Veterinarians and wildlife conservation: health investigation in endangered Carnaby's cockatoo nestlings

Authors: Le Souef A
Publication: Proceedings of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) Annual Conferences, Volume 2014 AVA Annual Conference, Perth, Issue Conservation Biology, May 2014
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

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Abstract: This presentation describes a study investigating the health of endangered Carnaby’s cockatoo nestlings in the south-west of Western Australia. Conservation biologists are increasingly recognising the role of disease as a limiting factor in species survival1, particularly as anthropogenic environmental changes increasingly influence the health of endangered populations. In recent years there have been an increasing number of studies of free-living avian species2-6. Such studies provide baseline data and are critical components of conservation programs for endangered birds. Baseline data are important for comparisons in the event of various disturbances (e.g. habitat loss, weather extremes, disease outbreaks) which may affect the population and for comparison between different populations1,7. Also, if captive breeding programs form part of recovery efforts, then the disease status of both captive and free-living populations should be understood before considering the release of captive-bred birds.

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