RESEARCH ACTIVITY OF ZOOS IN THE

TERRITORY OF FORMER USSR

(23rd EAZA ANNUAL CONFERENCE, 2007, MADRID)

Sergei Popov

Moscow Zoo

There were 39 zoos and aquaria in the territory of former USSR in 1991

There is information about 69 zoos and aquaria on the same territory now.

40 from these institutions are joined in EARAZA

44 questionnaire lists 18 answers

11 large zoos (staff more than 100)

3 middle-size zoos (staff 50 to 100)

4 small zoos (staff less than 50)

Askaniya-Nova (Ukrine)Ekaterinburg (Russia)Kazan’ (Russia)Kaunas (Lithuania)Nikolaev (Ukrine)Novosibirsk (Russia)Rostov-Don (Russia)St.Peterburg (Russia)Tallinn (Estonia)Khar’kov (Ukrine)Moscow (Russia)

Perm’ (Russia)Sachalin (Russia)Tula (Russia)

Zelenogorsk (Russia)Sevastopol (Ukrine)Habarovsk (Russia)Yakutsk (Russia)

Research Survey (April - June 2006)

Scientific Research in Zoological Gardens, Moscow, NN 12-20

The base for analyses

Birds of Prey and Owls in Captivity, Moscow, NN 9-15

Scientific Research in Zoological Gardens, Kharkov, NN 3-4.

352 articles from 2000 to 2006 in total

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Research publishing activities

Survey results9 Zoos (8 large and one small) have Research Departments.

They are: Askania-Nova Zoo (Ukrine) Kazan Zoo (Russia) Kharkov Zoo (Ukrine) Leningrad Zoo (Russia) Moscow Zoo (Russia) Nikolaev Zoo (Ukrine) Novosibirsk Zoo (Russia) Rostov-Don Zoo (Russia) Yakutsk Zoo (Russia)

61% of surveyed zoos have formal and 89% have informal relationships with universities or other research/scientific institutions

The rate of cooperation in scientific publications

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Research staff Other staff Otherresearchers

Students Others

%

Large Zoo

Middle Zoo

Small Zoo

Relative contribution to scientific activity of different researchers types.

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

zoos staff only external qualified specialists

Questionnaire resalts Publications

zoos staff only76%

in cooperation with other research

institutions12%

external qualified

specialists12%

Declared benefits of Zoo’s research activity.

00,10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80,9

1

Improvedmanagement

Producesinformation for

educationprogramme

Necessary for ourzoo license

Raises our profileas a worthwhile

institution

Other

Rat

e

Large Zoo

Middle Zoo

Small Zoo

husbandry38%

behaviour11%

reproductive biology

11%

veterinary research

9%

concervation projects

5%

research in the wild

6%

animals' nutrition

5%

morphology2%

education research projects

2%

methods & methodology

2%

taxonomic1%

zoo architecture

1%

genetics1%

monitoring of phisiology

2% review4%

Priority themes of zoos’ articles

The research priorities of 14/18 zoos from former USSR

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Husbandry/animalwelfare research

Animalbehaviour

ReproductivBiology

Vet Research Conservation Education Others

Zoos' research prioritets The ranks of articles' themes

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

Husbandry/animalwelfare research

Animal behaviour ReproductivBiology

Vet Research Conservation Education Others

Large Zoo Middle Zoo Small Zoo

The rank comparison of formal research priorities and article’s themes

The forms of contribution to research.

0102030405060708090

100

Making animalrecords available

Making biologicalsamples available

Allowingresearchers tocarry out their

research

Teaching atuniversity

Funding researchthat is carried outby third parties

Less than once per annum 1-5 per annum

6-20 per annum More than 20 per annum

0102030405060708090

100

Peer-reviewedarticles in

internationalscientificjournals

Peer-reviewedarticles in

nationalscientificjournals

Non peer-reviewedarticles in

nationalscientific zoo

issues

Articles in non-scientific non-professionalmagazines

Oralpresentationsat professionalconferences

Posterpresentationsat professionalconferences

Less than once per annum 1-5 per annum

6-20 per annum More than 20 per annum

Publication of zoo research results

The subjects of zoos research

Birds

25%

Reptiles

27%

Mammals

35%

Invertebrates

1%

Fishes

9%

Amphibians

3%

Moscow Zoo, 114Research priorities • Captive animals behavior (including social interactions, acoustics and environment enrichment)• Breeding biology (amphibians, reptiles and small mammals)• Noninvasive monitoring of physiology• Diseases of snakes and lizards and veterinary techniques for reptiles• Researches for conservation projects

Moscow Zoo

Research priorities• Husbandry and breeding techniques for various animal taxa • Environment enrichment for mammals• Animals’ nutrition and development of new rations• Developing of educational methods for zoo visitors and young biologists

Kharkov Zoo, 43

Moscow Zoo, 114 Research priorities• Husbandry and breeding techniques for various animal taxa • Environment enrichment for mammals• Animals’ nutrition and development of new rations• Developing of educational methods for zoo visitors and young biologists

Moscow Zoo, 114

Kharkov Zoo, 43

Kharkov Zoo

Moscow Zoo, 114

Kharkov Zoo, 43Tula Exotarium; 35

Research priorities• Reptiles reproductive biology• The taxonomy of snakes• Husbandry and breeding of various reptiles species

Tula Exotarium

Moscow Zoo, 114

Kharkov Zoo, 43

Tula Exotarium; 35

Leningrad Zoo; 21 Research priorities • Animal behaviour• Breeding biology & ontogenesis• Education methods

Leningrad Zoo (St.Peterburg)

Research priorities

Ekaterinburg Zoo; 14

Moscow Zoo, 114

Kharkov Zoo, 43Tula Exotarium;35

Leningrad Zoo; 21

• Husbandry and breeding techniques for various animal taxa • Veterinarian research

Ekaterinburg Zoo

Research priorities• Breeding biology and behaviour of bears• Husbandry of falcons

Moscow Zoo, 114

Kharkov Zoo, 43Tula Exotarium; 35

Leningrad Zoo; 21

Ekaterinburg Zoo; 14

Kazan Zoo; 12

Kazan Zoo

Research priorities• Genetics• Adaptations of ungulates to seminatural conditions• Behavior of antelopes and ostriches

Moscow Zoo, 114

Kharkov Zoo, 43Tula Exotarium; 35

Leningrad Zoo; 21

Askaniya-Nova Zoo; 9

Ekaterinburg Zoo; 14

Kazan Zoo; 12

Askaniya-Nova Zoo

Research priorities• Husbandry/animal welfare • Conservation• Breeding biology

Moscow Zoo, 114

Kharkov Zoo, 43

Tula Exotarium; 35

Leningrad Zoo; 21

Askaniya-Nova Zoo; 9

Ekaterinburg Zoo; 14

Kazan Zoo; 12

Kaliningrad Zoo; 8

Kaliningrad Zoo

Research priorities• Conservation• Biotechnology

Moscow Zoo, 114

Kharkov Zoo, 43Tula Exotarium; 35

Leningrad Zoo; 21

Askaniya-Nova Zoo; 9

Ekaterinburg Zoo; 14

Kazan Zoo; 12

Kaliningrad Zoo; 8

Samara Zoo; 8

Samara Zoo

Research priorities• Husbandry/animal welfare

Moscow Zoo, 114

Kharkov Zoo, 43Tula Exotarium; 35

Leningrad Zoo; 21

Askaniya-Nova Zoo; 9

Ekaterinburg Zoo; 14

Kazan Zoo; 12

Kaliningrad Zoo; 8

Samara Zoo; 8

Perm Zoo; 7

Perm Zoo

Research priorities• Husbandry/animal welfare• Morphology• Conservation

Moscow Zoo, 114

Kharkov Zoo, 43

Tula Exotarium; 35

Leningrad Zoo; 21

Askaniya-Nova Zoo; 9

Ekaterinburg Zoo; 14

Kazan Zoo; 12

Kaliningrad Zoo; 8

Samara Zoo; 8Perm Zoo; 7

Almaty Zoo; 5

Almaty Zoo

Research priorities• Conservation• Breeding biology • Behaviour

Moscow Zoo, 114

Kharkov Zoo, 43

Tula Exotarium; 35

Leningrad Zoo; 21

Askaniya-Nova Zoo; 9

Ekaterinburg Zoo; 14

Kazan Zoo; 12

Kaliningrad Zoo; 8Samara Zoo; 8

Perm Zoo; 7Almaty Zoo; 5

Novosibirsk Zoo; 5

Novosibirsk Zoo

Moscow Zoo, 114

Kharkov Zoo, 43

Tula Exotarium; 35

Leningrad Zoo; 21

Askaniya-Nova Zoo; 9

Ekaterinburg Zoo; 14

Kazan Zoo; 12

Kaliningrad Zoo; 8Samara Zoo; 8

Perm Zoo; 7Almaty Zoo; 5

Novosibirsk Zoo; 5

other 13 zoos; 33

Сurrent EARAZA conservation programs:• Bustards in Eurasia

Kiev Zoo, Moscow Zoo, Novosibirsk Zoo, Penza Zoo, Alma-Ata Zoo, Tashkent Zoo, Bustards Breeding Stations in Saratov and Kharkov.

• Bustards in Eurasia

• Mountain Ungulates of Eurasia

Сurrent EARAZA conservation programs:

Moscow Zoo, Novosibirsk Zoo, Tallinn Zoo, Erevan Zoo, Tashkent Zoo, Alma-Ata Zoo, Askania-Nova Zoo&Reservation, Praha Zoo, Breeding Station “Plavecki Petr”(Slovac Rep.), Institution of Systematic and Ecology Academy Science.

• The Steller’s Sea Eagle

• Bustards in Eurasia

• Mountain Ungulates of Eurasia

Carrent EARAZA conservation programs:

Moscow Zoo, Moscow State Univercity, Alma-Ata Zoo, Leningrad Zoo, Novosibirsk Zoo, Rostov-na-Donu Zoo, Tallinn Zoo, Kazan Zoo, Brno Zoo, Homutov Zoo, Nicolaev Zoo, Kishenev Zoo, Minsk Zoo, The Institute of Nature Conservation (Russia)

• The Siberian Spruce Grouse

Carrent EARAZA conservation programs:

• The Steller’s Sea Eagle

• Conservation of Bustards in Eurasia• Mountain Ungulates of Eurasia

Novosibirsk Zoo, Moscow Zoo, Institution of Systematic and Ecology Academy Science, local Zoo “Orto-Doidu” Sacha Republic.

• Rare and Endangered Geese of Eurasia

• The Siberian Spruce Grouse

Carrent EARAZA conservation programs:

• The Steller’s Sea Eagle

• Bustards in Eurasia

• Mountain Ungulates of Eurasia

Moscow Zoo, Leningrad Zoo, Novosibirsk Zoo, Rostov-na-Donu Zoo, Tallinn Zoo, The Institute of Nature Conservation (Russia), Moscow State University

• Dahly’s Gerbil

• Rare and Endangered Geese of Eurasia

• The Siberian Spruce Grouse

Carrent EARAZA conservation programs:

• The Steller’s Sea Eagle

• Bustards in Eurasia

• Mountain Ungulates of Eurasia

Moscow & Erevan Zoos

• Crane Conservation in Eurasia

• Rare and Endangered Geese of Eurasia

• The Siberian Spruce Grouse

Carrent EARAZA conservation programs:

• The Steller’s Sea Eagle

• Bustards in Eurasia

• Mountain Ungulates of Eurasia

Moscow zoo, Alma-Ata Zoo, Novosibirsk Zoo, Rostov-na-Donu Zoo, Tallinn Zoo, Perm Zoo, Riga Zoo, Okskij State Reserve, Hingan State Reserve

• Dahly’s Gerbil

Publishing activities

Scientific Research in Zoological Gardens, Kharkov, Ukraine, from 1992, NN 1- 4.

Scientific Research in Zoological Gardens, Moscow, from 1990, NN 1-20

Birds of Prey and Owls in Captivity, Moscow, from 1992, NN 1-15

-Non-scientific special periodicals, which sometimes publish scientific papers

-Scientific special periodicals which publish scientific papers

Annual Zoo Reports - zoos from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk (Russia), Kharkov (Ukraine), Tallinn (Estonia).

EARAZA Informational Issue on the Regional Collections, Moscow, from 1982, NN 1- 25

EARAZA ZIC News, Moscow, from 2002 NN 1- 5

-Non-periodic scientific issues

All papers are in Russian (usually with short English summary) and all of them are not peer-reviewed. EARAZA members distributes its issues among all EARAZA-zoos; many of such materials are available at zoo sites, especially at site of Moscow Zoo – www.MoscowZOO.ru

MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS

2001

2001

2002

2002

2003

2003

2004

2004

2001

2003

2004

2004

The International Zoo Veterinary Conference

Invertebrates in Zoo Collections

Management of Wild Mammals in Captivity

Education Workshop

The Workshop for Curators of Ornithology

Annual Symposium on Veterinary Medicine of Small Domestic Animals

An educational seminar “Applied Primatology Issues”.

International Workshop on Veterinary Herpetology

International Exhibition Forum “ Zoorus”

XII International Moscow Veterinary Congress

The second International EARAZA Workshop on Invertebrates in Zoological Collections

An International Workshop on Ungulates in Zoos and Breeding Stations, their Husbandry, Veterinary Care, and Behavioral Studies

2005

2005

An International Workshop on Zoo Animal Nutrition

An International Workshop on Carnivores and Sea Mammals in Zoos and Breeding Stations

Methodological activities

2005 – “The reference source for standards and law provision of Russian Zoos and Breeding Stations” (prepared by EARAZA ZIC).

Methodological activitiesSOME SPECIAL METHODICAL ISSUES WERE PUBLISHED.

1990 - “Handbook for Captive Animals Behaviour Research” – the only one book of such kind in Russian. Research Department of Moscow Zoo. Now we are preparing the revised second edition of this book.1997 – “Manuals on the work with poison snakes in the Zoo”. Reptiles Department of Moscow zoo.

2002 – “Education in Zoos (Methodological recommendations)”. Education Department of Moscow Zoo.

Methodological activitiesTRANSLATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION FROM FOREIGN SOURCES.

• Amur Leopard Conservation Campaign information package • Manuals on the husbandry of several rare species • Summaries of articles published in the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine• Monthly issues of the ISIS News;• all WAZA statutory information and the World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy.

Recently the staff of the Moscow Zoo translated the following documents:

The Kiev Zoo provided translations of two useful publications.

• A reference book on ideas for behavioral enrichment for zoo animals, Ed.by Chris Peters. • Zoo Animal Nutrition. Tables and Guidelines. by Dr. Walter L. Jansen and BSc Joeke Nijboer

Conclusion: problems and perspectives

• The lack of any research activity and research staff in many local zoos, especially in small and middle-size ones. Thought to be due to of the lack money and specialists .

• Disconnection of most analyzed zoos from the world zoo society (through language barrier and lack of money for foreign business trips).

• Poor cooperation with Universities and Academy Institutions.

• Necessity to increase the level and quality of many zoo researches.

? Research is some additional obligation besides animal keeping and breeding ?

More close cooperation and coordination of researchers and keepers work

Development of interzoos’ connections and zoos cooperation with research institutions

Thank you for your patienceThank you for your patience ! !