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WIN expands Outreach Programme

The Wildlife Information Network (WIN) is celebrating the start of 2004 by encouraging its members to expand the WIN outreach network.

The charity, which is dedicated to making information on the health and management of captive and free-ranging wild animals and their habitats readily available to wildlife professionals and decision-makers worldwide, is encouraging its corporate members – which include zoological societies, animal health companies, veterinary colleges and other academic institutions – to take advantage of the expanded Outreach Programme.

This entitles holders of institutional subscriptions to nominate a 'sister' institution in a developing country, or 25 individual recipients, who will then benefit from full membership of the WIN charity.

This includes unlimited access to the password-controlled Web-based electronic encyclopaedia, the electronic library and 25 copies of pre-existing CD-ROM modules for accessibility "in the field". Two further complimentary copies of any CD-ROMs published during the subscription period are also sent to concessionary members.

"For example," says Iain Boardman, managing director of WIN, "London Zoo has nominated Accra Zoo, Ghana, while Bayer sponsors one of the Nigerian Universities.

"Surprisingly, however, some of our academic institutional members have not yet made their nominations – and nor have the commercial organisations. We want them to emulate the zoological societies and conservation bodies, who are keen to help spread the word about the huge amount of information we can offer. Hopefully, 2004 will be the year when this scheme really takes off.

"Any institution or individual seeking nomination should apply to be put on WIN's list of potential recipients who can be put forward to institutions seeking a nominee," he added.

Alongside the expanded Outreach Programme, WIN has now established a commercial arm, Wildlife Information Network Trading Limited. This replaces the rather confusingly named WildPro Ltd, the previous trading arm. Wildpro Multimedia remains and will continue to provide the software elements relating to the WIN Website.

Membership of the Wildlife Information Network charity costs £470 per annum (€770) including VAT and postage for EU countries, or USD $675 including postage for the rest of the world. Applications should be made to info@wildlifeinformation.org.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

CD-ROMS currently available are:

  • Waterfowl: Health and Management
  • Wildlife: First Aid and Care
  • Managing for Foot-and-Mouth Disease
  • Wildlife: Disease Investigation and Management (Birds)
  • Managing for West Nile Virus Infection in the USA
  • West European Hedgehog
  • Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer and Elk

Modules in preparation for 2004 include:

  • River Thames Oiled Wildlife Project
  • Pain Management in Ruminants
  • Infectious Diseases of Large Carnivores

WIN Website: www.wildlifeinformation.org

Issued on behalf of Wildlife Information Network by Woodcote Communications.

For further information, please contact

Lindy Margach, Woodcote Communications, +44 (0)20 8669 0686

OR

Iain Boardman, Wildlife Information Network, +44 (0)20 7388 7003.