GB2503302A - Contact-free feeding and maintenance gate for dangerous animals - Google Patents

Abstract

A gate mechanism for the safe feeding and handling of dangerous animals, such as venomous snakes. The gate mechanism opens and closes an aperture (5, fig 1) in the wall of a housing 1 enclosing the dangerous animal. The gate mechanism comprises a base section 4 attached to the housing wall and a connecting tube 9 depending perpendicularly therefrom. A sliding gate is provided in the tube to close the aperture. The free end of the tube is provided with closure means 6. Alternatively the free end of the tube may be connected to a further tube, said tube being provided with clamping and sensor means in order to restrain a snake therein e.g. for milking said snake. Alternatively the free end of the tube may be connected to the tube of a different gate mechanism in order to connect two animal housings (figs 5 and 6).

Description

Contact-free feeding and maintenance gate for dangerous animals The present invention relates to the handling and feeding of dangerous animals, in particular venomous snakes, spiders and scorpions and the like.

Venomous animals are kept in captivity for a variety of reasons such as scientific research, public display in zoos and as pets. In captivity these animals present significant risk to the keeper during necessary feeding and enclosure maintenance -the most frequent interaction with such animals. Between 1986 and 2009, Professor David Warrell (Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford) treated forty-three cases of envenomation by exotic venomous snake in the United Kingdom (UK).

Interestingly, these involved thirty-six people and twenty-six species of snake1 so it seems there are people being bitten repeatedly by the same snake.

Current methods of feeding and manoeuvring venomous snakes expose the keepers to potentially life-threatening situations (fatality from black mamba bites is nearly 100%2) where there is no barrier between the venomous snake and the keeper. For feeding, it is usual to open the enclosure and offer the snake a prey item with a pair of long forceps or tongs. Large snakes, such as cobras and mambas, can easily cover the distance between food and feeder in a very short time, especially as the snake is prepared to bite due to the smell of prey.

Manipulation of venomous snakes principally falls into two groups: those that can be hooked and held at distance and those that cannot. Most vipers (family Viperidae) can be lifted with one or two snake hooks held at a distance from the keeper and safely deposited into a new enclosure or holding box for transport or maintenance of their home enclosure. Many species of Elapidae, such as cobras and mambas, are too large and/or aggressive to work with in this way. Often the keeper is required to restrain the tail whilst using handling tools such as snake hooks and tongs to control the head end.

This is regarded as one of the most dangerous techniques because it requires direct contact between the snake and the keeper. Safe working practices that do exist place emphasis on reactive measures such as antivenom, although proactive measures are beginning to be used now that personal protective equipment (APE), such as bite-proof gloves and clothing, is becoming available. Health and safety guidance for zoos from the Health and Safety Executive mentions antivenom before enclosure design3 but makes no mention of working practices. The hierarchy of risk control puts emergency preparation last and FPE just before4. Subsequently, when the risk cannot be eliminated or substituted (such as the need to collect venom for research), engineering controls should be looked at to separate the operator from the risk, where possible.

It is on this basis that the present invention seeks to provide apparatus and methods that enable safe feeding and handling of venomous animals that substantially eliminate risk of injury to the keeper or operator.

The invention provides an engineering solution that separates operators (keepers) from captive venomous snakes and other animals during routine feeding and cleaning processes, thereby greatly reducing the risk to health from bites and envenomation. The solution also allows a venomous snake to be restrained, for example to enable milking of venom or veterinary inspection, substantially reducing the need to handle the animal.

Since the solution enables the animals to remain in containment during procedures, it also greatly reduces the risk of escape. Thus, this represents a significant advance in husbandry of these animals and the safety of people working with dangerous animals, as well as those keeping them as pets.

Accordingly, from one aspect, the present invention resides in a gate mechanism for opening and closing an aperture in an animal enclosure. The gate mechanism comprises: a base for securing the mechanism to a wall of the enclosure; a connecting tube connected at one end to and extending from the base perpendicular to the wall; a moveable gate housed in the tube for opening and closing the aperture in the enclosure wall, and optionally, a removable locking nut or closure attached to the free end of the connecting tube for closing the free end of the connecting tube.

The connecting tube may be used for a variety of purposes. In a particular embodiment, the tube maybe used to house part or the whole length of a snake. A connecting tube of transparent material will allow inspection of the snake. The tube may also be used to restrain the snake, for example to allow the head and fangs to be offered up for milking.

In such an embodiment, it is preferable if the connecting tube includes clamping means to restrain the snake within the tube.

The clamping means may be of any suitable construction. For example, the connecting tube may include one or more slots that house one or more straps that may be fixed, laced or buckled to hold the snake. Alternatively, the clamping means may be inflatable, such as an inflatable cuff. Such a cuff may extend along the full length of the tube, may be in sections along the tube or may be a single section. The cuff may be inflated either manually or automatically. For automatic inflation, the connecting tube may further include a sensor, near to or at its free end whereby activation of the sensor causes the cuff to inflate.

The gripping force on the snake may be set manually or automatically. For example, the clamping means may include one or more pressure sensors that allow the clamp force to be applied until a threshold is reached.

To protect the snake in the tube, it is preferable if the connecting tube has an inner surface that is coated with non-slip material.

In another aspect, the present invention resides in a safe method for feeding dangerous animals, such as snakes, and/or cleaning housing of such animals. In particular, the method comprises use of the gate mechanism of the present invention for feeding with the following steps: closing an aperture in the wall of the enclosure opening the closed end of the connection tube, inserting prey into the tube and re-closing the tube; and opening the gate.

Once the animal has taken the prey, or the prey has been left in the tube for too long a period of time, the connection tube is opened for cleaning or removal of the prey.

In a second embodiment, the present invention resides in a method for the safe transfer of dangerous animals, such as venomous snakes and spiders, between enclosures. The method uses the gate mechanism as described herein covering an aperture in an animal enclosure and comprises: attaching the free end of the connecting tube to a similar gate mechanism on a second enclosure, also including a suitably-sized aperture; 11) opening the apertures on both enclosures; and closing the aperture on the second enclosure once the animal has transferred from the first enclosure to the second.

Once the animal is safely within the second enclosure, the gate mechanism may be detached from the second enclosure thereby disconnecting the two enclosures.

Such a method may be used to transfer a dangerous animal to a clean or holding enclosure, or to a second enclosure for mating.

Ideally, an extension tube is inserted between the two gate mechanisms to allow a suitable passage for the animal. The extension or connecting tubes may include clamping means, such as an inflatable cuff or opposing slots in the tube wall in combinations with restraining straps. In this way, a snake may be restrained for veterinary inspection without having to handle the animal directly.

In a further aspect, the present invention also resides in a safe method for restraining a snake, for example to allow milking and/or inspecting, without the need for an operator or keeper to handle the animal. In particular, the method comprises use of the gate mechanism as described above to cover an aperture in an animal enclosure, allowing 31) the snake to travel into the connecting/extension tube, and restraining the snake within the connecting tube by clamping means present within the tube.

The present invention also includes a kit of parts comprising a sealable animal housing box or enclosure, preferably including an aperture in one wall, and a gate mechanism as described herein. The kit may further comprise a connecting or extension tube. The kit may yet further comprise a milking device for milking a venomous snake.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the figures, in which: * Figure 1 is a diagram showing a plan view of the front wall of a typical animal enclosure including the gate of the present invention. The gate has the securing nut on and aperture open; * Figure 2 is a diagram showing the same plan view of the enclosure, wherein the gate has the securing nut on and the aperture closed and locked; * Figure 3 is a plan diagram of the enclosure from above showing the gate with the securing nut on and aperture open; * Figure 4 is a plan diagram of the enclosure from above showing the gate with the securing nut on and the aperture closed.

* Figure 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the invention in use for the transferral of an animal from one enclosure to another showing a plan view of the top of a home enclosure connected to a holding enclosure with both gate apertures closed; and * Figure 6 shows a plan view of the same home enclosure from above connected to the same holding enclosure with both gate apertures open.

The invention is a gate device that opens and closes an aperture in a wall of a typical animal housing box or enclosure (1). In the test system, snakes were housed in 50 litre polypropylene boxes with secure fastening lids. The gate device of the present invention is designed to be used with any suitable secure enclosure including wood, plastic, glass or masonry construction.

The gate itself is a substantially rectangular polyvinyl chloride (PVC) block assembly about 85mm wide and about 190mm tall. Contained within the assembly is a sliding gate or paddle (not visible) directly attached to a handle (2) and a push rod (3). The handle (2) and rod (3) extend to approximately 260mm when the 5cm aperture (5) is fully open (Figure 1) and move the paddle over or away from the aperture (5).

The gate assembly is housed adjacent to a base section (4) that is attached to the housing box (1) with four (37mm long, 4mm diameter) securing bolts (not shown).

Connected to the base (4) is a circular connecting tube (9), having an external diameter of 160mm, and an external threaded end. An internally threaded nut (6) (80mm external diameter) with a transparent Ferspex® end plate is screwed on to the threaded end of the connecting tube (10) to produce a sealed chamber with viewing window.

When the aperture (5) is closed, a pair of 3mm loops (7) is located adjacent to each other (one on the base (4) and one on the handle (2)) so that a lock (8), such as a cable padlock, can be inserted through the loops (7) to secure the gate in the closed position (Figure 2).

In use, the gate is secured to any suitable, secure, enclosure via four securing bolts prior to introduction of the animal. Initial operation of the device should be feeding or with a food reward to build an association with the device and a food reward. Whilst the aperture (5) is closed (Figure 2) and secured with the lock (8), the securing nut (6) is removed by unscrewing and a fresh prey item (such as defrosted rodent) is placed into the connecting tube (9) (Figure 3). Once the prey is in place, the securing nut (6) is rethreaded back onto the end of the connecting tube (9) until hand-tight. Once the securing nut (6) is secured, the lock (8) is removed and the handle (2) extended to open the aperture (5) (Figure 1). In this position a snake within the housing box (1) can locate the prey item by smell and safely eat it without being able to leave the enclosure or attack the keeper.

Once the snake has fed and retreated back into the housing box (1), the handle (2) is moved towards the base (4), thereby moving the gate to close the aperture (5), and the lock is replaced. Once in the locked position (Figure 2 and Figure 4), the securing nut (6) can be removed to allow for cleaning of the connecting tube (9). If the prey has not been eaten after a suitable period of time, the gate can also be closed to then allow for safe removal of the uneaten prey without opening the housing box (1).

The Applicant has found that the time taken for venomous snakes, such as black mambas (Dendroaspis polylepis), cobras (Naja naja, Naja mossambica) and false water cobras (Hydrodynastes gigas), to feed on defrosted rodents from the device of the present invention dramatically decreases with successive feeds. This indicates that the animals are becoming acclimatised to the gate assembly.

After several feeds, an extension tube (10), such as a 50mm clear Perspex® snake tube, can be attached to the connecting tube (9) by removing the securing nut (6) and attaching a second enclosure (1 b) called the holding enclosure (Figure 5). The holding enclosure (1 b) includes a similar aperture (not shown) and an identical gate mechanism having a handle (2b), push rod (3b) and base (4b). On attachment, both handles (2a, 2b) are pushed towards bases 4a and 4b respectively, thereby allowing the snake to move into the holding enclosure (1 b, Figure 6). Once the snake is completely in the holding enclosure (ib), both apertures are closed and the home enclosure is available for maintenance, such as cleaning and refurbishment. The two enclosures (1 a, 1 b) may be disconnected by removal of the extension tube (10).

When the home enclosure (1 a) is ready for occupation and any other access points are securely closed, the extension tube (10) is reconnected to both enclosures, the apertures are opened and the snake is allowed to return to its home enclosure (1 a).

Both apertures are then closed and locked, the extension tube (10) is removed and the securing nut (6) is reattached to the free, open end of the connecting tube (9). The Applicant has found that snakes return to their home enclosure in under ten minutes without any further food incentive.

The device of the invention may be scaled to accommodate a wide range of species.

The diameter and tube length should be sufficient to completely house the prey species being used and of a diameter to allow passage of the housed specimen after prey ingestion. The apertures (5) are easily scaled between 2.5cm and 30cm such that the device may even be used for feeding large constrictor snakes, such as boas and pythons, as well as aggressive monitor lizards and small crocodilians. Expected apertures for invertebrate feeding would be between 10mm and 25mm, suitable to accommodate live invertebrate prey such as crickets, locusts and mealworms.

Ideally, the device is pressure tested for use in deep water and so will function underwater thereby being useful to feed a whole host of aquatic species. Suitable gates mechanisms for use with the invention may be provided by Valterra®.

Previous work by the Applicant has already established safe working practices for arachnids of medical importance5, but these practices can be improved with the addition of the gate mechanism of the present invention to eliminate completely any potential contact between the animal and the keeper.

Another use for the gate device of the present invention is to connect two adjacent enclosures housing animals of different gender. Thus, the gates on each enclosure can be opened to allow for mating to take place and the animals to return to their home enclosures without any risk to keepers and observers.

A yet further use for the gate device of the present invention is to enable the milking and/or veterinary inspection of a snake without handling the snake. One end of an extension tube (also known as a snake tube) (10), having a diameter of approximately 100mm and a length of about 1 m, is attached to a gate already connected to a snake enclosure. The tube includes one or more clamps either along the whole length of the tube (10), in sections along parts of the tube or a single section. For example, the clamp may include an inflatable cuff. Alternatively, slots may be included in the extension tube (10) and restraint straps threaded there through.

The unconnected end of the extension tube (10) includes a removable (transparent) end to dissuade the snake from moving along and out of the length of the tube (10).

In use, the gate on the enclosure is opened and the snake is allowed to travel along the tube (10). Once the snake is either sufficiently inside the tube (10) or has filled the length of the tube (10), the clamp is put in place thereby gripping the snake and preventing it from returning, backwards, into its enclosure (1).

To milk a venomous snake, the transparent end is removed from the extension tube (10) so the snake's head and fangs are offered up for milking.

Ideally, the clamp is automated. In such an embodiment, the unconnected end of the snake tube includes a sensor, such as a light or beam sensor, that detects when the snake's head reaches the end of the tube. After the sensor has been triggered, the clamp is activated and the snake gripped in position. As above, the transparent end of the tube can then be removed and the snake offered up for milking. This also provides the ability to automate milking of venomous snakes.

After inspection or milking, the snake is allowed to retreat back into its home enclosure, or the tube (10) may be connected to a new enclosure and the snake can exit forwards.

References: 1. Warrel, D. A. Commissioned article: management of exotic snakebites QJM. (2009 Sep) 102(9): 593-601 2. Zävada, J., Valenta, J., Kopeck', 0., Stach, 7., Leden F. Black mamba dendroaspis polylepis bite: a case report. Prague Med Rep. (2011)112(4): 298-304.

3. Health and Safety Executive: Managing Health and Safety in Zoos -http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/webl 5.pdf 4. Health and Safety Executive: Management of risk when planning work: The right priorities http://www.hse.gov. uklconstruction/lwit/assets/downloads/hierachy-risk-controls.pdf 5. Reed, S. E., Lock, M. M. 0., and Trim, S. A. Safe laboratory management for arachnids of medical importance. Animal Technology and Welfare (2011) 10(3): 85-90.

Claims (13)

1. CLAIMS1. A gate mechanism to open and close an aperture in a housing enclosure for a dangerous animal, wherein the gate mechanism comprises: a base for securing the mechanism to a wall of the enclosure; a connecting tube connected at one end to and extending from the base perpendicular to the wall; and a moveable gate housed in the tube for opening and closing the aperture in the enclosure wall, and optionally, a removable locking nut or closure attached to the free end of the connecting tube for closing the free end of the connecting tube.
2. 2. A gate mechanism according to Claim 1, wherein the connecting tube includes clamping means.
3. 3. A gate mechanism according to Claim 2, wherein the clamping means is an inflatable cuff along part or the entire length of the connecting tube.
4. 4. A gate mechanism according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the connecting tube further includes at least one sensor at or close to its free end so that activation of the sensor activates the clamping means.
5. 5. A gate mechanism according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the connecting tube has an inner surface coated with non-slip material.
6. 6. A method to feed dangerous animals, such as snakes, the method comprising use of the gate mechanism as described in any one of Claims 1 to 5 with the following method steps: closing an aperture in the wall of the housing; opening the closed end of the connection tube, inserting prey into the tube and re-closing the tube; and opening the gate.
7. 7. A method for the safe transfer of dangerous animals, such as venomous snakes and spiders, between enclosures, the method comprising use of the gate mechanism as described in any one of Claims 1 to 5 to cover an aperture in an animal enclosure and: attaching the free end of the connecting tube to a similar gate mechanism on a second enclosure, also including a suitably-sized aperture; opening the apertures on both enclosures; and closing the aperture on the second housing once the animal has transferred from the first enclosure to the second.
8. 8. A method for the milking and/or inspection of a snake, the method comprising use of the gate mechanism as described in any one of Claims 2 to 5 to cover an aperture in an animal enclosure, and: allowing the snake to travel into the connecting tube, and restraining the snake within the connecting tube by clamping means present within the tube.
9. 9. A kit of parts comprising a sealable animal housing box or enclosure, preferably including an aperture in one wall, and a gate mechanism as claimed in any one of Claims ito 5.
10. 10. A kit of parts according to Claim 9, wherein the kit further comprises one or more additional extension or connecting tubes.
11. 11. A kit of parts according to Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the kit further comprises a milking device for milking a venomous snake.
12. 12. A gate mechanism according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 as described herein with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 6.
13. 13. A method to feed dangerous animals, for the safe transfer of dangerous animals between enclosures or for the milking and/or inspection of a snake substantially as described herein.