The Zoo Industry For Certificate in Animal Care NSCI3750 Unitec Institute of Technology

“Today more and more of us live in cities and lose any real connection with wild animals and plants.” Sir David Attenborough, 2004

philosophy of core zoos……. “must behave and structure themselves in such a way that they are perceived as part of the global movement of concern for the environment and the maintenance of biodiversity” Mullen & Marvin, 1999 What are zoos here for?

A survey conducted by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, in collaboration with national and regional zoo and aquarium associations, showed that annually more than 700 million people visit zoos and aquariums worldwide and are thus potentially exposed to environmental education. Zoo Biol 29: 1–4, © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. The number of visitors to zoos in the USA and Canada exceeds the combined annual attendance of baseball, American football and hockey (Hanna, 1996:76). >12,000,000 to Mexico City Zoo

What’s the Problem?  million species  Huge number in rainforests  Most live in limited ranges  50% of rainforests already destroyed  Maybe 15 million species already gone  The vast majority of extinctions since 1500AD have occurred on oceanic islands, but over the last 20 years, continental extinctions have become as common as island extinctions

25% of all species predicted to be extinct by ,219 Species Threatened Out of 3.6% of species described so far (1.9M) Extinction rates are typically 1000 x or more above normal background extinction rates

Which Group is Most Threatened? AMPHIBIANS 41% of all species are threatened or above

Reasons for Endangered Species Habitat loss – 86-88% of threatened birds and mammals Over exploitation – 33% of mammal species, 30% birds Pollution – 29% of amphibians Disease – 17% Amphibians Invasive Species – 67% Birds

Bottom Line Zoos are here for: Prevention of Extinction and Preservation of Biodiversity CONSERVATION

Definition of Conservation Conservation is the securing of long-term populations of species in natural ecosystems and habitats wherever possible. WAZA, Building a Future for Wildlife The World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy

What were these general roles?  The original 4  Conservation  Education  Research  Recreation  The umbrella role  Best practice animal welfare

New Roles  World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy 2005  Original 4 (focus on advocacy as education)  Ethics and Animal Welfare  Partnerships, Collegiality and Politics  Sustainability

Captive Wild Animal Facilities Partnerships Communication Education and Training Sustainability Science and Research Wild Populations Population Management Ethics and Welfare

CAGES OR HABITATS? What’s the difference?

What do you think of when you hear the word CAGE?

Cages Bare Bars Unnatural Prison-like Boring Small Lonely

Anything good about cages? SAFE!!! For the animals and visitors

Anything good about cages? Some animals use their cage naturally

Anything good about cages? For some animals, their cage holds their world together!

What problems does this cause in zoos?

Animals like to behave in a similar way as they would in the wild   Find their own family and friends   Investigate their environment   Find their own food; when they want to   Eat natural types of food   Sleep when they want to   Use their natural way of getting about   Feel safe   Experience different things   Have Fun!!

If they can’t behave naturally…  Aggression  Less breeding  Parents that cannot bring up their young  Become sick  May try to hurt themselves  Do strange unnatural behaviours  Not active  STRESSED!!!

So what do zoos do about it?

Good Zoos try to provide HABITATS

And if you can’t provide the wild exactly…… ……give them something similar

Variety Change Choice Control + = Challenges

The Zookeeping Professional It’s all about the poo. Isn’t it??

What makes a zookeeper?

So how does a zookeeper achieve the zoo objectives on a day-to-day basis.   Observation   Recording   Talks   Research   Behavioural enrichment   Monitoring   Cleaning   Pest control   Communication   Feeding and prep Security and policing Conditioning & training Action issues Management of people and animals Maintenance Health care Self assessment Involvement in extra-zoo activities Diet formulation Health and safety Human first aid Customer service Self development Walk the walk Go that bit further ?

Take the Zoo Roles as a Base Recreation How can a zookeeper help visitors enjoy their visit? Conservation How can zookeepers get involved in conservation? Education What role does a zookeeper have in education within zoos? Research What research can zookeepers be involved in?

“Ultimately, a zoo animal’s worth is measured by how its life in captivity has helped us to understand how better to look after others of the same species and by its contribution to the conservation of the species. If an animal lives and dies in a zoo and no records are kept, all that are left are memories; which gradually fade”

Take the Zoo Roles as a Base Ethics and Welfare Sustainability Partnership and Collegiality

How Does Zoo Animal Husbandry Differ From Pet Animal Husbandry? List some differences

Some Ideas  Responsibility of various staff  Containment  Maintenance standards  Safety (of staff)  Exotic Diets  Natural behaviours and enrichment

Some Ideas  Training and conditioning  Environmental impacts of zoo animals and waste  Pest control  Recognition of health issues  Zoonoses and quarantine  Breeding success and control