ZPM September 2011

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Magazine of Zoo Outreach Organisation Vol. XXVI No. 9, September 2011

ISSN 0971-6378 (Print); 0973-2543 (Online)

Western Ghats freshwater species in peril , See Pp. 7-10 Type locality of Cremnochonchus carinatus in Mahabaleshwar from where the species is extirpated. Š N.A. Aravind.

Date of Publication: 24 September 2011


Magazine of Zoo Outreach Organisation Vol. XXVI No. 9, September 2011

ISSN 0971-6378 (Print); 0973-2543 (Online)

Contents Obituary J.C. Daniel, Pp. 1-2 K.C. Jayaram, P. 3 Malcolm Whitehead, Pp. 4-6 Press Release: Collateral damage: Western Ghats freshwater species in peril Gland, Switzerland, September 22, 2011 (IUCN), Pp. 7-10 Support for another war torn zoo organised by CNN, WAZA, and other organisations and individuals. Tripoli zoo animals gets help, Pp. 11-12 DUBLIN ZOO : An Illustrated History, Pp. 13-16 A Rare Occurrence – a Zoo History Symposium -- From Royal Gifts to Biodiversity Conservation: The History and Development of Menageries, Zoos and Aquariums, Pp. 17-18 Zoos of India by Dr. J.H. Desai, Reviewed by S. Walker, Pp. 19-22 Japanese Wartime Zoo Policy : The Silent Victims of World War II Review by Sally Walker, P. 23

Support for another war torn zoo organised by CNN, WAZA, and other organisations and individuals. Anwar, a male tiger with an open wound after he ate the top part of his tails rests in Tripoli Zoo, Libya, September 9, 2011. © Mihai Vasile / Vier Pfoten , See Pp. 11-12

Populations of Schismatorhynchos nukta (EN) has declined drastically - a recent IUCN report says. See Pp. 7-10

New Website for primates: All The World’s Primates <alltheworldsprimates.org>, P. 24 Some historical information about Zoo Associations – all over the World Sally Walker, Pp. 25-30 The Spy From Outer Space Sally Walker, THE ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY OF INDIA, JULY 16, 1989 , Part I of III, Pp. 31-34 Announcement Twenty-first International Conference on Bear Research and Management, P. 35 Recent advances in animal welfare science III: UFAW Animal Welfare Conference, P. 36 Education Reports World Environment Day Education Workshops in India, Pp. 37-40

Barrackpore Park, first zoo in India and among first in the world. Read pages 13-16, 19-22, 23 and 25-30 for interesting zoo histories


Obituary for J.C. Daniel BNHS Vice-President J.C. Daniel passes away. Conservation movement loses one more supporter BNHS Vice-President and veteran conservationist Shri J C Daniel passed away 23 August at S L Raheja Hospital in Mahim in Mumbai at 10.10 pm. He was recently diagnosed of cancer, which had spread to the lungs and the liver. He was 84 years old. This is another loss to the conservation movement in India after the recent sad demise of BNHS President Shri B G Deshmukh on 7th August 2011. Late Shri Daniel got associated with BNHS as a researcher in the 1950s. Subsequently he had held several posts in BNHS including Curator, Director, Honorary Secretary, Executive Editor of JBNHS, Editor of Hornbill, Research Guide to MSc and PhD students and as head of various subcommittees. He was the mentor at BNHS in many ways and was a pioneering figure in various conservation initiatives in the country. A condolence meeting in BNHS would be announced shortly. Late Shri Daniel had received several awards during his lifetime including Peter Scott Award for Conservation Merit (1988), Award of Kerala Agricultural University (1989), Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar (1997), Sanctuary – ABN Amro Lifetime Service to Conservation Award (2000) and Distinguished Service Award from Society for Conservation Biology (2007). He had also held several positions in various institutions across India including Member Steering Committee and Regional Representative (western region) – Indian Board for Wildlife, Member – Governing Council – Wildlife Institute of India, Vice-Chairman – Species Survival Commission, Chairman – Asian Elephant Specialist Group, Member – Executive Committee – World Congress of Herpetology and Member – Punjab Ecology. He had worked on various projects involving oriental vertebrates, species and habitat conservation and natural history publications. His research work spans several species such as Indian Wild Buffalo, Asian Elephant, Blackbuck, Tiger, Nilgiri Tahr, Saltwater Crocodile and Golden Gecko. He had authored and edited various books at BNHS such as “The Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians”, “Cassandra of Conservation”, “Petronia”, “A Century of Natural History”, “The Leopard in India” and “A Week with Elephants”. His most recent book “Birds of the Indian Subcontinent – A Field Guide” was recently released in BNHS. He had written dozens of research papers in various journals. He had also initiated various pioneering activities such as recording and documenting the old trees in the Mumbai region, with the help of nature lovers and BNHS members. Conservation and BNHS have indeed once again lost one of its greatest supporters with the death of Shri Daniel. We pray that his soul finds eternal peace. Atul Sathe, PRO Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai 91-22-22821811 www.bnhs.org

J.C. Daniel passing It is shocking for the entire conservation fraternity. For me J.C. Daniel and BNHS are synonymous. He has been a very revered senior guide who always encouraged me in so many ways. He will remain alive with me as long as I am there. He guided the UNDP/FAO/Government of India crocodile conservation programme from its beiginning. In 1984: at Government of India we were planning for representation at the next Crocodile Specialist Group Meeting in Caracas, Venezuella in October. JCD was requested to represent.

J.C. Daniel, Distinguished Conservationist and Scholar, BNHS

Pointing towards me, he said, 'these young men are doing all the work, they should go now. Finally three researchers attended the meeting. Mr. J.C. Daniel was there for all important things that have ever happened to wildlife/biodiversity conservation in the country. He first initiated the letter-based survey for tiger population in India, even before the official 1972-tigercensus. It was 2002, when I met him last in Delhi—a meeting was convened by MoEF to discuss about Management Plan of Sanctuaries and Tiger Reserves. He will remain alive in memory, but I will miss him in person. Dr Lala A. K. Singh 1830-Mahatab Road, Friends' Colony Old Town, Bhubaneswar PIN: 751002, INDIA

Dignified and disciplined gentleman and scholar J.C. Daniel was such a dignified and disciplined gentleman. I am happy, given his age and disease, that he could pass away in a relatively short time after the diagnosis of cancer. Many people linger cruelly, spending weeks or months without joy or dignity. I hope J.C. Daniel had very few or no helpless days of pain and suffering. Living to an advanced age and contributing so very much to so many species of plants and animals and to conservation generally, his total contribution to the natural world and to his many students and colleagues was great. A long life well lived and, apparently, well relinquished. We all should be so fortunate. Sally Walker, Zoo Outreach Organisation

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A medley of photographs of J. C. Daniel life and work

JCD with Salim Ali and Maharaja of Vansda's son JC Daniel at BNHS book release function

J.C. Daniel at a book signing

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J.C. Daniel at a tree planting

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Obituary for K.C. Jayaram Dr. K.C. Jayaram, an eminent Indian Ichthyologist passed away on 8 August 2011. Dr. Jayaram joined as an Assistant in the ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA in 9.7.1947. He worked for a short period from 1953-56 and again in 1964 in the Central Inland Fisheries, Allahabad. With sheer hard work and dedication he rose to the level of Scientist F in the Zoological Survey of India and superannuated on 29.2.1984 after having been given extension of service for two years, the only instance in the history of the ZSI. He was a contemporary of other renowned Indian Ichthyologists viz. Dr. A.G.K.Menon, Dr. E.G.Silas and Dr. P. K. Talwar and was lucky to have been trained and guided by the father of Indian Ichthyology the late Dr. S. L. Hora, under whom he completed his doctoral studies. His Index Horana is a tribute to the work done by his mentor. Subsequently Dr Jayaram got his Doctorate at the Madras University. He is a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, Allahabad, ZSI Bhubaneshwar and Madras Science Foundation, Chennai. He was awarded the prestigious Pitambar Pant National Environment Fellowship by the Ministry of Environment & Forests. His contributions to the study of the taxonomy of Siluriform fishes, the zoogeography of freshwater fishes and his revisionary contributions on the freshwater fish genera viz. Puntius, Labeo and Tor including descriptions of new species and genera won him both National and International acclaim. Several new species and genera have also been named after him. No freshwater study in India is complete or begun without referring to his book Freshwater Fishes of the Indian Region. He has taken care to see that his publications cater to the needs of any aspiring ichthyologist with books such as Fundamentals of Fish Taxonomy to those on identification of freshwater fishes to those dealing with in-depth taxonomic studies of the various groups. Apart from this he also took up the study of the various river systems in their totality. He has conducted intensive surveys of many large river systems for their fish fauna such as Brahmaputra, Cauvery, Krishna and Mahanadi. His work on the Cauvery fish fauna is a comprehensive firsttime account of the fish fauna of the entire river system. This work served as the basis for an integrated research programme on the same river funded by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Dr. K. C. Jayram, Renowned Ichthyologist Photo by ZSI. Dr. Jayaram was a member of many scientific committees and his advice was sought after on matters related to river ecology and biodiversity especially in respect of the fish fauna. He has trained and guided a number of students who occupy important positions. He has to his credit several books on Fish Taxonomy and about 120 papers including several monographs published in India and abroad including those on the Deccan Mahaseers. His recent publications include the revised 2010 edition of Freshwater Fishes of the Indian Region and Catfishes of India which kept him busy in recent years. He donated several of his book and literature collections to the Southern Regional Centre of the Zoological Survey of India, in which he served as the officer–in-charge during 1973-74. He showed keen interest in keeping himself abreast with current revisions and new descriptions, until his last breath. He was a source of encouragement to all the scientists and urged them to keep working and aspire for more and work for their doctorate degrees. His demise has left a large void in Indian Ichthyology although his publications will keep the spirit alive in the subsequent generations of ichthyologists. Dr. Jayaram is survived by his wife, three children and four grandchildren and a host of budding ichthyologists. Dr. K. Rema Devi, Scientist-E, Officer-In-Charge, Southern Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Chennai- 600028.

Puntius denisonii. © Rajeev Raghavan

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Obituary for Malcolm Whitehead Malcolm Whitehead was one of the well-known zoo-philes extreme edition of Great Britain. Malcolm had visited India and Sri Lanka several times to conduct excellent zoo educator training workshops. He worked for many years as Zoo Education Officer at Twycross Zoo, at Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, and finally London Zoo, the latter being his “dream job” which he had applied for more than once. In fact the way I met him was by running into him (literally) in the elevator at the Admin Building at ZSL.

It is with the utmost sadness and real personal loss, that I regret to let you all know that one of the greatest brains and best innovators in zoo education, Malcolm Whitehead, died in London yesterday, Friday August 12th at the age of 56. Malcolm gave me my first job in Zoo Education at Twycross Zoo in 1987 and remained a friend, supporter and encourager and someone who was always clever, funny and an inspiration, and a huge personality too. I will miss him loads.

Malcolm was a brilliant but “mondo bizarro” individual ... in a good way, just the kind of eccentric genius that many of us find charming and humorous. Malcolm’s sense of humor was legendary and it was usually at his own expense, which made him charming. He and I had much in common but primarily these things, from A to Z, e.g. Alcoholism, Education, Conservation, Wildlife, and Zoos. Malcolm lived to a ripe old age of 56. I say “ripe old age” because it was a miracle that he live so long as a practicing alcoholic. I mention his alcoholism despite criticism I may get because it was part of his personality. It was also his nemesis and that of his friends and bosses. It ruined our friendship finally because I could not restrain myself from talking to him about it and he disliked that a lot. All alcoholics do. I know, because I am one. I tried my best to convince Malcolm to attend the meetings where I got help for this but he (like me for some time) ridiculed the meetings and the people who attended them. I was so lucky to have selected life over alcohol and I hope I always make that decision, because an alcoholic is always under risk of recidivism. His drinking led to MRSA Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus which is a serious bacterial infection that is drug resistant and this is what took his life.

For those of you who never knew Malcolm, you have sadly missed the opportunity to share with a great clever mind, capable of bringing humor to any situation but also thinking 'outside the box' and creating innovative solutions while being inspiring, engaging and challenging. There is no denying Malcolm had his problems too, and he was well aware of them, but he would not have been the man he was if that part of him had been taken away. Malcolm obtained his BSc in Zoology from Royal Holloway College and was also involved in work in Africa and elsewhere and moved into zoo education in 1980. He wrote many articles, was heavily involved in the International Zoo Educators Association, and served as Journal Editor on two editions in 1986 and 1988. He was • Head of Education at Twycross Zoo 1980-1993 • Training Manager, International Centre for Conservation Education 1993-1996 • Curator/Director, Ardastra Gardens, Bahamas 1996-1998 • Head of Learning, and Coordinator Wetland Link International, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (based at The Wetland Centre in London) 1999-2008 • Head of Discovery and Learning, Zoological Society of London, 2008-2010 • Member of the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (his last article encouraging zoo educators and CEC members to join forces was published in April this year: http://www.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/ cec/?7358/Zoos-and-CEC)

There were some humorous incidents if you appreciate black humor which Malcolm did. During his years at Twycross Zoo, the dignified and genteel elderly ladies who owned and ran the zoo did their best to tolerate Malcolm’s antics but it must have been extremely difficult. In one of many “incidents” Malcolm was severely inebriated and driving, I think, without a license. He’d been pulled over so drunk he failed the breath-test and his drivers license was pulled. This particular night Malcolm outdid himself by crashing into the car of a highway patrolman, or whatever they call them in UK. I don’t remember the punishment for that but there was undoubtedly something ... it might have led to his getting the sack from his job there. Not sure. I do remember however that Malcolm was particularly proud of this “dis-achievement”. He could always see the humor in his own revolting behavior and this incident was a classic. Malcolm’s contributions can be related by colleagues and friends better than me as I spent very little time with him, all told. I used to drop in at Twycross Zoo for a day or two at any excuse and Malcolm came to India at least twice. I regret his loss to the zoo world and as a friend. We all cared about him but no one could tolerate watching his selfdestruction for too long at a time. God bless his longsuffering family, who he loved very much but was helpless to give them the thing they wanted more than anything, a sober Malcolm. Sally Walker, Zoo Outreach Organisation This is a self-portrait of Malcolm (side view). “Talking Ed” means “Talking Education.” Not sure what that meant ... maybe he saw himself as the essence of education. And he was, in a way.

As a flavor of Malcolm's great and humorous writing style I quote an article he wrote back in 1989 in IZN (no. 217) on a week in the life of the education department at Twycross Zoo - its still good to read today and demonstrates some of what Malcolm enabled and inspired a team of people to achieve on a weekly basis: "There are no typical days in this department. There are no typical people. We are a disparate bunch of characters who all dance to different drumbeats. Communication of conservation ethics unites us in zealous fervor... There are fewer pandas in China than calories in the ZIP (Zoo Interpretation Programme) Squad's Monday morning breakfast. Serious egg and sausage sandwiches from the local truckers caravan are earnestly consumed as we plan the working week... [In teaching] we may employ artistic, observational, questioning or acrobatic techniques. We may use specimens, live animals, environmental games, audiovisual equipment or, most important, the zoo itself. Sometimes we lead; often we follow. If it works, we'll use it.... " My thoughts are with his wife, and with all of you that knew and loved this talented man. Our mission must be to fill the void he leaves and engage with all we can in all ways at our disposal to further the goal of conservation and the crucial part education plays in it. We were indeed lucky to have him with us for 56 years, and of course a lot of us that really knew him are not surprised he has died young, it doesn't make it any less a loss, and indeed is more so given

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he could have made so much more of an impact and contributed even more. I was going to meet up with him again next month and ask his help and advice on some interpretation work, but alas that is not to be. With sadness and fond memories. Stephen Woolard, Education Mgr, Zool. Society of Scotland RIP Malcolm Whitehead I was deeply saddened to learn today of the passing of my friend and colleague Malcolm Whitehead. It is only a couple of months ago I caught up with him in London where he treated me to a meal in an Indian restaurant before touring a few London museums together. I first met Malcolm at Twycross Zoo back in, I think, 1982 though I was aware of his work before then. Malcolm had always been a supporter of Zoo News Digest and I am sorry to lose that. Even more I will miss his emails. Often these were cryptic and left me puzzling till the humour dawned. Malcolm and I shared an interest in things other than zoos so I will miss too his pointing me towards the unmissable. When someone younger than me passes away....and I have lost many friends already I become so much more aware of my own temporary status.

educator in the 80’s – so thank’s Malcolm for all the memories and the “cause” lives on! Denise Chorley, Head of Education, Knowsley Safari Park I have a fond memory of a time that went to Twycross and was staying with Malc in his zoo bungalow. Staying with Malc was a pleasure with witty conversation and his library to browse through. The cupboards in the kitchenette were full of food for thought - not to eat. When I got to the zoo to meet him in the early evening Molly rushed over to me (in my car) with a covered over plate of chicken and salad from the restaurant. I know you are staying with Malcolm – she said- and he never has any food in that place! As usual we had a lovely evening, in the local Indian – and had Mollie’s salad for breakfast! Nice times to think back on. Miranda Stevenson, Director, British and Irish Zoo Association.

The zoo world owes a lot to Malcolm, more than most will realise. His passing is a sad loss to us all. My condolences to his friends, colleagues and family. Peter Dickinson, Zoo News Digest Sad news indeed. Malcolm was one of the funniest and smartest blokes I have had the privilege to have worked with. I always looked forward to the workshops with him, which were never dull, and it always made me smile to watch the enjoyment on the faces of my team when he shared his great words of wisdom with them. His depth of knowledge, spontaneous wit and his rombustious humour captivated me and them on every visit to our studio. He taught us a great deal about primates and life in general and had us laughing endlessly whilst he did it. He was a remarkable man, totally unique and I am truly saddened that I will never have the opportunity to work with him again. Alan McQuaig, Education Officer, Twycross Zoo Malc was a big part of my zoo world in the 80’s and 90‘s. It goes without saying that he will be missed by all his friends, he has left (literally) a large gap in the zoo education world. There are so many anecdotes from the years I worked with him at Twycross Zoo – many of which are not really suitable for print!

Malcolm indulging his favourite past-time (eating) while Sally (sympathetic but nontheless disgusted, looks on. Photo ZOO.

Malc had an encyclopaedic knowledge of zoos, zoology and zoo education – I really miss his library - his two roomed flat at Twycross was floor to ceiling books, even the fridge had books in it . I don’t believe he ever cooked anything, which was probably a good thing as we used his kitchen area as a taxidermy space for a few weeks; boiling skulls is not the best use of a small kitchen area – there can’t be many Heads of Department who would be up for that! We always used to joke that he resembled a menopausal Dennis the Menace (Beano comics), and so the ed dept bought him a hand knitted black and red striped jumper. It was a tight fit but he wore it constantly for three weeks, only taking it off after he spilt a load of curry down the front, and only then after we all told him too! I will always remember Malc during his good years spending hours on his writing; he was an inspiration for me as a young zoo

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Malcolm during visit to India : a Photographic narrative

John the Lens, Malcolm, Kumar, Sally, Manohar - the ZOO Crew.

Malcolm illustrated. Drawing by Malcolm.

Above: Malcolm giving a speech to ZOO and Coimbatore Zoo Curator. Photo ZOO. Left : Malcolm demonstrating an exercise during one of the education workshops. Photo ZOO

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PRESS RELEASE

Collateral damage: Western Ghats freshwater species in peril Gland, Switzerland, September 22, 2011 (IUCN) Freshwater species in the Western Ghats, India, are being sacrificed as collateral damage in the race for rapid economic development. For the first time, comprehensive data are available on the conservation status and distribution of all freshwater fishes, molluscs, dragonflies, damselflies and aquatic plants across peninsular India. Water pollution from agricultural and urban sources, overharvesting and invasive species are the major threats that have led to 16% of freshwater species in the region for which we have sufficient data being classified as threatened with extinction on The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. Alarmingly, the centre of threat is within the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot, one of the Earth’s most biodiverse areas, running along western peninsular India. “This unique and up-to-date information will provide invaluable guidance to policy makers, developers and conservation practitioners alike,” says Sanjay Molur, Executive Director, Zoo Outreach Organization (ZOO). “It will allow for informed decisions to be made to ensure the survival of our precious freshwater species.” The results of this latest report show that freshwater fish are the most threatened group in peninsular India, with more than a third (37%) at risk of global extinction. For example, the Endangered Deccan Mahseer (Tor khudree), is one of the most soughtafter food fish in peninsular India. Sadly, due to overharvesting, invasive species and pollution it has declined massively in the past decade leaving some fisheries facing collapse. Another iconic species of fish, Miss Kerala (Puntius denisonii) is also classified as Endangered, as it is targeted and collected indiscriminately for the ornamental fish trade and its habitat is being impacted by water pollution from plantations and urban areas. “If we continue to degrade our freshwater systems and overharvest our resources, we will not only lose biodiversity but also the many valuable services that nature provides us for free,” says Rajeev Raghavan, Conservation Research Group (CRG) at St. Albert’s College, Kochi.

High altitude pool in Nadugani. © Keystone Foundation

Labeo boggut. © Neelesh Dahanukar

Botia striata. © Neelesh Dahanukar

Disparoneura apicalis (male). © Francy Kakkassery

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Unfortunately, recent survey work has failed to find the species in one of its few remaining locations. Aquatic plants, such as the Endangered Aponogeton satarensis, are also affected. This species of pond weed is found only in a few temporary pools in the Western Ghats hill plateaus in Maharashtra where it is being impacted by development of windmills and increasing levels of tourism.

Hibernating Cremnochonchus syhadrensis. © N.A. Aravind

“The results of this work show the importance of the Western Ghats Hotspot for freshwater species - not only does it harbour a high level of species richness, it also contains many species found nowhere else in the world,” says Kevin Smith, Programme Officer, IUCN’s Global Species Programme’s Freshwater Biodiversity Unit. “Unfortunately, we have also found that this particular hotspot contains the greatest number of threatened species in peninsular India – this all points to an urgent need for environmental sustainability to be given higher priority in economic development.” Notes to editors Copies of the report The Status and Distribution of Freshwater Biodiversity in the Western Ghats, India is available for download here: http://tinyurl.com/5tzh36d For further information, please contact: Michael Dougherty, Regional Communications Coordinator, IUCN Asia Regional Office. e. michael.dougherty@iucn.org t. +66 2 662 4029 (ext. 142) m. +66 81 371 4687 Kazimuddin Ahmed, IUCN India Communications. e. kazimuddin.ahmed@iucn.org t. +91 11 26257742 m. +91 997 114 7926 Kathryn Pintus, Communications Assistant, IUCN Global Species Programme. e. kathryn.pintus@iucn.org t. +41 22 999 0154 For high resolution photos please contact michael.dougherty@iucn.org, kazimuddin.ahmed@iucn.org or kathryn.pintus@iucn.org.

Semecarpus kathalekanensis, a tree endemic to Myristica swamp. © Shrikanth Gunaga “Safeguarding these essential natural resources is important, and will become even more so given increasing population growth. If we act now based on the information available, we can make a huge difference to the future of biodiversity and the people that depend upon it.” Many communities across India, particularly those living in the poorest areas, are heavily reliant upon these freshwater species for their livelihoods. This report shows that more than half (56%) of all fish and 18% of all mollusc species in the region are being used for food, and that aquatic plants have a diverse range of uses, with 28% of species providing valuable medicinal resources. For example, an Endangered freshwater periwinkle, Cremnochonchus syhadrensis, is only known from the northern Western Ghats in Maharashtra State, where it is impacted by pollution and water abstraction. It is highly habitat-specific, found only in the spray zones of waterfalls, and hibernates in rock crevices during the summer. THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™

The Western Ghats assessments The aim of this project was to provide resources that are essential for guiding decisions on the conservation and sustainable management of freshwater biodiversity in the Western Ghats region of the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka Biodiversity Hotspot. This has been achieved by (i) training specialists (principally from the Western Ghats region) in internationally recognized techniques for assessing the conservation status of species; (ii) collecting data on the distribution, abundance, ecology, and utilization by humans for several groups of species that are reliable indicators of the biological structure and function of freshwater ecosystems in the Western Ghats region; (iii) evaluating the risk of extinction for the species according to the IUCN Red List Criteria; (iv) analysing the results for geographic patterns of species richness, endemism, and existing or impending threats to the species; and (v) making the collected data and the results of the analyses widely and freely available to conservation practitioners and developers alike via print publications, data DVDs, and the internet. The importance and urgency of this work is underscored by the concentration of species found in the freshwaters of the Western Ghats region, the ecosystem services that are supplied to humanity by these freshwaters and their biodiversity, and the increasing threats to the ecosystems. This project has been funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF).

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Executive Summary The Western Ghats is one of the world’s most heavily populated Biodiversity Hotspots providing for and supporting 400 million people through water for drinking, transport, irrigation, and hydroelectric power, together with food and resources to sustain livelihoods. However, the pace of growth of the Indian economy and rates of industrial and urban development are not in tune with the conservation needs of it’s diverse freshwater ecosystems and the remarkably high diversity of species they contain. In most instances the development planning process does not consider the requirements of these freshwater ecosystems, mainly due to a lack of adequate information on the distribution and status of freshwater species and the threats they face. There is also little appreciation for the value of freshwater ecosystems to the livelihoods of many highly dependent people, often the poorest in society. In response to this need for information and for raised awareness, the IUCN Global Species Programme’s Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, in collaboration with the Zoo Outreach Organisation (ZOO), conducted the Western Ghats Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment to review the global conservation status and distributions of 1,146 freshwater species belonging to four taxonomic groups: fishes (290 taxa), molluscs (77 taxa), odonates (171 taxa) and aquatic plants (608 taxa). The methodology for this assessment is based on the collation and analysis of existing information, requiring experts to be trained in biodiversity assessment methods including application of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, and species mapping using GIS software. Distribution ranges have been mapped to river sub-basin (the logical unit for management) for the majority of species. This provides an important tool for input to the conservation and development planning processes. The full dataset, including all species distribution files (GIS shapefiles), is freely available on the DVD accompanying this report and through the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM (www.iucnredlist.org). Additional freshwater groups that have, through other projects, also been comprehensively assessed in the region are amphibians, birds, mammals and crabs and results from these assessments are also available through the IUCN Red List. Conservation measures are proposed to reduce the risk of future declines in species diversity and the associated ecosystem services that contribute to the livelihoods of millions of people across the Western Ghats region. The geographic scope of this assessment is determined by the extended hydrological boundaries of the Western Ghats region and includes all major river catchments with their origins within the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot. The major river systems of the Tapi, Krishna, Cauvery and Godavari are included within this assessment. Freshwater species native to the Western Ghats states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are assessed, and the states of Andhra Pradesh and western and southern portions of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Chattisgarh are included as the drainages of the rivers originating in the Western Ghats flow through these states. Species introduced to the region prior to 1500 AD are assessed, whilst species introduced after that date are considered non-native to the region and are not assessed. IUCN Red List Criteria (IUCN 2001), the world’s most widely accepted system for measuring relative extinction risk, were employed to assess the status of all species. Information on

each species was compiled by a core team of experts, in collaboration with Specialist Groups of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and other relevant experts, who then conducted the assessment and its review. More than 40 experts from the Western Ghats region and beyond were involved in the process, either through direct participation in the two review workshops or through correspondence.

Key Outcomes •

The Western Ghats hotspot, originally designated for its high diversity and endemicity of plant species, is confirmed as a globally significant centre of diversity and endemism for freshwater species. The southern Western Ghats region with catchments including the Pamba, Meenachil, Muvattupuzha, Periyar, Karuvannur, Bharatapuzha, Chaliyar, Kuttyadi, and Valappattanam (Kerala), Netravati, upper Kabini and Cauvery (Karnataka), upper Vaipar, Amaravati, Bhavani and Moyar (Tamil Nadu) has the highest richness (260– 312 species) and endemism (103–129 species) of freshwater species. Although many protected areas are located within or near areas of the richest freshwater diversity, the southern Western Ghats region also experiences the highest level of threat to freshwater species. The highest numbers of threatened species (40 and 48 species within each sub-catchment) occur within the southern Western Ghats Hotspot in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and southern Karnataka. Overall species richness and numbers of threatened species decrease along a northerly gradient through the Western Ghats Hotspot and eastwards towards Andhra Pradesh. Close to 16% of the 1,146 freshwater taxa assessed are threatened with extinction, with a further 1.9% assessed as Near Threatened. No taxa were assessed as Extinct or Extinct in the Wild. Approximately one-tenth of

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species were assessed as Data Deficient (10.5%), with the two invertebrate groups contributing more to data deficiency (25.8% on average). The main threats impacting freshwater biodiversity in the Western Ghats include: a) pollution, with approximately 50% of fish, 20% of molluscs, and 21% of odonates threatened, and with urban and domestic pollution ranking as the worst threats followed by agricultural and industrial sources of pollution; b) biological resource use with 38% of fishes, 17% of molluscs, and 7% of odonates threatened by commercial fisheries and the aquarium trade; c) residential and commercial development with 14% of fishes, 11% odonates and aquatic plants, and 8% of molluscs threatened; d) dams and other natural system modifications, with 13% of fishes, 8% of molluscs, 4% of odonates and 3% of plants impacted; e) alien invasive species which, as understood currently, impact 22% of fishes; f) agriculture and aquaculture which impact 7% of odonates and 4% of plants; and g) energy production and mining which impact 6% of fishes, 5% of molluscs and 4% of plants overall. The northern Western Ghats region within Maharashtra has a lower documented freshwater diversity than the southern region. Although this trend supports the expected relationship between species richness and rainfall, the lower diversity is probably due to inadequate surveys in the freshwater ecosystems of the west flowing rivers of the northern Western Ghats. Catchments that qualify as potential Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) lie primarily in the southern Western Ghats. KBAs triggered by the highest numbers of fish, odonate and mollusc species include the Pamba, Manimala, Periyar, Bharatapuzha and Chaliyar rivers in the southern Western Ghats. Aquatic plants and fishes are the most heavily utilized freshwater groups in the Western Ghats. Twenty-eight percent of aquatic plants are harvested for medicinal purposes, and 14% and 13%, as food for people and animals, respectively. More than half (56%) of fish species are harvested for human consumption, and a growing percentage (37%) of species are captured for the aquarium trade. Eighteen percent of mollusc species are used as food for humans.

Recommendations / Conclusions •

Taxonomic studies, survey and monitoring: Freshwater fauna and flora of the Western Ghats are, in general, poorly studied. Population ecology, life history traits and monitoring of most freshwater species lack proper study and documentation. Of the 1,146 species assessed in this project 120 are Data Deficient. Many of these species are likely to be threatened as they are only known from historical records. A thorough taxonomic review and monitoring of all freshwater groups in the Western Ghats is recommended. Particular attention is needed to improve our knowledge of subterranean species. Habitat restoration: Many endemic species of odonates, molluscs and fishes are narrowly distributed within the Western Ghats. For these species, destruction or alteration of a small catchment may lead to their extinction. Actions required include: a) protection of key habitats such as fast flowing streams and rivers; b) where possible, prevention of flow

m o d i f i c a t i o n s ; c ) c o n s e r va t i o n o f s p e c i a l i z e d ecosystems such as Myristica swamps, high altitude peat bogs, and lateritic plateaus; d) prevention of pesticide and other agrochemical use in upper catchments, and; e) regulation of tourism in critical habitats. Pollution control: A combination of strategies to combat pollution must be implemented immediately, including: improved enforcement of pollution laws; best management practices for crop and livestock production; effective effluent treatment for the industries located within river basins; promotion of organic cultivation, and better solid waste disposal protocols. Invasive alien species management: Research into the spread and impact of invasive fish and plant species in the Western Ghats is a priority. Collaboration with industry is essential for educating buyers, sellers, and the public, certifying stock, and preventing the releases into the wild of aquarium and aquaculture species. There is a need to develop and implement a national policy on the introduction and management of exotic species. Environmental impact assessment of development activities: Dam and road construction, urban and industrial expansion and other development activities should be independently evaluated for impacts, and in case of adverse impacts, mitigation measures must be implemented. Awareness and education outreach: Awareness programmes promoting better understanding of the values, sustainable use, and management of wetlands and rivers are crucial to eliminating public perception of wetlands as wastelands. Local communities must participate in the conservation of freshwater species and their habitats. Effective educational programmes, with special focus on children, should be implemented. Given the rapid rate of development across the region, politicians, legislators and other relevant stakeholders must be given access to key biodiversity information for freshwater ecosystems and this should be integrated within decision-making and planning processes. Legislation and enforcement: Legislation to protect species and habitats exists across the region, but implementation and enforcement need to be more effective. Strict laws must be developed and implemented to curb tree felling and deforestation, supported by social forestry and afforestation programmes. Construction of large dams should be avoided where unacceptable impacts to freshwater species and the services provided are predicted. Mining and quarrying should be regulated with strict laws. Threatened and endemic species of freshwater fish of biological and socio-economic importance should be included within the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. Policies should also be developed for conservation of lesser-known invertebrate groups such as molluscs, dragonflies, damselflies and crustaceans. Key Biodiversity Areas: Workshops involving local and regional stakeholders should be carried out to identify and prioritise a set of Freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas based on the potential KBAs identified in the current study. Management plans for these areas can then be implemented to benefit both the many dependant people and the rich biodiversity that these areas support.

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Support for another war torn zoo organised by CNN, WAZA, and other organisations and individuals. Tripoli zoo animals gets help. Thanks to WAZA Executive Office for permitting us to reprint this article. WAZA (Gland). 12 September 2011. Several organizations have joined hands in order to help the animals in the zoo of Tripoli after the hostilities in Libya. David Jones, deputy-chair of the WAZA Ethics and Animal Welfare Committee and director of the North Carolina Zoo in the USA and adept of the region established contacts with Libya and linked up various organizations: "Usually there are three phases in these situations. Urgent, then more chronic animal management needs and finally long term training and technical assistance. IFAW have already launched an appeal and we are acting on behalf of the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and WAZA (World Association of Zoos and Aquariums) Till now IFAW and the Zoo consortium have already moved about $20,000 to the Zoo Director for food purchases". Funds are coming in to the www.nczoo.com site. WAZA, AZA and BIAZA will be linked in and CNN will also create a link to this site. IFAW has opened an appeal and Four Paws have reported on their presence at the Zoo and are collecting funds as well. So between everyone, we should be able to raise sufficient resources. According to Kim Phillips of Four Paws (Vier Pfoten), the current status can be reported as follows: 1. There are over 700 animals, over 50 species. 23 turtles and one deer was stolen during the conflict. 2. The situation with the animals in need is much better. 3. The supply of food has improved and we will be purchasing food for one month for the animals at the zoo. . 4. VIER PFOTEN will set up a secured a feeding program tomorrow for one month. 5. The situation is still unsure, and it is not known how much longer this will continue. With the situation of the Government in transition it is unclear who will be responsible for the care of the zoo programme going forward. Currently no-one is responsible for the zoo. 6. The water problem has been resolved. 7. There is a dedicated team at the Tripoli zoo working with the animals. The team needs further training in working with the animals, especially the wild animals. They have not had opportunity for trading of knowledge

Fig. 1. Anwar, a male tiger with an open wound after he ate the top part of his tails rests in Tripoli Zoo, Libya, September 9, 2011. © Mihai Vasile / Vier Pfoten

Fig. 2 Dr. Gabriel Ignat (first from L to R), dr. Amir Khalil (third from L to R), and Dr. Abdulfatah M. Husni, Director of Tripoli Zoo (fourth from L to R) vaccinate lions in Tripoli Zoo, Libya, September 9, 2011. © Mihai Vasile / Vier Pfoten with international partners at other zoos and any international organisations. 8. Enrichment: there is no enrichment for the animals. The zoo lacks a proper enrichment program for the animals. We will be starting an enrichment program at the zoo with the brown bears tomorrow. 9. Vaccinations: today we started with vaccinations of the big cats. 10. Tigers: we will undertake an operation of one of the tigers who has been chewing on its tail. There is

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another tiger that is very ill and lethargic and we will examine it more closely. 11. Infrastructure: the zoo's infrastructure is good, was under renovation for many months. It is a British design and was being built by a Korean construction company. When the war broke out the construction company removed their workers. 12. Equipment: there is a severe lack of medical equipment and surgical equipment at the zoo. A darting gun, electro cardio gram, and anesthetic will

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be immediately useful. But much is needed for the zoo. A full report of needs will come through to you in the next days. Anesthetic for wild animals is desperately needed, we have a small supply right now, but more is required. Donate for animals at Tripoli Zoo Give to Save the Animals at the Tripoli Zoo. In response to a request from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the North Carolina Zoo has agreed to lead the American zoo community's response to the emergency welfare needs of animals living in the Tripoli Zoo. The AZA asked Zoo Director David Jones to oversee these welfare operations because of his strong contacts with Middle Eastern zoo professionals and because of his historic leadership in getting food, water, shelter, veterinary care and other necessities to zoo animals trapped by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The NC Zoological Society, the 501(c)3, non-profit organization that manages charitable donations made to the North Carolina Zoo, will accept and distribute donations made to assist the Tripoli Zoo Animal Welfare effort. Donations to this fund will be restricted to projects that provide exclusively for the medical, nutritional, health, safety and welfare needs of animals living in the Tripoli Zoo.

Fig. 3 Dr. Gabriel Ignat (left) and Dr. Mohamed Abu Aza prepare the vaccines for the lions in Tripoli Zoo, Libya, September 9, 2011. © Mihai Vasile / Vier Pfoten

Finally, the hippos get out of the mud and waste into a pool with clean water. A full grown lion is not “bottle feeding” but taking a drink of bottle water from his human friend. And a giant tortoise luxurates in the fresh greens, a necessity which has been a long time coming. Look up Tripoli Zoo on the web ... just type Tripoli Zoo in your search engine and see all the stories about the torments suffered by the animals and their rescue by WAZA, welfare organisations, zoos and individuals. Photos by IFAW.

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DUBLIN ZOO : An Illustrated History Book Review The author of this lovely book is Catherine de Courcy who obtained her M.A. with a thesis on the history of Melbourne Zoo and never got over the fascination she developed for these complex institutions. She is now internationally known for her skill as a zoo historian as well as desert travel and history generally. She lived and wrote in and about Ireland, Papua New Guinea and Australia and now resides in Ireland. I mention the author first because we became acquainted personally at the Zoo History Symposium entitled “From Royal Gifts to Biodiversity Conservation: The History and Development of Menageries, Zoos and Aquariums” held at the Chester Zoo where we both gave presentations. Afterwards Catherine wrote to me asking if I’d like a copy of her book and where to send it. Having visited Dublin Zoo during a CBSG and WAZA meeting rather long ago, I was particularly interested to read its long history, so I was delighted to find the book among my mail when I went to my office in India.

Southwest view of the original “lodge” in Dublin Zoo 1833 (Photo: Dublin Penny Journal)

Moreover the delight didn’t end when I began reading and found that Dublin Zoo is one of the oldest zoos still standing, a fact that escaped my attention while I was there. Dublin Zoo was founded in 1833 which puts it in a category of history belonging to Schonbrunn Zoo, Vienna (1752), Jardin des Plantes, Paris (1793), Barrackpore Park, Bengal (1806), and London Zoo, London (1828). Clearly the fathers of the zoo were influenced by the London Zoo and its administration, the Zoological Society of London, because first they started their own Zoological Society of Ireland, later enhanced by the prefix “Royal” that was turfed out about 150 years later. The influential members of the Zoological Society had a variety of reasons for starting what amounted to the third significant zoo in the western world, among them a supply of animals for study, both alive and dead, the promotion of the study of natural history, the provision of stimulating entertainment for various classes of people and ... its the “fashionable” status with “elegant gardens” as the other 3 zoos of Europe boasted. On 1 September 1831 the Dublin Zoo opened both to Members who paid a

Copy Map of the Dublin Zoo Phoenix Park 1839 (Photo: Quote from The Life and work of Sarah Purser, by John O’Grady, 1996)

Albert Tower, design to house giraffe and elephant, completed in 1845 (Photo: courtesy of The Board of Trinity College Dublin)

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significant fee to join themselves and their family as members, as well as to the ordinary citizen who could entire on payment of a modest fee. In this permission for the common man to enter the zoo on Day 1, Dublin Zoo, differed greatly from London Zoo which was open only to paid Members of a certain level of Society. It is not the task of a book review to tell the whole story. Suffice it to say that the attraction would not satisfy the youngest child today, but in that age, a little went a long way and the visitors delighted in what we would consider today just a few animals and a shabby collection of structures to contain them. The story of the growth and development of the Dublin Zoo is one of almost continuous nail-biting fear that almost any day it would have to close for lack of funds to operate. It was deadly difficult to raise funds for even food for the animals as, at first, the gate fees did not begin to cover the expenses. In 1838, just five years after the zoo opened, the zoo Secretary wrote that they would have to convert the garden to a puppet show or carousel to attract sufficient public to pay the bills ... their receipts were less that three pounds a week!

Girl in communion dress walking through to zoo in the spring (Photo: Dublin zoo collection)

The author has told the story remarkably well but perhaps as much as the story itself, the reader benefits from a literal plethora of pictures ... first the black and white photos and etchings of the days when photography was in its infancy and colour photos were probably not even a dream. There is, literally, an illustration on almost every page or if the illustration was the page, every other one. But the zoo continued somehow and even managed to inspire a coveted government grant and attract enough members and visitors to survive, acquire some interesting animals and also provide them with better and better accommodation. The zoo had its share of injuries and deaths, both of animals and of human beings, some staff and even some foolish visitors who took insane risks. Despite its ups and downs the zoo somehow never lost its “society” status. Although members waxed and waned from time to time there were always enough to maintain its prestige. Old maps of the Dublin Zoo from de Courcy’s book (Photo: Dublin zoo collection)

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As time went on the “society” aspect of the zoo was its deliverance and mainstay as the members formed various committees and planned all manner of social events at the zoo which of course could be attended only by Members at first (so more people joined) and with an entry fee. It was probably this which saved the zoo many a time. The social events varied from ice skating parties to High Tea to dances and dinners. The zoo was fortunate to have a lake nearby which froze admirably so that ice skating was possible for some time. There were almost disastrous skating accidents to which the “Ice Committee” responded, saving hapless skaters and insuring the profit from this venture continued year after year for the benefit of the zoo. The authoress has covered a variety of interesting periods in the zoo’s life, among them the difficulties at wartime. All zoos have it rough during a war and the difficulty of procuring arcane foodstuffs for animals when human could not find sufficient common food to sustain them was a nightmare. Zoos in cities targeted for bombing had the additional agony of having to destroy their large, dangerous animals so that they did not get out and roam the city in the instant of bombs damaging their cages. It was a heartbreaking scenario which could not be helped. The zoo celebrated its 150th Anniversary with great enthusiasm and popularity with the public but the years of struggle to enlarge and enhance the zoo with better animals, without proper attention to some of the mainstay principles of modern zoos, that is conservation, education, research and recreation, brought about a very low period from which it almost didn’t recover. Literally “winding up” the zoo was discussed by the council in 1989, not the first time actually. It seems more than miraculous that the outdated enclosures and practices, continuing paucity of funds, failing Irish economy and additional problem of anti-zoo sentiment so strong during the ‘eighties’ did not put an end to the Dublin Zoo. Really, two powerful entities brought about a practical miracle which saved it, e.g. the enormous and loyal public support and the intervention of a government Interior Minister, Bertie Ahern who had grown up visiting the zoo. Ahern came to the rescue several times, as the zoo clamored out of it difficulties roller

Young polar bear being rescued from a rubbish dump in Canada. Dublin Zoo named him “Spunkey” (Photo: Dan Guravich /Polar Bears International.org)

Sumatran Tiger drinking in the Dublin Zoo tiger forest (Photo: Neil McShane)

A Dublin Zoo Crew (Photo: courtesy of Mark Hogan)

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coaster style rather than that of a straight up ride to the ski jump. You must buy this book and read of the roller coaster ride in which hopes rose and fell, Council handed over its tight control to staff, staff focused on the four principles for a modern zoo (conservation, education, research and recreation) until they got it all right. In the decades from 80’ till now, life at Dublin Zoo must have been interesting. One day no hope at all and then a 25,000 pound grant from the Government Lottery, smooth sailing for awhile and then crisis again. Today Dublin Zoo is without doubt a “world class” zoo with all it entails -contemporary immersion exhibits such as Kaziranga Forest Trail and African Savannah, a well staffed and stocked Education Department and Programme, breeding agreements and loans with outstanding zoos around the world, participation in in situ or international animal conservation programmes, ISIS involvement, WAZA membership ... the works.

Arrival of Giant Pandas at the Dublin Airport (Photo: Dublin zoo collection)

Catherine de Courcy has done the zoo and herself proud. She has not minced words when describing the problems and dreary prospects of the zoo at different periods in its history nor when relating its great achievements and innovations. The book is in an A5 format with a lavish 356 pages of expertly mixed text and illustrations. There are two appendices list Presidents of the Zoological Society of Ireland and the Royal ZSI and the Superintendents and Directors of Dublin zoo. There is also a generous Endnotes section full of information and explanation and also Picture Credits. There is also a very welcome and useful Index. Every zoo worth its admission should have a copy of this fascinating book. And every zoophile should read it. Even zoo-”dis”advocates should read it so that they can understand what lengths zoo people will go to keep their animals safe and healthy and how very difficult and dangerous the job can be.

Giant Pandas and their visitors, 1986 (Photo: Dublin zoo collection)

Visitors watching lively squirrel monkey in Dublin zoo Amazon enclosure (Photo: Damien Maddox)

Today the Dublin Zoo is entering a phase where one million visitors a year is not a pipe dream. After the “edge of your seat” ride through its history, one is happy to know that there is a happy ending. Publisher Collins Press, West Link Park, Doughcloyne, Wilton Cork in association with Dublin Zoo. Copyright Catherin de Courcy 2009.

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A Rare Occurrence – a Zoo History Symposium -- From Royal Gifts to Biodiversity Conservation: The History and Development of Menageries, Zoos and Aquariums The first zoo history symposium I ever attended was amazing … it was called the “Ivy Zoo Symposium”. It was held in Budapest, Hungary at the Budapest Zoo. I can’t remember the year exactly but it was about 15 years ago. Budapest is a beautiful city and many colleagues from European Zoos participated. The next zoo history symposium conducted by a zoo was this past year in the month of May in Upton-on-Chester where the beautiful and world famous Chester Zoo is located.

Dr Alex Rubel, Director, Zurich Zoo and Past President, World Association of Zoos and Aquariums gave a fascinating talk on Heini Hediger and the foundations of zoo biology. The rest of the presentations and their authors are listed below:

One can do worse than visit England in May… the weather is still a little nippy which I love, but the spring flowers are in bloom and the leaves fully out – it is like a paradise of sorts. I was invited to give a paper on an important subject to me, the History and Development of Regional and National Zoo Associations! Well, you being zoo people will at least not fall on the ground laughing at this topic because you know (I hope) that Zoo Associations are important organizations in the zoo world. My friends in my home town asked me why I was going to England and I told them I had to give a presentations on History and Development of Regional and National Zoo Associations. “Ohhhhh,!” they said polightly with totally blank or confused visage.

The Symposium was co-organised by the Society for History of Natural History SHNH which is a British organization and the World Association for Zoos and Aquariums WAZA. For two days we listened with rapt attention as zoo history buffs presented fascinating facts on the history of zoos. One of the participants, Dr. Catherine de Courcy sent me a copy of her book the Dublin Zoo: An Illustrated History. I have reviewed it here in ZOOS’ PRINT this issue and I’ve also included a short version of my talk. Studying the history of zoos, or writing about it, is actually not a chore; it is fascinating.

• Gordon Reid, organiser and host of the Symposium giving a farewell speech at the Symposium dinner. Gordon was Session Chair of the opening session. Photo by Karin Schwartz.

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The Symposium began on Thursday 19 May 2011 by the Session Chair, Prof. Gordon McGregor Reid, former Director of Chester Zoo and welcomed by Dr. Mark Pilgrim, Director General of Chester. Professor Geoff Moor, President, Society for the History of Natural History (SHNH) gave the Symposium introduction which included 75 years of the Society for the History of Natural History. Following this

The history and development of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Dr Markus Gusset, Conservation Officer, World Association of Zoos and Aquariums The history and future of aquariums ‐ a cultural and ecological perspective, Bernd Brunner, Author of "The Ocean at Home -­‐ An Illustrated History of the Aquarium" The development of regional and national zoo associations and conservation outreach, Sally Walker, Founding Director, Zoo Outreach Organisation, South Asian Zoo Association for Regional Cooperation The history and development of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria: from early traditions to modern management, David Field, Zoological Director, ZSL and Chair, International Species Information System The history and development of the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums – managing zoos in the New World, Bill Peters, National Director, Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums The development of zoos and aquariums as charitable organizations, Dr Miranda Stevenson, Director, British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Executive Office From captive to conservation: the IUCN Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) and the evolving role of zoos, Dr Onnie Byers, Executive Director, IUCN SSC Conservation, Breeding Specialist Group The evolution of zoos as environmental education, Providers, Dr Maggie Esson, Education Programmes Manager, Chester Zoo The evolution of record‐keeping and development of ISIS ‐ the International Species Information System, Karin Schwartz, Biological Database Manager, Chicago Zoological Society Vets, historically the most dangerous creatures in a zoo…now out in the wild, Professor Malcolm Bennett, Director of National Zoonoses Research Centre, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool New information from old bones ‐ remnants from the Tower of London menagerie, Louise Tomsett, Curator, Mammal Group, Zoology Department, The Natural History Museum, London Financing the early zoo: Manchester Zoological Gardens ‐ charitable status and selling shares, James Kiddle, BSc Student, Biological and Forensic Sciences, University of Derby Day one summary Gina Douglas, Honorary Archivist, Linnean Society, Meetings Secretary, SHNH Arts, plants, animals: living zoo history in Budapest, Professor Miklós Persányi, Director General, Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden and Past Chair, EAZA Doing a roaring trade: travelling menageries in 19th century Britain, Dr Helen Cowie, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Plymouth

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Miklos Persantyn, Director of Budapest Zoo (forward), organised and conducted the first international zoo history symposium in Budapest some years ago. He is joined by Gordon Reid and Sally Walker. Photo by Karin Schwartz.

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The history and development of wild animal collections in Bulgaria, Dr Gabriela Petkova‐ Campbell, Independent Researcher, Newcastle, University Dublin Zoo: the long‐term impact of 19th century penny visitors, Catherine de Courcy, Historian, Dublin Zoo Brighton Zoological Gardens: 1832-­1833, Dr Graham Rowe Lecturer, Biological and Forensic Sciences, University of Derby The Sheffield Jungle 1910/11, Ian Trowell, National Fairground Archive, University of Sheffield Salad, sandbags, shrapnel and sustainability: learning the lessons from how zoos and botanic gardens survived wartime challenges, Mark Norris, Education Manager, Newquay Zoo, Environmental Park Society for the History of Natural History award presentation and AGM, Professor Geoff Moore President, Society for the History of Natural History The Robertson Museum and Aquarium at Millport’s Marine Station: a century of compromise, Professor Geoff Moore, President, Society for the History of Natural History The history of the Horniman Museum Aquarium, James Robson Deputy Aquarium Curator, Horniman Museum and Gardens Natura Artis Magistra, Amsterdam: strategies for a new future of a 19th century institution, Professor Erik A. De Jong, Artis Chair Culture, Landscape and Nature, Natura Artis Magistra Royal Zoo, Amsterdam 175 years of Bristol Zoo: reflecting on the past role of zoos as a guide to their future, Dr Jo Gipps, Former Director General, Bristol Zoo, Bristol and Clifton Zoological Society, Chair of IUCN, SSC CBSG Advisory Committee and Past Chair, WAZA Conservation Committee Conclusions, Professor Geoff Moore President, Society for the History of Natural History and Closing remarks, Professor Gordon McGregor Reid, Director Emeritus, Chester Zoo, Past President, WAZA and Past President Linnean Society of London End of symposium

Jo Gipps, Director of Bristol Zoo, and Gordon Reid, former President of WAZA. Photo by Gina Douglas. Linnean Society.

Gina Douglas of the Linnean Society reviews the first day of the Zoo History Symposium. Photo by Malgosia NowakKemp, Oxford University.

Sally Walker, Marcus Gusset, Conservation Officer of WAZA and Karen Schwartz, formerly of Brookfield Zoo goof off before a gala dinner. (The rhino is not alive; a plaster sculpture.) Photo by Gina Douglas

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Zoos of India by Dr. J.H. Desai Reviewed by S. Walker The date written in my copy in Dr. J. H. Desai’s hand indicates that it was published in 2002. The publication date must have been inadvertantly left out by the typesetter. Dr. Desai had gifted the book to me and I had thought “Oh, I must review this!” but that was almost a decade ago. I asked my staff if we had ever published a review in ZOOS’ PRINT and there was no record of it. Dr. Desai and I have spent a lot of time together talking about zoos, particularly Indian zoos and all the obstacles, peculiarities in the system and misunderstandings that plagued Indian zoos. He is a friend and I am most embarrassed to contribute this review almost ten years later. Things, like time, and respect due our friends and colleagues, just slip away sometimes. In this instant it was most certainly unintended.

From that chapter summarising the history of zoos of the world, the author focuses on the Zoo Movement in India starting with the captive elephants which were kept by Kings for work, war, hunting and entertainment up through the most current activities of the Central Zoo Authority of India. The evolution of zoos in India is explained in detail, particularly the impact of independence, the Wildlife Act, the setting up of the Wildlife Board of India and the proliferation of zoos in India. Desai doesn’t mince words when speaking of the problems of Indian zoos which is refreshing. He also relates various events with either progress or backsliding by the zoos. From a rather pokey rate of growth, after the Wildlife (Protection) Act the

next two decades were replete with zoos many of which were deer parks and mini zoos. It seemed as if every official wanted a zoo named after him. The growth continued completely unchecked until the Zoo Act, Zoo rules and Central Zoo Authority was established and could use their powers to force all captive animal facilities to disclose their existence and request permission to operate. In the end there were over 450 zoos. Since there have been so many changes in the face of zoos, Desai devoted the next chapter to zoo architecture and the types of exhibits or displays of animals. This is one of the most important facets of zoos which to a great extent determines the comfort, health, longevity and breeding

Earlier this year I was asked to write a chapter on Asian zoos for a zookeeper oriented book on zoo legislation. This was not just South Asia, although South Asia got more attention, it was Asia and I managed to pull something out of people, print and virtual print on every zoo. That is how I happened to pick up Dr. Desai’s book last spring. It was in my own personal library at the ZOO office. So I begin this book review with the above profound apology to Dr. Desai. ZOOS of INDIA was commissioned by the Central Zoo Authority although I am sure Dr. Desai had previously thought such a history should be written. He was a right man to do the job as he had been, for many years, the Director of Delhi Zoo later named National Zoological Park, I believe, due to his efforts. Dr. Desai had studied in the United States and got a Ph.D. in a topic associated with zoos, and he had spent time at some of the zoos of the USA. He was well aquainted with their standards and procedures and tried to use his special knowledge to insure the specialness of the National Zoo. The author opens his history with a concise overview of the specialness of zoos generally and the effect they have on many of their visitors. It is easy to make out from this overview that Desai was a very strong zoophile, a person that is practically addicted to or in love with zoos. He then turns to a brief but very educative global zoo history overview from the very first zoos, starting with the Egyptian archaeological pictographs of what was probably the first zoo-like captive animals collections as early as 2500 BC.

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success of the animals. The quality of exhibit also determines in large part the quality of visitor experience and their understanding of the importance of wildlife. From there the author takes us to the “Aspirations” of the country’s various institutions and their role in the evolution of the modern Indian zoo. Starting with the Zoo Wing of the Indian Board for Wildlife to the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act (1972), the Zoo Expert Committee Report, Wildlife Action Plan, Zoo Consultancy Project under Wildlife Institute of India, the Indian Zoo Directors Association, and even Zoo Outreach Organisation, we can learn and appreciate the steps which had to be taken to bring the zoos into the 20th Century. Aspirations section is followed by the Chapter entitled Constraints, which is a honest and penetrating review of the weighty problems that plague the progress of Indian zoos that can only be changed by recognition of the heavy burden these problems place on zoos doing what zoos are supposed to do. These problems stem from the administrative system, the size of the country, the attitudes of both government, government servants and the public and circumstance. This chapter then morphs into the quantum leap made by the government for the benefit of Indian zoos and their denizens, that is, the decision to formulate zoo legislation and create the Central Zoo Authority or CZA, as it is usually referred. CZA is a unique zoo organisation in the world and the author does a good job describing why this is so with lists of objectives, its functions and it many achievements. There are multiple Tables illustrating the number of zoos evaluated at the time of publication, and the number which were granted recognition and the number closed. A decade later, these figures have increased which signifies that it is a good time for a revision of this detailed history. A table illustrates the amount of fund spent by CZA on the authority and its zoos every year, a staggering sum that this writer dares any other country to match. The various training workshops are listed with date and short description in addition to the list of significant information disseminated. There is also a review of the activity of CZA to rehabilitate animals from Circuses as Government of India banned performances by certain animals. The government decided that CZA should create rescue centres for these confiscated animals and seven zoos were selected to host these rescue facilities.

Interestingly, before CZA was created, there was an initiative in government to create a National Zoo Policy. A workshop was conducted with various officers and NGO’s. Ultimately it was decided that a stand alone policy would have no teeth and instead there would be legislation and in order to implement the legislation effectively, there would be an institution called the Central Zoo Authority of India. In fact this was brilliant governance on several levels. Had government actually created a policy without CZA, they would have been ignorant of many aspects of the ground situation. Only after creating the authority, conducting inspections/evaluations and working with the zoos, did the true picture come into focus and only then could a very comprehensive Zoo Policy be written and incorporated into law. The author has included the Policy verbatim over seven pages. An extensive description of Education and Training has been given in the chapter titled same as well as the achievements in Conservation and Research. In the chapter on Pioneers and Pathbreakers, the author introduces readers to some of the outstanding zoo personnel of the last two centuries, starting with the colonials who established Barrackpore Zoo in about 1806. Historical figure Lord Arthur Wellesley, then governor General of India, spoke of the idea in 1801 and had begun collecting animals himself. He inducted a brilliant naturalist, both botanist and ichthyologist, Francis Buchanan as Director. Begun with a purely scientific objective, Barrackpore Park became more a public attraction. It qualifies as one of the first “zoos as we know them” in the world. It was wound up in 1980 as the seat of government had long since moved to New Delhi, and there few visitors and with no one left to care about it, it languished. What animals were left were moved to Calcutta Zoo. Still, its history has been researched and one day a book about it will appear with beautiful colour plates of the animals, many of them quite unusual and almost all very rare today, which Wellesley had demanded that Buchannan commission. Some of the more interesting zoos of India are described in the chapter Zoos for All Seasons and the chapter entitled “Towards a New Millenium” will be discussed after listing the rich loade of information in the Appendices. This book actually is quite unusual for a history book ... it is practically a history cum encyclopaedia! The following document will give readers practically all the information they need to know to become fully

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conversant in Indian and even some other zoos and surely about the complexity of the subject of zoos. If you will permit me to indulge in a personal experience (and you will since you have no choice except to skip it), once upon a time, at a CZA meeting being chaired by a brand new Chairman who was the current Minister of the Environment Ministry, the topic of zoo complexity came up. The Minister had unfortunately commented impatiently on some of the deliberations on problems regarding the zoos that this was a waste of time or something to that effect. He said : “This is very simple. You have some animals. You have a zoo. You feed them. You give them shelter. What is the problem?” As one of the only Members of the Authority who was not a government employee, this writer piped up and made an impassioned plea to the Minister to please learn more about the zoo because it was anything but simple. I gave some examples and eventually stopped talking. I don’t remember if there was any distinct behavioural change after my polight diatribe. Everyone was rather stunned but a number of them were also grateful. If you reach the end of the last chapter of this book without thinking zoos are complex, reading the Appendices might help convince you. They are : I. Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 1991 & CZA and Recognition of Zoos 2. Recognition of Zoo Amendment Rules 2001 3. Guidelines for Safari Parks 4. Guidelines for Setting up a Deer Park 5. Guidelines for Disposing Carcasses of Animals in Zoos 6. IUCN Guidelines for Reintroduction 7. List of Recognised Indian zoos

Towards a New Millenium My favourite chapter in this history of Indian zoos is the last one where Desai suggests that in the 21st Century when the human population has crossed the six billion mark it is possible that in overpopulated countries there may be disruption of ecological process which would put even more wild species at risk. The Indian zoos need to “gear up”, he says, to meet these challenges. Zoos are uniquely placed to confront some of the problems as no other organisation, as zoos are in the business of saving species. He opines that the strong legislation which guides and protects the zoos is a very positive aspect. Specific areas, however, need to be addressed, such as public image, livestock planning, intensive management of small populations, use of

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advanced science for propagation of threatened species, environmental education, collaboration between in situ and ex situ populations management personnel, world wide network for international cooperation. Desai completes the history with a discussion of these elements and the potential of Indian zoos to address them and take care of any inadequacy. In most of the items he mentions, CZA and its Indian Zoos have made monumental steps, such as establishing a laboratory to conduct DNA studies and consider procedures such as cloning and AI to strengthen wild animal populations, etc. CZA has also taken the subject of education to a very different level by involving Centre for Environmental Education, conducting training in zoo education, producing books and guidelines for education, etc. These are only a few of the dreams for Indian zoos that have come true or are in process. Desai comments that as the human population grows and its demands on natural resources expand, zoos must strive to save wild animals and their habitat but “as a precautionary measure, let our zoos be prepared to provide them a last chance.” Desai closes the last chapter by quoting an image visualised by participants of a “Futures Search” conducted in December 1999. It was to be a vision of the ideal Indian zoo in 2010. It is a fitting way to end this review as well. “Our zoos will have healthy animals in eco-system based naturalistic enclosures supportive to in-situ conservation with competent and contented staff, good educational and interpretative facilities, the support of people and to be self sufficient.” Now we are waiting for Dr. Desai to bring out an updated history of the zoos of India and CZA during the last decade. That will probably double the size of the book, but no matter! Its worth it.

Photo Top - a view of the Red Fort from a inside the National Zoo, on of the many attractions. Photo Bottom: The National Zoo tank, known for its hundreds or thousands of migrating birds which settle in the zoo annually, another free attraction. Photos by S.Walker

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Top Barrackpore Park, first zoo in India and among first in the world. Part of a scientific exercise to describe and draw all India’s species. Initiated by Gov. Gen. Arthur Wellesley (1920). Images below are slides of paintings by Indian working for the Indian Natural History Project.

Photos of Marble Palace Zoo. Gentleman by pillar is grandson of founder. Photos by S. Walker.

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Japanese Wartime Zoo Policy : The Silent Victims of World War II Review by Sally Walker Mayumi Itoh, author of Japanese War-time Policy, was Professor of Political Science at University of Nevada, Las Vegas and taught at Princeton University and Queens College, City University of New York as well.

zoos and circuses. The order was issued in late 1943, over a year before the air raids of American bombers began.

Dr. Itoh also wrote on Japanese foreign policy and in-country politics in various intellectual and popular magazines. The book Globalization of Japan: Japanese Sakoku Mentality and U.S. Efforts to Open Japan (1998) is also a product of Dr. Itoh. The Prolific author also wrote The Hatoyama Dynasty: Japanese Political Leadership Through the Generations (2003) and Japanese War Orphans in Manchuria: Forgotten Victims of World War II (2010).

Ron Hrebenar and Vernon Kisling praised the book: “This is a very important policy area that has not been addressed in the Englishspeaking world. The material in the opening chapter on the plight of zoo animals in Haiti, Baghdad, and Kabul puts the experiences of WW II zoos in Asia and Europe in a new light and makes one wonder whether humans ever learn from past mistakes. The author has done a wonderful job of researching and documenting this subject. There is absolutely no doubt that this is a definitive study in this area. It is simply one of the best researched and documented books I have ever seen and is truly an original piece of policy research.” Ronald Hrebenar, Professor of Political Science and Associate Director of Asian Studies, University of Utah.

Japanese Wartime Zoo Policy The Silent Victims of World War II. Mayumi Itoh (Palgrave Macmillan, Hardcover, November 15, 2010. #9780230108943, 266pp.) On September 2, 1939, readers of the Daily Telegraph work up to the news that “the Snakes have been destroyed.” London Zoo’s venomous snakes, numbering 40, were removed from their cages and destroyed and the zoo coincidentally received a message that day that more cobras and dangerous Asiatic snakes had been dispatched from India. Even the harmless snakes were said to be destroyed whenwar broke out. More valuable animals were salvaged such as an ancient Chinese alligator, Komodo dragons and the largest pythons. Even toxic invertebrates were destroyed but a Giant panda, 4 chimps, 2 orangs and an okapi were taken to the country facility called Whipsnade. It was announced that other animals would be moved to safer quarters in areas not so likely to be bombed as a crowded city. As bad as this sounds, and it happened all over Europe during WW II, it was not so bad as the almost total extermination of Japan’s dangerous animals, as well as those of Korea, Taiwan and Manchukuo which were “colonies” of Japan. And the reason for this? The government of Japan used this as propaganda, as a means of inducting civilians into the war spirit. It was this, rather than public safety, which drove the programme which applied to both

“This is an excellent account of a little known and sad aspect of zoo history. With a review of zoo history in Japan and the fate of zoo animals throughout the world during WW II, it puts the fate of Japanese zoos in context with unsettling detail. As a result of difficult and important research, the author has uncovered and presented the effects of war on yet another cultural institution, along with the lack of respect shown for these zoo collections and what the collections represented. It is a significant contribution to the field of zoo and aquarium history.”--Vernon Kisling, Chair, Marston Science Library, University of Florida. The author, a Japanese herself, is very systematic, describing the zoos’ situation in context with the different regions of Japan and Europe and USA as well. She relates the historical

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background of the creation of modern zoos and militarism in Japan. She also gives a detailed assessment of the Japanese Wartime Zoo Policy. There are a good number of photographs graphically illustrating, in some instances, the pain and agony both animals and their caretakers suffered in carrying out government orders of the Japanese Home Ministry. This activity was carried out during a period of public hysteria. Under those conditions anything goes and the public were brainwashed into going along with everything. Japan is certainly not the only country in which such atrocities were perpetrated and worse things even have been done all over the world. It is important to document the differences and in this book the primary theme is the calculated manner in which the government used the ostensibly necessary destruction of zoo animals to ignite the war passion and fear among its people and prepare them to do whatever the military deemed necessary. It is a good story for all of us to read so that we may recognise similar inclinations in our own governments and even in ourselves !

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New Website for primates: All The World’s Primates <alltheworldsprimates.org> There is a superb new website created by Primate Conservation, Inc. (PCI) whose Director, Dr. Noel Rowe, known to many Indian primatologists, announced its opening recently. The site is All The World’s Primates <alltheworldsprimates.org> and contains all that anyone would want to know about primates, including primate experts themselves. Many scientists, conservationists, and wildlife photographers have contributed submissions to the exciting project, said to be “groundbreaking, a comprehensive resource for researchers, students, and anyone interested in humans’ closest relatives.”

Primate Conservation, Inc. (PCI) is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation dedicated to studying, preserving, and maintaining the habitats of the least-known and most endangered primates in the world. Since 1993, PCI has supported more than 450 projects in 28 countries.

A detailed database describes all species and subspecies individually using its outstanding database, range maps, photos and illustrations, both audio and video, articles, and other tools. Members of the site will have the ability to interactively share information and opinions with other members in blogs and group discussion. Quoting the author, PCI Director, Dr. Rowe said “Education is a crucial part of conservation, so we think it’s important to have an in-depth online primate resource that stays current, is easy to use, and—for the first time—shows the beauty and diversity of the entire primate order.” The site includes all primates, even newly described primates and is brought up to date regularly by committee contributors. Most of the research is original. It is referenced with more than 10,000 citations. It is possible to enjoy the site by just looking at the interesting and attractive primates of all kinds. There are 100‘s of videos and over 3000 photographs and illustrations to access. For those who wish to simply look at the apes, monkeys, and prosimians, there are hundreds of videos and more than 3,000 photos and illustrations to enjoy. The site allows access to primates by name, country, risk of extinction, or several other criteria while providing each primate’s description, taxonomy, and range from the database. Other detailed information includes conservation status, diet, life history, behavior, social systems, and physical measurements. Complete data sets are available for researchers, and students and laypersons will appreciate overviews and introductory articles on topics in primatology and physical anthropology. According to Jane Goodall, the well known chimp lady, conservationist, primate researcher, and head of the Jane Goodall Institute, commented on the site: “I am excited to be able to compare one species with the next, to see their similarities and their differences, their faces, their hands, what they eat, where they live, and how they live. But I am humbled to see how many are listed as critically endangered or endangered or vulnerable to extinction, how few are of lower risk, and what threatens them.” How to join: The website comes with membership in Primate Conservation, Inc. Proceeds support site maintenance and PCI’s grants program. Individual memberships start at $29.95 per semester, and institutional memberships are also offered. In keeping with PCI’s policy of support for work in primate habitat countries, a number of complimentary memberships are available. Reporters and bloggers may request a media pass to the site by emailing customerserve@primate.org.

Curious chimp and researcher. The world of primates is full of beauty and diversity with apes, gibbons, monkeys, tarsiers, lemurs, lorises and even human beings. In order to know about our own taxonomy we need to know about other primates. This website has been developed for this purpose. All The World’s Primates illustrates the diversity of the taxonomic order to which we as well as monkeys belong. The website’s database includes input from 300 + scientists who have researched primates in their own habitats. All 615 species and subspecies of primates recognised by IUCN are there, among current discoveries. Today 30% of primate species (123) are endangered or critically endangered with 27% only rated as Least Concern. Joining All The World’s Primates will give you membership in the prestigeous NGO, Primate Conservation, Inc., a nonprofit private foundation which funds field research and conservation projects on the least-known and most endangered primates in their natural habitat. Check it out at their website. <alltheworldsprimates.org>

Gibbon, Langur, Macaque, Loris - some primates of South Asia

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Some historical information about Zoo Associations – all over the World Sally Walker Author’s note: Every once in awhile someone decides there should be a zoo history symposium. This year there was one at Chester Zoo, in collaboration with SHNH and WAZA (see pp. 11-12) and I was asked to deliver a paper on the Development and History of Regional and National Zoo Associations. I agreed. At the same time, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums was putting together a history book for their 77th Anniversary. I was asked to write a box item about the Associations Committee which I chair, but, having lived some interesting stories, I asked if I could contribute more about Associations than a box and it was agreed. I started writing and in no time the papers expanded into an encyclopaedic monster with a life of its own. The WAZA chapter was the first deadline so I began cutting out paras and pages early. Cutting material from the WAZA book chapter was very painful but there was a very small word limit. I did it but I didn’t like it, yet I still had a presentation to give and a paper to write for Chester Symposium so I thought I could use the material there. As I prepared my presentation the amount of words and material increased until I would need the whole two day symposium to deliver the presentation! This is not the sign of a good writer but of a good collector! More painful cutting. The more I wrote and cut, the more I remembered events in the zoo world that had to do with zoo associations and the more I wrote to others who had been around in those days to check my memory of those events and meetings, resulting in even more material. I got through the presentation at the symposium but I didn’t finish on time and made a very poor showing. Discouraged but undeterred, I had one more paper to go and it could be 2500 words. Surely that should be enough. I had two stories to tell about Associations that not everybody knew. I had tried to get them in the WAZA Chapter, the Presentation and then the written paper for the symposium publication. When I counted the words of the written paper for the symposium publication, it was over 10,000. So I never got those stories in the paper. Today after I reviewed Dr. Catherine de Courcy’s book for ZOOS’ PRINT and wrote a short note about the history symposium at Chester Zoo, I had an epiphany… I could write all the things I couldn’t include in my papers and presentations in ZOOS’ PRINT! Hence, this article about zoo associations starting from the basics and includes one of my stories which is the most inclusive, e.g., the first global zoo association meeting, held in 1991 at Front Royal, Virgina.

Currently, there is one truly international zoo association – that is the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, WAZA. WAZA has zoo associations as members along with zoos and related organizations and institutions. There are 24 zoo associations that are Members of WAZA … they are listed in a Table on page no. 21 with asterisks beside them. The founding dates are in the first column, the country or region and the date of “adhesion” (as they say at WAZA) in the third column. All the other zoo associations listed are not members of WAZA and are marked by the absence of an asterisk. Some of them are not members because they are members of a Regional Association and they feel adequately represented by that, such as the Dutch Zoo Association and EAZA. Others are not association members of WAZA because of the cost of Membership, or cost of attending meetings, or because they feel they can manage without belonging.

While the first zoo associations were forming, they were understandably not as organized as they are today. In 1989 just before this meeting, there were 23 zoo associations, 21 national and 2 genuinely regional zoo associations, e.g. *EARAZA (Eurasian Regional Association of Zoos & Aquariums) and PAAZAB- (African Association of Zoos & Aquaria). No zoo associations were member of the International Union of Directors of Zoological Gardens, IUDZG, now WAZA at that time. That is one aspect of this story. CBSG/SSC/IUCN Captive (now Conservation) Breeding Specialist Group, had been active for a time and had begun to conduct yearly meetings which national and regional zoo association representatives attended, usually the Association Chair or other head. Dr. U. S. Seal (Ulie), Chairman of CBSG was keen to get the zoo associations involved in conservation by improving the system and science of their breeding of animals. Ulie had discovered that zoos had no reliable records for the scientific data base he was developing, e.g. the International Species Inventory System ISIS which became the International Species Information System and is now ISIS ZIMS or Zoo Information Management System. The evolution of this single service organisation for zoos represents probably the greatest quantum leap that the zoos had made since the first animal was kept for human viewing. Ulie designed the record system so that it would be useful for zoos to improve breeding so that there would be less or no inbreeding, which was hurting the zoo populations badly. He wanted to create a cooperative movement among the world’s zoos. So associations had this one place to get together and talk about cooperative breeding and other meaningful issues. According to Dr. Chris Wemmer, then Associate Director of the Front Royal Conservation Centre, and who was on the newly founded Board of then AAZPA (now AZA), there had been some general discussion then of AAZPA setting an example and playing a leadership role for other zoo associations. The idea was to stimulate other geographic regions to follow the example of a coordinated approach to zoo and aquarium development and advocacy. Chris had been conducting zoo biology training courses and had contacts with the younger leadership of several zoos. Chris and another Front Royal colleague, Rudy Rudran had developed and organized training courses in which AAZPA/ AZA zoo curators, vets and wildlife experts were resource persons, organized both in developing regions and at their own breeding centre at Front Royal. It seemed time to get together in a meeting. In 1988 the AAZPA/AZA Board discussion became a plan for a workshop to encourage zoo associations in other geographic regions. The Front Royal/Smithsonian facility was a breeding center for threatened species with infrastructure for training. With its simple but comfortable 2-bunk rooms and meeting space, it was an ideal venue.

Founder / Director, Zoo Outreach Organisation, India/USA, sallyrwalker@zooreach.org

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Photo Gallery of CBSG and some Indian attendees

Photo right : CBSG meeting in Copenhagen attended by Jacob Cheeran, B.M. Arora and Pushpa Kumar. Pushpa Kumar joined one of the breeding working groups. Dr. Arora joined the veterinary working group. Dr. Cheeran graciously joined the education working group so that Indian representation would be spread out. Sally Walker took photos and flitted around from group to group. Photo by Sally Walker.

Photo above: After some time, first CZA Member Secretary Shri S. C. Sharma attended CBSG and WAZA meetings. Today all Member Secretaries attend every CBSG and WAZA meeting. It has become important and a great step perhaps aided by Kamal Naidu’s attendance at the zoo association meeting at Front Royal! Shown right to left is Marialice Seal (CBSG Chairman’s wife), Dr. U. S. Seal (Chairman of CBSG), Shri S. C. Sharma, Member/Secretary of the Central Zoo Authority of India and Sally Walker. Photo Anon.

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Regional and National Associations – Founding date – Country – Joining WAZA date – Email and Website Members of WAZA are noted with date of joining and an asterisk * No.

Name of Association

Founding dt. 1978

Colombia

2

ACOPAZOA (Colombian Association of Zoos & Aquariums)* AFDPZ (Association Française des Parcs Zoologiques)*

1969

France

2004

3

AIZA (Iberian Association of Zoos & Aquaria)*

1988

Spain

1995

4

ALPZA (Latin American Zoo & Aquarium Association)*

1990

Chile

-

5

AMACZOOA (Mesoamerican & Caribbean Zoos & Aquaria Association)* Austrian Zoo Organisation

1988

Costa Rica

2001

Austria

-

AVZA (Asociacion Venezolana de Parques Zoologicos Y Acuarios) AZA (Association of Zoos & Aquariums)*

2004

Venezuela

-

1924

USA

1993

1985

Mexico

2006

1966

Gt. Britain

1992

1975

Canada

2008

12

AZCARM (Asociacion de Zoologicos, Criaderos y Acuarios de Mexico AC)* BIAZA (British & Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums)* CAZA (Canadian Association of Zoological Parks & Aquariums)* CAZG (Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens)

1985

China

-

13

Council of Directors of Polish Zoos and Aquariums

1981

Poland

-

14 15

DAZA (Danish Zoological Gardens & Aquaria)* DTG (Deutsche Tierpark-Gesellschaft e.V.)*

1995 1976

Denmark Germany

16

Dutch Zoo Association

1966

Netherlands

17

DWV (Deutscher-Wildgehege-Verband e.V.)*

1970

Germany

2006

18

1988

Russia

2004

19

EARAZA (Eurasian Regional Association of Zoos & Aquariums)* EAZA (European Association of Zoos & Aquaria)*

1992

The Netherlands

1992

20

FHZ (Federation of Hungarian Zoos)

1983

Hungary

-

21

Indonesian Zoo Association KPBSI

1969

Indonesia

-

22

IZA (Indian Zoos Association)

1991

India

-

23

JAZA (Japanese Association of Zoos & Aquariums)*

1939

Japan

1993

24

KAZA (Korea Association of Zoos and Aquariums)

unk

Korea

-

25

MAZPA (Malaysian Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria) PAAZAB (African Association of Zoos & Aquaria)*

1996

Malaysia

-

1989

1994

1979 1991

Sweden

1997

2000

India

2004

30

SASZ (Swiss Association of Scientific Zoos (Zoosuisse)) SAZA-SDF (Swedish Association of Zoological Parks & Aquaria)* SAZARC (South Asian Zoo Association for Regional Cooperation)* SEAZA (South East Asian Zoo Association)*

Republic of South Africa Switzerland

1990

Malaysia

1992

31

SNDPZ (Société National des Parcs Zoologiques)*

1975

France

2004

32

1994

Taiwan

-

33

TAZA (Taiwan Aquarium and Zoological Parks Association) UCSZ (Union of Czech & Slovak Zoological Gardens)*

1990

Czech Republic

2002

34

UIZA (Italian Union of Zoos & Aquaria)*

1971

Italy

1993

35

VDZ (German Federation of Zoo Directors)*

1887

Switzerland

1992

36

ZAA (Zoo Aquarium Association Australasia)*

1990

Australia

1992

37

ZPO (Zoological Parks Organisation)

1954

Thailand

-

1

6 7 8 9 10 11

26 27 28 29

Country

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WAZA -

1993

1993 2007

E-mail & Website acopazoa@gmail.com www.acopazoa.org rodolphe.delord@zoobeauval.com www.afdpz.org info@aiza.org.es www.aiza.org.es direccion@alpza.com www.alpza.com info@fundazoo.org www.amaczooa.org office@ozo.at www.ozo.at a.v.z.a.2004@gmail.com zooesmeralda@canty.net KVehrs@AZA.org www.aza.org fcamacho@africamsafari.com.mx www.azcarm.com.mx director@biaza.org.uk www.biaza.org.uk bpeters@caza.ca www.caza.ca

topola@doskomp.lodz.pl zoo@zoolodz.pl.pl jlm@kattegatcentret.dk info@deutsche-tierparkgesellschaft.de www.deutsche-tierparkgesellschaft.de

-

-

karl-goernhardt@landkreiskassel.de www.wildgehege-verband.de vvspitsin@mail.ru www.zoo.ru/moscow vvspitsin@mail.ru www.eaza.net jaszoo@vnet.hu www.zoo.hu pkbsi@hotmail.com delhizoo@vsnl.net www.cza.org kazutoshi_arai@granvista.co.jp www.jazga.or.jp

dave.morgan@nzg.ac.za www.paazab.com info@zoo.ch www.zoos.ch Mats.Hoggren@kolmarden.com www.kolmarden.com sallyrwalker@zooreach.org www.zooreach.org director@zoonegaramalaysia.my www.seaza.org sndpz.zoo@gmail.com www.sndpz.fr dwz07@zoo.gov.tw www.zoo.gov.tw nejedlo.ucsz@zoo.cz www.zoo.cz cinzia.sulli@parcoabruzzo.it www.uiza.org office@zoodirektoren.de www.zoodirektoren.de martin@zooaquarium.org.au www.zooaquarium.org.au zpo@zoothailand.org www.zoothailand.org

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Inaugural Session of the first zoo associations meeting. Left to right: Roger Wheater, Michael Robinson, Robert O. Wagner, (at dias) Chris Wemmer. Photo by S. Walker.

How Kamal Naidu got to attend an International conference.

Above: Robert Wagner, Executive Officer, AAZPA, Roger Wheater, President, IUDZG, and Kamal Naidu, Director, National Zoological Park chatting at coffee break about the way Naidu got to attend the workshop. Details next column. Left: Kamal Naidu and wife Rohini collect workshop materials. Photos on this page by Sally R. Walker.

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An amusing story came out of the meeting, at least amusing to a few of us who had been totally frustrated with the Insin Ministry of Environment’s attitude toward foreign travel. The bureaucrats monitoring the various Departments and Ministries (both state and national) were very peculiar about foreign travel. Perhaps this was a perception gleaned from “higher-ups” in the Ministry. It still happens today but not like then. Kamal Naidu got a number of invites when he was Director of National Zoo and also President of the Indian Zoo Directors’ Association, but permission to attend was never granted by the Ministry in New Delhi. After a routine transfer back to his department, he decided to make a personal visit to USA on his own funds. So he and his wife, were in the USA at the time of the Workshop. There had been a delay regarding the invitation which I never understood but the upshot of it was the new Director could not attend this important meeting. The Ministry took this meeting and invitation very seriously and someone in the Ministry who knew that Kamal Naidu was in USA at that moment, got smart and got permission for him to attend officially. Naidu agreed and interrupted his holiday to attend, making many friends and also many jokes about his presence at last!

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Front Royal Conservation Centre was a project of the National Zoo/Smithsonian which hosted the International Zoo Associations Workshop there. Invitees were zoo association representatives and others useful in identifying, promoting and sustaining the kind of activities that would result in better global communication and cooperation for conservation. The Pew Memorial Charitable Trust, AAZPA and Smithsonian Institution sponsored the event. It was originally scheduled for Spring 1988 but had to be postponed. It ultimately took place on 23-25 April 1990. On 22 April 1990, forty-one reps from zoo associations, zoos and other appropriate organizations gathered at Front Royal, Virginia to discuss how better to enhance collective conservation efforts among the world’s zoos. IUDZG (the International Union of Directors of Zoological Gardens) was represented by its President, Dr. Roger Wheater, Director of Edinburgh Zoo, and other IUDZG members were there in a more local capacity, e.g. Michael Robinson, Director of National Zoo and Charlie Hoessle, Director of St. Louis Zoo. Bert de Boer, then Director of the National Foundation for Research in Zoological Gardens, Netherlands gave a seminal presenta- tion on the need for an international communications set-up for all zoos, and how it might be organized. He acknowledged that he was uncertain how such a target could be achieved given the numbers and cost of postage, little imagining the advent of internet which had the capacity and eventually solved this problem better than any imagining. The workshop was a truly popular and effective event. Many of the people in attendance got to meet one another for the first time and discuss zoos and cooperation. It was a moving event which caused most of the attendees to tear up with joy. Zoo people have a bond ... it is something like what develops when people are stranded on a desert island or are victims who survived a shipwreck, or hurricane-- they bond with each other! Zoo management also is not easy! In the discussions and recommendations of the meeting, the IUDZG’s role in providing a liaison function for regional national and other zoo organizations in the recent past was acknowledged, and the workshop recommended that IUDZG include within its development the support and evaluation of the communications system. Communications were immediately improved by requesting international zoo organizations, such as IUDZG, IZE, CBSG as well as regional and national zoo associations to circulate their relevant documents to one another. Other topics discussed and included in resolutions were environmental education, training in all relevant fields, support for training, the need for more organized captive breeding programs globally, the need for prioritization of species and spaces, and the need for increased international recognition of the importance of zoos and aquariums. A comprehensive list of all existing zoo associations and like organisations was to be prepared and distributed. One of the main conclusions of the International Zoo Associations meeting was that a global zoo network should be established for the exchange of information between all zoo associations. IUDZG, which was later renamed the World Zoo Organisation and later the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, however, had almost completed its struggle with membership policy and was close to having a workable outcome. This would result in the extensive

constitutional changes permitting recognized regional and national zoo associations to become Association Members of IUDZG. Then IUDZG itself could be the global network. No one then knew for sure that this would come about, however and there was was a contingent who wanted a separate communications network to include IUDZG, CBSG, ISIS and the regional and national associations. Nontheless, IUDZG took on the role of liaison and its President, Roger Wheater, sent a Letter to all known Regional and National (zoo) Associations laying out an approach which was intended to result in improved international communications between zoos. The approach was simple, e.g. for each Regional and National Association to circulate their own Association information among all other Associations, including IUDZG, ISIS and CBSG and to circulate information from other Associations to their own members. An address list was attached and the process could begin. Fred Damon, Zoo Liaison on behalf of IUDZG, was asked to monitor the process and also seek a representative from each entity to overview the effectiveness of the communications system. The impact of the Front Royal meeting had been very significant with attendees feeling enriched at the gathering of associations and to hungering for more, perhaps on a regular basis. Little did they know that an opportunity would emerge in a little over a year, when IUDZG would welcome Regional and National Associations as members. While it took some years to address the issue of the associations, IUDZG did not wast time incorporating zoo associations into its fold after the Front Royal meeting. In fact it was 30 Sept-3 Oct 1991 at the 46th Annual Conference of IUDZG in Singapore, that the IUDZG working group on constitutional change recommended a dual approach to membership in order to fully represent the world’s zoo professional community. One branch of this approach would be the institutional members represented by their Director, and the other would be the regional and national associations. This course of action was accepted by the membership at the IUDZG meeting who agreed that the IUDZG Constitution be modified to accomodate this change. It took some time for all the regional and national associations to join and to start attending IUDZG/WAZA meetings. People who already attended CBSG found that the extra stay for this meeting was convenient. Now many member Association Chairs attend WAZA along with member zoo directors. They also get together at a closed meeting to discuss global issues that impact associations. The zoo associations are all independent and all different despite being the same! There are social, cultural and economic differences. Of the regions and countries from developing areas, such as Asia, South and Central America, Eastern Europe, and Africa almost find that keeping up with the western world is difficult due to the wide variation in the value of their currencies. Thus, there are still some communications problems among regions even though information on how to contact one another is available and the internet makes it all easy. Those Association Chairs who attend WAZA contribute at the Associations meeting but may never do so throughout the year. WAZA is currently making an attempt to bring them closer together by working on some common projects.

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Short History of One Regional Zoo Association, SAZARC SAZARC, the South Asian Zoo Association for Regional Cooperation, has faced the problem of funding by utilizing its host, Zoo Outreach Organisation, to raise funds for membership, travel, conferences fees, etc. from their western colleagues and friends over the years. SAZARC was initiated and founded in 2000 starting with a zoo directors meeting of a few zoo heads from most of the South Asian countries. Everyone who attended was very enthusiastic about having an association and SAZARC was named (the idea of Dr. R.K. Sahu to include “regional cooperation” based on the economic entity of the region) there and then. For the past decade the SAZARC office, based at ZOO HQ has raised funds for all SAZARC conferences from outside the region. Never easy, it has now become extremely difficult to do this. Western zoos consider in situ conservation projects the most important project and they want to give any funds to spare to this distinctly conservation-oriented activity.

officers and ministers in New Delhi, always with the objective of keeping this issue active.

It is past time for SAZARC to stand on its own but there are obstacles. For one thing, South Asian zoo director’s bosses, reflecting the general opinion of bureaucrats at any level or country of the region, will not approve funds for interregional air fare, registration, or any other expense to do with leaving their country. They consider any such event no more than a “junket”. SAZARC has been rigorous in avoiding any truth in such an accusation by making sure every minute of the day (and often night) is devoted to some serious activity such as training, working groups, etc., leaving any fun and frolic for nighttime. Since first meeting also, SAZARC has added a couple of days before the meeting for concentration on CBSG, the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, South Asia branch and (later) RSG, the Reintroduction Specialist Group, explaining CBSG and RSG principles, isolating appropriate wildlife issues to discuss and participating in Working Groups. We find, despite the seriousness with which we approached this venture, hoping that zoos would benefit by the external and local speakers, working sessions, and exposure to other countries zoos, that there has been no impact at all on the superior officers who hold the purse strings. We ask members to request travel funds from their institution or government but there is no positive response. Now, we are pondering what to do as we can’t sustain the costs without help from South Asian zoos and their governments.

Many of the zoo associations in the world have a website. This has been included in the list of zoo associations below. Oue South Asian zoo personnel may like to check out some of the other countries to see what is being done by zoo associations all over the world. We could also be doing these things if there was more cooperation and enthusiasm for these activities by our zoos and more understanding and cooperation by the governments of these countries.

After some time, the Ministry of Environment took action, conceiving a Zoo Act which demanded a Central Zoo Authority and getting it passed in 1991, and then legal norms and standards in 1992. CZA then advertised in the press and post that all wild animal facilities must report to government and request permission to operate. The number of wild animal facilities that identified themselves over the years were over 450! India actually was able to close over 200 spurious captive animal facilities, a feat that no other country in the world has achieved. SAZARC has focused a great deal on this topic in its meetings and so far Nepal and Bangladesh have formulated zoo legislation which is crawling through their government offices. SAZARC convenor now believes this to be the most useful activity in the long term and will spend the next few years working on the remaining countries in the region which do not have legislation and are not regulated.

Without investment of our own, of money, or time, or work, or sacrifice, human beings don’t really see the true value of even the best things. We have to find a way forward. One of the main ambitions of SAZARC convenor was to create interest and activity towards getting zoo regulation through legislation in all the South Asian countries. India has led the way for the rest of the region and to an extent the world by the seriousness with which they approached the topic in their country. The situation of India was dire : government had not kept up with the proliferation of zoos in the country. They published a list of 44 zoos in 1985 or so and a very few years later Zoo Outreach Organisation and later the Nandankanan Zoological Park and then again Zoo Outreach Organisation published lists of captive animal facilities – zoos, mini zoos, deer parks, etc. – of up to 187. In the meantime, this writer had been writing many articles about the situation of zoos in the country and also visiting

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Stranger than Fiction . . .

The Spy From Outer Space Sally Walker, THE ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY OF INDIA, JULY 16, 1989 , Part I of III What do you do when the CIA comes acalling and insists you are the best-kept secret in its archives? Sally Walker, the wellknown crusader for animal welfare, recreates an Intriguing encounter with Langley's operatives in this delightful tale. One day as I was sitting in my office trying to write one more positive and constructive article about Indian zoos, my typist, Shanti, said a couple of men had come to see me ... foreign men. Now, I am an American but I have lived in India so long that the word ‘foreigner’ means a nonIndian to me also. I groaned inwardly. Probably they were a couple of zookeepers from the UK or USA comes to avail of a free roof over their head. I have put my name on the Keeper Accommodation List of the two countries zookeeper associations and can expect such visitors at any moment. Of course I like zookeepers and they always put me up when I go to America and to England, but I have come not to like foreigners in India. They are troublesome… always asking for boiled water and less chillies, etc. And they are sensitive! you just can’t say anything to them without hurting their gigantic egos.

Anyway, I asked Shanti to show them in and to my surprise they were wearing suits. Not safari suits, but real suits dark despite the heat, with long sleeved white shirts and blue striped ties. They were clean-shaven, had fresh short haircuts and reeked of some conservative brand of aftershave lotion that I could not identify. “They must be businessmen of some sort”. I thought to myself, “probably in town for a few days, but already homesick for white skin and boiled vegetables”. Coimbatore is an industrial city and does get foreigners in as consultants from time to time, so this was not an unrealistic supposition,

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although I have lived here in Coimbatore for years and never met a foreign consultant. But then I don’t ‘socialise’ in the normal sense of the word either; in fact I live rather like a hermit. Before I could speculate further, the men reached into their inside coat pockets and pulled out identification. Now, they did this in unison, as if it was a military drill. That should have told me something in itself. Since they presented the cards at precisely the same instant - in unison, yet! - it was little embarrassing. I mean, what is the protocol? Whose card do you look at first, when both men seemed

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exactly the same age, height, build, rank, etc. I played it safe and looked at the one on the right. Later I realized that this was wrong, because may right was their left, and vice versa. I guess that’s important but what was more important is what it said on the identification of both men, and that was that they were CIA agents. CIA agents in my house? My heart started pounding. My first thought was my visa. They were not going to extend my visa. I was going to have leave again. Maybe even be deported. I sat down. Immediately my senses returned; CIA agents didn’t have anything to do with my visa. It’s CBI agents, the Indian guys, that worry about that. I felt momentarily relieved, but only momentarily. I have read enough spy novels and left-wing press to know that CIA agents, along with KGB agents, M15 agents, the Mossad and various other terrorist groups are not nice people. In fact, although my associations with the CBI have been very indirect, I would have felt much safer had two (or even 20) of them been sitting in front of me, instead of these creeps. I would not be wise to think longer or they would get suspicious so I said, as brightly as possible, “Well, and what can I do for you gentlemen today. You’re a long way from home, isn’t it? Ha! Ha!” I added, “Want some buttermilk? as an afterthought. It was a hot day in Coimbatore. The two men were staring me straight in the eye. When I spoke they turned their heads (again in total Unison) and looked at one another, and they turned back to me. It was a beautifully choreographed act, I must admit. Some unspoken signal must have passed between them because the one on my left (their right, see why I think I made a mistake) spoke. “Are you Sally Walker?” he asked, peeping into a file as he had forgotten the name of the person he had come all this way to see.

“Well,” I said, thinking fast “I am one Sally Walker. There are several Sally Walkers in the world, you know. Some of them are real and some are fictional. There was little Sally Walker who lost her shoe in a nursery rhyme I knew when I was little. Fats Domino had a single record out about another Little Sally Walker (undoubtedly the same one all grown up if Fats Domino was singing about her). Then I have met some Sally Walkers in my life and heard about more of them from people I know. Uh, which Sally Walker is it that you want?”

ooze back in. They looked at one another again, relieved, and back at me, disgusted. All still in unison.

Without even blinking, or looking into this file the man said : “Sally R Walker, Sally Raulston Walker, formerly Sara Jean Raulston of Goldsboro, North Carolina, married for two years to Charles Albert Walker of Greensboro, divorced, dirty hippy for five years, married seven years to Professor Richard E Mortensen of Los Angeles, divorced, living in India for 13 years, three visits to USA. Yoga student, Kannada student, Sanskrit Student, organizer of Friends of Mysore Zoo, organizer of Zoo Outreach Organisation, brown hair, age 44 years, green eyes, contact lenses, circular shaped birthmark on left buttock….”

“And love”, I said immediately in a military sort of tone.

“Excuse me,” I said, “you needn’t go on. This is an amazing coincidence, because all those names are the same but I am not the Sally Walker you want. It’s not possible”. The man looked nonplussed. In fact, both men looked nonplussed. Their whole aura of self-confidence just dissolved – again, in perfect unison, as if both of them were going to collapse into themselves like pricked balloons, leaving their dark suits, long-sleeved shirts and blue striped ties sitting up there. I should have kept quiet at that point but I just never know when to stop talking so I said: “I was never dirty. Even when I was a hippy taking LSD and methedrine, I always took a bath.” I smiled confidently, a real Colgate smile to prove how clean I was – and am. In a few seconds that remark got logged into the computer-brains of my visitors and immediately as it registered, self-confidence began to

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The spokesman assumed a little smile. You know the kind, the kind when you don’t open your mouth, when you just stretch your lips a little without changing the expression in your eyes. It usually means somebody is pissed off but is not allowed to show it. “Ms. Walker,” he said, “I think that was unnecessary. You are definitely the Sally Walker we know.”

“And love”, the spokesman repeated automatically, before he could stop himself. These computer brain types have their weaknesses. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” I said, knowing I had gone too far. “Please excuse me. I’m a little nervous. I don’t meet foreigners that often. I mean..” “Ms. Walker, I’ll come right to the point,” he said. “Yes”, I said, “please.” “Ms. Walker, we have been getting reports about you for years and years now and we’re about fed up. We have our agents in place and very little gets by us. We are here to tell you that you have become an embarrassment to the Government of the United States.” Well, if that isn’t laying it on the line, I don’t know what is. But what could they be talking about actually. Certainly not everything I’ve done in India could be an embarrassment to the United States. On the other had so many things I have done could be. And no matter what these creeps said, I was sure they didn’t know everything I had done, or not done. I tried to run over the list quickly in my mind. It was impossible. But it was more likely to be things I had not done than things I had done: I had not for example, got my driver’s license in Tamil Nadu, and when I drove my moped I rarely wore a helmet. Even my license plates were not entirely correct. Well, maybe not; maybe it was some of the articles I had written which were critical of the way the Wildlife Department were running

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the zoos. Or maybe it was some of the articles I had written which were critical of the United States! My mind boggled. I decided to play the innocent. “Oh, dear” I said, a comment any lady can easily afford. “An embarrasment to the United States. Oh, me! Whatever have I done?” Obviously I had said something these apes wanted to hear. Both relaxed visibly – in unison, of course. A kindly expression came over the face of the spokesman as he spoke, “Ms. Walker, we have had hundreds and hundreds of complaints from the CBI who themselves have processed hundreds and hundreds of complaints about you from citizens of India, stating that a CIA agent, namely you, was being allowed to live in the country like a free bird and questioning them why they were not doing anything about it.” “Oh, dear,” I said again.

“The CBI,” he went on, “is irritated because they have spent millions of rupees investigating you and are unable to turn up anything more incriminating on you than that you haven’t paid the insurance on your moped.” “Oh, I forgot about that,” I said, “Don’t they care if I don’t have a driver’s licence? What about my helmet? Do they want me to get killed? Don’t they care about me? I was hurt and stating to get slightly hysterical. The spokesman assumed a patient look, “Ms. Walker,” he said patiently, “when an intelligence agency investigates an individual from a foreign country suspected of intelligence gathering, the agency doesn’t look for the crime committed by the alleged agent, but the crimes not committed. Understand?” He peered at me in a self-satisfied way, as if everything should now be clear, It wasn’t.

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“No, I don’t understand,” I said He sighed and looked at his clone. Some unspoken signal passed and the clone took over. “Ms. Walker,” he said condescendingly, “no foreign agent will come over here and commit crimes. That would call attention to him. But neither will he commit no crimes at all; that would also call attention to him. It’s not normal to be too perfect, you know.” “I know,” I said, glad to be certain of something. He went on: “The fact that you have not paid your moped insurance is just the kind of crime a spy would commit in a foreign country. It is definitely an offense, yet it is not so much of an offense to call undue attention to his activities. See?” “Oh, now I understand,” relief flooding me. “Well, I’ll just go and pay my

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moped insurance tomorrow and everything will be all right, isn’t it?’ The clones did there head-turn routine again and said as on: “No, it won’t be all right. You haven’t understood a thing we said.” “Perhaps you better explain a little more,” I said shaken by their speaking in unison. They hadn’t done that before. “The fact is, Ms. Walker,” said one, “that you have called so much attention to yourself doing all kinds of things that a good agent should not do, that the only thing in your favour is that you haven’t paid your moped insurance.” “You see,” said the first, getting very businesslike, “there are two kinds of agents: agents we all know (and love) and agents we don’t know (or love). Agents we all know and love are sort of registered agents, or spies that any foreign country expects to have around. We have them over there; they have us over here. We know they know and they know we know and it’s just all in the family, you see.” “I see”, I said, although I didn’t – yet The other kind are deeeep cover agents that even we don’t know about. So we can’t inform them that they are there. We can’t sort of ‘register’ them. These are the dangerous kind- for both countries. “Yes, I can see that. But what does that have to do with me?” The clones looked alarmed. Then annoyed. “It’s very irritating to have to spell this out, Ms. Walker, when we are sure you know all about it, but to show you that we know also and that we are on to you, here’s the nitty gritty. No self-respecting spy acts like you do! No spy would ever write so many articles for newspapers; no spy would ever start organizations; no spy would ever criticize the government; no spy would ever write mean cartoons about the forest department; no spy would ever interfere in the administrative matters of a State; no spy would ever make their own visa arrangements. We always arrange visas for our registered spies.” “So, OK, that clinches it then. I’m not a spy. What’s the problem?” I said. I was beginning to enjoy myself. The first clone put his head into his hands and started weeping. The second started shouting and banging his head on my table. “Of course, you’re a spy. All that is your cover! You know nobody would ever suspect somebody who acts like you do of being a spy. It’s the best cover in the world. Even we didn’t know all these years. We kept saying, ‘Oh, no, she couldn’t be. She wouldn’t do that if she were.’ The CBI also kept saying the same thing. They’ve never had so many accusations about anybody before from the public.. and the public is always wrong. The public thinks every foreigner is a CIA agent! And, therefore, because so many people say you are (a spy), you couldn’t possibly be, you see? But you are. It’s obvious”. The other clone whined through his tears: “Now the CBI doesn’t believe in us anymore. They say either we’re lying or we’re so inept that we don’t even know our own spies, even when their name is in the paper. We look like fools. Fools! And it’s all your fault. You see?” He put his head back in his hands. I did see. They were absolutely right. If I was a spy I would do exactly what I had done; start a zoo society. What better way to get information. It looks so innocent.

And you can smuggle out information in so many ways. You can train myna birds to talk on a secret command. You can train animals that are chosen as State gifts to kill dignitaries and diplomats which receive them. You can undermine governments by getting politicians and bureaucrats to fight in zoo authority meetings. It’s perfect. “Sirs,” I said respectfully, “I can see your problem. You think I’m one of you and I’m an embarrassment to the profession, right?” They nodded their heads in unison: “We work so hard,” they said tearfully, “Oh, it’s all so hard. And somebody like you comes along and just has a good time at our expense”. “There, there, “ I said, “Why don’t you have some buttermilk and go home. I’ll handle this. Go and fret no more”. After they had their buttermilk I gave them a handkerchief to wipe their upper-lips and patted their shoulders all the way to the gate. Poor things; what an ordeal. George Bush must have trained them. But this was good information they had passed on. I went back to my desk and called Shanthi. “Shanthi, get me the CBI on the phone,” I said. I had a perfect cover an ordinary human being that people think is a CIA agent whom the CBI and the CIA thinks is deeeeep cover CIA agent - maybe they would give me a job, I mean. Nobody would ever suspect I was a CBI agent. I could clean up the whole country! Note: Little does anyone suspect the real truth. Does she or doesn’t she? Can she or can’t she? Has she or hasn’t she? Will she or won’t she? Is she or isn’t she? In fact, Sally Walker isn’t anything so innocent as a CBI agent, or so clumsy as a KGB agent, or so uptight as M15, or so confused as a CIA agent. Sally Walker is actually something much more insidious than that. Sally Walker is, in fact, – da! da! da! daaaaaaa! . . . The Spy from Outer Ssssppppaaaacccceeee! Editor and author’s Note : Apologies are in order for the black and white illustrations which appeared in living colour in the original magazine, the well-known and much missed Illustrated Weekly of India. I came across a copy the original article a few weeks ago but now, at publication time, it has vaporised and all we had were xerox copies. If the original is found before the series is over, we will publish them Colleagues and friends as well as enemies who read this series of articles in the Weekly then have urged me for some years to reprint it in ZOOS’ PRINT and only now have I succumbed their wishes. It will be interesting to see what others think two decades later. One thing I found very amusing about the reaction to the series then was the fact that many people asked friends of mine if the article was fictional! In those days, the 70’s and throughout the 80’s, it was a logical conclusion that IF you were an American living as opposed to taking a 2-week tour in India, then you were almost certainly a Spy. Since this very phenomenon which inspired me to write the series, this query gave me tremendous satisfaction and lots of laughs. LOL! as they say in social media ! Sally Walker TSFOSp

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Twenty-first International Conference on Bear Research and Management Greetings from India! Announcement of the Bear Conference. One of the 12 mega biodiversity centres of the world, India is home to four of eight species of bears - Himalayan brown bear, Asiatic black bear, Sloth bear and the Sun bear. Bears in India are threatened due to poaching for bear parts, retaliatory killings to reduce conflicts and habitat loss due to degradation and fragmentation. In addition to these concerns, the rehabilitation of communities that eke out a living on dancing bears has made bear conservation a challenge in India. Much of the bear range nations of south and south-east Asia face similar problems. The Twenty-first International Conference on Bear Research and Management will see the coming of age of bear conservation. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India is delighted to host this conference at New Delhi in November 2012 with our partners the Wildlife Trust of India, Wildlife Institute of India, IBA and IUCN. IBA 2012 at New Delhi would also provide the much needed national, regional and global attention towards conservation of bears in India. So, welcome to the 21st IBA Conference at New Delhi, India. There will be four days of formal sessions with a mid conference tour to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and visit the Sloth Bear Rehabilitation Centre. Conference Sessions • Bears in S&SE Asia-Distribution & Conservation Status • Population Estimation & Monitoring; Ecology & Behaviour • Habitat Use & Food Habits • Bear-Human Conflicts • Community Participation and Bear Conservation. Workshops or Concurrent Sessions • Ex situ conservation & management of bears in captivity • Illegal trade in bear parts and role of international/national agencies • Rescue & Rehabilitation, welfare of orphaned/confiscated bears • Bears and climate change.

Contact for inclusion in mailing list: Prajna Panda, Address: Wildlife Trust of India, F-13 Sector 8, Noida 201302, India. E-mail: prajna.panda@wti.org.in

Contact for inclusion in mailing list: Contact person: Prajna Panda, Address: Wildlife Trust of India, F-13 Sector 8, Noida 201302, India. E-mail: prajna.panda@wti.org.in

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Announcements: Recent advances in animal welfare science III UFAW Animal Welfare Conference York Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, 21st June 2012 As part of its on-going commitment to improving the way we understand and care for animals, the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) is pleased to announce the third of its series of unthemed one day conferences on ‘Recent advances in animal welfare science’ which is to be held on 21st June 2012 in York, at the UK city’s medieval Merchant Adventurers’ Hall , Fossgate. The conference aims to provide a forum at which the broad community of scientists, veterinarians and others concerned with animal welfare can come together to share knowledge and practice, discuss advances and exchange views. In keeping with this aim, registration for this meeting has been kept low - £25.00 (lunch not included). Call for papers: We would like to hear from anyone interested in making a contribution to the conference on the open subject of recent advances in applied ethology, veterinary and physiological science and the other disciplines that inform our understanding of animals and their welfare; both from those who are well established in this area and from those just beginning to make a contribution. Submission of interest should include the title of the proposed contribution, the nature of the contribution – talk or poster, the name and full contact details of all contributors and an abstract, which must be in English, and should be no longer than 400 words. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 1st November 2011. Registration: As part of UFAW’s commitment to providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and to ensure that the meeting is accessible to widest range of those with an interest in animal welfare, the registration fee to attend this conference is kept low, this time at just £25. Note: This price includes refreshments but delegates will need to make their own arrangements for lunch. Click here to download an electronic registration form or click here to download a PDF form. Venue: The conference is being held in York, in the medieval Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, Fossgate YO1 9XD. Located next to the pedestrianised centre of York and built in 1357, the timbered Hall and Undercroft make up one of the best preserved medieval guild halls in the world. For further information about the venue and details of hotels in the area, click on link below. http://www.visityork.org/seeanddo/attractions/thedms.aspx? dms=13&feature=1&GroupId=2&venue=1500147&easi=true Background to UFAW: UFAW, the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, is an internationally-recognised, independent, scientific and educational animal welfare charity. The organization promotes high standards of welfare for farm, companion, laboratory and captive wild animals and those with which we interact in the wild. Contact Details: Stephen Wickens, Development Officer, UFAW, The Old School, Brewhouse Hill, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, AL4 8AN, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1582 831818; Fax: +44 (0) 1582 831414; Website: www.ufaw.org.uk; Email: wickens@ufaw.org.uk Further details, including a registration form can be found on the UFAW website: http:// www.ufaw.org.uk/animal-welfare-conference.php

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World Environment Day Education Workshops in India Report of World Environment day -“Flora and fauna of Mumbai ” A group of 15 Eco ambassador students of a school were trained by a full team of OASIS on the subject of diversity in national parks and sanctuaries and flora and fauna of Mumbai. The training utilised power point presentations and a photo gallery. Zoo Outreach Organisation packets were distributed and then an interactive activity was conducted by Ms. Raavi Murarka using the following method. He distributed packets from Zoo Outreach Organisation to all participants. He used the poster to illustrate the topics forest cover and one third of the earth’s land and how it plays a key role in our battle against climate change, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere while storing carbon dioxide. Over 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihood. Forests are the most biologically diverse ecosystems on land and are home to more than half of the terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects. We are lucky to have a national park in the heart of Mumbai The ABC brochure to cover these main points: it takes only a few simple steps to easily green your daily routine and make good eco-behaviour a habit, such as . a cloth bag along when you go grocery shopping; . don’t run water when brushing your teeth, saving 3 gallons of water every day; . print only when absolutely necessary and on both sides of the paper only; . Reduce! Reuse! and Recycle!; . when you feel like reading, borrow books, newspapers, magazines from friends or library

Students reading the WED ABC brochure and learning to live more simply

Eco ambassador students taking pledge to save earth from global warming

• The writer taught five kingdoms of life stressing all living organisms are assigned to a particular kingdom according to certain characteristics. They are Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia. In pledge session participants wore the glasses, held the placard and promised to be an “environment doctor” saving my earth from global warming. Another pledge was to save biodiversity and beat the heat by living more simply.

Other things to do were • to use the stickers provided where they have great visibility there by showing people how you support this cause and so should they. • to conduct a drama through the use of the photo gallery • to go over the pamphlet inform that you have a lot of material to read and live more simply and be greener by reducing your carbon footprint.

ZOO’s PRINT, Volume XXVI, Number 9, September 2011

to be the greenhouse guardian of Mumbai and make it greener. to use the inputs from these pamphlets for your school sessions for the green ideas project for the younger students who will conduct the session and give us a report

The 15 students who will make three groups will now train 7 more groups of school students who will further reach out to 10 more schools by December 2011. They have been given a report format for their own use and for the

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trained students separately. One more report will be sent in the end of December regarding the final work. Submitted by: Shikha Shisodia, Projects Manager, Oasis, Mumbai. Email: info@oasisngo.org

Seminar on Amphibian Conservation

Swainson HS School students wearing amphibian masks during the seminar

Students taking oath to protect amphibians

Environment Information Dissemination Center of Florence Swainson School organized a seminar on Amphibian Conservation and Global Warming in connection with WED celebration August 1. The gathering was welcomed and the objectives explained with emphasis on the need for environmental awareness. The St. John’s College Principal opined that this decade has been declared as “decade of innovation” which student should implement to solve environmental problems concentrating on research and attempt new innovations. Associate Professor in Zoology delivered on illustrated talk on “Amphibian Conservation explaining the systematic position, morphology and ecological role of amphibians in the ecosystem. The need for the conservation and role of individual in amphibian conservation was highlighted. The attractive amphibian packets supplied free by the Zoo Outreach Organisation were effective resource material for the programme. During a talk on global warming, its impact on biodiversity and human health was stressed. Afterwards, participants visited EIDC sponsored by the Department of Environment, Govt. of Tamil Nadu. The programme was jointly organized by YMCA, Tirunelveli and Nature Club of St. John’s College, Palayamkottai. Submitted by A. Selvin Samuel, St. John’s College, Palayamkottai. Email: selvinsml@yahoo.com

World Environment Day celebrated at Madurai schools

Students are explained about the endangered animals appeared on the WED poster

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In continuation of the Hoolock Gibbon awareness programme conducted in February 2011, the World Environment Day was celebrated on 27 June at Sri Aurobindo Mira, MHSS. Nearly 60 students participated. The WED posters, ABCs and the badge were the centre of attraction. The participants shared about the types of forest around the globe and in India. One of the students explained about the logo

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to all the participants with the cocoordinators guidance. The various uses of the forest and the need to protect the forest and specially the wild animals were discussed. The endangered species of India were clearly dealt with. In order to bring a clear-cut idea, the ‘tree as ecosystem’ was dealt with highlighting the uses of the tree during its life time as well as after its death. Role plays were conducted after distributing the free educational packets received from ZOO, India. During the lunch time the participants enacted a play near the entrance with was witnessed by the students and the parents. Role play on elephant, monkey, bat and butterfly attracted the students. With the materials received all the participants were able to answer on the theme Forests-Nature at your services besides endangered species in India. The days programme was published in Dinamalar. Submitted by Ms. Jessie Jeyakaran, Chennai. The World Environment Day was celebrated in O.C.P.M. School, Madurai with the theme Forests - Nature at your service, on 18 July 2011. Nearly 6000 students witnessed the days programme. The enlarged posters of WED theme, logo, frog, and elephant were of centre of attraction. The thematic song sung by the chair has lit the lamp. A speaker elaborated the types of forests around the world, percentage of the disappearance, the present day crisis etc. and encouraged the students to visit the Alagarkoil hills located in Madurai to get clear ideas. The writer described UNEP, ZOO, WILD and Biodiversity hot spots and zoos. Guidelines were given based on WED ABC’s. As the campus consists of many types of trees, a project conducted in 1990s on the topic - know your environment - was shared and highlighted its uses. Students committed to carry out a survey of trees in the campus. NSS, Red Cross and the Guide will conduct a survey census of trees during their camp in the nearby villages. The Correspondent planted a neem tree in the campus and that was followed by the tree plantation. Mrs. Nirmala, NSS, Co-coordinator proposed vote of thanks. The days programme was recorded by 6 local channels and telecasted thrice on the same day as well as on the next day. Submitted by Ms. Jessie Jeyakaran, Chennai.

Students performing mini skit on amphibian conservation

Junior Red Cross students going through the ZOO's education kits

Rev. Dr. J. Thasayyan, Correspondent planting a sapling at school campus

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Biodiversity Day 2011 celebrated at Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu Keeping the slogan ‘Together we can make a difference’ in mind, this year’s Biodiversity day was celebrated in the church in Oyaravilai village in Kanyakumari Dist. This village is of fertile land with best suited natural resources. The importance of Biodiversity and its present condition were explained on the previous day to the inhabitants of the village with materials supplied by ZOO. The kids collected various types of leaves from their home. As the village is very near to Kanyakumari, they were able to identify ocean species and showed much interest in Marine Biodiversity. Old and the middle aged were recollecting the types of birds near in the village and their appearance with sound in various localities. The materials supplied by ZOO Bats, Primates, Monkey manners, Frogs, Daily Liife Wildlife, Ele-kit etc. attracted the children. Submitted by Jessie Jeyakaran, Chennai.

Devakadotcham, Bishop of Kanyakumari blessed and distributed seeds to families

ZOO education kits are displayed during the Biodiversity day at Oyaravilai Church

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Magazine of Zoo Outreach Organisation ZOO’s PRINT Publication Guidelines

Publication Information

We welcome articles from the conservation community of all SAARC countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and other tropical countries if relevant to SAARC countries’ problems and potential.

ZOO’s PRINT, ISSN 0973-2543 Published at: Coimbatore Owner: Zoo Outreach Organisation, 9A Lal Bahadur Colony, Peelamedu, CBE 4

Type — Articles of semi-scientific or technical nature. News, notes, announcements of interest to conservation community and personal opinion pieces.

Editor: Sally R. Walker Associate Editor: R.V. Sanjay Molur and Daniel B. Ayyachamy Managing Editor: Latha G. Ravikumar Editorial Assistant: R. Marimuthu

Feature articles — articles of a conjectural nature — opinions, theoretical, subjective. Case reports: case studies or notes, short factual reports and descriptions. News and announcements — short items of news or announcements of interest to zoo and wildlife community Cartoons, puzzles, crossword and stories Subject matter: captive breeding, (wild) animal husbandry and management, wildlife management, field notes, conservation biology, population dynamics, population genetics, conservation education and interpretation, wild animal welfare, conservation of flora, natural history and history of zoos. Articles on rare breeds of domestic animals are also considered. Source: zoos, breeding facilities, holding facilities, rescue centres, research institutes, wildlife departments, wildlife protected areas, bioparks, conservation centres, botanic gardens, museums, universities, etc. Individuals interested in conservation with information and opinions to share can submit articles ZOOS’ PRINT magazine. Manuscript requirements: Articles should by typed into a Word format and emailed to zooreach@zooreach.org. Avoid indents, all caps or any other fancy typesetting. You may send photos, illustrations, tables. Articles which should contain citations should follow this guideline: a bibliography organized alphabetically and contain ing all details referred in the following style : surname, initial(s), year, title of the article, name of journal, volume, number, pages. Editorial details: Articles will be edited without consultation unless previously requested by the authors in writing. Authors should inform editors if the article has been published or submitted elsewhere for publication.

Zoo Outreach Organisation Trust Committee and Sr. Staff Managing Trustee: Sally R. Walker Chairman Trustee: R. Nandini Executive Director Trustee: R.V. Sanjay Molur Finance Director Trustee: Latha G. Ravikumar Scientist: B.A. Daniel Researcher: R. Marimuthu Other staff: B. Ravichandran, R. Pravin Kumar, K. Geetha, S. Radhika, Arul Jagadish, K. Raveendran, S. Sarojamma ZOOs’ PRINT magazine is informal and newsy as opposed to a scientific publication. ZOOS’ PRINT magazine sometimes includes semi-scientific and technical articles which are reviewed only for factual errors, not peer-reviewed. Address: Zoo Outreach Organisation Post Box 1683, Peelamedu Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641 004, India Phone: +91 422 256108 Fax: +91 422 2563269 E-mail: zooreach@zooreach.org Website: www.zooreach.org, www.zoosprint.org


25th International Congress for Conservation Biology Auckland, New Zealand 5-9 December, 2011 REGISTRATION OPEN Join us for the Society for Conservation Biologyʼs 25th International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB) in Auckland, New Zealand! Register now to take advantage of early registration rates:http:// www.conbio.org/Activities/Meetings/2011/register/fees.cfm . EVENTS Visit the ICCB 2011 web site (www.conbio.org/2011) for information about the meeting, including a full listing of workshops and short courses, student activities, field excursions, and social events. Information pertaining to the first International Marine Conservation Think Tank, which will include 14 different focus groups highlighting issues from deep-sea coral research, to fisheries management and global biodiversity assessments, is also available on the site. TRAVEL AND ACCOMODATIONS Before booking your travel, check out the “Travel” section of the ICCB web site. Air New Zealand is now offering conference attendees special round trip fares for flights to New Zealand, with flights departing from Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver. A listing of area accommodations is also available on the site. The SkyCity Convention Centre and Auckland City Hotel are offering reduced rates for meeting attendees, and dormitory housing is available through the University of Auckland. FURTHER INFORMATION Many more details about the meeting can be found on the ICCB web site at: www.conbio.org/2011. We hope to see you in Auckland!

Remember when you met Ed Monton in Canada in 2010? 2011 is the year of Kia Ora the Kakapo! Stay tuned for the first meeting between Ed and Kia Ora, coming soon!


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