Taronga Western Plains Zoo has announced the birth of Australia’s first Greater One-horned Rhino calf. The male calf was born early on Sunday morning, 25 October, to first-time mother Amala. Zoo Keepers are closely monitoring both mother and calf, and although it is still early days, report that both are […]
Face to Face: James Stone – At peace under a blanket of stars
For most of us, missing a plane can be anything from a minor inconvenience to a major disaster. But when Tasmanian veterinarian James Stone’s homebound flight from Antarctica was cancelled, he was overjoyed: he got to stay for an extra week on the frozen landmass that has captured his imagination […]
Abstracts: Is “cooling then freezing” a humane way to kill amphibians and reptiles?
What is the most humane way to kill amphibians and small reptiles that are used in research? Historically, such animals were often killed by cooling followed by freezing, but this method was outlawed by ethics committees because of concerns that ice-crystals may form in peripheral tissues while the animal is still conscious, […]
Abstracts: Impacts of visitor number on kangaroos housed in free-range exhibits
Free range exhibits are becoming increasingly popular in zoos as a means to enhance interaction between visitors and animals. However very little research exists on the impacts of visitors on animal behaviour and stress in free range exhibits. We investigated the effects of visitor number on the behaviour and stress physiology of […]