Animal Care and Management at the National Zoo Final Report (2005) / Chapter Skim
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7 Recent National Zoo Actions in Response to the Interim Report
7 Recent National Zoo Actions in Response to the Interim Report
Pages 77-90
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From page 77... ...
The action plan included specific monthly or annual goals to be attained in animal care, nutrition, animal welfare, facilities, administration, recordkeeping, pest control, and strategic planning, which are submitted to and monitored by senior management. Table 7-1 summarizes the performance measures and minimal acceptable standards.
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From page 78... ...
One performance measure, completion of diet reviews, raises a special concern in the committee. The zoo has attained its monthly goal through July, but the acting clinical nutritionist is resigning effective September 30, 2004.
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From page 79... ...
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From page 80... ...
The National Zoo administration should take responsibility for ensuring that the Department of Animal Health has the resources and oversight necessary to adhere to the program." National Zoo's Actions in Response to Interim Report Department of Animal Health at the Rock Creek Park Facility After the release of the interim report, the Department of Animal Health at the Rock Creek Park facility immediately worked to eliminate the backlog of preventive-medicine procedures. As of spring 2004, the backlog had been eliminated (NZP, Preventive Health Schedule, May 3, 2004; NZP, Great Ape Exams, undated; NZP, Small Mammal House/Propagation Primates, undated)
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From page 81... ...
There has been inadequate communication between the nutrition keeper, and veterinary staffs; poor consultation between the research nutritionist and the acting head of clinical nutrition; and a lack of standardization and regular evaluation of animal diets. Nutrition records are not currently integrated with other record-keeping systems and, despite having adequate facilities for over a decade, the National Zoo is only now beginning to move toward a centralized commissary." Interim Report Immediate Needs: "The National Zoo should immediately use its existing expertise by increasing coordination and collaboration between the acting head of clinical nutrition and the research nutritionist to address nutritional issues of the animal collection, including diet review, evaluation, and modification.
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From page 82... ...
Nutrition software that incorporates all of some or all of these additional functions are being utilized by other zoological parks in the US, and the zoo is urged to investigate these options and determine if such a software package, if properly adapated, could enhance the functioning of the nutrition program and department at the zoo. The zoo's stated goal is to have all diets reviewed and entered into the database by December 31, 2004; however, the nutritionist is scheduled to resign effective September 30, 2004, and the zoo expects progress in reviewing and documenting the remaining diets to slow (NZP, NAS Action Plan Performance, July 2004)
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From page 83... ...
The committee recommends that the agreement and the effectiveness of the working relationship be evaluated annually by senior management and that collaboration be encouraged through revisions in annual performance plans. Hiring of Permanent Clinical Nutritionist A job description for a supervisory research nutritionist was written in fall 2003.
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From page 84... ...
However, once the clinical nutritionist position has been filled, it important for the research nutritionist to remain involved in the clinical nutrition program to move advances made in the research community into the decision-making process for clinical diets. Record Integration Individual animal units maintained historical diet records before 2002.
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From page 85... ...
There also has been a lack of understanding within the National Zoo and the Smithsonian Institution of the requirements of federal regulations and Public Health Service Policy and how to maintain compliance." Interim Report Immediate Needs: "The National Zoo and the Smithsonian Institution should ensure compliance with all elements of the Animal Welfare Act and the Public Health Service Policy. The National Zoo and the Smithsonian Institution should seek outside training and assistance to achieve compliance with regulations and implement procedures meant to ensure the welfare of research and exhibit animals at the National Zoo." National Zoo's Actions in Response to Interim Report The committee has documentation that the Smithsonian has provided NIH with the appropriate assurance that it will comply with the PHS Policy (Smithsonian Institution, Evans letter to Potkay, March 31, 2004; April 5, 2004; April 30, 2004)
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From page 86... ...
Appointment of an Institutional Official at the Smithsonian Institution will help ensure that the IACUCs are conducting and documenting facility inspections, program reviews, and meetings properly, as well as, appropriately following up on areas of concern noted in the semiannual inspections or through staff complaints. Continued progress in animal welfare will help to bring the zoo into line with animal-welfare practices evolving at other zoos (Goodrowe, 2003; AVMA, 2003)
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From page 87... ...
ADHERENCE TO POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Interim Report Finding: "There has been poor adherence to the National Zoo's own policies and procedures for animal health and welfare." Interim Report Immediate Needs: "All levels of management should be held accountable for ensuring that National Zoo policies and procedures are followed. All zoo staff should take personal responsibility for educating themselves and adhering with the policies and procedures that pertain to their position and duties." National Zoo's Actions in Response to Interim Report According to the zoo's stated plan of action, one of the primary objectives of the all-supervisor meetings is to make certain that supervisors are familiar with zoo policies and protocols with the intention that consistent interpretation of and adherence to procedures by all employees will follow.
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From page 88... ...
Inherent in this task is identifying who is accountable for decision-making and ensuring adherence to policies and procedures. RECORDKEEPING Interim Report Finding: "The National Zoological Park lacks a comprehensive information management system for animal husbandry and management records, which results in inconsistent record keeping and practices of alteration in medical records weeks or years after events." Interim Report Immediate Need: "The National Zoo should implement an information management system that insures complete documentation of animal husbandry and management and reasonable accessibility to the records by all units and departments.
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From page 89... ...
PEST MANAGEMENT Interim Report Findings: "Even though the pest management program has been reorganized and is showing signs of improvement, pest management remains inadequate and poses a potential threat to the animal collection, employees, and visitors to the National Zoo." Interim Report Immediate Needs: "A comprehensive IPM plan should be developed: (1) in the short term to bring current populations of pests down to acceptable levels and (2)
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From page 90... ...
· Although progress in the short term has been made, because of lack of zoowide support the IPM manager and her director appear to be focusing on the details of individual problems, and the policy and zoowide sustainable programs necessary for long-term success have yet to be addressed. Recommendation: · IPM policies and procedures should be developed, and there should be proper documentation and senior management support of these policies.
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