Providing a suitable environment under human care how EAZA standards encourage best practice Endre Sós, DVM Veterinary and Conservation Department Head
Few thoughts about a zoo environment often large diversity of species (Budapest: 934) different needs regarding space, diet, ambient environmental conditions different set-ups (conservation breeding in visitor or off-show areas, educational display, research) large diversity of experts and specialists (curators, keepers, vets: constant team work)
Very different needs in the same institution
Very different needs in the same institution
Few thoughts about a zoo environment often large diversity of species (Budapest: 934) different needs regarding space, diet, ambient environmental conditions different set-ups (conservation breeding in visitor or off-show areas, educational display, research) large diversity of experts and specialists (curators, keepers, vets: constant team work)
today Development of zoos the ultimate goal is to reproduce/fulfil (or least to approach) the natural life history of the species international breeding and research programmes
What are the real needs?
Few more thoughts about a zoo environment extremely valuable specimens (frequently the value is not economic, there is no market) flock/group management (consequences: screening, treatment) regarding veterinarian care: mixing of the flock management and individual treatment of extreme values
Best practise EEP/ESB guidelines and recommendations TAGs and species committees number of various experts with a different background information from field biologists and information for field programmes (two directional know-how flow) example: Southern White Rhino
Southern White Rhino
How can we use our zoo knowledge for active conservation?
Conservation breeding IZW, Berlin
Hungarian Meadow Viper telemetry
Good zoos and bad zoos
Animal welfare terminology The Five Freedom fear and distress hunger, malnutrition and thirst discomfort pain, injury, disease abnormal behaviour The zoo must provide proper nutrition enclosure social structure veterinarian care
EAZA Technical Assistance Committee approximately (?) 3500 EU zoos 8% EAZA zoos zoos with the highest visitor numbers, reputation and financial potential for improvement, conservation and research wide range of best experts in the EAZA community application for membership, candidate and temporary members
Zamosc Zoo, Poland
Amphibian ARK: chytrid fungus Lithobates vibicaria
Husbandry nutrition generally longer lifespan in zoo animals certain diseases are the consequence of unproper husbandry and nutrition knowing the biology of the species possible problems, eg.: substrate humidity social structure non-compatible species nutrition (quality and quantity)
Environmental enrichment
the possibilities and dangers of habituation and training
Habituation, medical training alternative opportunity/whom, what and when
Habituation, medical training a lot can be achieved
Habituation, medical training : be aware of the limitations
protected contact, medical training, enrichment
Treatment of problem individuals
Medical training: treatment of chronic conditions
chutes: daily management
Special events and the suitable keeping conditions good function
the tiny details count
separation, catching and anaesthesia
management-related problem : if the created environment is not safe enough
management-related problem : if the social constitution is improper
protection from natural enemies
naive species
The real welfare issue: animal confiscations/wildlife rehab
Wildlife rehabilitations in zoos
Thank you for your attention! Photographs: Bagosi, Zoltán Halpern, Bálint Horváth, Márton Molnár, Viktor Sós, Endre Szűcs, Lóránd