Haltung und Zucht des Spitzmaulnashorns (Diceros bicornis) im Zoologischen Garten Berlin

The first Black rhino was kept in Berlin Zoo in 1870. After second world war the keeping of Diceros bicornis started in 1954. Between 1981 and 2006 16 births occurred in Berlin Zoo, of which 14 calfs were raised.     

Pinguin-Haltung und Pinguin-Anlagen im Zoologischen Garten Wuppertal

Three new Penguin exhibits, which have been built at Wuppertal Zoo since 2005 are described. An overview about the history of keeping and breeding of penguins at Wuppertal zoo is given.     

Daten zur Schlafdauer in der Herde Asiatischer Elefanten (Elephas maximus) im Zoologischen Garten Berlin

Due to the night observations during the gravidity of the Asian Elephant “Pang Pha” in 2005 it was possible to receive data on the sleeping behavior of 1.3 Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at Berlin Zoological Garden. These elephants were the breeding bull “Victor” (born 22.10.1993 at Zoological Center Ramat Gan), “Pang Pha” (born 1987 in Thailand), “Drumbo” (born 1970) and “Iyoti” (born 1974 in India). Elephant “Pang Pha” slept only one and a half hour, whereas the two older cows lay nearly four hours. The bull lay longest.     

Erfolgreiche Handaufzucht eines Brillenpelikans (Pelecanus conspicillatus Temminck, 1824) im Zoologischen Garten Berlin

In the beginning of 2011 an Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) hatched at the Berlin Zoological Garden and was hand raised. The article described the raising conditions and diet of the squab. In addition to that a historical overview of the keeping of Australian Pelicans at the Zoological Garden of Berlin was given.     

Haltung und Zucht von Schläfenfleckspechten (Melanerpes pucherani)

Many unique natural habitats have already been disturbed by mankind. At the same time a lot of animal- and plant species have reach the point of no return and so their extinction. The human private efforts for conservation are becoming more and more important.In these efforts zoological gardens as international conservation organisations and private initiatives should go hand in hand.About the breeding of woodpeckers for instance, literature does not show that much. In this case it would be of highly importance in publishing any experience in this matter.The breeding of the Black-cheeked woodpecker is more or less uncomplicated. In spite of his tropical origin, this species is not that sensitive against coldness as other South-American birds. Soft food, fruit and mealworms will be a decent basic food. Even during the breeding-season this kind of food will be totally ok. In the birds enclosure, only a single bird or a couple should be put in. Probably because of their territorial claim, they will become aggressive otherwise. Also very important for this species will be to keep them out of sight from each other. Even housing at hearing distance could be problematic for the brood. To keep this species with other bird species in a community will be possible. In literature until four eggs per brood could be possible. However, even in separated enclosures as mentioned above, these results have never been reached until now.     

Haltung und Zucht der Java-Buschelster,Cissa thalassina (Temminck, 1826), im Cikananga Conservation Breeding Center (CCBC)

The Javan Green Magpie has just been upgraded to species level in 2011. Based on IUCN criteria, it has the global status “critically endangered”. As the captive breeding is an integral aspect for the survival of this species, it is kept and bred at Cikananga Conservation Breeding Center since 2011. Here, it was possible to observe new aspects of the breeding biology, such as behaviour and diet. The experiences about keeping and breeding this species shall be summarized and presented in this article.     

Haltung und Zucht des Spix-Aras (Cyanopsitta spixii) in der Loro Parque Fundación auf Teneriffa

Since 2004 the Loro Parque Fundación (LPF) has again achieved breeding success with the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), and has been regularly rearing young (n=4) by hand-feeding. Currently this parrot species, which went extinct in the wild in 2000, cannot be seen on exhibit in any zoo in the world. There are only five breeding centres worldwide which keep this species, all being members of the Spix's Macaw Recovery Programme. The conditions and techniques used by the LPF to maintain, breed and hand-rear this species are described.     

Die Nachzucht des Roten Felsenhahns, Rupicola peruviana (Latham, 1790) und des Schildschmuckvogels, Querula purpurata (Müller, 1776) im Zoologischen Garten Wuppertal

Incubation, handrearing and motherrearing of 5 male Andean Cocks of the Rock (Rupicola peruviana) in Wuppertal Zoo is described, in particular the development of the juvenile plumage to adulthood, and the change of colour of the beak and the iris of the eye. Incubation lasted 26-28 days. The mother-reared nestling fledged after 28 days. The young male Cock of the Rock attained full adult plumage at the age of 18 months, not at 3 years as Del Hoyo et al. (2004) describe from free-living Cocks of the Rock. A report on the supposed world's first breeding of the Purple-throated Fruitcrow (Querula purpurata) is given. The incubation period was 25 days.     

Zur Haltung von Dallschafen (Ovis dalli) im Zoologischen Garten Leipzig: Keeping Dall's Sheep (Ovis dalli) at Leipzig Zoo

Keeping and breeding Dall's Sheep (Ovis dalli) in Leipzig Zoo between 1982 and 2009 are reflected and analysed. Seven animals were brought into the collection. 60 specimens were kept so far. The species hast turned out to be difficult in Middle-Europe‘s climate but nevertheless is manageable and reproductive. The rearing rate (animals have reached at least the age of 1 year) is 40%. Remarkable veterinarian treatments for keeping the stock healthy and especially for ensuring the breeding are described. For sure, deep engagement of keepers, veterinarians and curators is needed to keep this species successfully. Hopefully a lot of colleagues will take this as a challenge to increase numbers in Europe by joining the group of holders of this splendid wild sheep.     

Conservation genetics of the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)

We analysed genetic variation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region in the Diceros bicornis minor and D. b. michaelianimals at the Western Plains Zoo, which form part of an international ex-situ breeding program. Six of the nine D. b. minor animals were wild-caught from Zimbabwe during the 1990s, and our study revealed five distinct mtDNA haplotypes, and a haplotype diversity of 0.86 in the colony. Phylogenetic relationships between mtDNA haplotypes analyzed using the neighbor joining method reveal that for the small sample available, D. b. minor and D. b. michaeli are reciprocally monophyletic and represent separate ancestral lineages. Nucleotide divergence between the black and and white rhinoceros(Ceratotherium simum) was 14.0%, and nucleotide divergencebetween the D. b. minor and the D. b. michaeli subspecies was 2.6%. This suggests a divergence time for the two blackrhinoceros subspecies of between 0.93 MY and 1.3 MY.     

Gamete rescue in the African black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)

Mortality rates are high among captive African black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis), due to increased susceptibility to disease. The ability to rescue genetic material from individuals that die unexpectedly represents a practical approach to assist ex situ conservation efforts. The objectives of the present study were to attempt postmortem oocyte recovery from ovaries of African black rhinoceroses (N = 6) and to test the efficacy of equine protocols for rhinoceros oocyte IVM and IVF using cryopreserved rhinoceros sperm. The interval from ovary removal to oocyte recovery was 25.3 ± 13.9 h (mean ± SD). Ovaries were transported at 4 °C or 22 °C and effects of temperature on postmortem oocyte competence was evaluated. Numbers of oocytes collected per female averaged 15.8 ± 6.9. In total, 95 oocytes were recovered. Of these, 85 were inseminated using homologous sperm and 10 were inseminated using heterologous sperm. Overall, substantial numbers of viable oocytes were retrieved from African black rhinoceros ovaries 1 to 2 days postmortem from ovaries stored at ambient temperature. A proportion of these oocytes matured and underwent penetration and fertilization by heterologous or homologous frozen-thawed rhinoceros sperm. The reproductive competence of postmortem oocytes was further demonstrated by development of a single two-cell embryo. Despite the need for further refinements, gamete rescue in the rhinoceros has promise for producing rhinoceros embryos, as well as testing sperm functions in vitro.     

Haltung und Zucht der Geißelspinne (Damon variegatus) (Phrynichidae) (Chelicerata: Amblypygi)

In the temporary carboniferous hall of „GONDWANA - Das Prähistorium“ in Germany, whip spiders (Damon variegatus) were kept and bred. 3,3 were purchased from a dealer in summer 2007. The night active spiders were kept together in a terrarium. No aggresions were observed. The animals were fed little locusts, young hissing cockroaches, and crickets. In 2008 courtship display and mating could be observed. The biggest male was the only active one. After 7 days after the intake of the spermatophores all females carried eggsacs under the ophistosoma. Each egg sack contained approximately 25-30 eggs. During the carrying phase only one female feasted on a cricket. 98 days after the egg sack was produced the young spiderlings hatched. The coloration of the spiderlings was completely different from the coloration of the adults. The spiderlings were carried by the female for the next 9 days. Then, the spiderlings moulted and left the female immediately. The adults were now separated from their young. The three groups of spiderlings stayed together in a smaller terrarium. However, each group from each female stayed separate from the others for weeks. The second moulting took place 41 days after the first one. No cannibalism was observed. Obviously Damon variegatus seems to be a spider with a social touch. If the terrarium and the climate conditions inside are adapted to the needs of the whip spiders keeping and breeding is possible. The species is highly attractive to visitors.     

Genetic structure of the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) in south-eastern Africa

Despite an on-going struggle to conserve the endangered black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) since the 1980s, huge capital investment and several genetic surveys, the level of genetic structure and connectivity among populations in southern Africa is not well understood. Here, we undertake a major population genetic study of black rhinoceros in the Zimbabwe Lowveld, an area inhabited by over half of that country’s original Zambezi descendants plus one large population sourced from the relict KwaZulu stock of South Africa. Using nuclear microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA data, we found much higher levels of genetic diversity in the indigenous Zimbabwean populations, where observed multilocus heterozygosity was 0.54 versus 0.40 in KwaZulu, and maternal haplotype diversity was 0.77 versus 0.03. We show, for the first time, that both gene pools can be differentiated from each other on the basis of nuclear markers. This, along with the discovery of recent gene flow between all Lowveld populations, suggests that Zimbabwean and South African gene pools were prehistorically connected.