- The Seventh Annual Conference of SEAZA was
hosted by the Singapore Zoological Gardens and the Jurong BirdPark.
The conference was officially opened at the Plum Ballroom, Allson
Hotel Singapore, on 28 October 1997 at 9:00 am by the Honourable
Mr.Sidek Saniff, Senior Minister of State for the Environment, Singapore,
in the presence of Dr. Kwa Soon Bee, Chairman of Jurong BirdPark
and the Singapore Zoological Gardens, SEAZA President Bernard Harrison,
the members of the SEAZA Executive Board, delegates, and guests.
The conference was attended by 130 delegates representing the following
17 countries and territories: Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India,
Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, South
Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States
of America, and Vietnam. The President of SEAZA welcomed all the
participants, and expressed SEAZA’s sense of lost at the death
of Executive Board member Dr. Steven Leatherwood on 25 January 1997.
The President announced the conference theme, "Modernizing
Zoos in Modernising Societies" stating that 30 scientific papers
in this conference were to address the theme, starting with that
of Keynote Speaker Mr Lyn de Alwis. He described the workshops on
Wildlife Conservation, Animal Welfare, and Marketing In Zoos, their
interactive joint-effort format representing a workshop concept
that had not previously been used in a SEAZA conference. Mr. Harrison
thanked the Executive Board, the Conference Organizing Committee,
and the Chairpersons for the Workshops and Scientific Sessions for
their assistance in making the conference a success. Mr. Harrison
stressed the need for the development of environmental conservation
education programs for SEAZA zoos, as highlighted by the current
environmental crises in the region stemming from the forest fires
in Sumatra and Kalimantan, and the oil spill In Singapore’s
coastal waters. In speaking of SEAZA successes, Mr. Harrison pointed
out that the Wildlife Information Network originated by Dr Suzanne
Jackson-Boardman, was born out of the second SEAZA Conference, and
he encouraged SEAZA members to communicate with WIN, and make use
of its services.
- In his Welcome Address, Dr. Kwa Soon Bee, Chairman of the Jurong
BirdPark and the Singapore Zoological Gardens stressed the value
of cooperation among zoos in SE Asia, praised SEAZA's regional cooperation
in running training programs to share the expertise of the staff,
and acknowledged the assistance of Jersey Wildlife Preservation
Trust, Jurong BirdPark, and Underwater World in the three week course
on zoo management conducted by Singapore Zoo.
- Mr. Sidek Saniff, Senior Minister of State for the Environment
Singapore delivered the official conference opening address. He
pointed out the important role SEAZA zoos can play in serving as
catalysts for sustainable development in their respective countries
through public education and research. He also acknowledged the
role of zoos in reintroduction programs, using Singapore's planned
reintroduction of leopard cats, mousedeer, and civets as an example.
Mr. Sidek stated his hope that this SEAZA Conference would forge
cooperation among participants leading to greater public and government
support for conservation programs. Mr. Sidek stressed the importance
of the fact that a great proportion of the world's total biodiversity
is contained in South East Asia, where SEAZA can influence its future.
- The conference theme was 'Modernizing Zoos in Modernizing Societies
- During the scientific sessions, 30 papers were presented covering
the broad topics of conservation, education veterinary medicine
captive breeding, record keeping, exhibit design, training programs,
zoo development, and husbandry.
- The agenda for the General Assembly sessions covered the following:-
(1) The President of SEAZA’s report, (2) the SEAZA Secretary's
financial report, (3) announcement of the demise of~ Executive Board
Member Dr. Steven Leatherwood, (4) the Constitution and Bylaws Committee
report (5) a report by Mr Nate Flessness on the WZO meeting in Berlin,
(6) a report on training workshops at Singapore and Melaka zoos
by Tan Kit Sun, (7) a presentation by the Saigon Zoo Director on
hosting the SEAZA Conference at his zoo in 1998, (8) a call for
1998’s conference theme, (9) confirmation has not been received
from Manila Zoo, proposed host for the 1999 SEAZA Conference.
- Nineteen amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws were adopted
on 30th October 1997. Among hem was an amendment to Article II Section
2 that abolished the Membership Committee and replaced it with the
Editorial Committee. The Associate Membership category was subdivided
into individual Associate Member and institutional Associate Member
categories, and a new category of Commercial Member was added. Fees
were set at US$50 for Individual Associate Members, US$200 for Institutional
Associate Members, and US$1,000 for Commercial Members. The name
of SEAZA in the Bylaws was changed from South-East Asian Zoological
Parks Association to South East Asian Zoos Association; this was
to make the Bylaws consistent with the Constitution. Other amendments
were to eliminate redundancy between the Constitution and the Bylaws.
- Mr. Tan Kit Sun was elected Chairman of the Editorial Committee.
- Ms Ricky Burgess congratulated the Night Safari for winning
the Best Leisure Attraction of the Year Award from the Singapore
Tourist Promotion Board.
- Certificates of attendance were issued to conference participants.
- The venue for the Eighth SEAZA Annual Conference was confirmed
to be Saigon Mr Phan Viet Lam, on behalf of Saigon Zoo Director
Or Nguyen Quoc Thang extended an invitation to all delegates to
attend. The conference is scheduled for 26 to 30 October 1998.
- The venue for the 1999 conference is proposed to he Thailand.
- Proceedings of the conference will be prepared by the Organizing
Committee and, with consent of the Executive Board; the Proceedings
will he sent to participants within 3 months after the conference.
- The conference was sponsored by the following organizations:
Lee Foundation, Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore Tourist Promotion
Board, and Singapore Pools.
- Commercial exhibitors displaying their wares at the Conference
were: Tropical Environment Pte Ltd, House of Poroseal Pte Ltd, and
Bester Birds and Animals cc.
- The three participatory workshops were run simultaneously.
The Wildlife Conservation Workshop was chaired by Mr. Lyn de Alwis;
the Animal Welfare Workshop by Dr. Agoramoorthy; and the Marketing
Workshop by Mr Rick Scott-Blackall. The results of these workshops
will be published in he Conference Proceedings.
- On the evening of 27 October 1997 there was a buffet dinner
and ice breaker in the Allson Hotel Pine Ballroom.
- On the afternoon of 28 October, participants visited Singapore's
National Orchid Garden, and Underwater World, Sentosa, hen took
a sumptuous multi-course dinner a he Prima Revolving Restaurant,
situated at the top of Prima Tower; the dinner was hosted by the
Singapore Tourist Promotion Board.
- On the afternoon of 29 October, participants visited Jurong
BirdPark, where they were treated to a tour of the Park and a private
performance of the bird show, followed by a delightful buffet dinner.
- On 30 October, participants visited Singapore Zoo, had cocktails
and a farewell dinner pt the Zoo, followed by a tour of the Night
Safari. The food and entertainment were excellent.
- On 31 October, 28 delegates joined the post conference tour
to Sungei Buloh Nature Park and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.