Here in Victoria the Wildlife Health Surveillance Victoria monitors the health of wildlife and particularly the spread of diseases in wildlife populations. This is done within the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Melbourne University.
If you are birding in Victoria then the following extract from the latest newsletter is relevant to you.
ALERTS:
Grey Kangaroos with severe incoordination have recently been reported from several areas of Victoria. Please move closer to a mob of kangaroos to check each animal moves away normally and report unusual behavior to us.
Dead Black Swans, Eurasian Coots, Chestnut Teal and other waterfowl have been investigated from wetlands in March, May and June. Please check local wetlands for mortalities and contact us if you find dead waterbirds or have seen any during recent months.
ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS:
Parrots, cockatoos and lorikeets can have beak & feather disease caused by circovirus and also Chlamydiosis (health risk to people). Please collect dead parrots, galahs and cockatoos into plastic without touching, double bag, chill with ice, and wash your hands.
Frogs found dead can be collected and tested for Chytrid fungus infections, a key threatening process.
Please contact Pam Whiteley 0400 119 301 pamw@unimelb.edu.au to report sick and dead wildlife from free ranging populations of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in Victoria.
People finding dead wildlife in other states should report to their state environment and primary industry/ag animal health people, or their Australian Wildlife Health Network state coordinator.
Further information, including newsletters that you can download and distribute, can be found at http://www.vet.unimelb.edu.au/wildlifehealthsurveillancevic/
Regards,
Euan
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au
http://birding-aus.org ===============================
