INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2442, 2, '2012-04-14 10:47:11', '2012-04-14 15:47:11', '<em>By Ian Craig\nFounder of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy\nNorthern Rangelands Trust, Isiolo, Kenya</em>\n\nDue to a massive investment of effort, time and money by conservationists worldwide, the past two decades have seen a very positive period for in situ rhino conservation in Africa.  In the mid-80’s when conservationists worldwide came together with the realization that rhino were heading for extinction, this catalyzed a whole new investment in management ideas and new thinking.  Never had the concept of small, fenced sanctuaries to protect rhino been on the agenda; the philosophy was that rhino need large open spaces with no restrictions.  This myth was quickly dismissed with the realization that the only option available was to concentrate animals into small, highly protected areas and this has been the foundation of the growth of Africa’s black and white rhino populations over the past twenty years.  <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2438" title="ian1" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/ian1-300x217.jpg" alt="ian1" width="300" height="217" />\n\nThe different approaches across Africa of fenced sanctuaries and intensive protection zones (IPZ’s) have had different levels of success, but with a major factor in the increase of Southern white rhino being the commercial benefits accrued from sport hunting where land owners have seen significant financial benefit  in the hunting of southern white rhino.  The private sector throughout the continent has played an equal role to national governments and in some countries where private public partnerships are national policy, over 50% of a nation’s black rhino population is now on private land.\n\nThe cost of protecting rhino over this past decade has essentially risen with the cost of inflation and as long as adequate ground coverage by well-trained, motivated rangers was in place, attrition from poaching could be kept at a level below the natural increment.  Most countries look at a minimum 5% growth per annum within their respective rhino populations.  The cost of protecting these animals has been significantly carried by concerned individuals, zoo-based organisations and national governments, specifically in the US and the UK.  These funds have been channeled into both private and government rhino conservation initiatives resulting in this success and steady increase.\n\nWhereas historically illicit rhino horn would move through a series of middle men before reaching its final destination with the increasing presence of Far Eastern investment into Africa and the accompanying nationals, the routing of this horn has been much more direct and easier.  Accepting that the black market demand is driven by the end-user price, the increasing levels of wealth within the Far East are influencing the spiraling demand of rhino horn in Africa.  With increasing trade between the Far East and Africa, communication, transport and the ease of moving product are all factors contributing to this ever- increasing demand.  In 2010, a series of rhino horns were confiscated in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Nairobi, hidden amongst avocado pears being air freighted to the Far East.  These horns proved to have originated in Zimbabwe and had been moved to Nairobi over land and were now on direct flights to the Far East from the hub of Nairobi.\n\nThis situation only stands to get worse; economies and demand for wildlife products in the Far East are growing.  East Asian nationals get more and more integrated into African societies and lines of communication and transport continue to improve.  The inevitable knock on effect of these increasing values is the potential to corrupt government officials responsible for enforcing controls on national borders and within wildlife authorities.\n\nApart from keeping existing populations safe, the single biggest challenge facing many African governments with a responsibility for rhino conservation is finding safe space for rhino.  Rhino are the most forgiving animals thriving in the most diverse habitats on the continent, yet ensuring that criminals don’t kill them requires the highest levels of 24-hour protection.\n\nThe year 2012 is now a time to re-focus on what has worked, what has not worked and what are the opportunities of our time.\n\nWhat has worked; intensive protection zones and fenced sanctuaries are a proven success.  The model is now well-established, the costs clearly identified and minimum standards of ground coverage required are well-documented.  This concept can be expanded into national parks, community areas and private land but with the increasing demand comes an ever increasing cost of protection.\n\nWhat has not worked; free release areas and community conservancies have proven to be a challenge to keeping rhino safe and at this time are an option that has passed.  The ban on the sale of rhino horn through CITIES; we need to revisit the options.\n\nOpportunities of our time; with technology changing by the day this is the single most cost-effective tool of our day to protect rhino.  If the relevant military technology used to protect borders and military locations together with the most modern technology to monitor human movement and the protection of assets can be applied to protecting rhino, this has the potential to dramatically change the future of field conservation for rhino.  This is starting to happen in an ever-increasing way and as is normal with such new technology is not being openly discussed through public channels but already is starting to make an impact on how rhino are protected.\n\nOne can only ask who is killing these rhino, who is moving the horn and who is driving the price?\n\n<strong>Who’s killing the Rhino? </strong> Every society has its criminals and poverty is rife throughout much of Africa.  In Eastern and Central Africa much of the poaching is undertaken by armed criminals who are essentially opportunists, out to make a quick buck.  In Sothern Africa the dynamic is totally different where professional veterinarians and high level officials using helicopters have been prosecuted for the actual field poaching of rhino.\n\n<strong>Who’s moving the horn? </strong> Rhino horn, like hard drugs, counterfeit currency, and illicit diamonds is a high-value, black-market product that once it leaves the hand of the poacher is moved through a series of couriers, on to godfathers coordinating these activities across national and international borders.  Rhino horn being such a small article can easily be hidden and moved by a motor bike in a hand bag or hidden in materials being exported.\n\n<strong>Who’s driving the price?</strong> Clearly the market for rhino horn is based on traditional Chinese medicine and connotations around this myth.  The end-user can be a very humble member of society who genuinely believes the use of powdered rhino horn can save the life of a loved one, and each one of us would spend our last dollar on such cause.  Between the poacher and the end-user the multiplication of value would seem to be four to five times possible more, leaving massive opportunity for middle men to benefit.  With the weakening value of many African currencies against the US Dollar and essentially a dollar-based value on Rhino horn, this is multiplying the in-country value within Africa, further exasperating an already-volatile situation.\n\nOn one hand, the future of Africa’s rhino could be seen to be extremely bleak, yet on the other hand with plenty of suitable habitat available, the real challenge is to provide cost-effective security using the most modern technology in support of the field operations.  Alongside this, a significant public programme to keep the world, specifically the market of Eastern Asia, fully informed as to the myth of rhino horns’ potency and the impact of buying rhino horn.  A careful assessment is required to look at the effectiveness of the CITIES ban on the trade of rhino products; this clearly has not worked and it is again time to consider the options available to us as conservationists to give rhino a new hope.\n<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2439" title="black_rhino" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/black_rhino-858x1024.jpg" alt="black_rhino" width="601" height="717" /></p>\n\n<p style="text-align: center;">Cost-effective security programs, like those provided by our Conservation Partners at Lewa and\nIRF, are proven methods of protecting rhinos. (<em>Photo by Patty Pearthree</em>)', 'What’s driving this massive upsurge in rhino poaching  and what is the future for rhino in the wild?', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2424-autosave', '', '', '2012-04-14 10:47:11', '2012-04-14 15:47:11', '', 2424, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2424-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2443, 2, '2012-04-14 10:52:44', '2012-04-14 15:52:44', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2444" title="anna3" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna3.jpg" alt="anna3" width="192" height="294" />In the late 1950s I moved from the U.K. to Ghana and went to live in Kumasi, the capital of Ashanti. Kumasi was known for having one of the biggest markets in West Africa and I soon found that this bustling and vibrant place was a source not only of total fascination but also great horror. Every local foodstuff was to be found there; colourful heaps of fruit and vegetables I had neither seen nor heard of before, plus every sort of creature both great and small, alive and dead … From giant forest snails for soup to the highly valued skin of an elephant’s ear to make drums. This was my introduction to the bushmeat trade and the start for me of a long journey. Because of the tsetse fly Ghana produced few cattle and those few came down from the Sahael. Sheep and goats were kept mainly for bride price. Bush meat was the nation’s main source of protein and as the population grew so did the demand for it. During my 20 years there the population quadrupled and more; in fact, I was once invited to a celebration when an important chief celebrated the birth of his 100th child. I never found out how many were his wives but all dwelt in a vast palace.\r\n\r\nSo as the forests were felled to satisfy the insatiable demands of the timber industry, their denizens lost their homes and travelled to market, dead if they were lucky, to fill someone’s soup pot. In those distant days up to 40 lorry loads of assorted antelopes used to arrive on a daily basis, again the lucky ones arrived dead, salted and smoked. The less fortunate arrived to satisfy the demand for fresh meat, alive, with their legs broken. Only their beautiful, desperate eyes revealed their agony and terror, the memory of those eyes haunts me still. Meat was not the only thing the animals supplied. Elephant ivory was most beautifully carved by skilled craftsmen working in tiny, dark shacks; nothing of an elephant was wasted, the meat was consumed to the last scrap, the tail hairs were woven into bracelets, but in those days it was the ears that were most valuable. Monkeys and chimps were exported to the laboratories of the West and their babies were hawked around as pets and few survived. Grey parrots hung upside down suspended by their legs from bamboo poles, screaming their misery; many were exported and huge numbers died en route.\r\n\r\nFor more than 10 years I worked in my spare time for the Ghana Game Department and travelled much of the country. I would enquire of the local chiefs what animals they had left and the invariable answer was that the animals had “travelled” and they had no more meat. When I enquired where had the animals travelled I was told they had gone over the hills, over the Volta, to Togo or the Ivory Coast. When I suggested that perhaps their journey was involuntary and by lorry to the nearest big market they would shake their heads sadly and agree. Thus it was that by the time I came to leave Ghana and move to Kenya with my husband, I had seen with my own eyes how quickly extinction could happen on a<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2445" title="anna" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna-300x195.jpg" alt="anna" width="300" height="195" /> local basis.\r\n\r\nAntelope now came to market one by one and seldom. Much of the beautiful forests were destroyed and the great trees were stacked in the worlds’ timber markets and the lovely birds and fascinating beasts were no more. But surely Kenya, with its huge parks, flourishing tourist industry and great herds of cattle to satisfy the need for meat, would be very different. And so it was in those early days when the demand for bushmeat and land for growing crops was not as great as it is now; but with one mega-exception, the black rhino. It was an animal I had then never even seen, and certainly not thought about, but it was about to turn my life around.\r\n\r\nOil in Saudi Arabia had brought unexpected wealth to Yemen with the result that the demand for rhino-handle daggers had escalated vastly. In that country all men wear a dagger and the status symbol dagger needs to have a handle made of rhino horn; it is the thing you must have to prove your worth. The shavings from the making of the handles went east to China mainly for use in traditional medicine. The belief in the virtues of rhino horn to heal goes back thousands of years. The main use is to reduce fever and it seems if you boil anything for long enough that contains keratin, your hair and finger nail clippings for instance, it will have a very tiny effect, but far more effective and cheaper it is to take an aspirin. For these ridiculous reasons the price of rhino horn started to rise in the maddest fashion till it was worth even more than gold in some countries in the Far East. And rhinos started to die in their hundreds and then in their thousands. You could drive round Kenya’s so beautiful parks and follow the vultures from one desecrated corpse to that of the next. From each, the horns had been hacked and the once magnificent and beautiful creature left to rot. In a matter of years, Kenya’s population of many thousands was reduced to below 400. What to do? It seemed well-guarded sanctuaries for a specific purpose, the natural breeding of wild black rhinos, was the only remaining hope. Thus the Ngare Sergoi Sanctuary was created on Lewa Downs, a vast cattle ranch in the north of Kenya owned by the Craig family. And it succeeded thanks to the help of many people and in a very important degree thanks to the members of AAZK and Bowling for Rhinos and the incredible amount of money that has been raised.\r\n\r\nSo the Sanctuary grew from the initial 5,000 acres to 10,000 and then in 1995 it became the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy protecting an area of some 65,000 acres which now includes the Government owned Ngare Ndare Forest. This vast increase in area was needed as rhinos will breed if given security. And security was always our total top priority. So Lewa progressed from being a cattle ranch to being an area where two highly endangered animals were breeding well; black rhinos and Grevvy’s zebra of which we have about 25% of the entire world’s population. Beneath the umbrella of these two species, the whole range of species indigenous to the area also prospered. Because our ideas were working, thanks to the costly security we employed, they were copied elsewhere and sanctuaries were created on both private and government land; both the government and the private sector working well together on this. One side-effect was that Lewa became a huge employer of labour, the biggest in the Meru district. This, plus our building of schools and clinics and other schemes to improve the welfare of our neighbours, meant we had very <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2446" title="anna_guards" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna_guards-195x300.jpg" alt="anna_guards" width="195" height="300" />good relations with them. This is vital for the success of any enterprise concerning the protection of potentially dangerous species. In the meantime, the horrific wave of poaching that had so seriously decimated the rhino populations of most of Africa had not touched South Africa. Her populations of both black and white rhino had been barely effected and they thrived, both in the national parks and on private reserves where they were used not just as a tourist attraction, but also for trophy hunting. This apparent immunity from the rhino crisis sweeping the rest of the continent, and also decimating the three species of rhino found in India and southeast Asia, made those in South Africa responsible for the security of rhinos on both public and private land, somewhat complacent; never a very wise attitude.\r\n\r\nThen three years ago the Chinese president visited most countries in Africa. Unaware and avaricious governments throughout the continent welcomed him with open arms. Here was cash undreamed of and no questions asked. Agreements were signed with a sad disregard to possible consequences. Oil, mineral rights, timber concessions, agricultural land and rights of residence have been handed over in return for doomed or shoddy infrastructure projects, all built by Chinese labour so not even unemployment is improved. Damian Thompson writing in the U.K. Daily Telegraph recently wrote “Africa’s future has been quietly settled for it. Something close to slavery is back - all thanks to China”. Even in the small town 50 km away, where I shop, there are now five Chinese shops and an ever-growing number of Chinese residents. They are not short of cash and at the top of their “wish list” are rhino horn and ivory, but they are only the tip of the iceberg. The Big Men have also moved in--the Barons of the illegal trade in wildlife which is huge-- rivaling the drugs and the arms trade. The three go hand in hand. Last year, this country lost over 450 rhino, and that means the ones that were found. I have just been told that a further 13 were killed in the Kruger National Park over Christmas. At this moment my neighbours are searching frantically for a pregnant white cow gone missing. Three years ago I said to friends and neighbours who had rhinos “guard them well” and was laughed at. Now they say, “how did you know”?  But no knowledge was available to me that was hidden from them, but people prefer to close their eyes sometimes, and governments have higher priorities than to guard their heritage, yet tourism is both a major source of revenue and of much needed, well-paid employment.\r\n\r\nTragically, it is not only rhinos that are dying, it is estimated that 100 elephants die per day throughout the continent because of the rise in the demand for ivory. Most of Asia’s tigers have died because of the demand for their bones for medicine, as much use as is rhino horn, probably less, so now Africa’s lions are next on the list. It seems the great apes are also wanted as status symbol ‘bush meat’. Whatever Africa has, and should cherish, China wants and seemingly will get. So what to do? The Governments of the West should be taking a hard look at the rape of the planet that is taking place instead of begging for financial aid. Fortunately there are zoos that seem to care more about trying to save endangered species and educating children about what is happening than in making huge profits. Better still there are zoo keepers who care a lot. I know because it has been my good fortune to have met so many of them. Better still, they are trained in people-skills and communicating. To you I say, go out and tell your States and cities and children what is happening to their world. People in politics will listen if votes are involved. Why are no Senators or Governors ex-zoo keepers? We need to get our local Chinese populations to understand this dire situation and help get the message through to China. <strong><em>Places like Lewa can do a holding action until you can change attitudes. Remember that when the last rhino in Africa </em></strong><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2447" title="anna2" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna2-195x300.jpg" alt="anna2" width="195" height="300" /><strong><em>or Indonesia dies in agony with a bullet in its guts, or dies in a zoo of old age, 40 million years of evolution goes with it. Forever. And with the passing of the great mammals, a splendour will have gone out of our world and cannot return.</em></strong>', 'A Letter to the AAZK Membership from Anna Merz', 0, '', 'draft', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'a-letter-to-the-aazk-membership-from-anna-merz', '', '', '2013-10-15 17:49:17', '2013-10-15 22:49:17', '', 0, 'http://aazk.org/?p=2443', 0, 'post', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2444, 2, '2012-04-14 10:48:38', '2012-04-14 15:48:38', '', 'anna3', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'anna3', '', '', '2012-04-14 10:48:38', '2012-04-14 15:48:38', '', 2443, 'http://aazk.org/wp-content/uploads/anna3.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2445, 2, '2012-04-14 10:49:48', '2012-04-14 15:49:48', '', 'anna', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'anna', '', '', '2012-04-14 10:49:48', '2012-04-14 15:49:48', '', 2443, 'http://aazk.org/wp-content/uploads/anna.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2446, 2, '2012-04-14 10:50:36', '2012-04-14 15:50:36', '', 'anna_guards', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'anna_guards', '', '', '2012-04-14 10:50:36', '2012-04-14 15:50:36', '', 2443, 'http://aazk.org/wp-content/uploads/anna_guards.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2447, 2, '2012-04-14 10:51:21', '2012-04-14 15:51:21', '', 'anna2', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'anna2', '', '', '2012-04-14 10:51:21', '2012-04-14 15:51:21', '', 2443, 'http://aazk.org/wp-content/uploads/anna2.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2448, 2, '2012-04-14 10:49:30', '2012-04-14 15:49:30', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2444" title="anna3" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna3.jpg" alt="anna3" width="192" height="294" />In the late 1950s I moved from the U.K. to Ghana and went to live in Kumasi, the capital of Ashanti. Kumasi was known for having one of the biggest markets in West Africa and I soon found that this bustling and vibrant place was a source not only of total fascination but also great horror. Every local foodstuff was to be found there; colourful heaps of fruit and vegetables I had neither seen nor heard of before, plus every sort of creature both great and small, alive and dead … From giant forest snails for soup to the highly valued skin of an elephant’s ear to make drums. This was my introduction to the bushmeat trade and the start for me of a long journey. Because of the tsetse fly Ghana produced few cattle and those few came down from the Sahael. Sheep and goats were kept mainly for bride price. Bush meat was the nation’s main source of protein and as the population grew so did the demand for it. During my 20 years there the population quadrupled and more; in fact, I was once invited to a celebration when an important chief celebrated the birth of his 100th child. I never found out how many were his wives but all dwelt in a vast palace.\n\nSo as the forests were felled to satisfy the insatiable demands of the timber industry, their denizens lost their homes and travelled to market, dead if they were lucky, to fill someone’s soup pot. In those distant days up to 40 lorry loads of assorted antelopes used to arrive on a daily basis, again the lucky ones arrived dead, salted and smoked. The less fortunate arrived to satisfy the demand for fresh meat, alive, with their legs broken. Only their beautiful, desperate eyes revealed their agony and terror, the memory of those eyes haunts me still. Meat was not the only thing the animals supplied. Elephant ivory was most beautifully carved by skilled craftsmen working in tiny, dark shacks; nothing of an elephant was wasted, the meat was consumed to the last scrap, the tail hairs were woven into bracelets, but in those days it was the ears that were most valuable. Monkeys and chimps were exported to the laboratories of the West and their babies were hawked around as pets and few survived. Grey parrots hung upside down suspended by their legs from bamboo poles, screaming their misery; many were exported and huge numbers died en route.\n\nFor more than 10 years I worked in my spare time for the Ghana Game Department and travelled much of the country. I would enquire of the local chiefs what animals they had left and the invariable answer was that the animals had “travelled” and they had no more meat. When I enquired where had the animals travelled I was told they had gone over the hills, over the Volta, to Togo or the Ivory Coast. When I suggested that perhaps their journey was involuntary and by lorry to the nearest big market they would shake their heads sadly and agree. Thus it was that by the time I came to leave Ghana and move to Kenya with my husband, I had seen with my own eyes how quickly extinction could happen on a local basis.\n\nAntelope now came to market one by one and seldom. Much of the beautiful forests were destroyed and the great trees were stacked in the worlds’ timber markets and the lovely birds and fascinating beasts were no more. But surely Kenya, with its huge parks, flourishing tourist industry and great herds of cattle to satisfy the need for meat, would be very different. And so it was in those early days when the demand for bushmeat and land for growing crops was not as great as it is now; but with one mega-exception, the black rhino. It was an animal I had then never even seen, and certainly not thought about, but it was about to turn my life around.\n\nOil in Saudi Arabia had brought unexpected wealth to Yemen with the result that the demand for rhino-handle daggers had escalated vastly. In that country all men wear a dagger and the status symbol dagger needs to have a handle made of rhino horn; it is the thing you must have to prove your worth. The shavings from the making of the handles went east to China mainly for use in traditional medicine. The belief in the virtues of rhino horn to heal goes back thousands of years. The main use is to reduce fever and it seems if you boil anything for long enough that contains keratin, your hair and finger nail clippings for instance, it will have a very tiny effect, but far more effective and cheaper it is to take an aspirin. For these ridiculous reasons the price of rhino horn started to rise in the maddest fashion till it was worth even more than gold in some countries in the Far East. And rhinos started to die in their hundreds and then in their thousands. You could drive round Kenya’s so beautiful parks and follow the vultures from one desecrated corpse to that of the next. From each, the horns had been hacked and the once magnificent and beautiful creature left to rot. In a matter of years, Kenya’s population of many thousands was reduced to below 400. What to do? It seemed well-guarded sanctuaries for a specific purpose, the natural breeding of wild black rhinos, was the only remaining hope. Thus the Ngare Sergoi Sanctuary was created on Lewa Downs, a vast cattle ranch in the north of Kenya owned by the Craig family. And it succeeded thanks to the help of many people and in a very important degree thanks to the members of AAZK and Bowling for Rhinos and the incredible amount of money that has been raised.\n\nSo the Sanctuary grew from the initial 5,000 acres to 10,000 and then in 1995 it became the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy protecting an area of some 65,000 acres which now includes the Government owned Ngare Ndare Forest. This vast increase in area was needed as rhinos will breed if given security. And security was always our total top priority. So Lewa progressed from being a cattle ranch to being an area where two highly endangered animals were breeding well; black rhinos and Grevvy’s zebra of which we have about 25% of the entire world’s population. Beneath the umbrella of these two species, the whole range of species indigenous to the area also prospered. Because our ideas were working, thanks to the costly security we employed, they were copied elsewhere and sanctuaries were created on both private and government land; both the government and the private sector working well together on this. One side-effect was that Lewa became a huge employer of labour, the biggest in the Meru district. This, plus our building of schools and clinics and other schemes to improve the welfare of our neighbours, meant we had very good relations with them. This is vital for the success of any enterprise concerning the protection of potentially dangerous species. In the meantime, the horrific wave of poaching that had so seriously decimated the rhino populations of most of Africa had not touched South Africa. Her populations of both black and white rhino had been barely effected and they thrived, both in the national parks and on private reserves where they were used not just as a tourist attraction, but also for trophy hunting. This apparent immunity from the rhino crisis sweeping the rest of the continent, and also decimating the three species of rhino found in India and southeast Asia, made those in South Africa responsible for the security of rhinos on both public and private land, somewhat complacent; never a very wise attitude.\n\nThen three years ago the Chinese president visited most countries in Africa. Unaware and avaricious governments throughout the continent welcomed him with open arms. Here was cash undreamed of and no questions asked. Agreements were signed with a sad disregard to possible consequences. Oil, mineral rights, timber concessions, agricultural land and rights of residence have been handed over in return for doomed or shoddy infrastructure projects, all built by Chinese labour so not even unemployment is improved. Damian Thompson writing in the U.K. Daily Telegraph recently wrote “Africa’s future has been quietly settled for it. Something close to slavery is back - all thanks to China”. Even in the small town 50 km away, where I shop, there are now five Chinese shops and an ever-growing number of Chinese residents. They are not short of cash and at the top of their “wish list” are rhino horn and ivory, but they are only the tip of the iceberg. The Big Men have also moved in--the Barons of the illegal trade in wildlife which is huge-- rivaling the drugs and the arms trade. The three go hand in hand. Last year, this country lost over 450 rhino, and that means the ones that were found. I have just been told that a further 13 were killed in the Kruger National Park over Christmas. At this moment my neighbours are searching frantically for a pregnant white cow gone missing. Three years ago I said to friends and neighbours who had rhinos “guard them well” and was laughed at. Now they say, “how did you know”?  But no knowledge was available to me that was hidden from them, but people prefer to close their eyes sometimes, and governments have higher priorities than to guard their heritage, yet tourism is both a major source of revenue and of much needed, well-paid employment.\n\nTragically, it is not only rhinos that are dying, it is estimated that 100 elephants die per day throughout the continent because of the rise in the demand for ivory. Most of Asia’s tigers have died because of the demand for their bones for medicine, as much use as is rhino horn, probably less, so now Africa’s lions are next on the list. It seems the great apes are also wanted as status symbol ‘bush meat’. Whatever Africa has, and should cherish, China wants and seemingly will get. So what to do? The Governments of the West should be taking a hard look at the rape of the planet that is taking place instead of begging for financial aid. Fortunately there are zoos that seem to care more about trying to save endangered species and educating children about what is happening than in making huge profits. Better still there are zoo keepers who care a lot. I know because it has been my good fortune to have met so many of them. Better still, they are trained in people-skills and communicating. To you I say, go out and tell your States and cities and children what is happening to their world. People in politics will listen if votes are involved. Why are no Senators or Governors ex-zoo keepers? We need to get our local Chinese populations to understand this dire situation and help get the message through to China. Places like Lewa can do a holding action until you can change attitudes. Remember that when the last rhino in Africa or Indonesia dies in agony with a bullet in its guts, or dies in a zoo of old age, 40 million years of evolution goes with it. Forever. And with the passing of the great mammals, a splendour will have gone out of our world and cannot return.', 'A Letter to the AAZK Membership from Anna Merz', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2443-revision', '', '', '2012-04-14 10:49:30', '2012-04-14 15:49:30', '', 2443, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2443-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2449, 2, '2012-04-14 10:52:31', '2012-04-14 15:52:31', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2444" title="anna3" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna3.jpg" alt="anna3" width="192" height="294" />In the late 1950s I moved from the U.K. to Ghana and went to live in Kumasi, the capital of Ashanti. Kumasi was known for having one of the biggest markets in West Africa and I soon found that this bustling and vibrant place was a source not only of total fascination but also great horror. Every local foodstuff was to be found there; colourful heaps of fruit and vegetables I had neither seen nor heard of before, plus every sort of creature both great and small, alive and dead … From giant forest snails for soup to the highly valued skin of an elephant’s ear to make drums. This was my introduction to the bushmeat trade and the start for me of a long journey. Because of the tsetse fly Ghana produced few cattle and those few came down from the Sahael. Sheep and goats were kept mainly for bride price. Bush meat was the nation’s main source of protein and as the population grew so did the demand for it. During my 20 years there the population quadrupled and more; in fact, I was once invited to a celebration when an important chief celebrated the birth of his 100th child. I never found out how many were his wives but all dwelt in a vast palace.\n\nSo as the forests were felled to satisfy the insatiable demands of the timber industry, their denizens lost their homes and travelled to market, dead if they were lucky, to fill someone’s soup pot. In those distant days up to 40 lorry loads of assorted antelopes used to arrive on a daily basis, again the lucky ones arrived dead, salted and smoked. The less fortunate arrived to satisfy the demand for fresh meat, alive, with their legs broken. Only their beautiful, desperate eyes revealed their agony and terror, the memory of those eyes haunts me still. Meat was not the only thing the animals supplied. Elephant ivory was most beautifully carved by skilled craftsmen working in tiny, dark shacks; nothing of an elephant was wasted, the meat was consumed to the last scrap, the tail hairs were woven into bracelets, but in those days it was the ears that were most valuable. Monkeys and chimps were exported to the laboratories of the West and their babies were hawked around as pets and few survived. Grey parrots hung upside down suspended by their legs from bamboo poles, screaming their misery; many were exported and huge numbers died en route.\n\nFor more than 10 years I worked in my spare time for the Ghana Game Department and travelled much of the country. I would enquire of the local chiefs what animals they had left and the invariable answer was that the animals had “travelled” and they had no more meat. When I enquired where had the animals travelled I was told they had gone over the hills, over the Volta, to Togo or the Ivory Coast. When I suggested that perhaps their journey was involuntary and by lorry to the nearest big market they would shake their heads sadly and agree. Thus it was that by the time I came to leave Ghana and move to Kenya with my husband, I had seen with my own eyes how quickly extinction could happen on a<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2445" title="anna" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna-300x195.jpg" alt="anna" width="300" height="195" /> local basis.\n\nAntelope now came to market one by one and seldom. Much of the beautiful forests were destroyed and the great trees were stacked in the worlds’ timber markets and the lovely birds and fascinating beasts were no more. But surely Kenya, with its huge parks, flourishing tourist industry and great herds of cattle to satisfy the need for meat, would be very different. And so it was in those early days when the demand for bushmeat and land for growing crops was not as great as it is now; but with one mega-exception, the black rhino. It was an animal I had then never even seen, and certainly not thought about, but it was about to turn my life around.\n\nOil in Saudi Arabia had brought unexpected wealth to Yemen with the result that the demand for rhino-handle daggers had escalated vastly. In that country all men wear a dagger and the status symbol dagger needs to have a handle made of rhino horn; it is the thing you must have to prove your worth. The shavings from the making of the handles went east to China mainly for use in traditional medicine. The belief in the virtues of rhino horn to heal goes back thousands of years. The main use is to reduce fever and it seems if you boil anything for long enough that contains keratin, your hair and finger nail clippings for instance, it will have a very tiny effect, but far more effective and cheaper it is to take an aspirin. For these ridiculous reasons the price of rhino horn started to rise in the maddest fashion till it was worth even more than gold in some countries in the Far East. And rhinos started to die in their hundreds and then in their thousands. You could drive round Kenya’s so beautiful parks and follow the vultures from one desecrated corpse to that of the next. From each, the horns had been hacked and the once magnificent and beautiful creature left to rot. In a matter of years, Kenya’s population of many thousands was reduced to below 400. What to do? It seemed well-guarded sanctuaries for a specific purpose, the natural breeding of wild black rhinos, was the only remaining hope. Thus the Ngare Sergoi Sanctuary was created on Lewa Downs, a vast cattle ranch in the north of Kenya owned by the Craig family. And it succeeded thanks to the help of many people and in a very important degree thanks to the members of AAZK and Bowling for Rhinos and the incredible amount of money that has been raised.\n\nSo the Sanctuary grew from the initial 5,000 acres to 10,000 and then in 1995 it became the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy protecting an area of some 65,000 acres which now includes the Government owned Ngare Ndare Forest. This vast increase in area was needed as rhinos will breed if given security. And security was always our total top priority. So Lewa progressed from being a cattle ranch to being an area where two highly endangered animals were breeding well; black rhinos and Grevvy’s zebra of which we have about 25% of the entire world’s population. Beneath the umbrella of these two species, the whole range of species indigenous to the area also prospered. Because our ideas were working, thanks to the costly security we employed, they were copied elsewhere and sanctuaries were created on both private and government land; both the government and the private sector working well together on this. One side-effect was that Lewa became a huge employer of labour, the biggest in the Meru district. This, plus our building of schools and clinics and other schemes to improve the welfare of our neighbours, meant we had very <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2446" title="anna_guards" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna_guards-195x300.jpg" alt="anna_guards" width="195" height="300" />good relations with them. This is vital for the success of any enterprise concerning the protection of potentially dangerous species. In the meantime, the horrific wave of poaching that had so seriously decimated the rhino populations of most of Africa had not touched South Africa. Her populations of both black and white rhino had been barely effected and they thrived, both in the national parks and on private reserves where they were used not just as a tourist attraction, but also for trophy hunting. This apparent immunity from the rhino crisis sweeping the rest of the continent, and also decimating the three species of rhino found in India and southeast Asia, made those in South Africa responsible for the security of rhinos on both public and private land, somewhat complacent; never a very wise attitude.\n\nThen three years ago the Chinese president visited most countries in Africa. Unaware and avaricious governments throughout the continent welcomed him with open arms. Here was cash undreamed of and no questions asked. Agreements were signed with a sad disregard to possible consequences. Oil, mineral rights, timber concessions, agricultural land and rights of residence have been handed over in return for doomed or shoddy infrastructure projects, all built by Chinese labour so not even unemployment is improved. Damian Thompson writing in the U.K. Daily Telegraph recently wrote “Africa’s future has been quietly settled for it. Something close to slavery is back - all thanks to China”. Even in the small town 50 km away, where I shop, there are now five Chinese shops and an ever-growing number of Chinese residents. They are not short of cash and at the top of their “wish list” are rhino horn and ivory, but they are only the tip of the iceberg. The Big Men have also moved in--the Barons of the illegal trade in wildlife which is huge-- rivaling the drugs and the arms trade. The three go hand in hand. Last year, this country lost over 450 rhino, and that means the ones that were found. I have just been told that a further 13 were killed in the Kruger National Park over Christmas. At this moment my neighbours are searching frantically for a pregnant white cow gone missing. Three years ago I said to friends and neighbours who had rhinos “guard them well” and was laughed at. Now they say, “how did you know”?  But no knowledge was available to me that was hidden from them, but people prefer to close their eyes sometimes, and governments have higher priorities than to guard their heritage, yet tourism is both a major source of revenue and of much needed, well-paid employment.\n\nTragically, it is not only rhinos that are dying, it is estimated that 100 elephants die per day throughout the continent because of the rise in the demand for ivory. Most of Asia’s tigers have died because of the demand for their bones for medicine, as much use as is rhino horn, probably less, so now Africa’s lions are next on the list. It seems the great apes are also wanted as status symbol ‘bush meat’. Whatever Africa has, and should cherish, China wants and seemingly will get. So what to do? The Governments of the West should be taking a hard look at the rape of the planet that is taking place instead of begging for financial aid. Fortunately there are zoos that seem to care more about trying to save endangered species and educating children about what is happening than in making huge profits. Better still there are zoo keepers who care a lot. I know because it has been my good fortune to have met so many of them. Better still, they are trained in people-skills and communicating. To you I say, go out and tell your States and cities and children what is happening to their world. People in politics will listen if votes are involved. Why are no Senators or Governors ex-zoo keepers? We need to get our local Chinese populations to understand this dire situation and help get the message through to China. Places like Lewa can do a holding action until you can change attitudes. Remember that when the last rhino in Africa <img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2447" title="anna2" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna2-195x300.jpg" alt="anna2" width="195" height="300" />or Indonesia dies in agony with a bullet in its guts, or dies in a zoo of old age, 40 million years of evolution goes with it. Forever. And with the passing of the great mammals, a splendour will have gone out of our world and cannot return.', 'A Letter to the AAZK Membership from Anna Merz', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2443-revision-2', '', '', '2012-04-14 10:52:31', '2012-04-14 15:52:31', '', 2443, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2443-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2450, 2, '2012-04-14 10:55:38', '2012-04-14 15:55:38', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2444" title="anna3" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna3.jpg" alt="anna3" width="192" height="294" />In the late 1950s I moved from the U.K. to Ghana and went to live in Kumasi, the capital of Ashanti. Kumasi was known for having one of the biggest markets in West Africa and I soon found that this bustling and vibrant place was a source not only of total fascination but also great horror. Every local foodstuff was to be found there; colourful heaps of fruit and vegetables I had neither seen nor heard of before, plus every sort of creature both great and small, alive and dead … From giant forest snails for soup to the highly valued skin of an elephant’s ear to make drums. This was my introduction to the bushmeat trade and the start for me of a long journey. Because of the tsetse fly Ghana produced few cattle and those few came down from the Sahael. Sheep and goats were kept mainly for bride price. Bush meat was the nation’s main source of protein and as the population grew so did the demand for it. During my 20 years there the population quadrupled and more; in fact, I was once invited to a celebration when an important chief celebrated the birth of his 100th child. I never found out how many were his wives but all dwelt in a vast palace.\n\nSo as the forests were felled to satisfy the insatiable demands of the timber industry, their denizens lost their homes and travelled to market, dead if they were lucky, to fill someone’s soup pot. In those distant days up to 40 lorry loads of assorted antelopes used to arrive on a daily basis, again the lucky ones arrived dead, salted and smoked. The less fortunate arrived to satisfy the demand for fresh meat, alive, with their legs broken. Only their beautiful, desperate eyes revealed their agony and terror, the memory of those eyes haunts me still. Meat was not the only thing the animals supplied. Elephant ivory was most beautifully carved by skilled craftsmen working in tiny, dark shacks; nothing of an elephant was wasted, the meat was consumed to the last scrap, the tail hairs were woven into bracelets, but in those days it was the ears that were most valuable. Monkeys and chimps were exported to the laboratories of the West and their babies were hawked around as pets and few survived. Grey parrots hung upside down suspended by their legs from bamboo poles, screaming their misery; many were exported and huge numbers died en route.\n\nFor more than 10 years I worked in my spare time for the Ghana Game Department and travelled much of the country. I would enquire of the local chiefs what animals they had left and the invariable answer was that the animals had “travelled” and they had no more meat. When I enquired where had the animals travelled I was told they had gone over the hills, over the Volta, to Togo or the Ivory Coast. When I suggested that perhaps their journey was involuntary and by lorry to the nearest big market they would shake their heads sadly and agree. Thus it was that by the time I came to leave Ghana and move to Kenya with my husband, I had seen with my own eyes how quickly extinction could happen on a<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2445" title="anna" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna-300x195.jpg" alt="anna" width="300" height="195" /> local basis.\n\nAntelope now came to market one by one and seldom. Much of the beautiful forests were destroyed and the great trees were stacked in the worlds’ timber markets and the lovely birds and fascinating beasts were no more. But surely Kenya, with its huge parks, flourishing tourist industry and great herds of cattle to satisfy the need for meat, would be very different. And so it was in those early days when the demand for bushmeat and land for growing crops was not as great as it is now; but with one mega-exception, the black rhino. It was an animal I had then never even seen, and certainly not thought about, but it was about to turn my life around.\n\nOil in Saudi Arabia had brought unexpected wealth to Yemen with the result that the demand for rhino-handle daggers had escalated vastly. In that country all men wear a dagger and the status symbol dagger needs to have a handle made of rhino horn; it is the thing you must have to prove your worth. The shavings from the making of the handles went east to China mainly for use in traditional medicine. The belief in the virtues of rhino horn to heal goes back thousands of years. The main use is to reduce fever and it seems if you boil anything for long enough that contains keratin, your hair and finger nail clippings for instance, it will have a very tiny effect, but far more effective and cheaper it is to take an aspirin. For these ridiculous reasons the price of rhino horn started to rise in the maddest fashion till it was worth even more than gold in some countries in the Far East. And rhinos started to die in their hundreds and then in their thousands. You could drive round Kenya’s so beautiful parks and follow the vultures from one desecrated corpse to that of the next. From each, the horns had been hacked and the once magnificent and beautiful creature left to rot. In a matter of years, Kenya’s population of many thousands was reduced to below 400. What to do? It seemed well-guarded sanctuaries for a specific purpose, the natural breeding of wild black rhinos, was the only remaining hope. Thus the Ngare Sergoi Sanctuary was created on Lewa Downs, a vast cattle ranch in the north of Kenya owned by the Craig family. And it succeeded thanks to the help of many people and in a very important degree thanks to the members of AAZK and Bowling for Rhinos and the incredible amount of money that has been raised.\n\nSo the Sanctuary grew from the initial 5,000 acres to 10,000 and then in 1995 it became the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy protecting an area of some 65,000 acres which now includes the Government owned Ngare Ndare Forest. This vast increase in area was needed as rhinos will breed if given security. And security was always our total top priority. So Lewa progressed from being a cattle ranch to being an area where two highly endangered animals were breeding well; black rhinos and Grevvy’s zebra of which we have about 25% of the entire world’s population. Beneath the umbrella of these two species, the whole range of species indigenous to the area also prospered. Because our ideas were working, thanks to the costly security we employed, they were copied elsewhere and sanctuaries were created on both private and government land; both the government and the private sector working well together on this. One side-effect was that Lewa became a huge employer of labour, the biggest in the Meru district. This, plus our building of schools and clinics and other schemes to improve the welfare of our neighbours, meant we had very <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2446" title="anna_guards" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna_guards-195x300.jpg" alt="anna_guards" width="195" height="300" />good relations with them. This is vital for the success of any enterprise concerning the protection of potentially dangerous species. In the meantime, the horrific wave of poaching that had so seriously decimated the rhino populations of most of Africa had not touched South Africa. Her populations of both black and white rhino had been barely effected and they thrived, both in the national parks and on private reserves where they were used not just as a tourist attraction, but also for trophy hunting. This apparent immunity from the rhino crisis sweeping the rest of the continent, and also decimating the three species of rhino found in India and southeast Asia, made those in South Africa responsible for the security of rhinos on both public and private land, somewhat complacent; never a very wise attitude.\n\nThen three years ago the Chinese president visited most countries in Africa. Unaware and avaricious governments throughout the continent welcomed him with open arms. Here was cash undreamed of and no questions asked. Agreements were signed with a sad disregard to possible consequences. Oil, mineral rights, timber concessions, agricultural land and rights of residence have been handed over in return for doomed or shoddy infrastructure projects, all built by Chinese labour so not even unemployment is improved. Damian Thompson writing in the U.K. Daily Telegraph recently wrote “Africa’s future has been quietly settled for it. Something close to slavery is back - all thanks to China”. Even in the small town 50 km away, where I shop, there are now five Chinese shops and an ever-growing number of Chinese residents. They are not short of cash and at the top of their “wish list” are rhino horn and ivory, but they are only the tip of the iceberg. The Big Men have also moved in--the Barons of the illegal trade in wildlife which is huge-- rivaling the drugs and the arms trade. The three go hand in hand. Last year, this country lost over 450 rhino, and that means the ones that were found. I have just been told that a further 13 were killed in the Kruger National Park over Christmas. At this moment my neighbours are searching frantically for a pregnant white cow gone missing. Three years ago I said to friends and neighbours who had rhinos “guard them well” and was laughed at. Now they say, “how did you know”?  But no knowledge was available to me that was hidden from them, but people prefer to close their eyes sometimes, and governments have higher priorities than to guard their heritage, yet tourism is both a major source of revenue and of much needed, well-paid employment.\n\nTragically, it is not only rhinos that are dying, it is estimated that 100 elephants die per day throughout the continent because of the rise in the demand for ivory. Most of Asia’s tigers have died because of the demand for their bones for medicine, as much use as is rhino horn, probably less, so now Africa’s lions are next on the list. It seems the great apes are also wanted as status symbol ‘bush meat’. Whatever Africa has, and should cherish, China wants and seemingly will get. So what to do? The Governments of the West should be taking a hard look at the rape of the planet that is taking place instead of begging for financial aid. Fortunately there are zoos that seem to care more about trying to save endangered species and educating children about what is happening than in making huge profits. Better still there are zoo keepers who care a lot. I know because it has been my good fortune to have met so many of them. Better still, they are trained in people-skills and communicating. To you I say, go out and tell your States and cities and children what is happening to their world. People in politics will listen if votes are involved. Why are no Senators or Governors ex-zoo keepers? We need to get our local Chinese populations to understand this dire situation and help get the message through to China. <strong><em>Places like Lewa can do a holding action until you can change attitudes. Remember that when the last rhino in Africa </em></strong><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2447" title="anna2" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna2-195x300.jpg" alt="anna2" width="195" height="300" /><strong><em>or Indonesia dies in agony with a bullet in its guts, or dies in a zoo of old age, 40 million years of evolution goes with it. Forever. And with the passing of the great mammals, a splendour will have gone out of our world and cannot return.</em></strong>', 'A Letter to the AAZK Membership from Anna Merz', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2443-autosave', '', '', '2012-04-14 10:55:38', '2012-04-14 15:55:38', '', 2443, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2443-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2451, 2, '2012-04-14 10:52:44', '2012-04-14 15:52:44', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2444" title="anna3" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna3.jpg" alt="anna3" width="192" height="294" />In the late 1950s I moved from the U.K. to Ghana and went to live in Kumasi, the capital of Ashanti. Kumasi was known for having one of the biggest markets in West Africa and I soon found that this bustling and vibrant place was a source not only of total fascination but also great horror. Every local foodstuff was to be found there; colourful heaps of fruit and vegetables I had neither seen nor heard of before, plus every sort of creature both great and small, alive and dead … From giant forest snails for soup to the highly valued skin of an elephant’s ear to make drums. This was my introduction to the bushmeat trade and the start for me of a long journey. Because of the tsetse fly Ghana produced few cattle and those few came down from the Sahael. Sheep and goats were kept mainly for bride price. Bush meat was the nation’s main source of protein and as the population grew so did the demand for it. During my 20 years there the population quadrupled and more; in fact, I was once invited to a celebration when an important chief celebrated the birth of his 100th child. I never found out how many were his wives but all dwelt in a vast palace.\r\n\r\nSo as the forests were felled to satisfy the insatiable demands of the timber industry, their denizens lost their homes and travelled to market, dead if they were lucky, to fill someone’s soup pot. In those distant days up to 40 lorry loads of assorted antelopes used to arrive on a daily basis, again the lucky ones arrived dead, salted and smoked. The less fortunate arrived to satisfy the demand for fresh meat, alive, with their legs broken. Only their beautiful, desperate eyes revealed their agony and terror, the memory of those eyes haunts me still. Meat was not the only thing the animals supplied. Elephant ivory was most beautifully carved by skilled craftsmen working in tiny, dark shacks; nothing of an elephant was wasted, the meat was consumed to the last scrap, the tail hairs were woven into bracelets, but in those days it was the ears that were most valuable. Monkeys and chimps were exported to the laboratories of the West and their babies were hawked around as pets and few survived. Grey parrots hung upside down suspended by their legs from bamboo poles, screaming their misery; many were exported and huge numbers died en route.\r\n\r\nFor more than 10 years I worked in my spare time for the Ghana Game Department and travelled much of the country. I would enquire of the local chiefs what animals they had left and the invariable answer was that the animals had “travelled” and they had no more meat. When I enquired where had the animals travelled I was told they had gone over the hills, over the Volta, to Togo or the Ivory Coast. When I suggested that perhaps their journey was involuntary and by lorry to the nearest big market they would shake their heads sadly and agree. Thus it was that by the time I came to leave Ghana and move to Kenya with my husband, I had seen with my own eyes how quickly extinction could happen on a<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2445" title="anna" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna-300x195.jpg" alt="anna" width="300" height="195" /> local basis.\r\n\r\nAntelope now came to market one by one and seldom. Much of the beautiful forests were destroyed and the great trees were stacked in the worlds’ timber markets and the lovely birds and fascinating beasts were no more. But surely Kenya, with its huge parks, flourishing tourist industry and great herds of cattle to satisfy the need for meat, would be very different. And so it was in those early days when the demand for bushmeat and land for growing crops was not as great as it is now; but with one mega-exception, the black rhino. It was an animal I had then never even seen, and certainly not thought about, but it was about to turn my life around.\r\n\r\nOil in Saudi Arabia had brought unexpected wealth to Yemen with the result that the demand for rhino-handle daggers had escalated vastly. In that country all men wear a dagger and the status symbol dagger needs to have a handle made of rhino horn; it is the thing you must have to prove your worth. The shavings from the making of the handles went east to China mainly for use in traditional medicine. The belief in the virtues of rhino horn to heal goes back thousands of years. The main use is to reduce fever and it seems if you boil anything for long enough that contains keratin, your hair and finger nail clippings for instance, it will have a very tiny effect, but far more effective and cheaper it is to take an aspirin. For these ridiculous reasons the price of rhino horn started to rise in the maddest fashion till it was worth even more than gold in some countries in the Far East. And rhinos started to die in their hundreds and then in their thousands. You could drive round Kenya’s so beautiful parks and follow the vultures from one desecrated corpse to that of the next. From each, the horns had been hacked and the once magnificent and beautiful creature left to rot. In a matter of years, Kenya’s population of many thousands was reduced to below 400. What to do? It seemed well-guarded sanctuaries for a specific purpose, the natural breeding of wild black rhinos, was the only remaining hope. Thus the Ngare Sergoi Sanctuary was created on Lewa Downs, a vast cattle ranch in the north of Kenya owned by the Craig family. And it succeeded thanks to the help of many people and in a very important degree thanks to the members of AAZK and Bowling for Rhinos and the incredible amount of money that has been raised.\r\n\r\nSo the Sanctuary grew from the initial 5,000 acres to 10,000 and then in 1995 it became the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy protecting an area of some 65,000 acres which now includes the Government owned Ngare Ndare Forest. This vast increase in area was needed as rhinos will breed if given security. And security was always our total top priority. So Lewa progressed from being a cattle ranch to being an area where two highly endangered animals were breeding well; black rhinos and Grevvy’s zebra of which we have about 25% of the entire world’s population. Beneath the umbrella of these two species, the whole range of species indigenous to the area also prospered. Because our ideas were working, thanks to the costly security we employed, they were copied elsewhere and sanctuaries were created on both private and government land; both the government and the private sector working well together on this. One side-effect was that Lewa became a huge employer of labour, the biggest in the Meru district. This, plus our building of schools and clinics and other schemes to improve the welfare of our neighbours, meant we had very <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2446" title="anna_guards" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna_guards-195x300.jpg" alt="anna_guards" width="195" height="300" />good relations with them. This is vital for the success of any enterprise concerning the protection of potentially dangerous species. In the meantime, the horrific wave of poaching that had so seriously decimated the rhino populations of most of Africa had not touched South Africa. Her populations of both black and white rhino had been barely effected and they thrived, both in the national parks and on private reserves where they were used not just as a tourist attraction, but also for trophy hunting. This apparent immunity from the rhino crisis sweeping the rest of the continent, and also decimating the three species of rhino found in India and southeast Asia, made those in South Africa responsible for the security of rhinos on both public and private land, somewhat complacent; never a very wise attitude.\r\n\r\nThen three years ago the Chinese president visited most countries in Africa. Unaware and avaricious governments throughout the continent welcomed him with open arms. Here was cash undreamed of and no questions asked. Agreements were signed with a sad disregard to possible consequences. Oil, mineral rights, timber concessions, agricultural land and rights of residence have been handed over in return for doomed or shoddy infrastructure projects, all built by Chinese labour so not even unemployment is improved. Damian Thompson writing in the U.K. Daily Telegraph recently wrote “Africa’s future has been quietly settled for it. Something close to slavery is back - all thanks to China”. Even in the small town 50 km away, where I shop, there are now five Chinese shops and an ever-growing number of Chinese residents. They are not short of cash and at the top of their “wish list” are rhino horn and ivory, but they are only the tip of the iceberg. The Big Men have also moved in--the Barons of the illegal trade in wildlife which is huge-- rivaling the drugs and the arms trade. The three go hand in hand. Last year, this country lost over 450 rhino, and that means the ones that were found. I have just been told that a further 13 were killed in the Kruger National Park over Christmas. At this moment my neighbours are searching frantically for a pregnant white cow gone missing. Three years ago I said to friends and neighbours who had rhinos “guard them well” and was laughed at. Now they say, “how did you know”?  But no knowledge was available to me that was hidden from them, but people prefer to close their eyes sometimes, and governments have higher priorities than to guard their heritage, yet tourism is both a major source of revenue and of much needed, well-paid employment.\r\n\r\nTragically, it is not only rhinos that are dying, it is estimated that 100 elephants die per day throughout the continent because of the rise in the demand for ivory. Most of Asia’s tigers have died because of the demand for their bones for medicine, as much use as is rhino horn, probably less, so now Africa’s lions are next on the list. It seems the great apes are also wanted as status symbol ‘bush meat’. Whatever Africa has, and should cherish, China wants and seemingly will get. So what to do? The Governments of the West should be taking a hard look at the rape of the planet that is taking place instead of begging for financial aid. Fortunately there are zoos that seem to care more about trying to save endangered species and educating children about what is happening than in making huge profits. Better still there are zoo keepers who care a lot. I know because it has been my good fortune to have met so many of them. Better still, they are trained in people-skills and communicating. To you I say, go out and tell your States and cities and children what is happening to their world. People in politics will listen if votes are involved. Why are no Senators or Governors ex-zoo keepers? We need to get our local Chinese populations to understand this dire situation and help get the message through to China. Places like Lewa can do a holding action until you can change attitudes. Remember that when the last rhino in Africa <img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2447" title="anna2" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna2-195x300.jpg" alt="anna2" width="195" height="300" />or Indonesia dies in agony with a bullet in its guts, or dies in a zoo of old age, 40 million years of evolution goes with it. Forever. And with the passing of the great mammals, a splendour will have gone out of our world and cannot return.', 'A Letter to the AAZK Membership from Anna Merz', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2443-revision-3', '', '', '2012-04-14 10:52:44', '2012-04-14 15:52:44', '', 2443, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2443-revision-3/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2452, 2, '2012-04-14 10:59:19', '2012-04-14 15:59:19', '<a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/category/akf/viewpoint/"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2444" title="anna3" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna3-195x300.jpg" alt="anna3" width="137" height="210" /></a> Take just a minute to read these <a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/category/akf/viewpoint/">words</a> from Anna Merz.', 'A Word from Anna Merz', 0, '', 'draft', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'a-word-from-anna-merz', '', '', '2013-10-15 17:49:17', '2013-10-15 22:49:17', '', 0, 'http://aazk.org/?p=2452', 0, 'post', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2453, 2, '2012-04-14 10:58:42', '2012-04-14 15:58:42', '<a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/category/akf/viewpoint/"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2444" title="anna3" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/anna3-195x300.jpg" alt="anna3" width="195" height="300" /></a> Take just a minute to read these words from Ann', 'A Word from Anna Merz', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2452-revision', '', '', '2012-04-14 10:58:42', '2012-04-14 15:58:42', '', 2452, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2452-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2454, 2, '2012-05-03 10:10:26', '2012-05-03 15:10:26', 'About the Cover/Information for Contributors\r\nFrom the President\r\nLetter to the Editor\r\nThe Scoop\r\nChapter News\r\nGeneral Announcements\r\nNew Members\r\nComing Events\r\nEnvironmental Enrichment for Long-term Captive Bats\r\nTechniques for Wild Chinchilla Habitat and Behavior Studies\r\nConservation Station: <em>Palm Oil: an Overview and Message of Hope</em>\r\nConservation Legislation\r\nResearch in Practice Bobcat Breeding and Enrichment', 'May 2012', 0, '', 'draft', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'may-2012', '', '', '2013-10-15 17:49:17', '2013-10-15 22:49:17', '', 0, 'http://aazk.org/?p=2454', 0, 'post', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2456, 2, '2012-05-03 10:10:26', '2012-05-03 15:10:26', 'About the Cover/Information for Contributors\r\nFrom the President\r\nLetter to the Editor\r\nThe Scoop\r\nChapter News\r\nGeneral Announcements\r\nNew Members\r\nComing Events\r\nEnvironmental Enrichment for Long-term Captive Bats \r\nTechniques for Wild Chinchilla Habitat and Behavior Studies\r\nConservation Station Palm Oil: an Overview and Message of Hope\r\nConservation Legislation\r\nResearch in Practice Bobcat Breeding and Enrichment\r\n', 'May 2012', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2454-revision-2', '', '', '2012-05-03 10:10:26', '2012-05-03 15:10:26', '', 2454, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2454-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2455, 2, '2012-05-03 10:09:42', '2012-05-03 15:09:42', 'About the Cover/Information for Contributors\nFrom the President\nLetter to the Editor\nThe Scoop\nChapter News\nGeneral Announcements\nNew Members<span> </span>\n\nComing Events<span> </span>\n\nEnvironmental Enrichment for Long-term Captive Bats <span> </span>\n\nTechniques for Wild Chinchilla Habitat and Behavior Studies<span> </span>\n\nConservation Station Palm Oil: an Overview and Message of Hope<span> </span>\n\nConservation Legislation<span> </span>\n\nResearch in Practice Bobcat Breeding and Enrichment<span> </span>\n<div></div>', 'May 2012', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2454-revision', '', '', '2012-05-03 10:09:42', '2012-05-03 15:09:42', '', 2454, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2454-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2457, 2, '2012-05-03 10:12:22', '2012-05-03 15:12:22', 'About the Cover/Information for Contributors\nFrom the President\nLetter to the Editor\nThe Scoop\nChapter News\nGeneral Announcements\nNew Members\nComing Events\nEnvironmental Enrichment for Long-term Captive Bats\nTechniques for Wild Chinchilla Habitat and Behavior Studies\nConservation Station: <em>Palm Oil: an Overview and Message of Hope</em>\nConservation Legislation\nResearch in Practice Bobcat Breeding and Enrichment', 'May 2012', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2454-autosave', '', '', '2012-05-03 10:12:22', '2012-05-03 15:12:22', '', 2454, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2454-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2458, 2, '2012-05-03 10:19:22', '2012-05-03 15:19:22', '<em>By A.L. Deane, Species Coordinator, IUCN/SSC Small Mammal Specialist Group\r\nCasilla 302, Illapel, IV Región, Chile\r\nand\r\nB. Ganesh-Babu, Instructor\r\nDepartment of Geography and Meteorology\r\nValparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN</em>\r\n\r\n<em></em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Introduction</strong>\r\n\r\nOnce believed extinct in the wild, the only known wild long-tailed chinchillas (<em>Chinchilla lanigera</em>) exist in north central Chile (Jiménez, 1995). Both species of chinchillas and their range decreased dramatically as millions were exported from Chile for the fur trade (Albert, 1900).  In Chile, both species are listed as endangered and are protected from international trade by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Appendix 1 (CONAF 1988, IUCN 1972).  Population estimates of <em>C. lanigera</em> vary from less than 1000 to approximately 5000 (Jiménez, 1995; Mohlis pers. comm.).  Based on colony size and densities reported by Jiménez (1995:92), approximately 4050 individuals were known to exist in Aucó, Chile as of 1990.  At that time, the population was declining (Jiménez1995).<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2464" title="chinchilla2" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/chinchilla2.jpg" alt="chinchilla2" width="504" height="387" /> All prior research reported a deterioration of chinchilla habitat over the last few hundred years.  Enhancing the habitat meant learning what and where was chinchilla habitat.  This paper is meant to explain the methods used to study the chinchilla habitat and common techniques used to evaluate wildlife, which aim to define conservation priorities.\r\n\r\n<strong>Site definition and methods:</strong> To be comparable with prior studies it is advisable to mimic the prior researchers’ methods.  Our grids are duplicated from those used by Jiménez (1990) in his studies of wild chinchillas.  By mimicking his methods, our data is comparable over a long time-period.  For example, we have a descriptive record of the plants associated with chinchillas for the last 30 years.  It is these plant species that our restoration efforts are focused on.\r\n\r\nFour permanent trapping grids consisting of 49 stations per grid in a 7x7 configuration were placed on north facing mountain slopes of two different drainage basins in Aucó, Chile.  The distance between grids varies based on the location of chinchilla colonies, and within each grid, stations were spaced 15m [49.21ft.] apart. Each column is labeled A to G and each row 1 to 7.  At each station, 30cm [11.8in.] red wooden stakes are labeled with the station number and hammered into the ground.  Be consistent with one grid layout.  For example, the lower left corner is A1 and the last station G7 is located at the upper right corner of the grid. The purpose of grids is to estimate the type and distribution of animal species using the vegetation and ground cover.  For example, you may want three grids in known occupied areas, and others in restoration areas, and presumed unoccupied areas. This helps in understanding the relationship between ground cover and vegetation types, and the animals that prefer that environment.\r\n\r\n<strong>Vegetation measurements:</strong> To calculate total vegetation cover, species’ frequencies and abundance, we used the line intercept method.  In each grid described earlier, we analyzed 16 transects, each measuring 18.5m [~61ft.] in length, compensating for topographic variations.  Use a rope 18.5m long and a measuring tape to measure all ground cover along the line.  Record ground cover type or species and its length in cm.  For each grid, the total area measured for all transects was used to calculate cover.  First, placement of transects within grids was created using a random number list.  Four random numbers were used to identify each location.  The first number identified the starting position by column for each transect. The second number identified the starting position by row.  The third number identified if the transect was to be placed to the right or left of the trap station. The fourth number designated if the transect was to go up or down slope from the station at a 45-degree angle. Once data was gathered it was analyzed in a spreadsheet program.  One can calculate cover by unit length covered by species or cover type divided by the total unit length measured in transect.  In our case, sometimes the slope of the landscape and overlapping shrub crowns resulted in transect total area measures being greater than or less than the 18.5m long transect. Therefore, percentage ground cover (not just transect) would be calculated, for example, in the following manner:………\r\n\r\n<strong><em><span>Want to read the rest of this article?  For this and many more fascinating articles every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum.  AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. </span><a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/join/">JOIN NOW!</a></em></strong>', 'Techniques for Wild Chinchilla Habitat and Behavior Studies ', 0, '', 'draft', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'techniques-for-wild-chinchilla-habitat-and-behavior-studies', '', '', '2013-10-15 17:49:17', '2013-10-15 22:49:17', '', 0, 'http://aazk.org/?p=2458', 0, 'post', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2459, 2, '2012-05-03 10:16:58', '2012-05-03 15:16:58', '', 'chinchilla', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'chinchilla', '', '', '2012-05-03 10:16:58', '2012-05-03 15:16:58', '', 2458, 'http://aazk.org/wp-content/uploads/chinchilla.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2460, 2, '2012-05-03 10:17:30', '2012-05-03 15:17:30', '<em>By A.L. Deane, Species Coordinator, IUCN/SSC Small Mammal Specialist Group\nCasilla 302, Illapel, IV Región, Chile\nand\nB. Ganesh-Babu, Instructor\nDepartment of Geography and Meteorology\nValparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN</em>\n\n<em></em>\n\n<strong>Introduction</strong>\n\nOnce believed extinct in the wild, the only known wild long-tailed chinchillas (<em>Chinchilla lanigera</em>) exist in north central Chile (Jiménez, 1995). Both species of chinchillas and their range decreased dramatically as millions were exported from Chile for the fur trade (Albert, 1900).  In Chile, both species are listed as endangered and are protected from international trade by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Appendix 1 (CONAF 1988, IUCN 1972).  Population estimates of <em>C. lanigera</em> vary from less than 1000 to approximately 5000 (Jiménez, 1995; Mohlis pers. comm.).  Based on colony size and densities reported by Jiménez (1995:92), approximately 4050 individuals were known to exist in Aucó, Chile as of 1990.  At that time, the population was declining (Jiménez<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2459" title="chinchilla" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/chinchilla-300x206.jpg" alt="chinchilla" width="300" height="206" />1995).   All prior research reported a deterioration of chinchilla habitat over the last few hundred years.  Enhancing the habitat meant learning what and where was chinchilla habitat.  This paper is meant to explain the methods used to study the chinchilla habitat and common techniques used to evaluate wildlife, which aim to define conservation priorities.\n\n<strong>Site definition and methods:</strong> To be comparable with prior studies it is advisable to mimic the prior researchers’ methods.  Our grids are duplicated from those used by Jiménez (1990) in his studies of wild chinchillas.  By mimicking his methods, our data is comparable over a long time-period.  For example, we have a descriptive record of the plants associated with chinchillas for the last 30 years.  It is these plant species that our restoration efforts are focused on.\n\nFour permanent trapping grids consisting of 49 stations per grid in a 7x7 configuration were placed on north facing mountain slopes of two different drainage basins in Aucó, Chile.  The distance between grids varies based on the location of chinchilla colonies, and within each grid, stations were spaced 15m [49.21ft.] apart. Each column is labeled A to G and each row 1 to 7.  At each station, 30cm [11.8in.] red wooden stakes are labeled with the station number and hammered into the ground.  Be consistent with one grid layout.  For example, the lower left corner is A1 and the last station G7 is located at the upper right corner of the grid. The purpose of grids is to estimate the type and distribution of animal species using the vegetation and ground cover.  For example, you may want three grids in known occupied areas, and others in restoration areas, and presumed unoccupied areas. This helps in understanding the relationship between ground cover and vegetation types, and the animals that prefer that environment.\n\n<strong>Vegetation measurements:</strong> To calculate total vegetation cover, species’ frequencies and abundance, we used the line intercept method.  In each grid described earlier, we analyzed 16 transects, each measuring 18.5m [~61ft.] in length, compensating for topographic variations.  Use a rope 18.5m long and a measuring tape to measure all ground cover along the line.  Record ground cover type or species and its length in cm.  For each grid, the total area measured for all transects was used to calculate cover.  First, placement of transects within grids was created using a random number list.  Four random numbers were used to identify each location.  The first number identified the starting position by column for each transect. The second number identified the starting position by row.  The third number identified if the transect was to be placed to the right or left of the trap station. The fourth number designated if the transect was to go up or down slope from the station at a 45-degree angle. Once data was gathered it was analyzed in a spreadsheet program.  One can calculate cover by unit length covered by species or cover type divided by the total unit length measured in transect.  In our case, sometimes the slope of the landscape and overlapping shrub crowns resulted in transect total area measures being greater than or less than the 18.5m long transect. Therefore, percentage ground cover (not just transect) would be calculated, for example, in the following manner:………\n<div></div>', 'Techniques for Wild Chinchilla Habitat and Behavior Studies ', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2458-revision', '', '', '2012-05-03 10:17:30', '2012-05-03 15:17:30', '', 2458, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2458-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2461, 2, '2012-05-03 10:17:40', '2012-05-03 15:17:40', '<em>By A.L. Deane, Species Coordinator, IUCN/SSC Small Mammal Specialist Group\r\nCasilla 302, Illapel, IV Región, Chile\r\nand\r\nB. Ganesh-Babu, Instructor\r\nDepartment of Geography and Meteorology\r\nValparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN</em>\r\n\r\n<em></em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Introduction</strong>\r\n\r\nOnce believed extinct in the wild, the only known wild long-tailed chinchillas (<em>Chinchilla lanigera</em>) exist in north central Chile (Jiménez, 1995). Both species of chinchillas and their range decreased dramatically as millions were exported from Chile for the fur trade (Albert, 1900).  In Chile, both species are listed as endangered and are protected from international trade by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Appendix 1 (CONAF 1988, IUCN 1972).  Population estimates of <em>C. lanigera</em> vary from less than 1000 to approximately 5000 (Jiménez, 1995; Mohlis pers. comm.).  Based on colony size and densities reported by Jiménez (1995:92), approximately 4050 individuals were known to exist in Aucó, Chile as of 1990.  At that time, the population was declining (Jiménez<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2459" title="chinchilla" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/chinchilla-300x206.jpg" alt="chinchilla" width="300" height="206" />1995).   All prior research reported a deterioration of chinchilla habitat over the last few hundred years.  Enhancing the habitat meant learning what and where was chinchilla habitat.  This paper is meant to explain the methods used to study the chinchilla habitat and common techniques used to evaluate wildlife, which aim to define conservation priorities.\r\n\r\n<strong>Site definition and methods:</strong> To be comparable with prior studies it is advisable to mimic the prior researchers’ methods.  Our grids are duplicated from those used by Jiménez (1990) in his studies of wild chinchillas.  By mimicking his methods, our data is comparable over a long time-period.  For example, we have a descriptive record of the plants associated with chinchillas for the last 30 years.  It is these plant species that our restoration efforts are focused on.\r\n\r\nFour permanent trapping grids consisting of 49 stations per grid in a 7x7 configuration were placed on north facing mountain slopes of two different drainage basins in Aucó, Chile.  The distance between grids varies based on the location of chinchilla colonies, and within each grid, stations were spaced 15m [49.21ft.] apart. Each column is labeled A to G and each row 1 to 7.  At each station, 30cm [11.8in.] red wooden stakes are labeled with the station number and hammered into the ground.  Be consistent with one grid layout.  For example, the lower left corner is A1 and the last station G7 is located at the upper right corner of the grid. The purpose of grids is to estimate the type and distribution of animal species using the vegetation and ground cover.  For example, you may want three grids in known occupied areas, and others in restoration areas, and presumed unoccupied areas. This helps in understanding the relationship between ground cover and vegetation types, and the animals that prefer that environment.\r\n\r\n<strong>Vegetation measurements:</strong> To calculate total vegetation cover, species’ frequencies and abundance, we used the line intercept method.  In each grid described earlier, we analyzed 16 transects, each measuring 18.5m [~61ft.] in length, compensating for topographic variations.  Use a rope 18.5m long and a measuring tape to measure all ground cover along the line.  Record ground cover type or species and its length in cm.  For each grid, the total area measured for all transects was used to calculate cover.  First, placement of transects within grids was created using a random number list.  Four random numbers were used to identify each location.  The first number identified the starting position by column for each transect. The second number identified the starting position by row.  The third number identified if the transect was to be placed to the right or left of the trap station. The fourth number designated if the transect was to go up or down slope from the station at a 45-degree angle. Once data was gathered it was analyzed in a spreadsheet program.  One can calculate cover by unit length covered by species or cover type divided by the total unit length measured in transect.  In our case, sometimes the slope of the landscape and overlapping shrub crowns resulted in transect total area measures being greater than or less than the 18.5m long transect. Therefore, percentage ground cover (not just transect) would be calculated, for example, in the following manner:………\r\n<div></div>', 'Techniques for Wild Chinchilla Habitat and Behavior Studies ', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2458-revision-2', '', '', '2012-05-03 10:17:40', '2012-05-03 15:17:40', '', 2458, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2458-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2462, 2, '2012-05-03 10:33:34', '2012-05-03 15:33:34', '<em>By A.L. Deane, Species Coordinator, IUCN/SSC Small Mammal Specialist Group\nCasilla 302, Illapel, IV Región, Chile\nand\nB. Ganesh-Babu, Instructor\nDepartment of Geography and Meteorology\nValparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN</em>\n\n<em></em>\n\n<strong>Introduction</strong>\n\nOnce believed extinct in the wild, the only known wild long-tailed chinchillas (<em>Chinchilla lanigera</em>) exist in north central Chile (Jiménez, 1995). Both species of chinchillas and their range decreased dramatically as millions were exported from Chile for the fur trade (Albert, 1900).  In Chile, both species are listed as endangered and are protected from international trade by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Appendix 1 (CONAF 1988, IUCN 1972).  Population estimates of <em>C. lanigera</em> vary from less than 1000 to approximately 5000 (Jiménez, 1995; Mohlis pers. comm.).  Based on colony size and densities reported by Jiménez (1995:92), approximately 4050 individuals were known to exist in Aucó, Chile as of 1990.  At that time, the population was declining (Jiménez1995).<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2464" title="chinchilla2" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/chinchilla2.jpg" alt="chinchilla2" width="504" height="387" /> All prior research reported a deterioration of chinchilla habitat over the last few hundred years.  Enhancing the habitat meant learning what and where was chinchilla habitat.  This paper is meant to explain the methods used to study the chinchilla habitat and common techniques used to evaluate wildlife, which aim to define conservation priorities.\n\n<strong>Site definition and methods:</strong> To be comparable with prior studies it is advisable to mimic the prior researchers’ methods.  Our grids are duplicated from those used by Jiménez (1990) in his studies of wild chinchillas.  By mimicking his methods, our data is comparable over a long time-period.  For example, we have a descriptive record of the plants associated with chinchillas for the last 30 years.  It is these plant species that our restoration efforts are focused on.\n\nFour permanent trapping grids consisting of 49 stations per grid in a 7x7 configuration were placed on north facing mountain slopes of two different drainage basins in Aucó, Chile.  The distance between grids varies based on the location of chinchilla colonies, and within each grid, stations were spaced 15m [49.21ft.] apart. Each column is labeled A to G and each row 1 to 7.  At each station, 30cm [11.8in.] red wooden stakes are labeled with the station number and hammered into the ground.  Be consistent with one grid layout.  For example, the lower left corner is A1 and the last station G7 is located at the upper right corner of the grid. The purpose of grids is to estimate the type and distribution of animal species using the vegetation and ground cover.  For example, you may want three grids in known occupied areas, and others in restoration areas, and presumed unoccupied areas. This helps in understanding the relationship between ground cover and vegetation types, and the animals that prefer that environment.\n\n<strong>Vegetation measurements:</strong> To calculate total vegetation cover, species’ frequencies and abundance, we used the line intercept method.  In each grid described earlier, we analyzed 16 transects, each measuring 18.5m [~61ft.] in length, compensating for topographic variations.  Use a rope 18.5m long and a measuring tape to measure all ground cover along the line.  Record ground cover type or species and its length in cm.  For each grid, the total area measured for all transects was used to calculate cover.  First, placement of transects within grids was created using a random number list.  Four random numbers were used to identify each location.  The first number identified the starting position by column for each transect. The second number identified the starting position by row.  The third number identified if the transect was to be placed to the right or left of the trap station. The fourth number designated if the transect was to go up or down slope from the station at a 45-degree angle. Once data was gathered it was analyzed in a spreadsheet program.  One can calculate cover by unit length covered by species or cover type divided by the total unit length measured in transect.  In our case, sometimes the slope of the landscape and overlapping shrub crowns resulted in transect total area measures being greater than or less than the 18.5m long transect. Therefore, percentage ground cover (not just transect) would be calculated, for example, in the following manner:………\n\n<strong><em><span>Want to read the rest of this article?  For this and many more fascinating articles every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum.  AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. </span><a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/join/">JOIN NOW!</a></em></strong>', 'Techniques for Wild Chinchilla Habitat and Behavior Studies ', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2458-autosave', '', '', '2012-05-03 10:33:34', '2012-05-03 15:33:34', '', 2458, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2458-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2464, 2, '2012-05-03 10:31:16', '2012-05-03 15:31:16', '', 'chinchilla2', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'chinchilla2', '', '', '2012-05-03 10:31:16', '2012-05-03 15:31:16', '', 2458, 'http://aazk.org/wp-content/uploads/chinchilla2.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2463, 2, '2012-05-03 10:27:03', '2012-05-03 15:27:03', '', 'chinchilla1', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'chinchilla1', '', '', '2012-05-03 10:27:03', '2012-05-03 15:27:03', '', 2458, 'http://aazk.org/wp-content/uploads/chinchilla1.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2465, 2, '2012-05-03 10:19:22', '2012-05-03 15:19:22', '<em>By A.L. Deane, Species Coordinator, IUCN/SSC Small Mammal Specialist Group\r\nCasilla 302, Illapel, IV Región, Chile\r\nand\r\nB. Ganesh-Babu, Instructor\r\nDepartment of Geography and Meteorology\r\nValparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN</em>\r\n\r\n<em></em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Introduction</strong>\r\n\r\nOnce believed extinct in the wild, the only known wild long-tailed chinchillas (<em>Chinchilla lanigera</em>) exist in north central Chile (Jiménez, 1995). Both species of chinchillas and their range decreased dramatically as millions were exported from Chile for the fur trade (Albert, 1900).  In Chile, both species are listed as endangered and are protected from international trade by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Appendix 1 (CONAF 1988, IUCN 1972).  Population estimates of <em>C. lanigera</em> vary from less than 1000 to approximately 5000 (Jiménez, 1995; Mohlis pers. comm.).  Based on colony size and densities reported by Jiménez (1995:92), approximately 4050 individuals were known to exist in Aucó, Chile as of 1990.  At that time, the population was declining (Jiménez<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2459" title="chinchilla" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/chinchilla-300x206.jpg" alt="chinchilla" width="300" height="206" />1995).   All prior research reported a deterioration of chinchilla habitat over the last few hundred years.  Enhancing the habitat meant learning what and where was chinchilla habitat.  This paper is meant to explain the methods used to study the chinchilla habitat and common techniques used to evaluate wildlife, which aim to define conservation priorities.\r\n\r\n<strong>Site definition and methods:</strong> To be comparable with prior studies it is advisable to mimic the prior researchers’ methods.  Our grids are duplicated from those used by Jiménez (1990) in his studies of wild chinchillas.  By mimicking his methods, our data is comparable over a long time-period.  For example, we have a descriptive record of the plants associated with chinchillas for the last 30 years.  It is these plant species that our restoration efforts are focused on.\r\n\r\nFour permanent trapping grids consisting of 49 stations per grid in a 7x7 configuration were placed on north facing mountain slopes of two different drainage basins in Aucó, Chile.  The distance between grids varies based on the location of chinchilla colonies, and within each grid, stations were spaced 15m [49.21ft.] apart. Each column is labeled A to G and each row 1 to 7.  At each station, 30cm [11.8in.] red wooden stakes are labeled with the station number and hammered into the ground.  Be consistent with one grid layout.  For example, the lower left corner is A1 and the last station G7 is located at the upper right corner of the grid. The purpose of grids is to estimate the type and distribution of animal species using the vegetation and ground cover.  For example, you may want three grids in known occupied areas, and others in restoration areas, and presumed unoccupied areas. This helps in understanding the relationship between ground cover and vegetation types, and the animals that prefer that environment.\r\n\r\n<strong>Vegetation measurements:</strong> To calculate total vegetation cover, species’ frequencies and abundance, we used the line intercept method.  In each grid described earlier, we analyzed 16 transects, each measuring 18.5m [~61ft.] in length, compensating for topographic variations.  Use a rope 18.5m long and a measuring tape to measure all ground cover along the line.  Record ground cover type or species and its length in cm.  For each grid, the total area measured for all transects was used to calculate cover.  First, placement of transects within grids was created using a random number list.  Four random numbers were used to identify each location.  The first number identified the starting position by column for each transect. The second number identified the starting position by row.  The third number identified if the transect was to be placed to the right or left of the trap station. The fourth number designated if the transect was to go up or down slope from the station at a 45-degree angle. Once data was gathered it was analyzed in a spreadsheet program.  One can calculate cover by unit length covered by species or cover type divided by the total unit length measured in transect.  In our case, sometimes the slope of the landscape and overlapping shrub crowns resulted in transect total area measures being greater than or less than the 18.5m long transect. Therefore, percentage ground cover (not just transect) would be calculated, for example, in the following manner:………\r\n\r\n<strong><span>Want to read the rest of this article?  For this and many more fascinating articles every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum.  AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. </span><a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/join/">JOIN NOW!</a></strong>', 'Techniques for Wild Chinchilla Habitat and Behavior Studies ', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2458-revision-3', '', '', '2012-05-03 10:19:22', '2012-05-03 15:19:22', '', 2458, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2458-revision-3/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2466, 2, '2012-05-03 10:31:38', '2012-05-03 15:31:38', '<em>By A.L. Deane, Species Coordinator, IUCN/SSC Small Mammal Specialist Group\r\nCasilla 302, Illapel, IV Región, Chile\r\nand\r\nB. Ganesh-Babu, Instructor\r\nDepartment of Geography and Meteorology\r\nValparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN</em>\r\n\r\n<em></em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Introduction</strong>\r\n\r\nOnce believed extinct in the wild, the only known wild long-tailed chinchillas (<em>Chinchilla lanigera</em>) exist in north central Chile (Jiménez, 1995). Both species of chinchillas and their range decreased dramatically as millions were exported from Chile for the fur trade (Albert, 1900).  In Chile, both species are listed as endangered and are protected from international trade by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Appendix 1 (CONAF 1988, IUCN 1972).  Population estimates of <em>C. lanigera</em> vary from less than 1000 to approximately 5000 (Jiménez, 1995; Mohlis pers. comm.).  Based on colony size and densities reported by Jiménez (1995:92), approximately 4050 individuals were known to exist in Aucó, Chile as of 1990.  At that time, the population was declining (Jiménez1995).<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2464" title="chinchilla2" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/chinchilla2.jpg" alt="chinchilla2" width="504" height="387" /> All prior research reported a deterioration of chinchilla habitat over the last few hundred years.  Enhancing the habitat meant learning what and where was chinchilla habitat.  This paper is meant to explain the methods used to study the chinchilla habitat and common techniques used to evaluate wildlife, which aim to define conservation priorities.\r\n\r\n<strong>Site definition and methods:</strong> To be comparable with prior studies it is advisable to mimic the prior researchers’ methods.  Our grids are duplicated from those used by Jiménez (1990) in his studies of wild chinchillas.  By mimicking his methods, our data is comparable over a long time-period.  For example, we have a descriptive record of the plants associated with chinchillas for the last 30 years.  It is these plant species that our restoration efforts are focused on.\r\n\r\nFour permanent trapping grids consisting of 49 stations per grid in a 7x7 configuration were placed on north facing mountain slopes of two different drainage basins in Aucó, Chile.  The distance between grids varies based on the location of chinchilla colonies, and within each grid, stations were spaced 15m [49.21ft.] apart. Each column is labeled A to G and each row 1 to 7.  At each station, 30cm [11.8in.] red wooden stakes are labeled with the station number and hammered into the ground.  Be consistent with one grid layout.  For example, the lower left corner is A1 and the last station G7 is located at the upper right corner of the grid. The purpose of grids is to estimate the type and distribution of animal species using the vegetation and ground cover.  For example, you may want three grids in known occupied areas, and others in restoration areas, and presumed unoccupied areas. This helps in understanding the relationship between ground cover and vegetation types, and the animals that prefer that environment.\r\n\r\n<strong>Vegetation measurements:</strong> To calculate total vegetation cover, species’ frequencies and abundance, we used the line intercept method.  In each grid described earlier, we analyzed 16 transects, each measuring 18.5m [~61ft.] in length, compensating for topographic variations.  Use a rope 18.5m long and a measuring tape to measure all ground cover along the line.  Record ground cover type or species and its length in cm.  For each grid, the total area measured for all transects was used to calculate cover.  First, placement of transects within grids was created using a random number list.  Four random numbers were used to identify each location.  The first number identified the starting position by column for each transect. The second number identified the starting position by row.  The third number identified if the transect was to be placed to the right or left of the trap station. The fourth number designated if the transect was to go up or down slope from the station at a 45-degree angle. Once data was gathered it was analyzed in a spreadsheet program.  One can calculate cover by unit length covered by species or cover type divided by the total unit length measured in transect.  In our case, sometimes the slope of the landscape and overlapping shrub crowns resulted in transect total area measures being greater than or less than the 18.5m long transect. Therefore, percentage ground cover (not just transect) would be calculated, for example, in the following manner:………\r\n\r\n<strong><span>Want to read the rest of this article?  For this and many more fascinating articles every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum.  AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. </span><a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/join/">JOIN NOW!</a></strong>', 'Techniques for Wild Chinchilla Habitat and Behavior Studies ', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2458-revision-4', '', '', '2012-05-03 10:31:38', '2012-05-03 15:31:38', '', 2458, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2458-revision-4/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2467, 2, '2012-05-03 10:46:00', '2012-05-03 15:46:00', '<p style="text-align: left;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-695" title="hdr_conservation_station" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/hdr_conservation_station.gif" alt="hdr_conservation_station" width="418" height="160" /></p>\r\n\r\n<em>By Jessa Franck-McCauley,\r\nZookeeper, Mesker Park Zoo\r\n<a href="mailto:Jfranck@meskerparkzoo.com"> Jfranck@meskerparkzoo.com</a></em>\r\n\r\nIn the summer of 2011, I traveled to Malaysia with a group of zoo professionals for a field trip under the auspices of the AZA Orangutan SSP. We spent the first week conducting a husbandry and enrichment workshop at Zoo Negara in Kuala Lumpur. The second week was spent touring Sabah, Borneo, learning about local conservation efforts and the effects of oil palm plantations.\r\n\r\nPalm oil is harvested from the oil palm (<em>Elaeis guineensis</em>). The trees produce clusters of small red fruit. The pulp of the fruit is made into palm oil. The core of the fruit is made into palm kernel oil. Those are the two most easily recognized names, but there are a lot of other variations making it important to carefully read the ingredient labels on food and cosmetic/hygiene products. Palm oil in cosmetic/hygiene products can be even harder to identify because there are other sources of these chemicals. Very few products label the source of these chemicals, so if consumers want to continue to use these types of products while still being palm oil-aware, individual product research is needed.\r\n\r\nPalm oil is used in a variety of ways. It was adopted by the food industry as an alternative to trans-fats, although studies have shown it is not the healthiest oil available.<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2468" title="732borneo" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/732borneo.jpg" alt="732borneo" width="500" height="359" />Palm oil in cosmetic and hygienic products has a multitude of purposes including producing suds, lubrication, stabilization, and emulsification.\r\n\r\nThere is debate in the conservation community right now about the use of sustainable palm oil. To be classified as sustainable palm oil the growers have many regulations including not clear-cutting rainforest for plantations, using chemicals in a safe manner, and paying employees fair wages. The main governing body for sustainable palm oil is the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The RSPO was founded in 2004 by the World Wildlife Fund and major players in the palm oil supply chain and its stakeholders. Our group visited a palm oil plantation that was working on becoming RSPO certified.\r\n\r\nAnother RSPO requirement is to not harm wildlife that enters the plantation. On a lot of plantations, the wildlife that is considered destructive is destroyed and usually not in a humane manner. Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) are some of the most-recognized victims of this practice. Mothers are killed leaving infants orphaned. Some of these orphans are sold in the pet trade. Some make it to rehabilitation centers. Our group visited Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center near Sandakan, Borneo. The orangutans housed there are raised in such a way that they can be released back into the wild.\r\n\r\nSome conservationists seem to have two big issues with sustainable palm oil. The first question is how reliable are the regulatory bodies ensuring that growers are following the rules. The second question is how companies can guarantee that they are using sustainable palm oil when after it is harvested it just enters the greater pool of palm oil and cannot be distinguished from non-sustainable sources.\r\n\r\nPalm oil is not going away. It is too wrapped up in the grower countries’ economies. Malaysia and Indonesia account for the highest percentage of palm oil production and palm oil is in the top five crops of Malaysia. The main beneficiaries of money from palm oil seem to be the governments, the plantation owners and companies that use the palm oil in their products. The palm oil plantations…..\r\n\r\n<strong><em><span>Want to read the rest of this column?  For this and much more every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum.  AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. </span><a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/join/">JOIN NOW!</a></em></strong>\r\n<div style="font-style: italic;"></div>', 'Palm Oil: an Overview and Message of Hope', 0, '', 'draft', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'palm-oil-an-overview-and-message-of-hope', '', '', '2013-10-15 17:49:17', '2013-10-15 22:49:17', '', 0, 'http://aazk.org/?p=2467', 0, 'post', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2468, 2, '2012-05-03 10:44:01', '2012-05-03 15:44:01', '', '732borneo', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '732borneo', '', '', '2012-05-03 10:44:01', '2012-05-03 15:44:01', '', 2467, 'http://aazk.org/wp-content/uploads/732borneo.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2469, 2, '2012-05-03 10:45:31', '2012-05-03 15:45:31', '<p style="text-align: left;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-695" title="hdr_conservation_station" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/hdr_conservation_station.gif" alt="hdr_conservation_station" width="418" height="160" /></p>\n\n<em>By Jessa Franck-McCauley,\nZookeeper, Mesker Park Zoo\n<a href="mailto:Jfranck@meskerparkzoo.com"> Jfranck@meskerparkzoo.com</a></em>\n\nIn the summer of 2011, I traveled to Malaysia with a group of zoo professionals for a field trip under the auspices of the AZA Orangutan SSP. We spent the first week conducting a husbandry and enrichment workshop at Zoo Negara in Kuala Lumpur. The second week was spent touring Sabah, Borneo, learning about local conservation efforts and the effects of oil palm plantations.\n\nPalm oil is harvested from the oil palm (<em>Elaeis guineensis</em>). The trees produce clusters of small red fruit. The pulp of the fruit is made into palm oil. The core of the fruit is made into palm kernel oil. Those are the two most easily recognized names, but there are a lot of other variations making it important to carefully read the ingredient labels on food and cosmetic/hygiene products. Palm oil in cosmetic/hygiene products can be even harder to identify because there are other sources of these chemicals. Very few products label the source of these chemicals, so if consumers want to continue to use these types of products while still being palm oil-aware, individual product research is needed.\n\nPalm oil is used in a variety of ways. It was adopted by the food industry as an alternative to trans-fats, although studies have shown it is not the healthiest oil available.<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2468" title="732borneo" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/732borneo.jpg" alt="732borneo" width="500" height="359" />Palm oil in cosmetic and hygienic products has a multitude of purposes including producing suds, lubrication, stabilization, and emulsification.\n\nThere is debate in the conservation community right now about the use of sustainable palm oil. To be classified as sustainable palm oil the growers have many regulations including not clear-cutting rainforest for plantations, using chemicals in a safe manner, and paying employees fair wages. The main governing body for sustainable palm oil is the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The RSPO was founded in 2004 by the World Wildlife Fund and major players in the palm oil supply chain and its stakeholders. Our group visited a palm oil plantation that was working on becoming RSPO certified.\n\nAnother RSPO requirement is to not harm wildlife that enters the plantation. On a lot of plantations, the wildlife that is considered destructive is destroyed and usually not in a humane manner. Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) are some of the most-recognized victims of this practice. Mothers are killed leaving infants orphaned. Some of these orphans are sold in the pet trade. Some make it to rehabilitation centers. Our group visited Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center near Sandakan, Borneo. The orangutans housed there are raised in such a way that they can be released back into the wild.\n\nSome conservationists seem to have two big issues with sustainable palm oil. The first question is how reliable are the regulatory bodies ensuring that growers are following the rules. The second question is how companies can guarantee that they are using sustainable palm oil when after it is harvested it just enters the greater pool of palm oil and cannot be distinguished from non-sustainable sources.\n\nPalm oil is not going away. It is too wrapped up in the grower countries’ economies. Malaysia and Indonesia account for the highest percentage of palm oil production and palm oil is in the top five crops of Malaysia. The main beneficiaries of money from palm oil seem to be the governments, the plantation owners and companies that use the palm oil in their products. The palm oil plantations…..\n\n<strong><em><span>Want to read the rest of this column?  For this and many more fascinating column every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum.  AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. </span><a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/join/">JOIN NOW!</a></em></strong>\n<div style="font-style: italic;"></div>', 'Palm Oil: an Overview and Message of Hope', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2467-revision', '', '', '2012-05-03 10:45:31', '2012-05-03 15:45:31', '', 2467, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2467-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2470, 2, '2012-03-01 11:20:44', '2012-03-01 16:20:44', '<strong><em></em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>April 12-15, 2012, Dallas , TX - <em>Otter Keeper Workshop</em> - </strong>The 5th biennial workshop will be hosted by The Dallas World Aquarium.  Any staff working with any of the freshwater species is welcome to attend.  Topics will include: captive management issues, enrichment, training, water quality, health care, nutrition, diet, hand-raising, exhibit design, and lots of sharing of information between keepers.  Registration is $75. For more information, see <a href="http://otterkeeperworkshop.org">otterkeeperworkshop.org</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>April 27-30, 2012 and October 12-15, 2012 - <em>From Good Care to Great Welfare: A Workshop Designed for Animal Care Professionals Presented by the Center for Zoo Animal Welfare-</em></strong>Detroit Zoological Society. A unique four-day workshop for animal care staff working with captive exotic animals. The workshop is designed to help participants better understand animals’ perspectives and experiences, address the challenges captivity imposes on animal welfare, and develop the skills necessary to assess and improve overall well-being. Exercises and experiences are immersive and designed to help us understand captivity from the animals’ point of view. Limited scholarship opportunities available.\r\n\r\nFor information contact: Elizabeth Arbaugh, Animal Welfare Manager, Detroit Zoological Society, Tel: 248-398-0903 x3643, E-mail: <a href="mailto:Elizabeth@dzs.org">Elizabeth@dzs.org</a> or visit <a href="http://czaw.org">czaw.org</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>May 6-11, 2012 - <em>ABMA Annual Conference </em></strong>- Hosted by Oakland Zoo, California Academy of Sciences, and CuriOdyssey.  The conference location will be the San Francisco Airport Mariott, Burlingame, CA.  See <a href="http://theabma.org">theabma.org</a> for more info.\r\n\r\n<strong>May 13-16 - <em>Shape of Enrichment Regional Workshop</em></strong> - Hosted by Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks, Kent, UK.  For more information go to <a href="http://enrichment.org">enrichment.org</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>July 15-21, 2012 - NATIONAL ZOO KEEPER WEEK</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>August 8-14, 2012 - <em>The World Congress of Herpetology</em></strong> - To be held in Vancouver, Canada. For more information see <a href="http://www.worldcongressofherpetology.org/">http://www.worldcongressofherpetology.org/</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>August 16-19 - <em>The 10th Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles</em> </strong>- Tucson, AZ.  Hosted by the Turtle Survival Alliance and the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group.  For more information go to <a href="http://turtlesurvival.org">turtlesurvival.org</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>September 9-13, 2012 - <em>4th International Congress on Zookeeping</em> </strong>– To be held in Singapore.  Theme “Many Voices One Calling” Sponsored by Wildlife Reserves Singapore , Singapore Tourism Bureau. For information on sponsorship or exhibition opportunities email <a href="mailto:eo@aszk.org.au">eo@aszk.org.au</a>.  Check the ICZ website <a href="http://www.iczoo.org/">http://www.iczoo.org/</a> for latest news.\r\n\r\n<strong>September 23-27,  2012 - <em>AAZK National Conference</em></strong><em> - </em>Hosted by the Rosamond Gifford Zoo and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo AAZK Chapter in Syracuse, NY. For more information go to <a href="http://www.rgzaecetia.net/gws/aazk">www.rgzaecetia.net/gws/aazk</a>.\r\n<h2><strong>2013</strong></h2>\r\n<strong>September 22-26  2013 - <em>AAZK National Conference</em></strong> - Hosted by the North Carolina Zoo and the North Carolina AAZK Chapter\r\n<h2><em><strong>Upcoming AAZK National Conferences</strong></em></h2>\r\n2012 - Syracuse, NY - September 23-27\r\n\r\n2013 - Asheboro, NC  - September 22-26\r\n\r\n2014 - Orlando, FL - September 8-12\r\n\r\nFor information on upcoming AAZK conferences, watch the AAZK website at <a href="http://www.aecetia.net/gws/aazk">www.aecetia.net/gws/aazk</a>.\r\n<h2><em><strong>Upcoming AZA National Conferences</strong></em></h2>\r\nSeptember 8-13, 2012 - AZA 2012 Annual Conference - Hosted by Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix, AZ\r\n\r\nSeptember 7-12, 2013 - AZA 2013 Annual Conference - Hosted by the Kansas City Zoo, Kansas City , MO\r\n\r\nFor info on AZA Conferences, see <a href="http://aza.org/ConfWork/AC_Intro/index.html">http://aza.org/ConfWork/AC_Intro/index.html</a>.', 'Coming Events March 2012', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '435-revision-v1', '', '', '2012-03-01 11:20:44', '2012-03-01 16:20:44', '', 435, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/435-revision-52/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2496, 2, '2012-06-07 15:22:19', '2012-06-07 20:22:19', '<strong><em></em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>June 11-15, 2012 - <em>International Gorilla Workshop</em></strong> - Apenheul Primate Park and Gaiapark Kerkrade are very excited and proud to invite all Gorilla specialists to join the 8th International Gorilla Workshop.  Includes three days in Apenheul Primate Park and the last day in Gaiapark Kerkrade. For more information go to <a href="http://igw2012.org">igw2012.org</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>July 15-21, 2012 - NATIONAL ZOO KEEPER WEEK</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><span><strong>July 25 - 28, 2012 - </strong><em style="font-weight: bold;">The 35th International Herpetological Symposium. </em>Hosted by Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo at the Ramada BWI Airport in Hanover, MD.  For more information go to <a href="http://kingsnake.com/ihs">kingsnake.com/ihs</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>July 29 - 30, 2012 - <em>The 2nd Venomous Animal Safety and Husbandry Training Seminar</em></strong>. Hosted by Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo in Thurmont, MD.  For more information contact Rick Hahn at <a href="mailto:rickhahn@CWPZoo.com">rickhahn@CWPZoo.com</a>.\r\n\r\n</span></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>August 8-14, 2012 - <em>The World Congress of Herpetology</em></strong> - To be held in Vancouver, Canada. For more information see <a href="http://www.worldcongressofherpetology.org/">http://www.worldcongressofherpetology.org/</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>August 16-19 - <em>The 10th Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles</em> </strong>- Tucson, AZ.  Hosted by the Turtle Survival Alliance and the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group.  For more information go to <a href="http://turtlesurvival.org">turtlesurvival.org</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>September 9-13, 2012 - <em>4th International Congress on Zookeeping</em> </strong>– To be held in Singapore.  Theme “Many Voices One Calling” Sponsored by Wildlife Reserves Singapore , Singapore Tourism Bureau. For information on sponsorship or exhibition opportunities email <a href="mailto:eo@aszk.org.au">eo@aszk.org.au</a>.  Check the ICZ website <a href="http://www.iczoo.org/">http://www.iczoo.org/</a> for latest news.\r\n\r\n<strong>September 23-27,  2012 - <em>AAZK National Conference</em></strong><em> - </em>Hosted by the Rosamond Gifford Zoo and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo AAZK Chapter in Syracuse, NY. For more information go to <a href="http://www.rgzaecetia.net/gws/aazk">www.rgzaecetia.net/gws/aazk</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong><strong> October 12-15, 2012 - </strong><em><strong><em>From Good Care to Great Welfare: A Workshop Designed for Animal Care Professionals Presented by the Center for Zoo Animal Welfare </em></strong>-</em></strong>Detroit Zoological Society. A unique four-day workshop for animal care staff working with captive exotic animals. The workshop is designed to help participants better understand animals’ perspectives and experiences, address the challenges captivity imposes on animal welfare, and develop the skills necessary to assess and improve overall well-being. Exercises and experiences are immersive and designed to help us understand captivity from the animals’ point of view. Limited scholarship opportunities available.\r\n\r\nFor information contact: Elizabeth Arbaugh, Animal Welfare Manager, Detroit Zoological Society, Tel: 248-398-0903 x3643, E-mail: <a href="mailto:Elizabeth@dzs.org">Elizabeth@dzs.org</a> or visit <a href="http://czaw.org">czaw.org</a>.\r\n<h2><strong>2013</strong></h2>\r\n<strong>September 22-26  2013 - <em>AAZK National Conference</em></strong> - Hosted by the North Carolina Zoo and the North Carolina AAZK Chapter\r\n<h2><em><strong>Upcoming AAZK National Conferences</strong></em></h2>\r\n2012 - Syracuse, NY - September 23-27\r\n\r\n2013 - Asheboro, NC  - September 22-26\r\n\r\n2014 - Orlando, FL - September 8-12\r\n\r\nFor information on upcoming AAZK conferences, watch the AAZK website at <a href="http://www.aecetia.net/gws/aazk">www.aecetia.net/gws/aazk</a>.\r\n<h2><em><strong>Upcoming AZA National Conferences</strong></em></h2>\r\nSeptember 8-13, 2012 - AZA 2012 Annual Conference - Hosted by Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix, AZ\r\n\r\nSeptember 7-12, 2013 - AZA 2013 Annual Conference - Hosted by the Kansas City Zoo, Kansas City , MO\r\n\r\nFor info on AZA Conferences, see <a href="http://aza.org/ConfWork/AC_Intro/index.html">http://aza.org/ConfWork/AC_Intro/index.html</a>.', 'Coming Events June 2012', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '435-revision-v1', '', '', '2012-06-07 15:22:19', '2012-06-07 20:22:19', '', 435, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/435-revision-54/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2471, 2, '2012-05-03 10:55:29', '2012-05-03 15:55:29', '', 'sdaazklogo2005small', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'sdaazklogo2005small', '', '', '2012-05-03 10:55:29', '2012-05-03 15:55:29', '', 2405, 'http://aazk.org/wp-content/uploads/sdaazklogo2005small.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2472, 2, '2012-06-07 14:50:48', '2012-06-07 19:50:48', '<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2481" title="lcs-aazk-logo" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/lcs-aazk-logo-300x76.jpg" alt="lcs-aazk-logo" width="300" height="76" />\n\nThe AAZK Lion Country Safari Chapter in West Palm Beach, FL has been focused on increasing fundraising efforts to benefit conservation organizations locally and internationally.  Chapter members have developed a cell phone recycling program on property that encourages guests to bring in used cell phones for recycling.  This program not only helps save valuable wildlife habitats and reduces electronic waste entering landfills, but also helps fund conservation projects sponsored by the chapter.  Last year, the chapter was able to recycle over <strong>1,700</strong> cell phones, placing the AAZK Lion Country Safari Chapter among the top ten collection organizations with recycling partner ECO-CELL.\n\nSeveral regular fundraisers throughout the year such as a staff art show, bake sale, holiday candy-gram sale, and chili cook-off competition allow the chapter to support a number of conservation initiatives including “Trees for You and Me.”  Each year the AAZK Lion Country Safari Chapter has participated in this chapter challenge campaign and consistently ranks among the top contributors.\n\nThe chapter’s most successful fundraiser event is “Bowling for Rhinos.”  Last year, an inaugural “Twilight Tour” of the safari with a focus on Lion Country Safari’s white rhinos promoted “Bowling for Rhinos” and helped raise additional funds for rhinoceros conservation.  Since it was such a smashing success, the chapter is expanding the pre-event, night tour this year to allow more people to experience this unique opportunity to see the animals after hours.  We look forward to another year of celebrating the zookeeping profession and commitment to wildlife conservation!', 'June 2012', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2405-autosave', '', '', '2012-06-07 14:50:48', '2012-06-07 19:50:48', '', 2405, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2405-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2473, 2, '2012-03-01 11:24:42', '2012-03-01 16:24:42', '<em>A Perfect Day for Tree Planting</em>\r\n<em>By Hali O’Connor, Sr. Mammal Keeper, SD AAZK Board Member</em>\r\n\r\nOvercast skies, light rain, and cool temperatures were forecasted for 21 January 2012...exactly the right conditions for the much anticipated Acres for the Atmosphere tree planting event. Over 60 people signed up...and SHOWED UP, prepared to dig some holes, get a little muddy and help young native cottonwood trees, arroyo willow trees and a few mule fat shrubs get settled in their new home along the San Diego River in the Mission Valley Preserve.\r\n\r\n<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-2406" title="sd_group" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/sd_group-1024x768.jpg" alt="sd_group" width="717" height="538" />\r\n\r\nTo recap, the San Diego Chapter of AAZK raised over $2200 while hosting the 2011 National AAZK conference last August. The Acres for the Atmosphere project goal was to encourage delegates to donate money to help offset the carbon produced by travel to and from the conference. With this money, SD AAZK joined forces with The San Diego River Park Foundation to plant trees in two choice locations along our precious San Diego River. The total was 319 trees to be exact!\r\n\r\nAnyone interested in helping with the planting project was encouraged to sign up on the SD AAZK website to partake in this fun and important event. Planting native tree species along the San Diego River that stretches from Julian to the ocean has many benefits. Native trees provide needed habitat and foods for many species, some of which are endangered. The native trees also provide erosion control, especially important in restoring wildfire burned areas. And the trees help to restore a natural balance and keep invasive species in check.\r\n\r\nThe 21 January 2012 planting included such an amazing group of enthusiastic and efficient tree planters that the 144 trees allotted to the Mission Valley Preserve were all lovingly planted in an hour! We even had time to clear away weeds from some of the existing trails to help encourage visitors to stay on a path instead of wandering off and disrupting the native plants and animals calling the preserve their home. The San Diego River Park staff also treated us to a wonderful trek to the river’s edge where we learned about some of the native and non-native plant species that live along our river.\r\n\r\nThe remaining 175 trees will be live oaks to be planted along the El Capitan Reservoir in Alpine on 4 February 2012. Anyone interested in helping with this project may sign up on our website at www.sdaazk.com. Several months ago a group of us went out to this area and collected acorns to produce the trees that will be planted in this area. That way we are sure to plant a species that belongs in the area and is very beneficial to the other species living there.\r\n\r\nA big thank you to all those that participated in this wonderful community project! Be sure to check out the pictures from that day on our Facebook® page at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sdaazk">http://www.facebook.com/sdaazk</a>.', 'March 2012', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2405-revision-2', '', '', '2012-03-01 11:24:42', '2012-03-01 16:24:42', '', 2405, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2405-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2475, 2, '2012-06-07 14:40:03', '2012-06-07 19:40:03', '', 'mac2', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'mac2', '', '', '2012-06-07 14:40:03', '2012-06-07 19:40:03', '', 2474, 'http://aazk.org/wp-content/uploads/mac2.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2476, 2, '2012-06-07 14:40:42', '2012-06-07 19:40:42', '', 'mac', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'mac', '', '', '2012-06-07 14:40:42', '2012-06-07 19:40:42', '', 2474, 'http://aazk.org/wp-content/uploads/mac.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2477, 2, '2012-06-07 14:39:27', '2012-06-07 19:39:27', '<img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-695" title="hdr_conservation_station" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/hdr_conservation_station-300x114.gif" alt="hdr_conservation_station" width="300" height="114" />\n\n<em>Mary Ann Cisneros\nAAZK Conservation Committee</em>\n\nSpring has sprung and an early summer planting of a rain garden will not only leave your lawn looking lovely but your “green” conscious clear.  Rain gardens are landscaped areas using native plants that reduce storm water runoff and can provide considerable environmental benefits to your community.  Besides being aesthetically pleasing, rain gardens reduce flooding, protect streams and lakes from pollutants carried by urban storm water runoff, and increase the amount of water filtering into the ground to help recharge local aquifers.  An added bonus is that a new habitat is created for birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects.\n\n<span>In 2009, two events at Mesker Park Zoo promoted and celebrated the establishment of rain gardens in our community.  The first event was the installation of a rain garden at our new entrance.  Using a grant from the local Soil and Water Conservation District, MPZ AAZK partnered with several groups to bring this demonstration garden to Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden.  Our own grounds curator and staff, University of Southern Indiana (USI) students and faculty, and the Evansville Zoological Society worked together to provide visitors an example of a way to bring conservation home.   The zoo used the planting day to teach about the mechanics of rain gardens and had volunteers (lucky USI students and MPZ AAZK members) perform the dirty work.  The second event was a dedication a few months after the planting so that visitors could get a look at the garden as it began to establish itself.\n\nBoth these events also allowed the Soil and Water Conservation District to promote their Backyard Conservation Grant.  This grant provided a cost-share/rebate program for citizens in Vanderburgh County who put in a rain garden.\n\nThe rain garden at the zoo was and is a success.  It is a beautiful addition to our zoo landscape and an ambassador for backyard conservation that is hard to ignore when visitors walk through our gates.  It is a happy coincidence that, in order to quench their thirst from our drinking fountains, guests have a great view of it!\n\nNow for you DIY’s out there! A rain garden can be put in cheaply and, once they become fully established (around two years) little or no maintenance is required of them.  So if you want your yard to be a first defense against flooding in your neighborhood and pollutants getting into local waterways please check out the following websites:\n\nhttp://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/pdf/rgmanual.pdf,\n\nhttp://www.meskerparkzoo.com/conservation/garden.php\n\nThey will give you the nitty gritty on rain garden construction for your yard.  They also provide design plans and plants that will work in your area.  Be sure to look to your local Soil and Water Conservation District to see if there is any financial assistance available for making your yard greener.  Use your resources and let’s start planting for a cleaner environment!\n\n</span>', 'Rain Gardens: Bringing Conservation Home', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2474-revision', '', '', '2012-06-07 14:39:27', '2012-06-07 19:39:27', '', 2474, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2474-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2478, 2, '2012-06-07 14:41:20', '2012-06-07 19:41:20', '<img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-695" title="hdr_conservation_station" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/hdr_conservation_station-300x114.gif" alt="hdr_conservation_station" width="300" height="114" />\n\n<em>Mary Ann Cisneros\nAAZK Conservation Committee</em>\n\nSpring has sprung and an early summer planting of a rain garden will not only leave your lawn looking lovely but your “green” conscious clear.  Rain gardens are landscaped areas using native plants that reduce storm water runoff and can provide considerable environmental benefits to your community.  Besides being aesthetically <img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2476" title="mac" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/mac-300x200.jpg" alt="mac" width="300" height="200" />pleasing, rain gardens reduce flooding, protect streams and lakes from pollutants carried by urban storm water runoff, and increase the amount of water filtering into the ground to help recharge local aquifers.  An added bonus is that a new habitat is created for birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects.\n\nIn 2009, two events at Mesker Park Zoo promoted and celebrated the establishment of rain gardens in our community.  The first event was the installation of a rain garden at our new entrance.  Using a grant from the local Soil and Water Conservation District, MPZ AAZK partnered with several groups to bring this demonstration garden to Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden.  Our own grounds curator and staff, University of Southern Indiana (USI) students and faculty, and the Evansville Zoological Society worked together to provide visitors an example of a way to bring conservation home.   The zoo used the planting day to teach about the mechanics of rain gardens and had volunteers (lucky USI students and MPZ AAZK members) perform the dirty work.  The second event was a dedication a few months after the planting so that visitors could get a look at the garden as it began to establish itself.\n\nBoth these events also allowed the Soil and Water Conservation District to promote their Backyard Conservation Grant.  This grant provided a cost-share/rebate program for citizens in Vanderburgh County who put in a rain garden.\n\nThe rain garden at the zoo was and is a success.  It is a beautiful addition to our zoo landscape and an ambassador for backyard conservation that is hard to ignore when<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2475" title="mac2" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/mac2-300x200.jpg" alt="mac2" width="300" height="200" />visitors walk through our gates.  It is a happy coincidence that, in order to quench their thirst from our drinking fountains, guests have a great view of it!\n\nNow for you DIY’s out there! A rain garden can be put in cheaply and, once they become fully established (around two years) little or no maintenance is required of them.  So if you want your yard to be a first defense against flooding in your neighborhood and pollutants getting into local waterways please check out the following websites:\n\nhttp://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/pdf/rgmanual.pdf,\n\nhttp://www.meskerparkzoo.com/conservation/garden.php\n\nThey will give you the nitty gritty on rain garden construction for your yard.  They also provide design plans and plants that will work in your area.  Be sure to look to your local Soil and Water Conservation District to see if there is any financial assistance available for making your yard greener.  Use your resources and let’s start planting for a cleaner environment!', 'Rain Gardens: Bringing Conservation Home', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2474-revision-2', '', '', '2012-06-07 14:41:20', '2012-06-07 19:41:20', '', 2474, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2474-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2479, 2, '2012-06-07 14:41:53', '2012-06-07 19:41:53', '<img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-695" title="hdr_conservation_station" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/hdr_conservation_station-300x114.gif" alt="hdr_conservation_station" width="300" height="114" />\r\n\r\n<em>Mary Ann Cisneros\r\nAAZK Conservation Committee</em>\r\n\r\nSpring has sprung and an early summer planting of a rain garden will not only leave your lawn looking lovely but your “green” conscious clear.  Rain gardens are landscaped areas using native plants that reduce storm water runoff and can provide considerable environmental benefits to your community.  Besides being aesthetically <img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2476" title="mac" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/mac-300x200.jpg" alt="mac" width="300" height="200" />pleasing, rain gardens reduce flooding, protect streams and lakes from pollutants carried by urban storm water runoff, and increase the amount of water filtering into the ground to help recharge local aquifers.  An added bonus is that a new habitat is created for birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects.\r\n\r\nIn 2009, two events at Mesker Park Zoo promoted and celebrated the establishment of rain gardens in our community.  The first event was the installation of a rain garden at our new entrance.  Using a grant from the local Soil and Water Conservation District, MPZ AAZK partnered with several groups to bring this demonstration garden to Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden.  Our own grounds curator and staff, University of Southern Indiana (USI) students and faculty, and the Evansville Zoological Society worked together to provide visitors an example of a way to bring conservation home.   The zoo used the planting day to teach about the mechanics of rain gardens and had volunteers (lucky USI students and MPZ AAZK members) perform the dirty work.  The second event was a dedication a few months after the planting so that visitors could get a look at the garden as it began to establish itself.\r\n\r\nBoth these events also allowed the Soil and Water Conservation District to promote their Backyard Conservation Grant.  This grant provided a cost-share/rebate program for citizens in Vanderburgh County who put in a rain garden.\r\n\r\nThe rain garden at the zoo was and is a success.  It is a beautiful addition to our zoo landscape and an ambassador for backyard conservation that is hard to ignore when<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2475" title="mac2" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/mac2-300x200.jpg" alt="mac2" width="300" height="200" />visitors walk through our gates.  It is a happy coincidence that, in order to quench their thirst from our drinking fountains, guests have a great view of it!\r\n\r\nNow for you DIY’s out there! A rain garden can be put in cheaply and, once they become fully established (around two years) little or no maintenance is required of them.  So if you want your yard to be a first defense against flooding in your neighborhood and pollutants getting into local waterways please check out the following websites:\r\n\r\n<a href="http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/pdf/rgmanual.pdf">http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/pdf/rgmanual.pdf</a>,\r\n\r\n<a href="http://www.meskerparkzoo.com/conservation/garden.php">http://www.meskerparkzoo.com/conservation/garden.php</a>\r\n\r\nThey will give you the nitty gritty on rain garden construction for your yard.  They also provide design plans and plants that will work in your area.  Be sure to look to your local Soil and Water Conservation District to see if there is any financial assistance available for making your yard greener.  Use your resources and let’s start planting for a cleaner environment!', 'Rain Gardens: Bringing Conservation Home', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2474-revision-3', '', '', '2012-06-07 14:41:53', '2012-06-07 19:41:53', '', 2474, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2474-revision-3/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2480, 2, '2012-06-07 14:44:02', '2012-06-07 19:44:02', '<img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-695" title="hdr_conservation_station" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/hdr_conservation_station-300x114.gif" alt="hdr_conservation_station" width="300" height="114" />\n\n<em>Mary Ann Cisneros\nAAZK Conservation Committee</em>\n\nSpring has sprung and an early summer planting of a rain garden will not only leave your lawn looking lovely but your “green” conscious clear.  Rain gardens are landscaped areas using native plants that reduce storm water runoff and can provide considerable environmental benefits to your community.  Besides being aesthetically <img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2476" title="mac" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/mac-300x200.jpg" alt="mac" width="300" height="200" />pleasing, rain gardens reduce flooding, protect streams and lakes from pollutants carried by urban storm water runoff, and increase the amount of water filtering into the ground to help recharge local aquifers.  An added bonus is that a new habitat is created for birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects.\n\nIn 2009, two events at Mesker Park Zoo promoted and celebrated the establishment of rain gardens in our community.  The first event was the installation of a rain garden at our new entrance.  Using a grant from the local Soil and Water Conservation District, MPZ AAZK partnered with several groups to bring this demonstration garden to Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden.  Our own grounds curator and staff, University of Southern Indiana (USI) students and faculty, and the Evansville Zoological Society worked together to provide visitors an example of a way to bring conservation home.   The zoo used the planting day to teach about the mechanics of rain gardens and had volunteers (lucky USI students and MPZ AAZK members) perform the dirty work.  The second event was a dedication a few months after the planting so that visitors could get a look at the garden as it began to establish itself.\n\nBoth these events also allowed the Soil and Water Conservation District to promote their Backyard Conservation Grant.  This grant provided a cost-share/rebate program for citizens in Vanderburgh County who put in a rain garden.\n\nThe rain garden at the zoo was and is a success.  It is a beautiful addition to our zoo landscape and an ambassador for backyard conservation that is hard to ignore when<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2475" title="mac2" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/mac2-300x200.jpg" alt="mac2" width="300" height="200" />visitors walk through our gates.  It is a happy coincidence that, in order to quench their thirst from our drinking fountains, guests have a great view of it!\n\nNow for you DIY’s out there! A rain garden can be put in cheaply and, once they become fully established (around two years) little or no maintenance is required of them.  So if you want your yard to be a first defense against flooding in your neighborhood and pollutants getting into local waterways please check out the following websites:\n\n<a href="http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/pdf/rgmanual.pdf">http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/pdf/rgmanual.pdf</a>,\n\n<a href="http://www.meskerparkzoo.com/conservation/garden.php">http://www.meskerparkzoo.com/conservation/garden.php</a>\n\nThey will give you the nitty gritty on rain garden construction for your yard.  They also provide design plans and plants that will work in your area.  Be sure to look to your local Soil and Water Conservation District to see if there is any financial assistance available for making your yard greener.  Use your resources and let’s start planting for a cleaner environment!\n\n<strong><em><span>For this and much more every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum.  AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. </span><a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/join/">JOIN NOW!</a></em></strong>', 'Rain Gardens: Bringing Conservation Home', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2474-autosave', '', '', '2012-06-07 14:44:02', '2012-06-07 19:44:02', '', 2474, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2474-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2481, 2, '2012-06-07 14:48:07', '2012-06-07 19:48:07', '', 'lcs-aazk-logo', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'lcs-aazk-logo', '', '', '2012-06-07 14:48:07', '2012-06-07 19:48:07', '', 2405, 'http://aazk.org/wp-content/uploads/lcs-aazk-logo.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2485, 2, '2012-06-07 14:53:46', '2012-06-07 19:53:46', 'About the Cover/Information for Contributors<span> </span>\n\nFrom the President<span> </span>\n\nNew Members<span> </span>\n\nComing Events<span> </span>\n\nPerspectives on Poaching: A Park Guard Story <span> </span>\n\nAn Update from the Snow Leopard Trust<span> </span>\n\nObservations on Eco-tourism and Conservation in India<span> </span>\n\nEnrichment Options: Feeling Stuck in a Rut?  Ideas on How to Enrich Your Enrichment<span> </span>\n\nConservation Station: Rain Gardens: Bringing Conservation Home <span> </span>\n\nTraining Tales: Ideas to Help New Training Programs (Part 2)<span> </span>\n\nResearch in Practice: Moderating Undesirable Behavior in Petting Zoo Animals<span> </span>\n\nConservation/Legislative Update', 'June 2012', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2483-autosave', '', '', '2012-06-07 14:53:46', '2012-06-07 19:53:46', '', 2483, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2483-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2486, 2, '2012-06-07 15:14:04', '2012-06-07 20:14:04', '<em>By Bob Berghaier, Ex-Zookeeper\r\nTour Consultant, Premier Tours\r\nPhiladelphia, PA\r\n<a href="mailto:bobb@premiertours.com"> bobb@premiertours.com</a></em>\r\n\r\nFrom 4-20 December 2010, I was in India looking at the eco-tourism potential of the Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) “Tiger Circuit” – Pench, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna Reserves and Assam’s Kaziranga National Park. My tour was arranged by an Indian in-country tour operator – Royal Expeditions royalexpeditions.com.  Royal Expeditions is an exceptional company and our trip operated flawlessly.  They have an extensive knowledge of the wildlife of their country and have had a long history in Indian conservation.  Their trip pre-departure information on the wildlife and the ecology of each area visited is extensive and at times was like reading someone’s academic dissertation.\r\n\r\nOn arrival in India in the early morning of 4 December 2010, my traveling companion Dr. Bob Singer and I passed through the Delhi’s new airport.  It is a very modern, clean facility.   However one still has to clear Indian immigration that is not well-organized and can move at a snail’s pace.  We got to our hotel just before dawn.  On the morning of 5 December 2010 we flew from Delhi to Nagpur on a local Indian airline, Indigo, whose check–in, in-flight service and aircraft were quite good.  If you have not flown internally in India for some time, the level of security may surprise you.  To even get into the airport you have to show an actual air or e-ticket as well as a form of identification with photo.  For non-Indian travelers a passport is mandatory.  At check-in your domestic airline has to tag each piece of your carry-on at check-in before you go through a security screening including an x-ray bag check and passing through a metal detector.  After this, each tag on your carry-on has to be stamped as checked by security. Before boarding your aircraft there is a final check to make sure that each of your carry-on items has the required stamped tag.  If your item doesn’t have a stamped tag it is confiscated.\r\n\r\nOur flight departed Delhi on time and arrived in Nagpur two hours later.  We were met on arrival and set off on our first Indian road adventure. The drive was 95km [59 mi.] and took just over two hours.   In my 31 years of overseas travel I’ve been driven in some incredible places – eastern Congo, Madagascar, Jakarta, Accra, northern Kenya, the Pan American highway in Peru and the Ecuadorian Andes.  None of these wild and woolly places prepared me for being driven on the roads of India.  With heavily decorated trucks bearing down on you, big buses with the drivers leaning on their horns to chase you out of their way, the motorcycles and mopeds, bicycles, motorized and man-pulled rickshaws, indifferent to traffic, Indian pedestrians, herds of driven cattle, lone stray cattle, goats, sheep and a pariah of dogs all on the road at various times and in some sections all on the road at once, made this a never-ending kaleidoscope of fascinating sights and close-call collisions. Within the first few hours I was convinced that the hardest working and most skilled person on the entire Sub-Continent must be the professional Indian Driver!\r\n\r\nTraveling on the road this day, however, got me two life mammals – Hanuman langur (<em>Semenopithecus entellus</em>) and rhesus macaque (<em>Macaca mulatta</em>).  I saw both species on several occasions while on the roads in forested areas in Madhya Pradesh outside the Reserves.  I was told that the macaques in particular are often fed by passing truck drivers, many of whom are Hindu devotes of the monkey god – Hanuman, which makes the rhesus the more commonly seen wild primate on the roadside.\r\n\r\nOur first stop on the Circuit was Pench National Park.  In India, each State administers their own conservation areas and the level of protection and management are more determined by the State government than any national authority.  The Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) Tiger Circuit is four National Parks. The southern-most is Pench, followed by Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Panna in the north.  Each Reserve is a four to six-hour drive from the other.  Each Reserve and each entrance gate to the Reserves has a specific number of vehicles that are allowed in each day.   I was told by the Indian naturalists I met that during the busiest times of the year for the Reserves - the last two weeks of December, the first two weeks of January and the month of April - pre-booking your game drives as far in advance as possible is strongly suggested.  You are allowed in the Reserves for morning game drives starting at sunrise (about 0630hrs this time of year) and one has to depart by 1000hrs – Bandhavgarh, 1100hrs – Pench and Panna, 1130hrs for Kanha.  You can then have an afternoon drive, which starts at 1500hrs, and you must vacate each of the Reserves by sunset (approximately 1800hrs in December).\r\n\r\nThe Reserve authorities believe that the hours between game drives give the wildlife a respite from the motorized tourists.  Having a great deal of experience in African eco-tourism, this is in marked contrast to the African conservation areas I have visited.  In Africa, if you wish, you could start at dawn and not have to leave the reserve or return to your lodge/camp until dusk.  On each game drive on the Circuit a local guide must accompany you.  This is now official policy in M.P. created by the State Parliament as a way for local men to get some income from the Reserves they live adjacent to.  In theory, this policy should help build local support for the Reserves.  The local guides earn 200 rupees (a bit less than $5.00 USA) per drive + tips.  It was quickly obvious that the skill and language level of each of these men varied.  Some were much better than others but I tipped all of them a bit and the better ones who found tigers, or who knew their species of birds well, I tipped more  - up to 200 rupees, doubling their normal stipend.\r\n\r\nI stayed two nights at the Pench Jungle Camp Lodge and Tented Camp.  This was a good introduction to the Circuit.    The Pench Jungle Camp has a 30-acre Eco-park nearby where one can do a night walk or day-birding trips.  The Eco-park is adjacent to Pench N.P. and according to my guide, naturalist Pahhir Patil, at least once per month a leopard (<em>Panthera pardus</em>) or tiger (<em>Panthera tigris tigris</em>) makes a kill here.  A night walk with Patil turned up Indian flying fox (<em>Pteropus giganteus</em>), and what I am convinced by its flight pattern and white belly was a big-eared horseshoe bat (<em>Rhinolophus macrotis</em>).  Temperatures in December at night range between 40-50°F [4.4-10°C] resulting in poor mammal viewing on this particular visit.  However, having this much area for birding walks or night mammal spotting should make Pench Jungle Camp a preferred accommodation for the serious naturalist.\r\n\r\nWe had three game drives with Patil in Pench and although we were close to at least two of them we never saw a tiger there.  However, it was here that I first experienced how the local driver/naturalist/forestry guides most frequently find tigers.  They listen to alarm calls of the deer, langur and peafowl and stake out an area, waiting for a tiger to appear. Once you know what sounds to pay attention to, one can follow the trail of the tiger or other larger carnivore as they move through the forest.  This method must work well when the vegetation is not as thick and full as it is in December or the other post-monsoon months of October, November and January.  Each of the Tiger Circuit naturalists I talked with felt that the best month for tiger viewing in their reserves was February and March.  It is then that the vegetation was open enough (cleared mostly by herbivore grazing/browsing) to more easily see the cats after they were located by listening to the alarm calls.  They all felt that in April there were more local Indian tourists which made the reserves too crowded and getting game drive reservations more difficult.  In May and June the weather is so hot that tigers tend to move around less during the limited hours the reserves are open to tourists making sightings more difficult.  Looking for tigers reminded me of looking for leopards in Africa. You need to have a driver/guide/naturalist that uses good tracking skills and has knowledge of the habits of the cats, combined with some luck in getting the opportunity to see them.\r\n\r\nPench is primarily Sal forest, but a large reservoir occupies a good part of the Reserve, which adds to the diversity of bird life, making it a good destination for birders as well as mammalogists.  Since Pench was my first Indian game viewing I got a few new life mammals there including spotted deer (or chital) [<em>Axis axis</em>] – very common and at a very high density, nilgai (<em>Boselaphus tragocamelus</em>) – this antelope species reminded me very much of the African eland; three striped palm squirrel (<em>Funambulus palmarum</em>); and only one gaur (<em>Bos gaurus</em>) - a single male that was sparring with a small tree.  We also saw sambar deer (<em>Cervus unicolor</em>) and a few golden jackals (<em>Canis aureus</em>) as well as both Hanuman langurs and rhesus macaques.\r\n\r\nPench may have as many as 50 adult tigers.  Patil and the other naturalists I spoke with at Pench thought that the tiger population is doing well in Pench and is increasing.  One naturalist I spoke to in Kanha was not so sure about this since he speculated that the large spotted deer population was perhaps an indicator of a low tiger population.  In any case, one section of the tourist area of the Reserves that we were assigned was recently closed because a female tiger had given birth to four cubs.  Other large carnivores seen with some frequency in Pench include leopard, sloth bear (<em>Melursus ursinus</em>) and Asian wild dog or dhole (<em>Cuon alpinus</em>).\r\n\r\nDholes are seen with some regularity here.  A pair was seen a week before our arrival.  The Tiger Circuit naturalists I talked with have noticed a pattern with dhole sightings in their respective reserves.  According to their observations dhole numbers seem to be cyclic.  Pairs or trios are seen infrequently at first.  Then the number of animals per pack increases up to a dozen or more for a few years and then the species disappears usually after a heavy monsoon season until it comes back with a pair or trio restarting this population boom and bust cycle again.  The naturalists suspect that canine distemper causes these population crashes.  With the number of feral dogs I observed on this visit to India I am not surprised that distemper or even perhaps rabies can spread quickly into a wild population of canids.  A similar domestic canine to wild canid disease transfer is believed to be the cause of the local extinction of African wild dogs (<em>Lycaon pictus</em>) in the Masai Mara in Kenya in the late 80’s early 1990s.  The tiger is certainly the main conservation mission of the M.P. Reserves, however, there is also reason for concern about the State’s dhole population.\r\n\r\nIn the morning of 7 December 2010, after our last Pench game drive we departed by road to Kanha Reserve 200km [~125 mi.] to the north.  Another Indian road adventure of five-plus hours got us to the Kanha area.  Our lodge for the next two nights – the Kanha Earth Lodge - is located in the buffer zone west of the Reserve and is part of the Indian Jungle Lodge Company - Pug Dundee Safaris.  Pug Dundee has lodges in Panna, Bandhavgarh and Earth Lodge is their newest, most modern-looking facility.  It reminded me very much of some of the African game lodges that I have seen.  Each Pug Dundee Lodge has its own team of naturalists.  Those I met were very good and I learned a lot about Indian wildlife and the management of the Tiger Circuit Reserves from them.  Pug Dundee also purchases or leases land around its lodges, which become small, private reserves.  On my first afternoon at Earth Lodge I saw a small carnivore from the porch of my room, which moved away before I could get a good look at it through my binoculars.  From how it moved and its coloration, a jungle cat was my best guess.  Although the Lodge is a half-hour from the Reserve entrance gate, the drive is interesting and in the early morning hours it becomes a predawn game drive.  I was told that during the warmer months wildlife is often spotted enroute, especially reptiles, and once a tiger was seen.\r\n\r\nThe most experienced naturalist at Earth Lodge was an enthusiastic young Indian – Harsh.  Through Harsh I was the first Lodge guest to do a night drive out of the Lodge into Kanha’s buffer zone.  I did two drives, each lasting up to two hours.  The route passed through open community land, fields and rice paddies and ended up on a river that borders the Park.  It was cold at night so animal sightings were limited although I saw jackals, spotted and sambar deer, one little Indian field mouse (Mus booduga) and on both nights a small wild canid that moved and looked like an Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis).\r\n\r\nWe had three game drives within Kanha, two mornings and one afternoon.  Before you enter the Reserve you pass a small colony of Indian flying fox in a huge tree in the village of Khatia.  Kanha is the largest Reserve in the Circuit and is a mix of Sal forest interspaced with grasslands meadows.  The meadow most central and frequently visited by tourists is Kanha Meadow where Dr. George Schaller did his study of Indian predator/prey relationships summarized in The Deer and The Tiger published in 1967.  The park also has highland forest with thick stands of bamboo that reach up to a high plateau that is 2,900 ft. [~884m] in elevation.  We did one drive here to look for the four-horned antelope or chowsingha, which we did not find, but saw instead a small group of ruddy mongoose (<em>Herpestes smithii</em>) and an Indian muntjac or barking deer (<em>Muntiacus muntjak</em>), and our first wild boar (<em>Sus scrofa</em>).  In the lower elevations spotted deer were common, as were langur.  Jackals were frequently seen as well as sambar and four gaur.  We also saw swamp deer or barasingha on every game drive.  These are the hard ground swamp deer (<em>Cervus duvauceli branderi</em>).  During the 1970’s the population of these dropped to only 60 individuals.  A concentrated breeding program using a core population protected by a predator-proof fence, is one of India’s best conservation success stories.  As of June 2006 the estimated population is over 1,200 individuals and the subspecies is believed to be extinct in the rest of the country.\r\n\r\nKanha is also where I saw my first tiger, a lifetime goal for this ex-big cat zookeeper.  It was on our 2nd drive in Kanha (our 5th overall).  We were just heading back after an uneventful afternoon of wildlife viewing when on a narrow forest road ahead was a row of nearly a dozen stopped vehicles.  The word filtered down to us that two tigers (male and female) had been seen on the road before moving off into the forest.  Our forest guide quickly showed that he knew what he was doing by directing our driver into a position that allowed a short but very clear look at a large male tiger.  It was just a glimpse but produced an incredible rush of excitement in everyone who saw it.  These were the only two tigers seen in this section of the Reserve that day.  A June 2006 survey in Kanha reported 133 tigers within the Reserve.  Some local naturalists believe that the population now may be as low as 40 adult individuals.  They point to several trends, fewer tiger being seen recently and more sightings of leopards and jackals.  Tigers that leave the Reserve are sometimes poisoned due to predation on cattle.  Our naturalist also believed Kanha is not as well-watered a Reserve in comparison to Bandhavgarh.  The limited number of water sources could increase tiger to tiger aggression with resultant fatalities during the dry, hot months of May and June. The best place to see tigers in the Reserve appears to be Kanha Meadows.  A tigress with three cubs was observed there on our last drive in the park.  Upon my return I reread The Deer and The Tiger and found that Schaller also recorded a female with three cubs here over 40 years ago.  In retrospect, an indication of the presence of tigers was the several species of vultures and scavenging species of eagles that we saw around the meadow as well as numerous jackals.\r\n\r\nIt was then on to the 3rd Reserve on the Circuit – Bandhavgarh.  The drive is 250kms [~155 mi.] and for us took six hours. Due to our late departure from Earth Lodge we arrived at our accommodation, Kings Lodge, after dark.  Although we arrived safely I would highly recommend not driving at night on Indian roads. Kings Lodge is located near the Reserve’s northern boundary and the Tala entrance gate, and is located within the Reserve’s buffer zone.  It is a comfortable Lodge with good accommodations and common areas.  Our naturalist here was Karan Rana, an ex-pat Nepalese who previously worked in Chitwan Nepal’s Tiger Tops Lodge.   He had a wealth of knowledge about the wildlife of both India and his native country.  From the other Pug Dundee naturalist I discovered that Karan had trained them all.  Pug Dundee also has a nearby lodge adjacent to the Reserve boundary – Tree House Hideaway.  Tree House is located right along the Reserve boundary.  It is surrounded by a private reserve that has good bird and mammal sightings although the possible presence of Euro-Asian wild boar means that you need to be escorted by a lodge guard during dusk to dawn hours.  The Tree House also has a waterhole with a viewing hide.  I was told that the waterhole has very good game viewing, particularly during the dry season, especially for leopards that frequently jump the Reserve boundary fence to drink or hunt at the Tree House waterhole.  Occasionally from either lodge, wildlife, even wild species of cats both big &amp; small, are seen while driving to the entrance gate in the predawn hours.  On the morning of our last drive we saw an Indian hare (<em>Lepus nigricollos</em>)…..\r\n\r\n<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2487" title="tiger3" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/tiger3-300x242.jpg" alt="tiger3" width="300" height="242" /> <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2488" title="tiger4" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/tiger4-300x241.jpg" alt="tiger4" width="300" height="241" />\r\n\r\n<strong><em><span>Want to read the rest of this article?  For this and many more fascinating articles every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum.  AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. </span><a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/join/">JOIN NOW!</a></em></strong>', 'Observations on Eco-tourism and Conservation in India', 0, '', 'draft', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'observations-on-eco-tourism-and-conservation-in-india', '', '', '2013-10-15 17:49:17', '2013-10-15 22:49:17', '', 0, 'http://aazk.org/?p=2486', 0, 'post', '', 0) ; 
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INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2489, 2, '2012-06-07 15:03:19', '2012-06-07 20:03:19', '<em>By Bob Berghaier, Ex-Zookeeper\nTour Consultant, Premier Tours\nPhiladelphia, PA\n<a href="mailto:bobb@premiertours.com"> bobb@premiertours.com</a></em>\n\nFrom 4-20 December 2010, I was in India looking at the eco-tourism potential of the Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) “Tiger Circuit” – Pench, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna Reserves and Assam’s Kaziranga National Park. My tour was arranged by an Indian in-country tour operator – Royal Expeditions royalexpeditions.com.  Royal Expeditions is an exceptional company and our trip operated flawlessly.  They have an extensive knowledge of the wildlife of their country and have had a long history in Indian conservation.  Their trip pre-departure information on the wildlife and the ecology of each area visited is extensive and at times was like reading someone’s academic dissertation.\n\nOn arrival in India in the early morning of 4 December 2010, my traveling companion Dr. Bob Singer and I passed through the Delhi’s new airport.  It is a very modern, clean facility.   However one still has to clear Indian immigration that is not well-organized and can move at a snail’s pace.  We got to our hotel just before dawn.  On the morning of 5 December 2010 we flew from Delhi to Nagpur on a local Indian airline, Indigo, whose check–in, in-flight service and aircraft were quite good.  If you have not flown internally in India for some time, the level of security may surprise you.  To even get into the airport you have to show an actual air or e-ticket as well as a form of identification with photo.  For non-Indian travelers a passport is mandatory.  At check-in your domestic airline has to tag each piece of your carry-on at check-in before you go through a security screening including an x-ray bag check and passing through a metal detector.  After this, each tag on your carry-on has to be stamped as checked by security. Before boarding your aircraft there is a final check to make sure that each of your carry-on items has the required stamped tag.  If your item doesn’t have a stamped tag it is confiscated.\n\nOur flight departed Delhi on time and arrived in Nagpur two hours later.  We were met on arrival and set off on our first Indian road adventure. The drive was 95km [59 mi.] and took just over two hours.   In my 31 years of overseas travel I’ve been driven in some incredible places – eastern Congo, Madagascar, Jakarta, Accra, northern Kenya, the Pan American highway in Peru and the Ecuadorian Andes.  None of these wild and woolly places prepared me for being driven on the roads of India.  With heavily decorated trucks bearing down on you, big buses with the drivers leaning on their horns to chase you out of their way, the motorcycles and mopeds, bicycles, motorized and man-pulled rickshaws, indifferent to traffic, Indian pedestrians, herds of driven cattle, lone stray cattle, goats, sheep and a pariah of dogs all on the road at various times and in some sections all on the road at once, made this a never-ending kaleidoscope of fascinating sights and close-call collisions. Within the first few hours I was convinced that the hardest working and most skilled person on the entire Sub-Continent must be the professional Indian Driver!\n\nTraveling on the road this day, however, got me two life mammals – Hanuman langur (<em>Semenopithecus entellus</em>) and rhesus macaque (<em>Macaca mulatta</em>).  I saw both species on several occasions while on the roads in forested areas in Madhya Pradesh outside the Reserves.  I was told that the macaques in particular are often fed by passing truck drivers, many of whom are Hindu devotes of the monkey god – Hanuman, which makes the rhesus the more commonly seen wild primate on the roadside.\n\nOur first stop on the Circuit was Pench National Park.  In India, each State administers their own conservation areas and the level of protection and management are more determined by the State government than any national authority.  The Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) Tiger Circuit is four National Parks. The southern-most is Pench, followed by Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Panna in the north.  Each Reserve is a four to six-hour drive from the other.  Each Reserve and each entrance gate to the Reserves has a specific number of vehicles that are allowed in each day.   I was told by the Indian naturalists I met that during the busiest times of the year for the Reserves - the last two weeks of December, the first two weeks of January and the month of April - pre-booking your game drives as far in advance as possible is strongly suggested.  You are allowed in the Reserves for morning game drives starting at sunrise (about 0630hrs this time of year) and one has to depart by 1000hrs – Bandhavgarh, 1100hrs – Pench and Panna, 1130hrs for Kanha.  You can then have an afternoon drive, which starts at 1500hrs, and you must vacate each of the Reserves by sunset (approximately 1800hrs in December).\n\nThe Reserve authorities believe that the hours between game drives give the wildlife a respite from the motorized tourists.  Having a great deal of experience in African eco-tourism, this is in marked contrast to the African conservation areas I have visited.  In Africa, if you wish, you could start at dawn and not have to leave the reserve or return to your lodge/camp until dusk.  On each game drive on the Circuit a local guide must accompany you.  This is now official policy in M.P. created by the State Parliament as a way for local men to get some income from the Reserves they live adjacent to.  In theory, this policy should help build local support for the Reserves.  The local guides earn 200 rupees (a bit less than $5.00 USA) per drive + tips.  It was quickly obvious that the skill and language level of each of these men varied.  Some were much better than others but I tipped all of them a bit and the better ones who found tigers, or who knew their species of birds well, I tipped more  - up to 200 rupees, doubling their normal stipend.\n\nI stayed two nights at the Pench Jungle Camp Lodge and Tented Camp.  This was a good introduction to the Circuit.    The Pench Jungle Camp has a 30-acre Eco-park nearby where one can do a night walk or day-birding trips.  The Eco-park is adjacent to Pench N.P. and according to my guide, naturalist Pahhir Patil, at least once per month a leopard (<em>Panthera pardus</em>) or tiger (<em>Panthera tigris tigris</em>) makes a kill here.  A night walk with Patil turned up Indian flying fox (<em>Pteropus giganteus</em>), and what I am convinced by its flight pattern and white belly was a big-eared horseshoe bat (<em>Rhinolophus macrotis</em>).  Temperatures in December at night range between 40-50°F [4.4-10°C] resulting in poor mammal viewing on this particular visit.  However, having this much area for birding walks or night mammal spotting should make Pench Jungle Camp a preferred accommodation for the serious naturalist.\n\nWe had three game drives with Patil in Pench and although we were close to at least two of them we never saw a tiger there.  However, it was here that I first experienced how the local driver/naturalist/forestry guides most frequently find tigers.  They listen to alarm calls of the deer, langur and peafowl and stake out an area, waiting for a tiger to appear. Once you know what sounds to pay attention to, one can follow the trail of the tiger or other larger carnivore as they move through the forest.  This method must work well when the vegetation is not as thick and full as it is in December or the other post-monsoon months of October, November and January.  Each of the Tiger Circuit naturalists I talked with felt that the best month for tiger viewing in their reserves was February and March.  It is then that the vegetation was open enough (cleared mostly by herbivore grazing/browsing) to more easily see the cats after they were located by listening to the alarm calls.  They all felt that in April there were more local Indian tourists which made the reserves too crowded and getting game drive reservations more difficult.  In May and June the weather is so hot that tigers tend to move around less during the limited hours the reserves are open to tourists making sightings more difficult.  Looking for tigers reminded me of looking for leopards in Africa. You need to have a driver/guide/naturalist that uses good tracking skills and has knowledge of the habits of the cats, combined with some luck in getting the opportunity to see them.\n\nPench is primarily Sal forest, but a large reservoir occupies a good part of the Reserve, which adds to the diversity of bird life, making it a good destination for birders as well as mammalogists.  Since Pench was my first Indian game viewing I got a few new life mammals there including spotted deer (or chital) [<em>Axis axis</em>] – very common and at a very high density, nilgai (<em>Boselaphus tragocamelus</em>) – this antelope species reminded me very much of the African eland; three striped palm squirrel (<em>Funambulus palmarum</em>); and only one gaur (<em>Bos gaurus</em>) - a single male that was sparring with a small tree.  We also saw sambar deer (<em>Cervus unicolor</em>) and a few golden jackals (<em>Canis aureus</em>) as well as both Hanuman langurs and rhesus macaques.\n\nPench may have as many as 50 adult tigers.  Patil and the other naturalists I spoke with at Pench thought that the tiger population is doing well in Pench and is increasing.  One naturalist I spoke to in Kanha was not so sure about this since he speculated that the large spotted deer population was perhaps an indicator of a low tiger population.  In any case, one section of the tourist area of the Reserves that we were assigned was recently closed because a female tiger had given birth to four cubs.  Other large carnivores seen with some frequency in Pench include leopard, sloth bear (<em>Melursus ursinus</em>) and Asian wild dog or dhole (<em>Cuon alpinus</em>).\n\nDholes are seen with some regularity here.  A pair was seen a week before our arrival.  The Tiger Circuit naturalists I talked with have noticed a pattern with dhole sightings in their respective reserves.  According to their observations dhole numbers seem to be cyclic.  Pairs or trios are seen infrequently at first.  Then the number of animals per pack increases up to a dozen or more for a few years and then the species disappears usually after a heavy monsoon season until it comes back with a pair or trio restarting this population boom and bust cycle again.  The naturalists suspect that canine distemper causes these population crashes.  With the number of feral dogs I observed on this visit to India I am not surprised that distemper or even perhaps rabies can spread quickly into a wild population of canids.  A similar domestic canine to wild canid disease transfer is believed to be the cause of the local extinction of African wild dogs (<em>Lycaon pictus</em>) in the Masai Mara in Kenya in the late 80’s early 1990s.  The tiger is certainly the main conservation mission of the M.P. Reserves, however, there is also reason for concern about the State’s dhole population.\n\nIn the morning of 7 December 2010, after our last Pench game drive we departed by road to Kanha Reserve 200km [~125 mi.] to the north.  Another Indian road adventure of five-plus hours got us to the Kanha area.  Our lodge for the next two nights – the Kanha Earth Lodge - is located in the buffer zone west of the Reserve and is part of the Indian Jungle Lodge Company - Pug Dundee Safaris.  Pug Dundee has lodges in Panna, Bandhavgarh and Earth Lodge is their newest, most modern-looking facility.  It reminded me very much of some of the African game lodges that I have seen.  Each Pug Dundee Lodge has its own team of naturalists.  Those I met were very good and I learned a lot about Indian wildlife and the management of the Tiger Circuit Reserves from them.  Pug Dundee also purchases or leases land around its lodges, which become small, private reserves.  On my first afternoon at Earth Lodge I saw a small carnivore from the porch of my room, which moved away before I could get a good look at it through my binoculars.  From how it moved and its coloration, a jungle cat was my best guess.  Although the Lodge is a half-hour from the Reserve entrance gate, the drive is interesting and in the early morning hours it becomes a predawn game drive.  I was told that during the warmer months wildlife is often spotted enroute, especially reptiles, and once a tiger was seen.\n\nThe most experienced naturalist at Earth Lodge was an enthusiastic young Indian – Harsh.  Through Harsh I was the first Lodge guest to do a night drive out of the Lodge into Kanha’s buffer zone.  I did two drives, each lasting up to two hours.  The route passed through open community land, fields and rice paddies and ended up on a river that borders the Park.  It was cold at night so animal sightings were limited although I saw jackals, spotted and sambar deer, one little Indian field mouse (Mus booduga) and on both nights a small wild canid that moved and looked like an Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis).\n\nWe had three game drives within Kanha, two mornings and one afternoon.  Before you enter the Reserve you pass a small colony of Indian flying fox in a huge tree in the village of Khatia.  Kanha is the largest Reserve in the Circuit and is a mix of Sal forest interspaced with grasslands meadows.  The meadow most central and frequently visited by tourists is Kanha Meadow where Dr. George Schaller did his study of Indian predator/prey relationships summarized in The Deer and The Tiger published in 1967.  The park also has highland forest with thick stands of bamboo that reach up to a high plateau that is 2,900 ft. [~884m] in elevation.  We did one drive here to look for the four-horned antelope or chowsingha, which we did not find, but saw instead a small group of ruddy mongoose (<em>Herpestes smithii</em>) and an Indian muntjac or barking deer (<em>Muntiacus muntjak</em>), and our first wild boar (<em>Sus scrofa</em>).  In the lower elevations spotted deer were common, as were langur.  Jackals were frequently seen as well as sambar and four gaur.  We also saw swamp deer or barasingha on every game drive.  These are the hard ground swamp deer (<em>Cervus duvauceli branderi</em>).  During the 1970’s the population of these dropped to only 60 individuals.  A concentrated breeding program using a core population protected by a predator-proof fence, is one of India’s best conservation success stories.  As of June 2006 the estimated population is over 1,200 individuals and the subspecies is believed to be extinct in the rest of the country.\n\nKanha is also where I saw my first tiger, a lifetime goal for this ex-big cat zookeeper.  It was on our 2nd drive in Kanha (our 5th overall).  We were just heading back after an uneventful afternoon of wildlife viewing when on a narrow forest road ahead was a row of nearly a dozen stopped vehicles.  The word filtered down to us that two tigers (male and female) had been seen on the road before moving off into the forest.  Our forest guide quickly showed that he knew what he was doing by directing our driver into a position that allowed a short but very clear look at a large male tiger.  It was just a glimpse but produced an incredible rush of excitement in everyone who saw it.  These were the only two tigers seen in this section of the Reserve that day.  A June 2006 survey in Kanha reported 133 tigers within the Reserve.  Some local naturalists believe that the population now may be as low as 40 adult individuals.  They point to several trends, fewer tiger being seen recently and more sightings of leopards and jackals.  Tigers that leave the Reserve are sometimes poisoned due to predation on cattle.  Our naturalist also believed Kanha is not as well-watered a Reserve in comparison to Bandhavgarh.  The limited number of water sources could increase tiger to tiger aggression with resultant fatalities during the dry, hot months of May and June. The best place to see tigers in the Reserve appears to be Kanha Meadows.  A tigress with three cubs was observed there on our last drive in the park.  Upon my return I reread The Deer and The Tiger and found that Schaller also recorded a female with three cubs here over 40 years ago.  In retrospect, an indication of the presence of tigers was the several species of vultures and scavenging species of eagles that we saw around the meadow as well as numerous jackals.\n\nIt was then on to the 3rd Reserve on the Circuit – Bandhavgarh.  The drive is 250kms [~155 mi.] and for us took six hours. Due to our late departure from Earth Lodge we arrived at our accommodation, Kings Lodge, after dark.  Although we arrived safely I would highly recommend not driving at night on Indian roads. Kings Lodge is located near the Reserve’s northern boundary and the Tala entrance gate, and is located within the Reserve’s buffer zone.  It is a comfortable Lodge with good accommodations and common areas.  Our naturalist here was Karan Rana, an ex-pat Nepalese who previously worked in Chitwan Nepal’s Tiger Tops Lodge.   He had a wealth of knowledge about the wildlife of both India and his native country.  From the other Pug Dundee naturalist I discovered that Karan had trained them all.  Pug Dundee also has a nearby lodge adjacent to the Reserve boundary – Tree House Hideaway.  Tree House is located right along the Reserve boundary.  It is surrounded by a private reserve that has good bird and mammal sightings although the possible presence of Euro-Asian wild boar means that you need to be escorted by a lodge guard during dusk to dawn hours.  The Tree House also has a waterhole with a viewing hide.  I was told that the waterhole has very good game viewing, particularly during the dry season, especially for leopards that frequently jump the Reserve boundary fence to drink or hunt at the Tree House waterhole.  Occasionally from either lodge, wildlife, even wild species of cats both big &amp; small, are seen while driving to the entrance gate in the predawn hours.  On the morning of our last drive we saw an Indian hare (<em>Lepus nigricollos</em>)…..', 'Observations on Eco-tourism and Conservation in India', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2486-revision', '', '', '2012-06-07 15:03:19', '2012-06-07 20:03:19', '', 2486, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2486-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2490, 2, '2012-06-07 15:11:21', '2012-06-07 20:11:21', '<em>By Bob Berghaier, Ex-Zookeeper\nTour Consultant, Premier Tours\nPhiladelphia, PA\n<a href="mailto:bobb@premiertours.com"> bobb@premiertours.com</a></em>\n\nFrom 4-20 December 2010, I was in India looking at the eco-tourism potential of the Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) “Tiger Circuit” – Pench, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna Reserves and Assam’s Kaziranga National Park. My tour was arranged by an Indian in-country tour operator – Royal Expeditions royalexpeditions.com.  Royal Expeditions is an exceptional company and our trip operated flawlessly.  They have an extensive knowledge of the wildlife of their country and have had a long history in Indian conservation.  Their trip pre-departure information on the wildlife and the ecology of each area visited is extensive and at times was like reading someone’s academic dissertation.\n\nOn arrival in India in the early morning of 4 December 2010, my traveling companion Dr. Bob Singer and I passed through the Delhi’s new airport.  It is a very modern, clean facility.   However one still has to clear Indian immigration that is not well-organized and can move at a snail’s pace.  We got to our hotel just before dawn.  On the morning of 5 December 2010 we flew from Delhi to Nagpur on a local Indian airline, Indigo, whose check–in, in-flight service and aircraft were quite good.  If you have not flown internally in India for some time, the level of security may surprise you.  To even get into the airport you have to show an actual air or e-ticket as well as a form of identification with photo.  For non-Indian travelers a passport is mandatory.  At check-in your domestic airline has to tag each piece of your carry-on at check-in before you go through a security screening including an x-ray bag check and passing through a metal detector.  After this, each tag on your carry-on has to be stamped as checked by security. Before boarding your aircraft there is a final check to make sure that each of your carry-on items has the required stamped tag.  If your item doesn’t have a stamped tag it is confiscated.\n\nOur flight departed Delhi on time and arrived in Nagpur two hours later.  We were met on arrival and set off on our first Indian road adventure. The drive was 95km [59 mi.] and took just over two hours.   In my 31 years of overseas travel I’ve been driven in some incredible places – eastern Congo, Madagascar, Jakarta, Accra, northern Kenya, the Pan American highway in Peru and the Ecuadorian Andes.  None of these wild and woolly places prepared me for being driven on the roads of India.  With heavily decorated trucks bearing down on you, big buses with the drivers leaning on their horns to chase you out of their way, the motorcycles and mopeds, bicycles, motorized and man-pulled rickshaws, indifferent to traffic, Indian pedestrians, herds of driven cattle, lone stray cattle, goats, sheep and a pariah of dogs all on the road at various times and in some sections all on the road at once, made this a never-ending kaleidoscope of fascinating sights and close-call collisions. Within the first few hours I was convinced that the hardest working and most skilled person on the entire Sub-Continent must be the professional Indian Driver!\n\nTraveling on the road this day, however, got me two life mammals – Hanuman langur (<em>Semenopithecus entellus</em>) and rhesus macaque (<em>Macaca mulatta</em>).  I saw both species on several occasions while on the roads in forested areas in Madhya Pradesh outside the Reserves.  I was told that the macaques in particular are often fed by passing truck drivers, many of whom are Hindu devotes of the monkey god – Hanuman, which makes the rhesus the more commonly seen wild primate on the roadside.\n\nOur first stop on the Circuit was Pench National Park.  In India, each State administers their own conservation areas and the level of protection and management are more determined by the State government than any national authority.  The Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) Tiger Circuit is four National Parks. The southern-most is Pench, followed by Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Panna in the north.  Each Reserve is a four to six-hour drive from the other.  Each Reserve and each entrance gate to the Reserves has a specific number of vehicles that are allowed in each day.   I was told by the Indian naturalists I met that during the busiest times of the year for the Reserves - the last two weeks of December, the first two weeks of January and the month of April - pre-booking your game drives as far in advance as possible is strongly suggested.  You are allowed in the Reserves for morning game drives starting at sunrise (about 0630hrs this time of year) and one has to depart by 1000hrs – Bandhavgarh, 1100hrs – Pench and Panna, 1130hrs for Kanha.  You can then have an afternoon drive, which starts at 1500hrs, and you must vacate each of the Reserves by sunset (approximately 1800hrs in December).\n\nThe Reserve authorities believe that the hours between game drives give the wildlife a respite from the motorized tourists.  Having a great deal of experience in African eco-tourism, this is in marked contrast to the African conservation areas I have visited.  In Africa, if you wish, you could start at dawn and not have to leave the reserve or return to your lodge/camp until dusk.  On each game drive on the Circuit a local guide must accompany you.  This is now official policy in M.P. created by the State Parliament as a way for local men to get some income from the Reserves they live adjacent to.  In theory, this policy should help build local support for the Reserves.  The local guides earn 200 rupees (a bit less than $5.00 USA) per drive + tips.  It was quickly obvious that the skill and language level of each of these men varied.  Some were much better than others but I tipped all of them a bit and the better ones who found tigers, or who knew their species of birds well, I tipped more  - up to 200 rupees, doubling their normal stipend.\n\nI stayed two nights at the Pench Jungle Camp Lodge and Tented Camp.  This was a good introduction to the Circuit.    The Pench Jungle Camp has a 30-acre Eco-park nearby where one can do a night walk or day-birding trips.  The Eco-park is adjacent to Pench N.P. and according to my guide, naturalist Pahhir Patil, at least once per month a leopard (<em>Panthera pardus</em>) or tiger (<em>Panthera tigris tigris</em>) makes a kill here.  A night walk with Patil turned up Indian flying fox (<em>Pteropus giganteus</em>), and what I am convinced by its flight pattern and white belly was a big-eared horseshoe bat (<em>Rhinolophus macrotis</em>).  Temperatures in December at night range between 40-50°F [4.4-10°C] resulting in poor mammal viewing on this particular visit.  However, having this much area for birding walks or night mammal spotting should make Pench Jungle Camp a preferred accommodation for the serious naturalist.\n\nWe had three game drives with Patil in Pench and although we were close to at least two of them we never saw a tiger there.  However, it was here that I first experienced how the local driver/naturalist/forestry guides most frequently find tigers.  They listen to alarm calls of the deer, langur and peafowl and stake out an area, waiting for a tiger to appear. Once you know what sounds to pay attention to, one can follow the trail of the tiger or other larger carnivore as they move through the forest.  This method must work well when the vegetation is not as thick and full as it is in December or the other post-monsoon months of October, November and January.  Each of the Tiger Circuit naturalists I talked with felt that the best month for tiger viewing in their reserves was February and March.  It is then that the vegetation was open enough (cleared mostly by herbivore grazing/browsing) to more easily see the cats after they were located by listening to the alarm calls.  They all felt that in April there were more local Indian tourists which made the reserves too crowded and getting game drive reservations more difficult.  In May and June the weather is so hot that tigers tend to move around less during the limited hours the reserves are open to tourists making sightings more difficult.  Looking for tigers reminded me of looking for leopards in Africa. You need to have a driver/guide/naturalist that uses good tracking skills and has knowledge of the habits of the cats, combined with some luck in getting the opportunity to see them.\n\nPench is primarily Sal forest, but a large reservoir occupies a good part of the Reserve, which adds to the diversity of bird life, making it a good destination for birders as well as mammalogists.  Since Pench was my first Indian game viewing I got a few new life mammals there including spotted deer (or chital) [<em>Axis axis</em>] – very common and at a very high density, nilgai (<em>Boselaphus tragocamelus</em>) – this antelope species reminded me very much of the African eland; three striped palm squirrel (<em>Funambulus palmarum</em>); and only one gaur (<em>Bos gaurus</em>) - a single male that was sparring with a small tree.  We also saw sambar deer (<em>Cervus unicolor</em>) and a few golden jackals (<em>Canis aureus</em>) as well as both Hanuman langurs and rhesus macaques.\n\nPench may have as many as 50 adult tigers.  Patil and the other naturalists I spoke with at Pench thought that the tiger population is doing well in Pench and is increasing.  One naturalist I spoke to in Kanha was not so sure about this since he speculated that the large spotted deer population was perhaps an indicator of a low tiger population.  In any case, one section of the tourist area of the Reserves that we were assigned was recently closed because a female tiger had given birth to four cubs.  Other large carnivores seen with some frequency in Pench include leopard, sloth bear (<em>Melursus ursinus</em>) and Asian wild dog or dhole (<em>Cuon alpinus</em>).\n\nDholes are seen with some regularity here.  A pair was seen a week before our arrival.  The Tiger Circuit naturalists I talked with have noticed a pattern with dhole sightings in their respective reserves.  According to their observations dhole numbers seem to be cyclic.  Pairs or trios are seen infrequently at first.  Then the number of animals per pack increases up to a dozen or more for a few years and then the species disappears usually after a heavy monsoon season until it comes back with a pair or trio restarting this population boom and bust cycle again.  The naturalists suspect that canine distemper causes these population crashes.  With the number of feral dogs I observed on this visit to India I am not surprised that distemper or even perhaps rabies can spread quickly into a wild population of canids.  A similar domestic canine to wild canid disease transfer is believed to be the cause of the local extinction of African wild dogs (<em>Lycaon pictus</em>) in the Masai Mara in Kenya in the late 80’s early 1990s.  The tiger is certainly the main conservation mission of the M.P. Reserves, however, there is also reason for concern about the State’s dhole population.\n\nIn the morning of 7 December 2010, after our last Pench game drive we departed by road to Kanha Reserve 200km [~125 mi.] to the north.  Another Indian road adventure of five-plus hours got us to the Kanha area.  Our lodge for the next two nights – the Kanha Earth Lodge - is located in the buffer zone west of the Reserve and is part of the Indian Jungle Lodge Company - Pug Dundee Safaris.  Pug Dundee has lodges in Panna, Bandhavgarh and Earth Lodge is their newest, most modern-looking facility.  It reminded me very much of some of the African game lodges that I have seen.  Each Pug Dundee Lodge has its own team of naturalists.  Those I met were very good and I learned a lot about Indian wildlife and the management of the Tiger Circuit Reserves from them.  Pug Dundee also purchases or leases land around its lodges, which become small, private reserves.  On my first afternoon at Earth Lodge I saw a small carnivore from the porch of my room, which moved away before I could get a good look at it through my binoculars.  From how it moved and its coloration, a jungle cat was my best guess.  Although the Lodge is a half-hour from the Reserve entrance gate, the drive is interesting and in the early morning hours it becomes a predawn game drive.  I was told that during the warmer months wildlife is often spotted enroute, especially reptiles, and once a tiger was seen.\n\nThe most experienced naturalist at Earth Lodge was an enthusiastic young Indian – Harsh.  Through Harsh I was the first Lodge guest to do a night drive out of the Lodge into Kanha’s buffer zone.  I did two drives, each lasting up to two hours.  The route passed through open community land, fields and rice paddies and ended up on a river that borders the Park.  It was cold at night so animal sightings were limited although I saw jackals, spotted and sambar deer, one little Indian field mouse (Mus booduga) and on both nights a small wild canid that moved and looked like an Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis).\n\nWe had three game drives within Kanha, two mornings and one afternoon.  Before you enter the Reserve you pass a small colony of Indian flying fox in a huge tree in the village of Khatia.  Kanha is the largest Reserve in the Circuit and is a mix of Sal forest interspaced with grasslands meadows.  The meadow most central and frequently visited by tourists is Kanha Meadow where Dr. George Schaller did his study of Indian predator/prey relationships summarized in The Deer and The Tiger published in 1967.  The park also has highland forest with thick stands of bamboo that reach up to a high plateau that is 2,900 ft. [~884m] in elevation.  We did one drive here to look for the four-horned antelope or chowsingha, which we did not find, but saw instead a small group of ruddy mongoose (<em>Herpestes smithii</em>) and an Indian muntjac or barking deer (<em>Muntiacus muntjak</em>), and our first wild boar (<em>Sus scrofa</em>).  In the lower elevations spotted deer were common, as were langur.  Jackals were frequently seen as well as sambar and four gaur.  We also saw swamp deer or barasingha on every game drive.  These are the hard ground swamp deer (<em>Cervus duvauceli branderi</em>).  During the 1970’s the population of these dropped to only 60 individuals.  A concentrated breeding program using a core population protected by a predator-proof fence, is one of India’s best conservation success stories.  As of June 2006 the estimated population is over 1,200 individuals and the subspecies is believed to be extinct in the rest of the country.\n\nKanha is also where I saw my first tiger, a lifetime goal for this ex-big cat zookeeper.  It was on our 2nd drive in Kanha (our 5th overall).  We were just heading back after an uneventful afternoon of wildlife viewing when on a narrow forest road ahead was a row of nearly a dozen stopped vehicles.  The word filtered down to us that two tigers (male and female) had been seen on the road before moving off into the forest.  Our forest guide quickly showed that he knew what he was doing by directing our driver into a position that allowed a short but very clear look at a large male tiger.  It was just a glimpse but produced an incredible rush of excitement in everyone who saw it.  These were the only two tigers seen in this section of the Reserve that day.  A June 2006 survey in Kanha reported 133 tigers within the Reserve.  Some local naturalists believe that the population now may be as low as 40 adult individuals.  They point to several trends, fewer tiger being seen recently and more sightings of leopards and jackals.  Tigers that leave the Reserve are sometimes poisoned due to predation on cattle.  Our naturalist also believed Kanha is not as well-watered a Reserve in comparison to Bandhavgarh.  The limited number of water sources could increase tiger to tiger aggression with resultant fatalities during the dry, hot months of May and June. The best place to see tigers in the Reserve appears to be Kanha Meadows.  A tigress with three cubs was observed there on our last drive in the park.  Upon my return I reread The Deer and The Tiger and found that Schaller also recorded a female with three cubs here over 40 years ago.  In retrospect, an indication of the presence of tigers was the several species of vultures and scavenging species of eagles that we saw around the meadow as well as numerous jackals.\n\nIt was then on to the 3rd Reserve on the Circuit – Bandhavgarh.  The drive is 250kms [~155 mi.] and for us took six hours. Due to our late departure from Earth Lodge we arrived at our accommodation, Kings Lodge, after dark.  Although we arrived safely I would highly recommend not driving at night on Indian roads. Kings Lodge is located near the Reserve’s northern boundary and the Tala entrance gate, and is located within the Reserve’s buffer zone.  It is a comfortable Lodge with good accommodations and common areas.  Our naturalist here was Karan Rana, an ex-pat Nepalese who previously worked in Chitwan Nepal’s Tiger Tops Lodge.   He had a wealth of knowledge about the wildlife of both India and his native country.  From the other Pug Dundee naturalist I discovered that Karan had trained them all.  Pug Dundee also has a nearby lodge adjacent to the Reserve boundary – Tree House Hideaway.  Tree House is located right along the Reserve boundary.  It is surrounded by a private reserve that has good bird and mammal sightings although the possible presence of Euro-Asian wild boar means that you need to be escorted by a lodge guard during dusk to dawn hours.  The Tree House also has a waterhole with a viewing hide.  I was told that the waterhole has very good game viewing, particularly during the dry season, especially for leopards that frequently jump the Reserve boundary fence to drink or hunt at the Tree House waterhole.  Occasionally from either lodge, wildlife, even wild species of cats both big &amp; small, are seen while driving to the entrance gate in the predawn hours.  On the morning of our last drive we saw an Indian hare (<em>Lepus nigricollos</em>)…..\n\n<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2487" title="tiger3" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/tiger3-300x242.jpg" alt="tiger3" width="300" height="242" /> <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2488" title="tiger4" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/tiger4-300x241.jpg" alt="tiger4" width="300" height="241" />', 'Observations on Eco-tourism and Conservation in India', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2486-revision-2', '', '', '2012-06-07 15:11:21', '2012-06-07 20:11:21', '', 2486, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2486-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2491, 2, '2012-06-07 15:13:42', '2012-06-07 20:13:42', '<em>By Bob Berghaier, Ex-Zookeeper\r\nTour Consultant, Premier Tours\r\nPhiladelphia, PA\r\n<a href="mailto:bobb@premiertours.com"> bobb@premiertours.com</a></em>\r\n\r\nFrom 4-20 December 2010, I was in India looking at the eco-tourism potential of the Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) “Tiger Circuit” – Pench, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna Reserves and Assam’s Kaziranga National Park. My tour was arranged by an Indian in-country tour operator – Royal Expeditions royalexpeditions.com.  Royal Expeditions is an exceptional company and our trip operated flawlessly.  They have an extensive knowledge of the wildlife of their country and have had a long history in Indian conservation.  Their trip pre-departure information on the wildlife and the ecology of each area visited is extensive and at times was like reading someone’s academic dissertation.\r\n\r\nOn arrival in India in the early morning of 4 December 2010, my traveling companion Dr. Bob Singer and I passed through the Delhi’s new airport.  It is a very modern, clean facility.   However one still has to clear Indian immigration that is not well-organized and can move at a snail’s pace.  We got to our hotel just before dawn.  On the morning of 5 December 2010 we flew from Delhi to Nagpur on a local Indian airline, Indigo, whose check–in, in-flight service and aircraft were quite good.  If you have not flown internally in India for some time, the level of security may surprise you.  To even get into the airport you have to show an actual air or e-ticket as well as a form of identification with photo.  For non-Indian travelers a passport is mandatory.  At check-in your domestic airline has to tag each piece of your carry-on at check-in before you go through a security screening including an x-ray bag check and passing through a metal detector.  After this, each tag on your carry-on has to be stamped as checked by security. Before boarding your aircraft there is a final check to make sure that each of your carry-on items has the required stamped tag.  If your item doesn’t have a stamped tag it is confiscated.\r\n\r\nOur flight departed Delhi on time and arrived in Nagpur two hours later.  We were met on arrival and set off on our first Indian road adventure. The drive was 95km [59 mi.] and took just over two hours.   In my 31 years of overseas travel I’ve been driven in some incredible places – eastern Congo, Madagascar, Jakarta, Accra, northern Kenya, the Pan American highway in Peru and the Ecuadorian Andes.  None of these wild and woolly places prepared me for being driven on the roads of India.  With heavily decorated trucks bearing down on you, big buses with the drivers leaning on their horns to chase you out of their way, the motorcycles and mopeds, bicycles, motorized and man-pulled rickshaws, indifferent to traffic, Indian pedestrians, herds of driven cattle, lone stray cattle, goats, sheep and a pariah of dogs all on the road at various times and in some sections all on the road at once, made this a never-ending kaleidoscope of fascinating sights and close-call collisions. Within the first few hours I was convinced that the hardest working and most skilled person on the entire Sub-Continent must be the professional Indian Driver!\r\n\r\nTraveling on the road this day, however, got me two life mammals – Hanuman langur (<em>Semenopithecus entellus</em>) and rhesus macaque (<em>Macaca mulatta</em>).  I saw both species on several occasions while on the roads in forested areas in Madhya Pradesh outside the Reserves.  I was told that the macaques in particular are often fed by passing truck drivers, many of whom are Hindu devotes of the monkey god – Hanuman, which makes the rhesus the more commonly seen wild primate on the roadside.\r\n\r\nOur first stop on the Circuit was Pench National Park.  In India, each State administers their own conservation areas and the level of protection and management are more determined by the State government than any national authority.  The Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) Tiger Circuit is four National Parks. The southern-most is Pench, followed by Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Panna in the north.  Each Reserve is a four to six-hour drive from the other.  Each Reserve and each entrance gate to the Reserves has a specific number of vehicles that are allowed in each day.   I was told by the Indian naturalists I met that during the busiest times of the year for the Reserves - the last two weeks of December, the first two weeks of January and the month of April - pre-booking your game drives as far in advance as possible is strongly suggested.  You are allowed in the Reserves for morning game drives starting at sunrise (about 0630hrs this time of year) and one has to depart by 1000hrs – Bandhavgarh, 1100hrs – Pench and Panna, 1130hrs for Kanha.  You can then have an afternoon drive, which starts at 1500hrs, and you must vacate each of the Reserves by sunset (approximately 1800hrs in December).\r\n\r\nThe Reserve authorities believe that the hours between game drives give the wildlife a respite from the motorized tourists.  Having a great deal of experience in African eco-tourism, this is in marked contrast to the African conservation areas I have visited.  In Africa, if you wish, you could start at dawn and not have to leave the reserve or return to your lodge/camp until dusk.  On each game drive on the Circuit a local guide must accompany you.  This is now official policy in M.P. created by the State Parliament as a way for local men to get some income from the Reserves they live adjacent to.  In theory, this policy should help build local support for the Reserves.  The local guides earn 200 rupees (a bit less than $5.00 USA) per drive + tips.  It was quickly obvious that the skill and language level of each of these men varied.  Some were much better than others but I tipped all of them a bit and the better ones who found tigers, or who knew their species of birds well, I tipped more  - up to 200 rupees, doubling their normal stipend.\r\n\r\nI stayed two nights at the Pench Jungle Camp Lodge and Tented Camp.  This was a good introduction to the Circuit.    The Pench Jungle Camp has a 30-acre Eco-park nearby where one can do a night walk or day-birding trips.  The Eco-park is adjacent to Pench N.P. and according to my guide, naturalist Pahhir Patil, at least once per month a leopard (<em>Panthera pardus</em>) or tiger (<em>Panthera tigris tigris</em>) makes a kill here.  A night walk with Patil turned up Indian flying fox (<em>Pteropus giganteus</em>), and what I am convinced by its flight pattern and white belly was a big-eared horseshoe bat (<em>Rhinolophus macrotis</em>).  Temperatures in December at night range between 40-50°F [4.4-10°C] resulting in poor mammal viewing on this particular visit.  However, having this much area for birding walks or night mammal spotting should make Pench Jungle Camp a preferred accommodation for the serious naturalist.\r\n\r\nWe had three game drives with Patil in Pench and although we were close to at least two of them we never saw a tiger there.  However, it was here that I first experienced how the local driver/naturalist/forestry guides most frequently find tigers.  They listen to alarm calls of the deer, langur and peafowl and stake out an area, waiting for a tiger to appear. Once you know what sounds to pay attention to, one can follow the trail of the tiger or other larger carnivore as they move through the forest.  This method must work well when the vegetation is not as thick and full as it is in December or the other post-monsoon months of October, November and January.  Each of the Tiger Circuit naturalists I talked with felt that the best month for tiger viewing in their reserves was February and March.  It is then that the vegetation was open enough (cleared mostly by herbivore grazing/browsing) to more easily see the cats after they were located by listening to the alarm calls.  They all felt that in April there were more local Indian tourists which made the reserves too crowded and getting game drive reservations more difficult.  In May and June the weather is so hot that tigers tend to move around less during the limited hours the reserves are open to tourists making sightings more difficult.  Looking for tigers reminded me of looking for leopards in Africa. You need to have a driver/guide/naturalist that uses good tracking skills and has knowledge of the habits of the cats, combined with some luck in getting the opportunity to see them.\r\n\r\nPench is primarily Sal forest, but a large reservoir occupies a good part of the Reserve, which adds to the diversity of bird life, making it a good destination for birders as well as mammalogists.  Since Pench was my first Indian game viewing I got a few new life mammals there including spotted deer (or chital) [<em>Axis axis</em>] – very common and at a very high density, nilgai (<em>Boselaphus tragocamelus</em>) – this antelope species reminded me very much of the African eland; three striped palm squirrel (<em>Funambulus palmarum</em>); and only one gaur (<em>Bos gaurus</em>) - a single male that was sparring with a small tree.  We also saw sambar deer (<em>Cervus unicolor</em>) and a few golden jackals (<em>Canis aureus</em>) as well as both Hanuman langurs and rhesus macaques.\r\n\r\nPench may have as many as 50 adult tigers.  Patil and the other naturalists I spoke with at Pench thought that the tiger population is doing well in Pench and is increasing.  One naturalist I spoke to in Kanha was not so sure about this since he speculated that the large spotted deer population was perhaps an indicator of a low tiger population.  In any case, one section of the tourist area of the Reserves that we were assigned was recently closed because a female tiger had given birth to four cubs.  Other large carnivores seen with some frequency in Pench include leopard, sloth bear (<em>Melursus ursinus</em>) and Asian wild dog or dhole (<em>Cuon alpinus</em>).\r\n\r\nDholes are seen with some regularity here.  A pair was seen a week before our arrival.  The Tiger Circuit naturalists I talked with have noticed a pattern with dhole sightings in their respective reserves.  According to their observations dhole numbers seem to be cyclic.  Pairs or trios are seen infrequently at first.  Then the number of animals per pack increases up to a dozen or more for a few years and then the species disappears usually after a heavy monsoon season until it comes back with a pair or trio restarting this population boom and bust cycle again.  The naturalists suspect that canine distemper causes these population crashes.  With the number of feral dogs I observed on this visit to India I am not surprised that distemper or even perhaps rabies can spread quickly into a wild population of canids.  A similar domestic canine to wild canid disease transfer is believed to be the cause of the local extinction of African wild dogs (<em>Lycaon pictus</em>) in the Masai Mara in Kenya in the late 80’s early 1990s.  The tiger is certainly the main conservation mission of the M.P. Reserves, however, there is also reason for concern about the State’s dhole population.\r\n\r\nIn the morning of 7 December 2010, after our last Pench game drive we departed by road to Kanha Reserve 200km [~125 mi.] to the north.  Another Indian road adventure of five-plus hours got us to the Kanha area.  Our lodge for the next two nights – the Kanha Earth Lodge - is located in the buffer zone west of the Reserve and is part of the Indian Jungle Lodge Company - Pug Dundee Safaris.  Pug Dundee has lodges in Panna, Bandhavgarh and Earth Lodge is their newest, most modern-looking facility.  It reminded me very much of some of the African game lodges that I have seen.  Each Pug Dundee Lodge has its own team of naturalists.  Those I met were very good and I learned a lot about Indian wildlife and the management of the Tiger Circuit Reserves from them.  Pug Dundee also purchases or leases land around its lodges, which become small, private reserves.  On my first afternoon at Earth Lodge I saw a small carnivore from the porch of my room, which moved away before I could get a good look at it through my binoculars.  From how it moved and its coloration, a jungle cat was my best guess.  Although the Lodge is a half-hour from the Reserve entrance gate, the drive is interesting and in the early morning hours it becomes a predawn game drive.  I was told that during the warmer months wildlife is often spotted enroute, especially reptiles, and once a tiger was seen.\r\n\r\nThe most experienced naturalist at Earth Lodge was an enthusiastic young Indian – Harsh.  Through Harsh I was the first Lodge guest to do a night drive out of the Lodge into Kanha’s buffer zone.  I did two drives, each lasting up to two hours.  The route passed through open community land, fields and rice paddies and ended up on a river that borders the Park.  It was cold at night so animal sightings were limited although I saw jackals, spotted and sambar deer, one little Indian field mouse (Mus booduga) and on both nights a small wild canid that moved and looked like an Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis).\r\n\r\nWe had three game drives within Kanha, two mornings and one afternoon.  Before you enter the Reserve you pass a small colony of Indian flying fox in a huge tree in the village of Khatia.  Kanha is the largest Reserve in the Circuit and is a mix of Sal forest interspaced with grasslands meadows.  The meadow most central and frequently visited by tourists is Kanha Meadow where Dr. George Schaller did his study of Indian predator/prey relationships summarized in The Deer and The Tiger published in 1967.  The park also has highland forest with thick stands of bamboo that reach up to a high plateau that is 2,900 ft. [~884m] in elevation.  We did one drive here to look for the four-horned antelope or chowsingha, which we did not find, but saw instead a small group of ruddy mongoose (<em>Herpestes smithii</em>) and an Indian muntjac or barking deer (<em>Muntiacus muntjak</em>), and our first wild boar (<em>Sus scrofa</em>).  In the lower elevations spotted deer were common, as were langur.  Jackals were frequently seen as well as sambar and four gaur.  We also saw swamp deer or barasingha on every game drive.  These are the hard ground swamp deer (<em>Cervus duvauceli branderi</em>).  During the 1970’s the population of these dropped to only 60 individuals.  A concentrated breeding program using a core population protected by a predator-proof fence, is one of India’s best conservation success stories.  As of June 2006 the estimated population is over 1,200 individuals and the subspecies is believed to be extinct in the rest of the country.\r\n\r\nKanha is also where I saw my first tiger, a lifetime goal for this ex-big cat zookeeper.  It was on our 2nd drive in Kanha (our 5th overall).  We were just heading back after an uneventful afternoon of wildlife viewing when on a narrow forest road ahead was a row of nearly a dozen stopped vehicles.  The word filtered down to us that two tigers (male and female) had been seen on the road before moving off into the forest.  Our forest guide quickly showed that he knew what he was doing by directing our driver into a position that allowed a short but very clear look at a large male tiger.  It was just a glimpse but produced an incredible rush of excitement in everyone who saw it.  These were the only two tigers seen in this section of the Reserve that day.  A June 2006 survey in Kanha reported 133 tigers within the Reserve.  Some local naturalists believe that the population now may be as low as 40 adult individuals.  They point to several trends, fewer tiger being seen recently and more sightings of leopards and jackals.  Tigers that leave the Reserve are sometimes poisoned due to predation on cattle.  Our naturalist also believed Kanha is not as well-watered a Reserve in comparison to Bandhavgarh.  The limited number of water sources could increase tiger to tiger aggression with resultant fatalities during the dry, hot months of May and June. The best place to see tigers in the Reserve appears to be Kanha Meadows.  A tigress with three cubs was observed there on our last drive in the park.  Upon my return I reread The Deer and The Tiger and found that Schaller also recorded a female with three cubs here over 40 years ago.  In retrospect, an indication of the presence of tigers was the several species of vultures and scavenging species of eagles that we saw around the meadow as well as numerous jackals.\r\n\r\nIt was then on to the 3rd Reserve on the Circuit – Bandhavgarh.  The drive is 250kms [~155 mi.] and for us took six hours. Due to our late departure from Earth Lodge we arrived at our accommodation, Kings Lodge, after dark.  Although we arrived safely I would highly recommend not driving at night on Indian roads. Kings Lodge is located near the Reserve’s northern boundary and the Tala entrance gate, and is located within the Reserve’s buffer zone.  It is a comfortable Lodge with good accommodations and common areas.  Our naturalist here was Karan Rana, an ex-pat Nepalese who previously worked in Chitwan Nepal’s Tiger Tops Lodge.   He had a wealth of knowledge about the wildlife of both India and his native country.  From the other Pug Dundee naturalist I discovered that Karan had trained them all.  Pug Dundee also has a nearby lodge adjacent to the Reserve boundary – Tree House Hideaway.  Tree House is located right along the Reserve boundary.  It is surrounded by a private reserve that has good bird and mammal sightings although the possible presence of Euro-Asian wild boar means that you need to be escorted by a lodge guard during dusk to dawn hours.  The Tree House also has a waterhole with a viewing hide.  I was told that the waterhole has very good game viewing, particularly during the dry season, especially for leopards that frequently jump the Reserve boundary fence to drink or hunt at the Tree House waterhole.  Occasionally from either lodge, wildlife, even wild species of cats both big &amp; small, are seen while driving to the entrance gate in the predawn hours.  On the morning of our last drive we saw an Indian hare (<em>Lepus nigricollos</em>)…..\r\n\r\n<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2487" title="tiger3" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/tiger3-300x242.jpg" alt="tiger3" width="300" height="242" /> <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2488" title="tiger4" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/tiger4-300x241.jpg" alt="tiger4" width="300" height="241" />\r\n\r\n<strong><em><span>Want to read the rest of this article?  For this and many more fascinating articles every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum.  AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. </span><a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/join/">JOIN NOW!</a></em></strong>', 'Observations on Eco-tourism and Conservation in India', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2486-revision-3', '', '', '2012-06-07 15:13:42', '2012-06-07 20:13:42', '', 2486, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2486-revision-3/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2492, 2, '2012-06-07 15:15:16', '2012-06-07 20:15:16', '<em>By Bob Berghaier, Ex-Zookeeper\nTour Consultant, Premier Tours\nPhiladelphia, PA\n<a href="mailto:bobb@premiertours.com"> bobb@premiertours.com</a></em>\n\nFrom 4-20 December 2010, I was in India looking at the eco-tourism potential of the Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) “Tiger Circuit” – Pench, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna Reserves and Assam’s Kaziranga National Park. My tour was arranged by an Indian in-country tour operator – Royal Expeditions royalexpeditions.com.  Royal Expeditions is an exceptional company and our trip operated flawlessly.  They have an extensive knowledge of the wildlife of their country and have had a long history in Indian conservation.  Their trip pre-departure information on the wildlife and the ecology of each area visited is extensive and at times was like reading someone’s academic dissertation.\n\nOn arrival in India in the early morning of 4 December 2010, my traveling companion Dr. Bob Singer and I passed through the Delhi’s new airport.  It is a very modern, clean facility.   However one still has to clear Indian immigration that is not well-organized and can move at a snail’s pace.  We got to our hotel just before dawn.  On the morning of 5 December 2010 we flew from Delhi to Nagpur on a local Indian airline, Indigo, whose check–in, in-flight service and aircraft were quite good.  If you have not flown internally in India for some time, the level of security may surprise you.  To even get into the airport you have to show an actual air or e-ticket as well as a form of identification with photo.  For non-Indian travelers a passport is mandatory.  At check-in your domestic airline has to tag each piece of your carry-on at check-in before you go through a security screening including an x-ray bag check and passing through a metal detector.  After this, each tag on your carry-on has to be stamped as checked by security. Before boarding your aircraft there is a final check to make sure that each of your carry-on items has the required stamped tag.  If your item doesn’t have a stamped tag it is confiscated.\n\nOur flight departed Delhi on time and arrived in Nagpur two hours later.  We were met on arrival and set off on our first Indian road adventure. The drive was 95km [59 mi.] and took just over two hours.   In my 31 years of overseas travel I’ve been driven in some incredible places – eastern Congo, Madagascar, Jakarta, Accra, northern Kenya, the Pan American highway in Peru and the Ecuadorian Andes.  None of these wild and woolly places prepared me for being driven on the roads of India.  With heavily decorated trucks bearing down on you, big buses with the drivers leaning on their horns to chase you out of their way, the motorcycles and mopeds, bicycles, motorized and man-pulled rickshaws, indifferent to traffic, Indian pedestrians, herds of driven cattle, lone stray cattle, goats, sheep and a pariah of dogs all on the road at various times and in some sections all on the road at once, made this a never-ending kaleidoscope of fascinating sights and close-call collisions. Within the first few hours I was convinced that the hardest working and most skilled person on the entire Sub-Continent must be the professional Indian Driver!\n\nTraveling on the road this day, however, got me two life mammals – Hanuman langur (<em>Semenopithecus entellus</em>) and rhesus macaque (<em>Macaca mulatta</em>).  I saw both species on several occasions while on the roads in forested areas in Madhya Pradesh outside the Reserves.  I was told that the macaques in particular are often fed by passing truck drivers, many of whom are Hindu devotes of the monkey god – Hanuman, which makes the rhesus the more commonly seen wild primate on the roadside.\n\nOur first stop on the Circuit was Pench National Park.  In India, each State administers their own conservation areas and the level of protection and management are more determined by the State government than any national authority.  The Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) Tiger Circuit is four National Parks. The southern-most is Pench, followed by Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Panna in the north.  Each Reserve is a four to six-hour drive from the other.  Each Reserve and each entrance gate to the Reserves has a specific number of vehicles that are allowed in each day.   I was told by the Indian naturalists I met that during the busiest times of the year for the Reserves - the last two weeks of December, the first two weeks of January and the month of April - pre-booking your game drives as far in advance as possible is strongly suggested.  You are allowed in the Reserves for morning game drives starting at sunrise (about 0630hrs this time of year) and one has to depart by 1000hrs – Bandhavgarh, 1100hrs – Pench and Panna, 1130hrs for Kanha.  You can then have an afternoon drive, which starts at 1500hrs, and you must vacate each of the Reserves by sunset (approximately 1800hrs in December).\n\nThe Reserve authorities believe that the hours between game drives give the wildlife a respite from the motorized tourists.  Having a great deal of experience in African eco-tourism, this is in marked contrast to the African conservation areas I have visited.  In Africa, if you wish, you could start at dawn and not have to leave the reserve or return to your lodge/camp until dusk.  On each game drive on the Circuit a local guide must accompany you.  This is now official policy in M.P. created by the State Parliament as a way for local men to get some income from the Reserves they live adjacent to.  In theory, this policy should help build local support for the Reserves.  The local guides earn 200 rupees (a bit less than $5.00 USA) per drive + tips.  It was quickly obvious that the skill and language level of each of these men varied.  Some were much better than others but I tipped all of them a bit and the better ones who found tigers, or who knew their species of birds well, I tipped more  - up to 200 rupees, doubling their normal stipend.\n\nI stayed two nights at the Pench Jungle Camp Lodge and Tented Camp.  This was a good introduction to the Circuit.    The Pench Jungle Camp has a 30-acre Eco-park nearby where one can do a night walk or day-birding trips.  The Eco-park is adjacent to Pench N.P. and according to my guide, naturalist Pahhir Patil, at least once per month a leopard (<em>Panthera pardus</em>) or tiger (<em>Panthera tigris tigris</em>) makes a kill here.  A night walk with Patil turned up Indian flying fox (<em>Pteropus giganteus</em>), and what I am convinced by its flight pattern and white belly was a big-eared horseshoe bat (<em>Rhinolophus macrotis</em>).  Temperatures in December at night range between 40-50°F [4.4-10°C] resulting in poor mammal viewing on this particular visit.  However, having this much area for birding walks or night mammal spotting should make Pench Jungle Camp a preferred accommodation for the serious naturalist.\n\nWe had three game drives with Patil in Pench and although we were close to at least two of them we never saw a tiger there.  However, it was here that I first experienced how the local driver/naturalist/forestry guides most frequently find tigers.  They listen to alarm calls of the deer, langur and peafowl and stake out an area, waiting for a tiger to appear. Once you know what sounds to pay attention to, one can follow the trail of the tiger or other larger carnivore as they move through the forest.  This method must work well when the vegetation is not as thick and full as it is in December or the other post-monsoon months of October, November and January.  Each of the Tiger Circuit naturalists I talked with felt that the best month for tiger viewing in their reserves was February and March.  It is then that the vegetation was open enough (cleared mostly by herbivore grazing/browsing) to more easily see the cats after they were located by listening to the alarm calls.  They all felt that in April there were more local Indian tourists which made the reserves too crowded and getting game drive reservations more difficult.  In May and June the weather is so hot that tigers tend to move around less during the limited hours the reserves are open to tourists making sightings more difficult.  Looking for tigers reminded me of looking for leopards in Africa. You need to have a driver/guide/naturalist that uses good tracking skills and has knowledge of the habits of the cats, combined with some luck in getting the opportunity to see them.\n\nPench is primarily Sal forest, but a large reservoir occupies a good part of the Reserve, which adds to the diversity of bird life, making it a good destination for birders as well as mammalogists.  Since Pench was my first Indian game viewing I got a few new life mammals there including spotted deer (or chital) [<em>Axis axis</em>] – very common and at a very high density, nilgai (<em>Boselaphus tragocamelus</em>) – this antelope species reminded me very much of the African eland; three striped palm squirrel (<em>Funambulus palmarum</em>); and only one gaur (<em>Bos gaurus</em>) - a single male that was sparring with a small tree.  We also saw sambar deer (<em>Cervus unicolor</em>) and a few golden jackals (<em>Canis aureus</em>) as well as both Hanuman langurs and rhesus macaques.\n\nPench may have as many as 50 adult tigers.  Patil and the other naturalists I spoke with at Pench thought that the tiger population is doing well in Pench and is increasing.  One naturalist I spoke to in Kanha was not so sure about this since he speculated that the large spotted deer population was perhaps an indicator of a low tiger population.  In any case, one section of the tourist area of the Reserves that we were assigned was recently closed because a female tiger had given birth to four cubs.  Other large carnivores seen with some frequency in Pench include leopard, sloth bear (<em>Melursus ursinus</em>) and Asian wild dog or dhole (<em>Cuon alpinus</em>).\n\nDholes are seen with some regularity here.  A pair was seen a week before our arrival.  The Tiger Circuit naturalists I talked with have noticed a pattern with dhole sightings in their respective reserves.  According to their observations dhole numbers seem to be cyclic.  Pairs or trios are seen infrequently at first.  Then the number of animals per pack increases up to a dozen or more for a few years and then the species disappears usually after a heavy monsoon season until it comes back with a pair or trio restarting this population boom and bust cycle again.  The naturalists suspect that canine distemper causes these population crashes.  With the number of feral dogs I observed on this visit to India I am not surprised that distemper or even perhaps rabies can spread quickly into a wild population of canids.  A similar domestic canine to wild canid disease transfer is believed to be the cause of the local extinction of African wild dogs (<em>Lycaon pictus</em>) in the Masai Mara in Kenya in the late 80’s early 1990s.  The tiger is certainly the main conservation mission of the M.P. Reserves, however, there is also reason for concern about the State’s dhole population.\n\nIn the morning of 7 December 2010, after our last Pench game drive we departed by road to Kanha Reserve 200km [~125 mi.] to the north.  Another Indian road adventure of five-plus hours got us to the Kanha area.  Our lodge for the next two nights – the Kanha Earth Lodge - is located in the buffer zone west of the Reserve and is part of the Indian Jungle Lodge Company - Pug Dundee Safaris.  Pug Dundee has lodges in Panna, Bandhavgarh and Earth Lodge is their newest, most modern-looking facility.  It reminded me very much of some of the African game lodges that I have seen.  Each Pug Dundee Lodge has its own team of naturalists.  Those I met were very good and I learned a lot about Indian wildlife and the management of the Tiger Circuit Reserves from them.  Pug Dundee also purchases or leases land around its lodges, which become small, private reserves.  On my first afternoon at Earth Lodge I saw a small carnivore from the porch of my room, which moved away before I could get a good look at it through my binoculars.  From how it moved and its coloration, a jungle cat was my best guess.  Although the Lodge is a half-hour from the Reserve entrance gate, the drive is interesting and in the early morning hours it becomes a predawn game drive.  I was told that during the warmer months wildlife is often spotted enroute, especially reptiles, and once a tiger was seen.\n\nThe most experienced naturalist at Earth Lodge was an enthusiastic young Indian – Harsh.  Through Harsh I was the first Lodge guest to do a night drive out of the Lodge into Kanha’s buffer zone.  I did two drives, each lasting up to two hours.  The route passed through open community land, fields and rice paddies and ended up on a river that borders the Park.  It was cold at night so animal sightings were limited although I saw jackals, spotted and sambar deer, one little Indian field mouse (Mus booduga) and on both nights a small wild canid that moved and looked like an Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis).\n\nWe had three game drives within Kanha, two mornings and one afternoon.  Before you enter the Reserve you pass a small colony of Indian flying fox in a huge tree in the village of Khatia.  Kanha is the largest Reserve in the Circuit and is a mix of Sal forest interspaced with grasslands meadows.  The meadow most central and frequently visited by tourists is Kanha Meadow where Dr. George Schaller did his study of Indian predator/prey relationships summarized in The Deer and The Tiger published in 1967.  The park also has highland forest with thick stands of bamboo that reach up to a high plateau that is 2,900 ft. [~884m] in elevation.  We did one drive here to look for the four-horned antelope or chowsingha, which we did not find, but saw instead a small group of ruddy mongoose (<em>Herpestes smithii</em>) and an Indian muntjac or barking deer (<em>Muntiacus muntjak</em>), and our first wild boar (<em>Sus scrofa</em>).  In the lower elevations spotted deer were common, as were langur.  Jackals were frequently seen as well as sambar and four gaur.  We also saw swamp deer or barasingha on every game drive.  These are the hard ground swamp deer (<em>Cervus duvauceli branderi</em>).  During the 1970’s the population of these dropped to only 60 individuals.  A concentrated breeding program using a core population protected by a predator-proof fence, is one of India’s best conservation success stories.  As of June 2006 the estimated population is over 1,200 individuals and the subspecies is believed to be extinct in the rest of the country.\n\nKanha is also where I saw my first tiger, a lifetime goal for this ex-big cat zookeeper.  It was on our 2nd drive in Kanha (our 5th overall).  We were just heading back after an uneventful afternoon of wildlife viewing when on a narrow forest road ahead was a row of nearly a dozen stopped vehicles.  The word filtered down to us that two tigers (male and female) had been seen on the road before moving off into the forest.  Our forest guide quickly showed that he knew what he was doing by directing our driver into a position that allowed a short but very clear look at a large male tiger.  It was just a glimpse but produced an incredible rush of excitement in everyone who saw it.  These were the only two tigers seen in this section of the Reserve that day.  A June 2006 survey in Kanha reported 133 tigers within the Reserve.  Some local naturalists believe that the population now may be as low as 40 adult individuals.  They point to several trends, fewer tiger being seen recently and more sightings of leopards and jackals.  Tigers that leave the Reserve are sometimes poisoned due to predation on cattle.  Our naturalist also believed Kanha is not as well-watered a Reserve in comparison to Bandhavgarh.  The limited number of water sources could increase tiger to tiger aggression with resultant fatalities during the dry, hot months of May and June. The best place to see tigers in the Reserve appears to be Kanha Meadows.  A tigress with three cubs was observed there on our last drive in the park.  Upon my return I reread The Deer and The Tiger and found that Schaller also recorded a female with three cubs here over 40 years ago.  In retrospect, an indication of the presence of tigers was the several species of vultures and scavenging species of eagles that we saw around the meadow as well as numerous jackals.\n\nIt was then on to the 3rd Reserve on the Circuit – Bandhavgarh.  The drive is 250kms [~155 mi.] and for us took six hours. Due to our late departure from Earth Lodge we arrived at our accommodation, Kings Lodge, after dark.  Although we arrived safely I would highly recommend not driving at night on Indian roads. Kings Lodge is located near the Reserve’s northern boundary and the Tala entrance gate, and is located within the Reserve’s buffer zone.  It is a comfortable Lodge with good accommodations and common areas.  Our naturalist here was Karan Rana, an ex-pat Nepalese who previously worked in Chitwan Nepal’s Tiger Tops Lodge.   He had a wealth of knowledge about the wildlife of both India and his native country.  From the other Pug Dundee naturalist I discovered that Karan had trained them all.  Pug Dundee also has a nearby lodge adjacent to the Reserve boundary – Tree House Hideaway.  Tree House is located right along the Reserve boundary.  It is surrounded by a private reserve that has good bird and mammal sightings although the possible presence of Euro-Asian wild boar means that you need to be escorted by a lodge guard during dusk to dawn hours.  The Tree House also has a waterhole with a viewing hide.  I was told that the waterhole has very good game viewing, particularly during the dry season, especially for leopards that frequently jump the Reserve boundary fence to drink or hunt at the Tree House waterhole.  Occasionally from either lodge, wildlife, even wild species of cats both big &amp; small, are seen while driving to the entrance gate in the predawn hours.  On the morning of our last drive we saw an Indian hare (<em>Lepus nigricollos</em>)…..\n\n<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2487" title="tiger3" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/tiger3-300x242.jpg" alt="tiger3" width="300" height="242" /> <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2488" title="tiger4" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/tiger4-300x241.jpg" alt="tiger4" width="300" height="241" />\n\n<strong><em><span>Want to read the rest of this article?  For this and many more fascinating articles every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum.  AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. </span><a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/join/">JOIN NOW!</a></em></strong>', 'Observations on Eco-tourism and Conservation in India', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2486-autosave', '', '', '2012-06-07 15:15:16', '2012-06-07 20:15:16', '', 2486, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2486-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
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INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2494, 2, '2012-06-07 14:49:36', '2012-06-07 19:49:36', '<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2481" title="lcs-aazk-logo" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/lcs-aazk-logo-300x76.jpg" alt="lcs-aazk-logo" width="300" height="76" />\r\n\r\nThe AAZK Lion Country Safari Chapter in West Palm Beach, FL has been focused on increasing fundraising efforts to benefit conservation organizations locally and internationally.  Chapter members have developed a cell phone recycling program on property that encourages guests to bring in used cell phones for recycling.  This program not only helps save valuable wildlife habitats and reduces electronic waste entering landfills, but also helps fund conservation projects sponsored by the chapter.  Last year, the chapter was able to recycle over <strong>1,700</strong> cell phones, placing the AAZK Lion Country Safari Chapter among the top ten collection organizations with recycling partner ECO-CELL.\r\n\r\nSeveral regular fundraisers throughout the year such as a staff art show, bake sale, holiday candy-gram sale, and chili cook-off competition allow the chapter to support a number of conservation initiatives including “Trees for You and Me.”  Each year the AAZK Lion Country Safari Chapter has participated in this chapter challenge campaign and consistently ranks among the top contributors.\r\n\r\nThe chapter’s most successful fundraiser event is “Bowling for Rhinos.”  Last year, an inaugural “Twilight Tour” of the safari with a focus on Lion Country Safari’s white rhinos promoted “Bowling for Rhinos” and helped raise additional funds for rhinoceros conservation.  Since it was such a smashing success, the chapter is expanding the pre-event, night tour this year to allow more people to experience this unique opportunity to see the animals after hours.  We look forward to another year of celebrating the zookeeping profession and commitment to wildlife conservation!', 'June 2012', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2405-revision-4', '', '', '2012-06-07 14:49:36', '2012-06-07 19:49:36', '', 2405, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2405-revision-4/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2497, 2, '2012-06-07 15:22:50', '2012-06-07 20:22:50', '<strong><em></em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>June 11-15, 2012 - <em>International Gorilla Workshop</em></strong> - Apenheul Primate Park and Gaiapark Kerkrade are very excited and proud to invite all Gorilla specialists to join the 8th International Gorilla Workshop.  Includes three days in Apenheul Primate Park and the last day in Gaiapark Kerkrade. For more information go to <a href="http://igw2012.org">igw2012.org</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>July 15-21, 2012 - NATIONAL ZOO KEEPER WEEK</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><strong>July 25 - 28, 2012 - </strong><em>The 35th International Herpetological Symposium. </em>Hosted by Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo at the Ramada BWI Airport in Hanover, MD.  For more information go to <a href="http://kingsnake.com/ihs">kingsnake.com/ihs</a>.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><strong>July 29 - 30, 2012 - <em>The 2nd Venomous Animal Safety and Husbandry Training Seminar</em></strong><strong>. </strong>Hosted by Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo in Thurmont, MD.  For more information contact Rick Hahn at <a href="mailto:rickhahn@CWPZoo.com">rickhahn@CWPZoo.com</a>.\r\n\r\n</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>August 8-14, 2012 - <em>The World Congress of Herpetology</em></strong> - To be held in Vancouver, Canada. For more information see <a href="http://www.worldcongressofherpetology.org/">http://www.worldcongressofherpetology.org/</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>August 16-19 - <em>The 10th Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles</em> </strong>- Tucson, AZ.  Hosted by the Turtle Survival Alliance and the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group.  For more information go to <a href="http://turtlesurvival.org">turtlesurvival.org</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>September 9-13, 2012 - <em>4th International Congress on Zookeeping</em> </strong>– To be held in Singapore.  Theme “Many Voices One Calling” Sponsored by Wildlife Reserves Singapore , Singapore Tourism Bureau. For information on sponsorship or exhibition opportunities email <a href="mailto:eo@aszk.org.au">eo@aszk.org.au</a>.  Check the ICZ website <a href="http://www.iczoo.org/">http://www.iczoo.org/</a> for latest news.\r\n\r\n<strong>September 23-27,  2012 - <em>AAZK National Conference</em></strong><em> - </em>Hosted by the Rosamond Gifford Zoo and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo AAZK Chapter in Syracuse, NY. For more information go to <a href="http://www.rgzaecetia.net/gws/aazk">www.rgzaecetia.net/gws/aazk</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong><strong> October 12-15, 2012 - </strong><em><strong><em>From Good Care to Great Welfare: A Workshop Designed for Animal Care Professionals Presented by the Center for Zoo Animal Welfare </em></strong>-</em></strong>Detroit Zoological Society. A unique four-day workshop for animal care staff working with captive exotic animals. The workshop is designed to help participants better understand animals’ perspectives and experiences, address the challenges captivity imposes on animal welfare, and develop the skills necessary to assess and improve overall well-being. Exercises and experiences are immersive and designed to help us understand captivity from the animals’ point of view. Limited scholarship opportunities available.\r\n\r\nFor information contact: Elizabeth Arbaugh, Animal Welfare Manager, Detroit Zoological Society, Tel: 248-398-0903 x3643, E-mail: <a href="mailto:Elizabeth@dzs.org">Elizabeth@dzs.org</a> or visit <a href="http://czaw.org">czaw.org</a>.\r\n<h2><strong>2013</strong></h2>\r\n<strong>September 22-26  2013 - <em>AAZK National Conference</em></strong> - Hosted by the North Carolina Zoo and the North Carolina AAZK Chapter\r\n<h2><em><strong>Upcoming AAZK National Conferences</strong></em></h2>\r\n2012 - Syracuse, NY - September 23-27\r\n\r\n2013 - Asheboro, NC  - September 22-26\r\n\r\n2014 - Orlando, FL - September 8-12\r\n\r\nFor information on upcoming AAZK conferences, watch the AAZK website at <a href="http://www.aecetia.net/gws/aazk">www.aecetia.net/gws/aazk</a>.\r\n<h2><em><strong>Upcoming AZA National Conferences</strong></em></h2>\r\nSeptember 8-13, 2012 - AZA 2012 Annual Conference - Hosted by Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix, AZ\r\n\r\nSeptember 7-12, 2013 - AZA 2013 Annual Conference - Hosted by the Kansas City Zoo, Kansas City , MO\r\n\r\nFor info on AZA Conferences, see <a href="http://aza.org/ConfWork/AC_Intro/index.html">http://aza.org/ConfWork/AC_Intro/index.html</a>.', 'Coming Events June 2012', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '435-revision-v1', '', '', '2012-06-07 15:22:50', '2012-06-07 20:22:50', '', 435, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/435-revision-55/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2498, 2, '2012-06-07 15:24:13', '2012-06-07 20:24:13', '<strong><em></em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>June 11-15, 2012 - <em>International Gorilla Workshop</em></strong> - Apenheul Primate Park and Gaiapark Kerkrade are very excited and proud to invite all Gorilla specialists to join the 8th International Gorilla Workshop.  Includes three days in Apenheul Primate Park and the last day in Gaiapark Kerkrade. For more information go to <a href="http://igw2012.org">igw2012.org</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>July 15-21, 2012 - NATIONAL ZOO KEEPER WEEK</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>July 25 - 28, 2012 - </strong><em>The 35th International Herpetological Symposium. </em>Hosted by Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo at the Ramada BWI Airport in Hanover, MD.  For more information go to <a href="http://kingsnake.com/ihs">kingsnake.com/ihs</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>July 29 - 30, 2012 - <em>The 2nd Venomous Animal Safety and Husbandry Training Seminar</em></strong>. Hosted by Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo in Thurmont, MD.  For more information contact Rick Hahn at <a href="mailto:rickhahn@CWPZoo.com">rickhahn@CWPZoo.com</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>August 8-14, 2012 - <em>The World Congress of Herpetology</em></strong> - To be held in Vancouver, Canada. For more information see <a href="http://www.worldcongressofherpetology.org/">http://www.worldcongressofherpetology.org/</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>August 16-19 - <em>The 10th Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles</em> </strong>- Tucson, AZ.  Hosted by the Turtle Survival Alliance and the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group.  For more information go to <a href="http://turtlesurvival.org">turtlesurvival.org</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>September 9-13, 2012 - <em>4th International Congress on Zookeeping</em> </strong>– To be held in Singapore.  Theme “Many Voices One Calling” Sponsored by Wildlife Reserves Singapore , Singapore Tourism Bureau. For information on sponsorship or exhibition opportunities email <a href="mailto:eo@aszk.org.au">eo@aszk.org.au</a>.  Check the ICZ website <a href="http://www.iczoo.org/">http://www.iczoo.org/</a> for latest news.\r\n\r\n<strong>September 23-27,  2012 - <em>AAZK National Conference</em></strong><em> - </em>Hosted by the Rosamond Gifford Zoo and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo AAZK Chapter in Syracuse, NY. For more information go to <a href="http://www.rgzaecetia.net/gws/aazk">www.rgzaecetia.net/gws/aazk</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong><strong> October 12-15, 2012 - </strong><em><strong><em>From Good Care to Great Welfare: A Workshop Designed for Animal Care Professionals Presented by the Center for Zoo Animal Welfare </em></strong>-</em></strong>Detroit Zoological Society. A unique four-day workshop for animal care staff working with captive exotic animals. The workshop is designed to help participants better understand animals’ perspectives and experiences, address the challenges captivity imposes on animal welfare, and develop the skills necessary to assess and improve overall well-being. Exercises and experiences are immersive and designed to help us understand captivity from the animals’ point of view. Limited scholarship opportunities available.\r\n\r\nFor information contact: Elizabeth Arbaugh, Animal Welfare Manager, Detroit Zoological Society, Tel: 248-398-0903 x3643, E-mail: <a href="mailto:Elizabeth@dzs.org">Elizabeth@dzs.org</a> or visit <a href="http://czaw.org">czaw.org</a>.\r\n<h2><strong>2013</strong></h2>\r\n<strong>September 22-26  2013 - <em>AAZK National Conference</em></strong> - Hosted by the North Carolina Zoo and the North Carolina AAZK Chapter\r\n<h2><em><strong>Upcoming AAZK National Conferences</strong></em></h2>\r\n2012 - Syracuse, NY - September 23-27\r\n\r\n2013 - Asheboro, NC  - September 22-26\r\n\r\n2014 - Orlando, FL - September 8-12\r\n\r\nFor information on upcoming AAZK conferences, watch the AAZK website at <a href="http://www.aecetia.net/gws/aazk">www.aecetia.net/gws/aazk</a>.\r\n<h2><em><strong>Upcoming AZA National Conferences</strong></em></h2>\r\nSeptember 8-13, 2012 - AZA 2012 Annual Conference - Hosted by Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix, AZ\r\n\r\nSeptember 7-12, 2013 - AZA 2013 Annual Conference - Hosted by the Kansas City Zoo, Kansas City , MO\r\n\r\nFor info on AZA Conferences, see <a href="http://aza.org/ConfWork/AC_Intro/index.html">http://aza.org/ConfWork/AC_Intro/index.html</a>.', 'Coming Events June 2012', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '435-revision-v1', '', '', '2012-06-07 15:24:13', '2012-06-07 20:24:13', '', 435, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/435-revision-56/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2499, 2, '2011-04-14 08:41:09', '2011-04-14 13:41:09', '<strong>For more options around the globe, go to:</strong>\r\n<a href="http://netvet.wustl.edu/vschool.htm">http://netvet.wustl.edu/vschool.htm</a>\r\n<h3>University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine</h3>\r\n3505 Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building\r\n2001 South Lincoln Avenue\r\nUrbana, IL 61802\r\n217/333-2760\r\nThey have a teaching hospital which has a wildlife rescue center. They also deal with the occasional exotic; e.g. tigers or bears.\r\n<a href="http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/">http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/</a>\r\n<a href="http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/vth/">http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/vth/</a>\r\n<h3>Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine</h3>\r\n112 Trotter Hall\r\nKansas State University\r\nManhattan, KS 66506-5601\r\n(785) 532-6011\r\nAn excellent teaching hospital offering plenty of exotic animal experience. They take care of the animals at Sunset, Topeka, and Rolling Hills zoos.\r\n<a href="http://www.ksu.edu/">http://www.ksu.edu/</a>\r\n<a href="http://www.vet.ksu.edu/">http://www.vet.ksu.edu/</a>\r\n<a href="http://www.vet.ksu.edu/depts/VMTH/exotics/index.htm">http://www.vet.ksu.edu/depts/VMTH/exotics/index.htm</a>\r\n<h3>Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine</h3>\r\nVeterinary Teaching Hospital and Clinics\r\nSkip Bertman Drive\r\nBaton Rouge, LA 70803\r\n(225) 578-9600\r\nFAX (225) 578-9559\r\nTeaching hospital with an exotic animal program.\r\n<a href="http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/Default.htm">http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/Default.htm</a>\r\n\r\n<a href="http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/vth&amp;c/BZEM.htm">http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/vth&amp;c/BZEM.htm</a>\r\n<h3>Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine</h3>\r\nOffice of the Dean\r\nG100 Vet Med Center\r\nEast Lansing, MI 48824-1314\r\nPH: 517-355-6509\r\nFAX: 517-432-1037\r\nTeaching hospital with exotic animal specialty. They work with the Potter Park zoo.\r\n\r\n<a href="http://cvm.msu.edu/">http://cvm.msu.edu/</a>\r\n<a href="http://cvm.msu.edu/vth/index.htm">http://cvm.msu.edu/vth/index.htm</a>\r\n<h3>Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences</h3>\r\nStillwater, OK 74078\r\n(405)744-6595\r\nZoo, Exotics, and Wildlife program. They work with the Tulsa and Oklahoma City zoos.\r\n<a href="http://www.cvm.okstate.edu/">http://www.cvm.okstate.edu/</a>\r\n<a href="http://www.cvm.okstate.edu/Depts/VCS/ZEW/Residency%20Program%20Description%20%282003%29.htm">\r\n</a>\r\n<h3>Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine</h3>\r\nPO Box 647012\r\nPullman, Washington 99164-7012\r\n(509) 335-1532\r\nFAX (509) 335-6133\r\nThe teaching hospital offers exotic animal services.\r\n<a href="http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/">http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/</a>\r\n<a href="http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-vth/">http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-vth/</a>', 'Veterinary Schools with Exotic Animal Programs', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '125-revision-5', '', '', '2011-04-14 08:41:09', '2011-04-14 13:41:09', '', 125, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/125-revision-5/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2500, 2, '2012-07-04 09:31:48', '2012-07-04 14:31:48', 'About the Cover/Information for Contributors<span> </span>\r\n\r\nA Dedication to Chelonians<span> </span>\r\n\r\nFrom the President<span> </span>\r\n\r\nNew Members<span> </span>\r\n\r\nComing Events<span> </span>\r\n\r\nA Brief Overview of Captive Husbandry of Turtles for Non-Reptile Keepers <span> </span>\r\n\r\nBubba: A Sulcata on a Skateboard<span> </span>\r\n\r\nHatching Success of the Madagascar Flat-tailed Tortoise (<em>Pyxis planicauda</em>)<span> </span>\r\n\r\nThe Evolution of Wrangling Turtles in Houston, Texas<span> </span>\r\n\r\nEnrichment Options: Coming Out Of Their Shells:  Enrichment for Tortoises<span> </span>\r\n\r\nDisney’s Animal Kingdom’s® Turtle Cognition Program <span> </span>\r\n\r\nThe (<em>Cuora galbinifrons</em>) Studbook: A Model for Understanding Studbook Challenges\r\n\r\nSurgery and Rehabilitation on a Male Painted Terrapin (<em>Batagur borneoensis</em>)<span> </span>', 'July 2012', 0, '', 'draft', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'july-2012', '', '', '2013-10-15 17:49:17', '2013-10-15 22:49:17', '', 0, 'http://aazk.org/?p=2500', 0, 'post', '', 0) ; 
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INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2502, 2, '2012-07-04 09:32:56', '2012-07-04 14:32:56', 'About the Cover/Information for Contributors<span> </span>\n\nA Dedication to Chelonians<span> </span>\n\nFrom the President<span> </span>\n\nNew Members<span> </span>\n\nComing Events<span> </span>\n\nA Brief Overview of Captive Husbandry of Turtles for Non-Reptile Keepers <span> </span>\n\nBubba: A Sulcata on a Skateboard<span> </span>\n\nHatching Success of the Madagascar Flat-tailed Tortoise (<em>Pyxis planicauda</em>)<span> </span>\n\nThe Evolution of Wrangling Turtles in Houston, Texas<span> </span>\n\nEnrichment Options: Coming Out Of Their Shells:  Enrichment for Tortoises<span> </span>\n\nDisney’s Animal Kingdom’s® Turtle Cognition Program <span> </span>\n\nThe (<em>Cuora galbinifrons</em>) Studbook: A Model for Understanding Studbook Challenges\n\nSurgery and Rehabilitation on a Male Painted Terrapin (<em>Batagur borneoensis</em>)<span> </span>', 'July 2012', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2500-autosave', '', '', '2012-07-04 09:32:56', '2012-07-04 14:32:56', '', 2500, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2500-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2503, 2, '2012-07-04 09:56:40', '2012-07-04 14:56:40', '<em>By\r\nAlison Mott, Registered Veterinary Technician\r\nKate Gore, Primary Reptile Keeper\r\nSacramento Zoological Society, Sacramento, CA</em>\r\n\r\n<em></em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Abstract </strong>\r\n\r\nManagement of medical conditions in zoo animals can present unique challenges to veterinary and keeper staffs, often requiring creative solutions.  The Sacramento Zoo was faced with the challenge of how to limit the use of a tortoise’s limb while still allowing the animal to have mobility. While the use of carts for cats and dogs with spinal injuries are common, we took this idea and modified it creating a skateboard for a tortoise. This allowed us to treat and rehabilitate 1.0 sulcata tortoise known as “Bubba.”\r\n\r\n<strong>Natural History </strong>\r\n\r\nThe African spur thighed tortoise (<em>Geochelone sulcata</em>) is native to the northern region of Africa. They range along the southern edge of the Sahara within the countries of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, the Sudan, and Ethiopia.  The sulcata is the third-largest tortoise species, with a weight range of 80-150 lbs. (36-68 kg), and an average carapace length of 24-30 inches (60-75 cm). They are the largest tortoise species from the African continent. The oldest sulcata on record lived to be 54 years-old (Hughes, 1986, in Stearns). Sulcatas are adapted to living in the dry grasslands with thick skin that is resistant to fluid loss in dry conditions; however when exposed to moisture, their skin may become permeable, allowing them to acquire what moisture they need. Like other desert-oriented tortoise species, the sulcata will excavate burrows to thirty inches in depth, and once underground, the burrow can then reach lengths of ten feet or more. As sulcatas are grassland tortoises, they obtain the majority of their nutrition from the grasses on which they graze. In captivity, they will readily eat assorted greens, yams, carrots, with occasional broccoli, squash, and tomatoes as relished treats.\r\n\r\nThe sulcata species is listed as vulnerable, though they are very common in the pet trade within the United States, despite the Cites Appendix II status. Sulcatas have developed a reputation as a “throw away pet”, due to their large size and destructive tendencies. They can be purchased when they are newly hatched and sized to fit within a child’s hands. Sulcatas grow quickly, are prone to digging large burrows, and as their weights increase, they become more than most people care to handle, and the owners often end up getting rid of the tortoises in any way they can. Zoos and rescue centers are regularly called by people wanting to donate their unwanted tortoises. In October 1999, the Sacramento Zoo acquired the subject of this paper when he was donated by a local veterinarian. As a result of the manner of acquisition, his date of birth and parentage are unknown. Based upon his size, keepers estimated the tortoise’s age to be thirteen years.\r\n\r\n<strong>Initial Medical Problem</strong>\r\n\r\nBubba has had an unremarkable medical history with an annual physical exam and radiographs bi-yearly. In 2010 a new tortoise exhibit located between the Giraffe exhibit space and the visitor viewing deck, (approximately 904 sq. ft.), was constructed in combination with the Tall Wonders Giraffe Encounter. The exhibit features a heated house that is approximately 81 sq. ft., while the exhibit yard is a mixture of grass and dirt with small boulders and tall grasses for decorative design. There is a slight slope up to the fence of the Giraffe yard. Bubba shares this exhibit with two smaller sulcata tortoises.\r\n\r\nOn 25 January 2011 (day 1 of presentation) keepers reported that Bubba had been showing signs of lameness for one day. He was not bearing full weight on his left front leg. Keepers were advised to monitor and report back to veterinary staff if the lameness persisted or worsened.  On 31 January 2011 (day 1 of treatment) the lameness had increased to non-weight-bearing and a full physical exam was performed. During his exam, radiographs of the left front limb were taken and showed irregularities in the margins of the elbow and carpal joints consistent with osteoarthritis. The left distal humerus had areas of focal radiolucency, and a possible bone fragment. He was given an injection of Meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), for pain. Bubba was returned to his exhibit and keepers continued to monitor his lameness.\r\n\r\n<strong>Medical Treatment</strong>\r\n\r\nOn 1 February 2011, Bubba was placed on oral Meloxicam every other day and Tramadol once daily. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain. While it was hoped that a combination of analgesics would help alleviate Bubba’s pain, it was obvious two days later that his condition was not improving. He was moved to the Dr. Murray E. Fowler Veterinary Hospital. The hospital has a room dedicated specifically for sick birds or reptiles that can be modified to fit the specific needs of the animal hospitalized. In Bubba’s case, he had free access to the entire room with a 250-watt radiant heater hung from the ceiling three feet off of the floor to give him a basking spot while the room temperature was set to maintain a range of 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the concerns that there may be osteomyelitis in the leg and further use of the leg might worsen the condition, the staff wanted to keep Bubba from using or bearing weight on the front left leg. For most mammals this would be a bandage that brought the leg up to the body or a splint which restricted movement. These animals are able to ambulate without problem on three legs. Tortoises, however, require the use of all limbs to raise themselves and move. Turtles and tortoises must rely exclusively on movements of the limbs to propel themselves.  The challenge was how to keep a 41kg tortoise off of a limb. The veterinary staff needed a device that would keep Bubba’s weight off of his leg, but still allow him to move freely. The Maintenance Department was consulted and tasked with constructing a tortoise cart the following day while the veterinary staff performed a follow-up examination.\r\n\r\nDue to the lack of improvement in the tortoise’s condition, additional diagnostics were performed on 4 February 2011. This exam included a blood culture, arthrocentesis [or joint-tap (fig 2)], Complete Blood Cell count (CBC), blood chemistry panel, additional radiographs and obtaining an accurate body weight (41kg). Radiographs of the left front limb showed marked irregularity at the joint margins with areas of bony proliferations and lysis at the distal humeral condyl. These results were more consistent with osteomyelitis or neoplasia rather than trauma. The arthrocentesis results showed mild mononuclear inflammation most compatible with a degenerative joint disease. While under anesthesia, the maintenance department took measurements of Bubba and outlined the plastron using a towel and a black marker. The cart was constructed out of 1” plywood, four wheels and two nylon straps.  The wood was cut to include a place for the left front leg to rest and all edges were rounded and smoothed.  While Bubba recovered from anesthesia he was strapped onto the cart. After a few days of walking around on his new cart it was obvious that a few modifications were needed. Bubba was having a hard time reaching the ground with his back feet, the straps kept breaking, he was still able to use his front left leg and he was becoming very good at doing wheelies with his front right foot. The cart was taken back to our maintenance department where the rear wheels were sunk into the wood (to lower the back of the cart), a fifth wheel was added in the middle rear area, rubber padding was installed on the cart to prevent sliding, the straps were replaced with heavier nylon versions and a leg guard was placed on the front of the cart to keep the left leg from being able to bear weight (fig 3).<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2504" title="bubba-on-cart" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/bubba-on-cart.jpg" alt="bubba-on-cart" width="714" height="511" />\r\n\r\nOn 10 February 2011, Dr. Allison Zwingenberger, a Radiologist at the University of California at Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (UCD VMTH), was consulted and agreed that the radiographic bone changes were likely the result of an infection. Bubba was started on Ceftazidime injections (three times a week), a broad spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic. Bubba’s activity and appetite had decreased since he was placed on the cart and he had started to refuse all oral medications; as a result his oral Meloxicam treatment was changed to a daily injection. As he spent the majority of his time under the basking heater, veterinarians and the curator were asked about the possibility of giving Bubba some time outside on warm days. Permission was granted and he was allowed time outside behind the Veterinary hospital on days that were above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny. On 13 February 2011 he spent his first 4 ½ hours outside with some supervised time spent grazing. This was the most active he had been in some time. He had figured out that the asphalt behind the hospital sloped slightly and he would walk up one end and slide down. This was only about five feet long, but he appeared to enjoy it. He also became very adept at climbing hills with his cart. The grassy area behind the hospital is a slight hill; using his three available legs he would climb the hill to get to his favorite patches of grass. He was allowed unsupervised time outside when he was confined to the asphalt, but had to be supervised when grazing in case he got stuck in mud or flipped over while climbing. (fig 4)\r\n\r\nBubba’s appetite remained decreased, until it was discovered that by flipping his food dish over and offering his diet on top, (a difference in about two inches of height), Bubba was better able to reach his food and ate readily.  Leaving his food this way was not practical as Bubba would knock the food off of the bowl and have difficulty eating it off the ground. Reptile keeper Bill Tabb was asked to make a raised food bowl. Using two plant saucers that were placed bottom to bottom and attached together with three screws, he devised a raised feeder. Bubba made his own modifications to the food bowl over the next week by pinning the food bowl against the wall with his cart. This cracked the top bowl and made an indentation in one side. The cracked piece was removed and edges of the food bowl were smoothed. This was the best spot for Bubba to eat his food (fig 5).\r\n\r\nAfter three weeks of treatment, the leg guard was removed during the day. Veterinary staff wanted to assess the use of the limb without letting Bubba place full weight on it. He was observed letting the leg rest on the cart multiple times throughout the day. While his leg appeared visibly swollen at the elbow joint, the swelling had decreased from the initial presentation. The leg guard was placed back on the cart the following morning and Bubba continued to improve on his cart.\r\n\r\nVeterinary staff performed a follow-up examination 37 days into the treatment. The examination included repeat radiographs, arthrocentesis, CBC and blood chemistry panels. Over the previous five weeks of hospitalization his weight had remained steady and appetite returned to normal.  He was anesthetized for the examination. Contracture of the muscles around the left elbow was appreciated. There was resistance to the manipulation of the joint and no appreciable crepitus,…….\r\n\r\n<strong><em><span>Want to read the rest of this article?  For this and many more fascinating articles every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum.  AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. </span><a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/join/">JOIN NOW!</a></em></strong>', 'Bubba: A Sulcata on a Skateboard', 0, '', 'draft', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'bubba-a-sulcata-on-a-skateboard-2', '', '', '2013-10-15 17:49:17', '2013-10-15 22:49:17', '', 0, 'http://aazk.org/?p=2503', 0, 'post', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2504, 2, '2012-07-04 09:43:14', '2012-07-04 14:43:14', '', 'bubba-on-cart', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'bubba-on-cart', '', '', '2012-07-04 09:43:14', '2012-07-04 14:43:14', '', 2503, 'http://aazk.org/wp-content/uploads/bubba-on-cart.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2505, 2, '2012-07-04 09:41:04', '2012-07-04 14:41:04', '<em>By\nAlison Mott, Registered Veterinary Technician\nKate Gore, Primary Reptile Keeper\nSacramento Zoological Society, Sacramento, CA</em>\n\n<em><strong>Abstract </strong>\n\nManagement of medical conditions in zoo animals can present unique challenges to veterinary and keeper staffs, often requiring creative solutions.  The Sacramento Zoo was faced with the challenge of how to limit the use of a tortoise’s limb while still allowing the animal to have mobility. While the use of carts for cats and dogs with spinal injuries are common, we took this idea and modified it creating a skateboard for a tortoise. This allowed us to treat and rehabilitate 1.0 sulcata tortoise known as “Bubba.”\n\n<strong>Natural History </strong>\n\nThe African spur thighed tortoise (<em>Geochelone sulcata</em>) is native to the northern region of Africa. They range along the southern edge of the Sahara within the countries of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, the Sudan, and Ethiopia.  The sulcata is the third-largest tortoise species, with a weight range of 80-150 lbs. (36-68 kg), and an average carapace length of 24-30 inches (60-75 cm). They are the largest tortoise species from the African continent. The oldest sulcata on record lived to be 54 years-old (Hughes, 1986, in Stearns). Sulcatas are adapted to living in the dry grasslands with thick skin that is resistant to fluid loss in dry conditions; however when exposed to moisture, their skin may become permeable, allowing them to acquire what moisture they need. Like other desert-oriented tortoise species, the sulcata will excavate burrows to thirty inches in depth, and once underground, the burrow can then reach lengths of ten feet or more. As sulcatas are grassland tortoises, they obtain the majority of their nutrition from the grasses on which they graze. In captivity, they will readily eat assorted greens, yams, carrots, with occasional broccoli, squash, and tomatoes as relished treats.\n\nThe sulcata species is listed as vulnerable, though they are very common in the pet trade within the United States, despite the Cites Appendix II status. Sulcatas have developed a reputation as a “throw away pet”, due to their large size and destructive tendencies. They can be purchased when they are newly hatched and sized to fit within a child’s hands. Sulcatas grow quickly, are prone to digging large burrows, and as their weights increase, they become more than most people care to handle, and the owners often end up getting rid of the tortoises in any way they can. Zoos and rescue centers are regularly called by people wanting to donate their unwanted tortoises. In October 1999, the Sacramento Zoo acquired the subject of this paper when he was donated by a local veterinarian. As a result of the manner of acquisition, his date of birth and parentage are unknown. Based upon his size, keepers estimated the tortoise’s age to be thirteen years.\n\n<strong>Initial Medical Problem</strong>\n\nBubba has had an unremarkable medical history with an annual physical exam and radiographs bi-yearly. In 2010 a new tortoise exhibit located between the Giraffe exhibit space and the visitor viewing deck, (approximately 904 sq. ft.), was constructed in combination with the Tall Wonders Giraffe Encounter. The exhibit features a heated house that is approximately 81 sq. ft., while the exhibit yard is a mixture of grass and dirt with small boulders and tall grasses for decorative design. There is a slight slope up to the fence of the Giraffe yard. Bubba shares this exhibit with two smaller sulcata tortoises.\n\nOn 25 January 2011 (day 1 of presentation) keepers reported that Bubba had been showing signs of lameness for one day. He was not bearing full weight on his left front leg. Keepers were advised to monitor and report back to veterinary staff if the lameness persisted or worsened.  On 31 January 2011 (day 1 of treatment) the lameness had increased to non-weight-bearing and a full physical exam was performed. During his exam, radiographs of the left front limb were taken and showed irregularities in the margins of the elbow and carpal joints consistent with osteoarthritis. The left distal humerus had areas of focal radiolucency, and a possible bone fragment. He was given an injection of Meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), for pain. Bubba was returned to his exhibit and keepers continued to monitor his lameness.\n\n<strong>Medical Treatment</strong>\n\nOn 1 February 2011, Bubba was placed on oral Meloxicam every other day and Tramadol once daily. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain. While it was hoped that a combination of analgesics would help alleviate Bubba’s pain, it was obvious two days later that his condition was not improving. He was moved to the Dr. Murray E. Fowler Veterinary Hospital. The hospital has a room dedicated specifically for sick birds or reptiles that can be modified to fit the specific needs of the animal hospitalized. In Bubba’s case, he had free access to the entire room with a 250-watt radiant heater hung from the ceiling three feet off of the floor to give him a basking spot while the room temperature was set to maintain a range of 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the concerns that there may be osteomyelitis in the leg and further use of the leg might worsen the condition, the staff wanted to keep Bubba from using or bearing weight on the front left leg. For most mammals this would be a bandage that brought the leg up to the body or a splint which restricted movement. These animals are able to ambulate without problem on three legs. Tortoises, however, require the use of all limbs to raise themselves and move. Turtles and tortoises must rely exclusively on movements of the limbs to propel themselves.  The challenge was how to keep a 41kg tortoise off of a limb. The veterinary staff needed a device that would keep Bubba’s weight off of his leg, but still allow him to move freely. The Maintenance Department was consulted and tasked with constructing a tortoise cart the following day while the veterinary staff performed a follow-up examination.\n\nDue to the lack of improvement in the tortoise’s condition, additional diagnostics were performed on 4 February 2011. This exam included a blood culture, arthrocentesis [or joint-tap (fig 2)], Complete Blood Cell count (CBC), blood chemistry panel, additional radiographs and obtaining an accurate body weight (41kg). Radiographs of the left front limb showed marked irregularity at the joint margins with areas of bony proliferations and lysis at the distal humeral condyl. These results were more consistent with osteomyelitis or neoplasia rather than trauma. The arthrocentesis results showed mild mononuclear inflammation most compatible with a degenerative joint disease. While under anesthesia, the maintenance department took measurements of Bubba and outlined the plastron using a towel and a black marker. The cart was constructed out of 1” plywood, four wheels and two nylon straps.  The wood was cut to include a place for the left front leg to rest and all edges were rounded and smoothed.  While Bubba recovered from anesthesia he was strapped onto the cart. After a few days of walking around on his new cart it was obvious that a few modifications were needed. Bubba was having a hard time reaching the ground with his back feet, the straps kept breaking, he was still able to use his front left leg and he was becoming very good at doing wheelies with his front right foot. The cart was taken back to our maintenance department where the rear wheels were sunk into the wood (to lower the back of the cart), a fifth wheel was added in the middle rear area, rubber padding was installed on the cart to prevent sliding, the straps were replaced with heavier nylon versions and a leg guard was placed on the front of the cart to keep the left leg from being able to bear weight (fig 3).\n\nOn 10 February 2011, Dr. Allison Zwingenberger, a Radiologist at the University of California at Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (UCD VMTH), was consulted and agreed that the radiographic bone changes were likely the result of an infection. Bubba was started on Ceftazidime injections (three times a week), a broad spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic. Bubba’s activity and appetite had decreased since he was placed on the cart and he had started to refuse all oral medications; as a result his oral Meloxicam treatment was changed to a daily injection. As he spent the majority of his time under the basking heater, veterinarians and the curator were asked about the possibility of giving Bubba some time outside on warm days. Permission was granted and he was allowed time outside behind the Veterinary hospital on days that were above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny. On 13 February 2011 he spent his first 4 ½ hours outside with some supervised time spent grazing. This was the most active he had been in some time. He had figured out that the asphalt behind the hospital sloped slightly and he would walk up one end and slide down. This was only about five feet long, but he appeared to enjoy it. He also became very adept at climbing hills with his cart. The grassy area behind the hospital is a slight hill; using his three available legs he would climb the hill to get to his favorite patches of grass. He was allowed unsupervised time outside when he was confined to the asphalt, but had to be supervised when grazing in case he got stuck in mud or flipped over while climbing. (fig 4)\n\nBubba’s appetite remained decreased, until it was discovered that by flipping his food dish over and offering his diet on top, (a difference in about two inches of height), Bubba was better able to reach his food and ate readily.  Leaving his food this way was not practical as Bubba would knock the food off of the bowl and have difficulty eating it off the ground. Reptile keeper Bill Tabb was asked to make a raised food bowl. Using two plant saucers that were placed bottom to bottom and attached together with three screws, he devised a raised feeder. Bubba made his own modifications to the food bowl over the next week by pinning the food bowl against the wall with his cart. This cracked the top bowl and made an indentation in one side. The cracked piece was removed and edges of the food bowl were smoothed. This was the best spot for Bubba to eat his food (fig 5).\n\nAfter three weeks of treatment, the leg guard was removed during the day. Veterinary staff wanted to assess the use of the limb without letting Bubba place full weight on it. He was observed letting the leg rest on the cart multiple times throughout the day. While his leg appeared visibly swollen at the elbow joint, the swelling had decreased from the initial presentation. The leg guard was placed back on the cart the following morning and Bubba continued to improve on his cart.\n\nVeterinary staff performed a follow-up examination 37 days into the treatment. The examination included repeat radiographs, arthrocentesis, CBC and blood chemistry panels. Over the previous five weeks of hospitalization his weight had remained steady and appetite returned to normal.  He was anesthetized for the examination. Contracture of the muscles around the left elbow was appreciated. There was resistance to the manipulation of the joint and no appreciable crepitus,…….\n<div></div>\n</em>', 'Bubba: A Sulcata on a Skateboard', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2503-revision', '', '', '2012-07-04 09:41:04', '2012-07-04 14:41:04', '', 2503, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2503-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2512, 2, '2012-07-04 09:56:24', '2012-07-04 14:56:24', '<em>By\nAlison Mott, Registered Veterinary Technician\nKate Gore, Primary Reptile Keeper\nSacramento Zoological Society, Sacramento, CA</em>\n\n<em></em>\n\n<strong>Abstract </strong>\n\nManagement of medical conditions in zoo animals can present unique challenges to veterinary and keeper staffs, often requiring creative solutions.  The Sacramento Zoo was faced with the challenge of how to limit the use of a tortoise’s limb while still allowing the animal to have mobility. While the use of carts for cats and dogs with spinal injuries are common, we took this idea and modified it creating a skateboard for a tortoise. This allowed us to treat and rehabilitate 1.0 sulcata tortoise known as “Bubba.”\n\n<strong>Natural History </strong>\n\nThe African spur thighed tortoise (<em>Geochelone sulcata</em>) is native to the northern region of Africa. They range along the southern edge of the Sahara within the countries of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, the Sudan, and Ethiopia.  The sulcata is the third-largest tortoise species, with a weight range of 80-150 lbs. (36-68 kg), and an average carapace length of 24-30 inches (60-75 cm). They are the largest tortoise species from the African continent. The oldest sulcata on record lived to be 54 years-old (Hughes, 1986, in Stearns). Sulcatas are adapted to living in the dry grasslands with thick skin that is resistant to fluid loss in dry conditions; however when exposed to moisture, their skin may become permeable, allowing them to acquire what moisture they need. Like other desert-oriented tortoise species, the sulcata will excavate burrows to thirty inches in depth, and once underground, the burrow can then reach lengths of ten feet or more. As sulcatas are grassland tortoises, they obtain the majority of their nutrition from the grasses on which they graze. In captivity, they will readily eat assorted greens, yams, carrots, with occasional broccoli, squash, and tomatoes as relished treats.\n\nThe sulcata species is listed as vulnerable, though they are very common in the pet trade within the United States, despite the Cites Appendix II status. Sulcatas have developed a reputation as a “throw away pet”, due to their large size and destructive tendencies. They can be purchased when they are newly hatched and sized to fit within a child’s hands. Sulcatas grow quickly, are prone to digging large burrows, and as their weights increase, they become more than most people care to handle, and the owners often end up getting rid of the tortoises in any way they can. Zoos and rescue centers are regularly called by people wanting to donate their unwanted tortoises. In October 1999, the Sacramento Zoo acquired the subject of this paper when he was donated by a local veterinarian. As a result of the manner of acquisition, his date of birth and parentage are unknown. Based upon his size, keepers estimated the tortoise’s age to be thirteen years.\n\n<strong>Initial Medical Problem</strong>\n\nBubba has had an unremarkable medical history with an annual physical exam and radiographs bi-yearly. In 2010 a new tortoise exhibit located between the Giraffe exhibit space and the visitor viewing deck, (approximately 904 sq. ft.), was constructed in combination with the Tall Wonders Giraffe Encounter. The exhibit features a heated house that is approximately 81 sq. ft., while the exhibit yard is a mixture of grass and dirt with small boulders and tall grasses for decorative design. There is a slight slope up to the fence of the Giraffe yard. Bubba shares this exhibit with two smaller sulcata tortoises.\n\nOn 25 January 2011 (day 1 of presentation) keepers reported that Bubba had been showing signs of lameness for one day. He was not bearing full weight on his left front leg. Keepers were advised to monitor and report back to veterinary staff if the lameness persisted or worsened.  On 31 January 2011 (day 1 of treatment) the lameness had increased to non-weight-bearing and a full physical exam was performed. During his exam, radiographs of the left front limb were taken and showed irregularities in the margins of the elbow and carpal joints consistent with osteoarthritis. The left distal humerus had areas of focal radiolucency, and a possible bone fragment. He was given an injection of Meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), for pain. Bubba was returned to his exhibit and keepers continued to monitor his lameness.\n\n<strong>Medical Treatment</strong>\n\nOn 1 February 2011, Bubba was placed on oral Meloxicam every other day and Tramadol once daily. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain. While it was hoped that a combination of analgesics would help alleviate Bubba’s pain, it was obvious two days later that his condition was not improving. He was moved to the Dr. Murray E. Fowler Veterinary Hospital. The hospital has a room dedicated specifically for sick birds or reptiles that can be modified to fit the specific needs of the animal hospitalized. In Bubba’s case, he had free access to the entire room with a 250-watt radiant heater hung from the ceiling three feet off of the floor to give him a basking spot while the room temperature was set to maintain a range of 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the concerns that there may be osteomyelitis in the leg and further use of the leg might worsen the condition, the staff wanted to keep Bubba from using or bearing weight on the front left leg. For most mammals this would be a bandage that brought the leg up to the body or a splint which restricted movement. These animals are able to ambulate without problem on three legs. Tortoises, however, require the use of all limbs to raise themselves and move. Turtles and tortoises must rely exclusively on movements of the limbs to propel themselves.  The challenge was how to keep a 41kg tortoise off of a limb. The veterinary staff needed a device that would keep Bubba’s weight off of his leg, but still allow him to move freely. The Maintenance Department was consulted and tasked with constructing a tortoise cart the following day while the veterinary staff performed a follow-up examination.\n\nDue to the lack of improvement in the tortoise’s condition, additional diagnostics were performed on 4 February 2011. This exam included a blood culture, arthrocentesis [or joint-tap (fig 2)], Complete Blood Cell count (CBC), blood chemistry panel, additional radiographs and obtaining an accurate body weight (41kg). Radiographs of the left front limb showed marked irregularity at the joint margins with areas of bony proliferations and lysis at the distal humeral condyl. These results were more consistent with osteomyelitis or neoplasia rather than trauma. The arthrocentesis results showed mild mononuclear inflammation most compatible with a degenerative joint disease. While under anesthesia, the maintenance department took measurements of Bubba and outlined the plastron using a towel and a black marker. The cart was constructed out of 1” plywood, four wheels and two nylon straps.  The wood was cut to include a place for the left front leg to rest and all edges were rounded and smoothed.  While Bubba recovered from anesthesia he was strapped onto the cart. After a few days of walking around on his new cart it was obvious that a few modifications were needed. Bubba was having a hard time reaching the ground with his back feet, the straps kept breaking, he was still able to use his front left leg and he was becoming very good at doing wheelies with his front right foot. The cart was taken back to our maintenance department where the rear wheels were sunk into the wood (to lower the back of the cart), a fifth wheel was added in the middle rear area, rubber padding was installed on the cart to prevent sliding, the straps were replaced with heavier nylon versions and a leg guard was placed on the front of the cart to keep the left leg from being able to bear weight (fig 3).<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2504" title="bubba-on-cart" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/bubba-on-cart.jpg" alt="bubba-on-cart" width="714" height="511" />\n\nOn 10 February 2011, Dr. Allison Zwingenberger, a Radiologist at the University of California at Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (UCD VMTH), was consulted and agreed that the radiographic bone changes were likely the result of an infection. Bubba was started on Ceftazidime injections (three times a week), a broad spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic. Bubba’s activity and appetite had decreased since he was placed on the cart and he had started to refuse all oral medications; as a result his oral Meloxicam treatment was changed to a daily injection. As he spent the majority of his time under the basking heater, veterinarians and the curator were asked about the possibility of giving Bubba some time outside on warm days. Permission was granted and he was allowed time outside behind the Veterinary hospital on days that were above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny. On 13 February 2011 he spent his first 4 ½ hours outside with some supervised time spent grazing. This was the most active he had been in some time. He had figured out that the asphalt behind the hospital sloped slightly and he would walk up one end and slide down. This was only about five feet long, but he appeared to enjoy it. He also became very adept at climbing hills with his cart. The grassy area behind the hospital is a slight hill; using his three available legs he would climb the hill to get to his favorite patches of grass. He was allowed unsupervised time outside when he was confined to the asphalt, but had to be supervised when grazing in case he got stuck in mud or flipped over while climbing. (fig 4)\n\nBubba’s appetite remained decreased, until it was discovered that by flipping his food dish over and offering his diet on top, (a difference in about two inches of height), Bubba was better able to reach his food and ate readily.  Leaving his food this way was not practical as Bubba would knock the food off of the bowl and have difficulty eating it off the ground. Reptile keeper Bill Tabb was asked to make a raised food bowl. Using two plant saucers that were placed bottom to bottom and attached together with three screws, he devised a raised feeder. Bubba made his own modifications to the food bowl over the next week by pinning the food bowl against the wall with his cart. This cracked the top bowl and made an indentation in one side. The cracked piece was removed and edges of the food bowl were smoothed. This was the best spot for Bubba to eat his food (fig 5).\n\nAfter three weeks of treatment, the leg guard was removed during the day. Veterinary staff wanted to assess the use of the limb without letting Bubba place full weight on it. He was observed letting the leg rest on the cart multiple times throughout the day. While his leg appeared visibly swollen at the elbow joint, the swelling had decreased from the initial presentation. The leg guard was placed back on the cart the following morning and Bubba continued to improve on his cart.\n\nVeterinary staff performed a follow-up examination 37 days into the treatment. The examination included repeat radiographs, arthrocentesis, CBC and blood chemistry panels. Over the previous five weeks of hospitalization his weight had remained steady and appetite returned to normal.  He was anesthetized for the examination. Contracture of the muscles around the left elbow was appreciated. There was resistance to the manipulation of the joint and no appreciable crepitus,…….', 'Bubba: A Sulcata on a Skateboard', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2503-revision-3', '', '', '2012-07-04 09:56:24', '2012-07-04 14:56:24', '', 2503, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2503-revision-3/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2506, 2, '2012-07-04 09:49:40', '2012-07-04 14:49:40', 'About the Cover/Information for Contributors<span> </span>\r\n\r\nA Dedication to Chelonians<span> </span>\r\n\r\nFrom the President<span> </span>\r\n\r\nNew Members<span> </span>\r\n\r\nComing Events<span> </span>\r\n\r\nA Brief Overview of Captive Husbandry of Turtles for Non-Reptile Keepers <span> </span>\r\n\r\nBubba: A Sulcata on a Skateboard<span> </span>\r\n\r\nHatching Success of the Madagascar Flat-tailed Tortoise (<em>Pyxis planicauda</em>)<span> </span>\r\n\r\nThe Evolution of Wrangling Turtles in Houston, Texas<span> </span>\r\n\r\nEnrichment Options: Coming Out Of Their Shells:  Enrichment for Tortoises<span> </span>\r\n\r\nDisney’s Animal Kingdom’s® Turtle Cognition Program <span> </span>\r\n\r\nThe (<em>Cuora galbinifrons</em>) Studbook: A Model for Understanding Studbook Challenges<span> </span>\r\n\r\nSurgery and Rehabilitation on a Male Painted Terrapin (<em>Batagur borneoensis</em>)<span> </span>', 'July 2012', 0, '', 'draft', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'bubba-a-sulcata-on-a-skateboard', '', '', '2013-10-15 17:49:17', '2013-10-15 22:49:17', '', 0, 'http://aazk.org/?p=2506', 0, 'post', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2514, 2, '2012-07-04 10:05:58', '2012-07-04 15:05:58', '<img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-825" title="enrichment_options" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/enrichment_options-300x117.jpg" alt="enrichment_options" width="300" height="117" />\r\n\r\n<em>By\r\nJennifer J. Elston, Ph.D., Curator of Conservation and Behavior\r\nFort Worth Zoo, Fort Worth, Texas</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Introduction</strong>\r\n\r\nTraditional enrichment for reptiles has typically focused on enhancing environmental features of enclosures (e.g., plant variety, ground substrates, etc.), animal health (i.e., misting and soaking animals), and nutrition (i.e., provision of insects, variety in the diet).  These types of enrichments are important practices that can enhance an animal’s environment and well-being.  However, novelty in the form of foods, objects and scents may be equally stimulating and important for reptiles, as has been shown for mammals (Shepherdson, 2010) and birds (Elston and Plasse, 2008).\r\n\r\nStudies regarding enrichments for chelonians are limited in the literature, though some published evidence exists regarding the benefits of enrichment for turtles.  Sea turtles increased investigative and grooming behaviors and reduced pattern swimming when enrichment devices were provided (Therrien et al., 2007).  A Nile soft-shelled turtle (Trionyx triunguis) sought out stimulation from objects and displayed “play” behavior previously only described for mammals and birds (Burghardt et al., 1996).\r\n\r\nThe objectives of this study were to introduce captive-housed tortoises to novel enrichments to determine the extent of their interaction with new and different items and to compare interactions among food, object and scent enrichment.  Additional goals were to compare tortoise behavior under routine management vs. novel enrichment presentation and also to determine the amount of contact between tortoises that were housed in pairs (a form of social enrichment).\r\n\r\n<strong>Animals, Housing and Methods</strong>\r\n\r\nThis study took place from December 2011 through January 2012.  Three Burmese star tortoises (<em>Geochelone platynota</em>; two males, one female) and five Forsten’s tortoises (<em>Indotestudo forstenii</em>; three males, two females) were observed, for a total of eight tortoises.  Four tortoises were kept as male-female pairs, and four were kept separately.  The tortoises were housed in an off-exhibit greenhouse under both natural and artificial light, in either a run with cement and plywood sides (approximately 90 X 38 X 20 in., 1 pair and 1 single; or approximately 35 X 38 X 20 in., 1 pair) or a rubber tub (approximately 49 X 33 X 21 in., 3 single).  Cypress mulch was used as ground substrate and each enclosure contained a water bowl, food pan, heat source, and a shelter for privacy.  Tortoises were fed once daily in the morning a diet of mixed greens and vegetables with commercial biscuits (Mazuri® Tortoise Diet and Marion Leaf Eater® Food), and had access to their food throughout the day.  A HOBO® data logger (Onset Computer Corporation) was used to record temperature inside the greenhouse.\r\n\r\nDuring each daily observation session, the behavior (Table 1) of each tortoise was recorded every minute for 40 minutes (Scan Sampling; Martin and Bateson, 2007).  Data collection took place between 1300 and 1600 hours.  Behavior was observed over six days under routine husbandry without novel enrichment to generate a baseline time budget before new enrichments were presented.  Following the baseline treatment, a randomly chosen enrichment item was presented during the observation session.  Six items that the tortoises did not have previous exposure to were used, representing three categories:  food, object and scent.  The foods were edible flowers (four total, ranging in size from 1 to 2 in.) and a fresh strawberry.  The objects were a ping pong ball and a wicker ball.  Because the tortoises had not been previously exposed to a ball, a ping pong ball and 2 in. wicker ball were chosen because their small size was expected to be less intimidating, and the tortoises were not large enough to accidentally swallow either type of ball.  The scents were a fresh herb (basil; one sprig, approximately 6 in. long and containing stem and leaves) or a spice (nutmeg; 3 shakes on a piece of cypress mulch).  One type of enrichment was presented per day and each enrichment item was presented twice, for a total of 12 days.  The enrichments were placed in the enclosures in locations where the tortoises could see them, typically within the center of the enclosure.  Each tortoise was offered the same amount of enrichment, whether housed singularly or in pairs.  After the enrichment treatment, behavioral data were collected for an additional six days in order to determine any changes in baseline behavior.\r\n\r\n<strong>Results</strong>\r\n\r\nDuring the enrichment treatment, tortoises spent an average of 13% of time interacting with the novel enrichments (Fig. 1).  Tortoises expressed natural behaviors toward the enrichments, including investigation and/or touching, and consumption of the edibles (Fig. 2).  Tortoises spent less time stationary during the enrichment treatment than before or after, and spent less time moving in general after the enrichment treatment (Fig. 1).  They also spent less time in their shelters when enrichments were present (38% of time during the enrichment treatment vs. 48% before and 58% after).  Tortoises spent the most time interacting with food enrichment (19% of time vs. 10% of time for objects and scents), primarily because of the strawberry.  The strawberry received the most interaction; the nutmeg received the least (Fig. 3).  <img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2515" title="figure-2-elston-fort-worth-zoo" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/figure-2-elston-fort-worth-zoo.jpg" alt="figure-2-elston-fort-worth-zoo" width="677" height="561" />\r\n\r\nThe tortoises housed in male-female pairs spent an average of 49% of time in contact with one another over the course of the three treatments (56%, 31%, and 59% of time, respectively).  Temperature in the greenhouse was consistent throughout the treatments; average temperature was 72º F, reaching an average of 89º F during the day and 62º F at night.\r\n\r\n<strong>Discussion</strong>\r\n\r\nThe tortoises spent the most time interacting with food enrichment, which was not surprising because food enrichments are often favored by animals in general (Young, 2003).  In a comparison of enrichments for an African serval (Leptailurus serval), the serval interacted more with edible enrichments than inedible enrichments, though both types did receive attention (Kunkel, 2011).  The tortoises spent a shorter amount of time interacting with the flowers primarily because of their small size, which made them easy to grasp and swallow.  Because some favored foods can be consumed fairly quickly by tortoises, if a goal for the enrichment is to increase time spent foraging (a natural behavior for tortoises), combining foods with objects that require manipulation to consume the food will lengthen interaction time.\r\n\r\nThe ping pong ball generated more interest than the wicker ball, possibly because its white color and smooth, round shape made it resemble a food item.  The tortoises that did interact with the ping pong ball spent most of their time biting at it.  Size of ball would need to be taken into consideration for larger tortoises to prevent any possible consumption.\r\n\r\nVery little interaction occurred with the nutmeg; however, a great deal of time was spent with the fresh herb (basil).  In fact, the herb received the second highest amount of interaction after the strawberry.  Even though the herb was categorized as scent enrichment during this study, it became a combination of scent and food enrichment because it was consumed.  The palatability of the herb and its composition (leaves and stem, which required much biting and tearing to consume it) likely contributed to the lengthy interaction.  These attributes make fresh herbs an effective form of enrichment if goals are to increase foraging time and offer a novel gustatory and olfactory experience.\r\n\r\nOnce the enrichment treatment was underway the tortoises appeared to anticipate and expect to receive the enrichments.  For example, several tortoises began watching, moving toward and following the observer.  These behaviors began during the enrichment treatment and continued during the first part….\r\n\r\n<strong><em><span>For this and much more every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum.  AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. </span><a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/join/">JOIN NOW!</a></em></strong>\r\n<div></div>', 'Coming Out Of Their Shells:  Enrichment For Tortoises', 0, '', 'draft', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'coming-out-of-their-shells-enrichment-for-tortoises', '', '', '2013-10-15 17:49:17', '2013-10-15 22:49:17', '', 0, 'http://aazk.org/?p=2514', 0, 'post', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2515, 2, '2012-07-04 10:05:36', '2012-07-04 15:05:36', '', 'figure-2-elston-fort-worth-zoo', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'figure-2-elston-fort-worth-zoo', '', '', '2012-07-04 10:05:36', '2012-07-04 15:05:36', '', 2514, 'http://aazk.org/wp-content/uploads/figure-2-elston-fort-worth-zoo.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2516, 2, '2012-07-04 10:04:49', '2012-07-04 15:04:49', '<img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-825" title="enrichment_options" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/enrichment_options-300x117.jpg" alt="enrichment_options" width="300" height="117" />\n\n<em>By\nJennifer J. Elston, Ph.D., Curator of Conservation and Behavior\nFort Worth Zoo, Fort Worth, Texas</em>\n\n<strong>Introduction</strong>\n\nTraditional enrichment for reptiles has typically focused on enhancing environmental features of enclosures (e.g., plant variety, ground substrates, etc.), animal health (i.e., misting and soaking animals), and nutrition (i.e., provision of insects, variety in the diet).  These types of enrichments are important practices that can enhance an animal’s environment and well-being.  However, novelty in the form of foods, objects and scents may be equally stimulating and important for reptiles, as has been shown for mammals (Shepherdson, 2010) and birds (Elston and Plasse, 2008).\n\nStudies regarding enrichments for chelonians are limited in the literature, though some published evidence exists regarding the benefits of enrichment for turtles.  Sea turtles increased investigative and grooming behaviors and reduced pattern swimming when enrichment devices were provided (Therrien et al., 2007).  A Nile soft-shelled turtle (Trionyx triunguis) sought out stimulation from objects and displayed “play” behavior previously only described for mammals and birds (Burghardt et al., 1996).\n\nThe objectives of this study were to introduce captive-housed tortoises to novel enrichments to determine the extent of their interaction with new and different items and to compare interactions among food, object and scent enrichment.  Additional goals were to compare tortoise behavior under routine management vs. novel enrichment presentation and also to determine the amount of contact between tortoises that were housed in pairs (a form of social enrichment).\n\n<strong>Animals, Housing and Methods</strong>\n\nThis study took place from December 2011 through January 2012.  Three Burmese star tortoises (<em>Geochelone platynota</em>; two males, one female) and five Forsten’s tortoises (Indotestudo forstenii; three males, two females) were observed, for a total of eight tortoises.  Four tortoises were kept as male-female pairs, and four were kept separately.  The tortoises were housed in an off-exhibit greenhouse under both natural and artificial light, in either a run with cement and plywood sides (approximately 90 X 38 X 20 in., 1 pair and 1 single; or approximately 35 X 38 X 20 in., 1 pair) or a rubber tub (approximately 49 X 33 X 21 in., 3 single).  Cypress mulch was used as ground substrate and each enclosure contained a water bowl, food pan, heat source, and a shelter for privacy.  Tortoises were fed once daily in the morning a diet of mixed greens and vegetables with commercial biscuits (Mazuri® Tortoise Diet and Marion Leaf Eater® Food), and had access to their food throughout the day.  A HOBO® data logger (Onset Computer Corporation) was used to record temperature inside the greenhouse.\n\nDuring each daily observation session, the behavior (Table 1) of each tortoise was recorded every minute for 40 minutes (Scan Sampling; Martin and Bateson, 2007).  Data collection took place between 1300 and 1600 hours.  Behavior was observed over six days under routine husbandry without novel enrichment to generate a baseline time budget before new enrichments were presented.  Following the baseline treatment, a randomly chosen enrichment item was presented during the observation session.  Six items that the tortoises did not have previous exposure to were used, representing three categories:  food, object and scent.  The foods were edible flowers (four total, ranging in size from 1 to 2 in.) and a fresh strawberry.  The objects were a ping pong ball and a wicker ball.  Because the tortoises had not been previously exposed to a ball, a ping pong ball and 2 in. wicker ball were chosen because their small size was expected to be less intimidating, and the tortoises were not large enough to accidentally swallow either type of ball.  The scents were a fresh herb (basil; one sprig, approximately 6 in. long and containing stem and leaves) or a spice (nutmeg; 3 shakes on a piece of cypress mulch).  One type of enrichment was presented per day and each enrichment item was presented twice, for a total of 12 days.  The enrichments were placed in the enclosures in locations where the tortoises could see them, typically within the center of the enclosure.  Each tortoise was offered the same amount of enrichment, whether housed singularly or in pairs.  After the enrichment treatment, behavioral data were collected for an additional six days in order to determine any changes in baseline behavior.\n\n<strong>Results</strong>\n\nDuring the enrichment treatment, tortoises spent an average of 13% of time interacting with the novel enrichments (Fig. 1).  Tortoises expressed natural behaviors toward the enrichments, including investigation and/or touching, and consumption of the edibles (Fig. 2).  Tortoises spent less time stationary during the enrichment treatment than before or after, and spent less time moving in general after the enrichment treatment (Fig. 1).  They also spent less time in their shelters when enrichments were present (38% of time during the enrichment treatment vs. 48% before and 58% after).  Tortoises spent the most time interacting with food enrichment (19% of time vs. 10% of time for objects and scents), primarily because of the strawberry.  The strawberry received the most interaction; the nutmeg received the least (Fig. 3).\n\nThe tortoises housed in male-female pairs spent an average of 49% of time in contact with one another over the course of the three treatments (56%, 31%, and 59% of time, respectively).  Temperature in the greenhouse was consistent throughout the treatments; average temperature was 72º F, reaching an average of 89º F during the day and 62º F at night.\n\n<strong>Discussion</strong>\n\nThe tortoises spent the most time interacting with food enrichment, which was not surprising because food enrichments are often favored by animals in general (Young, 2003).  In a comparison of enrichments for an African serval (Leptailurus serval), the serval interacted more with edible enrichments than inedible enrichments, though both types did receive attention (Kunkel, 2011).  The tortoises spent a shorter amount of time interacting with the flowers primarily because of their small size, which made them easy to grasp and swallow.  Because some favored foods can be consumed fairly quickly by tortoises, if a goal for the enrichment is to increase time spent foraging (a natural behavior for tortoises), combining foods with objects that require manipulation to consume the food will lengthen interaction time.\n\nThe ping pong ball generated more interest than the wicker ball, possibly because its white color and smooth, round shape made it resemble a food item.  The tortoises that did interact with the ping pong ball spent most of their time biting at it.  Size of ball would need to be taken into consideration for larger tortoises to prevent any possible consumption.\n\nVery little interaction occurred with the nutmeg; however, a great deal of time was spent with the fresh herb (basil).  In fact, the herb received the second highest amount of interaction after the strawberry.  Even though the herb was categorized as scent enrichment during this study, it became a combination of scent and food enrichment because it was consumed.  The palatability of the herb and its composition (leaves and stem, which required much biting and tearing to consume it) likely contributed to the lengthy interaction.  These attributes make fresh herbs an effective form of enrichment if goals are to increase foraging time and offer a novel gustatory and olfactory experience.\n\nOnce the enrichment treatment was underway the tortoises appeared to anticipate and expect to receive the enrichments.  For example, several tortoises began watching, moving toward and following the observer.  These behaviors began during the enrichment treatment and continued during the first part….\n\n<strong><em><span>For this and much more every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum.  AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. </span><a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/join/">JOIN NOW!</a></em></strong>\n<div></div>', 'Coming Out Of Their Shells:  Enrichment For Tortoises', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2514-revision', '', '', '2012-07-04 10:04:49', '2012-07-04 15:04:49', '', 2514, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2514-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2507, 2, '2012-07-04 09:47:10', '2012-07-04 14:47:10', '<em>By\nAlison Mott, Registered Veterinary Technician\nKate Gore, Primary Reptile Keeper\nSacramento Zoological Society, Sacramento, CA</em>\n\n<strong>Abstract</strong>\n\nManagement of medical conditions in zoo animals can present unique challenges to veterinary and keeper staffs, often requiring creative solutions.  The Sacramento Zoo was faced with the challenge of how to limit the use of a tortoise’s limb while still allowing the animal to have mobility. While the use of carts for cats and dogs with spinal injuries are common, we took this idea and modified it creating a skateboard for a tortoise. This allowed us to treat and rehabilitate 1.0 sulcata tortoise known as “Bubba.”\n\n<strong>Natural History</strong>\n\nThe African spur thighed tortoise (<em>Geochelone sulcata</em>) is native to the northern region of Africa. They range along the southern edge of the Sahara within the countries of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, the Sudan, and Ethiopia.  The sulcata is the third-largest tortoise species, with a weight range of 80-150 lbs. (36-68 kg), and an average carapace length of 24-30 inches (60-75 cm). They are the largest tortoise species from the African continent. The oldest sulcata on record lived to be 54 years-old (Hughes, 1986, in Stearns). Sulcatas are adapted to living in the dry grasslands with thick skin that is resistant to fluid loss in dry conditions; however when exposed to moisture, their skin may become permeable, allowing them to acquire what moisture they need. Like other desert-oriented tortoise species, the sulcata will excavate burrows to thirty inches in depth, and once underground, the burrow can then reach lengths of ten feet or more. As sulcatas are grassland tortoises, they obtain the majority of their nutrition from the grasses on which they graze. In captivity, they will readily eat assorted greens, yams, carrots, with occasional broccoli, squash, and tomatoes as relished treats.\n\nThe sulcata species is listed as vulnerable, though they are very common in the pet trade within the United States, despite the Cites Appendix II status. Sulcatas have developed a reputation as a “throw away pet”, due to their large size and destructive tendencies. They can be purchased when they are newly hatched and sized to fit within a child’s hands. Sulcatas grow quickly, are prone to digging large burrows, and as their weights increase, they become more than most people care to handle, and the owners often end up getting rid of the tortoises in any way they can. Zoos and rescue centers are regularly called by people wanting to donate their unwanted tortoises. In October 1999, the Sacramento Zoo acquired the subject of this paper when he was donated by a local veterinarian. As a result of the manner of acquisition, his date of birth and parentage are unknown. Based upon his size, keepers estimated the tortoise’s age to be thirteen years.\n\n<strong>Initial Medical Problem</strong>\n\nBubba has had an unremarkable medical history with an annual physical exam and radiographs bi-yearly. In 2010 a new tortoise exhibit located between the Giraffe exhibit space and the visitor viewing deck, (approximately 904 sq. ft.), was constructed in combination with the Tall Wonders Giraffe Encounter. The exhibit features a heated house that is approximately 81 sq. ft., while the exhibit yard is a mixture of grass and dirt with small boulders and tall grasses for decorative design. There is a slight slope up to the fence of the Giraffe yard. Bubba shares this exhibit with two smaller sulcata tortoises.\n\nOn 25 January 2011 (day 1 of presentation) keepers reported that Bubba had been showing signs of lameness for one day. He was not bearing full weight on his left front leg. Keepers were advised to monitor and report back to veterinary staff if the lameness persisted or worsened.  On 31 January 2011 (day 1 of treatment) the lameness had increased to non-weight-bearing and a full physical exam was performed. During his exam, radiographs of the left front limb were taken and showed irregularities in the margins of the elbow and carpal joints consistent with osteoarthritis. The left distal humerus had areas of focal radiolucency, and a possible bone fragment. He was given an injection of Meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), for pain. Bubba was returned to his exhibit and keepers continued to monitor his lameness.\n\n<strong>Medical Treatment</strong>\n\nOn 1 February 2011, Bubba was placed on oral Meloxicam every other day and Tramadol once daily. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain. While it was hoped that a combination of analgesics would help alleviate Bubba’s pain, it was obvious two days later that his condition was not improving. He was moved to the Dr. Murray E. Fowler Veterinary Hospital. The hospital has a room dedicated specifically for sick birds or reptiles that can be modified to fit the specific needs of the animal hospitalized. In Bubba’s case, he had free access to the entire room with a 250-watt radiant heater hung from the ceiling three feet off of the floor to give him a basking spot while the room temperature was set to maintain a range of 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the concerns that there may be osteomyelitis in the leg and further use of the leg might worsen the condition, the staff wanted to keep Bubba from using or bearing weight on the front left leg. For most mammals this would be a bandage that brought the leg up to the body or a splint which restricted movement. These animals are able to ambulate without problem on three legs. Tortoises, however, require the use of all limbs to raise themselves and move. Turtles and tortoises must rely exclusively on movements of the limbs to propel themselves.  The challenge was how to keep a 41kg tortoise off of a limb. The veterinary staff needed a device that would keep Bubba’s weight off of his leg, but still allow him to move freely. The Maintenance Department was consulted and tasked with constructing a tortoise cart the following day while the veterinary staff performed a follow-up examination.\n\nDue to the lack of improvement in the tortoise’s condition, additional diagnostics were performed on 4 February 2011. This exam included a blood culture, arthrocentesis [or joint-tap (fig 2)], Complete Blood Cell count (CBC), blood chemistry panel, additional radiographs and obtaining an accurate body weight (41kg). Radiographs of the left front limb showed marked irregularity at the joint margins with areas of bony proliferations and lysis at the distal humeral condyl. These results were more consistent with osteomyelitis or neoplasia rather than trauma. The arthrocentesis results showed mild mononuclear inflammation most compatible with a degenerative joint disease. While under anesthesia, the maintenance department took measurements of Bubba and outlined the plastron using a towel and a black marker. The cart was constructed out of 1” plywood, four wheels and two nylon straps.  The wood was cut to include a place for the left front leg to rest and all edges were rounded and smoothed.  While Bubba recovered from anesthesia he was strapped onto the cart. After a few days of walking around on his new cart it was obvious that a few modifications were needed. Bubba was having a hard time reaching the ground with his back feet, the straps kept breaking, he was still able to use his front left leg and he was becoming very good at doing wheelies with his front right foot. The cart was taken back to our maintenance department where the rear wheels were sunk into the wood (to lower the back of the cart), a fifth wheel was added in the middle rear area, rubber padding was installed on the cart to prevent sliding, the straps were replaced with heavier nylon versions and a leg guard was placed on the front of the cart to keep the left leg from being able to bear weight (fig 3).\n\nOn 10 February 2011, Dr. Allison Zwingenberger, a Radiologist at the University of California at Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (UCD VMTH), was consulted and agreed that the radiographic bone changes were likely the result of an infection. Bubba was started on Ceftazidime injections (three times a week), a broad spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic. Bubba’s activity and appetite had decreased since he was placed on the cart and he had started to refuse all oral medications; as a result his oral Meloxicam treatment was changed to a daily injection. As he spent the majority of his time under the basking heater, veterinarians and the curator were asked about the possibility of giving Bubba some time outside on warm days. Permission was granted and he was allowed time outside behind the Veterinary hospital on days that were above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny. On 13 February 2011 he spent his first 4 ½ hours outside with some supervised time spent grazing. This was the most active he had been in some time. He had figured out that the asphalt behind the hospital sloped slightly and he would walk up one end and slide down. This was only about five feet long, but he appeared to enjoy it. He also became very adept at climbing hills with his cart. The grassy area behind the hospital is a slight hill; using his three available legs he would climb the hill to get to his favorite patches of grass. He was allowed unsupervised time outside when he was confined to the asphalt, but had to be supervised when grazing in case he got stuck in mud or flipped over while climbing. (fig 4)\n\nBubba’s appetite remained decreased, until it was discovered that by flipping his food dish over and offering his diet on top, (a difference in about two inches of height), Bubba was better able to reach his food and ate readily.  Leaving his food this way was not practical as Bubba would knock the food off of the bowl and have difficulty eating it off the ground. Reptile keeper Bill Tabb was asked to make a raised food bowl. Using two plant saucers that were placed bottom to bottom and attached together with three screws, he devised a raised feeder. Bubba made his own modifications to the food bowl over the next week by pinning the food bowl against the wall with his cart. This cracked the top bowl and made an indentation in one side. The cracked piece was removed and edges of the food bowl were smoothed. This was the best spot for Bubba to eat his food (fig 5).\n\nAfter three weeks of treatment, the leg guard was removed during the day. Veterinary staff wanted to assess the use of the limb without letting Bubba place full weight on it. He was observed letting the leg rest on the cart multiple times throughout the day. While his leg appeared visibly swollen at the elbow joint, the swelling had decreased from the initial presentation. The leg guard was placed back on the cart the following morning and Bubba continued to improve on his cart.\n\nVeterinary staff performed a follow-up examination 37 days into the treatment. The examination included repeat radiographs, arthrocentesis, CBC and blood chemistry panels. Over the previous five weeks of hospitalization his weight had remained steady and appetite returned to normal.  He was anesthetized for the examination. Contracture of the muscles around the left elbow was appreciated. There was resistance to the manipulation of the joint and no appreciable crepitus,…….', '', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2506-revision', '', '', '2012-07-04 09:47:10', '2012-07-04 14:47:10', '', 2506, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2506-revision/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2508, 2, '2012-07-04 09:48:11', '2012-07-04 14:48:11', '<em>By\nAlison Mott, Registered Veterinary Technician\nKate Gore, Primary Reptile Keeper\nSacramento Zoological Society, Sacramento, CA</em>\n\n<strong>Abstract</strong>\n\nManagement of medical conditions in zoo animals can present unique challenges to veterinary and keeper staffs, often requiring creative solutions.  The Sacramento Zoo was faced with the challenge of how to limit the use of a tortoise’s limb while still allowing the animal to have mobility. While the use of carts for cats and dogs with spinal injuries are common, we took this idea and modified it creating a skateboard for a tortoise. This allowed us to treat and rehabilitate 1.0 sulcata tortoise known as “Bubba.”\n\n<strong>Natural History</strong>\n\nThe African spur thighed tortoise (<em>Geochelone sulcata</em>) is native to the northern region of Africa. They range along the southern edge of the Sahara within the countries of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, the Sudan, and Ethiopia.  The sulcata is the third-largest tortoise species, with a weight range of 80-150 lbs. (36-68 kg), and an average carapace length of 24-30 inches (60-75 cm). They are the largest tortoise species from the African continent. The oldest sulcata on record lived to be 54 years-old (Hughes, 1986, in Stearns). Sulcatas are adapted to living in the dry grasslands with thick skin that is resistant to fluid loss in dry conditions; however when exposed to moisture, their skin may become permeable, allowing them to acquire what moisture they need. Like other desert-oriented tortoise species, the sulcata will excavate burrows to thirty inches in depth, and once underground, the burrow can then reach lengths of ten feet or more. As sulcatas are grassland tortoises, they obtain the majority of their nutrition from the grasses on which they graze. In captivity, they will readily eat assorted greens, yams, carrots, with occasional broccoli, squash, and tomatoes as relished treats.\n\nThe sulcata species is listed as vulnerable, though they are very common in the pet trade within the United States, despite the Cites Appendix II status. Sulcatas have developed a reputation as a “throw away pet”, due to their large size and destructive tendencies. They can be purchased when they are newly hatched and sized to fit within a child’s hands. Sulcatas grow quickly, are prone to digging large burrows, and as their weights increase, they become more than most people care to handle, and the owners often end up getting rid of the tortoises in any way they can. Zoos and rescue centers are regularly called by people wanting to donate their unwanted tortoises. In October 1999, the Sacramento Zoo acquired the subject of this paper when he was donated by a local veterinarian. As a result of the manner of acquisition, his date of birth and parentage are unknown. Based upon his size, keepers estimated the tortoise’s age to be thirteen years.\n\n<strong>Initial Medical Problem</strong>\n\nBubba has had an unremarkable medical history with an annual physical exam and radiographs bi-yearly. In 2010 a new tortoise exhibit located between the Giraffe exhibit space and the visitor viewing deck, (approximately 904 sq. ft.), was constructed in combination with the Tall Wonders Giraffe Encounter. The exhibit features a heated house that is approximately 81 sq. ft., while the exhibit yard is a mixture of grass and dirt with small boulders and tall grasses for decorative design. There is a slight slope up to the fence of the Giraffe yard. Bubba shares this exhibit with two smaller sulcata tortoises.\n\nOn 25 January 2011 (day 1 of presentation) keepers reported that Bubba had been showing signs of lameness for one day. He was not bearing full weight on his left front leg. Keepers were advised to monitor and report back to veterinary staff if the lameness persisted or worsened.  On 31 January 2011 (day 1 of treatment) the lameness had increased to non-weight-bearing and a full physical exam was performed. During his exam, radiographs of the left front limb were taken and showed irregularities in the margins of the elbow and carpal joints consistent with osteoarthritis. The left distal humerus had areas of focal radiolucency, and a possible bone fragment. He was given an injection of Meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), for pain. Bubba was returned to his exhibit and keepers continued to monitor his lameness.\n\n<strong>Medical Treatment</strong>\n\nOn 1 February 2011, Bubba was placed on oral Meloxicam every other day and Tramadol once daily. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain. While it was hoped that a combination of analgesics would help alleviate Bubba’s pain, it was obvious two days later that his condition was not improving. He was moved to the Dr. Murray E. Fowler Veterinary Hospital. The hospital has a room dedicated specifically for sick birds or reptiles that can be modified to fit the specific needs of the animal hospitalized. In Bubba’s case, he had free access to the entire room with a 250-watt radiant heater hung from the ceiling three feet off of the floor to give him a basking spot while the room temperature was set to maintain a range of 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the concerns that there may be osteomyelitis in the leg and further use of the leg might worsen the condition, the staff wanted to keep Bubba from using or bearing weight on the front left leg. For most mammals this would be a bandage that brought the leg up to the body or a splint which restricted movement. These animals are able to ambulate without problem on three legs. Tortoises, however, require the use of all limbs to raise themselves and move. Turtles and tortoises must rely exclusively on movements of the limbs to propel themselves.  The challenge was how to keep a 41kg tortoise off of a limb. The veterinary staff needed a device that would keep Bubba’s weight off of his leg, but still allow him to move freely. The Maintenance Department was consulted and tasked with constructing a tortoise cart the following day while the veterinary staff performed a follow-up examination.\n\nDue to the lack of improvement in the tortoise’s condition, additional diagnostics were performed on 4 February 2011. This exam included a blood culture, arthrocentesis [or joint-tap (fig 2)], Complete Blood Cell count (CBC), blood chemistry panel, additional radiographs and obtaining an accurate body weight (41kg). Radiographs of the left front limb showed marked irregularity at the joint margins with areas of bony proliferations and lysis at the distal humeral condyl. These results were more consistent with osteomyelitis or neoplasia rather than trauma. The arthrocentesis results showed mild mononuclear inflammation most compatible with a degenerative joint disease. While under anesthesia, the maintenance department took measurements of Bubba and outlined the plastron using a towel and a black marker. The cart was constructed out of 1” plywood, four wheels and two nylon straps.  The wood was cut to include a place for the left front leg to rest and all edges were rounded and smoothed.  While Bubba recovered from anesthesia he was strapped onto the cart. After a few days of walking around on his new cart it was obvious that a few modifications were needed. Bubba was having a hard time reaching the ground with his back feet, the straps kept breaking, he was still able to use his front left leg and he was becoming very good at doing wheelies with his front right foot. The cart was taken back to our maintenance department where the rear wheels were sunk into the wood (to lower the back of the cart), a fifth wheel was added in the middle rear area, rubber padding was installed on the cart to prevent sliding, the straps were replaced with heavier nylon versions and a leg guard was placed on the front of the cart to keep the left leg from being able to bear weight (fig 3).<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2504" title="bubba-on-cart" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/bubba-on-cart.jpg" alt="bubba-on-cart" width="714" height="511" />\n\nOn 10 February 2011, Dr. Allison Zwingenberger, a Radiologist at the University of California at Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (UCD VMTH), was consulted and agreed that the radiographic bone changes were likely the result of an infection. Bubba was started on Ceftazidime injections (three times a week), a broad spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic. Bubba’s activity and appetite had decreased since he was placed on the cart and he had started to refuse all oral medications; as a result his oral Meloxicam treatment was changed to a daily injection. As he spent the majority of his time under the basking heater, veterinarians and the curator were asked about the possibility of giving Bubba some time outside on warm days. Permission was granted and he was allowed time outside behind the Veterinary hospital on days that were above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny. On 13 February 2011 he spent his first 4 ½ hours outside with some supervised time spent grazing. This was the most active he had been in some time. He had figured out that the asphalt behind the hospital sloped slightly and he would walk up one end and slide down. This was only about five feet long, but he appeared to enjoy it. He also became very adept at climbing hills with his cart. The grassy area behind the hospital is a slight hill; using his three available legs he would climb the hill to get to his favorite patches of grass. He was allowed unsupervised time outside when he was confined to the asphalt, but had to be supervised when grazing in case he got stuck in mud or flipped over while climbing. (fig 4)\n\nBubba’s appetite remained decreased, until it was discovered that by flipping his food dish over and offering his diet on top, (a difference in about two inches of height), Bubba was better able to reach his food and ate readily.  Leaving his food this way was not practical as Bubba would knock the food off of the bowl and have difficulty eating it off the ground. Reptile keeper Bill Tabb was asked to make a raised food bowl. Using two plant saucers that were placed bottom to bottom and attached together with three screws, he devised a raised feeder. Bubba made his own modifications to the food bowl over the next week by pinning the food bowl against the wall with his cart. This cracked the top bowl and made an indentation in one side. The cracked piece was removed and edges of the food bowl were smoothed. This was the best spot for Bubba to eat his food (fig 5).\n\nAfter three weeks of treatment, the leg guard was removed during the day. Veterinary staff wanted to assess the use of the limb without letting Bubba place full weight on it. He was observed letting the leg rest on the cart multiple times throughout the day. While his leg appeared visibly swollen at the elbow joint, the swelling had decreased from the initial presentation. The leg guard was placed back on the cart the following morning and Bubba continued to improve on his cart.\n\nVeterinary staff performed a follow-up examination 37 days into the treatment. The examination included repeat radiographs, arthrocentesis, CBC and blood chemistry panels. Over the previous five weeks of hospitalization his weight had remained steady and appetite returned to normal.  He was anesthetized for the examination. Contracture of the muscles around the left elbow was appreciated. There was resistance to the manipulation of the joint and no appreciable crepitus,…….', 'Bubba: A Sulcata on a Skateboard', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2506-revision-2', '', '', '2012-07-04 09:48:11', '2012-07-04 14:48:11', '', 2506, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2506-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2509, 2, '2012-07-04 10:00:32', '2012-07-04 15:00:32', 'About the Cover/Information for Contributors<span> </span>\n\nA Dedication to Chelonians<span> </span>\n\nFrom the President<span> </span>\n\nNew Members<span> </span>\n\nComing Events<span> </span>\n\nA Brief Overview of Captive Husbandry of Turtles for Non-Reptile Keepers <span> </span>\n\nBubba: A Sulcata on a Skateboard<span> </span>\n\nHatching Success of the Madagascar Flat-tailed Tortoise (<em>Pyxis planicauda</em>)<span> </span>\n\nThe Evolution of Wrangling Turtles in Houston, Texas<span> </span>\n\nEnrichment Options: Coming Out Of Their Shells:  Enrichment for Tortoises<span> </span>\n\nDisney’s Animal Kingdom’s® Turtle Cognition Program <span> </span>\n\nThe (<em>Cuora galbinifrons</em>) Studbook: A Model for Understanding Studbook Challenges<span> </span>\n\nSurgery and Rehabilitation on a Male Painted Terrapin (<em>Batagur borneoensis</em>)<span> </span>', 'July 2012', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2506-autosave', '', '', '2012-07-04 10:00:32', '2012-07-04 15:00:32', '', 2506, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2506-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2513, 2, '2012-07-04 09:51:28', '2012-07-04 14:51:28', '<em>By\r\nAlison Mott, Registered Veterinary Technician\r\nKate Gore, Primary Reptile Keeper\r\nSacramento Zoological Society, Sacramento, CA</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Abstract</strong>\r\n\r\nManagement of medical conditions in zoo animals can present unique challenges to veterinary and keeper staffs, often requiring creative solutions.  The Sacramento Zoo was faced with the challenge of how to limit the use of a tortoise’s limb while still allowing the animal to have mobility. While the use of carts for cats and dogs with spinal injuries are common, we took this idea and modified it creating a skateboard for a tortoise. This allowed us to treat and rehabilitate 1.0 sulcata tortoise known as “Bubba.”\r\n\r\n<strong>Natural History</strong>\r\n\r\nThe African spur thighed tortoise (<em>Geochelone sulcata</em>) is native to the northern region of Africa. They range along the southern edge of the Sahara within the countries of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, the Sudan, and Ethiopia.  The sulcata is the third-largest tortoise species, with a weight range of 80-150 lbs. (36-68 kg), and an average carapace length of 24-30 inches (60-75 cm). They are the largest tortoise species from the African continent. The oldest sulcata on record lived to be 54 years-old (Hughes, 1986, in Stearns). Sulcatas are adapted to living in the dry grasslands with thick skin that is resistant to fluid loss in dry conditions; however when exposed to moisture, their skin may become permeable, allowing them to acquire what moisture they need. Like other desert-oriented tortoise species, the sulcata will excavate burrows to thirty inches in depth, and once underground, the burrow can then reach lengths of ten feet or more. As sulcatas are grassland tortoises, they obtain the majority of their nutrition from the grasses on which they graze. In captivity, they will readily eat assorted greens, yams, carrots, with occasional broccoli, squash, and tomatoes as relished treats.\r\n\r\nThe sulcata species is listed as vulnerable, though they are very common in the pet trade within the United States, despite the Cites Appendix II status. Sulcatas have developed a reputation as a “throw away pet”, due to their large size and destructive tendencies. They can be purchased when they are newly hatched and sized to fit within a child’s hands. Sulcatas grow quickly, are prone to digging large burrows, and as their weights increase, they become more than most people care to handle, and the owners often end up getting rid of the tortoises in any way they can. Zoos and rescue centers are regularly called by people wanting to donate their unwanted tortoises. In October 1999, the Sacramento Zoo acquired the subject of this paper when he was donated by a local veterinarian. As a result of the manner of acquisition, his date of birth and parentage are unknown. Based upon his size, keepers estimated the tortoise’s age to be thirteen years.\r\n\r\n<strong>Initial Medical Problem</strong>\r\n\r\nBubba has had an unremarkable medical history with an annual physical exam and radiographs bi-yearly. In 2010 a new tortoise exhibit located between the Giraffe exhibit space and the visitor viewing deck, (approximately 904 sq. ft.), was constructed in combination with the Tall Wonders Giraffe Encounter. The exhibit features a heated house that is approximately 81 sq. ft., while the exhibit yard is a mixture of grass and dirt with small boulders and tall grasses for decorative design. There is a slight slope up to the fence of the Giraffe yard. Bubba shares this exhibit with two smaller sulcata tortoises.\r\n\r\nOn 25 January 2011 (day 1 of presentation) keepers reported that Bubba had been showing signs of lameness for one day. He was not bearing full weight on his left front leg. Keepers were advised to monitor and report back to veterinary staff if the lameness persisted or worsened.  On 31 January 2011 (day 1 of treatment) the lameness had increased to non-weight-bearing and a full physical exam was performed. During his exam, radiographs of the left front limb were taken and showed irregularities in the margins of the elbow and carpal joints consistent with osteoarthritis. The left distal humerus had areas of focal radiolucency, and a possible bone fragment. He was given an injection of Meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), for pain. Bubba was returned to his exhibit and keepers continued to monitor his lameness.\r\n\r\n<strong>Medical Treatment</strong>\r\n\r\nOn 1 February 2011, Bubba was placed on oral Meloxicam every other day and Tramadol once daily. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain. While it was hoped that a combination of analgesics would help alleviate Bubba’s pain, it was obvious two days later that his condition was not improving. He was moved to the Dr. Murray E. Fowler Veterinary Hospital. The hospital has a room dedicated specifically for sick birds or reptiles that can be modified to fit the specific needs of the animal hospitalized. In Bubba’s case, he had free access to the entire room with a 250-watt radiant heater hung from the ceiling three feet off of the floor to give him a basking spot while the room temperature was set to maintain a range of 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the concerns that there may be osteomyelitis in the leg and further use of the leg might worsen the condition, the staff wanted to keep Bubba from using or bearing weight on the front left leg. For most mammals this would be a bandage that brought the leg up to the body or a splint which restricted movement. These animals are able to ambulate without problem on three legs. Tortoises, however, require the use of all limbs to raise themselves and move. Turtles and tortoises must rely exclusively on movements of the limbs to propel themselves.  The challenge was how to keep a 41kg tortoise off of a limb. The veterinary staff needed a device that would keep Bubba’s weight off of his leg, but still allow him to move freely. The Maintenance Department was consulted and tasked with constructing a tortoise cart the following day while the veterinary staff performed a follow-up examination.\r\n\r\nDue to the lack of improvement in the tortoise’s condition, additional diagnostics were performed on 4 February 2011. This exam included a blood culture, arthrocentesis [or joint-tap (fig 2)], Complete Blood Cell count (CBC), blood chemistry panel, additional radiographs and obtaining an accurate body weight (41kg). Radiographs of the left front limb showed marked irregularity at the joint margins with areas of bony proliferations and lysis at the distal humeral condyl. These results were more consistent with osteomyelitis or neoplasia rather than trauma. The arthrocentesis results showed mild mononuclear inflammation most compatible with a degenerative joint disease. While under anesthesia, the maintenance department took measurements of Bubba and outlined the plastron using a towel and a black marker. The cart was constructed out of 1” plywood, four wheels and two nylon straps.  The wood was cut to include a place for the left front leg to rest and all edges were rounded and smoothed.  While Bubba recovered from anesthesia he was strapped onto the cart. After a few days of walking around on his new cart it was obvious that a few modifications were needed. Bubba was having a hard time reaching the ground with his back feet, the straps kept breaking, he was still able to use his front left leg and he was becoming very good at doing wheelies with his front right foot. The cart was taken back to our maintenance department where the rear wheels were sunk into the wood (to lower the back of the cart), a fifth wheel was added in the middle rear area, rubber padding was installed on the cart to prevent sliding, the straps were replaced with heavier nylon versions and a leg guard was placed on the front of the cart to keep the left leg from being able to bear weight (fig 3).<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2504" title="bubba-on-cart" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/bubba-on-cart.jpg" alt="bubba-on-cart" width="714" height="511" />\r\n\r\nOn 10 February 2011, Dr. Allison Zwingenberger, a Radiologist at the University of California at Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (UCD VMTH), was consulted and agreed that the radiographic bone changes were likely the result of an infection. Bubba was started on Ceftazidime injections (three times a week), a broad spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic. Bubba’s activity and appetite had decreased since he was placed on the cart and he had started to refuse all oral medications; as a result his oral Meloxicam treatment was changed to a daily injection. As he spent the majority of his time under the basking heater, veterinarians and the curator were asked about the possibility of giving Bubba some time outside on warm days. Permission was granted and he was allowed time outside behind the Veterinary hospital on days that were above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny. On 13 February 2011 he spent his first 4 ½ hours outside with some supervised time spent grazing. This was the most active he had been in some time. He had figured out that the asphalt behind the hospital sloped slightly and he would walk up one end and slide down. This was only about five feet long, but he appeared to enjoy it. He also became very adept at climbing hills with his cart. The grassy area behind the hospital is a slight hill; using his three available legs he would climb the hill to get to his favorite patches of grass. He was allowed unsupervised time outside when he was confined to the asphalt, but had to be supervised when grazing in case he got stuck in mud or flipped over while climbing. (fig 4)\r\n\r\nBubba’s appetite remained decreased, until it was discovered that by flipping his food dish over and offering his diet on top, (a difference in about two inches of height), Bubba was better able to reach his food and ate readily.  Leaving his food this way was not practical as Bubba would knock the food off of the bowl and have difficulty eating it off the ground. Reptile keeper Bill Tabb was asked to make a raised food bowl. Using two plant saucers that were placed bottom to bottom and attached together with three screws, he devised a raised feeder. Bubba made his own modifications to the food bowl over the next week by pinning the food bowl against the wall with his cart. This cracked the top bowl and made an indentation in one side. The cracked piece was removed and edges of the food bowl were smoothed. This was the best spot for Bubba to eat his food (fig 5).\r\n\r\nAfter three weeks of treatment, the leg guard was removed during the day. Veterinary staff wanted to assess the use of the limb without letting Bubba place full weight on it. He was observed letting the leg rest on the cart multiple times throughout the day. While his leg appeared visibly swollen at the elbow joint, the swelling had decreased from the initial presentation. The leg guard was placed back on the cart the following morning and Bubba continued to improve on his cart.\r\n\r\nVeterinary staff performed a follow-up examination 37 days into the treatment. The examination included repeat radiographs, arthrocentesis, CBC and blood chemistry panels. Over the previous five weeks of hospitalization his weight had remained steady and appetite returned to normal.  He was anesthetized for the examination. Contracture of the muscles around the left elbow was appreciated. There was resistance to the manipulation of the joint and no appreciable crepitus,…….\r\n\r\n<strong><em><span>Want to read the rest of this article?  For this and many more fascinating articles every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum.  AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. </span><a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/join/">JOIN NOW!</a></em></strong>', 'Bubba: A Sulcata on a Skateboard', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2506-revision-4', '', '', '2012-07-04 09:51:28', '2012-07-04 14:51:28', '', 2506, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2506-revision-4/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2510, 2, '2012-07-04 09:49:40', '2012-07-04 14:49:40', '<em>By\r\nAlison Mott, Registered Veterinary Technician\r\nKate Gore, Primary Reptile Keeper\r\nSacramento Zoological Society, Sacramento, CA</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Abstract</strong>\r\n\r\nManagement of medical conditions in zoo animals can present unique challenges to veterinary and keeper staffs, often requiring creative solutions.  The Sacramento Zoo was faced with the challenge of how to limit the use of a tortoise’s limb while still allowing the animal to have mobility. While the use of carts for cats and dogs with spinal injuries are common, we took this idea and modified it creating a skateboard for a tortoise. This allowed us to treat and rehabilitate 1.0 sulcata tortoise known as “Bubba.”\r\n\r\n<strong>Natural History</strong>\r\n\r\nThe African spur thighed tortoise (<em>Geochelone sulcata</em>) is native to the northern region of Africa. They range along the southern edge of the Sahara within the countries of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, the Sudan, and Ethiopia.  The sulcata is the third-largest tortoise species, with a weight range of 80-150 lbs. (36-68 kg), and an average carapace length of 24-30 inches (60-75 cm). They are the largest tortoise species from the African continent. The oldest sulcata on record lived to be 54 years-old (Hughes, 1986, in Stearns). Sulcatas are adapted to living in the dry grasslands with thick skin that is resistant to fluid loss in dry conditions; however when exposed to moisture, their skin may become permeable, allowing them to acquire what moisture they need. Like other desert-oriented tortoise species, the sulcata will excavate burrows to thirty inches in depth, and once underground, the burrow can then reach lengths of ten feet or more. As sulcatas are grassland tortoises, they obtain the majority of their nutrition from the grasses on which they graze. In captivity, they will readily eat assorted greens, yams, carrots, with occasional broccoli, squash, and tomatoes as relished treats.\r\n\r\nThe sulcata species is listed as vulnerable, though they are very common in the pet trade within the United States, despite the Cites Appendix II status. Sulcatas have developed a reputation as a “throw away pet”, due to their large size and destructive tendencies. They can be purchased when they are newly hatched and sized to fit within a child’s hands. Sulcatas grow quickly, are prone to digging large burrows, and as their weights increase, they become more than most people care to handle, and the owners often end up getting rid of the tortoises in any way they can. Zoos and rescue centers are regularly called by people wanting to donate their unwanted tortoises. In October 1999, the Sacramento Zoo acquired the subject of this paper when he was donated by a local veterinarian. As a result of the manner of acquisition, his date of birth and parentage are unknown. Based upon his size, keepers estimated the tortoise’s age to be thirteen years.\r\n\r\n<strong>Initial Medical Problem</strong>\r\n\r\nBubba has had an unremarkable medical history with an annual physical exam and radiographs bi-yearly. In 2010 a new tortoise exhibit located between the Giraffe exhibit space and the visitor viewing deck, (approximately 904 sq. ft.), was constructed in combination with the Tall Wonders Giraffe Encounter. The exhibit features a heated house that is approximately 81 sq. ft., while the exhibit yard is a mixture of grass and dirt with small boulders and tall grasses for decorative design. There is a slight slope up to the fence of the Giraffe yard. Bubba shares this exhibit with two smaller sulcata tortoises.\r\n\r\nOn 25 January 2011 (day 1 of presentation) keepers reported that Bubba had been showing signs of lameness for one day. He was not bearing full weight on his left front leg. Keepers were advised to monitor and report back to veterinary staff if the lameness persisted or worsened.  On 31 January 2011 (day 1 of treatment) the lameness had increased to non-weight-bearing and a full physical exam was performed. During his exam, radiographs of the left front limb were taken and showed irregularities in the margins of the elbow and carpal joints consistent with osteoarthritis. The left distal humerus had areas of focal radiolucency, and a possible bone fragment. He was given an injection of Meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), for pain. Bubba was returned to his exhibit and keepers continued to monitor his lameness.\r\n\r\n<strong>Medical Treatment</strong>\r\n\r\nOn 1 February 2011, Bubba was placed on oral Meloxicam every other day and Tramadol once daily. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain. While it was hoped that a combination of analgesics would help alleviate Bubba’s pain, it was obvious two days later that his condition was not improving. He was moved to the Dr. Murray E. Fowler Veterinary Hospital. The hospital has a room dedicated specifically for sick birds or reptiles that can be modified to fit the specific needs of the animal hospitalized. In Bubba’s case, he had free access to the entire room with a 250-watt radiant heater hung from the ceiling three feet off of the floor to give him a basking spot while the room temperature was set to maintain a range of 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the concerns that there may be osteomyelitis in the leg and further use of the leg might worsen the condition, the staff wanted to keep Bubba from using or bearing weight on the front left leg. For most mammals this would be a bandage that brought the leg up to the body or a splint which restricted movement. These animals are able to ambulate without problem on three legs. Tortoises, however, require the use of all limbs to raise themselves and move. Turtles and tortoises must rely exclusively on movements of the limbs to propel themselves.  The challenge was how to keep a 41kg tortoise off of a limb. The veterinary staff needed a device that would keep Bubba’s weight off of his leg, but still allow him to move freely. The Maintenance Department was consulted and tasked with constructing a tortoise cart the following day while the veterinary staff performed a follow-up examination.\r\n\r\nDue to the lack of improvement in the tortoise’s condition, additional diagnostics were performed on 4 February 2011. This exam included a blood culture, arthrocentesis [or joint-tap (fig 2)], Complete Blood Cell count (CBC), blood chemistry panel, additional radiographs and obtaining an accurate body weight (41kg). Radiographs of the left front limb showed marked irregularity at the joint margins with areas of bony proliferations and lysis at the distal humeral condyl. These results were more consistent with osteomyelitis or neoplasia rather than trauma. The arthrocentesis results showed mild mononuclear inflammation most compatible with a degenerative joint disease. While under anesthesia, the maintenance department took measurements of Bubba and outlined the plastron using a towel and a black marker. The cart was constructed out of 1” plywood, four wheels and two nylon straps.  The wood was cut to include a place for the left front leg to rest and all edges were rounded and smoothed.  While Bubba recovered from anesthesia he was strapped onto the cart. After a few days of walking around on his new cart it was obvious that a few modifications were needed. Bubba was having a hard time reaching the ground with his back feet, the straps kept breaking, he was still able to use his front left leg and he was becoming very good at doing wheelies with his front right foot. The cart was taken back to our maintenance department where the rear wheels were sunk into the wood (to lower the back of the cart), a fifth wheel was added in the middle rear area, rubber padding was installed on the cart to prevent sliding, the straps were replaced with heavier nylon versions and a leg guard was placed on the front of the cart to keep the left leg from being able to bear weight (fig 3).<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2504" title="bubba-on-cart" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/bubba-on-cart.jpg" alt="bubba-on-cart" width="714" height="511" />\r\n\r\nOn 10 February 2011, Dr. Allison Zwingenberger, a Radiologist at the University of California at Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (UCD VMTH), was consulted and agreed that the radiographic bone changes were likely the result of an infection. Bubba was started on Ceftazidime injections (three times a week), a broad spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic. Bubba’s activity and appetite had decreased since he was placed on the cart and he had started to refuse all oral medications; as a result his oral Meloxicam treatment was changed to a daily injection. As he spent the majority of his time under the basking heater, veterinarians and the curator were asked about the possibility of giving Bubba some time outside on warm days. Permission was granted and he was allowed time outside behind the Veterinary hospital on days that were above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny. On 13 February 2011 he spent his first 4 ½ hours outside with some supervised time spent grazing. This was the most active he had been in some time. He had figured out that the asphalt behind the hospital sloped slightly and he would walk up one end and slide down. This was only about five feet long, but he appeared to enjoy it. He also became very adept at climbing hills with his cart. The grassy area behind the hospital is a slight hill; using his three available legs he would climb the hill to get to his favorite patches of grass. He was allowed unsupervised time outside when he was confined to the asphalt, but had to be supervised when grazing in case he got stuck in mud or flipped over while climbing. (fig 4)\r\n\r\nBubba’s appetite remained decreased, until it was discovered that by flipping his food dish over and offering his diet on top, (a difference in about two inches of height), Bubba was better able to reach his food and ate readily.  Leaving his food this way was not practical as Bubba would knock the food off of the bowl and have difficulty eating it off the ground. Reptile keeper Bill Tabb was asked to make a raised food bowl. Using two plant saucers that were placed bottom to bottom and attached together with three screws, he devised a raised feeder. Bubba made his own modifications to the food bowl over the next week by pinning the food bowl against the wall with his cart. This cracked the top bowl and made an indentation in one side. The cracked piece was removed and edges of the food bowl were smoothed. This was the best spot for Bubba to eat his food (fig 5).\r\n\r\nAfter three weeks of treatment, the leg guard was removed during the day. Veterinary staff wanted to assess the use of the limb without letting Bubba place full weight on it. He was observed letting the leg rest on the cart multiple times throughout the day. While his leg appeared visibly swollen at the elbow joint, the swelling had decreased from the initial presentation. The leg guard was placed back on the cart the following morning and Bubba continued to improve on his cart.\r\n\r\nVeterinary staff performed a follow-up examination 37 days into the treatment. The examination included repeat radiographs, arthrocentesis, CBC and blood chemistry panels. Over the previous five weeks of hospitalization his weight had remained steady and appetite returned to normal.  He was anesthetized for the examination. Contracture of the muscles around the left elbow was appreciated. There was resistance to the manipulation of the joint and no appreciable crepitus,…….\r\n\r\n<strong><em><span>Want to read the rest of this article?  For this and many more fascinating articles every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum.  AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. </span><a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/join/">JOIN NOW!</a></em></strong>', 'Bubba: A Sulcata on a Skateboard', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2506-revision-3', '', '', '2012-07-04 09:49:40', '2012-07-04 14:49:40', '', 2506, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2506-revision-3/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2511, 2, '2012-07-04 09:44:04', '2012-07-04 14:44:04', '<em>By\nAlison Mott, Registered Veterinary Technician\nKate Gore, Primary Reptile Keeper\nSacramento Zoological Society, Sacramento, CA</em>\n\n<em></em>\n\n<strong>Abstract </strong>\n\nManagement of medical conditions in zoo animals can present unique challenges to veterinary and keeper staffs, often requiring creative solutions.  The Sacramento Zoo was faced with the challenge of how to limit the use of a tortoise’s limb while still allowing the animal to have mobility. While the use of carts for cats and dogs with spinal injuries are common, we took this idea and modified it creating a skateboard for a tortoise. This allowed us to treat and rehabilitate 1.0 sulcata tortoise known as “Bubba.”\n\n<strong>Natural History </strong>\n\nThe African spur thighed tortoise (<em>Geochelone sulcata</em>) is native to the northern region of Africa. They range along the southern edge of the Sahara within the countries of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, the Sudan, and Ethiopia.  The sulcata is the third-largest tortoise species, with a weight range of 80-150 lbs. (36-68 kg), and an average carapace length of 24-30 inches (60-75 cm). They are the largest tortoise species from the African continent. The oldest sulcata on record lived to be 54 years-old (Hughes, 1986, in Stearns). Sulcatas are adapted to living in the dry grasslands with thick skin that is resistant to fluid loss in dry conditions; however when exposed to moisture, their skin may become permeable, allowing them to acquire what moisture they need. Like other desert-oriented tortoise species, the sulcata will excavate burrows to thirty inches in depth, and once underground, the burrow can then reach lengths of ten feet or more. As sulcatas are grassland tortoises, they obtain the majority of their nutrition from the grasses on which they graze. In captivity, they will readily eat assorted greens, yams, carrots, with occasional broccoli, squash, and tomatoes as relished treats.\n\nThe sulcata species is listed as vulnerable, though they are very common in the pet trade within the United States, despite the Cites Appendix II status. Sulcatas have developed a reputation as a “throw away pet”, due to their large size and destructive tendencies. They can be purchased when they are newly hatched and sized to fit within a child’s hands. Sulcatas grow quickly, are prone to digging large burrows, and as their weights increase, they become more than most people care to handle, and the owners often end up getting rid of the tortoises in any way they can. Zoos and rescue centers are regularly called by people wanting to donate their unwanted tortoises. In October 1999, the Sacramento Zoo acquired the subject of this paper when he was donated by a local veterinarian. As a result of the manner of acquisition, his date of birth and parentage are unknown. Based upon his size, keepers estimated the tortoise’s age to be thirteen years.\n\n<strong>Initial Medical Problem</strong>\n\nBubba has had an unremarkable medical history with an annual physical exam and radiographs bi-yearly. In 2010 a new tortoise exhibit located between the Giraffe exhibit space and the visitor viewing deck, (approximately 904 sq. ft.), was constructed in combination with the Tall Wonders Giraffe Encounter. The exhibit features a heated house that is approximately 81 sq. ft., while the exhibit yard is a mixture of grass and dirt with small boulders and tall grasses for decorative design. There is a slight slope up to the fence of the Giraffe yard. Bubba shares this exhibit with two smaller sulcata tortoises.\n\nOn 25 January 2011 (day 1 of presentation) keepers reported that Bubba had been showing signs of lameness for one day. He was not bearing full weight on his left front leg. Keepers were advised to monitor and report back to veterinary staff if the lameness persisted or worsened.  On 31 January 2011 (day 1 of treatment) the lameness had increased to non-weight-bearing and a full physical exam was performed. During his exam, radiographs of the left front limb were taken and showed irregularities in the margins of the elbow and carpal joints consistent with osteoarthritis. The left distal humerus had areas of focal radiolucency, and a possible bone fragment. He was given an injection of Meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), for pain. Bubba was returned to his exhibit and keepers continued to monitor his lameness.\n\n<strong>Medical Treatment</strong>\n\nOn 1 February 2011, Bubba was placed on oral Meloxicam every other day and Tramadol once daily. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain. While it was hoped that a combination of analgesics would help alleviate Bubba’s pain, it was obvious two days later that his condition was not improving. He was moved to the Dr. Murray E. Fowler Veterinary Hospital. The hospital has a room dedicated specifically for sick birds or reptiles that can be modified to fit the specific needs of the animal hospitalized. In Bubba’s case, he had free access to the entire room with a 250-watt radiant heater hung from the ceiling three feet off of the floor to give him a basking spot while the room temperature was set to maintain a range of 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the concerns that there may be osteomyelitis in the leg and further use of the leg might worsen the condition, the staff wanted to keep Bubba from using or bearing weight on the front left leg. For most mammals this would be a bandage that brought the leg up to the body or a splint which restricted movement. These animals are able to ambulate without problem on three legs. Tortoises, however, require the use of all limbs to raise themselves and move. Turtles and tortoises must rely exclusively on movements of the limbs to propel themselves.  The challenge was how to keep a 41kg tortoise off of a limb. The veterinary staff needed a device that would keep Bubba’s weight off of his leg, but still allow him to move freely. The Maintenance Department was consulted and tasked with constructing a tortoise cart the following day while the veterinary staff performed a follow-up examination.\n\nDue to the lack of improvement in the tortoise’s condition, additional diagnostics were performed on 4 February 2011. This exam included a blood culture, arthrocentesis [or joint-tap (fig 2)], Complete Blood Cell count (CBC), blood chemistry panel, additional radiographs and obtaining an accurate body weight (41kg). Radiographs of the left front limb showed marked irregularity at the joint margins with areas of bony proliferations and lysis at the distal humeral condyl. These results were more consistent with osteomyelitis or neoplasia rather than trauma. The arthrocentesis results showed mild mononuclear inflammation most compatible with a degenerative joint disease. While under anesthesia, the maintenance department took measurements of Bubba and outlined the plastron using a towel and a black marker. The cart was constructed out of 1” plywood, four wheels and two nylon straps.  The wood was cut to include a place for the left front leg to rest and all edges were rounded and smoothed.  While Bubba recovered from anesthesia he was strapped onto the cart. After a few days of walking around on his new cart it was obvious that a few modifications were needed. Bubba was having a hard time reaching the ground with his back feet, the straps kept breaking, he was still able to use his front left leg and he was becoming very good at doing wheelies with his front right foot. The cart was taken back to our maintenance department where the rear wheels were sunk into the wood (to lower the back of the cart), a fifth wheel was added in the middle rear area, rubber padding was installed on the cart to prevent sliding, the straps were replaced with heavier nylon versions and a leg guard was placed on the front of the cart to keep the left leg from being able to bear weight (fig 3).<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2504" title="bubba-on-cart" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/bubba-on-cart-300x214.jpg" alt="bubba-on-cart" width="300" height="214" />\n\nOn 10 February 2011, Dr. Allison Zwingenberger, a Radiologist at the University of California at Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (UCD VMTH), was consulted and agreed that the radiographic bone changes were likely the result of an infection. Bubba was started on Ceftazidime injections (three times a week), a broad spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic. Bubba’s activity and appetite had decreased since he was placed on the cart and he had started to refuse all oral medications; as a result his oral Meloxicam treatment was changed to a daily injection. As he spent the majority of his time under the basking heater, veterinarians and the curator were asked about the possibility of giving Bubba some time outside on warm days. Permission was granted and he was allowed time outside behind the Veterinary hospital on days that were above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny. On 13 February 2011 he spent his first 4 ½ hours outside with some supervised time spent grazing. This was the most active he had been in some time. He had figured out that the asphalt behind the hospital sloped slightly and he would walk up one end and slide down. This was only about five feet long, but he appeared to enjoy it. He also became very adept at climbing hills with his cart. The grassy area behind the hospital is a slight hill; using his three available legs he would climb the hill to get to his favorite patches of grass. He was allowed unsupervised time outside when he was confined to the asphalt, but had to be supervised when grazing in case he got stuck in mud or flipped over while climbing. (fig 4)\n\nBubba’s appetite remained decreased, until it was discovered that by flipping his food dish over and offering his diet on top, (a difference in about two inches of height), Bubba was better able to reach his food and ate readily.  Leaving his food this way was not practical as Bubba would knock the food off of the bowl and have difficulty eating it off the ground. Reptile keeper Bill Tabb was asked to make a raised food bowl. Using two plant saucers that were placed bottom to bottom and attached together with three screws, he devised a raised feeder. Bubba made his own modifications to the food bowl over the next week by pinning the food bowl against the wall with his cart. This cracked the top bowl and made an indentation in one side. The cracked piece was removed and edges of the food bowl were smoothed. This was the best spot for Bubba to eat his food (fig 5).\n\nAfter three weeks of treatment, the leg guard was removed during the day. Veterinary staff wanted to assess the use of the limb without letting Bubba place full weight on it. He was observed letting the leg rest on the cart multiple times throughout the day. While his leg appeared visibly swollen at the elbow joint, the swelling had decreased from the initial presentation. The leg guard was placed back on the cart the following morning and Bubba continued to improve on his cart.\n\nVeterinary staff performed a follow-up examination 37 days into the treatment. The examination included repeat radiographs, arthrocentesis, CBC and blood chemistry panels. Over the previous five weeks of hospitalization his weight had remained steady and appetite returned to normal.  He was anesthetized for the examination. Contracture of the muscles around the left elbow was appreciated. There was resistance to the manipulation of the joint and no appreciable crepitus,…….\n<div></div>', 'Bubba: A Sulcata on a Skateboard', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2503-revision-2', '', '', '2012-07-04 09:44:04', '2012-07-04 14:44:04', '', 2503, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2503-revision-2/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2517, 2, '2012-07-04 10:07:04', '2012-07-04 15:07:04', '<img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-825" title="enrichment_options" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/enrichment_options-300x117.jpg" alt="enrichment_options" width="300" height="117" />\n\n<em>By\nJennifer J. Elston, Ph.D., Curator of Conservation and Behavior\nFort Worth Zoo, Fort Worth, Texas</em>\n\n<strong>Introduction</strong>\n\nTraditional enrichment for reptiles has typically focused on enhancing environmental features of enclosures (e.g., plant variety, ground substrates, etc.), animal health (i.e., misting and soaking animals), and nutrition (i.e., provision of insects, variety in the diet).  These types of enrichments are important practices that can enhance an animal’s environment and well-being.  However, novelty in the form of foods, objects and scents may be equally stimulating and important for reptiles, as has been shown for mammals (Shepherdson, 2010) and birds (Elston and Plasse, 2008).\n\nStudies regarding enrichments for chelonians are limited in the literature, though some published evidence exists regarding the benefits of enrichment for turtles.  Sea turtles increased investigative and grooming behaviors and reduced pattern swimming when enrichment devices were provided (Therrien et al., 2007).  A Nile soft-shelled turtle (Trionyx triunguis) sought out stimulation from objects and displayed “play” behavior previously only described for mammals and birds (Burghardt et al., 1996).\n\nThe objectives of this study were to introduce captive-housed tortoises to novel enrichments to determine the extent of their interaction with new and different items and to compare interactions among food, object and scent enrichment.  Additional goals were to compare tortoise behavior under routine management vs. novel enrichment presentation and also to determine the amount of contact between tortoises that were housed in pairs (a form of social enrichment).\n\n<strong>Animals, Housing and Methods</strong>\n\nThis study took place from December 2011 through January 2012.  Three Burmese star tortoises (<em>Geochelone platynota</em>; two males, one female) and five Forsten’s tortoises (<em>Indotestudo forstenii</em>; three males, two females) were observed, for a total of eight tortoises.  Four tortoises were kept as male-female pairs, and four were kept separately.  The tortoises were housed in an off-exhibit greenhouse under both natural and artificial light, in either a run with cement and plywood sides (approximately 90 X 38 X 20 in., 1 pair and 1 single; or approximately 35 X 38 X 20 in., 1 pair) or a rubber tub (approximately 49 X 33 X 21 in., 3 single).  Cypress mulch was used as ground substrate and each enclosure contained a water bowl, food pan, heat source, and a shelter for privacy.  Tortoises were fed once daily in the morning a diet of mixed greens and vegetables with commercial biscuits (Mazuri® Tortoise Diet and Marion Leaf Eater® Food), and had access to their food throughout the day.  A HOBO® data logger (Onset Computer Corporation) was used to record temperature inside the greenhouse.\n\nDuring each daily observation session, the behavior (Table 1) of each tortoise was recorded every minute for 40 minutes (Scan Sampling; Martin and Bateson, 2007).  Data collection took place between 1300 and 1600 hours.  Behavior was observed over six days under routine husbandry without novel enrichment to generate a baseline time budget before new enrichments were presented.  Following the baseline treatment, a randomly chosen enrichment item was presented during the observation session.  Six items that the tortoises did not have previous exposure to were used, representing three categories:  food, object and scent.  The foods were edible flowers (four total, ranging in size from 1 to 2 in.) and a fresh strawberry.  The objects were a ping pong ball and a wicker ball.  Because the tortoises had not been previously exposed to a ball, a ping pong ball and 2 in. wicker ball were chosen because their small size was expected to be less intimidating, and the tortoises were not large enough to accidentally swallow either type of ball.  The scents were a fresh herb (basil; one sprig, approximately 6 in. long and containing stem and leaves) or a spice (nutmeg; 3 shakes on a piece of cypress mulch).  One type of enrichment was presented per day and each enrichment item was presented twice, for a total of 12 days.  The enrichments were placed in the enclosures in locations where the tortoises could see them, typically within the center of the enclosure.  Each tortoise was offered the same amount of enrichment, whether housed singularly or in pairs.  After the enrichment treatment, behavioral data were collected for an additional six days in order to determine any changes in baseline behavior.\n\n<strong>Results</strong>\n\nDuring the enrichment treatment, tortoises spent an average of 13% of time interacting with the novel enrichments (Fig. 1).  Tortoises expressed natural behaviors toward the enrichments, including investigation and/or touching, and consumption of the edibles (Fig. 2).  Tortoises spent less time stationary during the enrichment treatment than before or after, and spent less time moving in general after the enrichment treatment (Fig. 1).  They also spent less time in their shelters when enrichments were present (38% of time during the enrichment treatment vs. 48% before and 58% after).  Tortoises spent the most time interacting with food enrichment (19% of time vs. 10% of time for objects and scents), primarily because of the strawberry.  The strawberry received the most interaction; the nutmeg received the least (Fig. 3).  <img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2515" title="figure-2-elston-fort-worth-zoo" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/figure-2-elston-fort-worth-zoo.jpg" alt="figure-2-elston-fort-worth-zoo" width="677" height="561" />\n\nThe tortoises housed in male-female pairs spent an average of 49% of time in contact with one another over the course of the three treatments (56%, 31%, and 59% of time, respectively).  Temperature in the greenhouse was consistent throughout the treatments; average temperature was 72º F, reaching an average of 89º F during the day and 62º F at night.\n\n<strong>Discussion</strong>\n\nThe tortoises spent the most time interacting with food enrichment, which was not surprising because food enrichments are often favored by animals in general (Young, 2003).  In a comparison of enrichments for an African serval (Leptailurus serval), the serval interacted more with edible enrichments than inedible enrichments, though both types did receive attention (Kunkel, 2011).  The tortoises spent a shorter amount of time interacting with the flowers primarily because of their small size, which made them easy to grasp and swallow.  Because some favored foods can be consumed fairly quickly by tortoises, if a goal for the enrichment is to increase time spent foraging (a natural behavior for tortoises), combining foods with objects that require manipulation to consume the food will lengthen interaction time.\n\nThe ping pong ball generated more interest than the wicker ball, possibly because its white color and smooth, round shape made it resemble a food item.  The tortoises that did interact with the ping pong ball spent most of their time biting at it.  Size of ball would need to be taken into consideration for larger tortoises to prevent any possible consumption.\n\nVery little interaction occurred with the nutmeg; however, a great deal of time was spent with the fresh herb (basil).  In fact, the herb received the second highest amount of interaction after the strawberry.  Even though the herb was categorized as scent enrichment during this study, it became a combination of scent and food enrichment because it was consumed.  The palatability of the herb and its composition (leaves and stem, which required much biting and tearing to consume it) likely contributed to the lengthy interaction.  These attributes make fresh herbs an effective form of enrichment if goals are to increase foraging time and offer a novel gustatory and olfactory experience.\n\nOnce the enrichment treatment was underway the tortoises appeared to anticipate and expect to receive the enrichments.  For example, several tortoises began watching, moving toward and following the observer.  These behaviors began during the enrichment treatment and continued during the first part….\n\n<strong><em><span>For this and much more every month, see Animal Keepers’ Forum.  AKF is available only by being a member of AAZK. </span><a href="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/join/">JOIN NOW!</a></em></strong>', 'Coming Out Of Their Shells:  Enrichment For Tortoises', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '2514-autosave', '', '', '2012-07-04 10:07:04', '2012-07-04 15:07:04', '', 2514, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/2514-autosave/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2518, 2, '2012-06-07 15:24:39', '2012-06-07 20:24:39', '<strong><em></em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>June 11-15, 2012 - <em>International Gorilla Workshop</em></strong> - Apenheul Primate Park and Gaiapark Kerkrade are very excited and proud to invite all Gorilla specialists to join the 8th International Gorilla Workshop.  Includes three days in Apenheul Primate Park and the last day in Gaiapark Kerkrade. For more information go to <a href="http://igw2012.org">igw2012.org</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>July 15-21, 2012 - NATIONAL ZOO KEEPER WEEK</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>July 25 - 28, 2012 - </strong><em><strong>The 35th International Herpetological Symposium</strong>. </em>Hosted by Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo at the Ramada BWI Airport in Hanover, MD.  For more information go to <a href="http://kingsnake.com/ihs">kingsnake.com/ihs</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>July 29 - 30, 2012 - <em>The 2nd Venomous Animal Safety and Husbandry Training Seminar</em></strong>. Hosted by Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo in Thurmont, MD.  For more information contact Rick Hahn at <a href="mailto:rickhahn@CWPZoo.com">rickhahn@CWPZoo.com</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>August 8-14, 2012 - <em>The World Congress of Herpetology</em></strong> - To be held in Vancouver, Canada. For more information see <a href="http://www.worldcongressofherpetology.org/">http://www.worldcongressofherpetology.org/</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>August 16-19 - <em>The 10th Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles</em> </strong>- Tucson, AZ.  Hosted by the Turtle Survival Alliance and the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group.  For more information go to <a href="http://turtlesurvival.org">turtlesurvival.org</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>September 9-13, 2012 - <em>4th International Congress on Zookeeping</em> </strong>– To be held in Singapore.  Theme “Many Voices One Calling” Sponsored by Wildlife Reserves Singapore , Singapore Tourism Bureau. For information on sponsorship or exhibition opportunities email <a href="mailto:eo@aszk.org.au">eo@aszk.org.au</a>.  Check the ICZ website <a href="http://www.iczoo.org/">http://www.iczoo.org/</a> for latest news.\r\n\r\n<strong>September 23-27,  2012 - <em>AAZK National Conference</em></strong><em> - </em>Hosted by the Rosamond Gifford Zoo and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo AAZK Chapter in Syracuse, NY. For more information go to <a href="http://www.rgzaecetia.net/gws/aazk">www.rgzaecetia.net/gws/aazk</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong><strong> October 12-15, 2012 - </strong><em><strong><em>From Good Care to Great Welfare: A Workshop Designed for Animal Care Professionals Presented by the Center for Zoo Animal Welfare </em></strong>-</em></strong>Detroit Zoological Society. A unique four-day workshop for animal care staff working with captive exotic animals. The workshop is designed to help participants better understand animals’ perspectives and experiences, address the challenges captivity imposes on animal welfare, and develop the skills necessary to assess and improve overall well-being. Exercises and experiences are immersive and designed to help us understand captivity from the animals’ point of view. Limited scholarship opportunities available.\r\n\r\nFor information contact: Elizabeth Arbaugh, Animal Welfare Manager, Detroit Zoological Society, Tel: 248-398-0903 x3643, E-mail: <a href="mailto:Elizabeth@dzs.org">Elizabeth@dzs.org</a> or visit <a href="http://czaw.org">czaw.org</a>.\r\n<h2><strong>2013</strong></h2>\r\n<strong>September 22-26  2013 - <em>AAZK National Conference</em></strong> - Hosted by the North Carolina Zoo and the North Carolina AAZK Chapter\r\n<h2><em><strong>Upcoming AAZK National Conferences</strong></em></h2>\r\n2012 - Syracuse, NY - September 23-27\r\n\r\n2013 - Asheboro, NC  - September 22-26\r\n\r\n2014 - Orlando, FL - September 8-12\r\n\r\nFor information on upcoming AAZK conferences, watch the AAZK website at <a href="http://www.aecetia.net/gws/aazk">www.aecetia.net/gws/aazk</a>.\r\n<h2><em><strong>Upcoming AZA National Conferences</strong></em></h2>\r\nSeptember 8-13, 2012 - AZA 2012 Annual Conference - Hosted by Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix, AZ\r\n\r\nSeptember 7-12, 2013 - AZA 2013 Annual Conference - Hosted by the Kansas City Zoo, Kansas City , MO\r\n\r\nFor info on AZA Conferences, see <a href="http://aza.org/ConfWork/AC_Intro/index.html">http://aza.org/ConfWork/AC_Intro/index.html</a>.', 'Coming Events June 2012', 0, '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '435-revision-v1', '', '', '2012-06-07 15:24:39', '2012-06-07 20:24:39', '', 435, 'http://aazk.org/uncategorized/435-revision-57/', 0, 'revision', '', 0) ; 
