Dublin Zoo Safeguards Ostrich Nests with Milestone ‘EggsProtect’
Milestone XProtect, together with Axis thermal and infrared cameras installed in our African Savanna habitat, picked up incidents of ostrich eggs being taken by wild badgers. The large eggs were being rolled under a gate, up a hill and then smashed on a rock, whereupon a badger set was getting a tasty meal at our ostriches’ expense. We were able to lay humane traps to catch these badgers and then resettle them in the park land beyond the outer perimeter of the zoo” says Gerry Creighton, Operations Manager, Animal & Grounds, Dublin Zoo, Ireland.
A more comprehensive centralized video management system was needed to manage a growing number of IP cameras that were being deployed to serve a range of needs at Dublin Zoo, including perimeter security, animal welfare, and animal behavior studies.
Zoo keepers also had concerns about a few incidents of overnight attacks on Dublin Zoo’s flamingos by wild animals. Ostrich egg numbers were down too. Keepers wanted to explore the use of cameras to help study the behavior, and ensure the welfare, of all animals under their protection.
The Solution
New Axis thermal and infrared (IR) cameras were integrated with Milestone XProtect Corporate video management software, providing live and recorded video to be viewed on 17 different PC viewing stations around the zoo via XProtect Smart Client. A total of 140 new Axis network cameras were installed by Milestone Expert Certified partner Kelcom.
The Result
The system provided clear evidence of the taking of ostrich eggs by wild badgers. It also discovered unwelcome late night visits by wild otters who killed a small number of flamingos. Zoo keepers were able to study recordings of these visits and use this intelligence to correctly position humane traps to catch and relocate the perpetrators well away from the zoo. As a result, ostrich egg threat incidents stopped and the flamingo population began to grow once again. The new IP video management system has also proved vital in studying animal behaviors, including group dynamics and sleeping habits.
Photo Credit: Anderson S. Silva
by The Editorial Staff
