Twycross Zoo Annual Review 2012 by Twycross Zoo

Annual Review

2012

Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis

Highlights of 2012 1

Chimp moves to create improved, larger social groups.

Conservation Successes 2

Variegated spider Monkey birth - one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most endangered primates.

Twycross Zoo has led the way with keeping Francoisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; langurs, producing 3 youngsters in the last 2 years

Cover Photo: Endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia

Increased Cao Vit gibbon population in the wild; the result of research and conservation work funded by Twycross Zoo

Highlights of 2012 (cont)

Conferences 5

3 successful conferences instigated and hosted on specialist zoo topics • Animal Transfers

• Primate Symposium • Veterinary Nursing

New education Programmes 6

roots & shoots, a programme of the Jane Goodall Institute

Births 7

Howler monkey

Bonobo

Lowland tapir

Francois langur

Humboldt penguins

Variegated spider monkey (Image on page 3)

New Species 12

Bushdog

Kirk’s dik-dik The worlds smallest antelope!

Coati

New Exhibits 15

Refreshed penguin enclosure with new penguin walk and feeding experience area, opened Sept 2012

Coati and bushdog mixed species enclosure opened Sept 2012 The Wetlands - a functional water cleansing and native biodiversity exhibit, opened May 2012

New owl aviaries with increased flight space, opened Sept 2012

Contents Chairman & CEO’s Report

Conservation Report

8 - 10

People & Nature (Education)

12 - 13

Research & Papers Published

14 - 15

Wildlife Information Network (WIN)

Animal Welfare

16 - 17

Animal Health

18 - 19

Animal Collection

20 - 21

Guest Services & Event Management

22 - 23

Our Site

External Representation

Financial Report

25 - 27

Our People

A Taste of 2013

30 - 31

Founder Member S N Evans The Board of Trustees: ML Hughes BSc PhD MBA (Chairman & Acting CEO) S Bell OBE FRAgS FICF MSc DiplPlanning David Conner (retired June 2012) D J Chivers MA, PhD, ScD A G Greenwood MA VetMB DipECZM CBiol FSB FRCVS J Helas BEng CEng MIMechE (from September 2012) M Hesketh ACA (from March 2012) D Keep (from September 2012) Executive Board Members: Acting CEO (at end of 2012) ML Hughes BSc PhD MBA Zoological Director S Redrobe BSc (Hons) BVetMed CertLAS DZooMed MRCVS

Adult bonobo Pan paniscus

Registered Office Norton Grange Norton Juxta Twycross, Near Atherstone Warwickshire, CV9 3PX Auditors Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP St Phillip’s Point, Temple Row, Birmingham, B2 5AF Bankers HSBC Bank PLC, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B72 1PU MIX

Interim Head of Finance Liam Wall ACA TM

Paper FSC C022127 R

Chief Operating Officer Rob Bracken (left March 2013)

CBPPC0001691706110421

The paper used for this report is 100% recycled. Photographs kindly supplied by Gilllian Day, Zhao Chao, Julian Chapman,

All queries welcomed; information@twycrosszoo.org

Susan Muir, Claire Oldham, Sarah Chapman & Sophie Barnes

Chairman & CEO’s Report

2012 was a year of considerable challenge and change for Twycross Zoo. It is well recognised that the very poor weather during most of the “summer” months adversely affected the UK leisure industry and, in common with many other “open air” attractions, Twycross Zoo suffered low visitor numbers. This led to the Board carrying out a strategic review of the charity and its operations in the last quarter, which resulted in some reorganisation and significant cost cutting. The decision was taken to refocus the Zoo wholly on its core charitable objectives of conservation, research, education and recreation for the visiting public. A high proportion of the Zoo’s animal collection consists of endangered, or critically-endangered, species. The successful breeding programmes for these species and the research opportunities this offers, together with its involvement in, and support for, in-situ conservation initiatives, gives the Zoo an important role in both conservation and education, but this needs to be explained better both to the scientific community and the visiting public. During my first year as Chairman (mid 2011/12), I came increasingly to appreciate the high level of care given to the animals by a very committed team and this needs to be reflected in better facilities for, and presentation of, the collection - not only for our visitors, but also for the animals themselves. As a charity with limited resources, there is no “quick fix”, but the staff have wholeheartedly committed to this, plans are in place, and a determined start has been made. A new owl aviary and coati and bushdog exhibit were opened in 2012 and in early 2013 a number of enclosure “conversions” will include new facilities for the very rare Amur leopard, for endangered siamangs, giant tortoises, camels, rheas, lemurs. We are starting conversations with the business and scientific communities to identify potential funding to help further our ambitions.

CEO Dr Mary-Lorraine Hughes and lowland tapir ‘Bonita’

Change also extended to the Board of Twycross Zoo. We thanked David Conner for his many years’ contributions as a Trustee when his move to Cornwall necessitated his retirement from the Board. We welcomed 3 new Trustees during the year: Mark Hesketh in March and then in September, John Helas and Doug Keep. Our Chief Executive, Susie Boardman, remarried and, having decided to work with her new husband, resigned from the Zoo in early November after 8 years’ service. We thank her and wish her well in her future endeavours. The Trustees requested that I take over as Acting Chief Executive for a few months, whilst the strategic review was undertaken and resulting actions commenced. Initially I held both the positions of Chairman and Acting Chief Executive, but felt it right to relinquish the role of Chairman to my fellow Trustee, Susan Bell, in early 2013. I really do need to thank, not only my fellow Trustees, but also my colleagues at Twycross Zoo, at all levels in the organisation, who have embraced our renewed focus and have willingly, and with very good humour and ingenuity, set about making the much-needed changes with limited resources. It is their hard work, imagination and resourcefulness that will drive Twycross Zoo, the East Midland Zoological Society, to secure a promising future.

Native species are not forgotten: an extensive, brand new Wetlands exhibit was opened in May 2012, linked to water cleansing management. A pathway meanders past 19 gravity-fed ponds (which naturally filter the Zoo’s waste water through the application of reed beds and specialitymix plants) and leads the visitor to a lake and bird-hide. Dr Mary-Lorraine Hughes, This natural reserve provides habitat for a growing Chairman and Acting CEO population of plants and animals.

Conservation Report 1

Lola Ya Bonobo, Democratic Republic of the Congo

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The number of bonobos cared for at Lola Ya Bonobo, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only sanctuary for orphaned bonobos. Twycross Zoo has supported this invaluable project since 2007. Based south west of Kinshasa, the centre has two islands on which rehabilitated bonobos are released to live in the wild.

Society for Siberut Green, Siberut, Indonesia Funding a CITES based education programme to raise awareness in local towns regarding the variety of species present in Siberut and the legislation that protects them.

Ape Action Africa, Cameroon

Planning the release schedule for rescued and rehabilitated primates on CamIron land in Cameroon. Our funds allowed Rachel Hogan, Director of Ape Action Africa to commute and stay in Yaounde, the capital city of Cameroon so she could negotiate with relevant parties to ensure the safety of the area in which the release programme is planned. In 2012 Sharon Redrobe, Zoological Director at Twycross Zoo, travelled there to perform necessary surgery on a number of their charges.

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Carl Von Ossietzky University, Central African Republic Establishing the importance of natural forest clearings to Central African mammals. Camera traps recorded over 6,000 animal encounters including African forest elephant, giant pangolin and evidence of forest dwelling spotted hyena. The data show the importance of these clearings to conservation and the wildlife contained therein.

different conservation projects received over

£50,000 through the Twycross Zoo Conservation Welfare Fund in

Flora & Fauna International, Cao Vit gibbon Conservation Project, Vietnam

Research and conservation work on the Cao Vit gibbon, the 2nd rarest ape species in the world. Twycross Zoo funds the 6-man community-based patrol in Trung Khanh which collects data on a wide range of species, but focusing on the gibbons, whilst also monitoring the activities of the local villages and the impact they may have on the environment. Most importantly they contributed towards a survey of the species in 2012 showing that the population has grown by 17% since the last census in 2007.

Successful management and breeding of endangered species at Twycross Zoo

Twycross Zoo works closely with international breeding programmes to ensure that success is achieved in the management of IUCN listed species. Twycross cares for 19 “Vulnerable” species, 20 “Endangered” species and 10 “Critically-endangered” species. Successes this year include a variegated spider monkey birth - one of the world’s 25 most endangered primates. Those held in captivity are vital to the survival of this species. The birth of a Francois’ langur was very important as the wild Francois’ langur population has been more than halved since 1983 to less than 2,500 individuals. Twycross Zoo has led the way in keeping Francois’ langurs, producing 3 youngsters in the last 2 years.

Conservation report continuted overleaf... 66

2012

Conservation Report

Twycross Zoo cares for

(cont)

species that are either

Orangutan Land Trust/Borneo orang-utan Survival Foundation, Nyaru Menteng, Borneo

Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered

under IUCN standards

Upgrading clinic and cages at Nyaru Menteng, the Borneo Orang-utan Survival Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Centre. These temporary cages allowed the centre to move animals around so the original accommodation could be upgraded in preparation for animals being released into the wild.

Awely Greencaps, Democratic Republic of the Congo Education based anti-bushmeat campaign focusing on the trade of bonobo products. Ex-bushmeat hunters are now signing up as bonobo ambassadors and are creating opportunities for alternative income via farming of domesticated animals for food.

Organisation for People, Environment & Nature, Trinidad Leatherback turtle beach protection through community involvement and awareness. Achievements include exchanging seafront lights for turtle friendly â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;redâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lights and establishing pet owner workshops on the damage free roaming dogs can do on turtle nesting beaches. A community beach cleaning operation to remove litter from the nesting beaches and environmental workshops for young people have also been set up.

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Amur leopard Panthera pardus orientalis There are fewer than 40 Amur leopards left in the wild.

People & Nature: (Education) Introduction of Interactive Teaching Techniques 2012 saw the Education Department move to a more interactive style of teaching. An activity was introduced into each session to get the students up and moving. It has been shown that activities such as these aid knowledge retention and increase engagement in the subject material. We have had some very positive feedback from teachers welcoming the change with many stating that children were able to recall the session well when they were back at school.

Word cloud produced from teacher comments on Twycross education sessions . The size of each word in the cloud indicates frequency of use by the teachers

Beginning of Twycross Zoo Summer Schools Two summer schools were run in 2012. Summer Safari for ages eight to twelve and Zooniversity for ages thirteen to sixteen. The aim in both sessions was to give participants a greater understanding of how a zoo works and the conservation work of the organisation. Zooniversity did this by giving students a taste of a number of different zoo/ animal based careers from spending the day as a zoo vet to being a zoological researcher.

Graduates of this year’s Zooniversity

New Activities for Community Groups In 2012 a close working relationship with Girl Guiding UK was developed. A number of sessions were designed to enable them to achieve badges or achievements for Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Senior Section. These have been extremely popular with advance bookings taken well into 2013.

Heanor Brownies after taking part in their “Be A Friend To The Animals Day”

Introduction of Junior Members Saturday Club Junior Friends was launched in September 2013 and runs every Saturday morning from 10.30 - 12.30, offering our Junior Members some unique experiences. In 2012 it enabled them to get behind the scenes with some of our animal sections, take part in all sorts of animal activities and â&#x20AC;&#x153;get up close and personalâ&#x20AC;? with some of our friendlier zoo animals.

Junior Friends helping with monkey diets

Successful funding for roots & shoots comes to Twycross Zoo Funding was received from the Big Lottery Fund to run a brand new after school club for schools in low income areas. The initiative was put in place in conjunction with the Jane Goodall Institute and their roots & shoots programme. In this six-week programme children are taught about sustainable lifestyles, their impact on the environment and positive environmental actions. It is being run with six local schools in the 2012 - 2013 academic year.

Newland Primary School taking part in roots & shoots after school club

Using Focus Groups to Enhance Service Delivery In January 2012 the department ran the very first teacher focus groups. We wanted to make sure that the sessions we were offering gave teachers what they wanted. Around 60 teachers from all over the Midlands took part, contributing their thoughts and feedback about our booking system, site facilities and educational offering.

Classes are able to experience direct contact with animals

Research & Papers Published 31 researchers from 15 different institutions came to Twycross Zoo in 2012, studying diverse topics such as ape cognition, penguin enrichment, guenon behaviour and dhole diets. The projects include: University or research institution (including collaborative partners)

Level

Project Title

BIAZA/Chester Zoo

MSc

Survey to Evaluate Breeding in Mixed Species Bird Enclosures

Oxford Brookes University

MSc

The use and function of head gestures in two species of captive great ape: the bonobo and the chimpanzee

University of Nottingham/ Twycross Zoo

Research Internship

Investigating regurgitation and reingestion in gorillas

University of Exeter

MSc

The effect of an individuals social affliations on leadership behaviour in captive meerkats

Paignton Zoo

MSc

Comparison of behaviours in multi-male vs. traditionally housed groups of spider monkeys

Twycross Zoo

Postdoctoral

Use of Coconut oil in the battle to control Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus, a major killer in young Asian elephants

University of Antwerp

PhD

The role of neuropeptides as a proximate base for (pro)social behaviour: inter and intraspecific comparison of bonobo and chimpanzee

Royal Veterinary College

BSc

How do guenons differ in their response to visitors?

Anglia Ruskin University

BSc

Proximate climatic influences on the elevation and terrestrial locomotion of a group of captive Brown spider monkeys

Royal Veterinary College

BSc

To develop a method of scoring and recording lameness in captive elephants in the UK and Ireland that can be used by a variety of attending staff with consistent results.

University of Derby

BSc

Increasing lengths of feeding times with the use of enrichment

Nottingham Trent University

BSc

Space use by Chilean flamingos in relation to building a predator-inaccessible island for reproduction

Royal Veterinary College

BSc

Causes of mortality in Chimpanzees in UK Zoos

Royal Veterinary College

MSc

Developing a standardised system for the objective measurement of pathological lesions of feet in captive elephants in the UK and Ireland.

Nottingham Trent University

BSc

The behaviour and enclosure use of the captive humboldt penguin

Nottingham Trent University

BSc

Enclosure use and enrichment for humboldt penguins

University of Derby

BSc

Examining the different hair scaling patterns of the amur leopard and the snow leopard

Royal Veterinary College

BSc

Mortality of the slender-tailed meerkat in captivity in the UK.

Keele University

BSc

How does the integration of two hand-reared chimpanzees into a larger pre-existing group at Twycross Zoo affect their social behaviour?

University of Nottingham

BSc

Isolation and characterisation of Bdellovibrio spp. from reptiles

University of Derby

BSc

Use of food enrichment to combat abnormal repetitive behaviours, specifically regurgitation and reingestion in captive western lowland gorillas.

University of Nottingham

BSc

Function and evolution of the supracondylar (entepicondylar) foramen in mammals

Chester Zoo/University of Liverpool

MSc

Feeding, nutrition and body condition of UK elephants

Chester Zoo/University of Liverpool

MSc

Evaluation of best feeding practice for two populations of orang utans

Twycross Zoo

Research Internship

Enclosure use and behaviour of captive Chilean flamingos

University of Nottingham

BSc

An investigation of how wildlife educators engage with the public on issues relating to conservation

Moulton College

BSc

Patterns of disease in captive chimpanzees and correlation to life stage/ageing.

Papers published in 2012

Wildlife Information Network

• Bourne, D. (2012) Hay for a healthy rabbit: the importance of appropriate feed [CPD article]. The Veterinary Nurse 3, 154-162.

The Wildlife Information Network (WIN) is an unique information base in that it offers free electronic veterinary information for wildlife professionals worldwide. During 2012 WIN research focused on two areas:

• Bourne, D.C., Duff, P. & Vikoren, T. (2012) Poxvirus diseases. Chapter 13, Infectious Diseases of Wild Mammals and Birds in Europe. Gavier-Widen, D., Meredith, A. & Duff, P. (Eds.), Blackwell Publishing Ltd., Oxford, UK, pp191-209. • Bourne, D.C. (2012) Wildpro “Bonobos: Health and Management” [Online; in review]. • Bourne, D. (2012) Oil and penguins: a bad mix. Cambridge University Veterinary Zoological Society Symposium, 21-22 January 2012.

Bonobos: Health and Management A comprehensive report, bringing together vital information on natural history, husbandry, diseases and healthcare of “our other closest living relative”.

WildTech This EU-funded project has produced detailed information on important wildlife diseases and zoonoses carried by wildlife. These data will provide context for the findings of new tests, developed by this project.

• Chapman, S. (2012) Anaesthesia of Great Apes at Twycross Zoo. Proceedings of British Veterinary Zoological Society, Edinburgh March 2012.

Kirk’s dik-dik Madoqua kirkii

In 2012 Twycross received funding for an in-house study on the effects of coconut oil in the battle to control elephant herpes, a major killer of young Asian elephants

Humboldt penguin Spheniscus humboldti

Golden-headed lion tamarin Leontopithecus chrysomelas

Animal Welfare

Chimpanzee training for health monitoring. Pan troglodyte

Coati Nasua nasua

Ural owl Strix uralensis

Asian elephant Elephas maximus

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Animal Training Our animal-training programme has been extremely successful this year and in fact won a commendation from BIAZA, the main british zoo industry body, for the benefits it brings to the welfare of our animals. Successes include training some chimpanzees to accept voluntarily being injected and for our variegated spider monkey to allow her heart to be scanned without the need for anaesthesia.

Improved and larger owl aviaries Animal welfare is a fundamental aspect of our work. As such, several development projects took place in 2012 to enhance the enclosures of animals in our care. The owl aviaries were reviewed, along with the current owl collection, to provide three significantly-larger aviaries with increased height providing more flight space and the ability to demonstrate natural behaviour patterns.

Elephant Management Our elephants were changed into a new management system known as protected contact. This involves them being trained positively to do various complex behaviours such as voluntarily presenting their feet for foot care and their ears for blood sampling. This enables us to ensure our elephants have an excellent healthcare regime whilst also allowing them to exhibit more natural social behaviour within the herd.

Chimpanzee Integrations Our chimpanzees have been further integrated into larger social groups this year. This is an opportunity for them to meet new chimps and develop the social behaviour needed to more naturally replicate the complex, group-based, social structure that wild chimpanzees exhibit.

Bonobo hand rearing Our young female bonobo, Lopori, had to be hand reared after being rejected by her mother. Following a very carefully-managed protocol in which she maintained close contact with her family group she is already making good progress towards becoming a fully-fledged member of our bonobo family.

New mixed species exhibit for bushdogs and coatis During 2012 the decision was made to no longer keep sea lions. This was due to the concerns over long-term suitability of the enclosure for continued management of aquatic mammals. This gave us an ideal opportunity to develop the area, which was transformed into an exciting enclosure for bushdogs and South American coati. Bushdogs are a managed species within European zoos and one with which we have been particularly successful in the past for breeding. With a pair of bushdogs arriving from Mulhouse and Osnabruck Zoos it was particularly pleasing to see the return of the species to Twycross. A group of four female ring-tailed coatis arrived from Leipzig Zoo, with both species utilising the large amount of space available to them.

Giraffe With the existing giraffe stables and enclosure no longer enabling us to provide a level of welfare with which we are comfortable, our two hybrid females were transferred to join the herd at Blair Drummond Safari Park.

Zoo Licencing Inspection Twycross Zooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Licence was renewed in 2012. This is a statutory requirement which takes place every three years. This process reviews all aspects of our daily operations, including a thorough site inspection. Animal management, staff training and development, safety and emergency processes, our commitment to in-situ conservation projects and supported research are all part of the inspection. The inspectors were particularly impressed with the expertise and skills base shown by our staff.

Animal Health Preventative Health Care

Clinical, Nutrition and Pathology Work

We work to prevent disease. Measures in place include vaccinations, worming, routine health checks and contraception and our elderly animals are checked for signs of old age so we can treat and manage them closely. This enables us to provide the best welfare possible for all animals. During 2012 we were involved in moving our apes around the zoo. This required a general anaesthetic and complete health assessments including heart scans as part of the global initiative, the Great Ape Heart Project, the aim in which is to help diagnose and manage heart disease in these critically endangered animals.

Day-to-day work includes managing sick animals through minor illnesses as well as investigating why animals have died. We perform full post-mortem examinations on site to gain as much information as we can. This aids in our preventative health care regimes and allows us to change species’ diet, treatment or management as necessary.

Import and Export Health Assessments A major part of our work is involved in assessing the health of animals as they leave and arrive at the zoo, so enabling us to reduce disease risks to the animals. Highlights over the last year include; the export of a female vicuña to Parc de la Haute Touche in France; our snow leopard ‘cubs’ to Espace Zoologique St Martin la Plaine, France and Berlin Teirpark, Germany; a female orang utan to Rostock Zoo in Germany; a demoiselle crane to Attica Zoo in Greece and a ground cuscus to Budapest Zoo in Hungary. All these endangered species are moved around the world as part of international breeding programmes - and to prevent “in-breeding”.

Research and Conservation Highlights of 2012 have been the work alongside Nottingham University on Elephant Herpes Virus and the Great Ape Heart Project. Elephant herpes virus has emerged as the biggest killer of young elephants in zoos worldwide over the last few years and is found in the wild. We are focussed on finding the best way to diagnose and treat this devastating disease as well as working to develop preventative regimes.

Training and Development We train final-year veterinary students from Nottingham University all year round. They learn the role of vets in zoos over a week-long clinical and pathology rotation. We also train other vet students, veterinary nurses and qualified vets that come to ‘see practice’. Our own veterinary team continue to work towards further qualifications in zoo and exotic medicine.

Great grey owl being examined

Snow leopard undergoing a health check

Veterinary student working on a waldrapp ibis

Chimpanzee chest x-ray

Blood sample being taken from an unsedated Asian elephant

The Animal Collection

of our species are Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically-Endangered

Total number of species held, by animal group Nยบ of species Least Threatened

Animal collection as at 31st December 2012

Key: Carnivores

Primates

Other Mammals

Birds

Invertebrates

Reptiles

Fish

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“Twycross Zoo is the only UK zoo with all 4 species of great ape”

IUCN Status: Vulnerable

IUCN Status: Endangered

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Animal collection as at 31st December 2012

• Gorilla Gorilla gorilla • Bonobo Pan pansicus • Orang utan Pongo pygmaeus • Chimpanzee Pan trogolodytes

There are fewer than 40 Amur leopards left in the wild. Twycross Zoo plans to welcome a female to it’s collection in 2013 • Panthera pardus orientalis

All of our gibbon species are endangered • Agile gibbon Hylobates agilis

Visitor Services & Event Management

Rainor

shine!

Twycross Zoo Sat 16th February

2013

Meet Peppa

at intervals throughout the day!! Book general admission online at

www.twycrosszoo.org

Book online and save 5%

Normal Zoo admission prices apply, check website for details

www.peppapig.com ÂŠ ABD/Ent. One UK Ltd 2003

Official opening of The Wetlands with The One Show’s Miranda Krestovnikoff.

Proud hosts of the Lionheart Project; part of the 2012 UK cultural Olympiad - 3 locally hand made giant crochet lions!

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12 7

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“Celebration of British Produce” Farmers Markets and Craft Fairs introduced along with Speciality Days and Weeks - cupcake week, pudding week, national curry week and British Sandwich week.

Visits from popular childrens’ characters Peppa Pig and Pingu.

“Adopt An Ant” was a great success in 2012 for our leaf cutter ant colony.

We hosted 29 children’s parties during 2012 in the Birthday Party Barn; guests thoroughly enjoyed celebrating their day with Tipsy the chimp and friends.

Shakespeare and Noel Coward were brought alive at Twycross! This was an open-air theatre experience giving visitors a novel evening picnic experience within our grounds.

“Breakfast with Santa!” attracted record attendances in December.

Twycross is now a wedding venue of choice: “Thank you everyone at Twycross Zoo for an amazing day, everyone said it was the best wedding they had ever been to. Everyone was brilliant and so friendly, from the bar staff to the buggy driver. The weather held up and the venue was excellent, having the snow leopards out all night during the reception was amazing and the kids were entertained all night. A wonderful day that we will remember forever, and will be reminded of every time we come back to the Zoo” - Andrew & Vicky Stevens

Conference facilities with exotic bird enclosure views.

Businesses such as John Lewis, Canon and Rolls Royce held conferences in Twycross’ purpose-built conference facilities.

Formal dinner in the “Himalaya” building, with view of snow leopard.

Special events introduced such as Food & Wine Tasting dinners, Valentine’s Day Dinner & Mothers Day Lunch.

Personalised conservation tours have been launched with great feedback to date. These tours are offered to all visitors and free of charge.

Our Site

External Representation

The Wetlands and its Impact

Dr Debra Bourne - Senior Veterinary Editor, Wildpro

Dr Charlotte Macdonald - Living Collection Curator

The Wetlands exhibit was opened in 2012. It is fantastic for raising awareness of native biodiversity and offering visitors tranquillity, however it’s contribution to the water cleansing management of our site is second-to-none! 19 gravity-fed ponds naturally filter the Zoo’s waste water through the application of reed beds and speciality-mix plants. We are exceptionally proud to have completed this multifunctional project and share our visitors’ joy in seeing rare, yet native, species being increasingly drawn to it.

• The Wildlife Disease Association - Assistant Editor, Journal of Wildlife Diseases • EAZA Monotreme & Marsupial TAG - Veterinary Advisor • BIAZA Bird Working Group - Member/Advisor • BVZS Committee - Member • The Zebra Foundation - Trustee

• EAZA Great Ape Taxon Advisory Group - Member • EAZA Gibbon Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) - Vice Chair • BIAZA Primate Focus Group - Co-chair • EEP Bonobo Species Committee - Member • EEP Francois Langur Species Committee - Member • EAZA Ape Fund Committee - Member

Robert J Bracken Chief Operating Officer

Sustainability We continue to strive for maximum sustainability in all aspects of the Zoo’s operations. A particular focus in 2012 was the applied use of our animal waste, of which there is a lot! Our on-site composting facility was certified as fit for use in 2012, under legislation PAS100. This means that we can now safely use composted site-waste.

Native wildlife of the wetlands

Native flora of the wetlands

• Hinckley and Bosworth Tourism Partnership - Vice Chairman

Dr Kevin Caley - Research & Conservation Executive • •

BIAZA Field Programmes Committee - Member BIAZA Research Committee - Member

Sarah Chapman - Head of Veterinary Services • •

EAZA Bongo Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) - Veterinary Advisor BIAZA Elephant Focus Group - Veterinary Advisor

Neil Dorman Conservation Programmes and Planning Curator

• BIAZA Mammal Working Group - Carnivore Focus Group - Lead Chair • EEP (European Endangered Species Programme) Lowland Tapir Species Committee - Member • EEP Emperor Tamarin Species Committee - Member • EEP Dhole Species Committee - Member • EEP Co-ordinator and International Studbook Keeper for Asiatic Lion • EAZA Felid Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) - Member • EEP Woolly Monkey Species Committee - Member • EEP Amur Leopard Species Committee - Member • EEP Snow Leopard Species Committee - Member

Horticultural management across site

Claire Oldham - Head of Education • BIAZA Climate Change and Sustainability Committee - Member • IUCN Committee on Education and Communication - Member

Sharon Redrobe Zoological Director • Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Zoos Forum representing welfare - member • Secretary of State - appointed Defra List 1 Zoo Inspector • Visiting Lecturer (MSc Wild Animal Health course), University of London • Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Zoological Medicine Board - Member • BIAZA Veterinary Group - Member • Trustee of Ape Action Africa • EEP Sandcat Species Committee - Veterinary Advisor • EEP White-faced Saki Species Committee - Veterinary Advisor • EAZA Great Ape Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) - Veterinary Advisor • EEP Western Lowland Gorilla - Veterinary Advisor • EAZA Cebid Taxon Advisory Group - Veterinary Advisor • Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine - Editorial Board Member

Zak Showell Deputy Registrar • EEP Co-ordinator and European Studbook Keeper for Siamang Gibbon

On-site composting facility

Finance Report Twycross Zoo has been welcoming visitors since 1963 and since then has established itself as a well-known regional zoo. It continues to be the “world primate centre” and cares for a number of critically-endangered species, which helps explain the interest expressed by the 400,000 visitors who came in 2012. None of these facts, however, meant the Zoo was commercial or financially insulated from the wider economic climate. As a self-financing charity it is essential that we maintain our income levels in a highly-competitive market sector and then ensure our conservation and commercial plans fit within our income. Although our work is important ecologically, and our teams are highly committed, we must operate in line with best business practice. 2012 proved to be a year of consolidation for Twycross, providing a chance to re-evaluate the animal and commercial activities to provide a sound base for taking the organisation forward into 2013. This review looked long and hard at our cost base to ensure maximum resources could be applied to our animals, as well as how best to meet the expectations of our visitors.

Visitors The Zoo’s principal source of income is from visitors, which places at a premium information on the number and type of visitors. In previous reports the visitors have been reported by age group (adults, children etc.), but not by the type of visitor (Standard Leisure, Education, Members and Free). By focusing on the type of visitor, the Zoo can better address the provision of its services to the existing visitors while monitoring the success of new initiatives. In 2012, it is not surprising that the majority of visitors were Standard Leisure visitors who had purchased tickets online or at the gate. Visits by Members accounted for 10% of visits while Education visits by nurseries, schools and higher education colleges accounted for almost 8%. The Education visitors are important and significant to Twycross, as not only are they one part of our core mission, but they also visit

Meerkat Suricata suricatta

Humboldt penguin Spheniscus humboldti

the Zoo outside the usual seasonal peak periods. Memberships saw a renewed focus in 2012 and this will accelerate in 2013, as it is believed there is significant scope for increasing the number of members and improving the value of the membership. Given the change in reporting there are no comparable figures for 2011. In 2013 the Zoo will focus on each of these visitor groups to ensure that they receive good and consistent value from their visit.

Capital Expenditure Like other Zoos, it is essential routinely to update and upgrade our animal enclosures to ensure high standards of animal welfare and to provide our visitors with an insight into the animal kingdom. During 2012 we updated the Penguin Pool, built a new Owl enclosure and a new exhibit for Bush Dogs and South American Coati.

Accounts The Zoo prepares accounts in line with accepted accounting principles for a charity in which the focus is balance sheet worth. The Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Account are summarised from the statutory accounts. The Charity holds significant assets, but mainly in the form of land and buildings, which in the main are used to house the animal collection. The net worth at 31st December 2012 of £18.1m is slightly lower than the previous-year net worth of £18.2m. This reflects an operating loss for 2012 that was offset by the recovery of funds from the Lehman’s investment, which were written off in 2009. Liam Wall, Interim Head of Finance

Consolidated P&L Twycross Zoo - East Midlands Zoological Society Limited (by guarantee) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the year ended 31st December 2012* Unrestricted Funds

Restricted Funds

Endowment Funds

Total 2012

Total 2011

INCOMING RESOURCES FROM GENERATED FUNDS

Voluntary Income: Donations & Gifts

223,150

584,515

Activities for generating funds: Retail and Catering

2,646,416

2,857,9 41

Activities for generating funds: Investment Income

501

453

5,189,551

5,739,627

OTHER

VAT Refund

8,059,618

9,182,536

2,158,662

2,404,658

7,323,043

7,428,986

194,619

124,350

INCOMING RESOURCES

INCOMING RESOURCES FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITY Animal, Education & Conservation Welfare

TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES

8,059,618

RESOURCES EXPENDED COSTS OF GENERATING FUNDS Retail and Catering

2,158,662

CHARITABLE ACTIVITY Animal, Education & Conservation Welfare Governance Costs TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED NET INCOMING RESOURCES

7,244,429

78,614

194,619 9,597,710

78,614

9,676,324

9,957,994

(1,538,092)

(78,614)

(1,616,706)

(775,458)

(80)

OTHER RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES Change in Market Value of Listed Investments Extraordinary Item

1,506,273

(31,819)

(78,614)

(110,433)

(775,538)

Fund balances brought forward at 1st January 2012

15,103,349

3,001,622

100,000

18,204,971

18,980,509

Fund balances brought forward at 31st December 2012

15,071,530

2,923,008

100,000

18,094,538

18,204,971

NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Striated caracara Phalcoboenus australis

Oriental small-clawed otter Aonyx cinerea

* Unaudited

Consolidated Balance Sheet

Twycross Zoo - East Midlands Zoological Society Limited (by guarantee) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the year ended 31st December 2012* 2012

2011

FIXED ASSETS Tangibile assets

20,250,477

20,500,771

7,313

Stocks

179,103

211,572

Debtors

358,748

514,047

Cash at bank in hand

114,455

110,689

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

652,306

836,308

(2,307,9 31)

(2,781,504)

(1,655,625)

(1,945,196)

18,602,165

18,562,888

(507,627)

(357,917)

18,094,538

18,204,971

Endowment Fund

100,000

Restricted Funds

2,923,008

3,001,622

Unrestricted Funds: Designated

1,390,975

1,401,832

Unrestricted Funds: Other

13,680,555

13,701,517

TOTAL FUNDS

18,094,538

18,204,971

Investments CURRENT ASSETS

CREDITORS Amounts falling due after more than one year NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES CREDITORS Amounts falling due after more than one year TOTAL ASSETS LESS LONG TERM LIABILITIES

FUNDS

No of Visitors N.B. The source data for the information collected for Visitor Numbers changed between 2011 & 2012 and therefore this may not be a true comparison. N.B. Senior Citizens are incorporated in Adults for 2012