This is a message mainly for those FOGGS who are neighbours of the Park. There is a concern that quite a few of the macropods are suffering from a kind of hookworm. This attacks their digestive system, and oedema develops in their faces because of the amount of time their heads are held low while grazing. So keep an eye out for kangaroos with swollen faces; it is not lumpy jaw but a symptom of the hookworm infestation. Avoid handling any faeces. Pam Whitely at the University of Melbourne Veterinary faculty is heading this project. They are also interested in reports of psittacine (beak and feather) circoviral disease in parrots and cockatoos. They’d appreciate your help with the following:
1.Reporting sick and dead free ranging wildlife for investigation
2.Sending photos and videos of wildlife health events including the date, location, species, and your contact information. Photos and videos can be sent to: .
We have very limited baseline knowledge of the diseases that affect wildlife species. This is because very few wildlife mortality (death) or morbidity (sickness) events have been reported and investigated.
The University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Veterinary Science is supported by the Hermon Slade Foundation to develop wildlife health surveillance in Victoria. This will help build a collaborative network between governmental and non-governmental organisations and individuals with findings reported through this website, and the Australian Wildlife Health Network (AWHN), and available for use in wildlife biodiversity conservation. This baseline information will also be useful in biosecurity policy and management for human, domestic animal and wildlife health – a ‘one health’ approach.
More information at www.vet.unimelb.edu.au/wildlifehealthsurveillancevic