Page 33 - Gateways_Spring2021

Sullivan and his team designed a feeder with built-in blunted pegs
that mimic the thorns of an acacia tree. A giraffe maneuvers its
tongue through a 4-inch tube and between the blunted pegs to
grab and pull out the grain. “This creates a natural challenge and
slows down the consumption of grain,” said Sullivan. “So we got
that same behavior, extended their feeding time, and still used this
grain that is really good for them.”

A Pangolin Study
Animal welfare science plays a vital role in protecting endangered Research at the Zoo
species, both in the zoo and the wild. When eight scale-covered
white-bellied pangolins arrived at Brookfield Zoo from Africa Brookfield Zoo uses a holistic approach to animal
in 2016, scientific knowledge about the animals was scarce. management. “We work together—science, animal
Pangolins are extremely sensitive to stress. Few zoos had programs, nutrition, and veterinary services—to
successfully housed them—Brookfield Zoo would become one address research questions,” said Miller. “We use
of the few. The animals, which are often captured by farmers or an evidence-based management approach. And if
poachers, frequently die during transit or within six months of we learn a way to continuously improve the welfare
arriving at a facility. of an animal, we work closely with animal care staff
The pangolins’ fragility is a serious problem because they so they can make informed decisions.”
are endangered in Africa and Asia as a result of habitat loss and The following questions drive animal welfare
poaching. Their scales and other body parts are prized in parts research at Brookfield Zoo: What can we do to opti-
of Asia by people who wrongly believe they have medicinal power. mize an animal’s welfare and give it more opportuni-
The clock is ticking to save pangolins from extinction. ties to thrive? Should we change the management
plan for a species based on a finding? If so, how?
After implementing a change, did the animal’s
welfare increase?
Research studies often take years and involve
scientists and animals at other institutions. Following
are some recent research projects at Brookfield Zoo:
• Tim Snyder, CZS’ curator of birds, is working
with Jennifer Watts, director of nutrition, to
devise the optimal diet for species of passerines
or songbirds. Watts creates custom, properly
balanced, and nutritious diets for each species
at the zoo. She uses data to continuously monitor
and tweak the animals’ diets.
• The installation of new lighting systems in some
indoor habitats is being studied. The new system
would adjust light intensity in a habitat through-
“I believe in holistic welfare management 24-7. out the day to mimic natural outdoor conditions.
I want to know that welfare is where Data will be collected before the lighting is
it should be. I can’t do that without the people installed and afterward to determine if animal
welfare improves with the new lighting.
who do the behavioral observations, collect • Dr. Tom Meehan, vice president of veterinary
the fecals, and measure corticoid levels services for CZS, participated in Zoo Atlanta’s
throughout the day that give us a good read award-winning Great Ape Heart Project. With

on what’s happening with an animal. A robust researchers at other institutions, he collected data
about cardiovascular disease among great apes.
research department allows us to do that.” The project should lead to better diagnosis and
treatment of this disease, a top killer of great apes.
Bill Zeigler, senior vice president of Animal Programs

BROOKFIELD ZOO | SPRING 2021 33