Fauna Research

LOCATION

•  5 acre elephant facility at the Albuquerque Zoo: Consisting of a bull barn, cow barn, 6 yards and 2 pools. 

SPECIES

• Asian Elephant, Elephas maximus 

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EQUIPMENT

• An elephant TAMER® with hydraulically controlled end-gates, uniquely flexible side walls, and multiple access doors was retrofitted into the bull barn in less than 2.5 days.

Notes

• The herd is managed on a rotational system. No elephant stays in any one yard for more than 90 minutes   during the day.  The animals are trained throughout the day, including daily exercise sessions, body checks, foot care and specialty training. The TAMER® is located in the bull barn, and will be used primarily to facilitate safe management and health care of the bulls including blood draws, tusk trims, tail soaks and foot maintenance. 

LOCATION

•  AL Wusta Wildlife Nature Reserve, A 2084 square kilometer protected area of  desert and gravel plains  located in the central region of the Sultanate of Oman

SPECIES

•    Arabian Oryx (561 captive individuals) & Sand or Reem Gazelle (453 captive individuals) 

EQUIPMENT

• TAMER2® with a portable catch pen, sorting alleyway, including sweep and slide doors, and a weighing platform.

Notes

• DAY 1:  The TAMER2® system, consisting of a catch pen, a  series of 3 sorting pens, and a weighing pen was erected in the main enclosure adjacent to 4 holding pens connected by runways. 
   

• DAY 2 & 3: Training sessions for the keeper staff, biologists and  veterinarians, followed by 2 capture episodes and the “TAMERING” of 38 Arabian Oryx.  Each animal was weighed and moved to the TAMER® for a physical exam, identification (tagging if necessary),  ectoparasite exam, fecal  collection, blood-draw and finally released back to the main enclosure. 

LOCATION

• Animal Handling Center, Highland Farm, Germantown, NY

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SPECIES

• Red Deer, Elk, Sika Deer, Fallow Deer, Aoudads, Mouflon, Ostrich

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DATES

• August 8 & 9, 2015

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EQUIPMENT

• TAMER® 2, HYDRAULIC TAMER®, OSTRICH TAMER®, CATCH PENS, SORTING ALLEYWAYS INCLUDING SWEEP AND SLIDE GATES

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NOTES

• Workshops include individual instruction and hands-on training with live animals.

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DAY 1:

Session #1: Classroom: Introductions to hoof stock holding and management facilities with an emphasis on animal movement, sorting and restraint.

Session #2: Tour of facilities and instruction on the use of a drop floor TAMER®, hydraulic TAMER® and Ostrich TAMER®, sorting pens, sweep gates, bang boards and push board alleyways.

Session #3: Live animal workshop: The herding, sorting and “TAMERING” of 45 animals ranging in size from 50lbs to 250lbs

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DAY 2:

Session #4: Live animal workshop: The herding, sorting and “TAMERING” of large animals, over 500lbs, in a hydraulic TAMER.

Session #5: Live animal workshop: The sorting, herding and restraint of Ostrich

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LOCATION

• White Oak Conservation Center, Yulee, Florida

SPECIES

• Giraffe

EQUIPMENT

• Customized, galvanized giraffe TAMER, installed in 2 days.

NOTES

• A series of management pens, an alleyway, loading chute and giraffe TAMER were installed at White Oak Conservation Center in December 2009. Only a few weeks after its completion, animal managers and veterinarians were able to treat White Oak’s entire giraffe herd for varied health issues. Adult and juvenile giraffe are   moved through the chute monthly for oral and injected anthelmintics. Recently, two yearling males were tested for tuberculosis, given pre-ship injections, had blood drawn, and were loaded onto the    transport trailer through the chute and restraint system. In the future, White Oak Conservation Center hopes to use the system to collect tissue and blood samples for a variety of research projects.

LOCATION

• African Journey Giraffe Exhibit and new barn,
  Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo,
  Fort Wayne, Indiana

SPECIES

• Reticulated Giraffe

EQUIPMENT

• Giraffe Tamer® with built in scale; six interconnected stalls covering
  4500 square feet. Stall access and animal flow is controlled by remotely
  operated pre-hung roller doors. Height adjustable, combo hay/grain
  feeders are located in each pen. Giraffe doors are rapidly and easily
  opened and closed with custom wheel winches.

NOTES

• The Tamer® makes it possible to record daily weights, draw blood samples, give injections and vaccinations, as well as perform routine vet exams and most medical treatments. The design of the facility and the Tamer® has also allowed for an expanded and improved operant conditioning program, better hoof care and maintenance, and excellent animal flow.

LOCATION

• Al Ain Wildlife Park  and Resort, Al Ain,  United Arab Emirates 

SPECIES

• Large herds of antelope, deer & sheep ​

EQUIPMENT

• TAMER Jr., TAMER 2, several portable catch pens, and sorting stalls. 

NOTES

• On Feb. 14th during a visit to the Wildlife Park I assisted the Park staff in  working a captive herd of 65 Beisa Oryx through a TAMER 2 system.  The animals were corralled and individually sorted and restrained in the  TAMER 2.    While the animals were restrained, they received vaccinations, ID tags, blood draws and a routine health exam. Total time to  work 65 animals was less than 4 hours.  Justin  Chuven, and Ricardo Pusey, animal collection lead supervisors at the park, both agree that the TAMER system has enabled them to safely manage and  monitor the health status of  the large herds of deer and antelope. 

NOTES​

• ANIMAL HANDLING ISSUES?  One of the greatest challenges facing any progressive zoological collection is the safe and rapid restraint of their animals. Large hoofstock in particular have historically proven difficult to restrain easily and safely without the use of chemical agents.  In order to help resolve this problem, FAUNA RESEARCH, INC., has developed both permanent and portable TAMER® systems, not only for hoofstock, but also Giraffe, Rhino, Hippo, Elephant, and Ostrich. 

LOCATION

• Bronx Zoo, 50 acre wild Asia exhibit and holding Pens

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SPECIES

•  Barasingha Deer, (Rucervus duvaucelii)

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EQUIPMENT

• TAMER 2 & Portable catch pens with sorting/push alleyway 

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NOTES

• A portable catch pen and TAMER 2 were set up in the night quarters for a mixed group of Axis deer, Blackbuck and Barasingha.  A small group of Barasingha were caught in the catch pen, and were individually  sorted and moved down a short alleyway into a TAMER 2 and restrained.  Each deer received a routine health exam, hoof exam, and were scanned for ID tags and immediately returned to the  exhibit.  No chemical immobilizations were required. 

LOCATION

• Dallas Zoo’s Giants of the Savanna exhibit and    giraffe barn 

SPECIES

• Reticulated Giraffe 

EQUIPMENT

• GIRAFFE TAMER® ®, installed at the Dallas Zoo in 2010 

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NOTES

• When 6-year-old Chrystal’s labor halted after about two hours, the team quickly moved her into the giraffe TAMER® ®.  There, keepers were able to restrain her without using anesthesia, a risk they wanted to  
  avoid for the health of both the mom and calf.  With Crystal safely  ensconced in the TAMER® ®, Jan Raines, D.V.M., determined the calf’s head and neck were incorrectly positioned.  Raines was able to move the calf’s head and neck into the proper  position. With the help of Lynn Kramer, D.V.M., and the giraffe team,  the newborn was  safely delivered.  The calf was quickly moved to the maternity stall where he was introduced to mom and began nursing shortly after. 

NOTES

• Giraffe TAMERS® have reduced the need for immobilizing drugs and provide multiple safe work areas for animal care by staff and veterinarians when training, conditioning, managing, and administering health care. 
  Fort 

LOCATION

• The Rare Rhinos Exhibit—Great Plains Zoo, Sioux Falls, SD 

DATES

•  Completed in 2010, the outdoor exhibit boasts two beautifully landscaped exhibits over 27,000 square feet and an indoor exhibit featuring numerous sky lights and planters creating a bright, lush environment year round.     -The exhibit is home to Jubba a 16 year old male, Imara a 15 year old female and their male calf Kiano, born     October 7, 2010.

SPECIES

• Black Rhino, Diceros bicornis 

EQUIPMENT

•   Manual swing and pre-hung roller gates; Hydraulic roller gates; and Rhino TAMER® with built-in scale         Exterior Rhino doors insulated & weather stripped.

NOTES

• All of the Rhinos are moved through and trained in the Rhino TAMER® as part of their daily routine.  The TAMER® makes it  possible to record daily weights, safely give baths, apply mudpacks, draw blood samples, give injections & vaccines as well as perform routine vet exams and most medical treatments. 

LOCATION

• Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig, Scotland, UK, operated by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland 

EQUIPMENT

•   Portable TAMER 2, Pushboard Alleyway, and a portable catch and sorting pen. 

NOTES

•   The Highland Wildlife Park features a large, 800 acre main reserve where many of the species including: Kiang, Yak, Forest Reindeer, Tundra Reindeer, Wisent, Buhkara,  Moose, and  Przewalski’s Horse roam free. They also have the largest herd of Mishmi Takin in Europe and a group of Bactrin camels.

• DAY 1,  A portable corral, pushboard alleyway, and TAMER II were moved on site and set up in the main reserve.

• DAY 2,  A group of Tundra Reindeer were quickly caught in the portable corral, and were individually sorted and moved into and restrained in the TAMER II via the pushboard alleyway.

The plan is to work all the various herds through the handling system, in order to individually identify and tag each animal and regularly perform routine health exams, and veterinary procedures such as deworming, blood draws, foot care and vaccinations. ​

LOCATION

•  Jacksonville Zoo’s Giraffe Holding and Management Area  

EQUIPMENT

•    Giraffe Tamer and Penning System, installed March 2005 

NOTES

•   The Zoo’s successful giraffe breeding program consists of 7 animals:  one 10 year old bull, “Duke”; 3 cows; and 3 youngsters (the youngest born Jan. 26/08).  Duke is trained to enter the TAMER daily for routine health management and weighing.  The TAMER is equipped with a rubber matted, slip resistant floor, heavy duty load cells, and an electronic scale with digital reader for quick and accurate weighing.  Primary giraffe keeper, Donna Kelley, takes advantage of the 18 access doors to train and desensitize Duke to being confined in the TAMER so hoof care, blood draws and even x-rays on a bum knee can be performed.  Newborns are introduced and trained to enter and stand in the TAMER shortly after birth and weighed on a regular basis.  Training young animals to stand and feel comfortable in the TAMER is one of the first steps in an effective animal management and health program.

LOCATION

•  The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Okapi Holding Area 

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SPECIES

• Okapi

EQUIPMENT

•    Customized OKAPI TAMER, and alleyway.

NOTES

•     The Maryland Zoo recently installed an okapi TAMER to help manage their breeding pair of okapi. The okapi TAMER is a fully padded, mechanical restraint with 18 access doors, a built in full floor scale and a smooth glide push panel with friction lock for quick and easy restraint  when needed.  Mike McClure, General Curator said: “We plan to use the TAMER for every thing from routine medical procedures (blood draws, health exams, foot care and weights) to any necessary emergency procedures as needed.”  Keepers Paula Blair, Amy Demchak, Melanie Crump, and Loren Berry are using desensitization and operant conditioning to get the  okapi accustomed to the TAMER with good results  so far.  By training the okapi to be relaxed within the TAMER most veterinary procedures can be done without resorting to risky anesthesia reducing the stress and cost of these procedures

LOCATION

•  Micanopy Zoological Preserve, a 600 acre facility located in central Florida  

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SPECIES

•  Roan antelope, beisa oryx, blue duiker, suni, hartebeest, wilde beest, anoa, greater kudu, bongo,         waterbuck, and giraffe. 

EQUIPMENT

•    Hydraulic TAMER, TAMER 2, and a GIRAFFE TAMER

NOTES

• All of the ungulates at Micanopy are worked through a management facility that  includes a Hydraulic TAMER and a TAMER2.  

• The TAMERs are adjustable and can  accommodate all of the  different species  at Micanopy.  Procedures performed  regularly using TAMERS include deworming, blood draws, hoof trims, tagging and  weighing

LOCATION

•  New York State Deer Farms   

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SPECIES

• Fallow Deer, Red Deer, Whitetail Deer, Sika Deer, Axis Deer, and Reindeer 

EQUIPMENT

• Portable capture and   management pens, with a Tamer 2 and a transport trailer for   moving both equipment and deer. 

NOTES

•  A mobile testing facility, designed and built by FAUNA RESEARCH has been used by the NYS Dept. of Ag and Mkts for statewide TB testing of captive deer. The facility is transported in a specially modified stock trailer.   The pens are set up on each farm and the animals captured.  The deer to be tested are sorted into smaller groups and then individually  immobilized in the TAMER for TB testing.  Tested deer are then confined to holding pen for 72 hours and the process is  repeated and the test read.  There is no need for chemical immobilization .  In a 2 year period 8,323 deer on 279 farms were successfully TB tested.  The Massachusetts Division of Fish & Wildlife using a similar, FAUNA designed, mobile testing facility plans to  begin TB testing  captive deer herds in March of 2009.

LOCATION

•   The National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center at Front Royal, VA    

EQUIPMENT

• Hydraulic Equid Tamer

NOTES

•  The facilities and Hydraulic TAMER at NZP-CRC has allowed investigators to develop a research program to help  understand the fundamental  reproductive biology of the Przewalski’s horse in a stress-free environment.      

• The ultimate goal is to develop an artificial insemination  program for the genetic management of this endangered  species.  Specifically, the Hydraulic TAMER is used for the  following procedures:    

  •  1.  Female reproductive examinations - rectal palpation,   ultrasonography, monitoring  ovarian activity, pregnancy  detection, hormone injections and artificial insemination  after inducing standing sedation.      

  • 2.  Minor veterinary procedures - injection of anesthetics for  artificial insemination; treatment of cuts and abrasions.  

LOCATION

•  The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

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SPECIES

• 1.3 Plains Zebras, Equus burchelli

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EQUIPMENT

• Hydraulic Tamer with built in scale

NOTES

• The HYDRAULIC TAMER was installed in the zebra barn in 2009. Using operant conditioning and other training techniques, several zebras have been conditioned to enter the TAMER in order to record weights and closely examine body condition. The TAMER allows these tasks to be completed with less stress than anesthesia.

• Future goals include desensitizing all of the zebras to the TAMER so hoof care, blood draw, and routine health exams can be performed on a regular basis without immobilization. 

LOCATION

• Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Paignton, England 

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EQUIPMENT

• Customized, galvanized giraffe TAMER, installed  in 2 days

NOTES

•  The Paignton Zoo recently installed the first giraffe TAMER in Europe to help manage their growing giraffe herd and expedite the importation of several female giraffe from the Czech Republic.  The TAMER allows for quick and easy collection of blood samples necessary for mandatory blue-tongue  testing.  Park Director and Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment said: “This is fantastic for us and for the animals.  If we need to hold an  individual giraffe firmly and safely without sedation in order to examine it or inject it we can.”  Ghislaine Sayers, Head of  Veterinary Services at the Zoo, said: “This makes it possible to carry out veterinary procedures such as blood draws, clinical  exams, and foot care without resorting to risky anaesthesia.  By training the giraffes to be relaxed within the TAMER we can  reduce the stress and the cost of all these procedures,  benefiting animal welfare.

LOCATION

• New Elephant Barn, Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Syracuse, NY 

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SPECIES

• Asian Elephant   Elephas maximus 

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EQUIPMENT

• Indoor and outdoor manual  swing and pre-hung roller gates, hydraulic  roller gates and elephant TAMER® with scale and belly bands

NOTES

•  The herd consists of one mature bull, Indy, 5 cows and a 3 year old bull calf.  The zoo manages  the animals with a  combination of free and protective contact.  Indy  is managed safely in a protective contact program.  The 10,000 lb bull put the TAMER® to the test while in full musth shortly after the barn opened.  The TAMER® withstood the pounding and  punishment from Indy as he repeatedly challenged the hydraulically operated doors and swing panels.

LOCATION

• The Saint Louis Zoo Antelope Area 

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SPECIES

• Grevy’s zebra. Endangered. Total wild population less than  3,000 restricted to northern Kenya and 3 small pockets in Ethiopia. 
   

EQUIPMENT

• Hydraulic TAMER with built in scale and specially designed hydraulic head hugger for gentle but firm control of the neck  and head. A 4’ wide alleyway with a solid, pass through push board suspended from a carriage that rides on overhead rail system.  Installed March 2008

NOTES

• Zoo staff is in the process of training the zebras to go through the TAMER on a daily basis.  Their goal is to not only safely provide routine health care without general anesthesia or chemical  immobilization but also conduct veterinary, reproductive, nutritional and genetic research which will enhance the conservation of this endangered species.  Using a hydraulic TAMER zebras can be routinely and repeatedly handled and data such as blood sample collections and ultrasound  examinations, can be carried out in a manner that is safe and low stress for both zebras and handlers. 

LOCATION

• Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, Azraq, Jordan

• A 22 km2 protected wildlife preserve created in 1975 by the Royal Society for the Conservation    of Nature.  The RSCN, the Pheonix Zoo, and the US Forest Service are working together to     maintain a breeding herd of endangered and locally extinct Arabian Oryx at the preserve. 

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SPECIES

• Arabian Orax 

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EQUIPMENT

• TAMER Jr. & A MODULAR, PORTABLE ALLEY.  The TAMER Jr. is a lightweight (225 kg) drop floor chute designed to restrain small hoofstock up to 200 kg.  It is constructed of a tube steel frame and plywood or bamboo sheeting.  It is adjustable and can handle body sizes ranging from 10 kg to 200 kg.  It is easily operated and allows for unrestricted access to restrained animals for veterinary and management procedures.

LOCATION

• The Al Ain Zoo, Al Ain, UAE

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SPECIES

• Giraffe 

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EQUIPMENT

• Giraffe TAMER ® and Push alley way with slide doors and catwalk 

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Notes

• The Giraffe TAMER ®  was installed on a concrete pad adjacent to the existing Giraffe barn.  Installation was completed in 3 days and the TAMER®  was immediately put to use on Day 4. 

LOCATION

• The São Paulo Zoo, São Paulo, Brazil 

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SPECIES

• Giraffe 

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EQUIPMENT

•  Customized, galvanized giraffe TAMER® with built in full floor, electronic scale. 
   

Notes

• The São Paulo Zoo recently installed the first Giraffe  TAMER® in South America to help manage their growing giraffe  herd and help facilitate the importation and exportation of  individuals in order to maintain genetic diversity. The TAMER®  allows for quick and easy collection of blood samples necessary for the monitoring of blood borne diseases. In addition, the TAMER® makes it possible to record daily weights, give injections  and vaccinations, as well as perform routine vet exams and most  medical treatments. The TAMER® is also the focal point of an expanded operant conditioning program and better hoof care and maintenance program.

LOCATION

•  White Oak Conservation Center, Yulee, Florida  

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SPECIES

• Giraffe 

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Notes

•  A series of management pens, an alleyway, loading chute and giraffe TAMER were installed at White Oak Conservation Center in December 2009.  Only a few weeks after its completion, animal managers and veterinarians were able to treat White Oak’s entire giraffe herd for varied health issues. Adult and juvenile giraffe are moved through the chute monthly for oral and  injected anthelmintics. Recently, two yearling males were tested for tuberculosis, given pre-ship injections, had blood drawn, and were loaded onto the transport trailer through the chute and restraint system. In the  future, White Oak Conservation Center hopes to use the system to collect tissue and blood samples for a variety of research projects.

LOCATION

•   Zoos using giraffe TAMERS to help manage their giraffe herds 

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SPECIES

• Giraffe 

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EQUIPMENT

•  Giraffe TAMERS, adjustable giraffe feeders, portable and permanent giraffe penning and alleyways

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Notes

•   A giraffe TAMER makes it possible to hold the giraffe firmly and safely, in order to carry out veterinary procedures such as blood draws, clinical exams, and footcare, without resorting to risky anesthesia

LOCATION

•  ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire, England: Hoofstock barns and off-exibit areas

SPECIES

• Sitatunga, Scimitar Horned Oryx, Nile Lechwe

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EQUIPMENT

• Portable Capture & management pens with a TAMER2, Digital weigh scales and pushboard alleyways 

Notes

• The equipment arrived at Whipsnade in may 2010 and was immediately put to use.  

• Day 1 The TAMER2, was set up outside the Sitatunga barn in about 3 hours. Six animals were restrained, dewormed, weighed, had blood drawn and hoofs trimmed and then they were crated and moved to their summer exhibit. 

• Day 2  A TAMER 2, Was setup in a quarantine area in order to TB test and administer a routine health exam to several Orax. 

• Day 3 and 4 A portable trap corral with management pens and portable push alleyway were setup to capture and sort a heard of Nile Lechwe in the coming weeks.  

• Day 5  Restrain Oryx in the TAMER2 to read TB test.