Devil Shipment Insurance Against Extinction
The Australian - The Nation
25 Nov 06
Matthew Denholm
Photo courtesy of The Australian - The Nation

Two shipments of a precious cargo will leave Hobart next month, potentially taking with them the future of an entire species. In an effort to avoid a repeat of the infamous extinction of the Tasmanian tiger, two "Noah's Ark" shipments of the thylacine's closest living relative, the Tasmanian devil, will leave Hobart in the next two weeks. The 47 devils - 29 adults and 18 pups - are undergoing their final quarantine health checks before their departure to interstate wildlife parks. Parks in four states will provide new homes for the animals as part of a plan to ensure the species survives if it is wiped out by a mysterious cancer decimating Tasmania's wild devil population.


Parks in four states will provide new homes for the animals as part of a plan to ensure the species survives if it is wiped out by a mysterious cancer decimating Tasmania's wild devil population. "There's a lot riding on these little fellas," says Tasmanian government wildlife officer Heather Hesterman. The devils, kept in strict quarantine since being captured in disease-free areas of the state two years ago, will join breeding programs at wildlife parks in Healesville, Victoria; Monarto, South Australia; Currumbin, Queensland; and Gosford, NSW. Sixteen will leave this Friday, while a further 31 will be flown out one week later. They will spend a further year in quarantine in their new homes, hopefully breeding again in March.

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Dead Birds Raise Avian Flu Fears in Somalia
Reuters
22 Nov 06
Ibrahim Mohamed

Dozens of dead birds in a flood ravaged village in Somalia have raised fears of an avian flu outbreak in a country with limited health facilities, officials said on Wednesday. The carcasses of the dead birds, which were thought to be ducks, were found in Elbaraf, 55 km (34 miles) north of the town of Jowhar, local veterinarian Ali Hamud told Reuters. "We burnt 51 carcasses," Hamud said.

Scientists have suggested that migratory birds play an important role in the spread of the deadly H5N1 flu virus, which originated in Asia and has killed more than 150 people worldwide so far. Hamud said most of the birds found had tags around their feet and necks indicating they had been come via the "Orient Institute" in Zagreb, Croatia.

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Mass Death of Home Birds Observed in Garatepe Village of Barda District
TREND news Agency
22 Nov 06
Sh. Jaliloglu

Within approximately 5 days, a mass death of home birds has been observed in 50 families of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) residing in the Garatepe village of Barda district of Azerbaijan. The IDPs are concerned that the mass death is caused by the “bird flu” virus, Trend Regional Correspondent reports.

Although the IDPs held the vaccination of the birds, as yet there are no results. They have repeatedly appealed to the Barda Veterinary Department, but no measures have been taken. Expressing his concern over the mass death of the birds, the Head of the Garatepe village municipality, Nizami Abbasov, said that he also appealed to the Barda Veterinary Department, but have been given false promises.

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Wildlife Disease Related Journal Articles

Wildlife, Exotic Pets, and Emerging Zoonoses
CDC - Emerging Infectious Diseases
Bruno B. Chomel, et al.