\LW l ~ F \ f l O F ’ \ ~ t \ l \ l \ I H I / O o \ \ o l < l , 306

I n / Zoo Yh (1990) 29: 206-31 I < The Loologic~l Society o f London

The African Veld Exhibit a t the Havana National Zoological Park ABELARDO MORENO Nutronul Zoologirul Park, Aptdo de Correos 7097, La Huhanu, Cuhri

One of the first developments in the new National Zoological Park in Havana, Cuba, was the African Veld exhibit. Before work started on the project we made a study of the national parks in Tanzania noting in particular the charac- teristics of the vegetation and of the animals. The veld exhibit covers some 80 ha and is viewed by visitors from buses on the road which runs through the exhibit. The project was completed in four stages: ( I ) the selection of land, erection

AV

/ C

of the main buildings and construction of a temporary road; (2)the demarcation of the enclosure and construction of pools, a barn, drinking troughs, installation of underground pipes and paving of the road; (3) the landscaping, planting and construction of the public entrances: (4) the installation of the animals.

STAGE ONE The site chosen simulated the flat grass- lands and undulating terrain covered by

-A

h)

3

~

i d

,

AV

- 1 -

Fig. 1. General plan of one of the two animal houses and paddocks in the African Veld Exhibit at the Havana National Zoological P a r k a. interconnecting stalls with central passage; b. individual enclosures with gates to communal enclosure; c. paddock for keepers’ horses; d. rhinoceros paddock; e. parking area for service Iehicles; f. communal paddock; g. gate and roadway to main circulation route in African Veld h. fence line extending to exhibit boundary fence; AV. main African Veld area.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN T H E ZOO WORLD 207

thorny acacia trees Acacia farnesiana and bushes typical of the Tanzania savannah. Two animal houses were built, each measuring 60 x 12 m, one of which also has office accommodation and service facilities. Both are on the perimeter of the area at some distance from each other with the sides facing the enclosure camouflaged with trees so that they cannot be seen by visitors from the buses. A passage runs the full length of the buildings with interconnected stalls on both sides. Each animal stall has an adjoining wiremesh outdoor paddock with a gate at the far end leading to a large communal paddock from which there is a gate into the main veld area (Fig. 1).

STAGE TWO The entire area is enclosed by a concrete wall 1.2m high topped with a wiremesh fence to a height of 3.5m. The roadway, which is used for one-way traffic, is 4 m wide and 4000 m long and winds through the area to give a view of all parts of the exhibit. During the second stage the road and entrance areas were paved and under- ground pipes laid to supply drinking water, together with a plant watering system for some areas of the enclosure.

A large pool is provided for the Hippo- potamuses Hippopotamus amphibius, the floor of which is built with wide terraces of different depths to avoid problems with 99 during parturition and young animals. Two drinking troughs with running water are made to resemble streams and a foun- tain with a high jet of water falling in a cascade provides drinking water for the giraffes. At some distance from the original buildings, and similarly screened from the road, is a barn for the six African elephants Loxodonta africana with all the necessary facilities. Dust bowls are provided for the Grant’s and Grevy’s zebras Equus burchelli boehmi and E. grevyi and Ostriches Struthio camelus, mud wallows for the White rhinoceroses Ceratotherium simum and a scratching post for general use.

STAGE THREE The plants which were not suitable for the veld were removed but small isolated clumps of the thorny bushes and acacia trees which had covered large areas of the site were left, being typical plants of the veld and suitable as browse for the giraffes. Holes were filled and tree trunks and loose partially buried rocks had to be removed, not only for the safe movement of the animals but also to allow the use of grass cutting machines when necessary. Hundreds of trees were planted, some of African origin and others with character- istics similar to those seen in the national parks of Tanzania. G r ( m was planted for the animals to graze.

The main entrance to the veld was con- structed with a gate at either end of a 1 4 x 7 m securely fenced section of road outside the veld area (Fig. 2). The outer and inner sliding gates, each 7 m wide and 3 x 5 high are electrically operated. The gates are always kept (closed when not in use and one gate is closed behind the vehicle before the other is opened. The control station, positioned by the inner gate, has large glass panels which allow a good view of the veld in the immediate vicinity and the inner gate is opened only if it is safe to do so. The second entrance

i: A

Fig. 2. The entrance/exit gates to the African Veld exhibit at the Havana Nalional Zoological Park: b. bus; c. control box; e. entrance/exit from main roadway; s. sliding gates; m. manual emergency gate; AV. main African Veld area.

is a manually operated pair of gates each 3 m in width, which can be used in the case of an emergency should the electric gates not function.

FINAL STAGE Most of the animals which were to be housed in the exhibit had been received in exchange from other zoos and were housed in temporary quarantine in the breeding enclosures. They acclimatized well to the new surroundings and climate, and a number of births occurred while the animals were housed in the quarantine area.

When the construction was complete the animals were transferred from the holding area to their new living quarters over a period of several days. To avoid the risks and disturbance associated with capturing and confining stock, it had been decided to walk them to the new enclo- sure, moving each species separately. The keepers in charge of the animals were mounted, and horses and riders formed a wide pathway along which the animals were slowly guided. The transfers were accomplished with some difficuly and required great patience and knowledge of the individuals but the operation was carried out with complete success with no injury to any of the animals. In all a total of 19 birds and 119 mammals was safely transferred (Table I ) .

Although the stock had been living in large enclosures, given the care of familiar keepers, abundant food and the ease of transfer in the interconnecting stalls, they settled into the confined indoor quarters without problem. The outside paddocks were visible from the stalls and when the outer doors were open, after two weeks of confinement. most of the animals moved calmly outside and after exploring the new area. and in some cases grazing for a while. returned into their stalls.

The 1.2 Reticulated giraffes Giruflu cunielopurdulis reticulata, which were received some months after the initial move, were an exception. When the outer doors of their stalls were open, they

looked but refused to go out. The keepers succeeded in encouraging the two outside but the 3 preferred to remain inside with his keeper, who had to walk at the animal’s side for several days before i t finally began to venture out and join the

During the first few days i n thc paddocks a number of animals threatened attacks on their neighbours but gradually the aggressive behaviour decreased and as territories were established the animals began to tolerate each other. Once they were feeding near each other. separated only by the fence. i t was decided to open the gates into the larger communal paddocks which had been provided for both houses. Some individuals moved easily into the larger area and walked around i t several times and looking through the fence into the main veld enclosure before returning to their own paddocks. Other animals delayed two or three days before venturing into the big paddock and were quicker to return to the smaller area. In general, the species did not mix when returning to the individual paddocks but when this did happen the keepers separated them.

After some days the gates to the indi- vidual paddocks were closed as soon as the animals entered the larger paddock. Once it was established that the animals were completely familiar with the area and that they would have no difficulty in recognizing and returning to their own shelters, the gate to the main veld area was opened. Some species went into the area immediately while others. such as the Addax Addux nusomaculutus. remained in the communal paddock looking into the veld through the fence. After two or three days the keepers had to drive them out into the main enclosure where they spent several days near the gate.

Gradually over a period of several days the animals began to disperse throughout the large veld area and to select their respective territories. The official i n charge and the keepers patrolled the area constantly on horseback, helping each

t i .

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ZOO WORLD 209

SPECIES

Ostrich Struthio cumelus

Marabou stork * Leptoptilus crumeniJiem

East African crowned crane’ Buleuricu regulorum gibberieeps

African elephant Loxodontu ufrieunu

Grant’s zebra Equus burchelli boehmi

Grevy’s zebra Equus grevyi

White rhinoceroses Cerutotheriwn simum

Hippopotamus Hippopotamus umphibius

Arabian camel Cumelus dromedariw

Reticulated giraffe Giruffu eumelopurdulis reticulutu

Sitatunga Trugeluphus spekei

Eland Taurotrugus oryx

Ankole Bos tuurus

African buffalo Synceros cuffer

Defassa waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus defussu

Roan antelope Hippotrugus equinus

Scimitar-horned oryx Oryx dammuh

Gemsbok Oryx g. guzellu

Beisd oryx Oryu g . beisu

Addax Addax nusomueulutus

White-tailed gnu Connochuetes gnou

White-bearded gnu Connochuetes tuurinus ulbojubutus

Barbary sheep Ammotrugus lerviu

NO. SPECIMENS BIRTHS

5.3 bZ

4

7

0.6

2.3

1.4

3.4

1.3

3.7

1.2

5.7

3.3

6.2

1.1

1.1

0.1

1.5

0.2

1.2

2.3 b

0.2 hybrid3

2.3 b + hybrid’

2s b

b

‘Species removed from exhibit following attacks by sheep. ZSeveral nests made; eggs removed for artificial incubation. 3Hybrid young born. Table 1. Original stock of the African Veld exhibit at the National Zoollogical Park, Havana, Cuba and species which have bred in the exhibit.

species to consolidate its territory and announced the arrival of favourite foods, forcing intruders to leave in order to many animals would return to their stalls, avoid territorial fighting. Each evening, the keepers encouraging slower indi- when the clatter of metal in the building viduals. After three or four weeks,

Plate 1 . A view of the African Veld Exhibit at the Havana National Zoological Park.

hou.ever. it became clear that some groups preferred to remain in their terri- tories overnight and, to encourage herd stability, this was permitted. except for the elephants, rhinoceroses and giraffes, which are always housed indoors at night.

Each night the keeper leads the six elephants to their shelter where they are kept together in one large room. but chained during the night. To prevent them from destroying the trees. they are always accompanied by their keeper when they are in the outside paddock and sometimes they are tethered with long chains. allowing them a certain amount of movement.

The 3.4 rhinoceroses, although large adults. respond well to their mounted keepers and allow themselves to be led into their night enclosure with no sign of aggression. The rhinoceroses are so condi- tioned to leaving their enclosure early in the morning and returning to it as dark- ness begins to fall that should the gate not be opened at the appropriate time. they attempt to break it down with their heads.

The 1.3 Hippopotamuses were taken immediately on arrival to their pool where they rapidly submerged. Only some of the animals were seen to explore awa\ from the pool but i t became obvious from their droppings that they moved over the veld to graze during the night nearly always going right up to the elephants' area. When the elephants began to LISC the paddocks. the two species did not mix well. If the elephants approached the pool the 3 Hippopotamus would attack and chase them. On two occasions he succeeded in biting the tail of one which was slower than her companions because of permanent damage to one foot. The 3 is a generally aggressive animal, on occa- sions refusing to allow the Hippopota- muses to use the pool. On one occasion he attacked a mounted keeper as he passed by. Fortunately. the keeper was unhurt and the horse suffered only slight abrasions.

The elephants like to walk along the paved road and visitors riding on the Zoo bus have the opportunity to enjoy this

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LOO WORLD 21 1

extraordinary sight, especially when the animals face the bus which is forced to stop until they move away. The rhinocer- oses will also venture onto the road oc- casionally but as a rule the animals can be seen grazing or resting near the road, completely undisturbed by the passing vehicles.

The behaviour of the giraffes when released into the veld was similar to their reaction to the paddock. The two 99, larger in size than the 3, remained close to the large paddock near to the building for several days but eventually moved farther out into the veld until after four weeks they were moving about quite freely, although always remaining on the east side of the area. The 6 was more cautious and remained within sight of the paddock gate for several weeks, at times a long way from the 99. To ensure their safety a mounted keeper remained in attendance on the trio for several months.

AGGRESSION Although most of the time the animals co- exist peacefully, three fatal attacks have occurred. On one occasion, a fire started in the veld near the territory of the Scimi- tar-horned oryx Oryx dummuh and the 6 ran into the territory of the 3 Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus which attacked and killed the intruder. In another incident, the Arabian camels Cumelus dromedurius with their usual curiosity approached a group of Eland Taurotrugus oryx when the 99 were in oestrus and two of the 6 camels were injured; one died but the second recovered satisfactorily. Later, the camel herd approached the rhinoceroses in a similar situation and the 8 camel leader was killed instantly. Since then, however, there has been no more problem with the herd and it is thought that i t was

the leader which was aggravating the situation.

The only two species which were not a success and which were removed from the exhibit for their own safety were the Crowned cranes Buleuricu regulorum and Marabou storks Leptojptilus crumeniferus; the Barbary sheep /lmmotrugus lerviu made frequent attacks on the birds and, since they were pinion'ed, it was difficult for them to escape.

CONCLUSION The stability of the groups and the success of the species' mix has 'been demonstrated by the large number of births with no abortions or abnormal births (Table I).

In general the stock can obtain adequate grazing from the veld but this would be insufficient to support the elephants, which are fid in their indoor quarters with a good quantity of chopped grass. In addition, mixed grain feed, supplemented with minerals and vitamins, is left by the roadside for those species which are not housed indoors overnight. As well as the browse supplied by the acacia trees and other plants in the veld, the giraffes are given fruits and some vegetables, appropriate feed and small, fresh branches in their shelter. Salt licks are supplied in the indc'or stalls and other places protected from the rain.

Only the Zoo buses carrying visitors and small trucks for servicing the exhibit are allowed into the veld area. The animals are familiar with the movements of these vehicles and much of the time remain near the road making viewing easy. The animals also completely accept the keepers on horseback and the keepers have confidence in all their animals.

Manuscript received 10 October 1989