1. Management #2
Record Keeping

2. Record Keeping A method of communicating about
Animal care and well-being
Important to the physical and mental health of the animals
Provides information to various team members about nutrition, health, social dynamics, training, enrichment and behavior.
May be short or long term records Daily as well as weekly, monthly or other periodical records can be kept according to needs and goals.

3. Part of the Daily Routine
Feeding
Cleaning
Record Keeping/Monitoring Groups
Assisting other staff
Providing enrichment
Cooperative learning
Socialization/Integration

4. How often should records be updated?
Many records should be kept daily or weekly. For example health, behaviour, nutrition, social dynamics, enrichment, and training records.
Certain records may happen sporadically – for example when a new animal is introduced to a group or when a physical exam occurs.
Monthly records may be kept depending on the needs & goals of the sanctuary.

5. Why is effective record keeping important?
To ensure that relevant information is recorded for short and long term review.
This may be even more important when new staff members join the team or to look back on possible patterns of behaviour or health issues.

6. Record Keeping Records may be kept many ways Via paper & pencil/pen
Will you then enter electronically?
Electronically
Via photos & videos

7. Record Keeping Advantages of electronic records: Prevents errors
Via check boxes and drop down menus
Visible from various locations & to various team members
if internet available
May be able to summarize information more easily
Example – via an Excel spreadsheet

8. Record Keeping Some electronic options: Excel Files Tablets/Phones
Specific programs like Filemaker
Voice Recorders

9. Record Keeping with Photos & Videos
Photos – may be useful to record wounds, to help identify new animals as they arrive at the sanctuary.
Videos – may be useful for recording dynamic behaviour
For example:
Abnormal Behaviours
Social Behaviours

10. Why? What? How? Who? Some decisions to consider:
Why are you keeping particular records? What is their purpose?
What types of data do you want to collect?
How will this be done? How often will you record information?
Who will collect & enter the information? Who will review the data?
Who will have access to the data? Is it for internal use only or will it be shared with other organizations/outside researchers, etc.?

11. Review, Backup & Cross Checks
Records should be reviewed or cross checked for accuracy by someone at the sanctuary. This may be the veterinarian, the manager, or fellow caregivers.
Both paper & electronic records should be backed up in some way in case of natural disasters, etc.

12. What qualifies as a “good” record?
Understandable long into the future and by people who do not necessarily have the background you have.

13. How can records be utilized?
To assist in decision making about animal care.
Examples:
Effectiveness of environmental enrichment
Quality and quantity of social interactions
Nutritional requirements
Others – can you think of a way your records could be used?

14. Thank you! PASAprimates.org facebook.com/PASAprimates
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15. The PASA Primate Care Training Program is made possible by a generous grant from Fondation Brigitte Bardot.