New CEO for Wildlife Information Network

PRESS RELEASE

18 June, 2004

The Wildlife information Network, the UK registered Charity which provides information on wildlife and emerging infectious diseases, has a new CEO and a new home.

Iain Boardman has taken over as Chief Executive of the organisation, replacing Suzanne Boardman who has taken up an appointment as Director of Twycross Zoo, East Midland Zoological Society Atherstone, Warwickshire. The Charity's offices are also moving to Twycross Zoo.

"This is a big step in the evolution of WIN," said Iain Boardman. "Our new position at the heart of one of the most respected zoological societies in Britain – indeed the world – will create exciting new opportunities for collaborative activity and ensure both the success of our educational objectives and increase the understanding of the diseases and management of wildlife throughout the world."

Suzanne Boardman said: "The past few years of establishing WIN have been enormously fulfilling. I am delighted that it is remaining in safe hands and is moving to the next step of its development in new and ideal surroundings."

The Wildlife Information Network, the first independent organisation in the world to be elected an Affiliate Member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, 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. It also publishes Wildpro, an Electronic Encyclopaedia and Library, which is made available through its Website www.wildlifeinformation.org to members of WIN: professionals and decision-makers worldwide. It is a user-friendly system providing cross-disciplinary information. Volumes are made available on both a password controlled Website and CD-ROM.

Individual membership of the Wildlife Information Network charity costs £31.50 including VAT and P&P ($US52.50/€52.50) to include unlimited single-user access to the password-controlled Web-based electronic encyclopaedia and the electronic library, plus one CD-ROM of the subscriber's choice from the published list.

Corporate or institutional membership allows multi-user access to the Website and includes a 'starter-pack' selection of every CD-ROM published by the charity and copies of all new volumes published during the period of membership. The subscription costs £470 per annum (€770) including VAT and postage for EU countries, or USD $675 including postage for the USA and rest of the world. It also entitles holders of institutional subscriptions to nominate a 'sister' institution in a developing country, or 25 individual recipients, who will similarly benefit from full membership of the WIN charity.

Ends

Issued on behalf of Wildlife Information Network by Woodcote Communications.

For further information please contact

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Wildlife Information Network was set up 10 years ago by Yorkshire-born Suzanne Boardman, then a veterinarian at London Zoo who was receiving requests for information and technical support from all corners of the globe. The information existed, but was fragmented and, in emerging countries, very difficult to obtain. WIN was inaugurated as a paper network of newsletters and collated information. It became a registered charity (No. 1048059) in 1995.

Visit www.wildlifeinformation.org

WIN 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)
West European Hedgehog
Managing for West Nile Virus Infection in the USA
Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer and Elk