1. health and fitness
2. disease
3. cold and flu

FAO WWT WI Waterbird Capture and Avian
Influenza Surveillance Training Course
held at Dagona, Chad Basin National Park,
Yobe State, Nigeria
26th October - 13th November 2009
Report to
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations,
Report from
Ruth Cromie1, Richard Hearn1, David Paynter1 & Nicolas Tubbs2
1
2
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT, UK
Wetlands International, PO Box 471, 6700 AL Wageningen, The Netherlands
December 2009
Contents
SUMMARY
2
1
BACKGROUND
3
2
THE COURSE
5
2.1
Aim of the course
5
2.2
Location
5
2.3
Timing
5
2.4
Participants
2.4.1 Participant Specification
2.4.2 Selection Process
5
6
6
2.5
Trainers
8
2.6
Facilities
8
2.7
Accommodation
8
2.8
Food
8
2.9
Daily subsistence allowance (DSA)
8
2.10 Travel and transport
8
2.11 Language
9
2.12 Course structure
9
2.13 Course content
9
2.14 Trapping and avian influenza surveillance equipment
10
2.15 Capture techniques demonstrated and practiced in the field
10
2.16 Avian influenza sampling
12
2.17 Numbers and species of birds captured and sampled caught during the course
13
2.18 Health and safety
13
2.19 Animal welfare
13
2.20 Teaching resources
13
2.21 Certificate of attendance
14
2.22 Feedback and course outcomes
2.22.1 Administration and facilities
2.22.2 The training
2.22.3 Future needs
14
14
15
16
2.23 Debrief meetings
16
2.24 Issues arising
2.24.1 Equipment and field guides
2.24.2 Organisation of transport prior to the course
2.24.3 Number of participants
2.24.4 Numbers of birds caught
2.24.5 DSA
16
16
16
16
17
17
3
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
18
4
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
19
5
REFERENCES
20
APPENDIX 1 SELECTION CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPANTS
21
APPENDIX 2. CONTACT DETAILS OF PARTICIPANTS
22
APPENDIX 3. TRAINER PROFILES
26
AppENDIX 4. COURSE TIMETABLE
27
APPENDIX 5. CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE
29
APPENDIX 6. FEEDBACK FORM
30
APPENDIX 7: FEEDBACK SUMMARY
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FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report
SUMMARY
There is a clear need for building capacity for national wild bird avian influenza surveillance programmes
particularly in an African context. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the
European Commission’s New FluBird project funded a three week advanced waterbird capture and avian
influenza surveillance training programme at the Dagona Base Camp in the Chad Basin National Park, Yobe
State, northern Nigeria, in October/November 2009. The aim of the course was to build skills of ornithological
practitioners and infrastructure to allow long term wild bird avian influenza surveillance to be established in this
region of Nigeria and provide skilled personnel for surveillance in the countries of the other African participants.
The course trained 31 participants from five mainly Chad Basin countries (Nigeria (23), Niger (2), Chad (2) and
also Sudan (2) and Kenya (2)). The course proved to be very successful and was deemed by participants to have
fully achieved its objectives and their personal objectives also.
The course was run by trainers from the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) and Wetlands International (WI). A
variety of capture techniques were taught with the main focus on the advanced technique of cannon netting.
Cannon netting has the potential to allow the capture of large numbers of ducks (the main target for avian
influenza surveillance) and is of particular use in areas where other trapping methods cannot be used.
Duplicate sets of avian influenza samples were taken from trapped waterbirds, one set for the National
Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria, and one set for the New FluBird partner University of Kalmar,
Sweden.
Cannon netting is a technical, complex and potentially hazardous trapping technique and successful cannon
netters and cannon netting teams require certain key attributes. Many of the already experienced participants
proved themselves to be very technically adept and capable bird trappers and with a little extra training within
existing experienced cannon netting teams should be competent at being part of a regional cannon netting team
capable of both national and international wild bird surveillance programmes.
Given the experience of the Nigerian authorities and institutions in dealing with outbreaks of highly pathogenic
avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, the existing ornithological skills in Nigeria (primarily at the A.P. Leventis
Ornithological Research Institute, APLORI) and this, and previous, Nigerian capacity building and surveillance
work it is proposed that Nigeria becomes a regional platform for future wild bird avian influenza activities.
2
1 BACKGROUND
Since 2006 there have been outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in poultry in
numerous west and northern African countries (Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria,
Cameroon, Niger, Egypt, Sudan and Djibouti) with repeated outbreaks in Nigeria and Egypt. With respect to
Nigeria, both poultry imports and wild birds have been implicated in the introduction of infection to this region
although no direct evidence for the latter has been established (Gauthier-Clerc et al; 2007, Ducatez et al, 2006;
Owoade et al, 2008). Nigeria has an important culture of harvesting and selling wild birds in market situations,
where diseases may potentially be transferred between domestic and wild birds. Also, both legal and illegal trade
of domestic and wild bird species may serve as mechanisms for virus introduction and spread.
Some of Nigeria’s wetlands represent internationally important areas for both Afrotropical and migratory
Eurasian waterbird populations. Surveillance in these areas would provide important early warning and
information relevant to disease control in both Africa and Europe given the nature of migratory flyways in the
region. Interestingly, previous wild bird surveillance in Nigeria has reported cases of HPAI H5N2 in wild
waterfowl with no reported concurrent infections in poultry (Gaidet et al, 2008).
Globally, wild bird avian influenza surveillance is fraught with complexities. These include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
gaps in our understanding of the epidemiology of the virus and the disease in wild birds hence difficulties in
design of robust evidence-based surveillance strategies (Which species? When? Where? How?);
the difficulties in the practicalities of trapping sufficient wild birds to attain anywhere near an appropriate
sample size;
the limited skills of personnel trapping birds, taking samples and testing them in OIE/FAO-approved
laboratories;
the limited infrastructure to allow trapping of wild birds.
These limitations are often exacerbated in an African context. Whilst there are many excellent trained African
ornithologists, specialist training in advanced trapping methods such as cannon netting which allows relatively
unbiased catches of large numbers of birds, has been either non-existent or very limited.
There is a clear need to build capacity in trapping and surveillance skills and to provide the infrastructure to
conduct sustained wild bird avian influenza surveillance across the region. To answer this need, a joint venture
between FAO, Wetlands International (WI) and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) (funded by FAO and
New FluBird) was developed i.e. a training course aimed at building skills of ornithological practitioners and
infrastructure to allow long term surveillance to be established in this region of Nigeria and provide skilled
personnel for surveillance in the countries of the other African participants.
Support for this proposed course was voiced at the successful FAO workshop entitled "Interministerial and
Cross-Border Collaboration to Address Avian Influenza in Wild and Domestic Birds" held at the Abuja Sheraton
Hotel in March 2009, attended by mainly personnel from Ministries of Agriculture and Environment from
Nigeria, Niger and Chad.
New FluBird is a European Commission-funded project of a network of virologists and ornithologists to
provide an early warning system for avian influenza in wild birds for the European Union. The objective is for
New FluBird to achieve accurate coverage, sufficient detection and early warning capacity. This latter capacity
building aims to enable site(s) to be equipped with appropriate material for obtaining samples and (local) teams
to be trained in standardised operation of the equipment, methodologies for gathering and handling of the
samples and the shipping to laboratories for virological investigations as per FAO guidelines. Both WI and
WWT are partners in this project, the former being the coordinator of the ornithological partners. As part of this
project Nigeria and the broader Chad Basin area have been identified as Higher Risk Sites by the New FluBird
ornithological partners. Together, with FAO, New FluBird funded this course.
FAO, WI and WWT coordinated the course with WWT providing expertise in trapping and surveillance of wild
birds. Additionally the A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute (APLORI) represented the in-country
ornithological partner who helped supply of equipment and other logistics; and AFRING were invited to help
ensure coordination and longevity of capture and ringing programmes in Africa:
1.
FAO
FAO’s Wildlife Programme, based within the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD)
Animal Health Division has been recognized as a global leader in collecting scientific information to determine
the role that wild birds play in the maintenance and spread of HPAI. To date, with respect to wild bird avian
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FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report
influenza issues, FAO’s work in Nigeria has included surveillance and training workshop activities. FAO were
responsible for organising and funding all travel arrangements for participants, and accommodation and food
logistics.
2.
Wetlands International
Wetlands International has been coordinating wild bird avian influenza surveillance missions in Africa since 2006
through the support of FAO and the Global Avian Influenza Network for Surveillance (GAINS) and in
collaboration with national and international partners, notably CIRAD. Surveillance has been conducted in
Nigeria in 2007 and 2008 in partnership with the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom,
APLORI, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, the Nigerian National Parks, the National Health Laboratory
of Luxembourg, the Ottenby Observatory in Sweden, and others. WI helped organise logistics of the course, in
particular selection of, and liaison with, participants.
3.
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
WWT is an international wetland conservation charity. Like FAO and Wetlands International, WWT is a
member of the UN Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds. WWT has extensive expertise in
waterbird trapping and monitoring as well as wildlife health. WWT has been involved in international avian
influenza surveillance and capacity building projects in a number of countries including the WWT FAO CIRAD
Wetlands International Wild Bird Avian Influenza Surveillance Training Course held at WWT Slimbridge, UK, in
2007. WWT helped organise the logistics of the course and provided the three trainers covering all major aspects
of the course.
4.
A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute (APLORI)
APLORI is a research institute connected to the University of Jos, Nigeria, and represents a centre for excellence
in ornithology in west Africa. The institute trains students and groups in aspects of conservation biology.
APLORI staff and students have been key members of previous avian influenza surveillance programmes within
Nigeria and helped with practicalities and logistics of the course. APLORI’s Scientific Director, Dr. Shiiwua A.
Manu, acted as one of the facilitators throughout the three week training course.
5.
AFRING
The African Bird Ringing Scheme (AFRING) is an ongoing initiative aiming to improve the coordination and
quality of bird ringing programmes within Africa. It focuses on capacity building, establishing regional
cooperation and encouraging use of scientific data for bird and wetland conservation. AFRING is based in the
Animal Demography Unit, Cape Town, South Africa.
4
2 THE COURSE
2.1
Aim of the course
The aim of the course was:
 To build skills of ornithological practitioners and infrastructure to allow long term wild bird avian influenza
surveillance to be established in this region of Nigeria and provide skilled personnel for surveillance in the
countries of the other African participants.
The objectives of the training course were:
 To train course participants in methods of waterbird capture and marking, and sample collection, storage
and transport.
 To undertake practical waterbird capture and marking sessions, including use of traps and cannon nets (a
particular focus), and undertake practical sample collection sessions.
 To train and demonstrate principles and practicalities of personal health and safety.
 To train and demonstrate practicalities of animal welfare.
It was made clear from the beginning of the course that a three week training programme was unlikely to provide
sufficient experience to qualify participants as competent at catching and marking wild birds unsupervised, if
starting as a beginner, and, in particular, the use of cannon nets, which involves explosive materials and has the
potential to produce large catches of birds and therefore also has inherent major health and safety and animal
welfare considerations. These are skills that require considerable experience in order to develop a sufficient level
of competence, and this may take a number of years, involving much practical work under expert supervision
(strict licensing systems control cannon netting in other parts of the world where it is well developed).
2.2
Location
The course took part at the Dagona Base Camp in the Chad Basin National Park, Yobe State, northern Nigeria.
All formal teaching and practical aspects of building and constructing traps, and conducting practice cannon
netting took place at the Base Camp. Waterbird capture took place in the surrounding wetlands of the Chad
Basin National Park including: Muza, Shaguda and Ox Bow Lake.
2.3
Timing
Originally the course was planned to be held earlier in 2009 (February). For various reasons it was postponed
until the autumn with the "Interministerial and Cross-Border Collaboration to Address Avian Influenza in Wild
and Domestic Birds" workshop being held at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel in March 2009 instead. This workshop
facilitated the acceptability of this full training programme.
Training was meant to begin on Monday 26th October with all participants arriving before the 25th to allow
travel to Dagona. However, flights for some participants did not arrive until after this date delaying the formal
beginning of the course by two days. These two days were instead used for purchasing materials for traps and
some basic ornithology and reconnaissance of local wetlands to identify suitable locations for waterbird capture.
Formal teaching then began on the 28th (due to this delay and to maximise the training time, only one day off
was given during the course).
2.4
Participants
A participant selection process was developed by WI, WWT and FAO. The full selection process criteria are
appended (Appendix 1) with the summary presented below. The target audience was ornithological practitioners
i.e. those with existing ornithological and bird trapping skills who were in need of advanced training.
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FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report
2.4.1 Participant Specification
The participant should be a capable fieldworker with previous ornithological knowledge and, ideally, bird
handling and trapping experience. They should be technically adept and practical. They should have sufficient
capacity and flexibility in their work programmes to be able to commit to extensive amounts of time in the field.
It is likely that the participant will work for a wildlife conservation government or non-government organisation
although is unlikely to be in a senior position. They should have good verbal communication abilities and be
capable of strong team leadership. They should have sufficiently good English to be able to participate in a three
week course taught in English. Understanding of wild bird avian influenza surveillance is useful but not required.
2.4.2 Selection Process
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Country: The participant should come from a target country i.e. primarily west Africa, or other African
country. Ideally at least two people from that country will be trained to provide some in-country mutual
support once training is over.
Previous training and experience: It would be useful for the participant to have previous bird handling and
trapping experience e.g. those who have already attended another wild bird trapping training course.
Current job – subject and level of seniority: The participant should work for a wildlife conservation
organisation or relevant government department and a significant part of their job should involve fieldwork,
i.e. they have the opportunity to use the skills learnt on this course once they return home.
General approach/attitude: The participant should be knowledgeable and enthusiastic i.e. they enjoy, and
want to dedicate time to, ornithology and wild bird trapping.
As this training was being hosted by the government of Nigeria, the Nigerian Ministries of Agriculture and
Environment were allowed to invite additional participants.
Unfortunately various problems including delays in issuing of visas based on flight details meant that the
participants from Mali and Mauritania were unable to attend. To help ensure sustainability of capture and
marking activities within an African context, personnel from AFRING were invited to participate as trainers.
Again unfortunately, because of delays, Marius Wheeler from AFRING was unable to attend. From this, 31
participants from seven countries (Nigeria-23, Niger-2, Chad-2, Sudan-2, Kenya-2) attended the training, a
slightly larger group than desired, if the goal of the training had only been cannon-netting certification. Instead,
the large number of participants ensured that more people received training and more disciplines were
represented within the cohort of participants. However, it resulted in some challenges including; pre-course
information not being sent to all participants, insufficient equipment (including personal protective equipment)
for each participant, greater complexity in rapidly mobilising teams for fieldwork, greater difficulty approaching
wildlife unseen, and more basic training having to be given to those additional participants that were not
ornithological practitioners, which had the effect of diluting the training to those with a higher level of expertise.
This additional basic training was expertly assisted by the experienced participants from APLORI and Kenya.
The final list of participants and their affiliations is shown in Table 1 and represents 31 people from five
countries, the Chad Basin area representing higher risk areas identified as part of the New FluBird project.
Appendix 2 gives the full contact details of all participants.
6
Table 1.
Names, countries and affiliations of participants
Name
Country
Job Title
Affiliation
Dr. Bediguim Demtita
Chad
DSV/ Responsible de Prophylaxie
Ministère de l'Elevage et des Ressources
Animales
Djimasngar Mbaiti
Chad
Charge des Activites Grippe Aviaire
Faune
Ministere de l’Environment et des Resources
Halieutiques du Tchad (Direction des Parcs)
Wanyoike Wamiti
Kenya
Assistant Research Scientist
National Museums of Kenya, Zoology
Department
Mr. Bernard A. Amakobe
Kenya
Research Associate
National Museums of Kenya
Dr. Maitouraré Chibkaou
Niger
Vétérinaire Directeur
Dr Vétérinaire Directeur adjoint de la santé
animale Direction de la Santé Animale au
Ministère des Ressources Animales
Dr. Bangana Ibrahim
Niger
Inspecteur des Services
Ministry of Animal Resources
Dr. Shiiwua A. Manu
Nigeria
Scientific Director
A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute
Mrs. Delmo Kesmen
Nigeria
Research Associate
A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute
Mr. Longtong Turshak
Nigeria
Research Associate
A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute
Taiye Adeniyi Adeanju
Nigeria
Research Associate
A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute
Shola Iwajomo
Nigeria
Research Associate
A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute
Usman Audu Kimbian
Nigeria
Higher Park Inspector
Chad Basin National Park
Dr. Charity Bala
Nigeria
National Youth Service Corps
Chad Basin National Park
Iorember Alhaji Philips
Nigeria
Assistant Park Warden
Chad Basin National Park
Joshua I. Mamza
Nigeria
Assistant Park Inspector
Chad Basin National Park
Dr. Tinuke Ahamed
Nigeria
Zonal Coorrdinator
Federal Ministry Of Agriculture
Dr. Emmanuel Yarai
Nigeria
Epidemiology Officer/Field Officer
Federal Ministry of Agriculture
Abdulmalik A. Abubakar
Nigeria
Wildlife Officer (Ornithology)
Federal Ministry of Environment
Mrs. Agudah Ruth
Nigeria
Higher Wildlife Superintendant
Federal Ministry of Environment
Koto M. Anakre
Nigeria
Wildlife Officer
Federal Ministry of Environment
Ukpai, V.A.
Nigeria
Wildlife Officer
Federal Ministry of Environment
Ezeh Chidozie C.
Nigeria
Wildlife Officer
Federal Ministry of Environment
Uche Ogbonnaya Onu
Nigeria
Wildlife Officer
Federal Ministry of Environment
Bakut T. Ayuba
Nigeria
Wildlife Officer
Federal Ministry of Environment
Mrs. Olayemi J. Sola
Nigeria
Wildlife and Environmental
Conservation Officer
Federal Ministry of Environment
Dr. El Oji Adamu
Nigeria
Wildlife Desk Officer
Ministry of Agriculture
Sulaiman Inuwa
Muhammad
Nigeria
Conservation Officer, NCF-WOW
Project
Nigerian Conservation Foundation
Harry Hanson Jr.
Nigeria
Conservation Officer (Projects)
Nigerian Conservation Foundation
Ibrahim L. Muhammad
Nigeria
Principal Wildlife Officer
Wings Over Wetlands Project
Dr. Aldo Gwake Lazarus
Sudan
Veterinarian
Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism
Mr. Esmat Elfaki
Mohammed Elhassan
Sudan
Wildlife Biologist/Researcher
Wildlife Research Center
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FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report
2.5
Trainers
Four trainers delivered the course (more details about these trainers can be found in Appendix 3):
1.
Nicolas Tubbs (Specialist Groups & Expert Network Coordinator, Wetlands International) was
responsible for providing the New FluBird perspective, organising course logistics and English/French
interpretation.
2. Dr. Ruth Cromie (Head of Wildlife Health, WWT) was responsible for the training in avian influenza
aspects of the course and organising course logistics.
3. Richard Hearn (Head of Species Monitoring, WWT) as a UK-licensed bird ringer and cannon netter was
responsible for the majority of the classroom and practical training in capture methods (in particular cannon
netting), ringing, ageing and sexing of birds.
4. David Paynter (Reserve Manager, WWT) as a UK-licensed duck ringer was primarily responsible for the
practical aspects of bird trapping, in particular duck trapping, and ageing and sexing of birds.
Additional ornithological training was provided to the non-ornithologists by the participants from APLORI and
Kenya.
2.6
Facilities
Chad Basin National Park staff at the Dagona Base Camp organised all local logistics prior to the arrival of the
foreign trainers (on original instructions from WWT and subsequently from FAO). The Dagona Base Camp
comprises a large hall suitable for teaching/meeting and eating, a bar, four chalets with three bedrooms each and
a catering area. Electricity was provided from a generator which supplied the meeting hall throughout the day
and evening, and supplied the chalets in the evenings.
2.7
Accommodation
The four trainers and eight participants were accommodated at the Dagona Base Camp. Others were
accommodated at the Neadzp Guest House in Gashua (40 minutes drive away, appreciating that this is less than
ideal for the very early morning bird catching activities before daybreak). The drivers stayed in other
accommodation in Gashua. All accommodation was paid for by FAO.
2.8
Food
All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) were provided by a catering team brought into the Dagona Base Camp.
Meals were served in the teaching hall/meeting room. All food and drinking water was paid for by FAO.
2.9
Daily subsistence allowance (DSA)
A 20% DSA was paid to participants as all transport, accommodation and food costs were covered by FAO
(standard FAO procedure). Some Nigerian participants were unhappy with this arrangement which required
FAO and Ministry of Environment officials (Dr. Tesfai Tseggai and Dr. John Mshelbwala, respectively) to visit
the Dagona Base Camp to appease the situation.
2.10
Travel and transport
FAO arranged all flights to bring participants to Nigeria and covered all transport expenses. A letter of invitation
from APLORI was sent to all participants and trainers in advance to aid with Nigerian visa applications.
8
Ministry of Agriculture vehicles which were essential for the training
For the training, FAO provided one four wheel drive vehicle and driver and the Nigerian Ministry of Agriculture
provided six pick-up trucks plus drivers for the whole duration of the course. These vehicles were essential for
the training and used for transport to and from Abuja, all fieldwork and carrying participants to and from the
accommodation.
2.11
Language
The pre-course information informed participants that the course was taught in English however Nicolas Tubbs
provided simultaneous English/French interpretation for the first half of the training. On Nicolas’ departure
during week two, an interpreter supplied by Roger Abbah (Ieiba Enterprise) took on this role, although concerns
were expressed by some French-speaking participants that this was not of sufficient standard at times. However,
the vast majority of the formal language-dependent training in a classroom setting had been completed by this
point.
2.12
Course structure
The course comprised of formal lectures during the first week to ensure all participants understood the
principles of waterbird capture and avian influenza surveillance before putting these into practice during weeks
two and three. Practical workshops e.g. constructing duck traps and demonstrating cannon netting also took
place in week one. Weeks two and three focussed on practical sessions in the field. Appendix 4 shows the final
timetable. Details of weeks two and three are not shown as they were all reacting to the birds’ presence and
behaviour.
To gain experience of avian influenza surveillance in different situations and national contexts, participants gave
presentations about their own national surveillance programmes or other bird capture and marking experiences
(in the timetable, Appendix 4, these are referred to as ‘delegate presentations’).
2.13
Course content
The main subjects trained were:
 Capturing waterbirds using a variety of methods with a focus on duck traps and cannon netting
 Principles and practicalities of handling, crating and marking (including ringing) waterbirds
 Principles and practicalities of ageing and sexing waterbirds
 Principles and practicalities of animal welfare
 Principles and practicalities of collecting, storing and transporting avian influenza samples, and quality
assurance
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FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report



Principles of wild bird avian influenza surveillance strategies
Principles of integrating ornithological expertise into disease control programmes
Principles and practicalities of human health and safety
See Appendix 4 for the detailed timetable of the course.
During practical sessions all participants were involved in building and setting traps or other capture equipment
and thereafter trapping of birds. The nature of trapping requires minimal disturbance to wildlife and whilst this
was difficult to maintain with so many participants, it was helped by dividing the group up to perform the
activities e.g. placing traps in wetlands, checking traps or conducting reconnaissance to determine bird
distribution and behaviour that was conducive to capture. Activities such as setting cannon nets and taking a
cannon net catch were performed as one large group.
All participants had the opportunity to handle, ring, age, sex and swab (cloacal and oropharyngeal) birds and take
biometric data.
2.14
Trapping and avian influenza surveillance equipment
A full cannon net set (with narrow net and mini net), mist nets, ringing equipment, equipment for taking
biometrics, wind-up headlamps, wind-up lanterns, netting, bird bags, collapsible crates, AI surveillance
equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE) were purchased and shipped by WWT to APLORI (FAONigeria kindly facilitating the release of the consignment from Nigerian customs). At the end of the course most
of the equipment was left with the ornithologists at APLORI. Materials for construction of traps and extra
holding crates were sourced locally.
2.15
1.
Capture techniques demonstrated and practiced in the field
Cannon netting: this advanced trapping technique formed the main focus of the course. This technique was
demonstrated and practiced in the absence of birds at the Dagona Base Camp during week one. Thereafter,
three full sets were made and five attempts to catch birds made. Two catches were successful, one of mainly
duck and one of waders. The latter catch allowed practice of ‘lifting’ the net containing many birds from the
water – a vital technique when cannon netting waders that ensures problems with water logging are
avoided.
Preparing for cannon netting: assembling the cannons and setting the net.
2.
10
Duck traps: different designs for traps (including funnel traps and Wainwright traps) were constructed and
placed in wetlands towards the end of week one. These were baited and checked twice daily. Although they
did not trap many birds it was stressed to participants that had there been more time for identifying good
trap locations, and for birds to become used to these foreign structures, the numbers caught could have
been significant. Participants were encouraged to try out this relatively low technology option in their own
situations.
Constructing a duck trap and a set trap in a wetland.
3.
Mist nets: the basic principles of this technique were demonstrated by trapping non-waterbirds in the
woodlands around the Base Camp during week one. The technique was then used in the evening/dark over
shallow wetlands for trapping waterbirds (mainly waders).
Mist netting passerines in the day and waterbirds over a wetland at night.
4.
Noose traps: this local method for trapping waterbirds for food was tried but abandoned on the grounds of
concern about animal welfare.
Setting local noose traps within a wetland.
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FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report
A total of 92 waterbirds were trapped (plus other passerines during mist netting sessions). Overall, the numbers
of birds trapped was lower than what was possible in these wetlands, but this was largely down to not knowing
the local area and the time required to identify good trapping sites. The Chad Basin National Park wardens were
key to finding these areas and highlight the need for more reconnaissance before training can be conducted.
Three Helm Field Guides to the Birds of Western Africa (ISBN 978-0-7136-6692-2) were made available
throughout the course. Attempts had been made to purchase these for all the expected participants but this
WWT deal with the publishers had fallen through at the last moment. At the end of the course one of the field
guides was given to the Chad Basin National Park staff, another to the Nigeria Conservation Foundation and the
third copy to APLORI. Once back in UK, WWT sent a further two copies, one to the Ministry of Environment
(c/o Dr. John Mshelbwala) and one to the Ministry of Agriculture (c/o Dr. J. Nyager). These guides were in
great demand and seen as an essential need for ornithological work of any kind.
2.16
Avian influenza sampling
Vials containing virus transport medium and liquid nitrogen were supplied by the National Veterinary Research
Institute (NVRI), Vom, Nigeria. All other swabbing equipment was supplied by WWT.
The plan was to provide a set of samples for the NVRI and a duplicate set for the New FluBird partner
laboratory, University of Kalmar, Sweden. As part of this New FluBird project the University of Kalmar AI
research group under Prof. Bjorn Olsen and Dr. Jonas Waldenstrom http://www.hik.se/english/ has been
screening a large proportion of the samples derived from New FluBird surveillance activities over the last three
years of the project. Indeed they have a special relationship with Nigeria already having been involved in
previous surveillance activities and training Nigerian ornithologists from APLORI in Sweden.
In total, oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs were taken from 93 wild birds including 92 waterbirds, (see details in
next section) during the training programme. Duplicate samples were taken from each bird. APLORI staff
managed the cold chain of samples and both sets were delivered to the NVRI, Vom, by Dr. Manu of APLORI
on 13th November 2009. FAO-Nigeria has been dealing with NVRI directly so it is hoped that they can help
facilitate screening of the samples within Nigeria and export of the duplicate set to Sweden.
Sampling a Pintail for avian influenza surveillance
12
2.17
Numbers and species of birds captured and sampled caught during
the course
In total, some 93 individual wild birds (92 waterbirds) of nine species, were caught, processed and sampled.
Table 2 illustrates the number of each species caught by different capture methods during the three week
programme (some other passerines were trapped as part of mist netting demonstrations but AI samples were not
taken).
Table 2.
Details of numbers of birds caught by each trapping method
SPECIES
Cannon
Net
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
Green-backed Heron
Butorides striata
Garganey
Anas querquedula
15
Pintail
Anas acuta
17
Ruff
Philomachus pugnax
31
Spur-winged Plover
Vanellus spinosus
3
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareola
Lesser Moorhen
Gallinula angulata
African Mourning Dove
Streptopelia decipiens
Total
2.18
TRAPPING METHOD
Duck
Mist
Noose
Trap
Net
Trap
Collected
dead
1
1
1
1
Total
1
8
3
12
1
66
12
13
93
Health and safety
Protective coveralls (plasticized paper – cooler than full plastic/rubber), nitrile gloves, latex gloves, FP3 masks,
disposable aprons and sleeves, together with disinfectant and disinfection equipment were purchased and
shipped by WWT. Due to the greater than expected number of participants there was insufficient full PPE for
everyone (trainers and e.g. scribes went without). However, the disposable aprons and liberal use of virucidal
wipes in the field proved a good second best. Coveralls were not soaked in disinfectant at the end of each catch
event but instead obvious bits of bird faeces were decontaminated and then coveralls were left baking in the sun
for a few hours on each side to allow ultraviolet radiation to kill any potential viruses (it is appreciated that this is
not ideal but was a pragmatic approach to working in extremely hot conditions).
2.19
Animal welfare
Throughout the course the importance of animal welfare was maintained as second only to human health and
safety. It was stressed that as well as the ethical reasons for having good animal welfare standards, essential data
e.g. that from ringing recoveries, are unreliable if birds have had their welfare compromised significantly.
2.20
Teaching resources
A double CD containing the following was sent to participants after the course (along with each participant’s
attendance certificate).




Course and participant information and feedback
Presentations from teaching staff
Presentations from participants
Useful references and sources of information and equipment for catching birds
13
FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report




FAO’s wild bird avian influenza surveillance manual
WWT’s wildfowl catching manual
Key avian influenza wild bird multilateral environmental agreements
Videos of bird capture
CD cover
2.21
Certificate of attendance
A certificate of attendance was provided to all participants (posted after the course due to limited access to
printing facilities at the Dagona Base Camp). The format of the certificate is shown in Appendix 5.
It is important to note that this certificate of attendance does not represent a certificate of competence.
2.22
Feedback and course outcomes
A feedback session was held at the end of the course and a feedback form completed (Appendix 6).
All 30 remaining participants at that point completed the feedback form and the summarised top level results are
shown in Table 3 with fuller summarised details in Appendix 7.
2.22.1
Administration and facilities
On a scale of i) very poor, ii) poor, iii) satisfactory, iv) good and v) excellent, the FAO planning of the course
was ranked as ‘satisfactory’, the late bookings of flights being the greatest concern. The provision of information
prior to the course was described overall as ‘good’ but breaking the data down further reveals that, not
surprisingly, the least satisfied were those not known about by WI and WWT and who had therefore not
received pre-course information.
14
Administration of the course was described as ‘good’; the 20% DSA issue and lack of incentives being cited as
the key concerns.
Overall, the accommodation was deemed to be ‘satisfactory’ with no clear difference between those staying at
the Dagona Base Camp (verbally recognised as being of higher quality) and the Neadzp Guest House in Gashua.
The food caused many complaints and overall was judged as ‘poor’. It is worth noting however that this aspect is
usually the most complained about in any long-term training course where mass catering is being provided.
From the trainers’ perspective it is worth noting that both the food and accommodation were above expectation
and were considered to be very good for a field course in a remote area.
2.22.2
The training
The course was overwhelming judged to have fully achieved its objectives and the personal objectives of the
participants. The lectures and practical sessions were judged to be ‘excellent’ and very useful. The delegate
presentations were considered to be ‘good’ and very useful.
It is interesting that, although the course was pitched at practitioners with existing experience, even those
without experience found the course very useful.
Cannon netting was noted as the highlight of the course with “trapping” generally being of the greatest benefit to
participants.
Comments for course improvements were numerous; key points being the provision of more equipment (in
particular binoculars and field guides), more training, fewer participants and more time.
Table 3.
Summary of course feedback forms
QUESTIONS
RESULTS
n=30
OVERALL SATISIFACTION
Overall rating*
Mean Score
%
Did the course achieve its objectives?
Fully
2.9/3
96.7
Did the course meet your objectives?
Fully
2.9/3
95.6
FAO planning of trip
Satisfactory
3.0/5
59.3
Information received prior to course
Good
3.8/5
75.2
Organisation of the administration of the course
Good
3.7/5
74
Organisation of the teaching & technical component of the
training course
Excellent
4.8/5
96
Accommodation
Satisfactory
3.1/5
62
Food
Poor
2.1/5
42.7
Teaching facilities
Good
4.4/5
88.7
Lectures
Excellent
4.8/5
95.8
How useful were the lectures?
Very useful
3.0/3
98.9
Practical sessions
Excellent
4.7/5
94
How useful were the practical sessions?
Very useful
2.9/3
96.7
Delegate presentations
Good
4.3/5
86.7
How useful were the delegate presentations?
Very useful
2.8/3
94.3
ADMINISTRATION
FACILITIES AND SERVICES
TRAINING
*Those ratings highlighted in bold represent the top possible score
15
FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report
2.22.3
Future needs
The most important needs for the participant’s countries were (in descending order) funding, capacity building,
trained personnel, and equipment (binoculars, telescopes, PPE, vehicles, AI sampling). The need for cooperation
with international organisations and development of a collaborative network within Africa were also highlighted.
The extraordinary team spirit and hard work and competence of many of the participants was both heartening
and encouraging as cannon netting teams needs to be cohesive, communicative and diligent.
Some of the diligent international team players
2.23
Debrief meetings
At the end of the three week course Ruth Cromie met with FAO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Helder Muteia,
and in a separate meeting with The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, namely Dr. J. Nyager, Dr. Gashash Ahmed
and Dr. D. Kwange. From the second meeting there was clear support for the development of Nigeria as a
regional platform for wild bird avian influenza surveillance and wild bird capture. Moreover, there was a
commitment to aiding release of the duplicate set of samples to Sweden. WWT and WI committed to keeping
the Ministry fully informed about future surveillance activities.
2.24
2.24.1
Issues arising
Equipment and field guides
There is a clear need to provide all practicing ornithologists with at least basic equipment i.e. binoculars and bird
field guides. To begin to understand the epidemiology or role of wild bird in the HPAI H5N1 situation accurate
bird identification is essential.
2.24.2
Organisation of transport prior to the course
To ensure those deserving of training receive visas in time, earlier booking of flights would be valuable.
2.24.3
Number of participants
Although it was useful to train the large number of participants, advanced technical training to produce cannon
netters would have been more effective with fewer participants on the course.
16
2.24.4
Numbers of birds caught
Although over 90 waterbirds were caught during the course, this was insufficient for comprehensive training of
capture techniques and due mainly to a lack of nearby wetlands at which it was possible to trap birds. Better
prior local knowledge would have helped this situation and perhaps a different time of year may have been
beneficial for providing more catching opportunities.
2.24.5
DSA
Although some delegates were unhappy about receiving only 20% DSA it is the trainers’ belief that the upfront
organisation of all food, accommodation and transport was essential for the effective delivery of this training
course. The provision of a 100% DSA for each participant to try to locate cheaper food and accommodation
options would have added considerable delays to a busy timetable and affected the training. It is suggested that
all participants are made fully aware of this system prior to attending any course and then a choice as to whether
to attend or not can be made at this stage. It is also suggested that a representative from FAO be present during
at least key parts of the course to allow trainers to concentrate on delivering training.
17
FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report
3 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The three week course was deemed to be very successful by both trainers and participants and achieved its
objectives and hence its overall aim of facilitating the development of national avian influenza surveillance
programmes. All participants received a good overview of different trapping techniques suitable for waterbirds,
particularly ducks, and the avian influenza surveillance process. The cannon netting training was the most highly
appreciated and valuable aspect of the course, although as the course was too short a period to train participants
to be fully competent cannon netters, capable of operating unassisted, further training will be required. However,
this course provided an excellent opportunity to identify key individuals who should receive such further training
in order that they can lead an independent cannon netting team in Nigeria in the future.
The course also provided an excellent opportunity to better understand and develop waterbird capture
techniques of greatest relevance to the wetlands around Dagona. It was clear that, given short sampling periods
which are normally the case and which make the construction of large duck traps rather impractical, cannon
netting is likely to provide the best option for catching the majority of the priority target species. Capture of
other priority species, e.g. diving ducks, requires greater investment in trapping, including the construction of
larger traps in more suitable locations that were not accessible during this training course. This local knowledge is
essential for future success and is now present within key local individuals who will be involved in future
waterbird capture and avian influenza surveillance in this area.
Finally, the course also provided invaluable experience that allows the trainers to make key recommendations
regarding the further development of waterbird capture, especially with respect to cannon netting, and avian
influenza surveillance in Africa, particularly the Chad Basin and others parts of west Africa:
1.
Cannon netting is likely to be the most cost effective method for the future capture of good numbers of
priority species (mainly dabbling ducks). However, it is important to note it is unsuitable for some other
priority species (e.g. diving ducks) and for the majority of these, traps present the best option.
2.
The development of a cannon netting team that can operate independently requires:
a. Further training, both in-country and elsewhere where experienced cannon netting teams already
operate (e.g. UK) for a few key individuals (2-3 people) considered likely to be able to lead a (Nigerian)
cannon netting team.
b.
3.
The development of effective duck trapping at the wetlands around Dagona requires:
a. The development of more suitable, probably larger more permanent, traps
b.
4.
18
The development of a team of people able to maintain such traps and ensure that capture options are
maintained for periods when ringing teams can visit and operate the traps.
Broader training courses also have an important role in the future development of waterbird capture and
avian influenza surveillance, but for the success of these to be maximised the following considerations
should be implemented:
a. Training courses require fewer participants of more homogenous previous experience
b.
5.
Further training for other members of the core team (8-10 people), which is best carried out incountry.
Greater availability of local knowledge, including prior to the training course, on the distribution and
capture opportunities for waterbirds.
Equipment provision is a key requirement to ensure the skills developed during such training can be utilised
subsequently. The priority needs for individuals are optical equipment (binoculars and telescopes) and bird
identification field guides, as well as further bird capture equipment for individuals qualified to use it.
Vehicles, personal protective equipment, and avian influenza sampling equipment are also required.
4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are grateful to staff in FAO for organisation of transport for participants, also FAO-Nigeria staff,
Dr. Tesfai Tseggai, Mrs. Evelyn Yeye, Mr. Moses Obikpe and Mrs. Gloria Ndupuh and FAO Headquarters staff
Dr. Scott Newman, Sabrina Mayoufi, Emmanuel Moncada, and Jeevanandhan Duraisamy.
We are grateful to Dr. John Mshelbwala for taking time from his busy schedule to help resolve issues arising.
The authors would like to thank Wanyoike Wamiti and Bernard Amakobe and those from APLORI for their
assistance throughout the course particularly in the training of the less experienced participants.
Usman Kimbian and Beelu, and other staff of the Dagona Base Camp worked extremely hard to produce
excellent facilities that ensured that the training was straightforward. The knowledge and willingness of the
guides was invaluable and we are very grateful to Hashimu and Zana in particular. Tama the Catering Manager
was helpful and we would like to thank her for being cheerful and gracious in the face of many complaints!
The drivers provided an excellent service, working anti-social hours and always doing so with good grace.
Particular thanks go to Dr. Shiiwua A. Manu for facilitating many of the logistical aspects of the course and his
exceptional support for the training.
19
FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report
5 REFERENCES
Ducatez, M.F., C.M. Olinger, A.A. Owoade, S. De Landtsheer, W. Ammerlaan, H.G. Niesters, A.D. Osterhaus,
R.A. Fouchier and C.P. Muller (2006). Avian flu: multiple introductions of H5N1 in Nigeria.Nature 442 (7098):37.
Gauthier-Clerc, M., C. Lebarbenchon and F. Thomas (2007). Recent Expansion of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
H5N1: A Critical Review. Ibis 149: 202-214.
Nicolas Gaidet, Giovanni Cattoli, Saliha Hammoumi, Scott H. Newman, Ward Hagemeijer, John Y. Takekawa,
Julien Cappelle, Tim Dodman, Tony Joannis, Patricia Gil, Isabella Monne, Alice Fusaro, Ilaria Capua,
Shiiwuua Manu, Pierfrancesco Micheloni, Ulf Ottosson, John H. Mshelbwala, Juan Lubroth, Joseph
Domenech, François Monicat (2008). Evidence of infection by H5N2 HPAI viruses in healthy wild waterfowl. PLoS
Pathog. 15; 4 (8): e1000127.
Owoade, Ademola A; N.A. Gerloff, M.F. Ducatez, J.O. Taiwo, J.R. Kremer and C.P. Muller (2008). Replacement of
sublineages of avian influenza (H5N1) by reassortments, sub-Saharan Africa.
Emerging Infectious Diseases;14(11):1731-5.
20
APPENDIX 1 SELECTION CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPANTS
Selection Process for Participants for the Capacity Building in Wild Bird Trapping and Avian Influenza
Surveillance in Nigeria, October/November 2009
Course Aim: Build capacity and infrastructure for long-term waterbird monitoring and avian influenza
surveillance as part of the investigation of the potential role of wild birds in the transmission of avian diseases in
mainly west African countries.
Course Activities:
 Training participants to safely trap and handle wild birds by various means including cannon netting (which
is technically complex and has many inherent safety concerns), duck traps (including building traps), and mist
netting, plus ringing, ageing and sexing of birds.
 Training participants in taking oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs for avian influenza virus detection safely,
and the logistics of sample collection and cold chain.
Participant Specification
The participant should be a capable fieldworker with previous ornithological knowledge and bird handling and
ideally bird trapping experience. They should be technically adept and practical. They should have sufficient
capacity and flexibility in their work programmes to be able to commit to extensive amounts of time in the field.
It is likely that the participant will work for a wildlife conservation government or non-government organisation
although is unlikely to be in a senior position. They should have good verbal communication abilities and be
capable of strong team leadership. They should have sufficiently good English to be able to participate in a three
week course taught in English. Understanding of wild bird avian influenza surveillance is useful but not required.
Selection Process
1.
2.
3.
4.
Country: The participant should come from a target country i.e. primarily west Africa, or other African
country. Ideally at least two people from that country will be trained to provide some in-country mutual
support once training is over.
Previous training and experience: It would be useful for the participant to have previous bird handling and
trapping experience e.g. those who have already attended another wild bird trapping training course.
Current job – subject and level of seniority: The participant should work for a wildlife conservation
organisation or relevant government department and a significant part of their job should involve fieldwork,
i.e. they have the opportunity to use the skills learnt on this course once they return home.
General approach/attitude: The participant should be knowledgeable and enthusiastic i.e. they enjoy, and
want to dedicate time to, ornithology and wild bird trapping.
21
FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report
APPENDIX 2. CONTACT DETAILS OF PARTICIPANTS
22
Name
Dr. Bediguim
Demtita
Country
Chad
Djimasngar Mbaiti
Chad
Wanyoike Wamiti
Kenya
Mr. Bernard A.
Amakobe
Affiliation
Ministère de l'Elevage et
des Ressources
Animales
email
doctaben2@yahoo.
fr
phone
00235 6257148
Contact details
Ministere de l'Elevage, Direction des Services
Veterinaires, BP. 750 N'djamena, Tchad
[email protected]
00235 640 2646
Ministere de l’Environnement et des Ressources
Halieutiques du Tchad (Direction des Parcs) Box 2115,
N'Djamena, Tchad
Assistant
Research
Scientist
Ministere de
l’Environment et des
Resources Halieutiques
du Tchad (Direction des
Parcs)
National Museums of
Kenya, Zoology
Department
wamsnarina@yah
oo.com/wwamiti@
gmail.com
PO Box 70898-00400, Tom Mboya St. Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya
Research
Associate
National Museums of
Kenya
scopumbre05@gm
ail.com
Dr. Maitouraré
Chibkaou
Niger
Vétérinaire
Directeur
[email protected]
r
Dr. Bangana
Ibrahim
Mrs. Delmo
Kesmen
Niger
Inspecteur
des Services
Research
Associate
[email protected]
r
shekdel2000@yah
oo.com
0022793821257/
0022720732147
00234 803
5695124
Mr. Longtong
Turshak
Nigeria
Dr Vétérinaire Directeur
adjoint de la santé
animale Direction de la
Santé Animale au
Ministère des
Ressources Animales
Ministry of Animal
Resources
A.P. Leventis
Ornithological Research
Institute
A.P. Leventis
Ornithological Research
Institute
00254
722574529,
00254 20
3742131/ 61-4
ext 2241/58
0025402037421
61ext.2243/
0203742161/4
ext.
2242/Mobile
254721
517910/Fax2540
20741061
00227
96871296/
0022720732147
longtongturshak@
yahoo.com /
[email protected]
om
00234 8039 66
4891
Ministere de l'Elevage et des Industries Animales, BP
12091, Niger
A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Insitute
(University of Jos Biological Conservatory), P.O. Box
13404, Laminga, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
A P Leventis Ornithological Research Institute, A.P.
Leventis Ornithological Research Insitute (University
of Jos Biological Conservatory), P.O. Box 13404
Laminga, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Nigeria
Job Title
DSV/
Responsible
de
Prophylaxie
Charge des
Activites
Grippe Aviaire
Faune
Research
Associate
Section of Ornithology, Zoology Department, National
Museums of Kenya, PO Box 40658-00100, GPO,
Nairobi, Kenya
Ministere de l'Elevage et des Industries Animales, BP
12091, Niger
Name
Taiye Adeniyi
Adeanju
Country
Nigeria
Job Title
Research
Associate
Affiliation
A.P. Leventis
Ornithological Research
Institute
email
taiyelongifolia@ya
hoo.com
Shola Iwajomo
Nigeria
Research
Associate
[email protected]
m
Usman Audu
Kimbian
Nigeria
Higher Park
Inspector
A.P. Leventis
Ornithological Research
Institute
Chad Basin National Park
Dr. Charity Bala
Nigeria
National
Youth Service
Corps
Chad Basin National Park
chato4vet@yahoo.
com
Iorember Alhaji
Philips
Joshua I. Mamza
Nigeria
Assistant
Park Warden
Assistant
Park
Inspector
Chad Basin National Park
alhajiiorember@ya
hoo.com
joshuaijai@yahoo.
com
Dr. Tinuke Ahamed
Nigeria
Dr. Emmanuel
Yarai
Nigeria
Federal Ministry Of
Agriculture
Federal Ministry of
Agriculture
Abdulmalik A.
Abubakar
Nigeria
Mrs. Agudah Ruth
Nigeria
Koto M. Anakre
Nigeria
Zonal
Coorrdinator
Epidemiology
Officer/Field
Officer
Wildlife
Officer
(Ornithology)
Higher
Wildlife
Superintenda
nt
Wildlife
Officer
Nigeria
Contact details
A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Insitute
(University of Jos Biological Conservatory), P.O. Box
13404, Laminga, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
tinukeahamed@ya
hoo.co.uk
emmasco07@yaho
o.co.uk
phone
mlux352691115
046/0023448035
099049/0023470
83394555
00234
8036199461/002
34 8057401508
00234
08053539344 /
00234
8022432606 /
00234
7066920985
00234
8064715164 /
00234
80829437338 /
00234
8029437338 /
00234
8064715164
00234
8063239264
00234
8022364310 /
00234
7035518131
00234
8036063112
00234
8038394622
Federal Ministry of
Environment
oziabdulmark1968
@yahoo.com
00234
8066333850
Federal Ministry of Environment, Dept. of Forestry,
Abuja, Nigeria, PMB 468, Garili, Abuja
Federal Ministry of
Environment
[email protected]
m
00234
08059648509
Federal Ministry of Environment, Dept. of Forestry,
Abuja, Nigeria, PMB 468, Abuja
Federal Ministry of
Environment
[email protected]
m
00234
8074171138
Federal Ministry of Environment, Lafia Field Office,
Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Chad Basin National Park
[email protected]
om
A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Insitute
(University of Jos Biological Conservatory), P.O. Box
13404, Laminga, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Chad Basin National Park, P.M.B. 1026, Maiduguri,
Borno State, Nigeria
Chad Basin National Park, P.M.B. 1026, Maiduguri,
Borno State, Nigeria
Chad Basin National Park, P.M.B. 1026, Maiduguri,
Borno State, Nigeria
Chad Basin National Park, P.M.B. 1026, Maiduguri,
Borno State, Nigeria
Federal Department of Livestock PMB 135, Garki,
Abuja, Nigeria
Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Damaturu, Federal
Secretariat, Yobe State, Nigeria
23
FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report
24
Name
Ukpai, V.A.
Country
Nigeria
Job Title
Wildlife
Officer
Wildlife
Officer
Affiliation
Federal Ministry of
Environment
Federal Ministry of
Environment
email
[email protected]
om
chidi_ezeh@yahoo
.com
Ezeh Chidozie C.
Nigeria
Uche Ogbonnaya
Onu
Bakut T. Ayuba
Nigeria
Wildlife
Officer
Wildlife
Officer
Wildlife and
Environmenta
l
Conservation
Officer
Wildlife Desk
Officer
Federal Ministry of
Environment
Federal Ministry of
Environment
Federal Ministry of
Environment
ogbonnaya_uche@
yahoo.com
[email protected]
Mrs. Olayemi J.
Sola
Nigeria
Dr. El Oji Adamu
Nigeria
Ministery of Agriculture
Nigeria
Conservation
Officer, NCFWOW Project
Nigerian Conservation
Foundation
Harry Hanson Jr.
Nigeria
Nigerian Conservation
Foundation
Ibrahim L.
Muhammad
Nigeria
Conservation
Officer
(Projects)
Principal
Wildlife
Officer
[email protected]
m/
nadisnigeria@yaho
o.com
sulaimanmd06@y
ahoo.com /
sulaiman.muhd@y
ahoo.com
harryhansjr@yaho
o.com/ncf@hyperi
a.com
ilmuhammad@yah
oo.com
Sulaiman Inuwa
Muhammad
Dr. Aldo Gwake
Lazarus
Sudan
Veterinarian
Mr. Esmat Elfaki
Mohammed
Elhassan
Sudan
Wildlife
Biologist/Res
earcher
Ministry of Wildlife
Conservation and
Tourism
Wildlife Research Center
Nigeria
Wings Over Wetlands
Project
phone
00234
8037367714
00234
8059648833/
0023480378485
59
00234
8023297889
00234
8034460969
00234
8023108310
Contact details
Federal Ministry of Environment, Calabar, Cross River
State, Nigeria
Federal Ministry of Environment, Dept. of Forestry,
Abuja
00234
8036843929
Federal Department of Livestock, PMB 135, Garki,
Abuja, Nigeria
Nigeria Conservation Foundation, Wings Over
Wetlands Project, PO Box 14, Nguru, Yobe State
[email protected]
om
00234
08033239823 /
00234
8023352244
00234
08034407960/
012642498
00234
08027946463 /
00234
80661168531 /
00234
8055547149
00234
912801855
esmetfaki@yahoo.
com
00249
911622431
olayemi4peace09
@yahoo.com
Federal Ministry of Environment, Port Harcourt, Rivers
State, Nigeria
Federal Ministry of Environment, Dept. of Forestry,
Abuja
Federal Ministry of Environment, Environmental
Conservation, Lagos, Nigeria
Nigeria Conservation Foundation, Wings Over
Wetlands Project, PO Box 14, Nguru, Yobe State
Ministry of Environment, Jigawa State, Conservation
Dept, Hadejia Wetland Game Reserve, Nigeria
Ministry of Wildlife, Conservation & Tourism,
Government of South Sudan (Goss)/ Box 77, Juba,
Sudan
University of Khartoum, PO Box 321/18, Khartoum,
Sudan
Name
Facilitators
Dr. Shiiwua A.
Manu
Country
Job Title
Affiliation
email
phone
Contact details
Nigeria
Scientific
Director
[email protected]
00234
8038501780
Nicolas Tubbs
Netherl
ands
nicolas.tubbs@wet
lands.org
0031 318660927/Mobile
0031 6
33931425
A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Insitute
(University of Jos Biological Conservatory), P.O. Box
13404, Laminga, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Wetlands International, PO Box 471, 6700 AL
Wageningen, The Netherlands
Ruth Cromie
UK
Specialist
Groups &
Expert
Network
Coordinator
Head of
Wildlife
Health
A.P. Leventis
Ornithological Research
Institute
Wetlands International
WWT
Ruth.Cromie@wwt
.org.uk
Richard Hearn
UK
Head of
Species
Monitoring
WWT
Richard.Hearn@w
wt.org.uk
David Paynter
UK
Reserve
Manager
WWT
Dave.Paynter@ww
t.org.uk
0044 (0)1453
891254/Fax
0044 1453
890827
0044(0)1453
891185/Fax
0044 1453
890827
0044 1453
891178/Fax
0044 1453
890827
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) Slimbridge,
Gloucestershire GL2 7BT, UK
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) Slimbridge,
Gloucestershire GL2 7BT, UK
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) Slimbridge,
Gloucestershire GL2 7BT, UK
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FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report
APPENDIX 3. TRAINER PROFILES
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) Trainer Profiles
Dr. Ruth Cromie (Head of Wildlife Health) received her Ph.D. in veterinary microbiology in 1991 from University
College, London. She has worked on wildfowl immunology in Hong Kong and diseases of marsupials at the
Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA. Since 1997, Ruth has worked at WWT, her responsibilities including
disease control and management within captive bird populations, wildlife health research, and running WWT’s Animal
Welfare and Ethics Committee. Ruth teaches on a number of post graduate conservation and wildlife health courses
including co-directing the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Summer School in Endangered Species Conservation
and Management. Since August 2005, she has been a member of WWT’s Avian Influenza Management Strategy Group
developing contingency plans for the organisation’s zoos, nature reserves and visitor centres. Ruth sits on the UK
government’s Ornithological Expert Panel on wild bird surveillance and AI contingency planning, and on the UN Food
and Agriculture Organisation and Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) co-convened Scientific Task Force on
Avian Influenza and Wild Birds. She has been involved in wild bird catching and health screening including AI
surveillance in UK, Iceland, Greenland and Kenya. Recently she has been involved in writing AI policy in the form of
resolutions for Ramsar Convention, CMS and other multilateral environmental agreements.
Mr. Richard Hearn (Head of Species Monitoring) has worked at WWT for more than 15 years and is an
experienced waterfowl biologist. He has managed and coordinated the WWT Monitoring Programme for three years,
including waterbird ringing and the Goose & Swan Monitoring Programme. He has more than 22 years of ringing
experience, has held a cannon netting licence since 1996, and been a ringing trainer since 1998. He is experienced at
catching wildfowl across the Africa-Eurasia region, including training of wildfowl ringers in Botswana and Kenya (the
latter via two FAO-funded AI surveillance expeditions). He is the Assistant Coordinator of the Wetlands
International/IUCN-SSC Duck Specialist Group.
Dave Paynter (Reserve Manager) has managed the nature reserve at Slimbridge for over 25 years. He is a very
experienced wildfowl ringer with over 25 years experience, and is responsible for implementing most of the field and
ringing activity at Slimbridge including the coordination of swan pipe catches. Dave’s ability to catch large numbers of
birds using various trapping techniques has contributed significantly to the UK’s live wild bird AI surveillance
programme. He has undertaken wildfowl monitoring in Azerbaijan and is experienced at catching wildfowl on the
Russian tundra as well as the UK.
Wetlands International Trainer Profile
Nicolas Tubbs (Specialist Group and Expert Network Coordinator) is a Wildlife Biologist and received an MSc
degree in Biodiversity and Sustainability at Leiden University. He has years of field experience and has worked in
numerous African countries in particularly remote conditions. He is experienced in coordinating international
initiatives. Nicolas has worked for Wetlands International for several years for which he has worked on Avian Influenza
amongst other wetland biodiversity related issues. Nicolas is managing and coordinating the New-FluBird Project
which Wetlands International is co-coordinating with Erasmus MC.
26
APPENDIX 4. COURSE TIMETABLE
Avian influenza surveillance and waterbird capture training course:
Dagona, Chad Basin National Park, 26 October-13th November 2009
WEEK 1
Speaker/leader
08h30
09hr30
10hr00
Day 1
Welcome, introductions and overview of course
Presentation: Update on the global HPAI H5N1 situation
Presentation: HPAI H5N1 and the role of wild birds
10hr30
Break
11hr00
11hr45
Presentation: New FluBird: coordinated EU network for wild bird surveillance
Presentation: Wetlands International in Nigeria (IWC/WoW)
12hr30
Lunch
15hr30
16hr30
17hr15
18hr00
Workshop: Wild bird surveillance strategies
Presentation: Overview of waterbird monitoring, focusing on value of marking
Presentation: AFRING – including summary of state of waterbird ringing in Africa, esp West Africa
Summing up
09hr45
Day 2
Presentation: Guide to the guidance on AI and wild birds including an introduction to the Scientific Task Force on Avian
Influenza and Wild Birds
Presentation: Integrating ornithological expertise into disease control programmes
10hr30
Break
11hr00
11hr45
12hr30
Presentation: Principles of trapping
Presentation: Handling and processing techniques and animal welfare
Delegate presentations
13hr00
Lunch
14hr30
15hr15
16hr00
17hr00
Presentation: Avian influenza sample collection, storage, transport and data management
Presentation: Principles of human health and safety including personal protective equipment
Delegate presentations
Summing up
09hr00
RLC/RDH/NT
RLC
RLC
NT
NT
RLC
RDH
RDH
RLC
RLC
RDH
RDH
ALL
RLC
RLC
ALL
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FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report
Day 3
Practical: Making traps for ducks and waders
09hr00
DBP/RDH
Break
12hr15
Presentation: Ageing techniques
13hr00
Lunch
14hr30
15hr15
16hr00
16hr45
Presentation: Marking techniques
Presentation: HPAI and wild bird Communication, Education, Participation and Awareness (CEPA) including dealing with the
media
Presentation: Cannon netting
Delegate presentations
09hr00
09hr45
Day 4
Presentation: Other waterbird capture techniques
An outbreak investigation exercise
10hr30
Break
11hr00
11hr45
Presentation: Selection of capture sites
Delegate presentations
13hr00
Lunch
14hr30
15hr15
16hr00
17hr45
Presentation: Data collection, management and uses
Delegate presentations
Summing up
Feedback on taught aspect of course
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
Practical fieldwork: trapping waterbirds in Dagona wetlands by e.g. traps, mist nets and cannon netting, with AI sampling
Practical fieldwork: trapping waterbirds in Dagona wetlands by e.g. traps, mist nets and cannon netting, with AI sampling
RLC
NT
28
Ruth Cromie (Head of Wildlife Health, WWT)
Nicholas Tubbs (New FluBird Coordinator, Wetlands International)
RDH
RDH
RLC
RDH
RDH
RLC
RDH/DBP
RDH
ALL
RDH
Richard Hearn (Head of Waterbird Monitoring)
DBP Dave Paynter (Reserve Manager, WWT Slimbridge)
RDH/DBP/RLC
RDH/DBP/RLC
APPENDIX 5. CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE
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FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report
APPENDIX 6. FEEDBACK FORM
Feedback Form
Course title: Wild Bird Trapping and Avian Influenza Surveillance Training Course,
Dagona, Chad Basin National Park
Course dates: 26th October – 13th November 2009
1. Name (helpful but optional)
2. Did the course achieve its objectives? (please tick one)
Fully □
Partly
□
Not at all □
3. Did the course meet your objectives? (please tick one)
Fully □
Partly
□
Not at all □
4. Which part(s) of the course did you find of most benefit and why?
5. Which part(s) of the course did you find of least benefit and why?
6. How could the course be improved?
30
7. Please circle a number and provide comments where applicable.(5 = excellent, 4 = good, 3 =
satisfactory, 2 = poor, 1 = very poor)
Administration
FAO planning of your trip
5 4 3 2 1
Information received prior to course
5 4 3 2 1
Organisation of the administration of the course
5 4 3 2 1
Organisation of the teaching & technical component of the training course
5 4 3 2 1
Comments:
Facilities and services
Accommodation
5 4 3 2 1
Food
5 4 3 2 1
Teaching facilities
5 4 3 2 1
Comments:
Training
Lectures
5 4 3 2 1
How useful were these to you?
Very useful □
Somewhat useful □
Not useful □
Comments:
Practical sessions
5 4 3 2 1
How useful were these to you?
Very useful □
Somewhat useful □
Not useful □
Comments:
Delegate presentations
5 4 3 2 1
How useful were these to you?
Very useful □
Somewhat useful □
Not useful □
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FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report
Comments:
8. Future needs
What country (or region) do you work in? _______________________________
List the five most important needs your country (or region) has in terms of wild bird avian influenza
surveillance:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
9.
32
Any other comments
APPENDIX 7: FEEDBACK SUMMARY
RESULTS
(n = 30)
QUESTIONS
Did the course achieve its objectives?
Did the course meet your objectives?
Overall
rating
Fully
Fully
Mean score
%
2.9 / 3
2.9 / 3
96.7
95.6
Which part(s) of the course did you find of most benefit and why? (Top
5)
Cannon-netting
Trapping
AI surveillance
Practical training
Sample collection
Count
(n=30)
14
10
6
6
5
Which part(s) of the course did you find of least benefit and why?
Trapping methods (they are not applicable in country)
5
Ringing
Theoretical parts
1
1
How could the course be improved? (Top 5)
Providing equipment for all
Regional refresher courses
Fewer participants
More time
Making participants more comfortable
ADMINISTRATION
FAO planning of trip
Information received prior to course
Organisation of the administration of the course
Organisation of the teaching & technical component of the training
course
8
8
4
4
3
Satisfactory
Good
3.0 / 5
3.8 / 5
59.3
75.2
Good
3.7 / 5
74.0
Excellent
4.8 / 5
96.0
Comments
Poor/late administration (FAO)
13
Give participants money so they can spend it rather than organisers
4
WWT/WI information and organisation was excellent
FACILITIES AND SERVICES
Accommodation
Food
Teaching facilities
Comments
Poor food
Too much travel
Poor accommodation
Teaching facilities need to be improved
TRAINING
Lectures
Usefulness of lectures
Comments
Informative
Need provision of field equipment
Already familiar with topics covered
3
Satisfactory
Poor
Good
3.1 / 5
2.1 / 5
4.4 / 5
62.0
42.7
88.7
17
5
4
2
Excellent
Very useful
4.8 / 5
3.0 / 3
95.8
98.9
9
1
1
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FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report
Good overview of expectations
More detail needed
1
1
Good workshop facilitation enabled exchange of ideas
1
Bird id should be incorporated in lectures
Encouaging and motivational
Good AI background
Practical sessions
How useful were the practical sessions?
Comments
Good hands-on experiences
More time needed
Need more practical training
More background info needed
Delegate presentations
1
1
1
How useful were the delegate presentations?
Comments
Useful to learn about other country's experiences
Too statistical
Presentations should include info on poultry
Useful information on migratory flyways key to AI
Off the point
REGIONAL NEEDS
Field equipment
Capacity building (training)
Funding
Trained personnel
Sustainable/consistent surveillance
Cooperation with international organisations
PPE
Vehicles
Collaborative network in West Africa
Willing staff of relevant ministeries/organisations
Training of national park officers
Training facilities (computers, projectors, etc)
Samples should be analysed asap
Greater knowledge to different sectors
Training in countries not included in this course
Regional workshops to exchange information
Integrating AI into relevant govt departments
34
Excellent
Very useful
4.7 / 5
2.9 / 3
94.0
96.7
9
1
1
1
Good
4.3 / 5
Very useful
2.8 / 3
86.7
94.3
11
1
1
1
1
24
23
13
12
12
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2