Exotic Animal Health and Husbandry

for Vocational and Diploma Studies

Chester Zoo Learning Resource

Student Workbook
Chester Zoo Learning Resource Exotic Animal Health
and Husbandry
Student Workbook for Vocational and
Diploma Studies
Learning with Chester Zoo
This workbook complements the Chester Zoo
Painted Dog web-based learning resource.
It is designed to be used during a visit to
Chester Zoo.
Students are guided through a survey exercise at the Tsavo Bird
Safari and also undertake a behavioural observation and enclosure
evaluation of a Tsavo species in the Zoo. While in the Zoo students
can also book into taught sessions with Education staff; including
Animal Welfare and Applied Science – with an emphasis on
veterinary and allied professions. Please see our website for more
information (www.chesterzoo.org) or call our Education Division on
01244 650205/389444 to arrange and book your visit.

Contents
Zoo Animal Welfare Classroom Session….. 1
Tsavo Bird Safari…………………………….… 1
Animal Visibility Survey……………………… 3
Your Survey Method…………………………. 3
Introduction to Species Evaluation……….. 5
Evaluation Exercises……………………….… 5
Species Fact Files…………………………….. 6
Enclosure Design Principles Exercise……. 8
Behavioural Observations Exercise……….. 9
Notes and Observations……………………... 10
Conclusions……………………………………. 11
Current as of Summer 2010
 Zoo Animal Welfare
Classroom Session
During your visit to Chester Zoo you’ll be focusing Learning and
particularly on the Tsavo Bird Safari: a walk-through understanding
mixed species exhibit. The interactive classroom session about animal
will give you an introduction to this exhibit and describe welfare
how the welfare needs of these species are met.
Referring to this and other Zoo examples, the following
topics will be covered:

• The importance of good welfare

• Animal nutrition
• Enclosure design
• Animal health care
• Animal Behaviour
• Case Study: Tsavo Bird Safari

You’ll also learn a bit about the importance of research in zoos,

and how it can help improve standards of animal welfare. This
will provide background information for the visibility study you
will be carrying out inside the Tsavo Bird Safari and help you
think about some of the issues associated with such exhibits.

Tsavo Bird Safari Observations:

Chester Zoo’s Tsavo Bird Have a good
Safari was officially opened look around the
in Summer 2009, and has exhibit; how is it
been designed to resemble themed to look
the savannah of Tsavo as naturalistic as
National Park in Kenya. Artist’s impression of Tsavo Bird Safari possible?
By walking through the exhibit, visitors are able to view a
selection of African bird species in the most natural way
possible, whilst simultaneously providing a stimulating
environment for the species housed there.

Conservation and education are two of the roles of the

modern zoo. Chester Zoo supports in situ conservation
projects across the world, including some within Tsavo
National Park in Kenya. That’s not all though, by developing
exhibits such as the Tsavo Bird Safari we aim to raise
awareness and hopefully inspire in visitors a sense of
wonder and respect for the world’s wildlife.
1
What factors do However, whilst there is a growing
you think need to trend in zoos to build immersive,
be considered mixed species exhibits, they can be
when selecting quite difficult to manage from the
species to house perspective of zoo keepers and
in this exhibit? curators.
The fact that the Tsavo Bird Safari
is a walk-through exhibit, creates
additional challenges.

These challenges need to be taken into account when

designing the enclosure and selecting suitable stock.
There can be continual movement of visitors in and out of
the exhibit, potentially providing an opportunity for a bird to
escape, plus there is a risk that visitors may attempt to
feed the birds.
What pest Whilst allowing the passage of
control visitors, the exhibit needs to remain
precautions secure against predators and
can you see in pests, which can present a serious
the boundary welfare issue to the birds.
fence of the
exhibit? When the Tsavo Bird Safari was
Artist’s impression of first opened, rodents were a
public viewing area
problem; they were squeezing
through the nylon mesh, predating
birds, contaminating food and
damaging the enclosure.
What factors
are important Measures have now been put in
when selecting place to control this issue.
a suitable
It’s important that animal
mammal
exhibits are pest-proof.
species to
house in this The planning and management
exhibit? of an exhibit such as this is
very much ongoing. There is
even the possibility that a
mammal species, such as
Kirk’s Dik Dik, may be
introduced into the Tsavo Bird
Safari further down the line but
this would again require a lot of Kirk’s Dik Dik
forward planning.
2
 Animal Visibility Survey
The inclusion of natural features in Before you begin
the exhibit can have a positive effect your study:
on animal welfare, giving the birds
Familiarise
plenty of opportunity to escape one
yourself with the
another and public view, when
bird species by
desired, as well as encouraging
practising using
species-specific behaviours.
Weaver bird with nest. the ID signs in the
enclosure.
In turn, increased activity of the birds is appealing to visitors,
encouraging people to linger in the enclosure longer.
However, species can be less visible in a densely vegetated,
complex exhibit. This can lead to disappointment and have a
negative impact on both the visitor experience and the
delivery of the Zoo’s conservation message.
Zoo research can help achieve the right balance between
providing a naturalistic, stimulating environment for the birds
and an inspiring, absorbing exhibit for visitors. Your task is to
carry out a visibility survey of the bird species in the Tsavo
Bird Safari. You’ll be looking at how visible the birds are and
their level of activity. The data collected by students such as
yourself can be collated and made use of by one of our
Research Officers in the Zoo.
Help the Zoo
Your Survey Method monitor and
improve its
Equipment: exhibits!
Record sheet (overleaf), pen/ pencil,
watch or stopwatch Send your results
to our Education
Method: Research Officer
Using the ID signs inside the exhibit, select 5 species that you via the web site
will study. Please make sure that the birds are still on show by
See page 11 for
sighting them or by asking a member of staff. Write their
details
names in the table headings overleaf. Spend a few minutes
watching the birds and familiarise yourself with your species.
When you’re ready to start your study, stand in one spot in the
undercover public viewing area.
Every five minutes, for each species record:

Visibility: look for 10 seconds only, record in the table (Y) yes or (N) no.
Number of individuals: look for 10 seconds only, record the count.
Level of activity: record for the first individual you spot and mark 1-5
(1 = motionless (e.g sleeping), 5 = highly active (e.g running/ chasing).

3 Repeat five times. This will take around 30 minutes.

Use the table to
Date of survey:……………………....
record your
survey data Start time:…………………………….

Species
Visible
1 Number

Activity

Visible
2 Number

Activity

Visible
3 Number

Activity

Visible
4 Number

Activity

Visible
5 Number

Activity

Notes,
observations and
conclusions.
Can you
recommend
anything for
animal welfare?

4
 Introduction to
Species Evaluation
What is evaluation? Developing
When we evaluate something we evaluation skills
are examining it to try and find
out what condition it is in or how
valuable, useful, accurate or
important that thing may be.
Why evaluate?
The ability to accurately
evaluate a situation, a project or
anything else is an extremely
valuable skill to learn. Good
evaluation allows us to think
clearly and make accurate
decisions. This is very important Students collecting data
where animal welfare is from zoo interpretation
concerned.

Evaluation Exercises
Evaluation of animals in a zoo occurs daily to allow zoo staff
to monitor animal health and welfare, as well as a host of Help the Zoo
other factors. The following exercises will help you explore monitor and
some of the ways that zoo species can be evaluated. improve its
Species fact files: Firstly, choose your focus species by exhibits!
reading and selecting a species from the fact files. Send your results
Enclosure design principles: Firstly, find your focus animal to our Education
enclosure. Think about the statements on page 8 and score Research Officer
them as fairly as you can. via the web site
See page 11 for
Behavioural observation: This evaluation will help you to
details
see how the animals respond to their environment. Good
observational skills will help. Use the table on page 9 to
record your data.

Notes, observations and conclusions: This is your chance

to add thoughts of your own before writing a conclusion
about the evaluation you have undertaken. Use the fact files
and the evaluation exercises to help you.

Please be aware that animals may be taken off show

at short notice. If the animal you have chosen is not
visible please choose a different species to evaluate.
5
 Species Fact files
Grevy’
Grevy’s Zebra Habitat: Open grassland, scrub
(Equus grevyi) and open woodland areas

Diet: Primarily a grazer,

preferring short new growth
grass. The bulk of the diet is
made up of grass species, but
shrubs and herbs will also be
browsed.

Behaviour: These are very Reproduction: A

social animals that live in small
family groups called harems.
These groups usually consist
of a male and a group of up to
six females and their recent
offspring. The males normally
stay with the group for many
months or years.
male will mate with all
of the females in the
harem. After birth the
mother will nurse the
young for up to a year,
initially keeping it away
from the other zebras.

Other: Zebras exhibit grooming behaviour to strengthen

group bonds and reduce aggression within the group.

Habitat: Open grassland and

Black scrub, open woodland areas.
Rhinoceros
(Diceros Diet: Black Rhinos are
herbivorous browsers and can
bicornis)
eat a wide variety of leafy plants,
branches and fruit (over 200
species). Trees and shrubs are
browsed only below 2 metres in
height.
Behaviour: Generally solitary Reproduction: Rhinos
animals, but mothers will stay typically only converge to
with their young. They are not mate. During breeding the
territorial and will tolerate pair will stay together for
some contact with other between three days to a
rhinos. couple of weeks.

Other: Rhinos wallow and take dust baths to cool down

and reduce parasite numbers.
They have poor eyesight, but can detect potential threats
using their good hearing and sense of smell. 6
 Habitat: Open grassland, scrub, Rothschild’
Rothschild’s
open woodlands and seasonal
floodplains
Giraffe (Giraffa
camelopardalis
Diet: Browses mostly on tree rothschildi)
leaves and bark, but can eat
over 100 species of plants
Behaviour: Although not truly
social, the females will form
herds of around a dozen. This
group may also include younger Reproduction: Older
males. Many giraffes will stay males will mate with the
close to related individuals. fertile females in a
These social groups are usually group. The newborn
temporary. Older males are baby is typically about 2
usually solitary. metres tall.

Other: Giraffes are ruminants so will regurgitate their food and

re-chew it. This is repeated many times with each mouthful.

Habitat: Open grassland and Ostrich

scrub, semi-desert
Diet: Mostly eat seeds, shrubs,
fruit and flowers
Behaviour: Ostriches often
spend the winter months alone
or in pairs, but they have been
sighted in groups of up to 50
during the breeding season.
Males will show off to females
by waving their heads around
and flapping their white-tipped
feathered wings in an
impressive show.
Other: They swallow stones,
which sit in the gizzard and help
to grind up their food.
Ostriches have very acute
eyesight and hearing.
They often take dust baths.
7
(Struthio
camelus)
Reproduction: Males
can form a harem of up to
7 females, but will only
bond with the dominant
female.
The females lay their
eggs in a communal nest
up to 3 m wide made up
of soil. Approximately 20
eggs will be covered for
incubation. Males share
this duty with the females.
 Enclosure Design
Principles Exercise
Help the Zoo
How an enclosure is designed can affect many things,
monitor and
including the animals’ health, the visitor experience and
improve its
staff working conditions. Use the table below to record your
exhibits!
perceptions at the enclosure of your chosen species.
See page 11 for Simply tick the box that you think agrees with your view of
details each statement.

Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly

disagree agree

The animal can freely move

away from public viewing if it
chooses to.

The animal lives within a natural

group size.

The enclosure mimics the

animal’s natural habitat closely.

The animal has a choice of

locations in its enclosure (e.g.
sun/shade, wet/dry, high/low).

There are a number of viewing

areas for the public at this
enclosure.

Viewing is easily accessible to

small children and people in
wheelchairs.

The design of the walkways and

paths makes barriers and fences
less obvious.

It is easy to find information

about this species around its
enclosure.

Once you have completed this exercise, think about

ways in which the enclosure could be improved from a
visitor’s perspective. Will this affect the animal’s welfare?

Use the notes section on page 10 to jot down your

thoughts. This may help you focus on areas of
improvement for your conclusion. 8
 Behavioural
Observation Exercise
This behaviour exercise Behaviour
requires a bit of discipline monitoring
and good observation. and data
Choose one individual collection
animal to watch. At intervals
of 1 minute tick off the
behaviour that you are
observing on the table below.

Behaviour
Time

Grooming
Standing

Sleeping
Interval
Running
Drinking
Walking

Eating

Sitting
(mins)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

There are some behaviour columns left empty as each

animal may display other behaviours as you watch. Fill
these in as required. Remember, the more detailed
your observational data, the more useful your results
may be.
9
 Notes and
Observations

This is your chance to add any additional thoughts or

Your ideas you may have concerning the species you have
thoughts, chosen to study. You can include ideas for further
observations evaluation exercises, enclosure design changes or even
and ideas observations of how visitors respond to the exhibit.

Artist’
Artist’s
impression:
Add your
sketches or
pictures

10
 Conclusions
Your conclusions
In this final section review the exercises you have done
today: Summarising your
findings.
Compile and summarise your findings from your Tsavo Bird
Safari study and review the evaluation exercises, notes and What are your
fact files again. key observations?
Compile a list of bullet points which bring your findings Can you suggest
together. any
improvements?
Are there any
areas of further
study you can
suggest?

Send your results to Chester Zoo and our Education

Get involved!
Research Officer.
Send us your
To do this go to the web site (www.chesterzoo.org) survey results
Here click on the link to ‘Education’, then select the link
which complements this work book: ‘Exotic Animal
Health and Husbandry for Vocational and Diploma
Studies’.
Select the link called ‘Feedback’. There you can fill in
your results on-line and become part of the work taking
place at Chester Zoo!
Thank You!
11
At Chester Zoo we offer a wide range of Curriculum linked
sessions from Key Stage 1 to A’ level and beyond, to
complement the work done in science lessons in schools,
colleges and universities.
Comprehensive details of the sessions we offer can be
found on our website (www.chesterzoo.org). Follow the
links for Education and explore topics for primary and
secondary schools as well as sessions for psychology and
business studies.
To book a Discovery Programme please phone our
Education Division on 01244 650205/389444. Our team
will be pleased to help you with any aspect of a visit.
For an informal visit to the Zoo, Explorer Trails can also be
downloaded from the Education section of our website free
of charge.
We hope to see you soon!

VETNET Lifelong Learning Network was established in

2007 to increase progression of vocational learners into
veterinary and animal related degree programmes. As
well as funding projects aimed at delivering up to date and
accurate information for those who are considering a
career in the animal sector, VETNET LLN has also
supported curriculum development. For more information,
visit www.vetnetlln.ac.uk and www.cave.ac.uk