Framework Research Programmes

Agreement with Autonomous University of Barcelona.

Creation of a residency grant in Veterinary Pathology to carry out the following tasks: perform necropsies at the Zoo, systematic taking of samples for pathological diagnostics, creation of a bank of tissues in paraffin of the animals within the Zoo’s collection, and carrying out histopathological diagnostics on the Zoo’s animals.

Agreement with Autonomous University of Barcelona.

This project will provide Barcelona Zoo with a DNA bank for the animals in its collection, with both prospective and historic samples being kept, based on archive samples. In addition to being of value to internal/related ESB/EEP studies, this bank will complement the one offered to the scientific community by BTAC (Catalonia Animal Tissue Bank).

Agreement with CRESA (the Centre for Research into Animal Health).

Zoological collections are susceptible to many wide-ranging pathological processes, including viral processes. These present a challenge due to the raised morbidity they can lead to, the risk of cross-species leaping and problems in diagnosis. This project aims to deepen understanding of the impact of three viral processes on the animals in Barcelona Zoo: the herpes virus, novel bornavirus and macavirus.

Agreement with CRESA (the Centre for Research into Animal Health).

This project aims to advance the diagnosis and evaluation of infections produced by Mycobacterium among the Zoo’s ungulates, through the study of specific, humoral, cellular and other responses that this bacteria causes among animals.

Agreement with Autonomous University of Barcelona.Collaboration with the Veterinary Faculty on animal breeding applied to zoological collections, in the areas of evaluating reproductive medicine, evaluating the reproductive status of Barcelona Zoo’s animals, and the analysis and processing of these animals’ reproductive tissues.

Agreement with Autonomous University of Barcelona.

Through the passive accumulation of samples taken from the biological remains of animals in the Zoo’s collection and eventually - by obtaining in vivo germplasm (electroejaculation, reproductive training) - the aims are to: create a germplasm bank that enables the reproductive function of the collection to be assessed; have access to germplasm that can be used in future assisted breeding projects both at Barcelona Zoo and other institutions involved in conservation; and the use of samples and information obtained through basic and applied research into the breeding and conservation of endangered animal species.

Agreement with Autonomous University of Barcelona.

This involves applying the working methodology used in the Welfare Quality project to species at Barcelona Zoo, in order to develop a simple and standardised protocol to evaluate animal welfare. This is to include parameters on behaviour, health and reproductive records, and is based on facilities and handling characteristics. This protocol will be validated using physiological parameters and behavioural studies.

Agreement with Autonomous University of Barcelona.

Ongoing study and evaluation of the application of long-acting neuroleptics among animals in the collection.

Collaboration with EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria)As a member of EAZA, Barcelona Zoo participates in work to study and manage the populations that are kept in captivity out of the Zoo collection’s of 49 species and sub-species (34 mammals, 11 birds and 4 reptiles) that form part of the European Breeding in Captivity Programmes (EEPs); and of the 44 species (17 mammals, 16 birds, 9 reptiles and 2 amphibians) that form part of the European Books of Record (ESBs).In addition to general collaboration on this set of programmes, the Zoo is currently responsible for coordinating two further EEPs - the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) and the grey mangabey (Cercocebus atys lunulatus) as well as two other ESBs (Cercocebus torquatus and Cercocebus atys atys), As coordinators, the Zoo technicians responsible for these species need to carry out a genetic and demographic analysis of the whole European population to be able to manage it correctly and make it viable in the long term (recommend the formation of pairs that are not related, establish age pyramids and so on) as well as prepare an annual report.

Agreement with University of Barcelona.

The end goal of the wildlife research work carried out by the University of Barcelona’s Animal Biology Department's zoo-geography team will be to advance understanding of the important role played by Barcelona Zoological Park in maintaining the biodiversity of the city’s wild animals. There is a dual goal for the research programme:

• To help explain, strengthen and disseminate information about the relationships between the Zoo and the city’s birds and fauna through scientific advisory work.
• To carry out research work into Barcelona’s urban ornithology and the origins of the Barcelona Zoological Park.

In addition to assisting with publication work, the advisory work will help to define (where necessary) the marking of wild birds that are held in the Zoo; how to make good use of data; create a network; and make good use of information and knowledge from other organisations that study Barcelona’s wildlife (Zoo Verd, ICO, SEO-BIRDLIFE, CREAF, etc). In summary: any advice to the Zoo’s management team in order to strengthen the Zoo's scientific and knowledge-dissemination role in terms of Barcelona’s wildlife.

Agreement with Autonomous University of Barcelona.

This project aims to create a national stem cell bank of different mammal species (whether native or not) for the animals that form part of the Zoological Park collection. These stem cells will be capable of being divided indefinitely through the immortality of peripheral blood B lymphocytes by being transformed using the Epsein-Barr Virus (EBV). The objectives of the project include implementing conservation studies, identifying species through the analysis of their karyotypes and assessing the reproductive fitness of each species.

Agreement with Autonomous University of Barcelona.

Research activities with Zoo species, aimed at students of the Autonomous University of Barcelona’s Faculty of Psychology.

Agreement with University of Barcelona.Research activities with Zoo species, aimed at students of University of Barcelona’s Faculty of Psychology.

Agreement with University of Barcelona and Arcoba.

This project aims to increase knowledge about the cognitive abilities of psittacidae and corvidae and apply it to the design of elements that contribute to the physical and psychological welfare of these birds held in captivity.

The procedure consists of 4 stages:

1.    Preparing the ethogram, obtaining basic information about behaviour and choosing welfare indicators.
2.    Conducting cognitive tests of causality.
3.    Designing intelligent food dispensers based on information obtained: pilot tests and systematic environmental intervention.
4.    Evaluation of the intervention, through behavioural records focused on welfare indicators.

The cognitive tests administered help us to determine the extent to which the subjects possess causal-type reasoning and/or understand the spatial relationships that exist between objects in their environment. It will also give us information about their manipulation preferences. Based on the results obtained, we will be able to prepare a range of interactive food dispensers to provide the captive birds with resources that help them behave naturally in addition to occupational therapy and the possibility of intervening in their environment. That is to say: their actions generate consequences for themselves and their environment.

Agreement with Autonomous University of Barcelona.

The Centre for Studies into Wild Animal Welfare (CEBAS) will provide knowledge for evaluating and improving wild animal welfare in an objective and scientific way. Its objectives will include:

• Developing evaluation protocols and improvement techniques for the welfare of captive wild animals.
• Providing advice on captive wild animal welfare to institutions that request it.
• Centralising the information available on wild animal welfare.
• Positioning Barcelona Zoo at the forefront of research into animal welfare matters.
• Organising and running a postgraduate course on the Zoo animals' behaviour and welfare.