EUROASIAN REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIA
GOVERNMENT OF MOSCOW
MOSCOW ZOO
Scientific Research in
Zoological Parks
Volume 22
Moscow
2007
The previous 21st issue of Scientific Research in Zoological Parks has been
published by Novosibirsk zoo, the current one is presented by Moscow zoo. Traditionally
it is dedicated to different aspects of the zoo management. Series of articles on marine
aquariumistics and husbandry and breeding of venomous snakes is continued. Reviews
devoted to research activity of zoos in the territory of former USSR, viral diseases of
reptiles, problems of mammals' behavior optimization in zoos are presented. Behavior of
a group of giraffes and sugar gliders captive population is discussed. Problematic articles
consider reintroduction as a method of wild Amphibia conservation and a method of
“individual distances” for behavior research. Other articles describe animal keeping in
Budapest Zoo, preservation of gene pool of the Przewalski horses at Askania Nova,
methods of keeping and breeding Inachis io and endangered Oriental White Stork. We
made a decision to publish the translation of “Husbandry Guidelines 2006 - Common
warthog” which is of great interest for keepers and also sets an example of similar
reports.
Brief communication describes the first successfull hand rearing jerboas.
Information on the I st European Congress on Conservation Biology "Diversity for
Europe" and conservation project «The saving of Meriones dahli” is cited.
The issue will be useful for zoo experts and keepers, as well as for students of
biological universities
Summary
Tkacheva E.Yu., Tkachev O.A. Keeping, breeding and demonstration of
Inachis io, Linnaeus, 1758 (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) in the Moscow zoo. This
article describes some experiments on keeping, breeding and demonstration of
Inachis io, Linnaeus, 1758 (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) in the Moscow zoo. Data
on optimal keeping conditions and terms of larval stages development are
represented as well as results of experiments on keeping of cooled imago. This
attractive species was found to be perspective for demonstration. The possibility of
organizing of all-the-year-round exhibit with Inachis io is considered.
Summary
Astakhov D.A., Poponov S.Y., Poponova V.R.. Twenty-year continuous
culture maintenance of the host sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor (Cnidaria,
Actiniaria) in marine closed systems in Moscow (P.P. Shirshov Institute of
Oceanology - Moscow Zoo). Data and conditions of twenty years continuous
culture maintenance of the general for all anemonefishes host sea anemone
Entacmaea quadricolor at Moscow are described.
Summary
Astakhov D.A., Poponov S.Y., Poponova V.R. Some aspects of prolonged
maintenance of marine fishes in captivity. Report 20. Genus Amphiprion. Subgenus
Amphiprion (Actinopterygii, Perciformes, Pomacentridae, Amphiprioninae). Data
on distribution and biology of 4 species of anemonefishes of subgenus
Amphiprion: Amphiprion (A.) clarkii (Bennett, 1830), A. (A.) ephippium (Bloch,
1790), A. (A.) frenatus Brevoort, 1856, A. (A.) melanopus Bleeker, 1852 and
conditions of prolonged maintenance of these species at Moscow Zoo are
described.
Summary
Astakhov D.A., Poponov S.Y., Poponova V.R. Some aspects of prolonged
maintenance of marine fishes in captivity. Report 21. Genus Amphiprion. Subgenus
Paramphiprion (Actinopterygii, Perciformes, Pomacentridae, Amphiprioninae).
Data on distribution and biology of 2 species of anemonefishes of subgenus
Paramphiprion: Amphiprion (Р.) polymnus (Linnaeus, 1758) and A. (Р.) sebae
Bleeker, 1853 and conditions of prolonged maintenance of these species at
Moscow Zoo are described.
Summary
Astakhov D.A., Poponov S.Y., Poponova V.R. Some aspects of prolonged
maintenance of marine fishes in captivity. Report 22. Genus Amphiprion. Subgenus
Phalerebus (Actinopterygii, Perciformes, Pomacentridae, Amphiprioninae). Data
on distribution and biology of 3 species of anemonefishes of subgenus Phalerebus:
Amphiprion (Ph.) nigripes Regan, 1908, A. (Ph.) perideraion Bleeker, 1855, A.
(Ph.) sandaracinos Allen, 1972 and conditions of prolonged maintenance of these
species at Moscow Zoo are described.
Summary
Astakhov D.A., Poponov S.Y., Poponova V.R. Some aspects of prolonged
maintenance of marine fishes in captivity. Report 23. Genus Amphiprion. Subgenus
Actinicola (Actinopterygii, Perciformes, Pomacentridae, Amphiprioninae). Data
on distribution and biology of 2 species of anemonefishes of subgenus Actinicola:
Amphiprion (Ac.) ocellaris Cuvier, 1830 and A. (Aс.) percula (Lacepede, 1802)
and conditions of prolonged maintenance of these species at Moscow Zoo are
described.
Summary
Kudryavtsev S.V., Ganina L.V., Mamet S.V. Some successful results in
husbandry and breeding of the rare and hard-to-keep venomous snakes at the
Moscow Zoo (part YII:2006-2007 years). The article deals with some results of a
continuous research aimed at developing methods for husbandry and breeding of
rare and difficult species of venomous snakes at Moscow Zoo, conducted
especially intensively lately. Details of husbandry and captive reproduction of
species with restricted areal, such as: hard-to-keep Kraits Bungarus fasciatus
(Schneider, 1801) and Bungarus flaviceps Reinhardt, 1843, Bushmaster Lachesis
muta (Linné, 1766) and Striped pitviper Trimeresurus fasciatus Boulenger, 1896
are given.
Summary
Gavrikova E.Yu., Andronova R.S. Captive rearing technique of endangered
Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana) adjusted on the numerous species – Grey
Heron (Ardea cinerea) in Reintroduction Center of Khingansky State Nature
Reserve. Experience of captive rearing of Grey Heron and Oriental White Stork in
Reintroduction Center of Khingansky reserve is described with particular attention
to international experience in Oriental White Stork captive rearing.
Summary
Zubchaninova E.V. Behavior of a group of giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis
giraffa) in an outside enclosure of Moscow zoo. This article continues our study
(2004) on adaptation of two young giraffes to adult animals-residents.
Observations were conducted in summer, 2005 when the group of giraffes was in
outdoor enclosure. Decrease of locomotion and time for rest as well as increase of
feeding time was discovered. Feeding preferences in young animals were revealed.
Social environment in outdoor enclosure was found to be more favourable for
giraffes basing on examination of their interactions. Recommendations for more
rational disposal of feeding places were given after study of enclosure
employment.
Summary
Zubchaninova E.V., Morozova E.Yu., Dubrovskyi V.Yu. Can a plastic salt-lick
toy be a factor of giraffes enrichment? A plastic salt-lick toy with smell and
flavouring settings was used to decrease stereotype licking of different objects in
giraffes in the Moscow zoo. This toy practically didn’t effect the intensity of
licking in contrast to hay availability. Individual attitude of different animals
towards salt-lick and licking of partners’ hair was noted.
Summary
Kondratyeva L.V., Ilchenko O.G. Behavior of sugar gliders (Petaurus
breviceps) captive population in Moscow Zoo. 1. Behavioral patterns. Ethogramm
of gliders social and individual behavior was composed (78 elements combined in
13 functional groups). Description of social behavioral complexes (peaceful,
sexual and agonistic) and individual behavior (calm and during psychological
discomfort) was made. To help in recognition of animals conditions, four listed
types of behavior element–markers were picked out.
Summary
Serbinova I.A. Reintroduction as a method of wild Amphibia conservation.
The problem of amphibian species diversity conservation is extremely actual to
date. Such methods as captive prolonged keeping, crioconservation of gametes and
reintroduction of raised captive born offspring to natural habitats can help to solve
the problem. Reintroduction of endangered Pelobates syriacus in Georgia started
in 2004 and covered natural habitats of the species near to Tbilisi (2004 and 2006)
and Gori (2005). At the same time monitoring of hatching ponds of Pelobates
syriacus in Georgia was carried out. Now there is a clear informatiom of Pelobates
syriacus distribution and density in the most parts of Georgian area. The work to
be continued.
Summary
Syroechkovski E.V., Tarkhanova M.A. Behavior reseach of Barnacle geese in
captivity using a method of “individual distances”. About 30 Barnacle geese
(Branta leucopsis) are kept at the Moscow Zoo. All the birds are identifiable
through individual marking by colour rings. Their behaviour has been observed
since 1998 and now we know the life history of every bird.
Barnacle geese are very sociable in all seasons, but during autumn and
winter their activity is very low and interactions are few. During these periods all
Barnacle geese often stay in a flock consisting of several groups and it's difficult to
study their social structure and to determine whether the members of the observed
groups are related.
In order to understand the relations of the group members a method of
“individual distances” was used. This approach is based on the analysis of the
spacial distribution of Barnacle geese in the flock, measuring mean distances
between birds and comparison of these distances. The presence of statistically
significant difference in mean distances between the birds in the flock would be the
evidence of some positive or negative relationship between them. This means that
the specimen of Barnacle geese can identify every bird in the flock and while
moving each goose prefers to stay closer to some birds and farther from others.
In our analysis we have used a number of parameters including: mean
distance, maximum and minimum distances and coefficient of distance variation.
We also registered how often birds were found in different groups. The lowest
mean distances are between parents and their youngest offspring and partners in
pairs.
We found out that family bonds were very strong in Barnacle geese. Parents
were tolerant to their older offspring in autumn and winter. Older offspring
maintained a greater distance from parents than yearlings and were often on the
perimeter of family group. The proportion of time offspring spent with parents
declined as they grew older. Barnacle geese remained associated with their parents
for a long time – they were observed together at least for 6 years. Adult offspring
could occasionally leave and then rejoin their parents but they often stayed not far
from them. The persistence and stability of family bonds were maintained mainly
by males because sons preferred to stay close to their fathers. When the son found
a breeding partner a new couple usually joined his parents. So we can conclude
that a large social group of Barnacle geese with more than two adult birds may
consist of more than one generation of offspring. Several generations of geese act
as a large but loosely associated family.
Summary
Popov S.V. Research activity of zoos in the territory of former USSR. The
article discusses scientific activity of the regional zoos (researches, conservation
programms, publishing and methodological activities) basing on analysis of 352
publications and questionnaires from 18 zoos.
Summary
Volodin I.A., Volodina E.V. Approaches to animal keeping in Budapest Zoo.
Budapest Zoo is among oldest in Europe (founded in 1866) and is situated on a
small territory of 11 he. However, it exposes a lot diversity of animals. It is
achieved for the account of very reasonable species selection, that allows keeping
animals in mixed expositions and providing them large enclosures; for the account
of terraced exposition and constant use of warmed pavilions. Principles of
exposition design, environment enrichment, approaches to visitor feedback as well
as technical decisions to enclosure construction, simplifying work with animals,
are described.
Summary
T.L. Zharkikh, N.I. Yasynetska. Preservation of gene pool of the Przewalski horses
at Askania Nova: breeding in lines. A brief history of preservation and breeding of
the Przewalski horse in captivity is given in the article, classification of the
population in breeding lines and prospects of their further preservation are
discussed.
Summary
Vasiliev D.B., Shved V.S. Viral diseases of reptiles. Main forms of reptile
diseases caused by retroviruses, reoviruses, paramyxoviruses, flaviviruses,
herpesviruses, adenoviruses, iridoviruses, and poxviruses are considered.
Matters of systematics of virus agents, clinical signs and pathomorphologic
alterations caused by diseases are discussed, as well as current diagnostic
methods, differential diagnostics and therapy.
Summary
Neprintseva E.S., Voshchanova I.P. Scientific researches on optimization of
mammals' behavior in zoos: a review. Scientific researches which deal with
behavioral problems and psychological well-being of captive animals have
received advanced development over the last decades and play an important role in
providing an adequate animals captive environment for up-to-date zoos. The main
approaches to optimization of behavior – environment enrichment, theoretical
basis of improvement of animals’ psychological state, analysis of causes of
pathological behavior and studying of rearing conditions effects on behavior are
reviewed here in apply to mammals in captivity. Conclusion resumes strategy of
optimization of mammals' behavior in zoos.
Summary
Ilchenko O.G., Vakhrusheva G.V., Sapozhnikova S.R. Hand-rearing great
jerboas: our first experience. Three great jerboas were successfully hand-reared in
Moscow zoo in May-June, 2007. The appropriate intervals between feedings and
milk formula were developed basing on our previous experience. We suppose the
experiment was a success also due to the fact that the female was rearing the litter
during first 2-3 weeks by herself. The very fact of nursing the litter by jerboa
female in captivity is of great interest and rariry; it could be caused by preliminary
homeopathic treatment.
Summary
st
Maksudov G. I European Congress on Conservation Biology. "Diversity
for Europe". Eger, Hungary, 22-26 August 2006. This item is a short description of
main events of the Congress. The subject matters of 4 plenary talks, 16
symposiums, 22 sessions, 10 workshops are listed. Author regrets that among 1100
participants were only 7 Russians and only 1 Moscow representative. Many
participants exclude Russia from Europe in their reports or know nothing about
Russian biological science.
Summary.
Popov S.V., Iltchenko O.G. «The saving of Meriones dahli (Shidlovski,
1962)» (The first steps of Dahl’s Jird conservation project). The first results of
Euro-Asian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquaria conservation project are
reported. Dahl’s Jird is the most endangered rodent species in the territory of the
former Soviet Union. According to our inspections in 2005 and 2006 the
populations of Dahl’s Jird in Armenia have directly disappeared. At the same time
Turkish zoologists found out that the population of Meriones meridianus in the
east of Turkey is actually the population of M. dahli. So, our future plans are: to try
to get Dahl’s Jirds from Turkey, breed them for establishing the stable captive
population and then reintroduce the stock of the population into the late habitats in
Armenia.
Contents
Introduction (Instructions for authors)
3
The questions of animals’ keeping, breeding and behaviour in captivity
E.Yu. Tkacheva, O.A. Tkachev
Keeping, breeding and demonstration of Inachis io, Linnaeus, 1758
(Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) in the Moscow zoo.
5
D.A. Astakhov, S.Y. Poponov, V.R. Poponova
Twenty-year continuous culture maintenance of the host sea anemone
Entacmaea quadricolor (Cnidaria, Actiniaria) in marine closed systems in
Moscow (P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology - Moscow Zoo).
17
D.A. Astakhov, S.Y. Poponov, V.R. Poponova
Some aspects of prolonged maintenance of marine fishes in captivity. Report
20. Genus Amphiprion. Subgenus Amphiprion (Actinopterygii, Perciformes,
Pomacentridae, Amphiprioninae).
26
D.A. Astakhov, S.Y. Poponov, V.R. Poponova
Some aspects of prolonged maintenance of marine fishes in captivity. Report
21. Genus Amphiprion. Subgenus Paramphiprion (Actinopterygii,
Perciformes, Pomacentridae, Amphiprioninae).
38
D.A. Astakhov, S.Y. Poponov, V.R. Poponova
Some aspects of prolonged maintenance of marine fishes in captivity. Report
22. Genus Amphiprion. Subgenus Phalerebus (Actinopterygii, Perciformes,
Pomacentridae, Amphiprioninae).
45
D.A. Astakhov, S.Y. Poponov, V.R. Poponova
Some aspects of prolonged maintenance of marine fishes in captivity. Report
23. Genus Amphiprion. Subgenus Actinicola (Actinopterygii, Perciformes,
Pomacentridae, Amphiprioninae).
S.V. Kudryavtsev, L.V. Ganina, S.V. Mamet
Some successful results in husbandry and breeding of the rare and hard-tokeep venomous snakes at the Moscow Zoo (part YII:2006-2007 years).
50
54
E.Yu. Gavrikova, R.S. Andronova
Captive rearing technique of endangered Oriental White Stork (Ciconia
boyciana) adjusted on the numerous species – Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) in
Reintroduction Center of Khingansky State Nature Reserve.
63
E.V. Zubchaninova
Behavior of a group of giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) in an outside
enclosure of Moscow zoo.
69
E.V. Zubchaninova, E.Yu. Morozova, V.Yu. Dubrovskyi
Can a plastic salt-lick toy be a factor of giraffes enrichment?
81
L.V. Kondratyeva, O.G. Ilchenko
Behavior of sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) captive population in Moscow
Zoo. 1.Behavioral patterns.
88
Problematic materials
I.A. Serbinova
Reintroduction as a method of wild Amphibia conservation.
E.V. Syroechkovski, M.A Tarkhanova.
Behavior reseach of Barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) in captivity using a
method of “individual distances”.
113
118
Analytical reviews
S.V. Popov
Research activity of zoos in the territory of former USSR
126
I.A. Volodin, E.V. Volodina
Approaches to animal keeping in Budapest Zoo
138
P. Verkammen, K. Habets
Husbandry Guidelines 2006 - Common Warthog
143
T.L. Zharkikh, N.I. Yasynetska
Preservation of gene pool of the Przewalski horses at Askania Nova:
breeding in lines
174
D.B. Vasiliev, V.S. Shved
Viral diseases of reptiles
182
E.S. Neprintseva, I.P. Voshchanova
Scientific researches on optimization of mammals' behavior in zoos: a review 216
Brief communications
O.G. Ilchenko, G.V. Vakhrusheva, S.R. Sapozhnikova
Hand-rearing great jerboas (Allactaga major): our first experience
236
Information
G.Yu Maksudov.
I st European Congress on Conservation Biology. "Diversity for Europe".
Eger, Hungary, 22-26 August 2006
239
S.V. Popov, O.G. Iltchenko
.«The saving of Meriones dahli (Shidlovski, 1962)» (The first steps of Dahl’s
Jird conservation project)
242