FW: Invitation to Zoo Survey Capacity Building Workshop in Malaysia

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynette,

 

Thanks for your comments and advice. Yes, it does take some time to make

progress, but we are confident that changes will been made, and we have already

seen some progress in Malaysia which is very encouraging. It's wonderful that

the Australian government is working on enforceable national standards- that

really is the best way forward and what we hope to work towards in other

countries.

 

Would you be able to share the Australian standards that have been proposed? It

would be really useful for the rest of us who are working towards national

standards in other countries.

 

At ACRES we do have a zoologist and biologists who conduct the zoo surveys and

we always produce a scientific report for our zoo surveys and, where applicable,

conduct scientific behavioural studies too.

 

Best wishes,

Amy

ACRES

 

 

> Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:54:29 +1100

> Re: Invitation to Zoo Survey Capacity Building Workshop in

Malaysia

> primates4primates

> amycorrigan77

> CC: aapn

>

> Hi Amy

>

> We ran a Zoo Review campaign here in Australia taking into account

> many of the issues you listed. Be prepared for years of work. It will

> not happen overnight. We also have finally got the Australian govt to

> now work on the first enforceable national standards. I am part of

> that committee. We won't get everything we want but it is hoped these

> standards will see the worse abuses end.

>

> We found most of our surveys were rejected until we got a professional

> zoologist to do the reports. This does cost but he certainly uncovered

> problems that non professionals would not uncover. It is also harder

> for the zoos to argue with another zoologist. The professional help

> was worth every cent. He had a honours degree in zoology and did

> training at Gerald Durrells. The primatologist we used was very good

> also. They were not dismissed as animal rights activists so my advice

> is pay for professionals. It certainly helps.

>

> Lynette

>

>

>

> On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 1:59 PM, Amy Corrigan <amycorrigan77

wrote:

> > INVITATION TO ZOO SURVEY CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP IN MALAYSIA

> >

> > Across Malaysia, thousands of animals languish in substandard and often

appalling conditions in zoos. Standards often fall far short of the basic SEAZA

(South East Asian Zoos Association) guidelines.

> >

> > Malaysia has over 40 zoos, and there is an urgent need for many of them to

make improvements to the welfare of the animals they house to alleviate animal

suffering.

> >

> > Zoo Survey work is an area of animal welfare work that has generally been

overlooked. However, as poor welfare is affecting so many captive wild animals,

day after day, a concerted effort needs to be made to urgently to address the

problem.

> >

> > Ideally, these efforts should be spearheaded by animal welfare organisations

within Malaysia itself. As such, ACRES, together with the World Society for the

Protection of Animals (WSPA) is organising a second capacity-building workshop

(conducted in English) in Malaysia for local NGOs interested in addressing the

problem of poor captive animal welfare and starting their own Zoo Survey work,

whether on a small or large scale. The first such workshop was held in June

2009.

> >

> > We would like to invite representatives from Malaysian animal protection

organisations to join us at this Zoo Survey workshop, to learn more about Zoo

Survey work and how your organisation can become actively involved in efforts to

improve captive animal welfare in Malaysia.

> >

> > The workshop details are as follows:

> > 22nd – 27th March 2010.

> > Venue: The Federal Kuala Lumpur: 35 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia.

> > Time: 9am – 5pm daily.

> >

> > Topics covered in the workshop include:

> >

> > History of zoos.

> > The welfare and needs of animals in captivity.

> > Introduction to abnormal and stereotypic behaviours.

> > How to conduct a Zoo Survey.

> > How to conduct a scientific behavioural study.

> > Developing a campaign to improve the welfare of captive animals.

> > The captive dolphin industry.

> > There will also be a field trip to conduct an actual Zoo Survey.

> >

> > On days five and six (26th and 27th March), there will be presentations by

organisations who joined us at the last workshop, to share what they have been

working on and achievements in the past eight months. We will also discuss

collaborations and how we can move forward, working together, to improve the

welfare of captive animals in Malaysia.

> >

> > The workshop is sponsored by WSPA and there are no registration fees. Lunch

and two tea breaks will be provided daily. For participants not based in Kuala

Lumpur, your accommodation will provided (checking in 21st March and checking

out 28th March) and your return bus fare will also be sponsored.

> >

> > If you or any representatives from your organisation would like to attend

please contact me at amy for more details.

> >

> >

> > Best wishes,

> > Amy

> >

> > Amy Corrigan (BSc)

> > Director of Education

> > Director of Cruelty-Free Living Campaigns

> > ACRES (Animal Concerns Research and Education Society)

> > www.acres.org.sg

> >

> > 91 Jalan Lekar

> > Singapore 698917

> > (O): +65 6892 9821

> > (F): +65 6892 9721

> > (HP): +65 8168 4355

> >

> >

> >

> > ---

> >

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