• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.65-68
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• 2013

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) can infect not only human but also several animals. This study has been conducted to evaluate the comprehensive anti-HEV seroprevalence in zoo animals in Korea. Anti-HEV antibodies were identified in 14 of 64 zoo animal species. HEV antibodies were detected for the first time in Eurasian Lynx, Setland Pony, Fallow Deer, Ezo Sika, Formosa Deer, East Wapitis, Barasingha, Corriedale, American Bison, Guanacos, Reticulated Giraffe, and Saanen. These results indicate that the several zoo animal species were exposed to HEV.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to examine antibody titers to structural protein (SP) of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus after vaccination in animals of the Seoul zoo. After the initial inoculation of FMD vaccine to the susceptible animals of the zoo, a total of 235 blood samples were collected from 42 species of zoo animals during treatment or necropsy. All samples were tested by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The overall positive rate of SP antibodies against FMD virus was 94.0% (221/235). However, the positive rates varied according to animal species. The results of positive rates in 30 species were 100% but in 12 species were 50-94.7%. We showed that most animals that have received FMD vaccine in Seoul zoo have been reached to the level of herd immunity against FMD virus after the vaccination. To the best of our knowledge, this study would be the first report for monitoring the vaccine-induced SP antibody titers against FMD virus after vaccination in various zoo animal species in Korea.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.216-221
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• 2020

Parrots are common targets for illegal trade because of their beauty and high price. Accurate identification is necessary for the prevention of illegal trade and conservation of parrots. In the present study, mitochondrial markers of cytochrome b (CYTB) gene were used to identify parrot species from Korean zoos. Totally, 27 samples were collected from Seoul Zoo, Cheongju Zoo, and Uchi Zoo. After collection, total DNA of samples was extracted and used for PCR amplification. CYTB fragments were sequenced from all samples examined. The obtained sequences were used for GenBank blast, distance estimation, and phylogenetic analysis. All species were identified using CYTB sequences that determined 27 samples belong to 13 species in 7 genera, and 3 families. Our finding demonstrated the usefulness of CYTB sequences for identifying parrot species in Korean zoos.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 2009

The concept about zoo is changing from the animal exhibition which simply contained the animals to the ecological zoo which has the function of preserving the animal species. At the central point of maintaining such role, the basic principle called the animal welfare lies obviously. Korea has applied the animal welfare principles such as carrying out the enrichment in the zoos since 2003, but there has not been any institutional device to evaluate and examine the application of the animal welfare so far. This study aims to confirm the level of animal welfare in Korea and suggest a developmental direction. For the purpose of the study, 12 zoos in Korea were evaluated according to 68 evaluating categories. 'Five Principles of Animal Welfare' in the Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice were selected and carried out as the evaluation categories, and the result, from the highest to lowest score given, was 'provision of food and water', 'provision of protection from fear and distress', 'provision of health care', 'provision of an opportunity to express most normal behaviours', and 'provision of a suitable enrichment' with the overall score of the entire Korean zoos being 2.86 (${\pm}$ 0.56). It was also confirmed that in order to improve the animal welfare of the Korean zoos, the animal management system must be standardized and organized. The evaluation and feedback, the active practice of animal welfare and its legislative support should be provided to establish an effective institutional device as well.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.243-247
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• 2011

It is important to identify the bacteria in snakes because they can cause disease; importantly, bacteria such as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris etc. could be pathogens especially in hospitalized, debilitated hosts, and immunocompromised patients. To analyze the distribution of snakes' bacteria in petting zoo, samples from 20 snakes were collected from 2002 to 2008. Nine bacteria species were isolated from both oral and cloaca while four and six species were identified only from oral and cloaca, respectively. Except for Actinobacter sp., all of the identified strains are opportunistic pathogens, and most of them can cause nosocomial infections in humans. Present results indicate that prevalence of various zoonotic bacterial strains in snakes could be involved in potential transfer of these bacteria into caretakers and other animals. Therefore, it needs to examine the antibiotic resistance of these pathogens to prevent outbreaks.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.13-25
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• 2016

This study aims to analyze the change process in order to set the improvement strategies for the zoo in the Seoul Children's Grand Park. The zoo can be reviewed through three significant time periods with noticeable changes. As a framework to analyze the major changes that happened in the zoo, this study looks at the changes in terms of the planning aspect as well as the animal welfare and program operation aspect. The findings are as follows: first, the era of general theme park turned out to have focused on exhibiting animals to meet visitor demands by expanding the zoo area of the zoo without enlarging stockyards for the animals. Second, the environmental park era created a zoo having entertaining and educational functions by arranging animal houses with the concept of zoological taxonomy and introducing animal behavioral enrichment, animal welfare programs and visitor participatory programs. The era of the zoo as an Urban Cultural Park improved old animal houses and facilities for the welfare of the animals and increased educational programs to preserve species and provide environmental education. The current status of the zoo turns out not to meet the conditions for creating an ecological zoo, which is the overall goal for contemporary zoos. The improvement strategies based on the analysis through three different eras are three-fold. First, the zoo needs to improve the boundary conditions of the animals to showcase animal wildness through landscape immersion. Second, the zoo should provide a shared environment for animals from the same habitats by changing the classification methods from the existing polyphyletic taxon to a classification that considers ecological habitat. Third, the zoo needs to develop various ecological education programs by supplementing specialists in professional education.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.103-114
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• 2022

Zoological Parks house exclusive animal species, thus creating a source of education and awareness for visitors. Big cats like tigers and leopards are among the most visited species in zoos globally. However, they often display stressful or stereotypic behaviours. Such behaviours are influenced by multiple factors including visitors, animal history, and captive environment. To understand this impact, we investigated the behavioural response of tigers and leopards to visitation, captive, and biological factors. The behaviour of eight big cats housed in the National Zoological Park, New Delhi, was monitored using focal sampling technique during May and June 2019. We recorded the captive and biological factors and visitor density for the subjects. The study revealed high proportions of inactive and stereotypic behaviours amongst the species. Tigers and leopards were found to perform stereotypic behaviours for 22% and 28% of their time, respectively. Generalised Linear Models revealed a significant variation of stereotypy in association with the factors. Stereotypy was influenced by visitor density, age, sex, breeding history, coat colour, and enclosure design. Adults, males, white-coated, previously bred, and those housed in smaller and simple enclosures display more stereotypy than young, females, normal-coated, unbred, and those housed in larger and complex enclosures, respectively. A high density of visitors induced more stereotypic behaviours amongst the big cats. As providing entertainment and awareness amongst the public is one of the fundamental objectives of the zoo, visitors can not be avoided. Thus, we suggest providing appropriate enrichments that would reduce stereotypies and promote naturalistic behaviours.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.423-427
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• 2004

Seventy-six animals including cattle, sheep, horses, 6 species of zoo animals were employed for collection of fresh feces in order to detect verotoxigenic Esherichia coli (VTEC) by safe, quick and sensitive PCR-based molecular methods. Bacterial cell disruption with bead-beating followed by bacterial DNA purification with hydroxyapatide chromatography and gel filtration allowed DNA preparation from animal feces with high recovery and purity. A mountain goat was firstly shown by PCR and sequencing to shed verotoxin 2 gene (vt2) that was used to generate vt2 probe and second primer set for nested PCR to attempt more sensitive detection. Most sensitive nested PCR revealed that 45% of tested cattle and 47% of tested zoo animals were VTEC-positive, while least sensitive normal PCR detected VTEC from none of these animals except a mountain goat. Moderately sensitive detection by PCR in combination with hybridization suggested that the VTEC density varied between the VTEC-positive cattle.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.48-50
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• 1988

Flehmen is well-known response which often occurs during the process of courtship in most mammals. Recent studies with domestic ruminants suggest that the flehmen may be involved in the mechanism of transferring some pheromonal substances to vomeronasal organ. Thus, variety of its significancehas been supposed, besides that male animals may use it for estrus detection. In this experiment, 8 male, 3 female and3 castrated goats of Saanen and its hybrid were used to ascertain whether urine from alien species can induce flehmen as that from same species. Urine was collected from twenty species consisting of 15 mammals, 3 birds and 2 reptiles and frozen until use. Mostly urine was sprayed to the nose of goats, but some coagulated ones were sniffed. Duration of flehmen was scored to four ranks as 0, 1-19, 20-39 and >40 sec. Each urine sample induced the response in any goats. However, much difference in the in tensity was found between the samples and according to the reproductive state of the receptor goats. Although individual difference was manifest, male goats generally showed more intense response than did female. Castrated goats showed the intermediate pattern. Administration of antiandrogen to the male goat tended to reduce the response. The results indicate that flehmen in the goat could occur for the urine of alien species as that of same species and the androgen may be one of the factors regulating the response.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.155-161
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• 2015

The number of wild animal species is gradually decreasing due to poaching, hunting and habitat loss. While several endangered animal species have been successfully preserved at the zoo, assisted reproductive technology (ART) must be applied to restore wild animals. In the case of critically endangered animals, somatic cell cloning is considered the most appropriate method of ART. Somatic cell cloning can be beneficial for the reproduction of endangered species with limited female populations. However, gene and cell banks, and understanding of reproductive physiology and optimization of ART for wild animals are urgently required for further activation of artificial reproduction of endangered species, which enlarges its application and maintains biodiversity. Care should also be taken to consider ethical and legal issues associated with somatic cell cloning for conservation of endangered animals.