Thank You! STEREOTYPIC BEHAVIOUR IN ZOO ANIMALS

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to thank the person who posted this information, as it

is going to be VERY helpful to a new group, Club Z.E.R.O., formed by

8th grade science students - and whom I am assisting with their

research into environmental enrichment for zoo animals. I will be

passing it on to them to read (and the website).

 

The students I am working with are gifted science students with an

interest in zoology, who have wormed their way into the heart of the

zoo director at the Kodomo no kuni Children's Zoo in Okinawa.

 

The zoo director has welcomed their input, and actually employed

their ideas - to our surprise. Recently, with thanks to the

Honolulu Zoo's website that provides information on environmental

enrichment (including a HOW TO section, with photographs and

instructions on how to construct environmental enrichment " toys " ),

the students constructed a ball made of donated fire hose for the

lion, among several other enrichment items for other animals.

 

The zoo had put up a large ocean bouy (ball shaped) in the lion's

enclosure (at the request of the students), and were astounded to

discover that the students were correct that the lion would be

interested in it, and interact with it (as predicted)!

 

This one small success created interest by the zoo staff, and now

they seem to " get it " -- the zoo director even confided in me that

he now sees that they are " behind the times " when it comes to

environmental enrichment (gee - you think?).

 

Our goal now is to improve the conditions of the monkeys (in

particular, the chimpanzee) -- and thanks to members of this forum,

I was contacted by a wonderful woman ( " Brooke " ) who has been

providing information on diet and nutrition for macaques (the one

we're trying to help that is owned privately by a citizen in

Okinawa)! The information she has shared will not only benefit the

macaque/macaca we stumbled upon, but also the efforts of the

students in Club Z.E.R.O.

 

I couldn't be more thankful and appreciative of all those who have

reached out to us here in Okinawa, and to those who take the time to

share information, such as this post on Stereotypical Behavior in

Zoo Animals.

 

It does make a difference. Thank you!

 

While we are somewhat caught between wanting to improve the

conditions of the zoo animals and wondering if we are only enabling

the zoo to continue a pattern of animals for

display/entertainment... our ultimate goal is to encourage a change

in attitude by the Okinawans towards animal welfare/animal rights.

 

If anyone would like to offer information or suggestions regarding

this issue, please do not hesitate to contact me at:

voices4animals.

 

Also, you can see photos of what the students are working on at:

http://www.freewebs.com/kms_clubzero

 

We have not updated it with photos of the new lion " ball " - but will

have new information posted within a week or two, so please check

back.

 

May I just add that one young student conducted a study at the zoo

on water quality - and because of her work, the crocodiles and

turtles now live in greatly improved water conditions, and the zoo

is trying to tackle the issue of water quality on a larger scale.

They have a long way to go, but it's now (finally) on the table.

 

All the best,

Kim Petersen

Voices For Animals - Okinawa

 

*PS: Still struggling to find an international animal welfare/rights

organization that is brave enough to set up shop in Okinawa...

before things get any worse.

[Guest guest]

Dear Mr Petersen,

Thank you for your message and it is nice to know thatthe

message was of help. I'd invite you to check out the Indian Zoo Inquiry project

report at www.zoocheck.com/programs/zoocheck/Indianreport1.pdf which I conducted

with the support of Zoocheck Canada and Compassionate Crusaders Trust. I

understand your dilemma on zoos, but after conducting this project, I would

personally say improvements in the short term are more than welcome. I would

urge you to visit the website of the Oxford University Animal Behaviour Research

Group at http://users.ox.ac.uk/~abrg/ggroup.html. Dr Georgia Mason and Ros Clubb

have been at the forefront of exposing stereotypic behaviour in zoos, much to

the chagrin of many zoo directors who have reacted with knee jerk hostility.

Regarding your other message on the exotic wild animal trade, the Alan Green

book is one of the best researched ones available on the topic funded by one of

the best journalism institutes in the world, The Center For Public Integrity

based in Washington. If you need assistance in tackling the exotic animal trade,

maybe you could contact Will Travers of the Born Free Foundation who heads the

Species Survival Network(www.ssn.org/). Trust this helps. I'd be happy to assist

you in case you require any further information on either issue. Good luck in

your work.

Best wishes and kind regards,

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 kcpjj03 wrote :

>I just wanted to thank the person who posted this information, as it

>is going to be VERY helpful to a new group, Club Z.E.R.O., formed by

>8th grade science students - and whom I am assisting with their

>research into environmental enrichment for zoo animals. I will be

>passing it on to them to read (and the website).

>

>The students I am working with are gifted science students with an

>interest in zoology, who have wormed their way into the heart of the

>zoo director at the Kodomo no kuni Children's Zoo in Okinawa.

>

>The zoo director has welcomed their input, and actually employed

>their ideas - to our surprise. Recently, with thanks to the

>Honolulu Zoo's website that provides information on environmental

>enrichment (including a HOW TO section, with photographs and

>instructions on how to construct environmental enrichment " toys " ),

>the students constructed a ball made of donated fire hose for the

>lion, among several other enrichment items for other animals.

>

>The zoo had put up a large ocean bouy (ball shaped) in the lion's

>enclosure (at the request of the students), and were astounded to

>discover that the students were correct that the lion would be

>interested in it, and interact with it (as predicted)!

>

>This one small success created interest by the zoo staff, and now

>they seem to " get it " -- the zoo director even confided in me that

>he now sees that they are " behind the times " when it comes to

>environmental enrichment (gee - you think?).

>

>Our goal now is to improve the conditions of the monkeys (in

>particular, the chimpanzee) -- and thanks to members of this forum,

>I was contacted by a wonderful woman ( " Brooke " ) who has been

>providing information on diet and nutrition for macaques (the one

>we're trying to help that is owned privately by a citizen in

>Okinawa)! The information she has shared will not only benefit the

>macaque/macaca we stumbled upon, but also the efforts of the

>students in Club Z.E.R.O.

>

>I couldn't be more thankful and appreciative of all those who have

>reached out to us here in Okinawa, and to those who take the time to

>share information, such as this post on Stereotypical Behavior in

>Zoo Animals.

>

>It does make a difference. Thank you!

>

>While we are somewhat caught between wanting to improve the

>conditions of the zoo animals and wondering if we are only enabling

>the zoo to continue a pattern of animals for

>display/entertainment... our ultimate goal is to encourage a change

>in attitude by the Okinawans towards animal welfare/animal rights.

>

>If anyone would like to offer information or suggestions regarding

>this issue, please do not hesitate to contact me at:

>voices4animals.

>

>Also, you can see photos of what the students are working on at:

>http://www.freewebs.com/kms_clubzero

>

>We have not updated it with photos of the new lion " ball " - but will

>have new information posted within a week or two, so please check

>back.

>

>May I just add that one young student conducted a study at the zoo

>on water quality - and because of her work, the crocodiles and

>turtles now live in greatly improved water conditions, and the zoo

>is trying to tackle the issue of water quality on a larger scale.

>They have a long way to go, but it's now (finally) on the table.

>

>All the best,

>Kim Petersen

>Voices For Animals - Okinawa

>

>*PS: Still struggling to find an international animal welfare/rights

>organization that is brave enough to set up shop in Okinawa...

>before things get any worse.

>

>

>

>

>

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>