Felid TAG Times Nov 2014

Felid TAG News
Felid TAG News
· IMLS Grant for Small Cats
· Fishing Cat Educ Advisor
· Pallas’ Cat Births
· N Amer Felids Educ Adv
· Ocelot Pop Anal & B/T Plan
· Ocelot Born Abilene Zoo
· Comp Nutrition Society
· Felid Species Threats
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Other Felid News
· Debt-for-Nature Swap
· Malayan Tiger Population
· SciQuarium Fishing Cat
· Leopards Prey on Dogs
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Steering Committee Members
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Conservation Program
Coordinators
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Photo: Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue
November 2014
IMLS Grant Supports Sustainability of Small Cat Species
The Felid TAG oversees management programs for 18 felid species in AZA
institutions, including 10 species of small-sized felids. Unfortunately, none of
these small cat populations are considered sustainable (i.e., 90% genetic diversity for 50-100 years) through natural breeding alone. Assisted reproduction,
including semen cryopreservation and artificial insemination (AI) may be one
key to long-term survival of these felid species in our zoos. To support this sustainability goal, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has provided funding ($126,155) for a Museums for America (MFA) grant submitted by
the Cincinnati Zoo’s Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered
Wildlife (CREW).
For this three year project, Dr. Bill Swanson, CREW’s Director of Animal Research, and other CREW scientists (Dr. Lindsey Vansandt and Helen Bateman)
will be working in partnership with Dr. Jason Herrick of the National Foundation
for Fertility Research and the SSP coordinators for each of the five selected
small cat species (ocelot, fishing cat, Pallas’ cat, black-footed cat, sand cat).
Based on SSP recommendations, CREW will be contacting the North American
zoos that maintain each of these species to assist them in improving the propagation of their most genetically
valuable pairings. The specific
objectives are to: 1) collect and
freeze semen from the most
valuable cats for each species;
2) produce viable offspring using AI in recommended breeding pairs that fail to reproduce
naturally; and 3) produce offspring with frozen-thawed semen from new founders or underrepresented males. Successful completion of this project will greatly enhance the
sustainability and stewardship
CREW scientists perform an artificial insemination
of our small cat collections in
on a Pallas’ cat. (Photo: Shasta Bray)
AZA zoos.
New Fishing Cat SSP Education Advisor
Please welcome Linda Castaneda as the new Fishing Cat SSP Education Advisor. Linda is the Coordinator and Lead Trainer of the Cat Ambassador Program
(CAP) at the Cincinnati Zoo. She is pictured here with Minnow, the CAP’s fishing cat ambassador. Linda has been at the Cincinnati Zoo for eight years, but has loved cats
her entire life. She hopes to increase awareness
for fishing cats by giving zoos resources for fishing cat education and action steps to share with
the public that increase conservation efforts.
She also plans to find creative ways to contribute to in situ project funding. Be sure to like the
new Fishing Cat SSP page on Facebook and
keep an eye out for more info to come soon!
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Non-Seasonal Births in a Seasonal Breeder, the Pallas’ Cat
Three healthy Pallas’ cat kittens were born at the Cincinnati
Zoo & Botanical Garden on August 23rd – or almost three
months later than normally would be expected for this seasonally breeding species. Of the >1,000 captive-born kittens
listed in the Pallas’ Cat International Studbook since 1960,
this litter has the latest birth date ever recorded during a calendar year (i.e., for zoos in the Northern Hemisphere). The
late occurrence was an accidental consequence of changes
in artificial light cycles that induced ovarian activity in the
female Pallas’ cat (Sofiya) outside of her normal January to
March breeding season. Sofiya was paired with her mate,
Buster, indoors under simulated natural light cycles throughout the winter breeding season and then moved off-exhibit
(with nine hours of light per day) at the end of March for possible parturition, but no kittens were born. At the end of May,
Sofiya was shifted back onto exhibit (with ~14 hours of light
per day) with Buster. She bred two weeks later, conceived
and gave birth after a 72 day gestation.
Photos: Jennifer Wintzinger
Exposing Sofiya to short days for two months followed by
long days simulated the natural transition in winter to spring
light cycles. Although successful for producing the only
Pallas’ cat kittens born in a North American zoo in 2014, this
approach would not be recommended for routine breeding
management. Previous research has shown that the pronounced reproductive seasonality of Pallas’ cats is controlled primarily by light cycles and that exposure to light at
inappropriate times can disrupt breeding activity or induce
ovarian cyclicity outside of the normal breeding season.
Abrupt changes in light exposure may result in impaired fertility of males and females during the summer months as
well as alterations in other seasonal physiological traits,
such as body weight, that are necessary for maximizing fecundity in the subsequent winter breeding season.
New Pallas’ Cat Program Coordinator
Ashleigh Lutz has taken over as Pallas’ Cat Program Coordinator, [email protected]. Congratulations,
Ashleigh!
New North American Felids Education Advisor
Please welcome Brian William
Ogle as the new Education
Advisor for North American
felids (bobcat, Canada lynx,
puma). Brian is an active anthrozoologist with a focus on
conservation and humane education. He is currently residing
in the greater Orlando area
while pursuing his PhD in science education, with active
research focuses on transforming adult zoo visitors into
active learners through animal interactions, constructed environments, and interpretative approaches. Brian has had
professional experience in zoos, both as a keeper and as an
educator; currently, he is teaching biology-based courses at
Beacon College.
Ocelot Population Analysis & Breeding and Transfer Plan
Published
The Ocelot Population Analysis & Breeding and Transfer
Plan was published in August 2014.The program currently
qualifies as a Yellow SSP Program. The current ocelot
population is 99 animals (55 males, 44 females) distributed
among 45 AZA and 7 non-AZA institutions. Of this number,
28 animals (16.12) are the Brazilian mitis subspecies. The
rest are considered generic, unknown subspecies ocelots.
The mitis subspecies are the priority breeders; however generic animals will also be given breeding recommendations
in order to meet the immediate exhibit needs of institutions.
The SSP recommends 10 mitis and 14 generic pairings for
breeding. Fourteen transfers are recommended to create the
new breeding pairs and to accommodate institutional needs.
Ocelot Kitten Born at Abilene Zoo
The Abilene Zoo welcomed a baby ocelot named Lucy on
September 9. The mother was unable to produce enough
milk to sustain the kitten. However, instead of pulling the
kitten for hand-rearing, the kitten has remained with her
mother. The mother has allowed staff to pull the kitten for
feeding sessions and return her without showing any aggression towards the kitten or the staff. The kitten will soon
turn one month old, is gaining weight and has begun walking. Staff will soon begin offering baby food.
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Summary of the Comparative Nutrition Society
2014 Symposium
By Cayla Iske
The 10th symposium of the Comparative Nutrition
Society took place August 1st through 5th in Flat Rock,
North Carolina. The conference consisted of five plenary
speakers and more than 40 oral and poster presentations.
A broad range of species and nutritional topics was discussed by speakers, ranging from grasshoppers to rhinos
and fatty liver to chitin supplementation. For those who
were unable to attend the conference, this article will serve
to summarize presentations that relate to felids and carnivores in general.
The efficacy of the Steadfast© joint supplement is
undergoing evaluation in captive cheetahs and an Arabian
leopard. The eggshell membrane-based product is currently available for dogs and horses, but it has never been
evaluated in felids. Results in this preliminary study are
promising, showing moderate but significant decrease in
lameness as well as improvement in joint health shown by
radiographs (Budd, J.).
A new diet for carnivores housed in zoos is being
evaluated in large and small cat species. In large cat species, a pork-based diet, which has not been evaluated in
zoos, has been shown to be as or more digestible than
beef and horse-based diets. In addition, pork by-products
such as pig heads are being offered as enrichment items
and changes in behavior and activity are being monitored
(Iske, C.J.).
Offering bones as enrichment items makes a significant contribution to the caloric intake of an animal. This
was shown by a case study in which two hyenas lost nearly
a quarter of their body weight after the offering of femur
bones was stopped. Analysis showed that the bones, specifically the bone marrow, provided 27% more calories than
the formulated diet (Gaffney, M.).
In addition, many edible enrichment items may provide a significant source of animal fiber. Fiber is receiving
more and more attention and its importance in carnivore
diets is becoming more apparent. One issue, however, is
that current methods to analyze for fiber do not accurately
recover animal-derived fibers, such has hair and bones.
Modifications to a current procedure for total dietary fiber
analysis is being evaluated to specifically account for fiber
that comes from animal sources (Cools, A.).
Outside of the scope of felids, several topics were
discussed relating to other carnivores. Several different
formulas are being explored for hand-rearing polar bears.
Several formulas are being investigated and with milk composition of free-ranging polar bears becoming available,
these formulas are thought to more closely match requirements than previous formulas (Parsons, J.L.).
Fatty liver disease, a disease common in dams that
are not breeding or with nursing sickness, is being looked
at in mink. Research thus far has shown that fasting for
three to seven days may increase the amount of fat in the
liver. Interestingly, source and amount of dietary fatty acids
(n-3, n-6 or n-9) did not influence the expression of the enzyme that allows for fat to enter the liver (Rouvinen-Watt,
K.).
The overall digestive physiology and metabolism of
carnivores was discussed by one of the conference’s
plenary speakers. The differences between dogs and cats,
and specifically the difference between wild and domestic,
was highlighted. Digestive traits that are unique to cats, wild
and domestic, all support them being true carnivores. Those
traits that are present in cats are not found to be as common
in dogs, which has led to debate over whether dogs, domestic dogs in particular, are truly carnivores or if they are omnivores. From investigating the habits and traits of wolves,
which are largely like those of wild cats, it is apparent that
wild dog species are true carnivores. The discrepancy between considering domestic dogs carnivores or omnivores
has likely come from the domestication process. When domestic cats are given choice of diet, they select for the same
level of protein that would be present in a wild cat’s diet. Domestic dogs, however, will select for a lower level of protein
and a higher fat level than is seen in wild dog diets. This
characteristic has probably played a large role in the perception that domestic dogs are omnivores opposed to carnivores
(Bosch, G.).
The symposium largely focused on the role that diet
plays in the overall welfare and well-being of animals. This
was summarized by another plenary speaker who pointed out
that the nutrition of an animal can play a large role in many
issues ranging from disease to obesity. Again, the example of
animal fiber was used, pointing out that cheetahs fed whole
rabbit had fewer toxins in their intestines compared to those
fed beef chunks (Janssens, G.P.J.). In summary, comparative nutrition has exciting and advancing research with the
power to influence many issues and species in our care.
Bosch, G. and W. Hendriks. 2014. Aspects of foraging ecology of
carnivores that impact digestive physiology and metabolism. Page
14-17 in Proc. 10th Symposia of the Comparative Nutrition Society.
Budd, J., E.S. Dierenfeld, and K. Whitehouse-Tedd. 2014. Preliminary evaluation of the efficacy of Steadfast© joint supplement in
captive exotic felids (Arabian leopard and cheetah). Page 57-61 in
Proc. 10th Symposia of the Comparative Nutrition Society.
Cools, A., A.D. Cuyper, J. Pauwels, and G.P.J. Janssens. 2014.
Animal fiber: A key nutrient to carnivores, but how to determine this
dietary fraction analytically? Page 69-71 in Proc. 10th Symposia of
the Comparative Nutrition Society.
Gaffney, M. and M.L. Schlegel. 2014. A Case study: Caloric contribution of beef marrow in diet of spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) at
the San Diego zoo. Page 89-91 in Proc. 10th Symposia of the Comparative Nutrition Society.
Janssens, G.P.J. 2014. Hippocrates revisited: Let thy food be thy
medicine. Page 27-32 in Proc. 10th Symposia of the Comparative
Nutrition Society.
Iske, C.J., C.L. Morris, and K.L. Kappen. 2014. Influence of pork
and pork by-products on macronutrient digestibility in captive felids.
Page 103-105 in Proc. 10th Symposia of the Comparative Nutrition
Society.
Parsons, J.L., B.A. Henry, and A. Ward. 2014. Hand-rearing formulas for polar bears: Review and new proposed formulas. Page 144146 in Proc. 10th Symposia of the Comparative Nutrition Society.
Rouvinen-Watt, K., L. Harris, M. Dick, C. Udenigwe, A. Mustonen,
and P. Nieminen. 2014. Fatty liver disease in the American mink
neovison Vison: Role of hepatic fatty acid oxidation, ketogenesis,
and triacylglycerol secretion. Page 177-180 in Proc. 10th Symposia
of the Comparative Nutrition Society.
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Threats to Felid Species
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides a Red List of Threatened Species™ that evaluates the
conservation status of many species, including hundreds of plants and animals. This list aims to provide information about
the status, trends and threats to species in order to make decisions for conservation efforts. This includes ranking species
and placing them in categories ranging from Least Concern to Extinct. The IUCN also provides population trends, habitat
information and recommended actions as well as threats facing each species.
As Felid Program Managers, we should be aware of the major threats facing our managed species. This information will
prove valuable when evaluating programmatic needs. The table below provides the most updated IUCN data regarding relevant threats to our managed felids.
For more information and to see all listings, visit http://www.iucnredlist.org/.
*E=Eurasian, C=Canadian
Other Felid News
Photo: Wendi Evans
Hope for Sumatran Tigers
Earlier this month, a Debt-for-Nature deal was struck between the United States and Indonesia. In return for lowering the debt Indonesia owes to the United States, Indonesia
will commit nearly $12 million towards the conservation and
protection of critically endangered species, including the Sumatran tiger, and their habitats over the next seven years.
The debt swap was made possible by a contribution of about
$11.2 million from the U.S. government under the Tropical
Forest Conservation Act and $560,000 from other organizations funneled through Conservation International. The Cincinnati Zoo was proud to help secure this funding by pledg- Malayan Tiger Population Estimates Plummet
Malaysia's Department of Wildlife and National Parks and the
ing a major gift.
Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers released results
This Debt-for-Nature swap comes at a critical time in deter- from camera trap studies they conducted between 2010 and
2013, concluding that the Malayan tiger population has
mining the future of Indonesia, its wildlife and its people.
One of the most bio-diverse regions on the planet, Indonesia plunged from between 500 and 1,000 individuals to between
250 and 340 remaining. The organizations are pushing for
also has one of the highest human populations, placing its
the Malayan tiger’s status to be changed from Endangered to
habitats and inhabitants under tremendous pressure.
Critically Endangered.
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SciQuarium Boasts Unlikely Resident – the Asian Fishing Cat
By Glenn Dobrogosz, Executive Director, Greensboro Science Center, [email protected]
Have you ever had an idea that you thought was ingenious
but no one else liked it? How about working with a team or
committee and interjecting a concept that gets rejected and
laughed at? You know, the proverbial “cheese stands
alone.”
As director of the Greensboro Science Center, I am proud
to be that proverbial cheese when it comes to one lonely
decision made during the SciQuarium design process. That
decision was to build a cat exhibit inside Greensboro’s new
aquarium.
Yes, a cat exhibit.
Imagine taking your first steps into the all-new Carolina
SciQuarium with the anticipation of seeing eels, sharks,
schools of fish and even penguins. But, as you make your
way down a dark and eerie entrance corridor, you see a
rocky, shadowy habitat containing a kitty cat.
This is no ordinary kitty cat. In fact, it is not a kitty cat at all.
May I introduce you to the first-ever cat exhibit in an aquarium — the Asian Fishing Cat.
Fishing cats are an internationally endangered species
managed by a Species Survival Plan through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Historic fishing cat populations
ranged from the rocky, high elevations of Pakistan into and
throughout Southeast Asia. No specific population has
been observed in the Middle East region for decades.
The SciQuarium exhibit depicts a rocky out-cropping from this
former range. The fishing cat, Prionailurus viverrinus, is a
medium-size wild cat with brownish gray fur intermixed with
darker lines and spots. The cats camouflage perfectly in both
rocky and forest habitats. About three-fourths of their diet
consists of aquatic species, primarily fish. The remainder is
small birds, rodents and even carrion. Unlike most cats, fishing cats love the water and are skilled swimmers. They capture aquatic prey in two ways. Most commonly, they creep
along the edge of a swamp or stream swatting at and seizing
fish or frogs in the shallows. However, the cats are strong
swimmers and will submerge into deeper waters to physically
hunt for fish using their extremely sharp and recurved claws.
The average North American aquarium costs between $45
million and $65 million. The Carolina SciQuarium (which
opened June 29, 2013) is basically a $10 million, phase-one
project.The Science Center team had to be careful, clever
and selective with regard to the species it chose to exhibit
and breed as part of this project.
We also had to find ways to be unique and different by exhibiting animals that are both “tried and tested” (penguins, otters
and sharks) and some you would never expect to see, like
the fishing cat. The center prides itself in taking risks and
making decisions that do not conform to modern convention,
or in this case, common aquarium design.
Fishing cats tell a unique story about life and survival. For a
cat to learn to love the water is a pretty amazing transformation. The story of the fishing cat reminds us (and my colleagues) that being different is what makes life rich and magnificent.
I also wanted the SciQuarium to have a desert exhibit to
teach people about species and habitats that thrive under the
complete absence of water. What a great story of adaptations
and survival filled with amazing animals (lizards, snakes and
even a roadrunner) and absolute irony in a building where
water sets the storyline. I lost this argument, but with your
support, perhaps in the future, the “Waterless Wonders” exhibit can be resurrected.
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Man’s Best Friend is the Favored Prey of Leopards
in India
A new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society has
discovered that leopards in India ‘s human-dominated
agricultural landscape prefer to prey on domestic dogs
over livestock. Findings from analyzing scat samples indicated that 87% of the leopard’s diet consisted of domestic animals with dogs making up 39% and domestic cats
making up 15%. Though more abundant than dogs and
cats, livestock rarely showed up as prey, likely because
they are penned at night while dogs and cats roam free.
Vidya Athreya, Morten Odden, John D. C. Linnell, Jagdish Krishnaswamy, K. Ullas Karanth. A cat among the
dogs: leopard Panthera pardus diet in a humandominated landscape in western Maharashtra, India. Oryx, 2014;
Photo: Srikaanth Sekar
Felid TAG Steering Committee Members
Ann Konopik
[email protected]
Ashleigh Lutz
[email protected]
Bonnie Breitbeil
[email protected]
Cheryl Morris
[email protected]
Cindy Kreider
[email protected]
Craig Saffoe
[email protected]
Dan Dembiec
[email protected]
Don Goff
[email protected]
Dusty Lombardi
[email protected]
Gary Noble
[email protected]
Hollie Colahan
[email protected]
Karen Goodrowe
[email protected]
Ken Kaemmerer
[email protected]
Steve Bircher
[email protected]
Tara Harris
[email protected]
Conservation Program Coordinators
Cindy Kreider
[email protected]
Barb Palmer
[email protected]
Rebecca Stites
[email protected]
Amanda Ista
[email protected]
Kristen Clark
[email protected]
Jack Grisham
[email protected]
Bonnie Breitbeil
[email protected]
Jessica Kinzer
[email protected]
Stacey Johnson
[email protected]
Ann M Konopik
[email protected]
Hollie Colahan
[email protected]
Ken Kaemmerer
[email protected]
Ashleigh Lutz
[email protected]
Michelle Schireman
[email protected]
Stacey Konwiser
[email protected]
Dan Dembiec
[email protected]
Jay Tetzloff
[email protected]
Tara Harris
[email protected]
Amur leopard Yellow SSP
Black-footed cat Yellow SSP
Bobcat Yellow SSP
Canada lynx Yellow SSP
Caracal Yellow SSP
Cheetah Yellow SSP
Clouded leopard Yellow SSP
Fishing cat Yellow SSP
Jaguar Yellow SSP
Jaguarundi Phase-in
Lion Green SSP
Ocelot Yellow SSP
Pallas’ cat Red Program
Puma Yellow SSP
Sand cat Red Program
Serval Yellow SSP
Snow leopard Yellow SSP
Tiger Green SSP
Submissions
Felid TAG Times is edited by Shasta Bray, Felid TAG Education Advisor. Please send comments, suggestions, and
submissions to [email protected]. Submission deadline for the February issue is January1.
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