A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN CAPTIVE BLUE-CROWNED LAUGHING THRUSHES (): 1998-2018.

The blue-crowned laughingthrush (BCLT) () is a species of critically endangered passerine that is part of a Global Species Management Plan and experiences high mortality rates in some collections. Complete necropsy and medical records from 15 European institutions that housed BCLT between 1998 and 2018 were assessed to evaluate morbidity and mortality in the captive population. Medical records for 407 BCLT were received; a total of 191 morbidity events were recorded from 111 individual BCLT.

COMPARISON OF THREE CONCENTRATIONS OF AQUA-SED FOR IMMERSION EUTHANASIA OF BUTTERFLY SPLITFIN ().

The efficacies of three concentrations of 2-phenoxyethanol from Aqua-sed were examined to determine the suitability for euthanasia of butterfly splitfin (). Thirty fish were randomly assigned to be immersed in one of three Aqua-Sed concentrations: 0.5, 2, and 6 ml/L.

Preliminary investigation of the effects of a concert on the behavior of zoo animals.

To increase visitor footfall and engagement, zoos may host public events that may extend outside typical opening hours. With plans to hold a 2-day concert at Tayto Park, Ireland, this study aimed to identify the behavioral response to the music event of a selected group of species in the zoo. Twenty-two species were observed across three phases of the event (pre-, during, and post event).

USE OF TRICAINE METHANESULFONATE, CLOVE OIL AND 2-PHENOXYETHANOL FOR IMMERSION EUTHANASIA OF UNGA CICHLIDS ().

Fish may warrant euthanasia for a variety of reasons, but euthanasia may be difficult to accomplish or confirm because fish can recover from deep anesthesia even after cardiac and respiratory arrest. The efficacies of three types of anesthetics were evaluated to compare their suitability for euthanasia of Unga cichlids (). Thirty cichlids were randomly assigned to be immersed in one of the three anesthetic solutions: tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222), 2-phenoxyethanol (2-PE), and clove oil (CO) at doses of 1,000 mg/L, 2 mL/L, and 500 mg/L respectively.

Potential applications of personality assessments to the management of non-human primates: a review of 10 years of study.

Studies of primate personality have become increasingly common over the past three decades. Recently, studies have begun to focus on the health, welfare and conservation implications of personality, and the potential applications of incorporating quantitative personality assessments into animal management programmes. However, this literature is dispersed across a multitude of settings and scientific disciplines.

Closely related Lak megaphages replicate in the microbiomes of diverse animals.

Lak phages with alternatively coded ∼540 kbp genomes were recently reported to replicate in in microbiomes of humans that consume a non-Western diet, baboons, and pigs. Here, we explore Lak phage diversity and broader distribution using diagnostic polymerase chain reaction and genome-resolved metagenomics. Lak phages were detected in 13 animal types, including reptiles, and are particularly prevalent in pigs.

Longitudinal Improvements in Zoo-Housed Elephant Welfare: A Case Study at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

Over the last two decades, criticisms were raised regarding the welfare experienced by elephants in European and North American zoos. Concerns regarding the welfare of zoo-housed elephants in the UK and Europe were consolidated in the publication of several key reports, and media interest peaked. Throughout this study we aim to outline the behavioural measures of welfare observed in the current group of Asian elephants () at Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Whipsnade Zoo, using key welfare indicators for this species and comparing them to previous published work.

Specialised for the Swamp, Catered for in Captivity? A Cross-Institutional Evaluation of Captive Husbandry for Two Species of Lechwe.

Lechwe are specialised wetland antelope that can have a strict social hierarchy or perform lekking during breeding. The southern lechwe and the Nile lechwe are both found in zoos globally, but little research is available to support husbandry decisions. The aim of this research was to investigate current housing and husbandry used for these lechwe across North American and European zoos.

A global survey of banteng (Bos javanicus) housing and husbandry.

Banteng (Bos javanicus) are an example of a species of conservation concern without current "best practice" guidance, as they have been the focus of little applied husbandry research. Despite their elevated conservation status, and established, increasing global captive population, zoos do not yet have information on optimal husbandry. To help address this problem, a husbandry survey was distributed to all global holders of banteng.