By Renee Wood
Healesville Sanctuary is taking precautions to lower the risk of Foot and Mouth Disease entering the facility and harming wildlife that call it home.
As the outbreak continues in Indonesia, the governing body of the sanctuary, Zoos Victoria, has implemented staff practices and released visitors recommendations.
A Zoos Victoria spokesperson said they are exercising caution to ensure animal safety.
“Over the past week, Zoos Victoria’s veterinarians have liaised with biosecurity officers from state and federal government and ZAA to consider the animal health risks associated with the current outbreak of FMD in Indonesia,” they said.
“We are exercising an abundance of caution, to ensure the animals in our care remain as safe as possible.”
At the Sanctuary, contact between people and animals has been paused to reduce the risk of people walking through animal habitats.
This includes the halting of the Kangaroo encounter, and refunds for encounter purchases are being issued for bookings between now and Sunday 7 August.
Although Kangaroo’s are the only closure currently at the sanctuary, there are further closures for Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Zoo including for Giraffes and Elephants.
All animal keepers and staff are also following new procedures to ensure soil from outside the zoo isn’t brought into animal habitats.
Zoo members and visitors who’ve recently been to Indonesia are being urged to wait at least 48 hours since they touched down in Australia before visiting one of the facilities.
Zoos Victoria is also asking those who live with livestock, excluding horses, to delay their visit until more details and advice has been provided.
“Any further information about the disease can be directed to the Department of Agriculture or Chief Veterinarian Office,” the spokesperson said.
