Leif Cocks
Leif is the Curator Exotics at Perth Zoo, where he has worked for 26 years. Leif currently sits on the Australian Species Management Program (ASMP) Committee, is
The former Convenor for the Artiodactyl TAG, Husbandry Advisor to the Primate TAG, ARAZPA Accreditation Officer and International Species Coordinator for Javan Gibbon (Hylobates moloch).
As well as being the founder and president of the Australian Orangutan Project and Great Ape Survival Program (GRASP) Australasian Committee Member, Leif has had a long term interest in the conservation of Javan gibbons.
Leif holds a Masters of Science in the factors affecting the health and well-being of captive orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus and Pongo abelii) as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Natural Resources and Certificate III in Zoo Keeping.
As International Species Co-ordinator, Leif has been instrumental in the development of the GCMP and is currently Chair of the program.
Clare Campbell
Clare is the Supervisor of Primates at Perth Zoo and has been working with primates for the last 10 years. Clare is the ASMP Species Co-ordinator for both Javan and White-cheeked gibbons and is also the president of the Silvery (Javan) Gibbon Project and board member of the Javan Gibbon Foundation. Clare has spent extensive time in Indonesia and works tirelessly to generate funds to support the conservation of Java’s last remaining ape.
Clare is also on the committee of the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) Field Conservation Committee and is the National Vice Chairperson of the Asian Rhino Project.
Clare holds a B.Sc. in Zoology/Marine Biology as well as Certificate III in Zoo Keeping, Certificate IV in frontline Management and Post Graduate Certificate in Captive Vertebrate Management.
Clare assisted in the development of the GCMP and hopes the program will be of great benefit to the conservation and improved management of the species.
Neil Spooner
Amos Courage
Alan Mootnick
Alan is the founder and director of the Gibbon Conversation Center (GCC) that houses one of the largest groups of gibbons in the Western Hemisphere and one of the rarest groups of apes worldwide. In the past 10 years there have been over 20 gibbons born at GCC that includes 7 gibbon species. GCC is the only institution in the world to house all four genera of gibbon.
Alan Mootnick has been involved with the study of the social behavior, captive management, and species identification of gibbons for 34 years, and has over 100 published articles on gibbons. In 1983 he was involved with the discovery and the naming of the fourth sub-genera of gibbon, and in 2005 he was involved in elevating the 4 subgenera to 4 genera of gibbon, renamed the genus for the hoolock gibbon, and involved in elevating the two subspecies of hoolock gibbon to species level. On a weekly basis Alan assists personnel at rescue centers, zoos, universities and government agencies on gibbon related matters, and travels to Asia yearly to assist zoos, veterinary colleges, and rescue centers on captive management practices, species identification, and conservation of gibbons.
Matt Ford
Simon Jeffrey
Jay Petersen
Made Wedana
Wahjudi Wardojo
Adi Susmianto
Vicki Melfi
Vicky started working in zoos at 16 years old, as a zoo keeper at Drusillas Zoo near Alfriston, Sussex. She has managed to occupy many other roles within zoos, including Volunteer Co-ordinator, Educational Assistant and Researcher. Vicky’s academic achievements include, a B.Sc. in Animal Science, a M.Sc. in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare and a Ph.D. in Zoology.
Currently, she is the Senior Research Officer for the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust (the umbrella organisation of Paignton Zoo Environmental Park; Living Coasts and Newquay Zoo) within their Field Conservation and Research Department. Her main duties include: i) leading the behavioural husbandry and animal welfare workgroup, by undertaking research and supporting practical implementation of behavioural husbandry; ii) managing Selamatkan Yaki (an integrated conservation programme for Sulawesi crested black macaques); iii) lecturing on the Zoo Conservation Biology M.Sc. run in collaboration with the University of Plymouth; iv) chairing the EAZA Gibbon taxon advisory group.
Vicky has written various publications on the above topics including a recent book, Zoo Animals: their behaviour, management and welfare, which was co-written with Geoff Hosey and Sheila Pankhurst.
