Wellington Zoo leads the way for animal welfare

Wellington Zoo leads the way for animal welfare with new team

Wellington Zoo is leading the way for animal welfare with the country’s first Animal Science Team. Led by Animal Science Manager Simon Eyre, the team includes two new roles: Animal Welfare Advisor and Nutrition Advisor.

“Good zoos know animal welfare is the number one priority, and constantly strive to provide animals with the best possible care,” said Chief Executive Karen Fifield. “Our Animal Science team leads the way for animal welfare as the first of its kind in the country. This follows on from the establishment of the Zoo’s Animal Welfare Committee in May last year.”

The dynamic new team is led by Animal Science Manager Simon Eyre, who works closely with zoos across the region and all over the world to coordinate species management and planning recommendations within Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia (ZAA) member institutions.

“Being a good zoo is about helping to prevent wildlife extinction through support from breeding and recovery programmes for endangered species,” said Eyre. “Our collection development strategy is focused on endangered species survival, and animal welfare is the cornerstone of this work.”

“Before we look at what animals should be cared for at Zoo, we look at a number of criteria including whether the species is part of a scientifically managed programme and whether we can provide an appropriate habitat. We also look at whether this species helps towards supporting conservation outcomes, as we are working to save animals in the wild.”

Animal Welfare Advisor Bridget Brox will be collecting a wide range of data to gain a better understanding of animal welfare at the Zoo. With a strong background in behavioural neuroscience, she was also the student representative on Victoria University’s Animal Ethics Committee while completing her PhD. Brox spearheaded an effort to develop specific ethics and welfare training for all students who work with animals in research and training, which was piloted in 2014 before an official roll out at the beginning of 2015.

“The Animal Welfare Advisor role gives me the opportunity to apply my scientific training to improve animal welfare by systematic evaluation of behaviour, habitat, diet, health and the Zoo as a system,” said Ms Brox. “Improving animal welfare is a constant exercise, and not a matter of simply ticking boxes. To gain an understanding of an animal’s welfare, we need to collect information about their behaviour over time. Animals respond differently to Keepers than they do to independent observers, so I work to collect and collate this information.”

Nutrition Advisor Henk Louw is no stranger to Wellington Zoo or to scientific observation, having started at the Zoo as a Visitor Ranger, before becoming a Keeper.

“We are constantly seeking to improve the diets prepared for Zoo animals, as diet plays a huge role in welfare,” said Louw. “While the agricultural industry has made huge inroads into the best diets for cattle and sheep, the same focus has not been applied to wildlife across the board.”

Louw’s work breaks down diet according to individual animal requirements, and also investigates how to get as close to natural dietary patterns.

Louw will collaborate with Massey University for laboratory based work to analyse the effects of dietary changes for animal health.

“By taking this scientific approach, we can establish strong findings to share with other organisations that care for wildlife and strengthen animal welfare across the globe.”

Louw works closely with Stores Supervisor Willem van der Merwe. Van der Merwe has consistently led the way for high quality diets for all animals at the Zoo – completing an extensive project in 2014 to cut back food costs without impacting on quality.

“It’s not simply a matter of just the right diet at the right time, but also making sure that we are getting quality seasonal products at the right price,” said van der Merwe. “We need to keep supplies at a good level to cover in case of emergency, without impacting on the freshness or quality.”

Ms Fifield is thrilled with the calibre of the new team.

“Our commitment to leading the way in professional and excellent animal care is solidified through the experience and expertise of our Animal Science Team.”

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