrate articulation. The completed skull is inventoried and add- ed to our collection. One side benefit of our skull preparation work has been the learning ex- perience. Some of our volunteers and keepers have been pre-veterinary students. They learned a lot of comparative anatomy helping me to dissect exotic animals. The use of dermestids for cleaning skulls and skeletons is by far the easiest, safest, and most efficient method. I feel there is no other way to do birds , as this method preserves delicate bones and color on beaks. Other methods destroy these features. I’ve been accused of being a vulture or a ghoul, taking heads off any ani- mal that dies. I sometimes cause consternation among new employees or new volunteers, when I’m dissecting a head. But it’s been worth all the trouble, because our collection has been very useful. We use it in teaching our summer classes for children, in our zoomobible classroom program, and in our training classes for docents. You can’t ask a giraffe or a lion to ’’open wide" and show his teeth to compare ruminant dentition with carnivore dentition. But with the skulls in hand, it’s easy to show the animals’ adaptations to their lifestyles. REFERENCES Borell, Adrey E. , "Cleaning Small Collections of Skulls and Skeletons with Dermestid Beetles", J . Mamm . , 19 ; 102-103, 1938. Hall, E. Raymond Ward C. Russel, "Dermestid Beetles as an Aid in Cleaning Bones", J. Mamm. , 14; 372-374, 1933. Hooper, Emmet T. , "Selection of Fats by Dermestid Beetles, Dermestidae" , J. Mamm., 37: 125-126, 1956. Russel, Ward C. , "Biology of the Dermestid Beetle with Reference to Skull Cleaning", J. Mamm. , 28: 284-287, 1947. Smithsonian Institution, "Preparation of Recent Skeletons (Supplement to Smithsonian Institution Leaflet 252)", 1967. Vorhies, Charles T. , "A Chest for Dermestid Cleaning of Skulls", J. Mamm., 29: 188-189, 1948. ^ HERP PROCEEDINGS AVAILABLE The Proceedings from the Melbourne Herpetological Symposium held at the Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens, Victoria, Australia in May 1980 are now available to AAZK members. The collection of 35 papers and expanded ; abstracts covers Australian frogs and lizards, venom research, tortoises and turtles, and Australian crocodiles. Further papers discuss such topics as reptile diseases, herpetological communities, conservation and taxono- Imic studies. Copies are available for $12.00 (Australian) each which includes postage and handling. Send name, address , number of copies desired with your remittance to: S3rmposium Secretary, The Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens, P.O. Box 74, Parkville, Victoria, Australia 3052. Make checks payable to Zoological Board of Victoria. I 301 THE HSUS' RESPONSIBILITY TO ZOO KEEPERS By Jaanm Roii^h Thu Humane. Society the United Staler Washington, V.C, 1 am glad to have the opportunity to talk to you. Before going into the specifics of the Humane Scoiety of the United States’ zoo program, I will briefly describe the overall programs of my organization. Our headquarters is located in downtown Washington, D.C. In addition, we have five regional offices, an Education Center in Connecticut, and in conjunction with the University of Alabama, we run an Animal Control Acad- emy in Tuscaloosa. Altogether we have 79 employees. We publish five periodicals, everything from a children’s magazine to an International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems. Major program areas include: animal control and sheltering, laboratory animals, factory farming, wild- life protection, investigations and education. The HSUS is a private, non-profit organization. We receive no government funds but are supported by contributions from our 150,000 members. Un- like what you may think, we have no authority over local humane societies— they are completely independent. Now some specifics on the HSUS zoo program. The zoo program is within the Department of Wildlife Protection. Although staff from all of our regional offices deal with zoo problems. Sue Pressman and I head up the program from our headquarters in Washington. Sue and I are both former zoo employees. Sue’s training is in veterinary medicine and mine in an- thropology. The zoo program started approximately 10 years ago in response to the public’s concern over conditions they were seeing in many of the nation’s zoos. With the environmental movement of the 60 ’s, our members became much more aware of issues affecting wildlife. As they learned more about animal behavior, endangered species, and the need for conservation, their attention naturally turned to zoos. In order to give our members and the public an accurate picture of Ameri- can zoos, we first conducted a survey of zoos around the country. Then, in order to help us categorize our findings, we developed a rating system. This rating system is not like AAZPA’s accreditation program in that it is for in-house use, although we will certainly tell a zoo how we have rated them if they ask. The HSUS is a pro-zoo organization. This pro-zoo policy, however, does not mean that we approve of ALL zoos. My description of our rating system will show you some of the distinctions we make among zoos. Basically we feel a zoo has to do more than merely display animals to justify its exis- tence . A y/1 zoo is our highest rating. While a #1 zoo is not a perfect zoo, it is likely to be a zoo which is as good as knowledge of animal behavior and modern technology can make it. It has a professional staff, exhibits its animals such that they can express natural behaviors, and is committed to research, conservation and education. 302 The HSUS's Responsibility To Zoo Keepers, continued The majority of American Municipal zoos fall into the #2 category. A #2 zoo probably has most of the same elements of a #1 but they have not been fully developed. It may be hampered by interference from city officials, it may have inadequate staff to carry out programs or it may lack support from the community. A #3 zoo lacks adequate staff, buildings, and support services. It has minimal programs of research, conservation or education and has little chance for improvement. We mainly concentrate on zoos in this category because if they remain static they should be closed. If, however, they move in the right directions they have potential to become very good zoos. A //4 facility is typically a roadside zoo, run by amateurs, which offers nothing to its animals but close, sterile confinement and nothing to the public but misconceptions about wildlife. Such a facility has no redeem- ing qualities, is actually harmful to animals, offensive to the public and should be closed immediately. I doubt that our criteria for judging a zoo are much different from your own. We know that many constraints delay or prevent zoos from making all the improvements they would like to make. We try to be understanding and realistic about these constraints. All zoos have them. This does not mean, however, that they can become excuses for a zoo to remain stagnant or fall into disrepair. There are three major constraints we find. One is what we call municipal meddling. This is when city officials make decisions which should be made by zoo professionals . Many mayors and city councils think you can run and staff a zoo in the same way you run the city dump. They may not understand that zoo keeping is a real speciality. For example, a man who has been driving a truck for the parks department can’t one day put on a zoo keeper’s uniform and function as a zoo keeper. Also, the city may not understand that you can’t always wait to get your equipment on a bid system, and you can’t sacrifice on the quality of food or medical equipment you provide your animals . A second constraint is out-of-date facilities. Ninety-five per cent of the zoos in this country are stuck with WPA buildings of the 1930’ s. They were built for ease of sanitation and do not lend themselves to modem zoo practices. A third constraint is lack of money which can result in insufficient staff, limited programs, poor exhibits and signage, and lack of security. Sometimes overcoming these problems takes no more than a little ingenuity. An example would be an all too common sterile tile enclosure which was changed into a habitat which was not only pleasing to the viewing public, but afforded the animal quality space and privacy. When keepers were told there was no money for improvements, they went to the countryside and gathered plants, rocks and logs. The results were dramatic. Now I want to give you some examples of ^the types of problems we encounter and our methods of dealing with them. In bringing about changes we know our limits. We are not zoo professionals but we are professional zoo goers. Because of our experience with zoos we are regarded as experts by the public, the media, animal welfare organizations, and for the most part, by the zoo profession. We, however, see our job as recognizing problems and determining their causes. We do not pretend to know how to fix these problems, but we refer them to zoo professionals. We are like the sports 303 The HSUS's Responsibil i ty to Zoo Keepers, c.ovitlna2.d writer. We are not the players, but we know good playing when we see it, and we tell people about it. Ninety-three per cent of our visits to zoos are in response to complaints we get from the public and the media. The other 7% come from zoo employ- ees. Less than 1% of all our complaints come from keepers. We believe this is because we have failed to communicate as effectively with keep- ers as we have with zoo administration. The majority of complaints which come to us from the public involve //4 facilities, i.e. roadside "zoos". These places seldom provide even the basics of adequate food and space, sanitation and medical care, which are minimal requirements of The Animal Welfare Act. We estimate there are 900 such facilities. You may wonder why we haven’t closed them all by now. We have no more authority than the average citizen and can only use the laws available to use, primarily the Federal Animal Welfare Act and local Cruelty Statues. Our problems with the Animal Welfare Act are that its requirements are minimal and even these minimal requirements are not always being enforced. As you know, the Animal Welfare Act is worded such that it is subject to interpretation, such as the section which says: "enclosures shall... pro- vide sufficient space to allow each animal to make normal postural and social adjustments with adequate freedom of movement." To some USDA in- spectors this means only that an animal be able to sit, stand and turn around . Being very concerned about the facilities at one roadside "zoo"» we re- quested USDA to accompany us on an inspection. We pointed out that the bars on the bottom of one cage prevented the animal from ever being able to walk or lie down comfortably. The inspector told us he thought it was good therapy for the animal to have to contend with the bars. Local cruelty statutes are rarely specific for zoo animals, but they are specific about wilful and malicious intent, something which is very dif- focult to prove. In any case most of the cruelty we see is actually a result of ignorance, not maliciousness. Last month I visited a #4 facility in Virginia. The place had 45 animals, mainly primates and birds. It was filthy, infected with rodents and foul smelling. All animals were kept in small wire cages. It was particularly distressing for me to see social animals, such as the primates, caged alone with not even a shelf to get up on. I immediately contacted the veterinarian of record who was listed on the USDA inspection form only to find out he had never even stepped foot in the place. This may sound exactly like the type of place that could be closed by USDA for violation of the Animal Welfare Act. On the contrary, USDA found this place to be in compliance. When USDA gives government approval to these menageries by licensing them it makes our job extremely difficult. In trying to close even one of these zoos we have spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars, too often with the result that it has remained open by making only minimal improvements. We are never satisfied with minimal standards and we believe these are exactly the kinds of zoos which the Animal Welfare Act intended to do away with. Complaints from the public often involve major municipal zoos. Handling these problems is quite different from those at a roadside zoo because 304 The HSUS 's Responsibility To Zoo Keepers , continued at a municipal zoo, the zoological society, city officials, the community and the media are likely to become involved. These cases are very complex. One such case involving a #3 zoo has taken years to resolve Itself. It is now a #2 and close to becoming a #1. When we first discovered it, we felt the zoo wasn't doing anything well; how- ever, not many others seemed to notice. The USDA thought it was fine, the city officials didn't think they had any problems and the community was complacent . Getting no response from these groups, we went to the media with our con- cerns. The media agreed with us and problems at the zoo became well pub- licized. In time, USDA, city officials, and the community also agreed. We started the necessary momentum to bring about change. The first change was the hiring of a professional zoo director. He made several improve- ments and was soon able to attract a good staff. As the community saw the zoo on the upswing, support came from both the public and private sec- tors. It was a snow balling effect and improvement continued. A similar case involved a #2 municipal zoo. There the keeper staff was excelJ.ent but the administration was bad. We pointed out that the zoo director's only qualification was being the Mayor's brother-in-law, and he could not possibly understand what it takes to run a facility which is keeping rare and delicate wild animals. We recommended, in this case too, the city hire a qualified zoo director. When they did things turned a- round, and again support was forthcoming. Now I'll give some examples of those 7% of cases where we are called in by the zoos themselves. Just because we are called in by zoo management doesn't necessarily mean we are going to take their side. The director of one municipal zoo called us in because everything seemed to be going wrong. He felt that as outsiders we could give an objective evaluation of the situation. This case turned out to be very unusual because we found more than just the typical administrative problems. During our in- vestigation, testimony from keepers and the zoo veterinarian revealed that the director had violated the state's cruelty code. We had him ar- rested for allegedly beating an animal to death. This case is still un- der litigation. Numerous times we have gone to zoos when the keepers were in revolt. When we get there the keepers may tell us they are unhappy about their salary or about their uniforms, but whatever the reasons stated, they are al- ways only symptoms of greater management problems. Management may be guilty of lack of responsiveness or lack of communication but these things are intangible and not easily identified. Keepers, therefore, may focus their complaints on something which is not the actual cause of the prob- lem. In such cases we have often had success in getting to the root cause of the problem. In fact, in gratitude for Sue's help, several ke- epers named favorite animals after her. Problems of low keeper morale are widespread. Recently Dr. Edward Ludwig, a sociologist at a N.Y. University, did a study of people at zoOs. He focused, in part, on keepers and confirmed many of our findings. He says that while many of you are attracted to your jobs because of interests in nature, ecology and science, you are soon frustrated by the day-to-day housekeeping duties on the job and the limitations placed on zoos by strained budgets and antiquated buildings. 305 The HSUS's Responsibility To Zoo Keepers, c-ontlnudd We get very concerned when you are unhappy because we know that keepers are the backbone of any zoo and your dissatisfaction cannot help but af- fect animal care. Therefore we welcome the opportunity to work with you at your zoo, and I hope my being here today will demonstrate that we are working for common goals. The HSUS believes that the only zoos that will survive into the next de- cade will be those who dedicate themselves to education, conservation, research and humane care of animals. Gone are the days when a bear, a cage and a popcorn machine qualify as a zoo. Based on personal experience, I have found that there are some basic dif- ferences in the learning abilities and temperaments of African and Asian elephants. Generally, African elephants are very difficult to train. When they get excited or upset, their minds seem to go blank. However, I have found that when they are in crowds of people or when they are be- ing walked in parades, they remain calm, and nothing seems to bother them. On the other hand, Asian elephants are easier to train. They seem to grasp commands more readily. You must gain an Asian elephant’s confidence before it will tolerate you. You may ask, "Why have trained elephants at zoos?" One very good reason is that this training promotes good health. It provides the exercise needed by the confined animal for good muscles and body coordination. Zoo elephants normally do not get adequate exercise without training. There are other health benefits as well, including good appetite and better bowel movements . When an elephant is trained, there is a communication link formed between the animal and the handler. This training is a positive, major safety factor for both animal and handler. For example, on those occasions when an elephant needs medical care, zoo staff and veterinarian can treat the animal without fear of getting hurt. A well-trained elephant is an attraction in a zoo, providing unequaled entertainment and educational experiences for zoo patrons, particularly children. Elephant Training In elephant training all scientific training methods are used, but patience is still a major factor. It is of utmost importance that the animal be under the supervision of a qualified elephant trainer at all times. Ke- 306 Zoo Elephants In General » covLtinuLQ,d epers and future trainees should take notes and ask questions as the train- ing progresses. The elephant must be alert and in good health; always consult your veterinarian immediately when you are in doubt of its health. A good age to begin training a young calf is between two and five years. The best time of day for training is early morning. The animal is rested and seems to communicate better. The location of the training site is very important. Choose a location that is away from public view — to avoid criticism from people who do not understand training techniques . Some methods you use may not be appeal- ing to the public. Choose a location that is isolated -- to avoid any distraction during the training session — and one with ample room in which to work. Basic training takes from three to six months, depending upon the training methods and the animal's ability to learn. You must remember that ele- phants, like all other animals, are creatures of habit. Animal training is communicating with the animal. It is a matter of using different words for different commands and going through the same motions until the animal finally grasps it. Then these commands must be practiced over and over again. Contrary to popular belief, elephants do not have very good mem- ories. I know of a few trained elephants which, when not worked or put through their commands for a few months, completely forgot what they had learned; and they had to be completely retrained. When you are pleased with the animal, always let it be known; reward it with kind words, a few fruits and vegetables, and a pat on the body. Many good performing elephants have gone bad because of improper feeding and mistreatment. By the same token, quite a few so-called bad elephants have turned good due to the patience and compassion of their keepers. Every qualified elephant trainer has different methods of training ele- phants. Personally, I like to study the animal first, get to know it and learn its good and bad habits. I try to be firm, patient, and I do not hesitate to use the bull hook when necessary — but I use it with extreme care. Some elephants are very excitable —they startle at the slightest sound or movement. Never sneak up on or suprise an elephant; whistle or talk to the animal to let it know you are near. All elephants are not on the same intelligence level — they range from blundering idiots to the very intelligent, but most are of average intel- ligence. Very seldom will you find two elephants of equal intelligence or with the same temperament. I do not think that zoo elephants should be able to perform all circus tricks, I stress strongly that all elephants kept in captivity should be able to respond to the basic commands and have respect for their keepers. 307 OBSERVATIONS AND BREEDING OF HARTLAUB'S TOURACO By BoAvLOLA-d C. Fel-dman, liittoA PoAk Zoo, Btoomlngton, IL In this presentation I'd like to share xv^ith you some observations, suc- cesses, failures, husbandry techniques, feeding regimes and general thoughts about the care of the Hartlaub's Touraco. The Miller Park Zoo's Tropical Rain Forest exhibit is the setting for this paper. The Hartlaub's Touracos are relatively large and active aviary birds and are almost strictly frugivorous. They are mostly greenish-blue in color, have scarlet wings that can be appreciated only in flight, and a pattern of white and yellow feathers around the head and eyes. They have a slightly erectible crest and a long tail. Both sexes look exactly alike and are about the same size. The aviary at the Miller Park Zoo is approximately 80 feet in octagonal width, has several interconnected pools flowing throughout and is ap- proximately 30 feet at its highest point. Several tropical plants of various sizes make this naturalistic setting ideal for the breeding of many birds. Also in the exhibit live Fairy Bluebirds, Pekin Nightin- gales, Mountain Witch Doves, Black Crakes, Green Wood Hoopooes, Red- headed Amazons, Bare-throated Bellbirds, Paradise Whydahs, Melba Finches and Call Ducks. The diet for the Tropical Rain Forest consists of chopped apples, oranges, bananas, tomatoes, romaine, grated carrots, soaked raisins, vitamin sup- plements, gamebird chow, bird seeds, grit, crickets, mealworms, pinkie mice, nectar and an insectivorous meat mix. This meat mix is made from ground horsemeat mixed with mink chow, Roxanthin-Red 10, bone meal and food supplements. The favorite foods of the Touracos seem to be soaked raisins, chopped apples, bananas and oranges with the raisins being the top favorite. When we find that the Touracos have a disease or parasite through fecal examination for example, coccidiosis, we medicate the food by injecting the soaked raisins with the medicine. This works fine up to a point. The Touracos seem to know that the soaked raisins have some- thing in them and just mouth them, but eventually do eat them. More medicine is put into other favorite fruits. By the end of the day, the medicated diet is usually we] 1 eaten. Coccidiosis seems to be one pars- sitic infection that is very difficult to get rid of and usually double and triple courses of medication are needed to produce negative fecals. We use sulf adimethoxine to treat coccidiosis. The procedure is; one milliliter of sulf adimethoxine per day for fourteen days. Wait ten days, then take a fecal. If that fecal is negative, take one more fecal after seven to ten days. If the second consecutive fecal is negative, we feel the coccidiosis or other infection has been successfully dealt with and the bird is ready for shipment or transfer to another exhibit. There are seven feeding sites throughout the exhibit to keep avian com- petition for the food at a minimum. The birds are fed as soon as pos- sible in the beginning of the day. During any fledging season an extra afternoon food pan is made to keep the afternoon feedings as fresh as possible . The nesting sites for the Touracos have been in the highest parts of our Fig trees. Ficus species. They have preferred the Weeping Fig tree over 308 Observations And Breeding Of Hartlaub's Touraco, coyitlnued the Fiddle-leaf Fig tree and the Rubber tree. The height from ground level of the nest is approximately 25 feet. It is easily determined when the Touracos want to nest because the pair begins to take twigs and small branches and try to place them in the uppermost branches of the selected fig tree. All their attem,pts were un- successful since the twigs and small branches would fall through the tree to the ground. Upon seeing this I decided to help them and build a wire- mesh platform and placed those fallen twigs into this nest platform. The platform is approximately twelve inches square with three to five inch high sides. The platform is then wired in the general spot where it appeared the Touracos were attempting, though unsuccessfully, to build their nest. We have found that pine needles work quite well as nesting material. The pine needles have a natural insecticide that keeps the problem of fecal buildup to a minimum. The courtship begins with the two birds facing each other, chasing each other throughout the aviary and again feeding each other. It appears that the male feeds the female as she appears to be actually begging the regurgitated food. In these cases she lowers herself and the male stands very erect. There is also a large variety of calls related to courtship. One call that I refer to as the "chin throw" is where the birds throw back their heads and expose the grayish throat area uttering a gutteral "awhh-awhh-awhh" . They "chin throw" usually xvhen one lands close to the other. After observing this I reasonably determine the "chin throws" to be a type of warm welcome. The Touracos also have a rhymic-type barking at each other when they are separated. This barking usually brings them together. Other times they have a soft clicking sound when they are perched and resting together. Occasionally there is a type of "bill clicking" that seems to take the place of feeding. All these calls are very affectionate and both sexes do them. If the Touracos are surprised by anything, they’ll flash their scarlet red wings at the surprise in attempts to ward it off. If that fails, they quickly fly to another tree in the exhibit. The actual breeding is swift. The female flattens her body on a perch, the male mounts her, copulates, jumps off to one side and together they "bill click" and appear very contented!’.’. This breeding behavior is remarkable since they breed year round. E. Thomas Gilliard in the Living Birds of the World, states that the Hartlaub’s Touraco nests dur- ing two periods of the year, April to July and September to January. Some of the factors responsible for this year round breeding ares little interference from the other birds, plentiful supply of food, temperatures ranging from 72°F in the winter and 85°F or more in the summer, relative humidity from 50-90%, many possibilities for nesting sites, mad-made nest- ing platforms that are quickly accepted and bird-to-bird compatibility. The nest is incubated by both birds. The usual numer of eggs in a clutch is two and the average length of incubation seems to be around 22 days. The nests are constantly being rearranged with twigs taken in and out. When the two eggs are laid they are almost always visible through the bottom of the nest. The only exception is when the nesting material is exclusively pine needles. After the 22 day incubation period, the eggs hatch and immediately the parents regurgitate food to the nestlings. Both parents are very at- tentive to the babies and after roughly 3-4 weeks, the nestlings are 309 Observations And Breeding Of Marti aub's Touraco, continued testing their legs and wings and usually leave the nest. At this point they are heavily guarded by the parents. The feldglings are seen running and jumping on the aviary floor as well as making small flights through- out the trees. Usually another month passes before the fledglings are weaned from the regurgitated diet of the parents and start eating on their own when they discover where the food pans are. Then an amazing thing happens. The male begins to chase the female extra hard and if he catches her a fight takes place. This hard chasing us- ually lasts a day or two after that they reconcile their differences. I refer to it as their divorce and remarriage proceedings. Soon after that they are back starting another nest. Since we've had a pair of Touracos (1976), there have been 15 nestings. Seven of the nestings have been successful with one or two chicks surviv- ing. Seven of the nests were either disturbed in some way or the eggs were infertile. One nest I tried to incubate the eggs without any success. With all the activity, I believe I can accurately give a few reasons for our successes. To insure a successful nesting, give the birds room to fly and soar. They love to soar. Keep the number of Touracos in any one aviary to two, one male and one female. Any more and there is undue chasing and fighting and no incubating. As soon as the fledglings are feeding on their own, move them to their own aviary or have them surplus- sed to another zoo. Our experience shows that the young fledglings are interested in what their parents are doing even if they don't know quite what it is. The incubating parents will mistake one of the young fledg- lings as the partner that comes to the nest to relieve It of its' incubat- ing chores. While in reality the young fledgling simply sits next to the eggs and soon after the incubating parent flies off, the young does like- wise. This apparently aggitates the parents because soon they are chas- ing and generally harrassing the fledglings. If the fledglings do remain in the aviary during incubation, they all too often interfer with the feedings of the nestlings and cause them to fall from the nest. Another course of action to insure success is to supply more than enough food since this seems to give the birds a feeling of security and well-being. Stay away from the nest if there is suspicion of eggs or nestlings there. Count your days, supply the food and keep a very watchful eye for increased activity around the nest and feeding sites . With such knowledge on hand I heartily encourage other keepers and avi- culturists in making attempts to breed the Touracos as they provide any aviary with beauty, activity, song, personality and a sense of avicultural accomplishment . Note ; As of this presentation, the Touracos have not renested. They have shown tendencies to do so but have not laid any eggs. One possible reason for this apparent delay is the recent introduction into the aviary of one very active pair of Green Wood Hoopoes. Everything else is the same except for this avian introduction. 310 DATA SHEET Nest Number Date 1 6 Dec. '78 7 Dec. '78 Winter '78 22 March ' 78 4 July '79 5 July '79 2 6 July '79 17 July '79 26 July '79 2 August '79 3 13 Aug. '79 19 Aug. '79 12 Sept. '79 13 Sept. '79 19 Sept. '79 4 30’ Sept. '79 20 Oct. '79 16 Nov. '79 5 23 Nov. '79 25 Nov. '79 6 7 Dec. ' 79 31 Dec. '79 18 Jan. '80 9 Feb. '80 7 14 Feb. '80 21 Feb. '80 14 March ' 80 17 Match '80 31 March '80 8 20 April '80 20 May ' 80 9 14 June '80 9 July '80 31 July '80 10 2 Aug. '80 24 Aug. '80 12 Sept. '80 11 6 Oct. '80 18 Oct. '80 8 Nov. '80 24 Nov. '80 16 Dec. '80 Event First Touraco nesting First nest abandoned Lost the female Received new female Touracos in nesting behavior Installed nesting platform Touracos lay 1st of two eggs Nest disturbed/destroyed Touracos starting 2nd nest Touraco nest disturbed Touracos back in nest Touracos nesting Touracos hatched young Double feeding in TRF begun Lone Touraco chick died Touracos back on nest Touracos hatching Touraco fledged one chick Touracos back on nest Touraco nest disturbed Touracos started another nest Touraco nest hatching Touraco fledged one chick Fledgling eating on its own Touracos back on nest 2nd egg laid-incubation starts Touraco nest hatching Larger nest platform installed Touracos back on nest Touracos hatching Young Touraco fledged Touracos back on nest Nesting unsuccessful More wire nests installed in Fig tree Touracos back on nest Touracos hatching Touracos fledged Touracos renesting Touracos incubating Touracos hatching Touracos fledged Touracos eating on own 311 TOURACO DATA SHEET, co^^Unu^d ; Number Date Event 12 10 Jan. '81 Touracos renesting 1 Feb. ’ 81 Touracos hatching 17 Feb. ’81 Touracos fledged 23 Feb. ’81 Touracos divorced 25 Feb. ’81 Touracos remarried 13 29 March ’81 Touraco eggs in incubator 14 2 April ’81 Touracos renesting 24 April ’81 Touraco nest unsuccessful 15 22 May ’ 81 Touracos renesting 14 June ’81 Touraco nest unsuccessful & ANIMAL TESTING - ALTERNATIVES FUNDED Four separately funded research programs have been established with the goal of finding a non-animal alternative to the Draize eye-irritation test. This test uses large numbers of rabbits to determine the safety of cosmetics, detergents and many household products. The chemical to be tested is placed in one eye of a series of living rabbits and the effects are noted. Dr. William Douglas of the Tufts University Medical School has been awarded a grant of $100,000 by the New England Anti-Vivisection Society to develop an alternative to the Draize test. He will study the toxicity of chemicals on cells cultivated from human corneal tissue. A three-year grant totaling $176,000 was awarded to Joseph Leighton, M.D. of the Medical College of Pennsylvania’s Department of Pathology^ to de- velop a non-animal substitute for the Draize test. Dr. Leighton will study inflamation caused by different substances on the chorioallantoic membrane of the chick embryo. The work is expected to complement the study at Tufts University. The American Fund for Alternatives to Animal Research is the lead organization making the grant, assisted with sub- stantial contributions for each of the three years from the Air Chief Marshall, the Lord Dowding Fund for Humane Research and the American Anti-Vivisection Society. Revlon, Iric is providing a $750,000 3-year grant to The Rockefeller University. According to Dr. Dennis Stark, Associate Professor and Direc- tor of Rockefeller’s Laboratory Animal Research Center, initial research will use tissue culture. Avon, through the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, has com- mitted $250,000 towards the creation of a national center for the study of alternatives and has set aside a further $500,000 for special research projects. Funding for the national center will also come from other cos- metic companies and possibly from other industries. Some 20 research in- stitutions have been invited to submit research proposals. One of these institutions will be selected as the national center. — In{^omation AyUmaZ Jyiitltute. SummeA 1981, Uol 30, No. 2 312 NATIVE WILDLIFE-EXOTIC ANIMAL INTERFACE AT THE NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK CONSERVATION/RESEARCH CENTER By Gn.2.g V. SandoA^ fAcnt Royal, VA I. The National Zoological Park, Conservation and Research Center: An Introduction. The Conservation and Research Center is located on the northeastern edge of the Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The Center is under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution and Nat- ional Zoological Park. Formerly a cattle research station, within the Department of Agriculture, this 2700 acre area is now the home for col- lections of exotic mammals and birds. The facility has a full-time staff of 32, with a part-time staff of 16 which includes administrative person- nel, research personnel, animal caretakers and active departments in main- tenance and farm crews. Research and management of wildlife, by necessity, must include not only exotic wildlife, but also those animals which were present on the Center first, the native wildlife. It is a need for research with native wild- life at the Center which developed into a program, the Field Studies Pro- gram. It is this program and how it fits into the context of the Smiths- onian Institution and the National Zoological Park that will be examined in this paper. II. Native Wildlife Research, Exotic Animal Programs and the National Zoological Park. A. Integrating Animal Programs at the Conservation and Research Center 1. Interacting with the Administration The Field Studies Program interacts with the administration of the Con- servation and Research Center under the direction of the Assistant Dir- ector of Animal Programs. The Center, the Department of Zoological Re- search, and Friends of the National Zoo supply the vehicles, manpower and general supplies necessary to keep the program functioning on an every- day basis, along with housing for workers, volunteers and visiting scien- tists. In return, the Field Studies Program provides the Center with current data on the population and behavior of native wildlife found on the Center. With this information, the Center can plan for expansion of facilities with the knowledge of environment and habitat native species require for I survival. Any adverse affect on populations of native wildlife would greatly diminish the credibility of the Center. The title of the facility, the Conservation and Research Center, explains the stand of the National Zoological Park in relation to exotic wildlife and also the native wild- ' life. j Along these lines, the Field Studies Program has yeilded valuable infor- mation. For example on the Center are populations of raccoon and grey , fox. These two species require den sites in tree cavities. Due to the I extensive logging within the last forty years, the Center has limited i numbers of trees which are mature enough to have cavities favorable as j den sites. If the Center expands enclosures into the forest for forest jl dwelling hoof stock, such as Pere David deer and wisent, special precau- I tions must be taken to insure the valuable nest trees are not destroyed. 313 Native Wildlife-Exotic Animal Interface, continued 2. Interacting with Exotic Animal Caretakers Interactions between exotic animal caretakers and the Field Studies Pro- gram, to date, have mainly been concerned with predator control. Rac- coons, marmots, skunks and opossums either directly or indirectly pose a threat to the Center’s collection of exotic birds and small mammals. Keeping these animals out of enclosures is a constant problem and a necessity. Live-trapping and relocation has been one method used by the Field Studies Program to aid the Center with this problem. In the future, exotic animal caretakers will be a valuable source of infor- mation on animal behavior. On the Center are a collection of South Ameri- can canids. Canids also are present on the Center as native wildlife in the form of Red Fox and Grey Fox. By correlating behavorial observations on the native canids, with similar observations taken by animal caretak- ers on exotic canids, a camparitive study could yeild valuable informa- tion. This is possible not only with South American Canids, but also with Lesser Pandas and Clouded Leopards. B. Integrating Native Wildlife Programs with Existing Departments Within the National Zoological Park 1. Interacting with the Department of Zoological Research. Being associated with the National Zoological Park and existing depart- ments within the Zoo has greatly increased the research capacity of the Field Studies Program. Questions relating to research techniques, animal mortality and animal health can readily be answered within the Depart- ment of Zoological Research, Office of Pathology and the Office of Ani- mal Health. Within the structure of the National Zoological Park, the Field Studies { Program is a branch of the Department of Zoological Research. Within the Department of Zoological Research are Biologist, Zoologist, Behavior- alist and Ecologist who have conducted research on a vast number of ani- mal species. As a source of reference and knowledge, these scientists are invaluable to the Field Studies Program. The Department of Zoological Research provides the program with a great deal of new technology in the form of equipment. With Uher tape record- ers, parabolic reflectors and sonogram equipment, wildlife vocalizations can be examined. With transmitters, receivers, antennae and various radiq^ telemtry equipment, animal activity and movement can be studied. Couple with this equipment the ability to analyze data using computers, with computer time relegated to the Department of Zoological Research from the Smithsonian Institute, and the capacity to evaluate information is great- ly increased. 2. Interacting with the Office of Animal Health The Field Studies Program interacts with the Office of Animal Health on several different levels. The Office of Animal Health is responsible for the health care of all animals within the National Zoological Park, both native and exotic, and the Field Studies Program keeps the veterin- arians at the Zoo posted on the general health of the native wildlife captured at the Center. Zoo veterinarians are also actively involved in the capture and anesthesia of larger native mammals present on the Center, such as black bear and | white tailed deer. Techniques in general animal health care and animal 314 Native Wildlife-Exotic Animal Interface, continued maintenance are also taught by Zoo veterinarians along with other tech- niques such as blood sampling and administering drugs. Recently the Field Studies Program supplied the Office of Animal Health with some valuable information. During a trap period conducted by the Field Studies Program, four rabid raccoons were trapped on the Center. On the Center is a valuable collection of South American canids which had not been vaccinated for rabies and whose enclosure was not preadtor-proof . Upon the discovery of rabies, these canids were immediately vaccinated and their enclosure made predator-proof. With the Field Studies Program and the Office of Animal Health working together, a serious problem was posibly averted. 3. Interacting with the Office of Pathology. Being associated with the Office of Pathology has given the Field Studies Program a dimension few research facilities possess. When an animal dies or is found dead, researchers usually speculate on the cause of death, or if the animal is valuable enough it is sent to a lab for necropsy. If any study animal from the Field Studies Program dies, it is imm.ediately sent to pathology for a complete necropsy, with results, in many cases, being reported on the same day. The Office of Pathology not only specu- lates on the cause of death, but also gives information on endoparasites , ectoparasites and any other abnormalities noted. When native raccoons on the Center began to show behavorial signs of rab- ies, the Field Studies Program immediately notified the Office of Path- ology. Shortly thereafter several raccoons died in the lab and were sent to pathology for necropsy. Samples of brain tissues were taken and the brains were saved. Upon examination, inclusion bodies were found in the brain tissue and the brains were sent to the Communicable Disease Center in Atlanta for evaluation. The samples were confirmed using the floures- cent antibody test. This was significant not only to the health care and management of native and exotic animals on the Center, but also the first case of endemic rabied noted in a native raccoon population as far north as Virginia. 1 C. Integrating Native Wildlife Research Programs with Wildlife Research Projects on an International Level. 1. The National Zoological Park and its Involvement with International Research Projects. The National Zoological Park, as a representative of the Smithsonian In- stitution has been involved in international wildlife research projects since the early 1900’ s. During that time the National Zoo has investigat- ed wildlife on every continent in the world and on species ranging from Giant Anteaters in Venezuela to the tiger and elephant in Asia. In the future the National Zoo and Smithsonian Institution will continue I international wildlife research projects. A project to study the ecology ; and behavior of the Giant Panda has recently been organized with the Peoples Republic of China and will begin in February 1982. Projects in j India and Surinam are also in the discussion stages. With this in mind, i an active Field Studies Program exhibits to foreign countries the research i capacity of the Smithsonian while showing our great concern for the flora I and fauna of this country. 2. Utilizing the Conservation and Research Center to Test Native Wildlife Research Techniques . 315 Native Wildlife-Exotic Animal Interface, contlnuad The Field Studies Program will not only monitor native wildlife popula- tions on the Center, but will also be a proving ground to test new equip- ment and techniques used to study native wildlife. Receivers, trans- mitters, antennae and various radio-telemetry equipment will be tested in the field for reliability and accuracy, before it is used on inter- national wildlife projects. This will enable investigators to become familiar with each piece of equipment before the project begins. New techniques used to study native wildlife will also be examined by the Field Studies Program before being used on international projects. Techniques such as biotelemetry, vegetation sampling and new methods used to estimate populations will be examined for reliability and feasibility in field research situations. With this capacity the National Zoological Park will more efficiently use available field time. 3o Training International Students in Wildlife Research Techniques. When the National Zoological Park initiated the Field Studies Program an early goal was to m.ake the program a training course for international students. The course would teach techniques essential to a wildlife biologist. Techniques in radio-telemetry , vegetation sampling, popula- tion evaluation and other areas would be taught at an advanced level. With this training, the student would have the ability to conduct a study and teach these techniques learned in the course to students in their own country. The first student was Dr. A.J.T. Johnsingh from southern India. While in the program Dr. Johnsingh conducted a study on raccoons. Using radio- telemetry, raccoon movement, activity and den sites were examined over an 18-month period. In the summer of 1981 a cooperative program between the National Institute of Health, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Zoological Park and the University of Florida brought seven third world students to the Center. These students learned techniques essen- tial to a wildlife biologist in a concentrated six week course. The Smithsonian Institute and the National Zoological Park have been involved in education for many years and the Field Studies Program at the Center will continue to emphasize this. III. The Dedication of the National Zoological Park to Wildlife Research: A Summary Before the turn of the century Congress, the administration and the ef- fort of William Hornaday put into being the concept of a National Zoolo- gical Park. The function of the National Zoological Park, as specified in a mandate from Congress, was to exhibit, educate, conserve and re- search. Many years have elapsed since the original mandate; the function remains the same. The basic concepts of exhibit, educate, conserve and research include not only the animals of the United States but also the world. ^ The National Zoological Park has explored the world in its efforts to conserve wild- life. With these concepts in mind and with the concept of the Conservation and Reserach Center clearly explained by the title, the importance of a Field Studies Program at the National Zoological Park is clearly focused. 316 Native Wildlife-Exotic Animal Interface, continued The concept of conserving and researching exotic wildlife has no basics within the scope of the National Zoological Park if conserving and re- searching the native wildlife of this country is not also stressed. Only with the idea that the National Zoological Park is concerned with native wildlife can it hope to convince foreign countries that it is concerned with their wildlife populations. The Field Studies Program at the Con- servation and Research Center exhibits this concept and, hopefully, in the future, wildlife throughout the world will benefit. Literature Cited Montali, R.J., Mann, P.C. ^ al (1981) Rabies in Raccoons - Virginia Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 30, No. 29, Pg. 1,2. 2 A Zoo For All Seasons, Smithsonian Exposition Books, New York, N.Y. 1979. Norton & Co. , t>0 WANT IT Submitted By: Zoological Consortium, Inc, 317 Drawing By: J. Trigg INTERACTIONS OF INFANT BABOONS IN CAPTIVITY By Lynm 1/M.eA^, Animal KeepeA IncUanapol^ Zoo, Indlanapotu , IW Baboons are knows to have a complex social behavior, which appears to be centered around the infants of the troop. How these infants interact with the troop’s other members and how such interactions change with time is of special interest, especially to the zookeeping profession, when a troop is in captivity. An opportunity to study such a troop presented itself at the Indianapolis Zoo. A ten-member troop of Guinea Baboons jPap-lo pap-lo ) , was acquired from the Baboon Island at Brookfield Zoo on 26 July 1980. Their outside exhibit (Fig lA) is approximately 50’ x 40’ x 20’ and contains a four- foot square shelter, three trees, two perches, a pool, boulders and logs. The inside house is 20’ x 6’ x 10’ with two perches and a bench that runs along the back wall (Fib IB) . Fig. lA Baboon Outer Exhibit Fig. IB Baboon Inner Exhibit The original ten-member troop contained three adult males , three adult females and four offspring. The names, sexes and birthdates shown in Table 1 are divided according to adult male, adult female and offspring, and then sub-divided into social ranking for the adult males and females and into age for offspring. The alpha or dominat male Joe is interesting- ly enough the heaviest weighing male. Katie, according to size, is old- er than Allen, who is nearly the same size as Buster Jack. 318 Interactions Of Infant Baboons In Captivity, contlnand Name TABLE 1 Sex Bi rthdate Joe 1/0 1-1970 Jack 1/0 7-1975 Ray 1/0 1963 Irene 0/1 9-1969 Edna Pearl 0/1 12-1973 Vivian 0/1 8-1973 Katie 0/1 1979 Allen 1/0 1979 Buster Jack 1/0 1980 Josie Ann 0/1 6-1980 -- Unk. 8-17-1981 Irene, the alpha female, has two offspring; Katie and Josie Ann — the subject of this study. Edna Pearl also has two; Allen and a newborn in- fant, the first such birth at the Indianapolis Zoo. Vivian's offspring is Buster Jack. Josie Ann, the youngest infant when the study began, was observed three times a week for one hour periods on the average. This continual study began on 24 September, 1980 when Josie Ann was four months old. With the recent addition of another infant in August, the study now includes obser- vations of this infant also. The time of day that observations were made was early afternoons. The data collected was recorded into a spiral note- book, which keeps the data organized and easily accessible. The main objective was to document Josie Ann's interactions with the other members of the troop; however, her physical development, as well as observations on the other troop members was also recorded. Besides the observations, the date, time, length of observation periods and weather conditions were recorded. Figure 2 is a sample of observations to show how they were recorded and what was looked for. FIGURE 2 4-28-81 1 hr. in upper 50 's overcast starts drizzling. BJ & JA playing on and around L tree. K comes in tree & joins in play in 30 secs, play for 4 mins, w/ 2 breaks EP grooming A BJ &JA playing in L tree — wrestle on ground & under log. Jack comes on log & does "lip smacking" to BJ & tries to lift him out but he won't come. BJ & JA play around him. When Joe comes over Jack grabs JA & holds in arm but she pulls away. Bj & JA back up tree BJ comes down K goes up BJ & A play under log EP does "lip smacking" to K. K walks on hind legs, they embrace & K grooms EP. 319 Interactions Of Infant Baboons In Captivity, aontlniidd The results of the study were arbitrarily divided into monthly segements. Each segement was sub-divided into infant-mother interactions, infant- juvenile interactions and infant-adult interactions. Table 2 summarizes the relationship of Josie Ann to her mother, to the other juveniles and to the adults over a period of ten months. Unfortunately, observations were unable to be conducted in May. In relation to her mother, the trend went from one of protection and security to one of only grooming. Irene gradually became a disciplinarian in the late fall/early winter. Weaning appeared to begin in April and concluded in June. In her interaction with the other juveniles, Josie Ann went from teasing and taunting to initiating play and having the play endurance comparable to the other juveniles. The length of time spent in play also Increased reaching per- iods of up to 13-20 minutes. Katie, her sibling, and Buster Jack, her playmate, also protected Josie Ann. When she was younger, Josie Ann and Buster Jack seemed to have formed a bond, which still seems to exist, since she spent more time with him than the other two juveniles. This bond was probably due to them being close to the same age. The type of interaction varied with the adults. But generally, it went from gentle play and tolerance to disciplining and reciprocal grooming. Besides observing the type of interaction Josie Ann had with the other members, the amount of time spent with each group is also important. Graph #1 shows a summary of the use of Josie Ann’s time. The time Josie Ann was by herself decreases, levels off during the spring and sharply increases in July. This July Increase corresponds with a sharp decrease in time spent with her peers. This unusual peaking may have been influ- enced by the weather, which was extremely hot and humid. The decrease in time spent with her peers in January corresponds with a sharp increase in time spent with her mother. This was possibly due to adverse weather and to the fact that they were locked outside during most of the obser- vation period that month. Since they remained indoors mostly during the colder weather in February, and went outside with improved weather, seems to explain the sharp decrease in time spent with her mother. The time spent with the adults varies within a relatively small range. 320 Interactions Of Infant Baboons In Captivity, con;tcnue.d M-l -H C S OJ I -H 0) O 3 M O C W) •H ^ •H S td rH O rH 4-J m fl >, !>^ 6 .H cd 4J W) Cd ^ iH W C iH O -H cx O <4-1 +J 0) -U 0) 4-1 c: m a o ^ 3 c: M 4-) < -H CU •H cu C/3 ;5 P4 o C ‘H T) 4-1 s a cu 0) cd 4«J cd o 44 cd rH cd (3 E P444 CO >4 iH 43 = HaillOK-INVJNI 4J pj < PI 00 4 4J cd pj ( C 4J -H I saiiNaAnr-iNvaNi t— I r— I Td 31 O C r ■TP) 4J Cd snncrv-iMvaNi 321 Interactions Of Infant Baboons In Captivity, cowtlnuo^d Josie Ann's interactions and time spent appear to be similar to that of infant baboons in the wild (DeVore 1965, Simonds 1974) and to that of infant baboons in captivity (Anthony 1968, Crandell 1964). The only deviations appear to be ones that were affected by weather conditions. There are a number of ways in which this type of project is beneficial to our zoo. First, since the observer becomes familiar with each member of the troop, early detection of illnesses and injuries can be readily treated. Secondly, comparisons can be made with infant development in captivity and in the wild. This allows appropriate alterations to be made, for example diet changes if deficiencies occur, in order to re- semble a more natural habitat. Another is more accurate breeding records, including cycles and birthdate estimations, and social ranking changes can be noted with such a study. And finally of equal importance is the benefit to the visiting public. The public is generally not too bashful to approach the observer and ask questions. This increases the public- keeper interaction and increases public knowledge and awareness. This type of study also can benefit zoos. Most noteworthy, comparisons can be made with the points mentioned above, as well as space utilization and sex ratios. A study of infant interaction is not the only type of project than can be done with baboons. Grooming, such as the type or the connection to social rank, is a possibility. Play and its role in infant development is another, as well as, the influence of social rank on breeding and communication, both visual and vocal. REFERENCES CITED Anthony, Terence. 1968. An Amazon Society. Brookfield Banadrlog. 34: 6-9. Crandall, Lee S. 1964. Wild Mammals In Captivity. University of Chicago Press. DeVore, Irven. 1965. Mother-infant Relations in Free-Ranging Baboons. In: Thomas E. McGill (ed.) Readings in Animal Behavior, New York: Holt, Rhinehart and Winston. 541-558. Simonds, Paul E. 1974. The Social Primates. New York: Harper & Row Pub. m SQUARE-LIPPED RHINOCEROS STUDBOOK PUBLISHED A new edition of the Square-lipped (white) rhinoceros studbook has just been issued by the Zoological Gardens of Berlin, West Germany. This is the first complete volume ever published and included all living and deceased animals from the first registrations in 1963 through 31 Decem- ber 1980. Currently, there are 558 (253/305) registered animals living in captivity worldwide. The vast majority of pedigree animals are of the southern race, CoAa- totkoALum 4^1710171 -6^1710171, although data and range information on the high- ly endangered northern subspecies, C.^. cottoni, is also included. This studbook has been difficult to maintain because of the large number of nonparticipating owners; and the studbook keeper. Dr. Heinz-Goerg Klos, is to be commended for his fine job. For further information, the stud- book keeper should be contacted at Zoologischer Garten, Berlin (West Berlin Zoo), 1000 Berlin 3, Hardenbergplatz 8, Federal Republic of Germany. A. ShomakeA In AAZPA Hm^lQ.tt2A 322 GREAT APE KEEPING AT LINCOLN PARK ZOO By Vat SammoAco, Zoo KeepeA, Ape Hoa6e Ltncotn VoAk Zoo, Chicago, JL During the Chicago National AAZPA Conference one of the most asked ques- tions was "Why do the Lincoln Park Zoo apes do so well in breeding and raising their young?" The answer comes in at least three parts: 1) hav- ing compatible animals; 2) providing good environments and, 3) being just plain lucky. All of these tie in and with a bit of admitted predjudice, are due to the quality of the ape keepers - especially those who worked even harder en- riching the lives of the apes while they lived in the old Primate House - as well as the zoo’s commitment to good management through improving the apes ’ environment . Those who have seen the primate facilities at Lincoln Park know that the physical environment changed drastically for the apes with their move to the Great Ape House in 1976. The habitats in the new building increased living space ten to fifteen times and added the option to be off-display, at will, in yet more space. With the additional room some obvious chang- es occured: the apes’ activity increased, they ate more and trimmed down. With opportunities to have more real and psychological distance between individuals, relationships mellowed. One thing that did not change was our breeding success. Of the 34 Great Apes now in the Great Ape House, 16 have been born in Lincoln Park Zoo, six of these in the Old Primate House. Three of those born in the old building are now mothers. Con- sidering the increase in breeding females, the two buildings are about par for breeding success. Going back to the three main reasons for our success, //I is having com- patible animals. Our Senior Keeper, Jim Higgins, is convinced by his experience that most animals can learn to get along with proper intro- duction techniques and a lot of patience. Fortunately, with the number of animals that we have and their varied personalities , we can allow for clashes and alliances. Keepers who carefully observe the day-to- day interactions of the apes collect invaluable information that aids in the decision making when groups are rearranged. Records indicating hostilities and friendships and the Keepers’ gut feelings can be major considerations in making up the groups for social and reproductive reasons. Otto, of studbook and TV fame, is sexually very active but even he has some failures because of his personality. Otto could be compared to the schoolyard brat who pulls pigtails because he likes to hear the girls scream and loves to be chased. Some of our ladies are much too dignified for this routine and with more or less serious quarrels, eith- er refuse to breed with him or for whatever reason will not conceive by him. With a choice of three breeding males, we can allow our female gorillas to be choosey about their mates. Gorillas, of course, don’t wear pigtails but a good chase can be the result of a poke or better yet because of a baby theft. Otto hasn’t hurt a baby, but it drives keepers crazy to see him running, baby in his mouth, and mother in hot pursuit. Our option is to remove Otto’s pregnant ladies to Fred’s group for peace and quiet — ours as well as theirs. Fred has fathered only one baby, but he interacts very well 323 Great Ape Keeping At Lincoln Park Zoo, continued with infants and is fairly good at keeping peace in his family. This being a nursery group, females who have yet to give birth can be intro- duced to gain experience in mothering by observation and by participat- ing in babysitting. Terra is a 24-year-old female gorilla from Milwaukee County Zoo who is living with Frank's family, including two females with young. She is one of those no-nonsense ladies who couldn't tolerate Otto's boisterous be- havior, but is doing well with Frank, our second best breeder. Most days are quiet, giving her a chance to watch mothering and have contact with the two youngsters. There are also those days that we are tempted to "X-rate" the run as she and Frank spend the day arm-in-arm and various other positions. In April, Terra showed a positive urine test and may be pregnant for the first time in her life. Hopefully her experience living with mothers will help her care for her baby. One of the females in Frank's group, Debbie, is an adoptive mother. Due to a malformed cervix, she may never conceive but is a great mom nonethe- less. There was some concern that Benga was being lax with her first child, Kivu. The day-old infant was taken for hand-rearing and after a year, an introduction to Debbie was started with Kivu making regular visits to the Ape House from the nursery and finally moving in. Kivu is now three years old and is doing well. She is weighed regularly (with Debbie ready to trade a few minutes with Kivu for a box of raisins) and is now showing a definite preference for returning to the gorilla family rather than remaining with people for longer than necessary. Benga has now given birth to our first male gorilla baby and is raising him herself. Each mother has her own style. Lenore is so protective that her kids are never allowed to ride on her back, but are carried under-belly until they are on their own. Mumbi, one of our grandmothers, is so layed-back that she has handed her baby to keeper care for a few hours at a time, then welcomes her back. Our 32-year-old orangutan, Tanga, has raised all three of her children. Of our four female chimps in the Ape House, two are good mothers, but need to be isolated from the group to insure a newborn's survival against the hostility of the other females. After a few weeks, the mothers and their infants can be reintroduced to the family without problems and all assist in baby-raising, including the females who re- ject their own young. Of the two good mothers, Shauri-Jet, was taught to nurse her baby by Pat Sass, her keeper and long-time friend. A lot of patience and trust allowed M'Chawi to remain with his mother — Pat gro- oming Shauri and positioning the baby on a nipple repeatedly until the lesson was learned. Because of our hostile female chimps and as a matter of good zookeeping, it is important to record breeding and heat cycles and get urine samples to predict birthdates accurately. When necessary, we separate females so they may give birth peacefully in holding areas. Our records system uses various forms to note reproduction data. The yellow card is an im- port from the London Zoo Small Animal House that came to us through keep- er Peter Clay. It is useful in recording events in the apes' lives a year at a time, and serves as an index to our daily report log. The pink sheet keeps breeding and due dates at hand — folding the current sheet al- lows us to keep track of upcoming dates from the sheets below. The apes with their personalities and learning experiences would not do so well if it were not for a good environment, including the physical and psychological conditions enhanced by their keepers . Much social inter- action is influenced by the apes' environment, not only in terms of actual space, but more in the quality of the area and the addition of occupation- al opportunities. With intelligence comes the capacity to be bored, but fortunately part of the environment includes a variety of Homo ^CLpd,e.n6 324 Great Ape Keeping At Lincoln Park Zoo, continued ZOokccpU6 , who are especially adept at a way of life called ’*Amuse-an- Ape”. S^me of the amusements are practical furniture apparatus and multi- level seating. The outdoor yard offers an opportunity for a change of scenery and more interesting substrate in grass rather than concrete. Ropes are hung to give keepers peace of mind as we anticipate the rare falls and fill every possible area with hand holds. The ropes become aerial pathways as well. Since most games require opposing teams, keepers who add ropes are kept busy by apes — especially orangs and a couple of inspired gorillas — who untie, frey and rearrange ropes. Even food can be boring with four meals per day as a prescribed diet. However, suprising the apes with a variety of treats available season- ally or randomly via the commissary through our curator’s creativity and at the suggestions of Jim Higgins, makes meals more interesting. Mark Rosenthal has provided a number of vegetables to surprise the apes. Very often the apes need to be convinced that unusual items such as fresh asparagus, broccoli or rutabaga are edible and sometimes they seem in- credulous that anyone would eat them. Fred has an expression that clear- ly communicates "If you are alive tomorrow, I might taste that" when we offer personal recommendations and try to share a new food. The first meal of the day is a breakfast of horsemeat and oranges some- times substituting grapefruit and served in the holding areas. After cleaning the habitats, keepers scatter a variety of snacks around the living quarters* This food or second meal is designed as an all-day browse and nibble. Regular items include Monkey Chow, carrots, hay or straw and one or more assorted treats that might include seeds, nuts, raisins, peanutbutter , honey, canned fruit, sugar cane, sweet corn or a variety of fruits and vegetables which have already been accepted. Any or all of these items may be offered with or without bags or boxes as containers and eventual toys . Volunteers and other friends occasionally donate fresh fruits and dried fiss and dates. The mid-day milk is a medium of vitamin supplements and the formula sel- dom varies. The close contact at this time helps develop personal rela- tionships between apes and new keepers and allows close inspection of even shy animals . The produce feeding in the afternoon is fairly standard, but occasionally cooking foods that are usually served raw is part of the amuse-an-ape game. Keepers enjoy adding variety to the apes’ lives and do not mind the extra work involved in steaming vegetables, making applesauce or creating special treats like finger-Jello. When the afternoon storm is over, play and nesting materials are added. These include straw, hay, boxes and burlap. The burlap is washed and reused as long as the apes leave large enough pieces . The chimps and gorillas especially like to use hay and straw for nesting and as amuse- ment; the orangs enjoy burlap shawls. Some are careful to keep it dry, others play at making hay soup in the water pools. Hauling out the after- math is a small inconvenience for the keepers considering the fun the apes have. The building involves a lot of heavy and hard work and 80% of a keeper’s day is spent in household chores. The fringe benefit that makes it all worthwhile is the opportunity and privilege to have a close relationship with the apes. Once the routine work is finished, keepers take time to establish and continue friendships with the animals. These mutual trust relationships allow for the close contact that is important when medical problems arise or when examinations are necessary and it’s fun to laugh and play together. The third part of the answer to our success is luck — that luck which brought together a fine collection of apes in a zoo that is seriously making a commitment to their survival and puts them in the care of truly professional zoo keepers. /]^ 325 KEEPER EDUCATION AT THE RIO GRANDE ZOO By Candy KKo^t, HzAptiZz KeepeA Hio Gn.and2. loo, ^buqueAquo,, NM Formal education as a necessary ingredient for those of us in the zoo keeping profession has evolved side-by-side with the changing role of zoos in today's rapidly shrinking world. While no one would argue that there is a suitable replacement for personal experience, we at the Rio Grande Zoo feel that the knowledge gained from our in-house certification programs augments and enhances our skills in dealing with our animals on a daily basis. Our director, John Moore, has been primarily responsible for nuturing this attitude and for the success of these programs. The unionized blue collar workers of the City of Albuquerque are class- ified as B-series employees. Zoo keepers are a part of this classifica- tion; City pay grade B-o6 being Zoo Keeper, B-07, Area Zoo Keeper and B-08, Senior Zoo Keeper. Management level employees, including head keepers, curators and directors, are classified as M-series employees. A City certification program was initiated several years ago to accomo- date machine operators in the Water Resources Department. When John became director in July, 1977, some work had already begun on a reptile training course. Mr. Moore tied what had been done to the existing City certification program, making ours the second such program City-wide to date. He did this so that, in his words, "we would have a promotional ladder for keepers who wanted to take advantage of an in-house educa- tional program". Although many zoos offer educational programs for keepers, we feel ours may be unique, as the training is directed at career keepers and provides steps for potential advancement into the zoo’s management. If a keeper feels that she or he has sufficient knowledge to pass a certification course, that person may "challenge" the course. Challenging must take place before a course has reached the halfway point, and involves tak- ing the final examination. Passing the exam is a successful challenge. Successfully challenging or passing a course, however, is not the only criterion for certification. The second requirement is having a minumum of two years' experience working with exotic animals of one's particular specialization (i.e. herptiles, birds, or mammals). The reptile certification course was begun in January 1978 and completed April 1978. This course included the evolutionary development of rep- tiles; behavioral patterns, including homiostasis, defense, eating habits, reproduction, locomotion, senses, respiration and circulation and gene- tics; care of reptiles, including observation, aseptic techniques and vector control, handling techniques and feeding; recognition, prevention and treatment of disease in reptiles; and safety in handling and exhibit- ing reptiles. Since interest in this course within the zoo was minimal, other City employees were given the opportunity to take the course. Of those who applied, five non-keepers were accepted. One keeper already in the Herpetology Department successfully challenged the course. This person was promoted from B-06 Zoo Keeper to B-07 Area Zoo Keeper on 5 June, 1978 and on 10 October, 1980 was reclassified as Senior Zoo Keeper B-08. Another graduate was promoted to B-07 Area Zoo Keeper in January 1979 and another in June 1979. In October 1980, both were reclassified as Senior Zoo Keepers B-08. Since the Herpetology Department's lack of qualified keepers created a special situation, the 326 Keeper Education At The Rio Grande Zoo, coyutLnue.d two-year requirement was lowered to one year. The bird certification course was taught by Mr. Fay Steele, then bird curator, after he had spent a year on the Mauritius Islands off the coast of Africa. While working to preserve the endangered pink pigeon of the islands, he set up the bird certification course. This course, which began on May 1, 1979 and was completed on June 18, 1979 by five of our keepers and one student from the Mauritius Islands, included the evolu- tionary developm.ent of birds; physical aspects of birds, including inter- nal and external anatomy, feathers, physical adaptation and identifica- tion; bird behavior, including habitats, eating habits, display and mating, nesting habits, migration, senses, brood parasites, longevity and terri- torial behavior; care of birds, including feeding, observation, cleanli- ness, flight prevention, handling techniques and shipment; aviculture, including sexing, incubation by parents, incubation by foster parents, artificial incubation and rearing of young birds away from, parents; rec- ognition, prevention and treatment of bird diseases and injuries; safety of keepers, birds and the public in bird keeping; and the keeper and pub- lic relations. Two of the keepers who took this course were promoted to B-07 Area Zoo Keepers on March 10, 1980 and reclassified as Senior Zoo Keepers B-08 on October 20, 1980. A third bird certification graduate was promoted from B-06 Zoo Keeper to B-08 Senior Zoo Keeper on July 13, 1980. The mammal certification course was begun February 2, 1981 and completed May 15, 1981 by 14 B-06 Zoo keepers and one B-08 Senior Zoo Keeper. This course, taught by mammal curator Ingrid Schmidt, included zoological park appreciation and zoological concepts; taxonomic classifications; mammalian anatomy, habitats and adaptations; genetics and reproduction, biological systems and defense mechanisms; care of mammals, including feeding, clean- ing, handling and restraining and observation; health and disease in mam- mals, including infectious and parasite disease, preventive medicine and common disease problems; and safety. The promotional results of this program are good news for keepers from other zoos. One mammal keeper started as a B-06 Zoo Keeper on September 2, 1980. Using knowledge gained from three years’ experience at another zoo, a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife management and an associate degree qualifying him as a veterinary technician, he became the only ke- eper to successfully challenge the mammal certification course. As a result of this early certification, he is now one of several candidates being considered for a mammal head keeper position which is expected to become available soon. The head keeper position is a management level or M-series position. Three of the B-06 Zoo Keepers dropped the course, and eight B-06 Zoo Keepers who successfully completed the course were promoted to B-08 Senior Zoo Keepers on July 13, 1981. The adoption of the certification programs directly affected existing zoo policy and created a need for new policy with regards to challenging courses and certification requirements. The latter has been previously discussed. Existing policy stated, in accordance with union contracts, that promotion within the zoo would be by seniority. Certification has changed that, as in the case of the new keeper who successfully challeng- ed the mammal course. As with any new program, several problems have arisen with ours. The most crucial of these is promotion by certification rather than seniority. 327 Keeper Education At The Rio Grande Zoo, continue.d Stability in personnel turnover has come about only in the past five or six years, but several keepers have been with the zoo ten to 15 years. One of these people, employed at the zoo for 12 years and already a B-08 Senior Zoo Keeper before the mammal certification course was given, chose to enroll in the course and obtain certification. He is now being consid- ered as a potential head keeper. Of three other keepers who have been with the zoo for 16, nine and seven years respectively, one chose not to enroll and two enrolled and dropped the course for various personal rea- sons. These three have greatly reduced their potential for further ad- vancement. It is difficult, in fairness, to expect experienced keepers to aquiesce supervision to personnel who they may have trained. We feel, however, that as certified keepers gain seniority by attrition, this problem will resolve Itself. In these hard economic times, the City of Albuquerque has had to drastic- ally tighten its financial belt, and we find budget cuts to be another major problem. The Cultural Services Department, of which the zoo is a part, has been hardest hit this fiscal year. With impending personnel lay-offs imminent, it is difficult to justify widespread promotions. Several certified keepers, therefore, must remain at their present level until adequate promotional financing can be found. This, too, should gradually rectify itself, and certified keepers should eventually find themselves able to advance. Another aspect of educational opportunities available to employees stems from the fact that the Rio Grande Zoo is a municipal zoo. The City of Albuquerque pays tuition to educational institutions (two universities and a technical-vocational institute) for employees who wish to enroll in both degree and non-degree job-related programs, and employees may attend class, with pay, during working hours. Many keepers and other zoo employees have taken advantage of this program. All certification ccurses ha\e been taught by curators, with portions of each course taught by Dr. Bret Snyder, the zoo's veterinarian. Outside speakers have also guested on occasion. We feel the direction we have taken towards professionalism for our keep- ers is invaluable, not only because of the promotional aspect, but for the pride one feels in understanding the basic knowledge of one's profes- sion. As former bird curator Fay Steele put it in the forward to his certification course, "(These training programs are) designed not only to prepare you, the keeper, to satisfactorily perform the day to day routine duties required (at the Rio Grande Zoo) , but also to give you the concepts and the vocabulary necessary to develop a professional pride ■ in your work. Self-confidence based on a good basic knowledge of the operation should not only improve morale among the employees but should reduce the number of serious problems that arise... and allow them to be identified sooner and delt with more efficiently. Hopefully, this pro- gram will result in more efficient, better informed and better satisfied employees and fewer problems with the health of the animals." If any of you wish to implement such a program at your zoo, our director, John Moore, or I would be happy to correspond with you in this regard. & 328 DICKERSON PARK ZOO’S BALD EAGLE PROGRAM 'By C/LCtlg MoA-cin, Animal. KeapeA Vlake/uon PoAk Zoo, SpAlng^leld, MO Since the inception in 1977 of our Bald Eagle Breeding Program, we at the Dickerson Park Zoo have had one major goal — propagation of bald eagles for release back in the wilds of Missouri. Missouri has one of the larg- est wintering populations of bald eagles in the country; however, there has been no young produced in the wild since the early forties. In order to fulfill this commitment, acquisition of a breeding stock was necessary. Birds were received from other zoos, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and rehabilitation programs from 1977 to mld-1978. The quality and health of the birds was of great importance. A very important aspect of the project was the actual design of the build- ing so as to simplify daily care. In this way, we could minimize distur- bance to the birds during breeding season. Measuring 10.7 meters by 15.2 meters long, the facility has a gabled roof covered with composition shing- les. A fireboard exterior paneling covers the outside of the building. One of the questions in designing the building was its function. There are two types of chambers, each having its own function. The two largest chambers, measuring 6m x 9m x 4.6m x 4.6m high, was designed to house the mated pairs. The other four chambers initially were designed for artificial insemination. These measure 3mx4.6mx4.6m high. Each chamber floor is covered with 1-2 cm sized gravel. Three walls are comprised of pl3rwood, painted off-white. Inserted in the opening is a removable framework of thinwall metal conduit, 1.25 cm in diameter, and placed vertically at 7.5 cm apart. Both large chambers have two windows comprised of the same material and dimensions. The conduit was chosen to minimize injury. Fluorescent light fixtures are set flush with the ceiling and covered, again to minimize injury. Within each chamber a nest platform has been constructed. These nest platforms were placed in one corner of the chamber, each measuring 90cm by 120 cm. In the larger chambers, the nest platforms were supported by 5cm X 10cm posts, placing the nest 201cm above the floor. Nest platforms in artificial insemination chambers are 130cm above the floor. Varying sizes of tree limbs were placed in each chamber for perching. On the north end of the building is a circular exhibit area measuring 9.14 ffieters in radius. This area is currently used to exhibit birds not I yet engaged in the program. These birds along with graphics, depict the 1 plight of the bald eagle in this country. In maintaining these birds, a metal elbow chute has been placed in the wall so as to minimize contact with the birds during the breeding season, j The food, which may be either chicks, trout, horsemeat, rats, mice of any variety of whole bodied animals, is fed through this chute. The birds then feed off of the feeding platform inside the chamber. Currently, Dickerson Park Zoo has 16 bald eagles, six are paired for natural breeding, and three are available for artificial insemination. 329 Dickerson Park Zoo's Bald Eagle Program, continued The others are in transition, either waiting to be sexed, on exhibit, and/or mder veterinary care. Major renovation to enlarge the building is under way in order to accomodate another breeding chamber. During the past four years, several important projects have come about. The 1980 breeding season proved to be one of our most productive years. In January of that year, both of the pairs began extensive nest building. Less than a month later, copulation had been observed in two pairs of eagles. On 20 February, Maryland (who was so new to the program and had spent little time with her mate) showed signs of pre-laying lethargy. At 2:00 p.m. that afternoon, an egg had been observed in the nest. We allowed her to incubate the egg for as long as she would do so. How- ever, the next day she began to solicit the male to relieve her. He re- fused to do so. With concern over her incubation time due to her frequent departures from the nest, the egg was pulled from the nest. The egg measured 77mm x 58mm high and weighed 141.85 grams. 23 February, 1980, proved to be another productive day. A second egg was laid. Again due to the male’s refusal to incubate the egg, it also was pulled from the nest. To maintain incubation, a Marsh Farm Roll-X incubator was used. A tem- perature of 37.6° C and a wet bulb temperature of 29-30° C was maintained for proper incubation. The eggs were turned every hour, automatically. We calculated the next possible clutch to be produced and waited with careful observation. On 20 March, 1980, a third egg was laid. Both birds shared in incubation; however, on 22 March, 1980, the egg was broken dur- ing incubation. The second egg of the second clutch was laid on 23 March and measured 75mm x 58mm. To lower the risk of breakage, this egg was pulled for incubation. On the morning of 29 March, the first egg pipped. After hatching, it was evident the chick had a body fluid problem. Three days later, the fluid had settled into the abdominal region and the chick appeared to be drowning in its own body fluid. At 11:00 p.m. that evening, the first chick died. With the first chick gone, we awaited the hatching of the second chick. Unfortunately, this did not occur. Though the chick .did pip, there was poor yolk absorption. In struggling to hatch, the chick had ruptured the yolk sac and drowned in the yolk. To obtain actual cause of death, both chicks were sent to the National Fish and Wildlife laboratory in Madison, WI. Information received show- ed an edematous chick. Poor incubation by the parents was attributed to the deaths . Not only were the eggs laid an important part of the 1980 breeding year, but artificial insemination had made its contribution. This had been our second year working with artificial insemination technique and our birds had cooperated well. When dealing with females, it is important to work exclusively on a one- to-one basis. This establishes a pair bond between the individual and the bird. A bird that will submit voluntarily will be less stressful than if forced insemination is required. To create this close association, the individual will present food, nest material, stroking the female with a feather, and generally in close 330 Dickerson Park Zoo's Bald Eagle Program, continued proximity during this time period. The time spent with the females was between 15 and 20 minutes each day. Semen collection, however, involves a more lengthy process. To minimize any stress of constant capture, the males were tethered to rubber tires. This facilitated ease in care, cleaning, and semen collection. The method used for collection was the massage method. For collection, the males were placed on a cushion ventrally. Minimiz- ing stress, a burlap bag was placed over the head. The collector then used the inner surface of their legs to stabilize the bird. To massage the bird, the collector used his right hand to stroke firmly the back and flank of the bird toward the tail. At the same time, his left hand plac- ed on the lower abdomen massaged toward the vent. After 30-40 seconds, the tail was pressed back dorsally. With a firm pressure, using the fin- gers of the right hand, while still massaging below the vent with the left hand, semen was gently "milked” from the vent. Capillary tubes were used for collection. These provided ease of collec- tion, retarded drying, and could be kept warm by a small thermos or car- ried by hand. In June 1981, Dickerson Park Zoo embarked on a project that exemplifies our Bald Eagle Breeding Program. With cooperation from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation, Dickerson Park Zoo located two young birds. Both were downed from severe storms that went through the Northeastern U.S. — one from Minnesota that was between eight and nine weeks old and one from Wisconsin approximately eleven weeks old. Preparations were them made to pick a site for the hacking station. Mingo Wildlife Refuge in Southeast Missouri was the site chosen. The area had minimal human activity, was close to a water source, and there had been a pair of mature bald eagles in the area. With materials for the hacking station provided by the U.S. Fish and Wild- life Service, construction soon began. The actual hacking box was placed atop four telephone poles, 11.3 m high. Measuring 1.8m x 1.8m x 1.5m high, the hacking box was constructed from plywood. A framework front panel able to drop down for release was built into the hack box. Electrical conduit, placed vertically, was used on the front, two-thirds of both sides and one-half of the top. The front framework was lag bolted in place. A feed slot that tilted back was placed in the lower left corner of the hack box. In this way, the birds could be fed with no visual contact of the individual. One-third of the two sides, one-half of the top, and the back were "blind" in that this was covered with pl3;^ood. A small door was plac- ed on the back for retrieval and placement of birds. The tower's blind side was facing northwest to give the birds freedom from afternoon sun. Below the front panel, small limbs were placed facing away from the hack box. This would provide an area for the birds to perch. The entire tower was grounded to prevent severe damage to occupants and tower. A cross-lattice of 5cm x 10cm boards gave stability to the tower. Pre- dator guards were placed 3.1 m from the ground on all four telephone poles. A ladder was built on the lattice from the surrounding catwalk to 4.5 m from the ground. An extension ladder was put up for the morning feeding and was taken down after the evening feeding. 331 Dickerson Park Zoo's Bald Eagle Program, continued In order to observe the birds’ behavior, an observation platform was con- f structed. This was placed in a treefork 36.5 m from the hack station. | The tree observation tower was at a forest edge and was 10.6 m high. A i canvas tarp with a clear plastic window was used as a frontal blind. For ^ observations, a spotting scope was used. i' When feeding the birds, the person would circle behind the tower on its blind side. The person feeding would then climb up to the hack box and place the food in the food slot. This would minimize possible imprint- ing. After each feeding, which consisted of either gar, carp, or rabbit, observations were conducted for one hour. Checks were made of the general area every two hours to discourage public intrusion. At 10:55 a.m. on 24 July, the front panel was lowered to release the eagles. With radio telemetry wing packs strapped on, the Wisconsin bird, at 3:55 p.m., was the first to leave the hack box. In the attempt to get out, it tripped and caught itself on the perching branches. It remained there until, a 6:20 p.m., the Minnesota bird left the hack box. Both birds flew from the area in a northwest direction behind the hack site. They landed about three-quarters of a mile away in a very thick brushy area. Radio signals remained strong and the two spent that night in the brush. On 25 July, 1980, both birds were recaptured and returned to the hack site. ? The Wisconsin bird immediately took flight and flew approximately three- quarters to one mile to an area of farmland off the refuge. It was then located and brought back to the hack site. Both birds remained, until on 26 July they flew to the north end of Monopoly Lake. To maintain contact, the birds were monitored three times a week until 31 July. The 4th of August was the last sighting of the birds. On 5 August, no radio signal had been received. On 7 August, an air search of the area yielded no radio signals. Three days later, a 64 kilometer air search was conducted, and again no signals received. On 14 August an approximate 7225 square kilometer area was surveyed with no radio signals received. Assuming the birds might be lost or injured, the refuse manager was contacted on 17 August. However, he related that a research student at Duck Creek Laboratory had sighted the birds together on 7, 14 and 17 August carrying food. On 18 August, the area was flown with no results. Destruction of the antennas was the probable cause for radio failure. The last confirmed sighting was on 6 September, 1981, one mile north- west of the hack site. Both birds were together. Throughout the four years our program has been active, we have maintained one major goal — captive propagation of bald eagles for release. For the state of Missouri, this means a possible population, over the years, of not only wintering here but to produce viable offspring. Once again re-establishing the bald eagle in Missouri. Those who have participated in this project have experienced only what a select few have done. For Dickerson Park Zoo's staff, it has meant a continuous educational venture. The people who have also benefited are the surrounding communities. We have had a substantial increase in rap- tors being brought to the zoo which we feel are a result of our education- 1 al programs. More educational programs are requested concerning raptor ecology, physiology and ethology. The concern over raptors is very en- (ij couraging and appears to be on the increase in the area. ,'.'1 332 THE MANAGEMENT AND PROROGATION OF GREATER FLAMINGOS AT THE FRESNO ZOO By Linda Iftmo, Covqa Zoo Attendant 1, Bkqavlo , CA The keeping of the American subspecies of the Greater Flamingo ( ?ho KuhOA. AubeA.} began at the Fresno Zoo in 1956 with the pur- chase of three birds. Seven more were obtain- ed in 1958. It was from this nucleus of 10 birds that we had our first successful breed- ing in 1963. Management A) Housing — 30 Greater Flamingos, of mixed ages and sexes, are kept the year around in an open-air, unheated enclosure 125' long and 80' deep. Since winter temperatures in Fresno rarely fall below 25°F, artificial heating for the birds is unnecessary. They also seem to withstand the sometimes 110-plus degree summer temperatures with little apparent ill- effect. The flamingo enclosure, which is also shared by African Crowned Crane {ThAQAkAQJtnAA ae.tkZopZcal , and Demoiselle Cranes ( AnthAo pod^doA vaAq 0 ] is bounded on three sides by a 3' high wooden picket fence, and on the fourth side by the south wall of the zoo's walk-through flight cage. The enclosure is a combination of lawn area, upon which the birds spend much of their time; and easy care landscaping which alleviates the necessity of gardners entering the pen and unduly startling the nervous flamingos. A central feature of the enclosure is a 50' long, curved pool which is cleaned and refilled daily with fresh water. Ajoining the pool, on either side, are dirt-filled pits. The pits,. which are about 12' long and 2' deep, provide the birds with nesting facilities. During the flamingos' breeding cycle the pits are kept constantly filled with water, giving the sites the kind of muddy condition necessary for the construction of the flamingos' nest mounds, the remanants of which remain year after year. We find that an enclosure of this type is ideal for our birds' needs. But inherent with an exhibit of thiff nature are several serious problems. Ob- viously, the one of most concern to us is that of escape. About half of our birds are unpinioned — traditionally it was desirable to leave them "intact" in order to facilitate copulation. And generally, an undipped condition doesn't create a problem since the birds want to stay together in a tight group within the safety of the pen. But every spring, especi- ally on windy days, one or two birds get out. Most often they end up in other animal pens, injured or dead. Occasionally we get lucky and are able to retrieve the bird safely. But, on the average, the zoo loses a flamingo each year to escape. Now to reduce such losses, we undertake a program of surgically pinioning flamingos as soon after they hatch as possible. The other big problem that we face is vandalism, which is unfortunately increasing every year. Because the fence is so low, there is little to keep people from entering the pen. Sometimes the problem stems from people entering to retrieve feathers and unintentionally scaring the birds. Since the flamingos are so skittish, the sight of an Intruder will send them into a panic, and more than one mysterious leg injury has occurred. Far worse, and sadly on the increase, is the zoo visitor throwing bottles, I rocks, or whatever is available, at the birds. Two birds were lost this year to youths throwing rocks. In both instances the birds' legs were shattered and the birds had to be euthanized. Unfortunately, in most cases of leg damage, flamingos end up euthanized. Our experience has shown that such injured flamingos undergo an incredible amount of stress-once 333 Greater Flamingos At The Fresno Zoo, coyutcnue.d rendered unable to walk, flamingos quickly undergo myopathic atrophy, and they are paralyzed literally overnight. Nevertheless, our flamingo enclosure has many pleasant advantages. It affords the birds the illusion of freedom. Its large area gives the in- habitants the freedom to move about and away from annoyances, including the intruding animal keeper. While, at the same time, allowing the zoo visitor the opportunity to view the birds unhampered by wire or windows, at a sometimes suprisingly close range (as little a 6' away). The fence apparently acts as that all-important psychological barrier, creating an interesting combination of wildness and tameness in these birds. B) Diet — Fresno Zoo's flamingos, as well as all of the ciconiif ormes and Gruif ormes in the collection, are fed the same basic diet. It consists entirely of Purina Trout Chow (#4 size) and Flamen Oil (produced by Nutri- tional Research Institute Inc.). These ingredients are combined together in a ratio of 1 pint Flamen Oil to 100 pounds of Trout Chow. Trout Chow contains a minimum of 40% crude protein, the major source be- ing fish meal and soybean protein. Flamen Oil is a derivative of carrot oil, carotenes, and animal sterols. The carotene which is used as a color- ing agent primarily for the plumage, is also present in the egg yolk, and the fluids which the parents feed their young. "Flamingo food" is made up weekly, stored in covered garbage cans, and fed to the birds on a free choice basis. I believe that this diet has some advantages: a) Only 2 ingredients needed — it is therefore relatively inexpensive b) Can be made up in advance, and doesn't need to be refrigerated c) Does not have to be fed moistened — therefore it doesn't have a spoilage problem, doesn't draw flies, or have an unpleasant odor d) The birds find it palatable and eat it readily The birds are fed in a covered, shallow pit which is dry at all times. In fact, they have no immediately adjacent water source. Since there is no rush to the water in the pool after feeding, I would surmise that its not needed in the food at all. Although the birds receive no other sup- plements in their diet, they do spend quite a bit of time filtering water from small puddles that form on the ground. While Greater Flamingos, as a rule, do not feed on algae and other minute particles, it is probable that they do derive some nourishment from some of the more sludgy puddles of mud in the pen. Flamingo Behavior A) General Behavior — Flamingos offer the animal keeper alot of opportun- ity to view some interesting forms of animal behavior. These birds, whose origins date back to over 30 million years ago (Upper Oligocene) , have affinities to both the Ciconiif ormes and Anserif ormes ; and some of their behavior reflects these relationships; As well, the flamingos are very social birds whose stereotyped group actions are interesting and sometimes amusing. When not involved in the breeding cycle, flamingos spent alot of time, maybe 50% of the daylight hours, just standing around on one, two legs or no legs. At times they are somewhat lethargic; and when resting they may allow people to approach (from across the safety of the fence) quite close. But even in this resting state the group bustles with activity. 334 Greater Flamingos At The Fresno Zoo, contlnu2.d Adults engage in mutually antagonistic battles — sparring with their bills. Sometimes pairs gang up on each other — then all-out war, several birds suddenly fighting, complete with a great deal of noisy honking. But such battles are invariably short, ending just as fast as they started. Flamingos are very nervous birds; and this creates some problems for the keeper caring for them. Any work done inside the enclosure near the birds is done with the utmost of care. I find that doing everything "procedur- ally" helps to get the birds used to my presence. If chores are done pre- cisely the same way each time, the birds calm down remarkably— to the ex- tent that I can work within 5’ of parents sitting on eggs without a major panic. Flamingos, young and old, seem to enjoy bathing. They engage in this activity in both winter and summer, generally choosing the deepest part of the pool where they sometimes completely submerge their bodies, expos- ing only their heads and necks. If not bathing, they sometimes stand over the automatic sprinklers, allowing themselves to be totally soaked. Frequently, they engage in dabbling actions over the flowing sprinkler heads, as if searching for food particles. On particularly windy days, the young birds, in what can only be likened to joyful exuberance, leap, flapping into the air. These bursts of energy seem to serve no purpose— perhaps play. But it is during these times that the birds escape, much to our chagrin I B) Reproduction— In the late 1950's, when we first got our flamingos, the possibility of them reproducing was remote. We had only three birds; and subsequent experiences have indicated that at least 14 should be the mini- mum number. But, later we had obtained 10, we lucked out as they began breeding in 1963. This year’s reproductive activities began in late January. The whole flock engages in these activities and noisy displays, which serve to bind the birds into' one cohesive group. I do not know whether the birds mate for life; but it is during these early year displays that the pairs emerge. The group displays consist of a series of head turns followed by exag- gerated wing stretches and preening of the wing pits. Almost all of the birds join in these activities, even yearling and two-year-old birds. From this activity comes the pairs. Flamingos are difficult to sex vis- ually. But as a rule females are shorter, sometimes by a third, although there is plenty of variation. This year nine pairs of flamingos were formed, although only six pairs actually reached the egg laying stage. Pairs begin to engage in individual displays which culminate in copula- tion. The female walks, always in the pool, with bill in the water while the male follows closely behind her. This is immediately followed by mating. Shortly thereafter, the birds often bathe together, completiiig the copulatory display. This years’ first observed mating began on 2 April and continued for a period of a month, stopping with egg-laying. Coinciding with the mating period was nest building. We leave the nests from the previous year standing; the birds simply repair and add to them.. The birds began building on them this year at the end of March, slowly at first. My observations are that both members of the pair build on the mound, although the female does the bulk of the work. Normally, she sits in the nest sweeping bills full of mud up from the ground to the sides of the mound. We keep the nest pits full of water in the breeding season. 335 Greater Flamingos At The Fresno Zoo^ continued creating a muddy condition. The birds also sometimes add feathers and an occasional soda straw to the sides of the nest— whatever they happen to find laying around nearby. There is much battling for nest sites. Of the nine pairs of flamingos, three were forced away from the most desired mounds, They showed only little interest in the nesting pits on the north side of the pool; but eventually gave up altogether. Perhaps the close proximity of people proved too much stress for them. In previous years the flamingos have nested on the north side; but since the installation of the new, low fence it is possible that they simply don’t feel comfortable. The birds space themselves about 3’ away from each other, just about neck length because they are constantly fighting, suddenly ganging up on each other. By the end of the nest-building they calm down somewhat. On 28 April, the first egg arrived. The egg is 4" long, white, with a chalky surface. This laying was following with other eggs on 4/31, 5/4, 5/6, 5/7, and 5/14/81. The single egg is incubated by both parents, which sit attentively. They turn the egg frequently and often bathe right before sitting, thus soaking the egg in the process. Since the adults continue to build on the nest, I am always sure to keep the nest pit with a little bit of water at the bottom at this time. My first inkling of a birth was the sight of a tiny head protruding from its parent’s wing. When first hatched, the young is fed this way, hid- ing from predators’ eyes. The chick is white when first hatched and has oversized pink legs. The bill is blunt and goose-like. At first they are feeble and weak, nevertheless the first chick supported itself on its hocks when three days old. It is when the chicks are less than a week old that we try to pinion them. This year they were 7, 4 and one day old. To pinion, the wing tip is numbered with xylocaine; the last joint is snipped’ and the wound painted with silver nitrate. The actual pinioning process was not as risky as the procedure to retrieve the chicks . General mayhem reigns when one kidnaps baby flamingos, to the point that the parents started across the pool after the kidnapper. But once the procedure was completed, the adults settled down. Unfortunately the chicks left the nests hastily; and one of the three pinioned chicks fell into a puddle the next day and drowned. At 14 days old the two remaining chicks left the nest pits altogether and were following the adults around the enclosure. The chicks’ down had started to turn from white to grey; their legs are now black. At this age the chicks have begun to nibble stuff. They dabble in puddles in adult fashion. However, they are totally dependent upon the parents for food. They are fed several times daily by the adults, who dribble liquid food into the chicks’ bills. The chicks grew rapidly. At one month of age the birds ( of which there were three remaining— two eggs never hatched) stood about 12" tall; the bill had begun to curve. The chicks, by this time, can run fairly rapidly. On 26 September, the first hatched chick is only slightly smaller than its parents. It is fully plumaged in grey and black feathers, although a tinge of pink may be seen on the abdomen. The bill of these 4-month- old juveniles resembles the bill of fully, adult birds, yet does not func- tion for food straining properly at this point. The young of 1980 ’s hatch 336 Greater Flamingos At The Fresno Zoo, contZnu^d reached full size by the age of eight months. The brownish plumage was slowly lost by molt. By the time they were a year old, the plumage was a pale version of the adults, with only grey flecks remaining on the neck and wing coverts. The young remained dependent upon their parents until they were eight months old. Birds of the last three years hatch remain discernably different from the adults. Two-year-olds are a much paler version than mature birds. In their third year, the birds begin to show flecks of dark pink in their otherwise pale plumage. At four years of age they are identical to the adults, and begin to engage in breeding activities . Conclusion We find that flamingos are kept and bred more easily than traditionally assumed. Their requirements are relatively simple; they don't need elaborate diets as long as their basic nutritional needs are met. But the key is that they must have the security and the stimuli that the flock provides if one is to expect any degree of reproductive success. The Fresno Zoo hopes to continue breeding these popular birds ; and we hope that some of the information given here will help others. TRAINING AN ELEPHANT FOR ZOO LIFE Bu Paul BoAkman ManA,n Dade County first found itself with a zoo almost by accident. In 1948, a tiny traveling circus came to town. Its stranded owner gave the county a handful of animals in return for repairs to his truck. At a cost of $270, the county became the proud owner of a billy goat, a pair of spider monkeys, a champanzee, and two bears, one of which was pregnant. And so Crandon Park Zoo on Key Biscayne was born. Over the years , it built up an animal collection worth more than a mil- lion dollars, and Crandon Park Zoo became justly famous as one of the finest small zoos in the country. But there was a dark cloud to this silver lining — the existing zoo was landlocked into 45 acres and lacked the potential for growth into a major zoological garden. Key Biscayne is only accessible via the Rickenbacker Causway, and consequently traffic can be backed up for miles. Moreover, for five months out of every year, severe hurricanes threaten low-lying Key Biscayne, bringing with them the attendant dangers of flooding and irreparable damage to the animal collec- tion. What Dade County really needed was a zoo for all seasons. Research un- derlined the need for a safer location, and the Zoological Society of Florida started a vigorous campaign to make the new zoo a bond issue. In the Decade of Progress bond election in 1972, the taxpayers of Dade County voted for Metrozoo. The new zoo site located at the southwest section of Miami, was originally the historic Richmond Naval Air Station, where blimps were housed during World War II. The land was a gift to the county from the federal government, with 740 acres earmarked for Me- trozoo . Zoo designer T.A. Strawser let his imagination run wild and came up with the master plan for a unique, cageless zoo, where animals are separated from people, and each other, by moats, hedges and rock formations rather than by bars and cages . The zoo will eventually be zoogeographic in de- sign, with animals grouped according to the regions where they are found in the wild, instead of;by species. When completed, Metrozoo will con- sist of three lobes -Eurasia, Africa and a third lobe displaying animals of North and South America, as well as Australia. Right now, the $18.8 million Metrozoo is busy growing. As the displays are completed, the animals are brought down from Crandon to their new homes. Since all animals have to be off the Key by December, some of them are being moved into temporary holding areas. Hopefully when Cran- don is emptied out, the remaining permanent residents will be protected if the park is turned into a bird sanctuary. Metrozoo is a mammoth pro- ject, and this month the zoo will have its grand opening. By then, Metrozoo* s first region, the Eurasian lobe, will be completed, and that alone will spread over 160 acres, with more than 50 animal displays. Among these coming attractions is one of the world's largest aviaries, an Asian Contact Village, a sophisticated transportation system which includes trams and a monorail, and an exquisite waterfront complex to sell food and gifts, with a second story observation deck. 340 The Death And Birth Of A Zoo, contlnuizd Metrozoo will rank as one of the major zoos in the world, and towards this end, will emphasize research and education. The unique signs out- side each display attractively and effectively convey a great deal of vital information about the animals. Increasingly, zoos are becoming the last refuge of wildlife, as more and more animals are endangered by the destruction of their habitat. Taking advantage of the open-air dis- plays and warm climate of South Florida, Metrozoo will also initiate breeding programs, thus contributing to the conservation of endangered species . In keeping with the theme of the conference, I’d like to add that because of our newly founded AAZK Chapter, the keepers at Metrozoo have progress- ed in more ways than one. When the move began from Crandon thirty miles away to Metrozoo, the keeper staff was severely split. We needed AAZK more than ever to bring fellow keepers closer together. Not only do we acquire valuable information from a variety of monthly speakers, but more importantly, we personally get to know each other on a one-to-one basis. All this has helped us to work together more efficiently as a team in various types of zoo-related situations. We are also able to express our ideas to each other and occasionally ventilate pent up frustrations through AAZK meetings and activities. Recently we raised over ninety dollars at our first fundraiser, our September "Dog Wash". We also have an overnight canoe trip planned with our fellow chapter members at Dreher Park in West Palm Beach. Through AAZK we have become more enthusiastic and aware of our duties which in turn benefits the animals who receive better care. Hopefully in the future we will be able to contribute much m.ore by continuing to strive for better animal facilities through, universal communication and comrad- ^ VETERINARY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE OF CAPTIVE AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES By Leonard C. Marcus, V.M.D., M.D. Published by Lea & Febiger Phildelphia, PA Veterinary Biology and Medicine of Captive Amphibians and Reptiles is not a book for the junior or amateur herpetologist. The book is divided into three parts. Part one is entitled "The Normal Amphibian and Rep- tile" and examines exactly how herps function. This is an excellent introductory chapter. Part two is entitled "Principals of Husbandry and Veterinary Care of Herpetof auna" . The subjects discussed here include such topics as feed- ing and nutrition, housing, sanitation, physical examination and restraint, etc. There is a four-page chart that explains which anesthetics to use on each animal. This should be of great help to the veterinarian who is not accustomed to anesthetizing this type of animal. Part three, entitled "Specific Diseases of Herpetof auna" , is self-explana- tory. This part is filled with photos of the different diseases that are species specific plus such interesting problems as carcinomas and exter- nal parasites. The book is filled with numerous photo and although I am not a veterin- arian, I highly recommend this book. This book is published by Lea & Febiger, 600 Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA 19106. The 239 page volume sells for $25.50 (U.S.); $30.50 (Canada) . Review by Mcdhael. Vdd Lo-6 Angeles Zoo Book Review 341 THE MANAGEMENT OF RUBY (an Asian Elephant) By Joayu.^ Stinson, Ke,e,pQA II PhoenyCx Zoo, Phoenix, AZ The Phoenix Zoo has traditionally housed a young elephant in their child- ren’s zoo. These animals, one African and four Asians, were bought young, three months to two years, and kept until they became too large for the enclosure. At this point they were traded or sold to another zoo and a new animal purchased. Ruby, an Asian purchased at seven months in 1974, was the fifth of these animals. At this time, we had trained animal acts in our show arena where Ruby, wearing custom made baby booties, was walked in and fed a pachyderm size baby bottle to the publics' delight. Ruby, forced into retirement at an early age when the animal acts were cancelled, was established in our children’s zoo exhibit. The process and problems related to buying, selling and shipping the elephants led to the proposal, in 1976, for a new elephant enclosure. Initial intention was to establish a breeding herd. The Womens Auxiliary took up the cause and began what would be a four-year campaign to raise the needed funds. While the administration and auxiliary busied themselves with the finan- cial details, the keepers found themselves caring for a "baby" elephant that wasn’t a baby an5miore and the problem of getting her to the new exhibit upon its completion. The keeper work areas at Phoenix can contain a wide variety of animals. No one keeper takes care of all one type (i.e. primates, carnivore, hoof- stock, etc.) This ensures that no one keeper can transfer disease to all the members of one group. In 1977 Ruby was cared for by the area #1 keep- er who was responsible for fourteen other exhibits with fifty-two animals including Big Horn Sheep, Jaguar, Kangaroo, Spider Monkey and Yellow- headed CaraCara to mention a few. This did not leave the keeper much op- portunity to devote any time to working with or training the elephant and this lack of attention was reflected in her behavior. Moving around the small 30’ x 20’ enclosure with a 4000 lb. elephant was becoming a very dangerous situation. To clean, the keeper first put grain and vegetables in the outside yard. While Ruby was occupied eating, the nighthouse was quickly cleaned. Fresh hay was placed inside. The keeper then waited for the elephant to enter the nighthouse to clean the outside yard. Everyone became concerned that no one was qualified to train or handle a grown elephant. Franz Tisch, who was at that time working at the San Dieg( Wild Animal Park, was hired to work with Ruby and her keepers. During five days of very intense training, Franz taught Ruby how to stand "on chains" and to "lay down" on command. Her keepers, myself included, were left enthusiastic and anxious to learn more. The first problem to conquer was the lack of time. Gradually the area was whittled down as one by one, six of the exhibits were distributed to other work areas. This gave the elephant keepers at least four hours per day to work specifically with Ruby. 342 The Management of Ruby, continued We then layed out our priorities. The exhibit we had to work in was a hazard. A routine had to be worked out that would help ensure the keepers* safety. Ruby was first taught to stand, on command, in the corner of the exhibit farthest from the gate the keeper entered. This became "her corner" and later, no matter where in the yard you placed her food or the weather, she always carried it to this corner to eat. From her corner she was taught to "back-up", "move-up" lift her feet and "turn**. Gradually a work routine was established. She was worked two and often three times a day for an hour to an hour and a half. Our next concern was a foot problem. Ruby had developed cracks in the center toenails of each foot. She was taught to stand steady with her foot on a stool while we worked on her nails. We attributed the cracks to overgrow- th, a result of being housed in too small an enclosure. A little time was spent each day on her nails . As more time was spent with Ruby, we noticed a change in her disposition. She began to vocalize making sounds we had never heard before — squeaks, trumpets and purrs. Her constant pacing around the yard was interrupted by time spent standing quietly rolling rocks and leaves in her trunk. Her chains were left in her exhibit and she was often observed wrapping the chain around her foot. In addition to the regular work outs. Ruby was showered and scrubbed daily. Once a day we rode her around the yard repeat- ing the routine. This was done to encourage personal contact with the animal and increase keeper control. Overconfidence is something that anyone working with animals has to watch out for. When you go for a long period without any problems you can some- times forget the potential danger that is always there. There are two things you can never forget if you are serious about training any animal. One is, you have to know exactly what you are going to do before you start. And two, once you have begun something new, you should be prepared to stick it out until the end no matter how rough things may seem. When I asked the administration for permission to work Ruby outside the exhibit, I did not fully comprehend the problems we would face. When the new exhibit was completed the intention had been to chain Ruby between two trucks to make the move. I hoped to save her this trauma by walking her into the exhibit. Now that I had committed myself, I took every opportunity to talk to people familiar with elephants. Other zoos, trainers, and people traveling through the valley were pumped for information. Anyone who has worked with these ■animals and has researched their handling, has found that everyone has their own idea of how it should be done. As the primary keeper responsible for Ruby’s training, I took everyone’s opinions and suggestions into considera- tion and established a training system I was comfortable with. First I found a suitable drag chain. The purpose of the drag chain is to slow the animal down or serve as a restraint in an emergency. They come : in the form of a cross chain involving all four feet or a long chain at- tached to the elephant with a log dragging at the end. The one we decided on consisted of bracelets on the front legs connected in the middle and a twelve-foot chain attached between the bracelets. This chain, tossed over the animal’s shoulders was held by the keeper. If the animal got away, the loose chain would fall off the shoulders and down between the back legs, tripping her. If necessary the chain could be used to secure the animal by wrapping it around a tree or some other secure object. Ruby had been in the old exhibit for four years and we found getting her to 343 The Management of Ruby^co nt^naed leave was a test of wills. She readily accepted the chains but refused to leave the exhibit. We decided she had to be given a reason for leav- ing, an encouragement. When chained in the yard she had always been fed in a large black bucket. It was decided to use this as encouragement and a reward, a security blanket. The next day we placed the familiar bucket just a few feet outside of the exterior gate. Upon seeing it. Ruby walked out and proceeded to eat as if we hadn't spent several days trying to get her to do the same. She didn't pay any attention to her surroundings until the last carrot was gone — at which point she turned with a squeak and ran back into the exhibit The next day we repeated the procedure, this time moving the bucket farth- - er out. Also the animal was made to stand steady after eating for a few seconds before returning. The procedure was repeated daily, moving the bucket farther each day. Within four months she was venturing all over the children's zoo. Her quick returns to the exhibit would continue to be a problem. She became very good at turning into trees and bushes rubbing the keeper off and re- turning as quickly as she could. The drag chain successfully stopped her only once, when having stepped on the chain, it pulled her to her knees. But, thereafter, she ran with her back legs far apart, careful not to step on it. If she insisted on returning before reaching the bucket, she was not given ' her usual reward of one flake of hay and the procedure was repeated a few minutes later until successfully accomplished. She soon learned that the normal routine would not be resumed until she completed her daily walk to the keeper's satisfaction. As we ventured into areas she was not familiar with, her insecurity was reflected in that she no longer ate when she reached the bucket. She would move slowly until seeing it around a cornei quicken her pace and reach out to touch it with her trunk, then wait expect antly for the O.K. to return. In spite of the problems posed by Ruby's insecurity outside of her exhibit, our biggest problem came not from the elephant's behavior but from incon- sistency and a lack of cooperation between keepers. When two people of different personalities are working an animal, an understanding must be reached as to how the animal should be worked; i.e. how much can be ex- pected in one session, how much force should be used and what the animal should be taught. You cannot expect an animal that is treated and worked one way five days a week to work differently the other two. Upon returning after the weekend, the primary keeper found the animal ag- gitated and unwilling to work. Investigation showed that the relief keep- er, unsatisfied with the speed at which the training was going, was trying; to push a little farther on the weekend. Behavior problems developed and it was often reported that the elephant was uncooperative or aggressive. I am in no position to say that the procedures of the relief keeper were wrong. The people involved were equally qualified. Surely if an exper- ienced elephant person was available. Ruby's training would have been swifter, but that person was not available. The procedure was as new to the keepers as it was to Ruby. A compromise had to be reached to ensure the consistency needed for the elephant's training to proceed smoothly. Because the relief keeper was not comfortable with the training routine, it was recommended by the administration that Ruby not be worked on the primary keeper's days off. 344 The Management of Ruby, continued Training began again and proceeded smoothly as did plans for construction of the new exhibit. Unfortunately as the bids came in it became necessary to cut out those items needed to establish a breeding herd. The bull barn and maternity barn were layed aside and a barn adequate to house Ruby and two other cows was settled on. Built modular ly, it was felt we could add the others later. Construction began in April 1980 and would be completed in five months. During that time Ruby would begin exploring the main zoo as we began extend- ing her walks closer to the new exhibit. Things slowed a little when she was reluctant to cross a bridge over the lake separating the children’s zoo from the main zoo. The same conditioning procedure was repeated, often as many as eight times in one mroning, until crossing the bridge was no longer a problem. Upon completion of the new barn, we were given permission to house Ruby there at night, returning her to the old exhibit each morning. For the first few nights Ruby was walked into the barn, first through the main door and then through the gate into the elephant area. Eventually moving in and out of the barn was as routine as the rest of the walk and the barn doors were closed behind her. [The first night she was observed by a keeper through the night. She at Ino time showed any distress. She methodically tried to fit between all the vettical bars and found that when hit with her trunk or kicked, the hollow metal gate made a delightful sound. Eventually she fell asleep standing under the cooler vent. The next morning she returned to the old exhibit without incident and entered the new barn again that evening with- out hesitation. A problem arose when on the first few mornings after being left alone we [found the electric door leading to the yard open several inches. It was .discovered that Rubywas able to open the door (similar to several across the country) by bouncing it from the end with her forehead. The company was called back and they explained that the chain operated door was being bounched open one link at a time. A large piece of metal was plac- [ed at the end of the door, but then Ruby began using the weight of her jbody against the door to bounce it open. She seemed content to open the [door only enough to see out, but with the exhibit yard incomplete, the [prospects of Ruby loose on the grounds forced us to readjust the clutch (preventing Ruby from opening it but eliminating our safety margin. The |door no longer stops if something gets in its way. Ruby’s ability to open the door was matched only by her knack at removing her chains. Originally we had used a bramel hook, two circular pieces of metal that fit into each other at one spot. Ruby discovered that if she grabbed the hook on the outside she could shake them loose. As long as a keeper was in sight she would not bother the chains, but if left alone even a clevis would be removed in a few minutes. Jane Hansjergen of the Sacremento Zoo suggested we try a carabiner, a hook or clevis used in mountain climbing. The three maneuvers needed to unlatch the carabiner have outwitted Ruby, but her constant attempts wear through the aluminum where it attaches to the chain. One thing not cut from the exhibit to accomodate the budget was the exhibit yard — one and a quarter acres including a large pool, an island of trees and an area protected by an elephant-proof fence similar to the one around Ruby’s old exhibit. We were concerned that when faced with all this flight The Management of Ruby, contlnao-d space we would lose some of our control. Or, in the other extreme, having been in a small area for a long period. Ruby might not use the entire yard. Therefore as soon as the yard was secure (thought not complete) we began walking her around the yard before returning her to the children's zoo. We wanted her to be familiar with the whole yard. The black bucket was used again as we walked her around the planter and through the dry pond. Unfortunately as they proceeded to plant the exhibit with grass, her treks into the yard were terminated. Our control was tested when on 25 October our Director asked if we could bring Ruby to the dedication on the 29th. She had not entered the yard in eight weeks. The grass was new along with several trees and the tree guard. We began preparing her for the dedication by taking her to the exhibit several times during the day. Security stopped all traffic and trains as we continually repeated the routine. Much to our dismay. Ruby insisted on returning to the barn before the bucket had been reached. Spinning from her keeper, she would go squeaking back to the barn. If we did make it to the bucket, located below where the 300 guests were to stand she would wait shaking until the release command was given and then run back to the barn. As usual when working with animals, they never do what you expect. At the dedication you can imagine our surprise when Ruby walked out and saluted perfectly. When given the command to proceed, she balked, care- fully picking up the hydroponic barley at her feet and eating it as she leisurely returned to the barn. The next day Ruby was returned to the children's zoo where she remained for three weeks while the primary keeper was on vacation. As often hap- pens when an animal is not worked for an extended period, some ground is lost. On the next walk Ruby again refused to cross the bridge. While we worked on restoring Ruby's routine, we welcomed Ruby's exhibit companions. Six Blackbucks and a female African elephant were purchased to share the enclosure. The Blackbuck, a lovely antelope that follows you around as you clean, defecating in your footprints, was released di- rectly into the yard. We had questions as to whether or not the Blackbuck would climb the ten-foot gunite wall surrounding the yard and were not surprised when only twenty minutes after its release, the young male cleared the wall in two steps and was off. A week later the escaped male was joined by a female. The four remaining animals adjusted well, but in preparation for the elephants' introduction, a "hot wire" was installed at an angle two feet from the top of the wall. A dark cloud was cast on our preparations to introduce the elephants when Ruby became ill. On 12 December she was nervous, her appetite was down and she had heavy drainage from her temporal glands and vagina. Her eyes were very watery. By the 15th she was not eating or drinking, her sides were bloated and she was inactive, not moving unless encouraged. Hours were spent trying to get her to eat and keep her moving. She was walked to the new exhibit where she could be showered with warm water. On the eighth day, in view of our vet being on vacation, our director Dr. Jim Savoy contacted Dr. Michael Schmidt at Washington Park Zoo in Portland, OR. Dr. Schmidt suspected a colibacillus which she could have picked up through bad hay or something fed by the public. He recomme’^ led 8000 mg. injections of Polyflex containing 8000 units Ampicilin. would 346 The Management of Ruby, contlnae.d 1 receive four injections per day for five days. We can never be positive if this long distance diagnosis was correct, but Dr. Schmidt had explained [ on the phone, that Ruby should began to show imporvement after 24 hours. I By the end of the month, she had completely recovered and undergone an I important change. During Ruby’s illness, everything else was put aside [while she was walked to keep her on her feet and moving. The drag chains [were shelved as Ruby walked obediently beside her keeper responding as 'she had never done before. The drag chains have not been needed since. [On 22 January, Ruby was introduced to our young African female and a male iwe would house through the winter. Initially we had chained her in the iyard fearing aggression on her part. But Ruby, after having no contact I outside of people, was terribly frightened at the sight of the two Afri- jcans. She began fighting the chains in her attempts to get away and they were removed. , The Africans took Ruby's presence in stride and as soon as they had fin- ished eating began following her about the yard. Ruby, feeling threaten- [ed by their closeness, continually moved away. If Ruby ran, the babies ran after her, looking over their shoulders for whatever it was that was [chasing them. We all sat on pins and needles waiting for one of the Black- bucks to try the wall as they joined in the excitement. After an hour alone, everyone slowed down and though the Africans con- ;! tinned to follow Ruby, they stayed back twenty feet never getting closer, [when we fed that afternoon, we deliberately fed in one spot forcing con- ;i tact between the elephants . Ruby soon overcame her fear and began back- 'ing into the babies. When she got close enough she would reach out and 'touch one of the babies, grab a trunkful of food and move off. This ‘behavior continued for several days. Reluctant to leave the three animals together overnight. Ruby would be returned to the children's zoo at night for several weeks. The babies grew tired of following Ruby and began exploring the yard on their own. Ruby stopped circulating the yard and stayed back at the gate leading out of the exhibit. The only time there was any contact between the animals was while a keeper was in the yard. We took advantage of this situation to encourage a social unit. iWe would enter the pond with the Africans and Ruby would join us. As the three elephants got involved with their bath, the keeper would slow- ly move off, leaving them alone. By kicking the dirt with the foot, the keeper was able to encourage the Africans to dust. Again Ruby would join us. The time that had previously been spent working Ruby was spent ac- companying the elephants. It was a slow process that took weeks to de- velop, but Ruby stopped haunting the gate and the Africans became used to contact with their keeper. As Ruby spent more time with the Africans, 3. new problem developed v^hen she began displacing the babies. She found that the babies moved out of the way. She was often seen chasing the babies and striking at them with [her trunk. This behavior rarely occured while the keeper was in the yard. This situation was allowed to take its course. The Africans became very good at staying out of her way. Food was now placed in several spots in the yard to ensure that all received an adequate share. The elephants have been on exhibit for nine months. In July we said good- 347 The Management of Ruby, continued bye to the male African. Ruby adjusted to both the exhibit and her com- panions in the yard. She and the African Juma (Swahili for one who attacks when your back is turned) have begun to socialize more. The elephants are worked together. Ruby’s presence appears to make Juma’s training easier. We have also had three Blackbuck born on exhibit with the elephants. We have had no aggression between the elephants and the Blackbuck. Several waterfowl chose to raise their offspring on the elephant pond. We also host a large flock of Peafowl, All these elements combined make the Phoenix zoo’s new elephant exhibit a pleasant place to visit. I ZOOKEEPING IN THE 1980's — A NEW HORIZON IN PROFESSIONALISM Ey Mcuty Elizabeth HaclaiighLln, ZoofeeepeA RogoA Vanh loo, PAov-ide.nce., RI The status of the modern zookeeper and the image of professionalsim sur- rounding these all-important animal care workers can be viewed as an evolu- tionary process from the unskilled laborer of the past destined to simply feed and clean the "charges” left in his or her personal care, to the highly trained and experienced animal technician of the present and the future. This gradual transition in the role of today’s zookeeper has changed along with the ever-developing concept of the zoological park within our society. As we all know, the morality of housing creatures within an artificial showcase solely for public enjo3mient is, rightfully, being questioned. With this humane investigation into the rationale behind the existence of zoos, coupled with the disasterous ecological condition of "the wild" world-wide, the successful presentation of our zoos as centers of con- servation, education and research beccm.es more difficult to achieve. As zoos practice new theories of husbandry and natural habitat design, the demands on keeper staffs becomes more complex. Being a professional animal keeper no longer means just hosing out cages and tossing feline diet to the big cats. Providing top-level care for the residents of our constructed "environments", and for these environments themselves, calls for a working knowledge of many different fields, from horticulture and plumbing to animal psychology. When other activities directly or indirect- ly related to zoo animal care i.e. participation in public relations, educational programming, research, exhibit design or ISIS record keeping are undertaken by keepers , not only is a greater sense of personal con- fidence and accomplishment felt by individual keepers, but the general status of keepers as zoo professionals is raised at each institution with- in the zoo field in general. What have job requirements been in the past for keepers at the Roger Williams Park Zoo? Until 1975, there was no specific qualifications list- ed to accompany the job description of ZOO KEEPER. For many years, the zoo staff consisted of eight so-called bird and animal handlers and five laborers. Generally, these positions were awarded to those city workers with the greatest accumulated seniority within the city work force, not those people who had any particular job-related experience. Due to the lack of job specifications, there was no motivation for "zoo keepers" to 348 Zookeepinq in the I980's--A New Horizon In Professional ism, co ntlnue.d further their education in terms of animal care. For the majority of these individuals, the position of zoo keeper was basically one involv- ing the daily feeding and cleaning of the animals and no more. With a few exceptions, most viewed their work as a "nine to five" occupation, and this attitude was reflected in the quality of the exhibits themselves. Even the public surface image of zoo keepers could be measured on the lower end of any scale of professionalism, as uniforms and overall tidi- ness were not a strict policy. With the arrival of our present Parks Superintendent, James W. Diamond, the eventual adoption of a Master Plan for a revitalized zoo, the con- struction of such, and the recognition of the new philosophy behind the existence of zoos, changes supporting the recognition of zoo keepers as professional personnel were put into practice. City workers would not be transferred from other departments merely to fill vacant slots in the zoo roster. Even the most senior union member had to meet the new re- quirements of at least two years’ experience in direct animal care and/or a zoo-related college degree. These were viewed as stringent personnel demands by the City bureaucracy after such a long history of unskilled laborers at the zoo, but with the institution of these rules, the pro- fessional appearance and acceptability of zoo workers and the zoo itself in the animal-keeping business became a more positive one. Applicants with special talents and abilities in various animal areas were hired for the betterment of the zoo. Theories learned by these knowledgeable men and women in school and other animal care positions were shared among staff members, creating an environment of a "give and take" information exchange, and resulting in a more healthy, ever-improving home for cap- tive animals, the public and the staff themselves. Keepers were consulted on zoo design projects, paid as highly skilled employees, issued uniforms to be worn with pride and encouraged to par- ticipate on many levels within the workings of the zoo. These changes went far to raise the physical and psychological self-image of profession- alism among the people of the Roger Williams Park Zoo. Similar prerequi- sites for emplo3nnent at other zoo facilities can and will collectively contribute to deliver a new professionalism to zookeepers nationwide. Zoo keepers themselves are educators. They act as "the first line of defense" to the visiting public in terms of information sought about exhibit animals. Very often, as zoo keepers go about their daily tasks, guestions dealing with "What does this here critter eat?". "How old is the polar bear?", and "What’s the camel’s name?" are directed to them, as they are often the only "authority" figures in evidence on the zoo grounds. Inquirers hope for a satisfying answer and the difference be- tween a truly professional keeper and the old variety of animal custodian can be viewed by the approach that this individual takes in assisting the visitor. This initial contact between keeper and tourist is often the only personal communication between the zoo establishment and the support- ing public. That first impression often means the difference between a positive response to the zoo and its message as a whole, and a negative reaction by a visitor upon looking back at his zoo experience. When the front gates open, whether we like it or not keepers are in the public eye. This is a reality that should never be forgotten for a moment. Yes... the i animals must come first, but even this attitude correctly presented will I lead keepers to be more respected by both management and visitor alike. j The role of the professional zoo keeper as an educator is often enhanced I by a willingness to participate in other areas of educational programming. 349 Zookeeping in the I980's--A New Horizon In Professional ism, contlnue.d At the Roger Williams Park Zoo, the animal care personnel readily take the opportunity to join the volunteer docent council, and to assist in the training of the members of this organization. Zoo keepers also act in Zoo public relations activities, in Docent training manual revision, in the development of this facility’s ISIS system, and often serve as lec- turers in on-site animal programs for the visiting public. Without the active input and participation of the expert keeper staff at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, few of the endeavors within our award-winning Zoo Edu- cation Program would have the impact to successfully serve the people of our state. It cannot be stressed enough that only as keepers choose to step out of a totally custodial realm and into the more well-rounded position of animal care and information resource people can the lasting title of professional be claimed securely now and into the future. How can keepers maintain this newfound professionalism and encourage it to grow? We must continually strive to keep abreast of all new techniques discovered to improve captive animal care and exhibit design. We must utilize professional agencies such as AAZK and AAZPA as a stage for the constant exchange of knowledge between our "family" nationwide. Also, we, as a recognized group, and as individuals, must work to encourage the continual evolution of zoos, for as zoo progress slows down or ceases to be, so too will the improving status of keepers as professionals of ani- mal management become stagnant. As economic crisises surround our in- stitutions, threatening their very existence, we, as animal professionals, will be faced with moral decisions regarding labor disputes and unreason- able financial payraise demands, putting our animals and our zoos ahead of personal desires. We must strive, in any respectful manner possible, within the philosophic- al guidelines of our organization, to improve the captive conditions of our living "charges", for their own well-being, and for their educational and conservational value to humanity and to our fragile planet. Above all, we must never rest on our laurels as elite members of the zoo world. For in order to constantly deserve the title of professional zoo keeper, we must continue to reach for the goal of a more complete knowledge and a higher quality of care for all living beings. 350 We oAe ^nddbtdd to thu AAZPA NeMbtdttQA {^on. attoMtng ll6 to K kvcuZcibtd" IJjiting. Tki^ Aji a. monthly to m, ^o^ you. ASSISTANT ZOO BIRD SUPER t/ISOR. ». responsible for bird collection, person- nel and facilities under direction of supervisor. Zoological or related degree and two years’ experience required. Salary $13,200-$16 ,848. In- quiries must be made by Thursday, January 7, 1982. Contact: City of Fort Worth, Personnel Dept., 1000 Throckmorton Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102. ASSISTANT CUPATOR. .. under moderate supervision, directs, assists and par- ticipates in the care, feeding and handling of animals and the maintenance of grounds, enclosures and equipment; and assists in construction projects Requires combination of five years’ relevant education and experience; knowledge of regulations for keeping captive wildlife; ability mal handling equipment and driver’s license. Starting salary $12 , 396“$15 ,017 annually. Contact Personnel Director, City of Albany, P.O. Box 447, Albany, GA 31703 or call (912) 883-2414. SENIOR ARTIST. .. experience required in exhibit design, plan- ning and administration. Candidate should be experienced in or familiar with exhibit production and techniques and project coordination. Demonstrated ability to work well with a vari- ety of people a prerequisite. Must be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Salary commensurate with ability and experience. Submit resume to: Chicago Zoological Scoiety, Attn - Ray Robinson, 3300 South Golf Road, Brookfield, IL 60513. BIRV CURATOR. . .responsible for large collection. Requires some experience and travel. Salary commensurate with exper- ience. Send resume to International Animal Exchange, Inc., 130 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale, MI 48220. No phone calls. VI RECTOR / VE\/E LORMENT . . .oversees programs, education depart- ment, promotions, marketing and facility utilization. Should possess speaking ability, dynamic personality, knowledge of zoos and their re- lationship to the community and be able to present the zoo before commun- ity groups. Send resume and salary requirements to: Bill Dennler, Toledo Zoo, 2700 Broadway, Toledo, OH 43609 or call (419) 385-5721. VETERINARIAN . . .experience preferred. Responsible for receiving and trans- locating large animal collections. Salary commensurate with experience. Some international travel required. Send resume to International Animal Exchange, Inc., 130 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale, MI 48220. No phone calls to use ani- O P P 0 r t u n 1 t y k n o c k s MOVING? PLEASE SEND A.DDRESS CHANGES TO: Dolly Clark, Administrative Secretary American Association of Zoo Keepers National Headquarters, 635 Gage Blvd. Topeka, KS 66606 351 INDEX FOR VOLUME VIII, NUMBERS 1-12, 1981 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOO KEEPERS AAZK Initiates "Infant Development" Project Jan 7 AAZK Slide Library Program Jan 17 AAZK Conference 1981 in Fresno Jan 21 Papers Request for Fresno Feb 55 New Administrative Secretary Mar 81 New Address for Information Center/Book Review/Program Mar 81 Nominations for AAZK Board of Directors Mar 81 Request for Nominees for AAZK Awards AAZK Research Committee AAZPA Keeper Recognition AAZPA to vote on Keeper Category Conference 1981 Registra- tion/Reservation Form AAZK T-shirts Available From the President — Humane Society Pamphlets State of the Association Report to Fellow Keepers AAZK Income Statement 1981 Northeastern AAZPA Conference Report Conference * 81 Workshops Conference *81 Pre/Post conference Tours Conference '81 Registra- tion/Reservation Forms AAZK Accessories Order Form May 135 AAZK National Elections Coming in July Members Encourages to Fill Vacant RC Positions Have A Piece of Your Zoo At Nat'l Hdqts. AAZPA Central Regional Report Deadline for Grant Applica- tions in Animal Care Agenda for 7th National AAZK Conference AAZK Conference Notes and Reminders From the President -- RC Appointments AAZK Updating Gestation Booklet 1981 Conference Papers Listing 1981 Conference Agenda Update AAZPA Keeper Classifica- tion Fails to Pass Sept 225 Mar 81 Mar 81 Mar 81 Ap 93 Ap 96 Ap 111 May 114 May 117 May 119 May 123 May 124 May 124 May 125 Ju 137 Ju 137 Ju 137 Ju 146 Ju 152 Ju 157 Ju 157 J1 161 J1 163 Aug 201 Aug 200 AAZK Awards NEC Chairman Announces Oct 233 Election Results AAZK Publications Oct 233 Available Oct 248 New Chapter Affairs Coordinator Named 1981 National AAZK Nov 257 Conference Report Overview of 1981 AAZK Nov 257 Board Meetings Dec 282 ANIMAL KEEPERS' FORUM Infant Care Symposium Papers Special Offer on Mar 81 Back Issues Wildlife Review Mar 72 Indexes AKF Missing Lynx Column May 114 Suggested J1 163 AKF Journalism Awards AKF Plans for Publica- Oct 248 tion of Conference Proceedings Nov 257 Special Proceedings Edition Available Dec 281 INFANT CARE SYMPOSIUM PAPERS Hand-rearing Two Lesser Pandas at the Denver Zoo Feb 26 Hand-rearing and Develop- ment of a Rothchild's Giraffe at the Okla- homa City Zoo Feb 30 Hand-rearing T^'^o Baby Hippopotamuses at the Kansas City Zoo Feb 35 Raising Infant Pygmy Hedgehog Tenrecs in Captivity Feb 42 Snow Babies Sanikiluaq (Fast Runner) and Bisitio (Hero) Find New Home Feb 44 Parental Rearing of Infant Cotton-top Tamar ins - the first two months Feb 49 Reluctant Baby Syndrome In Infant Wooly Monkey Feb 51 The Reintroduction of Jessy, a hand-reared Wooly Monkey Feb 53 Rapid Serum Tests for Adequate Transfer of Maternal Immunoglobulins in Neonate Hoofed Stock Feb 53 352 INFANT CARE SYMPOSIUM PAPERS (continued) Nursery Operation at PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE The Directory of Environ- Lincoln Park Zoo Mar 69 mental Education Re- Teaching Nursing Tech- sources (DEER) Jan 6 niques to a Chimpanzee Mar 73 A New Captive Propa- Hand-rearing a Bactrian gation Centre For Camel and Reintroduc- the Reptile Breed- tion to the Herd Mar 80 ing Foundation Jan 17 Raising Native Mammals The Reptile Breeding and Their Release Mar 82 Foundation, A unique Hand-raising a Hippo- Approach to Conserva- potamus at the Denver tion Jan 17 Zoo Mar 87 Worth Repeating ■ — Notes on the Early Special Rules for Hand-rearing of an Bringing Pet Birds Orangutan and it Sub- into the U.S. Jan 23 sequent reintroduction 1980 Annual AAZK Con- to the Mother Mar 89 ference Proceedings and Papers Jan 23 AAZK 1981 CONFERENCE PAPERS Feb 55 1981 Inventory of Live Zookeepers; Missing Link Reptiles and Amphib- to the Public? Dec 286 ians in North American Capturing Desert Big- Collections Mar 57 horn Sheep Dec 292 1980 A.S.Z.K. Confer- Keeper Participation in ence Proceedings Ju 137 the Operation of a Birds of Prey Small Zoo Dec 295 Inventory Ju 141 How to Get A-Head Whale, Seal and Turtle at the Zoo Dec 298 Information Packets J1 148 The HSUS’s Responsi- Melbourne Herpetological bility to Zoo Keepers Dec 302 Society Symposium Pro- Zoo Elephants in General Dec 306 ceedings Aug 185 Observations and Breed- What’s For Lunch; ing of Hartlauh's Animal Feeding at Touraco Dec 308 the Zoo Sep 223 Native Wildlife-Exotic Domesticated Animals Animal Interface at From Early Times Oct 246 Front Royal Dec 313 Recent Developments in Interactions of Infant Research and Husbandry Baboons in Captivity Dec 318 at the Washington Park Great Ape Keeping at Zoo Nov 272 Lincoln Park Zoo Dec 323 Procedures for Desig- Keeper Education at nating Endangered the Rio Grande Zoo Dec 326 Species Nov 272 Dickerson Park's Bald Annual Report on Eagle Program Dec 329 Marine Mammal Pro- The Management and tection Act Nov 272 Propagation of Greater 1980 Australian Flamingos at Fresno Zoo Dec 333 Society of Zoo Training an Elephant Keepers Conference For Zoo Life Dec 337 Proceedings Nov 272 The Death and Birth 1981 AAZK Fresno of a Zoo Dec 340 Conference Special The Management of Ruby- Edition Available Dec 281 an Asian elephant Dec 342 Zookeeping in the 1980*s — A New Horizon in Professionalism Dec 348 353 LEGISLATIVE NEWS APRIL 107,108 Recent Fish and Wildlife Service Action Lacey and Black Bass Act Amend- ments International Wildlife Conserva- tion/Wildlife Tax Bill MAY 132,133 International Conservation Goals Trimmed by Reagan AAZPA Calls Meeting of Zoological Profession and Government on Marine Mammal Regulations Bill Introduced to Provide Public Information on Wildlife Preser- vation and Endangered Species JUNE 142,143,144,145 Congress Receives Briefing on Recent CITES Meeting Bills Introduced in Congress, H.R. 2357,2449 and 642 CITES Amends Listings in Appendi- ces II & II JULY 179,180 Senate Committee Reports Out Lacey Act Ammendments Marine Mammal Protection Act Reauthorization Sought Commercial Importation of Kangaroos Allowed H.R. 3048 — Elephant Protection Act Update AUGUST 202,203 Increased Number of Nations Participate in CITES National Audubon Society Critical of Reagan’s Budget Cuts SEPTEMBER 226,227 Permit Streamlining Measures Enacted Lacey Act Update H.R. 4048 — Marine Mammal Pro- tection Amendments Proposed Final NOAA Ruling on Seizure, Forfeiture and Disposal Procedures OCTOBER 249,250 Marine Mammal Protection Act Reauthorized FWS Proposes New Rule On African Elephant The Law in Sweden LEGISLATIVE NEWS (continued) NOVEMBER 270, 271 Final Rule on Migratory Birds Extension of the North Pacific Fur Seal Treaty Proposal to Remove the Bobcat from Appendix II of CITES SCOOPS AND SCUTTLEBUTT Cover Art Award Announced Jan 1 Book Review In- itiated Jan 1 AKF Welcomes Connie Cloak Feb 25 First Call for 1981 Conference Papers Feb 25 National Buffalo Assoc, invites Keepers to Catalina Meeting President Sammarco Encourages Letters About Ostrich Chick Gifts Jim Higgins Awarded Keeper of the Year by Lincoln Park AAZK Chapter Hello Dolly Infant Care Symposium Papers 1980 Annual Confer- ence Proceedings at Printers New Address for In- formation Center, Book Review Project AKF Welcomes New Managing Editor Program Library Pro- ject Seeks Input 1980 Conference Pro- ceedings Available AAZK Proposed for New AAZPA Category Data Forms for Infant Development Project Last Call for Papers for Fresno Keynote Speaker Announced for Fresno Conference May 113 Membership Applica- tion Addition May 113 Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 25 Mar 81 Mar 81 Mar 81 Mar 81 Ap 93 Ap 93 Ap 93 Ap 93 May 113 May 113 354 SCOOPS AND SCUTTLEBUTT (continued) AKF Articles Zoo Veterinary Tech- May 114 nologists AAZK National Elections May 114 Coming in July Ju 137 Members Encourages to Fill Vacant RC Positions Have a piece of your Zoo Ju 137 at Nat’l Hdgts 1980 Australian Confer- Ju 137 ence Proceedings AAZK Announces New Com- Ju 137 mittee appointments Elections Drawing Near- J1 161 Don* t Forget to Vote AAZK Pins /Charms Avail- J1 161 able Illinois Declares July Aug 185 as Zoo/Aquarium Month Herp Proceedings Avail- Aug 185 able Attention All Former Aug 185 Regional Coordinators Traveling Members En- Sep 209 courages to use KAL First Call for Louis- ville Symposium Sep 209 Papers NEC Chairman Announces Sep 209 Election Results Oct 233 AAZK Award Winners New Chapter Affairs Oct 233 Coordinator Named Animal Data Transfer Nov 257 Forms Request AKF Plans Publication of Conference Pro- Nov 257 ceedings Edition 1981 National AAZK Nov 257 Conference Report Nov 257 From the Editor's Desk Dec 281 Note to Book Reviewers Dec 281 ItM In ioh. SuAuxuoi.", "ChapteA. Nm.6”, "OppoAtarUXy Knodiu", and "MtdAnaXlvU In EdaccuUon g PR" oAe. not Indexed, RESEARCH AAZK Research Committee Mar 63 Parasitology Program at the Metro Toronto Zoo Ap 102 Primate Predition Survey Aug 206 The Ease of Propos- ing a Grant Aug 187 Patterns of Ejaculation in Male Macaques Sep 217 Population and Genetic Study System Oct 254 Will Microscopis "Finger- prints** Reveal New In- formation About Wildlife? Nov 259 Animal Testing Alterna- tives Funded Dec 312 INFORMATION REQUESTS Zoo Collection Jan 18 Maribou Stork Feb 56 Lappet-faced Vulture Feb 56 Golden Eagles Mar 88 Ocelots, felUA poAa- doLLb Mar 90 White Rhino, CoJLOto- thuHAum 6tmun} Mar 90 Grant's zebra, EoauA bu/Lckeltl bodhmt Mar 90 Gestation Booklet Information Request May 116 Marine Mammal Sea Tabs Ju 152 Spider Monkey Aug 194 Patagonian Cavy Aug 194 Cayenne Jay Aug 194 Crested Porcupine, Hyittxlx 6pp. Oct 240 Carnation "Suckle**, milk replacer Oct 240 Sea lion Capture Throw Nets Nov 275 Geoffrey's Cats Nov 275 Dec 297 Turtles, genus Podocndmls Nov 275 Malayan Sun Bear, HeI.aAoto6 Malay aniu Dec 297 Gemsbok, OAyx gazdlla Dec 297 355 BOOK REVIEWS Applied Behavorial Research Jan 20 Doctor Rat May 126 The Giant Panda Veterinary Biology and Nov 278 Medicine of Captive Amphibians and Reptiles Dec 341 VETERINARIANS AND KEEPERS Zoo Veterinary Tech- nologists Brookfield’s Black Mar 64 Rhino Treated to Unusual Pedicure Ju 153 "BLOOD" Bovid Cross-species Aug 195 Embryo Implantation First Gorilla Born Sep 223 Using Artificial Insemination Nov 265 KEEPER NEWS/ZOO NEWS Zoo News from Japan — the Captive Breeding Awards for 1980 Jan 9 Animal Review at the Phoenix Zoo May 116 Metro Toronto Zoo Receives Silver Propagation Award May 116 Metro Zoo Builds New Cat Exhibits May 116 Sex Ratio in Zoo Job Applicants May 121 Zookeepers on PBS Mar 86 Keeper Data Survey Ap 104 Metro Toronto Chapter Establishes Keeper Accomodation List Ap 108 Keeper Animal Data Transfer Form May 120 Zoo News from Japan — Japanese Crested Ibis May 122 Fresno Zoo Mourns Death of Male Gorilla Ju 139 Japanese Zoos Receive Rare Przewalski horses Ju 138 Warning on Use of In-unit Heating Pads Ju 153 Columbus Zoo Hatches Bald Eagle J1 162 Opportunity Knocks — Job Survey Sep 220 KEEPER NEWS/ZOO NEWS (continued) AAZPA Keeper Category Fails to Pass Infant Development Sep 225 Project Forms Available Sep 230 From Keeper to Security Guard Oct 239 The Life of a Keeper Wouldn’t It Be Nice Oct 245 For All Nov 271 Award Presented to Metro Toronto Zoo Nov 269 EDUCATION "Missing Lynx" — Brookfield Docent Promotes Zoo Educa- tion Oct 253 CONSERVATION Those Ivory Tusks Are Killing Her More Than A Million Mar 65 Elephants , But They Face Extinction Ju 155 CITES Amends Listings To Appendices I & II Ju 144 145 Rhino Rescue Party in Atlanta J1 171 Giant Panda Ecology Study Aug 198 Japanese Crested Ibis Update Trapping of California Aug 204 Condors A Hawiian Bird Sues — Sep 224 and 12 Grizzlies Follow Suit Oct 238 A Small Plant Can Help Save the Levi than Oct 251 Louisiana Reclassifies Alligators International Polar Nov 276 Bear Studbook Initi- ated Nov 277 Square-lipped Rhino Studbook Published Animal Testing Alter- Dec 322 natives Funded Dec 312 356 PAPERS INDEXED BY SUBJECT Double-wattled Cassowaries Jan 10 The Day the Zoo Social Play in a Captive Went Condo J1 168 Infant Orangutan Jan 13 Bali and Other Hand-rearing Two Lesser Delights J1 172 Pandas at the Denver Zoo Feb 26 Observations on Breed- Raising Infant Pygmy Hedge- ing and Rearing Fennec hog Tenrec in Captivity Feb 42 Fox in Captivity J1 175 Snow Babies Sanikiluaq and Elephant Set J1 178 Bisitio Find New Home Feb 44 Social Hierarchy in Parental Rearing of Cotton- Chilian Flamingos Aug 189 top Tamar ins Feb 49 Panda Propagation at Reluctant Baby Syndrome in National Zoo Aug 197 an Infant Wooly Monkey Feb 51 Giant Panda Ecology Rapid Serum Tests for Ade- Study Aug 198 quate Transfer of Maternal Japanese Crested Immunoglobulins in Neonate Ibis Update Aug 204 Hoofed Stock Mar 66 Elephant Care at The Reintroduction of Jessey Sedgwick County Zoo Sep 212 a hand-reared Wooly Monkey Feb 53 Patterns of Ejacula- Nursery Operation at tion in Male Macaques Sep217 Lincoln Park Zoo Mar 69 Opportunity Knocks! Sep 220 Teaching Nursing Techniques First Giraffe Born to a Chimpanzzz Mar 73 at Erie Zoo Oct 236 Hand-rearing a Bactrian Hand-raising a Red Bat Oct 237 Camel and Reintroduction From Keeper to to the Herd Mar 80 Security Guard Oct 239 Raising Native Mammals and Pregnancy Watch on Their Release Mar 82 a Grant’s Zebra Oct 241 Hand-raising a Hippopotamus Newborn Giraffe Enters at the Denver Zoo Mar 87 Noisy World Oct 244 Notes on the Early Hand- Brookfield Docent rearing of an Orangutan Promotes Zoo and its Subsequent Reintro Education Oct 253 ductlon to the Mother Mar 89 Population and Genetic Keeper Data Survey Ap 98 Study System Oct 254 Parasitology Program at the Will Microscopic Metro Toronto Zoo Ap 102 "Fingerprints” on The Beginning of Understand- Fins 5, Feathers and ing Ap 104 Fur Reveal New Inf or- Japanese Crested Ibis 1 May 122 mation About Wildlife?Nov259 Raptor Rehabilitation ! May 127 The Basic Elephant Breeding Polar Bears at Maintenance Program Abilene Zoological Part I Nov 261 Gardens Ju 140 Breeding of the Congo Successful Birth and Rear- Peacock at the Bronx ing of Fennec Foxes at Zoo Nov 264 the Cincinnati Zoo Ju 147 First Gorilla Born Using A New Captive Propagation Artificial Insemina- Centre for the Reptile tion Nov 265 Breeding Foundation Ju 149 Discovering Apes Complex The Free Loaders Ju 156 Becomes a Reality at The Hybridization of Yellow- the Topeka Zoo Nov 273 crested and Festiva Zookeepers: Missing Amazon J1 165 Link to the Public? Dec 286 Hand-raising Kookaburras J1 167 The Basic Elephant 357 PAPERS, (continuedj^ Capturing Desert Big- Horn Sheep Keeper Participation in the Operation of a Amall Zoo How to Get A-Head at the Zoo The HSUS’s Responsi- bility to Zoo Keepers Zoo Elephants in General Observations and Breed- ing of Hartlaub ' s Touraco Native Wildlife-Exotic Animal Interface at Front Royal Interactions of Infant Baboons in Captivity Great Ape Keeping at Lincoln Park Zoo Keeper Education at the Rio Grande Zoo Dickerson Park's Bald Eagle Program The Management and Propagation of Greater Flamingos at Fresno Zo( Training and Elephant For Zoo Life The Death and Birth of a Zoo The Management of Ruby- an Asian elephant Zookeeping in the 1980's — A New Horizon in Professionalism MAMMALS Social Play in a Captive Infant Orangutan Hand-rearing Two Lesser Pandas at the Denver Zoo Jan 13 Raising Infant Pygmy Hedge- hog Tenrec in Captivity Feb 42 Snow Babies Sanikiluaq and Bisitio Find New Home Feb 44 Parental Rearing of Cotton- top Tamarins Feb 49 Reluctant Baby Syndrome in an Infant Wooly Monkey Feb 51 The Reintroduction of Jessey a hand-raised Wooly Monkey Feb 53 Teaching Nursing Tech- niques to a Chimpanzee Mar 73 Hand-rearing a Bactrian Camel and Reintroduction to the Herd Mar 80 Raising Native Mammals and their Release Mar 80 Hand-raising a Hippopota- mus at the Denver Zoo Mar 87 Notes on the Early Hand- rearing of an Orangutan and its Subsequent Rein- troduction to the Mother Mar 89 Breeding Polar Bears at Abilene Zoological Gardens Ju 140 Successful Birth and Rear- ing of Fennec Foxes at the Cincinnati Zoo Observation on Breed- ing and Rearing Fennec Fox in Captivity Elephant Care at Sedgwick County Zoo Patterns of Ejaculation in Male Macaques First Giraffe Born at Erie Zoo Hand-raising a Red Bat Pregnancy Watch on a Grant's Zebra Newborn Griaffe Enters Noisy World The Basic Elephant Maintenance Program Part I Part II First Gorilla Born Using Artificial Insemination Capturing Desert Big- Horn Sheep Zoo Elephants in General Interactions of Infant Baboons in Captivity Great Ape Keeping at Lincoln Park Zoo Training an Elephant for Zoo Life The Management of Ruby- an Asian elephant BIRDS Double-wattled Cassowaries Jan 10 Japanese Crested Ibis May 122 Raptor Rehabilitation May 127 The Hybridization of Yellow-crested and Festiva Amazon J1 165 Hand-raising Kookaburras J1 167 Social Hierarchy in Chilian Flamingos Aug 189 Dec 292 Dec 295 Dec 298 Dec 302 Dec 306 Dec 308 Dec 313 Dec 318 Dec 323 Dec 326 Dec 329 Dec 333 Dec 337 Dec 340 Dec 342 Dec 348 Jan 10 Ju 147 J1 175 Sep 212 Sep 217 Oct 236 Oct 237 Oct 241 Oct 244 Nov 261 Dec 290 Nov 265 Dec 292 Dec 306 Dec 318 Dec 323 Dec 337 Dec 342 358 Keeper Education at the Rio Grande Zoo Zookeeping in the 1980’s — A New Horizon In Professionalism RESEARCH Dec 326 Dec 348 Rapid Serum Tests for Adequate Transfer of Maternal Immunoglobulins in Neonate Hoofed Stock Mar 66 Parasitology Program at the Metro Toronto Zoo Ap 102 Patterns of Ejaculation in Male Macaques Sep 217 Population and Genetic Study System Oct 254 BIRDS, (continued) RESEARCH, (continued) Japanese Crested Will Microscopic Ibis Update Aug 204 "Fingerprints" on Breeding of the Congo Fins , Fur and Feathers Peacock at the Reveal Information Bronx Zoo Nov 264 About Wildlife? Nov ■ 259 Observations and Breed- First Gorilla Born ing of Hartlaub’s Using Artificial Touraco Dec 308 Insemination Nov • 265 Dickerson Park's Bald The HSUS's Responsi- Eagle Program Dec 329 bility to Zoo Keepers 1 Dec : 302 The Management and Prop- agation of Greater Flamingos at Fresno Dec 333 CONSERVATION REPTILES The Beginning of Unders tending Ap 104 A New Captive Propagation Raptor Rehabilitation May 127 Centre for the Reptile Giant Panda Ecology Breeding Foundation Jii 149 Study Aug 198 Native Wildlife-Exotic Animal Interface at EDUCATION Front Royal Dec 313 Dickerson Park's Bald Keeper Data Survey Ap 98 Eagle Program Dec 329 Opportunity Knocks I Sep 220 Capturing Desert Big- Brookfield Docent Horn Sheep Dec 292 Promotes Zoo Education Oct 253 MISCELLANEOUS Discovering Apes Complex Becomes A The Free Loaders Ju 156 Reality at Topeka Zoo Nov 273 The Day the Zoo Zookeepers: Missing Link Went Condo J1 168 To the Public? Dec 286 Bali and Other Delights J1 172 Keeper Participation From Keeper to Security in the Operation of Guard Oct 239 a Small Zoo Dec 295 How to Get A-Head at the Zoo Dec 298 359 1981 BIRTHS AND HATCHINGS Aardvarks Mar Cincinnati Mar Abyssinian Ground Hornbill Jan Abilene Jan Miami Metrozoo Oct Add ax Sedgwick County Ap Louisville May Fresno Ju Sedgwick County Oct African crested Porcupine Fresno Ju African coral snake San Antonio Oct African lion Metro Toronto Jan African spurred tortoise San Antonio Sep Alpaca Sedgwick County Jan Albino corn snake San Antonio Oct American Bison Atlanta Jan American Flamingo San Antonio Sep San Antonio Oct American Golden Eagle Topeka Zoo J1 Andean Condor San Antonio Sep Aoudad Louisville May Miami Metrozoo Oct Arabian Oryx Phoenix Sep Arabian Sand Gazelle Sedgwick County Oct Argus Pheasant Metro Toronto Zoo Jan Arrow-marked Babbler San Antonio Sep Artie Wolves Metro Toronto Zoo Jan Asian elephant Bronx Zoo Oct Asiatic Water Buffalo Sedgwick County Oct Australian white-eyed Duck Sedgwick County Oct Axis Deer Louisville May Audubon Park Ju Bactrian Camel Metro Toronto Zoo Jan Bali Mynah Topeka Zoo May Ball Python Metro Toronto Zoo Bald Eagle Jan 3 Columbus Zoo Barasinga Ap 94 J1 162 Metro Toronto Zoo Jan 3 Audubon Park Barheaded Geese J1 162 Audubon Park Bennetts* Wallaby Aug 186 Riverbanks Zoo Besia Oryx Oct 234 San Antonio Oct 235 Black-brested Button Quail San Antonio Blackbuck Sep 211 Miami Metrozoo Black-footed Penguins Oct 234 Metro Toronto Zoo Black Howler Monkey Jan 3 Riverbanks Zoo Black-necked Swan Oct 234 Sedgwick County Jan 5 Audubon Park Aug 186 San Antonio Sep 211 Sedgwick County Black Rhinoceros Oct 234 San Antonio Black-tailed marmosets Sep 210 San Antonio Blue-crowned Pigeon Sep 211 Topeka Zoo Blue and Gold Macaw Nov 258 Audubon Park Blue Peafowl Aug 186 Sedgwick County Bobcat Oct 235 Topeka Zoo J1 162 Folsom Children 'sZoo Brocket Deer Aug 1 86 Louisville Brown-headed Tamarin May 115 Riverbanks Zoo Oct 234 Topeka Zoo Bruign’s Pademelon Nov 258 Sedgwick County Brush-tailed Phalanger Jan 5 Cincinnati Cairio Spiny Mouse Mar 59 Cincinnati Canadian Goose Mar 59 Audubon Park Cantil Aug 186 San Antonio Cereopis Goose Sep 211 Audubon Park Cheetah Ju 138 Louisville Jan 2 Wildlife Safari Ap 94 59 59 4 4 234 94 115 138 234 138 235 3 211 5 235 5 211 235 162 211 115 234 210 234 3 211 3 235 234 235 115 138 3 115 360 BIRTHS AND HATCHINGS Eastern Rosella (continued) Sedgwick Ap 94 Eclectus Parrot Cockteil Audubon Park Aug 186 Sedgwick County Oct 235 Egyptian Fruit Bat Common Eland Cincinnati Mar 59 Topeka Zoo J1 162 Egyptian Goose Common Green Iguana Sedgwick County Oct 235 Topeka Zoo J1 162 Eland Common Tree Shrew Louisville May 115 Topeka Zoo J1 162 Miami Metrozoo Oct 234 Cottontop Marmoset Elegant-crested Tinamou Fresno Ju 138 Sedgwick County Oct 234 Cotton-topped Tamarin Emu Lincoln Park Mar 58 Audubon Park Ju 138 Fresno May 115 Fat-tailed Gecko Folsom Children's Zoo Aug 186 Sedgwick County Oct 235 Phoenix Sep 210 Fennec Fox Crested Porcupine Cincinnati Mar 59 Fresno May 115 Forest Buffalo Crested Screamer Miami Metrozoo Oct 234 San Antonio Sep 211 Fringe-eared Oryx Crested White Partridge Sedgwick County Oct 234 Sedgwick County Oct 235 Fulvous tree duck Dali's Sheep Audubon Park Ju 138 Metro Toronto Zoo Jan 3 J1 162 Dama Gazelle Aug 186 San Antonio Sep 211 Galah Oct 235 San Antonio Sep 211 Dama Wallaby Gelada Baboon Riverbanks Zoo Oct 234 Louisville May 115 Damara Zebra Gemsbok Sedgwick County Ap 94 Metro Toronto Zoo Jan 3 Oct 234 San Antonio Oct 235 Deb razz a Monkey Giant Anteater Metro Toronto Zoo Jan 3 Louisville May 115 Defrassa Waterbuck Giant Indian Fruit Bat Miami Metrozoo Oct 234 Topeka Zoo Aug 186 Demoiselle Crane Gila Monster Ft Worth J1 163 Atlanta Jan 5 San Antonio Sep 211 Goeldi's Monkey Domestic Turkey Japan Monkey Centre Sep 210 Sedgwick County Oct 235 Golden Conure Double-crested Basilisk San Antonio Sep 211 Sedgwick County Jan 5 Golden Lion Tamarin Ap 95 Audubon Park Ju 138 Oct 234 Memphis Zoo Ju 139 Dromedary Camel Grant's Zebra Miami Metrozoo Oct 234 Atlanta Jan 5 Dusky Pipefish Miami Metrozoo Oct 234 San Antonio Sep 211 Greater Kudu Dusky Titi Monkey Riverbanks Zoo Oct 234 Riverbanks Zoo Oct 234 San Antonio Oct 235 Dwarf Zebu Green Wood Hoopoe Louisville May 115 San Antonio Sep 211 East African Eland Grey-cheeked Hornbills Riverbanks Zoo Oct 234 Metro Toronto Zoo Jan 3 East African Crowned Crane Grey Seal San Antonio Oct 235 National Zoo Ap 95 361 BIRTHS AND HATCHINGS (continued) Grey's Zebra San Antonio Sep 210 Grizzled Grey Tree Kangaroo San Antonio Sep 211 Ground Boa San Antonio Sep 211 Ground Cuscus Riverbanks Zoo Oct 234 Guanaco Audubon Park Ju 138 Sedgwick County Oct 234 Guinea Baboon Sedgwick County Oct 234 Gurnsey Audubon Park ji : L62 Hamadryas Baboon Wildlife Safari Jan 3 Harnessed Bushbuck Sedgwick County Herman's Tortoise San Antonio Ap 94 Sep 211 Himalayan Tahr Miami Metrozoo Oct 234 Imp ala Miami Metrozoo Oct 234 Inca Tern San Antonio Sep 211 San Antonio Oct 235 Indian Flying Fox Miami Metrozoo Oct 234 Japanese Macaque Topeka Zoo May 115 Folsom Children's Zoo Aug 186 Japanese Raccoon Dog Fresno Ju 138 Jersey Audubon Park Jl 162 Jobes' Armadillo Lizard Sedgwick County Oct 235 Kenya Crested Guineafowl San Antonio Oct 235 King Vulture San Antonio Sep 211 Kirk’s Dik Dik San Antonio Sep 211 Kookaburra Sedgwick County Ap 94 Audubon Park Jl 162 Lady Grey's Waterbuck San Antonio Sep 211 Languar Monkey Philadelphia Ap 95 Lapuring Plover Ft. Worth Jl 163 Leopard Gecko San Antonio Lesser Galagos Sep 211 Japan Monkey Centre Lesser Kudu Sep 210 San Antonio Lilac-brested Roller Sep 210 San Antonio Lilford Crane Sep 211 San Antonio Lion Sep 211 Miami Metrozoo Lion-tail Macaque Oct 234 Atlanta Jan 3 Metro Toronto Zoo Lowland Gorilla Jan 6 Fresno Malaysian Sun Bear Mar 58 Miami Metrozoo Mandrill Baboon Oct 234 Riverbanks Zoo Marbled Teal Oct 234 Metro Toronto Zoo Masai Giraffe Jan 3 Metro Toronto Zoo Jan 3 Fresno Mar 58 Louisville Maxwell's Duiker May 115 Miami Metrozoo Mexican Wolf Oct 234 St. Louis Mouflon Sheep Jl 163 Fresno Moustached Guenon Jl 138 Abilene Zoological Grd. Nene Goose Ap 97 San Antonio New Guinea Side-necked Turtle Sep 211 San Antonio Night Monkey Oct 235 Japan Monkey Centre Nile Hippo Sep 210 Fresno Ju 138 Riverbanks Zoo North American Porcupine Oct 234 Topeka Zoo North American Wood Duck May 115 Audubon Park Northern Waterbuck Aug 186 Sedgwick County Nubian Ibex Oct 234 Metro Toronto Zoo Palawn Peacock Pheasant Jan 3 San Antonio Painted Quail Sep 211 Sedgwick County Palestine Viper Jan 5 San Antonio Oct 235 362 BIRTHS AND HATCHINGS (continued) Patagonian Cavy Sedgwick County Oct Patagonian Crested Duck Sedgwick County Oct Patas Monkey Metro Toronto Zoo Jan Peach-faced Lovebirds Metro Toronto Zoo Jan Pere David's Deer Metro Toronto Zoo Jan Pilgrim Goose Sedgwick County Oct Pintail Duck Miami Metrozoo Oct Plush-crested Jay Audubon Ju Polar Bear Erie Zoo Mar Brookfield Ap Louisville May Prehensile- tailed Porcupine National Zoo Ap Pygmy Hedgehog Tenrec Topeka Zoo Aug Pygmy Kingfisher San Antonio Sep Pygmy Marmosets Japan Monkey Centre Sep Red-bellied Tamarin Japan Monkey Centre Sep Red-bellied Buffalo Weaver San Antonio Sep Reeves Muntjac Louisville May Red-brested Toucan Phoenix Sep Red-necked Ostrich Audubon Ju Reicgenow's Guinea San Antonio Sep Reticulated Giraffe Sedgwick County Oct Reynaulds Ground Cockoos Metro Toronto Zoo Jan Ring- tailed Lemur Miami Metrozoo Oct Riverbanks Zoo Oct Road Runner Audubon Aug Rock Cavy Cincinnati Mar Rocky Mountain Goat San Antonio Sep Ruddy Shellduck Audubon J1 Ruffed Lemurs San Antonio Sable Antelope Sep 211 Metro Toronto Jan 3 Audubon Park Ju 138 Miami Metrozoo Sacred Ibis Oct 234 San Antonio Sarus Crane Sep 211 San Antonio Oct 235 Topeka Zoo Scarlet Ibis Nov 258 San Antonio Scimitar-horned Oryx Sep 211 Fresno Scrub Wallaby Ju 138 Topeka Zoo Serval May 115 Louisville May 115 Folsom Children's Zoo Short Bare-tailed opposum Aug 186 Cincinnati Siamang Mar 59 Gladys Porter Zoo Siberian Ibex Mar 59 Miami Metrozoo Siberian Tiger Oct 234 Metro Toronto Zoo Sitatunga Jan 3 Metro Toronto Zoo Jan 3 Miami Metrozoo Snow Leopards Oct 234 San Antonio South African Cape Seal Sep 211 Metro Toronto Zoo Southern Grasshopper Mouse Jan 3 Cincinnati Southern Lapwing Mar 59 Sedgwick County Sparkling Violet-eared Hummingbird Oct 235 Brookfield Speckled Mousebirds Mar 58 Sedgwick County Jan 5 Spectacled Owl Oct 235 Oklahoma City Spider Monkey Nov 258 Phoenix Spot-billed Duck Sep 210 Miami Metrozoo Springbok Oct 234 Metro Toronto Zoo Jan 3 San Antonio Spur-winged Lapwing Oct 235 Sedgwick County Sugar Glider Oct 235 Miami Metrozoo Oct 234 234 235 3 3 3 234 234 138 59 95 115 95 186 211 210 210 211 115 210 138 211 234 3 234 234 186 58 211 162 363 BIRTHS AND HATCHINGS Vampire Bat (continued) Cincinnati Mar 58 Suffolk Sheep Wapiti Sedgwick County Oct 234 Metro Toronto Zoo Jan 3 Sun Conure White-brested Waterhen Louisville May 114 Topeka Zoo Aug 186 Supurb Starling White-faced Saki Sedgwick County Jan 5 Riverbanks Zoo Oct 234 Oct 235 White-fronted Amazon Parrot Stanley Crane San Antonio Sep 211 San Antonio Sep 211 White Handed Gibbon Thompson Gazelle Atlanta Jan 5 Audubon Park Ju 138 White-nosed Coati J1 162 Sedgwick County Oct 234 Miami Metrozob Oct 234 White-tail Deer Toco Toucan Audubon Park Aug 186 Audubon Ju 138 White-tailed Gnu Aug 168 Metro Toronto Zoo Jan 3 San Antonio Sep 211 White-tooth Shrew Topi Cincinnati Mar 59 San Antonio Sep 210 Wisent Tree Shrews Metro Toronto Zoo Jan 3 Audubon J1 162 Wooly Monkey Tuffed Capuchin Louisville Jan 2 Japan Monkey Centre Sep 211 May 115 Tule Elk Wood Bison Fresno Ju 138 Metro Toronto Zoo Jan 3 AAZK Publications Available The following AAZK Publications are available for sale for a limited time only: AAZK Conference Proceedings (1980) Montgomery Regularly $4.00, now $2.00 AAZK Conference Proceedings (1974) Chicago (limited supply) Now $1.00 Animal Keepers' Forum 1977, 1978 (78 sets available) 1977 (set of 12 issues) $5.00 1978 (set of 12 issues) $7.50 Animal Keepers' Forum, indivdual issues for 1979, 1980, 1981 are available from the AKF Editorial Office for $1.00 each. A 12 issue set for these years costs $8.50 for 1979; $9.50 for 1980; and $10.50 for 1981. 1981 sets will be available after 1 Jan. 1982. AAZK 1980-81 Membership Directories $3.00 for members $6.00 for non-members 364 AAZK MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Ch^(lk koAe. li /immal [ ] 1 1 Name I I I Address_ I |i $20.00 Professional !|i FiM-tlme fCeepm onl^ fi and Jnt2Anatlonal HmbeJU I $15.00 Affiliate I 0th2A 6tall and volunteeAS ' U.S CURRENCY \Vln.(L(iZoH.y In^oAmatlon $10.00 Associate InduivldvLaZ^ not conmcted u)tth an antmal C-OAn {^acJJJjty $50.00 Contributing Ofigantzattowb and Individuals ONLY PLEASE I loo Won.k kK. 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