Spring 2010 - European Association of Zoos and Aquaria

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8 births and hatchings Four at once Between 15 and 28 October 2009, four critically endangered Somali wild asses (Equus africanus somalicus) were born at Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) writes Catrin Hammer, Curator of Mammals. The current breeding male of the group Hector sired the three little stallions and one mare, named Akkanu, Gamburo, Sirrimu and Mandani. Hector had arrived from Montpellier Zoo in France in April 2008, as part of an exchange within the European Endangered species breeding programme. Funnily enough, mating between the mares and Hector was never witnessed – but proof that he successfully did so is obvious. Two of the four mothers had been born at AWWP. For the three-year-old mare Asmara, it was her first birth. The other three mares: seven-year-old Geralda, eight-year-old Mia and fiveyear-old Ahiya, are already experienced mothers. The weight of the foals ranges between 29kg and 31kg, except for the catrin hammer last one Sirrimu – known affectionately as a ‘dwarf’ wild ass – who weighed just 21kg at birth. The mothers are all perfectly taking care of their offspring and the foals are developing very well. At the age of three weeks, the foals started playing together on their favourite site – the rocky mountain within their spacious enclosure. The Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation received their Somali Wild Ass group Primate time at asson a Fine year at LeiPzig 2009 was a particulary successful year for primate breeding in Asson, writes Luc Lorca, Director, Zoo d’Asson. To begin with, a young female giant bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus) was born on 3 May. This was the only youngster born in captivity worldwide during the year. She will stay with her parents until the EEP needs her for pairing, as this is a critically endangered species, and very uncommon in zoos with fewer than 20 animals held in captivity. Later in the year, on 9 September, Asson’s female pileated gibbon (Hylobates pileatus) gave birth, two and a half years after the birth of a young female in 2007. This is worth mentioning also as only three such babies were born in zoos during 2009, the others being in Bangkok and Zurich. Other primate births included : 1.1 black lemur (Eulemur m. macaco), 1.1 silvery marmoset (Mico argentatus), 0.0.1 white-fronted marmoset (Callithrix geoffroyi), 0.0.1 red-mantled tamarin (Saguinus fuscicollis leucogenys), 1.1 emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator subgrisescens), 0.0.1 cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), 1.0.1 Goeldi’s monkey (Callimico goeldii), 0.1 white-throated capuchin (Cebus capucinus) and 0.0.1 lar gibbon (Hylobates lar). All of these are part of populations managed by EAZA. – two stallions and four mares – from Usti nad Labem and TP Berlin in April 2003. To keep the animals in a suitable surrounding, four separate enclosures (2 x 9,000m² and 2 x 4,500m²) and a stable with ten boxes (4m x 4m each), plus a storeroom, were constructed in the gravel and stony desert of Qatar, prior to their arrival. The births have raised the total number of Somali Wild Asses in AWWP up to 18. During 2009, Leipzig Zoo had some exceptional breeding successes, writes Konstantin Ruske, Curator. First was the birth of a Southern Luzon slender-tailed cloud rat (Phloeomys cumingi). This is the world’s first breeding success with this species outside their natural range. 1.0 was born at the beginning of May, and a second male baby followed on 9 August. Another first for Leipzig was the hatching of five white-winged wood ducks (Cairina scutulata). These ducklings are the only ones bred in a European zoo along with offspring in Tierpark Cottbus. We keep 1.3 adults in a mixed aviary. It was very interesting to observe the nest site which simply sat on the ground, poorly hidden by a bush. Normally, this species uses holes for egg-laying. The chicks hatched artificially on 21 July, after the female’s initial difficult incubation of the first weeks. The chicks will go to Augsburg and Lodz this year. In our small herd of Dall´s sheep,
mastering the bushmaster There were many hugs and proud handshakes amongst the employees in the Randers Regnskov Rainforest on the morning of 10 August 2009. Unsurprising, really, as it became one of the very few zoos in the world, and the only zoo outside the Americas, to have succeeded in breeding this rare rainforest dweller, the largest viper in the world. Director Henrik Herold has a soft spot for reptiles in general, and bushmasters in particular. ‘To set a goal and reach it is a fantastic feeling,’ he said. ‘When the goal is breeding something very difficult, the victory is even sweeter. This is a milestone for the Rainforest team, something that can only be achieved through meticulous husbandry and teamwork’. Bushmasters lay their eggs underground in agouti burrows so the incubation environment has to mimic the climate found there. From reading articles keepers found that 26°C, and a near 100% humidity, was optimal. They we had the best breeding result ever in the 25-year long challenging breeding history in our zoo. 2.2 youngsters were born during April/ May. All four were transferred to Tallinn Zoo who joined the small but growing group of holders of this bighorn. Further interested institutions are always welcome! knew that it would be hard to keep that low a temperature in the summertime, so a room was cooled down, and the incubator moved there. After 72 days, the first bushmaster pipped its egg. The egg tooth was large and sharp, the right tool for slashing through the thick leathery shell. From the eight fertile eggs, all the young developed perfectly. In November 2004 Attica Zoological Park received from Edinburgh Zoo a female pygmy hippo, born there in December 2002. Ten days later Attica received a young male, born January 2002, from Aalborg Zoo, Denmark. They were immediately introduced to one another, and have been since living quite happily together, with absolutely no aggression between them. They were seen mating for the first time in early 2007, and on 14 October 2007 the female gave birth to a male, Boseda, who was sent to Zurich Zoo in December 2008. Two months later, the pair mated again and on 14 October 2009 another male, Atu, was born. It is worth noting that the birth ratio in the EEP is highly skewed in favour of females, therefore males are very valuable for the captive population. There is also a death ratio of 30% within 60 days from birth. After each birth the mother and calf were kept inside for 10 days. After that period they were ‘released’ outside with the male, and monitored by the staff for the first two days. The mother has always been extremely protective and never allowed the male to approach for at least two months. During that period minimal aggression was recorded, and Attica maggie radcliffe NEWS hara the snow LeoPard, born in may 2009, was the second birth For her Parents aron and Kush at britain’s Paradise wiLdLiFe ParK. Parent-reared, she’s the second snow LeoPard successFuLLy born and reared at the ParK, the First (tien shan) currentLy on Loan to the Parc des FeLins in France as Part oF the eeP. big success For Pygmy hiPPos never faced a situation where they had to separate the pair. The only concern was that the calves could drown in the pond or the mud ditch, so Attica lowered the water level in the pond during the first month. As far as the mud is concerned nothing could be done, but the mother always took the calf to the shallower areas, and keepers have been under the impression that the calf sort of ‘floats’ in the mud. Attica is proud of its breeding success, but also wants to show EAZA colleagues how easy this species has been to keep, and how endearing these animals are not only to staff, but very much so to the public. Attica hopes to continue ‘delivering’ healthy males for the EEP in the years to come.
Page 1 and 2: zo o q u a r ia quarterly publicati
Page 3 and 4: LISA HOFFNER Contents 20 4 Director
Page 5 and 6: ANNOuNCEMENTS noticeboard eagles ha
Page 7: D’Arcy NormAN nutritional values
Page 12 and 13: 12 campaigns Carnivore Campaign: Gr
Page 14 and 15: 14 © Jan Thomassen/KrisTiansand Zo
Page 16 and 17: 16 Tim Woodfine, marWell Wildlife e
Page 18 and 19: 18 endAngered species Spotting the
Page 20 and 21: 20 Lisa Hoffner endAngered species
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Page 24 and 25: 24 bubble_gum, France publicaTions
Page 26 and 27: 26 InternatIonal Year of BIodIversI
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Page 30: 30 Horticulture Planting for the fu

Spring 2010 - European Association of Zoos and Aquaria

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