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Added value of zoo (!) nutrition training

EAZA conference Edinburgh 28 September 2013. Added value of zoo (!) nutrition training. Tjalling Huisman ( tjalling.huisman@wur.nl ). Following up recipes. Not uncommon beliefs. Meat is good stuff for carnivores. Bread is healthy . Fruit is an indispensable item in primate diets.

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Added value of zoo (!) nutrition training

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  1. EAZA conference Edinburgh 28 September 2013 Addedvalue of zoo (!) nutrition training Tjalling Huisman (tjalling.huisman@wur.nl )

  2. Following up recipes

  3. Not uncommon beliefs Meat is good stuff for carnivores Bread is healthy Fruit is an indispensable item in primate diets Boiled rice is a good cure for a hippo with diarrhoea Supplements are necessary, as are concentrates Our elephants are not too heavy

  4. Animals have nutritional wisdom

  5. Why education? Why courses? (promising) Developments in zoo nutrition: • Conferences on zoo nutrition • Research and publications • Establishment of ENG Especially in the past 15 years

  6. Role of zoo keeper Not much visible participation of zoo keepers in all these activities?? But they play a key role in zoo animal nutrition> • Give food • Are the first to observe effect of diet changes • Report (in an ideal zoo world)

  7. Starting point a survey • 2005 in 8 DZF zoos • 87 keepers and 19 other staff (nutritionists, curators, vets) were interviewed, filled in a questionnaire • On knowledge, behaviour and attitude related to nutrition

  8. Main results • Little or no attention for zoo animal nutrition in their formal education (mostly ‘green’ colleges) • High percentage ‘wrong’ ideas (necessity of fruit and supplements, nutritional wisdom etc.) • Feeding related activities give a lot of job satisfaction (except weighing) • Making diet changes on their own initiative • Not enough formal communication

  9. Communication might be the big issue • Keepers often do not fully belief the nutritional advice they get (from inside and outside) and/or add their own beliefs • Keepers knowledge and experience is underused (not taken seriously?)

  10. How to solve • Procedures • Improving nutritional knowledge in keepers • Better understanding ‘why’ improves motivation • Speaking the same nutritional language improves communication

  11. Solution • A zoo nutrition course could help So we found funding and organised a course in 2010 and 2011 • approx. 50 participants • separate course for college lecturers • Supporting website and educational material

  12. Key features Zoo related lectures and assignments Assignments in, and related to, own working environment Lectures, assignments and supporting material in Dutch Small groups (course was offered three times)

  13. Course structure • Three contact days • “Theory” pp presentations • Introduction on assignments • Short feed back on assignments • Approx. one month between contact days • Working on assignments • Information exchange via supporting website • Final day (last day of 3) • End results presentations • Certificate

  14. Subject: roughage and roughage quality

  15. Captive (captivated?) audience

  16. Working on final presentation

  17. Some products: greatdiscussion items

  18. Certificate

  19. Effects • High customer satisfaction • Increased knowledge was measurable • Loads of useful material

  20. And in the longer term? • Van Maanen (2013) • 17 in depth interviews with former participants and their environment

  21. Results • Still very satisfied with the course • Improved knowledge but even more awareness • According to nutritionists better communication • Practical assignments most valuable in the long term But: • Some disappointment about the wider effects

  22. Recommendations fromformer participants • Offer the course again • Even more practical assignments • More head keepers, curators and others should follow the course • Involve more staff in the assignments in zoos

  23. How to go further? • The course is still in demand • But funding and lack of experts are a huge obstacle

  24. Solution ?? • Regional (two or three spots in Europe) ‘train the trainers’ courses • Extension of expert body • these people can adapt the course to local needs and circumstances • Local courses can be taught in local language

  25. How? • Funding: • Erasmus+ (EU Horizon 2020) • Local organisations • Sponsors (?) Who? • Eaza academy • ENG • Zoos • Educational institutes (universities etc.)

  26. Finally “Experienced people not willing to change their daily routine” • Education provides a body of knowledge and skills which can be used to mirror experience • This lays a foundation for change

  27. Thank you

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