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-- The visitors will not only get an idea of thephysical appearance of the animal but also of theirnatural habitat and behavior-- Enrichment devices that stimulate the ability ofthe animal in captivity may serve the purpose of‘training’ them for eventual reintroduction.-- Increased behavior repertoire can reducestereotypic behavior.-- Optimum utilization of resources.-- It will serve the purpose of educating thevisitors.-- It is integrated teamwork and involves all therelevant staff member including Director, Curator,Veterinarian, Vet-Nutritionist, Horticulture,Engineers, Animal Keepers, etc., and can besupported at all levels of the institution.-- Enrichment plays an important role in maximizinggood animal welfare both in term of health

(increasing activities -> decreasing obesity) andpsychological well-being (providing opportunity foranimals to perform species appropriate behavior.)

With the rate of extinction of wildlife there maycome a time when the only way to restore naturalbiodiversity is through well organized reintro-duction programme. Then zoos and other holdingfacilities around the world will be called upon tosupply healthy individuals for reintroduction.

References:AZA/BAG (1999). Behavior and Husbandry Group, ascientific advisory group of the American Zoo andAquarium Association. Workshop at Disney’s AnimalKingdom

Coe, Jon C 1992, ‘Environmental EnrichmentKaleidoscope, ‘Research, Management & Design’,1992 AAZPA National Convention, Toronto,Bethesda, MD pp 120-123

Dantzer, R. (1986). Behavioural, physiological andfunctional aspects of stereotyped behaviour: areview and a reinterpretation. J. Anim Sci. 62,1776-1786.

Markowitz, H 1982,Behavioural Enrichment in theZoo, Van Nostrand Rheinhold, New York.

Wemelsfelder, F. (1993a). The concept of boredomand its relationship to stereotyped behaviour. In:Lawrence , A.B. & Rushen, J. (Eds), Stereotypicbehaviour: fundamentals and applications toanimal welfare. CAB International: Wallingford

Converting Zoo waste to EnergyYuvraj R.Kaginkar

As we begin the 21st century we are faced with anever-increasing human population that consumesvast amounts of resources. In the face of suchpressure the environment suffers. Reports ofpollution, logging, urban sprawl, land degradation,mass starvation, decreased fisheries, globalwarming, the extinction of species and much more,are legion, and paint a bleak and overwhelmingpicture.

As the earth becomes more crowded and ourlandfills start to overflow, people will be forced toaddress the issue of waste. If current trends in theglobal economy continue, human consumption willhave increasingly serious consequences for ourecosystems. As conservation centers, Zoos mustaddress sustainable relationships betweenhumankind and nature. If we are to evolve asorganizations we should actively support strongenvironmental messages. Through the develop-ment of organic waste, such as compost, zooscould reduce the amount of waste going to landfillsubstantially by utilizing waste-to-energy activity. Veterinary-Cum-Extension Officer, S. V. Zoological

Park, Tirupati, A.P.

Waste collected:Our zoo disposes of some of 105-110 tons of zoowaste per year.

Animal waste: Manure, straw, sand, food scraps,etc., (95-105 tons/year)

Visitor waste: Food wrappers, drink cups, assortedpaper, etc., (1-1.2 tons/year)

Miscellaneous solid waste: Office paper, (0.4-0.5tons per year) which is dispose of landfill.

Objective:Contribution to the alternative sources of energy.

Creation of an organic recycling program that issustainable.

Help solve the Zoo waste problem.

Assessing the Benefits & Risks ofEnvironmental Enrichment (Duncan 1997)

H I G H

Initiatives that have low risk and high benefits.

Initiatives that have high risk and high benefits.

L O W

Initiatives that have low risk and low benefits.

Initiatives that have high risk and low benefits.

L O W H I G H

B E N E F I T S

R I S K S

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Cost effectiveness – get a return on the product.

Market – not only the product but also the zoo andits commitment to preserve the environment and toreduce the impact humans have on theenvironment.

Daily waste collected from the zoo is around 105-110 tons/year which can be used in production ofbiogas, which would be helpful for cooking feed foranimals. Other waste like animal, visitors, &miscellaneous waste can be converted into organicmanure through vermi-culture, which can beutilized for the fodder farm and the gardensmaintained by zoos on the premises.

Vermi-composte and biogas implementation forconverting waste to energy:

Implementing vermicompost and biogas plant inthe zoo premises, to generate the energy from zoowaste.

Method of preparation of vermicompost:

A shed area for each pit 12’x12’ is sufficient toaccommodate three vermibeds of 10’x3’ eachhaving 1’ space in between for treatment of 900-1200 kgs of waste in a cycle of 40-45 days.

Basic vermi-composting involves setting up sometype of shed, filling it with moist bedding materials,introducing worms and feeding them on a regularbasis, monitoring the conditions in the shed, andadding food, water, and more bedding asconditions warrant.

Method of preparation of biogas plant:

Biogas technology is that in which the microbialwaste converts organic matter to methane, whichis used as a cooking gas. Biogas is produced fromorganic wastes by concerted action of variousgroups of anaerobic bacteria. Nearly seventy percent of methane from biogas digesters fed withcattle dung is derived from acetate. The potentialof biogas production - herbivores droppings willyield gas around 0.4-0.5 m3 / kg.

The next step will be to promote, market and sellthe product to the public, by developingpromotional strategies, packing, and marketanalysis.

Advantages / Benefits

It will help to assist the zoo in determining aninnovative, cost effective, and environmentallyconscious method for disposing of animal waste, byapplication of eco-friendly concepts.

The zoo mission includes the naturalistic animalhabitats and environments for the visitors formaking positive contributions to the environmentthrough conservation and educational efforts, asthe zoos and aquariums of the world attract about600 million visitors per year.

This will stress an economic effect in theconsequence of fast recovery of investment inconnection with the annual cost of zoo waste inrevenue.

Zoos offer a unique platform for environmentaleducators with the issues being incorporatedthroughout the system.

The zoos also have a commitment to educating andassisting the community to undertake similarinitiatives at home and in their local area

Encourage positive utilization of the wastematerial.

Vermicompost is an eco-friendly natural fertilizerprepared from biodegradable organic wastes andis free from chemical fertilizers.

It does not have any adverse effect on soil, plantand environment, and it also improves the soilaeration, water retention, reduces soil compactionPotential for creating a more environmentallyfriendly and self-sustaining zoo.

Acknowledgement:I am thankful to Officials of Andhra Pradesh, ForestDepartment, particularly Mr. Parthasarathi, Curator(S.V. Zoological Park), Dr. TH Thoibasingh, Vet AsstSurgeon, Mr. Selvakumar, F.R.O, admin-staff, animalkeepers, and Dr. M. S. Karawale, Dy. Supdt (VJBU-Zoo, Mumbai) for their encouragement and generoussupport.

Polecat

Indian mongoose