PR ZOO's - zoos' print

ZOOS’ PRINT 

ZOO’s News Magazine for Wildlife Networks 

ISSN 0971-6378 ZOOS' PRINT, Volume XXIV, Number 11, November 2009 (RNI 11:2) 

Ganges Dolphin declared National Aquatic Animal by 

Government of India: A Great Step Forward - Randall R. 

Reeves, Pp. 1-2 

Annual Reports of Heads of CBSG and WAZA, Pp. 3-5 

Report of CBSG South Asia Aug 08-Sep 09 included in 

CBSG Briefing Material Pp. 6-8 

Annual Report of the World Association of Zoos and 

Aquariums - Gordon Reid, Pp. 8-12 

Relationship between Zoo Outreach Organisation and 

South Asian Zoo Association with World Association of 

Zoos and Aquariums, P. 12 

Education Reports 

Wildlife Week in India ... 55 years old, Pp. 13-15 

Other education Reports, P. 16 

COUNTDOWN 2010 — Save Biodiversity Programmes in 

Chennai and Madurai, Tamil Nadu, P.17 

Education at Lahore Zoo Pakistan, P. 18 

Management of mating injuries in two Asiatic Lions 

(Panthera Leo) - I. Nath, S.K.Panda, P.K.Roy, A.K.Mishra 

and A.K.Pattanaik, P. 19 

Contents 

Scavenging by Common Mongoose in Gulab Bagh Zoo 

and Sajjangarh WL Sanctuary - Satish Kumar Sharma, 

Pp. 19-20 

A note on helminth parasites of common myna 

(Acridotheres tristis) in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu - G. 

Ponnudurai, T.J. Harikrishnan, A. Arulmozhi and N. Rani, P. 

20 

Can the whistling hunters be successfully reintroduced 

into Indian jungles? - K.L.N Murthy, Pp. 21-22 

Gharial Rescue from Kandhesi Minor at Bharthana Town of 

Etawah District, UP - Rajeev Chauhan, P. 23 

Zoo Lex - The lynx exhibit at Lange Erlen Animal Park in 

Switzerland, Pp. 24-26 

Announcements 

Membership in Amphibian Ark, P. 27 

Invasive Alien Insects : Threat to Agriculture, 

Horticulture, and Forest Ecosystems, 23 & 24, 

December 2009, P. 28 

ZOO is grateful to our long-term sponsor Universities Federation for Animal Welfare UFAW

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Ganges Dolphin declared National Aquatic Animal by 

Government of India: A Great Step Forward 

Randall R. Reeves * 

Recent news that the Indian Central Government, in 

the first meeting of the National Ganga River Basin 

Authority, chaired by the Hon. Prime Minister 

Manmohan Singh, had decided to declare the 

Ganges dolphin, Platanista gangetica gangetica, as 

national aquatic animal was most welcome to 

cetacean specialists and enthusiasts and environmentalists 

generally. Not quite so welcome was the 

announcement of Environment Minister cum Central 

Zoo Authority Chair that the National Zoological Park 

(Delhi Zoo) would catch and exhibit the species in 

order to raise public awareness. 

Both the species Platanista gangetica and the 

subspecies in the Ganga, Platanista gangetica 

gangetica, are listed by IUCN as Endangered. 

These listings were justified by the available 

estimates of population size, crude as they may be, 

and the fact that there are good reasons to suspect 

that the animals are being subjected to serious 

threats, particularly bycatch in fisheries, direct 

hunting in some parts of their range and habitat 

degradation. Better numerical information on status 

of the Ganges subspecies and indeed on the 

species overall (limited in range to the Indus, 

Ganga, Megna, Brahmaputra and Karnaphuli rivers 

of the South Asian subcontinent) is very much 

wanted and needed. Platanista gangetica is the 

sole surviving representative of its family, therefore 

its extinction would be seen as a greater loss than 

that of a species belonging to a more diverse 

mammalian family. 

In the current Global Action Plan for Cetaceans 

prepared by the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group, 

the section on live-captures for captive display and/ 

or research reads as follows: 

“Removal of live cetaceans from the wild, for captive 

display and/or research, is equivalent to incidental 

or deliberate killing, as the animals brought into 

captivity (or killed during capture operations) are no 

longer available to help maintain their natural 

populations.” (See Appendix for whole section.) 

No zoo or aquarium in the world has previously had 

any success with captive breeding of freshwater 

dolphins. There have been a few instances of 

individual animals living for years, and in some 

instances decades, but without systematic captive 

management resulting in sustainable populations, 

there is no justification for capture and removal of 

these animals from the wild. Sustainable captive 

populations would be a challenge even with multiple 

institutions and continental areas cooperating, as 

dolphins take several years to mature and can give 

birth to, at most, only one calf every two years. In 

other words, dolphins are biologically constrained to 

reproduce very slowly, unlike many other mammal 

species that are kept in zoos and aquariums. 

Of course, just because no zoo or aquarium has 

previously managed to maintain river dolphins in 

good health with successful reproduction needn’t 

mean that this is impossible or that it should never 

be tried. However, even if it were limited to a small 

number of experiments, considering the losses that 

inevitably occur during capture attempts and 

acclimation, the numbers would add up quickly, in 

effect draining and further stressing wild 

populations. Therefore, any such initiative should be 

considered very carefully, with wide consultation 

with experts, before any action is taken. 

Considering the admirable, long-term struggles by 

Indian scientists and conservationists to conserve 

Asian freshwater dolphins, and particularly the 

progress made in India towards establishing highlevel 

protected areas for these animals, it would be 

much preferable to hear that the government has 

decided to step up enforcement measures and is 

making efforts to consolidate and expand the 

existing sanctions against deliberate capture. The 

beloved susu can be treasured as a national aquatic 

animal most effectively by ensuring that it remains 

present in healthy numbers in parts of the river 

systems where it already occurs, and by striving to 

create (or re-create) conditions allowing it to return 

to areas where it was present in the past but has 

now disappeared. 

It is a pleasant surprise to see the small and 

somewhat cryptic freshwater dolphin occupying the 

“throne” of national aquatic animal throne when so 

many national animals are charismatic megavertebrates. 

Ganga dolphins are generally shy, 

almost totally blind and not at all colorful. They are 

neither large and imposing nor aggressive and 

dangerous. All things considered, it is an admirable 

decision by the Central Government to give this 

honour to the susu (as the Ganga dolphin is often 

called in India). 

It is my hope, and one that I am sure is shared by 

many colleagues both in India and around the 

world, is that instead of even thinking about raiding 

wild populations to stock captive facilities, the 

Ministry of Environment, Government of India will 

decide to invest more heavily in efforts to maintain 

and restore natural features of the freshwater 

systems that support wild dolphin populations. 

It is important to emphasize that there is no need 

to bring these animals into captivity in order for 

people to have opportunities to see and appreciate 

them. In many parts of the subcontinent, dolphins 

are a part of the everyday lives of river people and 

* Chairman of IUCN/SSC Cetacean Specialist Group, 

email : rrreeves@okapis.ca 

ZOOS' PRINT, Volume XXIV, Number 11, November 2009, (RNI 11:2) 1

can easily be seen by visitors who are provided with 

proper guidance. Dolphins don’t represent any sort 

of danger to human beings. Nor are they reclusive 

and hard to observe, as long as they are allowed to 

simply get on with their lives where people are 

getting on with theirs. 

Another point to bear in mind is that susus, or 

Ganga dolphins, are not at all like the dolphins that 

live in the popular imagination, thanks to things like 

Discovery Channel and National Geographic. They 

are not easily trained to “entertain” in the same 

way marine dolphins are trained to behave and 

perform in captive conditions. As a dignified 

institution, the National Zoo may want to think this 

through carefully. These dolphins will not attract and 

please crowds of people who, having seen them in 

captivity, would be motivated to stop collecting and 

using dolphin oil, or who would complain about 

things like water development projects and toxic 

contaminants in the water. People who wish to see 

freshwater dolphins can already seek out and find 

opportunities to observe them in the wild. At the 

same time, captive displays may prove disappointing 

and fall short of the public’s high expectations, 

2 

meaning that little, if any, purpose was served by 

the removal of dolphins from the river and by 

investing the enormous amount of money required 

to build comfortable and safe facilities for river 

dolphins in Delhi. 

Returning to the IUCN Action Plan, it summarises the 

issue by stating : 

“As a general principle, dolphins should not be 

captured or removed from a wild population unless 

that specific population has been assessed and it 

has been determined that a certain amount of 

culling can be allowed without reducing the 

population’s long-term viability or compromising its 

role in the ecosystem. Such an assessment, 

including delineation of stock boundaries, 

abundance, reproductive potential, mortality, and 

status (trend) cannot be achieved quickly or 

inexpensively, and the results should be reviewed 

by an independent group of scientists before any 

captures are made.” 

In short, I simply urge the national government to 

protect its new national animal as a treasure in the 

wild. 

Appendix 

Live-captures for captive display Dolphins, Whales and Porpoises: 2002-2010 

Conservation Action Plan for the World’s Cetaceans. IUCN Action Plan 2002-2010. 

Removal of live cetaceans from the wild, for captive display and/or research, is equivalent to 

incidental or deliberate killing, as the animals brought into captivity (or killed during capture 

operations) are no longer available to help maintain their natural populations. When 

unmanaged and undertaken without a rigorous program of research and monitoring, livecapture 

can become a serious threat to local cetacean populations. All too often, 

entrepreneurs take advantage of lax (or non-existent) regulations in small island states or 

less-developed countries, catching animals from populations that are already under pressure 

from bycatch, habitat degradation, and other factors. For example, at least 22 Irrawaddy 

dolphins were taken from the Mahakam River system in Indonesia between 1974 and 1984 

to supply the aquarium trade (Tas’an and Leatherwood 1984; Wirawan 1989). The Mahakam 

population is known to be very small (probably less than 50 individuals) and subject to a 

variety of ongoing threats, including the possibility of more live-captures (Chapters 4, 5, and 

6). This population was classified as Critically Endangered by IUCN in 2000. Live-capture 

activities involving bottlenose dolphins (both Tursiops truncatus and T. aduncus), Irrawaddy 

dolphins, and Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphins have taken place in various countries 

during recent years (e.g., Cuba, Bahamas, Mexico, Guinea-Bissau, Cambodia, and 

Myanmar), without adequate assessment of the wild populations and with little or no public 

disclosure of the numbers taken. 

As a general principle, dolphins should not be captured or removed from a wild population 

unless that specific population has been assessed and it has been determined that a certain 

amount of culling can be allowed without reducing the population’s long-term viability or 

compromising its role in the ecosystem. Such an assessment, including delineation of stock 

boundaries, abundance, reproductive potential, mortality, and status (trend) cannot be 

achieved quickly or inexpensively, and the results should be reviewed by an independent 

group of scientists before any captures are made. Responsible operators (at both the 

capturing end and the receiving end) must show a willingness to invest substantial 

resources in assuring that proposed removals are ecologically sustainable. 

Reeves, R.R., B.D. Smith, E.A. Crespo, and G. Notarbartolo di Sciara (Compilers). 2003. Dolphins, 

Whales and Porpoises: 2002-2010 Conservation Action Plan for the World’s Cetaceans. IUCN/SSC 

Cetacean Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. ix + 139 pp. 

ZOOS' PRINT, Volume XXIV, Number 11, November 2009, (RNI 11:2)

Annual Reports of Heads of CBSG and WAZA 

Editorial Note: 

Last week I attended three meetings of 

international associations, the International 

Congress of Zookeepers ICZ in Seattle, the 

annual meeting of the IUCN SSC Conservation 

Breeding Specialist Group CBSG, and the 

annual conference of the World Association of 

Zoos and Aquariums WAZA. In the next few 

issues of ZOOS’ Print we will cover those 

meetings. The next few pages will lay the 

groundwork for the next issues, by familiarising 

you with the last year of CBSG and 

WAZA. Some of the details, I will edit out so 

this won’t be too long. These are not needed 

for your understanding and appreciation of 

the dynamic conservation work being 

undertaken by CBSG and WAZA in collaboration 

with some of the most effective conservation 

institutions and individual in the world. 

Annual Review of the Activities of the 

Conservation Breeding Specialist Group 

2008-09 

CBSG Membership 

The commissions of the IUCN are reauthorized every 

four years when the IUCN enters its new 

quadrennium. The commissions then appoint their 

specialist groups, subcommittees, and task forces 

for that quadrennium. Bob Lacy has been asked by 

Simon Stuart, chair of the Species Survival Commission, 

to continue to lead CBSG and Bob has, in turn, 

invited the CBSG membership for this quadrennium. 

Specialist Group members are individuals who 

volunteer to serve in one or more of the networks of 

technical experts that comprise the SSC. We expect 

CBSG members to contribute actively to our conservation 

work, through participation in meetings, 

workshops, or via remote collaboration. In addition, 

for the first time, each member will be required 

to establish a profile on the CBSG Members Site to 

share with the rest of the network their name, email 

address, language(s) spoken, and their areas of 

taxonomic and disciplinary expertise. We will use 

this database to keep members informed of activities 

that might be of interest to them and to contact 

them when we need someone with their expertise 

to assist with a project. This will also allow CBSG 

members to connect with other members all over 

the world who share their areas of interest, can 

help you answer a question, or assist you with a 

conservation project. This site is provided through 

the generous support of the International 

Species Information System, and is hosted on the 

ISIS portal. The site is evolving and there are some 

bugs still being worked out but it is a significant 

step towards our goal of creating an even more 

powerful conservation network. 

Species Conservation Planning 

For the past two years, CBSG led the Species 

Conservation Planning Task Force (SCPTF) which 

was created to help the SSC develop a more complete 

and sound approach to species conservation 

planning (http://www.cbsg.org/cbsg/content/files/ 

scptf_overview.pdf). The SSC wants to (and feels it 

must) follow up on the SCPTF effort, turning species 

conservation planning into a signature product of 

the SSC, just as is Red List assessment. In a meeting 

chaired by Bob Lacy, the SSC decided to establish 

a new Species Conservation Planning Sub- 

Committee, which, like other SSC Sub- Committees, 

will report directly to the SSC Steering Committee. 

In addition, the meeting recommended that a new, 

staffed Species Conservation Planning Unit be 

created within the IUCN’s Species Programme. 

These two new entities will elevate conservation 

planning within the SSC and coordinate the work of 

the Specialist Groups in implementing Species 

Conservation Strategic Planning. 

CBSG and all SSC Specialist Groups are being urged 

to consider how they can contribute to the development 

and implementation of a more active and 

powerful Species Conservation Strategic Planning 

initiative throughout the SSC. CBSG’s next steps 

with regard to assisting the SSC with conservation 

planning are relatively straight forward. Our facilitators 

will receive training in the Species Conservation 

Strategic Planning process, and we will ensure that 

the Species Conservation Planning Unit is aware of 

our availability to assist other SSC Specialist Groups 

and those engaged in species conservation planning. 

This is a golden opportunity for CBSG to go on 

doing what we do well but at the same time reappraise 

what we do and what more we can do to 

advance the cause of conservation. We look forward 

to building on all of this over the coming months. 

CBSG Summary of Activities 

November 2008 – October 2009 

Gerry Marantelli/Amphibian Research Centre 

Amphibian Ark Update 

Since we met in Adelaide nearly one year ago, the 

threats to amphibians have only intensified. In 

Central America, amphibian chytrid jumped the 

Panama Canal and headed into eastern Panama 

where it is expected to be as devastating as it was 

in the west. In South America, the disease was 

documented for the first time in Bolivia. In Asia, the 

first record of amphibian chytrid (in Japan) was 

published, followed not long after by other reports 

in Indonesia and the Philippines. Although research 

on ‘anti-Bd’ metabolites from naturally occurring 

bacteria is promising, showing that resistance can 

be given to susceptible amphibian species in the 

lab, field trials still seem far off. The food trade 

continues to apply considerable pressure to wild 

amphibians with one billion frogs harvested as food 

per year, and we continue to document new ways 


pesticides harm amphibians and threaten us. 

Habitat loss continues as the number one threat at 

as great a pace as ever, although we are thrilled 

that the IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group and 

partners preserved habitat for 11 threatened 

amphibian species in Sri Lanka. Regardless of which 

of these threats is behind a particular decline, when 

amphibians disappear, their losses are surely felt. 

So the AArk community has continued to work hard 

this past year to do our part to help amphibians: 

• We added new Training Officer Ron Gagliardo, who 

helped lead the AZA husbandry course twice in the 

past year, as well as another in Malaysia. Ron’s 

position is funded through a private foundation and 

hosted by Zoo Atlanta. Our partners at Durrell 

Wildlife Conservation Trust led a workshop in Bolivia, 

and saw several offspring courses in Latvia, the 

Netherlands, and Germany spawned from their 2008 

course in Jersey. Our partners in ARAZPA held a 

workshop in Sydney as well as abroad in Thailand. 

Since 2004, we have collectively run 24 training 

workshops in 13 countries with nearly 1000 students! 

Upcoming AArk training workshops include 

Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and possibly also 

Argentina, Cuba, Gabon, Panama. 

• Continuing our efforts in species prioritization, we 

held workshops in Panama, Indonesia, and Brazil, 

bringing our total to 16 countries/regions and ~25% 

of all species (50% of species that are categorized 

as Threatened or Data Deficient). We are currently 

tracking 95 priority amphibian species in captivity, 

with over half of these brought in since the release 

of the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan. Upcoming 

workshop plans include Argentina, Bolivia, 

Cameroon, Caribbean, Chile, and Guatemala. Our 

process has impressed our colleagues enough that 

it has now been adapted to evaluate trees in Costa 

Rica, and soon, chameleons in Madagascar! Furthermore, 

our Taxon Officers have continued to hone the 

tool to make broader conservation action recommendations 

(not just ex situ prioritization), and as a 

result our partners from the IUCN Red List have 

agreed to incorporate it into their update process 

for amphibians. 

AArk has also recently added Carlos Martinez Rivera 

as our Taxon Officer for Latin America, where he 

facilitates partnerships and will help coordinate 

Taxon Management Groups. Carlos is based in 

Philadelphia and his part-time work with AArk is 

donated by The Philadelphia Zoo. 

• Three AArk officers joined a team of amphibian 

experts at San Diego Zoo to draft updated standards 

for amphibian biosecurity practices. In 

addition, the AArk Biobanking Advisory Committee 

(ABAC) now has 27 members from 8 different countries 

and is assembling biobanking protocols and a 

database of repositories. AArk Research Officer 

Robert Browne has drafted an Amphibian Conservation 

Research Guide, which will help our partners 

make meaningful contributions to research, particularly 

to the conservation research agenda of ACAP. 

4 

• Our partners around the world continue to lead 

model rescue and management programs, including 

the public opening of EVACC in western Panama, a 

new coalition to start a similar program in eastern 

Panama, and rescue of Caribbean mountain chickens. 

• AArk launched a new Seed Grant program awarding 

two $5000 grants to projects in Kenya and 

Madagascar. We also worked with the enthusiasts 

at Caudata.org to launch a new annual grant 

program for salamander conservation with $1000 

going to “Pandi mushroom-tongue salamander 

Project: Conservation status assessment of a 

threatened Andean salamander from Colombia - 

Bolitoglossa pandi” submitted by Giovanni Alberto 

Chaves Portilla, Fundacion Ecodiversidad Colombia. 

• For publicity, we supported wonderful articles in 

The New Yorker, National Geographic, CSM, Time For 

Kids, and the PBS documentary The Thin Green Line, 

as well as our own AArk Newsletter #6 and 

Recommendations for Raising Live Amphibians in 

Classrooms. Through our species naming auctions, 

we were able to raise $23,000 for Venezuelan 

biologists and saw our first new species published. 

We also solidified our presence on the public networking 

sites and invite you to join us in our 

Facebook Group and Cause as well as on MySpace. 

And, in addition, we are thrilled to announce that 

current half-time Taxon Officer Kevin Johnson has 

been able to join us as a Communications Officer for 

the rest of his time. In the near future, watch the 

AArk Newsletter for the launch of our new membership 

program and a description of our role in the 

newly formed Amphibian Survival Alliance. 

Many thanks to all of our partners who are involved 

in and support these important conservation actions. 

Progress is measurable, but slow, and not in 

proportion to the need. Please, if you are not 

already involved, get onboard the AArk! -- Kevin 

Johnson 

Biocomplexity Update 

We continue to work with partners to develop 

“meta-model” methods and tools for linking together 

analyses from diverse disciplines to help 

assess risks and develop effective recovery plans 

for species. As described below, we used our new 

MetaModel Manager software to link a simulation of 

lion population demography and social system to 

epidemiological modelling programs for projecting 

the dynamics of tuberculosis in the Kruger Park 

ecosystem. We have also demonstrated through 

test cases the ability to develop multi-species 

models to study the viability of species with tightly 

linked fates. We are working with colleagues now to 

develop the tools for spatially explicit population 

viability models that will allow assessment of the 

effects of landscape change on the fates of species. 

Building on a collaboration that was started at our 

2008 annual meeting in Adelaide, we are working 

with colleagues there to link our species projections 

and risk assessments to predictions about climate 

change impacts on species habitats. Our work on 


developing and testing metamodel tools for examining 

biocomplexity is supported by the Chicago 

Zoological Society. 

Other News 

• CBSG currently has a membership of 564 individuals 

from 59 countries and is supported by 147 donor 

institutions, organizations, and individuals. 

• We have produced the 2008 CBSG Annual Report, 

highlighting several of 2008’s successful workshops. 

• We continue to work to decrease our environmental 

footprint. We print all our reports and other 

materials on 100% post-consumer waste paper, 

strive for carbon neutrality at our annual meeting, 

and are championing the use of web-based technology 

to facilitate virtual meetings whenever possible 

and appropriate. 

• CBSG conducted or participated in 33 workshops/ 

meetings since November 2008, including 4 Population 

and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) Workshops, 

8 Organizational and Species Conservation 

Planning Workshops, 6 Training Workshops, and 14 

other Conservation Workshops and Meetings. 

• Seven documents have been produced by CBSG in 

the past year. A list of these publications can be 

found on a following page. 

Selected Workshop Summaries 

Jaguar PHVA 

CBSG Mesoamerica conducted a PHVA workshop for 

jaguars in Costa Rica on 2-6 March, building in part 

upon previous jaguar workshops and management 

strategies, including the development of a regional 

corridor for jaguars throughout Mesoamerica. The 

workshop was sponsored by a local coffee grower, 

VOLCAFE, and was held at the Simon Bolivar Zoo in 

San Jose. The 50 participants included government 

representatives, researchers, university staff 

and students, NGOs, developers, environmental 

educators, veterinarians, zoo staff, potential 

funders, and others. Key recommendations included 

strategies for reducing human-jaguar conflicts in key 

corridor areas. This PHVA provided another opportunity 

for the CBSG Mesoamerica modelers Jorge 

Rodriguez and Gustavo Gutierrez to expand their 

modeling expertise under mentorship from the CBSG 

main office. 

There are tentative plans for them to instruct a 

Vortex training course in early 2010 at the University 

of Costa Rica for participants from Central and 

South America, solidifying their understanding of 

Vortex and increasing modeling expertise and CBSG 

awareness in the region. 

Disease Risk Assessment for Lions in Kruger 

National Park 

Tuberculosis is believed to have entered the wildlife 

population in South Africa’s Kruger National Park in 

the 1950s from infected domestic cattle. Diseasebased 

mortality has been documented in lions, 

raising concern among wildlife managers and veterinary 

health officials. At the invitation of South 

African National Parks veterinarians, and with the 

support and participation of Omaha’s Henry Doorly 

Zoo staff, CBSG led a Disease Risk Assessment 

Workshop on 16-20 March 2009. This was the first 

CBSG workshop to use a metamodel as the focal 

disease risk assessment tool, and integrated a 

model of lion population dynamics developed at the 

University of Minnesota with CBSG’s OUTBREAK 

model to create a metamodel of disease dynamics in 

Kruger’s lion population. 

Cheetah PHVA 

CBSG Southern Africa and the CBSG main office 

worked with the Carnivore Conservation Group of 

the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) to conduct a 

PHVA for cheetahs in South Africa, as a precursor to 

the development of a national strategy for cheetahs. 

Sixteen participants (primarily researchers, 

NGOs and landowners) convened at the Venetia 

Limpopo Nature Reserve on 17-21 April 2009 to 

discuss data and strategies for managing cheetahs 

in fenced reserves and on private lands. The results 

of the PHVA will help guide the national strategy 

workshop scheduled for mid-June. Development of 

preliminary cheetah models prior to the PHVA 

provided the opportunity for informal Vortex training 

for several EWT and zoo staff. Workshop support 

for all participants was generously provided by the 

Howard G. Buffett Foundation and the De Beers 

Consolidated Mines. 

Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership Program 

Review 

One of our newest projects involves North America’s 

whooping crane. Specifically, the Whooping Crane 

Eastern Partnership (WCEP) is trying to establish a 

second migratory population of the species, complementing 

the existing population that breeds in 

Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park and resides 

along the Gulf Coast in the winter. The newest 

Eastern Migratory Population (EMP) is to nest in 

Wisconsin and winter in Florida. However, the 

program has encountered significant difficulties 

in establishing a breeding population in Wisconsin. 

Moreover, the diverse group of organizations that 

make up the Partnership results in a complex 

decision-making structure that impedes progress on 

species conservation. To address these difficulties, 

the Partnership has requested an external 

review of all aspects of their operations so that they 

can establish an EMP and, by extension, improve 

the prospects for range-wide recovery. CBSG has 

been asked to chair this five-member review panel, 

which includes experts on crane biology and ecology, 

captive breeding for recovery, and conservation 

program evaluation. 


Report of CBSG South Asia Aug 08-Sep 09 included in CBSG Briefing Material 

6th Annual meeting of CBSG/RSG South Asia, 

9-15 February 2009 

The Sixth Annual meeting of CBSG / RSG South Asia 

took place by the sea in Mt. Lavinia area of Sri 

Lanka which is near the National Zoo. Organised by 

Zoo Outreach Organisation and hosted by the 

National Zoological Gardens, Dehiwala, Sri Lanka 

and Ministry of Sports and Public Recreation, 

Government of Sri Lanka. Resource persons came 

from UK and USA and participants from India, 

Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan (for the first 

time), and Sri Lanka. Mike Jordan, representing the 

IUCN SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group for Europe 

and Central Asia, gave a presentation entitled 

Considerations in Releasing Animals - some IUCN 

Fundamentals and also a case study of the Southern 

Ground Hornbill Reintroduction. Miranda Stevenson, 

Director, BIAZA, representing IUCN SSC CBSG 

covered CBSG with an outstanding presentation 

that described CBSG in context of IUCN and CBSG 

activities for the past year. 

Following these presentations Sally Walker and 

Sanjay Molur facilitated a brainstorming session for 

topics to be discussed at working groups, using 

CBSG Ground Rules for Group Interaction. There 

were a number of stimulating suggestions but these 

were prioritized to Small Mammal Reintroduc-tion, 

Global Climate Change, and Human/Animal Conflict. 

The reports of these groups have been circulated in 

April ZOOS’ PRINT Magazine at www.zoosprint.org 

under left column Back Issues and Newsletters. 

These feature CBSG and RSG South Asia 

Newsletters, Working Group reports of the meeting 

and a special review of CBSG South Asia’s work 

multiple collaborators to establish a systematic and 

safe protocol for translocation of small wild 

populations of Hoolock Gibbon to viable habitats. 

9th Annual Conference for South Asian Zoo 

Association : CBSG India was a major instigator for 

SAZARC, the South Asian Zoo Association for 

Regional Cooperation and meets annually just 

before the SAZARC Conference, and SAZARC 

inspired CBSG South Asia. This year the training 

theme was Zoo Legislation Part II. Training topics 

were “fine tuning” of legislation, accreditation and 

inspection of zoos. Resource Persons, Kris Vehrs of 

AZA, Miranda Stevenson of BIAZA and Mike Jordan of 

ATMOS gave detailed presentations on the theme 

and related zoo husbandry issues, alternat-ing with 

country-focused Working Groups to discuss how to 

proceed further in each country case, and every 

afternoon, training in Zoo Inspection, using the 

National Zoo of Sri Lanka as a guinea pig followed 

by a presentation from a different staff member 

each day about all the different facilities, old and 

coming up, of the National Zoological Gardens. 

The National Zoo and the Ministry of Sports and 

Public Recreation went overboard in their gracious 

hospitality. SAZARC participants were given the 

6 

option of staying for a tour which covered 

Hikkaduwa Marine Sanctuary, Ft. Galle, Bundala 

National Park (Wild elephants, crocodiles, birds, and 

at night tiny marine turtles being helped to dig out 

so they make to the ocean before suffocating. Five 

species of marine turtles lay eggs on that single 

beach. For more detailed report please see May 

issue of Zpt magazine at www.zoosprint.org. 

Local sponsors: Ministry of Sports and Recreation, 

Sri Lanka; Department of National Zoological 

Gardens, Sri Lanka. External Sponsors: Chester 

Zoo/North of England Zoological Society, UK; The 

Benindi Fund, UK; Universities Federation for Animal 

Welfare, UK; Knowsley Safari Park, UK; SSC 

IUCN Conservation Breeding Specialist Group; World 

Association of Zoos and Aquariums; Twycross Zoo, 

UK; Paignton Zoo, UK; Walt Disney World, USA; 

Apenheul Primate Park, Netherlands. 

ZOO/CBSG South Asia staff and network activity 

in South Asia & globally - Sept 08- Sept 09: 

• World Conservation Congress, IUCN World 

Congress, October 08, Barcelona. (Travel sponsored 

by IUCN). 

• 2nd Asian Lepidoptera Conservation 

Symposium, Nov 08, Penang, Malaysia. (Travel 

sponsored by Penang butterfly farm, Penang). 

• Natl Conf. Recent Trends in Climatic change/ 

Coastal Bio-resources 11-12 December 2008. 

Trichur, Kerala. 

• Conservation Educator Workshop in Bangalore 

from 18-19 December organized by ATREE. 

• 08 CBSG and WAZA Adelaide meetings : CBSG 

Steering committee, CBSG Annual Meeting and 

WAZA Annual Conference, October 08. (Travel 

sponsored by Chester Zoo and CBSG) 

• 09 Mid-Year Meetings of CBSG & WAZA: 

Steering Committee, Amphibian Review, WAZA 

Council and WAZA Strategic Futures workshop, Mar 

09. (Travel sponsored by CBSG). 

• IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Meeting held at 

Bristol, June 09. (Travel sponsored by IUCN). 

• IUCN SSC AESG - Human–Asian Elephant 

Conflict Workshop, Beijing, China 10–11 July 

2009. (Travel sponsored by USFWS). 

• Society of Conservation Biology SCB Annual 

Conference 09 and special Symposium on South 

Asian Primates, 12-18 July 2009, Beijing, China 

(Travel sponsored by USFWS). 

• Annual SEAZA Conference, Seoul, South Korea, 5 

– 9 August 09. (Travel sponsored by Chester Zoo) 

• IUCN SSC Red List Steering Committee, 15-16 

Sept.09, Zoological Society of London, London 

(Travel sponsored by IUCN). 

• Alliance for Zero Extinctions (AZE) Steering 

Committee, 30 Sept, Washington, D.C. (Travel 

sponsored by Conservation International). 

• IUCN project COUNTDOWN 2010 -– CBSG, 

South Asia and some taxon network joined CD 

2010 in order to brand and motivate our network 


member NGO’s to join and brand some of their 

education and conservation projects with the CD 

2010 initiative. Amphibian and Hoolock Gibbon 

calendars were made for 09/10. Countdown 2010 

has displayed their commitments on their website 

and given a CD2010 profile for the whole South 

Asian region. 

• SCB Membership Project : Society for 

Conservation Biology has a special rate for 

membership for academics from developing 

countries. This rate, $10.00, includes web access to 

four important conservation journals. In most South 

Asian countries the effort required to exchange local 

currency plus send it to a foreign organization is 

immense, although the amount is not much. Our 

office has made a widely publicised offer to do the 

paperwork for anyone who wants to join and 

will reimburse the $10.00 payment in local currency. 

Workshops and Projects organized by ZOO/ 

CBSG, South Asia 

• Human Elephant Co-existence, 9 HECX Educator 

Workshops a series of workshops in conflict 

resolution conducted in India, Nepal and 

Bangladesh by ZOO/CBSG South Asia and other 

collaborators. Sponsored by USFWS and other 

sponsors Elephant Family, Twycross Zoo, Columbus 

Zoo, Schonbrunn Zoo, Vienna. Trainers B.A. Daniel, 

R. Marimuthu, Sally Walker, Heidi Riddle. 

• Part II Wild to Wild Translocation Scoping 

Workshop featuring Hoolock Gibbon held in 

Assam, Jan 09 (Fred Launay, Mike Jordan, Cecilia 

Kierloff, Jayantha Das, Sally Walker, Sanjay 

Molur). Sponsored by USFWS, Chester Zoo and CBSG 

SSC IUCN. 

• Eastern Himalaya Freshwater Biodiversity 

Assessments Training workshop, a project of IUCN 

SSC Freshwater Biodiversity Program was 

conducted in collaboration with ZOO/CBSG South 

Asia in Nepal in July 2009 where Sanjay Molur was a 

trainer in IUCN Red List. ZOO/CBSG South Asia are 

part of the Assessment initiative and will assist with 

mentoring and later organizing and conducting an 

IUCN Red List assessment workshop for FWB South 

Asia. Sponsored by IUCN. 

• JoTT founded - ZOO’s PRINT Journal morphed into 

Journal of Threatened Taxa in January 

2009 with new mandate, layout, website www. 

threatenedtaxa.org. It has been very 

enthusiastically received by conservation academics 

and field persons worldwide. Sponsored by 

Chester Zoo. 

• ZOOS’ PRINT Magazine & ZOO ZEN completed 24 

years of regular monthly publication. Now webbased 

as well as printed. Circulated free to needy 

zoos. www.zoosprint.org. Sponsored by 

UFAW and CBSG. 

CBSG Taxon Networks working from ZOO office are 

based on the processes and principles of CBSG 

and all works done with aim of conducting Training, 

PHVAs, CAMPs, Education, Conservation, 

Conservation Planning, etc., using the CBSG tools to 

promote and deliver effective conservation in the 

region. All the networks circulate current news, 

announcements, opportunities and articles of 

interest to all the members via email. The networks 

and some of their activities follow: 

• CCINSA/RISCINSA may join to become Small 

Mammal Network– The two newsletters of CCINSA 

and RISCINSA have merged into one newsletter 

called Small Mammal Mail. July 2009 issue can be 

found at www.zoosprint.org under newsletters. 

Chiroptera Conservation and Information Network 

of South Asia conducted a bat taxonomy and 

echolocation training at Madurai Kamaraj 

University, Madurai, India and a field techniques 

training workshop for bats and rodents on 5-11 

September in Wangdue, Bhutan. (All sponsored by 

Chester Zoo and Bat Conservation Int’l). 

• Amphibian Network of S. Asia: In 2009 ANSA 

continued participation in the AArk education 

programme distributing educational materials for IZE 

and IZE South Asia members and other educators. 

Fresh materials including hundreds of AArk caps, 

tshirts and literature were brought out for use in 

special global and national amphibian oriented 

events for 08/09. Sponsored by Sea World 

Conservation Fund. 

• South Asian Reptile Network: will take the lead in 

a project under ZOO & WILD of the CEPF Critical 

Ecosystems Partnership Fund to conduct the IUCN 

SSC Red List Global Assessment for Reptiles in 

South Asia in 2010. Sponsored by CEPF. 

• South Asian Primate Network - PSG SAPN 

representing IUCN SSC Primate SG. Training in 

Wild to Wild Translocation as mentioned above. 

Developed and distributing primate education 

materials. 

• Invertebrate Network (ICINSA) and Subnetworks 

(Pollinator Network and Aquaric 

Invertebrates: ICINSA supplies members of the 

greater network and its sub-networks support of 

literature on their specialty, opportunity for rapid 

publication in Journal of Threatened Taxa. Also a 

project from the Invertebrate Conservation Centre, 

ZSL to develop a teaching manual on climate change 

with strong focus on challenges for inver-tebrates. 

All invertebrate networks and salary of B.A. Daniel, 

network convenor are supported by the 

Invertebrate Conservation Centre, London Zoo. 

ZOO continues to fundraise for field work on 

distribution of Theraphosid spiders in India 

sponsored last two years by Oregon Zoo. Also 

Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund CEPF has 

approved a grant for studies on Theraphosid 

spider diversity, distribution and habitat use in PA 

landscape level in a portion of Western 

Ghats, Karnataka, India. 

• Educator Network SAN-IZE — A total of nine 

workshops on Human Elephant Coexistence 

HECx have been conducted in three countries as 

reported above. One country, Sri Lanka, from the 

project with USFWS is to be conducted. Two more 

grants from USFWS will cover 3 workshops in 

Sumatra (possibly in 09 and 3 in Thailand in 2010- 


11). SANIZE office is providing consultancy to Nilgiri 

Biosphere Conservation Park for design of signage, 

interpretation, and other educational products. 

Some Education materials developed in the 

current year were: 

• Teaching Manual on Getting along with Elephants 

and on Dancing (Sloth) Bears. 

• Education Packets and other items on Climate 

Change, Dancing Bears, Hoolock Gibbon, Elephants 

(Human Elephant Coexistence), Monkeys (Conflict 

Resolution), Amphibians and common wildlife spp. 

• Produced 

-Count Down 2010 Posters on Hoolock Gibbon and 

Amphibian Crisis, 

-Activity-based colouring books for Amphibians and 

Bats and Drama kits plus, 

-Guideline books for Using Drama in Public Education 

for: Amphibians, Asian Elephant, Bears, and Hoolock 

Gibbon. 

Some Projects for future 2010 with funding 

status 

• IUCN Red List assessment in Himalayan 

Annual Report of the World Association 

of Zoos and Aquariums 

Gordon Reid 

WAZA Members and Associates, 

At the WAZA Annual Congress to be held in Saint 

Louis 4-8th October 2009 I come to the end of my 

Presidency. Being President has been a most varied, 

enjoyable and fulfilling experience but it is now time 

to hand over to my very capable and distinguished 

colleague Dr Mark Penning. Mark is Chief Executive 

of the S. African Association of Marine Biological 

Research (SAAMBR) and its allied aquarium & leisure 

attraction Ushaka Marine World. 

WAZA Council and Committees 

The WAZA Council has seen the departure of 

serving members. We thank them for their dedicated 

service, while at the same time welcoming several 

new Council and Committee Members. After being 

elected at the Budapest Conference in 2007, it sadly 

became necessary for Dr Laura Mumaw to step 

down as my Vice President (and the President-elect) 

in 2008. This was because she had left her position 

at Melbourne Zoo for a prestigious opportunity 

elsewhere, outside of the zoo and aquarium world. 

The Nominating Committee, led by Dr Karen 

Sausman, proposed Dr Mark Penning for Vice 

President (and President-elect) and Council agreed 

with this excellent proposal. This left one vacant 

position among the Council Members at large. 

Hence, in January 2009 (in accordance with the 

WAZA By-Laws), Sally Walker was proposed by the 

Nominations Committee and Council ratified her to 

fill this gap. 

You will recall that the 63rd Annual Conference of 

WAZA was held 19-23rd October 2008 in Adelaide, 

8 

Freshwater Biodiversity workshop, South Asia, 

venue to be announced (funded by IUCN). 

• IUCN SSC Global Assessment Programme, South 

Asian Reptile Assessments (funded by CEPF). 

• IUCN Assessments of fresh water biodiversity in 

Western Ghats and in Eastern Himalaya 

(funded by IUCN). 

• Population and habitat Viability Assessment 

Workshop for Asian Elephant and Training 

on MIKE: Systematic Monitoring of Elephants using 

Dung DNA –(USFWS and partners) venue 

to be confirmed (funded by USFWS and partners). 

• PHVA for Red Panda, Red Panda Management 

Group & National Trust for Nature Conservation, 

Nepal, Fall 2010 (exact venue in Nepal to be 

confirmed (confirmed). 

• Three sets training workshops in Human Elephant 

Coexistence, Sri Lanka. Sumatra, Thailand 

(funded by USFWS and partners) 2009-2010. 

• Two refresher workshops (follow up) on Human 

Elephant Coexistence HECx to be held in Nepal and 

Bangladesh (funded by USFWS and partners) 2010. 

• Annual CBSG RSG South Asian and SAZARC Feb/ 

March 2010 in Nepal (confirmed). 

Australia. The Conference 

was superbly hosted on 

behalf of Zoos South Australia 

by Dr Chris West, Chief 

Executive, and ran 

concurrently with the 

International Zoo Educators 

(IZE) Conference. New 

Members of the Membership 

Committee elected at the 

Adelaide Conference are: 

Cesare Avesani (Parco Natura 

Viva, Italy); Kenichi Kitamura 

(JAZA, Japan) and Fanny Lai 

(Singapore Zoological Gardens, Singapore). For the 

Ethics and Welfare Committee, six new Members 

were ratified, namely: Chris West (Chair, Zoos South 

Australia); David Jones (North Carolina Zoo, USA); 

Theo Pagel (Cologne Zoo, Germany); Amy Camacho 

(Africam Safari Puebla, Mexico); Clifford Nxomani 

(National Zoo, Pretoria, South Africa) and Hideyuki 

Takahashi (Ueno Zoo, Japan). Last but not least, 

four new Members were ratified to be appointed to 

the Finance Committee: Jerry Borin (Chair, Columbus 

Zoo and Aquarium, USA); Jörg Junhold (Leipzig Zoo, 

Germany); Olivier Pagan (Basel Zoo, Switzerland) 

and Fanny Lai (Singapore Zoological Gardens, 

Singapore). 

The results of the 2009 WAZA Council ballot were 

issued in July. As indicated above, the next WAZA 

President will be Mark Penning and his Presidentelect 

is Jörg Junhold - with Jo Gipps, Ryzsard Topola 

and Chris West remaining on Council. Newly elected 

Council Members are: Lee Ehmke (Minnesota 

Zoological Gardens, USA); Rick Barongi (Houston 

Zoo, USA); Joanne Lalumière (Granby Zoo, Canada) 

and Cesare Avesani (Parco Natura Viva, Italy). 


Leaving Council Members - At the conclusion of this 

year’s WAZA Conference in St Louis, USA, Dr Jeff 

Bonner (St Louis Zoo, USA), Jerry Borin (Columbus 

Zoo and Aquarium, USA) and Sally Walker (Tamil 

Nadu, India) step down from Council. Jeff was also 

Chair of the Programme Committee, the WAZA-IZE 

Education Committee and the WAZA/IUCN 

Amphibian Ark (AArK). Jerry was Chair of the 

Membership Committee and also the Finance 

Committee. WAZA thanks to them all for jobs well 

done. 

Heini Heidigger Award - In Adelaide, among many 

pleasant duties, I was delighted to preside over a 

farewell event to mark the retirement of Dr Peter 

Dollinger, Executive Director of WAZA. Peter had 

conferred upon him the Heini Hediger Award, in 

recognition of a life-long commitment and service to 

veterinary science, zoos, animal welfare, statutory 

regulation and global conservation. Peter’s 

successor, who fully took over after the Adelaide 

meeting, is Dr Gerald Dick who is already having a 

major beneficial impact on WAZA. We warmly 

welcome him in this new post! I should note that 

Gerald’s Personal Assistant Sabine Gyger left the 

WAZA Secretariat office for a new career on 23 April 

2009, after more than seven years of service. WAZA 

thanks her for this and extends a warm welcome to 

Natasha Jackson. She joined the WAZA Secretariat 

office in Berne, in March as Office Manager and 

Accountant. Ulrike Fox joined in May as the WAZA 

Marketing and Communications Officer. WAZA thanks 

all of the executive team for their most professional 

services. 

WAZA Corporate Strategy 

A WAZA Corporate Strategy Planning Workshop was 

held 17th and 18th January 2009, generously 

hosted by Jo Gipps, Director of Bristol Zoological 

Gardens. The Council team worked closely with 

Gerald and an external facilitator and we made 

great strides forward in developing a new vision for 

the future. WAZA Members and other key 

stakeholders have since been given an opportunity 

to comment and help develop the draft Corporate 

Strategy, before it is formally launched at this year’s 

WAZA Congress. This will set the strategic direction 

for WAZA for the next 5 years and Gerald will 

present on it at the WAZA Congress in Saint Louis. 

One particularly important strategic decision taken 

by Council was to move WAZA headquarters from 

Bern to Gland in Switzerland to join IUCN, WWF and 

other major conservation NGOs in the same 

building. This will greatly facilitate international highlevel 

conservation cooperation. 

I attended the ‘WAZA and partners’ meeting held in 

Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, 14 -20th March 2009. 

On the agenda at the WAZA Council meeting was 

determining the venue for the 2014 WAZA Annual 

Conference. We viewed conference hosting 

proposals on behalf of Africam Safari and Zoo, 

Mexico; Central Zoo Authority (CZA), India; 

Universe, Goteborg, Sweden; Al Ain Zoo, UAE and 

Chester Zoo, England. After much debate, Council 

decided to accept the impressive bid of the CZA and 

I congratulate India on this success. WAZA thanks 

all of the other excellent candidates and encourages 

re-application bids in future years to host the 

Congress. In Al Ain, I was also delighted to join in 

strategy meetings of the IUCN Conservation 

Specialist Group (IUCN-CBSG) and International 

Species Information System (ISIS). 

Regional Zoo and Aquarium Associations 

WAZA has worked to strengthen bonds with the 

regional associations by inviting representatives as 

observer members in WAZA Council meetings. The 

associations’ voice is also now clearly heard through 

their own WAZA committee. In previous years I have 

managed to attend PAZAAB, CZA, AAZPA and AZA 

annual Meetings. This year, Gerald and I participated 

in the16th Annual ALPZA Conference, City of Panama, 

held in the Republic of Panama, 25-29th May. The 

Association of Zoos and Aquaria in Latin America 

(ALPZA) kindly invited me to give a keynote 

presentation on ‘WAZA Partnering with ALPZA and 

Regional Zoos’. ALPZA’s general mission of 

promoting the cooperation between Latin American 

zoos and aquariums and, indeed, the worldwide zoo 

community was a general aim of the Conference. 

ALPZA was formed in 1990 and has been a WAZA 

member since 2004, working actively within the 

international community. It is a trans-national, notfor-profit 

organization that brings together 

zoological institutions and aquariums across Latin 

America, with the purpose of promoting their 

integrated development. ALPZA members span 13 

countries and include 42 institutions, 18 individual 

members, and 3 National Associations and 

organizations. They all work well together and also 

strongly support WAZA’s efforts. In the European 

region, I will shortly be attending the 26th Annual 

Conference of EAZA, hosted by Copenhagen Zoo 15- 

19th September. In the USA I look forward to giving 

a keynote address to the International Congress on 

Zoo Keeping (ICZ/AAZK) Conference, Seattle, 24 - 

29th September 2009. 

WAZA/IUCN Relationships 

A Zoo Community/IUCN-Species Survival Commission 

Meeting was held on 16th January 2009 at Bristol 

Zoo. Gerald and I represented WAZA, alongside 

Simon Tonge (EAZA and BIAZA), Lesley Dickie (EAZA) 

and Miranda Stevenson (BIAZA). The meeting was 

with Simon Stuart, in his new capacity as Chair of 

the IUCN-SSC (see below). Simon’s position is now 

financially supported in part by WAZA. This meeting 

was to exchange information and ideas on the 

various activities of and growing connectivity 

between the IUCN, WAZA, EAZA, BIAZA and many 

other zoo and aquarium partners. It was also to 

discuss the future relationship between WAZA and 

IUCN as a whole, the IUCN-SSC in particular. The 

meeting followed the signing of a five-year 

Memorandum of Understanding between WAZA and 

IUCN on 17th December 2008. The MOU was forged 

with the aim of increasing public awareness of 


conservation issues and improving access to the 

relevant research carried out in zoos and 

aquariums. This MOU will also increase positive and 

direct impacts for conservation in situ as the two 

organisations work ever more closely together, 

creating synergy. 

WAZA/IUCN Amphibian Ark 

While in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (see above), I 

chaired a Strategic Planning meeting for the 

Amphibian Ark (AArK) on 17th March 2009. Under 

the guidance of AArK Programme Officer Kevin 

Zippel, we reviewed the current vision, mission and 

values; prioritized a 5-year work plan and allocated 

responsibilities and tasks; reviewed the constitution 

and governance arrangements, financial 

requirements and opportunities for fundraising. One 

outcome was a prospective closer working 

relationship between the AArK and the IUCN 

Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) on ex situ/in situ 

relationships for the IUCN Amphibian Conservation 

Action Plan (ACAP). There was also agreement for 

the AArK to work towards becoming a membershipbased 

organisation. This development, it is hoped, 

will help AArK collaborators, partners and 

supporters to feel that, as well as being a source of 

substantial income, they truly belong to a significant 

and representative organisation. Key contributors 

included co-chairs Lena Lindén (CBSG and WAZA) 

and Don Church (ASG and Conservation 

International); and the fine AArK executive team of 

Kevin Zippel, Ron Gagliardo, Richard Gibson, Robert 

Browne and Kevin Johnson. 

A Global Amphibian Extinction Crisis Symposium was 

held at the Linnean Society of London on 6th 

November 2008. I gave the introductory and closing 

presentations to an audience of Fellows of the 

Society. The EAZA Director, Lesley Dickie, was 

instrumental in organising the symposium, for which 

we thank her. The aim of the meeting was to 

examine the scientific reasons for the decline in the 

world’s amphibian populations and also debate 

possible solutions to these problems. 

A larger symposium on ‘Halting the Global Decline in 

Amphibians: Research and Practice’, 20-21st 

November 2008, was organised by Zoological 

Society of London. Again, EAZA Director Lesley Dickie 

was the key driver. I chaired scientific sessions and 

delivered the closing summary. We also held a brief 

AArK Committee Meeting. Co-chairs Lena Lindén and 

Don Church both actively participated along with 

Kevin Zippel. The keynote speaker at this meeting 

was Sir David Attenborough and there were some 

200 delegates drawn from all around the globe. At 

both the above meetings, we were able to strongly 

promote the WAZA/AArK 2008 ‘Year of the Frog’ 

initiative, which has achieved so much in terms of 

education, public awareness and fundraising around 

the globe, producing the equivalent of many 

hundreds of thousands of dollars of support. 

10 

Amphibian Survival Alliance 

In late August 2009, I participated in the Amphibian 

Conservation ‘Mini-Summit’ and Workshop. This was 

convened by IUCN-SSC at the Regent’s Park Zoo, 

London. We discussed important global updates on 

work ex situ and in situ and there was a proposal to 

integrate amphibian conservation activities at a 

higher international level by forming an Amphibian 

Survival Alliance. This was to be the first of a series 

of meetings to be held every two years. Each 

meeting will review the status of research and 

conservation of amphibians, including the 11 primary 

‘extinction risk’ themes within the ACAP. In London, 

we worked to identify where need and opportunity 

are intersecting to create two or three high priority 

‘pinnacle’ initiatives. Summit participants and their 

partners will pursue these initiatives, separately or 

combined, to achieve conservation goals for 

amphibians. The Amphibian Survival Alliance will 

provide a new, much-needed global platform to 

launch essential large-scale conservation operations 

both in nature and off-site for frogs and allied 

species and raise funds. WAZA applauds this 

initiative and will work in partnership with 

stakeholders to ensure the alliance is successful in 

whatever form it takes. Prof Manfred Niekisch, 

Director, Zoologischer Garten Frankfurt, Germany will 

present the results of the Amphibian Mini-Summit at 

the WAZA Conference in Saint Louis and outline the 

possibilities for the ASA. 

Conservation and Sustainability 

Alongside Gerald Dick, I attended the 4th IUCN 

World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, Spain, 5– 

12 October 2008. This was in my capacity as WAZA 

President and as Chair of both the WAZA/IUCN 

Amphibian Ark and IUCN/WI Freshwater Fish 

Specialist Group. This is the world’s largest 

conservation summit attended by more than 10,000 

delegates from Governments, NGOs, businesses, 

the UN and academic institutions. WAZA framed up a 

number of motions for the formal IUCN business 

sessions and all of these were co-sponsored by 

other conservation bodies and passed by the 

Congress. An agreement on the motion to develop 

a Global Species Congress, will be of particular 

interest to WAZA members, who often have a 

particular focus on individual species or particular 

taxonomic groups. I was on the ‘panel of experts’ 

for two separate workshops and took a strong 

position on the value of zoos for raising awareness 

of the importance of species. I attended key IUCN 

Species Survival Commission events, including the 

launch and review of the 2008 Red List of 

Threatened Species. Gerald and I promoted the 

work of the world’s zoos and aquariums to congress 

delegates from a WAZA stand in the Exhibition Hall – 

the only zoo-based display at the Congress. The 

outcomes of election ballots at the Congress were 

that Ashok Khosla was voted in as the new 

President of IUCN and Dr Simon Stuart took over 

from Dr Holly Dublin as Chair of Species Survival 

Commission (IUCN-SSC). 


Welfare & Ethics 

There has been strong liaison between myself, 

WAZA Council, Committees and other stakeholder 

regarding concerns on ethical and welfare issues, 

notably including the issue of acquisition of livestock 

for aquariums through dolphin drive fisheries. 

In July 2009, Gerald Dick, Chris West (Chair, Ethics & 

Welfare Committee), and I travelled to Tokyo in 

order to discuss aspects of dolphin welfare and 

conservation with the Japanese Association of Zoos 

and Aquariums and others. We felt that we made 

real progress in discussions with our Japanese 

colleagues with regard to a commitment to begin a 

separate, gentler ‘herding exercise’ as a means of 

acquisition of wild dolphins for aquariums. This 

stands in contrast to the controversial drive 

fisheries currently used for acquisition. We also 

placed emphasis on the need to develop new, 

progressively more demanding, benchmarks in 

dolphin breeding in JAZA and other aquariums. This 

is to learn more about dolphin reproduction and also 

gradually decrease the pressure on wild 

populations. Subject to detailed discussions, it is 

hoped that a new Dolphin Management Protocol will 

be jointly agreed between JAZA and WAZA by time 

of WAZA 2009 Congress in Saint Louis, USA. 

Science and Veterinary Care 

A WAZA-supported ‘Frozen Ark’ consortium initiative 

for genome resource banking for conservation and 

science is progressing well. Prof Heribert Hofer 

(Chair of the WAZA Scientific and Veterinary 

Committee) and I are both Trustees. I gave a 

keynote address on Genome Resource Banking at a 

Bio and Cryobanking Conference hosted by the 

University of Trier, Germany, 17-21 June 2008 and 

organised by Dominik Lerman. Prof Oliver Ryder, 

Scientific Director of San Diego Zoo, and myself 

chaired workshops during the Conference which, 

among other things, resulted in the formation of an 

Amphibian Biobanking Advisory Committee (ABAC), 

the secretariat of which is kindly hosted by the 

Institute of Zoology, London (ZSL). I am one of the 

contributors to the ensuing multi-author conference 

paper in the Journal of Molecular Ecology: 

‘Cryobanking of viable biomaterials: implementation 

of new strategies for conservation purposes’. 

There was agreement in principle from WAZA Council 

for me to broker arrangements for the further 

development of the international nutritional 

computer programme Zootrition with the longer-term 

view of making this software ISIS-ZIMS compatible 

and transferring custody of the programme to the 

International Species Information System. 

Aquariums 

The 2008 FishBase Symposium on Endangered Fishes 

took place in Stockholm, Sweden, 2–4 November 

2008, and I participated, at the invitation of 

FishBase Sweden, to promote the role of public 

aquariums in marine and freshwater fish 

conservation. I chaired an IUCN/WI-FFSG Global 

Freshwater Biodiversity Planning Meeting, Chester 

Zoo, 6/7 April 2009. The Committee discussed the 

FFSG’s core strategy and identified priorities, targets 

and deliverables for the coming year. Key 

participants included Conservation International’s 

Freshwater Species Program and Fundraising 

Manager, IUCN’s Freshwater Biodiversity Unit 

Manager and Wetland International’s Head of 

Strategy for Biodiversity and Ecological Networks. 

Wetlands International (WI) reported on their 

important Peatlands’ Biodiversity Project in South 

Asia and outlined plans for a new draft 

Memorandum of Understanding between WI and 

the FFSG. IUCN and Conservation International (CI) 

gave a progress report on the proposed Global 

Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment (GFBA) – an 

initiative to assess all freshwater fishes, molluscs, 

dragonflies and damselflies and a number of aquatic 

plants for the IUCN Red List of Threatened 

SpeciesTM. The group identified a number of 

opportunities for integrating the work of public 

aquariums into the GFBA programme. 

Species recovery tied in with habitat restoration is 

becoming a major new area of engagement for the 

zoo and aquarium community. I was pleased to be 

invited to give a keynote address and chair a 

session at the first ever Fish Restoration 

Conference, hosted in part by the Aquazoo and 

Löbbecke Museum, Dusseldorf, 1-4th September 

2009. I highlighted the strong complimentary links 

between work in situ and ex situ conducted in zoos, 

aquariums, universities, museums, fish hatcheries 

and wildlife agencies. Dr. Wolfgang Gettman, 

Director of the Aquazoo kindly gave me a guided 

tour around his wonderful facility and explained 

exciting new expansion plans. 

The Coral Reef Crisis: Addressing the threats of climate 

change and ocean acidification conference was held at 

the Royal Society, London, England on 6th July 2009 

with an introduction by Sir David Attenborough and 

keynote address by Professor J.E.N. Veron 

concerning the danger of major ecosystem collapse. 

Coral reefs are directly impacted by the synergistic 

effects of global warming and ocean acidification 

and are likely to be placed into a situation of 

irreversible decline if immediate steps are not taken 

to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In December 

2009, Parties of the United Nations Framework 

Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be 

meeting in Copenhagen to discuss and hopefully 

agree to greenhouse gas emission reduction 

targets. The scientific and conservation community 

has a critical role to play in informing the decision 

makers involved in the UNFCCC talks about the level 

of greenhouse gas emissions cuts required to avoid 

the most severe impacts of climate change and 

ocean acidification. Professor Veron is the former 

Chief Scientist of the Australian Institute of Marine 

Science and widely regarded as the world’s leading 

authority on coral reef ecosystems. He has 

extensively researched the highly synergistic 

threats posed to coral reef ecosystems by global 


warming and ocean acidification. As WAZA President 

I was happy to formally endorse the Technical 

Working Group Statement produced by Prof Veron 

and colleagues. The WAZA Aquarium Committee will 

now look to engage with public aquariums to 

advance the coral conservation programme in all its 

various aspects. 

Global Aquarium Strategy 

A WAZA publication entitled ‘Turning the Tide: A 

Global Aquarium Strategy for Conservation and 

Sustainability’ has now been finalized and will be 

launched at this year’s WAZA Congress in Saint 

Louis. The production of this important new strategy 

document has been led by Dr Mark Penning, current 

Relationship between Zoo Outreach Organisation and South Asian Zoo 

Association with World Association of Zoos and Aquariums 

Zoo Outreach Organisation is closely related to the 

World Association of Zoos and Aquariums WAZA 

through our Affiliate Membership in WAZA. 

Zoo Outreach Organisation supports the South 

Asian Zoo Association for Regional Cooperation 

SAZARC, a zoo association with Associate Membership 

in WAZA. 

Zoo Outreach Organisation hosts and supports the 

Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, the IUCN 

Specialist Group which was originally founded to 

liase with zoos and guide them in their efforts to 

support wildlife conservation with captive breeding. 

Zoo Outreach Organisation ZOO and Wildlife Information 

Liaison Development WILD are the only two 

registered entities in ZOO’s. ZOO and WILD are 

both registered Societies under the Tamil Nadu 

Registration Act. ZOO has converted to a Trust. The 

taxon based networks of ZOO and WILD could be 

considered as sustained and endless Projects. 

SAZARC is a bit different. SAZARC has rules and 

objectives sufficient to qualify for Associate Membership 

in WAZA. Its status is a Special Project of Zoo 

Outreach Organisation, meaning that when it 

becomes mature and financially secure enough, it 

may become an organisation on its own. 

ZOO plans and conducts an Annual Conference of 

SAZARC, in the same manner that other Associations 

have conferences. However, in case of 

SAZARC, the administrative, economic, psychological 

and political peculiarities and rules, it seems impossible 

for zoo personnel to obtain funding to attend 

SAZARC. Only Sri Lankan government has sent their 

officers at the expense of the concerned Ministry. 

So ZOO has to raise the entire amount of the 

conference and does so by submitting requests and 

grant proposals to the international zoo community 

and international NGO’s. Whatever is raised is 

spent on the travel, accomodation, resource persons, 

and other costs of the conference. If there 

are funds left over, the funds are carried over to 

next year’s conference, and occasionally used to 

12 

Chair of the WAZA Aquarium Committee. There are 

key contributions to this document from eminent 

aquatic biologists and conservationists. As well as 

being keenly anticipated in the zoo and aquarium 

world, this publication is being welcomed by leading 

global conservation NGOs including the IUCN 

Species Survival Commission, Conservation 

International, Wetlands International and RAMSAR. 

They have all agreed to officially endorse the 

document. We are also pleased to have the support 

of the International Aquarium Forum (IAF) and the 

European Union of Aquarium Curators (EUAC), 

among other stakeholders. 

Respectfully, Gordon Reid, WAZA President 

send zoo personnel in the region to trainings and 

meetings when indicated. ZOO doesn’t take a 

percentage or use any of the funds to pay salaries 

or other administrative costs, so ZOO is also a 

sponsor of the SAZARC conference and any other 

thing done in its name. 

During Dr. Brij Sharma’s term as CZA Member Secretary, 

he requested that CBSG make all directors of 

Large and Medium zoos members of CBSG. This 

was not possible for all due to the size limitations of 

Specialist Groups, so Chair, CBSG requested that the 

others become members of CBSG, South Asia. 

CBSG, South Asia as well as Reintroduction Specialist 

Group, South Asia sent an invitation to all of the 

Indian zoo directors, but few responded. Dr. 

Sharma also encouraged the Large zoos to become 

members of WAZA. For an individual zoo to become 

a WAZA member they have to belong to a Regional 

Association. SAZARC declared all South Asian Zoos 

as members long ago but agreed to send a formal 

certification of association membership if a zoo 

wanted to become a member of WAZA. Brij Sharma 

also managed to get over 50 LMS zoos signed up to 

ISIS. This is the largest single contribution that 

anyone has ever made to giving a genuine future in 

effective conservation to Indian zoos. Being members 

of ISIS will propel the Indian and South Asian 

zoo community into 21st Century zoo management 

after decades of lagging behind. Our hat is off to Dr. 

Sharma for this and many other achievements. 

ZOO is aware of the discussions which have taken 

place in Indian zoo meetings about ZOO and 

SAZARC. Despite such, ZOO stands behind its 

promise to assist in any way possible if a zoo wants 

to apply for membership in WAZA. ZOO has always 

acted on principles of positive and constructive 

action, non-duplication of effort and trying (unlike in 

the old South Asian folk story of the crabs) to help 

the crabs get out of the bucket instead of pulling 

them back ! 

Sally Walker, Sanjay Molur & Zoo Crew 


Wildlife Week in India ... 55 years old 

Wildlife Week is an official designated annual event 

from 1-7 October created by the Government of 

India Wildlife Advisory Board 55 years ago. It is 

going strong and has been for decades and is 

growing year by year and should be given a global 

venue. Wildlife Week falls on Gandhi Jayanthi 

celebrated in India. 

All our reports are good but I am particularly 

touched by the first one about children afflicted 

with Leukemia celebrating Wildlife Week in Kerala. 

Some purists may say that we should focus more 

on policy makers so things would get done, but 

educating children demonstrates, at least, that we 

have some hope for the future! Also if we do have 

a future in the climate changing, ocean acidification, 

emerging diseases, politically unstable world, it will 

be brought about by the behaviour of today’s kids. 

And that is not enough, then, from the article itself 

“it was an enriching and uplifting experience not 

only for the children and their parents, as well as 

the organizers.” We find that children take things 

back to busy parents and they learn about some 

important issues first from their kids. 

And if that is not enough, surely nobody would 

object to giving kids with leukemia something to 

love and feel good about. Congratulations to Dr. 

Geeta Govindaraj, Asst. Prof. Dept. of Pediatrics, 

Medical College Calicut, Kerala. Email: 

geetakkumar@gmail.com for this activity and her 

report. Congratulations to all of the many people 

who celebrated Wildlife Week/Day under whatever 

auspices. 

Zoo Outreach Organisation has been preparing and 

providing educational materials for zoos and ngo’s, 

etc. for 2.5 decades, since 1985 with 2010 to be 

celebrated as our Anniversary. In 1997 we joined 

with the International Zoo Educators Association 

and in 2000 or thereabouts began representing 

the South Asian region. 

Our taxon, thematic and institutional networks 

have suggested directions in education and also 

provided important themes, such as Threatened 

Amphibians-AArk, 2010 Save Biodiversity, Wildlife 

Welfare, Daily Life Wildlife, Conservation Conscious 

zoos, and many others following PHVA and CAMP 

workshops and WAZA meetings. For this Wildlife 

Week, we tackled Climate Change, a joint initiative 

of CBSG and WAZA, by creating a packet calling 

attention to aspects which might aid in altering the 

attitudes and behaviour of kids toward developing 

Earth friendly habits. All the educators who 

ordered these packets were asked to evaluate the 

impact of them on their target audience of children. 

Coming up is Year of Biodiversity 2010 and we will 

be developing a range of materials to relate all our 

old taxon based materials to this important topic 

and our 25th year anniversary. 

Editor Emeritus. 

Children with Leukemia celebrate 

Wildlife Week, Calicut, South India 

Wildlife Week was celebrated among children 

undergoing treatment for leukemia at the 

Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Calicut on 

Gandhi Jayanthi day, 2009. The programme was 

conducted by the Department of Pediatrics, 

Medical College, Calicut and a charitable 

organisation looking after the needs of children 

with cancer and chronic illnesses, C4CCCI. There 

were twenty children in all. 

This was made possible by the very generous and 

thoughtful support of Zoo Outreach Organisation 

and South Asian Network of the International Zoo 

Educators Association SAN-IZE. For a brief while 

the Leukemia ward came alive with animals in the 

form of posters, face masks, rakhis, placards and 

stickers and there was laughter and frolic all 

around. Children gained valuable insights into the 

need to save wild animals wherever they may be 

and forgot their pain and suffering for a brief 

while. 

Dr. Rajmohana, Scientist at the Zoological Survey 

of India, Western Ghats Research Station, Calicut 

was the chief coordinator. She introduced children 

to the concept of wildlife conservation through 

stories and interesting anecdotes. The response 

was enthusiastic and spontaneous. A short movie 

on wildlife conservation was shown to the 

children. 

A picture colouring session was arranged and 

several of the hospital beds were joined together 

to form a large dais. All the children coloured the 

butterfly picture provided in the packets handed 

out. The enthusiasm was palpable. One child, who 

was unable to sit up due to a fractured spine, did 

the colouring lying down. 

Children paraded around wearing their butterfly 

masks and holding placards aloft, though several 

of them had intravenous cannulas on their wrists. 

All in all it was an enriching and uplifting 

experience not only for the children and their 

parents, but also for the organisers. 

We thank Sally Walker and her crew at ZOO as 

well as SAN-IZE and look forward to working 

together in future to make the world a better 

place for sick children and, of course, for wild 

animals as well! 

Submitted by: Dr.Geeta Govindaraj, Asst. Prof. 

Dept. of Pediatrics, Medical College Calicut, 

Kerala. Email: geetakkumar@gmail.com 

Photos on the following page. See them in 

colour on our website at www.zoosprint.org 


14 

The Leukemia ward came alive when children 

gained valuable insights into the need to save 

wild animals 

Children coloured the butterfly picture 

provided in the packets handed out. The 

response was enthusiastic and spontaneous 

Children gained valuable insights into the need to 

save wild animals wherever they may be and 

forgot their pain and suffering for a brief while. 

It was an enriching, uplifting experience for 

children, their parents, and the organisers. 

ZOO WATCH education for snake 

conservation during Wildlife Week 

On October 2, ZOOWATCH conducted a very 

interesting public education workshop on snake 

conservation at the Trivandrum Zoo to mark the 

beginning of Wildlife Week. This is actually the first 

time such a training programme for the public has 

been held in Trivandrum Zoo on the topic of snake 

conservation. This workshop is especially relevant 

because today in India, snakes have a very 

negative image. They are frequently hunted and 

killed because most people regard them as 

dangerous vermin. There are also many 

superstitions about snakes which are believed by 

the public, eg. that snakes can dance, that they 

can take revenge, etc. These foolish ideas 

encourage people to kill snakes and as a result, 

snakes are seriously endangered. 

The truth is that snakes are actually crucial 

elements of our natural environment. Without 

snakes, our farms and houses would be overrun by 

rats and mice. In many parts of the world, snakes 

are considered the farmer’s best friends because 

they help to save the crops that we will eventually 

require. Many people kill snakes, but very few know 

that under Indian law, ( Wildlife Protection Act) all 

snakes are protected. Snakes are our servants and 

our best friends since they eliminate rats which 

cause hunger and disease. 

The objective of this workshop was to convince the 

public, especially the younger generation, to 

prevent the unnecessary killing of snakes. We also 

wished to alter public misconceptions about snakes 

in general and to instill respect and understanding 

of the essential role that they play in the 

environment. It was quite difficult to convince many 

people that snakes should not be killed at once! 

We were very fortunate to have a senior 

veterinarian surgeon, Dr. Ramkumar present who 

conducted a session just for schoolchildren. 

To maximize the effect ZOOWATCH used for the first 

time snake flex boards to convey the message of 

snake conservation. These were very effective 

because they condensed the basic information 

about snakes for all levels of society. The 

programme was very well received. TV coverage 

was very detailed. Also a report on our programme 

appeared in the Hindu the next day. Heartened by 

the success of this edutainment session, we plan 

now on taking our boards to schools and colleges 

in and around Trivandrum. 

ZOOWATCH takes this opportunity to thank the Zoo 

Director, Ms. Vijayakumari, the zoo superintendent 

Mr. Sadashivan and the zoo staff for their generous 

support. Submitted by: Dr. Latha Tampi, Vice- 

President, ZOO WATCH, Trivandrum, Kerala. Email; 

lathatampi@yahoo.com 


Wildlife week celebrations in Mysore Zoo 

Vijay Ranjan Singh * 

Indian Wildlife Week is being observed from 1-7 

October 2009, as usual every year. This year being 

the 55th Wildlife Week, the zoo has planned to 

carryout many awareness programmes, besides 

free entry to school children, birthday celebration, 

zoo in-reach, zoo out-reach, naming ceremony of 

zoo young animals and photography competition 

and exhibition for the benefit of large section of the 

public involving students, zoo volunteers and NGO’s 

is organized. 

The inauguration of the photography exhibition was 

held on 1 October 2009, and altogether 150 

photographs of amateurs and professionals were 

displayed, much to the appreciation of the visitors 

and photographers, especially display and lighting 

aspects. Some of the rarest photographs displayed 

which inspired the visitors to care nature and wildlife, 

and they could have glimpse of both the zoo and 

forests. 

October 4 was the luckiest day, to celebrate ‘world 

habitat day’ coinciding with the wildlife week, 

involving about 54 students of youth club members 

and specially invited 42 students of Shreekantha Girls 

High School, led by our zoo volunteer Smt. G. Suma, 

the teacher of that school, to the zoo. 

It was a great occasion to make use of the awareness 

materials received from Zoo Outreach Organization. 

The materials like mask, placards, rakhi, were 

appraised about the importance of wildlife, and how 

to appeal and inspire the visitors to create 

awareness. 

The students performed a good skit on elephant and 

human conflict, in two different places, where visitors 

gathered more in number. The members with great 

enthusiasm worn the mask and enjoyed to the fullest 

brim, and exchanging greetings with another and 

expressed the need to conduct such programmes. 

The visitors witnessed the show appreciated the kids. 

Some girls were chosen, who have big louder voice 

for the male character, and then both the team got 

together and exchange their thoughts about the skit. 

It was a good exercise which helped to learn lot of 

things; finally the students took a rally inside the zoo 

which was watched by huge holiday crowd. 

Mysore zoo extends sincere thanks to Zoo 

Outreach Organisation for providing materials for a 

good cause and it was a great learning experience 

to both the students and teacher. 

* Executive Director, Sri Chamarajendra Zoological 

Gardens, Mysore, Karnataka. Email: 

zoomysore@gmail.com 


Other education Reports 

Sri Bhavani Higher Primary School, Mysore 

Sri Bhavani Higher Primary School at Vishewaranagar, 

is run by Sajjan Edcuation Trust in Mysore. 

This school is being adopted by the Inner Wheel 

Club, Mysore Central. The school caters to the 

economically weaker students. About 30, 7 

standard students attended the elephant 

education programme. The students were asked 

what they knew about elephant. They said that 

they had seen it in Dasara procession and in the 

Mysore zoo. 

The students were told what made a mammal, the 

matriarchal family of the elephants. The importance 

of keeping their migratory corridor was explained. 

Important information were shared like, why there 

is more human – elephant conflict than ever. Why 

elephants raid the field on the fringes of the 

forests? Why do we see them as threat? How 

much food and water an elephant need a day, the 

maternal instinct and the group dynamic regarding 

a young one. 

The students were divided into two groups and 

were asked to list, where and how elephant is 

used in our culture. The two groups listed, following 

which they were given the Ele-Kit. The students 

went through the content, wore the mask and tied 

Rakhi to their neighbours making a promise to learn 

more about Elephants. The students were asked 

to collect information, stories, songs etc., on 

elephants. 

The programme would not have been possible 

without the help of the Headmistress M. Yashodha 

and the students, the President Mamatha S. Raj 

and Kavitha from the Inner Wheel, Mysore Central, 

and the Zoo Outreach Organisation, Coimbatore. 

16 

Government Lower Primary school, Mysore 

It was our third visit on 8th August, to the Govt. 

Lower Primary school, at Jayalakshmipuram, 

Mysore. There were 15 students only, as many of 

them had gone on a traditional alms seeking in the 

month of Shravan, according to the Hindu calendar. 

The remaining children were very enthusiastic and 

proudly displayed what they had done as an earlier 

assignment. The students had prepared a minidrama 

on elephants. 

The second session on Monkey Manners started off 

by asking the students if they had seen monkeys 

around their residential area and were asked to 

describe it. They described the colour and the 

features of a monkey. They said that none of them 

were bitten by any monkey, but it was scary to 

confront them when they were in their locality. The 

students were asked “what makes an alpha male?” 

“Why our smile is seen as a threat?” “Why they 

shouldn’t feed the monkeys either at temples or 

when it comes to their locality.” They were asked 

to leave them alone and respect them. Receiving 

educational packets, ‘Mind your Monkey manners’, 

the students went through the content, tied rakhi, 

wore mask and screeched like monkeys. 

I thank the Headmistress 

Pushpa, teachers and the 

children of the Government 

Lower Primary school, 

Jayalakshmipuram, Mysore, the 

Zoo Outreach Organisation, 

Coimbatore for the interesting 

educational materials. 

Submitted by Tanuja DH, C/o 

Ace the Sports Shoppe, No.5, 

Corporation Building, Kalidasa Road, Mysore- 570 

002. tanujadh@gmail.com, tanudh@yahoo.co.in 


COUNTDOWN 2010 -- Save Biodiversity Programmes in 

Chennai and Madurai, Tamil Nadu 

For Eco – Task Force, Capron Hall Girl’s Higher 

Secondary School, Madurai 

Besides their regular class time, students of Capron 

Hall Girls Higher Secondary School have entered 

into activities of COUNTDOWN 2010 – Save 

Biodiversity by observing and identifying natural 

objects and developing an understanding of 

interdependence of all organisms and the need for 

conserving them. With the knowledge gained from 

the ZOO programme, ‘Frogs Rock’ they also taught 

friends, parents, teachers and neighbours. They 

made a request to help in save amphibians in 

hostels, temple and churches. They created 

awareness to the National Green Corp. in charge 

teachers. Following up this year long programme, 

10 students were made members of Eco-Task Force 

or level II of COUNTDOWN 2010 Local on 13 July 09, 

because they won the II prize in District level 

competition for the model ‘Frog in its Habitat’. In 

order to go into the matter depth the Amphibian 

Ark Art colouring books were distributed with 

explanation. Learning about 2 frogs per month, 

painting, sharing and displaying the same in the 

campus is the strategy. 

Rani Meyyammai Girls Higher Secondary School, 

Chennai 

This programme was an opportunity to students 

and staff of Rani Meyyammai GHSS to learn more 

about the International initiatives going around the 

globe and about Zoo Outreach Organisation, 

SANIZE and IZE. After relating some historic 

activities of IUCN since 1972, the COUNT DOWN 

2010 Save Biodiversity was explained in the 

morning assembly. Students and teachers 

underwent training on Amphibian Ark and Bat 

Conservation. Free educational packets from Zoo 

Outreach Organisation were distributed and global 

numbers of amphibian species, reason for 

extinction and role of students to save them were 

explained. They were taught using techniques 

role play, race and students initiation. Being the 

first time of this type of programme, the BAT 

Activities material was translated into Tamil and 

distributed to all. ‘Bat bookmark’ and South Asian 

Bats colouring books were distributed. Students 

participated in a drawing and cultural programme. 

‘Trees as an Ecosystems’ theme was used by 

standing around the tree and instructed in how to 

follow up eco-study at seasonal changes. 

YMCA Kamak High School for the Deaf, Madurai 

COUNTDOWN 2010 – Save Biodiversity 

Life, isn’t it marvelous? Without birds, the insects 

would overwhelm the world. Without insects, many 

of the birds would starve. Without the fish the 

seagull could not live. Without seagulls, the 

seashore would be heaped with dead things. 

Likewise the terrestrial ecosystem is balanced. 

Really it’s a wonderful world. In order to maintain 

its beauty and man’s need and health, one must 

save Biodiversity. Every individual on this earth has 

a role to play. Keeping this in mind COUNTDOWN 

2010 – Save Biodiversity programme was 

conducted for seventeen students from Std VIII 

and 2 specially trained teachers. The educational 

booklets on Frog, Bat and Monkey Manners were 

supplied by Zoo Outreach Organisation were 

distributed. Explanation, cultural programme and 

role play were used to make the points. Special big 

posters theming man/monkey confrontation, bats’ 

and amphibians’ important role were distributed to 

the school. Students demonstrated the posters 

enthusiastically and decided to approach the 

general public with posters, often. 

Submitted by Mrs. Jessie Jeyakaran, IZE 

member, 4A/1 A.V.M. Avenue, II Main Road, 

Virugambakkam, Chennai - 600 092, Tamil 

Nadu. Email: jessiejey@rediffmail.com 

R.K.M. Saradha Vidayalaya Model Higher 

Secondary School, T. Nagar, Chennai 

Our school arranged a programme for the NGC 

group and Frogs Rock members. Twenty aspirant 

wards from NGC were selected to form “Eco Task 

Force”. Headmistress, Smt. R.M. Namagiri 

appreciated the various activities carried out during 

the last academic year (2008-09) by the Frogs Rock 

members and promised us to extend her full 

support for this year. The writer, a member of IZE, 

explained about the importance of human-animal 

co-existence especially with animals like elephants, 

monkeys, etc. She illustrated water conservation, 

climate change, agriculture by bio-manure etc. She 

gave us tips on energy conservation, preparing biomanure 

and developing eco-garden in our school. 

She also explained how water could be utilized 

economically by an individual at home and school. It 

was very informative. 

Mr. S. Srinivasan one of the member of EXNORA 

International was the chief guest for the 

programme, distributed the booklets for the ECO 

TASK FORCE members. Our teachers co-ordinator 

Mrs. Kannaki Prabakaran read the report of the 

various activities conducted in our school for the 

Frogs Rock members, for the year 2008-09. This 

programme was followed by many follow up 

activities like role play, drawing, mono-acting, 

learning through charts etc. We hope that this 

programme conducted for us by all means will 

enthuse us to conserve the animals and the 

nature. Submitted by Jessie Jayakaran on behalf 

of R.M. Namagiri, Headmistress, R.K.M. Saradha 

Vidayalaya Model Higher Secondary School, T. 

Nagar, Chennai. 


Education at Lahore Zoo Pakistan 

International Vulture Awareness Day 

Now, 5th September, 2009 is International Vulture 

Awareness Day. Lahore Zoo Education Department 

celebrated this event because Vultures are an 

ecologically vital bird group that faces a wide range 

of threats in many areas where they are naturally 

occurring. Pakistan is one of several countries 

facing alarming decline in vultures. There were 

nine types of vultures native to South Asia and 

eight of these were found in Pakistan. Pakistan 

has seen major declines in the population of Whitebacked 

vulture and the Long-billed vulture with 

95% decline and both listed as “Critically 

Endangered”. This means there is no way to 

prevent the extinction of the species unless serious 

conservation efforts are undertaken. 

The decline in the vulture population has been 

blamed on the extensive use of the Diclofenac Sodium 

a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) 

which is commonly used in livestock in the Indiansubcontinent 

for the treatment of lameness, fever 

etc. It is cheap and widely available. Diclofenac 

Sodium accumulates in the kidneys of vultures 

when they feed on carcasses and eventually leads 

to their death. It has been banned in vet practice. 

Lahore Zoo is one of the oldest zoos of the world 

and its major aim is educating visitors on environmental 

and conservation issues. In this era of 

depletion and destruction of natural habitat for 

wildlife it is duty of zoos to spread the message of 

animal welfare. Lahore Zoo celebrated IVAD 5th 

September, 2009. A small group of visitors from 

different walks of life gathered at Jungle Café near 

the Indian python enclosure. Syed Zafar-ul-Hasan, 

Director Lahore Zoo delivered welcome lecture on 

importance of vulture and added that Lahore Zoo 

management planned to house the vulture for their 

captive breeding after completing its Master Plan in 

bird aviary. Then visitors and young students the 

conservationist of tomorrow will have the chance to 

see this bird and will make positive efforts to save 

18 

it. Bushra Khan, Education Officer spoke on the 

ecological role of vultures and showed pictures of 

vultures suffering in Pakistan. Mr. Anwar Man 

Deputy Director, added that these birds are 

biological indicators and help to clean the 

environment. Vulture posters provided by WWF- 

Pakistan were distributed to the audience and 

assured they are with Lahore Zoo for conservation 

of this important bird. 

Lahore Zoo celebrating 62nd Anniversary of 

Independence Day of Pakistan 

The Education Department arranged a wildlife 

painting and sculpture competition on 18 Sept 09. 

Pakistan has a large diversity of wildlife, much of 

which is of international interest, facing a large 

number of threats and declines. There were three 

categories of competition with total 40 participants 

participated in all above categories. Ch. 

Abdul Gahfoor, Minister Prison & Industry was the 

honourable Chief Guest as well as Dr. Md Jhangir 

Ghauri Director General, Wildlife & Parks Punjab. 

Ch. Abdul Gahfoor, Minister Prison & Industry 

admired the zoo administration and staff for their 

work and dedication to animals. Visitors showed 

keen interest in the exhibition. 

A Wildlife Painting Exhibition in collaboration with 

NAQSH School of Arts, Lahore was held from 13- 16 

September 2009. Lahore Zoo’s intention was to 

create awareness in the general public about the 

importance of wildlife. Secy Forest, Fisheries & WL 

Babar Hassan Bharwana was Hon. Chief Guest who 

praised the effort and work of students and 

teachers of NAQSH School of Arts, Lahore especially 

thanking Mr. M.H. Rumi Principal. A total of 142 

paintings and 24 sculptures of magnificent wildlife 

made by 45 students were displayed at the 

exhibition. The attending public enjoyed and 

showed keen interest in this exhibition. Secretary 

Forest, Fisheries and Wildlife Mr. Babar Hassan 

Bharwana related his desire that Lahore Zoo 

should establish a Zoo Education centre comprising 

of gallery, museum, lecture theater and library. 

Judging and 

admiring the 

exhibition. 

Submitted by 

Bushra Khan, 

Lahore Zoo, 

Pakistan. 

Email: bushrank@yahoo.com 


Management of mating injuries in two Asiatic Lions (Panthera Leo) 

I. Nath 1* , S.K.Panda 2 , P.K.Roy 3 , A.K.Mishra 4 and A.K.Pattanaik 5 

Two Asiatic lions, one male aged about 22 years and 

one female aged about 17 years, belonging to lion 

safari of Nandankanan Zoo inflicted serious injuries 

on one another during mating. It was noted that 

both the animals became anorectic and dull. The 

wounds had become infested with maggots. It was 

decided to tranquilize the lions for detailed 

examination and treatment. 

Both the lions were separated and brought to their 

feeding pens. The lioness was darted with a 

mixture of 0.6mg of atropine sulphate, 200mg of 

xylazine hydrochloride (2mg/kg b.wt) and 200mg of 

ketamine hydrochloride (2mg/kg b.wt) using a blow 

pipe (fig.1 w ) on 23.1.08. She was recumbent within 

10minutes (fig.2 w ). On examination extensive 

maggoted wounds involving anus and vagina were 

found (fig.3 w ). The wounds were washed with 0.1% 

potassium permanganate lotion. Powdered 

naphthalene balls about 100gm mixed with 250ml of 

coconut oil was painted over the wounds. The anus 

and vaginal walls were apposited with nylon 

retention suture impregnated with DMSO (fig.4 w ). 

The lioness was administered with 500ml of 5% 

DNS, 500ml of RL intravenously and 1gm of 

ceftriaxone sodium, 10ml of meloxicam 

intramuscularly (fig.5 w ). Ivermectin 3ml was injected 

subcutaneously. The heart rate and respiration rate 

was noted to be 70-80/minute and 12-18/minute 

respectively throughout the operation period. The 

animal was revived with 2ml (20mg of yohimbine 

hydrochloride@0.2mg/kg b.wt) of reverzine 

administered intravenously. Hematological 

examination revealed absence of trypanosomes. 

The differential count showed neutrophil 88%, 

eosinophil 2%, lymphocyte 8% and monocyte 2%. 

The ceftriaxone sodium and melonex was 

administered intramuscularly daily for another 3 

days using blow pipe while keeping the lioness in a 

squeeze cage. Luke warm potassium 

permanganate lotion was sprayed over the wound 

by a hand pump. After drying the wounds with 

cotton swab held by a long forceps, Himax lotion 

was painted over it (fig.6 w ). 

The lion was similarly tranquilized with 0.6mg of 

atropine sulphate, 250mg of xylazine hydrochloride 

and 200mg of ketamine hydrochloride. The deep 

wound at nasal sinus area was washed, debrided 

and stiched with nylon suture dipped in (DMSO) 

dimethyl sulfoxide in mattress fashion (fig.7 w ). The 

lacerated wound involving the left lower eyelid was 

dressed with gentamycin eye drops. The lion had 

developed bilateral cataract (fig.8 w ). The same 

medicines were administered to the lion. The blood 

picture of the lion was also negative for tryps and 

the differential count for neutrophil, eosinophil, 

lymphocyte and monocyte percentage was 85%, 

1%, 9% and 5% respectively. On 27.1.08 there was 

slight gaping of the wounds (fig.9 w ) which was 

dressed with spraying of betadine lotion and fly 

repellent. Both the lions recovered uneventfully. 

In the present case, the lion and the lioness might 

have copulated repeatedly in a day for several days 

causing trauma to the vaginal wall and subsequent 

infestation with maggots resulted in deep wounds 

involving anus and vagina. The wound in the lion 

might have been caused by the female during 

copulation. Parenteral antibiotic, local dressing 

resulted in healing of the wounds. Nylon suture 

impregnated with DMSO reduced irritation during 

healing process. 

1 Associate professor, Surgery; 2 Head, Pathology, 

Orissa Vet College, Bhubaneswar; 3 Sr. Veterinary 

officer; 4 Assist. Director; 5 Director, Nandankanan 

Zoo, Baranga, Orissa. * Email: indravet@yahoo.co.in 

Scavenging by Common Mongoose in 

Gulab Bagh Zoo and Sajjangarh WL 

Sanctuary 

Satish Kumar Sharma 

On July 3, 2008 at about 1100 hrs, while taking 

round in Gulab Bagh Zoo, I saw two individuals of 

Common Mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii) feeding on 

fresh buffalo flesh in the cage of a Hyena (Hyaena 

hyaena). The flesh was lying on the floor of one of 

twin feeding chambers. The Hyena was sleeping 

only 2m away from the pieces of flesh in another 

chamber and was visible from the first chamber. The 

caretaker and I and a few visitors were standing 

near the barrier and the feeding mongooses were 

clearly visible as they were hardly 10m away from 

us. They did not take much notice of our presence 

and that of the sleeping hyena. To avoid being 

visible to us, they hid themselves behind the big 

pieces of the flesh and remained busy in feeding for 

more than seven minutes. After taking sufficient 

food, they came out through the bars of the door. 

Similar feeding pattern is adopted by H. edwardsii in 

Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary near Gorella village. 

Gorella is a small village which is present near 

southern end of Sajjangarh Sanctuary. Dead cattle 

are disposed of by the villagers of Gorella very close 

to sanctuary. 

Sajjangarh is a walled sanctuary. Small perforations 

have been left at the bottom of the wall at places to 

facilitate natural drainage of the rain water. The 

mongooses from the sanctuary area use these 

perforations to come outside. They feed singly or in 

small parties on cattle carcasses. After scavenging, 

they return to sanctuary area through the same 

perforations. Common Mongoose H. edwardsii and 

Ruddy Mongoose H. smithi both feed on trampled 


small reptiles, birds and mammals on main gate - 

Monsoon palace road inside the sanctuary. 

Common mongoose (H. edwardsii) around 

Sajjangarh Sanctuary area have quite interesting 

feeding habits. They enter human dwellings and 

have been seen feeding on grains of drying wheat 

in the courtyards of houses. Probably they like 

wheat weevils but they were even seen taking 

weevil free grains also. On a winter morning, I 

observed a Common Mongoose entering a house in 

Rampura colony on the western outskirts of Udaipur 

city, where cow milk and crushed roti (made of 

wheat flour) was offered in a bowl to the pet cat by 

the owner of the house. While the cat was busy 

feeding the mongoose approached the cat and 

charged at it. The cat immediately moved a bit and 

gave room to the mongoose. The mongoose quickly 

started feeding on the milk and roti without any fear. 

My friend, the owner of the house, informed me 

about two individuals of mongoose of the nearby 

area that have become habituated to feed on milk 

and roti that sometimes both come for feeding on 

milk and roti. 

Since the common mongoose is a carnivore and can 

kill small mammals and birds in the zoo, the 

zookeepers should take care to keep away the 

mongoose from the enclosures of small animals by 

proper maintenance of the enclosures especially 

doors and other prone areas of the cages. Even 

they can climb on the rough vertical walls and on 

trees too, hence proofing should be done up to the 

ventilators. 

Superintendent, Gulab Bagh Zoo and Range 

Forest Officer, Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary, 

Udaipur Email: sksharma56@gmail.com 

A note on helminth parasites of 

common myna (Acridotheres 

tristis) in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu 

G. Ponnudurai, T.J. Harikrishnan, A. Arulmozhi 

and N. Rani * 

The mynas are commonly called as “Farmer’s Friend” 

because they eat insects that destroy crop plants. 

They are susceptible to many diseases including 

helminthic infections. Of these, arthropod borne 

helminthic infections viz., cestodes and some 

nematodes are common because they eat insects 

which the helminth parasites use as their 

intermediate host. This paper describes an 

occurrence of tapeworm and nematode infection. 

A myna was brought to the Avian Diagnostic 

Laboratory, Namakkal, for post mortem. On 

examination nematodes (5 numbers) and cestodes 

(6 numbers) were noted in the intestinal tract. The 

worms were collected in normal saline and brought 

to the Parasitology Laboratory for further confirmation. 

The nematodes were cleared immediately 

20 

and identified up to genus level as per (Sood, 

2006). The tapeworms were flattened and stained 

with acetic alum carmine stain as per standard 

procedure. After clearing, the tapeworms were 

identified as per (Yamaguti, 1985). 

The nematodes that were collected in this case 

were identified as Diplotriaena spp. The nematodes 

measured 80 – 85 mm x 0.55 – 0.68 mm, were milky 

white, the body was long and slender, mouth 

simple without lips. A pair of chitinous tridents 

(0.145 - 0.155 mm) were noted at the head end of 

the worm (Fig.1w ). Eggs were oval, thick shelled, 

smooth measuring 52 - 65 x 39 – 52 μm and 

embryonated. 

In India, several authors (Gupta and Johri, 1988 and 

Sathyanarayana and Tamilarasu, 1989) had earlier 

described different species, belonging to the genus 

Diplotriaena, from the body cavity of the myna. In 

the present case, the nematodes were recovered 

from the intestinal tract. The earlier workers had 

recorded different species viz., D. mirzapurensis 

(Soota and Chaturvedi, 1972), D. nagpurensis and D. 

acridotherei (Gupta and Johri, 1988) from the body of 

the myna and other wild birds. The nematodes 

encountered in this case might be a new species 

with new location which had so far not been 

recorded. 

The tapeworms collected in this case measured 13 

cm long. Each segment has a single set of reproductive 

organs. Ovary bilobed, median, genital 

pores open unilateral. In the gravid segments, the 

uterus is replaced with egg capsules. Each egg 

capsule contains a single egg (Fig.2w ). Based on the 

characters observed, the tapeworms were identified 

as Railliettina spp. (Yamaguti,1985). This 

collection confirmed the findings of Johri, (1934) who 

described Railliettina penetrans from Indian Myna. 

References 

Gupta, V and S. Johri (1988). On some filarid 

nematode parasites of birds from Lucknow, Indian. J. 

Helminthol, 40:109-120. 

Johri, L.N (1934). Report on a collection of cestodes 

from Lucknow, Rec. Ind. Mus, 36:153-177. 

Sathyanarayana, M.C and P. Tamilarasu (1989). 

Helminth parasites of selected birds of Mayiladuthurai 

area, Tamil Nadu, Indian. J. Helminthol, 24:22-25. 

Sood, M.L (2006). Nematode parasites of birds 

(including poultry from south Asia) First Edn. International 

book distributing co, Lucknow, p 498-527. 

Soota, T.D and Y.Chaturvedi (1972). The nematode 

fauna of Goa Part-II, Indian. J. Helminthol, 24:22-35. 

Yamaguti (1985). The cestodes of vertebrates Vol. – II, 

Reprint Edn. Intl. books/ periodicals supply service , New 

Delhi. 

* Department of Veterinary Parasitology, 

Veterinary College & Research Institute, 

Namakkal. Email: gponnu@rediffmail.com 

w See figures in the web supplement at 

www.zoosprint.org 


Can the whistling hunters be successfully reintroduced into Indian jungles? 

K.L.N Murthy * 

The Dhole or Asiatic Wild dog Cuon alpinus is a 

highly social and cooperative animal, living in 

organised packs of around 10 individuals and 

occasionally over 30. In fact, dholes are genetically 

distinct from true dogs and it doesn’t fit clearly in 

any of the canid sub-families (i.e., foxes or wolf-like 

animals). The term ‘dhole’ is reported to have an 

ancient Asiatic origin signifying “reckless-ness and 

daring” (Mivart, 1890). Three sub-species have 

been recorded within South Asia. They are C.a. 

dukhunensis Sykes 1831, found south of river 

Ganga, C.a. primaevus Hodgson 1833, seen in 

Kumaon, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan and C.a. laniger 

Pocock 1936, reported in Kashmir and Ladakh. 

Apart from these, C.a. adustus and C.a. infuscus are 

the other two sub-species found in Myanmar. 

Habitat, distribution and conservation status 

Asiatic wild dogs normally live in forest habitats but 

are equally adapted to survive in the open steppes 

of Kashmir. As the Latin name, Cuon alpinus 

suggests, the dhole is mainly an inhabitant of hilly 

regions with undulating terrain. The principal 

components that constitute ideal dhole habitat are 

prey abundance, water, forest interspersed with 

grassy openings, availability of den sites and 

absence of human disturbance (Johnsingh 1985). 

The best remaining populations are probably 

confined to the wildlife reserves and protected 

areas in central and southern India, but even their 

stability is doubtful as there is no empirical data on 

their present distribution. This has also been 

highlighted in the latest IUCN Action Plan for 

Canids. There is an immediate requirement for 

surveys to gain information and ascertain the 

present distribution trends in the Indian subcontinent. 

Studies carried out by researches like 

A.J.T Johnsingh, A.B Venkataraman and B.B Acharya 

yielded useful insights into the ecology and 

behaviour of this endangered carnivore. In most of 

its range, the dhole is sympatric with the tiger and 

the leopard, co-existing for thousands of years 

through subtle ecological and behavioural mechanisms 

such as differential prey selection and spatiotemporal 

use of habitat (Johnsingh 1992, Karanth 

and Sunquist 1995). Dholes have even been 

known to kill leopards and chase tigers off a kill! 

The dhole is a protected species under Schedule-II 

of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. They are 

also protected in Appendix-II (2003) of CITES. The 

IUCN categorized the dhole’s status as 

‘Endangered’ in the wild. The future of this 

endangered canid in the wild is under threat from 

the depletion of prey base, habitat loss and 

fragmentation, human persecution, competition with 

other species including feral dogs for prey species, 

disease and pathogens (Davidar, 1975). 

Role of zoos as captive breeding centres 

According to Central Zoo Authority records, less 

than 30 captive wild dogs are left in all Indian zoos! 

Dholes have been bred successfully at 

Visakhapatnam zoo and Arignar Anna Zoological 

Park (AAZP), Vandalur, Chennai, but only a few 

pups survived. In order to successfully breed a 

species with complex social structure, a comprehensive 

meta-population management strategy is 

vital for producing healthy, self-sustaining populations 

which may be reintroduced into the wild in 

future. Determination of appropriate size and 

composition of captive groups is difficult as dholes 

have complex social organisation and mating 

systems. The core idea behind “India’s Conservation 

Breeding Initiative” of Central Zoo Authority, 

New Delhi is to maintain healthy, self sustaining 

buffer populations of endangered species in major 

Indian zoos and captive breeding facilities which 

were identified by the Authority for this purpose. 

My observations on captive dholes at Indira Gandhi 

Zoological Park showed that they are extremely 

shy and wary animals with individual spatial 

preferences. They are very alert to even the 

slightest changes or disturbances around their 

enclosures. We know very little about their 

preference of enclosures, behaviour, reproductive 

biology, pup development, husbandry, and 

environmental enrichment techniques. Hence, 

these areas need thorough investigation. Captive 

wild dog popula-tions contribute to field 

conservation of the species by serving as subjects 

for research and also useful in increasing public 

awareness, dispelling myths and create a soft 

corner towards these much misunderstood animals. 

Only long term research on dholes in captivity as 

well as in wild may provide useful insights into 

some of the most intriguing issues related to 

endangered canid conservation and captive 

breeding in India. 

Housing captive bred dholes in satellite or offdisplay 

facilities by creating near-naturalistic 

environment is the first step for preparing captive 

Dominant male dhole Cuon (1st) with alpha 

female and sub-ordinate female at IG Zoo, Visak. 

* Programme Officer, CEE, Thaltej Tekra, 

Ahmedabad. Email: ln.murthy@ceeindia.org. 


orn animals to live independently in the wild after 

release. Red wolves have been pre-adapted to 

hunting by exposing them first to carcasses and 

then to live prey before re-introduction (U.S Fish & 

Wildlife Service 1982). It also allows the animals to 

display a range of behaviours never exposed in 

captivity. 

Re-introduction / Re-stocking in the wild 

Re-introduction may be defined as release of either 

captive-born or wild caught animals into an area 

within their original home range where populations 

have declined or became extinct. Re-stocking, on 

the other hand, is an effort to augment the number 

of existing healthy wild populations by changing 

the genetic make up of population. Unfortunately, 

experiences of African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) 

introduction efforts have not been successful in 

most cases. Researchers recommend that a 

combination of wild caught and captive born 

individuals from local genotype is ideal for reintroduction. 

However, in such cases, the genetic 

trade-offs and the behavioural responses must be 

carefully assessed. Sourcing of wild dogs from the 

local genotype may not be possible due to limited 

wild populations and low genetic diversity of 

captive populations. Capturing wild individuals 

from forested habitats to induce new blood and 

increase genetic vigour amongst the captive 

breeding populations must not affect the social 

structure and pack dynamics of wild populations. It 

could happen when a key individual pack member 

like the breeding female or the dominant male in 

the existing wild pack is unscientifically removed for 

the purpose of captive breeding. 

Although, there are a multitude of socio-political, 

ecological and scientific factors responsible for a 

successful canid re-introduction, a few fundamental 

questions need to be clarified before embarking on 

any serious re-introduction efforts to save the 

Indian wild dog. 

1. Is there enough data on the current status and 

distribution of dholes in Indian jungles? 

2. Do Indian zoos have founder breeding stock of 

dholes with healthy gene pool? 

3. Are there adequate release sites with suitable 

and protected habitat? 

4. Do we have effective techniques / training 

protocols to prepare captive dholes for reintroduction, 

post release monitoring and 

programme evaluation? 

5. Is there local support to sustain the reintroduction 

programme of wild dogs? 

Dholes, like many other wild canids could be illsuited 

for re-introduction because of their large 

home range requirements which can only be 

satisfied in extensive protected areas which are 

depleting at an alarming rate in India. Moreover, 

re-introduction programmes of any endangered 

species require extensive planning and 

implementation (Fritts et al. 1997) which is 

prohibitively expensive. Successful reintroductions 

require that a number of species-specific, 

22 

environmental and bio-political criteria be met 

(Kleiman & Beck 1994). 

Local people frequently oppose the species reintroduction 

that prey on domestic live stock 

(Phillips 1995, Woodroffe and Ginsberg 1999). In 

the past, dholes have been extensively hunted for 

sport and many false beliefs about these dogs still 

abound in many parts of India. People were even 

offered small incentives up on producing the bushy 

tail of a dhole. Education and awareness is 

perhaps the only way to demystify the myths and 

legends about this fierce, intelligent and one of the 

most successful predators. 

Anecdotal information is available on distribution, 

status, population trends and relative abundance 

of dholes in India. Our knowledge on various 

threats to dhole populations like the role of disease 

in population dynamics, affects of road kills and 

significance of small prey animals (e.g., rodents, 

lagomorphs) in the diet of wild dogs, interactions 

with other carnivores in the forest, ecological 

requirements etc has been insufficient. 

It is evident from the above facts that reintroduction 

of large carnivores living in groups has 

many limiting factors. The IUCN/SSP Canid 

Specialist Group does not consider the reintroduction 

of wild dog as a priority for the survival 

of the species. Instead, they are keener on the 

protection of the remaining viable populations in 

the wild. 

Conclusion 

The wilderness areas in India are vanishing rapidly 

with each passing day and the future of this 

magnificent carnivore along with many other 

species is under severe threat. There is an 

immediate need to develop a future cadre of 

professionals in zoo biology, reintroduction 

methodology, wildlife and conservation biology in 

our country. While captive breeding ensures a self 

sustaining buffer population and adequate display 

animals in all zoos for educational purposes, the 

long term survival of dholes in Indian jungles 

depends on the maintenance of healthy and 

connected populations both within and outside the 

protected areas. High priority must be given to 

promote corridors / passage routes in the existing 

wilderness areas with free ranging populations to 

mitigate edge effects as well as constant 

monitoring of the population trends. 

References 

Dhole Cuon alpinus Ex-situ project, Indira Gandhi 

Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam, zoos final report 

to Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi. 

Kleiman, D.G., M.E. Allen., K.V. Jhompson and S. 

Lumpkin (1996). Wild Mammals in captivity. 

Principles and techniques. 

WAZA, 2005. Building a Future for Wildlife, WAZA 

Conservation strategy. 


Gharial Rescue from Kandhesi Minor at Bharthana Town of 

Etawah District, Uttar Pradesh 

Rajeev Chauhan * 

My friend Rajeev Kumar Verma calling me on 

20th September 2009 and informed me that he 

sighted a mugger in Etawah Prakhand Canal, close 

to Gangasi bridge in Mainpuri. Rajeev has been 

working in Manepuri District Irrigation Department. 

One hour later Mr. Ajay Kumar Verma, my volunteer, 

called me and confirmed that it was not a Mugger 

but a sub-adult Gharial. He could identify it very 

well as he had worked with me 3-4 years prior to 

joining his new job in Irrigation Department. Immediately 

I informed DFO Deepak Kumar, Mainpur to 

take necessary action. When he initiated his 

efforts to take care of it, the Gharial disappeared 

and we failed to locate it. 

Next day, it was sighted on Bhujhia Bridge in the 

same canal and we were continuously monitoring 

it. Next day it was sighted at Bansak and next day 

at Rukaia. Finally, on 24th September 2009, the 

Gharial walked past Turaiya canal check door to 

Kandhesi Minor. Then I received a phone call from 

another volunteer Mr. Amit Kumar who has lived in 

Bharthana town of Etawah district. He told me that 

he had information of the Gharial, which was being 

sighted in Kandhesi Minor close to Jaitiya village. It 

was not safe to catch the Gharial because it was 

dusk when he informed me. We were only 30 km 

far away from that sight but the area was not safe 

to walk in the night in order to take any action. I 

informed DFO Etawah, Mr. Sudarshan Singh and 

requested him to do something to save the Gharial. 

Also our media friend Dinesh Shakya, who was in 

touch with Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. 

Praveen Kumar, who directed Circle officer to 

safeguard the Gharial in the night hours. SDM 

Bharthna Mr. A.K. Awasthi directed Irrigation 

Department's staff to keep checking the water flow 

in Kandhesi Minor. 

Next day on 25th September 2009 I went there 

with our film-shooting team but the Gharial disappeared. 

We were helpless. Even then we kept 

trying to locate the Gharial, looking over all connecting 

water bodies with no success. Amit received 

a call from Bharthana where a Gharial was 

located close to a canal along the Etawah road for 

which he was searching. He begged us to come 

soon as people were pelting stones at the Gharial. 

We moved instantly in order to protect Gharial and 

meanwhile we called out the police to provide more 

protection. A team from the forest department led 

by Mr. Raj Bahadur, Forester, who brought a professional 

catcher to start the operation. All the team 

members had taken tasks according to their abilities. 

We baffled the sides of the canal with nets 

and dredged from one end to other. We were 

successful in our third attempt when the Gharial 

got entangled in the net while dredging. 

We released it from the net quickly. It was a 6.5 

feet long female sub- adult Gharial, looking pretty 

and healthy. 

Before taking it to National Chambal Sanctuary 

nearby Udi Bridge we called vets available at the 

district hospital for a medical check up of the 

Gharial. We were all delighted to see that Gharial’s 

health in question was quite good and could be 

released back in Chambal. 

In the history of Etawah, this was the first time a 

Gharial had been sighted in the town area. Thousands 

of people gathered around to see it first, 

creating an almost unmanageable but happy 

situation with a rescued Gharial. 

The efforts of Society for Conservation of Nature in 

reaching there in time to rescue the Gharial was 

appreciated. We are thankful to the villagers who 

informed us in time and hope they would keep 

continuing their support for saving wildlife in future. 

See web version for photos ... 

www.zoosprint.org 

* Secretary General, Society for Conservation of 

Nature (SCoN), Email: sconature@gmail.com, 

website: www.sconindia.org 


See the web version of this article with large, attractive photos at http://www.zoolex.org/zoolexcgi/view.py?id=1111 

Lange Erlen Animal Park 

Lynx enclosure 

Pascal Gysin and Katharina Köbele, pg landschaften 

(authors) 

Lauren Axtmann (translation for ZooLex) 

Monika Fiby (editor for ZooLex) 

LOCATION 

Tierpark Lange Erlen, Erlenparkweg 110, 4058 

Basel, Switzerland 

Phone: +41-(0)61-681 43 44 

Fax: +41 (0)61 681 43 49 

URL: http://www.erlen-verein.ch 

KEY WORDS 

naturalistic 

ANIMALS 

Family Species Common Name Capacity 

Felidae Lynx lynx Eurasian lynx 1.1.2 

DESCRIPTION 

The lynx exhibit symbolises a fresh start for 

business at Lange Erlen in two respects. On the 

one hand, it is the first enclosure opened as part of 

a masterplan that suggests displays of natural 

habitats of the region with its inhabitants. On the 

other hand, it is the first exhibit of a predatory 

24 

Lynx family 

©pg landschaften, Stefan Wehrle, 2008 

The lynx exhibit at Lange Erlen Animal Park in Switzerland 

SIZE 

Space allocation in square meters: 

use 

indoors outdoors 

accessible total accessible total 

total 

exhibit 

animals 33.1 33.1 2,300 2,600 2,600 

visitors 

others 

650 750 750 

total 33.1 33.1 2,950 3,350 3,350 

animal at the zoo. This enclosure has also allowed 

to introduce fence-free viewing to the animals park. 

All water features are built as open streams that 

can be fed from a nearby waterbody. For this 

purpose, a new water management plant was built 

alongside the construction of the enclosure. In the 

future, all waters of the zoo can be controlled 

through this plant. 

The two sections of the enclosure can be 

connected, so that male and female may be kept 

together or be separated from one another. A hill 

divides these two areas. 

The many different views into both parts of the 

exhibit were planned based on the original lay-out 

of the visitor pathway around the enclosure. This 

allows visitors to see the various areas of the 

exhibit. The views are designed in such a way, that 

the visitor may stand face-to-face with the animal. 

The back of the enclosure is an artificial rock wall 

View of exhibit 1 across the water pool 

©pg landschaften, Katharina Köbele, 2009 


with a waterfall. The water, rocks and plants within 

the enclosure create the landscape of a hardwood 

wetland which is part of the natural lynx habitat. 

In 2008, the lynx exhibit became the second stage 

in the implementation of the masterplan of Lange 

Erlen, following completion of the Farmyard. The 

lynx enclosure occupies about 2’633 m² and is 

situated on land formerly used by donkeys and 

pigs. 

COSTS 

CHF 750,000 including 10% for design. 

OPENING DATE 

14 September 2008 

DESIGN 

Beginning: September 2007 

� All stages: pg landschaften, Gerbegässlein 1, 

4450 Sissach, Switzerland 

� Engingeering services: Berchtold + Tosoni AG, 

Gewerbestrasse 10, 4450 Sissach, Switzerland 

CONSTRUCTION 

Beginning: March 2008 

� Artificial rock construction: Huber Straub AG, 

Henric Petristrasse 12, 4010 Basel, Switzerland 

� Underground construction: ARGE Mazzotti / Wirz, 

Luigi Mazzotti AG Horburgstrasse 80, 4057 Basel, 

Switzerland 

� Fence construction: Kumli u. Partner GmbH, 

Pumpwerkstrasse 20, 4142 Münchenstein, 

Switzerland 

� Netting: Jakob AG, Drahtseilfabrik, 3555 

Trubschachen, Switzerland 

Artificial rocks 


Keepers’ feeding area 


PLANTS 

As the zoo is situated in a region of hardwood 

wetland, plant species of this biotope were used in 

the exhibit. The species will be allowed natural 

succession. 

FEATURES DEDICATED TO ANIMALS 

The topography of the landscape (elevated ridges, 

walls) provides the animals with various areas of 

stimulation and retreat. There are gravel-beds 

with short pioneer plant species, lush meadows on 

the hillsides, running streams, water pools and 

trees, as well as rotting wood. Artificial rocks 

throughout the landscape can be climbed by the 

animals. 

FEATURES DEDICATED TO KEEPERS 

Zoo keepers oversaw the planning and 

construction of the exhibit. Their experience and 

opinions were also taken into consideration when it 

came to equipping the interior of the exhibit. 

Suitable niches in the vegetation and topography 

are used by the keepers to hide food and snacks 

for the enrichment of the animals. 

FEATURES DEDICATED TO VISITORS 

The visitor is separated from the fence of the 

enclosure by a narrow bed of vegetation: this 

prevents their access not only to the animals 

behind the fence, but also to the electric wire. 

Views into the enclosure are mainly across a pond 

that separates visitors from animals. The lay-out of 

the viewing station allows groups of visitors to 

observe the animals. 


26 

Information board 


The fencing of the exhibit is thin, black steel netting 

that is highly transparent. This effect is 

accentuated by a distance of 6 metres between the 

poles. All fences, as well as trees near the fences, 

are electrified for safety. 

INTERPRETATION 

The visitor may learn about the lynx on information 

boards. Steps are being taken to set up video 

broadcasts from a television screen in the future. 

MANAGEMENT 

The two exhibits are connected by two electricallypowered 

sliding doors. Two cages are situated 

between the building and the exhibits. These 

exhibits are usually managed as one, but the 

animals can be kept separately when necessary. 

When the animals are in the cages, keepers can 

bring food into the exhibit. 

A creek that is fed with water from a nearby pond 

runs through the two exhibits. At the water 

viewing points the creek widens to basins. 

Because of the permanent water flow and the mild 

winters in Basel the basins seldom freeze. During 

short frost periods, the basins can be kept ice free 

manually. When the frost continues, the animals 

must be kept in the cages. However, there are 

hardly visitors during such cold days. 

RESEARCH 

A project with the University of Basel is planned. 

CONSERVATION 

The zoo is situated in an area where both forest 

and groundwater are protected. This has been 

taken into consideration during construction, as 

well as for maintenance of the enclosure. 

LOCAL RESOURCES 

Local people and resources are considered, with 

regards to both employment and in the sourcing of 

food for the animals. The plants used in the 

enclosure were locally bought. 

Birthing den 


Safety measure: electric grass 



Membership in Amphibian Ark 

Become a member of the Amphibian Ark and help save the world’s frogs, 

salamanders and caecilians. 

Anyone can join - we can all be a part of the AArk! 

Become a member of the Amphibian Ark for free! 

Join our friends Sir David Attenborough, Jeff Corwin, Jane Goodall and 

Jean-Michel Cousteau as members of the Amphibian Ark! 

• Receive the electronic Amphibian Ark Newsletter every three months. 

• Show your support for global amphibian conservation. 

• Check out what some of our amazing supporters and donors have 

achieved: 

A second grade class in Upper Arlington, Ohio donated $1,762.50 which 

they raised by holding a frog book read-a-thon, selling tote bags, having 

a craft sale, and a bake sale. Our thanks go to Columbus Zoo for bringing 

this class and the Amphibian Ark together. 

Adults and children alike have asked that donations be made to 

Amphibian Ark to celebrate special occasions like weddings, birthdays, 

graduations, bar and bat mitzvahs - this is a very generous thought, and 

is very much appreciated. 

School children in Bisbee, Arizona, who wanted to do a good deed for 

amphibians before their school was closed due to budget cuts. They 

raised $109 to help with amphibian conservation. 

Proceeds from book sales, bake sales and naming rights for new 

amphibian species all have benefited the Ark! 

Our supporters have been amazing in their commitment to helping us - 

your generous donation will help save amphibians! 

A special offer from the Amphibian Ark! If you make a donation of US$100 

or more, you will receive a copy of Sapos a beautiful book which covers 

dozens of frogs from Ecuador with fantastic imagery, both natural and 

man-made in its 256 pages (available while supplies last). 

Amphibian Ark also seeks corporate, academic and private partners to 

help with major programs that directly contribute to saving species. These 

include: 

• International internships - $1,000 - $5,000 

• Amphibian Ark Grant Program - $5,000 

• Amphibian Ark range country prioritization or training workshop - 

$5,000 - $20,000 

• Population monitoring project in range country - $10,000 

• Range-country rescue facility - $50,000 

• Disease testing laboratory - $100,000 

• Sponsor initiation of range country program - $100,000 

Please contact the Amphibian Ark directly if you would like to become a 

partner in any of these initiatives. 

*As Amphibian Ark is a collaborative project between the IUCN Amphibian 

Specialist Group (ASG), the IUCN Conservation Breeding Specialist Group 

(CBSG), and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), donations 

to the Amphibian Ark are held by CBSG under the Global Conservation 

Network, a registered 501(c)(3)charity. 

http://www.amphibianark.org contributing%20members.htm 


Invasive Alien Insects : Threat to Agriculture, Horticulture, 

and Forest Ecosystems, 23 & 24, December 2009 

This important National Conference is aimed at promoting 

research and development for managing invasive alien 

insects. 

Objectives 

* To bring together entomologists working on invasive 

insects affecting agriculture, horticulture and forest 

ecosystem to share their experiences. 

* To assess the current state of research and 

development on invasive insects. 

* To review bio-control and bio-rational strategies to 

manage invasive insects to reduce environmental 

pollution. 

* To develop web based Indian invasive insects database 

and establish Indian Invasive Insect Specialist Group. 

* To develop and recommend policy initiatives for 

management of invasive insects. 

* To stimulate public - Private research and development 

collaboration. 

* To encourage young researchers to pursue relevant 

research and development themes. 

Global Concern for Invasive Alien Insect Threat 

Invasive alien species (IAS) occur in all taxonomic 

groups and can affect all types of ecosystems. While a 

small percentage of organisms transported to new 

environments become invasive, the negative impacts can 

be extensive and over time these additions become 

substantial. Native ecosystems that have undergone 

human induced disturbance are often more prone to alien 

invasions because there is less competition from native 

species. They also threaten human health, displace native 

species or degrade environmental aesthetics. Total 

annual costs, including losses to crops, pastures and 

forests, as well as environmental damages and control 

costs, have been conservatively estimated to be in the 

hundreds of billions of dollars. 

With increases in international trade and travel, India like 

any other country, is becoming increasingly exposed to 

the vagaries of infiltration by potentially dangerous insect 

pests threatening plants that provide food, fibre, timber 

and other means of economic and ecological prosperity. 

Many exotic insect pests have been regularly invading 

several crops resulting in serious loss to Indian 

agriculture. Discovery of new exotic pests may lead to 

trade embargo. While total eradication is seldom 

achieved, satisfactory management of alien species is 

possible. While time and money are limited, the number 

of introduced species continue to increase. The study and 

control of invaders cannot be sustained on a case-bycase 

basis. These questions need to be attended by 

taking a fresh look at the invasive insects. 

Scope of the National Conference: In this context, 

Department of Agricultural Entomology, University of 

Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad is proposing to convene a 

National Conference during December, 2009 to provide a 

platform for experts and other stake holders to focus on 

Invasive Alien Insect threats in Agriculture, Horticulture 

and Forest ecosystems. The major focus will be to assess 

current status of research and development and prioritize 

themes for future research thrusts. 

Major Thematic Areas for Submission of Papers 

* Diversity, Ecology, Biogeography and characteristics of 

invasive insects and mites. 

28 

* Molecular techniques for diagnosis and identification of 

invasive insects. 

* Invasive insects and plant quarantine. 

* Alien insect invasions and environmental interactions 

(competitive exclusion, niche displacement, hybridization, 

predation, and extinction, climate change and insect 

invasions). * Hinderance to sustainable use of 

biodiversity due to insect invasions. * Pest and 

environmental risk assessment. * Biological control of 

invasive alien insects and weeds. * Bio-rational and ecofriendly 

approaches for invasive alien insect 

management. 

About the Department 

The Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of 

Agriculture, Dharwad came into existance during 1947. 

The PG programmes leading to M.Sc (Agri) & Ph.D began 

in 1973 & 1977, respectively. The Department has 

completed several adhoc projects funded by ICAR, DBT, 

DST, GOI, GOK etc. with an outlay of more than 100 

crores. The Department has attracted several PG 

students with JRF & SRF from all over the country. During 

the current year the department has been sanctioned 

with FIST programme to develop the infrastructural 

facilities by DST, New Delhi. The Department has done 

pioneering work on many alien insects viz., subabul 

psyllid, serpentine leafminer, spiralling whitefly, coconut 

perianth mite, sugarcane woolly aphid & eucalyptus gall 

wasp. The Department is recoginsed as National Centre 

for Biogeography and Molecular studies and National 

Repository for honey bees. 

Papers and Awards: For each session there will be 1-2 

lead papers presented by invited experts. Submitted 

papers will be assigned oral/poster presentations, as per 

the importance/content. Awards will be given to the best 

papers across the sessions, besides awards for young 

scientists (

Great Opportunities 

From Zoo Outreach Organisation: 

Dear Colleagues: 

A few months ago we attended a conference of SCB for the first time, and found a very dynamic 

group, with atmosphere crackling with conservation science and camaraderie. As the meeting 

went on we had an idea to start a Chapter of SCB in South Asia but decided instead to simply 

introduce our colleagues to SCB and get more SCB members in this region. 

SCB has a very attractive concession for people living in regions like South Asia, where the value 

of currency is so different from some other parts of the world. Their membership fee for LCC’s 

(low currency countries) is just US$10.00 per year. Also, members of SCB get a web identity and 

password with which they get web access to the 4 superb publications: 

• Conservation Biology - Published by Wiley-Blackwell » On-line version of Conservation Biology. 

• Conservation Letters - Published by Wiley-Blackwell » On-line version of Conservation Letters. 

• • • Conservation Magazine - Published by SCB » On-line version of Conservation Magazine, and 

and 

AFFILIATE PUBLICATIONS 

• Biological Conservation - Published by Elsevier » On-line version of Biological Conservation. 

This is such a windfall for many of us who can’t afford the western prices for the print versions, 

and those even whose institutions can’t afford to subscribe to them. There are other benefits 

via the website: SCB newsletter, announcements, news of meetings, student awards, projects, 

etc. We believe the South Asian conservation community can grow and develop much more with 

such tools. More description follows next column and on their website www.conbio.org. 

If you don’t have any way to pay in foreign 

currency, write to us and we will see if we 

can help by paying through out 501c3 in 

USA where SCB is based. We are not 

providing sponsorship as the fee, of $10.00 

or Rs. 500 is more than reasonable. Write to 

us if you need help. SCB via ZOO, Box 1683, 

Coimbatore 4,TN or zooreach@zooreach.org 

SCB doesn’t share addresses; it is their 

policy, so please inform us if and when you 

join …just so we will know. Also join the Asia 

Section by checking the appropriate box on 

the online form: https://www.conbio.org/ 

membership/Membership.cfm. 

We hope you can make use of this 

information for your career and your 

personal satisfaction. 

Sally R. Walker and Sanjay Molur, R.V. 

ZOO, WILD & Networks 

People who have joined so far in S. Asia 

1 Mohammad Anwarul Islam, Bangladesh 

2 Gawsia Wahidunnessa Chowdhury, 

Bangladesh 

3 Mohammad Abdul Aziz, Bangladesh 

4 Israt Jahan, Bangladesh 

5 Rezvin Akter, Bangladesh 

6 Samiul Mohsanin, Bangladesh 

7 Samia Saif, Bangladesh 

8 Elisabeth Anne Fahrni Mansur, Bangladesh 

9 Hasan Arif Rahman, Bangladesh 

10 Dr. Krishnan Srinivasan, India 

11 Vinayaka Shankaranarayana Kanivebaglu, 

India 

12 Ramaiyer Varatharajan, India

Printer : V.R. Sugumaar, Vivegaa Offset Press 

143 B Nava India Road, Peelamedu, Coimbatore 641 004. 

Publisher : Nandini Rangaswamy on behalf of Zoo Outreach Organisation. 

29-1, Bharathi Colony, Peelamedu, Coimbatore 641 004. 

Editor: Sanjay Molur 

Name of the Reports 

Order form for CBSG, India Briefing Books/Reports 

Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers No. 71908/99 

Registration number TN/CB/036/2009-2011 

Posted on 21 October 2009 

No. of 

pages 

Cost 

(incl. 

Postage) 

PHVA Briefing Books 

1. Manipur brow-antlered deer (Cervus eldi eldi) (1992) Part I & II 384 Rs. 900 1 

2. Lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) (1993) Part I & II 401 Rs. 900 2 

3. Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) (1993) 319 Rs. 625 3 

4. Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinocerus unicornis) (1993) 305 Rs. 600 4 

5. Indian Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) (1993) 215 Rs. 450 5 

6. Barasingha - Swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli) (1995) 356 Rs. 675 6 

PHVA Reports 

7. Manipur brow-antlered deer (Cervus eldi eldi) (1994) 80 Rs. 275 7 

8. Lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) (1995) 106 Rs. 325 8 

9. Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) (1995) 117 Rs. 350 9 

10. Indian Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) (1995) 108 Rs. 325 10 

11. Barasingha - Swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli) (1995) 120 Rs. 350 11 

12. Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinocerus unicornis) (1995) 114 Rs. 350 12 

13. Conservation of Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock hoolock) in India 

and Bangladesh (2005) 

CAMP Briefing Books 

132 Rs. 500 13 

14. Planning Session for Workshop in Plant Conservation Status (1994) 125 Rs. 325 14 

15. CAMP for Selected Species of Medicinal Plants of Southern Indian – I (1995) 185 Rs. 425 15 

16. CAMP for Selected Species of Medicinal Plants of Southern Indian – II (1996) 198 Rs. 450 16 

17. CAMP for Selected Species of Medicinal Plants of Southern Indian – III (1997) 115 Rs. 325 17 

18. CAMP for Selected Medicinal Plants of Northern, Northeastern and Central 

Indian (1997) 

115 Rs. 300 18 

19. CAMP for Selected Soil Invertebrates of Southern India (1997) 178 Rs. 400 19 

20. CAMP for Amphibians of India (1997) 205 Rs. 425 20 

21. CAMP for Reptiles of India (1997) 91 Rs. 300 21 

22. CAMP for Mammals of India (1997) 183 Rs. 400 22 

23. CAMP for Mangroves of India (1997) 197 Rs. 425 23 

24. CAMP for Freshwater Fishes of India (1997) 

CAMP Reports 

180 Rs. 400 24 

25. CAMP for Selected species of Medicinal Plants of Southern India (1, 2 & 3) 350 Rs. 800 25 

26. CAMP for Selected Medicinal Plants of Northern, Northeastern and Central 

Indian (1998) 

64 Rs. 225 26 

27. CAMP for Selected Soil Invertebrates of Southern India (1998) 72 Rs. 250 27 

28. CAMP for Amphibians of India (1998) 104 Rs. 325 28 

29. CAMP for Reptiles of India (1998) 177 Rs. 425 29 

30. CAMP for Mammals of India (1998) 178 Rs. 375 30 

31. CAMP for Mangroves of India (1998) 108 Rs. 325 31 

32. CAMP for Freshwater Fishes of India (1998) 158 Rs. 375 32 

33. CAMP for Non-timber Forest Products of Madhya Pradesh (1998) 105 Rs. 225 33 

34. CAMP for Amphibians and selected taxa of Reptiles of Sri Lanka (2000) 237 Rs. 400 34 

35. CAMP for Non-timber forest products of Nilgiri biosphere reserve (2001) 107 Rs. 225 35 

36. CAMP for Endemic Orchids of the Western Ghats (2001) 187 Rs. 250 36 

37. CAMP for Status of South Asian Chiroptera including a CD Rom (2002) 151 Rs. 350 37 

38. CAMP for Status and Red List of Pakistan’s Mammals (2003) 309 Rs. 525 38 

39. CAMP for Status of South Asian Primates (2003) 432 Rs. 750 39 

40. CAMP for Status of South Asian Non-volant Small Mammals (2005) 618 Rs. 1000 40 

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