Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo News 2010

[zoogiraffe]

I hear that Twycross is holding workshops to encourage staff to communicate better and be more friendly to each other which must be great news for the ten members of staff (including four long termers) culled last week! What is happening there? staff are constantly disappearing

Well I hope they start with the Staff at the top of the tree and work there way down slowly!
Always sad to here of staff leaving Twycross that said there cannot be many long timer`s left by now as most of them seem to have left due to various reason`s,also just a point they surely cannot have that many more staff that they can get rid of before they reach the bare bones of what is need to just about keep the place going.

 

[Shorts]

I hear that Twycross is holding workshops to encourage staff to communicate better and be more friendly to each other which must be great news for the ten members of staff (including four long termers) culled last week! What is happening there? staff are constantly disappearing

Oh dear, Twycross continues to be "Twycross".

Any idea which areas the staff worked in? Keepers? Maintenance?

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Well I hope they start with the Staff at the top of the tree and work there way down slowly!
Always sad to here of staff leaving Twycross that said there cannot be many long timer`s left by now as most of them seem to have left due to various reason`s,also just a point they surely cannot have that many more staff that they can get rid of before they reach the bare bones of what is need to just about keep the place going.

Too right, why first lay-off long-term staff, get to the bare minimum staffing levels and then perform some training course. What about loss of vital animal management capacity, knowledge and experience.

In the landscape of political correctness staff friendliness training courses are quite often a stop gap measure to take the attention away from the real issues for management. It is exactly management itself and its relations with its very own staff that brought Twycross Zoo where it is now. There is a huge disconnect between. One can only pose one question: "in the interest of whom is this exercise"?

I just see the above as an indication of a self placatory management per se exercise rather than really addressing any of the issues that need to be sorted at Twycross Zoo.

 

[Godmoves]

Twycross is a perfect example of why zoos should not be allowed to be charities. Being a charity is a great idea but is only viable if your trustees are prepared to look at what is really happening and not just take the word of their CEO as gospel!!

 

[tetrapod]

Twycross is a perfect example of why zoos should not be allowed to be charities. Being a charity is a great idea but is only viable if your trustees are prepared to look at what is really happening and not just take the word of their CEO as gospel!!

I can think of another zoo/charity example that fits this bill all too well. I do agree that the problem with any charity whether a zoo or not is that the trustees who are appointed do not sit back and look at the position as beefing up their resume. Instead that they are actually prepared to get their hands 'dirty' (not necessarily physically). Understanding where the fundamental problems lie in an organisation and listening to middle managers and below before all **** hits the fan and they have left (and not necessarily on their terms). High staff turnover is a problem in any badly run organisation, but it can be critical to a small zoo let alone a big one.

In a similar vein of discussion, the Zoo Biology listserve has talked recently about the problems of losing experienced staff - the knowledge and skill base that drifts away from the field, and is replaced by new faces. Unfortunately the inexperienced keeper is only exposed to the latest knowledge and skills, and not to those that might not be in keeping (pun not intended) with modern 21st century zookeeping. Obviously many changes have been for the better in animal husbandry but some are more questionable. Example being modern trend of chemically immobilizing animals versus the traditional catching in nets. It is difficult to recapture (again pun not intended) these important skills when gone. I know of too many people that fall into this disallusioned group who no longer work in the field.

Sorry to deviate slightly from the discussion.

 

[Godmoves]

Just saw a photo of the new aviary at the entrance, all that efort for a muddy pool under a net! (that the punters can see only from the toilets) Laugh? I nearly injured myself!

 

[Maguari]

Just saw a photo of the new aviary at the entrance, all that efort for a muddy pool under a net! (that the punters can see only from the toilets) Laugh? I nearly injured myself!

There were some Inca Terns circling outside the toilets today. I still don't get why the aviary is walled at the front - it could make for a wonderful approach to the Himalaya building. Except it doesn't, because they've built a ruddy great wall. Pointless.

 

[zoogiraffe]

The only thing to note from a visit yesterday is that the zoo now has a pair of White-naped Cranes on show,in the enclosure in front of the old Malayan Tapir enclosure that you can no long walk down to!

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

The only thing to note from a visit yesterday is that the zoo now has a pair of White-naped Cranes on show,in the enclosure in front of the old Malayan Tapir enclosure that you can no long walk down to!

@zoogiraffe
The current female has been on her own for some time now (without a mate). What is the current plan with Malayan tapirs now?

 

[zoogiraffe]

@zoogiraffe
The current female has been on her own for some time now (without a mate). What is the current plan with Malayan tapirs now?

Last I heard was that subject to tests coming back negative she would be moving to France before the end of this year,so seeing as she is still there the test either came back wrong for her to be moved or the mangement at the zoo have changed there minds yet again about going out of Malayan Tapir!!