NEWS FROM THE ZOOS


Workshop in Methods of Primate Conservation

A workshop on "Methods of Primate Conservation will take place from August 9-11, 1996 at facilities provided by the Chicago Zoological Park (Brookfield Zoo), immediately before the International Primatology Society's (IPS's) Annual Conference. Dr. Jeanne Altmann, outgoing Vice-President for Conservation of IPS and Research Curator at the Brookfield Zoo, will lead the workshop. Instructors will be drawn largely from Brookfield Zoo staff which has outstanding expertise in primate behavior, nutrition, genetics, veterinary care, education, and conservation outreach. Participants are primarily mid-career scientists from developing countries. The workshop includes intensive training in genetics, nutrition and behavior as well as topics such as international conservation efforts, public education, primate health and captive management.

Denver Zoo's Primate Panorama Opens

As part of its Centennial Anniversary Celebration, the Denver Zoo opened its Primate Panorama on July 30. The seven acre indoor-outdoor zoo areas for the endangered lowland gorilla in the United States. The Panorama also allows new- and old-world monkeys, lemurs and orangutans to be observed in natural habitat settings.

Three States to Reintroduce Captive-bred Black-footed Ferrets to the Wild

The black-footed ferret is the most endangered carnivore in North America - virtually eliminated in the wild by disease, habitat loss and poisoning of their principal prey, the prairie dog. The last wild ferrets were brought into captivity in 1987 to become a part of a collaborative captive breeding and reintroduction program involving federal and state wildlife agencies, and several zoos. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced that the captive breeding effort, organized under the auspices of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's (AZA's) Species Survival Plan, has produced a record 231 surviving young. In an attempt to reestablish black-footed ferret populations throughout their native habitat, captive-bred ferrets will be released in October 1996 in Arizona, Montana and South Dakota.

Calendar

September 17-21, 1996: The AZA Annual Conference will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii. For further information, contact Ken Redman, Honolulu Zoo, 151 Kapahuhu Avenue, Honolulu HI 96815; Tel: (808) 971-7174; Fax: 971-7173.

October 6-10, 1996: The National Conference of the American Association of Zoo Keepers will be held in Detroit, Michigan, at the Cobo Conference/Exhibition Center. For further information, contact Michelle Seldon-Koch, Detroit Zoological Institute, P.O. Box 39, Royal Oak, MI 48608-0039; Tel: (810) 398-0903; Fax: (810) 398-0504.

October 10-12, 1996: The Zoo Registrar Association will hold its annual workshop at the Phoenix Zoo. For further information, contact Nanette Bragin, Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008-3431; Tel: (602) 914-4377; Fax (602) 914-4364; E-mail: nbragin@phoenix-zoo.org.


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