Passersby admire the renovated binturong cage at Yangon Zoological Garden.

STAFF at Yangon Zoological Garden underwent an intensive training program in Yangon from November 13 to 23 led by three staff from the Cologne Zoo in Germany, including the deputy director, Dr Olaf Behlert, and two animal handlers.

“The training mainly focused on how to improve the houses of the animals, how to keep them, how to feed them and how to renovate the cages,” Dr Behlert said.

The trainees practised by renovating the cages of the clouded leopard, binturong, monkeys and birds under the supervision of the team from Germany during the training.

“We couldn’t renovate all the cages in two weeks so we arranged to do some of the simpler cages. After the training the staff will be able to renovate the rest of the cages in the zoo,” Dr Behlert said.

Another zoo official said the behaviour of the binturong had changed noticeably since the cage was renovated.

“Binturongs like to live in trees so we put in some branches and trees and built a platform in the cage. The animal used to hide in the dark where visitors couldn’t see it but now it has become active and comes out more. It’s also good for zoo visitors,” he said.

“We also put some branches in the clouded leopard’s cage. Now he has more places to move and play,” Dr Behlert said.

“Many animals at the zoo are not kept as they should be kept. They have been put in cages for the benefit of visitors but not for their own benefit. So we are changing the cages and making improvements. It will benefit the animals and the visitors,” he said.

However, he said ensuring long life for zoo animals required more than just renovating the cages.

“Their feeding needs to be managed to make sure they get the proper food as well as vaccinations. It’s all connected,” he said.

The training was attended by 44 people, including staff from the Ministry of Forestry, Yangon Zoo, Yadanarbon Zoo in Mandalay and Hlawga Wildlife Reserve near Htaukkyant in Yangon Division.

In July a veterinarian and three animal handlers from Myanmar visited the Cologne Zoo to study animal-keeping techniques.

The training programs are part of an animal and training exchange program agreed by Myanmar and Germany in 2005.

As part of the program, two elephants were sent from Myanmar to Cologne Zoo in September 2005, while two white rhinoceros and three lions – one male and two female – were sent from Germany to Yangon in March 2006.

Yangon Zoological Garden holds 1181 animals of 145 species. Three staff veterinaries look after their health.