Wednesday September 3, 2008

Zookeepers learn the finer aspects of husbandry

By CHEN PELF YEEN

MALACCA: Its was a fun time for 36 local and foreign zookeepers at the 5th Mazpa Field Training Course for Keepers at Malacca Zoo recently.

Organised by Malaysian Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (Mazpa), the 10-day course was aimed at educating zookeepers on ensuring proper management and husbandry of animals in line with latest developments.

Hands on: Zookeepers treating an estuarine crocodile at the training in Malacca recently.

Malacca Zoo in Ayer Keroh, being the second-largest zoo in the country with more than 1,500 animals of 200 species, was chosen for the course, which included hands-on training with various animals.

Mazpa chairman Dr Kevin Lazarus said that several parts of the course was crucial as it taught participants zookeeping aspects such as feeding, creation of habitats and handling wild or injured animals.

“We are using the course as a platform for zookeepers to exchange ideas and provide feedback on how they managed their zoos or wildlife parks,” he said.

Besides learning zoo theory and attending discussions, participants were involved in practicals such as restraining, tagging and treating animals including a Malaysian sun bear, an estuarine crocodile, a stump-tailed macaque, a large Asian reticulated python and a slow loris.

Lazarus, who is also director of Taiping Zoo, said that 32 zookeepers and wildlife park officers from Malaysia, four zookeepers from Singapore and two from Thailand took part in the training.

“We also guided zookeepers on improving cages in regard to using appropriate iron bars for large animals and cement floors for terrestrial animals,” he said.

Mohamad Yusoff, 28, from Singapore, who cares for Indian rhinos at Singapore Zoological Gardens, said his favourite session was catching snakes and crocodiles.

“I believe that theory is not enough when it comes to understanding animals and their behaviour.

I am thankful the course allowed me to work hands-on to learn about the animals,” said Mohamad, who has been working for seven years as a zookeeper.

Another participant, Rahim Mohammad, 35, who has five years experience as a keeper at Mini Safari in Malacca Zoo, said the course gave him knowledge in husbandry.

“It taught me ways to handle animals, be it an elephant or monkey,” he said, adding that it was the first time he had attended such a course.

The participants also took time to spend a day at the beach and visit the famous Tanjung Tuan wildlife park and bird sanctuary.

They did their bit to keep the environment by clearing the beach of plastic and polystyrene containers.