TOP STORIES
Disease fears after dead dolphins found near Fowey
The recent death of two striped dolphins found near Fowey has raised concern that the deaths may be due to disease.
The fears have been raised by the British Divers Marine Life Rescue and Cornwall Wildlife Trust's Marine Strandings Network, who work together to study and protect cetaceans around the coast.
... "Other lesions in the skin were colonised by tiny long whale lice – fascinating creatures only 5mm in size that live out their lives on dolphins and whales by hanging on with their enormous hooked claws. "Pox marks were also seen on the skin, suggesting the possibility of underlying disease, together with a possible rope mark on the tail fluke."
...For two dolphins of this relatively rare species to wash up together in the same area, at the same time and yet not be in the same condition, is highly unusual.
This is Cornwall - www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
15 Jun 2012
Pet Trade Brings New Disease To Threatened New Zealand Parrots
International trade in pets has exposed two threatened New Zealand parrot species to a potentially fatal bird disease, scientists said Friday.
Researchers from the University of Canterbury said they had found signs of the beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) in the country's red-fronted parakeet population on Little Barrier Island off the east of the North Island, and a new strain of the virus in the yellow-crowned parakeets in the South Island region of Fiordland.
It was the first time the virus had been found in the South Island, Xinhua news agency reported.
Wild birds from the introduced Australian eastern rosella were also carrying the virus, said a statement from the university.
Bernama.com - www.bernama.com
15 Jun 2012
Location: Little Barrier Island - Map It 
and Fiordland - Map It , New Zealand
Abandoned pet fish may have spread killer illness to Danson Park carp
Environmental investigators believe that a mystery illness which wiped out carp in a Bexleyheath beauty spot could have been caused by diseases from wanted fish dumped in the water.
...Environment Agency experts took samples of dead fish and water from the 7.8 hectare lake to try to find out why the carp were dying and other species appeared to be unaffected by the mystery bug.
The spokeswoman said: “Our investigation identified a risk that locally people may see publicly accessible water bodies, such as Danson Lake as suitable to dispose of unwanted pond or aquarium fish, albeit with good intentions.... As well as being illegal, these acts carry a high risk of introducing diseases or parasites to the wild and the effects on the existing native fish population can be devastating. “
She ruled out problems with water quality or pollution killing the fish.
Bexley Times - www.bexleytimes.co.uk
14 Jun 2012
J Gregory
Location - Danson Park Lake, England - Map It
More Fish Disease News
Mount St. Helens elk herd threatened by hoof disease
Bill Jones thought he had seen it all in his 44 years of hunting in the Mount St. Helens foothills, but he was not prepared for what he saw last weekend. What they had was hoof rot. The mysterious disease has shown up sporadically in other Western Washington elk herds, but not like this.
But Ware warns, even though they have samples, they don’t know what strain of the disease they are dealing with. And even when they to, treating wild herds is extremely difficult. He said in past cases, many inflicted animals die, but the disease seems to run its course and fade away.
King5.com - www.king5.com
15 Jun 2012
G Chittim
Location: Mount St. Helen, Washington, USA - Map It
OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
Photo courtesy of The Guardian feature, Week in Wildlife
White-nose Syndrome News
West Nile Virus News
Huh?! That's Interesting
To educate and gain rapport with governmental agencies and wildlife resource interest groups concerning the importance of wildlife disease control and prevention in relation to wildlife and domestic animals.
