Proposal : An opportunity for sponsoring attendees at the International
Tree Kangaroo Workshop, Melbourne Australia, 6-10 October 2013
The situation
The IUCN redlist registers 13 species of tree kangaroo, all but one of the species found in New
Guinea are considered threatened. Three species are considered to be facing an extremely high risk
of extinction in the wild and have been ranked as Critically Endangered, the highest level of
endangerment. The International Tree Kangaroo Workshop will bring together a range of passionate
people working with tree kangaroos - the theme is: Captive management and Conservation : Current
Issues and Future Directions.
The workshop
The Conservation and Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) advocates a "One Plan Approach" to
conservation planning. This approach involves the integration of ex-situ and in-situ conservation in
holistic manner that involves all stakeholder from the outset. It is our vision of that the international
tree kangaroo workshop will be able to achieve just that.
The workshop will be the first time the two major tree kangaroo conservation programs working in
PNG will be brought together to share their experiences. Namely the Tenkile Conservation Alliance
and the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program - both World Zoo and Aquarium Association (WAZA)
endorsed conservation programs.
Not only are in situ conservation programs coming together, the ex situ tree kangaroo community
(including AZA Tree Kangaroo SSP, Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia) will also unite to
discuss a range of husbandry matters and exhibitory innovation.
Importantly, the workshop will also host the inaugural masterplanning session for the Global Species
Management Plan for Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo. In 2012 Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo joined only
6 other species in the WAZA portfolio for GSMPs, and for good reason, there are only 44 individuals
in captivity global and intensive species management is necessary so that this unique species
continues to be maintained to engage the public with endangered species, habitat loss as well as to
drive the impetus for people to care enough about these issues that funding can be sought for
conservation initiatives in PNG such as the Tenkile Conservation Alliance and Tree Kangaroo
Conservation Program. Without serious intervention not only will many species be lost from
captivity but also in the wild.
Please help
For the workshop to be a success it is vital there is wide representation from in situ conservation
organisations, captive management facilities such as zoos and key personnel from within range state
(New Guinea). In the current financial climate, funding is tight for all organisations, however finding
the fund to attend the workshop from PNG is particularly difficult. The median monthly salary post
tax in PNG is AUD$203/163 EURO/US$211. We estimate workshop travel expenses at AUD$2250.
Therefore we are seeking support by way of sponsorship.
Zoo Associations: We are asking that AZA, EAZA, JAZA, SEAZA and ZAA consider making a
contribution so that we can ensure range state representation at the coming workshop. The
significance of this cannot be under-estimated when you consider how small the current captive
population is, how inbreeding will become a serious issue for the program in new founders cannot
be acquired very soon, and how it is upon us to demonstrate our commitment to genuine
conservation beyond our borders.
Zoos: We hope that every zoo that holds tree kangaroos will be able to support a representative
from their institution to attend the workshop, and consider the possibility of supporting a person
from PNG to attend.
Our thanks to Melbourne Zoo for hosting and organising the International Tree Kangaroo Workshop,
including providing the venue and sponsoring the workshop dinner.
Contact
If you can offer financial assistance for PNG representatives to attend the International Tree
Kangaroo Workshop, please contact Claire Ford, Senior Species Management Officer, Zoo and
Aquarium Association (ZAA), claire@zooaquarium.org.au Thank you.
Citation:
IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>.
Downloaded on 08 April 2013.
International Tree Kangaroo Workshop
Captive Management and Conservation:
Current Issues and Future Directions
6th October – 10th October 2013
DRAFT PROGRAM
3:30PM-5:00PM
SUNDAY OCTOBER 6: REGISTRATION DAY
Register for the workshop at Melbourne Zoo reception. Visit the
zoo at your leisure throughout the workshop and after on
receiving your workshop ID badge
5:00-8:00
Richardson
Ice Breaker at Melbourne Zoo in the Bong Su Room
Mingling and Introductions: Jacque Blessington and Megan
8:00AM- 9:00PM
DAY
MONDAY OCTOBER 7: CAPTIVE MANAGEMENT
8:00-8:15
Introductions/Welcome: Jacque Blessington (AZA TK-SSP),
Megan Richardson (MZ) and Claire Ford (ZAA)
8:15-9:00
Keynote speaker, Dr. Roger Martin – Tree Kangaroo
Evolutionary History
Historical Perspectives in Captivity: Jacque Blessington
9:00-9:15
9:15-10:00
Diet/Nutrition
o Overview: Jacque Blessington
o Browse plantations and their management: Robert
Boekel
10:00-10:30
Break
10:30-12:00
Animal Health Concerns:
o Avian Tb, Preventative Medicine, Preshipment,
Necropsy, Generalized Survey Results: Jacque
Blessington
o Carcass Disposition: Lisa Dabek
o Immunology: Dr. Terry Phillips (Dabek)
o Lens Removal Surgery: Stephanie Kain
(Blessington)
o Determining What Went Wrong: a case study of
Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo deaths at Wildlife
Habitat: Clare Anderson
12:00-1:00
Lunch
1:00-1:20
Current Management:
The History of Tree Kangaroos at Taronga Zoo and Their
Sam Bennett
1:20-4:45
Behavior and Reproduction (Includes break)
o Pair Management: Jacque Blessington & Megan
Richardson
o Fertility Testing/Fecal Assays: Jacque Blessington
o Mate choice increases captive breeding and
conservation success: an overview of marsupial
research: Dr. Marissa Parrott
o Mate Choice Selection Opportunities: Jacque
Blessington
o Discussion on joey loss in a single female at the
Taronga Zoo: Sam Bennett
o Boroscope: Davi Ann Buggi (Blessington)
o Developmental Milestones: Megan Richardson
o Joey Behavior study and Birth Management Plan:
Deanna Ramirez and Beth Carlyle-Askew
o Comparison of behaviors between wild Matschie’s
Tree- Kangaroos in PNG and captive Matschie’s
Tree- Kangaroos at Woodland Park Zoo: Deanna
Ramirez, Beth Carlyle-Askew, Lisa Dabek
4:45-5:45
Research:
o Tree Kangaroo Reproductive Tissue Study: Dawn
Flauchaus (Blessington)
o Ex-situ and in-situ Genetics: Lisa Dabek
o Potential roles of semiochemicals in treekangaroos – the case study of the Lumholtz’s treekangaroo (Dendrolagus lumholtzi): Heise-Pavlov, S.;
Anderson, C.; Cianelli, M. (Heise-Pavlov)
5:45-6:45
Dinner ordered in
6:45-7:30
Delegates
Enrichment/Training: Jacque Blessington, Megan Richardson and
7:30-9:00
Exhibit design and sharing: Jacque Blessington and Delegates
8:00AM-5:30PM
TUESDAY OCTOBER 8th : CONSERVATION DAY
8:00-8:15
Address by Zoos Victoria Wildlife, Conservation and Science
Department
8:15-8:45
The status of tree-kangaroos in Australia and the threats they
face. Tree Kangaroo ecology and conservation: Dr. Roger Martin
8:45-9:45
Lumholtz tree kangaroo on the Atherton Tablelands: Impact of
tree kangaroo mortality from dogs and cars. Rehabilitation and
reintroduction: methodology and guidelines: Dr. Karen Coombes
9:45-10:10
A Community Action Plan for the conservation of the Australian
endemic Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus lumholtzi): Treekangaroo and Mammal Group (TKMG) Inc. (Heise-Pavlov)
10:10-10:30
Regular monitoring of captive Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroos can
assist in conservation planning: Heise-Pavlov, S.; Anderson, C.;
Moshier, A. and Collins, L. (Anderson)
10:30-11:00
Break
11:00-12:30
Conservation of tree kangaroos in Papua New Guinea: Matschie’s
tree kangaroo conservation through the Tree Kangaroo
Conservation Program and YUS Conservation Area; future
priorities for tree kangaroo conservation in NG:
Dr. Lisa Dabek
12:30-1:30
Lunch
1:30-2:30
Tenkile Conservation Alliance: Jim Thomas
2:30-3:00
Kangaroos: Emily Dunstan
Palm Oil Crisis in New Guinea and its impact on Tree
3:00-3:30
Implementing a WAZA goal: developing a sister relationship
between Port Moresby Nature Park and Zoos Victoria: Chris
Banks
3:30-4:00
Break
4:00-4:45
Discussion on conservation campaigns, education programs and
community engagement: Jacque Blessington & Dr Lisa Dabek
4:45-5:30
Collaborations for Tree Kangaroo conservation: Who are the
stakeholders and potential partners (e.g., zoos, governments,
IUCN, NGO’s, corporations). How can we work together to
create a sustainable tree kangaroo conservation approach?:
Dr. Lisa Dabek
6:00-9:00
Night out with Dinner funded by the Melbourne Zoo
8:00AM-3:00PM
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9: GOODFELLOW’S GSMP
1. Welcome: Claire Ford (ZAA), Meeting Convenor
2. Introductions
3. Overview of the WAZA Global Species Management Plan
(GSMP) process
4. Regional Reports
Each regional coordinator to present a report /power point
presentation that includes the current regional situation, plans for
the future, perceived benefits and challenges for global
management, facilities, any other issues (e.g. research, husbandry,
veterinary, in-situ support).
 Global - (Claire Ford)
 Australasia - (Megan Richardson)
 Europe - (Wolfgang Dressen)
 North America - (Jacque Blessington)
 Japan (Masashi Usui)
 Singapore (Wendy Chua)
 PNG - (Brett Smith)
5. Master planning for Goodfellow’s?
Discuss and agree on development of the following:
 Scope and administration
 Vision for Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo GSMP and
purpose of ex-situ program
 Regional and global program needs
 Genetic and demographic strategy
 Breeding and Transfer Recommendations
 Research, husbandry and veterinary needs and potential
for collaboration
 In situ conservation support and collaboration
 Exit strategy
6. Population Management: Jacque Blessington
o Status of Captive Matschie’s Populations
o Preparing for Breeding Recommendations
o Institutional Commitments
7. Visit MZ Tree Kangaroos
3:00-5:00 PM
Revisit 2005 Summit Meeting Action Plans, how far have we
come?
Discussion: Collaborations for tree kangaroo conservation – how
can we increase our impact by working together? Create an action
plan from previous day’s discussion.
Summary of actions and work plan
Meeting Close
8:00AM-6:30PM
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10: Optional daytrip to
Healesville Sanctuary
8:00
12:00-1:00
5:00
Meet at the zoo for 1.5 hr trip to Healesville
Lunch
Leave Healesville
*We will be holding a raffle throughout the workshop. We ask that delegates bring an item to
donate to the raffle. Funds raised will be donated to projects determined by the delegates.
We are working on creating a database of exhibit photos and descriptions of tree kangaroo
facilities. We ask that all attending delegates bring these materials to the workshop to share.
We request that delegates bring educational and outreach materials (or photos of educational and
outreach materials) to share at the icebreaker and during the workshop.
We also encourage delegates to bring photos and/or videos of enrichment and training.