Giant tortoises that recognize colors, a young gorilla that learns through play to participate in veterinary checkups, or a pair of leopards that manages to coexist after months of behavioral work. These are just some of the real-life cases that have come to light during the pandemic. 10th Congress of the Iberian Association of Wild Animal Caretakers (AICAS), held this weekend in Bioparc Fuengirola, which has brought together dozens of professionals from zoos, aquariums and conservation centers from across the peninsula.
During these days, this meeting became a forum for exchanging experiences and knowledge, where the protagonists were the caretakers themselves: men and women who work daily to ensure the well-being and conservation of endangered species. In total, The Bioparc Fuengirola and Bioparc Valencia teams presented a dozen papers. which demonstrated how observation, empathy and innovation are transforming the way we care for wild animals.
Turtles that help take care of them and birds that seal their nests
Among the presentations by the Bioparc Fuengirola team, the exhibition by Javier Vicente, on the breeding of Southeast Asian hornbills, birds as fascinating as they are demanding when it comes to breeding. At Bioparc, females are enclosed in logs that are sealed from the inside, leaving only a small slit through which the male feeds them for weeks. Thanks to the work of the keepers, the park has successfully bred several endangered species, including the black-throated hornbill and the Papuan hornbill, an achievement that can only be achieved with patience and a deep understanding of animal behavior.
Lidia María Corpas, reptile keeper at Bioparc Fuengirola, who showed the surprising process of Cooperative training with giant Galapagos tortoisesThrough the use of colors and positive reinforcement, turtles learn to voluntarily participate in examinations and treatments without immobilization, a pioneering technique applied to reptiles that represents a qualitative leap in their well-being.
A gorilla playing at training and leopards learning to live together
Emotions also came with the story of Ekan, a four-year-old gorilla who participates in sessions of early clinical training Along with his caretaker, María José Roldán. Through play and trust, the young gorilla collaborates with his own medical checkups, allowing the veterinary team to monitor his health without stress. This is an example of how the caretaker-animal relationship has become a key tool for well-being in modern zoos.
Another of the stories that captured the public's attention was the process of union of two Sri Lankan leopards, presented by Desireé Rosa. The keeper recounted the four stages of the encounter between Uda and Okanda, a pair who, after a long period of adaptation, managed to live together in the same enclosure and form a family. This milestone, the result of constant observation and patience, culminated months later with the birth of two cubs, a success for the European conservation program for this endangered subspecies.
From the tropical forest to the water giants
The congress also provided an opportunity to learn about Luis Miguel Vitón's work in the reception and acclimatization of nine crocodile monitors (Varanus salvadorii) from the Honolulu Zoo in Hawaii. Bioparc Fuengirola has become the European reference center for the conservation of this endangered species, one of the longest on the planet, which can grow to over three meters in length.
For her part, Laura Ramos presented the complex experience of transfer of arapaimas, the world's largest freshwater fish, an operation that requires pinpoint coordination to reduce stress on these Amazonian giants and ensure their well-being during transport.
Estefanía Díaz also shared the strategy of coexistence in the Great Aviary of the New World, where tropical birds and small mammals coexist in the same space. Gradual and reversible introductions have allowed such diverse species to share a natural habitat, an example of precisely recreated ecological balance.
Bioparc Valencia: when training is wellness
From Valencia, the Bioparc care team also shared experiences of great practical value. María Sánchez moved the audience with the case of a crowned crane (Balearica regulorum) who, after suffering a serious leg injury, regained mobility thanks to a phased training and rehabilitation program.
Almudena Lozano explained the complex process of Introduction of a new male African lion to an already established pack, a job that requires interpreting gestures, sounds and social hierarchies with almost ethological precision.
Andreu Blanco and Ana Broch closed the Valencian participation with examples of environmental enrichment and medical training in antelopes and red-backed antelopes, highlighting how small, everyday innovations can make a big difference to the animals' quality of life.
The 10th AICAS Congress has shown that the work of wildlife caretakers is evolving rapidly. Their work is no longer limited to maintenance or feeding, but encompasses fields such as animal behavior, biology, psychology, and welfare management.
At Bioparc, this philosophy is summed up in one idea: “Animal welfare is shared welfare”Every gesture, every learning experience, and every technical innovation pursues a common goal: to offer animals under human care the fullest, most natural, and respectful life possible.
