Reviews

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS BY:

The Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks & Aquaria.

This volume is the first in a series of tutorial productions intended to educate the viewer about the correct methods to capture, handle and restrain a wide variety of wildlife. Included in this volume is a tutorial DVD supported by a CD containing a reference manual in PDF format. This is a new initiative, produced by Animals on Film, and is the first such tutorial demonstrating methods for handling and restraining snakes. As such, it may prove to be a valuable introductory tool for tertiary students and those working with wildlife. This volume on snakes is divided into chapters containing information on many topics, including restraint, handling equipment, trapping, transportation, snakebite first aid, zoonoses and basic veterinary procedures.

This guide is largely aimed at providing information to those with little or no previous snake handling experience and is successful in achieving this. However, it must be emphasized that this guide should not be used as a sole reference for handling venomous snakes. Not enough information or demonstrations are provided on the initial tailing of venomous snakes, which is possibly the most important and potentially dangerous aspect of capturing or restraining such animals.

This production could have benefited from displaying a larger variety of venomous snake handling demonstrations to give the viewer a better indication of how a snake may react to being restrained. Other ways that the authors could improve future editions would be to present a wider variety of elapids and boids when discussing snake identification and to display snakes in pre-slough condition when discussing this topic.

This product is a concise and logical aid that will be useful to carers working with raptor species. The particular requirements of raptors require an approach tailored to their specific needs, so this production is timely if not overdue. The authors have been thorough in their consideration of every aspect of capture, handling and restraint. Internet references provided throughout the text, the comprehensive references cited and the glossary of terms are features that enhance the usefulness of the material. The DVD is overall a quality production that complements the text well.

Although DNA and other techniques compel frequent reviews of our thinking about avian relationships, we noted that the Introduction fails to include the barn owls (Tytonids) within the order Falconiiformes. Eagles and Old World vultures should also be included within the Accipitridae. Such birds are a notable component of these groups and their omission here is of concern. In addition, the observation that "All raptors have exceptional eyesight coupled with speed and agility in flight" is not strictly definitive. Many birds (i.e. swifts) possess these characteristics but are not raptors and there are many raptor species that are not fast or agile flyers (vultures). An Andean condor's weight is also closer to 8-12 kg, rather than the 4-6 listed. However, these are small concerns and the overall tone of the introduction is that of an overview and as such it is sufficient.

We recommend this package to all agencies wishing to develop their skills with this magnificent group of birds.

Zoonoses - A Zoonotic Disease is an infectious disease of animals that can be transmitted to humans. Diseases such as Anthrax, Lyssa virus, Hendra, Avian Influenza, Rabies and Typhus are just some of the many animal diseases that can be transmitted to humans.

People who work with animals and/or collect animal related data, in any environment, need to be aware of, and take precautions to avoid exposure to, an infectious disease. Reduce the risk of disease by using good hand-washing techniques after cleaning or handling any equipment or animal species, and develop an awareness of animal disease, vectors and methods of transmission.

Volume-9 Zoonoses is a program consisting of a DVD built around interviews with acknowledged experts in the field of zoonotic diseases, their risks, symptoms and methods of prevention.

This program is essential reference material for anybody involved in the handling or management of animals or who works with animal products., and it makes ideal training material for veterinarians, zoo staff, wildlife professionals and volunteers.

Volume-9 Zoonoses would be a valuable addition to libraries in tertiary education facilities teaching animal handling, animal husbandry, biology, zoology or veterinary science.

Volume-9 Zoonoses also comes with an extremely comprehensive manual, in PDF format, detailing, in Excel table form, over 350 diseases along with their source animal hosts, vectors, symptoms and incubation periods.

Capture, handling and restraint are fundamental aspects of the work of animal management. Right now, ”Animals on Film“ in their Faunacap Series are producing programs that are essential educational tools for the intensive wildlife management industry.

Operational hands-on experience is the best way to learn any skill, but in practice gaining and retaining skills in capture, handling and restraint of wild animals is not easy. There are Occupational Health and Safety and Animal Welfare considerations which mean that you can’t practice capture techniques on wild animals as one might do with domestic stock.

So, I use the current programs to give students a practical demonstration of what is involved in the capture, handling and restraint in these animal groups. Discussing and planning and then watching the procedure is the important first step before a student does physical hands-on practice. Ahead of any actual capture, the student can review the techniques involved at their own pace. This greatly increases the confidence level of learners so that when an actual procedure is done, it is done efficiently and effectively and the OH&S and Animal Welfare concerns are addressed.

The programs are good investments for any wildlife institution. As we all know, skills must be honed and if you don’t use it you lose it – so in my view the programs are a very cost-beneficial way to ensure staff can review techniques and retain current competency. I look forward to the production of programs for more animal groups. We will certainly use every one.