ANNUAL REPORT 2016 © Danny Gentry
© Sam Ridley
© Tony Brooksbank
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.
colchester zoo welcomed A TOTAL OF 1,017,023 visitors in 2016
522,671 general visits 494,352 passholder visits
Contents 3 Local Economy Annual Running Costs Sustainability 4
Species Breakdown
5
Breeding Programme
6-10 News from the Zoo 11
Social Media Trip Advisor & Other Awards
12
Education Programme
13
Tertiary Education Volunteers & Work Experience
14
15 Funding for Colchester Zoo’s Action for the Wild Projects 16 Orangutan Appeal UK 17 VulPro 18 Elephant EAZA TAG Research Fund 19 UmPhafa 21 Elephant Orphanage Project 22 Save the Rhinos International 23 Orangutan Foundation 24 International Otter Survival Foundation 25 Free the Bears 26 Centre de Rehabilitation des Primates de Lwiro 27 Red Panda Network Forest Guardian Sponsorship 28 N/a’an ku sê Large Carnivore Conservation Project 29 The Hornbill Research Foundation 30 Fisher’s Estuarine Moth Breeding Programme 31
2
Research Projects
More Information and Thank you
ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Local Economy
£
As a large organisation, Colchester Zoo has a significant impact on the local and regional economy. Colchester Zoo’s visitors, contractors and staff all impact the economy through employment and expenditure, including retail, catering, accommodation, visiting other local attractions, and transport. The total gross impact on the local and regional economies by Colchester Zoo for 2016 equates to
£48,184,761 Total gross full time jobs created locally and regionally = 759
Sustainability Annual Running Costs in 2016
3
Insurance
£135,000
Enclosure Development & Maintenance, Grounds and Gardens
£634,296
Staff Wages 350+
£5,270,165
VAT
£2,076,209
Rates - Water, Fuel, Electricity
£820,087
Animal Feed, Vets and Movements
£422,371
Colchester Zoo has worked to replace the smaller oil tanks around the site for more sustainable and efficient biomass burners. In 2016, we received
£60,883.19
in payment for using these renewable heat incentives. Colchester Zoo also has solar panelling on its giant tortoise and sun bear enclosures. In 2016, we received
£1,021.56
in payment for producing our own energy at giant tortoises.
ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Species Breakdown 30% Mammals 16% Birds 11% Reptiles 3%
28% Fish
species at Colchester Zoo
1
Extinct
Critically Endangered
Butterfly Splitfin Fish
Mammals: 6 Birds: 2 Reptiles: 2 Fish: 1
in the Wild
© Scott Davey
11
Arrivals 184
Departures 77
Amphibians
12% Invertebrates
261
Births 108
including: Ring-tailed lemur Pied tamarin Buffy-headed capuchin Spider monkey
MAMMALS: Amur leopard Colombian black spider monkey Black and white ruffed lemur Red-ruffed lemur Visayan warty pig Buffy-headed capuchin
BIRDS: Ruppell’s griffon vulture African white-backed vulture REPTILES: Radiated tortoise Cuban crocodile
FISH: Alkali cichlid
4
ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Breeding programme 66 of the species at Colchester Zoo are part of either the European
Endangered Species Breeding 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 (European Association for Zoos and Aquaria) zoos and aquaria, produces a studbook, carries out demographical and genetical analyses, and produces a plan for the future management of the species.
32 1 Š Christian Volke
Mammals Reptile
5
Birds
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 how a species is fairing in EAZA collections. It also enables them to decide whether a species needs more rigid management to maintain a healthy population.
6
16
Mammals
6
Reptiles/Amphibians
Birds
5
News from the Zoo
© David Marsay
6
Jan-Feb
13th Jan
Sammy the FENNEC FOX arrived to join our male, Sudan
10th Feb
Female SHORT-CLAWED OTTER, Priya, arrived and it was love at first sight with male, Ravi!
31st Jan
Our new DONKEYS, Drew and Dougal spend time on the farm section
10th Feb
We welcomed AARON RAMSEY, keen conservationist and Arsenal footballer
1st Feb
Awarded Primary Times Star Award for BEST FAMILY ATTRACTION in Essex
15th Feb
Our keepers returned from helping LAKELAND WILDLIFE OASIS PARK after the flooding in Cumbria
© Robert Palmer
© Tom Smith
News from the Zoo
Feb-Mar
23rd Feb
The lambing season at our UMPHAFA RESERVE was a success
14th Mar
It was announced that WHITE RHINO, Emily, is pregnant!
31st Feb
LORIKEET chicks hatched out in time for Easter!
16th Mar
We welcomed new male WOLF, Kera, from Thoiry in France
11th Mar
It was time for a check up as the DENTIST visited Colchester Zoo
31st Mar
© Robert Palmer
Eggs from Colchester Zoo’s FISHER’S ESTUARINE MOTH programme were introduced to a new location
7
© Tom Smith
© Christian Volke
News from the Zoo
8
© Tom Smith
Over the Spring months, we welcomed 12 HUMBOLDT PENGUIN chicks across our two groups
1st Apr
We welcomed four RING-TAILED LEMUR babies born between March and May
1st Jun
6th Apr
Two VULTURE chicks hatched and it was confirmed we have one male and one female
14th Jun for Education as the Association
9th May © Christian Volke
Apr-Jun
We welcomed 10 CHILEAN FLAMINGOS from the Isle of Wight to join our flock down on the lake!
We won the BIAZA Gold Award
celebrates its 50th anniversary
30th Jun
Five AFRICAN WILD DOGS arrived at UmPhafa as part of the Endangered Wildlife Trust project
© Tom Smith
© Tom Smith
© Scott Davey
News from the Zoo
Jul - Sep
12th Jul
Zoo team looked for caterpillar poo to find signs of the FISHER’S ESTUARINE MOTH!
7th Aug
Our CROWNED CRANE pair, Charles and Camilla, welcomed two healthy chicks!
13th Jul
Astrid, a female WHITE RHINO, arrived at Colchester Zoo to join our crash
24th Aug
Barney, one of our female BUFFY-HEADED CAPUCHINS gave birth to a single baby
22nd Jul
Our brand new ROAD TRAIN is up and running just in time for the summer holidays!
10th Sep
RAJANG was getting up close to another baby bump; this time his keeper’s!
© Micky Andrews
© Scott Davey
9
© Scott Davey
© Lisa Brian
© Stacey England
News from the Zoo 16th Sep
21st Sep
26th Sep
10
HONEY BADGER caught on camera at Colchester Zoo’s UmPhafa Reserve WINNER of Essex Mum’s Best Day Out Award as well as Best Halloween Event for Shriek Week CROCODILE spotted near UmPhafa Reserve for the first time in many years
17th Oct
24th Nov
22nd Dec
Sep - Dec
A young female SPIDER MONKEY was born at Colchester Zoo, named Chilli WINNER of Raring2Go Award having been voted this year’s Family Favourite Day out We welcomed L’hoest’s monkey, Abana, transferred from Szeged Zoo in Hungary.
© Debbie Pavier
ANNUAL REPORT 2016
2016 Social Media 72,961 followers on FACEBOOK
1,577,177 visits to Colchester Zoo website
17,144 followers on TWITTER
8,092 visits to Action for the Wild website
14,463 followers on INSTAGRAM
11,211 visits to UmPhafa website
Trip Advisor
Other Awards in 2016 In 2016, Colchester Zoo was awarded a Trip Advisor CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE
BEST LARGE FAMILY ATTRACTION IN ESSEX Star Award from Primary Times BEST HALLOWEEN EVENT for Shriek Week and BEST DAY OUT: OUTDOORS from Essex Mums FAMILY FAVOURITE DAY OUT from Raring2Go BIAZA GOLD AWARD for education
11
ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Education Programme 42,064 Children and students visited on educational trips 77 families took part in
823
Home Education Sessions
schools visited Colchester Zoo
518
Primary schools
177
Secondary schools
128
Higher education
34
Home education sessions delivered
1,474 children and adults attended
25,783 Pupils taught in 939 education sessions 80 different sessions are
available for schools to book
8
New sessions developed on a range of topics including Senses, English, and Lemur vs Monkey
Winner of the 2016 BIAZA
(British and Irish Association for Zoos and Aquariums)
Malcolm Whitehead Education Gold Award for the UmPhafa Game Ranger Trail 12
200 children attended 3 Children’s University Graduation Events
with over 700 downloads of the Children’s University ‘Learning at the Zoo’ activity packs Collaborated with ESB Education and the Industry STEM Programme to allow students at Essex Schools the chance to work with digital and engineering companies to design an automatic feeder for our sun bears
ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Tertiary Education 12 week FdSc module
conducted on Zoo Animal Management for Otley College and a module developed for 12 student keepers
5 sessions for BSc students at Essex University 4 taught sessions 1 practical session Reintroduction, conservation, animal welfare and population management
Enrichment
Volunteers & Work Experience
Guest lectures
at Writtle College for MSc and BSc students on breeding strategies and captive breeding genetics, and BSc and MSc zoo visit sessions on behaviour and enrichment, carnivore management and animal training
Two zoo visits
on animal training for BSc students at Anglia Ruskin University
16 conservation talks
delivered to interested groups concerning Action for the Wild
90 Volunteers 10,920 hours of time donated 12 Intern - Work Based Learners 17,280 hours of time donated 28 Student - Work Based Learners 18,048 hours of time donated 13
ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Research Projects Over the academic year of 2015/2016
30 research projects
were conducted at Colchester Zoo.
18 projects were at BSc Level and 1 at BA level 3 projects were at MSc Level and 1 at MA level 5 at PHd or post-doctorate 1 at level 3 extended diploma 1 at Access to Higher Education 30 Study Total
14
22
Mammals
1
Recreation
1
Nature Area
2
Birds
3
Education
1
Staff & Volunteers
In 2016
1 research paper was formally published,
2 articles
were produced and
2 presentations conducted using assistance from Colchester Zoo
22 MAMMALS: 6 Primates 1 Cat 2 Bears 2 Meerkats 1 Anteater 2 Goats 1 Giraffe 3 Elephants 3 Rhinos 1 African Mixed Species Š NWY Photography
ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Funding to Colchester Zoo’s Action For The Wild Projects £197
£376
£5448
£200,000
£5,000
£4972 £5,000
£ £5,000
donated to
£5,000
£5,000
£5,000 £862 £373
£4,900
£
Over £47,000 to other in-situ projects
VulPro
15
Orangutan Appeal UK
Orangutan Foundation
Elephant EAZA TAG Research Fund
International Otter Survival Foundation
Elephant Orphanage Project
Free the Bears
Save the Rhinos International
Centre de Rehabilitation des Primates de Lwiro
Hornbill Research Foundation
Red Panda Network Forest Sponsorship Scheme
Big Cat Conservation Projects
N/a’an ku sê Carnivore Research
Orangutan Appeal uk
9 orangutans have now been established in the wild
2 females
were released in May 2016 and are intensively followed
The TABIN POST RELEASE MONITORING PROJECT (PRMP) is an intensive orangutan monitoring and rehabilitation programme. ACTION FOR THE WILD donated ÂŁ5,000 in 2016.
In 2016, the 2 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. This research aims to prove that rehabilitation and reintroduction can aid the future conservation of orangutans.
16
VULPRO is the only organisation in South Africa undertaking concise and continuous monitoring of around 50% of the world’s cape vulture colonies. ACTION FOR THE WILD donated £5,000 in 2016.
In 2016, four cape vulture breeding colonies were monitored as part of the annual population assessment looking for breeding pairs.
1,243 pairs
were recorded in 2016 17
The health of the colonies is improving from the 1,116 breeding pairs recorded at the same sites in 2015. 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 HERPES VIRUS is a devastating infectious disease posing a significant threat to the long term conservation of the Asian elephant. In 2016, ACTION FOR THE WILD donated £862.30 to help conduct three PhD research projects to better understand and combat this virus through EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria).
Back in 2015, research was initiated to understand why some elephants can resist the virus while others are more susceptible.
• Working towards a better epidemiological understanding of the virus and to 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.
18
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 2016, ACTION FOR THE WILD donated £200,000 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 • Throughout 2016, the reserve management team have continued with rock packing of the perimeter fence in preparation for predator release. We have also housed a family group of wild dogs in our boma, with 3 males moving to Botswana and 2 females to the Greater Kruger National Park area. 19
• Our impala have had a successful breeding year, with over 40 impala lambs born at the end of the year. The impala population also received a boost this year with the release of 45 new individuals.
• Construction and infrastructure work on the reserve have continued with the completed renovations of the accommodation, maintenance and staff areas. • The intern scheme continues to develop.
43 interns
visited the reserve in 2016, staying for a total of
49 months
In 2017, 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 second university undertake a bulk booking of placements on the reserve in April to help us research and further our understanding of the flora and fauna on the reserve.
2016 GAME COUNT FIGURES OF VISIBLE SPECIES 6 White Rhino 27 Giraffe 55 Red Hartebeest 188 Impala 200 Blesbok 28 Common Reedbuck 15 Mountain Reedbuck 251 Zebra 76 Waterbuck
22 Nyala 358 Kudu 17 Duiker 135 Warthog 201 Blue Wildebeest 18 Eland 6 Ostrich 2 Steenbok 2 Bushbuck 20
THE ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE PROJECT (EOP) is working to rescue, rehabilitate and release orphaned elephants as a direct result of poaching. In 2016, 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 need less time with humans, preparing them for release back into the wild.
3 young orphans
At Kafue 3
are about to begin weaning
7
are milk-reared, dependant juveniles
2
are independant sub-adults 21
© Elephant Orphanage Project
Save the Rhinos International
Unfortunately, as in the rest of South Africa, rhino poaching continues at incredibly high levels.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park is an important stronghold for black and white rhinoceros; however, it is facing increasing threats of rhino poaching. In 2016, ACTION FOR THE WILD donated £5,448.23
Action for the Wild’s 2016 donation helped support the tracker dog units and provide equipment to the field rangers to continue
protecting and monitoring the rhinos of the park.
Better equipment allows field rangers to camp in harder to reach areas of the reserve in order to cover areas that poachers are exploiting. The tracker dogs are a vital addition for assisting in tracking down poachers. © Dirk Swart
22
ORANGUTAN FOUNDATION is working to save orangutans by protecting their tropical forest habitat, working with local communities, and promoting research and education. In 2016, ACTION FOR THE WILD donated £5,000 for a veterinarian’s salary and associated translocation costs necessary to perform a number of orangutan rescues.
25 orangutan rescues
and translocations took place throughout 2016. This high number is thought to be a result of rapid urban expansion.
23
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
Five orangutan release camps operate at Lamandau Wildlife Reserve, giving additional safe habitat to orangutans rescued from threatened areas.
© Orangutan Foundation
International Otter Survival Foundation
Action for the Wild’s 2016 donations helped to enable
33 participants to attend an otter workshop in China, one of the most important markets for otter fur. © Carol Bennetto
The INTERNATIONAL OTTER SURVIVAL FOUNDATION is working to provide a series of workshops to train people in otter field techniques, public awareness programmes, law enforcement and conservation issues. In 2016, ACTION FOR THE WILD donated £4,900 to the INTERNATIONAL OTTER SURVIVAL FOUNDATION
The workshop resulted in increased awareness, with the aim of forming a network of like-minded individuals to help reduce trade and encourage cross-border cooperation for the interception and prosecution of smugglers. 24
Free the Bears
FREE THE BEARS is 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 2016, ACTION FOR THE WILD donated ÂŁ5,000 to FREE THE BEARS to purchase 1 hectare of land to build a new world class bear sanctuary in Laos.
Free the Bears currently houses
38 bears in a sanctuary originally designed for 25. The need for a new sanctuary for the increasing number of rescued bears in Laos is paramount. 25
In September 2016, the masterplan for the sanctuary was approved. Work is now underway on the first enclosures with the aim to move at least one group of bears by April 2017. This will free up vital space for the remaining bears at the existing site.
Free the bears has also presented a plan to phase out bear bile farming in Laos by 2020, which could mean upwards of 150 bears needing a new home in the future.
Š Free the Bears
Centre de Rehabilitation des Primates de Lwiro
At the end of 2016, the CRPL was home to
73 Chimpanzees and 92 monkeys of which 10 chimps and 17 monkeys were rescued during 2016 alone. © Centre de Rehabilitation des Primates de Lwiro
The CENTRE DE REHABILITATION DES PRIMATES DE LWIRO (CRPL) works to care for and rehabilitate orphaned primates. In 2016, ACTION FOR THE WILD donated £4,972 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 primates plus medicines for their healthcare over 3 months.
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.
26
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 2016, ACTION FOR THE WILD first 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. European zoos have helped fund 8 of the 54 forest guardians in 2016. 27
Free the Bears Red Panda Network Forest Guardian Sponsorship Scheme
This support benefits not only the red pandas, but provides employment and development within the local community, giving them a sense of pride in protecting this endangered species. Š Danny Gentry
N/a’an ku sê Large Carnivore Conservation Research Project
The project aims to work with local farmers and land owners to not only conserve viable large carnivore populations in current ranges, but to also engage farmers with practical, cost-effective and non-lethal tools to manage carnivores. © N/a’an ku sê
N/a’an ku sê LARGE CARNIVORE CONSERVATION RESEARCH PROJECT responds to widespread human-carnivore conflict across Namibian farmland. In 2016, ACTION FOR THE WILD donated £5,000 to purchase GPS collars, camera traps and research equipment to monitor carnivores.
To date, N/a’an ku sê has responded to 698
human-carnivore conflict calls from land owners, attended 137 carnivore
Throughout 2016, over 40 conflict calls were received and 12 carnivores collared.
conflict situations and collared 84 carnivores.
28
The HORNBILL RESEARCH FOUNDATION, set up in 1978, conducts biological research on wild hornbills. In 2016, ACTION FOR THE WILD donated £373.33 to sponsor 3 family groups of hornbills.
Action for the Wild’s donation helped sponsor family groups of rhinoceros, helmeted and white-crowned hornbills. In southern and western Thailand, villagers used to make extra money by selling hornbill chicks at markets. 29
© Hornbill Research Foundation
Nowadays, these same villagers are funded to collect hornbill biological data from the very nests they poached. This contributes to raising awareness and
involves the local communities in active conservation work.
Free theResearch Bears The Hornbill Foundation
Data collected allows researchers to monitor the hornbill populations. Combining information from this data provides an overall picture of the behaviour and ecology of the hornbills, and will hopefully assist in determining indicators of reproductive success and high survival rates.
Fisher’s Estuarine Moth Breeding Programme
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 donates technical assistance to support this programme via an offshow area to promote the captive breeding of this species. We had
Our first larva was hatched on
27 BATCHES
8TH MAY 2016
of eggs in total -
and the last on
our BEST
10th MAY 2016
YEAR yet!
In total
One pair produced
8 BATCHES!
60 LARVA
were placed across 24 plants and the first moth to emerge was on
4th SEPTEMBER 2016 and the last on
25th SEPTEMBER 2016 In total
15 MOTHS emerged;
9 MALES and 6 FEMALES
© Micky Andrews
2015
2016
Batches of eggs
5
10
Number of caterpillars emerged
48
60
1 to 2
1 to 3
Number of caterpillars put on each net We had
5 PAIRS
in total and
all 5 PRODUCED EGGS
Number of moths emerged
11 (6.5) 15 (9.6)
Number of pairs formed
8
5
Number of pairs laid
7
5
Number of egg batches laid
14
27 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:
To find out more about adopting an animal or our animal experiences, please visit: www.colchesterzoo.org
Thank you for your support
Š David Marsay
Š Christian Volke
www.umphafa.org