Spring 2010 - European Association of Zoos and Aquaria

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
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born in may 2009, was
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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.