White Rhino Survey Packet

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20th December 2006

Dear White Rhino Holder

White Rhino Reproduction Questionnaire

The EAZA Rhinoceros TAG and the White Rhino EEP has considered this questionnaire

and support its circulation to holders in EAZA.

We recognise that it is a lengthy document and that it will require some time to completebut we would ask you to help with the survey as best as you can. We feel this is animportant part of the on-going process to understand the reproduction issues faced by

the species in our zoos and your information will be important.

Lisa Nordstrom and Ron Swaisgood have been working in this field for someconsiderable time and we can be assured that they will make good use of the data theycollect.

This survey is also being supported by the AZA Rhino Advisory Group.

Thank you for you cooperation and help to provide more information on this important

issue.

Yours sincerely

Nick LindsayChair EAZA Rhinoceros Taxon Advisory Group


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Southern White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum[Please Return by February 25, 2007]

Name of Facility: ______________________________________________________

Your Name:_______________________________Title: ______________________

Address:____________________________________________________________

Phone #: _______________________ Email: _______________________________

Please check here if you would like to receive a summary report of this research.

(Note: All personal information is confidential. It will only be used if follow-up questions are necessary and to provide a cabove.)

General Instructions

Please try to answer each question. We realize that you may not be able to answer some of the questions. Whyour best guess or estimate based on your experience with the rhinos. Skip questions only if you do not know

estimate.

If you dont know an answer, write a question mark (?). If your answer is a rough guess, write estimated or est.

Record NA for Not Applicable when necessary.

Write No if you are certain that this has not happened at your institution.

If you cannot answer the questions about an individual rhino but can answer for rhinos in general at yo

ALL in the spot designated for your answer.

Rhinos are considered adult at age 5.

If you prefer, please feel free to photocopy any records that address some of these questions and we can enterquestion can be answered in photocopied records provided, please write see records in the answer space.


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PART 1: GENERAL HUSBANDRY

1. Please describe the main enclosure areas provided for the rhinos:

(Note - For indoor enclosures, you do not need to enter information for each stall. Instead, please provide

TypeApprox. Area

Please circleeither ft2 or m2

% of enclosure

perimeter exposedto the public

Average

distance tothe public

Average Number of Animalsin Enclosure at same time

Time in

1 Outdoor Indoor

ft2

m2%

ft

m

# Males # Females ______

______

2 Outdoor Indoor

ft2

m2%

ft

m


______

3 Outdoor Indoor ft2

m2% ft

m

# Males # Females____________

4 Outdoor Indoor

ft2

m2%

ft

m


______

5 Outdoor Indoor

ft2

m2%

ft

m


______

2. How are males and females housed at your facility? (please check yes or no)a. Are males kept together with females most of the time? No Yes - how many males b. Are males rotated in and out of the enclosure for breeding? No Yes what is the rotatioc. Are females kept together most of the time? No Yes

< 5 yrs < 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs






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3. Diet. Please check all that apply: pasture grazing additional feedings frequency =Food type Type

Approximate

amount per rhino

per day

Legume Hay kg

Mixed Grass Hay kg

PelletsBrand Name:

% Protein = ________kg

Produce

(fruits and vegetables)kg

Supplements

(vitamins and minerals)Amt:__________

Mineral blockOther (please describe)

PART 2: INFORMATION ON INDIVIDUAL FEMALES

The following sections pertain to all female white rhinos born or arriving at your facility. Please fill out i

its studbook identification number. Remember if you do not know the details of an answer (e.g., cannot estim

episodes), please record a Yes, No, or a ? if you dont know. Also use NA if the question does not apply

Female Studbook ID Age at first arrivalat this institution

Current Age Female Studbook ID Age at first aat this instit


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SECTION A: SOCIAL INTERACTIONS WITH MALES

Female

Studbook

ID

How many different adult

males has this female been

exposed to when she was

less than 5 years old?

How much time is spent close

(i.e., within 15 m) to an adult

male?

(Choose one: 1-6)

During which age

classes was this

female housed with

at least one adultmale (>5 yrs. old)?

Circle all age classesthat apply:0 = birth to 1 yr.

1 = age 1-2

2 = age 2-3

3 = age 3-4

4 = age 4-5

How many when she was5 or more years old? 1. Never

2. Less than once per week3. Several times per week4. Nearly every day, 1 hr./day5. Nearly every day, > 1 hr./day6. Almost all the time

< 5 yrs. 5 yrs. < 5 yrs. 5 yrs.

Approxima

at what age

the earliest

knowncourtship*

an adult m

0 1 2 3 4_____# males _____# males ________ y

0 1 2 3 4 _____# males _____# males ________ y

0 1 2 3 4 _____# males _____# males ________ y

0 1 2 3 4 _____# males _____# males ________ y

0 1 2 3 4 _____# males _____# males ________ y

0 1 2 3 4 _____# males _____# males ________ y

0 1 2 3 4 _____# males _____# males ________ y

0 1 2 3 4 _____# males _____# males ________ y

0 1 2 3 4 _____# males _____# males ________ y

0 1 2 3 4 _____# males _____# males ________ y

*Courtship involves behaviors such as high levels of male hiccing vocalizations, chin resting, and genital inv


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SECTION B: COPULATIONS

Please record all information you have on copulation and health for each female. Frequency of copulation caobservation or inferred from the presence of semen on the females backside. Do not use birth of offspring to

Female

Studbook

ID

Age of First

Copulation

How often were

copulations observedfor this female?

(Choose one: 1-6)

1. Never2. Once every 2 + years3. Once a year4. 2-5 times/year5. Once every 2 months6. Once a month

Please indicate the average

duration of exposure to the

male prior to successfulbreeding with that male?

(Choose one: 1-5)

1. None2. < 1 year3. 1 - 3 years4. > 3 yrs.5. Limited exposure to

some sires and extended

with others

Has there been any evreproductive tract follvaginal discharge, vag

(Ci

If yes, please provide

and age of the femalenecessary.

< 5 yrs. 5 yrs. < 5 yrs. 5 yrs.

______ yrs old No Yes: ___________

______ yrs old No Yes: ___________

______ yrs old No Yes: ___________

______ yrs old No Yes: ___________

______ yrs old No Yes: ___________

______ yrs old No Yes: ___________

______ yrs old No Yes: ___________

______ yrs old No Yes: ___________

______ yrs old No Yes: ___________

______ yrs old No Yes: ___________


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SECTION C: FEMALE REPRODUCTION

Female

StudbookID

Approximate

Length of

ReproductiveCycles

(range in days)

Cycle Regularity

(determined by estrus

behavior during

non-pregnancy)

Choose one:1. regular (~ similar

length of time)

2. irregular (variablelength of time)

Has this female been tested for

reproductive tract infections, ovarian

cysts, or other abnormalities?

(Circle Yes or No)

If yes, what was the diagnosis?

Has this female

had any known

failed pregnanc

(i.e., abortions)

Circle Yes or

If yes, how ma

days1 2

No Yes: ________________________ No Yes: #____

days1 2

No Yes: ________________________ No Yes: #____

days1 2

No Yes: ________________________ No Yes: #____

days1 2

No Yes: ________________________ No Yes: #____

days1 2

No Yes: ________________________ No Yes: #____

days1 2

No Yes: ________________________ No Yes: #____

days1 2

No Yes: ________________________ No Yes: #____

days1 2

No Yes: ________________________ No Yes: #____

days1 2

No Yes: ________________________ No Yes: #____

days1 2

No Yes: ________________________ No Yes: #____


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Please estimate the body condition for each female as follows: (See attached photos for reference)

A: Female noticeably larger and more body fat than for B; very well-rounded body. B: Typical for wild rhino in good condition; rounded but showing hint of muscle and bone definition. C: Female body condition is less than B with bones along shoulder, spine and hindquarters visibly pro

Female

StudbookID

Describe the bodycondition of this

female when she was


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***Thank You For Your Participation!***

Please Return Survey To:

Dr. Lisa NordstromConservation and Research for Endangered Species (CRES)

Zoological Society of San Diego15600 San Pasqual Valley Rd.

Escondido, CA, USA 92027-7000

Email: [email protected] FAX: (760) 291-5428 Phone: (760) 747-8702ext. 5760


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Body Condition Reference Sheet(Adapted from Adcock, K. and R. Emslie (compilers). 2003. Monitoring African Rhino Trainers Guide,

5th edition. Module 12 - Rhino Body Condition Assessment. IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group)

A: Rhino noticeably larger and more body fat than for B

B: Typical for wild rhino in good condition; rounded but showing hint of muscle andbone definition.

C: Body condition is less than B with bones along shoulder, spine and hindquartersvisibly protruding.

The rump, shoulder, neck and spineareas are filled out, so that the spineis mostly covered.

Documents

White Rhino Survey Packet