A new guide on how to care for animals in the classroom has been launched.
Edinburgh Zoo wins 1999 UFAW Zoo Animal Welfare Innovation Award for Penguin Cone Feeder
7 October 1999—The passing of the Animal Welfare Act is a significant achievement which represents a major philosophical shift from the former Animals Protection Act, Minister for Food and Fibre John Luxton said today.
“The old Act was nearly 40 years old and focused on punishing acts of cruelty. The new legislation adopts an animal welfare rather than animal rights philosophy.”
The new Animal Welfare Act provides legislative power for codes of welfare to be developed. They will contain minimum standards and recommendations for the care of animals. The codes will be developed in a consultative manner allowing the community’s views to be taken into account. In this way the standards developed will reflect the expectations the New Zealand public has for the welfare of animals.
The Act also provides a rigorous framework for managing the use of live animals in research. It gives legal standing for existing practices, improves accountability and promotes the concept of the “Three Rs”: to reduce, refine and replace animals in research.
“New Zealand’s approach shows a strong sense of ethical commitment and contrasts with the more heavy-handed Government intervention that occurs in some other countries,” Mr. Luxton said.
The Bill also provides greater restrictions on the use and interaction with great apes. Research, testing or teaching involving the use of a great ape can only be approved by the Director-General of Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries who must first be satisfied that any likely benefits are not outweighed by harm to the great ape.
“This requirement recognises the advanced cognitive and emotional capacity ofgreat apes. New Zealand is the first country in the world to legislate in this way. This is a small but nevertheless important step,” Mr Luxton said.
This Bill does not impose regulatory controls on the activities of hunting, fishing and pest control. To do so could have significant social and economic effects and these issues have not been subject to adequate public debate. “I would encourage those interested groups to develop voluntary codes of practice in conjunction with the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee.”
On the issue of docking dogs’ tails Mr Luxton said it was an issue that has been subject to significant debate.
“The Select Committee examined the issues very carefully. The debate shows no clear consensus on the issue. It is clearly a difficult one to resolve as it involves quite strongly held ethical and philosophical views. We could not afford to let the issues of docking dogs tails stand in the way of passing this important Bill through the House.”
“Animal welfare is an important strategic marketing issue and of growing importance to international trade. New Zealand’s animal welfare reputation is likely to play an increasing role in consumer perceptions and ultimately their choices of our agricultural products. Codes of welfare will be a progressive addition to the legislation, and will assist New Zealand to provide assurances to our trading partners," Mr. Luxton concluded.
The Animal Welfare Act of 1999 is on the web at http://www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/legislation/animal-welfare-act/guide/index.htm
Attitudes towards animals are formed early in life. For many, school may be the place where experience on how to handle and look after animals is gained, and provides opportunities for detailed observation of animal behaviour and growth.
The guide, “Caring for Animals – A Guide for Teachers, Early Childhood Educators, and Students”, explains the proper care of axolotls, goldfish, terrapins, birds, guinea pigs, rabbits, rats, mice, and other animals.
The new guide explains both the ethical and legal obligations for boards of trustees, teachers, early childhood educators, and students, whether they are observing or studying the animal. It also outlines the needs of various invertebrates and vertebrates to ensure they remain healthy and well cared for.
Contributors to the guide include the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Animals in Schools Education Trust (a charitable trust set up by the New Zealand Veterinary Association), and the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART).
This publication is available at a cost of $8.95 per copy.
For further information or to order a copy please contact: Learning Media Ltd, P O Box 3293, Wellington, New Zealand. phone: 0800 800 565 or fax: 0800 800 570
The 1999 UFAW (Universities Federation for Animal Welfare) Zoo Animal Welfare Innovation Award was won by Edinburgh Zoo for their Penguin Cone Feeder. The Penguin Cone Feeder is used to deliver fish in a controlled manner to the zoo’s population of gentoo, king, marconi, and rockhopper penguins while they are underwater. Seeking to get away from hand feeding on land and interested in encouraging their penguins to show natural underwater feeding, Edinburgh zookeepers modified a traffic cone so that its tip is just large enough to allow their fish of choice, herring, to pass through. The cone is then filled with fish and suspended upside down in the main penguin pool, allowing the head of the first fish to protrude slightly from the tip of the cone. Any penguins seeking to feed have to swim underneath the cone and remove each fish individually. The cone feeder reduces the problem of unwanted fish sinking to the bottom of the main pool and polluting the water that commonly occurs if multiple fish are thrown into the water for the penguins to feed on, and stops herring gulls competing with the penguins for the fish. The cone feeder has proved very successful and studies pre and post-enrichment have shown that the penguins increase the amount of time in the water, and increase natural feeding and foraging behavior such as porpoising.
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Contents, Animal Welfare Information Center Bulletin
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The Animal Welfare Information Center
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
National Agricultural Library
10301 Baltimore Ave.
Beltsville, MD 20705-2351
Phone: (301) 504-6212
FAX: (301) 504-7125
E-mail: awic@nal.usda.gov
