hand-rearing resource center
TRANSCRIPT
Information
Reviewed
Edited by Advisory
Board
Edited by Submitter
Approved by
Advisory Board
Posted to Curated Platform
Staff training and educational
materials have long been the
framework for professional
development for zoo professionals.
Questions still remain on how to
keep the flow of hand-rearing
information sharing transparent.
Hand-rearing expertise is difficult to
develop and something that is at risk
unless individuals can share their
experience.
Frequently hand-rearing is
impromptu and the need for
immediate accessibility to neonatal
care is critical.
Now is the turning point to provide a
hand-rearing resource digitally on an
international level. Safari West is
committed to supporting the
innovative web-based "Hand-
Rearing Resource Center".
Structure encourages global
networking, experience exchange
and mentoring opportunities.
Provides curated hand-rearing
information, with references,
targeting zoo and rehabilitation
personnel.
Format supports rapid data
collection, updates, sharing
summarization, and follow-up.
Multiple contributions allow
simultaneous evaluation to best suit
management constraints at various
institutions.
Multi-disciplinary Advisory Group
reviews inputs for
comprehensiveness/accuracy.
Designing an Online Hand-Rearing Resource Center: First Steps
Gail E. Hedberg, RVT1; Kimberly Thompson, DVM2, Laurie J. Gage, DVM3; Louise Peat4, Kimberly
Robertson1,and Ellen S. Dierenfeld5
1Safari West, 2Michigan State University, 3USDA, APHIS, 4Avian Rearing Resource, 5 ESD-LLC, St. Louis
To be even more comprehensive it is important to
also include avian, reptile and amphibian hand-
rearing and incubation resources. We are
partnering with the Avian Rearing Resource in the
UK in making available avian incubation and hand-
rearing summaries to the serious aviculturists.
Founder Louise Peat created this web resource in
2009 after compiling hand-rearing protocols for bird
species at Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford,
Oxfordshire, UK.
avianrearingresource.co.uk/index.php
Phase I is ready for testing: gathering hand-
rearing summaries that provide details of
formula composition and amounts, body
weights & growth, developmental stages,
medical history and support materials, initially
targeting carnivores, hoofstock and primates.
• Contact Information/Institution
• Standardized Reporting Data
• Diet and Husbandry Data
• Age
• Milk Replacers
• Daily Intake, Feedings per Day
• Formula Recipe
• Developmental CommentsHousing
Requirements
• Apparatus
• Weight and Body Measurement Data
• Weaning Phase Data
• Veterinary Notes
• Body Temperature
• Passive Transfer Information
• Colostrum Replacer
• Vaccinations
• Supplements
• Additional Information
• Citations
• Data Exporting
• Email Notifications
• File Uploads
• Form Confirmations
• Multiple Users and Organizations
• Repeating Sections
• Save and Resume
• Link
cognitoforms.com/HRRC1/MammalHandRearingSummary
In 2014, Safari West and the Safari West
Wildlife Foundation (Santa Rosa, CA) hosted
“The Inaugural AZVT (Association of Zoo
Veterinary Technicians) Focus Group: The Art
and Science of Hand-Rearing”, a symposium
that was attended by 80 zoo professionals from
around the globe. With the initial focus on
carnivores and hoofstock, twenty international
speakers provided their insights into both
historical as well as new techniques.
Discussions of hand-rearing zoo animals
ranging from milk and colostrum composition to
the special physiology and behaviors of
neonates, and techniques for monitoring
success. As a direct follow-up from the
meeting, a steering committee comprising
members from the zoo, wildlife rehabilitation,
veterinary, and academic communities outlined
criteria and developed a working model for
data collection into a web based hand-rearing
resource center.
History
HRRC. 2015. Mammal Hand-Rearing Summary Form.
Cognito.
https://www.cognitoforms.com/HRRC1/MammalHandRearin
gSummary
1994. Infant Diet Notebook: AZA Animal Health Committee.
In: Wilbur Amund V, editor. 2nd ed. Silver Springs, MD:
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
1985. AAZPA Infant Diet/Care Notebook. In: Taylor SH, Bietz
AD, editors. 1st ed. Wheeling, WV: American Association of
Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA).
Form Features
Digital Form Content Global Partners
References
Response to Need
Gail Hedberg
Safari West
(510) 207-5524
Website:
Contact
Anticipated Information Flow Chart
Anticipated Contributors/Users
• Veterinary Staff
• Animal Care Staff
• Zoo Nutritionist
• Aviculturist
• Biologist
• Herpetologist
• Researcher
• Rehabber
safariwest.com/hrrc/