ALBERT

Description: Extensive reports on losses in zoo animals are very rare. As fas as we know only London, Paris, Philadelphia and Washington give yearly reports. Of these London and Paris give very complete information. One of the reasons that so few zoos publish their results may be that it is always more pleasant to give information about successes than about failures. In our opinion, however, it is no use to disguise the truth and for other zoos it can be very useful to have the opportunity to compare results. The period described in this paper is part of an important era in the history of our zoo, a period of reconstruction, rebuilding and, of increasing the collection. This period will last another 10-15 years or so as at that time the really old and worn-out buildings will have been replaced and appropriate facilities for the veterinarian will have been achieved. At the same time this period has seen great advances in veterinary care. The Cap-Chur pistol in use in our zoo since 1960 made injection possible of any animal at any time. The increasing arsenal of therapeutics and the international contacts by way of the international symposia on diseases of zoo animals have contributed largely to a better medical care of zoo animals. Thus prevention of diseases is becoming more and more important. In our opinion the effective disinfectant halamid (Chloraminum) plays an important rôle in this respect.

Description: Extensive reports on losses in zoo animals are very rare. As fas as we know only London, Paris, Philadelphia and Washington give yearly reports. Of these London and Paris give very complete information. One of the reasons that so few zoos publish their results may be that it is always more pleasant to give information about successes than about failures.\nIn our opinion, however, it is no use to disguise the truth and for other zoos it can be very useful to have the opportunity to compare results. The period described in this paper is part of an important era in the history of our zoo, a period of reconstruction, rebuilding and, of increasing the collection. This period will last another 10-15 years or so as at that time the really old and worn-out buildings will have been replaced and appropriate facilities for the veterinarian will have been achieved. At the same time this period has seen great advances in veterinary care. The Cap-Chur pistol in use in our zoo since 1960 made injection possible of any animal at any time. The increasing arsenal of therapeutics and the international contacts by way of the international symposia on diseases of zoo animals have contributed largely to a better medical care of zoo animals. Thus prevention of diseases is becoming more and more important. In our opinion the effective disinfectant halamid (Chloraminum) plays an important r\xc3\xb4le in this respect.

Description: Every new mammal or bird in the Amsterdam zoo, without exception, is kept in quarantaine for some weeks and until necessary standard checks are done. The number of mammals in the collection during the period 1967-1973 varied between 729 and 858 belonging to 172 to 208 species. In birds these figures were 1571 and 1803 specimens of 391 to 520 species (table I). The average percentage of deaths in mammals was 12.4% (table II) and in birds 13% (table III).\nThe causes of death (tables IV and V) are arranged under 15 headings for mammals and under 18 for birds; both numbers and percentages are given. During 1967, 1968, and 1969 there were many cases of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in the nocturnal house. The troubles only stopped after vaccination of all animals already present in the house and of the new ones before housing them. Cases of non-identified infections in psittacine birds (53 victims) and penguins (19 victims) are provided. The same holds true for a skin disease in apes and diabetes in ruminants. A rather detailed report is given on cowpox in indian elephants in 1973. The three females of different age were affected; the male stayed free. All animals recovered after periods ranging from 17 to 57 days. One elephant had serious foot troubles in the same period, the most serious at the left forefoot. It took about 6 weeks before all animals recovered completely.\nThe survival rate of newborn mammals fluctuated between 59% and 66%, at a number of births fluctuating from 164 to 249 a year (table VI). The low rate of 56% for wild ruminants could be raised to 67% by feeding extra minerals to pregnant and nursing females. In birds hatched (table VII) the survival rates varied between 49% and 75%. The low figure is caused by the very bad results with ducks (in 1969 only 25% survival). By changing the accomodation we brought the figure for ducks up to 83% at the end of the period reported upon.

Description: Entamoeba invadens RODHAIN is known as a dangerous parasite in reptiles, especially snakes and lizards. Up till now it has mostly been found in specimens which are kept in captivity. When these are carriers they show no signs of disease, but the faeces contain cysts and can infect healthy reptiles. If the reptiles are ill, the symptoms mostly are serious. They begin with a loss of appetite and an increasing need for drinking water. Within a few weeks the faeces merely consist of bloody mucus, containing a large number of hystolytic forms as well as a few cysts of Entamoeba invadens. In the case of Lacerta agilis (STAM, 1958), the animals died on an average within 25 days from inoculation (14 to 34 days). Different species of Natrix which had been infected died in 13 to 77 days from the onset of infection (RATCLIFFE and GEIMAN, 1938). BARROW and STOCKTON (1960) found that the temperature affected the symptoms in infected snakes. When the animals were kept at 13\xc2\xb0 C there were no internal pathological changes within two to six weeks but at 25\xc2\xb0 C these were very clear.\nThese changes, as described by different authors, are ulcers of the colon. In experiments nearly the entire colon is damaged to such an extent that no individual ulcers can be distinguished. Ulcers may also be found in the ilium. The liver may have one or several abscesses. Inflammation sometimes spreads from the gut to the kidneys.

Description: Die Kleinen Pandas z\xc3\xbcchteten in einem kleinen Au\xc3\x9fengehege mit Regenschutz und K\xc3\xa4figen. Das M\xc3\xa4nnchen war bei der Zucht 5 Jahre alt, die Weibchen erwachsen (Alter unbekannt). Die Paarung fand im Januar/Februar statt, die Geburt im Juni. Die Tragzeit betrug 125 bis 132 (155?) Tage. Der Grund f\xc3\xbcr die Unruhe der Weibchen nach der Geburt ist nicht bekannt, m\xc3\xb6glicherweise ist sie auf eine unzureichende Unterbringung zur\xc3\xbcckzuf\xc3\xbchren. Die Tiere leiden von Temperaturen von ungef\xc3\xa4hr 27\xc2\xb0 C und dar\xc3\xbcber. 1970 wuchsen zwei Jungtiere auf, eines starb. Die Entwicklung ist langsam. Die Jungtiere wurden im Alter von 53, 68 und 179 Tagen mit lebendem, gefriergetrocknetem Masernvirus, lebendem, gefriergetrocknetem Panleucopenie-Virus der Katzen und lebendem, gefriergetrocknetem Staupe- und Hepatitis contagiosa-Virus des Hundes geimpft. Zehn Tage nach der letzten Impfung wurden die Jungtiere krank und starben. Nach abermals zehn Tagen erkrankten und starben die drei erwachsenen Tiere. Die Sektionsbefunde ergaben, da\xc3\x9f die letzten beiden an einer sehr virulenten Infektion durch den Hundestaupe-Virus starben. Da alle Tiere dieselben Symptome zeigten, die allerdings ganz anders als die bei Hunden waren, schlossen wir daraus, da\xc3\x9f alle an derselben Krankheit starben und die Infektion durch die Impfung mit lebendem Virus hervorgerufen wurde.\nDie Symptome der Hundestaupe bei Kleinen Pandas sind eine Entz\xc3\xbcndung der Mund- und Augenschleimh\xc3\xa4ute und schwere nerv\xc3\xb6se Symptome, schon vom ersten Tage der Krankheit an (epileptische Anf\xc3\xa4lle, Koma).\nEine Umfrage bei 45 Zoos ergab, da\xc3\x9f zumindest in einigen F\xc3\xa4llen Staupe nach Impfung mit lebendem Virus auftrat. Wir w\xc3\xbcrden raten, auf keinen Fall zu impfen. Wenn aus irgendeinem Grunde eine Impfung w\xc3\xbcnschenswert erscheint, sollte mit abget\xc3\xb6tetem Virus oder mit Masernvirus geimpft werden.

Description: A six to seven year-old female okapi died after a week of illness showing clinical signs of an acute infection of the respiratory tracts. Antibiotic therapy did not influence the course of the disease. The postmortem examination demonstrated the presence of acute laryngitis, tonsilitis, tracheo-bronchitis, bronchopneumonia and serifibrinous exudate, together with a subacute and subchronic myocarditis and hepatitis. Bacteriological cultures from the spleen, liver, kidneys, and the lungs, yielded two strains of Escherichia coli.\nForty-eight hours after the death of the female, the male okapi became ill and it was treated with antibiotics indicated by the sensitivity tests carried out upon the Escherichia coli noted in the dead female: ampicilline was thus injected into the male whose health gradually improved and a complete recovery occurred.

Description: The results are given of different anthelmintics administered to control intestinal parasitism in two okapis. With Mintic (oral) and Thiabendazole (oral) complete eradication was achieved clinically which was subsequently confirmed at the post-mortem of the female.

Description: The breeding results of Polar Bears in captivity are in general very disappointing. Unsuitable maternity dens are the main cause. These should be completely closed, very quiet without outside disturbances and should have connection with a run and thus with an outside enclosure. The female should be isolated in this den a month before birth and be provided with heavy bedding. She should not be disturbed before she comes out with her cubs in early spring. Electric heating in this den (floor or radiant) can be of advantage and in some cases means the difference between failure and success. The time of birth is November and December with a peak in the last decade of November (table 12) or one in the first decade of December (table 13). The number of young in captivity is mostly one and often two (table 12: 62 single, 47 twins born). The female is capable of giving birth at the age of 5 and can have cubs at least till 24 years of age. If the cubs are taken from the mother at about 15 months she can breed every two years, which is normal zoo practice.