{"title":"The Mali Elephant Project: protecting elephants amidst conflict and poverty","authors":"S. M. Canney","doi":"10.1111/izy.12236","DOIUrl":"10.1111/izy.12236","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This short report shows how it has been possible to protect a small yet important, highly vulnerable, remnant population of desert-adapted African elephants <i>Loxodonta africana</i> that roams through a vast, populated area of Mali, which in recent years has become lawless and subject to an aggressive jihadist insurgency. Initial studies showed how ecosystem trends threatened elephant survival and local livelihoods, and exacerbated human–human and human–elephant conflict. A combination of adaptive management and action research methods was used to understand the social, economic, political and environmental aspects of this complex system. This knowledge served to derive intervention strategies that attempted to tackle the underlying drivers of threat to elephant survival. Central to this approach was the reinforcement of existing attitudes towards elephants and the use of collaborative methods. Local communities were empowered to counter resource over-exploitation and degradation by devising resource-management systems that were rooted in existing practice and provided tangible livelihood benefits from elephant conservation. When lawlessness overtook the elephant range in 2012, it became subject to attacks by armed groups, a deepening insurgency and elephant poaching. The existing community work proved key to respond to the escalation of poaching in 2015, as it had engaged local people in the conservation effort, improving their lives and securing local ‘buy-in’. This facilitated the work of the newly created anti-poaching unit, which was trained to operate according to an ‘intelligent’ and ethical doctrine that used local information to cope with the insecurity and target its efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":92961,"journal":{"name":"The International zoo yearbook","volume":"53 1","pages":"174-188"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1111/izy.12236","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47375752","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Conservation philosophy and activities of the International Elephant Foundation","authors":"S. Conley","doi":"10.1111/izy.12232","DOIUrl":"10.1111/izy.12232","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Founded in 1998, the International Elephant Foundation (IEF) is dedicated to securing a future where elephants thrive. Through funding conservation projects spanning the globe, collaborating with range-country partners, lending expertise, facilitating idea exchange and backing innovation, IEF is making a positive impact on the future prospects for the Endangered Asian elephant <i>Elephas maximus</i> and Vulnerable African elephant <i>Loxodonta africana</i>. In 2018, IEF supported 26 projects in 14 countries.</p>","PeriodicalId":92961,"journal":{"name":"The International zoo yearbook","volume":"53 1","pages":"208-216"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1111/izy.12232","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41349057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
N. B. de Mendonça Santos, D. M. R. de Carvalho, A. S. L. dos Santos Ribeiro, G. H. P. Dutra, C. L. Nascimento, A. N. E. da Silva, R. Silvestre Martins
{"title":"Magellanic penguin Spheniscus magellanicus rehabilitation and husbandry at Santos Municipal Aquarium, Brazil","authors":"N. B. de Mendonça Santos, D. M. R. de Carvalho, A. S. L. dos Santos Ribeiro, G. H. P. Dutra, C. L. Nascimento, A. N. E. da Silva, R. Silvestre Martins","doi":"10.1111/izy.12228","DOIUrl":"10.1111/izy.12228","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Between late austral autumn and early winter, some of the Magellanic penguin <i>Spheniscus magellanicus</i> population foraging on the Patagonian continental shelf move towards the southern Brazilian coast (22–32°S). Many of these vagrant birds wash ashore in very poor health condition. The Santos Municipal Aquarium, Brazil, takes in some of those stranded individuals and provides a programme of rehabilitation. The surviving birds are retained for public exhibition and environmental education. This study describes the husbandry practices and veterinary care for the penguins developed at the Aquarium, including data on survivorship, sex, ontogeny, death rates, reproduction and time in captivity. Most of the received penguins were found in Santos (23·9°S), but there were animals collected between Bertioga and Cananéia (23·7–25·3°S). The highest incidence of stranded animals was recorded in 2008. Most animals were collected during austral winter and no penguins were received in March and April. Most animals were juvenile on arrival at the institution. The average time rehabilitated birds remained in captivity (i.e. the quarantine period plus time on public exhibition) was 294 days, with a longest time of 3681 days. The most common diseases recorded in captivity were bumblefoot and aspergillosis, whereas helminth parasite infestations were the commonest ailment recorded in newly rescued birds. One individual hatched at the Aquarium in 2001 and two others in 2017.</p>","PeriodicalId":92961,"journal":{"name":"The International zoo yearbook","volume":"53 1","pages":"270-286"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1111/izy.12228","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44580539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C. Meehan, B. Greco, B. Lynn, K. Morfeld, G. Vicino, D. Orban, C. Gorsuch, M. Quick, L. Ripple, K. Fournier, D. Moore
{"title":"The Elephant Welfare Initiative: a model for advancing evidence-based zoo animal welfare monitoring, assessment and enhancement","authors":"C. Meehan, B. Greco, B. Lynn, K. Morfeld, G. Vicino, D. Orban, C. Gorsuch, M. Quick, L. Ripple, K. Fournier, D. Moore","doi":"10.1111/izy.12222","DOIUrl":"10.1111/izy.12222","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The Elephant Welfare Initiative (EWI) is an effort supported by a community of member zoos with the common goal of advancing evidence-based elephant-care practices that enhance welfare. The idea for the EWI came about following the completion of a large-scale North American elephant welfare study, which demonstrated that daily practices, such as social management, enrichment and exercise, play a critical role in improving the welfare of elephants in zoos. In 2014, the Elephant Taxon Advisory Group of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums expressed an interest in building upon the results of this study to support the continued assessment of elephant programmes and implementation of enhanced management practices. The EWI is supported by a web-based system of software tools and resources. In contrast to traditional record-keeping systems, the EWI tools provide participants with real-time analysis as well as zoo- and elephant-level metrics for key welfare indicators and associated management practices. Members’ data are pooled to create opportunities for benchmarking, and to leverage the collective efforts of individual organizations to address elephant welfare challenges and generate the data necessary to identify evidence-based strategies for enhanced outcomes. Future considerations include extending the EWI model to other species in managed settings, and to support transitional programmes for <i>in situ</i> elephant reintroduction efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":92961,"journal":{"name":"The International zoo yearbook","volume":"53 1","pages":"45-61"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1111/izy.12222","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44441272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Vaissi, M. Sharifi, A. Hernandez, S. Nikpey, M. Taran
{"title":"Skin bacterial microflora of two closely related mountain newts (Salamandridae) – the Yellow-spotted mountain newt Neurergus derjugini and the Kaiser's mountain newt Neurergus kaiseri – in the wild and in a breeding facility highlight new conservation perspectives","authors":"S. Vaissi, M. Sharifi, A. Hernandez, S. Nikpey, M. Taran","doi":"10.1111/izy.12230","DOIUrl":"10.1111/izy.12230","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Microbiome research is important for the identification of factors that are associated with the <i>ex</i> <i>situ</i> care of amphibians, such as potential contagious and lethal pathogens. Nevertheless, it can be also used to establish whether newts can adapt to exposure to new microbial communities, which would be important for the success of future reintroductions into the natural habitat. There is no available information regarding the skin flora naturally occurring in mountain newts of the genus <i>Neurergus</i>, including the Yellow-spotted mountain newt<i> Neurergus derjugini</i> and the Kaiser's mountain newt <i>Neurergus kaiseri</i>. In this study, skin bacterial microbiota of wild adults and individuals of both species from a captive-breeding facility (CBF) were compared. Four bacteria that naturally occur on the skin of wild adult <i>N. derjugini</i> were identified (<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>, <i>Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli</i>). Six bacteria were positively detected on the skin of wild adult <i>N. kaiseri</i> [<i>S. aureus</i>, <i>B. subtilis</i>, <i>B. cereus</i>, <i>E. coli</i>, <i>Rhodococcus equi</i>, <i>Klebsiella </i>(<i>Enterobacter</i>)<i> aerogenes</i>]. Our results indicate that the skin microbiota of F1 offspring (≤ 2 months of age) from the CBF did not correspond exactly to the microbial community identified in wild adult <i>N. derjugini</i>. However, ≥ 75% of the bacteria found in older individuals (≥ 1 year of age) living at the CBF over the long term corresponded to those of their wild counterparts. It would appear that post-metamorphic and adults of both species might be better able to resist and adapt to natural microbiota than larvae.</p>","PeriodicalId":92961,"journal":{"name":"The International zoo yearbook","volume":"53 1","pages":"227-237"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1111/izy.12230","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47535327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
N. Othman, B. Goossens, C. P. I. Cheah, S. Nathan, R. Bumpus, M. Ancrenaz
{"title":"Shift of paradigm needed towards improving human–elephant coexistence in monoculture landscapes in Sabah","authors":"N. Othman, B. Goossens, C. P. I. Cheah, S. Nathan, R. Bumpus, M. Ancrenaz","doi":"10.1111/izy.12226","DOIUrl":"10.1111/izy.12226","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This article outlines the contemporary situation of the Bornean elephant <i>Elephas maximus borneensis</i> in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo), and focuses on the existing challenges that need to be addressed to enable people and elephants to coexist, particularly in man-made landscapes dominated by oil-palm plantations. Bornean elephants are confined mostly to Sabah, to the north-east 5% of the Borneo Island. Sabah started to expand its commercial plantation sector in the early 1980s and is the largest producer of palm oil in Malaysia, contributing <i>c</i>. 10% of global output for this commodity. The rapid pace of plantation expansion has resulted in the loss of the majority of lowland areas that are also needed by large mammal species to sustain breeding populations. Elephants are extreme lowland/floodplain specialists, and they still attempt to use their former and preferred habitat, which is now mostly dominated by oil-palm plantations. At the time of writing, the land-use planning system favoured by the government insufficiently incorporates the ecological and management needs for elephants across the entire landscape. This article also highlights the need for better collaboration and coordination between stakeholders to address the increasing rate of human–elephant conflicts in Sabah.</p>","PeriodicalId":92961,"journal":{"name":"The International zoo yearbook","volume":"53 1","pages":"161-173"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1111/izy.12226","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45739903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
I. Lueders, A.-K. Oerke, T. Knauf-Witzens, D. Young, H. J. Bertschinger
{"title":"Use of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccines for behavioural and reproductive control in managed Asian elephant Elephas maximus and African elephant Loxodonta africana populations","authors":"I. Lueders, A.-K. Oerke, T. Knauf-Witzens, D. Young, H. J. Bertschinger","doi":"10.1111/izy.12220","DOIUrl":"10.1111/izy.12220","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Because of their size and reproductive anatomy, surgical castration is not a practical option in adult elephants. However, similar to other species in human care, the effects of gonadectomy are desired in specific situations. This may be for contraceptive purposes, or for behavioural or veterinary management of elephants in human care or wild elephants managed in small reserves. Research into non-surgical contraceptive measures for wild and domestic animals has resulted in an array of hormonal and immunological options to downregulate gonadal function. Driven by the production-animal industry, commercial gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccines are readily and cheaply available. This immunocontraceptive is effective in both males and females as it inhibits gonadotrophic hormone release and, thus, downstream stimulation of testicles and ovaries. Here, available studies from the past 10 years on the GnRH vaccine application in male and female elephants are reviewed. Furthermore, we add our own experience gathered from the treatment of male African elephants <i>Loxodonta africana</i> and female Asian elephants <i>Elephas maximus</i> in human care. The GnRH vaccine offers a viable approach for various management purposes. It should be noted that the GnRH vaccine was not primarily designed as a reversible contraceptive. Therefore, its use must be well justified on an individual basis and the effects closely monitored.</p>","PeriodicalId":92961,"journal":{"name":"The International zoo yearbook","volume":"53 1","pages":"138-150"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1111/izy.12220","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48240429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Big Tuskers of Tsavo: highlighting the importance of the Big Tusker Project in Kenya's Tsavo Conservation Area","authors":"R. Moller, N. Cahill, J. K. Kimaile","doi":"10.1111/izy.12218","DOIUrl":"10.1111/izy.12218","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Tsavo Trust is an action-orientated, field-based, not-for-profit conservation organization headquartered in Tsavo, Kenya. In association with Kenya Wildlife Service and other partners, Tsavo Trust utilizes a unique strategy to work on direct wildlife-conservation projects. Tsavo Trust also engages with specific local communities in the stewardship of conservancies, in order to encourage participation in conservation activities that benefit the marginalized people who live on the border of the formal Protected Area. Tsavo Trust recognizes the importance of a holistic approach to biodiversity conservation, using a combination of professional wildlife conservation activities, grass-roots community engagement, valued partnerships and committed supporters to create a virtuous circle for the protection of Tsavo. The mission is to conserve the vast wilderness of the Tsavo Conservation Area, which encompasses Kenya's biggest Protected Area, and is home to Kenya's largest elephant population, including several iconic ‘Tuskers’, and numerous high-value species. Tsavo Conservation Area is one of the few truly wild places with significant wildlife left in Africa. This national heritage is under threat and faces multiple challenges, including wildlife crime, climate change and habitat loss. At the time of writing, the Tsavo elephant population contains eight bull ‘Tuskers’ and five iconic cow ‘Tuskers’, as well as <i>c</i>. 26 younger bulls that may emerge as ‘Tuskers’ in the next 5 years. Tsavo Trust's work focuses on four core programmes: ‘Wildlife Conservation Program: Big Tusker Project’, ‘Community Conservancy Program’, ‘Animal Welfare Program’ and ‘Conservation Partnerships’. Through the Big Tusker Project, Tsavo Trust, in partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service, provides extra protection for the last ‘Super Tuskers’ of Tsavo using aerial surveillance and mobile ground-based units.</p>","PeriodicalId":92961,"journal":{"name":"The International zoo yearbook","volume":"53 1","pages":"189-199"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1111/izy.12218","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47725118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. W. Wilson, R. A. Bergl, L. J. Minter, M. R. Loomis, C. J. Kendall
{"title":"The African elephant Loxodonta spp conservation programmes of North Carolina Zoo: two decades of using emerging technologies to advance in situ conservation efforts","authors":"J. W. Wilson, R. A. Bergl, L. J. Minter, M. R. Loomis, C. J. Kendall","doi":"10.1111/izy.12216","DOIUrl":"10.1111/izy.12216","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The North Carolina Zoo (Asheboro, NC, USA) has been actively involved with field-based conservation initiatives targeting wild elephants in Africa for over 20 years. To overcome resource and logistical constraints faced by our African collaborators working in rural areas, the Zoo has helped to develop several emerging techniques and technologies. The Zoo's oldest field programme, which is still ongoing, uses novel anaesthesia techniques to fit satellite-tracking collars on elephants in the field to gain a better understanding of their movement patterns in West and Central Africa. In addition, rangers use the real-time tracking data generated from these collars as an early-warning system to redirect roaming elephants back to protected areas before they come into conflict with human activities. The Zoo is also strengthening capacity for anti-poaching activities by digitizing and standardizing patrol data collection. To this end, the Zoo has supported the development and implementation of Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) conservation software, a freely available and fully customizable package that allows patrol data to be collected on handheld devices such as smartphones, from where it can be imported into computers for automated analysis and report generation. To date, the Zoo has helped implement SMART at 14 protected areas in five African countries, several of which contain substantial elephant populations. To ensure the effectiveness and sustainable use of these technologies, ongoing training and technical support are provided, and are considered vital components of all our field programmes.</p>","PeriodicalId":92961,"journal":{"name":"The International zoo yearbook","volume":"53 1","pages":"151-160"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1111/izy.12216","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41616793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Financial planning required to keep elephants in zoos in the United Kingdom in accordance with the Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for the next 30 years","authors":"F. Sach, M. Fitzpatrick, N. Masters, D. Field","doi":"10.1111/izy.12213","DOIUrl":"10.1111/izy.12213","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In June 2017, the <i>Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice</i> (SSSMZP) were updated with an appendix relating specifically to elephants (Appendix 8.8: Elephants). This update was published to bring elephant management standards in line with recognized advancing best practice. All zoos in the UK holding elephants are inspected against the new appendix, in accordance with the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, by dedicated Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)-appointed inspectors. Achieving the standards set out within the new appendix will require financial investment and careful planning from all the zoos holding elephants within the UK. At the time of writing, the annual cost of keeping a breeding group of elephants at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, UK, was calculated from data collected over the last 10 years and the financial investment required to achieve SSSMZP compliance was estimated. The commercial benefit that elephants bring to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo was also quantified using feedback from visitor surveys. The cost of keeping a breeding herd of elephants at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo was estimated at £593 021–£641 863 per year, excluding indirect staffing costs, ground rent and contributions made by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to field-conservation projects. Costs for achieving SSSMZP compliance will be considerably greater with substantial capital investment required. The commercial benefit was found to be extensive; with predicted significant increased visitor dwell time and secondary spend in the presence of elephants. Using ZSL Whipsnade Zoo as an example, this paper aims to consider holistically the financial costs when planning and implementing an optimum, welfare-centred, sustainable future for elephants in zoos.</p>","PeriodicalId":92961,"journal":{"name":"The International zoo yearbook","volume":"53 1","pages":"78-88"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1111/izy.12213","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42433520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}