The annual JHB Zoo Animal Wellbeing Convention will this year focus on objectively measuring the efficacy of enrichment to ensure well-being in captive wildlife.  This comprehensive three-day convention will feature expert international and local guest speakers, and delegates will have the opportunity to apply the skills they have learnt over the course of this convention in groups (led by team leaders) to assess the well-being in selected species.  These skills can then be applied in their own facilities, making this convention a must-attend for advanced Keepers, Curators and anyone working professionally with captive wildlife. Delegates will be working with a variety of species from different classes.

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Presented by COAPE partner Karin Pienaar;

MHERA™ is a must-have tool for anyone working in the animal industry where behavioural analysis, emotionality assessment, training and behaviour modification may be required.

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Speakers & Topics:

1. Dr Kelly George: Zoological Association of America - The Direction of Welfare and Wellbeing programs in US zoos: Challenges and Opportunities.  

2. Professor Peter Neville: Worth Wild Africa- Practical Conservation and Well-being of African species in zoos- a global collaboration with Worth Wild Africa. 

3. Karin Pienaar: COAPE International/ Wild -Introduction to MHERA: an objective assessment tool to analyse behaviour, assess emotionality and evaluate the efficacy of training, behaviour modification and enrichment protocols. MHERA applied: the basics

4. Rynette Coetzee: GDARDE- New legislation that now makes animal wellbeing compulsory in South Africa.

5. Gabby Harris: Seaworld Ushaka - The well-being impact of Consent-based training to facilitate husbandry and veterinary procedures in captive wildlife.  

6. Robynn Ingle-Moller: Lory Park Zoo- The Importance of Record keeping

7. Candice Gray and Akhira Singh: JHB Zoo - Breaking Enrichment down - Categories of EE/uses/methods etc. A Zoo Case Study

8. Ayrelia Randera: JHB Zoo- Recent JHB Zoo research on Fish Well-being on Midas Chiclids