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Archives WAZA Members not to Purchase Dolphins from Drive FisheriesBerne / New York City, 8 October 2005
Noting that this year’s dolphin capture season has just started at Taiji (Japan), WAZA, The World Assoication of Zoos and Aquariums, reminds its Members that they must adhere to the WAZA Code of Ethics and Animal Welfare and ensure that they do not accept animals obtained by the use of methods which are inherently cruel. In a resolution adopted at the WAZA Administrative Session of 4 November 2004 (59th Annual Meeting, held at Taipei, Taiwan,) it was clearly stated that the catching of dolphins by the use of a method known as “drive fishing” is considered an example of such a non acceptable capture method. WAZA appeals also to those aquaria and dolphinaria, which are not institutional members, to refrain from purchasing dolphins obtained by drive fisheries. World Zoos and Aquariums Sound Alarm Regarding Extinction of FrogsNew York City, 6 October 2005
WAZA, The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, held its 60th annual meeting in New York City from 2 to 6 October 2005. The Meeting was hosted by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Among other things, the meeting adopted a resolution calling on all zoos and aquariums of the world to take action with a view of addressing the global amphibian extinction crisis. This is the first meeting of WAZA following the release of the World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy earlier this year. The Conservation Strategy is a blueprint for all zoos and aquariums, not just WAZA members, to achieve and promote a clearer view of their unique contributions to global conservation, as champions of species conservation, animal science and research, population management and sustainability, ethics and animal welfare. The Conservation Strategy calls upon zoos and aquariums to allocate their financial and human resources strategically within their own organizations and in maximum collaboration with others, to achieve the greatest possible conservation benefits for threatened species, their habitats and their human neighbours. With a view to implementing key elements of the Conservation Strategy, the 200 WAZA delegates adopted a strong resolution calling on all zoos and aquariums to respond to the global extinction crisis facing the world’s frogs and other amphibians. As early as 1989 scientist knew that amphibian populations were declining around the world. While many factors behind the extinction of frogs are still not well understood, it is known today that, in some parts of the world, there is a fungus causing the quick extinction of every species throughout their range. The spread of this fungus, called the chytrid fungus, cannot be halted in the wild. Frogs that already suffer from the fungus can be cured by vets, but they cannot be returned to the wild because of the certainty of re-infection and death. WAZA is now calling on the world zoos and aquariums to rescue as many species of frogs and other amphibians as possible. Scientists estimate that about one third - close to 2000 - of the world’s frogs and other amphibians are threatened or endangered. In many cases the only solution is to conserve them in zoos and aquariums with the hope that the species can be reintroduced to the wild at a later stage. This will require a massive coordinated effort, but it is a key component in addressing the global amphibian extinction crisis. New WAZA Council electedBerne, 12 September 2005
This week the election of the new WAZA Council was completed. The new Council will take office at the closure of the 60th WAZA Annual Conference, hosted by the Wildlife Conservation Society from October 2-6 at New York City. Every second year, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums organizes a postal ballot to elect its Council for the forthcoming biennium. This year’s ballot was initiated by the WAZA Executive Office on the 12th of July 2005, and concluded on the 12th of September. 180 ballots (75.3 %) were returned within the deadline. The President and President elect, Ms. Karen Sausman (President and CEO of the Living Desert (CA), USA) and Prof. Gordon McGregor Reid (Director of Chester Zoo, United Kingdom), who had been proposed jointly by Council and the Nominating Committee were clearly confirmed by the Constituency. The seven members at large had to be chosen from three baskets containing a total of ten candidates nominated by the zoo and aquarium associations of the respective regions. The successful candidates were: Basket I (North America) Basket II (Europe and the Near East) Basket III (Other Regions) The future Council will be completed by the current President, Ed McAlister, A.O, CEO of the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia (Adelaide Zoo), and the ex officio member Dr. Peter Dollinger, Executive Director of WAZA. Neue Welt-Zoo- und Aquarium-Naturschutzstrategie
Zoos and Aquarien in aller Welt haben eine neue Richtschnur für ihre Naturschutztätigkeit erhalten: Die vom Weltverband der Zoos und Aquarien (WAZA) erarbeitete Welt-Zoo- und Aquarium-Naturschutzstrategie. Die englische Originalfassung wurde anfangs Mai in Melbourne der Öffentlichkeit vorgestellt. Jetzt, nur einen Monat später, wurde – im Rahmen der 5. Internationalen Zoo-Marketing-Konferenz in Münster, die deutsche Fassung bekannt gemacht. Naturschutz ist, neben Erholung, Bildung und Forschung, eine der vier Hauptaufgaben der Zoologischen Gärten und Aquarien in aller Welt. Seit Herausgabe der ersten Welt-Zoo-Naturschutzstrategie im Jahr 1993 hat das Naturschutzengagement der Zoos und Aquarien zunehmend an Bedeutung gewonnen, denn wir leben heute in einer Welt schnell fortschreitender Umweltzerstörung, und die biologische Vielfalt schwindet zusehends. Die letzten zehn Jahre waren von klimatischen Veränderungen, Übernutzung der natürlichen Ressourcen, negativen Auswirkungen von einwandernden Arten und einer weit reichenden Zerstörung natürlicher Lebensräume geprägt. Da sich auch die Schwerpunkte der Naturschutztätigkeit der Zoos und Aquarien verschoben haben – neben der Zucht bedrohter Arten in Menschenhand gibt es ein immer stärker werdendes Engagement zum Schutz frei lebender Tiere in ihrem natürlichen Lebensraum – drängte es sich auf, eine neue Strategie zu erarbeiten, die der heutigen Situation Rechnung trägt. Die neue Strategie stipuliert Naturschutz als durchgängiges Prinzip für alle Aktivitätsbereiche der Zoos und Aquarien: Die Besucher eines Zoos oder Aquariums sollen nicht nur Spaß haben und sich vom Alltagsstress erholen, sondern auch motiviert werden, Umweltanliegen ernst zu nehmen und sich für den Schutz von Wildtieren und ihrer Lebensräume einzusetzen. Die Zoopädagogik soll nicht nur biologische Kenntnisse über Tiere vermitteln, sondern vermehrt auf ihre Gefährdung hinweisen. Forschung soll möglichst darauf ausgerichtet werden, dass sie auch der Wiedereinbürgerung und Umsiedlung von Tieren sowie ihrem Schutz in freier Wildbahn dienen kann. Die von Zoos und Aquarien betriebenen gemeinsamen Zuchtprogramme für bedrohte Tierarten sollen mit Schutzbestrebungen für diese Tierarten in der freien Natur verbunden werden. Zoos und Aquarien sollen sich, in Partnerschaft mit anderen Organisationen, Regierungsstellen und der direkt betroffenen Bevölkerung, für den Schutz von Lebensräumen einsetzen. Durch eine nachhaltige Betriebsführung sollen sie ein gutes Beispiel für einen verantwortungsvollen Umgang mit natürlichen Ressourcen geben, und schließlich sollen Zoogelände naturnah gestaltet werden, so dass sie Schutz und Lebensraum für gefährdete einheimische Arten bieten. Die neue Strategie richtet sich in erster Linie an die rund 1200 Mitglied-Institutionen der WAZA und der 22 ihr angeschlossenen regionalen oder nationalen Zooverbände, es wird aber erwartet, dass sie auch Einfluss auf verantwortungsvolle Einrichtungen haben wird, die nicht dem WAZA-Netzwerk angehören. Sie wurde bisher auf Englisch und Deutsch herausgegeben. Fassungen in verschiedenen anderen Sprachen, darunter Französisch, Japanisch, Spanisch, Russisch und Tschechisch, sind in Vorbereitung. New Blueprint for Zoos and Aquariums’ Conservation
Zoos and aquariums around the world have a new blueprint for their conservation work with today’s launch of Building a Future for Wildlife – the World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy. The international launch of the strategy was hosted by Melbourne Zoo at its award-winning Trail of the Elephants. World Association of Zoos and Aquariums president, Ed McAlister, said the strategy would be an important resource for zoos and aquariums everywhere. ‘Building a Future for Wildlife is a blueprint for action on conservation by zoos and aquariums worldwide,’ Mr McAlister said. ‘The Strategy encourages zoos and aquariums to become models for truly integrated conservation, linking programs inside and outside their properties. It recommends that zoos and aquariums assess their conservation efforts with hard data and measurements, urges zoos and aquariums to set examples for environmental sustainability; and to set and follow ethical standards for animal welfare. It calls on zoos and aquariums to strive to become major advocates for wildlife and wild places in their respective communities; and to maximise the use of education and communication as important conservation activities, and it recommends increased work by zoos and aquariums to support conservation in the wild, through science, research, breeding programs and application of their skills and expertise.‘ The Strategy also urges an increase and strengthening of networks, information exchange, and co-operation between zoos and aquariums themselves, and with other organisations. ‘Zoos and aquariums are already setting examples for vital conservation work that in some cases would not otherwise occur,’ Mr McAlister said. The new Strategy, to be published in several different languages, will be backed up by a Resources Manual with practical examples and advice on conservation initiatives.’ Increasing the Relevance of Zoos for Conservation - Results of the 2nd Rigi Symposium
Zoos and aquariums play an important role in the conservation of wildlife. In recent years the focus of the zoo and aquarium community’s involvement has shifted from ex situ activities, such as conservation breeding, and education and motivation of the public, to a more holistic approach, which increasingly includes in situ conservation and sustainable development. A new World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy, taking into account recent developments and providing guidance for the next decade, has been adopted by the members of WAZA - The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and this is to be officially launched in May 2005. With a view of implementing the new strategy, zoo directors from the Alpine area met in central Switzerland to discuss how to tackle the new challenges and to agree on a series of actions. At the invitation of Goldau Nature and Animals Park and under the umbrella of the WAZA – The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, zoo directors from Austria, Bavaria and Switzerland met with conservationists, scientists and journalists to discuss their future role in conservation. The meeting took place from 17 to 19 February 2005 on top of the Rigi Mountain in Central Switzerland. More than 20 presentations, discussions in plenary and four working groups, resulted in a series of decisions and recommendations: • Conservation breeding, being a core competence of zoos, should be strengthened by giving endangered species or subspecies a priority in the collection plans. New York Conference venue to change
Due to renovation work the intended venue of the 2005 Conference, the Plaza Hotel near Central Park Zoo, will be entirely closed when the WAZA Conference will take place. WCS, the local organizer is currently negotiating another location. Members will be informed as soon as possible about the final venue. Welcome to new members
The following zoos and organisations have been accepted as new institution members: Heini Hediger Award 2004Taipei, 4 November 2004
The 2004 Heini Hediger Award for excellent and unstinting service to the zoological park and aquarium community was awarded at the Taipei Conference to Sally Walker, who had set up the Zoo Outreach Organisation (ZOO), India, in 1985. Working both for zoo and field conservation, ZOO has become a model for successfully building networks to facilitate and catalyse conservation action. The organisation is active in all of South Asia, but two monthly publications, ZOO PRINT and ZOO ZEN, founded and edited by Sally, carry the work of the organisation even far beyond its home region. Previous winners of the Heini Hediger Award have been: Dr. George Rabb (Awarded 1995, Denver) New guidelines on confiscated animals
At the most recent Annual Conference of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) participants adopted guidelines on the acceptance of seized and confiscated animals. These Guidelines have now been promulgated to the entire constituency of the association.
Authorities seizing wild animals must ensure that the animals are temporarily placed at a facility where they are housed, fed and cared for according to animal welfare requirements. After final confiscation they must decide on how to dispose of the animals in a responsible, timely and efficient manner, taking into account practical, legal, animal welfare and conservation aspects and following guidelines issued by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and by IUCN – The World Conservation Union. CITES and IUCN refer to zoos and aquariums as suitable recipients of confiscated animals. They recognise, however, that zoos and aquariums generally cannot accommodate large numbers of animals that become available through confiscations and that, in particular for species with lower conservation value, the authorities may also have to explore other options, such as rescue centres, life-time care facilities, specialist societies, humane societies, commercial captive breeders, or research institutions.
Zoos don't need gorillas - gorillas need zoosBerne, 17 July 2003
Following a recommendation by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), the Wildlife and National Parks Department for Peninsular Malaysia has decided to send four confiscated gorillas known as the “Taiping Four” to the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa. While certain interest groups challenge this decision, WAZA maintains that there was no better option. The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) for Peninsular Malaysia has informed the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and the National Zoo of South Africa that the Government of Malaysia has finally decided to send the confiscated gorillas known as the “Taiping Four” to the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (Pretoria Zoo). This decision was made taking into account a recommendation by WAZA. To respond to certain criticisms, WAZA wishes to make the following comments: The following considerations are the basis for WAZA’s recommendation: • The keeping of gorillas is expensive. Any institution receiving them should have a solid financial basis. Pretoria Zoo is the National Zoo of South Africa. It has a well administered budget, and the costs exceeding the revenues from gate fees etc. are covered by the National Government. • Any facility accepting animals from a country outside the species’ natural range should be able to guarantee lifetime care. Pretoria Zoo was established in 1898, and has been continually and extensively renewed. It is thus a very a long-term operation whose further existence is ensured by the fact that is government-owned and that it receives a very large number of visitors. • Lowland gorillas are endangered in the wild. Every year about 3000 gorillas are slaughtered for the illegal bushmeat trade. The maintenance of viable breeding populations in human care is therefore of utmost importance. For this reason, an international studbook is kept under the auspices of WAZA, and two of WAZA’s Association Members (AZA and EAZA) operate co-ordinated ex situ conservation breeding programmes. In 2002, the total of animals under control of the WAZA Network was 825 gorillas kept by 144 zoos. Of these, 388 gorillas in 56 zoos belong to the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), which also includes Australia, and 373 gorillas in 53 zoos to the North American Species Survival Plan (SSP). Pretoria Zoo has always registered its animals in the International Studbook. The only gorilla currently at the zoo is a loan from the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). The zoo has a commitment to cooperate with both, studbook and EEP also in future. • Pretoria Zoo employs not only dedicated and experienced animal keepers, but also two fully salaried staff veterinarians and a veterinary nurse. The zoo has its own animal hospital, it can count on the cooperation of the world-renowned Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty, which is only a few minutes drive away, and there are numerous human medicine institutes and hospitals in Pretoria, which could be consulted if necessary. • Animals taken out of their original range may attract pathogens, often without becoming clinically ill themselves. This may be a problem for the wild population if the animals would be returned to their home land, and would have to be addressed by adequate veterinary expertise and appropriate quarantine facilities. Pretoria Zoo, apart from having the veterinary experience and facilities available, lies outside the gorilla’s range, i.e. no disease could be transmitted to wild gorillas. • Those who promote the transfer of the gorillas to a sanctuary instead of a zoo claim that a strong message needs to be sent to zoos to the effect that illegal trade in gorillas will not be rewarded. WAZA is not aware of any of its member zoos having accepted gorillas from illegal sources within at least the past twenty years. 73 % of the gorillas currently kept by zoos are born in human care, many of them are second or third generation animals. Only nine gorillas from the wild were added to the studbook during the past ten years. This includes animals confiscated by the authorities and subsequently entrusted to a zoo pursuant to article VIII.4 of CITES. • The Taping gorillas have to tell a story by which they would promote CITES and conservation in general. However, for telling a story, an audience is needed. Pretoria Zoo has an attendance of 600'000 to 800'000 visitors per year forming a huge audience. In addition, there are a number of outreach activities. South Africa is often blamed for having allowed the transit of illegally traded CITES specimens. Having the four gorillas at Pretoria Zoo in combination with the activities envisaged will help to create awareness among the general public, but also among airline personnel, customs officers, border veterinarians etc. and thus help to prevent similar cases in future. • The visitors meeting the gorillas at Pretoria Zoo may be disposed to donate money for gorilla conservation. Pretoria Zoo will undertake to establish a Gorilla Conservation Fund subject to official audit and to scrutiny by CITES. This fund will be used to support conservation projects in the gorilla range states of West and Central Africa. Sanctuaries, seen by certain interest groups as the preferred option for the future housing of the “Taiping Four”, could hardly give the same guarantees for a long-term keeping of the animals, could not provide better facilities and care, and would not be able to reach a very big audience. They keep their animals in cages or enclosures too, they are not designed for receiving animals from ex situ sources, they may have problems with the keeping of fully-grown apes, and they prevent the animals in their care from breeding. Sanctuaries are primarily intended to take care of orphaned animals collected or confiscated locally, and WAZA fully recognizes that they can fulfil a very useful role from an animal welfare and, to a certain extent, species conservation standpoint, and encourages zoos to continue to cooperate with and to support sanctuaries also in future. Those who oppose the transfer of the gorillas to Pretoria Zoo argue that sending victims of one zoo's misconduct to reward or award another zoo would not be acceptable, and they suggest that zoos want to purchase gorillas for economic profit. These arguments are not pertinent, as they are based on an antiquated understanding of justice implying a collective guilt of zoos, and a complete lack of understanding of the economic relevance of keeping gorillas in a zoo. Of course, gorillas are a high profile species, and opening a new gorilla exhibit or adding a group of gorillas to the collection will always result in an increase of visitor numbers. However, zoos having given up the keeping of gorillas to make more space available for other species, such as Aalborg, Copenhagen or Rome Zoo, have seen no negative impact on visitor numbers, and in zoos having built new and attractive gorilla exhibits, visitor numbers returned more or less to normal after a while. It should also be noted that most zoos keeping gorillas are non-profit establishments operated by governments, foundation, charities or non-profit companies, and that any financial surplus would be reinvested into the operation or used for conservation projects. Zoos can do without mammoths, without sabre-toothed tigers and without dodos. Zoos could also do perfectly well without gorillas. In fact 85 % of the zoos organised in the WAZA Network don’t keep gorillas, and most of them have no intention of ever adding this species to their collection. On the other hand, the gorillas with their steadily decreasing population and shrinking habitat may have to rely on a healthy zoo population in order to survive as a species in the longer term. Dumping of lions
In response to media reports on the planned transfer of Iraqi lions to game parks in South Africa, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and the Pan-African Association of Zoological Gardens, Aquaria and Botanic Gardens (PAAZAB) state their opposition in principle to the indiscriminate transfer and release to the wild of animals kept in human care. The two organisations emphasize that such actions must always be in keeping with the provisions of the relevant Guidelines issued by the Survival Specialist Group of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). From June 3 to 6, the Annual Meeting of the Pan-African Association of Zoological Gardens, Aquaria and Botanic Gardens (PAAZAB) took place in Oudtshoorn, South Africa. The meeting was also attended by the Executive Director of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and included a discussion on the uncontrolled importation of African wildlife species for the purpose of keeping the animals under semi-wild conditions or releasing them to the wild. Concerns were expressed of the disease risk implications to local populations of wildlife. In addition, to this, a “genetic pollution” of the original populations by animals of unknown or different genetic lineage would be possible if uncontrolled breeding with such individuals is allowed to occur. According to the respective Codes of Ethics applied by both organisations no release-to-the-wild programme shall be undertaken without the animals having undergone a thorough veterinary examination to assess their fitness for such release and that their welfare post release is reasonably safeguarded. Such assessment must be made in accordance with the quarantine and health screening protocols for wildlife prior to translocation and release to the wild issued by the Veterinary Specialist Group of IUCN. Following release, a thorough monitoring programme should be established and maintained. In addition, the IUCN/SSC/Reintroduction Specialist Group Guidelines for reintroduction must always be followed. This implies inter alia that only animals of known and demonstrable genetic status are returned to and released in a range state of the species. As a general rule the release to the wild of animals bred by member zoos are the result of a coordinated and intensively controlled ex situ breeding programme. They are undertaken in compliance with the applicable legislation and guidelines, and in close cooperation with the local authorities and other stakeholders. If animals do not qualify for being included into such release-to-the wild programmes WAZA and PAAZAB stress that other options must be vigorously investigated. - E N D - Gorilla transfer a worry
There are concerns about a transfer of four gorillas, which recently were sent from Nigeria to Malaysia. While the animals were accompanied by export permits, there is strong evidence that information contained in these permits is not correct. The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is worried that by this transaction the Code of Ethics adopted by the association and its members may have been violated and cooperates with the relevant authorities to investigate the matter. Taiping Zoo of Malaysia has recently imported two pairs of gorillas from Ibadan University and Zoological Gardens in Nigeria. The gorilla is an endangered species and is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The animals concerned were accompanied by CITES export and import permits issued by the relevant authorities of Nigeria and Malaysia and allowing the transfer of captive bred gorillas to Taiping. As Ibadan never has had a breeding group of gorillas it is very unlikely they have been bred there, and WAZA has to assume they were not from Ibadan and were likely to be wild caught. Members of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) have agreed to a strict Code of Ethics which guarantees the highest standard of care for the animals in their trust and to animals in general. The Code requests also that zoos acquiring animals be confident that such acquisitions will not be in violation of national or international law and will not have a deleterious effect upon the wild population. In case of doubt about the validity of a certificate issued under CITES, zoos should use all sources of information to ensure that all regulations have been respected. Cooperative gorilla breeding programs are operated at a regional level by zoo associations belonging to the WAZA network. They have a growing population of gorillas and enough founder members to insure a genetically healthy population in the foreseeable future. The coordinators of these programs were not consulted by Taping Zoo when they decided to acquire the animals from Nigeria. Taiping Zoo is not a member of WAZA but is linked to it through a member regional association. WAZA is investigating the case and is co-operating to this effect with the regional association concerned and with the CITES Secretariat in Geneva. Many other zoos, while not members of WAZA themselves belong to a regional association which has agreed to this code and in this way the influence of the code is widened. Those associations and zoological institutions, which do not adhere to a strict code of ethics and to international law, have no place in our organization or in the professional zoo community. Dr. Alex Rübel, WAZA President Bushmeat Crisis
To date almost 1.5 million people have signed a petition which urges African leaders to support efforts to end the illegal bushmeat trade. Organised by WAZA regional association member - the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), the petition draws attention to the bushmeat crisis which threatens species like gorilla, chimpanzee and elephant. African leaders are being urged to take action against illegal traders and so far they have been quick to respond. Although the EAZA Bushmeat Campaign Petition was officially closed at their Annual Conference in Prague on 23 September 2001 with a total of 1,494,107 signatures, names are still being collected by member institutions. It is hoped that another half million signatures can be added to show just how important it is to resolve this issue. WAZA's New Office
WAZA's new Executive Office in Berne, Switzerland, was inaugurated by the Mayor of the City just prior to Christmas and is now open for business. The office is a gift from the Swiss Government to show its support for the activities of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The new Executive Office is directed by, Mr Peter Dollinger. WAZA International Conference
Despite the downturn in international travel the 2001 conference managed to draw 150 plus members from 43 countries. It was held in conjunction with the annual Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) conference on Rottnest Island and was hosted by the Perth Zoo. Zoos’ Assistance to Kabul Zoo Making Progress28. March 2002 As part of their Midyear Meeting held from 25 to 27 March at the WAZA Headquarters in Bern, the Council Members of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) took note of recent progress in the zoo community’s efforts to help the devastated Kabul zoo. The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) has been coordinating an appeal to raise money and other resource to provide food and veterinary expertise for the foreseeable future and, ultimately, to secure the long-term survival of the zoo through a recovery plan. Council Members were pleased to note that the appeal had resulted in current collections of almost half a million US Dollars which were deposited with North Carolina Zoo (U.S.A.) and Cologne Zoo (Germany). A minor part of this money has been transferred to Kabul with the assistance of an animal welfare NGO which happened to be on site, to meet immediate needs of the zoo. Council took also note of a report by Cologne Zoo, which has sent a small team consisting of a biologist and an animal keeper to Kabul to obtain first hand information on current and future needs and to enter into contact with the relevant authorities with a view toward concluding an agreement on the rebuilding of Kabul zoo The report indicates that the zoo has been almost completely destroyed, but that the few animals remaining look well fed, cared for and healthy, including the zoo’s Himalayan black bear, except that the bear is suffering from an old injury at its nose. The two persons sent to Kabul are of afghan origin. They have lived in Germany for several years, and one of them is employed by Cologne Zoo. They are expected to be back to Germany in about one week. Zoo organisations oppose the boycott of legitimate animal transports by airlines10. December 2001 In response to indiscriminate boycotts by certain airline companies of shipments containing wild animals, three European organisations of zoo veterinarians and zoo directors requested the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) to initiate a dialogue with the airline industry to ensure that air transport of wild animals will remain possible in future, provided the animals are legally traded and IATA animal welfare standards are met. During the weekend, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) hosted meetings of the Board of the European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians, of the Veterinary Committee of the European Associations of Zoos and Aquaria, and of the Council of the Federation of German-speaking Zoo Directors. All three meetings dealt with the issue of boycotts by airline companies of shipments containing legally traded wild animals. There was consensus that such boycotts do nothing to promote conservation, rather that they jeopardise the conservation breeding programmes of scientific zoos, that they make the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) more difficult by impeding the transfer of animals confiscated by customs or conservation authorities back to the country of origin or to zoological parks where the animals can be housed under suitable conditions – thus seriously compromising their welfare. “Studies carried out by Government Agencies in several countries have clearly shown that mortality rates of legally traded wild animals are in fact extremely low. By their boycotts, leading airline companies encourage smuggling, the use of second tier companies or long duration sea or land transports, i.e. situations which are very likely to result in higher transport mortality than the rapid and SCHONEND transport by qualified airlines complying with the Live Animals Regulations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA)” Peter Dollinger, the Executive Director of WAZA said. “It is not logical that quality airlines on one hand accept passengers wearing fur garments or elephant leather briefcases, that they treat these passengers with wildlife products such as caviar from threatened sturgeon species, and that they sell them duty-free watches with wristband of crocodile leather, while on the other hand, they prevent our members from legitimately exchanging surplus stock or from time to time, importing a few animals from the wild to improve the genetic diversity and viability of the zoo populations” notes Dollinger sarcastically. While the zoos represented by WAZA are not engaged in commercial animal trade, they recognise that commercial trade in wildlife is legitimate for as long as it is sustainable and the animals have been taken from the wild in compliance with national and international legislation. Trade in wild animals and wild plants is vital for the economy of rural communities in many developing countries. Consequently, indiscriminate boycotts of legitimate wild animal transports are not only striking against the interests of the animals themselves, but also against the interests of poor people in developing countries. Zoos worldwide pledge to help Kabul Zoo29. November 2001 In response to the high level of concern expressed by the World Zoo Community and the public in many countries about the welfare of the animals in Kabul Zoo, the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA) is coordinating an appeal to raise money and other resource to provide food and veterinary expertise for the foreseeable future and, ultimately, to secure the long-term survival of the zoo through a recovery plan. Working in partnership with zoo colleagues across the globe, WAZA hopes to raise $35,000 to cover the costs of operating the zoo for the next six months, which includes the provision of food and expert veterinary care for the zoo's animals. WAZA Director, Peter Dollinger, declared: “Offers of help have been flooding in from around the world, but until a few days ago there was no mechanism of transferring funds to Afghanistan securely, as the political situation is still volatile. We have now identified methods of transferring funds safely and are liasing with zoo colleagues, such as the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) and other regional zoological associations to provide the assistance that is required.” The aim of the appeal is to collect funds from animal lovers worldwide in the hope of raising $35,000 in the short term that should ensure the provision of food and veterinary care for the animals in Kabul Zoo, as well as paying salaries for zoo staff for the next six months. In the long-term, teams of vets and zoologists from different regions, including Afghan scientists, are on standby to help rebuild the zoo when the current crisis has passed and political stability is restored. Professor Gunther Nogge, Director of Cologne Zoo, is coordinating the appeal in the European Region and has established a liaison with the German Air Force to make sure that money and supplies will safely reach their destination. Dr. David Jones, Director of the North Carolina Zoo, is coordinating the appeal in the North American Region. Peter Dollinger stated: "The Zoo Community acknowledges the urgent humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, but also believes zoos have a responsibility to assist animals that may be suffering as a consequence of the current crisis. We are also concerned about other zoos in the region whose animals may be suffering, and are liasing with colleagues and NGOs in the region to establish if assistance is required by other collections where exotic animals are kept." Within the last few days, The World Society for the Protection of Animals' (WSPA) UK Office has confirmed that it succeeded in transferring $3,000 to Kabul with the assistance of newspaper reporters from The Mail on Sunday. This money should ensure the immediate nutritional and veterinary needs of the animals in Kabul Zoo are addressed and the money raised via the WAZA appeal will be used when the initial $3,000 donation has been spent. The WAZA Kabul Zoo Appeal is supported by National and Regional Zoo Federations and individual member institutions. The German Zoo Directors Association has already pledged 5000 Deutschmark as a starting point for raising more funds in Central Europe. Holders of a Master or VISA Card may contact the European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians in Switzerland under EAZWV.Secretariat@bluemail.ch to make a donation. Many zoos will accept donations in cash and forward the money to their regional focal point. Otherwise, donations should be marked Kabul Zoo Appeal and sent to one of the following addresses: Europe: Stadtsparkasse Köln BLZ 370 501 98, Account of Cologne Zoo Nr. 1372200 British Isles: The Federation of Zoos, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY North America: N.C. Zoo Society, 4403, Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, N.C. 27205 care of Russ Williams Der Weltverband der Zoologischen Gärten lässt sich in Bern nieder14. September 2001 Der Weltverband der Zoologischen Gärten und Aquarien (World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, WAZA) hat beschlossen, eine permanente Geschäftsstelle einzurichten und diese in Bern anzusiedeln. Der Schweizer Dr. Peter Dollinger, bisher Abteilungsleiter am Bundesamt für Veterinärwesen, wurde zum ersten vollamtlichen Direktor der Organisation und Leiter der Geschäftsstelle gewählt. Er wird sein neues Amt am 1. Oktober 2001 antreten. Der WAZA gehören weltweit gegen 200 führende Zoologische Gärten und Aquarien sowie 16 nationale oder regionale Zoo-Vereinigungen an, die ihrerseits rund 800 Mitglied-Institutionen vertreten. Jedes Jahr werden die der WAZA angeschlossenen Einrichtungen von rund 600 Millionen Menschen besucht. Bisher wurden die Geschäfte der Organisation nach dem Rotationsprinzip vom jeweiligen Präsidenten – gegenwärtig von Willie Labuschagne, dem Direktor des National-Zoos von Südafrika – geführt. Mit der Eröffnung einer ständigen Geschäftsstelle und der Ernennung eines vollamtlichen Direktors will sich die WAZA vermehrt als Naturschutzorganisation profilieren. Der Beschluss, die Organisation zu professionalisieren, wurde im Herbst 1999 von der Generalversammlung der WAZA-Mitglieder getroffen. Die Mitglieder wurden eingeladen, Standortbewerbungen für die Geschäftsstelle einzureichen. Im nachfolgenden Selektionsverfahren setzte sich der vom Stadtpräsidenten Dr. Klaus Baumgartner unterstütze Antrag von ZooSchweiz (Vereinigung der wissenschaftlichen Zoos der Schweiz) gegen starke internationale Konkurrenz durch, die Geschäftsstelle in Bern zu domizilieren und Dr. Dollinger zum WAZA-Direktor zu ernennen. Dr. Dollinger hat in Basel und Zürich Veterinärmedizin studiert und sein Staatsexamen 1968 abgelegt. Anschliessend doktorierte er bei Profesor Heini Hediger über das Thema „Tod durch Verhalten bei Zootieren“. Nach seiner Assistentenzeit am Zoo von Mülhausen im Elsass und am Institut für Parasitologie der Universität Zürich trat er 1974 in das Bundesamt für Veterinärwesen ein, um den Vollzug des „Washingtoner Artenschutzübereinkommens“ (Übereinkommen über den internationalen Handel mit gefährdeten Arten freilebender Tiere und Pflanzen, CITES) in die Wege zu leiten und bei der Erarbeitung der schweizerischen Tierschutzgesetzgebung massgeblich mitzuwirken. 1986 übernahm Dr. Dollinger die Leitung der Abteilung Internationaler Verkehr (heute Bereich Bewilligungen und Kontrollen) des BVET. Im Laufe seiner 27-jährigen Tätigkeit hat Dr. Dollinger die Schweiz bei zahlreichen internationalen Konferenzen vertreten. Darüber hinaus war er Vorsitzender der EFTA-Veterinärgruppe im Rahmen der EWR-Verhandlungen und leitete die schweizerische Experten-Delegation, welche bei den Verhandlungen über die bilateralen Verträge mit der Europäischen Union den Veterinärbereich abdeckte. 1995 initiierte er die Gründung der Europäischen Vereinigung der Zoo- und Wildtierärzte, deren Sitz er in die Schweiz holte, und für die er bis heute ehrenamtlich als Geschäftsführer wirkt. Dr. Dollinger wird sein Amt am 1. Oktober antreten und seine neuen Büroräumlichkeiten am Lindenweg 3 am 1. November 2001 beziehen können. Dass der Wechsel von einer nach dem Milizsystem geführten zu einer professionell geleiteten Organisation problemlos stattfinden kann, ist nicht zuletzt der Tatsache zu verdanken, dass die Stadt Bern sowie das Eidgenössische Volkswirtschaftsdepartement und das Departement für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten der WAZA Unterstützung für die Geschäftsstelle zugesichert haben. First WAZA Director1. October 2001 The President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), Mr. Willie Labuschagne, has announced the appointment of the first full-time Director of the Association. The incumbent Director is Dr Peter Dollinger of Berne, Switzerland, and will take office on 1 October 2001. "We are proud to have Dr Dollinger as the new Director and it is the belief of the WAZA that he fulfils both the mission and vision of the Association and will be a valuable asset in the attainment of our goals", says Mr. Labuschagne. Dr Dollinger is a 57-year old native of Switzerland and holds a Dr. med. vet. degree. He is married and has two grown-up children. He has extensively represented both his country and his office, the Swiss Federal Veterinary Office, on numerous international occasions. Dr. Dollinger is a linguist of note and is fluent in Swiss-German, German, French, English and Swedish, and has a knowledge of Italian and Spanish. Mr. Labuschagne adds that Dr. Dollinger is a cosmopolitan man who will gain the respect of the various different countries comprising the WAZA. "The new Director will be the voice of the Association and furthermore represent the WAZA whenever possible." The full-time Secretariat will also be under the auspices of Dr. Dollinger and will be based in Berne, Switzerland. The WAZA is a prestigious international association representing world-class zoological and aquatic facilities, with more than 200 member institutions and 15 regional associations represented. Membership is by invitation only. |
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2008
October 19 to 23, 2008 - 63rd Annual Conference of WAZA, hosted by Adelaide Zoo
May 13 to 15, 2008 - 18th Annual Conference Union of the Czech and Slovak Zoos - UCSZ, hosted by Ústí nad Labem Zoo, Czech Republic
May 14, 2008 - Annual Rhino May Day, held at Huxley Conference Theatre at the Zoo in Regent's Park, London, UK. The day is organised by the Rhino Resource Center in conjunction with the Zoological Society of London and Save the Rhino International.
May 17 - 23, 2008 - Crocodilian Biology and Captive Management Course, held at St. Augustine Zoological Park, FL (USA)
May 18 - 21, 2008 - AATA Animal Transportation Association's 34th Annual Conference, held at Westin Bellevue Hotel, Dresden, Germany
May 19 to 30, 2008 - Ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP-9) , Bonn (Germany)
May 21 to 25, 2008 - VDZ - Verband Deutscher Zootierektoren, Annual Meeting hosted by Frankfurt Zoo
May 23 - 25, 2008 - ASZK Conference, held at the Sydney Academy of Sports, Narrabeen, Sydney, NSW Australia
May 29 to 30, 2008 - Symposium: Measuring Zoo Animal Welfare: "Combining Approaches and Overcoming Challenges", held at Brookfield Zoo, IL, USA, and organized/funded by the Chicago Zoological Society.
Symposium information including registration and abstract submission guidelines are available at
May 31 to June 5, 2008 - 9th International Conference on Environmental Enrichment, hosted by Paignton Zoo Environmental Park at the Riviera International Conference Centre Torquay, Devon, UK
June 2 to 7, 2008 - 19th Working Meeting of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group, held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia
June 5, 2008 - WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
June 27-29,2008 ZWE-DVG Amphibian Workshop for Veterinarians (in German), hosted by Wilhelma Zoological-Botanical Gardens, Stuttgart
July 7 to 11, 2008 - 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (USA). Conference theme: Reefs for the future
July 20 - 26, 2008 - Plastination Conference, held in Heidelberg and Guben, Germany.
August 3 to 8, 2008 - International Primatological Society XXII Congress, held in Edinburgh, UK.
August 22 and 23, 2008 - Lysser Wildtiertage, organised by the Swiss Society for Wildlife Biology (SGW) and the Federal Office for the Environment. Lyss (Switzerland)
September 12 to 18, 2008 - AZA Annual Conference, hosted by the Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee, WI, USA
September 14 to 17, 2008 - 82nd Annual Meeting of the German Society for Mammalogy, Vienna (Austria)
September 24 to 28, 2008 - 35th Annual American Association of Zoo Keepers National Conference, held in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Guiding theme: "Elevating Animal Care".
October 4, 2008 - WORLD ANIMAL DAY
October 5 to 14, 2008 - 2008 World Conservation Congress, held at the Barcelona International Congress Centre, Spain.
October 16, 2008 - CBSG Steering Committee Meeting, Adelaide (Australia)
October 19 to 23, 2008 - 63rd Annual Conference of WAZA, hosted by Adelaide Zoo
October 19 to 23, 2008- 19th International Zoo Educators' (IZE) Biennial Conference
Hosted by the Adelaide Zoo, Australia
October 19 to 24, 2008 - Seventh International Aquarium Congress, hosted by Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, PR China. Congress theme: "Progress and Conservation: The role of aquariums in protecting the aquatic environment".
October 20 to 22, 2008 - 2nd Global Conference on Animal Welfare, held at Cairo, Egypt. Conference theme: "Putting the OIE standards to work".
October 28 to November 4, 2008 - 10th Meeting of Ramsar Conference of Parties, held in the Rep. of Korea
November 9 to 21, 2008 - 9th Meeting of the CMS Conference of Parties, held at Rome (Italy)
November 10 to 12, 2008 - Second International Symposium on the Andean Bear, held in Lima (Peru)
November 11 to 13, 2008 - International Elephant Conservation and Research Symposium, held at the Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens, Pattaya, Thailand. The symposium will concentrate on the research and conservation of captive and wild populations of elephants worldwide. Abstract deadline is August 1st, 2008
November 23 to 27, 2008 - 4th Meeting of AEWA Parties, held at Antananarivo (Madagascar)
2009
January 11, 2009 - DGHT - Neusser Herpetologischer Thementag "Veterinärmedizin II"
January 23 to 26, 2009 - Zoos and Aquariums Committing to Conservation (ZACC) Conference, held in Houston, Texas, USA.
February 2, 2009 - WORLD WETLANDS DAY
March 22 to 25, 2009 - 5th International Hornbill Conference, Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Garden, Singapore
June 5, 2009 - WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
June 16 to 20, 2009 - 7th International Zoo Marketing Conference, hosted by Odense Zoo (Denmark)
September 12 to 18, 2009 - AZA Annual Conference, hosted by the Oregon Zoo, Portland, OR, USA
September 24 to 29, 2009 - ICZ/AAZK Joint Conference, hosted by The Puget Sound Chapter of AAZK and Woodland Park Zoo, USA
October 4 to 8, 2009 - 64th Annual Conference of WAZA, hosted by St. Louis Zoo at the Renaissance Grand Hotel, St. Louis (MO), U.S.A
October 4, 2009 - WORLD ANIMAL DAY
October 13 to 15, 2009 - Neotropical Primate Husbandry, Research, and Conservation Conference, hosted by the Brookfield Zoo, USA
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