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ASSESSMENT OF COMPETENCE FOR ZOOLOGICAL HANDLERS IN AIRCRAFT
The equine groom assessment scheme for air carriage is now well in place. Over
50
grooms have been fully assessed. It now is our intention to develop a
similar assessment scheme with NPTC for all other species besides equines that
are transported by air. For the time being I am referring to this as the
Zoological Assessment, but it does include domestic and farm animals as
well.
I am writing to you for two reasons:
1. As a specialist zoological transporter or shipper, to establish with you the
specific requirements for individual species of which you have specialist
knowledge; in particular:
[a] How to identify signs of stress, by species of your knowledge
[b] How to prevent or reduce stress, by species
[c] Any other special handling procedures that a specialist should know,
by species.
Please let me have your observations against any particular species of which
you have knowledge. I have started the ball rolling by taking some
points from the IATA Live Animal
Regulations. I will collate all responses and your name will be
acknowledged as a specialist source. If you are able to reply by e-mail,
so much the better. If you will give me an e-mail address, I can send
this to you electronically.
2. The Groom Scheme required a financial 'seeding' to get the whole operation
up and running, and so will this. Sponsorship was generously supplied by
Peden Bloodstock and Mersant International to the tune of $8,000. I am
funding this initial mailing and enquiry process myself, as well as
establishing the Assessment Criteria at my own expense. If you would care
to pledge a sponsorship towards this whole Zoological Scheme, you will be
recognised in future references. Just like the equine programme, it will
be a world-leading, unique scheme, recognised by the UK government and
throughout the EU. It is our intention to make it accepted
worldwide.
Please give me your opinions on both of these points, and I will collate the
results and report in due course. I would like to have the scheme done
and dusted by the time of our Vienna conference, April 2004, as well as having
some zoological handlers assessed by then.
For practical reasons I have adhered to the general IATA groupings of species
as shown below. The intention is that a handler can choose which of these
species groupings they can be assessed for. I do not imagine that
everyone will want all species, but they can if they wish. For example, I
imagine that very few will seek assessment for marine mammals since it is so
specialist, but may well wish to be recognised for all or most of the other
species.
CONTAINER REQUIREMENT - 1-3 DOGS
& CATS, FARM LIVESTOCK AND FARMED DEER
OR ANTELOPE
CONTAINER
REQUIREMENT - 11-23 BIRDS
CONTAINER REQUIREMENT - 24-25 FLIGHTLESS BIRDS (RATITES)
CONTAINER REQUIREMENT - 31-34 MONKEYS AND NON-HUMAN PRIMATES
CONTAINER REQUIREMENT - 41-47 REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS
CONTAINER REQUIREMENT - 51-58 AQUATICS
CONTAINER REQUIREMENT - 61-66 INSECTS AND BEES
CONTAINER REQUIREMENT - 71-83 NON-DOMESTICATED MAMMALS AND LABORATORY
ANIMALS
I much look forward to your response.
Tim Harris SDA
aatasec@telus.net