Sunday, October 31, 2010

Zoo News Digest 29th - 31st October 2010 (Zoo News 699)

Zoo News Digest 29th - 31st October 2010 (Zoo News 699)
http://zoonewsdigest.blogspot.com/








Dear Colleagues,

Happy Halloween to those of you who celebrate. It is very big in the Philippines and is getting that way in Thailand too. It is funny how these things spread. 'Trick or Treat' was 'no event' in the UK until after the movie E.T. and then it took off big time. Zoos are certainly making it a special event with their pumpkin parties and ghostly wakes. There are such a multitude of these that I have not included links to any. It would quickly choke the digest.  

The five tier checking of Tiger food in Mysore zoo I find commendable and I hope that it prevents any infection creeping in. Unfortunately aside from disease there is always a risk in feeding carnivores. In some zoos feeding bones is actually looked upon as 'enrichment' rather than a routine staple. People worry about bone splinters. In forty years in zoos I never once saw a big cat die of a bone splinter perforating the gut. Only twice do I recollect a bone splinter lodging across the roof of the mouth. In the first instance the cat was eventually able to dislodge it itself. In the second we had to intervene. Chickens? I have seen many places that pluck chickens before feeding them or feed thawed our frozen chickens. Why? Cats need the roughage that feathers and chicken bones provide. Some keepers just don't like to clear up the extra mess. Freshly killed fully feathered chickens are enrichment and food combined.

Congratulations to Shepreth Wildlife Park on their award. I would very much like to have heard Rebecca Willers talk. I have a special interest in all relating to tigers in Indonesia.

Bears feeding on corpses is a bit disturbing but it is needs must in the animal kingdom too.

With reference to my remarks about the Chimpanzee 'Jimmy' in the last Zoo News Digest there was a comment stating that the 'Sanctuary' that was trying to claim him was anti-zoo and was feeding their chimpanzees chocolate and giving them coke to drink. I did a little bit of research and found that this place was open to the public and housed bears and lions as well. It IS a zoo, it just gives itself the moniker 'sanctuary' as so many do. No difference at all.
There are lots of ways to play with words. When you 'rescue' a chimpanzee from a circus do you sneak in at the dead of night and steal it away? Or do you pay the circus and essentially buy the animal off them? Buy or Rescue? A play of words.
What about 'illegal zoos' in Brazil? I am unfamiliar with the legislation there. What makes a zoo legal or illegal there?


Some Stories You May Have Missed:

Indian Elephant Insanity




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No chicken for Mysore zoo inmates
Weeks after the autopsy reports confirmed that infected chicken killed tigers at Bannerghatta National Park, the Mysore Zoo authorities have sprung into action. So, no chicken for the zoo inmates.
Though the animals are given live chicken, that too in small quantity, the authorities are not taking any chances. There are eight tigers — four male and four female — at the zoo. "The authorities get the chicken after a thorough testing. It is cleaned with hot water and potassium permanganate," said Chamarajendra Zoological Garden executive director K B Markandaiah. "As we get live chicken, the chances of infection are minimal. But we are not taking any risks," he said.
The tiger deaths at Bannerghatta have put all forests, zoos and sanctuaries on high alert. At the Mysore zoo, the food undergoes a five-tier scanning. First, assistant director Suresh Kumar approves it and sends it to veterinarians, who send it to the truckers and animal keepers and finally to the caretaker. If the quality is found to be poor at any level, the food will be sent back.
Every day, the zoo authorities disinfect cages and use hi
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/No-chicken-for-Mysore-zoo-inmates/articleshow/6831444.cms






Fight to survive as tough times strike at zoo
IT'S all happening, as Simon and Garfunkel once sang, at the zoo.
And while there may no longer be any orang-utans on Corstorphine Hill to be sceptical of the changes in their and other cages, there are many members and visitors who are growing extremely concerned about just what is happening there.
Successfully bred animals are being culled, popular enclosures shut, 25 per cent of staff look likely to be sacked and parking charges are to be levied on members who already fork out for the privilege of carrying a card boasting they are a small part of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.
The long-serving chief executive, David Windmill, is to leave early next year and it is understood that the once-thriving marketing and public relations department has been slashed to the bare minimum, leaving the attraction's future promotion at major risk.
And all this at a time when Edinburgh Zoo is trying to bring giant pandas from China and achieve a land swap deal with the city council so it can expand its site, an idea which has garnered much local opposition.
Without a doubt there's a lot happening - but not in terms of visitor numbers, which have apparently
http://news.scotsman.com/features/Fight-to-survive-as-tough.6602804.jp





GREAT APES IN JAPAN
http://www.shigen.nig.ac.jp/gain/index.jsp











Disfigured but alive: Zimbabwe cuts horns to save rhinos
The roaring chainsaw sends fingernail-like shards flying into the baking Zimbabwean bush as it slices through the slumped black rhino's foot-long horn.
The critically endangered female loses her spikes in just seconds, after being darted from a helicopter.
A few minutes later, she leaps up and escapes -- disfigured but alive -- in a dramatic attempt to deter the poachers who have unleashed a bloodbath on southern Africa's rhinos.
"De-horning reduces the reward for the poacher," said Raoul du Toit of the Lowveld Rhino Trust which operates in Zimbabwe's arid southeast.
"Poaching is a balance between reward and risk. It may tip the ec
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101028/wl_africa_afp/zimbabwewildlifecrimepoachingrhino





Work for tigers wins cash for conservation
An animal park has won a prestigious new national grant for its dedicated support of endangered tigers in Indonesia.
Shepreth Wildlife Park was awarded £1,000 after animal manager Rebecca Willers wowed the judges at the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) conference.
She gave a talk on the work done by the poverty stricken Tiger Protection Conservation Unit (TPCU) in the forests of Sumatra.
Ms Willers, who volunteered with the organisation last year, saw first-hand how the workers in the Kerinci Seblat National Park strive to save the diminishing species from hunters who poach them for their valuable bones and hides.
Her 30-minute speech took
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Royston/Work-for-tigers-wins-cash-for-conservation.htm





RENOWNED CONSERVATIONIST FEATURED IN BBC'S LOST LAND OF THE TIGER APPLAUDS WORLD BANK INVESTMENT IN SUPPORTING TIGER CONSERVATION IN BHUTAN
The leading tiger expert featured in the BBC's hit documentary The Lost Land of the Tiger, Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, commented today on an announcement featured in Kuensel, Bhutan's national newspaper, that the World Bank plans to invest $500,000 in programs designed to save the nearly extinct wild cats in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Rabinowitz was part of the BBC expedition that recently caught on camera the first footage of signs that tigers are breeding in the highest altitudes of the Himalayas.
Dr. Rabinowitz, President and CEO of the premier global wild cat conservation organization Panthera, said, "We were thrilled when we discovered wild tigers possibly breeding at such high elevations in an important part of the tiger corridor, and that because of BBC, so many people were able to learn about tigers and Bhutan. Bhutan is an incredible country with a tremendous conservation ethic that should be acknowledged and applauded. They are the only country in Asia that has more than 70% of its natural forest cover, as well as a government backed 'trust fund' to support conservation of their wildlife and natural resources. With fewer than 3,500 of these
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=57kfvycab&v=001QcKplmKMacHkhSPWVkzobQ9Pmq3iwoIQN1D7_Ysd7X_Prkfir7_BvbyN6ZDbsyqXAx0fUF6d7l9S2wVL37_AyR73e8Rb5_yRC_m5Cyod_eo9e85a0pZhTiNWAL0hpiun1soV6ofBomI2a60AjyEV2totvkT6PPUel3T01RVdmzrRgKPr5LZ1Rd_qb8t0lTBRJO_5lLN4smTfqFHLZopVwS_vsTlbyAI5zsGh-k3HKj9SsPMlhQNcgP_DO5bObsSf











Good Zoos have come a long way since the 1950's. Interesting historic footage





Clone zone: Bringing extinct animals back from the dead
From animal to ark: How to take DNA from one of the world's most dangerous bears
It is like a military operation.
There are team briefings, kit is checked and then checked again.
But dealing with South East Asia's sun bear is not straightforward. It is the world's smallest bear - but also one of the most dangerous.
Today, two are being moved between zoos in the UK - from the Rare Species Conservation Centre in Kent to Colchester Zoo in Essex.
But while the bears are anaesthetised and given an essential check-up before their journey, it also gives Dr Masters access to a precious resource: their DNA.
Dr Masters explains: "We are losing species too quickly, therefore we ought to preserve at least the genetic material that has taken millions and millions of years to evolve."
The sun bear samples are heading to the Frozen Ark, which has its headquarters at the University of Nottingham.
Here they are frozen and then stored with samples that have been collected, by a network of vets and scientists, from endangered species all around the world.
The team behind the Frozen Ark says that it could provide the ultimate back-up plan
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11615811





Big Cats, Tapirs and a Mysterious Bat
Life is tough for tropical mammalogists. They work on a group with a limited number of species, maybe 150 at places like the ones we are in, and most of those species are bats and rats. Other than monkeys, most of the large mammals in the Amazon are rare. To detect them, mammalogists look for signs — scat, tracks, scratch marks, anything to let them know that a species is here. Worse, they have yahoo ornithologists reporting weird bats, and clueless botanists seeing rare deer. But they have to follow up on these reports. They also have to work night and day. Some mammals (monkeys, for example) are out in daylight hours, but for most, nighttime is when they are active.
We have two mammalogists in our team. Luis Moya is from Iquitos, where he works for PEDICP, a regional integrated development organization for the Putumayo basin (which we are in). Olga Montenegro, a Colombian professor at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogota, has been with us before. She was on the Rapid Inventory at Ampiyacu, immediately west of here, in 2003. Unfortunately she got malaria on that trip, an occupational hazard. Most of us here have had at least one of the big three insect-vectored diseases in the Amazon: malaria
http://scientistatwork.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/29/big-cats-tapirs-and-a-mysterious-bat/?partner=rss&emc=rss





Two more elephants on the way to the LA Zoo
Neighbors are on the way for the lone elephant at the Los Angeles Zoo. The San Diego Zoo announced Friday that it’ll send up two companions for 25-year-old Billy.
It’s been a solitary stretch for the Asian elephant in the L.A. Zoo. Two previous pals in the elephant enclosure, Gita and Tara, died in the last six years.
While Billy’s lived alone, humans in the courts of law and public opinion have debated the ethics of keeping elephants in zoos. Amid legal challenges the L.A. Zoo has proceeded with plans to open its $42 million elephant habitat with the
http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/10/29/two-more-elephants-way-la-zoo/





Should L.A. Zoo take in two new elephants?
The decision by the L.A. Zoo to accept two elephants from the San Diego Zoo is sparking controversy.
As The Times' Carla Hall and Tony Perry reported, "Tina and Jewel are female Asian elephants of un certain age who between them have endured foot problems and dental surgery. They will be on indefinite loan from the San Diego Zoo, both zoos announced Friday."
Zoos across the country have come under fire for their treatment of the giant mammals -- and activists have focused particular attention on the L.A. Zoo
Catherine Doyle, elephant campaign director for the advocacy group In Defense of Animals, said she feels the elephants deserve better. "Actually it feels like a betrayal for the elephants," Doyle said. "The San Diego Zoo shouldn't have taken th
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/10/should-la-zoo-take-in-two-new-elephants.html





New York Aquarium Takes Care Of Orphaned Baby Sea Otter (VIDEO)
The New York Aquarium is now home to a cute, cuddly orphan sea otter.
Five-month-old Tazo is under the careful supervision of animal keeper Nicole Pisciotta, who has served as the pup's surrogate mom since shortly after he was rescued from the Alaskan wild in June.
Tazo was taken from the Alaskan SeaLife Center to the New York Aquarium two months ago. He is now 27 pounds and should be on public view by the end of the year.
WATCH Tazo's trip to New York
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/29/new-york-aquarium-takes-c_n_776028.html





Yo-yo at the zoo to help save endangered species
Facility hoping to set world record
On Nov. 6, the Toronto Zoo will attempt to set a Guinness World Record for largest simultaneous yo-yoing.
Billed as Yo-Yo for the Dodo, participants are urged to register online at www.torotnozoo.com and raise pledges to support one of four endangered species at the zoo. The polar bears, hornbills, Komodo dragons and Ngege fish will benefit from funds raised.
The zoo needs at least 663 people to yo-yo at the same time in order to beat the previous record set in Birmingham, UK, in 2009.
Registered participants will receive a free Yomega
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/895336--yo-yo-at-the-zoo-to-help-save-endangered-species





Zoo probes bear's death; age and illness likely factors
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo was forced to euthanize its oldest bear -- a 35-year-old grizzly named Lester. He was found unconscious in his enclosure Friday morning.
Lester came here from the Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens in 1975.
Geoffrey S.E. Hall, the zoo's general curator, said that like most zoo animals, especially mammals, Lester was born in captivity.
But Alan Sironen, the zoo's curator of carnivores and large mammals, said Friday that to replace Lester, the zoo "most likely will wait until orphaned grizzlies become available
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/10/zoo_probes_bears_death_age_and.html





PETA opposes sending elephants to Turkmenistan
Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Thursday asked Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh to reconsider his ministry's decision to send two elephants from the country's zoos to a zoo in Turkmenistan.
The decision, part of an animal exchange programme, is a blatant violation of the Central Zoo Authority's (CZA) directive requiring that all elephants presently confined in zoos be shifted to camps, tiger reserves or national parks, PETA said.
'It's shocking that the government would allow and even support actions that would be illegal in India to occur elsewhere,' says PETA India's Poorva Joshipura.
'This abhorrent breach of both the spirit and the letter of the CZA directive will sentence these two elephants - who have already suffered in zoos for years - to a continued life of loneliness and misery,' she said
In arriving at the ban, the CZA cited major concerns about the living conditions of elephants who are kept in zoos, including the lack of adequate space and the stress caused to the animals
http://sify.com/news/peta-opposes-sending-elephants-to-turkmenistan-news-national-kk2suvjedha.html





Glare on snare process after trapped tiger loses tail
An injury in the tail of a tiger, trapped by the forest department and subsequent amputation of a portion of it has thrown up a question whether the way the animals are trapped now is flawless.
Forest officials said that this was for the first time in the past two and half decades that a Royal Bengal tiger’s tail had to be amputated in Bengal. “This episode has thrown up a question about the way tigers are trapped inside iron cages which is the practice,” said a forest official.
Forest officials said that the full-grown male tiger was trapped inside an iron cage on October 23 after villagers complained that the animal was straying into Sajnekhali in Canning area of South 24-Parganas.
“After the tiger was trapped inside the cage, doctors noticed that there was a deep cut in its tail. We believe that the iron door had come crashing down on its tail when the tiger had gone into the cage. So, it was evident that those
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101030/jsp/northeast/story_13117529.jsp





Elephant ecological engineering 'benefits amphibians'
Areas heavily damaged by elephants are home to more species of amphibians and reptiles than areas where the beasts are excluded, a study has suggested.
US scientists recorded 18 species in high damage areas but just eight species in unaffected habitats.
Elephants are described as "ecological engineers" because they create and maintain ecosystems by physically changing habitats.
"Elephants, along with a number of other species, are considered to be ecological engineers because their activities modify the habitat in a way that affects many other species," explained Bruce Schulte, now based at Western Kentucky
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11607299





Manhattan's Only Cow Calls Central Park Zoo Its Home
The city has come a long way from the time when cows roamed the city's underground tunnels looking for an angry fix. Now, the only cow left in Manhattan is named Othello, and lives on a diet of hay and pellets at the Central Park Zoo. The 14-year-old Dexter cow is also probably the luckiest cow in the country, and not just because he's living on some prime real estate. “Pretty much
http://gothamist.com/2010/10/30/manhattans_only_cow_calls_central_p.php





Zoo offers $1 recycling discount
Visitors who turn in a cell phone to recycle during the month of November at the Topeka Zoo will receive $1 off their admission price.
The discount is targeted at helping prevent pollution and save endangered animal species, according to a news release from the Friends of the Topeka Zoo.
The release said a collection box had been set up at the zoo's Leopard Spot Gift Shop, where guests can drop off their old cell phones for recycling. Funds raised will go toward the zoo's conservation efforts.
FOTZ said the discount stems from the zoo's partnership with Eco-Cell, a cell phone recycling company. The effort is targeted at helping raise awareness of the importance of recycling electronics.
The FOTZ news release said an ore called Coltan — which is a source of the element "tantalum," an essential coating for components of cell phones — is often found in the Congo amid endangered gorilla and elephant habitats.
"Rebel bands mining this ore are killing these animals for food and sport," the release said. "The United Nations has reported that in the past five years, the eastern lowland gorilla population in the Congo has declined 90 percent. Reducing the demand for Coltan will help save these
http://cjonline.com/news/2010-10-30/zoo_offers_1_recycling_discount





Russian bears treat graveyards as 'giant refrigerators'
A shortage of bears' traditional food near the Arctic Circle has forced the animals to eat human corpses, say locals
From a distance it resembled a rather large man in a fur coat, leaning tenderly over the grave of a loved one. But when the two women in the Russian village of Vezhnya Tchova came closer they realised there was a bear in the cemetery eating a body.
Russian bears have grown so desperate after a scorching summer they have started digging up and eating corpses in municipal cemetries, alarmed officials said today. Bears' traditional food – mushrooms, berries and the odd frog – has disappeared, they added.
The Vezhnya Tchova incident took place on Saturday in the northern republic of Komi, near the Arctic Circle. The shocked women cried in panic, frightening the bear back into the woods, before they discovered a ghoulish scene with the clothes of the bear's already-dead victim chucked over adjacent tombstones, the Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomelets reported.
Local people said that bears had resorted to scavenging in towns and villages -rummaging through bins, stealing garden carrots and raiding tips. A young man had been mauled in the centre of Syktyvkar, Komi's capital. "They are really hungry this year. It's a big problem. Many of them are not going to survive,"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/26/russia-bears-eat-corpses-graveyards











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Dear friends of the rainforests,

terrifying footage reveals the cruel methods for producing leather in Indonesia. For days, lizards and snakes are kept tied up in plastic bags, until the animals are finally skinned – often while they are still alive. Primarily, reptile leather is imported by luxury fashion labels such as Gucci, Cartier, Hermès and Bally and processed further into watch bands, shoes and bags.

Rainforest Rescue urges the companies to stop their commercial trading with these suppliers immediately.

Please go to

http://www.rainforest-rescue.org/

to take part in this email action. Many thanks.


Best regards,

Reinhard Behrend
Rettet den Regenwald e. V.
Jupiterweg 15
22391 Hamburg
040 4103804

info@regenwald.org
http://www.regenwald.org/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rettetdenregenwald
Twitter: http://twitter.com/RettetRegenwald



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Seized notebooks give unique insight into scale of illicit pangolin trade

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 28th October 2010—Stunning figures in traffickers’ logbooks indicate massive illegal capture and trade in endangered pangolins or scaly anteaters, finds a new TRAFFIC study.

A Preliminary Assessment of Pangolin Trade in Sabah analyses logbooks seized following a raid by Sabah Wildlife Department in 2009 on a syndicate’s pangolin trafficking premises in Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of the Malaysian State of Sabah in north Borneo.

The logbooks reveal that 22 200 pangolins were killed and 834.4 kg of pangolin scales were supplied to the syndicate between May 2007 and January 2009.

The Sabah Wildlife Department granted TRAFFIC access to the logbooks, which detail the volume, weight, source and prices of pangolins purchased by the syndicate during the 14 month period.

“TRAFFIC is grateful to the Wildlife Department for allowing us access to this information,” said Noorainie Awang Anak, Senior Programme Officer with TRAFFIC Southeast Asia and an author of the report.

“The detailed record-taking by this criminal syndicate has given us a unique insight into the volumes of endangered pangolins being illegally traded in the region.”

However, as Awang points out, the numbers could be even higher: no logbooks were recovered for the period August 2007 to February 2008 or for June 2008. Whether this is because the books were missing or because there was no smuggling during the period is not known.

The Sabah Wildlife Department and other enforcement agencies in the State have focused enforcement efforts on weeding out pangolin smugglers, resulting in successful prosecutions in all 19 pangolin-related seizures carried out between 2002 and 2008.

The biggest case involved the seizure of a container lorry carrying a hundred polystyrene boxes filled with 530 frozen pangolins meant for export. The two men arrested in this case were each sentenced to a fine of RM9,000 and six months jail.

The Sunda Pangolin, found in much of South-East Asia, is considered Endangered and the species is protected under Malaysian law. No international trade in any Asian pangolin species is permitted under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).

Despite this, pangolins are widely hunted and trafficked for their alleged medicinal properties. They are among the most commonly encountered mammals in Asia’s wildlife trade and alarming numbers have been seized throughout East and Southeast Asia in recent years. In 2008, Customs in Viet Nam seized a staggering 23 tonnes of frozen pangolins in a single week. Most trade is believed to be destined for China.

The report also presents the results of a survey of pangolin hunters interviewed on the west coast of Sabah. Hunters reported that high prices offered by middlemen was the main driver for the collection of pangolins, and this in turn was caused by the increasing difficulty in finding pangolins in the wild.

All but one of the 13 hunters interviewed said they believed the pangolin was headed towards extinction. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, numbers of wild Sunda Pangolins have halved in the past 15 years.

“The pangolin smuggling crisis can only be addressed through improved law enforcement and better information on the criminal syndicates behind the trade,” said Awang.

“Anyone with information on those behind these crimes against Malayasia’s natural heritage should pass it on to the relevant authorities for action.



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Saturday, October 30, 2010

Indian Elephant Insanity


I never ever thought that I would be in such ready agreement with PETA but just what does the Indian government think they are up to?

Firstly we have the CZA (Central Zoo Authority) issuing a decree that all elephants have to be moved out of sight and out of mind to the so called sanctuaries and forest camps and now we have this.

Somebody in the Ministry of the Environment has decided to send two elephants from an Indian Zoo to a zoo in Turkmenistan. What is going on here? Are zoos good or are they bad? Or is it that all Indian zoos are bad (and I know personally that they are not)?

I admit that I am ignorant of zoos in Turkmenistan. No doubt there are both good and bad zoos as there are in India and everywhere else in the world. As this move has just been made apparent I feel it is likely that the intended destination is the new zoo, opened only this month in the foothills of the Kopetdag Mountains. I would like to visit and give my honest and unbiased opinion. Perhaps I will one day.

Whereas I agree with PETA that questions have to be asked here our paths then sharply part. I believe that Indian zoos need to improve conditions for their elephants and not try and hide them away.

I am though very puzzled at this Indian Elephant Insanity.


Read more HERE



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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Zoo News Digest 26th - 28th October 2010 (Zoo News 698)

Zoo News Digest 26th - 28th October 2010 (Zoo News 698)
http://zoonewsdigest.blogspot.com/








Dear Colleagues,  

I would not normally include stories about lion cubs first swimming lessons, though there are some very cute photos with the article. It is just that the story brought back a memory of a visit to a certain large Middle Eastern Zoo. The Lion and Tiger enclosures all had deep drop water moat frontages. The Tigers had access steps to the water as there is no way they could have leaped out. The identical lion enclosure had no steps. When I asked why, the zoo manager informed me "because lions do not swim!". I told him that they most definitely do and that if he did not want to deal with an eventual nightmare scenario then he needed to rectify the situation that day.


Whereas I do not doubt that moving the chimpanzee 'Jimmy' away from a lonely life in Niteroi Zoo to join other animals is possibly a good move he would hardy be being 'freed'. He would swap from a zoo called a zoo to a zoo called a sanctuary. There is no difference really. As far as been relieved of 'torture' and 'stress' well I think poor old Jimmy is going to have a hell of a stressful and tortured time when introduced to 50 other chimpanzees. He may settle in of course, in time. Then again maybe he will not which is why I say it is just possibly a good move. I do not know Niteroi Zoo and its facilities but in my heart I feel it would be better if conditions were improved and companions were introduced to him there. Using the DNA argument I believe is a bit ridiculous. Chimpanzees are not human and they never will be. I believe it is far better to respect their rights in captivity under the Five Freedoms than try and bestow some pseudo Habeas corpus mock up.

Congratulations to London Zoo. I do hope that all goes well.

As you are aware Zoo News Digest and its sister group Zoo Biology does not and will not advertise the sale or surplus of wild animals regardless of the circumstances. Sometimes I wish I could especially when I see that something is genuine and urgent, Sadly though if I did I would have to let the irresponsible trash through the door as well. I was really angered when I was forewarded this advertisement today. I am not going to give details of who or where. Lets just say 'out of Africa'.

2-1-0 White(Black stripe) Bengal Tiger Panthera Tigris 10 days old and still with parents we can hand rear if required

0-1-0 Split Bengal Tiger Panthera Tigris As above and sibling of the whites

3-1-0 Black Leopards Panthera pardus Born 15/10/2010 and being hand reared

This advert is from an outfit that does not give a shit about animal welfare or conservation. The sooner that people like this are shut down the better this world will be.

The crackdown on animal abuse in Chinese zoos is an exciting and long overdue move. I do hope that changes are implemented quickly. I fear however that it will mean that performing animals will now be shunted away to totally inadequate behind the scenes accommodation now that they are no longer needed. I know that certain people don't like me saying it but euthanasia is a kind and more humane option.

The footage of the baby elephant being killed is very disturbing. I wonder though if the full story is being told here. What did really happen? No doubt we will learn in time. Or will we?

The story of the man being killed by the mountain goat was tragic. It did remind me of an incident during my first year in zoos. The oldest keeper we had was a man in his 60's, an ex-farmer who was primarily responsible for deer and some domestic stock which were held outside of the zoo perimeter. To cut a long story short, 'George', that was his name had been missing for the best part of a day. We found him in a field of grazing sheep. He had taken a shortcut across the field and been attacked by a ram. Knocked over, every time he tried to rise the ram knocked him down again. Suffering from exposure George had several broken ribs and multiple bruising. If we had not gone looking for him he would have died. It is not just wild animals which kill. The domestics do too.



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New RM26,000 home for Zoo Taiping’s crocodiles
VISITORS to Zoo Taiping and Night Safari can now have a better view of the crocodiles in a more natural setting.
The nine crocodiles in the zoo have been moved to a new 36m by 18m habitat with ponds and a flowing stream to allow the reptiles to swim freely to maintain their physical fitness.
Zoo Taiping & Night Safari director Dr Kevin Lazarus said the new site also had a sand bank and islets for the crocodiles to rest and to nest.
He said zoo workers and participants of the Malaysian Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria who were attending a course on reptile restraint assisted in capturing the crocodiles and transferring them to their new RM26,000 habitat.
“The crocodiles are between the ages of 10 and 20, of which the largest is about five metres long,” he told a press conference yesterday.
An interesting time to visit the crocodile habitat is during the feeding session when visitors will be able
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/10/28/north/7310051&sec=north






Follow that microlight: Birds learn to migrate (Includes video)
Sky high: The BBC joins Dr Johannes Fritz and his flock on a leg of their odd migration
"Yes, people think we're crazy," says Johannes Fritz, with a wry smile.
And surveying the scene, it is easy to see why.
We are in a playing field, in a small village in Austria, close to the Slovenian border.
In it stands a makeshift camp, with all the usual outdoors paraphernalia.
But it is the large aviary, containing 14 northern bald ibis and two human "foster parents" who are gently tending to their avian flock that really draws your attention.
That, and the microlights parked nearby.
For the past couple of days, this unassuming spot has been home to the Waldrapp team, "Waldrapp" being another name for the northern bald ibis.
But the group will not be staying here for long
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11574073





Lion cubs go for their first swim at National Zoo
At the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., four lion cubs born in late August had their first swimming lesson Tuesday. Why would lion cubs need a swimming lesson, you ask? Good question. When the cubs move with their mother, Shera, to an outdoor enclosure (likely to happen in late December), they'll find themselves surrounded by a water-filled moat. Keepers wanted to ensure their safety by making sure they'd be able to swim should they accidentally fall in.
According to the zoo, the swimming test was a success, with all four cubs -- three females and one male, if you're wondering -- managing to perform a passable dog paddle. (Is there a different name for a dog paddle if it's performed by a cat? "Lion paddle," perhaps?)
The cubs swam under the supervision of the zoo's great cats curator, Craig Saffoe, and two keepers, Rebecca Stites and Kristen Clark. The litter is the first for 4-year-old Shera, who has shown herself to be an excellent mother, according to the zoo. The cubs are expected to stay at the National Zoo until they're about 2 years old, zoo staff explained in an online chat held last month; when they reach sexual maturity, they'll move to other zoos to participate
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2010/10/lion-cubs-go-for-their-first-swim-at-national-zoo.html










Zoo has something to roar about
The Assiniboine Park Zoo has something to roar about after its new lions’ enclosure was named best new Canadian animal exhibit.
The zoo’s new $1.3-million Pavilion of the Lions’ exhibit won the top national honour, the Baines Award, from the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums at a ceremony in Montreal.
The exhibit was described as combining the best in animal care with a design that maximizes the visitor experience.
The indoor/outdoor exhibit features glass walls so visitors
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Zoo-has-something-to-roar-about-105774418.html





The sneezing monkeys of Myanmar
A new species of snub-nosed monkey has been discovered living in the forests of northern Burma.
Scientists working for Cambridge-based Fauna and Flora International made the discovery as part of the Myanmar Primate Conservation Program.
The monkeys' characteristics differ from other known snub-nosed species.
They have black fur, prominent lips and wide upturned nostrils which fill with water when it rains, causing the monkeys to sneeze.
Fauna and Flora International estimates that there are fewer than 300 of these monkeys
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cambridgeshire/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_9132000/9132410.stm





Ploughshare tortoises find their way home
The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust is celebrating the news that three of four ploughshare tortoises, stolen from its base in Madagascar, have been returned to the Trust.
The four tortoises were stolen in May last year, as they were about to be released into their native habitat in the north-west of Madagascar. Each animal was at least 15 years old and part of Durrell's long term captive breeding programme for the species.
One of the animals was retreived in a shipment of smuggled tortoises about to leave Anatnanarivo airport, and another was retreived after it appeared on a Malaysian website, on sale for $15,000.
The third and most recent one was recovered following the seizure of an illegal shipment of animals by the Malaysian authorities in Kuala Lumpur this summer.
In July, two women were caught travelling with suitcases containing 400 radiated tortoises, 11 spider tortoises and four ploughshare tortoises.
The three tortoises will now all rejoin Durrell's captive breeding programme, which has been placed under strict police protection.
Richard Lewis, Director of Durrell’s Madagascar Programme said: “This is a really important event. Not only have we been able to recover this animal, it is a powerful signal from the Malaysian Government that they will not stand for
http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_jerseynews/displayarticle.asp?id=491467





Terry Marotta: Zoo animals in our care
If you want to really scare yourself for Halloween, consider spending time around creatures who get blood popsicles for treats.
I speak of the big cats at the New England Stone Zoo whose care I learned something about during a special “backstage” tour I was lucky enough to go along on.
Our guide: the amiable assistant curator, Pete Costello, who for 23 years has worked at this small jewel of a zoo, sister to the venerable Franklin Park Zoo some 10 miles to the south.
“Keep in mind now,” he warned us as we ducked inside to watch a bit of the jaguars’ training, “these animals are not your friends” - a point reiterated by animal trainer Dayle Sullivan-Taylor.
“Don’t stand anywhere near the bars,” she told us firmly. “We train these animals so they can bear to be touched in case we have to examine them for medical issues, but make no mistake - they are dangerous.”
The young jaguar called Chessie has been training with Dayle since she was 8 weeks old and follows commands beautifully.
“Open,” Dayle says and she opens her mouth. “Paw” and she extends her paw. “Over right” and she lies on her right side. Each time she obeys in this fashion, Dayle
http://www.tauntongazette.com/lifestyle/x1273027045/Terry-Marotta-Zoo-animals-in-our-care





More species slide to extinction
One fifth of animal and plant species are under the threat of extinction, a global conservation study has warned.
Scientists who compiled the Red List of Threatened Species say the proportion of species facing wipeout is rising.
But they say intensive conservation work has already pulled some species back from the brink of oblivion.
The report is being launched at the UN Biodiversity Summit in Japan, where governments are discussing how to better protect the natural world.
Launched at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meeting, the report says that amphibians remain the most threatened category of animals, with 41% of species at risk, while only 13% of birds qualify for Red-Listing.
The highest losses were seen in Southeast Asia, where loss of habitat as forests are cleared for agriculture, including biofuel crops, is fastest.
"The 'backbone' of biodiversity is being eroded," said the eminent ecologist, Professor Edward O Wilson of Harvard University.
"One small step up the Red List is one giant leap forward towards extinction. This is just a small window on
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11630355





One-fifth of world's back-boned animals face extinction, study warns
One species of vertebrate is added to the endangered list each week, IUCN report warns at biodiversity summit
One species is added to the endangered list every week as the risk of extinction spreads to almost one-fifth of the world's vertebrates, according to a landmark study released today.
The Evolution Lost report, published in the journal Science by more than 100 of the world's leading zoologists and botanists, found that populations of mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian and fish species had declined by an average of 30% in the past 40 years.
Multiple factors have contributed to the demise, including logging, agricultural land conversion, over-exploitation, population growth, pollution and the impact of invasive alien species.
The worst die-off has occurred in south-east Asia, where hunting, dam building and the conversion of forest to palm oil plantations and paddy fields has been most dramatic. But Australia and the Andes have also suffered significant losses.
Land mammal populations are estimated to have declined by one-quarter, marine fish by one-fifth and freshwater fish by almost two-thirds, noted the study, which analyses the
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/oct/26/iucn-vertebrates-extinction-nagoya





Man killed by aggressive mountain goat in Washington park was an experienced hiker
A 63-year-old man described by authorities as an experienced hiker died from injuries he sustained during an encounter with an aggressive mountain goat Saturday in Washington's Olympic National Park.
According to the Peninsula Daily News, Bob Boardman, of Port Angeles, Wash., was on a day hike with his wife, Susan Chadd, and their friend Pat Willits and had stopped for lunch at an overlook when a mountain goat appeared and moved toward them.
When the goat began behaving aggressively, Boardman urged Chadd and Willits to leave the scene.
Bill and Jessica Baccus, also out for a day hike with their children, saw Willits, a longtime friend of Jessica's, coming up the trail.
"Nobody saw what actually happened," Jessica was quoted as saying in the Peninsula Daily News. "They heard Bob yell."
When the group returned to the scene, they saw the goat standing over Boardman, who lay on the ground bleeding.
Bill, an off-duty park ranger, was able to get the goat to move away by waving a blanket at it and pelting it with rocks, although the animal
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2010/10/hiker-killed-by-mountain-goat-in-washingtons-olympic-national-park.html






A War Against Extinction
The Number of Species Keeps Falling, but Conservation Racks Up a Few Successes.
Conservation efforts have helped a few species avoid extinction, but the impact hasn't been broad enough to stem the long-term decline in biodiversity, new research finds.
The assessment, in two papers published Tuesday in the journal Science, concludes that the survival of one-fifth of the world's vertebrates is threatened. However, the losses for three specific groups—mammals, birds and amphibians—would have been 20% greater without such conservation efforts as the creation of animal sanctuaries, habitat protection, captive-breeding programs and crackdowns on poachers.
For example, the number of white rhinos in South Africa has risen from 50 animals to 17,000 in the past century, as their habitat has been turned into a protected area.
But in a study of 25,000 vertebrates, 41% of amphibians are threatened, 25% of mammals, 22% of reptiles, 13% of birds, 33% of cartilaginous fish such as sharks, and 15% of bony fish such as southern bluefin tuna.
Many species have been "on a downward spiral for the last 20 to 30 years," said Michael Hoffmann, senior scientific officer at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, or IUCN, and co-author of one Science paper. "We wanted to assess whether our conservation efforts contributed anything, and the answer is, yes, they have."
Based on fossil records, many scientific studies have concluded Earth has seen five major extinction events in the four billion years since life began, and that the planet is in the midst of a sixth one. They believe the current extinction wave is largely linked to human impact—from the increase in agriculture and logging to habitat destruction and hunting. It's feared that because species are intricately linked to each other that extinctions will set in motion a domino effect of further species losses and changes in the environment.
The IUCN, an international organization of government and nongovernmental groups, maintains the widely followed Red List of Threatened Species that many scientists around the world consider the standard for determining the risk level faced by various species.
According to the group's website, its core funders include European and other governments, private foundations and a handful of corporations, including
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303891804575576533344391798.html





WWF: Saving tigers should be the concern of all .
Animal trafficking is not an area best left to the experts but should be the concern of every member of the public, said Traffic Southeast Asia and Worldwide Fund (WWF) Malaysia in a joint statement.
Commending a public tip-off that resulted in the rescue of a tiger cub in Pahang recently, Traffic Southeast Asia and WWF encouraged the public to report any suspicious incidents involving the country's wildlife.
“All too often, trafficked tigers are seized only after they have been killed and butchered,” they said in their statement.
“Timely information from the public makes a world of difference and help enforcement agencies ensure these endangered animals stay alive.
"Without public information, who knows what might have become of this cub that was rescued two weeks ago.”
According to a Bernama report, officers from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) Pahang, acting on a tip, raided a shop in Pekan on Oct 15 and rescued
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/news/general/12031-wwf-saving-tigers-should-be-the-concern-of-all





Importance of conservation revealed
A report by the Zoological Society of London has revealed that a fifth of the world's vertebrates are in danger of extinction. It also reveals that mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian and fish species have declined on average by 30% over the past 40 years.
The report outlines how some 50 species become more endangered every year as a result of human activites, like farming, impacting on their habitats.
It also, however, notes that biodiversity would have declined by an additional 20% had it not been for the importance of conservation programmes run by governments and charities around the world.
The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has been working for more than 50 years to save species from extinction. Through its work the Trust
http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_jerseynews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=491479





Brazilian judge to rule on whether chimpanzee should be freed from zoo
A Brazilian judge is to rule whether a chimpanzee, known as the Cezanne of simians because of his love of painting, should be freed from a zoo.
Jimmy, aged 26, has spent at least nine years on his own in a 61 square metre cage at Niteroi Zoo, near Rio de Janeiro.
According to his trainer, Roched Seba, he does not like to play with toys as other chimpanzees do and instead spends at least 30 minutes a day painting.
A group of lawyers and animal rights groups are seeking to secure Jimmy's release using the principle of Habeas corpus and a court date has been set for November 15 in Rio.
Pedro Ynterian, international president of the Great Ape Project (GAP), said: "A chimpanzee has 99.4 per cent of our DNA. It relates to people, loves some and hates others.
"It is torture to put it
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/brazil/8090812/Brazilian-judge-to-rule-on-whether-chimpanzee-should-be-freed-from-zoo.html





Sonograms giving keepers insight into cheetah's development
Handraised mother the first in over 20 years to willingly submit to imaging procedure
San Diego Safari Park keepers are using treats to entice a pregnant, handraised cheetah into submitting to sonograms for an in-womb glimpse at how her offspring are doing.
The 5-year-old cat, named Makena, has been cooperating with the imaging procedures several times a week since late September.
On Tuesday, Makena remained calm enough for the latest sonogram ---- a training session for veterinary technician Rachel Peters ---- without being restrained or sedated, for nearly 30 minutes.
As the cheetah purred loudly and licked a frozen beef "bloodsicle" from a metal bowl in senior keeper Kelly Casavant's hands, Peters applied gel to a sonogram wand before moving it slowly around on the animal's abdomen.
Several times, the cool gel
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/escondido/article_d98de225-a908-52d8-b049-3e91d74567df.html





Rhino calf dies in zoo hours after birth
A male Indian rhino calf, conceived by artificial insemination from frozen-thawed sperm, died 13 hours after its birth at the Cincinnati Zoo, officials said.
The 117-pound calf, born Tuesday, died about 7:15 p.m., The Cincinnati Enquirer reported.
The 18-year-old mother, Nikki, had been pregnant once before after the same assisted-reproduction techniques were used but delivered a stillborn female calf, zoo officials said.
But subsequent births are often successful, and Nikki's pregnancy had progressed normally with no signs of complications, said Monica Stoops, reproductive physiologist at the zoo's Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife.
When it was born the calf had a heartbeat but was not moving or breathing
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/10/27/Rhino-calf-dies-in-zoo-hours-after-birth/UPI-67211288207604/





Longest snake living in captivity dies in Ohio zoo
An Ohio zoo said the longest snake living in captivity has died. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said workers found the 24-foot python Wednesday morning dead from an apparent tumor. The snake, named Fluffy, held the Guinness World Record as the longest snake living in captivity. It was about as long as a moving van and as thick as a telephone pole. It weighed 300 pounds.
The 18-year-old reticulated python had drawn large crowds since the zoo got it in 2007.
Reticulated pythons
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/27/AR2010102706614.html





Baby elephant killed with spears on camera (Perhaps you prefer not to watch)
day after the elephant was officially declared a Heritage Animal, entitling it to the same sort of protection as the tiger, a video has captured villagers in Assam beating a baby elephant to death.
http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/baby-elephant-killed-with-spears-on-camera/172066?cp





Call to stop abuse in Chinese zoos
China is warning its zoos to stop abusing their animals or face being shut down.
The move comes after animal welfare groups documented widespread abuse in zoos and wildlife parks, including animal neglect, beatings, and the illegal sale of wine or soup made from the bones of endangered tigers.
Officials said zoos must stop serving wild animal products and holding wildlife performances.
Inspections will be carried out to see if zoos are complying, said the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.
The Hong Kong-based animal welfare group Animals Asia Foundation released a report in August that said bears in Chinese zoos were regularly whipped and beaten with sticks, while elephants were prodded with metal hooks, and tigers and lions were defanged and declawed, causing them chronic pain.
Earlier this year, 11 rare Siberian tigers died at a wildlife park in China's frozen north-east and zoo keepers there said they didn't have enough funding to feed or take care of them properly.
Rights groups said the zoo might have been selling the tiger skins and bones on the black market.
Sales of tiger bone, penis, pelts and other parts are illegal in China but persist because some consumers believe the products boost virility or can cure ailments from convulsions to skin disease.
The housing ministry said zoos should provide adequate food and shelter for their animals, halt all sales of wildlife products in
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5i0QVtOqdjweKv9MuErS5Wf8WqmSA?docId=N0009891288178409675A





Zoos to Ban Animal Performances
Zoos and parks across China will be banned from putting up shows of animal performances for extra profits, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said in a notice Tuesday.
The notice explains while China's zoo industry has experienced rapid development, a few profit-driven zoos were found improperly caring for the animals or even involved in gross neglect in some cases.
It stipulates that a disciplining of the industry will be carried out and a variety of animal performances must be stopped in three months. Restaurants in zoos and parks are also prohibited from offering food cooked with wild animal meat. The illegal selling of wild animal products is strictly prohibited, said the notice.
Meanwhile, the notice prohibits the commercial use of land in zoos so that more green spaces can be restored to the public.
http://english.cri.cn/6909/2010/10/27/1881s601351.htm





China Zoo Cruelty, Abuse Crackdown: Facilities Face Closure For Animal Performances, Wildlife Product Sales And Inadequate Food and Shelter
China has urged zoos to stop serving wild animal products and holding wildlife performances in an attempt to improve the treatment of tigers, bears and other animals amid concerns over widespread abuse in zoos and wildlife parks.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development posted the suggestions on its website Tuesday and said inspections would be carried out to see if zoos were complying.
Animal welfare groups have documented widespread abuse in Chinese zoos and wildlife parks, including animal neglect, beatings, and the illegal sale of wine or soup made from the bones of endangered tigers.
The Hong Kong-based animal welfare group Animals Asia Foundation released a report in August that said bears in Chinese zoos were regularly whipped and beaten with sticks, while elephants were prodded with metal hooks, and tigers and lions were defanged and declawed, causing them chronic pain.
Earlier this year, 11 rare Siberian tigers died at a wildlife park in China's frigid northeast and zookeepers there said they didn't have enough funding to feed or take care of them properly. Rights groups said the zoo might
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/27/china-zoo-cruelty-crackdo_n_774588.html





Elephant goes from washing cars to making wine
With the help of a local winery, the Wildlife Safari in Winston, Ore. made a little history this weekend.
One of the elephants made famous for its Elephant Car Wash traded in bucket and sponge for a glass of Pinot. George the elephant from Wildlife Safari stomped grapes for wine this past weekend in Winston, Ore. – marking the first time in North America where an elephant has been used to stomp grapes for wine.
The tents were set up at the elephant barn, because not even the rain could stop this party. Beneath the "big top" were gourmet foods, local wines and of course the main attractions: two African Elephants.
While Alice entertained the guests, George was behind the barn warming up for his big moment. People crowded the gate and looked on with amazement as George used all 13,000 pounds to get every drop of juice.
Trainers say the interaction and stimulation
http://www.katu.com/news/local/105771573.html











First Gorilla Born At London Zoo In 20 Years
A baby gorilla has been born at London Zoo - the first at the attraction in 20 years.
The new male western lowland primate at the Regent Park-based attraction is now bonding with first-time mother, Mjukuu.
Zookeepers said the labour had been closely monitored by expert vets, but had taken place without a hitch.
Zoological director David Field said: "Mother and baby are both doing brilliantly, although it's still early days.
"The baby's aunties, Zaire and Effie, were at the birth and have remained with Mjukuu throughout."
He added that staff were now beginning the sensitive process of introducing the newborn - which has not yet been named - to his stepfather, Kesho.
He said: "Introducing the baby to Kesho is not without its risks.
"Staff are making every effort to assist a smooth introduction and hopefully ensure the gorillas form a cohesive family
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/London-Zoo-Baby-Gorilla-Born-At-Attraction-Is-First-In-20-Years/Article/201010415779226?lpos=UK_News_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_4&lid=ARTICLE_15779226_London_Zoo%3A_Baby_Gorilla_Born_At_Attraction_Is_First_In_20_Years





Bigger and Better Chester Zoo
Cheshire West and Chester Council have approved plans to extend and comprehensively remodel Chester Zoo, the largest zoo in the UK.
The Natural Vision application, originally submitted last December, includes plans for the Heart of Africa Biodome, a tropical ecosystem. It will be an African rainforest-themed sanctuary for a band of gorillas, a large troop of chimpanzees, okapi and other rare and threatened species.
The project also includes
http://www.bflmagazine.co.uk/show-article.asp?articleid=128&pagesource=2F696E6465782E617370




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Journal of Threatened Taxa



The 23rd issue of the Journal of Threatened Taxa is online at http://www.threatenedtaxa.org/  





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In Memory of Nathan Jamieson


An ex Taronga keeper. A young life lost in a tragic accident. R.I.P.



Aussie conservationist killed by elephant


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ZOO BIOLOGY  


The Zoo Biology Group is concerned with all disciplines involved in the running of a Zoological Garden. Captive breeding, husbandry,cage design and construction, diets, enrichment, man management,record keeping, etc etc




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ZooNews Digest is an independent publication, not allied or attached to any zoological collection. Many thanks.


Kind Regards,

Wishing you a wonderful week,

Peter Dickinson

HubPages: http://u.nu/2kx

UK: ++ 44 (0)7551 037 585
Thailand: ++ 66 (0)861 382 450

Skype: peter.dickinson48

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