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Annual Report 2014

Comments by the Managing Director ............................................ 2

Nordens Ark .............................................................................................. 3

Nordens Ark's partners and memberships ................................. 4

The Animal Collection .......................................................................... 5

Ecopark and farm .................................................................................17

Wolverine EEP expands to North America ................................19

Nordens Ark celebrates 25 years ..................................................23

SINCERE THANKS to our sponsors Elanders Sverige AB and Arctic Paper AB who have paid for the printing and paper of this year’s annual report. Layout: Anders Rådén/ARDI. English translation: Christopher Godfrey (www.ani-malimagery.co.uk). Cover image: Pallas' cat (Felis manul). Photo: T. Svensson. Paper: Cover Arctic Silk + (250 g/m2 ), insert Arctic Volume White (130 g/m2).

In collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology Elanders has developed a cli-mate calculator that takes into account the entire life cycle of printed matter when cal-culating greenhouse gas emissions (Carbon Footprint). Using these climate calculations Elanders can now offer to climate neutralise your printed matter by investing in certi-fied emission reductions in UN approved CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) projects.

Administration report 2014 ............................................................27

Income statement ............................................................................... 34

Balance sheet ........................................................................................35

Cash flow analysis .............................................................................. 36

Accounting and valuation principles and notes ......................37

Audit report ........................................................................................... 42

Board of directors, auditors and staff ........................................ 44

H.R.H. CROWN PRINCESS VICTORIANordens Ark's Patron

Photo: T. Svensson

Contents

Comments by the Managing Director

It was back in 1988, but I remember it as if it were yesterday. How I sat at the water’s edge and fretted over what we had set in motion, those of us who had begun a project to transform the beautiful old manor into a breeding centre for endangered animals. The diggers were filling trucks with load after load of rich topsoil, and the surface was turning into a car park. Are we doing the right thing, I wondered? A once-fertile area would soon be packed with the cars of people visiting what would become an ark – Nordens Ark. That the manor’s orchard was going to house an infiltration bed for waste water did nothing to allay my worries. And this was before I started thinking about the enclosures and aviaries that would be home to the animals under Nordens Ark’s protection.

A year later, on June 14, when the gates opened to the first visitors, there were some 20 species in the park – or rather, hiding in the park’s foliage. Our fervent hope was that people would understand that this was a park for animals, not an animal park . . . but that was to take many years.

I have had the privilege of serving as captain of the Ark since the very start, 27 years ago. I retire in the summer of 2015, and as the time approaches for me to relinquish command, there are many memories to look back on. One of the most striking is the way in which biodiversity, the threat to wildlife and the value of ecosystem services have increasingly become matters for public debate. When the park was built and we tried to explain that species were vanishing at a terrifying rate, there was little understanding of the need for action. In fact it was only with the Rio Convention in 1992 that authorities and the business community really sat up and took notice of Nordens Ark and its objectives.

From a financial viewpoint, our anniversary year, 2014, was the best ever. Turnover increased from 50 million to 60 million kronor and costs remained within budget, which resulted in a

welcome surplus. In line with our statutes, this will be reinvested in the business.

The idea of the 25th anniversary celebrations was to make Nordens Ark better known, but also to tell people about what we have achieved for endangered species. Thousands of animals have been raised here and released into their natural environments. There are storks and green toads in Skåne, wildcats in Germany, lynx in Poland. In the Russian Far East, we are working in the field to secure the survival of the Amur tiger, and in the Gobi Desert to ensure a future for the snow leopard. The anniversary festivities gave us an opportunity to tell people about all of this, and to thank all our friends and benefactors who have made these and other initiatives possible.

Our ‘thank you’ took the form of a three-day celebration. We were hugely grateful that Crown Princess Victoria honoured us with her presence. Gothenburg Opera and other well-known performers attended, and guests from all over the world celebrated with us. It was quite a party.

Now I pass the helm confidently to my successor, Mats Höggren, and his deputy, Linnéa Johansson. Mats and Linnéa will steer the Ark as it continues its mission to preserve species and give them a future in their natural habitats.

Today, that anguish I felt in the early years is quite gone. I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the Board and staff, and I’m immensely proud of what we have achieved together. Every time I see a peregrine falcon in the sky, my heart will beat faster and I’ll look for a ring round its leg to see if it was born at Nordens Ark!

Åby Manor, May 2015Lena M Lindén

A sincere thank you to everyone who made it possible for Nordens Ark to make a valuable contribution for endangered species.

Photo: Eva Stööp

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Nordens Ark

Nordens Ark lies on Åby manor beside the Åby fjord, 20 km from Smögen and Kungshamn on route 171, about 120 km north of Gothenburg. The manor was mentioned as early as the 1300s, but rock carvings and ancient remains show that the farm has roots much further back. The present buildings date mainly from the 1700s and 1800s. Nordens Ark Foundation is a non-profit founda-tion which is responsible for Nordens Ark. Nordens Ark Foundation owns Åby manor, which covers 400 hectares. Through its activities, Nordens Ark Founda-tion seeks to promote biological diversity principally by:

● Contributing to the conservation of endangered species by controlled breeding, and supporting wild animal populations in their natural habitats through various support measures.

● Conducting research and studies of the animals at the park, contributing to an increased understanding of animals and promoting animal survival in the wild.

● Acting as an educational resource at all levels from pre-school to colleges and universities.

● Being accessible to the public, thereby increasing public interest in and knowledge of conservation work.

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The Animal Collection

Emma Nygren1) , Karin Larsson, Leif Blomqvist & Ewa Wikberg

1emma.nygren@nordensark.se

Amphibians and birdsDuring 2014, Nordens Ark joined yet another conservation project for an endangered amphibian species. The project aims to protect and re-establish a population of the arboreal lemur leaf frog Agalychnis lemur of Costa Rica. The frog is found in only one place in Costa Rica and is Critically endangered. Two small back-up populations have been maintained since 2001 at Manchester Museum and Bristol Zoo. Now, Nordens Ark has become involved in an international network which is collaborating to build a genetically sound base so that their offspring can later, through releases, create a viable population in the species’ natural habitat. During the year, 15 individuals were brought in from Manchester Museum, while construction got under way on a bio-safe facility for more frogs that will arrive once it is completed.

It was generally a busy year in the amphibian department, and a number of individuals reared there were sent on to other institutions. In total, 60 amphibians were exported to other parks in Europe.

Turning to the birds, the most successful breeding results came among the native species that form the backbone of the bird collection, and with which Nordens Ark has for many years been involved in restocking releases within Sweden. See the section below on in situ operations for more about lesser white-fronted geese, peregrine falcons and white-backed woodpeckers.

Among the birds, it’s worth noting that both of Nordens Ark’s crane species – the white-naped crane Grus vipio and Japanese crane Grus japonensis – hatched, and that last year’s offspring from the former went to Blijdorp Zoo in Rotterdam. After a two-year break, we were also able to record an increase in the bald ibis colony Geronticus eremita, with the birth of two new birds. Alpenzoo at Innsbruck supplied us with a new hoopoe Upupa epops to replace the individual that died during the year. Another death worth mentioning was the facility’s last example of red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis, which sadly had to be put to sleep because of failing health due to old age. The red-breasted goose was the facility’s oldest animal and had been at the park for nearly a quarter of a century.

Two young Ural owls Strix uralensis that had hatched the previous year were sent to Brno Zoo in exchange for two northern pintails Anas acuta that arrived at the close of the year.

MammalsPerhaps the most thrilling news during the year was that all five Pallas' kittens Felis m. manul survived. Over the two previous years, the Pallas' cats had reproduced but, as in many other parks, the mortality rate was high among the young, and none of the offspring in those litters survived. Pallas' cats come from a dry

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and cold climate in Central Asia and are particularly susceptible to the parasitic disease toxoplasmosis. This is transmitted via free-living rodents that serve as intermediate hosts for the parasite. The parasite’s eggs are excreted through the cats’ faeces a few weeks after the felines are infected, following which the animals usually become resistant. As with our breeding pair, some individuals become latent carriers of the parasite, which can be reactivated if the cat’s immune system is compromised by a temporary infection, stress or giving birth.

To avoid the mortality rate of previous years, in 2014 every possible measure was taken to minimise the parents’ stress levels, and at the same time both parents and young were given medication. Our efforts were successful and all the kittens survived. Details in the studbook reveal that only seven other Pallas' females gave birth during the year, producing a total of 23 young. On the recommendation of the studbook co-ordinator, David Barclay from Scotland, our kittens were sent to other EAZA parks in the autumn.

Most of the animals that arrived at Nordens Ark during the year were brought here principally for further breeding work in our own facilities. Five new individuals from Poznan, Poland, were added to the European ground squirrel Spermophilus citellus colony, which originated from Nuremberg Zoo. The Amur leopard Panthera pardus orientalis breeding male was sent to Bellewaerde Zoo in Belgium, and a new male arrived from Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England. Wuppertal in Germany supplied us with a new male southern pudu Pudu puda, and a female European grey wolf Canis l. lupus was sent to us from Lycksele.

In preparation for a new breeding pair, the existing wolf enclosure was enlarged. The renovated enclosure now covers almost two hectares and is divided into two sections that can

be used either separately or as one larger enclosure. A new and larger roofed information point has been built off the walkway by the enclosure, allowing visitors access to information even in inclement weather.

While new breeding individuals arrived at Nordens Ark to enrich the genetic base of their own kind, 19 mammals were exported to other EAZA parks. Among the more significant exports of the jointly managed species, was a young wolverine male Gulo g. gulo that was sent to Paris Zoo, and two pudu young went to the animal parks in Lodz, Poland, and Halle in Germany. On the advice of the species co-ordinator in Rotterdam, two lesser pandas Ailurus f. fulgens were sent to Jászberény in Hungary. There was much media interest, not surprisingly, in where our three Amur tiger cubs Panthera tigris altaica from 2013 would go. Special training beforehand meant that the youngsters could be transported without sedation to Finland, Germany and the Czech Republic. Continued close co-operation with the Highland Wildlife Park resulted in 2014 in two Tadjik markhor young Capra falconeri heptneri and two young forest reindeer females Rangifer tarandus fennicus being moved from Nordens Ark to the Scottish zoo.

Nordens Ark horses head for KazakhstanThe transfer of a young Przewalski’s wild horse mare Equus caballus przewalskii to the Weilburg semi-reserve in Germany is worthy of mention. The mare “Xidney” with the studbook number 6034 has been selected to take part in a new reintroduction project in central Kazakhstan. Ahead of the final journey to Central Asia, the mare will be placed in a herd with five other young mares from the EEP breeding programme. During the transit period in Weilburg, the horses will have a chance to get used to the different conditions and get to know each other so they can form a cohesive group. It’s essential that the horses are in perfect condition by the time they are eventually transported to Kazakhstan. The wild horse vanished from the steppes of Kazakhstan more than 150 years ago, and now the plan is to establish a second population in the newly set up Altyn Dala Nature Reserve in central Kazakhstan. For several years, Frankfurt Zoological Society has been involved there in conservation of and research into saiga antelopes.

The survival of the wild horse in its natural environment is inextricably linked with the breeding work done over many

Przewalski's wild horses. Photo: T. Svensson

European roller. Photo: L. Blomqvist

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Longhorn beetle. Photo: J. Helgesson

decades by zoo parks in North America and Europe. This work has meant that the number of wild horses in the parks has risen, enabling reintroductions in three reserves (Gobi, Takhin Tal and Hustain Nuru) in Mongolia, in Altyn-Emel National Park in Kazakhstan, in Kalamaili Nature Reserve in China’s Xinjiang province, and in the Chernobyl region in Ukraine. Thanks to the success of the reintroductions, the wild horse was in 2008 downgraded from Extinct in the Wild (RE) to Critically Endangered (CR), and a year ago to Endangered (EN). Today it is thought that there are about 350 free-living horses in Mongolia, which has the largest free-ranging population.

As well as the five mares, six stallions will also be released in the Altyn Dala reserve in Kazakhstan. Among them is “Nebukanesar” (studbook number 5912), who was also born at Nordens Ark. From here he was moved to the semi-reserve at Sprakel in Germany, where he joined a bachelor herd that grazed the reserve over a two-year period. Two horses from Nordens Ark will therefore be included in the group that has been selected for release in Central Asia. The reintroductions were originally earmarked for spring 2015, but have been postponed because Kazakhstan has not yet added the wild horse to its regional Red List, something that both the EEP and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) require.

The wild horse facility at Nordens Ark underwent major renovation during 2014. New stables with new equipment were built to make daily maintenance easier, and the paddock was provided with a larger and better information point for visitors.

Nordens Ark starts breeding Persian leopardsThe year’s major investment was in the linking of the public walkway from the existing snow leopard enclosure to the Pallas' cats. At its highest point, the walkway is almost 12 metres above

the ground and it features two areas for the public, one of them covered. Along the steep rock face next to the walkway, a new enclosure for Persian leopards was constructed. The enclosure is divided into two open exhibit enclosures, two separation cages with netted roofs, and a third enclosure, also netted in. This new facility has a total area of 2,000 square metres, making it one of the largest Persian leopard enclosures. Following the line of one of the rocky outcrops of the park, and facing south-west, the enclosure offers excellent climbing opportunities for the leopards, while also giving them places to shelter and rest.

Of the original range of the Persian leopard Panthera pardus saxicolor in the Caucasus and Iran, only small populations remain today in fragmented habitats. It is mainly in the mountains of eastern Iran and neighbouring areas in southern Armenia and Azerbaijan that viable populations of the leopard still survive. The subspecies is globally rated as Endangered (EN), but the populations in the Caucasus are wholly dependent on individuals migrating from Iran. The Persian leopard is consequently listed in the Caucasus as Critically Endangered (CR). Persian leopards have long since disappeared from Russian parts of the Caucasus, and the Russian nature conservation agencies, supported by the Russian Academy of Sciences and IUCN, have in recent years made significant investments and set aside protected areas outside Sochi with suitable environments and with good access to prey animals. In order to speed the leopards’ return, the Russians are not relying on natural migration. Leopards confiscated in Turkmenistan and Iran are being selected for breeding, along with captive-born individuals from Lisbon Zoo, in a purpose-built breeding facility. The objective is to eventually reintroduce the subspecies in Russia by releasing leopards raised in the breeding facility.

EAZA was involved in the design of the enclosures and provided the project with a young pair from Lisbon Zoo, which is responsible for co-ordinating the subspecies in the EEP and international studbook. To study how the breeding programme works in Europe, staff from Sochi visited both Lisbon Zoo and Nordens Ark where they learned about the enrichment methods used for our big cats. The breeding efforts have already proved successful, as three litters with four surviving cubs have been born in the Sochi facility.

Thanks to its good reputation, Nordens Ark was invited to support the project by preparing an enclosure for a breeding pair in the park, and helping to establish a larger breeding population of the subspecies in Europe. When the number of animals in Europe reaches about 200, leopards will be released in their natural habitat in the national park outside Sochi. There is some way to go, since the existing population in the breeding programme numbers just over 80 (Nolasco & Ferreira 2014). Today’s captive population originates from just nine wild-born individuals, and the programme is thus in dire need of fresh, unrelated animals which the breeding centre in Sochi should be able to provide.

The first Persian leopard arrived at Nordens Ark from Hanover early in the spring, before the exhibit enclosures had even been completed. As with many previous imports of large carnivores, Volvo Cargo helped with the transport and provided us with an excellent air-conditioned vehicle for the trip from Germany. The female leopard arrived a few months later from Chemnitz, also in Germany.

In situ activities

Longhorn beetles reproduce at Nordens ArkThe longhorn beetle Plagionotus detritus was once found across large parts of southern Sweden but today remains in only a limited area in the Stockholm region. A lack of newly dead and ancient oaks is one of the reasons the longhorn beetle is now rated Critically Endangered (CR) on the Swedish Red List.

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Five of the lesser white-fronted geese were fitted with radio transmitters enabling the project to follow the birds’ migration routes during the autumn. Photo: N. Liljebäck

The migratory routes of the five lesser white-fronted geese that were fitted with radio transmitters in 2014. The release positions are encircled. Map original: Google Earth

In 2006, Nordens Ark was commissioned by Stockholm county administrative board to make an attempt to breed longhorn beetles. The goal was to find an effective and self-sustaining way of breeding the beetle and provide individuals annually to release in suitable environments within the species’ former range.

The breeding took a major step forward in 2014 when 120 beetles hatched in our facility. The newly hatched individuals mated and laid their eggs in a dozen oak trunks. The eggs hatch after roughly two weeks and the larvae immediately start gnawing winding paths into the wood, where they continue to live for one or two years until they pupate. The hope is that some of the oak logs full of larvae will be placed out in restored oak areas in Kalmar county in the course of 2015.

The great capricorn beetle Cerambyx cerdo is another species of longhorn classed as Critically Endangered (CR) on the Swedish Red List. This species survives in only a few older oaks on Öland.

Nordens Ark was commissioned in 2012 by Kalmar county administrative board to develop a method of rearing great capricorn beetles. As Sweden’s population is so fragile, it was decided to collect breeding individuals from Poland, which still has a stable population of the great capricorn. In an agreement with Poland, Nordens Ark obtained permission to collect 15 males and 15 females every year, over a three-year period.

Early in June, staff from Nordens Ark travelled to Poland for the final time to collect 15 pairs. Efforts to come up with an effective breeding system have gone well, and over three years more than 900 larvae have been produced. The larval development period has been shortened from five years to between one and two years. This year, about 170 fully developed beetles were hatched. The beetles were put in hibernation over the winter, as the hibernation period is thought to be important for their development.

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Transporting peregrine falcon chicks to hacking boxes. Photo: C. Larsson

During the coming spring, the beetles will be taken out of hibernation to mate and lay their eggs, which is the final stage in the breeding method. If this works, Nordens Ark has developed a successful system of rearing great capricorn beetles in ex situ conditions. In the future, this process could be used to breed beetles of Swedish origin that can then reinforce Sweden’s wild population.

Continued support releases of green toads on Öland The green toad Bufo viridis is classified as Sweden’s most endangered amphibian and is rated Critically Endangered on the Swedish Red List. The species has suffered a sharp decline in the past half-century, due mainly to loss of habitat and changing use of farmland. They remain in only a few sites in Sweden.

Nordens Ark has been involved in conservation of the species for many years and has reared small toads that were placed out in Skåne and Blekinge, as well as on Öland and Gotland. In recent years, the releases have concentrated on Öland, where the species was considered common as recently as a century ago. Extensive restoration work has been undertaken there, including on the southern headland near Ottenby bird observatory. Between 2009 and 2013, 1,260 toads from Nordens Ark were released on Öland to strengthen the small population on this southern headland. That these releases were a success was confirmed by the fact that the toads at Ottenby have reproduced in the past few years (Wennesjö & Hellström 2014). Support releases continued in 2014, with 234 individuals being introduced in two localities on Öland.

Five storks for the Skåne Stork ProjectAmong the white storks Ciconia ciconia, six chicks were hatched, five of which were sent to be released as part of the Skåne Stork Project. The project now involves more than 100 free-flying storks. All are ring-marked, and with the use of a telescope it’s

possible to identify individual birds from a great distance. The project produced 44 free-flying storks from 79 fledglings, while 94 young from the project’s stork enclosures were released in two batches. In total, it is estimated that between 120 and 140 of the Skåne storks migrated south during the autumn.

Take-off for the lesser white-fronted goose Nordens Ark has since 2006 maintained a population of lesser white-fronted geese Anser erythropus originating from western Russia. The birds form part of the Lesser White-Fronted Goose Project, whose aim is to reinforce the small wild population living in the mountains of Scandinavia. The reason Russian birds were used is that genes from the greater white-fronted goose were discovered among the birds that had earlier been used for breeding (Blomqvist & Larsson 2011).

Over the years, the Russian lesser white-fronted geese have produced 188 chicks, 49 of them hatched during 2014. For the first time, breeding also took place at the Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management’s Östermalma facility, which is Nordens Ark’s partner in the project. The breeding birds have been divided between the two sites for safety reasons, and in order to rear the maximum number of goslings. During the year, 54 chicks were released – 41 from Nordens Ark and 13 from Östermalma.

Five of the geese were fitted with radio transmitters during 2014, enabling the project to follow the birds’ migration routes on a daily basis. At first the geese dispersed, but by the year’s end it was seen that all those with transmitters had migrated to the desired over-wintering sites in Holland and Germany. Furthermore, the birds had kept company with other released geese, meaning that 72 per cent of the lesser white-fronted geese that had been released could be tracked. Now it can only be hoped that the geese will find their way back to the Swedish mountains to breed.

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Urial. Photo: L. Blomqvist

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1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014

Hatched

Released

Number of hatched and released white-backed woodpeckers.

‘Last falcon out’Breeding of the peregrine falcon Falco p. peregrinus within the Peregrine Falcon Project has since 2000 taken place at Nordens Ark. Over the past 15 years, 250 falcons have hatched, 16 of them in 2014. In recent years the breeding has been undertaken under our own auspices, without external funding. Since there is now a stable population of about 250 breeding pairs in Sweden, the need for continued releases is no longer as acute as it once was. The falcons currently at Nordens Ark will be kept here as long as they continue to produce young. Interest in the peregrine falcon remains strong among the many volunteers who turn up every year to help feed the young birds that have been released.

Within the peregrine falcon’s former range in Svealand, it’s only in the areas around Stockholm, where the last breeding was reported 50 years ago, that the falcon has not yet recovered. There is a lot of interest in the peregrine and the Stockholm region is an ideal place to disseminate information about the project. During the year it was consequently decided to release young falcons in central Stockholm, in conjunction with Stockholm Ornithological Society. One of the hacking boxes used for releases was set up on the Folksam skyscraper in the city centre, and four young falcons were placed inside. Unfortunately the new tenants were not welcomed by the capital’s gulls, which attacked them. Eventually it was decided to move the youngsters to a new release site, but only three of them could be caught. The fourth had learnt to evade the aggressive gulls and was therefore fed for a few more weeks until it was capable of catching its own prey.

The other falcon chicks were placed out in central Sweden. From the data collected it is known that 11 per cent of released youngsters survive to adulthood, while the corresponding percentage among wild-born falcon chicks, which are protected by their parents, is only a little higher at 15 per cent.

Released woodpeckers breeding in the wildThe white-backed woodpecker Dendrocopus leucotos is one of Sweden’s most endangered birds. During 2014, only four breeding attempts were recorded in Värmland and in the lower Dalälv region. Only two were successful. It’s good to report that young birds are being raised at Nordens Ark – indicating that rearing and release methods are working. There is still a long way to go, however, before there is a stable population of white-backed woodpeckers in the wild.

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A pair of red pandas in Nepal displaying courtship behaviour. Photo: Red Panda Network

The woodpeckers at Nordens Ark originate from Norway, where the species is not as seriously threatened as it is in Sweden. Norway has a stable population of white-backed woodpeckers in the south-western fjord country, where there are natural habitats with deciduous forest and a plentiful supply of dead and dying trees. The birds that were trapped and taken to Nordens Ark produced a total of 103 chicks, a few of which were kept as breeding birds while most were released (Blomqvist & Larsson 2015).

During the year, 13 youngsters were placed out in central Sweden. To allow them to get used to their new environment, they are first placed in a hacking cage built at the release site. After a week, the cage is opened and the woodpeckers can fly out. Feeding continues in and near the cage as long as the birds remain nearby, something that can last several weeks. There are also nesting boxes not far from the hacking cages where the birds can easily find shelter at night. The hope is that the reintroduced birds won’t disperse too far but will stay in the designated release area.

Red pandasNordens Ark has kept the red panda since 1989 when the first pair arrived from the zoos in Rotterdam and Leipzig. Nordens Ark participates in the EEP-programme for lesser pandas and has contributed to the expansion of the captive population by breeding ten litters with a total of 18 cubs. To be able to contribute to the species’ conservation also in the wild, Nordens Ark decided together with several other participating zoos, to provide financial support for the conservation of the species in Nepal. The goal is that all holders in Europe will make a contribution of € 250 each to support the work of the Red Panda Network. The contribution will make it possible to employee up to 20 forest guardians in Nepal for monitoring and protecting the habitat of the lesser red panda as well as to educate the local community about the conservation of biodiversity.

Snow leopardsNordens Ark Foundation has been engaged in conservation of the snow leopard Uncia uncia over many years. The park has held the species since 1989 and is responsible for the international studbook as well as co-ordinating breeding in Europe. In addition to ex situ work, Nordens Ark is involved in in situ efforts through its collaboration with the Snow Leopard Trust (SLT). Nordens Ark is supporting research into wild snow leopards in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia ( Johansson et al. 2013; 2015). The study project that began in 2008 is ground-breaking and has right from the start produced new and valuable information on the biology of the species (Nygren et al. 2013).

In the course of the year, Nordens Ark was visited on two occasions by delegations from the SLT. In the spring, we welcomed two visitors from Gilgit in northern Pakistan who wanted to share the available data in order to set up a rehabilitation centre for local fauna in Gilgit. During the visit, Aftab Mehmood and Jaffar Ud Din studied how Nordens Ark works with endangered animals and looked at enclosure design, enrichment, nutrition and rehabilitation of injured animals. The delegates also took part in an intensive course on rehabilitation of injured wild animals under the guidance of Katastrofhjälp för Fågel och Vilt (Emergency Help for Birds and Wild Animals).

Nordens Ark welcomed another delegation in the autumn, this time from India. The delegation comprised six people – politicians, wildlife managers and representatives from the SLT in India. The objective was to learn about wildlife management in Sweden and conflicts between humans and wildlife.

Amur tigersTogether with the WWF and WWF Russia, Nordens Ark conducted a three-year conservation project (2011-2014) to preserve the Amur tiger in the Russian Far East. The project was funded by the Swedish Postcode Lottery. The Northern Tiger Project focused its activities in and around Anuisky National

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Image of a tiger captured with a camera trap in Anuisky National Park.

Park, where it is striving to secure sustainable development of the tiger population in its northernmost range. The project has concentrated on measures to prevent poaching of both the Amur tiger and its prey animals. Monitoring of the national park has improved with the acquisition of new vehicles and better field equipment for the wardens, as well as the construction of a number of ranger stations.

Good access to prey animals is central to tiger conservation, and during the course of this project efforts have been made to improve management of the park’s ungulates by support feeding through the winter months. This has resulted in a marked increase in the local wild boar population. As part of the project, a visitor and education centre has also been built, to be used for various training initiatives involving the local inhabitants. The Swedish project management group visited the area during the

year to evaluate the work already done, and to plan ahead. The project has been a success, producing good results with a clear increase in the number of tigers as well as their prey animals. The tiger population in the national park has almost doubled during the project period, from nine to 17 individuals. To ensure continuity in the work, the project is being extended and co-financed for at least a further three years, from 2014-2017, by Nordens Ark and the WWF.

Other activitiesThe zoological department is responsible for the 90 species and breeds of animals maintained in the park. In accordance to the Collection Plan which is updated on a yearly basis and thereafter approved by the Board, seven species which were not listed as threatened were phased out from the collection (Inventory list) and replaced with six other species all show decreasing population trends in the wild.

In the current collection, 27 percent of the species and subspecies are jointly managed in breeding programmes run by national and continental zoo associations (SAZA and EAZA). Within EAZA, four species: snow leopards, wolverines, yellow-throated martens and forest reindeer are managed by staff from Nordens Ark, while 20 additional species are included in national and international breeding programmes. As shown in Box 1, staff from Nordens Ark is represented in nine Species Committees in EAZA. During the year, Nordens Ark’s zoologist and MD were elected members in the Species Committee for Persian leopards and in the board of Rewilding Europe. In order to develop the collection, participation in zoological meetings and congresses is considered important, and staff from the park has been offered opportunities to attend zoological meetings in Sweden as well as abroad (Box 2). A list of publications, published by the staff is shown in Box 3.

Monitoring of Amur tigers in Anuisky National Park. Photo: E. Nygren

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Box 1. Staff representation on boards and working groups.

EEP coordinator: L. Blomqvist (Snow leopard, Wolverine)International studbook keeper (ISB): L. Blomqvist (Snow leopard)Europeisk studbook keeper (ESB): L. Blomqvist (Forest reindeer); E. Wikberg (Yellow-throated marten)Membership in EAZA Species Committees: L. Blomqvist (Snow leopard, Amur leopard, Persian leopard, Tiger, Lesser panda, Wolverine, Przewalski’s wild horse); E. Nygren (Eurasian otter); E. Wikberg (Maned wolf, Snow leopard); C. Larsson (Canid TAG)Membership in EAZA working groups: L. Blomqvist (Felid TAG, Small Carnivore TAG, Deer TAG); E. Wikberg (Sheep & Goat TAG, Small Carnivore TAG); E. Andersson (Education Committee); C. Larsson (Conservation Committee)Eriksbergs Viltpark: M. Niklasson (Member)Skötselrådet för Visingsös Eklandskap: M. Niklasson (Member)WAZA: L. M Lindén (Council Member, Treasurer)

CBSG: L. M Lindén (Steering Committee Member)Rewilding Europe: L. M Lindén (Member of Supervisory board)Membership in SAZA Working groups: E. Wikberg (Board member); M. Hallenberg (Board of Agriculture’s reference group in animal genetic issues); E. Andersson (Research & Education)Global Conservation Network: L. M Lindén (Board member)Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA): L. M Lindén (Vice chair)ArtDatabanken: C. Andrén (Amphibian and Reptile Specialist Group)EU LIFE: C. Andrén (Baltcoast; Bombina bombina)NAMSA: L. M Lindén (Board member)University of Gothenburg, Jonsered Herrgård: L. M Lindén (Deputy chair, Board of trustees)The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Sciences: L. M Lindén (Member)Letterstedtska Föreningen: L. M Lindén (Member)August Abrahamssons Foundation (Nääs Slott): L. M Lindén (Board member)Swedish Tourist Board: L. M Lindén (Board member)

Box 2. Staff participation in courses/congresses/meetings 2014

• Planning workshop in Tallinn and study visit in Tallinn Zoo, Estonia. 12-14. Jan. (L. M Lindén, B. Norming, T. Patriksson, M. Niklasson, C. Andrén, L. Johansson, L. Blomqvist)

• Advanced EAZA Breeding Programme Management Course, Bristol Zoo, England 14-17. Jan. (E. Wikberg)

• IUCN National meeting, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, 22. Jan. (L. M Lindén)

• Study visit in Anuiskij National Park, Russia, 26. Feb. – 6. Mar. (E. Nygren)

• EAZA Felid TAG mid-year meeting, Jihlava Zoo, Czech Republic, 7-9. Mar. (L. Blomqvist)

• EAZA Education Committee mid-year meeting, Artis Zoo, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 10. Mar. (E. Andersson)

• EAZA Deer TAG mid-year meeting, Ostrava Zoo, Czech Republic, 3-4. Apr. (L. Blomqvist)

• Study visit at Prague Zoo, Czech Republic, 5. Apr. (L. Blomqvist)

• SAZA Annual Meeting, Kristiansand Zoo, Norway 8-9. Apr. (E. Wikberg, E. Nygren)

• Study visit to Highland Wildlife Park, Kingussie, Scotland with Östrabo school, 5-9. May (B. Johansson)

• EAZA Conservation Forum meeting, Leipzig Zoo, Germany, 6-9. May. (C. Larsson, E. Nygren)

• WAZA/CBSG Mid-year meeting, Entebbe, Uganda, 19-23. May (L. M Lindén)

• Excursion to collect Great capricorn beetles in Poland, 1-4. Jun. (C. Andrén)

• Eurosite Wilderness Workshop. Living

with wilderness in Europe. Haarlem, The Netherlands, 17-19. Sep. (M. Niklasson)

• Study visit to Kransvlaak Europ. Bison Project. Oostwarderplassen, The Netherlands, 19. Sep. (M. Niklasson, C. Andrén)

• EAZA Annual Conference, Budapest Zoo, Hungary 23-27. Sep. (C. Larsson, E. Wikberg, E. Andersson)

• SAZA Animal keepers’ Annual meeting, Borås Zoo, 30. Sep. – 2. Oct. (E. Nygren)

• Study visit with Board to Burger’s Zoo, Arnhem and Gaiapark, Kerkrade, The Netherlands, 1-3 Oct. (L. M Lindén, L. Johansson)

• WAZA Council meeting and conference, Delhi, India, 3-6. Oct. (L. M Lindén)

• SAZA Course in Animal transports, Kolmården Zoo, 7-8. Oct. (K. Larsson, E. Eriksson-Byröd, L. Svensson, A. Einemo, D. Liljegren, E. Wikberg)

• Lemur leaf frog meeting, Costa Rican Amphibian Conservation Project, Costa Rica, 27. Oct. – 9. Nov. (C. Andrén)

• CBSG Steering committee meeting/conference, Delhi, India, 30. Oct.–2. Nov. (L. M Lindén)

• Lesser white-fronted goose meeting, EPA, Stockholm, 12. Nov. (C. Larsson)

• Wild Feline Seminar, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Skara 14. Nov. (E.Andersson)

• Ortolan bunting meeting, Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Sciences, Stockholm 2. Dec. (C. Larsson)

• SAZA Reference Group Meeting, Swedish Board of Agriculture, Jönköping, 15. Dec. (E. Wikberg)

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Box 3. Articles/reports published by staff in 2014

Andrén, C. (2014): Greater Educational Opportunities. Nordens Ark Annual Report 2013: 12-13. Nordens Ark FoundationAndrén, C. (2014): Working with Universities and Colleges. Nordens Ark Annual Report 2013: 14-15. Nordens Ark Foundation Andrén, C. (2014): Wetlands. Nordens Ark Annual Report 2013: 18-19. Nordens Ark Foundation Bergner, A., Avci, M., Eryigitc, H., Jansson, N., Niklasson, M., Westerberg, L. & Milberg, P. (2014): Influences of forest type and habitat structure on bird assemblages of oak (Quercus spp.) and pine (Pinus spp.) stands in southwestern Turkey. Forest Ecology & Management 336: 137-147 Blomqvist, L. (2014): White-Backed Woodpecker. Nordens Ark Annual Report 2013: 6-7. Nordens Ark Foundation Blomqvist, L. (2014): Peregrine Falcon. Nordens Ark Annual Report 2013: 10-11. Nordens Ark Foundation Blomqvist, L. (2014): Lesser White-Fronted Geese. Nordens Ark Annual Report 2013: 16-17. Nordens Ark Foundation Blomqvist, L. (2014): The Year That’s Gone – A Review. Nordens Ark Annual Report 2013: 28-32. Nordens Ark Foundation Blomqvist, L. (2014): Wolverine Population Development in EEP. Nordens Ark Annual Report 2013: 33-35. Nordens Ark Foundation Blomqvist, L. & Larsson, C. (2015): Pecking order. Captive breeding and release supports the recovery of the white-backed woodpecker’s wild population. Zooquaria 89: 20-21 Helgesson, J. and Larsson, C. (2014): Saving the greater Capricorn beetle. Zooquaria 87: 22

Johansson, Ö., Malmsten, J., Mishra, C., Lkhagvajav, P. and McCarthy, T. (2013): Reversible immobilization of free-ranging snow leopards (Panthera uncia) with a combination of medetomidine and tiletamine-zolazepam. J. of Wildl. Diseases 49 (2): 338-346 Lindén, L. M (2014): 25 Years with Nordens Ark. Nordens Ark Annual Report 2013: 2-3. Nordens Ark Foundation Lindén, L. M (2014): Med näbbar och klor: Nordens Ark och kampen för hotade djur (Tooth and Nail: Nordens Ark and the Battle for Endangered Animals). Votum & Gullers Förlag, 143 pages. Karlstad (Swedish) Narfström, K., Larsson, C., Mattesson, V., Runsten, B. (2014): Operation med modern teknik av grå starr hos fågel. Svensk Veterinärtidning 66 (2): 11-14 Niklasson, M. (2014): The Farm. Nordens Ark Annual Report 2013: 8-9. Nordens Ark Foundation Niklasson, M. (2014): The Ecopark. Nordens Ark Annual Report 2013: 24-25. Nordens Ark Foundation Nygren E., Johansson, Ö. & Blomqvist, L. (2014): The Mysterious Snow Leopard. Nordens Ark Annual Report 2013: 20-21. Nordens Ark Foundation Nygren, E. (2014): Amur Tiger. Nordens Ark Annual Report 2013: 22-23. Nordens Ark Foundation Nygren, E. & Andrén, C. (2014): Greater Capricorn Beetle. Nordens Ark Annual Report 2013: 26-27. Nordens Ark Foundation Petchey, A., Gray, A., Andrén, C., Skelton, T., Kubicki, B., Allen, C., Jehle, R. (2014): Characterisation of 9 polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Critically Endangered lemur leaf frog Agalychnis lemur. Cons. Genet Resour. web doi.1007/s12686-014-0261-1

References

Blomqvist, L. & Larsson, C. (2011): Lesser white-fronted goose. A species in focus in the Nordic countries. WAZA News 1: 9-11Blomqvist, L. & Larsson, C. (2015): Pecking order. Captive breeding and release supports the recovery of the white-backed woodpecker’s wild population. Zooquaria 89: 20Johansson, Ö., Malmsten, J., Mishra, C., Lkhagvajav P. and McCarthy, T. (2013): Reversible immobilization of free-ranging snow leopards (Panthera uncia) with a combination of medetomidine and tiletamine-zolazepam. J. of Wildl. Diseases 49 (2): 338-346 Johansson, Ö., McCarthy, T., Samelius, G., Andrén, H., Tumursukh, L., Mishra, C. (2015): Snow leopard predation in a livestock dominated

landscape in Mongolia. Biological Cons. 184: 2251-258Nolasco, S., Dias Ferreira, J. (2014): International studbook Persian leopard Panthera p. saxicolor. 101 pp. Lisbon ZooNygren, E., Johansson, Ö. & Blomqvist, L. (2013): The Mysterious Snow Leopard. Nordens Ark Annual Report 2013: 20-21. Nordens Ark FoundationWennesjö, O & Hellström, M. (2014): Uppföljning av återintroduktionen av grönfläckig padda Bufo viridis på Ölands södra udde – rapport gällande säsongen 2013 (Follow-up on the Reintroduction of Green Toads on Öland’s Southern Headland – Report on the Current Season). 35pp. Kalmar county administrative board (Swedish).

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INSECTSGreat capricorn beetle Cerambyx cerdo VU CR 0.0.476 0.0.170 15.15 1.1 - 14.14.640Long-horned beetle Plagionotus detritus - EN 0.0.10 0.0.120 0.0.19 0.0.10 - 0.0.139FISHESEuropean catfish Silurus glanis LC EN 1.4 0.0.11 - 0.0.1 - 1.1.13AMPHIBIANSKaiser's spotted newt Neurergus kaiseri CR 11.4.18 0.0.14 - 9.0.4 0.0.14 2.4.14Northern crested newt Triturus cristatus LC - 0.0.12 - - 0.0.4 - 1.2.5Green toad Bufo viridis - CR 0.0.51 - 0.0.15000 0.0.14684 0.0.238 4.0.125Natterjack toad Bufo calamita LC VU 0.0.26 - - - 0.0.10 0.0.16Giant marine toad Bufo marinus - 0.0.3 - - 0.0.3 - -Yellow-banded poison arrow frog Dendrobates leucomelas LC 0.0.15 - - 0.0.8 - 3.4Blue poison dart frog Dendrobates tinctorius LC - - 0.0.10 - - 0.0.10Golden poison dart frog Phyllobates terribilis EN 1.1.14 - - 1.1.11 - 0.0.3Golfodulcean poison dart frog Phyllobates vittatus EN 1.1.13 - - - 1.1.13 -European fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina LC - 3.0 - - - - 3.0European tree frog Hyla arborea LC - 4.1 - - 2.0.1 - 0.0.2Mission golden-eyed tree frog Trachycephalus resinifictrix LC 9.6 - - 1.0 - 8.6White's tree frog Pelodryas caerulea LC 0.0.9 - - - - 0.0.9Lemur leaf frog Agalychnis lemur CR - - - 9.6 2.3 - 7.3Splendid leaf frog Cruziohyla calcarifer LC - - - 2.2 - - 2.2Mnt. chicken frog Leptodactylus fallax CR ESB 1.3 - - - - 1.3Golden mantella Mantella aurantiaca CR 0.2.5 - - 0.0.1 - 0.2.4Tomato frog Dyscophus guineti LC 6.0.13 - - 1.0 0.0.9 4.5Malayan horned frog Megophrys nasuta LC 0.0.82 - - 0.0.17 0.0.12 0.0.53Garlic toad Pelobates fuscus LC NT 0.0.37 - - 0.0.37 - -Agile frog Rana dalmatina LC VU 0.0.6 - - 0.0.6 - -Edible toad Rana esculenta LC - 1.1.4 - - - - 1.1.4Pool frog Rana lessonae LC VU 4.3.39 - - 0.0.6 - 4.3.33Marsh frog Rana ridibunda - - 19.13 - - 17.4 - 2.9Bamboo tree frog Polypedates leucomystax LC 14.12.10 - - 2.8.10 - 12.4Tonkin bug-eyed frog Theloderma corticale DD 0.0.6 - 0.0.5 0.0.3 - 0.0.8TURTLESEuropean pond turtle Emys orbicularis NT 1.11 - - - - 1.11Annam leaf turtle Mauremys annamensis CR 1.4 0.0.4 - - - 1.4.4Caspian turtle Mauremys caspica - 1.0 - - 1.0 - -Red-necked pond turtle Chinemys nigricans EN 5.0 - - - 5.0 -Hermann's turtle Testudo hermanni NT - - 0.0.3 - - 0.0.3Mccord's snake-necked turtle Chelodina mccordi CR ESF 3.6.1 - - - - 3.6.1LIZARDSBrown basilisk Basiliscus vittatus - 1.2.3 0.0.15 - 3.0.5 - 1.3.9Yellow-headed day gecko Phelsuma klemmeri EN ESB 4.6 - - 1.0 1.2 2.4Standing's day gecko Phelsuma standingi VU 2.2 - - - - 2.2Guichenot's giant gecko Rhacodactylus ciliatus VU 3.1 - - 2.0 - 1.1

Animal inventory at Nordens Ark 2014

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Sand lizard Lacerta agilis LC VU 4.4.9 0.0.10 - 2.3 0.0.3 2.1.16SNAKESGrass snake Natrix n. gotlandica NT 0.1.8 - - 0.0.2 - 6.1Common adder Vipera berus LC - 5.2 - - 1.1 - 4.1BIRDSLesser white-fronted goose Anser erythropus VU CR 37.26.3 16.9.4 3.2 4.2 31.20.4 21.15.3Red-breased goose Branta ruficiollis EN 1.0 - - 1.0 - -Northern pintail Anas acuta LC VU - - 0.2 - - 0.2White stork Ciconia ciconia LC RE SAZA/SDF 3.3 0.0.6 - 0.0.1 0.0.5 3.3Bald ibis Geronticus eremita CR EEP 6.9 2.0.5 - 0.0.5 - 8.9Peregrine falcon Falco p. peregrinus LC VU 11.10 6.8.2 0.1 1.1 6.8.2 10.10White-naped crane Grus vipio VU EEP 3.1 1.0.1 - 1.0.1 1.0 2.1Manchurian crane Grus japonensis EN EEP 1.1 0.1 - - - 1.2Eurasian eagle owl Bubo b. bubo LC NT 1.2 - - - - 1.2Snowy owl Bubo scandiacus LC CR 1.1 0.0.1 - 0.0.1 - 1.1Great grey owl Strix nebulosa lapponica LC NT 1.1 - - - - 1.1Ural owl Strix u. uralensis LC - 3.2 - - 0.1 1.1 2.0European roller Coracias garrulus NT RE 1.1 - - - - 1.1Eurasian hoopoe Upupa epops LC RE ESB 1.1 - 0.1 0.1 - 1.1White-backed woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos LC CR 18.17 5.8.5 - 2.2.2 4.6.3 17.17MAMMALSEuropean souslik Spermophilus citellus VU 5.5 12.7 2.3 12.7.1 - 6.6Pallas' cat Felis m. manul NT EEP/ISB 1.1 2.3 - - 2.3 1.1Eurasian wild cat Felis s. silvestris LC 4.0 - - 1.0 - 3.0Eurasian lynx Lynx l. lynx LC NT ESB/SAZA-SDF 1.1 1.1 - 1.1 - 1.1Amur leopard Panthera pardus orientalis CR EEP/ISB 1.1 - 1.0 - 1.0 1.1Persian leopard Panthera pardus saxicolor EN EEP/ISB - - 1.1 - - 1.1Amur tiger Panthera tigris altaica EN EEP/ISB 3.3 - - - 1.2 2.1Snow leopard Uncia uncia EN EEP/ISB 3.2 - - - - 3.2Grey wolf Canis l. lupus LC EN SAZA/SDF 1.0 - 0.1 - - 1.1Maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus NT EEP/ISB 1.1 2.1.1 - 2.1.1 - 1.1Eurasian otter Lutra l. lutra NT VU EEP/ISB 1.2 0.0.2 - - 0.1 1.1.2Wolverine Gulo g. gulo LC VU EEP 3.2 - 1.0 - 2.0 2.2Red panda Ailurus f. fulgens VU EEP/ISB 1.4 1.0 - - 0.2 2.2Przewalski horse Equus caballus przewalskii EN EEP/ISB 0.5 - - 0.1 0.1 0.3Chilean pudu Pudu puda VU EEP/ISB 2.2 1.1 1.0 2.0 1.1 1.2European forest reindeer Rangifer tarandus fennicus NT ESB 3.6 1.3 - 2.0 1.2 1.7Tadjik markhor Capra falconeri heptneri CR EEP 10.10 4.5 - 4.4 0.2 10.9Bukhara urial Ovis aries bochariensis VU MON 1.3 - 0.2 - - 1.5DOMESTIC BREEDSNordic honey bee > 10.000 > 10.000 - > 10.000 - >10.000 Orust poultry EN 3.11 22.13 - 22.3 0.14 3.7Bohus-Dals poultry EN 4.14 23.8 - 21.8 3.4 3.10Old Swedish bantam CR 4.8 12.8 - 13.6 - 3.10Öland goose CR 1.2 0.0.1 - 0.0.1 0.1 1.1Swedish blue duck EN 4.7 4.2 - 4.4 - 4.5Blekinge duck CR 2.4 - - 1.0 1.0 0.4Gotland rabbit EN 1.5.1 5.4 - 5.5 - 1.4Mellerud rabbit CR 1.3 7.5 - 6.1 1.0 1.7Linderöd pig EN 1.2 10.6 - 8.1 2.5 1.2Jämtland goat EN 1.5 3.1 - 1.0 2.2 1.4Lapp goat EN 1.3 3.1 1.0 - 4.0 1.4Gotland sheep - 1.10 11.5 - 8.3 3.2 1.10Värmland sheep - 10.25 22.11 - 14.3 3.6 15.27Dala-fur sheep EN 3.7 7.5 - 7.3 - 3.9Swedish red-polled cattle CR 8.18 4.6 - 0.4 - 12.20Swedish mountain cattle CR 1.2 - - - - 1.2Mountain cattle CR 0.6 - - - - 0.6Hereford cattle - 7.12 6.4 - - - 13.16Northern Swedish horse - 0.1 - - - - 0.1Gotland pony - 0.1 - - - - 0.1Domestic cat - 0.2 - - - - 0.2

Legend to Table: 1.0 = one male; 0.1 = one female; 0.0.1 one unknown sex. RE - Regionally extinct; CR - Critically endangered; EN - Endangered; VU - Vulnerable; NT - Near threatened; LC - Least concern; DD - Data Deficient

EEP - European Endangered Species Program; ESB - European StudBook; ESF - European Studbook Foundation; ISB - International StudBook; SAZA/SDF - Regional Studbook of Swedish Assoc. of Zoos & Aquaria; MON - Monitored

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Ecopark and farm

Mats Niklasson

Project leader, mats.niklasson@nordensark.se

the Farm. At specified times, visitors have access to the goats’ pen and can have fun on the climbing frame with the animals. The new 200m2 rabbit enclosure is also open to visitors.

Unfortunately, calving in 2014 started very late, meaning that grazing arrangements became unusually complicated during the season. Grazing continues in all the originally planned paddocks, and in the earliest meadows a fine turf has now been established. An auspicious summer resulted also in record haymaking.

The Swedish Forest Agency had a staff of four to six people at the Ecopark carrying out clearance work during 2014. Most importantly, shrub-clearance and burning was undertaken on grazing land, together with the completion of a 4.2km hiking trail with signs and notices. A folder was produced with maps and information on backpacking around Nordens Ark. The meadow restoration project was widened to encompass a total of 20 sites which, in the autumn, were sown with seeds collected from our own meadows (118 different species such as: Devil’s-bit, Succisa pratensis, brown knapweed, Centaurea jacea and

The year 2014 was another eventful one for the Ecopark project. A number of important schemes came to fruition, and fencing and footbridges were completed in all paddocks in time for the 2014 grazing season. With 96 hectares now enclosed, the major part of the Ecopark project is thus realised.

The animal collection continued to grow and has now reached 216 individuals (not including the bee colonies), comprising bees, six native poultry breeds, two rabbit breeds, Linderöd pigs, five breeds of sheep and goats, four breeds of cattle and two breeds of horses. Fifteen of the native breeds reproduced in the course of the year, which meant that we were able to sell 53 individuals to private breeders during the autumn. Thanks to the broad genetic base among the domestic breed population, only a single new animal (a male Lapp goat) had to be brought in to further the breeding. Prospects are looking good for cattle in spring 2015, with all 20 cows/heifers expecting young.

Before the start of the season, new viewing facilities for rabbits, goats and pigs were set up in the outdoor areas around

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ox-eye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare). Spring burnings took place on several meadows under restoration – on two of them, the common milkwort (Polygala vulgaris) was found for the first time, as evidence that we’re on the right track.

In February, a conference on pasture and grazing animals was organised. Some 40 people attended from all over Sweden. One noted presentation concerned an ongoing project in Holland and other parts of Europe to re-breed the auroch, sometimes also called “Tauros”, a wild ancestor of today’s cow, which is thought capable of grazing all year round. Several other educational initiatives have taken place in and around the Ecopark project. Uppsala University, the Swedish University of Agricultural

Thomas Törnqvist (to the right), Chairman of Ekfrämjandet presents the 2013 County Award to project leader Mats Niklasson. Photo: L. Blomqvist

The annual sheep release is a big public event which in 2014 was combined with the inauguration of the Ecopark. Photo: L. Blomqvist

Sciences (SLU) and various upper secondary schools have done excursions come to Nordens Ark and been given information about the Ecopark. A degree thesis has been run together with Stockholm University. Two theses at SLU and Uppsala University were begun during the year, while an exploratory study also got under way into the possibility of setting up a biogas plant in the autumn with funding from Region Västra Götaland.

The Ecopark project was inaugurated in May in the presence of some 50 invited guests, and a hike and outdoor lunch were arranged. The project has been financed principally by Region Västra Götaland. Foundation chairman Göran Bengtsson paid tribute to Region Västra Götaland, as well as to the Erik and Lily Philipson foundation which yet again contributed handsomely to Nordens Ark’s development. Sotenäs municipality made a gift of a hut – called Hermit’s Cabin – designed by Mats Thiselius, which for the inauguration was sited at the camping ground.

A talk was given by Professor Nils Ryrholm on the importance of preserving biological diversity. The project leader pointed out the grazing lands and reinvigorated meadows, and spoke about the oak veteranisation project. Thomas Törnqvist, chairman of Eksällskapet, handed the 2013 county award to project leader Mats Niklasson. Butterfly hikes and tours to the rock carvings and other sights were laid on for the general public. A total of 100 people participated in the 5km and 10km Ecopark race, organised in association with IK Granit.

As part of the Nordens Ark 25th anniversary celebrations, an exhibition about the Ecopark was organised inside the animal park and included a tour for the VIP guests from overseas.

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Wolverine EEP expands to North America

Leif Blomqvist 1) & Tom Ness 2)

1EEP Coordinator for wolverines, Nordens Ark, leif.blomqvist@nordensark.se 2AZA Wolverine studbook keeper, Minnesota Zoo, tom.ness@state.mn.us

comprised only 11.6 animals (Figure 1) in 2014 and is without influx of new founders beyond reviving (Ness 2014).

Given a high level of dedication from the holding institutions and the strong and growing EEP population, the breeding programme in North America partnered with the EEP 2013 to form a combined breeding programme between the two regions (Blomqvist 2014). As a result of discussion with the AZA Small Carnivore TAG wolverine coordinator and the EEP, it was concluded that North American institutions have reached a situation where they have to phase out the remaining G.g. luscus population and switch to the nominate form which is maintained in Europe. As long as G. g. luscus still remain in

Two-thousand-and-fourteen was a productive year in the EEP programme with 14 transfers taking place between the participating zoos. As a result of export activities, three new institutions joined the programme which now has 41 participants.

Due to modest breeding results with the North American subspecies Gulo g. luscus, the managed population in the New World has shown a slow decline. Reproductive success has been low, with a few females producing most of the offspring and since 1980, only ten percent of the females in North America have reproduced (Ness 2014). Almost fifty percent of the living G.g. luscus are full siblings representing 80% of the ageing breeding stock in North America. The captive population of Gulo g. luscus

Joint efforts of AZA1 and EAZA2 to maintain a healthy population of wolverines1Association for Zoos & Aquariums; 2European Association for Zoos and Aquaria

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population is shown in Figure 4 and Table 2 presents a summary of all wolverines included in the European population.

In addition to the intensively managed stock in Europe, there are 5.6 animals kept in six Eurasian facilities. These zoos cooperate at a studbook level (Table 1) but unfortunately do not participate in the EEP. None of the wolverines maintained outside the EEP have bred during the last year and as the population is getting older, it will most likely be phased out before 2020.

Breeding age and life expectancy European studbook data indicate that in captivity a few animals start to reproduced at the age of two years although the average age when wolverines start to reproduce is higher with a mean age of 4.6 years for males and 4.11 years for females. Females are retired from breeding after 12 years while the corresponding age for males is two years later, but this can vary by the condition

of animals. The oldest known age of a captive-bred male to sire offspring is 13.11 years and 15.2 years for a female to deliver a litter. Maximum longevity for captive-born animals of known age in the European collection is 18.2 years for males and 19.2 years for females. This is, however, not the biological maximum age for wolverines but reflects only the animals included in the European dataset. The average lifespan for wild wolverines is unknown, although it is unlikely that wild animals will survive for more than 15 years. It is important to mention, that the values in the higher age classes are prone to distortion - a wolverine that reaches the age of +13 years (Figure 5) represents a high portion of the total number of animals in that age class. If this animal manages to breed at that late age, it gives a distorted view of what animals of that age are capable of. As a result, the chances of reproduction in age classes higher than 13 years becomes highly inflated and does not show a realistic expectation for animals within the population. It is instead only a result of having a

North American institutions, the two subspecies will be housed separately and not allowed to hybridize. Zoos in Europe maintain only the nominate form of wolverines of which all animals are of known origin. No specimen of the America subspecies are recommended to be imported to Europe.

Minnesota Zoo who is responsible for coordinating the AZA wolverine programme stood for the first imports of Eurasian wolverines from Europe in 2013 when a young pair from Hunnebostrand and Kolmården were imported to the States (Blomqvist 2014). In 2014, the transatlantic imports continued when Columbus Zoo in Ohio and Saint Felicien Zoo in Canada got young animals from Borås, Calviac and Kristiansand. The three zoos in North America have therefore joined the EEP programme (Table 1) and two additional institutions, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, have reserved young kits from Europe to be imported in 2015.

Main events in 2014 Table 1 summarizes the main events in the Wolverine EEP in 2014. The European region has had consistent reproductive success in the 21st century with an average of 4.7 litters born per year (Figure 2). There were five litters born in 2014, down one from last year with a total often kits (2.8), all of which survived. One of the breeding pairs, studbook # 328 and studbook # 338 in Novosibirsk Zoo bred for the first time whereas the other four pairs were proven breeders.

No animals left the programme but three males and three adult females died and two females managed to escape from Moscow and Orsa, resulting in an overall increase in the captive population from 99 (51.48) animals in 2013 to 101 (50.51) living wolverines in 2014; the captive population now exceeds 100 animals for the first time. The annual fluctuations in the EEP in the 21st century are illustrated in Figure 3 showing a modest but increasing trend. The age and sex distribution of the current

Females

Males

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

G.g. luscus (PMP) G.g.gulo (EEP) G.g.gulo Non-EEP

Figure 1. Number of wolverines kept in Europe and North America 2014.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Males

Females

Total

Figure 3. Census of EEP population 2000-2014.

0123456789

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Figure 2. Number of wolverine litters born in EEP.

-10 -5 0 5 10

0-1

2-3

4-5

6-7

8-9

10-11

12-13

14-15

16-17

18-19

Number of wolverines

Age

cla

ss

Males

Females

Figure 4. Age and sex distribution of wolverine EEP population. 1.1.2015.

19

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17

Perc

ent

fecu

ndit

y

Age

Female

Male

Figure 5. Fecundity in captive-bred wolverines of known age. Figure based on 282 births events 1970-2014.

small data set and all values for animals older than 13 years, are therefore unreliable.

New holders wanted The age distribution in Figure 4 shows that nine percent of the wolverines in the current stock are older than 12 years and will soon disappear from the captive stock. At the same time 30% of the animals are younger than three years and will soon enter the breeding potential together with some of the “middle-

aged” breeders that will continue to breed for some years. It is therefore to be expected, that the number of breeding animals in the EEP will increase creating a growing surplus problem in the European programme.

Despite continuous efforts to convince European holders to include wolverines in their collections, the results have been modest with not more than a maximum of one to two new participants each year. During 2014, two European collections, Paris Zoo and Hanstedt, joined the programme. To maintain a healthy population of wolverines for a longer period of time, a population size significantly larger than the present 100 animals is needed. The affiliation of AZA’s wolverine holders to the European breeding programme will therefore support the European efforts to establish a self-sustaining population of wolverines with a large amount of gene diversity retained. A jointly managed population of Gulo g. gulo in the two continents will also support the establishment of a future global wolverine studbook under the auspices of WAZA.

ReferencesBlomqvist, L. (2014): Development of Wolverine EEP. Nordens Ark Ann. Rep. 2013: 33-35. Nordens Ark Foundation. (also available on EAZA:s SCTAG web pages) Ness, T. (2014): North Americal Regional Studbook Wolverine (Gulo gulo sp.), Dec. 2014. Minnesota Zool. Gardens

Table 1. Development of captive wolverines in EEP/Eurasia in 2014. Legend to Table: 1.0 = 1 male, 0.1 = 1 female.

New participants marked in italics

In EEP:

Institution Status 1.1. Born To EEP From EEP To Non-EEP From Non-EEP Deaths Status 1.1.

2014 2015

Ahtari/FIN 3.1 0.2 2.0 Hanstedt - - - - 1.3

Bardu/N 1.1 - - - - - 1.1 -

Berlin TP/D 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Borås/S 2.1-

1.1-

1.0 Columbus1.0 Hunnebostrand 1.0 Hunnebostrand

--

--

--

-2.2

Brno/CZ 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Burford/UK 1.2 - 0.1 Paris Zoo - - - - 1.1

Calviac/F 1.2 - 0.1 Columbus - - - 1.0 0.1

Cezallier/F 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Chomutov/CZ 0.1 - - - - - - 0.1

Columbus/USA ---

---

--

1.0 Saint Felicien

0.1 Calviac1.0 Borås

1.0 Kristiansand

---

---

---

--

1.1

Duisburg/D 1.1* - - - - - - 1.1

Eberswalde/D 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Hanstedt/D - - - 2.0 Ahtari - - - 2.0

Helsinki/FIN - - - 1.0 Kolmården - - - 1.0

Hluboka/CZ 0.1 - - 1.0 Moscow - - - 1.1

Hunnebostrand/S 3.2-

--

1.0 Borås1.0 Paris Zoo

-1.0 Borås

--

--

-- 2.2

Järvsö/S 3.2 - - - - - - 3.2

Kerkrade/NL 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Kinguisse/UK 1.1 - - - - - 0.1 1.0

Kolmården/S 2.1 - 1.0 Helsinki - - - - 1.1

Kristiansand/N 4.1 - 1.0 Columbus - - - - 3.1

Lycksele/S 1.2 - - 1.0 Skåne - - - 2.2

Minnesota/USA 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Moscow/RUS 7.7 --

1.0 Nikolaev1.0 Hluboka

--

--

-- 1.1** 4.6

Munich/D 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Namsskogan/N 1.0 - - - - - - 1.0

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Table 2. Wolverine studbook data as of 1.1.2015 (Non-EEP animals included).

Males Females Unknown Total

Total registered 130 144 34 308

Total wild-caught 21 29 0 50

Total captive-born 109 115 34 258

Alive at 1.1.2015 55 57 0 112

Wild born 2 11 0 13

Captive born 53 46 0 99

Breeding animals

Total number that have bred 45 49 0 94

Wild-born that have bred 10 14 0 24

Captive-born that have bred 35 35 0 70

Total breeding animals alive 15 17 0 32

Wild born 1 6 0 7

Captive born 14 11 0 25

Nikolaev/UKR 0.1 - - 1.0 Moscow - - - 1.1

Novosibirsk/RUS 1.3 0.2 - - - - 0.1 1.4

Opole/POL 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Orsa/S 1.1 - - - - - 0.1** 1.0

Osnabruck/D 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Paris Zoo/F --

--

--

0.1 Burford1.0 Hunnebostrand

--

--

-- 1.1

Ranua/FIN 1.1 0.2 - - - - - 1.3

Salzburg/A 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Skåne/S 2.1 1.1 1.0 Lycksele - - - - 2.2

Springe/D 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Saint Felicien/CAN - - - 1.0 Columbus - - - 1.0

Stockholm/S 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Szeged/HU 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Usti/CZ 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Whipsnade/UK 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

In EEP 51.48 2.8 12.2 12.2 - - 3.5 50.51

(40 institutions) (99) (10) (14) (14) (-) (-) (8) (101)

* Earlier informed as 2.1

** 0.1 escaped

Non-EEP:

Institution Status 1.1. Born To EEP From EEP Till Non-EEP To Non-EEP Deaths Status 1.1.

2014 2015

Bielefeld/D 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Fuerstenwalde/D 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Izhevsk/RUS 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Krasnoyarsk/RUS 0.1 - - - - - - 0.1

Nizhny Novgorod/RUS 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

Sababurg/D 1.1 - - - - - - 1.1

In Non-EEP: 5.6 - - - - - - 5.6

( 6 institutions)

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Above: a literal ”book release” for the snow leopards with the book ”Tooth and Nail: Nordens Ark and the Battle for Endangered Animals”; a retrospec-tive account of the unlikely story of the foundation and development of Nordens Ark by Lena M Lindén.

The staff went all out!!

The Crown Princess Victoria honoured the anniversary with her presence and asked many questions about the animals during her tour of the park.

University of Gothenburg hosted the international seminar ”The Beauty of Nature – the Welfare of the Future” with Johan Rockström and Mattias Klum. Stefan Edman mo-derated the event.

Nordens Ark celebrates 25 years

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Mark Levengood (here together with Board Member Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg) was the evening's entertaining master of ceremonies who guided the speakers through the festivi-ties.

A show was presented for all invited featuring the artist Claes Eriksson of Galenskaparna (above) and Margaretaspelet from Sundsby (t.h.).

In Stockholm attention was created when Nordens Ark released four peregrine falcons via a hacking box from a skyscraper (below). Pictured below is animal keeper Dick Liljegren who raised the falcons in Nordens Ark breeding facility.

Left: Chancellor Pam Fredman, Lena M Lindén and the Chairman of the Foundation welcome guests at the grand staircase of the University of Gothenburg.

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To mark the anniversary a spectacular sequence of images was installed on the roundabout at the entrance to Åby Manor (left). The installation was created by sculptor and Board member Pål Svensson (below).

Bo Myhrman of the Hassel-blad Foundation presents scholarships to two young promising photographers.

Friends of Nordens Ark kindly helped driving the specially decorated cars by Volvo Cars.

Opera singer Carolina Sandgren enriched the evening with her singing.

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The highlight of the anniversary was the inauguration of the Persian leopard enclosure with Volvo's CEO Olof Persson, the Crown Princess and Board chairman Göran Bengtsson. Above to the left: Christer Larsson talks about the enclosure design and asks the Crown Princess to use a cellphone to lure the leopard to sneak into the enclosure. He did not!

The Dura-trio from the Gothenburg Opera House entertained and sang spe-cially composed music to honour the international guests (below).

Sonia Lundin, chairman of Friends of Nordens Ark, handed over a check to Göran Bengtsson as a contribution to the Persian leopard enclosure (below). Friends of Nor-dens Ark have thus donated SEK 25 million over the course of 25 years!

A touring exhibition about the Nordic Ark on Börstorget, Gothenburg in spring. In July it was displayed at Skansen, Stockholm, and fol-lowing this, at several places in western Swe-den (right).

The young also participated in the celebrations. Shown here is "tiger girl" Ada Brynolf.

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participation of, among others, Gothenburg Opera House and artists and entertainers Claes Eriksson and Mark Levengood were open to all. The day was rounded off with a banquet for the 200 or so invited guests. At the end of the year, Nordens Ark employees, who had all been on duty over the anniversary weekend, were invited, together with the Board, to a celebratory supper and Christmas show at Gothenburg Opera House.

A significant zoological event during the year was the successful breeding of the Pallas' cats. All five youngsters survived and joined the breeding programme in five different zoos before the year was out. The survival rate for Pallas' kittens is extremely low. Only a few parks in the world managed to produce live litters in 2014.

A young Przewalski’s mare was sent to a reserve in Weilburg, Germany, where she will be kept with other fillies for release in Kazakhstan during 2015. Among the horses due to be released there is Nebukanesar, who was born at Nordens Ark in 2012 and has been held with the stallion pool at the Sprakel semi-reserve, also in Germany, since 2013. So two horses born and raised at Nordens Ark will be included in the release scheduled for 2015.

The three Amur tigers born in April 2013 left Nordens Ark in late autumn and were placed, in accordance with the studbook

Important events during and after the financial year The year was dominated by Nordens Ark’s 25th anniversary celebrations. The preparations had been under way for several years, with the aim that the park should be at its very best for animals, staff and visitors alike for the 2014 summer season. We wanted the anniversary celebrations to make Nordens Ark better known and showcase the work we’ve been doing for endangered animals and biodiversity in the course of our first quarter-century.

The festivities reached their climax on the weekend of June 14. Crown Princess Victoria honoured us with her presence, along with invited guests from all around the world. The weekend’s celebrations kicked off at the University of Gothenburg with a programme by Johan Rockström, from Stockholm Resilience Centre, and wildlife photographer Mattias Klum. The arrival of a breeding pair of Persian leopards represented the high point of our celebrations. Crown Princess Victoria and Volvo CEO Olof Persson inaugurated the newly constructed enclosure and opened the spectacular walkway linking the snow leopard and Pallas' cat enclosures. A number of stage events with the generous

Administration report 2014

The Board and Managing Director of Nordens Ark Foundation herewith present the following report for the financial year 2014. All sums are given in Swedish kronor (SEK), unless stated otherwise. Figures in parentheses are for the previous year.

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co-ordinator’s directive, in three different parks. Since the female in our breeding pair is a ‘founder’, it’s very important that she becomes pregnant again, which could happen as soon as the youngsters departed.

Sixteen peregrine falcons, five white storks and 13 white-backed woodpeckers were released during the year. Fifty-four lesser white-fronted geese were hatched by the Russian breeding pair and were placed out at Adolfström in southern Lapland. Five of the geese were fitted with satellite transmitters, so we were able to see that after a few somewhat unexpected deviations, the Swedish geese gradually gathered at their natural overwintering sites on the North Sea coasts of Holland and Germany. The release method developed as part of the project must therefore be considered a success.

A large number of educational activities and events were organised during the anniversary year. Considerable efforts were also made in the public park to make it easier for visitors to learn about Nordens Ark’s field operations in the natural habitats of our animal species. Together with more vigorous marketing, this resulted in an increase in the number of people, organisations and businesses supporting us through sponsorship, membership, adoptions, gifts, bequests and donations. The volume of visitors to the park during 2014 was the highest in more than ten years, despite an exceptionally hot summer season.

The financial outcome for the year was the best ever, due in part to a larger number of gifts and donations, but mostly to two unexpected bequests.

Measures implemented as collaborative projects with agencies and organisationsFor three years, Nordens Ark has been collaborating with WWF Sweden and WWF Russia on a conservation project for the Amur tiger in the Russian Far East. A joint field visit took place in May to the Anuisky National Park, where we were able to establish that our efforts have produced surprisingly good results. The number of tigers in the region covered by the project has doubled. The project has been financed largely by the Swedish Postcode Lottery. To ensure that the project and investments continue, Nordens Ark and WWF Sweden decided to extend the agreement with WWF Russia for a further three years.

Collaboration with the Snow Leopard Trust (SLT) continued throughout 2014. Research into the snow leopard population in Mongolia’s Tost Mountains will carry on and will be widened to take in a new focus area in India. A delegation from India, led by a minister from Himachal Pradesh, together with representatives from the region and one from the SLT, paid a visit to Nordens Ark to discuss increased co-operation. In the spring, we received a request for help in building a rehabilitation centre for, primarily, snow leopards and their prey animals. In connection with this, a further delegation arrived at Nordens Ark to learn more about animal care and how to build enclosures. At the close of 2014, the Board decided to extend the collaboration with the SLT for three more years. This co-operation will also encompass the Pallas' cat. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland joined the project as third partner.

Persian leopard. Photo: T. Svensson

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There were releases of peregrine falcons on the Folksam tower in Stockholm. The spectacular placing out of four youngsters was carried out in conjunction with Folksam, Stockholm Ornithological Society (StOF), the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SNF), the University of Gothenburg and the county administrative boards in Stockholm, Västmanland and Örebro. As anticipated, the event attracted wide media coverage.

Many agencies and organisations have been involved in the work to breed and establish a wild population of white-backed woodpeckers. The SNF is project leader and participants have included the University of Gothenburg, the Swedish Orni thological Society (SOF), the WWF and several county administrative and forestry boards, as well as the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management and a number of Norwegian counties.

The project to strengthen the lesser white-fronted goose population has involved the Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management, the Swedish Species Information Centre, Norbotten county administrative board, the German LWfG-Satellite-Transmitter project, Germany’s Institute for Wetlands and Waterfowl Research, the Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology, and the Russian Goose, Swan and Duck Study Group of Northern Eurasia, based at Moscow Zoo.

A closer association began with the Costa Rica Amphibian Research Centre, Manchester Museum and Bristol Zoo with the aim of saving the endangered common tree frog. A field trip to Costa Rica took place during the year. Nordens Ark participated in an international meeting on the Montserrat frog at London Zoo, where all 13 organisations and universities involved discussed how the species could be preserved. Nordens Ark was assigned an especially important role in breeding the species for future release in the West Indies. An agreement was signed regarding our participation over the coming three years.

Nordens Ark has been working for two years with Sotenäs municipality to restore a spawning ground near Smögen for the natterjack toad. We have also been collaborating with Strömstad municipality to find out how many sand lizards exist there. Kalmar county administrative board and Nordens Ark have continued their partnership over the release of green toads on Öland. With

Stockholm county administrative board we have pressed on with work to establish sustainable populations of long horn beetles. The last of three trips to Poland to collect great capricorn beetles took place during 2014 in a joint project with Polish conservation agencies and Kalmar county administrative board.

Research and educational activitiesA scientific meeting focusing on the Ecopark and its grazing animals was organised in the course of the year. In co-operation with students and researchers from various universities, assessments were made of the progress of flora and fauna. The idea was to find out what impact the conversion from managed forestry to pastureland has had on biological diversity.

More detailed discussions took place during 2014 with the University of Gothenburg on the prospects of widening course collaboration so that certain coursework can be carried out at Nordens Ark, while staff from Nordens Ark can be involved in modules at the university. Students from the university currently receive training at Nordens Ark in conservation biology, communication and nature guiding.

Uppsala University has for many years offered conservation biology courses, principally at masters level, at Nordens Ark.

REAL upper secondary school elected to send pupils to Nordens Ark for a week of special study on the theme of ‘zoo animals’. Starting in 2006, Mölndal city has been running nature-training summer and weekend activities at Nordens Ark for special-needs children, and, as in previous years, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has undertaken parts of its students’ training with us. In the course of the year, SLU Skara’s Department of Animal Environment and Health held its unity days as well as its unity trip at Nordens Ark.

Nordens Ark is working with Uddevalla upper secondary school on a specialisation of its nature science programme. This involves parts of the training taking place at Nordens Ark across all three years, with the number of hours increasing each year. For the fourth year, the agricultural college at Dingle and Nordens Ark are collaborating over a 40-week adult education course in animal care. Joint training projects have been established with several

MD Lena M Lindén and Chairman of the Board Göran Bengtsson welcome guests to the inauguration of the Ecopark. Photo: L. Blomqvist

28

bodies including Swedish Academic Ethologists, Kosterhavet National Park and county administrative boards. Agricultural colleges at, for example, Ljusdal, Svalöv, Strömma and Tvååker have undertaken some of their animal care training with us.

Pre-schoolThe Nordens Ark I djur och skur pre-school increased the number of its child places during the year from 18 to 24. The children are aged from one to five years and work in small groups on subjects related to nature and the environment. Learning about rights of way and the seasonal cycle was one of the goals for this year; another was how to be a good friend and to understand one’s personal values.

The head of the pre-school went through the ‘pre-school pledge’ at college, a course worth 7.5 credits of systematic quality work. During the autumn, 40 people attended a networking meeting for I ur och skur (Rain or Shine) pre-schools in the local area. The staff comprise four teachers and a cook. The pre-school is much in demand and continues to have a long childcare waiting list.

Visitor operationsThe number of visitors to Nordens Ark increased by about five per cent on the previous year and was the highest since 2001. Despite this, income for July was down 19 per cent, probably due to the unusually hot weather. The park’s ‘child stations’ were renovated during the year and several new ones were added. They

make up a so-called ‘zoolympiad’, where visiting children and young people can compete and compare their abilities against those of the animals. A new play area using natural materials has been provided by the Wolf Lodge. To improve the visitor experience in the areas around the Farm, a smart new walkway has been created. A playground, goats’ pen, rabbit mound and ‘Don’t touch the ground’ track are among new additions in the Farm’s public areas that families with children are particularly appreciating.

Also new for 2014 was a stable with public area on a level with the animals next to the Przewalski’s horse enclosure. The new Persian leopard facility was a big attraction for visitors. The enclosure can be seen from a spectacular walkway and viewing area 12 metres above the ground which links the Pallas' cat enclosure with the snow leopards – so a real-life ‘catwalk’. The markhor enclosure has been extended towards the tigers and the pathway between the lynx and markhor widened, the aim being to improve the experience for visitors without having a detrimental effect on the animals’ welfare.

To mark our 25th anniversary, we offered guided tours to all visitors during high season. The park programme was expanded throughout, with a number of stations where staff talked about our work in saving threatened species.

Public servicesOccupancy at the hotel was up by about 15 per cent, with the improvement due entirely to private visitors. Sales in the cafeteria were 14 per cent higher, and proceeds were up on the previous

H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria visited Nordens Ark during the 25th anniversary celebrations. Photo: T. Svensson

29

year’s. It should be remembered that the costs of the anniversary celebrations were set against income.

Shop sales increased overall, as did sales per visitor. Net income for the hotel, shop and cafe was 1.3 million kronor.

Communications and mediaThe marketing department’s priority during 2014 was to publicise the 25th anniversary celebrations. Ahead of our big weekend of festivities, we advertised both locally and on social media. Some 15 types of invitation were sent out in the run-up to the celebrations of June 13-15.

An indoor and an outdoor exhibition toured Sweden. The outdoor one, with some 20 images of animals and information about the work of Nordens Ark, spent two months in Gustaf Adolf’s Square in Gothenburg and one month at Skansen in Stockholm. During the autumn, it toured the west coast from Strömstad to Uddevalla. The corresponding indoor exhibition has been seen at a large number of locations across the south of Sweden.

Alongside these displays, the marketing department was involved in activities at several shopping centres in Uddevalla, Gothenburg and Stockholm.

Media coverage was good. In total, about 30 press releases and press invitations were sent out. News items were picked up several times by the Newspapers’ Telegram Bureau (TT), among others. A report about lesser white-fronted geese fitted with radio transmitters, and another on peregrine falcons being released in Stockholm, each resulted in almost 100 media stories during June and July. We heard, in fact, that Nordens Ark was mentioned in 1,037 reports, 602 of them on the internet.

Our activity on Facebook and other social networks such as Twitter and Instagram has increased. During the year the number of ‘likes’ for the Nordens Ark Facebook page went up from 5,500 to 7,700. Several individual posts reached more than 20,000 people.

The pathway at the snow leopard enclosure was extended and connected to the pathway at the Pallas' cat enclosure. This coincided with the construction of the new Persian leopard enclosures. Photo: L. Blomqvist

In November we signed an agreement to create a new website and visitor app. The hope is to launch the new homepage in the spring of 2015.

A film with photographs ‘from under the surface to high in the air’ was projected on to the facade of Gothenburg Museum of Art during the city’s Christmas celebrations. The film was shown a total of 190 times and, it is estimated, was seen by at least 100,000 people.

StaffThe number of annual employees was 58, 57 per cent of whom were female and 43 per cent male. During the year, 119 people worked at Nordens Ark as permanent, substitute or temporary seasonal employees.

In 2014 the Board began the process of recruiting a new managing director, since the current MD retires in 2015.

Environmental reportNordens Ark Foundation has held an environmental diploma with Swedish Environmental Base since 2010. During our anniversary year, targets were set that were aimed directly at the general public and visitors. The goal was to educate and raise awareness of the significance of environmental initiatives. This was done through various activities and campaigns.

We played a part in the EAZA Pole to Pole campaign which focused on the Earth’s two Poles and the threats they face. Within the framework of this campaign, throughout the year we gave out tips under the heading ‘Action of the Day’ on our website and through social media, telling people how they could easily make small changes to their daily routines that would make a big difference to the environment.

On June 28 we had a campaign day in the park, focusing on the climate.

30

Before the autumn we sent out our climate ambassadors, ‘Climate Klas’ and ‘Climate Klara’, to local schools. These stuffed animals were wearing a USB necklace packed with information, and they taught schoolchildren about the role they could play in combatting climate change.

Nordens Ark is participating in the WAZA project Biodiversity Is Us, a worldwide initiative run by zoos and aquariums. The project is running in parallel with the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, a global vision whose objective is to halt biodiversity loss by 2020.

New refrigeration rooms were installed in the hotel and Wolf Lodge during the year as part of our efforts to cut energy usage.

The cafeteria has a palm-oil-free range, and source foods are gradually being replaced by locally produced alternatives. There is a bias towards Fair Trade and organically produced options.

Foundations, trusts, partners and sponsorsNordens Ark Foundation has two types of partner: those of a scientific and those of a business nature. The Erna and Victor Hasselblad Foundation pays for Nordens Ark’s professorship in conservation biology at the University of Gothenburg, with a seat at Nordens Ark. The Geneva-based Segré Foundation contributes to scientific work on the common tree frog, white-backed woodpecker and lesser white-fronted goose. The Erik and Lily Philipson Memorial Fund contributed to developing educational activities connected with the Ecopark, while Thuréus Forskarhem’s contribution went towards scientific work.

Volvo Trucks and the Gothenburg Post have been our partners for many years, and in 2013 AB Volvo became principal sponsor of the Persian leopard. As well as the pecuniary aspect, these agreements are worth a lot to Nordens Ark since they

provide excellent marketing opportunities and a very positive brand association.

Some 25 businesses and individuals support us as sponsors. As a sponsor, a company provides funds, services and goods of significant value.

Gifts and donationsLotteries run by the Swedish Postcode Lottery are the ones that today generate the most money for the non-profit sector in Sweden. Over the past three years, these lotteries have shared out billions of kronor annually. With its sister lotteries in Holland and the UK, the Swedish Postcode Lottery is the world’s third-largest contributor to non-profit organisations. Since 2010, Nordens Ark has received 25 million kronor, including 7 million in 2014. In addition, the special Amur tiger project organised with the WWF in 2012-14 received 5.3 million kronor from the Postcode Lottery.

The Friends of Nordens Ark donated 2.7 million kronor in 2014 – a record – and the number of members increased to 9,000. As well as the donation, members contribute with voluntary work that is of very great value to us. In total, the Friends of Nordens Ark have now contributed 25 million kronor since they started.

Thanks to our mail-outs, about 10,000 people contribute regularly with gifts to our 90-account, bringing in a total of 2.9 million kronor in 2014. Appeals for donations to our Persian leopard and tiger projects produced almost 0.5 million kronor. The number of adopters was up by four per cent and they contributed 0.6 million kronor.

The Thordén Foundation named Nordens Ark as the first recipient of the new ‘Bohus prize’. The prize sum is 1 krona per

Pallas' cat. Foto: T. Svensson

31

inhabitant of Bohus county, and it came to a total of 292,236 kronor.

The ‘giftmas trees’ at Liseberg and Åby manor over Christmas brought in twice as much as the previous year.

Swedish Fundraising Control and Swedish Fundraising CouncilThe Foundation is a member of the Swedish Fundraising Council (FRII), a trade association for voluntary organisations holding a 90-account. During the year, new policy documents were adopted by the Board in connection with the FRII’s updated quality code. Beneficiaries of the Swedish Postcode Lottery are required to be FRII members.

The work of the Board in 2014The Board held four meetings and made a field trip to Holland. The trip was intended to help us understand how successful zoos think and operate.• Final accounts meeting in March.• Meeting ahead of the anniversary weekend and season.• Follow-up and assessment of the year in connection with

October’s field trip.• Determination of the Animal Collection and operational

plans and budget, and instructions for the Board and MD.

Earnings and financial positions

The Foundation’s revenuesThe Foundation’s total revenues amounted to 60.4 million kronor (50.9 million kronor). Of this sum, gifts made up 24.5

European ground squirrel. Photo: C. Larsson

million kronor (17.4 million kronor), with the Postcode Lottery contributing 7.1 million kronor (7.0 million kronor) and bequests 6.7 million kronor (1.1 million kronor). Contributions counted as revenue amounted to 7.5 million kronor (8.0 million kronor). Income from the sale of goods and services came to 11.7 million kronor (10.2 million kronor). Other income amounted to 16.7 million kronor (15.3 million kronor), with admission charges accounting for 11.7 million kronor (12.4 million kronor).

Operating costs and expensesThe Foundation’s operating costs totalled 53.9 million kronor (50.5 million kronor). Of this sum, direct project costs amounted to 38.9 million kronor (36.8 million kronor). This increase is due largely to research and training activities. Fundraising and administration costs came to 4.6 million kronor (4.4 million kronor).

Overview (000s kr) 2014 2013 2012 2011

The Foundation’s revenues

60 408 50 929 51 517 42 749

Income after financial items

6 665 294 2 229 - 1 561

Operating margin 11 % 0,9 % 4,6 % Neg

Balance sheet total 44 721 41 297 36 654 34 652

Equity ratio 56,0 % 44, 6 % 49,4 % 45,9 %

Net income and general positionNet income for 2014 amounted to 6.7 million kronor (0.3 million kronor), an increase of 6.4 million kronor. This improvement in earnings is due primarily to an increase in gifts from the public, which rose by 7.2 million kronor. The effect on the results was somewhat lessened due to higher project costs. The Foundation’s financial position is sound. Equity ratio amounted to 56 per cent.

Nordens Ark strives to ensure secure financing of the Foundation’s projects and commitments. Many of our projects are long-term ones, and the day-to-day functioning and security of the park always comes first. Strong equity capital is a prerequisite in ensuring reinvestment and maintenance of Nordens Ark.

InvestmentsThe year’s total investments amounted to 8.9 million kronor (6.5 million kronor), of which 7.2 million kronor (2.2 million kronor) was self-funded.

Within the framework of self-financed investments, the following projects were completed or are in progress: construction of a markhor enclosure, new road to the Farm, planned investments in vehicles, machinery and equipment.

Construction of the Persian leopard enclosures was funded by, among others, AB Volvo.

Definition of key ratiosOperating marginOperating income as a percentage of total salesEquity ratioAdjusted equity as a percentage of the balance sheet total

Allocation of profit/lossThe year’s net income of 6,664,799 kronor will be carried forward. The equity capital will then amount to 25,076,141 kronor.

For the Foundation’s net income and general position, kindly refer to the income statement and balance sheet with accompanying notes that follow.

32

Income statement   

    01-01-2014 01-01-2013

Figures in Swedish kronor Note 12-31-2014 12-31-2013

The Foundation revenues    

Admission charges 11 731 418 11 241 323

Sale of goods and services 1 11 685 902 10 218 253

Income from training and school 4 106 075 2 987 568

Gifts 2 24 450 208 17 423 259

Contributions 2 7 539 870 8 017 299

Other operating revenues 894 634 1 041 684

Total 60 408 107 50 929 386

   

Operating costs and expenses 3    

Goods   -4 030 955 -3 460 232

Other external expenses   -21 238 125 -19 296 807

Employee costs 4 -26 904 709 -26 350 744

Depreciation and write-downs on      

tangible and intangible fixed assets 5 -1 687 959 -1 389 213

    -53 861 748 -50 496 996

Operating income   6 546 359 432 390

Financial items    

Interest and similar income 6 264 199 33 122

Interest expense -145 759 -171 050

Income after financial items 6 664 799 294 462

   

Tax on net income for the year 0 0

   

Net income for the year   6 664 799 294 462

33

Figures in Swedish kronor Note 12-31-2014 12-31-2013

ASSETS    

   

Fixed assets    

Tangible fixed assets 5    

Buildings and land 9 367 151 8 723 897

Land improvements 13 289 123 14 386 931

Equipment, tools and other installations 3 164 307 1 207 394

Animals 0 100 000

Ongoing new constructions 5 458 722 1 387 010

Total fixed assets 31 279 303 25 805 232

   

Current assets    

Inventories etc.    

Inventories 1 268 640 1 030 519

1 268 640 1 030 519

Current receivables    

Accounts receivable 761 795 2 548 167

Tax refund claim 451 097 223 869

Other receivables 944 693 7 161 654

Prepaid expenses and accrued income 7 3 267 673 1 878 623

5 425 258 11 812 313

   

Short-term investments 46 311 247 081

46 311 247 081

   

Cash in hand and bank deposits 11 6 701 111 2 401 992

Total current assets 13 441 320 15 491 905

   

TOTAL ASSETS   44 720 623 41 297 137

 

Figures in Swedish kronor Note 12-31-2014 12-31-2013

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES    

   

Equity capital 8    

Restricted equity    

Foundation fund 24 500 24 500

24 500 24 500

   

Unrestricted equity    

Unappropriated retained earnings 18 386 842 18 092 380

Net income for the year 6 664 799 294 462

25 051 641 18 386 842

Total equity 25 076 141 18 411 342

   

Long-term liabilities    

Debt to credit institutions 9 3 950 000 4 050 000

Prepaid revenue 10 5 589 370 6 535 483

Total long-term liabilities 9 539 370 10 585 483

   

Current liabilities    

Bank advances 11 0 1 700 516

Accounts payable 2 375 766 3 738 065

Other current liabilities 592 392 1 156 464

Total accrued expenses and prepaid revenue 12 7 136 954 5 705 267

Total accrued expenses and prepaid revenue 10 105 112 12 300 312

TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 44 720 623 41 297 137

   

Pledged securities and contingent liabilities      

Figures in Swedish kronor 12-31-2014 12-31-2013

Pledged securities 13 10 500 000 10 500 000

Balance sheet

34

      01-01-2014 01-01-2013

Figures in Swedish kronor     12-31-2014 12-31-2013

   

Current operations    

Operating income 6 546 359 432 390

Adjustments for non-cash items    

Deprecation and write-downs 1 687 959 1 389 213

Capital gain from sale of equipment -49 432 64 000

   

Financial income 264 199 33 122

Interest paid -145 759 -171 050

Cash flow from current operations before changes in operating capital 8 303 326 1 747 675

Changes in operating capital    

Changes in inventories -238 121 -51 144

Changes in receivables 6 387 055 -5 141 324

Changes in current liabilities -3 141 311 -903 896

Cash flow from current operations 11 310 949 -4 348 689

 

Investment operations  

Acquisition of tangible fixed assets -8 911 900 -6 510 319

Sale of equipment 66 000 -64 000

Investment contributions received 1 733 300 4 274 236

Cash flow from investment operations -7 112 600 -2 300 083

 

Financing operations  

Increase in long-term liabilities 0 6 535 483

Repayment of debt     -100 000 -1 282 600

Cash flow from financing operations -100 000 5 252 883

 

Cash flow for the year 4 098 349 -1 395 889

Liquid funds at the beginning of the year1 2 649 073 4 044 962

Liquid funds at the end of the year1 6 747 422 2 649 073

1 Liquid funds comprise cash in hand, bank deposits and short-term investments.

Cash flow analysis

35

GeneralThe Annual Report has been prepared in accordance with the Annual Accounts Act, BFNAR 2012:1 (K3) and the Swedish Fundraising Council’s template for annual reports. The Annual Report also includes certain information required by the Swedish Fundraising Control.

Changes in accounting principles      The following accounting and valuation principles have changed in the transition to K3:• Fixed assets are divided into components, affecting

depreciation of property.• The opening balance has not been recalculated. In connection

with this change, certain reclassifications have been made between installations and buildings.

• The principle of classification of gifts and grants has been changed in accordance with the transition to K3, and 2013 comparisons have been recalculated accordingly.

Operating revenues        Revenues are taken up at the actual value that has been or will be received. A transaction in which Nordens Ark receives an asset or service that has a value, without giving back an equivalent value in exchange, is considered a gift or contribution. If the asset is received because Nordens Ark has fulfilled, or is going to fulfil, certain conditions and there is an obligation to repay the giver should the conditions not be met, it is considered a received contribution. If it is not a contribution, it is a gift. Gifts are normally accounted for in the period in which they are received, and this applies equally to funds received from the Postcode Lottery. Sales of postage stamps, postcards and similar items are declared when the payment is received. Where gifts received have been accepted subject to a proviso that they be used for a specific purpose and they have not been used by the end of the financial year, they are reported as prepaid gifts in the final accounts. The funds are reversed when the gift is used and they are taken up as operating income (received gifts).

The contribution is reported as income when the proviso under which it was received is met. Contributions received are recorded as a debt until the conditions for receiving them are met. Gifts and contributions for the acquisition of fixed assets reduce the cost of that asset. This means that the asset is recorded at its net acquisition cost, which is the basis for calculating its depreciation. Details of the year’s gross acquisition cost and contributions received are shown in the notes. Sales of goods and services are recorded in the period to which the income relates.

Operating costsThe Foundation’s operating costs and expenses consist of direct project costs, fundraising costs and administrative expenses. The Foundation’s income statement is classified by nature of expense, and details of direct project costs, fundraising costs and administrative expenses can be found in the appropriate notes. Direct project costs Direct project costs comprise the Foundation’s costs for rescuing and preserving endangered animals, and for information, research and educational activities. Costs directly linked to complying with the paragraph on direct projects in the Foundation’s statutes are classified as direct project costs. Shared costs distributed over the direct project costs are also classified as direct project costs.

Fundraising costs Fundraising costs are direct costs relating to fundraising efforts directed at donors, i.e. revenues in the form of gifts, bequests and donations. The work includes both current donors and efforts to find new ones. Fundraising costs comprise both direct costs such as the collection staff’s salaries and shared costs distributed over the fundraising costs. Administrative expenses Administrative expenses comprise the costs incurred in administering Nordens Ark. These include, for example, administrative systems, wages and salaries for administrative staff, premises and audits. Assets and liabilities Assets, allocations and liabilities are taken up at acquisition value unless stated otherwise. Inventories Inventories are valued according to the lower of cost and market principle, using the first-in first-out (FIFO) method. This means that inventories are taken up at the lower of acquisition value according to the FIFO method and real (market) value. A standard deduction of three per cent has been made for obsolescence. Valuation of animals comprises the animals owned by the Foundation. The zoological park’s operations also include animals that the Foundation does not own but has at its disposal as so-called breeding loans. The value of these animals is far in excess of the value of the park’s own animals. New animals resulting from these operations have not been taken up. Tangible fixed assets Tangible fixed assets are taken up at acquisition value less accumulated depreciation and any write-downs. Depreciation according to plan is based on original acquisition values and estimated life. A write-down is made where impairment of value is permanent. Land is not depreciated.

Grants received towards acquisition of fixed assets reduce the cost of that asset. Details of grants received are given in the notes. Accumulated support for each type of facility is shown in Note 5.

The following depreciation periods are used:Buildings 15-100 yearsEnclosures and facilities 20 yearsEquipment, tools and other installations 5-8 years The difference between the above depreciation and depreciations made for tax purposes is reported as over-/under-depreciation, which is included in untaxed reserves. Income taxThe tax for the current financial year as it is reported in the income statement contains the tax costs or tax revenues. Deferred tax is not reported separately if it is only the balance sheet item untaxed reserves that entails deferred tax. Deferred tax refund claims are reported only if there is a very high probability that they can be legally set off against tax liabilities. Average number of employeesThe average number of employees has been calculated by dividing the total number of hours worked during the financial year by an average number of working hours based on the average of the Foundation’s blue-collar and white-collar staff ’s working hours.

Accounting and valuation principles and notes

36

Note 1 Sale of goods and servicesThe figure represents income from hotel, shop and cafeteria sales. Net income from the hotel, shop and cafeteria amounted to 1,253,000 kronor (869,000 kronor).

Note 2 Gifts and contributionsOf the total amount received from organisations, 7.1 million kronor (7 million kronor) came from the Postcode Lottery. The sum of 1,650,000 kronor (2,500,000 kronor) was received from the Nordens Ark fundraising foundation. During the year the Foundation received gifts from the general public totalling 15,178,208 kronor (7,923,259 kronor), with bequests accounting for 6,749,035 kronor (1,119,345 kronor).

       

Gifts reported as revenue   2014 2013

General public       14 885 972 7 923 259

Other organisations       9 564 236 9 500 000

Total         24 450 208 17 423 259

     

Contributions reported as revenue   2014 2013

Companies         1 586 997 2 359 080

Other organisations       5 364 681 5 017 991

Total         6 951 678 7 377 071

Public subsidies          

EU         525 751 542 669

Others         62 441 97 559

Total         588 192 640 228

Total contributions       7 539 870 8 017 299

             

Total gifts and contributions     31 990 078 25 440 558

             

Note 3 Operating costs and expenses      

Fundraising costs, administrative expenses and direct project costs reported according to the Swedish Fundraising Control’s guidelines amount to: 2014 2013

             

Direct costs in connection with goods and services 10 364 404 9 285 539

Other fundraising costs     1 671 846 1 600 771

Administrative expenses     2 904 220 2 815 146

Direct project costs       38 921 278 36 795 540

Total         53 861 748 50 496 996

             

Note 4 Employee costs  

Average number of employees 2014 2013

Men 23 21

Women 25 22

Male seasonal staff 2 5

Female seasonal staff     8 7

Total 58 55

Total number of employees during the year   2014 2013

Men    42  40

Women    78  65

Total    120  105

       

Wages and salaries, other remunerations and social costs

Board and Managing Director 1 035 147 995 153

Other employees 18 748 835 17 850 823

Total 19 783 982 18 845 976

37

Note 5 Depreciation of tangible assets    

          12-31-2014 12-31-2013

Buildings and land          

Acquisition value at beginning of year     9 730 054 9 730 054

Purchases       317 301 0

Reclassification       500 000 0

Accumulated acquisition value at end of year 10 547 355 9 730 054

             

Accumulated depreciation at beginning of year   -1 006 157 -942 486

Depreciation for the year       -74 047 -63 671

Reclassification       -100 000 0

Accumulated depreciation at end of year   -1 180 204 -1 006 157

             

Book value       9 367 151 8 723 897

             

Accumulated contributions amount to 32,109,791 kronor (28,609,791 kronor). The change relates to reclassified investment contributions.

             

          12-31-2014 12-31-2013

Land improvement          

Acquisition value at beginning of year     32 969 619 29 384 104

Purchases       137 092 2 645 512

Reclassification of investment     -500 000 2 449 950

Reclassification of contributions     0 -509 947

Contributions         0 -1 000 000

Accumulated acquisition value at end of year 32 606 711 32 969 619

             

Accumulated depreciation at beginning of year   -18 582 688 -18 001 686

Depreciation for the year       -834 900 -581 002

Reclassification       100 000 0

Accumulated depreciation at end of year   -19 317 588 -18 582 688

             

Book value       13 289 123 14 386 931

Accumulated contributions amount to 35,000,121 kronor (38,500,121 kronor). The change relates to reclassified investment contributions.

   

       

Social costs    

Pension contributions for the Board and Managing 387 000 670 691

Pension contributions for other staff   656 019 1 086 206

Social security contributions   5 867 367 5 902 113

Total   6 910 386  7 659 010 

If the MD’s employment is terminated by the Foundation, the MD will receive severance pay equivalent to 12 months’ pay. The amount will be reduced if the MD finds other employment within a period of 12 months.

       

Distribution by gender    2014 2013 

Distribution of men and women on the Board:  

Women 4 4

Men 7 7

Distribution of men and women on the management team:  

Women 3 3

Men 3 3

38

Note 7 Prepaid expenses and accrued income           12-31-2014 12-31-2013

Prepaid expenses     425 265 232 548

Accrued contributions       292 621 666 430

          12-31-2014 12-31-2013

Equipment, tools and other installations        

Acquisition value at beginning of year     9 701 793 9 308 007

Purchases       2 652 495 781 922

Divestments/scrapping     -85 795 0

Reclassification       100 000 0

Contributions         0 -388 136

Accumulated acquisition value at end of year 12 368 493 9 701 793

Accumulated depreciation at beginning of year   -8 494 399 -7 749 857

Divestments/scrapping     69 226 0

Depreciation for the year       -779 013 -744 542

Accumulated depreciation at end of year   -9 204 186 -8 494 399

             

Book value       3 164 307 1 207 394

Accumulated contributions amount to 1,548,100 kronor (1,548,100 kronor).  

          12-31-2014 12-31-2013

Animals            

Acquisition value at beginning of year     520 418 520 418

Reclassification       -520 418 0

Accumulated acquisition value at end of year 0 520 418

             

Accumulated depreciation at beginning of year   -420 418 -420 418

Reclassification       420 418 0

Accumulated depreciation at end of year   0 -420 418

             

Book value       0 100 000

             

          12-31-2014 12-31-2013

Ongoing new construction          

Acquisition value at beginning of year     1 387 010 3 130 230

Purchases       5 805 012 3 082 885

Contributions         -1 733 300 -2 886 103

Reclassification of investment     0 -2 449 950

Reclassification of contributions     0 509 948

Accumulated acquisition value at end of year 5 458 722 1 387 010

             

Book value       5 458 722 1 387 010

             

Accumulated contributions amount to 10,743,967 kronor (9,010,937 kronor)  

             

Note 6 Interest income and similar income          2014 2013

Interest         7 184 33 122

Capital gains on sales   210 704 0

Dividends       46 311 0

Total         264 199 33 122

39

Note 12 Accrued expenses and prepaid revenue    

      12-31-2014 12-31-2013

Accrued holiday pay       2 162 650 2 149 944

Accrued social contributions       1 207 537 1 199 648

Wage tax         286 527 401 441

Prepaid contributions and gifts     2 947 230 1 459 560

Other items       533 009 494 674

Total accrued expenses and prepaid revenue 7 136 953 5 705 267

Note 13 Pledged securities 

12-31-2014 12-31-2013

Corporate mortgages 5 500 000 5 500 000

Property mortgages 5 000 000 5 000 000

Total pledged securities         10 500 000 10 500 000

 

Accrued gifts       2 174 481 500 000

Accrued revenue       375 305 479 645

Total accrued expenses and prepaid revenue 3 267 672 1 878 623

             

Note 8 Equity capital      

     Foundation fund

Unappropriated retained earnings

Net income for the year

Total

Total at beginning of year 24 500 18 092 380 294 462 18 411 342

Transfer of retained earnings 294 462 -294 462 0

Net income for the year         6 664 799 6 664 799

Total at end of year     24 500 18 386 842 6 664 799 25 076 141

             

           

Note 9 Long-term liabilities      

      Maturity date

Debt   Debt at 12-31-2014 Within one year

Between one and five years

Over five years

100 000 400 000 3 450 000Debt to credit institutions 3 950 000

Total   3 950 000 100 000 400 000 3 450 000

           

Note 10 Long-term prepaid revenue        12-31-2014 12-31-2013

           

Balance at beginning of year       6 535 483 7 035 483

Received contributions       599 946 0

Reclassification       -1 046 060 0

Funds used in accordance with conditions     -500 000 -500 000

Total long-term prepaid revenue   5 589 369 6 535 483

             

Note 11 Bank advances  12-31-2014 12-31-2013

Credit granted in the form of bank overdraft facilities 5 000 000 9 000 000

40

Audit report

To the Board of Nordens Ark FoundationOrg. No. 854600-6191We have audited the annual accounts for Nordens Ark Founda-tion for the year 2014.

The Board´s responsibility for the annual accountsThe Board has the responsibility for preparing annual accounts that give a true and fair view according to the Annual Accounts Act, and for internal controls deemed necessary by the Board to compile annual accounts free of material misstatement, whether due to irregularities or errors.

The auditor’s responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the annual ac-counts based on our audit. We have carried out our audit in ac-cordance with the International Standards on Auditing and withgenerally accepted auditing standards in Sweden. Those stan-dards demand that we comply with professional ethical require-ments and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assu-rance that the annual accounts are free of material misstatement. An audit includes acquiring by various measures audit evidence relating to sums and other information in the annual accounts. The auditor selects which actions to perform, including asses-sing the risks of material misstatements in the annual accounts, whether due to irregularities or errors. In this risk assessment, the auditor takes into account those internal controls that are relevant to how the Board prepares the annual accounts in order to give a true and fair view, with the aim of designing inspec-tion measures appropriate to the circumstances, but not with the aim of commenting on the effectiveness of the Board’s internal controls. An audit also includes an evaluation of the suitability of the auditing principles used and of the reasonableness of the Board’s estimates in the report, as well as an evaluation of the overall presentation of the annual accounts. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient.

Statement We believe that the annual accounts have been compiled in ac-cordance with the Annual Accounts Act and give a view of the Foundation’s financial position as at December 31, 2014, and of its financial results and cash flow for the year, that is true and fair in all material respects in accordance with the Annual Ac-counts Act.

Statement on other requirementsaccording to laws and statutes In addition to our audit of the annual accounts, we have exami-ned the Board’s administration of Nordens Ark Foundation for the year 2014.

The Board’s responsibility The Board is responsible for the administration in accordance with the law governing foundations and the deed of foundation.

The auditor’s responsibility Our responsibility is to express with reasonable confidence an opinion on whether our inspection found that any board mem-ber acted in contravention of the law governing foundations or the deed of foundation. We have carried out our audit in ac-cordance with generally accepted auditing standards in Sweden. As a basis for our statement concerning the administration, we have, in addition to our audit of the annual accounts, exami-ned significant decisions, actions taken and the circumstances of the Foundation in order to determine the liability, if any, to the Foundation of any Board member and whether there be any cause for dismissal. We have also examined whether any Board member acted in any other way in contravention of the law go-verning foundations or the deed of foundation. We consider that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate as the basis for our statement.

Statement The Board members have not acted in contravention with the law governing foundations, the deed of foundation or the annual accounts Act.

Gothenburg, 17 March 2015

Ann-Lovise Rosenqvist Bo NormingAuthorised public accountant Elected accountant

41

Åby Manor, 17 March 2015

Göran BengtssonChairman of the Board

Sven Eckerstein Deputy Chairman

Margareta Wallin PetersonDeputy Chairman

Leif Nilsson Stefan Nilsson Staffan Jufors

Christer Petrén Susanne Wiklund Pål Svensson

Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg

Lena M LindénManaging Director

Our audit report has been given on 17 March 2015,

Ann-Lovise RosenqvistAuthorised public accountant Bo Norming

Elected accountant

42

BOARD OF DIRECTORSChairman of the BoardGöran Bengtsson, former Deputy County Governor Västra Götalands län

Deputy ChairmanSven Eckerstein, among other things former Chairman of the Board Chalmers University of TechnologyMargareta Wallin Peterson, Prorector, University of Goth-enburg

Board membersPege Schelander, Investigation MD, Vattenvårdsför bundetLeif Nilsson, ContractorChrister Petrén, former Deputy MD, SodexoSusanne Wiklund, Solicitor, Rosengrens AdvokatbyråPål Svensson, SculptorStefan Nilsson, Professor Emeritus, University og Gothen-burgElisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg, KreabStaffan Jufors, former CEO Volvo TrucksLena M Lindén, MD Nordens ArkThomas Crusner, Co-opted Member

AUDITORSAnn-Lovise Rosenqvist

Deputy AuditorLars Olehäll, Ernst & Young ABBo Norming, Nordens Ark

STAFFManaging Director Lena M LindénPersonal assistant Therese PatrikssonDeputy Managing Director Bo NormingScientific LeaderClaes AndrénDirector of Communications Therese PatrikssonEcopark Project Mats NiklassonSnow Leopard Project Örjan Johansson

Zoologist Leif BlomqvistZoological Assistant Ewa WikbergCurator Linnéa JohanssonHead Keepers Emil Gunnarsson, Susanne Geisen, Ingela Andersson, Anders Torstensson (temporary)Project Leader Christer LarssonZookeepers Maria Hallenberg, Dick Liljegren, John Söderlindh, Mia Abrahamsson, Josefin Hansson, Sandra Josefsson, Sara Hedvall, Kristofer Försäter, Catarina Tengroth, John Uno, Emma Nygren, Jimmy Helgesson, Elin Eriksson-Byröd, Sverker Thoresson, Karin Larsson, Anna Einemo, Linda Svensson, David Carlgren, Julie Östergaard Poulsen (temporary), Stina Öqvist, Camilla Schratz (temporary), Kenneth Emil Christensen, Viktor ÅströmRegistered Veterinarians of Nordens Ark Foundation Sune Gregorius, Bo RunstenEducation Eva Andersson, Pelle Karlsson, Björn Johansson, Patrik Swede, Lorina Stenwall Jonasson, Jenny Loberg (temporary)Buildings Hans Håkansson, Åke Gustafsson, Alf Hjelm, Pernilla Knuthsen, Sofia Viksson, Björn Karlsson, Ola Björsell, Ronny Trygg, Lars JohanssonFinancial DepartmentMaria HoffmannMarketing and Communications Jenny Magnusson, Elin Rantakokko, Lennart Johansson, Yvonne Johansson, Tom Svensson, Lotta Olofsson, Ann Mårtensson, Jenny SchmidtPre-school Linda Åsberg, Eva Erlandsson, Karolina Gullberg, Birgitta Liljegren, Birgitta Hedenberg (temporary), Anna Lindblom Johansson, Elisabet Etander

Board of directors, auditors and staff

43

Nordens Ark's partners

Nordens Ark's scientific partners

Sponsors

Ann-Katrin LundbergArctic PaperDag Engström Rederi ABElanders Sverige ABErna & Victor Hasselblad FoundationEsab ABHogia ABHolmens Herr ABKonsumentföreningen Bohuslän-ÄlvsborgLigula Hospitality Group ABLisebergMikaels Grävtjänst ABMobile Storytelling ABNBS Security ABNordstan MarknadsledningNovab ABOffiTech ABRambo ABSerlaSodexo ABSturm & Drang Reklambyrå ABVarsego Sverige ABVasco ABVolvo Personvagnar AB

Gifts, bequests and donationsAino Inkeri Mattsson (née Karvonen)Ann-Katrin Lundberg

Hairy hermit crab, Anomura sp. © Dennis King, South Africa.

WAZALindenrain 33012 BernSwitzerland

www.waza.org

High school lake ecology, Shedd Aquarium USA.

THE TIDE A GConservation and Sustainability

TUR

NIN

G TH

E TIDE A

Global A

quarium Strategy for Conservation and Sustainability

International SpeciesInventory System

European EndangeredSpecies Programme

World Association of Zoos and Aquariums

European Association of Zoos and Aquaria

Snow Leopard Trust

Svensk Djurparks-förening

Conservation Breeding Specialist GroupIUCN

Nordens Ark's memberships

Svensk Insamlingskontroll

FrivilligorganisationersInsamlingsråd

Britta & Olle Almén Bygg-G Förvaltnings ABChristopher GodfreyErna & Victor Hasselblad FoundationFamiljen Eliassons Stiftelse för utveckling av god byggnadskulturGillis LarssonGötiska FörbundetJan HagelLet's Deal ABLilla Samskolan, GothenburgLions UddevallaMargit SjöbergMarie-Claire Cronstedt FoundationMichael PerssonNordens Ark Fundraising FoundationNordens Arks VännerRune LindstedtRuthmarie RadbornStiftelsen Erik och Lily Philipsons MinnesfondStudiefrämjandetThe Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife ManagementThe Swedish Society for Nature ConservationThor ThorssonThordén FoundationThuréus ForskarhemVästanå TheatreVästra Götaland County Administrative Board

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Nord

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Nordens Ark, Åby ManorS-456 93 Hunnebostrand

SwedenTel: (+46)523-795 90Fax: (+46)523-520 87

Email: nordensark@nordensark.sewww.nordensark.se

Pg. 90 01 96-7