2006 Felid TAG Conference Proceedings
NORTH AMERICAN FELID TAXON ADVISORY GROUP (TAG)
2006 ANNUAL REPORT
Editors: William Swanson and Norah Fletchall
Published on the Felid TAG website: www.felidtag.org
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2006 Felid TAG Conference Proceedings
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary of Annual Conference
3
Past and Future Sites and Hosts of Felid TAG Meetings
5
Felid TAG Steering Committee Report Summary
6
Narrative Summations – Special Topic: Temperate Asian Felids
9
Narrative Summations – Plenary Session Presentations
29
Working Group Reports
49
Studbook, SSP and PMP Reports
56
Participant List
70
Cover photos of temperate Asian felids provided by the Denver Zoological Gardens
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Mid-year Meeting for the North American Felid Taxon Advisory Group (TAG)
was held April 7th – 9th, 2006 at the Renaissance Denver Hotel in Denver, Colorado, hosted by
the Denver Zoological Gardens. The Felid TAG co-chairs, steering committee and meeting
participants wish to thank the Denver Zoo President/CEO Clayton Freiheit, Beth Jo Schoeberl
and other members of the Local Host Committee (Craig Piper, Carol Flohr, Jacque Taylor, Mary
Bradley-Belcaid, Ben Duke, Ana Bowie) and the numerous other staff members and volunteers
at the Denver Zoo for their tremendous efforts in organizing another amazing mid-year meeting.
We also are grateful to the generous companies (Downtown Aquarium, CLR Design Inc., Gray
Line, KM Concessions, Pepsi Cola Co., and WDM Design) that provided sponsorship support
for the meeting and several other companies (New Belgium Brewery, K & M International,
American Produce, Caribou Coffee, Wild Oats) that provided in-kind support.
Beginning in 2005, the Felid TAG steering committee decided that we should focus the
mid-year meeting agenda each year on one special topic to permit more in-depth interaction and
discussion. Last year, we tackled African felids. This year, the special topic selected was
Temperate Asian Felids (i.e., Amur tigers, Amur leopards, snow leopards, Pallas’ cats).
Accordingly, the Felid TAG invited several speakers working with these Asian felids in range
countries to present their findings at the TAG meeting. Invited speakers included Dr. Dale
Miquelle from the Wildlife Conservation Society who works with wild Amur tigers and Amur
leopards, Sarah Christie from the Zoological Society of London who helps to coordinate Amur
tiger and leopard conservation efforts through the respective EEPs, Dr. Tom McCarthy of the
International Snow Leopard Trust who studies wild snow leopards in Central Asia, Ann Winters
from Michigan Stare University who assessed the potential impact of rodenticide use on wildlife
populations in Mongolia for her Master’s degree, and Dr. Rich Reading from the Denver
Zoological Foundation who is studying the carnivore guild of central Mongolia, including the
Pallas’ cat. In addition, Dr. Bill Swanson from the Cincinnati Zoo provided an overview of other
ongoing research with wild Pallas’ cats in Mongolia as a stand-in for Dr. Meredith Brown who
was unable to attend.
Other speakers during the plenary session presented brief updates and progress reports
that focused on various management, veterinary and research issues with other felid species from
around the world. Working groups also were convened during the meeting to reassess the Felid
Regional Collection Plan (RCP) for AZA institutions, as required every three years. Other
working groups evaluated improving linkage of in situ – ex situ conservation efforts for
temperate Asian felids and continuing development of the curriculum for the TAG’s first feline
husbandry course. At the conclusion of the TAG meeting, brief status updates were provided by
population managers for many of the Felid SSPs and PMPs.
Prior the start of the mid-year TAG meeting, several SSPs (Snow Leopard, Pallas’ Cat,
Ocelot, Fishing Cat, Clouded Leopard, Cheetah) convened population management and planning
meetings. A brief Small Felid Workshop, organized by Danny Morris, also was held to evaluate
our progress with various small cat issues. The Felid TAG thanks all the speakers, program
leaders and other meeting participants who attended the mid-year TAG meeting this year.
The 2007 Mid-year Felid TAG meeting will be hosted by the Nashville Zoo and is
scheduled for April 12th -14th, 2006 with SSP meetings to be held on April 10th and 11th. The
special topic for this meeting will be Tropical Asian Felids (eg., Sumatran and Malayan tigers,
clouded leopards, fishing cats). Please note that next year, the Felid TAG meeting will begin on
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a Thursday and be completed on Saturday afternoon. For the first time, the Felid TAG also will
be hosting a felid husbandry course, with a primary focus on large cats, to be held on April 9th
and 10th. Additional meeting information will be posted on the Nashville Zoo website
(www.nashvillezoo.org), Felid TAG website (www.felidtag.org) and the Felid TAG list serve as
it becomes available. We look forward to seeing each of you at another memorable TAG
meeting next year in Nashville.
Bill Swanson and Norah Fletchall, Felid TAG Co-Chairs
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Past and Future Sites and Hosts of Felid TAG Meetings
1991 – Conservation and Research Center, Front Royal, VA (David Wildt)
1992 – Conservation and Research Center, Front Royal, VA (David Wildt)
1993 – Conservation and Research Center, Front Royal, VA (David Wildt)
1994 – Conservation and Research Center, Front Royal, VA (David Wildt)
1995 – S.O.S. Care, Inc., Escondido, CA (Pat Quillen)
1996 – S.O.S. Care, Inc., Escondido, CA (Pat Quillen)
1997 – S.O.S. Care, Inc., Escondido, CA (Pat Quillen)
1998 – Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma City, OK (Jack Grisham)
1999 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, FL (Jill Mellen)
2000 – Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia, SC (Alan Shoemaker)
2001 – Regional AZA Conference, Chattanooga, TN
2002 – Oregon Zoo, Portland, OR (Michelle Schireman)
2003 – Dallas Zoo, Dallas, TX (Ken Kaemmerer)
2004 – Albuquerque Biological Park, Albuquerque, NM (Lynn Tupa)
2005 – Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, MO (Steve Bircher) - Special topic: African Felids
2006 – Denver Zoo, Denver, CO (B.J. Schoeberl) – Special topic: Temperate Asian Felids
2007 – Nashville Zoo, Nashville, TN (Rick Schwartz) – Special topic: Tropical Asian Felids
2008 – Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati, OH (Bill Swanson) – Special topic:
Felids of the Americas
2009 - ??? (Your zoo?) – Contact Kim Davidson ([email protected]) if interested.
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2006 Felid TAG Conference Proceedings
Felid TAG Steering Committee Meeting
April 7th, 2006
In attendance: Bill Swanson, Norah Fletchall, Bonnie Breitbeil, Tarren Wagener, Ron Tilson,
Alan Shoemaker, Ken Kaemmerer, Alan Sironen, Kimberly Davidson, Danny Morris, Jack
Grisham, Dusty Lombardi, Karen Goodrowe
Agenda Items
SSP/PMP
Jaguar SSP - Stacey Johnson, Fort Worth Zoo, was approved as the new SSP coordinator
Canada Lynx PMP – Barb Snyder, John Ball Zoological Garden, was approved as the new
PMP coordinator
Amur Leopard PMP – This coordinator position was tabled for further review by Norah and
Bill (see below).
The Steering Committee (SC) discussed elevating the Amur Leopard PMP to a SSP,
given the critical need for in situ conservation efforts with this species, but decided it should
remain a PMP for now. A letter will be drafted for the position applicants to outline the in
situ responsibilities that should be a component of this PMP. Editors’ note: Following a
second posting of the position announcement, Martha Caron at the Minnesota Zoological
Garden was selected as PMP coordinator with Ron Tilson chosen to provide oversight of in
situ conservation efforts.
Great Cat and Rare Canid Act
The Act never made it out of subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Filling Shoe’s Shoes
Due to the TAG’s year-to-year financial uncertainties, it was decided that the TAG could
no longer retain Alan Shoemaker as a paid advisor. However, the TAG still needs some
assistance with overseeing the functions of its 16 cat management programs. The SC
discussed the Advisor role with Shoe to clarify his responsibilities and inquire about his
continued involvement as an unpaid advisor to the TAG. Shoe agreed to continue to assist
the TAG as much as possible. Norah and Shoe will work on identifying other individuals
who might be able to handle some of Shoe’s current responsibilities.
A proposal was made to create a scholarship in Shoe’s name to fund a keeper to attend
the FTAG meeting. The SC will reconsider this suggestion after reviewing our financial
status following payment of all expenses incurred from the 2006 mid-year meeting.
Felid TAG Website Revision
Julie Calfee at the Fort Worth Zoo is willing to overhaul the TAG website. Bonnie will
be the point person for the TAG to work with Julie on revising the website content. Bonnie
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will contact and encourage program coordinators to submit species updates, and the TAG
steering committee and membership should communicate with Bonnie about any other
suggested changes. While the website is down, Felid TAG mid-year meeting information
will be available on the Nashville Zoo website (www.nashvillezoo.org).
Future Felid TAG Meetings - Locations and Dates
The 2007 mid-year meeting will be held from April 12th – 14th at the Nashville Zoo, with
SSP meetings held on the 10th & 11th. Note that the TAG meeting will begin on a Thursday
and end on a Saturday in 2007. The theme for the 2007 meeting will be Tropical Asian
Felids (i.e., Sumatran and Malayan tiger, clouded leopard, fishing cat).
The 2008 mid-year meeting will be held in Cincinnati (possible theme: Felids of the
Americas) and the location of the 2009 meeting is still undecided (but possibly to be hosted
by the Port Defiance Zoo in Tacoma).
The TAG is planning to initiate a Felid Husbandry Course in 2007. After much
discussion among the SC about dates (before, after or unconnected to the TAG mid-year
meeting), locations (at the TAG host zoo or at a separate site) and class sizes (10-12 versus
20-30 students), it was decided that Norah and Danny should confer with Hollie Colahan and
the Husbandry Course working group about their preferences first.
Editors’ note: The dates for the 2007 Felid Husbandry Course were set for April 9th and 10th,
preceding the TAG meeting in Nashville. More information will be distributed on the Felid
TAG listserve as it becomes available.
Cat Education Outreach Animals, the USDA and the TAG’s Standardized Guidelines
Several facilities that use nondomestic felids (including cheetahs and clouded
leopards) as outreach animals submitted a letter to the TAG outlining their concerns about
the TAG’s Large Cat Husbandry Standards and the USDA’s interpretation of those
Standards. The current Standards, posted on the FTAG website several years ago, state that
large cats (which is defined as including cheetahs and clouded leopards) should not be
handled outside of their primary zoo enclosures. The USDA has begun referencing those
Standards in enforcement actions when citing organizations that take these species, notably
cheetahs, off zoo grounds for educational outreach programs. Steve Olsen at the AZA also
was contacted about this issue and asked to be involved in any discussion on this subject.
The SC discussed the positions of the Cheetah and Clouded Leopard SSPs about the
inclusion of their species under this ‘large cat’ provision and whether these SSPs had any
guidelines for animal use in education programs. It was determined that clouded leopards are
rarely used for this purpose and this issue primarily relates to the use of cheetahs for
education outreach. Several AZA institutions have hand-raised cheetahs that are used for onsite and/or off-site educational programs and these programs have been invaluable for raising
both the public’s awareness about cheetahs and a substantial amount of financial support for
in situ conservation programs. The contention was made that the temperament of cheetahs is
not like that of other large cat species and that, with proper handling, they can be used safely
for education programs. The Cheetah SSP does not encourage hand-raising of cheetahs for
this purpose and, as with any program involving the use of wild animals, there can be some
risk to the public for accidental traumatic injury. Some states prohibit the use of any large
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cat for these types of programs and there is some concern that seeing cheetahs on leashes will
present the wrong message to the public about the suitability of cheetahs or other wild cats as
pets.
The SC voted to table the discussion and convene a meeting at the National AZA
Conference in Tampa to review this topic and invite concerned individuals to attend to
present their views. It was suggested that Steve Olsen chair this meeting. Norah and Ken
will draft a letter to Steve to request his participation at the AZA conference. The section
addressing this issue in the Large Cat Husbandry Standards will be clarified by the TAG,
following further discussion at the Conference, in the new Large Cat Husbandry Standards
(currently under revision).
Other Issues
Felid TAG Logo: Is a logo needed? The issue was tabled until someone submits a design for
consideration.
Education Advisor to the FTAG: It was suggested that the TAG needs to provide a specific
job description for the role of Education Advisor and needs to clarify who we have appointed
to this position. Norah and Danny will work on this issue.
Sumatran Tiger SSP: The SC discussed the status of the Sumatran Tiger SSP (i.e., high
inbreeding coefficient, aging population, etc.) and its current breeding moratorium. This SSP
requires importation of new founders for genetic viability and, if these remain unavailable
from range countries, the TAG should consider dissolving this program. Ron will move
forward with addressing each of these options - with the full backing of the TAG.
Puma Management: It was reaffirmed that the Puma management program is a PMP, not a
DERP.
Regional Collection Plan: The 2006 -2008 Large Cat and Small Cat RCPs will be distributed
by Bill and Norah for review and comment.
Meeting adjourned.
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Temperate Asian Felids: Current In situ and Ex situ Programs and Issues
The Amur Leopard and Tiger EEPs: Management Strategies and Conservation Support Links
Sarah Christie, Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
ZSL is a member of ALTA, the Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance, which is a loose coalition of
NGOs working to save both taxa in the wild. More information on ALTA is available in an
information sheet downloadable from http://www.zsl.org/field-conservation/carnivores-andpeople/amur-leopard-conservation-in-russia,468,AR.html
Due to lack of time, only a brief summary of the presentation is given here.
Both programmes are managed with the production of maximum conservation support for their
wild conspecifics in mind. This support falls into four areas:
•
•
•
•
Fundraising
Education/awareness
Generation of useful data and skills
Genetic lifeboat
Amur tigers
Status
•
•
•
•
120.143 (263) in Europe and Russia (185 in analysis)
65 founders, retaining 96% of wild gene diversity
Very little inbreeding
Main problem; institutions holding only one genetically useful tiger and refusing to
transfer it elsewhere for pairing, which makes it very difficult to produce genetically
useful cubs each year
Development of EARAZA (Russia and CIS zoo association) programme separate from the EEP
•
•
•
•
•
Coordinated by Tanya Arzhanova at the Moscow Zoo
25.20 tigers
Range state in charge of its own cats as it should be
Provides politically correct process for taking in wild-caught cubs when necessary
o Authorities approach the programme
o Decision process ensures only cubs taken in not adults
Brings new and smaller zoos in
o Welfare problems
o Lack of understanding of breeding management
o Insistence on selling cats to meet income expectations of city authorities (the zoos
do not get to keep the money)
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Conservation support
The tiger EEP encourages participants to contribute funds to wild tiger conservation projects. It
also provides a channel for so doing, for any zoo in need of one; 21st Century Tiger, which is a
fundraising partnership between ZSL and Global Tiger Patrol. 21st Century Tiger began in 1997,
has so far contributed over one million euros to tiger conservation projects, and is the world’s
sixth most significant tiger funding NGO. Through the website www.21stCenturyTiger.org, and
by email, we provide reports, news items and pictures from supported projects and other sources,
for zoos to use in graphics, in-house magazines and websites.
21st Century Tiger focuses mainly on projects in Russia and Sumatra, because these are the taxa
of tigers held in managed breeding programmes, and in India because of the popularity of Indian
tigers with zoos and the public alike. Small grants are also sometimes given for work in
Indochina or northern China. There are two core projects in each of Russia and Sumatra, which
will continue to receive support provided they continue to deliver and funds continue available.
This is because long-term effort is necessary for conservation success, and also to provide
continuity for supporters. These projects are:
•
•
•
•
•
Russia protection, wildlife trade and outreach: Phoenix
Russia ecological research and conflict resolution: WCS Russia
Indonesia protection and wildlife trade: FFI in Kerinci
Indonesia ecological research and mitigating the effects of agribusiness – ZSL in
central Sumatra
India: various small projects with WCS India and associated local NGOs
Pictures are only available from the password protected area, in order to ensure the conditions of
use are complied with.
Username is Tiger21, password is t1gr1s. If your zoo decides to use this service, please read the
“Pictures information” document on conditions of use!
We have recently obtained a grant from Dreamworld Zoo in Australia which means 21st Century
Tiger now has a full-time administrator. We can expect the website, news service and flow of
emails to improve over the next year!
The tiger EEP also looks out for opportunities to assist in research by providing information or
samples. These have included weights and pugmark measurements of known-age tigers for
comparison to wild data, provision of reference specimens to the National Museums of Scotland,
and blood samples to assist in finding markers to identify individuals from faecal DNA. We are
currently discussing a request for photos of both sides of tigers to assist in production of
computer software for matching confiscated skins to camera trap pictures and hence identify the
origin of poached tigers.
Opportunities for synergy with the tiger SSP include pooling mortality and disease data and
joining forces on support for field conservation. Zoos around the world currently provide or
channel 7% of global tiger conservation funding annually – if WCS is included, this goes up to
16%. With more data from the SSP to include, we could get this up to 20%!
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Amur leopards
Status
•
•
•
•
•
128 (66.62) in Europe and Russia (91 in analysis)
13 founders in theory, though some are related in reality
Inbreeding co-efficients now kept below 0.1
EEP operating well overall
EARAZA report that there are insufficient leopards in Russian zoos to merit their own
programme, hence their zoos remain in the EEP which is co-managed by Tanya
Arzhanova at the Moscow Zoo
Breeding strategy
•
•
•
•
•
There is a rogue founder, no 2, in the population who was not an Amur leopard
The small number of leopards without founder 2 genes are highly related to each other
and if bred together tend to produce cats with probable congenital defects
A leopard reintroduction from zoo stocks has been identified as a necessary and feasible
conservation action by an international meeting in 2001, and discussions on
implementing this are in train
Irrespective of the scientific truth on whether founder 2’s genes are a good or a bad thing,
leopards with high contributions from founder 2 will never be accepted for release by the
Russians
Hence, the EEP breeding strategy is to minimise founder 2’s contribution while still
maintaining as much genetic diversity as possible
o All remaining “pure” cats are now outcrossed to “non-pure” cats
o All leopards with >41% founder 2 are excluded from breeding
o All melanistic leopards are excluded from breeding; known carriers are bred from
only if their genetics are otherwise excellent
o We are now producing cubs which are >80% “pure”, have ibcs of <0.1, and are
reasonably highly ranked in mean kinship terms
Conservation support
The Amur leopard EEP encourages participants to contribute funds to Amur leopard field
conservation projects. It also provides a channel for so doing; the Amur Leopard Conservation
Support Programme. Through the website www.Amur-leopard.org, and by email, we provide
reports, news items and pictures from supported projects and other sources, for zoos to use in
graphics, in-house magazines and websites.
This website, which also carries lists of zoo contributions, is currently out of date as the last
grant which supported its upkeep ran out in early 2006; however, a grant application currently
under consideration should mean that it will be brought up to date and otherwise improved in
early 2007. In the meantime, it does still contain a great many useful pictures and reports.
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Pictures are only available from the password protected area, in order to ensure the conditions of
use are complied with.
Username is alcsp_member, password is p4rdus. If your zoo decides to use this service, please
read the “Image reference” document on conditions of use!
Activities currently under way for Amur leopards in the field include
•
•
•
Antipoaching
Education and outreach
Ecological research
o Camera trap monitoring
o Pugmark surveys
o Radiotelemetry (permits pending)
• Wildlife health evaluation
• Fire control and prevention
• Compensation for livestock losses
The Amur leopard EEP also looks out for opportunities to assist in research by providing
information or samples. These have included blood and semen samples and photographs for
genetic, reproductive and taxonomic research, and provision of reference specimens to the
National Museums of Scotland.
Opportunities for synergy with the Amur leopard PMP include pooling mortality and disease
data and joining forces for support of field conservation. Zoos around the world currently
provide or channel 33% of Amur leopard conservation funding annually – if WCS is included,
this goes up to 58%! We have real potential here for zoos to “own” the conservation of this
taxon! AZA zoos are already contributing, but there is potential for increase in both regions and
this will be actively pursued during 2006 and 2007.
Combining the two populations for management purposes might also produce distinct
advantages in breeding for possible reintroduction, and discussions on this are under way.
Amur Leopards and Tigers: Wild Status and Prospects
Dale Miquelle, Wildlife Conservation Society
No written report submitted.
Information about this project is available at www.wcs.org/international/Asia/russia.
Snow Leopards: the Study and Conservation of a Highly Cryptic Asian Felid
Tom McCarthy, International Snow Leopard Trust
No written report submitted.
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Information about this project is available at www.snowleopard.org/programs/science.
To Define a Species: the Mongolian Pallas’ Cat
Bill Swanson, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Reproductive research with Pallas’ cats in U.S. zoos began rather modestly in 1993 with
the characterization of seasonal seminal traits in a single male Pallas’ cat maintained at the
Smithsonian’s Conservation and Research Center (Swanson et al., 1996). At the time, the total
U.S. population consisted of just six cats housed at three institutions (Brookfield Zoo, Woodland
Park Zoo, CRC). Following the importation of 16 wild-born Pallas’ cat founders from Russia in
1995 and 1996 and 8 additional cats from Mongolia and Russia in 1999 and 2000, the number of
captive cats and holding institutions increased substantially as did the critical mass of research
addressing reproductive and disease issues in this species. Over the past ten years, results of
these studies have demonstrated the pronounced reproductive seasonality of Pallas’ cats,
controlled primarily by light exposure, and shown that Pallas’ cats can exhibit normal breeding
activity under simulated natural photoperiods (Swanson et al., 1996; Brown et al., 2002; NewellFugate et al., in press). Research also has shown that male and female Pallas’ cats can reach
reproductive maturity by 10 months of age and that females show reproductive senescence after
8 years, typified by elevated estradiol levels and compromised embryo developmental
competence (Swanson and Kennedy-Stoskopf, unpublished). Assisted reproductive studies have
found that high fertilization percentages (50-70%) can be obtained in vitro using frozen-thawed
Pallas’ cat spermatozoa but producing offspring after AI with frozen semen or following transfer
of IVF embryos has yet to be successful (Brown et al., 2002; Swanson et al., 2006; unpublished).
Infectious disease studies have found that Pallas’ cats are highly susceptible to toxoplasmosis
(Swanson, 1999; Ketz et al., 2003; Kenny et al., 2002). Pallas’ cats also are susceptible to feline
herpesvirus infection following vaccination with modified live vaccines but findings indicate that
the virus is not transmitted in Pallas’ cat semen (Ketz et al., 2003; Swanson et al., 2006).
Although we have learned much about Pallas’ cats over the past decade of study, almost
everything that we know (or think we know) about this species is based on research conducted
with the CAPTIVE population.
In situ studies with Pallas’ cats are critically important for us to 1) assess the conservation
status of wild populations and threats to their survival, 2) understand the evolutionary basis for
the management challenges seen in captivity, 3) develop in situ – ex situ linkages, including gene
flow between disjunct populations, and 4) truly define the Pallas’ cat as a species. At present,
there are two ongoing studies of wild Pallas’ cats in Mongolia (see Munkhtsog and Ross, this
volume; Murdock et al., this volume). The first field ecology project grew from a biomedical
survey initiated in 1999 to investigate the ecological basis for toxoplasmosis in Pallas’ cats
(Brown et al., 2005). The survey found that very few Pallas’ cats are ever exposed to
Toxoplasma in the wild as reflected by only 2 of 15 wild cats having antibody titers against this
parasite (versus 9 of 9 captive cats) and the absence of titers in any of the sampled domestic cats
(n=15) or prey animals (n=45). As one component of the survey, some wild cats were fitted with
radiocollars to begin gathering the first radiotelemetry data on this species. Over the past 5
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years, this radiotelemetry project has been refined and expanded to include investigating
predator-prey relationships and habitat usage to allow a more comprehensive assessment of
Pallas’ cat ecology (Munkhtsog and Ross, this volume).
Most recently, reproductive evaluations of wild Pallas’ cats have been incorporated into
this field project to gather more comparative ecological data but also to foster developing in situ
– ex situ connections using frozen semen. In October of 2005, two of the radiocollared males
were recaptured and anesthetized for biological sample collection, including blood, skin biopsies,
feces and semen. Recovered semen was assessed for sperm concentration, motility, morphology
and acrosome status, and frozen in semen straws in the field. Because semen was collected
during the non-breeding season, sperm concentrations were low (i.e., 1.4 - 1.9 million sperm per
ejaculate) but quality was adequate for cryopreservation. Frozen semen straws (n = 7) were
imported into the U.S. and one straw from each male thawed to evaluate fertility. Following
insemination in vitro, 16 of 45 (36%) domestic cat oocytes were fertilized using this frozenthawed spermatozoa. Although fertilization percentages were fairly low compared to our earlier
studies with captive Pallas’ cats, these preliminary data support our contention that semen
collection and freezing in the field can be used to introduce new Pallas’ cat founders into the
captive population without removing more cats from the wild. The creation of gene flow from
wild to captive populations would provide a tremendous financial incentive for AZA institutions
to support conservation efforts with Pallas’ cats in Mongolia (Swanson et al., in press). Further
semen collection procedures with wild Pallas’ cats are planned for the winter of 2006 – 2007 and
will include research training of a Mongolian scientist to help develop scientific capacity in
Mongolia.
Acknowledgements – Thanks to research collaborators (Meredith Brown, Steve Ross, Bariushaa
Munkhtsog, Mike Lappin, Janine Brown, Amanda Fine) and funding sources (Cincinnati Zoo,
Columbus Zoo, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Wild About Cats, Woodland Park Zoo) for the field
studies.
References
Brown JL, LH Graham, J Wu, D Collins and WF Swanson. 2002. Reproductive endocrine
responses to photoperiod and exogenous gonadotropins in the Pallas' cat (Otocolobus manul).
Zoo Biol. 21:347-364.
Brown M, MR Lappin, JL Brown, B Munkhtsog and WF Swanson. 2005. Exploring the
ecological basis for extreme susceptibility of Pallas’ cats (Otocolobus manul) to fatal
toxoplasmosis. J. Wildl. Dis. 41:691-700.
Kenny DE, MR Lappin, F Knightly, J Baier, M Brewer and DM Getzy. 2002. Toxoplasmosis in
Pallas’ cats (Otocolobus manul) at the Denver Zoological Gardens. J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 33:131138.
Ketz-Riley CJ, JW Ritchey, JP Hoover, CM Johnson and MT Barrie. 2003. Immunodeficiency
associated with multiple concurrent infections in captive Pallas’ cats (Otocolobus manul). J. Zoo
Wildl. Med. 34:239-245.
Newell-Fugate AE, S Kennedy-Stoskopf, JL Brown, J Levine, and WF Swanson. Seminal and
endocrine characteristics of male Pallas’ cats (Otocolobus manul) maintained under artificial
lighting with simulated natural photoperiods. Zoo. Biol. (in press).
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Swanson WF, MA Stoops, GM Magarey and JR Herrick. Sperm cryopreservation in endangered
felids: developing linkage of in situ – ex situ populations. 10th International Symposium on
Spermatology - SRF Supplement (in press)
Swanson WF, DJ Maggs, HE Clarke, AE Newell, JB Bond, HL Bateman and S KennedyStoskopf. 2006. Assessment of viral presence in semen and reproductive function of frozenthawed spermatozoa from Pallas’ cats (Otocolobus manul) infected with feline herpesvirus. J.
Zoo Wildl. Med. 37:336-346.
Swanson WF. 1999. Toxoplasmosis and neonatal mortality in Pallas' cats: a survey of North
American zoological institutions. Proc. Amer. Assoc. Zoo Vet. pp. 347-350.
Swanson WF, JL Brown and DE Wildt. 1996. Influence of seasonality on reproductive traits in
the male Pallas' cat (Felis manul) and implications for captive management. J. Zoo Wildl. Med.
27:234-240.
Conserving Pallas’ Cats in Dornogobi, Mongolia
James D. Murdoch, Richard P. Reading and Ts. Munkhzul; University of Oxford, Denver
Zoological Foundation and Mongolian Academy of Sciences
The steppes of Mongolia harbor an impressive diversity of small carnivores. The
grassland and semi-desert steppes sustain populations of corsac (Vulpes corsac) and red foxes (V.
vulpes), Eurasian badgers (Meles meles), as well as larger species such as the grey wolf (Canis
lupus) and European lynx (Lynx lynx) (Mallon 1985; Heptner and Naumov 1992). Perhaps the
most charismatic carnivore of the steppe, however, is the Pallas’ cat (Otocolobus manul; IUCN
‘near threatened’). Known locally as ‘manul’, the Pallas’ cat ranges from Tibet in southern
China north to the cold environments of Russian Siberia (Heptner and Naumov 1992). Despite
its wide range, little is known about the species’ fundamental behavior or ecology. Similarly, its
conservation status remains largely unknown.
In recent years, Pallas’ cats and other small carnivores in Mongolia began facing a
myriad of threats, including over-hunting, illegal poaching and trade, and poisoning. Many of
these threats arose in the early 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union, when Mongolia
ushered in an economy based on free trade and capitalistic values (Pratt et al. 2004). Populations
of many carnivore species have since declined across much of the country and localized
extinctions have been reported. The situation is exacerbated by weak enforcement of wildlife
laws and regulations. Preventing future declines will require interdisciplinary management, not
only in protected areas, but throughout entire steppe ecosystems. Effective management
strategies will rely a sound understanding of the biological requirements of carnivores and
information on their community ecology.
In 2004, we began a project to understand the fundamental behavior and ecology of
steppe carnivores. The project aims to understand the basic biological requirements of Pallas’
cats and other carnivores like corsac and red foxes, and badgers and their community-level
interactions. Our efforts focus on understanding their habitat and prey requirements and the
magnitude of threats they face in grassland and semi-desert environments. The information we
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obtain will be used to develop realistic conservation measures to protect carnivores and
important habitats they rely upon.
The project is based in the Ikh Nartiin Chuluu Nature Reserve in Dornogobi aimag of
Mongolia – N45.723 E108.645 (Myagmarsuren 2000; Reading et al. 2006). The reserve is
uniquely situated at the junction of grassland, semi-desert, and desert environments and includes
overlapping populations of several carnivores including Pallas’ cats, corsac and red foxes,
badgers, marbled polecats (Vormela peregusna), grey wolves, and lynx (Reading et al. 2006).
The reserve is managed locally by soum (county) and aimag (province) administrators.
Over the last year, our project captured and radiocollared several carnivores in the reserve
including 15 corsac foxes, 16 red foxes, and 4 badgers. We also radio collared 4 Pallas’ cats that
we tracked to obtain information on habitat use and the key landscape resources important to
their survival. We analyzed some cat droppings as well to determine the prey species they rely
upon. The preliminary results of our radio tracking and prey studies were summarized in a paper
submitted to the IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group in 2006.
Radiocollared Pallas’ cat at the field site
We also interviewed herders and local families living in and around the Ikh Nartiin
Chuluu reserve. We interviewed herders to obtain information that helped us identify threats to
Pallas’ cats and other carnivores and will allow us to develop conservation measures to protect
them. We interviewed nearly 40 families in the area. The interviews provided important
information on hunting rates and methods as well as perceptions of wildlife conservation in the
region. The interviews also allowed us to share information about our studies with those living
in the reserve and surrounding areas.
Through the interviews we learned a tremendous amount of information about the plight
of Pallas’ cats in the region – information vital to evaluating their status and protecting them. In
the Ikh Nartiin Chuluu area, Pallas’ cat hunting occurs mostly during the winter months of
December and January. Cats are hunted in two ways: they are either tracked after snow storms
to their dens and killed or found opportunistically and killed. As Pallas’ cats rarely flee when
approached, they are easily killed by herders, who either capture them by hand or stone them
from close range. Families usually kill between 1-2 cats per year. However, most hunting
methods employed by herders are illegal; little official reporting occurs; and herders hunt mostly
inside the reserve boundaries, where cats are supposed to be protected. Cats are also trapped in
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leghold traps set for corsac foxes in some areas (i.e., near marmot colonies, where corsacs tend to
burrow).
Our interviews also uncovered information about markets for Pallas’ cat products and
those of other carnivores, including wolf, lynx, corsac fox, red fox, and badger. Emerging
markets for these species, mainly in China, are creating increased demand for products. For
Pallas’ cats especially, these markets include those for skins, body parts, live animals, and whole
dead animals. Most of the products go to large markets in Ulaanbaatar (capital city) via
middlemen at aimag (province) centers and often end up in China. Pallas’ cat products,
however, are also used locally for medicinal purposes. Fat, for example, is typically used to
sooth frostbite and the liver eaten to improve kidney function.
The situation for Pallas’ cats is complicated by the fact that they can be legally hunted in
Mongolia for ‘household’ purposes (Wingard and Odgerel 2001). However, the legislation
governing wildlife hunting for Pallas’ cats and other species that may be hunted for ‘household’
consumption (like wolves) is ambiguous. It also provides no clear scientific basis for
establishing hunting quotas in aimags – a fact that could, and very well may, lead to exploitation
of the species, especially given current market pressures. The law currently requires hunters to
obtain permits, however, the duration of a permit and the number of animals that may be
harvested per permit are unclear (Wingard and Odgerel 2001). Licenses also are issued only at
local soum centers (county offices) – for most rural herders, traveling to soum centers is
impractical and rarely done.
Using the data collected from our telemetry studies and interviews, we identified six
keystone actions for improving the situation for Pallas’ cats in the Ikh Nartiin Chuluu reserve
and Dornogobi aimag. They include:
1.
Establishing a reasonable and standardized method of estimating Pallas cat numbers –
with accurate numbers we can determine sustainable harvest rates, something no
government body or institution in Mongolia has done for the species. Accurate numbers
would also provide information on population trends;
2.
Clarifying the wildlife law governing Pallas’ cat hunting – this is a difficult task,
especially as Mongolia’s government collapsed in recent months. However, changes at
the local aimag/soum are feasible in Dornogobi;
3.
Revamping the permit system – one solution is to decentralize the permit system by
allowing park rangers to issue hunting permits. This will require greater training and
resources for rangers in protected areas;
4.
Strengthening enforcement of reserve boundaries. This will also involve greater ranger
training coupled with increased poaching patrols. Our interview data will help prioritize
locations of patrols – areas around marmot colonies, for example, where leghold traps
are often set for carnivores, should be a clear priority;
5.
Establishing a network among local herders to obtain accurate rates of Pallas’ cats
hunted per season and identify areas where most illegal hunting occurs; and
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6.
Tackling market issues. Illegal hunting of Pallas’ cats and other carnivores is driven
largely by market forces. Curbing illegal trade of Pallas’ cat furs and body parts will be
pivotal to protecting cats, especially in Dornogobi aimag and surrounding areas. A
recent project of the Wildlife Conservation Society provided tremendous detail on the
extent of illegal trade of wildlife products in Mongolia. The project outlined several
recommendations for controlling illegal trade that should be implemented immediately.
This year, the Denver Zoo-Mongolia program received a grant from the Open Society
Forum (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia) / World Bank to develop infrastructure in the Ikh Nartiin Chuluu
Nature Reserve. The Trust for Mutual Understanding (New York, NY USA) also granted
funding for a similar project aimed at increasing protection in the reserve. Our project works
closely with these development projects – both initiatives that will help our efforts to ‘improve’
the situation for Pallas’ cats and other carnivores in Ikh Nartiin Chuluu. In March 2006, we
helped organize (and attended) a workshop as part of both initiatives in Ulaanbaatar that brought
together government officials, local political leaders, herders and families, tour operators, and
biologists working in the Ikh Nartiin Chuluu region. We discussed reserve development and
issues facing wildlife and carnivores. The meeting was an important step in publicizing the issue
of over-hunting and illegal hunting of Pallas’ cats and other carnivores in the region. Follow-up
workshops will be held in the coming months and our project intends to continue pressing for
increased protection of Pallas’ cats and enforcement of wildlife laws.
To learn more about our project or for further information on Pallas’ cats and other
steppe carnivores in Mongolia, please visit our website at: www.mongoliacarnivores.org. Our
research is supported by the Denver Zoological Foundation, Rufford Foundation, Trust for
Mutual Understanding, and the Small Cat Conservation Alliance.
References
Heptner, V. G., N. P. Naumov, editors. 1992. Mammals of the Soviet Union. Part 1A ed. New
York: E.J. Brill.
Mallon, D. P. 1985. The mammals of the Mongolian People's Republic. Mammal Review
15:71-102.
Myagmarsuren, D., editor. 2000. Special Protected Areas of Mongolia. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia:
Mongolian Environmental Protection Agency and GTZ (German Technical Advisory
Agency).
Pratt, D. G., D. C. Macmillan, I. J. Gordon. 2004. Local community attitudes to wildlife
utilisation in the changing economic and social context of Mongolia. Biodiversity and
Conservation 13:591-613.
Reading, R., D. Kenny, G. Wingard, B. Mandakh, B. Steinhauer-Burkart. 2006. Ikh Nart nature
reserve. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: ECO Nature Edition.
Wingard, J. R., P. Odgerel. 2001. Compendium of environmental law and practice in Mongolia.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: GTZ.
.
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2006 Felid TAG Conference Proceedings
Pallas’ Cat (Otocolobus manul) Foraging Ecology and Conservation in Central Mongolia
Baruishaa Munkhtsog and Steve Ross, Mongolian Academy of Sciences/Irbis Mongolia and
University of Bristol
Summary
Our study aims to provide rigorous data on Pallas’ cat spatial patterns and resource
utilisation, aspects of ecology which are of prime importance for adequate conservation
management and for habitat suitability analyses (Palomares et. al, 2001). Intensive field based
research using radio-telemetry, prey surveys, sympatric predator surveys and habitat analyses are
being used to collect the essential data.
Results are very preliminary, but have indicated Pallas cat is a species capable of long
range dispersal (n = 2), potentially facilitating population connectivity and mixing. Home ranges
of stable adults (n = 1 male and 1 female) have indicated that males use an area 2-7 times larger
than females. The home range data and observations of male mating behaviour (n = 3 males),
suggest the male mating strategy to be polygyny with territory maintenance. Pallas cats mainly
use marmot (Marmota sibirica) burrows for shelter and protection (n = 28), particularly during
the winter. This association between two vulnerable species demonstrates the need for an
ecosystem management strategy to ensure the protection of species providing resources
facilitating the survival of others. Pallas’ cats have been shown to be susceptible to intra-guild
predation, with two reliable accounts of predation by steppe eagles and good evidence of
predation by a red fox. Reports by local nomadic herdsmen indicate that predation of Pallas cats
by domestic dogs in the study area is also an issue. These initial findings are to be built upon to
increase the confidence and application of our data to the in-situ conservation effort.
Project Overview
Study Area
The study area is approximately 650 km2 and located within the buffer zone of Hustai
Nurru Biosphere Reserve. The habitat is typical hilly, grassland steppe within a mosaic of
valleys, ravines and rocky hill slopes. The local climate is markedly continental, with severe
winters and large diurnal and annual variations in temperature. The mean January temperature is
-25○C (down to -40○C); mean July temperature is 20○C (up to 36○C). The average annual
rainfall is 270 mm, most of which falls in the summer. Human density in the area is 20
people/100 km2 during the winter. Density decreases to almost zero during the summer when
herdsmen move to the river valley. The availability of water, grazing and shelter largely
determines the local nomadic people’s movements. Other mammal species found in the area
include corsac and red fox, wolves, Siberian polecat, Eurasian badger, Siberian jerboa, jirds,
Daurian pika, mountain and Brandt’s voles, Russian dwarf hamster, marmots, tolai hares,
Eurasian hedgehog and Mongolian gazelles, among others.
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#
Mongolia
an
Ulaanbaatar
Hustai Unesco
Biosphere Reserve
North Korea
Tuul River
South Kor
China
N
W
E
$ Base Camp
S
Study Area
Base Camp
Trails
Rivers
Relief (m)
1000 - 1230
1231 - 1340
1341 - 1450
1451 - 1560
1561 - 1840
$
10
0
10
20 Kilometers
Figure 1: Map of the study area in Mongolia. Inset map on left shows geographic location of the
study area within Mongolia.
Preliminary Results
Nine Pallas cats are currently radio-collared in the study area; most captures were made
only recently this winter. The following observations are based on low sample size and very
preliminary but are being presented as such.
Dispersal behaviour was recorded for one male and female Pallas cat, both were one year
old. The female also raised a litter during summer 05, which seemed to stabilise her movements,
before again showing large dispersal type movements in Autumn 2005. The dispersing male
crossed a large river and moved 45 km to the north, remained there for two months and then
progressively moved another 50 km to the east before coming back and establishing a home
range only 10 km from where he was first captured. Dispersal defines the scale at which
individuals perceive landscape structure and whether landscapes are connected (With, 1994).
The large distances travelled by the male indicate the potential of population connectivity.
Seasonal home-range data was collected for one adult male; he displayed behaviour typical of
territory maintenance, using a core area and making occasional movements to areas defining the
home range borders. During the mating season (Feb-Mar), he visited all parts of his range. The
male that had dispersed the summer before used a much smaller area than the adult male during
the mating season, perhaps because he had a less defined and established home range. Mating
was inferred by radio-collared male and females being located together. Radiotelemetry data
suggested that males mated with more than one female (n = 3 males). Males remained with or
near the females for 2-4 days, perhaps guarding the female while she was receptive (Clutton-
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2006 Felid TAG Conference Proceedings
Brock, 1989). Home range data on the two adult (stable) collared cats showed the male home
range to be 2-7 times larger than that of the female. These data so far indicate the male mating
strategy to be polygyny with territory maintenance (Clutton-Brock, 1989).
Fixed kernels with LSCV
(KM2)
100%
MCP
95%
70%
50%
Male 1 Sum 05
61.8
24.9
16.2
Male 1 Aut 05
37.7
9.8
5.2
Male 1 Win 06
86.2
30.9
11.7
56.8
23
Breeding season, visited all parts of home range bred with at
least 2-females.
Fem 1 Aut 05
15.5
5.1
3.1
11.8
21
Adult Fem > 2 yrs old with established home range.
Fem 1 Win 06
11.3
3.5
1.8
5.1
20
Male 2 Sum 05
Fixes
Comments
33.6
25
Adult Male > 2 yrs old with established home range.
74.3
23
dispersed
10
Immature 1 year old, now an adult.
Male 2 Aut 05
157.8
49.3
31.5
224.7
22
Establishing home range.
Male 2 Win 06
36.5
14.5
6.1
30.2
22
Established home range, bred with at least 2-females.
Fem 2 Sum 05
35.2
17.2
7.9
25.2
25
Fem 2 Aut 05
224.7
41.9
25.6
243.5
23
Immature female, had her first litter at 1-year, summer 05.
Showed dispersal behaviour after breeding, believed to have
been hunted at end of Autumn.
Fem 3 Win 06
23.5
7
4.3
22.0
20
Adult female > 2 years collared at start of winter 2006.
Fem 4 Win 06
18.4
8.4
3.5
9.1
20
10 month old female collared at start of winter.
Table 1: Seasonal home range data collected to date, measured using fixed kernels (least squares
cross validation, LSCV) and 100% MCPs. All samples use >20 points and the fixed kernels are
considered a good representation of actual space use. Comments include behaviours and age
related influences on space use.
Data on sheltering behaviour and characteristics have been collected from five cats.
Sheltering sites have either been burrows made by marmots (Marmota sibirica) or fissures or
holes in rocks or cliffs. The shelters are likely to function as protection from extreme cold and
predation. The data show a shifting den system; shelters have been repeatedly used when the cat
is using the surrounding part of its home range. This was also true of a female who was raising a
litter; she changed dens twice, moving her litter a distance of 5 km each time. In summer, 50%
(n = 9) of shelters were under rocks and in winter, 85 % (n = 19) of shelters were in marmot
burrows and all were south facing. The sample indicates the importance of marmots in providing
Pallas’ cats with suitable sheltering habitat. Marmots are intensely hunted in many parts of
Central Asia for food and skins; their decline may affect the behaviour and potentially survival
of many other species. Pallas’ cat mortality records include two reliable accounts of cats being
killed and consumed by steppe eagles (Aquila nipalensis). Recently one of the radio-collared
Pallas cats was predated; spoor, teeth marks on the collar and a faecal sample containing Pallas’
cat fur suggested it was killed by a red fox. In addition to natural predation, we have had five
reports of Pallas’ cats being killed by domestic dogs kept by the nomadic herdsmen in the area.
We will conduct a survey of all herdsmen this summer, including questions on hunting and
domestic dog predation to establish its incidence.
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2006 Felid TAG Conference Proceedings
Rodenticide Use and Secondary Poisoning Risks to Non-Target Wildlife in Central Mongolia
Ann Winters, Graham Hickling, Amanda Fine, Scott Winterstein, Wilson Rumbeiha, and
Bariushaa Munkhtsog; Michigan State University and Mongolian Academy of Sciences
Brandt’s vole (Microtus brandtii) populations are eruptive on Mongolia’s rangelands,
particularly in areas overgrazed by livestock. In 2001, the anticoagulant toxin bromadiolone
replaced zinc phosphide as the primary method of large-scale rodent control in Mongolia. This
toxin is typically mixed with grain and spread either by hand or from aircraft. Since 2001, there
have been growing concerns about the potential impact of this toxin on non-target wildlife. In
2004, we began a two-year field project to investigate vole control policies and practices in
Central Mongolia, and to quantify the risk that bromadiolone use may pose to non-target species.
In an initial field trial, live voles and carcasses were collected after being exposed to
bromadiolone baits, and assayed for toxin content using high-performance liquid
chromatography. Twenty-nine voles were found dead above ground in an 1100 m2 area after
treatment, a mean of 2.64 carcasses/100m2 (+/- 0.4724). Subsequent fieldwork using digital tripcameras then investigated which wildlife species were most likely to scavenge non-toxic vole
carcasses. Of the 20 different wildlife species recorded, five bird species and five mammal
species scavenged on carcasses. By combining the results of these two trials with our preliminary
toxin assay data, we support previous anecdotal reports that, in some situations, rodenticide use
can pose a significant risk to some of the valued wild animals present on Mongolia’s rangelands.
Working Group Reports
In Situ Conservation of Temperate Asian Felids: Snow Leopard & Pallas’ Cat
Snow Leopard – Pallas’ Cat Working Group Participants
Name
Jennifer Bond
Sue Booth-Binczik
Martha Caron
Jason Herrick
Cindy Kreider
Cinda Loutzenhiser
Genevieve Magarey
Tom McCarthy
Raejeana McKinzie
Barb Palmer
Richard Reading
Bret Sellers
Bill Swanson
Dan Wharton
Ann Winters
Institution
Cincinnati Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo
Erie Zoo
Cheyenne Mt. Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo
Snow Leopard Trust
Cheyenne Mt. Zoo
San Francisco Zoo
Denver Zoo Foundation
Woodland Park Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Michigan State University
Email
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Page 22 of 71
2006 Felid TAG Conference Proceedings
Goal: Develop linkages and communication between zoos and field scientists to meet each
other’s needs.
How can zoos help field researchers?
™ Access to animals
o Testing field equipment (cameras, collars, identification of scent lures…)
o Samples (blood, urine, hair…) for genetic work, etc.
o Behavioral information
o Census techniques – visual ID
o Foot prints for age and individual ID
o Teeth from known-age animals for age ID
™ Financial support
o Fund raising events
o Direct donation
o In-kind/equipment donations or loans
o Access to membership base
™ Assistance from educators
o Enlist Zoo-based educators to work in range countries
o Developing curricula
o Teacher training workshops
™ Vet assistance/advice
o Training of range country vets in the field and in North American zoos
o Assistance of zoo vets with in situ projects
™ Funding
• Snow Leopard
o The Natural Partnership Program (SLT)
ƒ Nearly half of US zoos with snow leopards support SLT.
ƒ SLT would like the SSP to provide more assistance in recruiting zoos.
• Pallas Cato The Pallas Cat SSP has not been actively soliciting zoos to support Pallas’ cat
projects.
• Both specieso Different zoos may wish to support different types of projects (i.e., the different
Pallas Cat projects in Mongolia/Russia, SLT, SLC, SLN).
o AAZK chapters may wish to get involved in supporting some cat field work.
o Lectures – At a zoo, for zoo members and donors.
o Zoo member eco-tours that meet with (and contribute to) field programs
supported by the zoo.
o Zoos hosting events to fund-raise and educate (i.e., “Snow Leopard Day”)
o Link development of a new exhibit to field work, and use a portion of the money
raised for the specific project.
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How can the field biologists help zoos?
™ Improve health of captive populations
o Various biological samples for comparative disease assessment (eg., viral
papiloma, toxoplasmosis)
o Collecting other samples for comparative data on nutrition (blood) or
reproduction (fecals, semen) in wild cats and for creating genetic linkages (frozen
semen)
™ Education
o Identify in-country education person
o Photographs for graphics (posted on Felid TAG website?)
o Inspiring reports from the field
o Participation of zoo staff (keepers, vets, etc.) in field projects
Action Plan
How can zoos help field researchers?
Testing equipment
• Snow Leopards - Radiocollars: Tom McCarthy, Brett Sellers, Barb Palmer
o Test GPS collars on snow leopards.
o Test the triggered drop-off mechanism.
•
Pallas’ Cats – W. Swanson, R. Reading, S. Ross
o Testing camera traps for potential use at den areas?
Samples for genetic research: Blood, hair, feces
• Snow Leopards – Current requests for blood, hair, feces are already being met
•
Pallas’ Cats - Carlos Driscoll (LGD), molecular genetic analysis; Meredith Brown,
Martha Caron, genetic information on Pallas’ Cats
Footprints (spoor): for age determination
• Snow Leopard. - Dan Wharton, T. McCarthy, B. Palmer
o Contact zoos with young snow leopards.
Teeth: for age determination
• Snow Leopards - T. McCarthy, D. Wharton, B. Palmer
o Acquire more incisors for analysis
o Send snow leopard teeth to Tom directly
•
Pallas’ Cat - R. Reading, SSP, Karen Terio
o Send teeth to K. Terio to test feasibility
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Assistance from educators:
• Snow Leopards – SLT and SLC together (Jennifer Snell and Darla Hillard)
• Pallas’ cats – M. Brown and R. Reading (field); Dan Marsh, Chris Myers (Earth
Expeditions), Melanie Sorenson (zoos).
ƒ Zoo education programs: Denver, WPZ, Cincinnati, Minnesota
Vet training courses (zoos): Bringing range country vets to North America for training
Both species - Evan Blumer (Wilds), Amanda Fine (WCS), R. Reading, Doug Armstrong, Karen
Terio, Darren Collins
Vet training courses (field): Basic training for field personnel (field anesthesia and monitoring,
sample collection, etc.)
• This may become a longer term goal.
Vet assistance/advice: (field): North American vets visit and assist in the field for 2-3 weeks
S. Kennedy-Stoskopf, T. McCarthy, R. Reading, S. Ross, K. Terio (to evaluate potential vets),
E. Blumer, A. Fine, etc.
• Cat experience and field experience may be required.
• Have vets on-site during the collaring process, assist local villagers with livestock health
program (?), etc
Funding:
• Snow Leopards – need access to the right people at each zoo housing snow leopards.
(SLT Development, Jennifer Snell and Dan Wharton).
• Pallas’ Cats – two ongoing projects, both need funding. (Martha Caron is zoo contact)
How can field researchers help zoos:
Biological samples - blood, urine, feces and/or semen from wild cats
• Snow Leopards – Tom McCarthy, Dan Wharton, Barb Palmer, vet advisor, pathology
advisor [Mike Gardner?]).
• Pallas’ Cats – Richard Reading, Steve Ross, Meredith Brown and Bill Swanson
For nutrition studies
• Snow Leopards – Tom McCarthy, Dan Wharton, Barb Palmer, Ellen Dierenfeld, Cheryl
Dikeman.
• Pallas’ Cats – Richard Reading, Steve Ross, Cheryl Dikeman.
For reproductive studies
• Snow Leopards – Tom McCarthy, Dan Wharton, Barb Palmer, Jo Gayle Howard, Nadja
Wielebnowski, Joan Bauman
• Pallas’ Cats – Richard Reading, Steve Ross, Bill Swanson
Photographs for graphics:
• Snow Leopards – SLT- Brad Rutherford, Dan Wharton.
• Pallas’ Cats – M. Caron, R. Reading, S. Ross
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2006 Felid TAG Conference Proceedings
Inspiring field reports (to share with Zoo membership) – S. Ross, T. McCarthy, R. Reading, D.
Wharton, M. Caron
• Post graphics and field reports on the Felid TAG website (Bonnie Breitbeil)
• Link with the Snow Leopard Network (www.snowleopardnetwork.org ), the Zoos &
Aquariums Committing to Conservation (contact Beth Armstrong at Melbourne Zoo for
information), and Snow Leopard Conservancy (www.snowleopardconservancy.org).
Volunteer opportunities for zoo staff:
• Pallas’ Cats – R. Reading, Bariushaa Munkhtsog
• Earth Watch Zoo Keeper program (www.earthwatch.org): grant program for zookeepers
to support participation in field research
Eco-tours – advertised through zoos, and meeting up with other eco-tours visiting a region:
• Snow Leopards- SLT - Jen Akin, D. Wharton, B. Palmer.
• Pallas’ Cats – M. Caron
In Situ Conservation of Temperate Asian Felids: Amur Tigers & Leopards
No written report submitted.
Temperate Asian Species SSP and PMP Reports:
Pallas’ Cat SSP
Martha Caron, Species Coordinator, Minnesota Zoological Garden
A meeting of the Pallas’ Cat SSP was held in conjunction with the mid-year Felid
TAG meeting in Denver, CO on April 6, 2006. The current demographic and genetic status of
the SSP population was reviewed. As of March 2004, the SSP population consisted of 65 cats
(31.32.2) in 17 soon to be 18 institutions. A list of eight potential new holding institutions has
been compiled. In the past year there were 9 (3.3.3) kittens born in two litters, with only three of
those kittens surviving. 2005 included the deaths of 12 (5.4.3) cats including the previously
mentioned neonatal deaths for a net loss of three cats. The current population is based on 24
founders. Genetic diversity currently retained is .9369 with the potential to increase to .9697
without further importation. Mean inbreeding is currently 0.057. Due to our lack of successful
births and limited number of genetically valuable animals some minimal inbreeding has had to
be allowed to increase the available pairings. Genetic comparative study of the original founder
population is currently underway at the National Cancer Institute to confirm true relationships
among the original animals to determine the true level of inbreeding present within the current
population. Founder genome equivalents currently represented in the population are relatively
low at 7.92 but have the potential to increase to 16.48 with careful genetic management and
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breeding to more equally represent our present founder base. We have several minimally
represented founder females that are reaching their age limit for breeding over the next two years
and every effort will be made to breed these females and capture their genes prior to their
pending reproductive senescence.
Breeding recommendations for 2005 were increased in number but still concentrated
on the most genetically valuable animals, especially those nearing reproductive senescence, due
to lack of successful breeding recommendations in 2004 and our need/ability to fill potential
exhibits. A total of ten breeding recommendations were made this year, two of which are
experimental involving in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer and two of which went
uncompleted due to institutional non-compliance with the recommended transfers. One other
breeding situation was set up mid-year and produced the only litter of kittens within the
population so far this breeding season. Birth season in Pallas’ cats is generally late March-early
June. We are currently hopeful of up to five pregnancies from these recommendations.
A presentation was made by Dr. Richard Reading of the Denver Zoo on his Small
Carnivore study in Mongolia which includes Pallas’ catS and is examining the interactions
between the different species of small carnivore utilizing this harsh environment, range use and
resource partitioning by these species including Pallas’ cats. Poaching is a much more serious
issue in the area of Mongolia in which he works than it is where the Pallas’ Cat Conservation
Program operates. He informed us that the going rate for a Pallas’ cat skin currently is $100
USD. He is attempting to begin to pay local rangers to patrol his research area and is hoping to
start up a volunteer ranger patrol in the near future to combat this threat to the carnivores of the
area. His research is in need of funding as well.
A brief overview on the Pallas’ Cat Conservation Project’s rodenticide study which
has recently been completed was given by Ann Winters, graduate student at the Michigan State
University. A more detailed summary is included elsewhere in this manuscript.
An update on the Pallas’ Cat Conservation Project which is an in situ research project
conducting study on the wild Pallas cat population in Mongolia was provided by Dr. Meredith
Brown and presented by Dr. Bill Swanson. This is an exciting and continually expanding
project. Current aspects are continuing to study the disease susceptibility of the wild population,
continued radiotelemetry tracking of 10 individual wild specimens, and a 3-year natural history
study of the species looking at population status, behavior, range use, breeding and the potential
for extinction in this wild population. A study being conducted on the broad use of rodenticide
by the Mongolian government to control the rodent population and its effects on carnivores and
scavengers of these rodents including Pallas’ cats has just been completed and is in the analysis
phase. A T-shirt supporting this project has been produced and is for sale with proceeds going to
support this vital research. A Pallas’ cat plush (stuffed animal) has also been produced for the
Cincinnati Zoo by K & M Toys and is available for order by other Pallas cat institutions, with $5
of each plush purchase used to provide funding for this in situ research project. Please contact
Bill Swanson at the Cincinnati Zoo if interested.
Bill Swanson shared an update on reproduction in Pallas cats including continued work
on embryo transfer techniques in this species and the preliminary results of the female
reproductive senescence study (led by Dr. Kennedy-Sotskopf at NCSU) that involved the
participation of several SSP institutions. Results showed that Pallas’ cat females are able to
conceive and produce embryos after eight years of age but embryo quality and development
appear compromised. Therefore, based on these in vitro findings and studbook data, eight years
of age appears to be the cutoff for reproduction of females in the captive population. He also
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discussed the potential for FIV presence within this captive population based on a recent study
published by the National Institutes of Health; however, none of the captive cats assessed in the
NIH study are still alive. A recommendation was made by the SSP’s infectious disease advisor
to have all recommended breeding pairs re-screened for this disease (using Western blots) and a
discussion of this was brought forth at the meeting. However, no final decisions were made due
to the absence of both the infectious disease and veterinary advisors to the SSP.
The meeting was wrapped up with a presentation by Martha Caron, SSP Coordinator, on a
final draft of a husbandry manual for this species. She has taken the draft written by Dr. Connie
Ketz veterinary advisor to the SSP and fleshed it out into a nearly final draft. This resource is
badly needed by current as well as future holding and breeding institutions. A discussion
commenced on who would be responsible for fleshing out the remaining sections of the draft so
that it can be finalized within the next two months.
Snow Leopard SSP
Dan Wharton, Species Coordinator, Central Park Zoo
No written report submitted.
Amur Leopard PMP
Editors’ note: The former Population Manager for Amur leopards, Chris Pfefferkorn,
unfortunately had to resign his position in early 2006 due to other institutional commitments.
The Felid TAG advertised this position initially to solicit candidates to manage the Regional
Studbook/PMP. However, after additional discussion within the Felid TAG steering committee,
it was decided that this particular management program involves a substantial in situ component,
unlike most PMPs, and required a population manager who had the necessary expertise and
institutional support to engage in these activities in Temperate Asia. However, the TAG was
unwilling, at the present time, to elevate the PMP to the level of a SSP.
After re-advertising this position with this one caveat for in situ involvement, the Felid
TAG steering committee selected Martha Caron at the Minnesota Zoological Gardens as the new
Regional Studbook keeper and PMP manager for Amur leopards. In addition, the TAG selected
Ron Tilson, also at the Minnesota Zoo, to work with Martha to manage the in situ component of
this PMP. As Drs. Caron and Tilson both already manage SSPs for Temperate Asian felids
(Pallas’ cat and Amur tiger, respectively), the Felid TAG felt that this arrangement best met the
current needs of the Amur Leopard PMP.
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Plenary Session - Felid Conservation and Management
Utilizing Behavioral Conditioning to Allow for Supplemental Care in a Neonatal Jaguar
(Panthera onca)
Keith Lovett and Amanda Haug, Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park
The Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park opened the Tropics of the Americas (TOA) exhibit
in June 2004. One of the most significant animal habitats in TOA is the jaguar exhibit. The
jaguar exhibit at the zoo is a Mayan themed, naturalistic habitat of over six thousand square feet.
In addition to the main exhibit, the zoo constructed a large off-exhibit indoor and outdoor jaguar
holding facility. This exhibit and supporting off-exhibit facility was designed in order to
encourage the breeding of jaguars and accommodate the raising of cubs.
As a means to better manage this felid species, the zoo developed an extensive behavioral
conditioning program with the adult pair of jaguars housed at the zoo. This training program
was initiated to allow for better daily husbandry management, assist in breeding introductions,
monitor animals during pregnancy, and to monitor adults and cubs after birth.
The zoo’s female jaguar gave birth on September 21, 2005 to two female cubs. Utilizing
the developed conditioning of the mother jaguar, staff was able to easily separate her from the
cubs at two weeks of age to allow for veterinary examination of the newborns. It was during this
examination that congenital birth defects and developmental problems were discovered in one of
the cubs. It was also determined that adequate nutrition was not being provided to this animal.
Future observations of nursing behaviors identified that the female jaguar was no longer
allowing the cub to nurse from her. Historically in zoos this challenged cub would have been
hand-raised by staff, but a lack of aggression being displayed by the mother jaguar to the cub and
the confidence staff had in the jaguar behavioral conditioning program allowed the zoo staff to
alternatively manage these animals.
The design of the jaguar denning areas and the strength of the conditioning program
allowed staff to separate the mother jaguar from the cubs up to seven times daily. During these
separations the mother jaguar was able to maintain visual contact with both of the cubs while
staff provided feedings to the challenged animal. This separation and cub feeding allowed the
cub to stay with its mother and sibling, thus allowing a more species appropriate raising of the
cub and the betterment of zoo guest experience in seeing all animals together.
Reproductive and Stress Physiology of Canada Lynx: Implications for Reintroduction Success
Kerry Fanson, Purdue University
Canada lynx are officially listed as a nationally threatened species, and are declining
throughout much of their former range. In response to this decline, the state of Colorado
initiated a large-scale effort to reintroduce Canada lynx in 1999. Initially, the success of this
effort seemed tenuous due to the lack of successful reproduction during the first 4 years of the
reintroduction. However, in the last 3 years, researchers have found a significant number of
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healthy kittens. Despite extensive post-release monitoring, scientists still debate which factors
contributed to the initial inhibition, and subsequent recovery, of reproduction.
In order to gain a clearer understanding of how the reintroduction process and the
challenges of a new habitat may influence an individual’s physiology, we are monitoring patterns
of hormone expression in reintroduced lynx via fecal hormone analysis. In order to ensure
accurate interpretation of results obtained from the field, we are also establishing normative
patterns of hormone expression in captive lynx.
Preliminary data indicate that lynx show seasonal patterns of estrogen and androgen
expression, supporting behavioral and studbook data that lynx are highly seasonal breeders. The
pattern of progestin expression during pregnancy in lynx is notably different from other felids,
but we are continuing to increase the number of pregnancies in the study. Initial results also
show dramatic differences in corticoid expression between males and females, as well as
between captive and reintroduced lynx. Further investigation will help us better understand
hormone expression in Canada lynx and how the reintroduction process impacts lynx
physiology.
Influence of Age on Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Oocyte Quality and Uterine Health
Adrienne E. Crosier, Budhan Pukazhenthi, Pierre Comizzoli, Michelle Bacon, JoGayle Howard
and David E. Wildt; Smithsonian National Zoological Park and Conservation & Research Center
Pregnancies have been achieved in female cheetahs ranging in age from 2 to 12 years by
both natural breeding and artificial insemination (AI); however, analyses of breeding histories in
the Cheetah Species Survival Plan (SSP) reveal that reproductive success declines at ~8 years of
age for unknown reasons. Typically, females continue to demonstrate estrus, yet pregnancies do
not result after breeding. We hypothesize that decreased reproductive efficiency in older
cheetahs is due to compromised ovarian function, oocyte quality and/or uterine health. Using
three age classes of cheetahs (2 - 5 years, 6 - 8 years, > 9 years), the overall objective of this
project is to evaluate the impact of female age on ovarian function, oocyte quality, fertilization,
embryo development and uterine health. Non-invasive fecal steroid metabolite analyses are
utilized to assess the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis functions and responsiveness to
administration of exogenous gonadotropins by females of the three age classes. Following
ovarian stimulation, oocytes from each age group of females are recovered and evaluated for
nuclear maturation and developmental competence after in vitro fertilization (IVF). In addition,
uterine health is assessed by ultrasonography.
This multi-institutional project, in partnership with the Cheetah SSP Coordinator, was
initiated in December 2005. To date, three female cheetahs from the North American Cheetah
SSP population have been evaluated. Fecal samples were collected (4 – 5 times / week) from
each female for 4 - 8 weeks before oocyte aspiration and through the early luteal phase for noninvasive hormone monitoring. Females (ages: 2.5, 5 and 6 years) received a single injection of
300 IU eCG followed 84 h later by an injection of 150 IU hCG. Thirty-six to 37 h post-hCG
injection, the number of follicles and corpora lutea were determined by laparoscopy, and oocytes
were recovered by aspiration and evaluated for quality. Uterine morphology was examined by
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ultrasonography, and the diameter of uterine horns measured during laparoscopy to identify
possible etiologies of reduced fertility. Overall, ~66% of collected oocytes were classified as
Grade 1 or 2 oocytes. Oocytes (2 - 3 from each female) were fixed and examined for nuclear
maturation (Hoechst 33342). The remaining oocytes from each female were inseminated in vitro
with ~1.2 x 106 motile frozen-thawed sperm/ml, and embryos were cultured for 7 days.
Resulting embryos were fixed and stained (Hoechst 33342) to determine cell number.
Percentages of nuclear maturation (determined retrospectively) were consistent between the three
females (Table 1). Likewise, percentages of fertilized and cleaved oocytes were comparable
between individuals (Table 1) and resulted in the production of normal embryos. Observation of
recent ovulations (corpora lutea) at the time of laparoscopy suggested that oocyte aspirations
should be scheduled earlier than 36 h post-hCG to avoid ovulations. No uterine abnormalities
(presence of fluid or cystic structures) were observed. Preliminary endocrine evaluation of fecal
samples reveals similar hormonal profiles between young stimulated females and females of the
same age group cycling, breeding and reproducing naturally.
Table 1. Assessment of ovarian response and oocyte quality in cheetahs
Laparoscopic observations
Assessment of nuclear maturation and developmental
competence of oocytes
Studbook Age group*
Follicles
Corpora lutea
Oocytes
Matured (%) Fertilized (%)
Cleaved (%)
number
(n)
(n)
collected (n)
4178
Young
21
1
23
52.6
47.1
35.3
4568
Intermediate 13
6
24
55.0
33.3
20.0
4553
Young
7
7
8
66.6
nd
nd
*Age class of female at time of laparoscopy: young (2 - 5 yr); intermediate (6 - 8 yr).
nd, not determined
This project is important because we will expand our knowledge on the impact of age on
reproduction in cheetahs and determine the causes of reduced reproduction in older cheetahs. A
by-product will be information about the ability to create cheetah embryos in vitro, a requisite
step to the development of embryo transfer. These tools will enhance cheetah reproduction to
help make the captive population self-sustaining, as well as determine the potential of rescuing
genetic material from older females.
The Effect of Donor Age on Feline Testis Xenografting and its Application to Wildlife
Conservation
YeunHee Kim, Cornell University
Ectopic xenografting of feline testicular tissue into an immunodeficient mouse is a
promising tool for the preservation of male genetic information. The technique relies upon a
pool of stem cells, “spermatogonia”, within the complex architecture of the testis to produce
spermatozoa. In other species, testes from neonatal or pre-pubertal animals have been used to
develop the complete spermatogenesis. In cats, only 1 report with neonatal testes has been made.
To investigate the potential utility of this technology to preserve the genetic information
represented by valuable males, we examined the effect of donor age effect on the production of
sperm by xenografts using 5 different age groups of domestic cats (Felis catus; from 8 weeks old
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to 1 year old) and immunodeficient mice as hosts. In addition, we had a sixth group comprised
of testes from adult domestic cats and geriatric zoo animals from several species. In all cases,
fresh testicular tissue (≤ 24hr post collection) was grafted under the back of castrated adult mice
and collected at 10, 30 and 50 weeks after implantation for histological examination.
Approximately seventy-six per cent of grafts were recovered from the age groups younger than 7
months old, however, only forty-five per cent was recovered from the older donors. Complete
spermatogenesis was observed in xenografts from donors aged 7 months or younger, whereas
most xenografts from donors older than 8 months exhibited degeneration. Successful production
of xenografts-derived sperm began to decline with early puberty, establishing this as the
maximum practical age for the technique. Because the samples from zoo animals were all
geriatric, the xenografts did not produce sperm or support spermatogenesis. In most cases, the
donor tissue had “Sertoli cell only” histological phenotype prior to xenografting, which could not
restore spermatogenesis. Together, these results show that testis xenografting can reliably
produce sperm from the testes of domestic cats up to and including early puberty. If able to be
extrapolated to other felid species, these data will define an effective age range for the use of this
technique in the preservation of geriatric material (i.e. breeding potential) of male cats that die
prior to reproductive maturity.
Improving Hormone Protocols for Artificial Insemination in Spontaneously Ovulating Felids
Rosemary Bauer, Katharine Pelican, Budhan Pukazhenthi, Adrienne Crosier, David Wildt and
JoGayle Howard; Smithsonian National Zoological Park
The domestic cat is a valuable research model for understanding complex reproductive
mechanisms, information that can be used to improve the management and conservation of
endangered felids. Artificial insemination (AI) has emerged as an important tool for helping to
genetically manage captive populations. AI circumvents problems with behavioral
incompatibility and poor breeding performance, reduces the need for animal transfers and
provides the potential for introducing new genes from genetically valuable populations into zoo
breeding programs (via frozen sperm). Using an AI technique developed in the domestic cat,
offspring have been produced in eight wild felid species. However, pregnancy success remains
low in some species, primarily due to inconsistent ovarian response after ovulation induction.
The most common hormone regimen used for ovulation induction in felids is a combination of
equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Cats given
eCG/hCG to induce ovulation can respond in a highly unpredictable fashion, especially in
species where spontaneous ovulation is common (e.g., fishing cat, clouded leopard, caracal and
lion). Additionally, the eCG/hCG regimen can cause ovarian hyperstimulation, which leads to
decreased pregnancy success.
Over the past several years, our laboratory has been working to develop and refine a
hormone regimen that incorporates short-term ovarian suppression before ovulation induction
and AI. This approach is frequently used in livestock and humans to bring the female’s natural
hormone levels to baseline and subsequently improve response to ovarian stimulation before
assisted reproduction. Using the progestin implant Norplant®, we were able to demonstrate that
progestin “priming” before ovulation induction and AI improves ovarian response in the
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domestic cat, clouded leopard and fishing cat. However, no pregnancies resulted. Based on
these studies, we shifted our attention to altrenogest (Regu-Mate®), an oral progestin that
eliminates the two anesthesia events required for implant insertion and removal. Using noninvasive fecal hormone monitoring, we determined an effective altrenogest dosage in the
domestic cat that provides rapid and reversible inhibition of ovarian activity. Altrenogest dosage
studies in the clouded leopard and fishing cat are now underway.
After determining the optimal altrenogest (ALT) dosage in the domestic cat, our next
study was designed to evaluate the influence of ALT priming on ovarian response to eCG and
hCG. We hypothesized that priming with ALT would prevent spontaneous ovulation and
provide a consistent and improved ovarian response compared to untreated females. We also
suspected that the down-regulated cats would exhibit an altered sensitivity to gonadotropin
dosages. To test these hypotheses, domestic cats were randomly assigned to one of four
treatments: 1) ALT + 100 IU eCG/75 IU hCG (n = 7 cats; ALT HIGH); 2) 100 IU eCG/75 IU
hCG (n = 7; HIGH); 3) ALT + 50 IU eCG/37.5 IU hCG (n = 5; ALT LOW); and 4) 50 IU
eCG/37.5 IU hCG (n = 5; LOW). ALT-treated females received 0.088 mg/kg daily for 37-38
days, followed 2 days later with eCG, then 80 hours later with hCG. Ovarian response was
assessed 37-39 hours post-hCG using laparoscopy and graded on a 1 to 4 scale (1 is best). Five
of twelve (41.7%) untreated (no ALT) cats spontaneously ovulated before ovulation induction
compared to none of the ALT-treated females. All 12 cats given ALT had a good-to-excellent
ovarian response (Grade 1-2), compared to six of twelve (50%) females given gonadotropins
alone. Interestingly, mean ovarian grade was similar (P > 0.05) among ALT HIGH, HIGH and
ALT LOW and improved (P < 0.05) compared to LOW. This ability of ALT LOW cats to elicit
an ovarian response similar to HIGH cats demonstrates an increased ovarian sensitivity after
priming. This is an exciting finding, because using lower dosages of eCG/hCG could be
advantageous for improving pregnancy success. Overall, results from this study indicate that
oral altrenogest: 1) eliminates spontaneous ovulation and provides a consistent response to
ovulation induction in the cat; and 2) increases ovarian sensitivity to exogenous gonadotropins.
These studies are the foundation for continued research that will examine the impact of progestin
priming on fertilization, embryonic development and implantation in felids.
The Nitty-Gritty of Sand Cat (Felis margarita) Reproduction
JR Herrick, K Leiske and WF Swanson; Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and The Living
Desert Zoo and Gardens
The sand cat (Felis margarita) is one of five small-sized cat species managed by a
Species Survival Plan (SSP) within North American zoos. Similar to the other small cats, the
U.S. captive population of Arabian sand cats (F.m. harrisoni), the sub-species managed by the
SSP, is small (n=32) and distributed among only 9 institutions. In addition, periodic introduction
of new founders is necessary to maintain sufficient genetic diversity within the population for the
long-term viability of the population. An improved understanding of basic reproductive biology
could benefit captive management of this species by facilitating natural breeding and the
development of assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
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Metabolites of estradiol and progesterone have been monitored in serial fecal samples
from 4 females. Of 2 females housed together without a male, neither animal showed elevated
(>~5000 ng/g feces) levels of progesterone despite repeated elevations of estradiol (>~2000 ng/g
feces). This suggests that spontaneous ovulation is uncommon, at least in these two females.
Fecal hormone monitoring was also effective in monitoring ovarian activity following
gonadotropin exposure (n=2 females) and during gestation (n=2 females; peak progesterone
metabolites ~10,000 to 20,000 ng/g feces).
Semen was collected by electroejaculation (n=10 procedures) from 7 males to
characterize basal reproductive traits. Ejaculates contained (mean ± SEM) 43.5 ± 11.0 x106 total
spermatozoa, with 77.0 ± 2.3% motility, 43.8 ± 3.9% normal morphology, and 93.1 ± 1.3%
intact acrosomes. On average, the most common abnormality observed in sand cat spermatozoa
was a bent midpiece with a cytoplasmic droplet (16.2 ± 2.9%). Recovered spermatozoa were
washed, resuspended (10x106 motile sperm/ml) in Ham’s F-10 with 5% FBS (HF10) or Feline
Optimized Culture Medium with 0.4% BSA (FOCM), and cultured (6% CO2 in air at 38.7º C) to
compare the ability of these media to support sperm function. Sperm motility (% motile and rate
of forward progress, 0-5 scale) was evaluated at 0, 1, 3, and 6 h of culture and used to calculate a
sperm motility index (SMI; [%+(5*rate)]/2). Acrosomal integrity was evaluated by staining at 0
and 6 h. Mature oocytes were collected from 4 females treated with 150 IU eCG and 100 IU
hCG (84 h post-eCG) prior to oocyte recovery (25 h post-hCG). Ovarian follicles were aspirated
laparoscopically and grade 1 oocytes were coincubated with 2x105 motile sperm/ml in HF10
(n=32) or FOCM (n=33) for 20 h. During 6 h of culture, SMI and %intact acrosomes declined
(P<0.05) slightly (SMI, 73.8-74.8 at 0h and 68.5-68.8 at 6h; %intact acrosomes, 87.1-87.6% at
0h and 69.0-74.2% at 6h), but similarly (P>0.05) in both media. However, the proportions of
oocytes cleaving at 20 and 30 hpi were higher (P<0.05) in FOCM (20 hpi, 76.5 ± 8.7%; 30 hpi,
92.9 ± 7.1%) than in HF10 (20 hpi, 29.8 ± 11.7%; 30 hpi, 55.9 ± 20.6%).
Although sperm motility and acrosomal integrity were similar in FOCM and HF10, IVF
and early embryonic development was better supported in FOCM. These results indicate that: 1)
Measurement of fecal metabolites of estradiol and progesterone is an effective mean of
monitoring ovarian activity in female sand cats; and 2) IVF with fresh sperm could be a valuable
tool for genetic management of captive sand cat populations. This work was supported by the
Morris Animal Foundation (#D04ZO-72).
Cheetah SSP – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly – the Challenges of an SSP
Jack Grisham, Smithsonian National Zoological Park
No written report submitted.
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Conservation Centers for Species Survival
Jack Grisham, Smithsonian National Zoological Park
No written report submitted.
Flu, Feathers and Felids: The Potential Impact of Avian Influenza on Felids
Karen Terio, University of Illinois
Background on Influenza Viruses
(see review Horimoto and Kawaoka, 2005)
Avian influenza or the “bird flu” is caused by an influenza virus (Orthomyxoviridae
family). Influenza viruses are separated into 3 types (A, B, and C) and the A type viruses are
further classified by two molecules on the virus surface: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase
(N). Avian influenza (AI) viruses include viruses with all combinations of H and N types and
the reservoir hosts for AI are aquatic birds. AI are also further classified as to the degree of
disease that they cause. Low pathogenicity AI (LPAI) cause mild or inapparent disease and are
present worldwide, but can mutate into highly pathogenic strains. Highly pathogenic AI (HPAI)
cause severe systemic disease and high mortalities. For reasons that are not well understood,
highly pathogenic AI are usually H5 or H7 type viruses.
There are multiple factors that contribute to the efficiency of viral transmission and
pathogenicity of any influenza virus and its host. One such factor is the hemagglutinin
glycoprotein which binds the virus to the host cell, and therefore is important in determining the
range of hosts that a specific virus can infect efficiently. Avian viruses preferentially bind to
host receptors that contain N-acetyl sialic acid linked to galactose by an α2,3 linkage
(NeuAcα2,3Gal). Cells of the trachea and intestine of waterfowl contain primarily this α2,3
linkage. In contrast, human viruses preferentially bind to receptors that contain an α2,6 linkage,
which is the primary type of linkage present on cells in the human trachea. However, recent
research has identified some cells in the airways of humans that contain the α2,3 linkage,
suggesting that humans could be infected with avian viruses. Pigs are commonly referred to as a
“mixing vessel” because they have both types of linkages and could easily be infected by both
human and avian viruses. Infection of the same host with both types of virus greatly increases
the possibility that the avian virus could pick up the genes needed to have an affinity for the α2,6
linkage which would increase the probability that a virus could be easily transmitted between
humans. Information on host cell receptors present in felids is lacking.
Avian Influenza and Felids
Multiple experimental studies on domestic cats have shown that cats exposed to various
influenza viruses can become infected, develop disease, and with some viral strains the virus can
be spread between cats (Paniker et al, 1972; Hinshaw et al, 1981; Kuiken et al 2004;
Rimmelzwaan et al, 2006). In addition, current research has indicated that cats can shed the
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virus not only by the respiratory route by also by the gastrointestinal tract (Rimmelzwaan et al,
2006).
There is also important information from the recent outbreak on the effects of H5N1 on
non-domestic felids. In late 2003-early 2004, clouded leopards, leopard cats and tigers died of
avian influenza after being fed infected chicken and quail (Keawcharoen J et al, 2004). In late
2004, during an outbreak of H5N1 at a zoo with a large population of tigers there was evidence
that after the initial viral infection of tigers, spread between tigers was possible
(Thanawongnuwech R et al, 2005). Clinical signs in affected cats are primarily high fever and
respiratory distress. Lesions at gross necropsy include pulmonary consolidation and hemorrhage
with exudates within the trachea and bronchi. Histologically, cats have also had
meningoencephalitis associated with viral infection and some cats have had liver lesions
(necrotizing hepatitis).
Guidelines for Prevention
Initial cases during outbreaks of avian influenza in felids have occurred after cats have
been fed infected carcasses. Therefore, the single most important factor to preventing the spread
of AI to felids is to limit exposure of cats to avian carcasses and products. Below are specific
recommendations for prevention of AI in felid collections once H5N1 (or another HPAI) reaches
North America. It is also strongly encouraged that institutions review and implement the AZA
Animal Health Committee Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza in AZA
member institutions. These guidelines are posted on both AZA and AAZV websites.
-
-
Prohibit feeding of uncooked poultry or poultry products
Scrutinize other feed sources for exposure to poultry (e.g. insects kept in egg crates or
rabbit suppliers that also have poultry)
Limit or eliminate exposure to or the potential of felids to predate upon wild birds.
This may necessitate bringing certain animals indoors when there are ongoing wild
bird deaths in your region.
Practice good basic hygiene. AI can be shed in the feces as well as in respiratory
secretions of cats. Therefore, animal care staff should use appropriate cautions when
cleaning enclosures.
If a felid dies with suspicious clinical signs, promptly perform a complete necropsy.
In addition to collecting sections for histopathology, collect sections of lung and brain
frozen (-70oC, preferred). If histological lesions are consistent with influenza, then
samples can be submitted for viral isolation and typing.
If there is a suspected clinical case in a felid, quarantine / isolate the cat to limit the
possibility of spread between cats.
References:
Hinshaw VS, Webster RG, Easterday BC, Bean WJ. 1981. Replication of avian influenza A
viruses in mammals. Infection and Immunity. 34: 354-61.
Horimoto T, Kawaoka Y. 2005. Influenza: Lessons from past pandemics, warnings from
current incidents. Nature Reviews, Microbiology. 3: 591-600.
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Keawcharoen J, Oraveerakul K, Kuiken T, Fouchier RAM, Amonsin A, Payungporn S,
Noppornpanth S, Wattanodorn S, Theamboonlers A, Tantilertcharoen R, Pattanarangsan R, Arya
N, Ratanakorn P, Osterhaus ADME, Poovorawan Y. 2004. Avian influenza H5N1 in tigers and
leopards. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 10: 2189-2191.
Thanawongnuwech R, Amonsin A, Tantilertcharoen R, Damrongwatanapokin S, Theamboonlers
A, Payungporn S, Nanthapornphiphat K, Rantanamungklanon S, Lekdumrongsak T,
Kesdangsakonwut S, Tunhikorn S, Poovorawan Y. 2005. Probable tiger-to-tiger transmission of
avian influenza H5N1. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 11: 699-701.
Kuiken T, RimmelzwaanG, van Riel D, van Amerongen G, Baars M, Fouchier R, Osterhaus A.
2004. Avian H5N1 influenza in cats. Science. 306: 241.
Paniker CKJ, Nair CMG. 1972. Experimental infection of animals with influenza viruses types
A and B. Bulletin WHO. 47: 461-3.
Rimmelzwaan GF, van Riel D, Baars M, Bestebroer TM, van Amerongen G, Fouchier RAM,
Osterhaus ADME, Kuiken T. 2006. Influenza A virus (H5N1) infection in cats causes systemic
disease with potential novel routes of virus spread within and between hosts. American Journal
of Pathology. 168: 176-183.
Effects of Transportation Stress on the HPA-Axis of Tigers Transported between Zoos
Daniel P. Dembiec, Dallas Zoo
Tigers are often transported between zoos for education, conservation, and zoo
enhancement purposes. The transport procedure consists of three major stages: preparation for
transport, the transportation method, and post-transport introduction into a new environment.
Each stage contains elements that may result in an increase of cortisol production indicating
stress. The most basic transport procedure results in a significant elevation of cortisol production
for at least 3-6 days in tigers. The purpose of this study is to measure the effects of
transportation stress on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis of tigers transported
between zoos. Fecal cortisol of 4 tigers was measured before and after transport using
radioimmunoassay. Results highlight individual variability in response to transport most likely
due to the varied procedures that different institutions incorporate during the transport procedure.
Despite the individual variability, commonalities in response to transport exist, such as
significantly spiked levels of cortisol on average 333% above baseline for 15 to 17 days
(average) and the presence of a second spike 24 to 26 days (average) after transport. This study
raises questions about how the individual history of each tiger and the different methods used to
transport the tiger affect their response to transport.
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In Search of the Holy Grail: a Urine-based Pregnancy Test in Felids
Bill Swanson, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
One of the challenges that zoos face in breeding endangered felids is determining when
the females of a particular species have become pregnant so we can prepare for the impending
births. With cats, the methods available for non-invasive determination of pregnancy are fairly
limited. Fecal hormone analysis can be used to measure the female’s progesterone levels and, by
monitoring values over time, eventually determine if she is pregnant or not. This approach has
worked well with some cat species but the technique is labor intensive, requiring the collection,
drying, extraction and analysis of multiple fecal samples, and some false positives and negatives
have been observed. Ideally, zoos would have access to a urine-based pregnancy test, similar to
the ones used by pregnant women, that would provide a definitive diagnosis from a single voided
urine sample.
In the past few years, three candidate proteins have been investigated for their potential
as pregnancy-specific markers that appear in cat urine. Studies with the first two proteins –
vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) –
failed to detect their presence in urine of pregnant cats. However, the third protein – relaxin –
has proven to be a reliable, consistent urinary marker of pregnancy. Relaxin is produced by the
placenta of the domestic cat beginning shortly after implantation on Day 13 of pregnancy. It has
been known for 20 years that relaxin was detectable in the blood of pregnant cats but no one,
until recently, ever checked to see if it was excreted in the urine.
In a recently published paper (van Dorsser et al., 2006), Florine van Dorsser, a
veterinarian at Cambridge University, and Bernard Steinetz at the New York University Medical
School, working in collaboration with the Cincinnati Zoo’s Center for Conservation and
Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) and the Breeding Center for Endangered Arabian
Wildlife, tested urine from pregnant domestic cats using a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for canine
relaxin. The study found that urinary relaxin was detectable in pregnant cats beginning at Day
21 of pregnancy, paralleled values measured in the blood, and could be monitored throughout
gestation up to the time of birth at Day 65. Furthermore, the study showed that urinary relaxin
could be used to diagnose pregnancy in the Arabian leopard, suggesting that this assay may
provide a suitable method for assessing pregnancy in all 36 nondomestic cat species.
The problem with the current test is that it requires that the urine samples be shipped to
New York University for analysis and this testing is not available as a commercial service to
zoos or private cat owners. If this pregnancy test is to be applicable across zoological
institutions, it must be available as an ‘in-house’ assay. Fortunately, there is a relaxin kit that is
marketed commercially as a pregnancy test for blood samples from domestic dogs. Like human
home pregnancy tests, this kit gives a simple ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ result as indicated by the
appearance of a colored band after the serum or plasma sample is added. This past year, Dr. van
Dorrser showed that this relaxin kit does work, under certain conditions, for pregnancy diagnosis
with domestic cat urine (van Dorrser et al., in press). In an ongoing study, CREW scientists are
evaluating modifications of the kit assay protocol to make it more consistent and user-friendly,
and are beginning to assess its cross-species utility. Studies already have shown that the kit can
be used to diagnose pregnancy with urine from Pallas’ cats. Our ultimate goal is to give zoos a
bench-top method for diagnosing pregnancy in all of their nondomestic felids, from tigers to
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black-footed cats, using a single urine sample, and remove much of the guesswork out of
breeding these valuable species.
References:
van Dorsser, FJH, WF Swanson, S Lasano and BG Steinetz. 2006. Development, validation,
and application of a urinary relaxin radioimmunoassay for the diagnosis and monitoring of
pregnancy in felids. Biology of Reproduction 74:1090-1095.
van Dorsser, FJH, S Lasano and BG Steinetz. Pregnancy diagnosis in cats using a rapid, benchtop kit to detect relaxin in urine. Reproduction in Domestic Animals (in press).
Clouded Leopard Research in North America and Thailand
Katey Pelican, JoGayle Howard, Rick Schwartz, Wanchai Tunwattana, and Lori Eggert;
Smithsonian National Zoo, Nashville Zoo, Khao Kheow Open Zoo and University of Missouri
North American Artificial Insemination Research
The world population of captive clouded leopards is in a crisis. The population is not
self-sustaining primarily due to male aggression with females frequently being killed by males.
Artificial insemination (AI) is, therefore, an essential tool for maintaining a healthy clouded
leopard population. Unfortunately, a surgical AI technique that has been used to produce
offspring in eight felid species has had marginal success in the clouded leopard with low (<10%)
pregnancy rates. One major contributor to the poor success rates is high variability in female
ovarian response to the hormone protocol for ovulation induction (equine chorionic
gonadotropin, eCG; and human chorionic gonadotropin, hCG). One solution is to control
ovarian activity prior to therapy. Recent studies in the domestic cat indicate that pre-treatment
with progestins (to suppress ovarian activity) prior to gonadotropin stimulation improves ovarian
response for AI. We propose that the addition of the progestin, altrenogest (Regumate®), to the
hormones used to induce estrus (eCG) and ovulation (hCG) will improve pregnancy rates
following AI in the clouded leopard.
The first step in developing a successful controlled ovarian stimulation protocol for
clouded leopards was to determine the optimal dosage of altrenogest for inducing ovarian
quiescence. A study was funded by the Morris Animal Foundation to determine the optimal
dosage of altrenogest for down-regulating estradiol cycling in the clouded leopard. Fifteen adult,
female clouded leopards were recruited for the study from eight clouded leopard SSP
institutions. Females were assigned to one of four treatments: 1) 0.075 mg/kg altrenogest (n = 3
females); 2) 0.15 mg/kg altrenogest (n = 5); 3) 0.3 mg/kg altrenogest (n = 5); and 4) 0.6 mg/kg
altrenogest; (n = 4). Hormone efficacy was measured using noninvasive monitoring of fecal
metabolites of estrogen (estradiol) with enzyme-immunoassays (EIA). Oral altrenogest was
administered daily for 50 days and daily fecal samples collected for 60 days before treatment,
throughout the treatment period and for at least 20 days following treatment withdrawal. Results
show that both the 0.3 mg/kg and 0.6 mg/kg dosages successfully down-regulated estradiol
cycling in the clouded leopard. All females administered 0.3 mg/kg altrenogest and 0.6 mg/kg
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altrenogest had baseline estradiol concentrations by the end of the 50 day treatment period. In
contrast, the single analyzed female given 0.075 mg/kg and four of five females given 0.15
mg/kg altrenogest showed estradiol peaks between day 40 and 50 of treatment. The first female
given 0.3 mg/kg altrenogest that returned to cycling showed an estradiol peak on day 3 after
altrenogest withdrawal whereas the first female given 0.6 mg/kg altrenogest that returned to
cycling showed an estradiol peak on day 25 after treatment withdrawal.
These results indicate that: 1) the progestin, altrenogest, successfully down-regulates
estradiol cycling in the clouded leopard; and 2) the 0.3 mg/kg and 0.6 mg/kg doses were more
effective than the 0.075 mg/kg or 0.15 mg/kg doses for controlling estrous cycles. Overall, both
the 0.3 mg/kg and the 0.6 mg/kg dosages appear to be sufficient to suppress ovarian cycling as a
pre-treatment prior to gonadotropin stimulation in the clouded leopard; however, the 0.6 mg/kg
dosage appears to provide a longer window of suppression (to day 25 following altrenogest
withdrawal) compared to the 0.3 mg/kg dosage (to day 3).
Two further studies will be required to test the efficacy of altrenogest for controlled
ovarian stimulation for AI in the clouded leopard. Study 2 will determine the dosage of
gonadotropins for ovulation induction following altrenogest-induced estrous cycle inhibition
using fecal hormone analysis. Study 3 will assess the effect of controlled ovulation induction
following estrous cycle inhibition with altrenogest on pregnancy rates and the female endocrine
environment after laparoscopic AI.
To complete Study 2, at least fifteen unpaired clouded leopard females are requested for
the 2006-2007 breeding season. Females will be blocked by age and assigned to one of three
gonadotropin dosages: 1) low dose (altrenogest + 100 IU eCG/75 IU hCG; 5 cats); 2)
intermediate dose (altrenogest + 200 IU eCG/150 IU hCG eCG/hCG; 5 cats); and 3) high dose
(altrenogest + 400 IU eCG/300 IU hCG; 5 cats). Daily fecal samples will be collected for 60
days before the altrenogest is administered, throughout the hormone treatment period and for 90
days following the hCG injection and analyzed for estrogens and progestins. Hormone
treatments will proceed as follows. First, 0.6 mg/kg oral altrenogest will be administered daily
for 50 days. Gonadotropins (eCG and hCG) then will be administered to induce oocyte
maturation and ovulation four days following the termination of altrenogest treatments. Total
time course of Study 2 will be 7 months of fecal collections including 50 days of oral hormone
administration and two intramuscular injections of hormones.
Thailand Clouded Leopard Conservation Project
Thailand has many of the most charismatic cat species in the world, including the tiger,
clouded leopard, golden cat, fishing cat and marbled cat. Habitat loss continues to be rampant
throughout Southeast Asia, and these felid species are vulnerable to population pressures and
habitat fragmentation. In 2002, the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park in collaboration
with the Nashville Zoo and the Clouded Leopard Species Survival Plan initiated a clouded
leopard conservation project in Thailand. The goal of the program is to create a multi-faceted
clouded leopard program in Thailand that includes improving husbandry and breeding success in
the ex situ (captive) population in Thai zoos and to determine the status of the in situ (wild)
population, as well as significant in-country capacity building. Thailand is an ideal site to
initiate a clouded leopard conservation program. The Zoological Park Organization of Thailand
(an umbrella agency for Thai zoos) and the Thailand Department of National Parks, Wildlife and
Plant Conservation (formerly the Thailand Royal Forestry Department) have the infrastructure
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and interest necessary to form an international consortium of institutions and researchers to focus
on conserving endangered species.
Ex Situ Clouded Leopard Breeding Project
In 2002, the ex situ component was established through a three-year Memorandum of
Understanding between the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand, Smithsonian’s National
Zoological Park, Nashville Zoo, Clouded Leopard Species Survival Plan (SSP) and Asian
Wildlife Consultancy Co., Ltd. This MOU was successfully renewed in 2005 for another 3 year
term. Dr. JoGayle Howard (Smithsonian’s National Zoo) and Rick Schwartz (Nashville Zoo)
were instrumental in developing the consortium. This coalition of international partners is
working together to develop improved nutrition, husbandry and breeding programs for felids in
zoos in Thailand. The majority of the Asian cat species in Thailand zoos are genetically
valuable, wild-born animals that have been confiscated and/or donated to the zoos. Health and
reproduction, however, frequently are compromised due to poor husbandry, imbalanced diets and
inadequate enclosures. In 2002, an improved clouded leopard breeding program was established
at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand.
Ken Lang (expert in clouded leopard breeding from the National Zoo’s Conservation &
Research Center in Front Royal, VA) has served as the primary Project Manager for the Thailand
Breeding program since its inception. For the first two years of the program, experienced
clouded leopard keepers from North American zoos alternated with Ken at three to four month
intervals. These on-site Project Managers have included Peter Riger (Nashville Zoo), Juan
Rodriguez (National Zoo) and Andy Goldfarb (Point Defiance Zoo, Tacoma, WA). Also, Point
Defiance Zoo sent animal keepers to the National Zoo’s Conservation & Research Center to
assist in animal care while Ken Lang is in Thailand. In 2004, a full time on-site Project Manager
was hired. Rick Passaro (previous employee of National Zoo’s Conservation & Research
Center) agreed to manage the program full-time in Thailand. In addition, Nashville Zoo,
Brookfield Zoo (Chicago, IL), Bergen County Zoo (Paramus, NJ) and National Zoo have sent
animal keepers to Thailand to assist in hand raising clouded leopard cubs.
Currently, there are 25 clouded leopards in the project in Thailand. Since May 2002,
animals have been moved from enclosures in Thailand zoos known to induce stress (small size,
lack of hiding places, adjacent to large carnivores such as tigers and bears) to large, vegetationrich enclosures with nest boxes. Nutritionally poor diets were altered to include whole prey and
vitamin/mineral supplementation. Since 2002, 18 clouded leopard cubs have been born (13
surviving) to 6 successful male-female pairs. In addition to the breeding success, though, this
program also has provided an important opportunity to study clouded leopard introductions and
determine what constitutes a successful pairing and what leads to pairing failure (see MacKinnon
et. al. from this report for more information). Unfortunately, in October 2004, contaminated
meat from a dead banteng was fed to all KKOZ carnivores by mistake. Four clouded leopards
died including animals from two of the three breeding pairs in the breeding program. To help
rectify this situation, Ken Lang joined Rick Passaro in January and February 2005 to begin
introductions of four new pairs. This effort has been very successful and the project currently
has three active pairs and two recent litters of clouded leopard cubs (born on May 1, 2006, and
June 24, 2006) thanks to the dedication of the consortium staff.
To document the impact of management changes on stress and reproduction, detailed
data collected on animal behavior, enclosure size, carnivore proximity and enclosure enrichment
are being analyzed. Daily fecal samples were collected from 10 adult females and 7 adult males
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before and after the improvements in diet and enclosure, and then samples were shipped to the
U.S.A. for assessment of fecal reproductive and stress hormones by Dr. Katey Pelican and Dr.
JoGayle Howard, reproductive physiologists at the National Zoo. More than 10,000 fecal
samples have been analyzed for hormones. Results show that 5 of 10 (50%) adult females
monitored during the management changes were not cycling at the start of the project. Of these
females, four (80%) began cycling within six months of the management changes. In addition
one cycling female (20%) showed more frequent cycling following the management
improvements and another cycling female became pregnant within two months of the
management improvements and delivered two healthy cubs. Thus, 60% (6 of 10) of the female
clouded leopards in the program showed markedly improved reproductive status within six
months of diet improvements and moves to low-stress enclosures. Males showed much more
subtle changes in hormone levels compared to females, with 6 of 7 adult males showing mild
increases in testosterone within six months of the management improvements. These results
document the importance of good diet and management to reproductive success in captive
carnivores.
The ex situ project also focuses on building capacity for conservation in Thailand. A
major goal is to train zoo personnel in husbandry, management and animal behavior. Two Thai
animal care staff and a Thai curatorial intern are being supported and trained at the Khao Kheow
Open Zoo during the project. Collaborations also have been initiated with local universities for
advanced training of Thai scientists. Two veterinarians interested in wildlife, Dr. Khongsak
Thiangtum and Dr. Nikorn Tongtip, from Kasetsart University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
came to the U.S.A. for further training in reproductive physiology, fertility assessment and sperm
cryopreservation. Khongsak recently completed reproductive studies for a Masters degree at
Kasetsart University, with Dr. Bill Swanson (Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden) and Dr.
JoGayle Howard (Smithsonian’s National Zoo) serving as advisors. In addition, the head
veterinarian from the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Dr. Dao Thongthainan, spent three months at the
National Zoo and received advanced training in semen collection and veterinary medicine.
In Situ Field Survey Project
Conservation plans for saving endangered cats in situ are hampered by a lack of
information on their status and distribution. Multiple national parks and nature reserves already
exist in Thailand, but an assessment of clouded leopard status, distribution and density across
remaining habitat is needed. To initiate the in situ component of the Thailand cat project, Dr.
JoGayle Howard was joined by Dr. Peter Leimgruber, an ecologist and GIS (Geographic
Information System) specialist from the National Zoo’s Conservation & Research Center. Drs.
Leimgruber and Howard traveled to Thailand in January 2003 to meet with representatives of the
Thailand Department of National Parks and the international conservation organization, Wild
Aid. During the visit, Steve Galster (Executive Director of Wild Aid) and the Thailand
Department of National Parks invited the Smithsonian’s National Zoo to become a partner in a
collaborative conservation project at Khao Yai National Park (northeast of Bangkok), an
excellent site for the in situ cat project.
Khao Yai is Thailand’s oldest and most famous National Park, an ASEAN Heritage Park
and a popular park for both Thai and foreign tourism. This was the first park to be established in
Thailand in 1962, and it remains one of the largest of all national parks in Thailand (2,176 sq
km). Despite intensive long-term scientific studies of primates, hornbills and plants, the status
and distribution of other wildlife at Khao Yai remains largely unknown, along with quantitative
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estimates of the effects of human impacts on wildlife. The situation is especially critical given
that poaching and encroachment by people living in communities surrounding the park have
been occurring since the park was first established and appears to have recently intensified with
the development of a krisana wood (Aquilaria spp.) industry.
The paucity of information available on wildlife and the specific impacts of humans on
wildlife populations at Khao Yai are attributable to a number of historical factors. These include
a lack of knowledge on species distributions and densities; a lack of park personnel trained in
ecological monitoring techniques, a lack of understanding of the concept that healthy wildlife
populations mean normal ecosystem function and increased tourism value. Traditionally,
tourism has been a priority for National Park management with research relegated to a minor
role. To conserve clouded leopards in situ, the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park (Dr.
Peter Leimgruber and Dr. JoGayle Howard) has been working in partnership with the Thailand
Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and the non-profit organization
WildAid to assess the numbers of clouded leopards and other carnivores living in Khao Yai
National Park. A major component to this Carnivore Conservation Project is the training of Thai
forest rangers to monitor wild carnivores (including clouded leopards) and poaching in the park.
The project now employs six permanent Thai park rangers, a Thai graduate student (Kanda
Damrongchainarong), and a USA graduate student (Kate Jenks) who collect data on the status,
distribution and threats to wild carnivores. Our carnivore monitoring team also uses their
observations to inform the park about poaching and illegal wildlife activity in Khao Yai National
Park.
The Khao Yai Carnivore Conservation Project is conducting long-term wildlife
monitoring to detect trends in wildlife densities. Focus is on large species that are targets for
poaching in Khao Yai, such as large carnivores and their prey species. The larger species are
sensitive to hunting because they are slow reproducers and therefore slow to recover their
populations after hunting. Human activity associated with poaching also is being monitored. A
number of indicators are used to determine poaching trends in the park. Wildlife monitoring
involves systematic surveys in representative habitats and disturbance conditions where the
results of the surveys are compared against a baseline and deviations from the baseline
conditions are examined. The Carnivore Conservation Project also seeks to reduce poaching in
the park by documenting location and distribution of poachers and providing summaries of
illegal activities to the park staff.
Overall, there are three main components to the in situ cat project: 1) a regional habitat
analysis of Thailand using satellite imagery and GIS to identify areas with the greatest potential
for felid and carnivore conservation; 2) training the Thailand forestry rangers in field techniques
for monitoring wildlife; and 3) a field survey of cat populations using motion-detection cameras
to identify species and animal densities, transect surveys of animal sign and GPS (global
positioning system) units to identify exact location of each field camera. One major advantage
of the in situ cat project at Khao Yai National Park is that information is being obtained on all cat
species, as well as all carnivore species in this large nature reserve. Cameras also continue to
photograph poachers and document the presence of illegal wildlife activity in the park.
Our first training workshop was conducted at Khao Yai National Park in October 2003 to
continue training the Thailand Department of National Park’s staff in basic wildlife monitoring
techniques for carnivores (including all cat species). Infrared motion-detection cameras were
purchased for workshop demonstrations and for use in the field survey project. The GIS map of
Thailand currently is being developed to assess various habitats in Thailand. The current
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carnivore monitoring team of forestry staff was selected from this workshop as the ‘carnivore
monitoring team’ who will work with the management of the Khao Yai Carnivore Conservation
Project. The survey design was developed, and the monitoring locations and sampling plots
were established in all 22 park management zones at Khao Yai. Plots cover all aspects of the
nature reserve including areas of high, medium or low human traffic. To date, 384 signs have
been observed during transect surveys including four from tigers, a species thought to be close to
extinction in the park. In addition, camera trap photos have now been collected from all 22 park
management zones. Photos collected include 615 photos of 34 species including 13 carnivores.
Overall, this program will provide a unique database for developing appropriate management
strategies for carnivores. Also, Khao Yai National Park serves as a vital site of the Thailand
Department of National Parks for conservation training and wildlife monitoring in Southeast
Asia.
Ex Situ/In Situ Linkages
In September 2004, an AZA Conservation Endowment Fund (CEF) was awarded to Dr.
Katey Pelican and geneticist Dr. Lori Eggert to fund three studies aimed at validating field
research techniques using zoo animal populations. Specifically, research studies were
undertaken to: 1) determine the impact of radio-collaring on clouded leopard physiology and
behavior using fecal stress and reproductive hormone monitoring; 2) develop a fecal DNA
species identification reference library and sexing marker; and 3) establish the timing of fecal
hormone and DNA degradation under field conditions in Thailand. Results are summarized
below.
Study 1. Assessing the Impact of Radio-collaring on Stress and Reproduction in Clouded
Leopards. Radio-collars were placed on three male and three female clouded leopards at
the Khao Kheow Open Zoo. The radio-collars remained in place for one full year and then
were removed. Daily fecal samples were collected from all participating leopards for six
months prior to collar placement, throughout the year that collars were in place and for six
months following collar removal. All of these fecal samples have been shipped to the
United States, dried and the steroid hormones extracted for analysis. The steroid levels on
the pre-collar samples have been measured and levels on the remaining samples are being
analyzed currently. Behavioral and health assessments indicate that collars did not impact
reproductive function. All six leopards exhibited normal behavior during the year that
collars were worn, and no health problems were noted associated with collar placement.
Study 2. Developing a Non-Invasive Monitoring System for Carnivore Species Identification
in Thailand Using Fecal DNA. The goal was to develop a marker that can be used to
differentiate species based on non-invasively collected samples such as feces or hair. At
least two fecal samples were collected from individuals housed at the Khao Kheow Zoo
representing 19 of the major carnivore species present in Khao Yai National Park. Primers
were designed to amplify 300-400 base pairs of the mitochondrial control region, which
would be expected to be conserved among carnivores but differ from the food species. The
primers used were developed for canids and were further improved by redesigning one of
the primers to be more specific to the species in this study. The resulting primers can be
successfully used to distinguish the feces of all the major carnivores from Khao Yai Park.
The sequences of the clouded leopard have not yet been obtained for this new marker, but
will be completed shortly. In addition, primers were successfully developed to distinguish
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male and female clouded leopard fecal samples using a gene that has different lengths on
the male (Y) and female (X) chromosomes.
Study 3. Determining the Timing of Steroid and DNA Degradation in Clouded Leopard Fecal
Samples under Field Conditions. Clouded leopard fecal samples were used to validate field
collection techniques for fecal DNA and steroid measurements. For both the DNA and
steroid degradation assessment, fecal samples were collected and left out under either shady
or sunny conditions during either the wet or the dry season. Samples from four females
and four males were tested under each treatment condition (shady/wet season, shady/dry
season, sunny/wet season, sunny/dry season). Each fecal sample was marked with its
identification information and sub-sampled at the time of placement and then multiple
times over the course of six weeks. To control for weather, samples were paired by day with
one placed in the shade and one in the sun on the same day or on consecutive days. Subsample timing was different for the DNA and steroid hormone degradation studies, so
separate fecal samples were used for each. Daily photos were taken of each sample to
document the degradation process. Results from this study show that fecal steroid levels
degrade much more rapidly in the field during the rainy season (within 24 hours) compared
to the dry season (up to 4-5 days). Fecal mitochondrial DNA (for species identification), on
the other hand, was viable for as long as the fecal sample was present (up to six weeks).
Nuclear DNA (useful for individual identification and sex identification) was not as stable
as mitochondrial DNA and only survived up to 14 days.
Conclusions: Altogether, these CEF funded studies fulfilled three important objectives for the
Thailand project: 1) they further strengthened the integration of the in situ and ex situ
components of the conservation program; 2) they validated field techniques that will be essential
to our investigations in Khao Yai National Park; and 3) they provided certain proof to our Thai
collaborators of our commitment to quality science-based conservation programs in their
country. As a result, during the recent renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding in 2005
for the Thailand Clouded Leopard Consortium, the director of Thailand’s Zoological Park
Organization emphasized the level and quality of science generated in this project as an
important factor in the continuation of the project. Much of that science has been funded by
AZA-CEF grants.
Funding is critically needed to continue these integrated ex situ and in situ conservation projects.
Please make tax-deductible donations to: Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ)
Please mail donations to: Dr. JoGayle Howard, Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, Dept of
Reproductive Sciences; 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008; 202/633-4043;
[email protected]
A Pairing Comparison Study: The Challenge of Male Clouded Leopards in Introductions
Kate MacKinnon, Katey Pelican, Nadja Wielebnowski, Ruth Newberry and Jo Gayle Howard;
Washington State University, Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park and Brookfield Zoo
Pairing clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa) in captivity has been very difficult primarily
due to male aggression toward females which often results in lethal attacks. Yet, little research
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has investigated the reproductive or behavioral dynamics of pairing clouded leopards. In 2002, a
consortium was formed to develop a clouded leopard breeding program at the Khao Kheow
Open Zoo in Thailand. This program moved genetically valuable clouded leopards into large,
non-stressful enclosures, placed them on good diets and maintained an experienced breeding
manager year-round (see Pelican et.al. in this report for more details). Since the program’s
inception, 13 cubs have been born to six successful pairs.
The presence of the on-site manager and complete access to consortium-supported
animals has provided an unprecedented opportunity to investigate various pairing strategies in
clouded leopards. Previous research in North American clouded leopards has been limited in
scope since most North American institutions have a minimal capacity for a large clouded
leopard collection and lack the skilled staff necessary to attempt pairing this difficult species.
Thus, no research to date has been able to compare different pairing techniques or successful
versus unsuccessful pairs in any meaningful way. As a result, the introduction of clouded
leopards remains more an ‘art’ than a ‘science’ with the most successful introductions occurring
under the management of highly experienced clouded leopard keepers.
To improve our understanding of clouded leopard introductions, we are using clouded
leopards at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo to compare the impact of different pairing strategies for
successful and unsuccessful clouded leopard pairs using a combination of behavioral
observations, personality assessments and stress and reproductive fecal hormone assessments.
Four categories of pairings are being compared: 1) successful pairings involving juvenile (< 12
months of age) males (n = 3 pairs); 2) successful pairings involving adult males (n = 3); 3)
unsuccessful pairings involving juvenile males (n = 3); and 4) unsuccessful pairings involving
adult males (n = 6). Behavioral observations are being recorded 3-5 times/week on all animals
undergoing introductions. Daily fecal samples are being collected on both males and females for
at least three months prior to the pairing up through the first successful breeding. Fecal samples
are being analyzed for reproductive (estrogens, progestins and androgens) and stress (cortisol)
hormone levels using enzyme immunoassays. Ex post-facto personality surveys also are being
completed for each animal by all the project managers involved in the pairings.
Once collected, the data from the fecal samples, behavior sheets, personality surveys and
daily reports will provide invaluable information on the impact of pairing introductions on
clouded leopard stress and reproduction. For the first time, changes in hormones and behavior
can be compared between clouded leopards undergoing different pairing protocols. At the same
time, changes in behavior associated with stages of the introduction process can be correlated
with changes in stress hormones and reproduction hormones. Already it is clear that pairing
juvenile males whether to adult or juvenile females requires less time and is successful more
often than when adult males are used. As a result, this technique has been used whenever
possible in Thailand, but many males were adult (> 12 months old) when they joined the
consortium and, therefore, necessitated the introduction of adult pairs.
Ultimately, important questions will be answered about the pairing process in this
species including: 1) does pairing induce stress responses in clouded leopards; 2) is one method
of pairing more stressful than the other; 3) do alterations in stress and reproductive hormones
correlate with particular behaviors during the pairing process; 4) are the different pairing
methods associated with differences in behavioral or endocrine parameters; 5) what are the
behavioral and hormonal correlates of pair failure; 6) does personality influence the success or
failure of pairings in this species? Overall, this information will be critical to understanding the
biological foundation of successful pairings in this complex and difficult carnivore species.
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Status of Small Felids in Vietnam
Hollie Colahan, Houston Zoo
Vietnam is a critical area for the conservation of small carnivores, including a several
species of felids that are all threatened by hunting and habitat destruction. Compounding these
threats is a lack of data about these species and their status in the wild. The Small Carnivore
Conservation Program incorporates both in situ and ex situ strategies to address these threats and
provide solutions for the future. Goals of this program include raising awareness, improving
protection, increasing understanding of the biology and behavior of these species, and
developing strategies for rescue, rehabilitation and placement of animals. Opportunities for AZA
zoos to get involved with the SCP include contributing husbandry and veterinary knowledge as
well as providing funding. Non-releasable and captive bred animals may also be available to
zoos to contribute to AZA captive breeding programs.
The Feline Conservation Federation – Education & Conservation
Carol Bohning, Feline Conservation Federation
The Feline Conservation Federation, a group of private wild felid owners and
organizations, has been in existence since the early 1950’s. Today, through the Board position of
Education and Conservation, the FCF conducts a basic wild feline husbandry course and
administers a conservation grant program that seeks to provide funds for in-situ or ex-situ
conservation research projects that will benefit felid species, their long term survival or their
habitat.
The Basic Wild/Exotic Feline Husbandry course was first taught in 1998 at our annual
convention. It is designed to be an 8 to 10 hour class with learning objectives provided on each
learning module. A 50 question multiple choice exam is given at the end of the day and a score
of 80% or better must be achieved to pass the course. We have had the course reviewed by
USDA inspectors, state natural resource or fish and game officers and local law enforcement
officers who have given positive feedback on the course content. The FCF has taught the course
17 times since 1998 to approximately 400 students in 11 states.
The course topics (natural history, regulatory agencies and permits, facilities and
equipment, nutrition, health care, contingency planning and handling and behavior training) are
designed to give basic information while emphasizing the important concepts of adhering to
local, state and federal laws; having safe facilities and equipment for the cats and for the
protection of the public; evaluating diets; having good veterinary care in place before acquiring
a cat; providing contingency plans for the facility and coordinating these plans with local
officials; and using smart handling techniques and understanding the animals you are attempting
to train. We stress to those that are considering acquiring a wild cat that it is a tremendous
commitment, both financially and in the overall care of the animal, and discourage those who are
not willing or able to do so.
As part of the FCF Conservation Grants Program, we provided funding for 3 projects for
the current research year. The first grant was provided to Jim Sanderson (Conservation
International, Cat Specialist Group) and Mohd Azlan (Universiti Malaysia Sarawak). A Survey of
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NE Sarawak, Malaysia for 5 Small Cat Species Using Camera Traps seeks to establish the
presence and geographical extent of these 5 species in 2 remote locations never before surveyed
and to determine the cultural significance of these cats to local residents. The species are the bay
cat, clouded leopard, leopard cat, flat-headed cat and marbled cat.
The second grant was provided to Arturo Caso (Proyecto de Felinos Silvestres de Mexico
and Texas A&M University at Kingsville) & Ken Kaemmerer (Dallas Zoo) for a Survey of Felid
Species in NE Mexico with Emphasis on a Private Ranch Potentially Suitable for an
Experimental Ocelot Translocation. The US Fish & Wildlife Ocelot Recovery Team is
discussing the strategy of translocation of ocelots from Mexico to Texas as an option to restore
genetic diversity in one of the existing Texas ocelot populations. An experimental translocation
within Mexico is planned and the private Las Carreras ranch has been identified as having
suitable habitat. Prior to the experiment, FCF funding for remote sensing cameras will allow
documentation for the presence of ocelots and other carnivores at the ranch.
Kolipaka Srinivas Shekhar (Society for Nature Conservation and Education – India)
received a grant for his India Small Wildcat Project. In 2001-2003 a detailed study was
conducted to understand the distribution and ecological requirements of wildcats in the Panna
Tiger Reserve in Central India. During 2003-2004, the India small wildcat project moved into
the Eastern Ghats of South East India. The 2005-2006 season has targeted the Namdhapa Tiger
Reserve, East India with its 10 species of wildcats, for status, distribution and ecological surveys.
Five months of raffle sales generated net proceeds of $3800.00 for the FCF Conservation
Grants program. These grants will provide funding for research and conservation of wild felines
around the world. With the ticket drawn February 12th, the grand prize winner won international
airfare and a 6 night stay for two at his choice of one of 3 Zulu Nyala lodges.
The Playa de Oro Reserve in Equador has received funding from the FCF and from its
members through donations and 2 week trips to the jungle reserve. As part of a board project in
2005, $3600 of FCF funds were provided to the reserve for border protection from squatters and
logging companies. Trails will be cut through the jungle to allow the local residents to monitor
their land.
If you have an upcoming research project, we have funding available. Please visit our
website at www.thefcf.org for details and to download the grant application form. Currently our
project limit is $2000 per year. If you have any questions, contact information is also provided.
Applications will be considered and funds awarded at the 2006 Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio,
July 27 through 29. Our convention is open to everyone and we feature our husbandry course,
speakers and a field day. Details will be available on our website as they are finalized.
Trials and Tribulations of Re-introducing Captive-bred Cheetah into the Wild
Bobby Hartslief, The Savannah Africa
No written report submitted.
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Felid TAG Working Group Reports
Regional Collection Plan
Two working groups were convened at the mid-year Felid TAG meeting to reassess and revise
the Regional Collection Plan for both large and small cat species. That RCP is currently in final
revision and review by the TAG Co-chairs and will be published as a separate document from
the TAG Proceedings in early 2007.
Felid Husbandry Course Working Group
Chaired by Hollie Colahan, Houston Zoo
Development of a Felid Husbandry Training Course
• What is the need - real vs. perceived?
o Program leaders are seeing an increased number of husbandry mistakes being made
or constant basic questions, fear of introductions, etc. It’s great that we have so many
managed programs but the bad news is that since we are not breeding as much, the
“institutional memory” is being lost. Therefore, there is a need to make sure those
skills are passed on. There is a real need for this type of course.
• The average longevity of a keeper is down to six years.
• We must make the course affordable.
• Defined audience: Those people who contribute to the daily welfare and management
of cats in their collections (at some places that might be curators, supervisors,
keepers). We must be careful in how we present the course so as not to exclude
keepers or curators.
• GOALS and Potential methods.
o Develop confidence in attendees to assure they have skills to manage felids in their
collections.
• At the end of this course the attendee will be able to:
o Have increased confidence in their abilities to work with felids.
o Be actively involved in decision making regarding care and
management of cats in their collection.
o Understand, accept and commit to the fact that felid management is a
continual learning process.
o Demonstrate confidence in their abilities to participate in the decision
making process regarding felids in their collection.
o Develop an ongoing support network for attendees.
• At the end of this course, the attendee will be able to:
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o Utilize the list of contacts given to gain practical advice when needed.
o Automatically sign up to a list serve that includes only attendees and
instructors of the course.
o Report back to mentors on what they have accomplished (based on
action steps they each develop during the course).
o Provide resources to attendees concerning management and “best practices” for cat
species under their care.
• At the end of this course, the attendee will take away:
o Standardized Guidelines
o Husbandry manuals
o CD of course materials - videos of animals
o Enrichment/equipment products
o “Stuff”
o Deliver skill set to attendees so they can immediately apply that knowledge to the
daily care of cats in their collection. The skill set is the most important issue.
• At the end of the course, the attendee will be able to:
o Utilize a variety of skill sets (for example, recognize estrus, etc.)
o Know the appropriate timing and methods for introducing animals for a
variety of purposes.
• It would be useful to conduct pre- and post-course assessment of attendees helps to develop curricula.
• Attendees should be required to read pre-requisite natural history material
before the course to be familiar with taxa targeted for management.
• Curriculum should include experience “stories” - summaries from different
zoos of what works (for introductions, etc.).
• Video should be used when possible to show introductions, interactions, etc.
• Set up some scenarios played out to a certain point and then ask attendees to
suggest the next steps that should be taken.
o Transfer information to future generations and others at their home institutions.
• Provide PowerPoint presentation that keepers could take back to give to others
• How to deal with the difficult keeper/curator who doesn’t want to listen to
what you learned
o Soft skills - how to get buy in
o Problem solving models
o Voice a certain number of benefits that cats and keepers will have as a
result of attending-develop a strategy for sharing information when
they go back home. Must leave course with that ready to go (also
require attendees to provide feedback to instructors)
o Product must be able to be re-purposed such that it can be used to teach others (in
range countries, etc).
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Other Issues
• Must discuss failures as well as successes.
• Pre-attendance letter for attendees that they must have institutional director sign that
outlines what keeper hopes to accomplish
• Best practices (what’s out there) - cheetah, otter, red panda husbandry courses
o Differing formats - examples: more lecture for callithricids, more hands on for otters
• Need to define number of attendees in order to help define activities, etc. Is 20 too many?
• SPIDER MODEL - Utilized as framework for developing training and enrichment
programs. Re-purpose for felids.
o Setting goals
o Planning
o Implementing
o Documenting
o Evaluating
o Re-adjustment
• Since it does not have to be a Board of Regents Course, don’t need to worry about AZA
course guidelines.
• Need facilitators to lead the project forward: Should be a combination of animal managers
and educators. Animal managers should lead the project and utilize educators’ advice to
help develop the course activities, learning outcomes, measures, evaluations, curricula,
etc. Facilitators include:
Hollie Colahan
Curator of Primates and Carnivores
Houston Zoo
1513 North MacGregor
Houston, TX 77030
713-533-6528
[email protected]
Hollie will attempt to locate an education facilitator from Houston Zoo to assist.
Jilian Fazio
National Zoo
[email protected]
Janelle Lemke
Dallas World Aquarium
1801 North Griffin St.
Dallas, TX 75202
214-720-2224
[email protected]
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Stacy McReynolds
Education Manager
San Antonio Zoo
3903 N. St. Marys Street
San Antonio, TX 78212-3199
210-734-7184 ext. 109
[email protected]
Logistics: Facilitators should discuss and determine best way to proceed
• Options: Before or after TAG meeting or at another time.
ƒ If not with TAG, there may be one or two institutions that are willing
to host.
ƒ Draft together for next year’s TAG meeting - hand pick attendees, do
this as a trial training course (beta version)
• Since TAG meeting is at the Nashville Zoo, maybe first one
targets regional area around Nashville
o Helps keep costs down, people know each other and get
a good group of people
o One of the facilitators should be a student and evaluate
the course from a student’s perspective
o 15-18 people.
o AAZK connection - helping to host students
o Try to keep costs down – hold silent auction and have
host go out into the community to help get sponsors.
o Norah, Danny, and Bonnie will worry about getting
sponsors and financial side of it for 2007. We will figure
out ways to help cover expenses.
o Interest in hands-on component
ƒ Need to define what you want to do
ƒ Will host institution be willing/able to
accommodate that - liability and access issues
ƒ Utilize video as much as possible.
ƒ Host institution may have a qualified instructor.
ƒ Challenge is to get everything organized and inform institutions in
time (fiscal year for 2007 may start in July 2006)
ƒ If we need to get it started by April 2007, need to establish firm
timeline
• Maybe if you are enrolled in the first class, you get a reduced registration rate
for TAG.
• Set up list serve thru AZA for Husbandry Course (Norah will investigate).
Timeline: The goal is to have the first course within the next year.
• Once draft topic outline is done, send to Danny, Bonnie and Norah who will
help identify instructors. Prioritize and focus. Try to stick with six main points
that you really want people to walk away with.
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•
Need to think about holding another working group meeting in person
Final thoughts:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Since the Cheetah SSP is having its own workshop, don’t include cheetahs.
Contact program managers for specific issues regarding their species but ask them to
identify the more broad based issues.
Keep it simple - stick to more broad based issues.
Compiling a list of students first may help determine what specific species you identify
Include what species that you work with on application.
Keep in mind that your target audience is or may be relatively inexperienced in working
with cats and that basics are the most important.
Core of course is general material - helps reduce overhead. Examples may change every
year and rely on instructors to make those changes.
Biggest difference may be between small and large cats.
Assign husbandry guidelines for each species and maybe standardized guidelines as prereading.
Norah to contact Tarren and update her.
Everyone needs to go back to their cat keepers and ask them what the issues are.
Utilize materials from small cat workshop and USDA cat care workshop.
Small Cat Priorities Working Group
Chaired by Danny Morris, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
General Objective: To discuss ongoing activities and plans for the future to promote small cats
among AZA institutions.
Bill Swanson reviewed the origins and past activities of this working group. At
the 2005 mid-year Felid TAG meeting, we set three primary goals for this group to accomplish
in the next year. The first goal was to present a speaker session focused on small cats at the 2005
National AZA Conference in Chicago to begin raising awareness about these species. We
petitioned the AZA and received their permission to organize a session entitled “Increasing
Small Cat Awareness” with Alan Shoemaker, Bill Swanson, Dan Marsh and Jill Mellen as
speakers. The session was held on the last day of the national meeting with about 30-40 people in
attendance. The second goal was to develop an education packet about small cats for distribution
to interested zoos. A preliminary informative brochure, developed by Dan Marsh and others,
was handed out at the small cat session at the AZA Conference but it still needs further
refinement (see below). The third goal was to request publication of a Communiqué issue
dedicated to small cats. The AZA balked at an entire issue on small felids but did publish a
dedicated felids issue (December 2005) containing four full length articles on wild cats,
including an overview article focused on small cats.
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Danny also addressed the goal to formalize small cat advisors. Karen Terio, as Pathology
Advisor, will continue providing histopathology evaluations of deceased cats in the five small cat
SSP populations. Kristi Fisher, as Small Cat Veterinary Advisor, will be available for
consultation on veterinary issues, and Cheryl Dikeman, as Small Cat Nutrition Advisor, will
assist zoos with diet questions.
Assessing current demand: Danny is working on a computer program to survey and collect
felid data on program status, current animal numbers, space data, reasons for change, and
collection purposes.
Small cat standards: Danny mentioned there has been some progress; however, there are
several questions that need to be addressed before the standards can be finalized and further
outside review of the document will be needed.
Black-footed cats: (Jason Herrick) Reproductive research includes an ongoing study to collect,
evaluate and freeze semen from wild BFC. Semen has been collected from one wild cat in each
of the past two years. The current project is collaborative and multidisciplinary with studies of
distribution and subspecies issues (Alex Sliwa), diseases affecting BFC such as amyloidosis
(Nadine Lamberski), and reproduction, specifically collection of semen and comparison between
wild vs. captive populations (Jason). The research team will be going back to South Africa in
the Fall of 2006. The most recent analysis by Alex has found that the European BFC population
is in trouble and he desperately needs European and North American zoos to maintain BFC’s in
their collections and support the ongoing research projects. Some animals are available for
importation and Omaha is willing to act as the point institution for a mass importation. Bill
Swanson mentioned that BFCs are an ESA species so support of field projects for direct
enhancement will be required to get import permits from USFWS. Danny stated he would like
to bring in 12-16 animals if possible rather than dealing with acquiring multiple permits.
Education: (Dan Marsh) Last year it was decided to increase educational efforts with a focus on
marketing the “Fabulous Five” in a brochure distributed at the AZA Conference. A flyer was
developed for institutions potentially looking at housing small cats and handed out at the AZA
small cat session. This effort seems to have raised some interest in fishing cats, Pallas’ cats, and
ocelots, but didn’t work as well for sand cats or black-footed Cats. Dan wanted to know if this
approach is having any impact and asked for feedback from population managers and zoos. SSP
coordinators also were asked to revise their respective sections of the small cat brochure.
Group discussion included thoughts on getting this information to collection managers,
SSP coordinators, enclosure designers, and directors, and to continually hit people with this
information over and over. Dan suggested that this brochure be reviewed by zoo marketing
departments to get further feedback. It would be helpful if we could find more compelling
images to include in the brochure, including photos of small cats in well-designed enclosures.
The earliest that the final brochure would be available would likely be late June or July of 2006.
We definitely would want to have the brochure finished to hand out at the Felid TAG session
during the 2006 AZA Conference. Dan also is working on a general information poster covering
all of cat species managed by the Felid TAG, with funding support from Nebraska Brands
Dan also wants to develop a website that would be the “go to” place for cat information
and photos that could serve as a “clearinghouse” for available educational resources, but there
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remains lot of work to do to get to that point. Before we can proceed further, there exists a need
to define the TAG’s education mission with small cats and develop a comprehensive strategy to
achieve that mission. Is the mission more about marketing small cats to zoos or educating zoos
and the public about small cats or a mixture of the two? Is it best to get the cats in the zoos first
and then focus on education or educate first as a way to encourage zoos to house these cats?
During group discussion, three objectives were identified for educators to address: 1) conduct a
front end assessment on education needs with small cats, 2) develop a strategic education plan to
meet those needs over the next three years, and 3) if necessary, identify species-specific
education liaisons to assist with implementing that plan.
Pathology: (Karen Terio) Karen is currently working on developing a database for disease
conditions in felid species. They will do histopathology for free if institutions collect the
requested tissues and ship them to her. The turnaround time is about 10 days. This will be a
very useful database tool for felid species and it is asked that institutions work with Karen on
communicating data for this database.
Veterinary Issues: (Kristi Fisher) Kristi wanted feedback from the group regarding her duties
and responsibilities. Karen and Bill are mostly interested in having her address the clinical
aspects of veterinary medicine with small cat species (primarily for those SSPs/PMPs that lack a
veterinary advisor) and to be available as a resource (i.e., a “go to” person for clinical
information). There also is a need for coordination of future veterinary research efforts.
Nutrition Issues: (Cheryl Dikeman) Cheryl is starting to research nutritional parameters with a
new grain free feline diet (EVO). On a dry matter basis the diet is chemically similar to a raw
diet with the exception that herring is a major protein source, therefore, the omega 3 fatty acids
are quite high. The product was tested with 10 different species at the Henry Doorly Zoo and all
readily ate the extruded diet. The effects of this diet on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance,
and urine parameters will be investigated initially in African Wildcats. Further studies with
species-specific nutrient digestibility issues will likely follow the initial assessment.
Future needs and goals for the next year:
1) Husbandry course: There will need to be another working group session in the future to
develop a husbandry course for small cats. The TAG’s initial husbandry course in 2007 will
focus primarily on large cat species.
2) Communiqué articles: Bill stated that the AZA Communiqué is willing to publish short (~1
page) articles on small cats every four months or so to help raise awareness, and potentially will
allow development of larger stories.
3) Importation of black footed cats
4) Funding for sand cat research (see Wild About Cats website for more information).
5) Small cat plushes: Bill is looking into the possibility of getting plushes (stuffed animals) made
for other small cat species. A Pallas’ Cat plush is currently available and a fishing cat plush is
the next species likely to be produced.
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SSP/PMP and Studbook Updates
Pallas’ Cat SSP
The Pallas’ Cat SSP report can be found in the Temperate Asian Felid section of these
Proceedings.
Serval PMP
Bonnie Breitbeil, Population Manager, Central Florida Zoological Park
Current Population: The current studbook population is: 69.76.0 (145). The current AZA PMP
population is 46.49.0 (95) in 44 facilities. The PMP was distributed on March 2, 2005.
Recommendations were made for 5 breeding pairs and 4 transfers. Of these transfers two
occurred, resulting in 1.1.0 (2) births. Two facilities were affected by Hurricane Katrina and
have been unable to complete the PMP recommendations.
Changes in the Population: Since January 2005 there were 1.2.0 (3) deaths, 1.1.0 (2) births and
1.1.0 (2) imports of founder animals. This month another importation should occur bringing in
3.3.0 (6) additional founders into 4 facilities. I would like to thank Bill Gersonde for all his hard
work in making this happen. With these imports the PMP will have surpassed its goal of adding
4 founders every 10 years to increase genetic diversity! Three facilities no longer have servals
and have left the PMP, but three facilities were gained.
Special note: Recruitment continues to occur through the acquisition of unknown pedigree
specimens from the private sector as well as local Animal Control facilities; however, the
majority of these animals are acquired for educational or promotional purposes and are not
reproducing. These animals do not have any genetic value for the PMP population. They will be
included in the studbook, but not the PMP.
Ocelot SSP
Ken Kaemmerer, Species Coordinator, Dallas Zoo
Captive Population
Nanette Bragin, Ocelot studbook keeper, reported that the current studbook contained
118 generic ocelots (60.58) in 49 institutions, however only 92 are from AZA institutions and of
those only 83 (34.49) can be used in the analytical population for reproductive masterplanning.
From 1 January 2004 to present there have been 12 births (6.6) and 5 deaths (1.4) of generic
ocelots. Of the 12 births, five were from recommended pairings; the other seven were not
recommended. One strategy under consideration to maximize the amount of available ocelot
space is to place females not recommended for breeding on the birth control contraceptive,
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deslorelin, and place them together with males. This has the added benefit of exhibiting two
ocelots instead of one. One drawback to deslorelin is that it should be re-implanted every six
months. For more information on deslorelin contact the AZA Contraception Center
(www.stlzoo.org/contraception) or Dr. Cheryl Asa ([email protected]).
With Brazilian ocelots, Leopardus pardalis mitis, 19 (12.7) live in 8 institutions. There
have been 4 births (2.2) and no deaths since 1 January 2004. We are looking for homes for
young male Brazilian ocelots that have not yet been paired (contact Ken if interested).
Brazilian Ocelot Consortium
Bill Swanson reported on the status of the export permits for 2.2 Brazilian ocelots from
Brazil to the U.S. through the Brazilian Ocelot Consortium (BOC). For almost two years our
Brazilian colleagues have been trying to procure permits from IBAMA and communication in
the last week reveals that the last signatures may be imminent, but we have heard that before. If
true then we may be able to import animals before summer. However if there are further delays
up to this September, when our USFWS import permit expires, then we may have to reexamine
the feasibility of the whole BOC concept. Bill let his Brazilian ocelot frozen embryo permit
expire as that may be more difficult presently to petition for until or if the live animals permit is
completed; plus the Brazilian government currently seems to be more negatively sensitive to the
export of biological materials. On advice of our BOC Brazilian colleague, we have not sent any
more funding to Brazil in the past year until the permits are released.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ocelot Recovery Team and Plan
Ken Kaemmerer reported on the USFWS Ocelot Recovery Team progress. The most
recent meeting in November 2005 at the Dallas Zoo had the purpose of finalizing the written
input of the Recovery Team Technical subcommittee for a completed draft of the Ocelot
Recovery Plan. Unquestionably the U.S. population is at risk of future extinction if no new
founder animals are added. Translocation of animals from Mexico may be a strategy for the
future, but the methodology needs to be worked out. In addition, to lessen the risk to the only
two known U.S. populations, only one of which is protected at the Laguna Atascosa Wildlife
Reserve, it may be desirable to establish a third population in the U.S. in a protected area. The
plan is currently being reviewed internally by USFWS before it goes outside for peer review. By
summer it should be published for a public comment period and then it will be revised with those
comments included and published in final form by this fall.
Research
Bill reported that they have finished a study of semen freezing techniques which will be
applicable to the field as well as at an institution; the paper will be submitted shortly and should
be published by the end of the year. The 80 frozen Brazilian ocelot embryos he has are still
stored in Brazil since the permit to import them has expired; getting an export permit through
IBAMA is just as problematic as getting live animals described above. If he ultimately can not
get the embryos out, then at some point to finish the project he may transfer them into cats in
Brazil to refine and prove the methodology which is still important for the future of ocelots.
Ken reported on an experimental Mexican ocelot translocation project to be conducted
starting this summer. Developing the methodology for translocations is easier and faster in
Mexico since there is not the bureaucracy involved with an endangered species in the U.S. and
the results can be applicable to any future translocations to or within the U.S. This last year,
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with the support of the Dallas Zoo and a Mexican NGO, Pronatura Noreste, Mexican field
biologist, Arturo Caso, surveyed private ranches in NE Mexico for the presence of ocelots. He
found evidence through camera trapping of ocelots on one ranch about 80 miles south of the
U.S./Mexico border; this is the most northerly documentation of ocelots in NE Mexico. He also
found a different ranch that would be suitable for an experimental translocation of ocelots within
Mexico. The owner is supportive; the ranch historically had ocelots but does not appear to now;
there is good and plentiful ocelot habitat; and it is located on a peninsula which would make
monitoring of released ocelots easier. Starting this summer we will conduct preliminary research
to prepare for translocations including a systematic camera trap survey to thoroughly document
the presence or absence of ocelots as well as other carnivores, a habitat assessment of designated
ocelot typical habitat with measurements of density of cover, and a small mammal prey survey
over all seasons. If these preliminary results are favorable, then 1.2 young adults will be
captured from a ranch further west, their health assessed, and then radio-collared and placed in
soft release pens for a period before releasing onto the ranch and monitored continuously. This
conservation research has direct application to an endangered American species and we are
seeking additional partners to support this work. Contact Ken for further information.
Education
The only internationally accessible public education program with the ocelot as its
primary focus is “The Ocelot Experience” which was developed by the Dallas Zoo and may be
accessed at www.dallaszooed.com. This interactive bilingual web-based program about the
ocelot was developed to address school systems and regional cultures specific to northern
Mexico, south Texas, and other areas where ocelots occur or may be introduced. This website
adds an educational component to conservation work with ocelots and was created to help raise
the awareness of its endangered status, and to encourage action in protecting the ocelot. The
targeted audience for the website is 4th through 6th grade students with either English or Spanish
as the primary language; the opening page allows viewers to switch to either language. The
website contains basic information on the natural history and conservation status of the ocelot, as
well as an interactive demonstration of field research. Interactive components include a
matching game and a section allowing viewers to paint line drawings of ocelots and other
wildlife in assorted colors and then print them off. The website encourages students to become
field researchers and to utilize math, science, reading, and geography skills. The education
components were designed to meet Texas State Education and National Science standards. The
new web program also provides a mechanism to evaluate its effectiveness via a pre- and postexperience quiz. Anyone interested in ocelots is encouraged to make use of this educational
resource.
Stacy McReynolds from the San Antonio Zoo is the sole Education Advisor since
Allyson Atkins resigned. The education needs of the SSP are being evaluated and any input is
appreciated. Contact Stacy at [email protected] .
SSP Masterplanning Session
Nanette Bragin and Ken Kaemmerer had a preliminary masterplanning session before the
SSP meeting and then reviewed the results with the SSP meeting participants. With Brazilian
ocelots we generally want to breed everyone genetically possible, especially founder animals.
Our founder animals are getting older (12-14 yrs) and close to reproductive senescence, so it is
important not to break up existing pairs. We made five breeding recommendations as well as two
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other moves and pairings which will require assisted reproduction techniques. Three males
remain unpaired for a lack of unrelated females. Without more founder animals soon, this
population could begin to regress.
For generic ocelots we looked at the growth rate for the past five years and Lambda
seems to average around l .99% which actually is a negative growth rate of -1%; this means the
population has remained almost stable, although there have been a number of un-recommended
births (which need to cease). We decided to masterplan the generics with that same figure for
this next year especially since we still don’t know whether there will be imports of Brazilians.
Nanette took out all non-AZA animals, neutered animals, behavioral problem animals, animals
with uncertain backgrounds, and education animals. This left an analytical population of 34.49
that were used for breeding recommendations. This growth rate would require 13 births (1.5
ocelots/litter = 8.6 pair) or 17 breeding pairs (8.6 x 2). We actually made 15 breeding
recommendations with 8 pairs remaining at their existing institutions. Other transfers were made
to meet institution requests.
Ken Kaemmerer, Dallas Zoo, [email protected] 214-671-0778
SSP Meeting Participant List
Keith Lovett
Amanda Haug
Rhonda Votino
Stacy McReynolds
Hollie Colahan
Michelle Schireman
Barb Palmer
Sue Booth-B inczik
Natalie Lindholm
Janelle Lemke
Bill Swanson
Alan Sironen
Tom Smith
Alan Shoemaker
Don Goff
David Hamilton
Nanette Bragin
Kevin Chambers
Palm Beach Zoo
[email protected]
Palm Beach Zoo
[email protected]
Amarillo Zoo
[email protected]
San Antonio Zoo
[email protected]
Houston Zoo
[email protected]
Oregon Zoo
[email protected]
San Francisco Zoo [email protected]
[email protected]
Dallas Zoo
Dallas World Aq
[email protected]
Dallas World Aq
[email protected]
Cincinnati Zoo
[email protected]
Cleveland Metro Zoo [email protected]
Zoo Atlanta
[email protected]
Felid TAG
[email protected]
CT’s Beardsley Zoo [email protected]
Seneca Park Zoo
[email protected]
Denver Zoo
[email protected]
FCF
[email protected]
561-537-0887
806-381-7911
210-734-7184
713-533-6528
503-226-1561x5275
415-305-4256
214-671-0777
214-720-2224
214-720-2224
513-961-2739
216-635-3373
404-624-5611
803-772-6701
203-394-6564
585-336-2502
303-376-4917
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Clouded Leopard SSP
Norah Fletchall, Species Coordinator, John Ball Zoo
[email protected]
Name
Alan Shoemaker
Alan Sironen
Beth Jo
Schoeberl
Bill Swanson
Bonnie Breitbai
Cheryl Dikeman
Craig Saffoe
Danny Morris
Dusty Lombardi
Genevieve
Magarey
Hollie Colahan
Janelle Lemke
Jason Herrick
Jilian Fazio
Joe Maynard
Karen Povey
Karen Terio
Kate MacKinnon
Katey Pelican
Ken Kaemmerer
Laurie Trechsel
Lynn Kramer
Mary Lieras
Natalie Lindholm
Pat Currie
Raejeana
McKinzie
Tom Smith
Clouded Leopard SSP Meeting Attendees
April 6, 2006
Institution
Email
Felid TAG
[email protected]
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
[email protected]
Denver Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo
Central Florida Zoo
Omaha Zoo
National Zoo
Omaha Zoo
Columbus Zoo & Aq.
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Cincinnati Zoo
Houston Zoo
Dallas World Aquarium
Cincinnati Zoo/CREW
National Zoo
Exotic Feline Breeding
Comp.
Pt. Defiance Zoo & Aq.
University of Illinois
National Zoo
National Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Denver Zoo
San Diego Zoo
Dallas World Aquarium
Columbus Zoo
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Cheyenne Mt. Zoo
Zoo Atlanta
[email protected]
[email protected]
Overview of SSP Population (Norah Fletchall)
1) Worldwide Population Status in Zoos
a) 220 animals (101.118.1) at 72 institutions worldwide.
b) population outside of North America is 128 individuals (67.70.1) at 38 institutions
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2) SSP Population Status
a) current living SSP population is 34.48 (82) living at 34 Institutions. Loss of Oakhill
animals reduced population by 5.8 (13)
b) 16 births (4.7.5) at 5 institutions since January 2005 with 3.3.1 animals surviving
c) 0.4 born since Jan 05 in SSP-all were born at Oakhill Center and are no longer
officially part of the SSP program
3) Population Parameters
a) RCP has allocated 120 spaces for the Clouded leopard SSP
b) SSP planned to import a total of 6 new founders in 2004 and 2005 through the
Thailand Consortium (1.1 to date).
c) Currently working on permits to import 2 more animals born at the Thailand
Consortium project
4) Criteria for pairing/placement of animals
•
•
•
•
Males in the population are ideally paired before they reach the age of two years.
Females can be paired at a later age if needed as long as they are paired with
younger males.
Every attempt is made to pair animals whose mean kinships are similar whilst
minimizing the deleterious effects of inbreeding.
Institutions who express a desire to move or acquire clouded leopards. This
interest must be expressed in writing either via an annual questionnaire or
correspondence with the SSP Coordinator. Breeding pairs will be placed at
facilities that have prior experience with pairing/breeding clouded leopards or at
those facilities where exhibit, holding and staff are appropriate (as determined by
the management group).
5) 2005 moves recommended
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
San Diego Zoo-new exhibit (0.2 from Nashville)-DONE
Cleveland MetroParks Zoo (1.1 brdng pr from Columbus)-DONE. Female died
spring 2006.
Mesker Park Zoo- (0.1 from Columbus)-DONE
Brookfield Zoo-(1.1 from Denver/Alexandria)-DONE
Ellen Trout Zoo-(0.1 from Lufkin)-DONE
National Zoo-request exhibit animals in 2006-PENDING
Audubon Institute-female in 2006-NOT DONE (Katrina)
Central Florida Zoo-2 pairs for breeding-NOT DONE
6) Zoos requesting Clouded leopards
•
•
•
Cincinnati-1.1 from Nashville-DONE
Nashville-1.1 Pt Defiance/Thai import-DONE
CRC-1.1 Thai import/Pt. Defiance-Done.
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•
•
•
•
Houston-Exhibit
Mill Mountain-Exhibit
Omaha-Breeding Pair
Various-need to pair placed females (Lufkin, Evansville)
7) Clouded leopards available for placement
•
•
•
•
•
•
1.2 @ San Antonio (need to move. Recommended to move to Central Florida
Zoo)
1.0 @ Memphis (old, alone)
1.0 @ Fort Worth (medical history)
0.1 @ Denver (good exhibit animal)
1.1 @ Columbus (will go to National Zoo for their new exhibit)
1.0 @ CRC (unable to be introduced to imported female)
8) Oakhill Center (5.8 animals)
•
•
•
Oakhill no longer participating is SSP or AZA. Clouded leopards were relocated
to Tanganika Wildlife. Those institutions who possess clouded leopards owned
by Oakhill should have been contacted by Jim Fouts of Tanganika Wildlife to
discuss the situation.
The SSP Coordinator is working with Jim Fouts to identify which clouded
leopards he plans on keeping and any births, deaths, etc.
The SSP encourages those institutions that have animals that are on loan
from Fouts to try to achieve ownership of those cats. This is particularly
important for any clouded leopards that are currently paired.
9) Current Pairs status
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Brookfield (1216/1138)-introduction process underway
Alexandria (1110/958)-post repro? (0.1 is 13)
Minnesota (1178/1144)-not possible
Cincinnati (1181/1210)-introduction process underway
Cleveland (1227/1228)-unsuccessful
Columbus (1180/1179)-to National, need to breed
NZP-CRC (1211/1214)-introduction unsuccessful.
Nashville (1218/1212)-together, Thai import
Point Defiance (1079/1082)-together, no breeding seen
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Update on Education Activities (Karen Povey)
This has been a busy year for clouded leopard-related initiatives. The following are some of the
highlights.
1) In North America:
•
The Clouded Leopard Project/Clouded Leopard SSP website continues to be very
popular, generating an average of 175,000 hits each month. This site has proven to be
a great resource for publicizing clouded leopards and their conservation issues as well
as for fundraising. This year we have added some new products (note cards and a
poster) for sale online. An unexpected benefit of the website has been its role as a
conduit for communication with researchers interested in clouded leopards or
working on clouded leopard field projects. These scientists are eager to communicate
with us to seek funding and to share their work for publication on the site. (See below
for details on some of these projects.)
•
The Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (PDZA) has added a clouded leopard
interpretive activity prior to their Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater live animal
program. This activity utilizes a clouded leopard costume and a volunteer to talk
about the cat’s adaptations for life in the forest. It is an engaging activity that has
proven very popular with visitors and is a great way to talk about our conservation
efforts without even having a live clouded leopard on display!
•
The donation box at PDZA continues to be an effective tool for fundraising and has
collected over $11,000 in donations since its inception in 2002.
•
In July 2005, PDZA hosted a Thai-themed dinner, Feast for Felines, to raise funds for
clouded leopard conservation efforts. The dinner and auction raised over $8000 for
those projects.
•
Additional projects slated for 2006 include the first Clouded Leopard Project
Newsletter, production of a bilingual storybook for use in Asia, and attendance at the
Wildlife Conservation Network’s Wildlife Expo in the San Francisco Bay Area in the
fall.
2) In Asia:
•
Production is complete on The Wild Cats of Southeast Asia: An Educator’s Guide.
This guide is a comprehensive teacher’s environmental education curriculum with a
focus on wild cats. It has been sent to WildAid (PDZA’s partner in the project) where
it is currently being translated. After translation and printing, it will be distributed to
500 teachers in the vicinity of Khao Yai National Park for a pilot study and
evaluation. When evaluation and refinement is complete, the guide will be distributed
more widely and possibly used in other countries such as Laos, Cambodia, and
Vietnam.
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2006 Felid TAG Conference Proceedings
•
PDZA is funding a WildAid outreach educator who will distribute the guide, conduct
evaluation, work with teachers, and provide programs for students. We are also
providing materials for an outreach kit, including skull replicas, photos, posters, and
other teaching materials.
3) Other Clouded Leopard Research Supported by PDZA and the Clouded Leopard Project:
•
Lon Grassman and Jan Janeka of Texas A & M University. Lon and Jan are
conducting genetic evaluation of wild cat populations in Thailand to determine
genetic variation and population parameters.
•
Andreas Wilting, University of Würzburg, Germany. Andreas is studying clouded
leopards in Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Sabah, Borneo. Andreas has spotted several
clouded leopards and provided some great video footage of a cat at night – to our
knowledge the only video existing of a wild clouded leopard.
•
Per Christiansen, Ph.D., Zoological Museum, Department of Vertebrates
Copenhagen, Denmark. Per is studying the skull of the clouded leopard and
comparing its characteristics to that of saber-toothed cats. He has determined that
clouded leopards evolved adaptations very similar to saber-toothed cats and may
share a lineage. He believes that the clouded leopard may have a significantly
different feeding ecology from the other cats due to its 100 degree gape. He is
interested in further research on this topic.
Pathology Update – Clouded Leopards
Dr. Karen Terio, University of Illinois, Zoological Pathology Program
SSP Pathology Survey
The SSP pathology survey has been underway for two years. Tissues that have been
submitted and evaluated are entered into a database so that common lesions and diseases of this
species can be identified and diseases of concern can be further investigated. To date, one of the
interesting findings of this survey is the high incidence of neoplasia (cancer) within the
population. Common tumors include pheochromocytomas, meningioma, lymphoma, testicular
tumors, mesotheliomas, and intestinal adenocarcinomas. Most notable is the very high incidence
of pheochromocytomas (10 confirmed cases to date). Pheochromocytomas are tumors of the
adrenal medulla and are considered very rare tumors in domestic and non-domestic felids. In
some cases, these tumors appear to have been functional in that they produce hormones
(catecholamines) without the normal hormonal regulation, resulting in high levels of
catecholamines. Catecholamines can cause hypertension with subsequent retinal detachment,
both of which have been noted in some clouded leopards. We are currently investigating this
condition and if you suspect that you have a case, please contact the SSP pathology advisor
([email protected], Ph (708- 216-6183) so that we can gain a better understanding of this disease.
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Other lesions that are commonly seen include chronic renal disease and chronic heart
failure.
If you have a clouded leopard that dies or is euthanized, we request that a necropsy be
performed and tissues collected according to the SSP necropsy protocol. All tissues sent to Dr.
Terio and the SSP Pathology survey will be evaluated at no cost (e.g. FREE) and a complete
histopathology report will be sent to the submitting institution in a timely manner (usually within
10 business days). Necropsy protocols are available on the Felid TAG, AAZV websites and
available from Norah Fletchall or Dr. Terio.
Stress and Disease
Dr. Kathy Carlstead has led a multidisciplinary study looking at correlations between
stress and disease. This project utilized retrospective data from previous studies on multiple
different species, including the clouded leopard. The study population utilized data from Dr.
Wielebnowski’s study (published in 2002) and included animals from that study that have died
and from whom either a necropsy report or tissues were available for evaluation. All lesions
were scored and the cause of death was categorized by the SSP Pathologist (Dr. Terio). No
relationship was found between age at death and corticoids. When compared to the corticoid
measures collected in 1998-1999, post-hoc comparisons show that death by conspecific trauma
(n=3) and degenerative causes (n=1) were associated with highest corticoids, and chronic renal
disease and accidental death with lowest corticoids. Adrenal cortical hyperplasia was associated
with higher mean corticoid levels and higher peak values suggesting that this morphologic
indicator of stress is associated with functional increase in corticoids. Clouded leopards with
neoplasia of any kind had significantly higher peak corticoid values than all other leopards if the
three animals dying of conspecific trauma are removed from the comparison. No relationship
was found between the number or specific type of neoplasm and corticoids. Membranous
glomerulopathy, the most common type of renal disease in the clouded leopards, was associated
with higher mean corticoids, basal corticoids and peak corticoids. This result is interesting in
light of the evidence that glomerulosclerosis, a similar lesion affecting the kidney, is thought to
be stress related in cheetah. Findings from this study will help guide future studies into the
possible role of stress in disease development in clouded leopards.
Fishing Cat SSP
Bill Swanson, Species Coordinator, Cincinnati Zoo
The Fishing Cat Species Survival Plan held a SSP meeting on April 5th, 2006 in Denver,
CO in conjunction with the mid-year Felid TAG meeting. The SSP meeting was attended by 28
individuals representing 16 AZA member institutions and 3 non-AZA institutions (i.e., two
private cat facilities and one university). The current demographic and genetic status of the SSP
population was reviewed. As of April 2006, the SSP population consisted of 78 cats (30.48.0) in
23 institutions. In the past year, there were 12 (4.8) kittens born in 4 litters and the death of 8
(2.6) cats for a net gain of 4 individuals. Of the 11 SSP recommended pairings in 2004, three
pairs (Minnesota, Feline Conservation Center) reproduced, with each of these pairs comprised of
at least one new founder for the SSP population. The current SSP founder population is 11
individuals with a potential for 4 additional founders. Genetic diversity (GD) has improved to
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2006 Felid TAG Conference Proceedings
0.867 with a theoretical GD of 0.95 over time. Mean inbreeding has decreased slightly (F =
0.16) from 2004 and is expected to decline further with continued management and founder
incorporation. Globally, there are 278 (131.135.12) fishing cats in 85 institutions with 24 births
(8.13.3) and 14 deaths (3.11.0) in the past year. The updated International Fishing Cat Studbook
may be obtained by contacting the Studbook Keeper Lynda Curtis at [email protected].
Breeding recommendations for 2006 were revisited and discussed. Of the 11
recommended pairings from 2005, one recommendation was withdrawn due to the occurrence of
recurrent abortions in the female and four recommended pairings involving cats from the Feline
Conservation Center (FCC; Rosamond) were rescinded due to an ill-advised change in AZA
policies. Because the AZA has decided to prohibit SSP participation by non-AZA institutions
(that are open to the public), the Fishing Cat SSP can no longer make breeding recommendations
for animals owned by FCC. This institution has been a key participant in the SSP and took the
initiative to import several of the founders that entered the U.S. in the past five years so their
exclusion by AZA fiat is particularly damaging to the genetic composition of the SSP.
Fortunately, the FCC has consented to allow AZA institutions to purchase offspring produced by
their founder pairs. The SSP has noted that the following institutions have expressed recent
interest in acquiring fishing cats: National Zoo, Jackson Zoo, San Antonio Zoo, Audubon Zoo,
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Atlanta Zoo and the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered
Species. The SSP strongly encourages these and other AZA institutions to take advantage of this
opportunity to assist the SSP in recovering this lost genetic variation while helping the FCC to
recoup some of their costs in importing and maintaining these fishing cat founders. The FCC
(attention: Joe Maynard) may be contacted via email at [email protected] to inquire about
animal availability and costs.
Coordinator note (Nov 2006): With the exclusion the FCC from the SSP, the only
valuable fishing cats born in the past two years available for placement by the SSP are located at
the Minnesota Zoo. The SSP priority is to place all of these offspring in breeding situations to
increase offspring production, incorporate new genes into the SSP population and replace aging
fishing cats at AZA institutions as these cats die off over the next few years. Accordingly, two
female fishing cats from Minnesota were transferred to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in late 2006
for exhibitry with the expectation to pair these cats with unrelated males as they become
available. Two other Minnesota offspring will be transferred to other zoos in early 2007 to form
breeding pairs and to free up holding space at the Minnesota Zoo for their next expected litter.
The Columbus Zoo has obtained two female fishing cats from the FCC that will be priorities for
pairing in 2007. The other five fishing cat founders at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Cincinnati
Zoo and Riverbanks Zoo have not reproduced in the past two years. At the 2007 mid-year Felid
TAG meeting in Nashville, the Fishing Cat SSP will convene a session to discuss shifting some
cats between institutions to improve the prospects for breeding these founders.
In 2005, no new founders were imported into North America as part of the SSP
population. The planned importation of four founders from Sri Lanka by the Memphis Zoo is
pending but may be delayed due to permitting issues. The SSP continues to assist the Thai
Zoological Parks Organization (ZPO) in managing fishing cats in Thai zoos, working in
collaboration with Dusit Zoo veterinarian Dr. Karn Lekagul, Rick Passaro from the Smithsonian
National Zoological Park and the Clouded Leopard SSP. Four breeding pairs are being
maintained at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo and the Dusit Zoo; however, no offspring have been
produced from these pairings and no new fishing cats have entered captivity (to our knowledge)
in Thailand since 2004. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the fishing cat breeding
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2006 Felid TAG Conference Proceedings
program was renewed with the ZPO for another three years in May 2006. The priority in the
next three years will be to locate some younger cats to incorporate into the breeding program and
generate founder offspring for importation to the U.S.
Reproductive research with fishing cats is continuing in both the U.S. and Thailand.
Rose Bauer, a PhD candidate at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, continues to refine
protocols for artificial insemination in spontaneously-ovulating species such as the fishing cat
(see her report, this volume). Dr. Genevieve Magarey, a post-doctoral fellow at the Cincinnati
Zoo, has been investigating in vitro fertilization using frozen-thawed fishing cat spermatozoa and
embryo transfer as a means to infuse genetic variation into the SSP population (Thiangtum et al.,
2006; Magarey et al., 2006). In her most recent studies in collaboration with the Khao Kheow
Open Zoo and Dusit Zoo in Thailand, Dr. Magarey produced fishing cat IVF embryos that
developed to the blastocyst stage during culture and were transferred into three synchronized
recipients; unfortunately, no pregnancies resulted. Other reproductive studies by Dr. Earle Pope
at the Audubon Zoo has demonstrated high fertilization success using frozen-thawed fishing cat
spermatozoa for IVF and the birth of one kitten following embryo transfer (Pope et al., 2006).
In situ research studies of wild fishing cats in Sri Lanka and Thailand were continued in
2005. Dr. John Seidensticker of the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park continues to assess
the status of wild fishing cat populations in Sri Lanka near the capital of Columbo. More
information about this project is available at www.nationalzoo.si.edu. In Thailand, a second
camera trapping study was completed in 2005 by Thai field biologists Passanan Cutter and
Budsabong Kanchanasaka, with funding provided by the Fishing Cat SSP, the Cincinnati Zoo
and the National Zoo. This camera trapping survey focused on the Maenam Pachi Wildlife
Sanctuary and although multiple photographs of wildlife species, including leopard cats, were
obtained, no fishing cats were observed. A third camera trap survey is being initiated in May of
2006, exploring further south on penisular Thailand, specifically in the Thale Noi Non-Hunting
Area and surrounding mangrove swamps. More detailed information about this study is
available on the project website (www.conservationasia.org).
Monitoring of health problems in the Fishing Cat SSP population in ongoing. The
primary veterinary concern has been the high prevalence of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in
older fishing cats, with 12-14 cases observed in the last 10 years. Drs. Jennifer Landolfi and
Karen Terio at the University of Illinois have published a recent paper describing the pathology
related to some of these cases (Landolfi et al., 2006). Note that Dr. Terio ([email protected]) and
Dr. Michael Kinsel ([email protected]) also continue to provide (free of charge) full
histopathological evaluations of deceased individuals managed in all five of the small cat SSPs,
including the fishing cat. More information about tissue requirements and shipping procedures is
available on the Felid TAG website (www.felidtag.org). The SSP encourages all fishing cat
holding institutions to submit tissue samples for these pathological assessments.
It is suspected that the high incidence of TCC in fishing cats may be related to their diets
in captivity (i.e., primarily horse meat or beef with limited amounts of fish). To further
investigate the etiology of TCC, a nutritional study is being initiated by Dr. Jason Williams, the
nutritionist at the Indianapolis Zoo, in collaboration with Russ Kelly, a nutritional researcher at
the Iams Company. For this study, a nutritional survey will be used to assess the composition of
diets at North American zoos. Representative diets from zoos will be analyzed for nutrient levels
and compared with values from typical food items found in the wild. Blood and urine samples
from captive cats (and possibly wild cats) on different diets will be assessed for vitamin, mineral,
fatty acid and anti-oxidant content, and tissue samples from deceased captive cats will be
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evaluated for evidence of TCC and its relationship to specific diets. The SSP will be assisting
the nutritionists in contacting fishing cat holding institutions to participate in this important
study, with a projected starting date of early 2007.
The SSP continues to raise funding to support the camera trapping surveys in Thailand
through the sale of fishing cat merchandise. Since 2001, the sale of limited edition fishing cat
prints and notecards have earned over $5000 for the In Situ Fund. The notecards have all been
sold but several hundred prints are still available on consignment or for purchase at $60 each.
Interested parties should contact the SSP coordinator. With our recent success in producing a
Pallas’ cat plush through the Event Network and K & M Toys, we will be exploring the
possibility of creating a fishing cat plush as the next item in the small cat marketing line.
References
Landolfi JA and KA Terio. 2006. Transitional cell carcinoma in fishing cats (Prionailurus
viverrinus): pathology and expression of cyclooxygenase-1, -2 and p53. Vet. Path. 43:674-681
Magarey GM, J Herrick, K Thiangtum, W Tunwattana and WF Swanson. 2006. Comparative
fertility of freshly-collected versus frozen-thawed spermatozoa for in vitro fertilization in the
fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus). Reprod., Fertil. Devel. 18:249 (abst. 284)
Pope CE, MC Gomez and BL Dresser. 2006. In vitro embryo production and embryo transfer in
domestic and nondomestic cats. Therio. 66:59-71
Thiangtum K, WF Swanson, JG Howard, W Tunwattana, D Tongthainan, W Wichasilpa, P
Patumrattanathan and T Pinyopoommintr. 2006. Assessment of basic seminal characteristics,
sperm cryopreservation and heterologous in vitro fertilization in the fishing cat (Prionailurus
viverrinus). Reprod., Fertil. Devel. 18:373-382
Puma Studbook/PMP
Michelle Schireman, Population Manager, Oregon Zoo
First the Good News: Living Population : 53.78 (131) Target Population: 130
By month’s end, 11 orphans will have been placed. These were all wild-born orphaned cubs
from various state game agencies going into AZA institutions. All told, South Dakota placed six
orphans, Wyoming placed four and Washington State placed one.
Also more good news is in the Death Report: we had 4.4 (8) deaths, 7 of which were cats
over 16 years old. Three were wild-born, one was originally a confiscation and the other four
were born in AZA facilities in the mid ‘80s. For Transfers, we had 3.2 within AZA and 3 into
AZA zoos that originated in public/private hands. Since the breeding moratorium was put in
place in 1995, there has only been one ‘whoops’ birth and that one was born in 1995. No births
other than those in the Florida Panther Project have occurred.
Now for the Bad News: Remember we are starting out with 53.78 cats. Of these, ~60 of
the 78 females are 10 years old or older. For the males, it is 32 out of 50. There are also
enormous numbers of sterilized animals, mostly due to facilities holding sibling pairs or trios, but
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also because of the breeding moratorium. So 19.16 (35) cats are left that are 10 years of age or
younger and potential founders…wild-born. These 35 cougars reside in 18 zoos and of these 18,
8 hold sibs that will need to be separated.
I recently updated my dataset and additionally sent out a short survey regarding future
institutional wants and needs. Thank you for your responses.
At this point, I think that most ‘new’ exhibits dedicated for cougars have cats in them or
on their way to them. We are now taking another look at the breeding moratorium and how we
plan to replace individuals in our aging population where spaces are dedicated to cougar.
You will be receiving another survey this year which will help us project space needs. We will
also be revisiting and updating the puma PMP, looking at attrition trends and attempting to gauge
how many replacement cubs might be needed to maintain our target population.
In the near future we may be looking for institutions with holding space available that
would be willing to hold Fish and Wildlife orphans for 30 days to 6 months. Presently there are
very few agencies that can hold cubs for more than 48 hours, making placement difficult. Also
zoos with older cougars may be asked to take their replacement cubs prior to the actual death of
their cat. If the breeding moratorium is lifted at some point in time there would be very limited
breeding recommendations, sibling transfers for pairings elsewhere, and holding requirements
for produced cubs of months to years at the parental zoo.
At this point, the survey responses are critical. Please respond to them in a timely
manner. Next, the PMP should give us the direction we need for future recommendations. In the
meantime, please continue to contact me with your deaths and your cub needs and also call me if
you hear of any state game agency that is holding orphans needing placement or if you have a
local contact to share. I’d also love to hear from facilities willing to house orphans temporarily.
Many state game agencies will only hold cubs for 48 hours. Also Canadian zoos need us to hold
cubs for 30 days while their permits are being approved/processed.
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2006 Felid TAG Conference Proceedings
2006 Felid TAG Mid-Year Meeting Participants
Participant
J.B. Anderson
Rose Bauer
Judy Berens
Carol Bohning
Jennifer Bond
Sue Booth-Binczik
Nanette Bragin
Bonnie Breitbeil
Dominic Calderisi
Martha Caron
Kevin Chambers
Sarah Christie
Hollie Colahan
Adrienne Crosier
Lynn Culver
Pat Currie
Kim Davidson
Dan Dembiec
Cheryl Dikeman
Kerry Fanson
Jilian Fazio
Kristi Fisher
Norah Fletchall
Carrie Friese
Don Goff
Karen Goodrowe
Jack Grisham
David Hamilton
Joni Hartman
Bob Hartslief
Amanda Haug
Jason Herrick
David Hodge
Ken Kaemmerer
YeunHee Kim
Cynthia Kreider
Janelle Lemke
Mary Lieras
Natalie Lindholm
Dusty Lombardi
Sarah Long
Cinda Loutzenhiser
Keith Lovett
Institution
Feline Conservation Federation
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Panther Ridge
Feline Conservation Federation
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Dallas Zoo
Denver Zoological Gardens
Central Florida Zoological Park
Lincoln Park Zoo
Minnesota Zoological Garden
Zoo ARC
Zoological Society of London
Houston Zoo
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Feline Conservation Federation
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Utah’s Hogle Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Purdue University
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Feline Conservation Center
John Ball Zoological Garden
University of California, San Francisco
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo
Port Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Monroe County
Kansas City Zoo
The Savannah Africa
Palm Beach Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Dallas Zoo
Cornell University
Erie Zoo
Dallas World Aquarium
San Diego Zoo
Dallas World Aquarium
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Lincoln Park Zoo
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Palm Beach Zoo
Page 70 of 71
2006 Felid TAG Conference Proceedings
Kate MacKinnon
Genevieve Magarey
Dan Marsh
Sandy Masek
Joe Maynard
Tom McCarthy
Raejeana McKinzie
Stacy McReynolds
Jeanne Minor
Dale Miquelle
Danny Morris
Gary Noble
Barbara Palmer
Katey Pelican
Connie Philipp
Karen Povey
Amy Rasmussen
Richard Reading
Stephanie Rhodes
Craig Saffoe
Michelle Schireman
Jim Schnormeier
Beth Jo Schoeberl
Rick Schwartz
Alan Shoemaker
Alan Sironen
Tom Smith
Bill Swanson
Karen Terio
Jay Tetzloff
Patrick Thomas
Ron Tilson
Laurie Trechsel
Robert Turner
Rhonda Votino
Tarren Wagener
Mark Weldon
Rain Westgard
Dan Wharton
Nadja Wielebnowski
Ann Winters
Lloyd Woodward
Dana Wooster
Karen Ziegler-Meeks
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Feline Conservation Center
Feline Conservation Center
International Snow Leopard Trust
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
San Antonio Zoological Gardens
Wildlife Conservation Society
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
San Francisco Zoological Gardens
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Nashville Zoo
Port Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Denver Zoological Gardens
Brookfield Zoo
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Oregon Zoo
Sacramento Zoo
Denver Zoological Gardens
Nashville Zoo
Felid TAG
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Zoo Atlanta
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
University of Illinois
Great Plains Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Minnesota Zoological Garden
Minnesota Zoological Garden
Feline Conservation Federation
Amarillo Zoo
Fort Worth Zoo
Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
Central Florida Zoological Park
Central Park Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Michigan State University
Central Nebraska Packing, Inc.
Woodland Park Zoo
White Oak Conservation Center
Page 71 of 71