Moscow zoo

2000

The 4th EARAZA Annual Conference took place in Moscow on 22-24 March 2000. Representatives from the full and associated EARAZA member organizations, as well as invited staff members of the zoos and other zoological institutions attended the Conference.

Mr. V. Spitsin, Chairman of EARAZA, presented report on the activities of Association over the past year. Year 2000 was marked by the 5th anniversary of the EARAZA. Mr. Spitsin has noted, that over these five years EARAZA passed through a difficult period of its formation and recognition by the zoo community. Now, EARAZA is generally recognised both in the region and abroad. Professional cooperation with the zoos outside the region became more close and effective. The Informational and Advisory Department of the Moscow Zoo was approved as EARAZA Zoo Informational Center (ZIC) for the zoos of the region. Unfortunately, some of the former member-zoos were compelled to cancel their membership in Association due to financial problems and failure to pay membership fees; at the same time there are non-member institutions that would like to join EARAZA. An audit of the EARAZA financial situation, which was undertaken in 1999, has shown an urgent need for a change of EARAZA Charter; it is to be hoped, that necessary paperwork will be completed in 2000, and an International Status of EARAZA will be approved legally.

One of the most important achievements of EARAZA is its financial support for some scientific programs, namely "Projects of breeding birds of prey in captivity", "Creation of the captive population of Steller's sea eagle", "Formation and keeping of breeding groups of grouses in captivity", and "Assisted reproduction program".

During the past year the following activities were carried out by EARAZA:

Advisory assistance

- EARAZA ZIC regularly provided regional zoos and other zoological institutions with advisory assistance in the areas of zoo projecting and reconstruction, design of zoo exhibits, creation and improvement of animal collections, as well as with direct support in organising and conducting interzoo practical studies. Nine letters with the information about current situation and improvement of the zoos' functioning were prepared and sent to the Moscow city authorities and the Government of Russia. At the request of the Administration of Leningrad zoo, the Project of the new zoo in St-Petersburg was reviewed and the comments have been sent to the zoo Director.

Workshops and training courses

- EARAZA has organised and assisted to carry out some training courses and workshops:

48 specialists from 23 zoos of Russia, Baltic countries and CIS participated in two training courses, namely:
1. Workshop for accountants and economists from the Russian zoos.
2. Workshop for aquarians.
- An assistance was provided to the veterinarians from the Russian zoos, which allowed them to attend Russian-American seminar on the wild animal diseases. Seminar was conducted by the All-Russian Research Institute for Nature Conservation and National Center for Wild Animal Health (Department of the Interior, USA).
- Representation of the Russian zoos at the exhibition "ZOORUS-99" was arranged.

Publishing activity of EARAZA

- The following printed materials have been published and circulated to the EARAZA zoos:
Annual volume of "Moscow Zoo Annual Report 1998" plus two Appendices "Wanted/surplus animals" list; Annual volume of "Birds of prey in captivity" (v. 7);
Proceedings of the International Conference "City and Zoo" (Moscow, 1997); Russian copy of the proceedings of the 16th meeting of German veterinarians" ("16. Arbeitstagung der Zootieraerzte im deutschesprachigen Raum").
- The information on the new important publications and their availability was circulated regional zoos.
Requests from 14 zoos have been fulfilled; the materials on the subjects of interest (total of about 200 pages) have been gleaned from international periodicals, photocopied and mailed to the zoos.
- "Book of the Moscow zoo animal rations" has been prepared for publication (currently in press);
- An updated version of the new edition of "Regulations on safety and sanitation for zooparks and zoological institutions" was developed. In general, more than 500 pages of various publications and periodicals have been translated and/or edited, including "Veterinary Guidelines" (European Felid TAG), some chapters from the book "Wild Animals in Captivity", etc.
- In collaboration with the educational department of the Moscow zoo, information about the Moscow zoo and EARAZA was provided to the All Russia Museums Cadastre of the International Committee of the Council of Museums; the information was also used for a new educational site in Internet.

Cooperation with International Studbook Keepers

The work has been continued on coordination of the zoos activities under the breeding programs for the species of animals included in the International Studbooks. The data have been collected on all the species of animals (46 species) that are registered in the International Studbooks and are kept in the zoos of Russia, CIS and Baltic countries. This information was included in the booklet that has been circulated to 54 zoos, housing animals of those species. The same data (as of 01.01.1999) were sent to the relevant Studbook Keepers.

The Stavropol and Surgut Zoos are going to be members of EARAZA. Because of this the Zoos were visited by a Moscow EARAZA representative. The papers con-tain the reports about these zoos.

1999

The third annual conference of the Euro-Asian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquariums was held in Moscow on 24 March 1999. The Conference was attended by representatives of the full and associated members of the Association and invited staff of zoos and other zoological institutions.

The Chairman of EARAZA presented a report on the activity of EARAZA in 1998, which is briefly overviewed below:

EARAZA provided advisory assistance to the member zoos of the Association; a group of the head specialists of the EARAZA visited Kazan, Leningrad and Kamchatka zoos in order to help the zoos with making decisions on the problems of projecting and renovation of the zoos, husbandry of zoo animals, etc. The following workshops and training courses have been organized and held by EARAZA:

Totally 80 specialists from 32 zoos of Russia, CIS and Baltic countries participated in the workshops and training courses.

On the basis of the material collected from the regional zoos, the following issues have been published by EARAZA and distributed among its zoos:

Informational materials on the collections of the zoological institutions of the former USSR, annual issue, v. 17
Scientific research in zoological parks, annual issue, v. 10
Diurnal birds of prey and owls in captivity, annual issue, v. 6
EARAZA Available/Wanted List of animals (two issues per year)
Anti-venom index (Guidelines on the safety and methods of husbandry of venomous snakes in the zoos; prophylactic and treatment of snake bites)
Translation of the "Infant Diet Notebook" (guidelines on raring of young animals in captivity, AZA Animal Health Committe)
Translation of the "Diets for birds in captivity" (K. C. Lint & A. M. Lint)
Selected chapters of the book "Wildtiere in Menschenhand" of W. Puschmann (translation).

Many papers, articles and guidelines have been translated into Russian, printed out and sent to the EARAZA member zoos, including materials on animal behavior, papers on the environment enrichment for captive animals, breeding of Pheasants, veterinary and husbandry issues, as well as a set of educational materials for the program of conservation of Amur tiger.

Co-ordination of the activities of regional zoos aimed at the exchange of information with EEP and International Studbook keepers was continued; data on 18 of 46 animal species included in the International Studbooks were collected and sent to the Coordinators of the breeding programs.

Representatives of EARAZA attended EAZA Annual Meeting in Berlin.

According to the resolution of the EARAZA Conference 1998, members of the inspection committee with its Chair A. Barannikov have drawn the clause of the inspection committee, which provisions were discussed by the participants of the Conference. The Executive Office would further develop the clause in view of the participants' comments and approve it by administrative order.

The current issues that were discussed during the Conference were the following:

Re-registration of EARAZA and proposal of the EARAZA application for membership in EAZA.

Presidium and Executive Office of EARAZA will update the EARAZA Constitution and re-register EARAZA, according to the legislation in force;
Presidium and Executive Office of EARAZA will provide the member zoos with the conclusions regarding potential membership of EARAZA in EAZA.

Report on financial status 1998 and proposal for budget 1999 (presented by EARAZA Executive Director V. Emanov)

The financial report 1998 and the proposal for budget 1999 with suggested amendments have been approved. Executive Office will prepare and distribute to the member zoos the inventory of the EARAZA property; the warning letter will be sent to the institutions that have not paid their annual membership fee.

Report on the activity of Presidium aimed at the accomplishment of the Conference 1997 resolutions (organizational and economic issues) and on the matter of incorporating new accreditation regulations for applicants into EARAZA Constitution (presented by Vice-President of EARAZA, I. Korneev).

An amendment to the Constitution will be made to determine suspension of the membership of the institutions that fail to timely pay the regular membership fee.
Membership of Bolsherechje Zoo has been suspended.
Membership of Ashkhabad zoo, Baku zoo, and Termez zoo has been terminated.
Full membership of Tashkent zoo will be renewed upon the payment of the debt to EARAZA.
Full membership will be granted to Samara zoo upon the payment of entrance fee.
Vice-president of EARAZA I. Korneev will prepare proposal on the new accreditation system for applicants; Presidium of the EARAZA will suspend reception of the applications until the accreditation system is approved by EARAZA.

Organization of the visit of EARAZA representatives to European zoos.

EARAZA Presidium and Executive Office will consider the possibility of visiting Czech zoos.

Membership fee system

1. A proposal of EARAZA Scientific Secretary, V. Fainstein was approved. A sum of $ US 400 has been accepted as a basic membership fee; the membership fees should be further calculated by introducing attendance-dependant coefficient, as follows:

Attendance Coefficient
Under 100,000 0.5
100,000-250,000 0.75
250,000-500,000 1.0
500,000-750,000 1.5
750,000-1,000,000 2.0
Over 1,000,000 2.5

The membership fee for associated members will be estimated as a maximum membership fee of the full members. 2. A penalty in the sum of $ US 50 will be paid by the member zoos that fail to accomplish the payment of membership fee by 1 July of current year.

Preparation of the "Safety and technical sanitary regulations for zoos"

ZIC will review documentation on the issues of safety, produce a draft protocol and submit it to the Ministry of Culture of Russian Federation.

Activity of EARAZA export/import group

The EARAZA Executive Office will apply to the Government of Russia with the request to release the zoos from taxes and consider the issues of licensing for importation and exportation of zoo animals.

Activity of veterinary group

The veterinary group should distribute to the member zoos the information on the veterinary medications on the regular basis.

The reports on the activities of the working groups, that have been supported by EARAZA in 1998, are enclosed.

Report
On the project of breeding birds of prey in captivity by EARAZA curator S. V. Aliskerov. The programme for breeding birds of prey in captivity was confirmed in May of 1998 by EARAZA. Questioners and standard rings were sent to 17 zoos for the creation of studbooks for following species: golden eagle, imperial eagle, peregrine, saker falcon. The letters and other necessary documents which concern the regulation of buying and selling rare wild animals were also sent to zoos. Imperial eagle and saker falcon feathers were taken in Almaty and Cheliabinsk zoos to the investigation of mitochondrial DNA. Issue 7 of "Birds of prey and owls in captivity" was published and sent to 57 zoos. Moscow zoo, Kazan zoo, Almaty zoo, Ekaterinbourg zoo were visited during 1998.

On the creation of the captive population of Stellers's sea eagle.

Report on 1997-1998.

The first step to realisation of the programme was the estimation of reproduction potential of the living population to know the number of birds which it is possible to take from the Wild. According to the investigation the 10-12 young of Stellers's sea eagle can be taken from the wild population.

During 1997-1998 years the census of birds was made and 41 nests of Stellers's sea eagle and 63 nests of White-tailed eagle were found and investigated. The nests from which the author was planning to take the young were determined.

From 1997 to 1998 years 11 eleven young of Stellers's sea eagle were caught and after a while transferred to different zoos (Leningrad Zoo, Rostov-on-Don Zoo, Novosibirsk Zoo and Kazan Zoo). The method of keeping the young birds before the transference to zoos in the field circumstances were described.

The keeping and formation of captive breeding groups of grouses.
Северский Природный парк
С.П. Бурец, Л.Г. Ивасенко, Б.Д. Куранов, Н.Г. Лисина, В.П. Рудковский, А.С. Хайров, Н.Л.Шишкина

Male and Female capercaillie and black grouses have been caught and kept in captivity since 1994. In addition the authors have been studying birds in the wild and investigating the stomachs of killed birds to find out about their feeding habits.. Stable breeding groups were formed (male/female ration from 1:1 to 1:3 in capercaillie and 1:1 to 1:5 in black grouse). Since 1994 56 black grouse eggs and 48 capercaillie eggs were laid, and 21 black grouse young and 6 capercaillie were fledged. The feeding ration of adult and young birds has been determined. Methods of catching, transferring, temporary and long time keeping, breeding and incubation have also been developed. The problem which has not been resolved is the rearing of young birds. Work on this project continues.

ОТЧЕТ
ПО ПРОГРАММЕ ЕАРАЗА
"ИСКУССТВЕННОЕ РАЗВЕДЕНИЕ ЖИВОТНЫХ"
ЗА 1998-99 гг.

Московский зоопарк
Г.Ю. Максудов, О.Н Нестеренко

EARAZA assisted reproduction programme is based on a laboratory of Moscow Zoo Scientific Department (2 staff). In 1998-99 this program includes five main directions: a) artificial insemination (AI) and semen cryopreservation (SC); b) sexing of birds by kariological technique, c) collaboration with another zoos and scientific organizations, d) equipping, e) the information supply.

As our laboratory is still under developement, in 1998-99 we specialized mainly in AI and SC of birds and we also investigated this topic with other animals. We collected semen from cranes, peasants, stallions and rams. We have a small Genom Bank where we store frozen sperm samples. We also collected and investigated sperm from vipers (Vipera berus).

During 1998-99 we have sexed 43 bird of 7 species, such as Grus vipio, G. leucogeranus, G. antigone, G. canadensis, G. grus,. M. milvus, P. porphyrio. Compilation of the atlas of birds caryotipe microphotographies was continuated. Now it includes more then 200 species.

Special attention was paid to collaboration with Oka Crane Breeding Center. Most of the birds at this Center need AI for successeful reproduction. We also collaborates with All-Russian Research Institute of Animal Breeding, Institute of Medical Genetics (Russian Academy of Medical Science), Moscow State University, (Biological Department), Russian Falcon center.

Due to finantial supporting of EARAZA and Moscow Zoo the laboratory is now fitted out with unique equipment for sperm collection and cryopreservation.

Information about 15th EAZA/EEP Annual Conference; for further information see EEP Yearbook 1997/1998, Amsterdam and EAZA News, N 24.

Information about ZIC Meeting in Prague is given in EAZA NEWS № 23.

Moscow

A special training course for the staff of Aquarium and/or Terrarium Departments took place in Moscow from 9 to 25 October 1998. It was organised by EARAZA. The course was attended by representatives from 22 zoos. The participants became acquainted with the aqua-terrarium exhibit of the Moscow Zoo and visited the terrarium in Tula. Meetings of a working group were organised. They were devoted to problems of the formation of a collection and keeping of difficult species. Education

A special training course for the Educational Department staff of regional zoos was held in St.Petersburg from 1 to 7 Juan 1998. It was attended by 30 representatives from 13 zoos. The zoos of Belarus, Latvia, Russia and Ukraine were represented. The participants became acquainted with exposition and education activity of the Leningrad Zoo and appreciated the high level of scientific and education work. During the meeting of working groups the problems of youth education through zoos were discussed. Great interest was created by two talks about the links between Riga Zoo and Riga mass-media and about the inauguration of the children's zoo in The Cheliabinsk Zoo. During the conclusive meeting the participants decided to propose to EARAZA the creation of a working group to coordinate education work and also the publishing of a training course materials.

A scientific-training conference for veterinarians took place also in St.Petersburg from 2 to 6 December 1998. The conference was devoted to the problem of immobilization of wild animals. The veterinarians from Moscow zoo and Leningrad zoo gave lectures on the following subjects: "History of the immobilization of animals in Leningrad zoo, the particularity of primate immobilization", "The particularity of reptile immobilization and anesthesia", "The experience of the use of medotomidine and it's antipode the atipamezol in the Moscow Zoo", "The immobilization of wild animals: remedies and means of transport.".

Conference participants watched a demonstration of the immobilization of large animals.

15th anniversary of Kamchatka Zoo.

The Kamchatka Zoo is unique in the far east region. It was created thanks to the activity and energy of its director A. A. Chevliagin and his colleagues. In this year the zoo celebrated the 15th anniversary. According to this data and to the uniqueness of the zoo it was chosen as the site of an international scientific-training conference. Financial, economical and other problems were discussed at the conference. Also the participants have visited picturesque places in Kamchatka.

Some types of the education work in the Informational-Advertisement department of the Perm Zoo.

The Informational-Advertisement department of the Perm Zoo was created in January of 1998. The main goals of this department are organization of citizens' leisure-time, education work, increasing the cultural level of visitors, forming a kind attitude toward the zoo, attraction of visitors. During the last year the staff of this department organized 11 performances devoted to zoological subjects, participated in the celebration of the 275-th anniversary of Perm, carried out an exhibition of snow figures " Snow animal Zoo ", arranged the education program. All types of activity were highly appreciated by visitors, the authors suppose that such types of education work can be applied to different zoos.


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