PROGRAM 2021 ZAA CONFERENCE - ONLINE 2 - 5 AUGUST 2021 FINAL - ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION
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Online
2 - 5 AUGUST 2021
2021 ZAA Conference
FINAL
PROGRAM
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Dr Fiona Fraser
Acting Threatened Species Commissioner at the Australian Department of
Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
As the acting Threatened Species Commissioner Fiona champions threatened
species issues and oversees the implementation of the new Threatened
Species Strategy and the development of the Strategy’s Action Plan, which
together will guide practical conservation actions to recover some of
Australia’s most threatened animals and plants. Following the principles of
science, action and partnership, the Commissioner works with all levels of
government, scientists, conservation organisations, community groups and the
private sector to improve the trajectory of our threatened species.
Fiona has worked for the Australian Government for over a decade playing
lead roles in Indigenous caring for country and natural resource management
initiatives and international environment policy. Fiona was previously the
Director of the Office of the Threatened Species Commissioner and most
recently has been leading the Government’s wildlife recovery response to the
Black Summer bushfires.
Before joining the public service Fiona worked with Aboriginal organisations
in northern Australia on community-lead caring for country programs and
joint management of protected areas. Fiona has completed a doctorate at
ANU into the impacts of fire and grazing on savanna threatened species and
post-doctoral work at Charles Darwin University with Traditional Owners and
protected area managers.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Stephanie Allard
Vice President of Animal Care and Welfare, National Aquarium, Baltimore,
MD, USA
Dr. Stephanie Allard joined the National Aquarium, Baltimore in 2020 as vice
president of animal care and welfare, responsible for overseeing animal care
and welfare throughout the Aquarium and Animal Care and Rescue Center.
Stephanie came to the Aquarium from the Detroit Zoological Society, where
she most recently served as Deputy Chief Life Sciences Officer overseeing
animal welfare, conservation and science, following six years as Director of
Animal Welfare. She has also held animal management and research positions
at Palm Beach Zoo in Florida and Zoo Atlanta. Additionally, Stephanie has held
adjunct positions at Oakland University in Michigan, and Harriet L. Wilkes
Honors College at Florida Atlantic University.
As a professional fellow with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA),
Stephanie serves on several committees and advisory groups. Recognized
for her expertise in animal behavior and welfare, she is frequently invited
to speak and teach internationally. Stephanie holds doctorate and master’s
degrees in experimental psychology from Georgia Institute of Technology and
a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and neuroscience from Emory University.
Ainsley Simpson
Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure Sustainability Council
Ainsley joined Infrastructure Sustainability Council in 2016, having previously
been an executive at Pacific Environment, Strategic Environmental Focus and
Coffey International.
Ainsley works across the infrastructure industry to advance sustainable
outcomes through the deployment and development of the IS rating scheme.
Ainsley also oversees ISCA’s learning, and development portfolio aimed at
building marketing capability across industry.
The Infrastructure Sustainability Council is a member-based, not-for-profit
peak body operating in Australia and New Zealand with the purpose of
enabling sustainability outcomes in infrastructure ie ensuring infrastructure
delivers social, cultural, environmental and economic benefit.
GUEST SPEAKERS Dr Isabella Clegg, Animal Welfare Expertise, Sydney, Australia Dr Isabella Clegg is an animal welfare scientist, specialising in marine mammal welfare in captivity. She has degrees in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Marine Mammal Science, and her PhD was on developing welfare parameters for bottlenose dolphins. Following her PhD, she wanted to address the knowledge and application gap between academia and animal use industries, and set up Animal Welfare Expertise (AWE)- an animal welfare consultancy that pioneers an animal-based, scientific approach to conduct welfare assessments of captive animals (e.g. the C-Well© Assessment for dolphins), and objectively advises animal facilities, the travel industry, NGOs, governments and conservation projects. Leon Coningham, Head of SBS Distribution - Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), Sydney, Australia Leon Coningham was appointed as Head of SBS Distribution in 2012 and is responsible for leading a team to create and develop content for inclusion and diversity training and consulting, publishing, events, and content distribution. Prior to this, Leon held senior management roles in national and international content distribution at Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Magna Pacific, Queensland, Australia. As Head of SBS Distribution Leon is creating a world leading program to support organisations to be more inclusive of diversity in their own teams and in the people they serve. The program includes leading education organisations, diversity specialists and content creators; all necessary to create best in class training content to distribute to national and international organisations. Esther Conway, Manager - WildCats Conservation Alliance, United Kingdom Esther Conway joined 21st Century Tiger in 2007 and managed the transition to WildCats Conservation Alliance in 2018. She regularly represents WildCats at events to focus awareness on the issues facing tigers and Amur leopards in the wild and how zoos can make a difference. Esther’s role is to oversee the smooth running of the initiative, manage relationships with donors and grantees and to ensure the selection of projects that offer best value conservation actions. Since 2007 she has overseen the distribution of AU$4 million to 20 conservation partners in seven countries. Jenny Gray, Chief Executive Officer - Zoos Victoria, Australia Dr Jenny Gray is the Chief Executive Officer of Zoos Victoria, charged with the operation of the Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo. Jenny has a wide range of public and private sector experience having worked in transportation, airlines and banking, before moving into the zoo industry in South Africa, then Australia. Jenny has qualifications in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Business Administration and Ethics. She brings a passion for animals and the environment, having facilitated the transformation of Zoos Victoria into a Zoo Based Conservation Organisation. Her operational and financial skills will ensure that this is achieved in a financially sustainable manner, led by inspired executives and staff. In 2016 Jenny completed her PhD in ethics at The University of Melbourne, with her thesis on “An Ethical Defense of Modern Zoos.” Her thesis has been published by CSIRO, and is a commercially available book titled “Zoo Ethics”. Jenny serves on a number of governing bodies; she is Past President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, is a council-appointed member of the Victoria University Council, and President and Chair of Not In My Workplace, a small association committed to addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. Dr Carolyn Hogg, Senior Research Manager - School of Life & Environmental Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia Dr Carolyn Hogg is a conservation biologist who is a passionate advocate for science-based decision making. Through her research spanning the Arctic to southwest Tasmania, Carolyn has worked on some of the world’s most threatened
wildlife species. She developed and implemented the Devil Tools & Tech project that provides scientific research in real-time to conservation managers of an iconic Australian species, the Tasmanian devil. Carolyn is currently the Senior Research Manager for the Australasian Wildlife Genomics Group at the University of Sydney and the Science Lead for the Threatened Species Initiative that is developing genomic resources for Australia’s threatened species. Carolyn’s vision is to create a conservation legacy for Australian wildlife by changing how we integrate science, management and policy to proactively promote species’ resilience in the face of a changing world. Tom Maker, Relationship Manager NSW - Supply Nation, Australia Tom is a Relationship Manager and Supplier Diversity Consultant for Supply Nation. He works with some of Australia’s best known corporate, government and not-for-profit organisations in a range of industries to help them achieve good social outcomes through their procurement and purchasing decisions. Tom is passionate about finding commercial solutions to social challenges, especially those that economically empower Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. Melanie Nelson, Melanie Nelson Consultancy, New Zealand Melanie Nelson is a strategic cross-cultural consultant and a licensed Māori translator and interpreter. She has a diverse background in biodiversity conservation management and research, Māori translation and collaborative conservation with iwi. She is self-employed, living in Nelson and working primarily on national projects, and is the strategic adviser to ZAA for this project. Rikke Øgelund Nielsen, MSc. in conservation biology, University of Southern Denmark Rikke Øgelund Nielsen is a conservation biologist that completed her master’s degree from the University of Southern Denmark as part of the Species360 Conservation Science Alliance. She works at the department of biology at the University of Southern Denmark, for the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and at the Terrarium - Reptile Zoo in Denmark. Her current research interests include international wildlife trade, and she is working in the interface between biology and data science on how data from the worlds zoos and aquariums can support the decision-making process for captive management and global conventions and treaties such as CITES. Dr Rhedyn Ollerenshaw, PhD Graduate - Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University, Australia Rhedyn Ollerenshaw is passionate about the role of zoos as conservation educators and has recently graduated with a PhD from the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science at the Australian National University (ANU CPAS) looking at how zoo design can impact the efficacy of zoo-based behaviour change campaigns. Rhedyn has an undergraduate honours degree in behavioural ecology and wrote her honours thesis on how the design of gorilla exhibits can maximise naturalistic behaviours. Rhedyn has also worked for the Australian Government for over thirteen years, supporting zoos’ international trade of zoo animals and working as a senior officer in the Australian CITES Authority. Jon Paul Rodríguez, Chair - IUCN-SSC Jon Paul Rodríguez is Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. He has an undergraduate degree in biology from Universidad Central de Venezuela, a PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology, and a Certificate on science, technology, and environmental policy at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, both at Princeton University. Jon Paul joined IUCN in 1991, when he became member of the Captive Breeding Specialist Group (now called Conservation Breeding Specialist Group). In 1996 he started working with national red lists, which eventually led to his appointment as Chair of the National Red List Working Group between 2003 and 2009. He served as SSC Deputy Chair between 2009 and 2016.
MASTER OF CEREMONIES Nicholas Bishop Nic has relished his work in the zoo world for the past 21 years in Australia and overseas, with a keen focus on behaviour, birds and free flight presentations. These have blended with his background as an actor/singer to see him working internationally in the field of Nature Theatre, supported by academic pursuits in performance arts, applied ornithology and wildlife management. As the Animal Behaviour and Creative Programs Manager at Zoos South Australia, Nic supports effective animal training and storytelling programs at Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park. These focus on positive, innovative and engaging approaches in technical and cultural endeavours at both sites. He is a member of the Australian Animal Training Community, a zoo-based group that provides high- quality learning events for industry professionals, and is a member of the global mentor program for the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators. One of his favourite gigs is hosting weekly interactive shows on ABC radio, sharing insights on the art and science of training, and chatting with listeners about their animal behaviour experiences and challenges.
EVENT EXPERIENCE
ZAA is excited to be delivering our 2021 conference in an exciting and innovative new online
platform called Hopin.
Hopin will enable delegates to experience all the usual highlights of ZAA conferences including
leading keynote presentations, a varied mixture of plenary presentations and concurrent workshops
and outstanding networking opportunities.
Through a powerful virtual platform, Hopin, delegates will be able to explore live and on-demand
content, interact in live streamed Q&A discussions and engage virtually.
For the ZAA member workshop sessions, we will transit to Zoom to allow full interactive engagement
with all attendees.
Mon, 2 August Tue, 3 August Wed, 4 August Thu, 5 August
Zoom 7:00 - 8:00am Zoom 7:00 - 8:00am Zoom 7:00 - 8:00am
Breakfast Sessions: Breakfast Sessions: Breakfast Session:
Accreditation & Accreditation & Accreditation
Conservation Database Conservation Database
Hopin Hopin 8:45am - 3:05pm Hopin 8:45am - 12:35pm Hopin 8:45am - 4:45pm
12:30pm - 1:00pm Plenary presentations Plenary presentations Plenary presentations
Hopin orientation session
1:00pm - 2:00pm
ZAA Awards & Networking
Zoom 1:35 - 5:00pm
Afternoon workshops
Zoom 3:30 - 6:15pm
Afternoon workshops
REGISTRATION & FEES (GST inclusive)
ZAA Conference & ZAA Awards
Member rates per day Non-Member rates per day
ONLINE $22.00 per day ONLINE $33.00 per day
Registration Instructions
To ensure we could provide all attendees with a valuable event experience and cost-effective single
day ticket options, we’ve created a customised platform (Hopin) for each day of the conference.
However, this means you will need to register and pay for each day separately. We understand this
will make the registration process take a little longer, but we believe this will greatly enhance attendee
experience during the Conference.
Four links are listed below related to the conference. Upon registering for the first event, you will be
required to sign up for a Hopin account. Registration will require the following details of the attending
delegate:
• Name
• Email (this will be attached to the login account)
• Create a password
Under the ticket options you will see a section called “Tell us about yourself”, where you can select
breakfast sessions or interactive workshops you will attend before clicking “checkout.” Please ensure
you have registered for these workshops if you wish to attend as spaces are limited (only members
are eligible to attend workshops).
After signing up, payment will be prompted for the first event (e.g. Day 1). Complete payment for the
single day before visiting the next event. Click on the links below to begin the registration process.
Hopin orientation session
An orientation session to allow you to get familiar with the Hopin platform will be held just before the
ZAA Awards on 2 August at 12:30pm. To join this session and explore Hopin, please register for the
ZAA Awards event, log in to Hopin at 12:30pm and head to the “Stage” area.
Monday, 2 Aug, 12:30 - 2:00 PM Hopin Orientation / ZAA AWARDS AND NETWORKING >>
CLICK HERE > CLICK HERE > CLICK HERE > CLICK HERE
l a n c e
AG E N DA a t a g
MONDAY 2ND AUGUST
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM Hopin orientation session
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ZAA Awards and networking
TUESDAY 3RD AUGUST - CONFERENCE DAY 1
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM 1 Accreditation Breakfast Session 2 ZAA Conservation Database Breakfast
via Zoom (members only) Session via Zoom (members only)
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Hopin orientation session
8:40 AM - 9:10 AM Welcome to Country (Dennis Foley)
9:10 AM - 9:20 AM Opening Address (Cameron Kerr, ZAA President and Nicola Craddock, ZAA Executive Director)
9:20 AM - 10:05 AM Keynote Speaker: Dr Fiona Fraser, Acting Australian Threatened Species Commissioner
10:05 AM - 10:10 AM Session Introduction
10:10 AM - 10:25 AM Strengthening conservation species planning with cultural engagement (Melanie Nelson, Melanie Nelson
Consultancy; Nicola Pindur, Department of Conservation; and Todd Jenkinson, ZAA)
10:25 AM - 10:30 AM Session Q&A
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Morning break
11:00 AM - 11:05 AM Session Introduction
11:05 AM - 11:35 AM Reverse the Red Global Movement (Jenny Gray, Zoos Victoria and Jon-Paul Rodriquez, IUCN Species Survival
Commission)
11:35 AM - 11:55 AM Opportunity from ashes - transforming ZAAs contribution to conservation in wake of the 2019-2020
bushfires and drought, and how we can do more (James Biggs, ZAA)
11:55 AM - 12:25 PM Threatened Species Initiative – empowering conservation action using genomic resources (Dr Carolyn
Hogg, The University of Sydney)
12:25 PM - 12:35 PM Session Q&A
12:35 PM - 1:25 PM Lunch break
1:25 PM - 1:40 PM Video Reel: ZAA Member site visit: Sydney Zoo
1:40 PM - 1:43 PM Session Introduction
1:43 PM - 1:45 PM Exploring the global patterns of the international songbird trade (Jacqueline Jürgens, University of Hamburg
/ University of Southern Denmark) (short presentation)
1:45 PM - 2:05 PM ZAA Accreditation Program (Nick de Graaff, ZAA)
2:05 PM - 2:20 PM Plastic ingestion is an underestimated cause of death for southern hemisphere albatrosses (Dr Phil
Kowalski, Wellington Zoo Trust)
2:20 PM - 2:35 PM Taking the next leap: integration of strategic biobanking into amphibian conservation translocation
programs (Rebecca Hobbs, Taronga Conservation Society Australia)
2:35 PM - 2:50 PM WildCats Conservation Alliance - Year of the Tiger (Esther Conway, WildCats Conservation Alliance)
2:50 PM - 3.00 PM Session Q&A
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Afternoon break
CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS via Zoom (Members only)
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM 3 Assistance Animal Access - 4 ZAA Climate Change 5 Regional Species
Accessibility & inclusion Position Statement Planning
5:15 PM - 6:15 PM 6 Independent Owner
Operator Meetingl a n c e
AG E N DA a t a g
WEDNESDAY 4TH AUGUST - CONFERENCE DAY 2
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM 7 Accreditation Breakfast Session 8 ZAA Conservation Database Breakfast
via Zoom (members only) Session via Zoom (members only)
8:45 AM Join via Hopin
8:50 AM - 9:00 AM Video Reel: ZAA Member site visit: Willowbank, New Zealand
9:00 AM - 9:05 AM Welcome - Day 2
9:05 AM - 9:50 AM Keynote Speaker: Stephanie Allard, Vice President of Animal Care and Welfare, National Aquarium
9:50 AM - 9:55 AM Session Introduction
9:55 AM - 10:10 AM How keeper-generated data can be a key tool in improving zoo animal welfare (Isabella Clegg, Animal
Welfare Expertise)
10:10 AM - 10:25 AM Measuring changes in dolphin welfare after the implementation of a structured enrichment program at
Sea World Australia (Justine Partoon, Sea World)
10:25 AM - 10:40 AM Creating an Animal Welfare Recording Tool for all zoo & aquarium species to aid in assessing & improving
animal welfare (Emily Polla, Perth Zoo)
10:40 AM - 10:50 AM Session Q&A
10:50 AM - 11:20 AM Morning break
11:20 AM - 11:25 AM Session Introduction
11:25 AM - 11:40 AM Indigenous Engagement and Supplier Diversity (Tom Maker, Supply Nation)
11:40 AM - 11:55 AM The importance of animal empowerment in visitor experience across Zoos Victoria (Katherine Quinn, Zoos
Victoria)
11:55 AM - 12:10 AM Enhancing Animal Welfare in Elasmobranchs (Sharks and Rays) through Implementation of a Species-
Specific Enrichment Program at Sea World (Sarah Carnell, Sea World)
12:10 PM - 12:25 PM The social impact of close encounters: what factors should you consider? (Emily McLeod, Zoos Victoria)
12:25 PM - 12:35 PM Session Q&A
12:35 PM - 1:35 PM Lunch break
CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS via Zoom (Members only)
1:35 PM - 3:05 PM 9 Animal welfare during
10 Sustainable
11 Communications SAG
Animal Visitor Interactions Supply Chains Meeting
3:05 PM - 3:30 PM Afternoon break
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM 12 ZAA Animal Visitor 13 Environmental
14 Engagement
Interaction Position Sustainability SAG Meeting SAG Meeting
Statement 2.0l a n c e
AG E N DA a t a g
THURSDAY 5TH AUGUST - CONFERENCE DAY 3
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM 15 Accreditation Breakfast Session
via Zoom (members only)
8:50 AM - 9:00 AM Video Reel: ZAA Member site visit: Port Moresby Nature Park, PNG
9:00 AM - 9:05 AM Welcome - Day 3
9:05AM - 9:50 AM Keynote Speaker: Ainsley Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure Sustainability Council
9:50 AM - 9:55 AM Session Introduction
9:55 AM - 10:10 AM ZAA Community Perception Survey 2021 (Maigan Thompson, ZAA)
10:10 AM - 10:25 AM The World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Education Strategy (Sarah Thomas, Auckland Zoo)
10:25 AM - 10:40 AM Designing affective zoo exhibits: how can the zoo experience impact the efficacy of behaviour change
campaigns? (Dr Rhedyn Ollerenshaw, Australian National University)
10:40 AM - 10:55 AM Going beyond Love and Learning: Linking Zoo Behaviour and In-Situ Conservation (Peter Lancaster, Zoos
Victoria)
10:55 AM - 11:05 AM Session Q&A
11:05 AM - 11:30 AM Morning break
11:30 AM - 11:35 AM Session Introduction
11:35 AM - 11:50 AM Harness the benefits of diversity and inclusion (Leon Coningham, SBS)
11:50 AM - 12:05 PM Keeper Development Programme at Wellington Zoo (Daniel Warsaw, Wellington Zoo Trust)
12:05 PM - 12:35 PM How Zoos Victoria is building wildlife resilience before, during and after disasters (Amanda Lamont, Zoos
Victoria)
12:35 PM - 12:45 PM Session Q&A
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM Lunch break
1:45 PM - 1:50 PM Session Introduction
1:50 PM - 1:55 PM Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication (Michael Shiels, Taronga Conservation Society Australia) (short
presentation)
1:55 PM - 2:10 PM Evolution of Captive Management, Projects, and Partnerships of New Zealand’s Rarest Kiwi (Laurie Keller,
West Coast Wildlife Centre)
2:10 PM - 2:25 PM The Surreptitious Science of Specialised Situational Switching for Sedentary Non-Salamanders (aka Faking
it for Frogs) (Toby Johnson, Catherine Roughton, Josh Brown, Orana Wildlife Park)
2:25 PM - 2:40 PM The key role of ex-situ management for shark and ray conservation (Rikke Øgelund Nielsen, Species360
Conservation Science Alliance /University of Southern Denmark)
2:40 PM - 2:55 PM A friend in need is a friend indeed: How cross-institutional communication partnerships saved a Wildlife
Park and strengthen conservation efforts in Papua New Guinea (Michelle McGeorge, Port Moresby Nature
Park)
2:55 PM - 3:05 PM Session Q&A
3:05 PM - 3:35 PM Afternoon break
3:35 PM - 3:38 PM Session Introduction
3:38 PM - 3:40 PM How ‘Black Friday’ became greener and browner – finding a conservation angle, a market and a laugh for
zoos and aquariums (Michelle Hubbard / Chelsea Martin, Zoos South Australia) (short presentation)
3:40 PM - 3:55 PM HATCH: Taronga Accelerator Program (Danielle Fryday, Taronga Conservation Society Australia)
3:55 PM - 4:10 PM Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Extinction Schools Program Impact Research (Chris Vella, Zoos Victoria)
4:10 PM - 4:25 PM Regent honeyeater conservation breeding program: The influence of zoo-based life experience on post-
release fitness (Dr Joy Tripovich, Taronga Conservation Society/University of New South Wales)
4:25 PM - 4:35 PM Session Q&A
4:35 PM - 4:45 PM Close of eventPlenary Sessions
Tuesday, 3 August, 10:10 AM - 10:25 AM Tuesday, 3 August, 11:05 AM - 11:35 AM
Strengthening conservation species planning with Reverse the Red Global Movement
cultural engagement Presenter(s)/author(s): Jenny Gray, CEO, Zoos Victoria
and Jon-Paul Rodriquez, Chair of the IUCN Species
Presenter(s)/author(s): Melanie Nelson, Strategic Cross-
Survival Commission, IUCN-SSC
Cultural Consultant, Melanie Nelson Consultancy
Nicola Pindur, Northern Science Manager, Terrestrial Reverse the Red is a global movement that ignites
Science Unit, Department of Conservation strategic cooperation and action for wild species survival.
Todd Jenkinson, Manager, NZ Partnerships & Data-driven and propelled by collaboration, Reverse
Conservation, Zoo and Aquarium Association the Red provides the tools and partnerships to unite us
around our common commitment to saving species.
The Department of Conservation (DoC) and the Zoo
and Aquarium Association (ZAA) have a Memorandum Committed to three essential steps, Reverse the Red can
of Understanding to pursue and deliver on a range of help us become the first generation to stop biodiversity
conservation initiatives for Aotearoa New Zealand’s decline.
native threatened species; supporting breed-and-release
programmes, providing quality animal welfare, and https://www.reversethered.org/
promoting public advocacy through engaging with the
millions of zoo visitors each year. Tuesday, 3 August, 11:35 AM - 11:55 AM
Conservation initiatives for Aotearoa New Zealand’s Opportunity from ashes - transforming ZAA’s
native species involves broad stakeholder engagement
and DoC and ZAA are reaching out to iwi across New contribution to conservation in wake of the 2019-
Zealand for cooperative discussions. 2020 bushfires and drought, and how we can do
more.
It is critical that the planning and implementation of
any native species project recognises Treaty of Waitangi Presenter(s)/author(s): James R. Biggs, Director,
Settlement obligations for redress, and has a coherent Conservation & Population Management, Zoo and
plan to ensure that they are met. Aquarium Association
DoC and ZAA have taken the time that is needed to The ability to deliver value through investment in
work in a way that is supportive of genuine, open- change has always been a critical success factor for
minded collaboration with iwi. Taking a staged approach, organisations. But value does not come from having the
the South Island engagement plan has begun, to be capabilities, it comes from how organisations manage and
followed by engagement with iwi from the North Island utilise those capabilities.
of Aotearoa New Zealand.
As a membership organisation, historically, it has been
challenging for ZAA to increase organisational capability
without increased on-costs to association members. Andwhilst devastating, the 2019-2020 drought and bushfire Tuesday, 3 August, 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM
season did focus global attention on Australia’s ongoing
biodiversity crisis and catalysed scenarios that allowed ZAA Accreditation Program
ZAA to increase capacity and output without increasing Presenter(s)/author(s): Nick de Graaff, Director,
membership fees. Accreditation and Welfare Assessment, Zoo and
Aquarium Association
This paper discusses recently implemented ZAA-lead
initiatives that will help pave the way to increased This presentation will provide members with an update
member involvement in conservation action, how the on the ZAA Accreditation Program as we begin a
projects will achieve this, learnings from the journey so new three-year cycle. An overview of the program’s
far, and propose strategies that seek to further increase updates and improvements will be presented covering
our contributions. enhancement of the core focus on animal welfare and
new areas of focus such as conservation, sustainability
and welfare in animal-visitor interactions. There will also
Tuesday, 3 August, 11:55 AM - 12:25 AM be an update on roll out of the new cycle with reference
Threatened Species Initiative – empowering to support and resources for zoos and aquarium
conservation action using genomic resources undertaking Accreditation.
Authors: Carolyn J. Hogg1, Kym Ottewell2, Peter Latch3,
Maurizio Rossetto4, Andrew Gilbert5, Sarah Richmond5, Tuesday, 3 August, 2:00 PM - 2:15 PM
James Biggs6, Kathy Belov1
Plastic ingestion is an underestimated cause of
1
School of Life & Environmental Science, The University of
Sydney, Sydney, Australia death for southern hemisphere albatrosses
2
WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions, Presenter(s)/author(s): Dr Phil Kowalski, Veterinarian,
Perth, Australia Wellington Zoo Trust
3
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water &
Environment, Canberra, Australia Albatrosses are among the world’s most at-risk
4
The Royal Botanical Gardens of Sydney, Sydney, Australia vertebrates, with 73% of species threatened with
5
Bioplatforms Australia, North Ryde, Australia extinction. Ingestion of plastic is a well‐recognised threat
among three North Pacific species, but lesser known in
6
Zoo and Aquarium Association, Mosman, Australia
the southern hemisphere, where it is considered a minor
Presenter: Dr Carolyn Hogg, School of Life & threat.
Environmental Science, The University of Sydney
As plastic entering the ocean is increasing while albatross
The world is currently immersed in a biodiversity crisis, populations decline, the threat of ocean plastic to
over 13,500 species are listed as threatened by the albatross populations may be underestimated. We
IUCN. Of these, less than 1% have genomic resources. present case studies of 107 beach‐cast albatrosses of
twelve species, received by wildlife hospitals in Australia
Having the reference genome allows us to develop
and New Zealand, and estimate plastic ingestion
a suite of tools to understand both genome-wide
and mortality rates for albatrosses in the southern
and functional diversity within and between species.
hemisphere.
Conservation practitioners can then use these genetic
resources to inform their decision-making. Currently, We estimate ingestion of plastic may cause 3.4–17.5%
a gap in our applied knowledge exists between when of nearshore mortalities and is worth consideration
genomes are produced, and the information is used by as a substantial threat to albatross populations. We
conservation practitioners. provide clinical findings and “checklist” methodologies
for identifying potential cases of foreign‐body
In May 2020, we launched the Threatened Species
gastrointestinal obstruction. We suggest practical policy
Initiative. Bringing together genome biologists,
responses, empowering decision makers to reduce
population biologists, bioinformaticians, population
albatross mortality from anthropogenic sources.
geneticists and ecologists with conservation agencies
across Australia, including government, zoos and NGOs. (https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/conl.12785)
Our objective is to not only to create a foundation
of genomic data to advance our understanding of
key Australian threatened species, but to ultimately Tuesday, 3 August, 2:15 PM - 2:30 PM
empower conservation practitioners to leverage genomic Taking the next leap: integration of strategic
information to tackle critical biological and conservation
issues – including genetic data to inform translocations, biobanking into amphibian conservation
captive breeding and their ongoing management. translocation programs
Developed in direct consultation with government Authors: Rebecca Hobbs, Natalie Calatayud, Michael
threatened species managers and other conservation McFadden, Aimee Silla, Phillip Byrne, Jo Day, David
practitioners, we will present our framework for meeting Hunter, Michael Magrath, Deon Gilbert, John Clulow,
their needs and our systematic approach to integrating Rose Upton, Simon Clulow, Justine O’Brien.
genomics into species recovery. Presenter: Rebecca Hobbs, Reproductive biologist /
Biorepository Co-ordinator, Taronga Conservation Society
Australia
Reproductive technologies have been listed as one of
the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUC)]
development priorities for amphibian taxa.Strategic biobanking offers the potential for large Wednesday, 4 August, 9:55 AM - 10:10 AM
scale, long-term, low-cost preservation of amphibian
genetic diversity in the form of living biological material How keeper-generated data can be a key tool in
for conservation and research. In 2020, Taronga and improving zoo animal welfare
collaborators initiated a project to develop and refine Presenter(s)/author(s): Isabella Clegg, Animal Welfare
protocols for inducing sperm release and sperm Expertise
cryopreservation in five key amphibian breed-for-release
programs (Litoria and Pseudophryne species) across two Our knowledge of zoo animal welfare has progressed
zoos. both in quality and quantity over the last few decades.
However, on the ground in zoos, there is often still a
This work supports the long-term goal to establish a conflict when trying to collect welfare data that is both
functional Amphibian Biorepository and to pioneer practical and valid.
the integration of sample use with population genetic
management to maximise restoration program outcomes Generally, either external scientists devise their own
for Australian species. measures which are not sustainable after the project
ends, or zoo staff develop their own measures of welfare
This presentation will discuss: (1) our progress in which are not necessarily valid or comprehensive.
strategic biobanking efforts, highlighting the recent However, a third, less common collaborative approach
pre-bushfire emergency extraction of northern Litoria involves training keepers to collect scientific welfare data
booroolongensis to establish a new conservation using feasible methods that fit into their daily routine.
breeding program at Taronga and (2) future work needed
to further integrate the reproductive and genomic This presentation reviews several projects where this
sciences into best-practice amphibian population approach has been used and welfare improvements have
management. been realised. Using the examples, three main categories
of such keeper-generated welfare data are outlined:
1) Likert-scale animal-based data, 2) multi-disciplinary
Tuesday, 3 August, 2:30 PM - 2:45 PM husbandry data, and 3) behavioural observations. These
WildCats Conservation Alliance – Year of the Tiger keeper-led approaches have resulted in outcomes such
as better monitoring of animal health, training session
2022
motivation, and enrichment engagement, which are
Presenter(s)/author(s): Esther Conway, Manager, then able to objectively guide management decisions to
WildCats Conservation Alliance improve welfare.
WildCats Conservation Alliance is a zoo-based wild tiger
and Amur leopard initiative run by zoos for zoos to fund Wednesday, 4 August, 10:10 AM - 10:25 AM
field conservation projects. It was established as 21st
Century Tiger 24 years ago and has since worked with Measuring changes in dolphin welfare after the
over 170 zoos worldwide with two partners, Zoological implementation of a structured enrichment
Society of London and Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation. program at Sea World Australia
2022 is the next Global Year of the Tiger and after Authors: Justine Partoon*1, Wayne Phillips1, Isabella
COVID-19, WildCats is offering something positive for Clegg2
zoos and their visitors to focus on. Together zoos can Sea World Gold Coast, Sea World Dr, Main Beach QLD 4217
1
celebrate conservation success for tigers and their Asia Animal Welfare Expertise, Sydney, Australia
2
habitats.
Presenter: Justine Partoon, Enrichment Coordinator, Sea
WildCats will run an inclusive, year-long Year of the Tiger World, Australia
fundraising campaign and encourage zoos to organise Enrichment is utilised in zoological facilities to stimulate
events, challenges and competitions to suit their own natural behaviours, provide novel opportunities to
timetables and capacity. WildCats will support them with animals, and provide increased choice and control in their
a range of easy-to-use assets. environment. Through these actions, the main goal of an
enrichment program is to enhance animal welfare, which
Studies have shown that rate of extinctions would be
may include reducing abnormal repetitive behaviours
much higher without conservation action1. Tigers are a
(ARBs). In 2020, Sea World Australia implemented a new
prime example of this. Tiger populations are beginning
enrichment team consisting of animal trainers who are
to increase because conservation utilises science &
dedicated to enriching the population of 27 common
technology, government involvement, collaborations and
and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus
community involvement to much greater effect.
and T. aduncus). A full-time enrichment coordinator was
Let’s not lose momentum in the turmoil of the post employed to work with an independent consultant, who
COVID-19 world. implemented user-friendly schedules encompassing a
diverse variety of over 100 environmental enrichment
1.
Bolam FC, Mair L, Angelico M, et al. How many bird and mammal devices (EEDs). To measure the success of the
extinctions has recent conservation action prevented? Conservation enrichment program, behavioural data was collected
Letters. 2021;14:e12762 through focal observations. Data was collected prior to
the program commencing, throughout COVID-19 park
closure, and up until the present day, totalling 2826
observations which comes to 22,000 minutes or 815
minutes per dolphin on average. In conjunction, an
animal care and welfare platform (OERCA) was employed
to record each dolphin’s engagement of every EED
that was provided to them using trainer ratings on a1-5 scale. From analysis of these two data sets, over a on natural behaviours”. The results produced both an
yearly period we found that the time spent interacting overall score, indicating alignment, or non-alignment
with an EED increased from 30% to 45% of observed with the Code, and highlighted areas for improvement to
time. During the same period, we saw a small reduction enhance alignment with the Code.
in ARBs from 1.7% to 1.5% of observed time, and a
reduction in anticipatory behaviour before sessions This innovative approach has implications for our
from 9.5% to 5.9%. In over 60% of enrichment sessions, organisation, for animal welfare outcomes, for visitor
the dolphins were recorded as being highly engaged engagement and subsequent interaction with wildlife,
or having sustained interest, and in around 90% of and for the industry itself.
sessions the animals showed some interest in the EEDs.
Consistency and structure within the enrichment team Wednesday, 4 August, 11:40 AM - 11:55 AM
were critical for data collection, and when combined with
improvements in staff knowledge, creativity, and goal- Enhancing Animal Welfare in Elasmobranchs
setting we conclude that the enrichment program has (Sharks and Rays) through Implementation of
contributed to welfare enhancements within the dolphin a Species-Specific Enrichment Program at Sea
collection at Sea World.
World.
Presenter(s)/author(s): Sarah Carnell, Marine Education
Wednesday, 4 August, 11:10 AM - 11:25 AM Officer, Sea World
Indigenous Engagement and Supplier Diversity Environmental enrichment, also known as behavioural
enrichment, provides species-appropriate challenges,
Presenter(s)/author(s): Tom Maker, Account Relationship
opportunities and stimulation. Using the five domains
Manager, Supply Nation
as a theoretical basis, the team at Sea World have
Since 2009, Supply Nation has worked with Aboriginal developed a structured environmental enrichment
and Torres Strait Islander businesses along with program to improve animal welfare of their shark and ray
procurement teams from government and corporate species in the Shark Bay and Ray Reef exhibits.
Australia to help shape today’s emerging and rapidly Developing the program involved a critical reflection of
evolving Indigenous business sector. current practices, species-specific welfare assessments
and research, the design of new, goal- oriented
Supply Nation’s world-leading 5-step verification enrichment experiences, and the continued tracking of
process provides peace of mind by ensuring that all animal welfare throughout enrichment implementation.
businesses listed on Australia’s largest free national Throughout the implementation phase of a thorough
directory of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander environmental enrichment program such as this, there
businesses, Indigenous Business Direct, are not only were planned and unplanned hurdles.
Indigenous owned but are also regularly audited for
changes in company structure and ownership. We are navigating ways to improve staff involvement
and enthusiasm, enrichment design and implementation,
Tom will share some information about Supply Nation welfare and enrichment documentation, scheduling
and how zoos and aquariums can utilise either their paid and time management, as well as material costs and
support or free online resources to engage First Nations budgeting. Not only do we endeavour to collaborate with
businesses in their supply chain. An update will also be our own team members more effectively, but we are also
provided on Amotai, who have recently launched in New aiming to create a reciprocal, communicative network
Zealand, using a similar business model to support Maori with other organisations and facilities, nationally and
supplier diversity. globally. By sharing our journey, enrichment plans and
our improved practices with others, we hope to create
more positive welfare opportunities for marine animals in
Wednesday, 4 August, 11:25 AM - 11:40 AM
human care worldwide.
The importance of animal empowerment in visitor
experience across Zoos Victoria
Wednesday, 4 August, 11:55 AM - 12:10 PM
Presenter(s)/author(s): Katherine Quinn, Zoo Keeper, Creating an Animal Welfare Recording Tool for
Zoos Victoria
all zoo & aquarium species to aid in assessing &
Zoos have continued to evolve from places of improving animal welfare
entertainment, to have more wide-reaching goals of
education and conservation. Consider also the increase Authors: EJ Polla1 and J Lemon1
in paid experiences that zoos now offer, where visitors 1
Department of Life Sciences, Perth Zoo, Department
may interact or have their photo taken with the animals, of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Western
perhaps walking away knowing a little bit more about the Australia, Australia
species. Zoos Victoria has taken this one step further,
with the introduction of the Animal Visitor Engagement Presenter: Emily J Polla, Animal Behaviour and Welfare
Audit, a tool that assesses these experiences from the Officer, Perth Zoo
perspective of the animals. The goal – to create products Accreditation from ZAA relies on recorded evidence of
that are empowering for both animals and visitors. multiple animal welfare measures for a variety of species,
This concept grew from the introduction of the ambitious covering all elements of the ‘Five Domains’. This includes
Zoos Victoria Code of Animal Welfare and Ethics, the recording of positive animal welfare, which currently
isn’t always captured to its full potential throughout the
which states “any interaction with visitors will be in the
industry.
control of the animals” and that these interactions will
“demonstrate care, compassion and respect by focusing To address this, Perth Zoo has developed an AnimalWelfare Recording Tool that utilises a standardised The presentation will consider the trends compared to
template for recording animal welfare across seven 2020, reviewing quantitative data on current attitudes
categories using Species 360 (ZIMS). The seven towards zoos and aquariums, perceptions of animal
categories have been designed to include all elements welfare, awareness of ZAA Accreditation, opinions on
of the ZAA animal welfare assessment and the ‘Five the conservation role of zoos and aquariums and more.
Domains’. This tool is unique and broadly applicable Further insights will also be delivered based on analysis
in that it is suitable for use with all species, from of qualitative data collected.
invertebrates to mammals, and has the potential to
create consistent records across animal care sections
within and between zoos and aquariums. Thursday, 5 August, 10:10 AM - 10:25 AM
By creating a standardised recording method that is The World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation
consistent between all species, the tool is easy for Education Strategy
keeping staff to use and is particularly beneficial for Presenter(s)/author(s): Dr Sarah Thomas, Head of
keepers who work with a wide range of taxa. This Conservation Advocacy and Engagement, Auckland Zoo
presentation will communicate the major elements of
the Animal Welfare Recording Tool, with examples of This talk gives an overview of the World Zoo and
how data can be utilised to assess and improve animal Aquarium Conservation Education Strategy which
welfare. launched November 2020. As the lead author for
this strategy, Dr Thomas will guide delegates through
the main themes of the strategy, outline the 22
Wednesday, 4 August, 12:10 PM - 12:25 PM recommendations, and the process and people involved
The social impact of close encounters: what to create a truly inclusive yet global conservation
factors should you consider? education strategy. This talk will demonstrate how
the strategy should be embraced and embedded
Presenter(s)/author(s): Emily McLeod, Senior Social by all zoos and aquariums to improve conservation
Science Research Manager, Zoos Victoria education practice. It will also highlight to delegates how
conservation education is relevant to zoo directors and
Participating in close encounters with zoo animals can leaders of our community, and how launching this World
provide visitors with a unique experience that may build Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Education Strategy is a
a sense of connection and care for the animal while major step change for our industry.
also encouraging them to engage in pro-conservation
behaviours to help protect wildlife.
Thursday, 5 August, 10:25 AM - 10:40 AM
However a small, but growing, body of research has
found some unintended outcomes of viewing images of Designing affective zoo exhibits: how can the
animals and people together, with a risk of an increased zoo experience impact the efficacy of behaviour
desirability to have the animal as a pet. This highlights change campaigns?
the importance of understanding what factors of close
encounter experiences and photos influence people’s Presenter(s)/author(s): Dr Rhedyn Ollerenshaw, PhD
beliefs in order to inform the way in which we best Graduate, Australian National Centre for the Public
deliver and promote these experiences. Awareness of Science, Australian National University
This presentation will share the results a PhD research
In this presentation, three recent research projects Zoos
project that connects the disciplines of social science,
Victoria has conducted to try to tease apart the factors
zoo design and informal science learning to understand
that influence peoples’ perceptions about zoo animals in
how zoo exhibit design can impact the efficacy of zoo-
close encounters will be discussed.
based behaviour change campaigns.
The results of these three research projects have
Using case studies at two Sumatran tiger exhibits, Dr
demonstrated that close encounters can build care and
Ollerenshaw will share her findings about how visitors
connection for animals but there are also components of
engage with zoo exhibits and how this relates to their
human interaction that risk increasing undesirable beliefs
attitudes and intentions regarding tiger conservation.
about wildlife. This work has helped to inform Zoos
Victoria’s recently launched Image Guidelines that outline
how we responsibly present images of animals to our Thursday, 5 August, 10:40 AM - 10:55 AM
audience in a manner that demonstrates respect for the
animals and avoids promoting undesirable beliefs about Going beyond Love and Learning: Linking Zoo
wildlife. Behaviour and In-Situ Conservation
Presenter(s)/author(s): Pete Lancaster, Conservation
Thursday, 5 August, 9:55 AM - 10:10 AM Campaigner, Zoos Victoria
ZAA Community Perception Survey 2021 Research tells us that asking guests to take action
during their visit can not only increase their recall and
Presenter(s)/author(s): Maigan Thompson, recognition of target species and benefit species in the
Communications Manager, Zoo and Aquarium wild but it can also improve visitor-satisfaction.
Association
Some conservation issues naturally lend themselves to
Results of the 2021 ZAA Community Perception Survey community action better than others, usually due to a
will be presented to help attendees understand the clear link to people’s everyday life (e.g. the issue of palm
changing perceptions, attitudes and beliefs of the general oil in supermarket products). The bigger challenges we
population in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. can come across developing programs and associated
conservation actions for endangered species includehuman-driven threats that can’t easily be addressed by Animal Care team members, and developed to offer two
our community in their everyday life. progression opportunities, each with learning objectives
and assessments. These cover the Five Domains in
After challenging ourselves for many years to come up addition to recording keeping and zoo business.
with a tangible and meaningful way we could ask our
zoo community to help our list of lesser-known local The Keeper Development Programme launched in
threatened species, we ran our first pilot of Totes for September 2020 and allows Wellington Zoo to grow,
Wildlife in 2019. This project aimed to test a retail-based share and retain knowledge and experience within the
conservation behaviour across Zoos Victoria properties, Animal Care team.
with a focus on making a real-world difference for the
Helmeted Honeyeater.
Thursday, 5 August, 12:10 PM - 12:25 PM
The success of this trial and learnings that came
from it resulted in the program continuing into 2020 A friend in need is a friend indeed: How cross-
and beyond, with a five-year plan to generate in situ institutional communication partnerships saved a
conservation support for a number of threatened species Wildlife Park and strengthen conservation efforts
through a zoo-based behaviour. in Papua New Guinea
Presenter(s)/author(s): Michelle McGeorge, CEO, Port
Thursday, 5 August, 11:40 AM - 11:55 AM Moresby Nature Park
Harness the benefits of diversity and inclusion By May 2020, Port Moresby Nature Park, Papua New
Guinea was facing certain closure due to the COVID-19
Presenter(s)/author(s): Leon Coningham, Head of SBS
pandemic and a drastic decline in visitation and self-
Distribution, Special Broadcasting Service (SBS)
generation of income. With additional PNG Government
To embrace the diversity of our visitors, employees, and support not possible and PNG businesses struggling to
communities an inclusive approach enables us to harness support the Park, the only ZAA-accredited member in the
the benefits of our diversity. South Pacific Islands reached out to the ZAA office and
membership for help communicating internationally on
Inclusion is about creating a culture where individuals can the need to raise urgent funds to ensure that all wildlife
feel free, comfortable, and safe to be who they are, and operational costs were met.
where the diversity that a person brings to a workplace,
team, organisation, or community is not only accepted Multiple zoo partners reached out to provide support
but celebrated and understood as an advantage. based on what they could at the time (given zoos globally
were all under the stresses of COVID-19 impacts),
SBS and International Education Services, in collaboration but a particular commitment was made by Perth Zoo’s
with multiple partners, have developed an Inclusion communications team to spread the plight of the Nature
Program to support companies embrace diversity and Park to their media connections. This resulted in the Park
promote safe and happy workplaces. receiving global attention, a feat which would not have
The Inclusion Program is designed to give all workers been possible for the Park on its own, and a successful
core skills and knowledge around inclusion in general, viral GoFundMe fundraising campaign supported by
and specifically around some other diversity dimensions: ZAA’s Wildlife Conservation Fund.
regional and international cultures, LGBTIQ+, gender, This highlights the power of zoo and aquariums
disability, and age. The Program content tells real stories, communications teams in providing media platforms to
creates empathy, makes complex information digestible, smaller, well-intentioned external conservation partners
and provides practical things people can do. and how their efforts can contribute to raising funds for
conservation without financially impacting their own
organisation’s bottom line.
Thursday, 5 August, 11:55 AM - 12:10 PM
Keeper Development Programme at Wellington
Thursday, 5 August, 12:25 PM - 12:55 PM
Zoo
How Zoos Victoria is building wildlife resilience
Presenter(s)/author(s): Daniel Warsaw, General Manager
Animal Care and Science, Wellington Zoo Trust before, during and after disasters
At Wellington Zoo, we are guided by our kaupapa: Me Presenter(s)/author(s): Amanda Lamont, Emergency
tiaki, kia ora! We must look after our environment, so all Management Advisor, Zoos Victoria
things will flourish. The emerging role of Zoos Victoria and other
Oranga is the foundation for our Zoo Strategy and conservation-based organisations was highlighted like
enables us to achieve the four pillars of Whānau, Tinana, never before during the Australian 2019-20 Summer
Hinengaro and Wairua. bushfires. Zoos Victoria’s experience and expertise was
integral in supporting the wildlife response, relief and
Growing our people through learning and development recovery efforts alongside partners in state government
is a core component of Oranga and our Keeper agencies, wildlife and veterinary organisations and
Development Programme aims to ensure ongoing communities.
learning and development at every level within the
Animal Care Team, so that Keepers feel motivated Following the fires, Zoos Victoria developed a Wildlife
and supported to progress along the career pathways Response and Recovery Plan and arrangements are
available at the Zoo. in place to develop an organisational emergency
management plan to help prepare the organisation for
Work on designing the Keeper Development Programme future bushfire seasons and other emergencies. These
commenced in late 2019 with workshops held with all plans will guide Zoos Victoria’s involvement in futurestate-led emergency response and recovery. and requirements for captive breeding of a species in
which this has never been achieved.
This presentation will summarise Zoos Victoria’s role and
the activities it supported during and after the 2019- The technology behind this facility is an example of
20 bushfires, including wildlife triage and rehabilitation, how steady technological advances have led to a greatly
threatened species extraction and contribution to state reduced cost to implementing “state of the art” solutions
and national forums, working groups and roundtables. to scientific challenges.
They will also outline how Zoos Victoria continues
to enhance its wildlife emergency preparedness,
response and recovery arrangements in collaboration Thursday, 5 August, 2:40 PM - 2:55 PM
with key partners and stakeholders from communities, The key role of ex-situ management for shark and
governments, research, volunteer and not-for-profit
ray conservation
organisations.
Presenter(s)/author(s): Rikke Øgelund Nielsen 1,2,3. MSc.
in conservation biology
Thursday, 5 August, 2:10 PM - 2:25 PM 1.
Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark,
Evolution of Captive Management, Projects, and Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
Partnerships of New Zealand’s Rarest Kiwi 2.
Species360 Conservation Science Alliance, 7900 International
Drive, Suite 1040, Bloomington, MN 55425, USA
Presenter(s)/author(s): Laurie Keller, Wildlife Husbandry 3.
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science,
Manager, West Coast Wildlife Centre, Franz Josef University of Southern Denmark, Odense 5230, Denmark
Since opening in 2010, the West Coast Wildlife Centre Sharks and rays are highly threatened; the dire
(WCWC) has successfully managed the rearing of New conservation status of these species is highly the result
Zealand’s two rarest kiwi species. In partnership with The of overexploitation either directly targeted or as bycatch
Department of Conservation, this small facility, based in global fisheries. Although most species are harvested
in the rural township of Franz Josef in ‘Glacier Country’ through bycatch, it is usually highly valuable bycatch due
plays a significant role in ‘Operation Nest Egg (ONE)’. to the high value of the fins and other products in the
This strategy is used to increase kiwi numbers rapidly, domestic and international markets.
particularly in vulnerable populations or small sites, by
effectively supporting captive incubation, hatching and To regulate the international trade of sharks and rays,
rearing of kiwi chicks until they reach at least 1000 grams the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
to gain a ‘stoat-proof’ status, and eventual release back Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) lists 5.7 % of the
to sanctuaries of their former range. described species. To inform policymakers, management
authorities, aquarium curators, and conservation
To date, the WCWC has achieved several wins in support practitioners, we have collected data on six parameters
of kiwi conservation. Over the years, husbandry practices to identify knowledge gaps for sharks and rays.
and specialised veterinary care have evolved to suit the
rowi and Haast tokoeka species that the WCWC have This project shows for each of the 1226 Elasmobranchs
continued to manage. species, the available information, international
legislation, and other critical data for their conservation
In recent seasons, the WCWC has participated in various and management. These include the species extinction
projects alongside the Department of Conservation, in risk, products and volumes traded internationally and the
addition to external research by independent scientists, catch reports from global fisheries. In this study, we show
organisations and Universities. This has been one of the the critical role of aquariums to support policymakers
first and most successful kiwi public/private partnerships and conservationists to make decisions for many at-risk
in New Zealand today. species.
Thursday, 5 August, 2:25 PM - 2:40 PM Thursday, 5 August, 3:25 PM - 3:40 PM
The Surreptitious Science of Specialised HATCH: Taronga Accelerator Program
Situational Switching for Sedentary Non-
Presenter(s)/author(s): Danielle Fryday, Community
Salamanders (aka Faking it for Frogs) Conservation and Engagement Officer, Taronga
Presenters/authors: Toby Johnson, Engagement and IT Conservation Society Australia
Manager; Catherine Roughton, Manager of Native and At Taronga we are committed to a shared future for
Domestic Species, Josh Brown, Assistant Manager of people and wildlife and, while human activities have
Native and Domestic Species; Orana Wildlife Park caused many of the problems, we believe that humans
New Zealand’s native frog species are a little known are also the solution.
and poorly understood genus with a variety of unique In 2020 Taronga launched the HATCH: Taronga
characteristics and behaviours. Facing compounding Accelerator Program to support changemakers with
threats of habitat loss, predation and disease, two of the innovative ideas that address environmental and
three extant species had been secured in New Zealand conservation issues. HATCH is a 14-week program to
Zoos but Leiopelma hamiltoni remained unaddressed. help participants fast track their initiatives into not-for-
In partnership with Otago University and Professor Phil profit or social enterprise ventures that have a positive
Bishop Orana Wildlife Park was able to design and build impact on the environment.
a unique simulation of the wild environment of this Despite COVID-19 challenges, the inaugural HATCH
species and transfer 17 individuals to reside here. The Program was successfully run in 2020 in a fully online
facility allows a huge level of environmental control and format. Five participating teams were chosen from a
measurement that will enable us to identify the triggersYou can also read
