Animal Care and Management at the National Zoo: Final Report - Softcover

National Research Council; Division On Earth And Life Studies; Institute For Laboratory Animal Research; Board On Agriculture And Natural Resources; Committee On The Review Of The Smithsonian Institution's National Zoological Park

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0309095832 ISBN 13: 9780309095839

Publisher: National Academies Press, 2005

Synopsis

This report follows up on an interim report released in February 2004 that focused on immediate needs in the areas of animal care and management, recordkeeping, and pest control. The report finds that the zoo has made good-faith efforts to correct deficiencies noted in the interim report and has made some noticeable improvements in the past year in zoo operations and animal care. However, problems in areas such as staff training, workplace culture, and strategic planning still need to be addressed. Specifically, the report recommends that the zoo immediately develop and implement animal-care training programs to ensure that people who are directly responsible for the well-being of its animal collection are adequately prepared and competent. The report commends a zoo-initiated strategic planning process as a positive step, but recommends it contain a more detailed, comprehensive strategy of how it will meet short-term goals and that it should link plans to upgrade facilities with those to acquire animals. The zoo should also focus on improving communication among keepers, veterinarians, nutritionists, senior managers, and curators.

About this title

About the Author:

Committee on the Review of the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoological Park, National Research Council

About this edition

• Publisher: National Academies Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0309095832
• ISBN 13: 9780309095839
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304