General Flashcards
What is an SSP?
Cooperative population management and conservation program for selected species to maintain a healthy and self-sustaining captive population that is both genetically diverse and demographically stable
AODA
Key principles of accessibility
Dignity
Equal opportunity
Independence
Integration
AODA
Types of different barriers?
Architectural/Physical Information/Communication Attitudinal Technology Systemic
In what ways does TZ support people with disabilities?
Service animals allowed on site
Participant in Access2 program
Admission package for Access2 participants or those who identify with disability (50% for them, support person free)
Service disruption notifications
Accommodations for employees with disabilities
General service tips for serving customers with disabilities
Don't assume what they can/can't do Don't touch them without permission Dont distract service animal Clear and precise delivery of directions Ask HOW you can help Talk to them, not support person
What is included on bird egg submisison form?
Species
ISIS number of parents
Submission date
What is the process for dropping off bird eggs to PM?
Fill in ‘BIRD PM Egg submission’ form
Label egg container with sticker
Place in labelled bird egg bin in PM freezer
What is water hardness?
Amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts in water
What produces ammonia in a fish tank?
Fish excretions (urine/feces) Decaying proteins (leftover food, dead/decomposing plants/fish)
Describe nitrogen cycle
Ammonia produced
Ammonia converted to Nitrites by nitrosomonas bacteria
Nitrites converted to Nitrates by nitrobacter bacteria
Nitrates used by plants for growth
Nitrates removed via water changes
Cleaning frequency of fish tank filter depends on
Filter size
Quality of the water
Number and size of fish
Amount and type of food fed
What are behavioural symptoms of disease in fish?
Rocking of body and fin clamping Loss of appetite Resting on the bottom Gasping for air Rubbing against objects Darting about Floating
What appareance changes could by a symptom of disease in fish?
Red discolouration General paling Weight loss Bloating Bulging eyes Spinal and other deformations Fin degeneration Protuding gills Blu-ish white dulling of the skin Skin ulcers White dots on the skin White-ish, raspberry-like nodules
What does CITES Appendix I mean?
Rare or endangered. Trade not permitted for commercial purposes
What does CITES Appendix II mean?
Not currently rare or endangered but could become so if trade is not regulated
What does CITES Appendix III mean?
Not necessarily endangered but are managed within the listing nation
SSP strengthens and coordinates captive breeding programs so zoos can help preserve vanishing species by?
Reinforcing natural populations which may have been reduced and are no longer viable genetically or demographically
Providing animals for repopulation
Serving as refuges for species destined for extinction
Maintaining repositories of germ plasm in addition to populations of wild animals
Conducting research and developing husbandry techniques for captive programs but also care of faltering wild populations
Behavioural changes that may affect your safety?
Self-defence or fear
Defence of young/subordinates
Defence of territory
Dominant animals
Food
Rut/heat
Sex of keeper
What should you know and what are some general approaches to workplace for safety?
Shifts/slides/locks/lights etc are in good working order
Special care taken with locks/bolts/doors. Keep oiled, clean, in good working order
How to operate and maintain the equipment you use: heaters, misters, snow blowers
Keep working area clean and tidy; store tools, hoses, disinfectants etc properly
All possible hazards
Never leave tools where they may endanger visitors, esp. children. Don’t leave laying on ground, leaning against walls. Hang in safe proper place
Organize tools and cleaning agents before entering animal areas and get used to removing each of the above after using them. This reduces possibility of leaving tools behind
Pathways kept free of ice and snow. Sand/salt should always be available
Pick up garbage
Let supervisor know if taking medications that may slow your reaction time
Be aware that jewellery can be a hazard
What are some general H and S protocols
Face masks and gloves when hosing and cleaning any primate holding (also cats - toxoplasmosis)
Proper lifting techniques
Follow directions when mixing detergents, de-greasers etc
Follow quarantine procedures
Use caution when working in rough, slipper paddock or standing on benches/platforms
Ask for help if job requires more than one person
Report accident/injuries promptly (or near accident)
Communicate changes which may affect your safety (changes in animal behaviour or location)
Rinse boots and wash hands before leaving an area
Use caution when working with water around electrical equipment. Ensure electrical outlets covered. Careful of outlets and circuit boxes, lights and appliances when working with water
Jewellery, watches, rings and bracelets are all potentially dangerous
When taking meds that interfere with your reaction time, notify supervisor or nurse prior to starting shift
What are some precautions for animal safety?
Don’t close a shift without knowing the animal is clear of shift and not about to run for the opening
Don’t force a socially inferior or weak animal into territory of more aggressive ones
Don’t leave tools or cleaning agents in animal areas
Never leave nails, tools, working materials etc exposed to the public
Ensure holding and exhibits are free of objects that have potential to cause injury
Pay attention to public who could be offering food or objects to zoo stock
What are some tips when working in with animals?
Use shifts
Don’t turn your back on animals
Don’t enter occupied cage backwards
Know animal locations at all times; check before entering
Don’t let animal corner you
Never run in an occupied exhibit
Know animal’s behaviour, eye contact ok?
Know prey schema
How far they can reach
How far they can jump or strike
Menstruation, physical conditions and diet can affect animals’ behaviour
Use same routine; animal anticipates and moves
Service exhibits from periphery
Don’t rush = mistakes = animals capitalize on these as they spend 24/7 in their enclosures
Fast movements frightens animals
Don’t treat as a pet
Some may regard keeper as a challenger to groups leadership. Know dominant animals and watch closely
Take care when changing body position that it doesn’t construe aggression
Never walk in unannounced on someone who is in with animals
Forewarn animals of your approach
Check area again before leaving. Locks and building secure, fire doors closed, windows shut, tools, hoses coiled, nothing within animals reach
When restraining/handling, ensure right equipment and in good working order before starting procedure
Behaviour can change depending on number of people present
Don’t climb fences, unsafe and visitors may copy your example
Perfumes/deodorants can confuse some animals, may elicit potentially dangerous responses
Safety mechanisms in remote controlled shift doors
Positive remote locking device - closed, open, partially open (creep)
Fully visible from operation position, keeper protected while operating
Easy to maintain, even when occupied
Track stop to prevent door/slide coming out of track
Crank mechanisms have drag or ratchet (animals can push back door)
Door mechanism concealed to prevent animal interference
Counterweights on heavy doors
Equipment designed to prevent animal injury or animals damaging it (rounded edges, no sharp projections)
Safety mechanisms for keepers for feeding stations
Shielding on the bars
Accessible from outside (allows feeding and cleaning with minimal disturbance)
Lock in open and closed positions
Drain holes
Floor finishing and drainage - prevent slipping, wet floors and ice build up
Protective devices and shields should enclose electrical outlets
Safety mechanisms for animals for feeding stations
Make sure food falls clear, doesn’t block feeder open
Use easily cleanable materials
Not accessible to public
Allow adequate space to horns can’t become entangled
Not extend into exhibit
Discourage animals from jumping into (goats)
Safely enclosed catwalks for keeper access
Protective walls, narrow passages and man-gates prevent animals following keepers
Hiding places in exhibit reduce risk of stress-related attacks/behaviours
Butting rails prevent fence and people damage
Safety devices to prevent animals from injuring each other
Creeps Tunnels, burrows, holes Cage furniture Climbing branches, logs, rocks Offer hiding places, barriers and effective use of all cage dimensions Water - barrier General exhibit design Irregular walls create visual barriers Avoid having animal able to stand in centre and dominate/control entire space Wall angles - greater than 90 degrees
Safety devices to protect animals from people
Prevent confrontation during routine care
Allows animals to retreat or move away (climb/fly etc)
If unavoidable, provide keeper with safe areas in exhibit
Barriers to prevent harassment from public
Barriers to prevent or minimize public feeding
Considerations for safety of the public
Adequate barriers while allowing visual contact
Proper signs warning of dangers
Effective design preventing accidental contact
Ensure barriers are effective for those too young to read or non English speakers
What are 7 extinction pressures?
Loss of natural habitat
Hunted/poached for pelts/feathers, medicine, folklore, food, sport/trophy
Predator persecution, poisoning or victims of pesticides
Competition with domestic animals
(grazing space, diseases e.g. hoof and mouth)
Introduced species
Pet market
War
What is the proventriculus?
glandular stomach that secretes digestive enzymes
What does the gizzard do?
mechanical break down. Often contains pebbles or sand for grinding down seed.
What is the difference between monogastric and ruminants?
Monogastric are not efficient users of food
= more passed through undigested and eliminated as waste
= Produce larger amount of waste
= much more important to feed them regularly throughout the day
Ruminants:
Very efficient use of their food
Can be fed one or two times a day and they will spend the rest of the time ruminating
Typically produce smaller amounts of faeces and often in pellet form
What is the difference between antlers and horns?
Only deer have antlers which are
- made of solid bone
- grown from the skull
- break off at the end of the year
- when growing, there is blood flow and covered in velvet
Horns:
- Develop in young animals, built to stay on for life
- Central core of bone which is permanently attached to the skill
- Bone is covered by thing layer of skin and then a tough outer layer of keratin (sheath)
- Can be damaged or sheath come off = lots of blood
Damaged = will not grow back/fix itself
What are the 3 types of adaptations?
Structural
Heavy eyelashes and muscled nostrils in camels to protect form blowing sand
Physiological
SA fur seal’s muscle tissue laced with myoglobin allows animal to stay underwater
Behavioural
Increased amount of time spent grooming in primates decreases tension between animals in a highly structured society
What are 8 adaptations for predatory avoidance?
Speed (and endurance)
Keen senses (hearing sight smell, social habits allow for combined and increased sensory awareness)
Camouflage - mimcry, countershading, cryptic colouration, disruptive coloration
Body projections - antlers, horns, tusks
Body covering e.g. turtles, porcupine
Offensive odours and/or taste
High reproductive rates or intensive parental care
Behavioural adaptations (puffing up e.g. owls), playing dead
Poison
What are 6 food acquisition adaptations?
Speed
Keen senses
Echo location and heat sensitivity rattlesnakes have infrared sense
Camouflage to surprise prey
Specialized mouth parts - fangs incapacitate with venom
Teeth to kill, gnaw flesh
Hooked beak in raptors to tear prey apart
Beaks:
Hawks hooked beaks
Herons long sharp for impaling fish
Seed eaters have short thick for crushing seeds
Flattened bills for straining
Tongues:
Some reptiles/amphibians use tongue to catch insects
Prehensile
Feathery end for nectar
Teeth:
Snakes sharp curved for bracing and moving food during swallowing
Mammals: canines for ripping, incisors for tearing, molars for grinding
Poison: modified saliva of venomous snakes kills prey
Specialized body parts Claws digging e.g. meerkats Talons Snout root for food, elephant trunk Vertebrae - larger allows greater flexibility in snakes, modified in ferrets for flex
What are 2 adaptations to physical elements of the environment
Foot adaptations - birds (perching, swimminge etc), hoofed animals
Specialized bodyparts e.g. large ears of fennec fox
What are 6 nocturnal adaptations
Nocturnal adaptions
Large protruding eyes (full advantage of available light)
Hearing sharpened, often large ears with ability to rotate
Smell sharpened
Long whiskers - touch and feel environment
Slow movements, sometimes large tail for balance and successful locomotion without the aid of good eyesight
Often dark coloured for camouflage
What are adaptations of ectothermic animals for temperature extremes?
Ectothermic:
Hibernate in ground, trees, caves etc
= body temp almost 0C, heart and breathing rate slows
Uses fat reserves
Aestivation:
= dormant period in the summer months
What are adaptations of endothermic animals for temperature extremes?
Adaptations that allow them to remain active during cold periods:
Insulation from fur, feathers or fat
Migration
Dormancy (not complete torpor = active on warmer days to find food)
Store food or fat
Counter current exchange of heat in hoofed animals
Conserves heat in their body core
Cold blood returning in veins from extremities pass closely to the veins coming out from the heart
= blood returning to the body is warmed
= uses less energy to keep main body temp high
What is Allens rule? What is Bergmans rule?
Allens rule:
Animals from cold habitats generally have shorter ears, limbs and tails than related animals from a warmer climate
Bergmans rule:
Warm-blooded animals that live in colder regions tend to be larger in size than their counterparts eg. Polar vs sun bear
What is an unconditioned reflex?
automatic, innate/unlearned. e.g. quickly pulling a limb back from hot surface
What is a conditioned reflex?
indirect reactions associated with experience or knowledge
What are 5 functions of communication?
Group spacing, coordination
Species and individual recognition, mating and courtship
(visual and auditory)
Aggression and social status
Alarm/warning signals
Hunting/finding food as a group
- Ants leave odour trails
- Bees perform “dances”
