ANNUAL REPORT 2015
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
Colchester Zoo’s Mission Statement To provide a first class experience for all its visitors and at the same time further understanding and respect for animals. Through visitors’ funds, Colchester Zoo undertakes breeding programmes for endangered species and funds in-situ projects in the wild.
Contents 3 Visitor Numbers Annual Running Costs Sustainability 4
Species Breakdown
5
Breeding Programme
6-11 News from the Zoo
2
12
Experiences Corporate Supporters
13
Social Media Trip Advisor
14
Education Programme
15
Tertiary Education Volunteers & Work Experience
16
Research Projects
17
Funding for Colchester Zoo’s Action for the Wild Projects 18 Orangutan Appeal UK 19 Vulpro 20 Elephant EAZA TAG Research Fund 21 UmPhafa 23 Elephant Orphanage Project 24 Save the Rhinos International 25 Orangutan Foundation 26 Punta San Juan Penguin Census 27 Free the Bears 28 Centre de Rehabilitation des Primates de Lwiro 29 Red Panda Network Forest Guardian Sponsorship 30 Fisher’s Estuarine Moth Breeding Programme
31
More Information and thank you
© Leigh Brooksbank
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
colchester zoo welcomed A TOTAL OF 964,050 visitors in 2015 554,402 general visits 409,648 passholder visits
Sustainability Annual Running Costs in 2015 Insurance
£130,623
Enclosure Development & Maintenance
£989,536
Staff Wages 350+
£5,187,356
VAT & TAX
£1,426,514
Utility Bills
£519,168
Animal Feed & Vets 3
£408,494
Colchester Zoo has worked to replace the smaller oil tanks around the site for more sustainable and efficient biomass burners. In 2015, we received
£38,294.09 in payment for using these renewable heat incentives. Colchester Zoo also has solar panelling on its giant tortoise and bear enclosures. In 2015, we received
£2,989.10 in payment for producing our own energy.
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
Species Breakdown 29% Mammals 15% Birds 11% Reptiles 4%
29% Fish
species at Colchester Zoo
1
Extinct
Critically Endangered
Butterfly Splitfin Fish
Mammals: 4 Birds: 2 Reptiles: 2 Invertebrates: 1
in the Wild
© Paula Meyer
9
including: Pied Tamarins Smooth Coated Otter Fregate Island Beetle
Arrivals 128
Departures 219
Amphibians
12% Invertebrates
263
Births 97
MAMMALS: Amur Leopard Black-Headed Spider Monkey Black and White Ruffed Lemur Visayan Warty Pig INVERTEBRATES Fregate Island Beetle
BIRDS: Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture African White-Backed Vulture REPTILES: Radiated Tortoise Cuban Crocodile
4
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
Breeding programme 69 of the species at Colchester Zoo are part of either the European
Endangered Species Programme (EEP) or the European Studbook (ESB).
EEPs are the most intensive form of population
management. Each EEP has a coordinator who is assisted by a species committee. The coordinator collects information on the species in all EAZA zoos and aquaria, produces a studbook, carries out demographical and genetical analyses, and produces a plan for the future management of the species.
Š Tom Smith
ESBs are a less intensive form of population
management. The programme’s studbook keeper collects information such as births, deaths and transfers. This information is analysed and allows them to judge whether a species is doing well or not in EAZA collections. It also enables them to decide whether a species needs more rigid management to maintain a healthy population.
7
33
Mammals
4
Birds
17
Mammals
1
Reptiles
1
Invertebrates
6
Reptiles/Amphibians
Birds
5
News from the Zoo
© David Marsay
6
Jan-Feb
12th Jan
Colchester Zoo’s UmPhafa Reserve in South Africa welcomed a new INTERN
1st Feb
Awarded Primary Times Star Award for BEST FAMILY ATTRACTION in Essex
23rd Jan
PIED TAMARIN twins were Colchester Zoo’s very first arrivals of 2015
2nd Feb
A bachelor pack of six AFRICAN HUNTING DOGS arrived at Colchester Zoo
26th Jan
We had our first success in breeding the critically endangered FREGATE BEETLE
6th Feb
The first of our ‘BUTTERFLY GLADE’ residents arrived in their pupae © Tom Smith
© Tom Smith
News from the Zoo
Feb-Mar
25th Feb
The prickly AFRICAN PYGMY HEDGEHOG joined the Sensation Station
23rd Mar
Eldest SPOTTED HYENA offspring, Nafari, moved on to help his species
28th Feb
The devastating loss of male MANDRILL, Dume, the dominant male of the group
25th Mar
As spring arrived, so did our LAMBS and KIDS throughout March and April
19th Mar
WHITE RHINO calf, Mabaso, met our giraffe for the first time
28th Mar
Our SMOOTH COATED OTTER breeding pair welcomed a female cub called Touch
© Duncan Bilney
© Michael Turner
7
News from the Zoo
8
Mar-May
31st Mar
Epesi, the male GIRAFFE moved on to join a bachelor group
17th Apr
The UMPHAFA Reserve welcomed ELAND ANTELOPE to its land
1st Apr
Colchester Zoo’s new INCA TRAIL redevelopment was completed
29th Apr
‘Heart of the Amazon’ had a new look as our SQUIRREL MONKEYS moved home
14th Apr
Colchester Zoo introduced a brand new colony of LEAF-CUTTER ANTS
21st May
The UMPHAFA Reserve grew as new land was purchased
News from the Zoo 1st Jun
Work on the redevelopment of CHIMP WORLD began
15th Jul
We were presented with 3 awards by Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards
7th Jun
Our pair of VICTORIAN CROWNED PIGEONS welcomed another chick
21st Jul
Thandi, the GELADA BABOON, gave birth to a baby girl named Mucha
22nd Jul
PENGUIN chick, Bruce, hatched to mum, Tequila, and Dad, Boomerang
7th Jun
© Scott Davey
Jun-Jul
Rajang the ORANGUTAN was an internet sensation as videos of him interacting with pregnant visitors went viral!
© Scott Davey
9
© Stacey England
News from the Zoo
Aug-Oct
Female CHEETAH, Sia, arrived from the Netherlands to join our male, Jack
7th Sep
15th Aug
GELADA BABOON, Keecha, welcomed her baby girl, Adanna, to the group
27th Sep
Fire devastated land at the UMPHAFA reserve in South Africa
2nd Sep
New wetland area created at UMPHAFA to support waterholes in dry months
14th Oct
Colchester Zoo was awarded Best Large Tourist Attraction by Visit Essex
5th Aug
New GIRAFFES, Vera and Nzuri, arrived from the Netherlands
© Lisa Brian
10
News from the Zoo
Oct-Dec
15th Oct
WHITE RHINO, Cynthia, sadly passed away. She was a much loved resident
23rd Nov
Sadly, our female KOMODO DRAGON, Mutu, passed away leaving a great legacy of young
15th Oct
Zuli, our Pygmy HIPPO CALF left for South Korea to start a family of her own
26th Nov
Dill and Patch, the PYGMY GOATS, were born and had to be hand reared by keepers
19th Oct
GELADA BABOON, Malika, added to the baby boom with baby girl, Makeda
23rd Dec
Our ROAD TRAIN was the victim of a fire where the station and train were burnt to the ground
11
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
2015 Experiences 72,600 Passholders 1,487 Adopters 351 Birthday Parties 27 Team Building Events 2,580 Animal Experiences
Corporate Supporters
619 Keeper for the Day Experiences 1200 Keeper Shadowing Experiences 360 Perfect Partner Experiences 31 VIP Animal Experience Days 197 Fledgling Keeper Children’s Experiences 173 Zoo Cadet Children’s Experiences
Thank You Michael & Suzanne Parmenter for their continued support of
Butterfly Glade
12
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
2015 Social Media 58,838 followers on FACEBOOK
1,475,272 visits to Colchester Zoo website
14,829 followers on TWITTER
6,219 visits to Action for the Wild website
7,448 followers on INSTAGRAM
9,928 visits to UmPhafa website
Trip Advisor
Spirit of Essex In 2015, Colchester Zoo was awarded a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence, and was voted:
2nd BEST ZOO in the UK 6th BEST ZOO in Europe 11th BEST ZOO in the World 13
In April 2015, Colchester Zoo was given special recognition of their online presence with the:
GOLD SPIRIT OF ESSEX Awards
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
Education Programme
TOTAL SCHOOL ATTENDANCE: 48,629 41,693 Children and Students 6,936 Adults (including free adults and carers)
755
schools visited Colchester Zoo
452
Primary schools
192
Secondary schools
111
Higher education
visits conducted away from the zoo
19
Primary schools
5
Secondary schools
299
1,852 children were educated
22,794 Pupils were educated
33 visiting groups educated
456
Schools were self-led
Schools had activities
878 free sessions delivered 724 37 117
Talks inside 14
24 school outreach
Talks outside
Workshops
28
Primary
5
Secondary
687 people educated Š Free the Bears
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
Tertiary Education 12 week FdSc module
conducted on Zoo Animal Management for Otley College
5 sessions for BSc students at Essex University 4 taught sessions
Reintroduction, conservation, animal welfare and population management
1 practical session Enrichment
Volunteers & Work Experience
Guest lectures
at Writtle College for MSc students on breeding strategies and captive breeding genetics, and BSc and MSc zoo visit sessions on behaviour and enrichment, carnivore management and animal training
One zoo visit
on animal training for BSc students at Anglia Ruskin University
9 conservation talks
delivered to interested groups concerning Action for the Wild Š Scott Davey
90 Volunteers 10,800 hours of time donated 7 Intern - Work Based Learners 8,256 hours of time donated 36 Student - Work Based Learners 6,656 hours of time donated 15
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
Research Projects Over the academic year of 2014/2015
In 2015
29 research projects
4 research papers
were conducted at Colchester Zoo.
or reports were formally published using assistance from Colchester Zoo, via samples, funding, study of behaviour and assistance with physiology.
24 projects were at BSc Level 4 projects were at MSc Level
1 as part of an International Baccalaureate
29 Study Total 23
16
Mammals
1
Invertebrates
2
Reptiles
1
Birds
2
Education
23 MAMMALS: 10 Primates 4 Dogs & Hyenas 2 Sealions 2 Cats 1 Pig 1 Bear 1 Meerkat 1 Anteater 1 Hyrax
Š David Marsay
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
Funding to Colchester Zoo’s Action For The Wild Projects £400,000
£180.66 £5000
donated to
£4,999
£1,000 £722.73
£
£3,842.03
£5,000
£1,525 £5,309.41
£5,000
£
Over £32,000 to other in-situ projects
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Orangutan Appeal UK
Orangutan Foundation
VulPro
Punta San Juan Penguin Census Count
Elephant EAZA TAG Research Fund
Free the Bears
Elephant Orphanage Project
Centre de Rehabilitation des Primates de Lwiro
Save the Rhinos International
Red Panda Network Forest Sponsorship Scheme
Orangutan Appeal uk
In 2015, released orphans were followed nest-to-nest to record their behaviour. The collected data has been used to establish why some orangutans struggle more than others in adapting to the wild. For decades, there has been no effective post-release data.
The TABIN POST RELEASE MONITORING PROJECT (PRMP) is an intensive orangutan monitoring and rehabilitation programme. ACTION FOR THE WILD donated ÂŁ5,000 in 2015.
4 females and
1 male released
This research proves that rehabilitation and reintroduction can aid the future development of orangutans.
2 births in 2015
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VULPRO is the only organisation in South Africa undertaking concise and continuous monitoring of several of the Cape vulture colonies. ACTION FOR THE WILD donated ÂŁ1,000 in 2015.
In 2015, several Cape vulture breeding colonies in South Africa and Botswana were monitored as part of the annual population assessment.
1,983 pairs were recorded
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Power lines remain the biggest cause for the vulture declines in the North West; however, poisoning is on the increase throughout southern Africa.
VulPro
Elephant EAZA tag Research Fund
Approximately
100 elephants mostly between the age of
3 months & 15 years have died from the virus since its discovery. © Elephant Orphanage Project
ELEPHANT HERPES VIRUS is a devastating infectious disease posing a significant threat to the long term conservation of the Asian elephant. In 2015, ACTION FOR THE WILD donated £722.73 to help conduct three PhD research projects to better understand and combat this virus through EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria).
In 2015, research was conducted to understand why some elephants can resist the virus while others are more susceptible.
• Working towards a better epidemiological understanding of the virus and validate a molecular test for the purpose of regular monitoring.
Research also included: • Transmission in elephant herds and investigating the possibility of a vaccine.
These projects will continue into 2017.
20
Colchester Zoo and Action for the Wild purchased land to form the UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve in 2005. We have since been working to rehabilitate the land and recreate the historical animal populations on the reserve. In 2015 ACTION FOR THE WILD donated £400,000 to ensure the continued running of the reserve, from employing field rangers and reserve management staff, to releasing additional wildlife species and ensuring their continued protection.
KEY EVENTS ON THE RESERVE • A raging runaway fire destroys much of the grazing grasslands. • A severe drought prevents regrowth. This results in us having to provide supplementary feed to the animals for the first time. • Release of Eland antelope. 21
• We complete the purchase of our middle farm, Mount Sully, allowing the opening of all areas of the reserve so the animals can roam the entire 6,000 hectares. • Increase to our blue wildebeest population. • The African hunting dogs we successfully managed are
released into reserves around South Africa, with some packs going on to breed. • The intern scheme continues to develop.
20 interns visited the reserve in 2015 staying for a total of
26 months
In 2016, we will continue with our work to promote and protect the wildlife populations on UmPhafa and also look forward to some exciting developments with our internship scheme. We will see the first college to undertake a bulk booking of placements on the reserve in June to help us research and further our understanding of the flora and fauna on the reserve.
Numbers of waterbuck and blesbok are looking particularly healthy and the aerial game count by helicopter also provided a more reliable indicator of numbers for more elusive antelope species, such as the kudu.
2015 AERIAL GAME COUNT FIGURES OF VISIBLE SPECIES 7 White Rhino 25 Giraffe 42 Red Hartebeest 171 Impala 157 Blesbok 24 Common Reedbuck 15 Mountain Reedbuck 211 Zebra 71 Waterbuck
20 328 17 75 159 14 6 3
Nyala Kudu Duiker Warthog Blue Wildebeest Eland Osrich Steenbok
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THE ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE PROJECT (EOP) is working to rescue, rehabilitate and release orphaned elephants as a direct result of poaching. In 2015, ACTION FOR THE WILD donated £5,000 to help provide food and medical treatment for the orphans.
Elephant Orphanage Project
The ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE PROJECT has two camps:
Lilayi Elephant Nursery
Kafue Release Facility
where keepers provide constant care and feeding for
for those that are not milk dependent and need less time with humans, preparing them for release back into the wild.
3 young orphans 23
By the end of 2015, 5 of the orphans at the Kafue Release Facility were undergoing the release phase, spending time away from the keepers and younger orphans.
© Elephant Orphanage Project
Save the Rhinos International
Action for the Wild’s donation helped purchase field equipment for the field rangers to continue protecting and monitoring the rhinos of the park.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park is one of the most important strongholds for black and white rhinoceros; however, it is facing increasing threats of rhino poaching. In 2015, ACTION FOR THE WILD donated ÂŁ5,309.41.
Better equipment allows field rangers to camp in harder to reach areas of the reserve in order to cover areas that poachers are exploiting. As a result, patrol coverage, poacher detection and rhino carcass detection have all improved in 2015.
Unfortunately, as in the rest of South Africa, the rhino poaching continues unabated despite all desperate attempts to put a halt to the slaughter.
24
ORANGUTAN FOUNDATION is working to save orangutans by protecting their tropical forest habitat, working with local communities, and promoting research and education. In 2015, ACTION FOR THE WILD donated £5,000 for a veterinarian’s salary and associated translocation costs necessary to perform a number of orangutan rescues.
More than 17 orangutan rescues and translocations took place throughout 2015. This was a particularly high number due to raging forest fires throughout Central Kalimantan. 25
Sadly, orangutans continue to be stranded in palm oil plantations and on community land. The number is likely to continue rising and they risk injury or death if they are not rescued in time.
Orangutan Foundation
Lamandau Wildlife Reserve was increased by 8,000 hectares, giving additional safe habitat to orangutans rescued from threatened areas.
© Orangutan Foundation
Punta San Juan Penguin Census
Approximately half of the entire Peruvian Humboldt penguin population calls PUNTA SAN JUAN home. Comprehensive census counts and health assessments are vital to ensure their long term future. In 2015, ACTION FOR THE WILD donated ÂŁ1,525 to help census count activities along the entire Peruvian coast.
20,738 Humboldt penguins were counted during visits to
45 island & coastal sites
Although total penguin numbers have increased over the past 17 years, many sites showed a significantly lower number of penguins in 2015 compared to 2014.
The next stage will be to find methods to monitor not only the penguin population but also the threats and conservation opportunities along the Peruvian coast. 26
Free the Bears
FREE THE BEARS are working to protect, preserve and enrich the lives of bears throughout the world by offering a safe sanctuary for bears rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. In 2015, ACTION FOR THE WILD donated £3,842.03 to FREE THE BEARS and they were able to complete a brand new, state of the art facility for the nursery group of bears.
Over 180 bears in Cambodia alone have been confiscated, or donated by people who previously kept them as exotic pets.
27
Free the Bears’ new, state of the art facility features spacious enclosures and access to night dens, plus a field station for students to observe the bears in their large naturalistic enclosures.
Free the Bears receive on average one bear cub per month in Cambodia. Sadly, it will not be long before the cub nursery facilities are full again.
© Free the Bears
Centre de Rehabilitation des Primates de Lwiro
At the end of 2015, the CRPL was home to
60 Chimpanzees and 72 monkeys 10 of which had been rescued in 2015 alone.
The CENTRE DE REHABILITATION DES PRIMATES DE LWIRO (CRPL) works to care for and rehabilitate orphaned primates. In 2015, ACTION FOR THE WILD donated ÂŁ4,999 to provide all animals in the care of the CRPL with a high standard of nutrition and medical care.
Action for the Wild’s donation provided fresh fruit and vegetables for the 132 primates plus medicines for their healthcare.
By assisting with the running costs, CRPL can continue to receive confiscated animals and contribute to Congolese law in protecting these primates from poaching and the pet trade.
28
The RED PANDA NETWORK is committed to the conservation of wild red pandas and their habitat through the education and empowerment of local communities. In 2015, ACTION FOR THE WILD teamed up with other European Zoos to support a forest guardian scheme.
A forest guardian monitors and protects red panda habitats, as well as educates communities on the importance of the species. Sadly in 2015, the red panda was
re-classified as endangered
Free the Bears Red Panda Network Forest Guardian Sponsorship Scheme
It is therefore vital that the number of guardians continues to grow to protect red pandas and their habitat from deforestation and illegal poaching.
on the IUCN Red List.
29
Š Paula Meyer
Fisher’s Estuarine Moth Breeding Programme 5 OUT OF 7
of our egg batches hatched successfully
The Fisher’s Estuarine Moth is a rare and highly threatened species primarily found on Skipper’s Island off the North Essex Coast. ACTION FOR THE WILD donate technical assistance to support this programme via an offshow area to promote the captive breeding of this species. Our first larva was hatched on
24th APRIL 2015 the last on
30th April 2015
The
LONGEST LIVING
moth at Colchester Zoo was a male that lived for at least
13 DAYS
In total
48 LARVA
were placed on plants and our first moth to emerge was on
16th SEPTEMBER 2015 and the last on
3rd OCTOBER 2015 In total
11 MOTHS emerged
6 MALES and 5 FEMALES
© Micky Andrews
We had
8 PAIRS
in total and
7 PRODUCED EGGS
They usually live for about
7 to 10 DAYS 2014
2015
Batches of eggs
10
5
Number of caterpillars emerged
10
48
Number of caterpillars put on each net
3 to 4
1 to 2
Number of moths emerged
10 (7.3) 11 (6.5)
Number of pairs formed
4
8
Number of pairs laid
3
7
Number of egg batches laid
6
14 30
More Information If you would like further details on the charities supported through Action for the Wild, please visit: www.actionforthewild.org If you would like to know more about becoming an intern on our UmPhafa nature reserve in South Africa, please visit: www.umphafa.org To find out more about adopting an animal or our animal experiences, please visit: Š Scott Davey
www.colchesterzoo.org
Thank you for your support
Š Tom Smith