The Stationary Ark by Gerald Durrell
Then there is the case of the humble armadillo – a sufficiently obscure animal, you would have thought, to have been useless to a human being anywhere, except possibly for food, or (in the case of the Paraguayans) for making guitars out of their skins. However, it seems possible that this inoffensive creature may prove to be of enormous use to mankind. Experiments suggest that the armadillo could help in the eradication of leprosy. This creature, perhaps because it has an extraordinarily low body temperature, is the only one in which the human Lepra bacillus proliferates in sufficient amounts to be potentially useful in the creation of a vaccine against leprosy. Furthermore, it is believed by cancer researchers that the study of leprosy patients will provide them with the knowledge as to why people suffering from cancer fail to reject their tumours.
It should be clear from these three examples that what we are basically in need of most urgently is knowledge of how our world functions.
If you ask the average persons what they think a zoo is for, the majority will reply, ‘for entertainment,’ and a few will say, ‘so that we can study animals’. For zoos to have got themselves branded as a form of entertainment, like Bingo and horse-racing, is entirely their own fault, since they have, in the past, spent too much time behaving like circuses and too little time studying the animals in their care or keeping records of their research. In fact, if museums had behaved in the irresponsible and wasteful way with their material that zoos have done, they would have been closed down years ago.
The purpose of keeping any collection of wild animals in confinement should be threefold: first, to conduct as complete as possible a biological study of every species, especially those aspects which are too difficult or too costly to study in the wild and which may help in the preservation of that species in its natural habitat; second, to aid severely endangered species by setting up, under ideal conditions, protected breeding groups and, eventually, a reintroduction programme, so helping to ensure their future survival; thirdly, by the display and explanation of this work to the public, to persuade people of the vital necessity and urgency for the overall conservation of nature.
From point one – the careful and comprehensive study of a collection of living animals – should emerge material which will be of great value to conservation, both protected breeding programmes and conservation in the wild state, and a wealth of information which will be of biological and educational value. The extensive scientific study of its living creatures, therefore, should be the prime objective of any zoological garden or other collection of wild animals. The amassing of this data should be as wide and as detailed as possible; it should then be correlated, evaluated and the results published so that other organizations may benefit from this harvesting of observations and conclusions. Unless this is done, there is no justification for keeping collections of wild creatures; unless all the points outlined above are adhered to by a zoo, it merely becomes that pathetic, archaic and useless thing, the nineteenth-century menagerie or sideshow.
It would seem to be totally unnecessary to underline these simple, basic facts, but the truth is that all over the world a disproportionately large number of zoos have been woefully neglected in the past (and still are today) in what should be their raison d’être. In far too many collections, the record system is either non-existent or distinguished only for its primitiveness and the paucity of the information it contains. Let us be clear on this; we would not expect science in the fairground, circus or other zoological extravaganza, but one does expect a modicum of it in any reputable zoological garden or other collection of wild animals that lays claim to be anything other than a sideshow.
I think it is impossible to emphasize too strongly that one can accomplish more by the study of biology in a properly run zoological garden than in the best of museums, for the simple reason that one is dealing with an unlimited canvas, presented to you by live animals, and not the, by and large, rather limited one presented by the dead remains of that animal. Yet it is a sad fact that only a handful of zoological gardens have been utilized in this way for proper scientific research.
In 1963, when the Trust came into being, I was determined that, from the outset, we would create a scientific record system which, I hoped, would grow in scope and importance as the Trust’s activities expanded. Over the years, I had communicated with many zoos in all parts of the world about their record systems and, in many instances, had seen them at first hand. In all but a few cases, where a record system existed at all (and in most cases it did not), it was worse than useless. So we were forced to start from scratch, which, in many ways, was probably just as well.
The planning stage, in creating such a record system, is fraught with difficulty. What looks innocent and straightforward on the surface suddenly takes on the aspect of a Gordian knot tied by an inebriated octopus. Eventually, however, and not without considerable acrimony and hesitancy, we laid down the following basic structure. It was evolved after much hard work and thought on the part of the management committee and members of the staff, who, after all, were the ones who had to run it and maintain it. While trying to avoid the pitfall of over-simplicity, we also tried to circumnavigate the abyss of over-complication. An over-complicated and cumbersome record system, whatever gems of information are embedded in its labyrinthine ways, is a useless thing. It must be a tool that can be used by everybody.
We also tried to foresee our needs, feeling that one comprehensive record system seemed preferable to ten separate ones, whilst realizing, resignedly, that ten separate ones would one day grow, amoeba-like, from our first attempts. This has proved, to a certain extent, to be true. For example, on our behaviour card we decided to include a space for photographic and sound recording references, which would eventually, we knew, evolve as a separate file. At that time the Trust was in its infancy and so desperately short of funds that it made both these references seem an unnecessary, even a grandiose and slightly lunatic, inclusion. Recently, however, we have been able to make a start on our photographic file and we hope that sound recordings (to enter the, as yet, almost untouched field of animal vocalization) will, when we can afford it, become a reality and not just an unfilled space on a card. By including these at a time when they were no more than visionary, we had a cross-reference ready printed into the card and therefore did not have to re-print the entire card to indude them at a later date.
We started with three major cards, covering history, medical record and behaviour. The cards measure 11½ by 8¾ inches and are in three different colours for quick reference: white for history, pink for medical and blue for behaviour. To save time, the top section of all these cards is identical and contains the basic seed information, such as age, date of arrival, condition, the all-important zoo reference number, etcetera.
The history card contains all the information we can acquire about the newly arrived specimen and as much data on its habits in the wild as is known, so that this can act as a guide for the person looking after it (should he or she be unfamiliar with the species) and help the newly arrived or trainee member of staff.
The medical card is filled with details of any veterinary treatment the animal receives while it is in the collection and has a section for the eventual autopsy report.
The behaviour card should, perhaps, more correctly be called the ethological card. This contains any observations on the specimen’s behaviour, from such things as courtship display to gestation periods and the development of the young.
It is almost inevitable that there will be some repetition on these cards. We found, after some years, that it was necessary to add a breeding card for the mammals, since otherwise the details of breeding had to be entered either under behaviour or medical, both of which might cause confusion. At the same time, however, courtship displays, or gestation periods, or any medical treatment for the pregnant female, could be added to the correct card as well. For the birds, we found it was extremely helpful to evolve an egg c
At the back of the mammal and bird files, we have appendix cards, which are pink in colour. The information on these ranges through anaesthetic, nutrition, gestation periods, and hand-rearing longevity periods. These are for a simple, quick reference. At the front of the mammal and bird files are four cards on which are registered arrivals, trades, losses and breeding. Again, these are simply for quick reference. These are all the large cards and they contain all the detailed information about the specimens, but for quick reference overall, there is a small card index, which is in alphabetical order, for mammals and for birds. These cards measure 4 by 5 inches and contain a résumé of each individual animal, its movement and its reference number. For a quick overall picture of the individual specimen, the small reference cards are used. From there we can find the zoo reference number of the creature concerned and look it up on the other, bigger, more detailed card for whatever facts we wish. The reason we found this card index necessary was because, on the large cards, we keep the animals in the reference order, that is to say, the order in which they arrive or are born, and under the zoo reference number. In the card index system, to speed the process of searching, we keep them in alphabetical order.
Just recently, we had to start four other filing systems. The first was the bibliography file. This cross-references authors and subjects, and contains details of all the articles written by members of the staff, both for our Annual Report and for other scientific journals. Then there is a file on nutrition, which gives what is known about the animal’s wild diet and its diet in the collection. We hope to expand this file considerably as our nutritional research progresses. There is a veterinary index. This is just a simple file cross-referencing species and diseases, so that we can see at a glance which species have had what diseases. Finally, there is a photographic file, which is arranged alphabetically under species. When I write it down like this the whole system sounds incredibly cumbersome, but it is in fact basically very easy to use. It takes a secretary only an hour a day to keep the references up-to-date on all the cards.
The material for this filing system is accumulated from the all-important Day Diary, which is kept in the office of Jeremy Mallinson, our Zoological Director. In this, every single item appertaining to the care of the animal is entered daily: behaviour patterns, the laying of eggs, the gestation periods, and so on. These are then typed on to the appropriate cards by the secretary.
As the collection expands, of course, inevitably yet other files will have to be set up, but for the moment we find that the present system, though perhaps not perfect, is at least efficient. Our records go back over twelve years and we have already managed to extract some valuable information from them, as our Annual Reports show.
We work on the principle that it is better to over-record than under-record. This means that every conceivable thing is noted down, including a lot of perhaps unnecessary information, which has eventually to be winnowed out when it is written up as an article. When dealing with animals on this scale, you are never sure which observations are going to be of value. Therefore it is better to have everything noted down so that it can be evaluated and sifted at leisure, rather than to find gaps because something was not noted as it was considered unimportant at the time.
The thoroughness with which we try to document even the simplest thing is well illustrated by the cards covering the operation of moving our two female gorillas a distance of about 100 yards, from their old cage into their new quarters. On the face of it, the job appeared to be a simple one of sedating two animals and, while they were unconscious, transporting them from point A to point B. But there was much more to it than that. To begin with, there was considerable risk involved, for a dose of anaesthetic that will immobilize one gorilla, might well kill another one, even if it were of the same age and weight. The period in which we had them unconscious provided an ideal opportunity to examine their teeth, take blood samples, measure and weigh them and do the host of things that we could not normally do, in spite of their comparative tameness. But the whole operation had to be conducted with speed, smoothness and efficiency, so that there would be no risk of the gorillas recovering half way through our investigations. We were anxious that their recovery from the anaesthetic should not be unnecessarily delayed and that there should be no risk of them catching cold. Pneumonia, after anaesthetic, is a common complication that can be fatal.
Firstly, we noted down the various pieces of equipment that were needed, the general procedure and who would be in attendance:
Movement of Lowland Gorillas
From Old to New Accommodation
29th February, 1972, N’Pongo M.1 + Nandi M.2 +
Provisions and Equipment in Readiness for Move.
Two APS stretchers (loaned from the St John’s Ambulance Brigade).
Two blankets.
30 ft binding rope.
Weighing Scales (loaned by the Animal Shelter).
Oxygen Cylinder.
Wood wool (wood wool beds have been made under both shelves in new cage).
Tape measure.
Den area of new cage has been checked over and found to be in working order. F. temperature of den 65-68 degs. Both shelves warm to touch. Slides all working.
Mr T. B. Begg, MRCVS, and a General Practitioner to be in attendance.
General examination of both specimens to be carried out, including examination of teeth.
Blood sample from each specimen.
Each specimen to be weighed and measured.
Sgt McLinton from the States Police Force, and fingerprint expert to take three sets of fingerprints from each specimen’s right hand. This information to be sent to the International Gorilla Studbook holders in Frankfurt, and also used for comparative studies.
Full documentation and photographic record of move to be carried out.
14.20 hours. Lower Mammal House to be closed to the public.
Movement of Specimens
Once it has been established that both Gorillas are sufficiently sedated to move from cage, the following procedure will come into effect:
Each specimen to be carried out manually on to a waiting APS Stretcher in mammal house corridor.
Once laid on stretcher, gorilla to be covered with blanket up to neck, and binding rope used to secure specimen on stretcher.
Each specimen to be weighed in mammal house.
N’Pongo to be taken to No. 1 den (north side). Nandi to be taken to No. 2 den (south side).
Blood samples, fingerprints, measurements, and general examination should take place in the new accommodation, the priority being to get the move completed as quickly as possible.
The gorillas will be kept separated and both will be prevented from getting into the middle den area until they are completely back to normal state.
Staff in Attendance:– Jeremy J.C. Mallinson, J.J. Mallet, Q.M.C. Bloxam, P.F. Coffey, D.V. Riordan, J. Usher-Smith.
14-30 hours. Each specimen to be given orally 300 mg. Semylan (Phencyclidine) (3 ml. of 100 mg. strength). Gorilla weights estimated at approx. 75 kgs. (165 lbs.). The above dosage was administered in milk/honey/Vit. B.12.
Information continued on a separate card for each specimen. N’Pongo Sheet 4, M.1. Nandi Sheet 4, M.2.
Then the animals were sedated. One can see from the notes that they reacted in different ways. These rather cold and precise observations, of course, do not record that each and every one of us had our hearts in our mouths (unscientifically speaking), though we all tried to adopt the nonchalant air of people who move gorillas every day of the week. The most important
29th February 1972
Movement to New Accommodation
‘N’Pongo’ Zoo Reb. M.1. Sheet 4.
14.30 hours. Sernylan administered. 14.31 Great agitation shown by both specimens when no food was administered. 14.45 Specimens appear to be calmer. 14.46 N’Pongo pulled herself on to shelf with slightly more effort than usual. 14.52 N’Pongo’s eyes looking dull. 14.55 N’Pongo swaying on perch. 14.55 ½ N’Pongo moved from standing on all fours to sitting position, head hanging down. 14.56 Very unsteady. 14.58 N’Pongo collapsed into a lying position, sat up again, very unsteady. 15.01 On the floor. 15.02 Collapsed, face and body to the floor, hind legs slightly tucked up underneath her. 15.03 Nandi ran past her and hit her on back. N’Pongo reacted by moving slightly. 15.05 Nandi hit N’Pongo again. No reaction from N’Pongo. There was no further reaction or movement from N’Pongo after 15.05. N’Pongo = 35 minutes.
Tuesday 29th February
Movement continued Nandi M.2
14.30 Sernylan administered. 14.31 Great agitation shown by both the specimens when no food was administered. 14.45 Specimens appear to be clear. 14.50 Nandi’s eyes appear duller and slightly sunken. 14.55½ Nandi showing great agitation, rushing at slide and banging it. 14.55 Nandi displaying threat posture, still very agitated, continuing to run at slide and bang it. 14.57 Nandi salivating more heavily. 14.59 Nandi continuing to display threat posture and great agitation. 15.03 Nandi ran past N’Pongo, hit her on back. 15.05 Nandi hit N’Pongo again. No reaction from N’Pongo. 15.06 Nandi not totally steady but appears to be strong and aware. 15.07 Nandi less agitated and active. 15.07½ Nandi yawned, supported herself by leaning buttocks against wall, still on all fours. 15.08 Head slumping, body swaying. 15.09 Nandi sat down. 15.10 Nandi’s eyes closing. 15.11 Nandi lurched a few steps forward then collapsed into similar position as N’Pongo. 15.12 Nandi lifted head and lowered it again. There was no further reaction or movement from Nandi after 15.12. Nandi=42 minutes.