EAZA News 57-12 - European Association of Zoos and Aquaria

EAZANEWS
quarterly publication of the european association of zoos and aquaria
january february march 2007
05
Exhibit evaluation
and visitor studies
10
IZE Conference 2006
12
A standard format
for RCPs
14
Re-using water
26
Animal conservation
genetics
31
Conservation
workshop for green
toads
28 Conserving the threatened elkhorn coral
57
2 0 0 7
22 Insects and butterflies at Artis Royal Zoo

eaza news 57
2007
02
w h o i s w h o i n e a z a
EAZA Executive Committee
chair Leobert de Boer, Apenheul Primate Park vice-chair Simon Tonge, Paignton Zoo
secretary Eric Bairrão Ruivo, Lisbon Zoo treasurer Ryszard Topola, Lodz Zoo
chair eep committee Bengt Holst, Copenhagen Zoo chair membership & ethics committee
Lars Lunding Andersen, Copenhagen Zoo chair aquarium committee Jürgen Lange, Berlin Zoo
chair legislation committee Ulrich Schürer, Wuppertal Zoo
EAZA Executive Director
Harry Schram, EAZA Executive Office, Amsterdam
EAZA Standing Committees Chairs
eep committee Bengt Holst, Copenhagen Zoo
membership & ethics committee Lars Lunding Andersen, Copenhagen Zoo
aquarium committee Jürgen Lange, Berlin Zoo
legislation committee Ulrich Schürer, Wuppertal Zoo
EAZA Specialist Committees Chairs
veterinary committee Jacques Kaandorp, Safaripark Beekse Bergen
research committee Gordon McGregor Reid, Chester Zoo
conservation committee Pierre Gay, Zoo de Doué
education & exhibit design committee Henk Hiddingh, Emmen Zoo
committee on technical assistance & animal welfare Dominique Tropeano, Colchester Zoo
committee on pr & marketing Jörg Adler, Münster Zoo
EAZA Council Members 2006 - 2009
austria Andreas Kaufmann, Natur- und Tierpark Herberstein belgium Roland Van Bocxstaele,
Antwerp Zoo croatia Mladen Anic, Zagreb Zoo czech republic Dana Holeckova, Dvur
Kralove Zoo · Vladislav Jirousek, Jihlava Zoo denmark Henrik Herold, Randers Zoo estonia
Mati Kaal, Tallinn Zoo finland Seppo Turunen, Helsinki Zoo france Françoise Delord,
ZooParc de Beauval · Pierre Gay, Zoo de Doué · Thierry Jardin, CERZA Lisieux · Michel Hignette,
Aquarium de la Porte Dorée germany Bernhard Blaszkiewitz, Tierpark Berlin-Friedrichsfelde ·
Dieter Jauch, Wilhelma (Stuttgart) · Achim Johann, NaturZoo Rheine · Thomas Kauffels, Georg
von Opel Zoo (Kronberg) · Ulrich Schürer, Wuppertal Zoo greece Andreas Sioulas, Rhodes
Aquarium hungary Ilma Bogsch, Budapest Zoo ireland Neil Stronach, Fota Wildlife Park
italy Gloria Svampa Garibaldi, Punta Verde Zoo (Lignano) latvia Rolands Greizins, Riga Zoo
lithuania Vaclovas Dumcius, Kaunas Zoo netherlands Leobert de Boer, Apenheul Primate
Park · Wim Verberkmoes, GaiaPark Kerkrade Zoo norway Arne Magne Robstad, Kristiansand
Zoo poland Ryszard Topola, Lodz Zoo portugal Eric Bairrão Ruivo, Lisbon Zoo russia
Vladimir V. Spitsin, Moscow Zoo slovakia Miloslava Savelová, Bratislava Zoo slovenia
Zdenka Barbara Ban Fischinger, Ljubljana Zoo spain José Ignacio Cobo, Zoo Aquarium Madrid ·
Agustin Lopez Goya, Faunia (Madrid) sweden Hans-Ove Larsson, Skansen Foundation ·
Bo Kjellson, Boras Djurpark switzerland Christian Stauffer, Wildpark Langenberg (Langnau)
turkey vacancy ukraine vacancy united kingdom Bryan Carroll, Bristol Zoo · Mark
Pilgrim, Chester Zoo · Simon Tonge, Paignton Zoo · Ken J. Sims, Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens ·
Dominique A. Tropeano, Colchester Zoo
Standing Committee Chairs co-opted in Council
Lars Lunding Andersen, Copenhagen Zoo · Bengt Holst, Copenhagen Zoo · Jürgen Lange, Berlin Zoo
Specialist Committee Chairs as observers in Council
Jörg Adler, Münster Zoo · Gordon McGregor Reid, Chester Zoo · Jacques Kaandorp, Safaripark
Beekse Bergen · Henk Hiddingh, Emmen Zoo
member of
colophon
EAZA News is the quarterly magazine of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA)
Editorial Board Chair EAZA Bert de Boer Executive Director Harry Schram
Chair Membership & Ethics Committee Lars Lunding Andersen Managing Editor Jeannette van Benthem
(jeannette.van.benthem@eaza.net) Editorial Staff Corinne Bos, Koen Brouwer, Bart Hiddinga, Catherine King, Danny de Man
Design Jantijn Ontwerp bno, Made, the Netherlands Printing Drukkerij Van den Dool, Sliedrecht, the Netherlands
ISSN 1574-2997. The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.
Deadline EAZA News 58: 1 March 2007
Printed on TREE-FREE paper bleached without chlorine and free from acid
eaza executive office
FROM THE EDITORS
Looking back at 2006, this year was filled with important
developments for EAZA; the new EAZA Standards
and EAZA Constitution were approved, 12 new institutions
joined EAZA, a new membership category was
implemented (corporate membership) and a new EAZA
executive director was appointed. Several publications
were completed and distributed amongst the EAZA
membership, including the EAZA Yearbook 2004, the
Proceedings of the EAZA Annual Conference 2005 and
the brochure ‘Ten simple things that will improve our
EEPs considerably’.
Sustainability was one of the central themes of
last year’s Annual Conference, and the after-conference
issue of EAZA News (issue 56) entirely focused on this
important topic. As this topic was well received, the
subject ‘sustainability’ will continue to be featured,
starting with two interesting articles in this issue.
Besides the articles in this issue that cover the topics
normally found in EAZA News, one article describes the
development of a new Regional Collection Plan (RCP)
according to the standard format as developed by the
EEP Committee. Furthermore, the back cover of this issue
once more summarizes what ZIMS can do for you, as
getting ready for ZIMS is extremely important for all
of us in EAZA.
Last but not least, we would like to thank those
who enthusiastically contributed to EAZA News in
2006! Special thanks goes to Jenny van Leeuwen for
her dedicated work as former managing editor of
EAZA News. After working on exactly twenty issues
of EAZA News, Jenny van Leeuwen has resigned from
her editing job to take up a position at the Dutch Zoo
Federation. We would also like to thank the authors
that sent in all interesting articles that have kept the
EAZA membership up-to-date about what is happening
within the EAZA community. We look forward to
receive as much interesting articles in 2007, so if you
have never contributed to EAZA News, make this year
the year to do so!
c/o Amsterdam Zoo, PO Box 20164, 1000 HD Amsterdam, The Netherlands Website: www.eaza.net e-mail: info@eaza.net
Membership Services & Accreditation tel: +31 20 520 07 53 fax: +31 20 520 07 54 e-mail: corinne.bos@eaza.net
Collection Coordination & Conservation tel: +31 20 520 07 50 fax: +31 20 520 07 52 e-mail: bart.hiddinga@eaza.net

12
photo bristol zoo
26 30
photo john o’brien photo järvzoo (järvsö)
c
Colophon · Who is who
Re-using water at Burgers’ Ocean
Deep green design for zoos and aquaria
The second SECORE workshop; conserving the threatened elkhorn coral
22
cover Argema mittrei
photo ronald van weeren/
artis royal zoo (amsterdam)
cover Acropora palmate
photo eric borneman
contents
02 from the editors
03 contents
Executive Committee meets in Jersey · Welcome to Warsaw · Cooperation with EZNC terminated · EAZA Zoo Educators · 04 from the eaza office
Supporting Tirana Zoo · Exhibit evaluation and visitor studies · Breeding Programme Management Course · Rectification 05 from the eaza office
Remember to register! · Do you need other images? · Painting and drawing for Madagascar 06 eaza madagascar campaign
Trip to Madagascar in 2007 07 eaza madagascar campaign
Why is Madagascar so special? · Madagascar competition for school children 08 eaza madagsacar campaign
Chris Peters 09 interview
The IZE Conference 2006; a huge success! · Just another educator 10 education
Wanted: New holders for the Somali wild ass EEP 11 collection planning
A new Regional Collection Plan for Callitrichids 12 collection planning
13 collection planning
14 sustainability
15 sustainability
16 sustainability
17 sustainability
Wuppertal · Broxbourne 18 births and hatchings
Bristol · Randers 19 births and hatchings
Berlin · Arnhem 20 births and hatchings
Lemurs flourish in their easy access enclosure 21 new enclosures
The insect house and butterfly pavilion at Artis Royal Zoo 22 new enclosures
23 new enclosures
A tropical paradise for the giants of the tortoise world, the Aldabra tortoises 24 new enclosures
Protocol signed to recover the Iberian golden eagle 25 conservation
Animal conservation genetics 26 research
27 research
28 conservation
29 conservation
SAZA focuses on its own backyard 30 conservation
CBSG Europe conducts conservation workshop for green toads · Programme updates 31 conservation
Update on the development of ZIMS · Studbook data cleaning project 33 eadisc | isis
ZIMS; what will it do for you? 36 zims
28
eaza news 57
2007
32 books | dir. updates |publications
03

eaza news 57
2007
04
from the eaza office
Executive Committee meets in Jersey
The EAZA Executive Committee met in the inspiring quarters of
the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Jersey on 13 January
2007. The committee looked into the idea of organising a
programme of professional training and development courses for
EAZA zoo and aquarium staff. The long-established International
Training Centre at Durrell provides a good example and a
possible location for such a training programme. Furthermore,
it was decided to start a ‘future search’ exercise to look at
the future of the organisation and the tasks to be fulfilled by
the EAZA Executive Office. Participants of the Spring Council
meeting in Kristiansand (Norway) in May 2007 will hear a lot
more about this.
Cooperation with EZNC terminated
For a number of years EAZA has cooperated with the European Zoo
Nutrition Centre (EZNC). During these years the EZNC worked together
with the EAZA Nutrition Group on gathering and sharing knowledge
on zoo animal nutrition. Also, the EZNC was provided with office space
and logistic support by the EAZA Executive Office in Amsterdam, free
of charge. However, cooperation between EAZA and the EZNC has now
been terminated, and no relationships exist. Any questions regarding
zoo animal nutrition can be directed to the EAZA Nutrition Group.
EAZA Zoo Educators (EZE)
European Zoo Educators (EZE) has been the European regional branch
of International Zoo Educators (IZE) for many years. In the European
zoo educator community EZE is well known thanks to its biennial
conferences and the ERNIZE list serve. Additionally, EZE has worked
closely with the EAZA Education and Exhibit Design Committee, and
in fact, the European board members of IZE were members of this
committee. Because of this close relationship, IZE and EAZA decided
to put the European zoo educators under the regional umbrella of
EAZA. Henceforth EZE stands for EAZA Zoo Educators.
This does not imply that zoo, aquaria and nature reserve educators
employed by EAZA member institutions automatically are IZE members,
nor that Europeans that are not EAZA members can not become IZE
members.
The next EZE Conference will kindly be hosted by Budapest Zoo,
Hungary from 28 to 31 March 2007. A challenging programme covering
four days has been prepared, starting with the registration and an
ice breaker. This will be followed by three days of presentations and
workshops; the first day will focus on sustainability and the second
day will highlight the Amphibian Crisis and ‘2008; the year of the
frogs’. The last day will be reserved to communicate problems and
successes of the eastern European zoos.
For more information, please visit www.zoobudapest.com/eze2007
Supporting Tirana Zoo
Tirana Zoo was once a favourite day out for Tirana's citizens and many
other Albanians. However, due to many years of neglect, the zoo is
now in a truly deplorable state. Through the Technical Assistance
and Animal Welfare (TA&AW) Committee, EAZA has actively been
supporting Albania's only official zoo since 2004. After several meetings
and recommendations by the Committee to increase the animal welfare,
it is now time to take things a step further.
Albania is one of Europe's poorest countries, but things are improving.
The City of Tirana is very much willing to redevelop the Tirana Zoo and
the surrounding park as this is one of the few remaining green spaces
in the city. From 6 to 8 December 2006 a workshop was organised to
discuss a new future for the zoo. Dominique Tropeano, chair of the
TA&AW Committee, led the workshop that was attended by over twenty
people representing various city departments, the zoo staff and various
NGOs. Together, the participants created a short-term action plan
including the most urgent actions needed to improve animal welfare
and visitor safety. This action plan was sent to the Tirana City Council
for approval and to obtain the necessary funds. This year a more detailed
master plan for the total reconstruction of the zoo will be developed,
based on the first ideas created during the workshop. With the support
of the City Council, this workshop will hopefully be the first step
towards a better future for Tirana Zoo. Further visits by the TA&AW
Committee are planned for this year.
Welcome to Warsaw
The 24th EAZA Annual Conference will be hosted
by Warsaw Zoo, Poland, and will take place
from 11 to 15 September 2007. Preparations are
currently underway and all EAZA members
should have received conference registration
information. As always, information is also available
on the ‘Conference’ section of the EAZA website.
photo eaza executive office

Exhibit evaluation and visitor studies; a new focus for EAZA
We all know how to evaluate the success of our breeding programmes or of
our marketing efforts; we can easily analyse what is happening to our animal
collections or populations and we can count visitors and the amount of money
they spend within the gates of our institutions. Evaluating the message we
are communicating to our visitors is not that easy, but it is an important and
necessary tool if we want to make sure we are communicating the right
message to the right audience. What do our visitors learn from their visit?
Do they read the labels? How do they experience our messages about
conservation and sustainability? Do we help them to change their behaviour?
European zoos and aquaria have a lot to learn in this field, especially when
you compare with our North American colleagues or with what has been
going on in the museum and science centre world, also in Europe.
Breeding Programme Management Course
In the first week of December 2006 another EAZA Breeding Programme
Management Course was held at the EAZA Executive Office. Twelve
participants from different parts of Europe completed the course. Two groups
were trained in a wide range of aspects that are relevant when managing
an EEP or ESB, such as population genetics, demographics, working with
SPARKS and PM2000, as well as politics and policies. The external docents
Kristin Leus (EAZA Population Management Advisory Group) and Tanya
Langenhorst (Marwell Zoological Park, Winchester) together with EAZA
Executive Office staff members taught the different topics during this week.
Rectification
from the eaza office
EAZA will help its members in communicating more effectively with their
audience. Visitor studies and evaluation will be a new focus of our activities.
EAZA recently became an institutional member of the Visitor Studies Association,
through which we can all benefit from the experience of hundreds of
audience researchers in museums, zoos, science centres and natural habitats.
EAZA is also planning an exhibit evaluation activity or workshop during this
year’s annual conference in Warsaw. EAZA is confident that when it comes to
evaluating and improving our message, things are already beginning to move
within the European zoo and aquarium community. On 24 and 25 May 2007,
the Zoological Society of London is organising an interesting symposium,
‘Zoo experiences and the human dimensions of saving wildlife’. Please refer
to the EAZA website ‘calendar’ for more information about this symposium.
photo rob doolaard (izp)/rotterdam zoo
photo eaza executive office
In EAZA News 56, the ‘Sustainability special’, in the article ‘The World-Garden in Münster Zoo, an unusual journey around the globe’ the
name of NGO ‘Eine Welt Netz NRW e.V.’ was incorrectly translated into ‘One World Television Network’ (see EAZA News 56/2006, p.32-33).
The correct English name should be ‘One World Network NRW’.
eaza news 57
2007
05

eaza news 57
2007
06
photo nick garbutt
eaza madagascar campaign
Remember to register!
Painting and drawing for Madagascar
Roger Graf, Zürich Zoo, Switzerland
With the Madagascar Campaign launch in Madrid still in mind (October 2006), several
EAZA members have already started organising their campaign activities. Examples
of these activities can be found on the following pages, as well as on the ‘Campaign’
section of the EAZA website. Please also forward your institution’s stories and pictures
on the campaign to the EAZA Executive Office (martijn.los@eaza.net).
EAZA would like to thank the 70 EAZA member institutions that have already registered for campaign participation. Please
remember to register for the campaign as soon as possible if your institution is also planning to participate. Registration
details can be found in the Madagascar Campaign Info Pack. A registration form can also be downloaded from the EAZA
website member area. Please join the campaign and help conserve Madagascar; ‘Arovako i Madagasikara’!
photo samuel furrer/zürich zoo
Do you need other images?
Hopefully you are enjoying and making full use of
the images provided on the CD-ROM accompanying
the Campaign Info Pack. However, the campaign core
group supports any wishes for a specific image or
group of images that has not been supplied already.
For example, the core group is currently sourcing
reef images of Madagascar as requested by aquarium
colleagues. If you need a particular image to create
exciting graphics for the campaign in your institution,
please contact Roger Graf (roger.graf@zoo.ch) or
Lesley Dickie (lesley.dickie@zsl.org) and they will
try to find them for you!
As part of the EAZA Madagascar Campaign 2006/7, your institution can participate in a painting and drawing activity. Ask school children and
other groups of visitors to paint or draw Malagasy animals and plants. If present, Malagasy animals or plants within your institution can serve as
models. By participating in this activity, you are offering your visitors an enjoyable event and at the same time hopefully contribute to making the
Malagasy people proud of their nature and motivate them to protect their environment.
All paintings and drawings collected will be distributed to school children in Madagascar with the help of 49 Malagasy radio stations. These radio
stations will report on the EAZA Madagascar Campaign and invite local people to draw pictures in return. A Swiss company has donated 2,400
boxes of crayons for them to use. Their drawings will be brought to the radio stations until September 2007, from where they will be sent to
Europe and subsequently distributed to the participating institutions to exhibit them.
The paintings and drawings should be made on paper and should not be bigger than A3. The finished artworks should be bundled together for
sending and labelled with the address of the school or group sending them and the age of the participants. Special format postcards to add to the
bundles of drawings have been prepared, with text in English, German, Dutch, French, Spanish and Italian. These can be printed from the EAZA
Education DVD which was distributed to the EAZA membership in November 2006.

Trip to Madagascar in 2007
Many of you have indicated to be interested in visiting the island
of Madagascar, to view the amazing wildlife and wild places of the
island and to meet its people. The campaign core group and several
colleagues are looking into the possibility of organising a trip to
Madagascar, tentatively for October 2007. While visiting some of
the better known locations on the island, it is hoped to visit at
least some of the recipient projects, so one can see how money
raised by EAZA member institutions is being used. It is anticipated
that the costs for such a trip will be between €4,500 and €5,000 per
person. A ‘conservation surcharge’ going directly to the campaign
will constitute 10 to 15% of the sum. Provisional figures and other
details will be provided in due time. However, before developing
these plans any further, EAZA needs to know how many people
would be interested in taking a two-week trip to Madagascar.
Please contact Lesley Dickie (lesley.dickie@zsl.org) as soon as
possible if you are interested.
Along mainroad Moramanga and Tamatave photo samuel furrer/zürich zoo
Paintings and drawings can be sent via courier or airmail to the radio
stations until September 2007. As the Malagasy postal system is
not very reliable, two secure distribution channels have been selected
to receive the drawings (addresses below). These headquarters will
distribute the paintings and drawings to the other regional radio studios.
National/governmental radio stations
Radio MBS
Monsieur Mahery H. Andrianasolo
39, rue Joël Rakotomalala
101 Antananarivo
Madagascar
For further questions and help, please contact Roger Graf
(roger.graf@zoo.ch).
eaza madagascar campaign
Private radio stations
ESSVA
Monsieur Jo Monney
Mioramasoandro
B.P. 371
110 Antsirabe
Madagascar
This could be the holiday of a lifetime….and, if you
are very lucky, your institution will send you!
Responsible ecotourism will be an increasing foreign income
generator for Madagascar, and will help bolster the protection of
the new conservation areas. EAZA therefore would like its members
to think about how they can arrange trips to Madagascar for their
zoo visitors in 2008, potentially using their own experience in 2007.
Trips could be arranged through local tour operators in the zoo’s
home country and they could levy the conservation surcharge to
further raise funds for the Madagascar Campaign longitudinally.
By giving a talk in your zoo in late 2007 using the, no doubt,
amazing images taken on the 2007 trip to Madagascar, interest
in such a trip can easily be generated. Zoo visitors would thus be
able to see where their conservation funds are being spent and
their commitment to conservation may be increased.
Lowland rainforest at Masoala National Park photo roger graf/zürich zoo
photo zürich zoo
eaza news 57
2007
07

eaza news 57
2007
08
eaza madagascar campaign
Why is Madagascar so special?
Lesley Dickie, Zoological Society of London, United Kingdom
During the campaign year you will often be reminded (in case you
still need any further reminding…) of how special Madagascar is. One
way is through articles written by different members of the campaign
core group, in this issue starting with the carnivores of Madagascar.
Despite being so close to the African land mass, Madagascar has no
dogs or cats, and no predators as large or highly visible as hunting
dogs and lions. Yet the carnivores of the island are a fascinating group
and just as charismatic in their own way. They have been overlooked
in the past because there is a paltry eight species; a very low number
for an island of this size. They are also relatively small in body size,
mostly nocturnal, some solitary and when living in groups, the
photo hermann will/chemnitz zoo
Madagascar competition for school children
Stanislav Derlich, Ostrava Zoo, Czech Republic
groups are small. However, they share in common with the majority
of the other inhabitants of the island, high levels of evolutionary
distinctiveness. After many years of fervent scientific discussion, the
carnivores of the island have been taxonomically assigned to their own
family, the Eupleridae. This is further subdivided into two subfamilies;
the Euplerinae consisting of the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox), the falanouc
(Eupleres goudotti) and the Malagasy civet (Fossa fossana), and the
Galidiinae consisting of the ring-tailed mongoose (Galidia elegans),
the broad-striped mongoose (Galidictis fasciata), the Grandidier’s
mongoose (Galidictis grandidieri ), the narrow-striped mongoose
(Mungotictis decemlineata) and the little-known brown-tailed
mongoose (Salanoia concolor). Six of the eight species are thought
to be monotypic.
The fossa, falanouc, narrow-striped mongoose and Grandidier’s
mongoose are all classed as Endangered in the 2006 IUCN Red List,
while the Malagasy civet, ring-tailed mongoose, broad-striped
mongoose and brown-tailed mongoose are all classed as Vulnerable.
This entire family of carnivores is threatened with extinction, yet
it receives little conservation attention. We hope that the EAZA
Madagascar Campaign 2006/7 will help change this parlous state
of affairs. There is an EEP for the fossa, the largest of the island’s
carnivores and a fascinating species. New holders are always needed,
so please consider keeping this species. The narrow-striped mongoose
and ring-tailed mongoose are also held in captivity, though in much
lower numbers. Think about how you can use your current exhibits
of non-threatened small carnivores to talk about this group… and
hopefully raise funds for the campaign.
Winners of the competition photo ostrava zoo
EAZA Madagascar Campaign activities at Ostrava Zoo started
already in early November 2006 with the competition ‘Mammals
and birds of Madagascar’. The competition included questions on
Madagascar fauna and conservation issues. In total, 2213 schoolchildren (10-15 years old) from almost hundred schools in the Moravian-
Silesian region took part in the first round, and the winners participated in a final that was held on 2 December 2006.
We hope that this competition has increased the awareness on the unique wildlife of Madagascar amongst the younger generation in our
region. The release of a pair of endangered crowned lemurs (Eulemur coronatus) in its new enclosure was a perfect opportunity to promote
the campaign again. Not only journalists, but also sponsors and schoolchildren were invited to this event on 4 December 2006.
A special travelling exhibition was also prepared, with many photos and information about Madagascar and the EAZA Madagascar Campaign.
The exhibition will be presented to as many inhabitants of our region as possible (e.g. in libraries and town halls). The latest campaign
event took place during Christmas as part of the ‘Painting and drawing for Madagascar’ activity. All children younger than 15 years were
allowed to enter the zoo free of charge if they had drawn an image of a lemur species kept in the zoo. All the drawings collected will be
sent to the children in Madagascar via our partner Malagasy radio station.
Our efforts will continue in 2007. We will try to collect more drawings, particularly in cooperation with the local media. Furthermore, we
are preparing a special Madagascar Day in April and many other activities!

Chris Peters
Position Zoo educator at Rotterdam Zoo and past IZE president
Favourite animal Elephant
Favourite sustainable(!) exhibit The Oceanium at Rotterdam Zoo
with its solar roof, which probably is the biggest solar roof in a
European zoo
Hobbies Working for IZE and hiking with family
Please describe your career path.
In 1976 I wrote a letter to the director of Rotterdam
Zoo, the well-known Dick van Dam, informing him
I desperately wanted to work for the zoo. Fortunately,
he was not at all discouraged by the fact that I am
disabled. In fact, he told me that he wanted me to work
for the zoo no matter what problems had to be solved to
realise that. I started setting up an animal information
system for the zoo keepers. In 1983 Bert de Boer,
current EAZA chair, started to organise a modern
education department, after which I became a zoo
educator, with my main task being to produce education
panels. Later I became involved with educational
aspects of developing new enclosures. Rotterdam Zoo
really stands out in integrating education; our educators
are involved in zoo design, collection planning and even
in the zoo management.
What is the most memorable or fascinating event in your
career so far?
Probably my involvement with the International Zoo
Educators (IZE). In 1992 the former head of education
wanted me to go to the IZE Conference in Sydney.
At first, I thought he was joking, as because of my
handicap I had never travelled that far abroad.
Nevertheless, I ended up in Australia and became
fascinated by the inspiring cooperation of the IZE. As
I really missed the contribution of zoo educators from
developing countries, a few years later I started to assist
the IZE in getting these colleagues on board. Thanks
to funds of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs we
managed to finance the attendance of one African and
two South American educators to the IZE Conference in
Copenhagen, 1996.
Besides being a dedicated zoo educator, what other activities
do you have within the zoo world?
I have to mention IZE again. After the IZE Conference
in 1996, I became the regional representative of Europe,
Africa and the Middle East. One of my first actions was
to split up this enormous region; I assisted the African
participant of Copenhagen Zoo, Peter Micheni, in setting
up the AZOREN (African Zoo and Reserve Educators
Network). In 2000 I became the ‘president elect’ of IZE,
to become president in 2003 and 2004. Last year was my
final year in the assisting function as past president.
What are the main challenges for the IZE president?
During my presidency, my main goal was to professionalize
the structure of IZE; it now has a permanent office in
Bern, Switzerland, which makes the organisation more
stable. Other challenges are to achieve a good cooperation
with WAZA and regional zoo organisations like EAZA.
Currently, we are the official education organisation under
the umbrella of WAZA. Furthermore, I would like to see
more educational input in the Conservation Breeding
Specialist Group (CBSG).
You helped organise the 18 th IZE Conference in 2006. What
did you see achieved through the conference, focussing on
the United Nations’ Decade of Education for Sustainable
Development?
During an ‘open space activity’ we gathered a lot of
concrete suggestions for sustainable education.
Nevertheless, the most important message that popped
up was that we should invest more in evaluating our
education. The sustainable message is important,
but do we succeed in getting it into the minds of our
visitors? IZE will focus on better evaluation tools to
make our sustainable message more successful. •
interview
“ We are not only spreading the message,
we are the message. By acting green
and telling about it, hopefully we will
be able to create awareness and change
the lifestyle of our visitors”.
eaza news 57
2007
09

eaza news 57
2007
education
Meeting colleagues from all over the world
Approximately 120 participants from over thirty countries representing
all continents came together during the conference, which comprised
46 speeches, four keynote speeches, eight workshops and a two-day
‘open space activity’. A very special group of participants was the IZE
grand award winners. Thanks to donations made by many zoos, zoo
organisations and IZE itself, 13 educators from developing countries were
able to join the conference and had the unique opportunity to become
part of a worldwide network of professional colleagues.
Global sustainability
The IZE board had already decided three years ago to use the United
Nations’ Decade of Education for Sustainable Development as the main
theme for the IZE Conference 2006. During the conference, Bert de Boer,
chair of EAZA, gave an excellent keynote speech; ‘The greatest challenge
for zoos; effectively raising awareness on the urgent necessity to achieve
global sustainability’. With this warning message he tried to challenge
educators worldwide to better focus their efforts to realise a sustainable
way of life between humans and nature. Outstanding presentations from
western conservation educators and conservation educators from developing
countries showed the engagement in sustainable development
practices, innovative programming and evaluation strategies.
just another educator
Stephanie Heinzelmann
Goldau Zoo, Switzerland
What is your personal goal as an educator?
Though I have many different goals, my biggest goal is to give our zoo
visitors a positive attitude towards nature. I would like them to have
encouraging experiences, like for example direct encounters with our animals.
What is the most difficult aspect of your work?
To get done all the work I want to do! There are so many things I want to
show or offer to the visitors and so many things they wish to have. This is
the most challenging aspect of our work, and you will never get bored.
photo rob doolaard/izp
The IZE Conference 2006; a huge success!
Chris Peters, Past IZE president, Rotterdam Zoo, the Netherlands
Every two years, leading educators from zoos, aquaria and nature reserves worldwide, gather for the biennial
conference of the International Zoo Educators (IZE). The 18 th IZE Conference took place from 9 to 14 October
2006, and was kindly hosted by the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa. The South Africans were
proud to have the IZE Conference on African soil for the first time!
10
photo w.g. peters-van vuren
Open space activity
A highlight of the conference was the dynamic ‘open space activity’. This
was a new programme element, in which everybody could put forward
one or more ideas on what activities would be important for IZE. It
resulted in a list of 24 priority activities. The three top priorities for the
coming years include evaluation, capacity building of environmental
educators for sustainable development issues, and research on regional
needs to provide appropriate services (e.g. workshops, sharing expertise).
Thanks to the well-balanced and high-quality open space session, workshops,
verbal and poster presentations, social activities and particularly
to the perfect conference organisation team of the National Zoological
Gardens of South Africa, the 18th IZE Conference was a great success.
At the end of the conference Adelaide Zoo, Australia, gave a very promising
preview of their capacity as the host of the IZE Conference in 2008. •
What do you consider your biggest success?
I think my biggest achievement is to find good staff and keep them enthusiastic
about education. Currently, we have one full-time and three parttime
educators and about 15 part-time staff members that provide guided
tours, feeding talks, workshops and so on. Even though they only work
part-time, they have a lot to do and the work is not always easy. As long as
they love their job, they can inspire the visitors with their own enthusiasm.
However, part of the team changes every year. I consider my job well done
when the biggest part of my staff stays for more than one year and is keen
to educate in all different ways. Of course it is not only my success, it is
the success of our team!

The Somali wild ass lives in sandy and stony arid deserts. The asses
form loose groups or herds of variable sizes. Territorial males defend
mating territories that contain the resources that females require
(i.e. water, food), while other bachelor males live in stallion groups.
By keeping Somali wild asses, your zoo will make a vital contribution
to the conservation of this beautiful equid species. The Somali wild
ass also is of great educational value for zoo visitors and can illustrate
fascinating biological themes:
– this attractive equid species lives in loose family troops;
– stallion groups are ideal for watching play fights and other playful
behaviours;
– this species is a typical inhabitant of deserts and perfectly adapted
to this arid habitat;
– being the ancestor of the donkey, the Somali wild ass is well suited
to familiarise visitors with the domestication of animals;
– the Somali wild ass is an ideal species for raising the visitors’
awareness of the need for nature conservation. It also provides an
insight into the role zoos and cooperative breeding programmes play
in the protection of species. This is underpinned by several in situ
research and conservation projects in need of support and carried
out by the IUCN Equid Specialist Group.
If you are interested in keeping the severely threatened Somali wild ass,
please contact Beatrice Steck (steck@zoobasel.ch). •
collection planning
Wanted: New holders for the
Somali wild ass EEP
Beatrice Steck, Basel Zoo, Switzerland
The Somali wild ass (Equus africanus somalicus), the rarest equid species, is one of the most endangered
mammals on earth. No more than a few hundred asses are left in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and maybe some in
Somalia. The entire global captive population on 1 January 2006 included 129 animals. This number is
far too low to establish a viable captive population. Consequently, we urgently need new holders for
the captive breeding programmes in Europe (EEP, 101 asses) and in the United States of America (PMP,
17 asses) in order to find good accommodation for the offspring and to provide a sound basis for the
EEP and especially the PMP.
photos thomas jermann/basel zoo
To expand or not to expand, that’s the question!
Are you updating your institutional collection plan or seeking to add more EEP or ESB species to your collection? Many programmes
are in need of additional participating institutions. There are also several EEP and ESB programmes that specifically wish not to expand.
Please refer to the member area of the EAZA website (TAG section) for an up to date overview of these wishes per breeding programme.
eaza news 57
2007
11

eaza news 57
2007
12
collection planning
A new Regional Collection Plan
for the Callitrichids
Bryan Carroll, chair EAZA Callitrichid TAG, Bristol Zoo Gardens, United Kingdom, Eric Bairrão Ruivo, vice-chair
EAZA Callitrichid TAG, Lisbon Zoo, Portugal and Aude Desmoulins, member EAZA Callitrichid TAG, ZooParc de
Beauval, St Aignan, France
EAZA currently has 41 Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGs). Each TAG coordinates management of the taxa of
species it covers. One of the most important tasks of a TAG is the development of a Regional Collection
Plan (RCP) for its taxa. The EEP Committee finalised a standard format for RCPs at its meeting in March
2006. All TAGs are requested to adapt their RCPs to this standard format before the end of 2007.
Why are RCPs needed?
Zoological institutions have to meet clear aims,
usually defined by laws, which in the EU include
conservation, education, research and recreation.
Thus, healthy populations are needed in
captivity and enough space has to be provided.
Consequently, careful species selections have
to be made and priorities have to be defined.
An RCP should include all the species that are
covered by the TAG, whether they are managed
through a programme or not.
figure 1 Decision tree
It should recommend which species EAZA member
institutions should be keeping, how they should
be managed (e.g. through an EEP), if there is
specific research that needs to be carried out to
learn more about the species and so on. The RCP
should also identify the species which should
(preferably) not be kept in EAZA collections.
A standard format
The standard format launched by the EEP
Committee of course starts with the description
of what the RCP covers and its necessary contents.
The first part is called ‘Background information’
and allows each TAG to introduce its
missions and philosophy, as well as the species
concerned and the procedures that have been
followed in compiling the RCP. The second
part is the most important and, for most TAGs,
the biggest one; the ‘Species assessment’. This
section contains details on the information
used to decide the level of management for a
species. To encourage as many zoological

institutions as possible to read and use the RCP,
the third part consists of a table summarising
all information listed in the ‘Species assessment’
part. The final part is called ‘Additional information’
and is an optional section where TAGs
can inform zoological institutions on contact
details for the programmes, introduce their
specific policies and guidelines and provide
bibliographic references.
The RCP of the Callitrichid TAG
Our TAG covers marmosets, tamarins and
the Goeldi’s monkey (Callimico goeldii ),
consisting of just over sixty taxa. A first RCP for
Callitrichidae was developed in 2002, following
the division of the EAZA Primate TAG into five
smaller TAGs. This RCP was based on the RCP
of the former EAZA Primate TAG. In order to
develop a new RCP, the EAZA TAG Core Group
formed a working group and divided tasks
amongst its members. It was decided that
an assessment of all the taxa covered by the
TAG had to be included in the RCP. In order
to spread the workload, two working groups
were formed; one assessing the genus Saguinus
(33 taxa), the other assessing the marmoset
genera Callithrix, Callibella, Cebuella and
Mico, the lion tamarins, (Leontopithecus) and
the Goeldi’s monkey (28 taxa).
Our philosophy and choice of
taxonomy
The collection planning philosophy argues that
all species under the TAG remit will be actively
managed or monitored. The level of management
will be determined based on the level
of threat in the wild and the educational and
research values. IUCN recommendations will
be followed to decide on the importance of a
new species. Hybrids will be phased out.
There are a number of taxonomic schemes
covering primates and other mammals, and
the Callitrichidae has its share of controversy
and debate. This debate is mainly at the
higher taxonomic levels, including whether
Callitrichidae itself is a valid family. We decided
to use the taxonomy developed by Rylands
et al. (2000) that resulted from a primate
specialist group workshop held in Florida. This
taxonomic scheme is under constant review
and some modifications have taken place since
2000; one notable change being the addition of
the genus Callibella, following its description
in 2002. Anthony Rylands of Conservation
International is advisor to the TAG.
Developing a decision tree
Following long discussions between the
TAG members on the definition of the TAG
philosophy, we defined the criteria involved in
the decision’s process to create programmes
and classified them. The criterion seen as the
most important is the status of species in the
wild. The IUCN Red List is being used as basis
for this criterion. Two levels are considered;
species classified as Vulnerable and higher
levels registered under Threatened. The species
classified under Near Threatened or Least
Concern are considered as Non-threatened.
Secondly, we looked at the status of captive
populations; is the species represented in
captivity, are the populations viable, would
some imports be needed or useful? From
this point, criteria as educational value,
recreational value, research value, quality
of captive populations, space availability and
in situ programmes were added.
Thus, the selected level of management does
not depend only on the category of threat;
a non-threatened species already in EAZA
institutions can receive a high level of
management, whereas a threatened species
not present in EAZA institutions can obtain a
‘Do Not Obtain’ category.
This process is represented in our decision tree
(see Figure 1). Each branch leads to a different
question including all the criteria and subjects
taken into account during the discussions. In
the end, six different answers can be obtained;
EEP, ESB, Monitoring by the TAG, Monitoring
by a person, Do not obtain or Replace.
Species forms and summary table
To address the third part of the standard format,
we developed a standard form to complete,
with all the information needed by zoological
institutions to understand the choice of the
management category; primary role of the
programme, conservation, captive status,
husbandry issues, population goals, research
needs, other comments and conclusion. We
also tried to include a photograph of each
collection planning
Leontopithecus chrysopygus photo bristol zoo
species in the TAG on each species form. The
summary table summarizes the information
on the species forms. In the final part of the
RCP we included the EAZA TAG Core Group
members and their contact details, including
all the species coordinators, the TAG structure
and a number of policies and guidelines.
Not a small task
The development of an RCP is no small task,
and each TAG will tailor the standard format to
an extent, to meet the needs of that particular
group of animals. The RCP of the Callitrichid
TAG will never be a fixed document and will
change depending on a number of factors,
particularly changes of status of species in
the wild. We will formally review the RCP on
a three-year basis, which will give us time to
recover after the effort of writing it. Most of
all, we hope that it will be a really useful and
informative tool for collection managers and
directors for the development of institutional
collection plans. •
Callithrix geoffroyi photo bristol zoo
This article has been abridged and the references were left out due to space limitations. For the original full version of the article including reference details, please refer to the ‘Magazine’ section of the EAZA website.
eaza news 57
2007
13

eaza news 57
2007
14
sustainability
Re-using water
at Burgers’ Ocean
Max Janse, Burgers’ Zoo, Arnhem, the Netherlands
One of the largest challenges in displaying aquatic organisms in aquaria is to control the third
dimension; water. When managing an aquarium, water expenditure can be very high. Burgers’ Ocean,
an Indo-Pacific seawater aquarium at Burgers’ Zoo, has a total volume of eight million litres. Being
an inland aquarium, there are logistical limitations to using seawater, thus artificial seawater is
used instead. Through different techniques, Burgers’ Zoo tries to use its water in a sustainable way.
Re-using fresh water
High-rate sand filters are used as mechanical water filters in most
aquarium systems. These sand filters are cleaned by backwashing them
on a regular basis (one to four times a week). At Burgers’ Ocean, freshwater
is used to backwash these filters, which prevents the loss of large
quantities of sea water. Within the zoo, three types of fresh water are
used; rainwater, well water and drinking water.
Rainwater is mostly used to fill ponds and to create artificial rain showers
in the large tropical rainforest enclosure Burgers’ Bush. Well water is
pumped into large buffers and can be used as ‘grey’ water in, for example,
the aquarium. It is pushed through a large reversed osmosis installation
to remove all nutrients and elements, like silicate and calcium, to ensure
these will not cause problems within the sensitive aquarium systems.
The end result is clear water. A disadvantage of a reversed osmosis installation
is the production of large quantities of ‘brine’ water, containing the
removed nutrients and elements. However, this brine water can also be
re-used in the grey water circuit in other parts of the zoo, like for filling
up ponds, as drinking water for the animals or to clean cages.
Artificial seawater
The clean water from the reversed osmosis treatment is used to top
up the aquarium, which is necessary due to evaporation, and to make
artificial seawater with special aquarium salt (Reefmix by Tropic Marin®).
Within Burgers’ Ocean, 12 different aquarium systems with different
water qualities are used. A large coral reef tank contains the best quality
water, and water from this tank is used to refresh water in, for example,
the shark tank. This type of cascading is used with the many different
aquarium systems and is a successful way to re-use water.
Preventing nitrate increase
Aquatic organisms produce many nutrients such as ammonia, that need
to be removed from the water. Ammonia can be removed by biological
filters. Within these filters, nitrifying bacteria are commonly used to
change the toxic ammonia into another toxic component, nitrite,
followed by the formation of the less toxic nitrate. The toxicity of the
Filterunits photo burgers’ zoo
nutrients depends on the species kept in the aquarium. The toxic
nutrients may not kill an animal, but can cause a chemical stress that
could affect its immune system or reproductive cycle.
Normally, nitrate levels are controlled by changing 10 to 30% of the
water volume per month. However, at an inland aquarium like Burgers’
Ocean, large quantities of fresh seawater are not available, so only 3 to
5% of the total aquarium volume is changed per year. Nitrification is
reduced via mechanical filtration (e.g. high-rate sand filters) and via the
usage of protein skimming.
Different filter techniques
Two different filter techniques are being used at Burgers’ Ocean to learn
more about their advantages and disadvantages. Both filter types use
denitrifying bacteria that consume nitrate and produce nitrogen gas.
The first filter type is based on autotrophic bacteria, the second type uses
heterotrophic bacteria. Besides nitrate, these bacteria need a separate
energy or carbon source such as sugar, lactate, methanol or ethanol. The
past three years Burgers’ Ocean used methanol filters in the shark tank
(water volume of 3000 m3 ) and in the tunnel display (water volume of
1600 m3 ). Since methanol is toxic for both the aquatic organisms and
the people that work with it, it was decided to switch to the non-toxic
ethanol instead. An ethanol filter consists of an 800 l tank filled with
plastic bio rings. Ethanol is injected in the incoming water, which is
pushed upwards through the bio rings. In the first centimetres of the
filter bed all oxygen is used by bacterial activity.

The disadvantage of heterotrophic bacteria is the production of large
amounts of extra-cellular biomass. The filter easily clogs if it is not
cleaned on a regular basis. Secondly, part of the produced biomass may
exit the filter and foul the aquarium water. Extra filtration with a protein
skimmer and a mechanical filter such as a sand filter may be necessary.
The positive side of this type of filter is the easy regulation of its activity
via the amount of incoming ethanol. Though care must be taken when no
nitrate is left and ethanol is still dosed, toxic substances like hydrogen
sulphur or sulphite can be produced. The flow through the filter is very
slow (around 150 l/h), making it a system which only has a long-term effect.
The fish aquaria at Burgers’ Ocean are not heavily stocked, to give a
realistic impression of a coral reef. Thus food for the fish added to
the aquarium is limited, which in turn limits production of nitrate.
The tunnel display for example, is fed with 25 kg wet weight per week.
Nitrate levels have been kept constant with the denitrification filter for
the last three years at 35 mg NO3--N/l, with a 3% water change per year.
Denitrification with elemental sulphur
During the European Union of Aquarium Curators (EUAC) Conference in
1997, Michel Hignette of Aquarium de la Porte Dorée in Paris, presented
a new de-nitrification technique (Hignette et al., 1997). This technique is
based on drinking water filtration, in which the bacteria convert nitrate
and elemental sulfur into nitrogen gas and sulfate. A disadvantage of
this technique is that it also produces sulfuric acid, which will deplete
the buffer capacity and decrease the pH. This technique is also used at
Burgers’ Ocean to deplete nitrate in fish aquaria.
Sulfur-based denitrification units photo burgers’ zoo
sustainability
Methanol-based denitrification unit photo burgers’ zoo
The effluent of the systems has a pH between 6.2 and 6.5. To prevent
depletion of the pH in the aquaria, this water is first run through a
calcium carbonate or a coral sand bed. This increases the pH to between
7.3 and 7.6. Burgers’ Ocean uses three parallel columns of 300 l each
(including 250 l sulfur) for an aquarium with a volume of 600 m3 . The
volume of the serial coral sand buffers is the same as the sulfur columns.
The flow through the sulfur columns is approximately 150 l/h. During
the three years this filter is used, the nitrate level is kept constant at
40 mg NO3--N/l, with a 4% water change per year and a feeding regime
of approximately 15 kg wet weight per week.
Phosphate removal
When nitrate levels are controlled by the techniques described earlier, a
second important nutrient like phosphate may become a problem. It is
commonly known that, in low concentrations, phosphates are a problem
to corals (> 0.05 mg PO4 3--P/l). While the effect on fish is unknown it
may also be negative. Therefore, it was decided to look for techniques
to remove phosphates as so little water change takes place. Granulates
work perfectly for small systems, but are extraordinarily expensive to use
in large volumes of water.
Aluminium, iron or lanthanum chloride may be better alternatives. These
elements will draw on the phosphates to precipitate into aluminium-,
iron- or lanthanum phosphates. The first pilot experiments with the
non-toxic iron chloride addition look promising. An iron phosphate and
iron hydroxide complex is formed, which settles down in a settlement tank.
Residuals are filtered out with a high-rate sand filter. A disadvantage of
this is the usage of hydroxide and thus a decreasing pH. It may therefore
be necessary to increase the pH with a sodium hydroxide or sodium
carbonate addition.
It seems that the techniques described above make it possible to re-use
water in fish aquaria in nearly closed systems. Cascading techniques and
backwashing sand filters with freshwater help keep the seawater usage
to a minimum. It may be necessary to apply other techniques at Burgers’
Ocean in the future, if other problems relating to the small amount of
water change appear. •
eaza news 57
2007
15

eaza news 57
2007
16
sustainability
Deep green design
for zoos and aquaria
Jon Coe, ARAZPA, Jon Coe Design P/L, Victoria, Australia
“Ultimately, the goal of sustainable landscapes is the transformation
of culture – the taming of technology, the emergence of
a new environmental ethic, a new measure of life quality, and a
substantially broadened sense of community including not only
humans, but all of life”. Robert Thayer, 1994
Determining what is green design
In the early 1970’s, Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess coined the term
‘deep ecology’ to describe a deeper relationship between humanity and
nature; one based upon an ecocentric rather than an anthropocentric
view of life (AtKisson, 1989). While seeking to bring a similar perspective
to zoo exhibit design (Coe, 1987), I became concerned with what I viewed
as a widespread superficial, technological, even anthropocentric approach
to green design.
Where is the green heart of green design? Are we focusing too narrowly
on the technology, the means and methods of green design, to see the
obvious connections we could make to nature? Has green design been
redefined as simply an engineering problem? American architect James
Wines (2000) summarised the problem in his book Green Architecture:
“There is already a danger that technological obsessions are distracting
designers from understanding their place in the larger picture of interconnectedness…a
more balanced objective now is to view environmental
technology as a valuable tool kit, and natural science as a primary source
of inspiration.…for architects to interpret today’s environmental advocacy
exclusively in terms of mechanical hardware and conservationist databases
– without including the vastly more interesting sources of imagery found
in nature – is to miss an extraordinary opportunity”.
Creating green communities
Once, I began a lecture on sustainable design by asking the audience:
“You know that scum that grows on your bathroom curtain and between
the tiles, that scum you spray and scrub with harsh household chemicals
to remove? That scum is the first stage of plant succession. If you left
that scum alone long enough, your bathroom would become a forest!”.
What if, instead of fighting natural succession with arsenic and coppertreated
timber and lead-treated paints we designed our habitats to
encourage natural succession, even giving it a head start? What if instead
of building green roofs a few centimetres thick we designed buildings to
D
Living wall on display building, Woodland Park Zoo photo l. sammons
support forests on their roofs and walls, forests which produce oxygen,
fix atmospheric carbon and filter effluent, that create humane habitat
for wildlife as well as zoo animals and people? Why not follow Thayer’s
advice and create deep green communities in our zoological institutions
for the benefit of a diversity of free-living as well as captive species?
In assessing the progress of sustainable technology, respected American
social researcher Stephen Kellert made the following observation: “Yet
I believe much of this progress has unduly relied on a largely negative
emphasis on avoiding environmental harm and injury, a stress on
physical and material benefits, and changes more at the level of building
systems than at the experience of individuals and groups. By contrast,
I believe sustainable design has insufficiently considered how people
derive a host of intellectual and emotional, as well as physical and
material, benefits from connections with natural process and diversity.
I conclude by suggesting green development will not achieve its full
promise and potential until it more positively motivates individuals,
developers, and planners by capturing in the built environment the
widest range of physical, emotional, and intellectual values of nature”
(Kellert, 1999).

Zoos as green models with green roofs
Zoos and aquaria, with their loudly professed commitment to nature
conservation and their high visibility, make ideal venues to develop, test
and display the latest in green design. Zoos have long provided models
for architecture as an armature for living systems. Nearly one hundred
years ago, Carl Hagenbeck had living landscapes on his German zoo roofs.
There are many examples of ‘buried buildings’ in zoos, such as the elephant
facility at the Emmen Zoo in the Netherlands. Examples in the United
States of America include the Denver Zoo Pachyderm House (Colorado)
and the big cat display and administration and education centre at the
National Zoo (Washington D.C.). A more recent example is the ‘Wolf
Woods’ exhibit viewing pavilion at Brookfield Zoo (Illinois).
Living walls and roofs
Several American zoos such as Brookfield Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo
(Seattle), Seneca Park Zoo (Rochester) and the New York Aquarium have
outdoor living walls up to 5 m high and the National Zoo (Washington
D.C.) and Central Park Zoo (New York City) have indoor living walls twice
this height. French designer Patrick Blanc has developed living walls up
to 30 m high at the Pershing Hall Hotel in Paris, featuring 300 species
of plants supported by a hydroponic irrigation and drainage system
(Jones, 2002).
As early as the mid 1980’s I suggested a 10 m high living wall system for
recycling water from a large manatee aquarium through overhanging
rainforest cliffs. The project was never realised, but, like Blanc’s proven
projects, it suggests the use of living roofs and living walls as bio-filters
for treating grey water and perhaps even human and other animal effluent.
Campus ecology
Individual green exhibits and buildings are a good start, but we should
think of what zoo planner Gary Lee (of CLR design Inc.) terms ‘campus
ecology’. How can we make our zoo and aquarium campuses more selfsufficient,
producing energy, capturing rainwater, recycling grey water
and returning our ‘used water’ in pristine form to local streams and
wetlands. Victoria’s Open Range Zoo in Australia is completing a vast
hippopotamus exhibit using living reed beds as bio-filters.
Habitats for free-ranging animals
Australian naturalist Tim Low (2003) points out in The New Nature:
“Nature is not a separate domain hiding away in the wilderness. Animals
and plants live all around us and exploit us when they can”. Why not
encourage this complimentary relationship? Why not design all buildings
to be homes for barn owls, possums, squirrels and songbirds from the
beginning? Why not have clear tube raceways for free-ranging squirrels
to traverse our exhibit galleries and board rooms?
Humane design
While we consider the value of integrating the lives of plants, animals
and people, we must also consider humane aspects of design and
operation. We can develop innovations far superior to regulated standards,
not because we have to, but simply because it brings us joy to do so.
D
sustainability
Living wall on display building, photo patrick blanc
If we are to teach respect for nature (and some would argue this is the
primary function of zoos and aquaria), we must present nature respectfully.
And ‘nature’ includes the wild places we represent in our exhibits,
our building site and our plantings and animals, and also our guests, our
staff and ourselves. All need to be nurtured by the “…intellectual and
emotional…benefits from connections to natural processes and diversity”
as Kellert (1999) advises, “…by capturing in the built environment the
widest range of physical, emotional and intellectual values of nature”.
We need a deeper design philosophy if we are to sustain a well-balanced
naturally and socially enriching system, a deep green system. •
Living wall on display building, National Zoo photo l. sammons
This article has been abridged and the references were left out due to space limitations. For the original full version of the article including reference details, please refer to the ‘Magazine’ section of the EAZA website.
eaza news 57
2007
17

eaza news 57
2007
18
births and hatchings
Wuppertal germany source
ulrich schürer and alexander sliwa
Two Baird’s tapirs (Tapirus bairdii ) were
born in Wuppertal Zoo in 2006. The first
offspring, male ‘Chico’, was born on 18 January
to eight-year-old female ‘Susanna’. The
second calf ‘Moli’ was born on 3 October to
‘Tanya’ and 13-year-old male ‘Tonka’. Tanya
was born in San Diego Zoo in 1980 and this
is her second young, the first being Susanna.
Wuppertal Zoo is the only European zoo
keeping this species and consequently is
participating in the North American breeding
programme. Only some ninety Baird’s tapirs
are kept worldwide, with an estimated population
of less than 5000 animals in the wild.
Another important breeding event in
Wuppertal Zoo’s 125 th anniversary year occurred
in the Asian golden cats (Catopuma
temminckii ). On 19 June 2006 a young female
was born for the first time in three years. The
Paradise Wildlife Park (Broxbourne) is currently enjoying successful
breedings in its primate section. Most recently a pair of silvery
marmosets (Callithrix argentata) produced its fourth set of twins on
21 November 2006. The breeding pair also produced twins in April 2006
and two sets of twins in 2005. Among the tamarin population also housed in
the Rainforest Experience, the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus)
male ‘Furby’ and female ‘Ellie’ produced a single offspring on 7 May
2006. Their first offspring were healthy male twins born on 24 April 2004.
The pied tamarins (Saguinus bicolor) have also been busy; male ‘Olaf’
and female ‘Elvira’ produced a single male born on 10 October 2006.
This newborn joins the single male born to the pair in October 2004.
The red-bellied tamarins (Saguinus labiatus) are part of the ESB
and an offspring from a successful pairing of male ‘Bruce’ and female
‘Kiera’ is expected. This pair produced a single offspring on 8 July 2006
which joins the twin brothers born in 2005.
Friday 28 July 2006 was an important day for the team at Paradise
Wildlife Park. The successful pairing of the park’s snow leopards
(Uncia uncia), male ‘Aron’ born on 5 May 2003 and female ‘Kush’ born
on 19 May 2003, resulted in the birth of one healthy cub. The event was
witnessed by head keeper Colin Elcombe, as he checked the enclosure
late that evening. Kush has taken to the demands of motherhood
extremely well and is proving to be an excellent first-time mother.
This was both Kush and Aron’s first offspring with both cats being three
years of age. Aron, (originally from Basel Zoo), has been kept separated
from Kush (originally from Santago Cat Sanctuary) and their cub, in
keeping with normal wild behaviour.
mother ‘Feline’ was born in Wuppertal Zoo in
2002 and is taking good care of her first offspring.
The eight-year-old breeding male ‘Jakarta’ was
imported from Melbourne Zoo and arrived in
Europe nearly two years ago in the framework of
an international golden cat exchange programme.
photo wuppertal zoo
In the bird section the breeding of a purplethroated
fruit crow (Querula purpurata),
which is probably a world’s first, and the
rearing of two male Andean cocks of the
rock (Rupicola peruviana), all in 2006, is
most noteworthy.
Broxbourne united kingdom source
press releases
Aron will be reintroduced when the cub is 15 weeks old, and it is hoped
that the cats can remain as a family unit until the cub matures at
around 18 months. The cub received its first cat flu vaccinations at nine
weeks, and weighed in at a healthy 3.4 kg. The cub was sexed as a male
during the second inoculation that took place on 2 October 2006.
The wild population of snow leopards is estimated at below 2500 mature
breeding individuals, with a declining trend.
photo paradise wildlife park

Bristol united kingdom source
press release and philip knowling
Salome, a western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) at Bristol
Zoo Gardens successfully gave birth to a healthy baby after a course of
ground-breaking fertility treatment. The male baby, yet to be named, was
born on 15 December 2006 by natural birth and is suckling well. Salome’s
first baby was born at London Zoo in April 1988. Salome was transferred
to Bristol Zoo Gardens in November 1998.
The birth heralds a new advance in the understanding of captive
breeding for the species. It is the result of pioneering fertility treatment
for gorillas developed and administered by Sharon Redrobe, head of
veterinary services at Bristol Zoo Gardens. For the first time ever, the
condition known as diminished ovarian reserve, a condition also affecting
fertility in humans, has been diagnosed and treated in gorillas using
methods and medicine that still enabled natural mating.
It was discovered that although thirty-year-old Salome (born at London
Zoo on 16 July 1976), had been coming into oestrus and was appearing
to mate successfully, she had not been ovulating. It was a key priority for
the zoo that any fertility treatment ensured that mating and conception
were as natural as possible and minimized human interference. Following
extensive research on the various fertility treatments available, Sharon
Redrobe consulted gynaecologist David Cahill, senior consultant lecturer
in obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Bristol.
It was eventually decided to use clomifene, a common fertility drug used
by women to kick start Salome’s ovulation.
Bristol Zoo Gardens is also home to Salome’s companion ‘Romina’, famous
for undergoing the first ever cataract operation performed in Europe on
an adult gorilla. This enabled Romina to interact more effectively with
the other gorillas and resulted in the birth of Namoki in 2005 following
her successful mating with the 24-year-old silverback male Jock.
photo bristol zoo
Randers denmark source
randers zoo
Randers Zoo is the only Scandinavian zoo currently keeping aardvarks
(Orycteropus afer). This species has been kept in the African exhibit in
the ‘Danish rainforest’ since 2002.
On 27 August 2006 the female ‘Maxima’ gave birth. Only six days prior
to this, the male ‘Plucky’ was sent to Berlin Zoo to make space for
a genetically more desirable male from Colchester Zoo. Even though
Plucky is a full sibling of Maxima, it had been initially decided that
they, at Randers Regnskov, should have the possibility to breed, as the
European population is small and there is a need for proven breeders.
Maxima did not have any experience in taking care of her offspring as
this was her first birth. The newborn aardvark was frequently left alone
and was not given an opportunity to suckle. After some hours the staff
decided to step in and to take action. The baby was moved to a heated
box, and studbook keeper Wineke Schoo of Burgers’ Zoo was contacted,
as Burgers’ Zoo has much experience in breeding aardvarks.
The weight of the baby was less than 1200 g, which was alarmingly low
when compared to the records of birth weights at Burgers’ Zoo, and the
staff started to bottle-feed the newborn baby immediately. As artificial
aardvark milk is hard to get, it was decided to begin with a milk
substitute intended for dogs. Later we found that Maxima could
relatively easy be milked, and gradually most of the milk for the
offspring came from Maxima, supplemented with the milk substitute.
births and hatchings
photo randers zoo
During the first 14 days the staff brought the baby home at night and in
the beginning it was bottle-fed every three hours. Additionally, the baby
was introduced to its mother several times a day, and encouraged to
suckle. After two weeks it started to suckle by itself, and at that time
weighed 1540 g. The young aardvark gained weight rapidly thereafter,
and on 15 January 2007, the young aardvark’s weight was 13 kg. It is doing
well together with the mother and the new male from Colchester Zoo
which was introduced on 17 December 2006 without complications.
Even though aardvarks are normally not considered as a flagship species, the
public has shown much interest in this aardvark baby. The baby was mentioned
several times on both television and in newspapers, and never has
Randers Zoo received so many e-mails concerning one single animal.
eaza news 57
2007
19

eaza news 57
2007
20
births and hatchings
Berlin germany source
press releases and bernhard blaszkiewitz
The last rhinoceros to be born during the EAZA
Save the Rhino Campaign year was welcomed
in Berlin Zoo just before Christmas 2006.
A black rhino (Diceros bicornis) was born
on 20 December after an almost 15 months
pregnancy. Eleven-year-old female ‘Kumi’ is a
first-time mother and is taking good care of
her female offspring ‘Zawadi’. The 15-year-old
male ‘Jasper’ sired the offspring. Berlin Zoo
has been very successful in breeding black
rhinos over the years, with 14 animals born
since 1981.
The hatching of a James flamingo
(Phoenicopterus jamesi) was one of the most
exciting avian births at Berlin Zoo in 2006.
This species bred for the first time in captivity
Arnhem the netherlands
A successful exchange of epaulette sharks
(Hemiscyllium ocellatum) resulted in a second
captive generation. This is a very attractive
shark species with a maximum size of 1 m, but
is not commonly held in captivity. Besides two
very large shoulder spots that resemble the eyes
of a large animal it has a peculiar behaviour.
When the shark wants to move to another
place it does not swim but walks with its pelvic
and pectoral fins, as if it is an amphibian. Two
female epaulette sharks were born at Burgers’
Zoo in 2000. In 2006 one of the captive born
females was exchanged with a wild born male
from Berlin Zoo to form a pair at Berlin Zoo
with another male and a pair at Burgers’ Zoo.
At Burgers’ Zoo the animals were placed in a
5000 l aquarium behind the scenes. Sharks use
different reproductive modes. Depending on
the species, they are viviparous (give birth to
life young), ovoviviparous (lay eggs in the
mother and then give birth to life young) or
oviparous (lay eggs). The epaulette shark is
oviparous.
After three months the first egg was laid, and
every eight to 14 days two eggs were produced.
A total of thirty were laid, of which 80% were
fertile. After 119 days the first young hatched,
which was 15 cm in size.
in Berlin in 1989, with a second chick hatching
in 2001, some 12 years later. The small colony
of seven birds, kept together with six Andean
flamingos (Phoenicoparrus andinus) has
The young do not eat for the first few days
while absorbing the internal yolk, and this
shark took seven days before eating its first
meal of Mysis, a small shrimp species. In the
mean time more eggs hatched, but they all
hatched too early. The young sharks still had a
0.5 to 2 cm large external yolk sac attached.
Different techniques were applied to try to keep
the sharks alive, but all were in vain until now.
continued to produce eggs but a third chick did
not hatch until 3 July 2006. The chick unfortunately
had to be euthanised in November 2006
due to problems with its legs.
photo berlin zoo
source
max janse
While it is common to exchange mammals or
birds between zoos, these exchanges are rare
for fish. This bilateral exchange was a great
success. Hopefully more of these initiatives
will follow to broaden the genetic scope of
captive shark populations and increase the
success in captive breeding of sharks or other
fish.
photo burgers’ zoo

Lemurs
flourish in
their easy
access
enclosure
Accessibility to paradise!
At Paradise Wildlife Park (Broxbourne) we are always striving to improve
our service and to make the park’s access and attractions as easy and
straight forward as possible. We aim to provide accessibility to all our
users, which involves attending to and responding to the needs of both
able-bodied and disabled visitors equally. We support the theory that
quality of life is related to the freedom of people to make their own
choices. For a significant number of disabled people having the freedom
to decide how they access the natural world, how they travel and how
they visit attractions, all help to vastly improve their quality of life. To
complement this idea we have plenty of commended disabled features
around the park; adapted easy access toilets, equipment available for use
on site (e.g. wheelchairs), an adapted minibus service, playground rides,
level-viewing for enclosures and exhibits and wheelchair access to our
meerkat (Suricata suricatta) and ring-tailed lemur enclosures.
An ‘open’ enclosure
The forward thinking design of the new lemur enclosure involved the
use of large glass viewing panels and natural wood with some meshing,
allowing the enclosure to become almost invisible when the outside
borders were planted. This design allows maximum light to flow through
the enclosure and enables the lemurs to fully integrate with the world
outside. The openness of the enclosure also allows the lemurs to do what
comes naturally! Well known for their love to sun, our lemurs are able to
bask on their raised platform whilst grooming each other and relaxing as
a family group. The size of the enclosure will easily accommodate the
naturally confrontational behaviour of the males and provides enough
space for the group to develop.
Visitors benefit from waist-height wooden rails to rest on while they
interact with the lemurs. Both wheelchair users and children are able
to get an excellent view at their own level, without having to manoeuvre
As natural sun-worshippers and
foragers, the ring-tailed lemurs
(Lemur catta) can feel right at home
in their new enclosure at Paradise
Wildlife Park. This enclosure has
been branded ‘the best thing we’ve
ever done’ by staff member Barry
Howard. A grand statement indeed,
you may think, but when pressed to
explain himself, he pointed out the
merits of an enclosure that is not
only as near to the lemur’s natural
habitat as is possible, but that is
also accessible for all of our visitors
regardless of any disability.
new enclosures
photos paradise wildlife park
Karen Hanford, Gary Watts and Sally Smith, Paradise Wildlife Park, Broxbourne, United Kingdom
into uncomfortable positions or to be held up by exhausted parents. !
Safety for the animals and visitors alike is ensured by the use of standoff
barriers alongside the meshed walls which are heavily planted to
add interest, soften and camouflage the enclosure.
Enrichment
Just like their native Madagascar, the lemur area is richly planted. New
tree branches are regularly added to enable the climbing frame to organically
change shape and provide interest without covering the floor space
entirely, as lemurs typically prefer to walk along the ground. The keepers
can throw fruit on top of the mesh ceiling, and the lemurs then have to
work out how to access it. Other food is hidden in the ever-changing
scenery, which the lemurs have to explore to find it. With mesh and
recycled glass outer walls allowing maximum light to enter and plenty
of space to play and explore, this enclosure is a wonderful environment.
The lemurs are further encouraged to behave as they would in the wild
through natural wood platforms and ropes to exercise on. They are kept
busy by instinctively marking their territory through addition of scents,
either synthetic fragrances or logs from other lemur enclosures. The
lemurs are getting on very well in their new home, and a new birth
indicates that they are relaxed, content and stress-free. •
eaza news 57
2007
21

eaza news 57
2007
22
new enclosures
The insect
house and
butterfly
pavilion at
Artis Royal Zoo
Eugène Bruins and Ko Veltman, Artis Royal Zoo, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
The insect house
The former feed distribution centre of the zoo was entirely renovated and
converted into the new insect house. Handicapped visitors were consulted
during the design phase, which resulted in a building that is easily accessible
for wheelchairs, and has easily readable information and hearing
devices. Special guided tours for blind or deaf people are provided on
request and insect models for (partially) blind visitors are available, so
they can ‘see’ an insect by touching it.
The visitor area of the insect house is approximately 250 m2 . Visitors can
also view the keeper areas, since the doors to the keeper areas have large
windows. The insect house displays about 55 invertebrate species in fifty
insectariums. Not surprisingly, the insect house also displays invertebrate
species that are not part of the insect kingdom, e.g. spiders, centipedes and
snails. Three off-exhibit climate-controlled breeding rooms are located on
the second floor of the insect house to ensure that enough insects can be
displayed at all times. Only guided tours are allowed in the breeding rooms.
Thematic presentations
A fast-moving slide show in the insect house presents information on
invertebrate life, to arouse the visitors curiosity and invite them into the
invertebrate world. The residents of the Insect House are being displayed
according to themes. The theme ‘successful survival’ uses skeletons of
each vertebrate class to explain the difference between vertebrates and
invertebrates (surprisingly few people know this). By sticking their head
in three human-sized models, visitors can see themselves with a human
skeleton, an insect body and a knight’s armour. This illustrates the fact
that humans need bones to be able to stand up, that insects protect
themselves by an external skeleton and that humans used the external
skeleton idea to protect themselves in combat.
HRH Princess Margriet photo ronald van weeren/artis royal zoo
Insects generally do not receive the same attention as vertebrates in zoos. However, insects
have been accorded the attention they deserve in Artis Royal Zoo (Amsterdam) for more than a
century. The new insect house opened in July 2005, which is in fact the third insect house since
1898, the year in which Artis began to display insects. A butterfly pavilion was added in 2006.
Other themes include eating and being eaten, reproduction, endangered
invertebrates and the relationship between man and insect. One can also
peek into Dutch invertebrate life; red wood ants, ant lions and bumblebees
live together in a mixed-species enclosure. The ants live on an island
and walk through a 6 m transparent tube to their foraging area. Ants that
escape are eaten by the ant lions that live in the surrounding sandy parts
of the enclosure. The bumblebees fly around while feeding on flowers
in the enclosure. ‘In-nest’ activities of both ants and bumblebees are
presented via a video screen next to the enclosure.
In addition to the thematic presentations, ‘Expedition Prikkebeen’ (named
after a classic Dutch children’s story) includes several educational games
and tasks. Most popular is an interactive game in which visitors can
construct their own insect by selecting a type of body, head, legs and
wings. This game teaches visitors that insects have six legs and a special
body shape.
photo eugène bruins/artis royal zoo

Termites nest
photo eugène bruins/artis royal zoo
A 1.5 - year-old nest of the African termite (Macrotermes bellicosus) was
added to the insect house in July 2006. The nest, which was kindly donated
by Basel Zoo, then weighed 240 kg and measured 90 cm in height. The
nest, grown in two plastic crates placed on a board, was transported by
the transport firm Ekipa. A temperature just below 26°C kept the termites
inside their nest, so no further protection was needed.
The nest is now housed in an 4.5 x 2.1 m enclosure. The height right
above the nest is 3.1 m. The nest was placed on a 380 x 160 cm bed of
loam and clay, with a depth of 45 cm. Water flows around this area, to
protect the termites from escaping (the insect house mainly consists of
wood…). A 50 mm diameter PVC pipe goes from the nest through the
concrete floor of the enclosure to groundwater level. With this constant
access to the groundwater, the termites can regulate the moisture level
within the nest themselves. The temperature is kept at 27°C.
The termites are fed several times a week with hay, straw, wood or elephant
dung (a favourite!) and often the termites can be spotted eating. About
once every week, thousands of termites suddenly start expanding the
nest, producing a new bump 35 cm in diameter, about 3 cm thick, within
approximately two hours. The educational presentation now consists of
an information panel and a video screen. We plan to construct a camera
above the feeding site for live footage. Visitors are much attracted by this
new, interesting enclosure.
Butterfly pavilion
The insect collection in Artis Royal Zoo grew even more after the inauguration
of the butterfly pavilion on 4 October 2006, by Her Royal Highness
Princess Margriet. A team of butterfly specialists, architects, landscape
artists, botanists and educators worked together to turn a unique concept
into reality in the pavilion’s design and construction. The aim was not
to reproduce an entirely natural environment, but to create a spatial
experience in a 1000 m2 large greenhouse. Butterflies flutter through the
air and alight on flowers in colourful patches as visitors wander around
freely. The pavilion is an island in the zoo and the pavilion itself also has a
pattern of green and colourful islands. This pattern reflects the atmosphere
of the historical zoo with its curved paths and surprises around every corner.
new enclosures
The pavilion is kept at a constant 27°C and a large waterfall ensures a
high relative humidity. A specially designed roof, consisting of three layers
of plastic between which air is blown, provides the greenhouse with much
natural sunlight. No additional lighting is used to increase butterfly activity,
as no butterfly house could really assure us that this method would help.
Seven main species
Visitors in the butterfly pavilion can enjoy a wealth of tropical butterfly
species, of which seven are selected to be the main species; the postman
butterfly (Heliconius melpomene), the glasswing (Greta oto), the morpho
butterfly (Morpho sp.), the owl butterfly (Caligo sp.), the atlas moth
(Attacus atlas), the Thoas swallowtail (Papilio thoas) and the paper butterfly
(Idea leuconoe). Breeding is done mostly for educational purposes
and mainly with postman butterflies, since their pupae are difficult to
transport. Visitors can see the caterpillars grow in a separate breeding area
of 50 m2 next to the butterfly house, and how once a week newly arrived
pupae are put on a needle before being placed in the pupae cabinet.
photo eugène bruins/artis royal zoo
More than butterflies
One will not only find butterflies in the butterfly pavilion, but other
species as well. Leafcutter ants have to walk 7 m from their nest through
a transparent tube to reach their feeding terrarium. Some visitors are
pleasantly surprised when they spot a Guyana grasshopper (Tropidacris
collaris) or a fruit beetle (Pachnoda marginata) between the plants.
By releasing only males, it is guaranteed that no plague of these species
develops. Several bird species are planned to be released for biological
control. Hummingbirds are deployed to combat spiders, as they construct
their nests from spider web gossamer. Quails will forage on the floor of
the pavilion, functioning as a ‘natural’ enemy to the ‘local’ ants. The
excreta of these and other bird species are vital to the glasswing butterfly,
which needs the minerals in these faeces as food. •
With the insect house, Artis Royal Zoo has created a new benchmark
for invertebrate exhibitions in the Netherlands and Europe. The butterfly
pavilion further reinforced this reputation. Both exhibitions attract many
visitors.
eaza news 57
2007
23

eaza news 57
2007 new enclosures
24
A tropical paradise for the
giants of the Tortoise World,
the Aldabra tortoises
Bjarne Klausen, Odense Zoo, Denmark
photos odense zoo
Why do Aldabra tortoises (Geochelone gigantea) readily breed on the Seychelles islands and not
in zoos? Only a few zoos have successfully bred this species; in general Aldabra tortoises in zoos
are animals on exhibit, with no real chance of breeding. With this in mind, Odense Zoo started
planning a new ‘Aldabra Tortoise Paradise’ in 2005. The primary focuses in the preparation phase
of this new building were to provide the tortoises with optimal breeding conditions, to have our
visitors feel and experience the climatic conditions of the Aldabra atol and for them to obtain
in-depth knowledge of this fascinating tortoise. Her Excellency, Countess of Frederiksborg,
officially opened the exhibit to the public on 13 June 2006.
Two distinct seasons
We tried to mimic the extreme conditions found in the natural habitat of
the Aldabra tortoises as much as possible. The exhibit provides much
space to allow these naturally curious and active tortoises to move around.
The exhibit also provides the tortoises with many opportunities to hide
from each other and from the visitors. The females in particular need to be
able to find refuge from the males’ constant libido.
The exhibit is a 400 m2 indoor enclosure. The visitors follow a wooden
walkway inside with information and interactive spots about the Aldabra
tortoise along the way. The exhibit contains a small pool, heating
features (from below and from above), ultraviolet-panels, places to dig
and places to hide. The two distinct seasons on Aldabra can be imitated
by using a temperature control system that can bring the temperature
up to 28 to 30°C and a rain system that can turn the exhibit into a very
wet place.
Harsh conditions
The summer in Denmark is planned to correspond with the rainy season
on Aldabra. During the summer season the tortoises will have the
opportunity to go outside onto a grassy island of approximately 450 m2 .
During the dry season on Aldabra (winter in Denmark) we will keep the
tortoises inside and also restrict feeding to simulate the harsh conditions
on Aldabra.
Breeding
At the moment Odense Zoo has two female adult tortoises. Unfortunately
we lost our big male two weeks prior to the opening of the new exhibit.
We have spotted egg follicles in both females through ultrasound scanning.
We also keep four much younger tortoises, which will not be reproductively
mature before 2020. •

Projecto Aquila
The protocol to recover the Iberian golden eagle is part of a vast
integrated conservation programme called ‘Projecto Aquila’, which
includes in situ intervention as a primary tool. Several partners are
working to correct factors contributing to the decline of the Iberian
golden eagle population (e.g. prey availability, human pressure and
poisoned baits). The programme has an estimated duration of ten years.
Captive breeding
Park&Zoo Santo Inácio has agreed to breed the species in captivity and
to support the recovery of the Iberian golden eagle population with
financial, technical and human resources. The zoo will house eagles that
were confiscated by Portuguese authorities, obtained as unrecoverable birds
from the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre Network, or donated
by EAZA member institutions. The zoo will also assist in translocation of
individuals from other parts of the country to the target area.
Translocation
Translocation will include three phases; the collection of chicks, rearing
and the release into the target area in Peneda-Gerês National Park.
Chicks will only be collected until the eighth day and from nests with
more than one chick, as the second chick is at risk of ‘cainism’ (siblicide)
conservation
Protocol signed to recover
the Iberian golden eagle population
in northern Portugal
Helder Fernandes, Park&Zoo Santo Inácio, Avintes, Portugal
As currently only one female Iberian golden eagle
(Aquila chrysaetos homeyeri) remains in Peneda-Gerês
National Park, the Portuguese Ministry of Environment
(represented by the Institut0 Conservação da
Natureza (Institute for Nature Conservation - ICN)
and Park&Zoo Santo Inácio (Avintes) signed a
protocol in May 2006, with the aim of recovering the
population of Iberian golden eagles in the park.
photos park&zoo santo inácio
if both remain in the nest. The chicks will be reared at the zoo until they
are capable of thermo-regulation. During this phase, disease screening
and preventative medicine protocols will be performed. Finally, the
young eagles will undergo a soft release by ‘hacking’, in artificial nests
in the Peneda-Gerês National Park. Before the birds are released they
are ringed by the ICN and after release they are monitored via a GPS
tracking system. •
Lurdes Carvalho/ICN (left) and Roberto Guedes (Director Park&Zoo Santo Inácio)
This is the first official conservation-related protocol ever signed between the
Portuguese government and a zoo in Portugal, which clearly demonstrates the
national recognition of zoos as valid partners in conservation of wildlife and
biodiversity.
eaza news 57
2007
25

eaza news 57
2007
26
research
Animal conservation genetics
An overview with relevance to
captive breeding programmes
John O’Brien, Dublin Zoo and Department of Zoology, University College Dublin, Ireland
Dublin Zoo has collaborated with two universities (Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin) in recent
years in developing a mutually beneficial research programme. These partnerships have allowed the zoo to fulfil its
research obligations under the World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy, and additionally to contribute to
effecting improvements in animal welfare and husbandry. In collaboration with University College Dublin, Dublin
Zoo recently undertook its first genetic study of an endangered species, the Rodrigues fruit bat (Pteropus rodricensis).
Because genetic studies are highly technical and expensive, they are often considered beyond the scope of many zoos.
Inter-institutional collaborations can facilitate such projects. Some aspects relevant to genetic studies of captive
animals are summarized below.
Zoos act as valuable reservoirs of genetic material. Given increasing i
pressures on wild populations and the need to manage them more
proactively, much in the same way as captive populations, the application
of conservation genetic methodologies to ex situ populations can generate
considerable benefits to animal conservation in general. Conservation
genetics can operate at three levels; population level, species level and
individual level. All are relevant to captive breeding programmes.
Species level studies
The identification of taxonomic units is one of the most fundamental
applications of conservation genetics. In some cases, morphological
taxonomies are insufficient to quantify genetic diversity due to cryptic
speciation. For example, genetic studies have supported suggestions that
the two island populations of orang-utan (Pongo pygmaeus) on Borneo
and Sumatra are separate sub-species and differ to such an extent that
it has prompted zoos to manage them separately (Warren et al., 2001).
Canis simiensis photo martin harvey
Hybridisation events
Genetic analyses can also reveal hybridisation events, which have
important implications for conservation planning. For example, plans
for an intensive breeding programme for the Ethiopian wolf (Canis
simiensis) have been hampered by difficulties in finding purebred
animals due to introgression of domestic dog (Canis familiaris) DNA
(Gottelli et al., 1994).
Phylogeography
Studying the genetic relationship between species and their geographic
distribution (phylogeography) enables placement of the speciation processes
in an evolutionary context. This is relevant to contemporary levels
of genetic variability (Avise, 2000). Zoos are sometimes able to contribute
to phylogeographic studies, since captive specimens are often sourced
from throughout the range of a species (e.g. jaguars Panthera onca,
Eizirik et al., 2001)
Population level studies
The comparison of genetic variability between populations is important
for both in situ and ex situ conservation. The impact of founder effects,
genetic drift, gene flow and bottlenecks on variability are important
questions for the effective management of captive populations, with
significant implications for inbreeding and outbreeding.
If a founder population becomes reproductively isolated, random genetic
drift will lead to divergence, of which the extent will be determined by
gene flow (i.e. mating). If regular gene flow occurs between populations,
the populations will tend to follow the same evolutionary trajectory.

Thus, it is important that zoos continue to exchange individual animals,
since failure to do so will ensure that each group or programme will
diverge not only from each other, but also from the wild population.
Bottleneck events
Species with short generation times, high reproductive output and equal
mating opportunities tend to retain most of their genetic variability
following a population bottleneck, provided that such events are
infrequent (e.g. European rabbits in Australia, Zenger et al., 2003).
In contrast, species with long generation times, low reproductive output
and a skew in mating opportunities tend to suffer from eroded genetic
variability (Luikart et al., 1998), particularly following repeated bottleneck
events (e.g. North Atlantic right whale Eubalaena glacialis, Schaeff
et al., 1997).
In instances where a bottlenecked population remains small, the risk of
inbreeding increases (e.g. captive wolves Canis lupus, Laikre and Ryman,
1991). This tends to reduce heterozygosity (the proportion of individuals
in a population possessing two variations of a gene at a given gene
fragment) and increases the likelihood of the expression of recessive
lethal genes. Evidence is accruing for the negative impact of inbreeding
on ‘fitness’ in terms of reproductive success and offspring survival
(Crnokrak and Roff, 1999), particularly in zoo populations (Ralls et al.,
1979, Kalinowski and Miller, 1999 and Miller and Hedrick, 2005).
Two populations may suffer lower overall ‘fitness’ if they interbreed,
as this tends to disrupt linked gene complexes that may be important
evolutionary adaptations to the local environment (Zschokke and Baur,
2002). Marshall and Spalton (2000) described simultaneous inbreeding
and outbreeding in reintroduced Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) populations.
Encouraging breeding between different populations without
considering their origins can be counter-productive.
Individual level studies
In some cases genetic parentage analysis can assist in verifying pedigrees
(e.g. Asian elephants Elephas maximus, Vandebona et al., 2005), allowing
studbook managers to make confident decisions regarding breeding and
transfer of individuals between zoos. This ensures that genetic diversity is
retained and inbreeding is limited.
The assignment of individual animals to their source population based
on their genetic profile is proving to be a valuable technique in the fight
against poaching and the illegal movement of animals by ensuring that
animals are sourced from approved populations (Manel et al., 2002).
Genetic methodologies have also been successfully used in sex determination
of juveniles and monomorphic species, such as many birds
(Griffiths et al., 1998) and reptiles (Mohanty, 1992), which is of significant
benefit to the management of studbooks.
research
Genetic incompatibility versus mate choice
The role that genetic incompatibility plays in mate choice and the reproductive
success of animals remains largely unknown, but evidence is
accumulating that it is an important factor (Tregenza and Wedell, 2000).
Thus, potentially, the lack of reproductive success of some animal pairs
or groups may be explained by the absence of natural mate choice
mechanisms in the captive environment. Further investigation of genes
implicated in mate choice could prove fruitful for studbook management
and techniques for artificial reproduction.
Potential pitfalls
There is no consensus as to what degree of genetic differentiation
constitutes separate species (Ferguson, 2002), and indeed no such
consensus is ever likely to be reached. Instead, genetic analysis must
be used in conjunction with other evidence such as morphological
or behavioural differences to confirm species or sub-species status.
Evidence of genetic invariability or genetic divergence must be treated
with caution. Since gene fragments may evolve differently and the choice
of genes for analysis is largely subjective, the fragments selected may
not be truly representative of the genome-wide genetic variability of an
individual or population. This problem can be overcome somewhat by
comparing results to other more distantly related species.
Systematic tissue sampling
A potentially significant drawback to the use of parentage analysis in
pedigree confirmation for captive breeding programmes is the absence
of parental genotypes in the sample set. To overcome this, zoos should
consider systematically taking post-mortem tissue samples from
individuals of species in current or planned captive breeding programmes.
Given the limited space requirements and low cost of sampling,
this process should not confer any additional financial burden (see
www.protocol-online.org for sampling and storage techniques).
Conclusion
Despite continuing cost reductions, genetic analysis remains an expensive
technique. Furthermore, the technical and laboratory requirements are
restrictive, although many aspects can now be outsourced to private
firms. As increasing numbers of genetic studies are being carried out on
endangered species in the wild, the benefits of comparative studies with
captive populations should be apparent. Such studies are prudent, given
growing limitations on the size of captive breeding populations and the
increasing need to offset any negative genetic effects of small population
size through intensive management in zoos. •
Given that zoo-based research centres are beyond the financial means of most zoos, the greatest benefits will be achieved if zoos form collaborative
projects with local universities that can provide the technical and academic expertise necessary and additionally, share the financial burden.
This article has been abridged and the references were left out due to space limitations. For the original full version of the article including reference details, please refer to the ‘Magazine’ section of the EAZA website.
eaza news 57
2007
27

eaza news 57
2007
28
conservation
The second SECORE
workshop; conserving the
threatened elkhorn coral
Dirk Petersen and Michaël Laterveer, Rotterdam Zoo, the Netherlands, Eric Borneman, University of Houston, United States
of America, Mike Brittsan, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, United States of America, Mary Hagedorn, Smithsonian Institution,
United States of America
Coral reefs are declining rapidly throughout the world, mainly due to human influences. Habitat preservation
is the best way to conserve ecosystems, but global patterns threatening coral reefs show no signs of abating
and allowing coral reefs to recover. Fortunately, ex situ conservation techniques, such as maintaining captive
stock collections and establishing genetic banks using frozen samples, hold promise for rapid and profound
improvements in preserving species.
Sexual reproduction techniques
The SExual COral REproduction (SECORE) Project (www.secore.org)
involves a network of public aquaria and research institutions aimed
at applying sexual reproduction techniques to enhance sustainability
among in situ and ex situ coral populations (Petersen et al., 2006).
It was possible to supply more than 35 institutional members with
coral recruits using methods developed by Dirk Petersen in the marine
laboratory of Rotterdam Zoo in 2001.
In order to disseminate these techniques, Rotterdam Zoo organised the
first SECORE workshop in June 2005. A limited number of institutions was
trained in breeding techniques and gained basic knowledge in coral reproduction
biology. Following the workshop, the majority of these institutions
successfully started breeding their own coral stock. The second SECORE
workshop was held in Puerto Rico, United States of America (USA), from
10 to 17 August 2006. Researchers and coral specialists from 13 public
aquaria in Europe and the USA participated. This was the greatest effort
ever undertaken to establish an ex situ population of the threatened
elkhorn coral (Acropora palmate).
Acropora palmate photo eric borneman
Status of the elkhorn coral
Due to its massive, wave-resistant structure, the elkhorn coral is a
critically important reef-building coral in the Caribbean. Unfortunately,
field populations of elkhorn corals have declined over 90% in the last few
years. Although many populations have been observed to actively spawn
throughout the Caribbean, recruitment of newly-settled larvae has been
limited. Leading coral specialists are trying to supplement populations
with new recruits.
Coral reproduction
Brooding corals release competent planula larvae following internal
fertilisation. The larvae can be collected from captive corals and settled
on appropriate substrates, where they will metamorphose into coral
polyps. However, it is currently impossible to initiate captive reproduction
in broadcast spawning corals, which usually release their gametes for
external fertilisation in annual mass spawning events. Nevertheless,
field-collected gametes of only a few colonies are sufficient to produce
thousands of larvae for controlled settlement experiments in a protected
aquarium environment.
Collecting gametes in the Caribbean
The west coast of Puerto Rico has some of the largest remaining elkhorn
stands left in the Caribbean. During spawning, these table-shaped corals
release massive numbers of egg/sperm bundles into the surrounding
water. During coral spawning nights at the coastal area of Rincon and
the offshore site of Bajo Gallardo, SECORE participants dove to capture
gametes.
Most of the egg/sperm bundles captured were placed in a 60 l cooler and
mixed to break up the bundles. After two hours, the fertilised eggs were
rinsed with seawater several times. The fertilisation rate was monitored
in 1 ml samples of each fertilisation event. In spawning trials where the
sperm concentration was at least 106 ml-1 or higher, fertilisation rates
between 60 and 90% were achieved.

photo brenna hernandez/shedd aquarium
Development was monitored on a phase contrast microscope, and samples
were fixed in 4% para-formaldehyde throughout the first five days of
development.
Rearing embryos
Standard rearing procedures used for the elkhorn coral involved stirring
the floating suspension, cleaning the coral larvae with a 40 µm mesh net
to remove debris and bacteria, and monitoring the survival of the coral in
each tank with repeated 1 ml samples. In addition, the workshop participants
applied innovative detection techniques to identify coral larvae
and primary polyps, using yellow filter glasses and blue LED flashlights
(www.nightsea.com) to detect the natural fluorescence in the larvae.
The collected larvae were successfully transported in 0.5 to 2.0 l plastic
bottles, using the protocol of Petersen et al. (2005a), and settled on
specially designed substrate tiles.
Cryo-preservation of coral propagules
Mary Hagedorn, a cryo-preservation specialist at the Smithsonian Institution,
conducted basic physiological research to develop cryo-preservation techniques
to conserve larvae and sperm of the Elkhorn coral. Cryo-preservation
can be used to establish a genetic bank for corals (Hagedorn et al., 2006 a
and b). Genetic material can remain frozen but alive for hundreds of years
in liquid nitrogen, allowing the time necessary to mitigate and restore
habitats prior to restocking efforts. Also, large samples of a gene pool can
be maintained, preventing species extinction. Furthermore, the banks can
Bringing freshly collected elkhorn coral gametes to shore photo brenna hernandez/shedd aquarium
conservation
Approximately 500,000 larvae transported in plastic bottles photo brenna hernandez/shedd aquarium
be used actively to increase genetic diversity within an ecosystem through
the use of thawed samples to ‘seed’ shrinking populations. Because the
threats to our reefs are global, genetic banks can maintain enormous
numbers of gametes to maintain the full genetic diversity of a species that
habitat restoration and captive propagation can not currently address.
Initial studies of Mary Hagedorn suggested the cryo-protectant propylene
glycol may prove useful to successfully cryo-preserve sperm and not
inhibit fertilisation of eggs with this frozen sperm. Elkhorn coral larvae
and sperm can be damaged by chilling temperatures to around 0°C and
thus an ultra-rapid freezing technique will have to be used to cryo-preserve
the larvae. An elkhorn coral spermatoza has an extremely long tail (>150 µm)
and is a vigorous swimmer (which may help fertilisation of eggs in the
high surf areas). Early day one blastula stage larvae were more sensitive
to hypo- and hyper-osmotic events, and permeable to cryo-protectants.
First results
During the workshop more than 900,000 larvae were successfully reared,
of which approximately 500,000 were taken back to the participating
institutions for further research. The remaining larvae were donated to
support conservation research. Larvae were transported to the institutions
in the USA, attaining maximum post-transport survival rates of 90 to
100%. Settlement experiments were immediately started. The majority of
the larvae settled within the first two days. Settlement varied between
institutions with rates of 10 to 30%. The European participants will receive
primary polyps from their American colleagues as soon as CITES permits
are issued.
Advance in establishing populations
The participating institutions will use the coral recruits to establish a
living stock collection of the elkhorn coral in their facilities. Only very few
facilities, including those of Eric Borneman of the University of Houston,
and Rotterdam Zoo have experience in keeping fragments and semi-adult
specimens. During the workshop, a major advancement towards the
establishment of ex situ populations of the elkhorn coral was made.
Participants learned essential hands-on techniques, including collecting
gametes during the spawning events, ex situ fertilisation, rearing of
embryos and maintenance of larval cultures and settlement and transport
of larvae. A 12-month post-workshop monitoring period will provide
important information on husbandry conditions. •
This article has been abridged and the references were left out due to space limitations. For the original full version of the article including reference details, please refer to the ‘Magazine’ section of the EAZA website.
eaza news 57
2007
29

eaza news 57
2007
30
conservation
SAZA focuses on its own backyard
Helena Olsson, Eskilstuna Zoo, Sweden
Imagine that you are on a trip in the middle of Sweden during winter. The snow is falling, and through the
falling snow you see a couple of large stones in front of you, all covered in white. Suddenly, one of them
starts to move, and then one after another the ‘stones’ reveal themselves. Thanks to the Swedish Association
of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (SAZA), people can still experience musk-oxen in Sweden.
Nature conservation
SAZA currently runs 12 conservation projects for 12 different species.
Criteria for species selection are that the species must be Nordic, it must
be rare or threatened in Swedish or Nordic nature and it must be a target
for research and/or other in situ work. It is also important that the
species is found in SAZA member institutions.
Vulnerable musk-ox population
One of the 12 conservation projects focuses on the musk-ox (Ovibos
moschatus). Together with the Swedish Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), several zoos in Sweden are working to conserve this arctic
species, which now naturally lives on the arctic tundra of Greenland,
Canada and Norway. Fossil records in Sweden show that the musk-ox
was already part of our fauna about 40,000 years ago. Musk-oxen
immigrated from Norway to Sweden in 1971 and a population has lived
in the middle of Sweden since then. This population is very vulnerable
though. In 2001 only seven musk-oxen were left and after one calve was
born in the succeeding year, today the herd still consists of eight animals.
Musk-ox project
The Swedish EPA came up with a proposal to save the musk-ox in
Sweden, both on a short-term and long-term basis.
The short-term goal is to improve the genetic status of the current
herd and its possibility to survive in the region. One cow was mated
with a bull at Järvzoo (Järvsö), after which she was reintroduced to the
herd and successfully gave birth to a calf. More short-term actions will
take place, including the introduction of musk-oxen from other countries
to the original herd. The long-term goal is to conserve two herds of muskoxen
within the region of Harjedalen.
Communication and education
Thanks to the attention the musk-ox project received, it has become quite
a success. The project provides SAZA with the opportunity to teach people
through exhibits and lectures about ecological patterns and the importance
of a holistic way of thinking. The Swedish EPA and SAZA have had
several informative meetings and the project board includes Laplanders,
landowners and representatives from the musk-ox reintroduction group.
Interested people can also sign up to receive updates on the musk-ox
project or even participate in musk-ox safaris, which has also opened up
a way for SAZA to initiate more reintroduction projects. The association
has seen the positive effects of working together with locals. This is
very important since several discussions with the public are taking place,
mostly concerning large predators such as wolves, lynxes, bears and
wolverines. •
photo järvzoo
The Swedish Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria has shown that its focus on conservation works, and that it succeeds thanks to the public.
A public that, through education, has started realising the importance of biological diversity and conservation.

Bengt Holst, CBSG Europe, Copenhagen Zoo, Denmark
Workshops for European species
So far, CBSG Europe has primarily been involved in conservation workshops
for exotic species such as the Malay tapir (Tapirus indicus), the
Formosan pangolin (Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla) and the four
species of lion tamarins (Leontopithecus spp.). The workshops were
all urgently needed and resulted in conservation action plans that set
priorities for the future conservation activities in the involved regions.
However, it is now time to focus on European species as well. Several
workshops are in preparation, but the first one to be conducted will be
a PHVA (Population and Habitat Viability Assessment) workshop for
the green toad (Bufo viridis) in Sweden. The workshop is scheduled for
11 to 14 June 2007 and will be hosted by Nordens Ark, Hunnebostrand,
Sweden, one of the institutions that have been heavily involved in
captive breeding and reintroduction of this species for years.
Towards a self-sustaining population of green toads
The green toad was previously widely distributed in the southern-most
part of Sweden, with over fifty known localities primarily in coastal
areas. During the past fifty years the population has declined drastically;
now numbering less than 400 adult specimens in three local populations.
The reasons for this decline are not fully understood, but decreasing
water quality and loss of breeding pools are most probably part of the
explanation. In order to help the population increase again, reintroductions
have been conducted at selected localities. However, in order for such
activities to be efficient they need to become part of a more comprehensive
plan, looking far into the future and taking all relevant threats and
opportunities into consideration.
conservation
CBSG Europe conducts conservation
workshop for green toads
A number of exciting working groups was formed at the annual meeting of CBSG in Halle, Germany, from
24 to 27 August 2006. The reports of these working groups will be published in the next issue of the CBSG
Newsletter. One of the working groups focussed on the development of a future action plan for CBSG Europe.
As there was so much interest in this topic, the group needed to be divided into three subgroups, focussing
on finances, future workshops and how to involve the CBSG membership in the daily work.
CHANGES TO
EXISTING TAGs
EAZA Pelecaniformes tag
Bjarne Klausen (vice-chair),
Odense
22 November 2006
CHANGES TO
EXISTING EEPs
Pallas’ cat eep
(Otocolobus manul )
David Barclay, Edinburgh
14 November 2006
Moreover, it is important to include all major stakeholders in the necessary
discussions and decisions regarding the plan, which must provide
priorities in what needs to be done to secure a self-sustaining population
of green toads in the future.
Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA)
The PHVA process is a very helpful and efficient tool for such a process.
CBSG Europe will provide the necessary staff to conduct the workshop
and Nordens Ark will provide the framework, including accommodation,
meals and a suitable social atmosphere. The CBSG Europe staff will
consist of two facilitators and two modellers. The modellers will make
computer simulations for the population using a set of biological data
(known or estimated). Such simulations help identify the most important
threats and thus also the most important conservation actions to be
taken. The facilitators take the participants through the necessary ‘brain
exercises’ to get all relevant input on the table and after that to prioritise
and organise the information into the final conservation action plan.
CBSG Europe expects to have a workshop with forty to fifty participants,
selected among specialists, decision makers and other stakeholders
who will be influenced by the decisions made at the workshop. A special
briefing book with relevant information about the status and threats,
existing plans and local conditions will be produced by the CBSG Europe
staff and will be distributed to all participants prior to the workshop.
After the workshop the final PHVA report will be produced and distributed
to all participants as well as to relevant local authorities for implementation.
In addition it will be made available for download on the CBSG
Europe website; www.cbsgeurope.eu •
NEW ESBs
Kowari esb
(previously Kowari eep)
( Dasycercus byrnei )
Ewa Tresowska, Poznan
10 November 2006
CHANGES TO
EXISTING ESBs
Kea esb
(Nestor notabilis)
Kate Atwell, Bristol
28 November 2006
eaza news 57
2007
programme
updates
As approved by the EEP Committee
31

eaza news 57
2007
directory updates
publications
32
books
personalia
————————————————————
Dipl. Biol. Achim Winkler is the new director
of Duisburg Zoo, Germany, as per 1 Januari
2007. He replaces Dipl. Biol. Reinhard Frese.
————————————————————
Mr. Fedir Romash is the new director of
Kyiv Zoo, Ukraine, as per 12 October 2006.
He replaces Mr. Yevgen Kyrylyuk.
————————————————————
terminated membership
————————————————————
Baguley Brow Farm, United Kingdom
(former associate member)
————————————————————
Omega Parque, Portugal
(former full member)
————————————————————
photo maarten van der voorde/apenheul primate park (apeldoorn)
In EAZA News announcements are published of books that have relevance to zoo staff and other people with a professional
interest in zoos. On the EAZA website more information can be found on these books as well as on the publishers.
david m. lavigne (ed.; 2006)
Gaining ground; in pursuit of ecological sustainability
This book is written by a variety of conservationists and amongst others covers the fields of conservation biology, wildlife biology, ethics,
economics and social sciences. The contents can be of interest to all people concerned about the current state of the planet and human attempts
to achieve ecological sustainability. The book confirms that there are serious difficulties to confront, but that there is sufficient understanding of
the factors involved to solve many of them.
Pages: 425. ISBN: 0-9698171-7-7 (pb). Price: UK£30.00. To be ordered from: IFAW (www.ifaw.org).
susie green (2006)
Tiger
‘Tiger’ describes the role of this fascinating animal in human history, mythology, art and literature. This book shows how the decline of the
tiger’s natural habitat and relentless pressure from poachers and farmers have turned a naturally retiring, solitary animal into an aggressive predator.
The book is nicely illustrated and written in a lively approachable style.
Pages: 192. ISBN: 1-86189-276-4 (pb). Price: UK£12.95.
To be ordered from: Reaktion Books (www.reaktionbooks.com.uk).
michael lannoo (eds.; 2005)
Amphibian declines; the conservation status of United States species
‘Amphibian declines’ documents in detail a major environmental crisis; rapidly declining amphibian populations and the disturbing developmental
problems that are increasingly prevalent among many amphibian species. The book reinforces the suspicion of scientists that amphibians are a
lens through which the state of the environment can be viewed more clearly. And, that this view is alarming and of serious concern for all life,
including that of our own species.
Pages: 1,115. ISBN: 0-520-23592-2 (hb). Price: US$95.00. To be ordered from: California University Press (www.ucpress.edu).
chris rose (eds.; 2005)
How to win campaigns; 100 steps to success
This book is a comprehensive and systematic exploration of what works in campaigning, and a practical how-to guide for using principles and strategy
in campaigning as a new form of public politics. The book describes how to start a campaign, motivating people, research and development, planning,
organising communication, constructing campaign propositions, how to keep a campaign going, how to use media and what to do and what not to
do.
Pages: 160. ISBN: 1-85383-962-0 (pb). Price: UK£16.99. To be ordered from: Earthscan (www.earthscan.co.uk).
i n m e m o r i a m
EAZA was sad to learn of the death of Professor
Zdenek Veselovsky, who passed away on
24 November 2006 at the age of 78. Professor
Zdenek Veselovsky was the director of Prague
Zoo from 1959 to 1988. Under his management,
Prague Zoo began focussing on breeding
endangered species, and he organised the first
international symposium for the conservation of
the Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii ).
Professor Zdenek Veselovsky was a member
of the International Union of Directors of
Zoological Gardens and promoted general
zoological and conservation education through
TV and radio broadcasts. He enthusiastically
supported scientific work in zoological institutions,
and published numerous scientific papers
and books himself. He was especially active in
the field of ethology, and was the first ethology
teacher at the Charles University in Prague.
Recently the Gorilla EEP husbandry guidelines have been published. A further four husbandry
guidelines and some 15 European studbooks have been received by the EAZA Executive Office in the
period October-December 2006. We are very grateful to all who have contributed to these valuable
publications. For more information on the husbandry guidelines a well as a full list of received
publications of interest, please refer to the ‘Magazine’ section of the EAZA website.
Please continue to send us your printed publications, so we can incorporate these in the online publications list.

Update on the development of ZIMS
The development of ZIMS continues to make steady progress. Over the past few months, we have seen
a series of ‘builds’, each more complete than the last. We believe that you will be amazed at how much
this software will be able to do for you!
Locating the bugs
A Quality Assurance (QA) team of key Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
from around the world and ISIS technical staff have been working
through each build of the software, trying to make it fail, to locate the
bugs. Between all of us, we have been finding a lot of bugs. That is
actually good news, because the more bugs we find and correct now,
the more stable and complete the software will be when it goes into
the next stage of testing.
Clinical medicine sections
The software vendor CGI delivered a fresh build containing clinical
medicine pages during late November 2006. Several zoo wildlife
veterinarians reviewed these clinical medicine sections of ZIMS in
Toronto during a three-day meeting in December 2006. Selected SMEs
have access to the most recent ZIMS builds through the internet.
As the software becomes more complete, more specialist SMEs will be
joining this team so that bugs across the system are identified quickly,
allowing speedy resolution.
eadisc|isis
Frands Carlsen, vice-chair EADISC, Copenhagen Zoo, Denmark and Duncan Bolton, vice-chair EADISC, Bristol Zoo Gardens, United Kingdom
User Acceptance Testing
Wider User Acceptance Testing (UAT) will begin early May 2007. This
will involve several institutions called ‘alpha adopters’; Bristol Zoo
Gardens, Copenhagen Zoo, Sedgwick County Zoo (Wichita), Seattle
Aquarium (Washington), National Zoo (Washington D.C.), South
Carolina Aquarium (Charleston) and the Zoological Society of San
Diego (California). The UAT will last 12 to twenty weeks, after which
ZIMS’ wider deployment to beta early adopters and fast adopters will
begin. The schedule for beta early adopters will be towards the end of
the UAT cycle.
It is a long and arduous process to build a state of the art, global webbased
zoological information system as superbly functional as ZIMS.
When completed, ZIMS will offer a quantum leap in information and
communication between zoological institutions and zoo professionals. •
As always, we wish to thank the hundreds of dedicated people of the
ISIS community who have volunteered many thousands of hours to help
imagine, design and test ZIMS!
Studbook data cleaning project
Sander Cozijn, ISIS European Liaison and Bart Hiddinga, EAZA Executive Office
As ZIMS becomes more complete with every passing week, people are working hard on improving their
data quality. One of the major challenges institutions face is making sure all data are as complete and
linked as well as possible, before transferring the data into the ZIMS database. In order to achieve this
goal, EAZA has trained various students in the use of the studbook reconciliation tools.
The project started in July 2006 with students Daan Versleijen and
Tineke Henselmans of the Van Hall Institute, Leeuwarden, in the
Netherlands. Their work was continued by two other students;
Dennis Appels and Monique Pijnaker. The students were situated at
Rotterdam Zoo, Chester Zoo and Frankfurt Zoo. Students help studbook
keepers reconcile their data, to get rid of as many errors as possible.
A total of 29 studbooks has already been completely reconciled. So far,
the combined efforts of the students have resolved over 1800 discrepancies.
Since the beginning of the project the overall reconciliation percentage
of all EAZA studbooks has risen 4%. This is a considerate increase
For an overview of reconciled studbooks, please refer to the EAZA website ‘Magazine’ section.
considering that EAZA has a total of 243 studbooks in the ISIS database.
The influence of the reconciliation is however limited; during the
reconciliation process only changes to the studbook can be made. But,
to solve a lot of errors, changes in institutional data are required, so
without the cooperation of all institutions, quality of the studbooks
will not increase.
Getting ready for ZIMS is extremely important for all of us in EAZA,
and with the help of students and the cooperation of all institutions
and studbook keepers, we are certain that our goal can be achieved! •
eaza news 57
2007
33

Mazuri
Zoo Foods closer to reality
The source of balanced quality diets and supplements
P.O. Box 705, Witham, Essex, CM8 3AD, England
Tel: +44 (0) 1376 511260 Fax: +44 (0) 1376 511247
France: Tel: +33 (0) 1 30 10 94 94 Fax: +33 (0) 30 10 94 99
Web-site: www.mazurifoods.com
Agents: We have a number of agents throughout Europe – for details contact the Witham office.

zims; what will it do for you?
ISIS is working with over 500 experts worldwide to build a global web-enabled database system; ZIMS.
ZIMS will replace the current ISIS software applications. As ZIMS is important to all of us within EAZA,
the most important things ZIMS will do for you are once again listed below:
executive directors
– ZIMS will allow you to quickly check on the animal management side of your institution by giving you an executive summary of recent animal activities;
– ZIMS will offer time-saving and streamlining benefits to all your staff, including the vets, curators, registrars, keepers and aquarium staff.
curators
– With ZIMS, you have a pooled knowledgebase of information about all the animals in your collection (e.g. who is the studbook keeper for a certain species
and are there husbandry guidelines for a certain species);
– In ZIMS you can set reminders to carry out certain operations (e.g. when to move animals);
– When an animal has died, you can use ZIMS to find out if the animal is a studbook species or an animal on loan and whom to notify about the death.
You can also find out if there are any research requests for animal body parts, either within the zoo or from an outside researcher.
aquarium staff
– When your vet recorded in ZIMS that e.g. tetras cleared quarantine, the system can automatically notify you that they are ready to be put on exhibit;
– When a water quality technician enters the results of testing on an enclosure and the pH parameter is out of the acceptable range you entered, ZIMS can
immediately send an e-mail message to you, the water quality technician and curator and action can be taken immediately.
keepers
– ZIMS will help you stay on top of things, even when you are called away. With ZIMS, you can always rest assured that your animals are in good care and
that you will not return to any big surprises;
– With ZIMS you can check notes from the veterinarian about a certain animal that was examined.
registrars
– You can use ZIMS to find a species coordinator, to check the availability of a certain species at other facilities and to select the top options for mating based on
genetic and availability information;
– ZIMS easily identifies information relevant for permitting;
– With ZIMS you can get an alert the day an animal is shipped to you or a reminder when it is important to remove offspring from the parents’ cage during the
troubling teenage years.
studbook keepers
– As staff at over 600 ISIS member institutions enter information about your species into ZIMS, the system will automatically send appropriate updates to
your studbook;
– In case data in ZIMS conflicts with your data, ZIMS will aid you in contacting and working with the submitting institution to resolve any data issues;
– ZIMS will notify you of major events (e.g. births, transfers, deaths) and you will have access to other data, such as transponders and notes.
veterinary staff
– When an animal is sick, you can start a search in ZIMS for information on similar cases worldwide, including the lifetime medical history of an animal,
treatments and results;
– Through analyzing the data provided by ZIMS, you are able to determine what is ailing your animal patient and perform the appropriate course of treatment.
educators
– With ZIMS you can easily share educational programme ideas among almost 700 institutions worldwide;
– With ZIMS you have immediate access to (conservation) information on more than 10,000 species.
marketing staff
– With ZIMS you can easily network and share ideas and news worldwide;
– With ZIMS you can create interactive services for your guests;
– With ZIMS you can gather current information on 10,000 species in zoos, aquaria and other conservation-focused organisations.
For more information, please refer to the ZIMS website www.zims.org
eaza news 57
2007