After dinner, we sat in the dining room of the hotel, with a view out over the zoo and planned our strategy for the next few days. Although we felt overwhelmed by some of the challenges, the team’s mood was certainly optimistic. Many of the Giza zoo keepers have a strong bond with their animals and team member Gabby Harris, an experienced animal trainer from Ushaka Seaworld in Durban, was asked to build on this relationship in order to improve the management and welfare of the animals. We also decided to split the Giza veterinarians into 3 groups focusing on animal husbandry and welfare. Dominic Moss from Johannesburg Zoo would mentor the veterinarians who were most interested in mammals. Mike Harman, a retired avian specialist from Johannesburg would direct the bird group and Ian Visser from Ushaka Seaworld, would focus on the reptile park. Tracy Rehse from the National Zoo in Pretoria would provide training on the animal database and focus on getting the animal inventory accurate and up to date. As team leader, Dr Adrian Tordiffe, a veterinarian from the National Zoo, would spend time with each of the three groups providing input and training on veterinary matters.
Gabby gave a series of lectures on animal training and enrichment. Although many of the veterinarians and keepers seemed a bit reluctant at first, Gabby’s enthusiasm and persistence paid off and during the second week of the visit there was a great moment when the white rhino keeper managed to train the rather fearful rhino to go into the night room and to accept food from his hand in front of a crowd of people.
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