THE OCP REVIEW
Owston’s Palm Civet Conservation Program Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam Volume 1
February 2002
Issue 2
Extended Breeding Season After the successful birth of four cubs from two breeding pairs of Owston’s palm cive ts in the second week of July 2001, the OCP confirmed that the species breeding season is not restricted to the later part of January and the first weeks of February as previously thought. T he extended breeding season was revealed, as more breeding pairs were available and some later pairings of males and females occurred. Both breeding pairs were comprised of individuals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade by Vietnamese Forest Rangers, and given to the Program for rehabilitation. Tige r Lily enjoying the le af litte r
IN THIS ISSUE New Staff
3
OCP Inventory
4
Weasel sighting
5
Notes from the field
6
Genetic study
7
Abnormal behaviour
8
Photos needed
8
Contact us
9
They subsequently be came an integral part of the project’s research and captive breeding program.
L iza with twins in November 2001
This knowledge increases the species population growth potential and re-emphasises the need for further research into this little known animal. From January 2002, the OCP is entering into a partnership with The University of Veterinary Medicine (Austria), to carry out a reproductive biology study that will use faecal hormone analysis to further knowledge on the species reproductive cycle.
PROPOSALS & DREAMS T he OCP has a unique opportunity to assist in the conservation of small carnivores in Asia, with Owston’s palm civet as a flagship species. This group of mammals, though well repre sented in the dynamic Indochina region, is often ove rlooked given that there are so many other threatened species here.
not only amongst our Vietnamese keys to effective species partners, but also to peers within conservation. By carrying out the conservation community. different components of our work with organisations holding expertise We will set precedents in ex situ in that field, we build the relationships within country that are conservation in Indochina for critical for long-term conservation future co-operative breeding e fforts. programs, and we can offer a model for combining field and Scott Roberton captive work in an effective way.
The OCP is tasked with presenting The OCP believes that cothe importance of small carnivores operation and integration are the
Visits William Oliver
October 2001
In conjunction with his attend ance at the FFI South East Asia workshop, William Oliver, Project manager of the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation program, visited the OCP. He provided a critical overview of our objectives and strategy for the conservation of Owston’s palm civets and other Ind ochinese small carnivores. Furthermore, he advised on our captive facility and helped OCP staff better understand conservation breeding loan programs.
Stewart Muir
November 2001
A fter presenting the OCP to the European Aquarium and Zoological gard ens Association (EAZA) Small Carnivore Taxon A dvisory Group (SC TAG) annua l meeting in Prague, Stewa rt became the first official EAZA co-ordinator for the OCP. In November, Stewart finally managed to visit the Program for a couple of weeks. During Stewart’s time with the program he worked on improving captive management protoc ols, enrichment devices for the captive animals at Cuc Phuong, and formulated a work plan for the OCP c onservation loan program. “It was brilliant to have Stewart here, and his involvement made a big difference to our und erstand ing of the international zoo network, as well a s some intimate details of the people involved!” said Scott Roberton.
Stewart he lping OCP staff to build a ‘wo bbly’ branch ru nway
Stewart and the S haldon Wildlife trust will continue to be involved with the Program throughout 2002, and his amazing fundraising efforts in the UK have allowed the OCP to develop a UK zoo study tour for a Vietnamese member of the OCP staff later this year. Stewart will be d oing presentations on his trip to Vietnam at the following meetings: 8-12th May EAZA Small Mammal meeting Riga Zoo, Latvia 17-19th May UK F ederation of Zoos Jersey Zoo, UK 17-22nd Sept EAZA Annual Conference Barcelona Zoo, Spain
Geraldine shows staff of the Quarantine statio n how to tak e hair sample s
Geraldine Veron
December 2001
Someone who knows Owston’s palm civets very intimately finally came to visit the Program last December. Geraldine Veron has worked with the OCP for the last few years as part of her studies on the phylogeny of viverrids, where she has been helping to investigate the existence of a sub
Conservation Breeding Program Welcome!
Hoang Xuan Thuy started working for the National Park as the OCP Program Coordinator Trainee a t the end of March. Thuy will work closely with Scott Roberton on development of the OCP in addition to ca rrying out training for rangers keepers and doing research. Thuy’s experience gained from working in the Tourism department at Cuc Phuong National Park combined with his degree in Environmental studies has him a big head start in the OCP tha t fills us all with confidence. In October, the National Park welcomed Tran Van Bay to work on the OCP. Ba y will be OCP’s animal keeper, not only carrying out the d aily jobs in the captive facility but developing new environmental enrichment devices and timetables as well as improving the OCP’s keeping protoc ols.
Hanoi Zoo
Funding ha s now been secured for keeping and enrichment training for Hanoi zoo and the Cau dien Wild life
Hanoi Zoological Gardens Species
Tran Van Bay happy with animal happin ess
Breeding Centre. As this Newsletter goes to print the training is being d esigned by Zoo and OCP staff. This training will mark the
beginning of an intended long-term relationship between the OCP, Hanoi Zoo and the Cau Dien Centre.
Small Carnivore Inventory Male
Female
Unknown
Total
Common palm civet
4
4
3
11
Masked palm civet
6
3
3
12
Owston’s palm civet
1
4
-
5
Binturong
5
3
5
13
Animal Inventory
Although 2001 saw the births of eight infants, we very unfortunately lost five animals. Two siblings that died showed the same symptoms as those that died in infancy in 2000. This was identified as an unknown virus, and once again reaffirms the need for more veterinary research into the species.
Owston's Palm Civet Conservation program Animal Inventory: January 2002 Year
ID
Origin
Ta g
Name
Se x
D.O.B
Acquisition Date
Bre d
1995
FWJ9501C
Cuc Phuong
O1
Liza
F
-
5/5/95
Yes
1995
FWA9502C
Cuc Phuong
O2
Zena
f
-
5/5/95
yes
1995
FWJ9503C
Kim Boi, Hoa Binh
O3
NN
f
-
30/5/95
yes
1997
MC9710
Nelson X NN
10
Stubby
m 17/4/97
-
yes
1997
FC9712C
BB X Zena
12
BG
f 23/4/97
-
no
1997
MC9713C
BB X Liza
13
Elby
m 27/4/97
-
no
1997
FWA9707
UNKNOWN
O7
Nopa
f
21/11/97
yes
1998
MC9814
Nelson x Nopa
14
LG
-
yes
1998
MWA9808
UNKNOWN
O8
Yule
18/5/98
yes
1999
MC9922C
Scar x NN
22
Nguyen
m 22/4/99
-
no
1999
FC9923C
Scar x NN
23
Kate
f 22/4/99
-
no
1999
MC9920
Yule x Lana
20
Duc
m 29/4/99
-
no
1999
MC9921
Yule x Lana
21
Dat
m 29/4/99
-
no
1999
FWA9919
UNKNOWN
19
Newgirl
f
-
12/7/99
yes
2000
MWJ0026
Binh Dinh
26
Doug
m
-
3/7/00
no
2000
MWA0027
Nghe An
Viduka
m
-
5/12/00
no
2000
FWA0029
Nghe An
Kewell
f
2001
MC0130
LG X Newgirl
Future
m 29/3/01
yes
2001
FC0131
LG X Newgirl
Hope
f
29/3/01
yes
2001
MC0132
Zena x Stubby
Shaldon
m
8/4/01
yes
2001
FC0133
Zena x Stubby
DD
f
8/4/01
yes
2001
FC0134
Doug x Kewell
Tiger Lily
f
7/7/01
yes
Institution
-
m 25/4/98 m
-
8/12/00
Male
Female
Unknown
2001 Births
Total
OCP
11
11
0
5
22
Singapore Zoo
1
2
0
0
3
Hanoi Zoo
3
2
0
2
5
1
0
0
1
Frankfurt Zoo
no
Cuc Phuong National Park Weasel record
The elusive Back-striped weasel (Mustela strigiddorsa) made an appearance on Christmas day 2001 for visitors Sarah Allerton and boyfriend. They spotted the animal whilst on a morning walk in the Primary forest of Cuc Phuong and after watching it for a minute or so recorded as much identification information they could. The couple came to the OCP for help with identification and after reading their description we were left with no alternative. We are very excited about this sighting, it is the sec ond time recorded for the Park and is only known in Vietnam from Yen Bai and Bac Can Provinces.
CPNP Quarantine Station Since its establishment, the Cuc Phuong National Park Quarantine Station has rescued and re leased four Masked Palm Civets, six Common Palm civets, and four Brush-tailed Porcupines into Cuc Phuong National Park. The Quarantine station represents a partnership between the National Park and Ninh Binh Forestry Protection Department aimed at rehabilitating wildlife confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade.
The Cuc Phuo ng National park Quara ntine station
The OCP has been granted permission from the park authorities to use this facility to quarantine Owston’s palm civets confiscated from the trade and brought to the Program by Forest rangers. The OCP will provide technical assistance for training the keeping and veterinary staff of the station. We have already devised and implemented a record keeping system for the Quarantine Station so that small carnivore morphometrics and hair samples will be take n.
Quarantine Sta tion staff tak ing me asurements from a masked p alm civet
Keepers Wanted Cuc Phuong National Park is searching for qualified zoo keepers and veterinarians to volunteer their skills. The Park already runs a deer farm and a Quarantine station for animals confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade and greatly needs professional assistance in developing these to an international standard. If you are interested in working with Cuc Phuong National Park and want more information on these Programs, please contact: Douglas B Hendrie (
[email protected])or Truong Quang Bich ()
Notes from the Field 1
Hoang Lien Mountain range FFI The Community based conservation of the Hoang Lien Mountain Ecosystem Project in Lao Cai Province has photographed seven Owston’s palm civets on six separate traps over the last few months during photo trap surveys. The animals were photographed in lower montane dry evergreen forest at altitudes from 1000m a.s.l – 1900m a.s.l. All animals were photographed on their own and one was in heavily disturbed bamboo forest close to human habitation.
1 4
Photo by FFI Vietnam
2
3
Photo by Bach Ma National Park
Bach Ma National Park ENV During a recent assessment of Bach Ma National Park, Education for Nature – Vietnam staff collected information on Owston’s palm civets in the Park. The Science department informed Hoang Lan Huong that in 2000 they discovered an Owston’s palm civet in a traders house and were offered to buy it for 200,000VND (£10/ $13). The Scientists reported the incident to rangers but unfortunately the animal had been sold or hidden from rangers when they returned to confiscate the animal.
Gia Lai Province BirdLife During a survey in Gia Lai province, Jack Tordoff (BirdLife - Vietnam) came across a recently killed Owston’s palm civet that was being prepared for stuffing by a taxidermist. The wife of the taxidermist told the field team that the species was very common in the Kon Ha Nung Forest complex, and that they often get specimens. She added that the species breeds several times a year, and each time has four young which could suggest she is fabricating her story a little as this has never been recorded in captivity before.
Photo by J.Tordoff (Birdlife)
3
4
Bac Can & Tuyen Quang FFI/OCP The field research component of the OCP conducted its first dedicated field survey for Ow ston’s palm civets in Bac Kan Province during September 2001. FFI Biologist Le Khac Quyet conducted the surveys, with help from Steven Simmons and Barney Long. The project also carried out photo-trapping and interview studies in adjacent Tuyen Quang Province from May through August. The results, soon to be published in a brief report, indicate that Owston’s are present mainly at lower altitudes and in stream valleys. Unfortunately, the species was found to be hunted for sale into the w ildlife trade, but the meat is not considered tasty so is not a favoured food source. Owston’s is rarely shot, but appears relatively easily trapped in wire snares. T wo new field methods were tested during the surveys. The first was the use of faeces from the captive civets as scent lures at camera-trapping sites. As th e captive animals are believed to be free of disease this was considered safe. The first night of camera-trapping caught a common palm civet investigating the lure, but the last couple of weeks of the wet season put pay to any further success. Although no Owston’s were recorded with the camera-traps, a Small-toothed Ferret badger was photographed. The second method w as the development of a chart for use in interviews. A series of civets were drawn, each with the same body outline so tha t only the coat pattern could be used to distinguish the species. A few other species of civet presen t in Vietnam as well as some fictional coat patterns were on the sheet. Preliminary results on the reliability of the tool are promising.
Genetics
Paris Museum of Natural History
The debate on the existence of sub-species in the viverrid family rages on, yet the work of Geraldine Veron from the Paris Natural History Museum may have some answers. Using specialised genetic analysis techn iques, Geraldine hopes to determine the existence or non-existence of sub species within the Asian viverridae. Not only will her work have implications to conservation strategies in the field, but also it will be critical for captive breeding programs in avoiding cross-breeding different sub-species. YOU CAN HELP Geraldine needs hair or tissue samples to undertake this work. If you come across any of the species listed below -- in the field, in the trade, or even as road-kill – please take a sample. Try to get as much information on the origin of the animal as possible, and ideally take some photos. A tuft of hair can be easily taken from live or dead animals. Please avoid touching the hairs (particularly the follicles) or they will become contaminated. It is best to use gloves or tweezers if possible. On dead animals: If freshly dead, tissues can be taken (liver, heart, or any other organs), or hair or ear tips; if dead since more then 1 or 2 days, hair or ear tips are preferred. Hairs can be preserved in a small plastic bag or in an envelope, or in a small vial of alcohol (ethanol 70, 80 or 90%); tissues and ear tips must be preserved in alcohol. Samples can be stored at ambient temperature or in a fridge, and can be sent by regular postal mail. Indochina Species list *Owston’s palm civet *Otter civet Large Indian civet Large spotted civet Small Indian civet *Spotted linsang Common palm civet Small-toothed palm civet Masked palm civet Bin turong Javan mongoose Crab-eating mongoose * Require CITES permission
Chrotogale owstoni Cynogale bennettii Viverra zibetha Viverra megaspila Viverricula indica Prionodon pardicolor Paradoxurus hermaphroditus Arctogalidia trivirgata Paguma larvata Arctictis bin turong Herpestes javanicus Herpestes urva
You can send your sampl e direct to Geraldine at the following address, or if CITES permissions are required, send it to the OCP and we will organise the permissions. Géraldine VERON M.N.H.N. Zoologie Mammifères & Oiseaux 55, rue Buffon 75005 Paris France Tel: 33 (0) 1.40.79.48.53 Fax: 33 (0) 1.40.79.30.63 E-mail :
[email protected]
Captive behaviour Management guidelines In preparation for the OCP Conservation Breeding Loan Program to be established this year, the OCP is refining Management Guidelines for captive Owston’s palm civets. These will follow guidelines published by the Federation of Zoos in Great Britain and Ireland, and will be printed in Vietnamese and English and d istributed to all interested parties. If you want to receive a copy of these guidelines please contact the OCP OCP staf f constructing caves in the enclo su res
Abnormal Behaviour A baseline behaviour study carried out in June 2001 identif ied stereotypical pacing behaviour in some of the captive animals at the OCP. Preliminary observations suggested that this could ha ve been related to a change in feed ing times. In the past a nimals were fed at 5pm, and on a random basis at later times. It was thought that by altering the times of feeding and splitting times to feed live foods (insects & worms) and fruits and meat, the foraging time of the animals would be extended. However, it is possible that this had the opposite affect and was stressing the animals more. Observations were made on particular animals and preliminary results suggest this was one fa ctor in development of pacing (Roberton, in prep) .
Environmental Enrichment & Assessment Once the pacing behaviour had been identified in some of the animals, developing environmental enrichment devices was a priority. Wit h assistance from Stewart Muir (Shaldon Wildlife Trust) and a few c reative nights in the civet cages, OCP staff have begun testing the ef fectiveness of various new devices before carrying out further focal observations to quantify the effectiveness of the enrichment program in reducing pacing behaviour.
Awareness and Training Small Carnivores Photos The OCP is developing a Small Ca rnivore Identification book to be used by Forestry Protection rangers in Vietnam. This book will not only have pictures to a ssist identification, but also some basic ecology and conservation facts about Vietnam’s small carnivores. In preparation for this we are trying to pool as many photos as possible of the f ollowing species for inclusion in the book. If you have any good quality photos or slides of the following species, which you think would be good please send us copies for inclusion in the book. Otter civet Large spotted civet Common palm civet Binturong Yellow Throated Marten
Large Indian civet Small Indian civet Small-toothed palm civet Javan mongoose Small Toothed Ferret Badger
Hog Badger Spotted linsang Masked palm civet Crab-eating mongoose
All contributions will be acknowledged and you can be part of an important publication that will improve the protection of Small Carnivores in Vietnam.
Contact the Program Owston’s Palm Civet Conservation Program (OCP) Cuc Phuong National Park Ninh Binh Province Viet Nam Cuc Phuong Tel: Hanoi Tel:
++00 84 (0)30 848 004 ++00 84 (0)4 856 1759
E-mail:
[email protected]
Postal:
c/o Education for Nature – Vietnam PO BOX 222 A14/25 Lang Ha Hanoi Viet Nam
OCP Review Contributors Scott Roberton Hoang Xuan Thuy Douglas B. Hendrie Truong Quang Bich Shelagh Rosenthal Mark Grindley Rohan Holloway Barney Long Jack Tordoff Steve Swann Stewart Muir
OCP Conservation Committee Scott Roberton Shelagh Rosenthal Douglas Hendrie Truong Quang Bich Barney Long Le Trong Dat Roland Wirth Paul Robinson Dusty Lombardi Angela Glaston Stewart Muir Claire Beastall
OCP OCP Cuc Phuong Conservation Project Cuc Phuong National Park Conservation Biologist Cuc Phuong National Park IUCN Mustelid, Viverrid and Procyonid Specialist Group IUCN Mustelid, Viverrid and Procyonid Specialist Group AZA Small Carnivore Taxon Advisory Group EAZA Small Carnivore Taxon Advisory Group Director, Shaldon Wildlife Trust, UK Zoo Consultant, Zoo Negrara, Malaysia
Cuc Phuong National Park
Cuc Phuong National Park was established as Vietnam’s first National Park in 1962. Located 120 km south of Hanoi the park covers an area of 220 square km with rich tropical forest set on limestone hills and mountains forming a green island amidst the intensively farmed lowland area that surrounds the park. Cuc Phuong National Park is ecologically important as it is home to a diverse botanical component representing 28% of the plant species known in Vietnam. The park also holds a diverse group of endangered mammals including Delacour’s Langur, Clouded Leopard, Owston’s Palm Civet and a number of endemic species. The park is also one of the country’s most important locations for raising awareness of wildlife and nature conservation in Vietnam, and receives over 50,000 visitors annually. Director: Vice Director’s: Head of Science department Vice-head Science department
Dao Van Khuong Truong Quang Bich & Hoang Van Than Truong Quang Bich Do Van Lap
Owston’s Palm Civet Conservation Program Developing an international collaborative breeding program aimed at maintaining a genetically healthy population of Owston’s palm civets in captivity, facilitating research, and raising conservation awareness in Vietnam. It provides expertise and resources through common management strategies with co-operating organisations and institutions, both nationally and internationally. The OCP aims to improve understanding on the overall status and distribution of small carnivores throughout Indochina, and their occurrence in the wildlife trade in order to provide conservation recommendations and action plans. This is carried out through collaborations with national and international organisations using common strategies and methods. A cornerstone of the OCP is to raise the awareness of small carnivores in protected area communities throughout Vietnam. This is done nationally in collaboration with Education for Nature – Vietnam (ENV), and internationally through publications, the media and the assistance of the international zoo community. Program Director Program Co-ordinator Trainee Technical Adviser Civet Keeper
Truong Quang Bich Hoang Xuan Thuy Scott Roberton Tran Van Bay
The Owston’s Palm Civet Conservation Program is only made possible by the following supporters:
Civet Keeper
Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Valerie White Memorial Trust Cleveland Metroparks Zoological Society Shaldon Wildlife Trust Melbourne Zoo Alice Noakes Charitable trust BP Statoil Alliance Walker 197 Trust Dinh ManZGAP Lap
