动物园里的野客

走进动物园,看厌了懒洋洋地躲在铁丝笼角落里的动物,我总爱到水禽湖,感受一下那儿的生机勃勃、热闹非凡的场景。 在这里,有忙着觅食、求偶、繁殖、争夺地盘的各种水禽、涉禽,有不买门票就堂而遑之地进园的“不速之客”,或小住时日,或客居几个月,或从此安家落户,生息繁衍。到了秋季,过路的椋鸟与乌鸦、喜鹊争食园中柿子树上红彤彤的柿子的场景,也总让我流连忘返。 而最让我痴迷的是生活在北京动物园里的野生夜鹭,它们一面享受     

动物园展馆评估系统的建立及应用

在全面阐述动物园展馆评估方法的基础上,建立了从游客、动物和员工三个角度评估展馆的新的指标体系,并在搬迁前哈尔滨动物园的象馆、猩猩馆和水禽馆应用了该方法。评估结果显示：象馆的综合评估总分为84．1分,水禽馆为83．5分,猩猩馆为58．8分。象馆和水禽馆的总体使用效果稍好,而猩猩馆在平面布局、通风、采光和排水设施等方面存在问题,未能很好地吸引游客、保障动物健康和方便员工操作。最后针对评估结果提出了新展馆设计的几点建议。     

Giraffe restraint,habituation, and desensitization at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The giraffe restraint device manufactured at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has the capability to fully support the weight of an immobilized adult giraffe in an upright posture and allow physical restraint of giraffe. The unit has been used for either chemical or physical restraint 74 times, in 22 months, on seven different adult giraffe, without animal or personnel injuries. Habituation and desensitization of the giraffe are critical prerequisites for the successful use of the giraffe restraint device. Yohimbine effectively reversed the effects of xylazine sedation of giraffe. A drug combination of detomidine and azaperone offers promise as an alternative to either physical restraint or immobilization of giraffe for selected clinical and investigative procedures. Using the restraint device it has been possible to perform tuberculin testing, venipuncture, vaginal examination, rectal palpation, rectal ultrasound, cervical catheterization, hoof-trimming, and placement of a hoof block on awake, habituated, and desensitized giraffe.     

Management and husbandry of ruffed lemurs,Varecia variegata,at the San Diego Zoo. I. Captive population,San Diego Zoo housing and diet

The captive history of the ruffed lemur is presented with concentration on taxonomy, captive population and husbandry of the San Diego Zoo population. At the conclusion of 1985, the living population of black and white ruffed lemurs numbered 358; red ruffed lemurs totaled 125. The San Diego Zoo population, established between 1965 and 1970, began with two pairs of each subspecies. Intensive breeding at the Primate Propagation Center resulted in the birth of 135 black and white ruffed lemur infants and 95 red ruffed lemur infants as of January 7, 1986. Housing specifications are presented for the off-exhibit 96-unit breeding facility, describing enclosure size, material, nest box composition, and enclosure furniture. The diet is described, which emphasizes high-protein, high-fiber foods and leaves.     

Self-injurious Behavior in Zoo Primates

Researchers have long known that social isolation of some primates, particularly in infancy, can lead to the development of abnormal behaviors including self-injurious behavior (SIB). However, SIB can also occur in non-isolate-reared primates and can be triggered by frustration or environmental events. The subjects of reports of SIB have mostly been laboratory primates, usually macaques. Researchers had not systematically studied whether SIB occurs in zoo primates, and if so to what extent. Here we report the results of a questionnaire-based survey of British and Irish zoos on the extent of SIB in zoo primates, and whether it was associated with any environmental or developmental events. Responses indicated that though SIB occurred across a range of primate species, its incidence was very low. Respondents identified a variety of environmental events as implicated in initiating SIB, and though the data set is too small to confirm them statistically, several trends were discernible. We conclude that SIB is not a major problem in zoo primates.