Plan de Collection Zoologique

Abbreviations

• EAZA: European association of Zoos and aquaria
• ISIS: International species information system
• RCP: Regional collection plan
• EEP: European breeding programme for endangered species
• TAG: Taxon advisory group
• IUCN: International union for conservation of nature
• CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora
• TRACES: Trade control and expert system

Creating a Collection Plan

• Step 1: Conduct a situation analysis
• Step 2: Identify strengths
• Step 3: List current animals
• Step 4: List desired animals
• Step 5: Utilize tools (ISIS, EAZA, RCP, EEP, TAG, Master plan)

Four Missions of a Zoological Park

• Education
• Research
• Conservation
• Animal welfare

Reintroduction

• Role of the EEP: Aim to restore a threatened animal population and surpass a critical situation.
• Starting with a dozen founding members
• Genetic analysis of the population: Inbreeding? Loss of genetic diversity?
• Conservation of genetic diversity: Origin population → Bottleneck → Founding members → New individuals
• Conservation of genetic variability

Veterinary Role

• Parasite control (external, internal - coprology) → Deworming
• Vaccination
• Identification (tag, ear tag, etc.)
• Breeding monitoring
• Husbandry advice: Enclosures, regulations, euthanasia, autopsies, anaesthesia, animal handling (at least every 6 months)

Animal Birth Control

• Surgical:* Ovariohysterectomy, castration
• Chemical:* Implants, subcutaneous injections, pills
• Physical:* Separation

Anaesthesia

• Three roles: Muscle relaxation – narcosis (= loss of consciousness) – Pain relief
• Injection: IV > SC > IM
• Resistance: adrenaline and mother with babies
• Difficulty: estimating weight
• Prepare material → Anaesthetic injection → Monitoring → Antidote injection
• Material: syringe, dart, etc.
• Dart type: gougoutte, pompon, needle (smooth, pointed, harpoon)
• Zone: thigh or neck, avoiding fatty tissue

Veterinary Assistance

• Do not hinder the veterinarian or the area being operated
• Be quiet and observant
• Assist with holding organs or bleeding areas
• Using sterile equipment
• Prepare the zone
• Clamping during bleeding
• Head position
• Eye protection
• Helping with recovery
• Safety

Directives Purpose

• European Directive (1999): Strengthen the protection and conservation of wild fauna by enhancing the role of zoos in biodiversity.
• Royal Decree of the Walloon government on the accreditation of zoos (2018): Grant accreditation if conditions are met.
• Zoo Law (2018): Strengthen the protection and conservation of wildlife by reinforcing the role of zoos in biodiversity → Transposes the European directive!
• Minimum standards for mammals (1999): Holding standards for mammals
• Minimum standards for birds (2000): Holding standards for birds
• Minimum standards for reptiles (2004): Holding standards for reptiles
• Walloon Code of Animal Welfare (2018): Protect animal sensitivity and ensure animal welfare.
• Zoo Decree (2004) – FR: Sets general operating rules and general characteristics of zoo facilities.
• Decree on hazardous species (1997) – FR: Specifies which species are dangerous.

Licensing Conditions

• Participation in research
• Participation in conservation and public awareness
• Animals maintained in compliance with animal welfare
• Preventing escaped animals and entry of pests
• Register of individuals in the park

Content of the Register

• Scientific and common names
• Sex
• Origin + Acquisition or birth date + place of birth
• Animal departure + recipient + address
• Identification
• Reason for potential isolation (veternarian justification)

Zoo Accreditation Conditions

• Park plan
• List of animals and collection plan
• Environmental permit copy
• Contract with accredited veterinarian
• Civil liability insurance contract
• List of staff and their duties

CITES (International Trade in Endangered Species)

• Annex I: Extremely endangered species (pandas, great apes, rhinos), only from captivity.
• Annex II: Less endangered species but affected by trade, regulated trade.
• Annex III: Permits to import the species that is not necessary, but you need to warn customs.
• Annex D: Species present in Europe that are under monitoring.

Contact/Immersion Zones

• Request authorization
• Educational purpose
• Compliance with animal welfare regulations
• Management by qualified personnel
• Limited time
• Precautions against zoonotic diseases

Escape Situations

• Animal danger: Director alerts everyone (authorities, staff, and park team)
• Group 1: Find the animal(s).
• Group 2: Move or secure visitors.
• No more entries to the park

Panel Explanations

• Scientific name and local name
• Geographic distribution and threats
• Characteristics, age, weight,...
• IUCN and CITES status
• Additional information (injured animal treatments)

Practices

• Prohibited practices
• Animal transport/exchange documents
• CITES
• TRACES
• Transportation permit/driver
• Animal identification
• Animal passports
• Vehicle cleaning and disinfection
• Documents for new park acceptance

Physical Restraint

• When: Daily care, before anaesthesia, post-natal checks, or if needed for another containment.
• Limitations: Stress, escape, attack
• Fragile animals → fractures
• Injuries to handlers, poor handling procedures
• Risks for animals: Capture myopathy → death, Metabolic disorders (acidosis, hyperglycaemia), and problems in temperature regulation, respiratory system issues.

Chemical Restraint

• Principle: Sedation – tranquilization – Anesthesia
• Risk → Always!
• Dosage
• Group reactions
• Environmental: falls, drownings, electrical shocks, injuries, and animal interactions
• Recovery management

Psychological Restraint

• Training program → SPIDER method → Time required!
• Decree on hazardous species (1997)
• Carnivores > or = 6 Kg
• Marsupials > or = 25 Kg
• Caprines > or = 50 Kg
• Reptile > or = 3m
• Turtles jaw > or = 4 cm
• Amphibians → Toxine
• Primates, elephants, equines, rhinos, camelids, crocodiles, chondrichthyans, scorpions,...

Animal Welfare in Zoological Parks

• Definition: Encompasses physical health, emotional state, and animal behaviour.
• According to the OIE, an animal is considered to be in a satisfactory welfare state when it is healthy, comfortable, well-fed, safe, able to express its innate behaviour, and does not suffer from discomfort, fear, or distress.
• The 5 freedoms reflect this well.

Maslow's Pyramid (for animals and humans)

• The human pyramid is above the animal pyramid, and human needs are more complex than animal needs,
• Animals: Basic needs → Safety → Social → Self-esteem → Self-actualization
• Human: Physiological → Safety → Social → Esteem → Self-actualization

Physiological Welfare Indicators

• Acute stress → Adrenaline
• Muscle tension, tremors
• Intense, open, focused, dilated (mydriasis) look
• Increased heart and breathing rate
• Chronical stress → Cortisol
• Discomfort
• Difficulties escaping this situation, (hyperglycaemia)
• Stressors
• Physical elements, sights, sounds, smells, temperatures, tactile sensations.
• Psychological elements: New environment, overcrowding.