On the 24th – 27th November 2014, the 6th Wild Animal Rescue Network (WARN) Conference was held at the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG), Hong Kong SAR, China.
The theme for this year’s conference was:
“Challenges Faced during Long Term Maintenance of Rescued Wildlife”.
This is an appropriate title as it reflects a reality that many centres face; the need to hold animals for longer periods than planned or originally intended. Long term holding creates many constraints and challenges, so the topic is ideal for the sharing of respective experiences, to help tackle some of these issues a little better, and allows those affected to be comforted by the knowledge that we are not alone in facing these challenges.
Key objectives for the four days conference are:
- To provide a forum to facilitate sharing between respective organisations working in the field of wildlife rescue.
- To share experiences and challenges related to the 2014 Conference theme.
- To urge more members to formally join the WARN network, and to provide further information related to membership categories and benefits of membership.
- To provide inputs to the revision of international guidelines for placement of rescued wildlife.
- To determine who will host the 2015 and 2016 WARN Conferences.
80 participants from 18 countries attended this year’s conference. Mr. Andy Brown, Executive Director, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden gave the opening speech to welcome participants to the 6th Wild Animal Rescue Network (WARN) Conference on November 24th, 2014.
This was followed by a keynote speech address titled “Seizure and Sanctuary: Engaging Ethics in the Global Context of Wildlife Rescue” prepared by Dr.Sal Renshaw, Associate Professor, Chair of Department from Nipissing University, Canada.
A total of 25 oral presentations were provided by 23 wildlife organization.
Annemarie Weegenaar, Bear & Vet Team Director Vietnam of Animals Asia Foundation represent with a presentation titled as: ” Challenges in Housing Rescued Bears from Bear Bile Farms Long Term in Animals Asia’s Sanctuary”
Elke Schwierz, Head Animal Keeper of Endangered Primate Rescue Centre, Vietnam represent with a presentation titled as: ” Experiences on Hand Rearing of Leaf Eating Monkeys, Gibbons and Lorises”.
Laura Benedict, represent Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Malaysia with a presentation titled as: ” Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre: Orangutan Rehabilitation in Sabah, 50-years (1964-2014) and On”.
Edwin Wiek, Founder and Director of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand and Acting Secretary WARN represent with a presentation titled as: ” Cooperation of Wildlife Rescue Centers under WARN annual meeting Hong Kong, November 2014″.
Neil Maddison, Head of Conservation Programme Bristol Zoological Society represent with a presentation titled as: ” Updating the IUCN Guidelines for the Disposal of Confiscated Animals”.
Ricko Jaya, Human Orangutan Conflict Response Unit Coordinator of Orangutan Information Centre, Medan , Indonesia represent with a presentation titled as: ” Addressing Human- Orangutan Confliction in Argricultural Landscapes around the Leuser Ecosystem, Northern Sumatra”.
Ho Ka Po (Right), Animal Keeper of Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Gardens, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR represent with a presentation titled as: ” Maintaining Fitness Level of Long-term Captive Rescued Raptors”.
Yonghyun Park, Rehabilitator of Chungnam Wild Animal Rescue Centre, Kongju National University, South Korea represent with a presentation titled as: ” Challenges of Rehabilitation and Long Term Captivity in Rescued Eagle Owls”.
Andy Lin (Right), Senior Animal Keeper of Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Gardens, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR represent with a presentation titled as: ” Exhibit Design and Landscaping for Long Term Captive Rescued Wildlife”.
Sun, Jing-Min, represent The Pingtung Rescue Centre for Endangered Wild Animals, Taiwan with a presentation titled as: ” Rehabilitation of Rescued Pangolins in PTRC”.
Dr. Alex Grioni, Veterinary Officer of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden represent with a presentation titled as: ” Euthanasia in Wildlife Rehabilitation”.
Nguyen Phuong Dung, Vice Director of Education for Nature Vietnam, Vietnam represent with a presentation titled as: ” ENV’S Ending the Bear Farming and Trade Program in Vietnam”.
Ioana Dungler, represent Four PAWS International, Austria with a presentation titled as: ” Big Cats Calling”.
Hardi Baktiatoro, Principal of Centre for Orangutan Protection, Indonesia represent with a presentation titled as: ” 30+ recipes for Orangutans”.
Elizaberth Laksmi, Co-Founder Animal Indonesia, Indonesia represent with a presentation titled as: ” Combating Wildlife Poaching, Hunting and Trading in Indonesia”.
Raja Chatterjee, Secretary of THE JUNGLEES, India represent with a presentation titled as: ” Green Page: Tool for Corporate Support in Wildlife Conservation & Rescue Operat
Madhu Rao, Development Coordinator of IUCN-Species Survival Comission- Asian Species Action Partnership, Singapore represent with a presentation titled as: ” The Asian Species Action Partnership: The Role for Wildlife Rescue Centres and Conservation Breeding Facilities in Averting the Extinction of Critically Endangered non Marine Vertebrates in South East Asia”.
Tee Thye Lim, Centre Coordinator of Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre,Malaysia represent with a presentation titled as: ” The Challenges of Keeping Captive Sun Bears in a Natural Forest Enclosure: a case study of an escaped sun bear at Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre”.
Tee Thye Lim, Centre Coordinator of Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre,Malaysia represent with a presentation titled as: ” The Challenges of Keeping Captive Sun Bears in a Natural Forest Enclosure: a case study of an escaped sun bear at Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre”.
Q&A Session with our Wong Siew Te D.J.N, Founder & CEO of Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre .
DVM Dian Ramirez, Assistant Manager of Sabah Wildlife Rescue Unit,Sabah, Malaysia represent with a presentation titled as: ” Challenges Faced during Long Term Maintenance of Rescued Elephants”.
Anuradha Jayasinghe, Volunteer Coordinator & Technical Advisor of Free The Bears Foundation, Cambodia represent with a presentation titled as: ” Beyond the Bear Basics”
Shu-Chuan Tseng, represent Pingtung Wildlife Rescue Centre for Endangered Wild Animal, Taiwan with a presentation titled as: ” Environmental & Behavioral Enrichement for Individual Orangutan”.
Dr.Kati Loeffler, represent International Fund for Animal Welfare, USA with a presentation titled as: ” The Forest and The Trees: Achieving objectives in long-term care of rescued wildlife”.
Beside this, open working group sessions were conducted, one of which discussed the revisions of: “Updating the IUCN Guidelines for the placement of rescued wildlife”. The remaining topics discussed during the working group sessions included; WARN Network, Best Practice Guidelines Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Care for Sanctuary, Rescue, Rehabilitation and Rescue, Bear Management, Pangolin Rescue, Capacity Building and Education.
Two field visits were organised, one of which was a visit to the Mai Po Marsh Nature Reserve, managed by the WWF Hong Kong. Mai Po Reserve is a diverse wetland spanning 2700 hectares managed by the World Wildlife Fund. It consists of several wetland habitats supporting an abundance of wildlife and migratory birds.
At the HKBWS Floating Hide.
We walked around the reserve and had great birding.
Pied Avocet. Photo by Wong Siew Te.
Black-faced Spoonbill.
Great Cormorant
During the night time, we took a visit to Kadoorie Farm Night Walk. There are 3 stations: Bat Ecology, Moth Trap and Native Nocturnal Mammals at the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG). The place is a delight with a wonderful array of wildlife. Kadoorie represents the best of environmental and ecological awareness.
Moth Trap – by Roger
Bat Ecology – by Gary Ades
Native Nocturnal Mammals: Masked Palm Civet and Leopard Cats- by Debbie Ng
On November 27th, the working groups presented their suggestion and findings related in the conference objectives. These findings were followed by the Interim Board Reports, WARN Elections for Executive Committee. A mention to enlarge the Board from five to seven members was proposed and approved by the qualified WARN members.
The 6th WARN Conference was concluded by a closing address from Dr.Gary Ades (Head of Fauna Conservation Department of KFBG).
Million thanks to WARN Members and Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden for hosting this successful 6th WARN Conference. It was a great sharing experience through the presentation and practical workshop!
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