Der Zoologische Garten最新文献

Since the beginning of the influence of the fauna of the Mascarene Islands as a result of activities by Europeans, various members of Columbiformes have become extinct on Réunion Island. The erection of an obviously involved species of the former family Raphidae proved to be erroneous, indeed, but nevertheless it was assumed that there were up to four different endemic members of Columbidae that vanished from the said island. Inquiries by the help of both historical and modern literature showed that on Réunion Island overall “only” three indigenous pigeon species were wiped out: Nesoenas duboisi, Alectroenas sp., and one more form of the former genus that because of the lack of sufficient subfossil bone remains cannot be definitely identified.

In July 1945, the veterinarian Julius Brachetka (1916–2011) took over the released direction of Schoenbrunn Zoo after the suicide of Otto Antonius. Only 29 years old, he was the youngest director in the history of the zoo and moreover, he was without any prior experience with zoos at all. When Brachetka occupied office, he had to deal with supply difficulties and the reconstruction of the zoo after the end of World War II as well as with the hostility from parts of his staff. Nevertheless, within a short time span, the damage caused by the war was repaired, and the declined number of animals was raised. Brachetka already wrote a history book in 1947. He initiated the first real advertising campaigns of the zoo and was responsible for the celebrations of the zoos’ 200-year-anniversary in 1952. However, he was not able to enjoy his achievements, as investigations against him led to his suspension in 1954. In January 1959, he finally had to leave the zoo. From 1961, until his retirement in 1982, Brachetka worked as a border veterinary at the „Iron Curtain“ between Austria and Hungary. In the same year, he received the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria.

The Crocodile lizard Shinisaurus crocodilurus, the only living representative of the family Shinisauridae, is a habitat specialist adapted to remote freshwater habitats within evergreen broadleaf forests. Its current distribution is restricted to few small and isolated remnant occurrences in South China and North Vietnam. Multiple anthropogenic threats such as massive habitat destruction and unsustainable over-collection for the international pet trade brought the species to the brink of extinction. We herein employed an integrative taxonomic approach including comprehensive molecular comparisons based on fragments of mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b, partial ND6, and partial tRNA-Glu) in concert with in-depth morphological and ecological analyses in order to determine the status of the extant populations. Based on molecular, morphological, and ecological differences, we herein describe a new subspecies, Shinisaurus crocodilurus vietnamensis ssp. n., from Vietnam. Our findings emphasize the importance of improved in situ conservation measures in both countries, as both China and Vietnam harbor unique Crocodile lizard forms. We also recommend additional ex situ conservation measures, i.e., separate conservation breeding management of the subspecies in order to maintain genetic integrity and adjust husbandry conditions according to detected differences in ecological niche occupation.

Jellyfish are one of the oldest multi-organ animals found today; dating back at least 500 million years and some say even as many as 700 million years. There are even two or three that are considered immortal in that they can revert back to their polyp stage from the medusa stage. How amazing is that? But their increased prominence in our oceans is due to fishing down the food chain so that sea jellies have fewer predators and to the increased nutrients we are adding to our oceans via the rivers where the fertilizers and other chemical run off our land and into the water. Climate change is also affecting our sea jelly populations. Sea jellies are beautiful, graceful, elegant and mesmerizing and because of that, we have the opportunity to connect our visitors emotionally to our oceans and inspire the care and behaviour changes needed to help our oceans become healthy again.

Over the past 500-plus million years, these beautifully tetra-radial symmetrical jellies have diversified with over 200 scyphozoans, and possibly up to a couple of thousand hydrozoan species. They can live for only a few hours to six months in the wild, though in our aquariums, they have lived much longer. They have even diversified how they reproduce from asexual budding and fission to sexual reproduction, which makes our job of maintaining sustainable populations within our facilities all the more challenging, and no wonder these amazing jellies have fascinated us for decades.

Despite the ecological and socio-economical importance of Rhizostomeae jellyfishes little is known about their feeding strategies and diet. We described the consumption of different ephyrae species by different developmental stages of Lychnorhiza lucerna medusae in laboratory conditions. This is the first report of a rhizostome medusa feeding on gelatinous preys. Besides, L. lucerna seems to be capable of avoiding cannibalism. Finally, we discuss the importance of gelatinous zooplankton as prey items for scyphozoan ephyrae, considering their limited capacity of capturing fast-escaping crustacean prey.

The selection and the use of antiparasitic remedies in the animals in zoological gardens and those bred in captivity present one of the challenges to the wildlife veterinarians. The latter have to be flexible enough in the choice of medicines and schemes of treatment of the animals they take care of. The present study is aimed at adding more information in that respect. A number of cases of ivermectin treating of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish bred in captivity are presented in it. The tolerance to the drug in the different animals, species of the parasites influenced by it, dosages, schemes of applying and some other peculiarities in the system animals – diseases – anthelmintic treatments are discussed.

This communication presents and discusses the financial costs recorded by a small Brazilian aviary in which a few captive-bred wild bird species have been kept. The highest expenses were associated with the birds’ diet, accounting for at least 60% of total costs. Among insectivorous-frugivorous birds, this figure was 88%. The most expensive food item was live food. Although initial costs for enclosures may be considerable, their durability means expenditures can be spread over time, mitigating their impact. Approximately 30% of the total costs for keeping the largest species studied here were linked to a spacious outdoor planted aviary. Quail from this flock required additional sanitary expenditure (i.e. 14% of the total) for controlling a previous parasitic infection. Total annual maintenance costs amounted to USD 298.00, USD 211.00 and USD 116.00 for each Pekin robin (Leiothrix lutea Scopoli, 1786), Livingstone's turaco (Tauraco livingstonii Gray, 1864), and Valley quail (Callipepla californica Shaw, 1798), respectively.