Conservation biology and the preservation of biodiversity in Australia: a role for zoos and the veterinary profession

Copromicroscopic study of gastrointestinal parasites in captive mammals at Central Zoo, Lalitpur, Nepal

“…Based on animals’ health conditions and behaviour, they are released either in the wild or kept in the zoo for exhibition, conservation education, aesthetic, recreational and research purposes (McElroy, 2015 ; Miller et al., 2004 ). The major objectives of captive management of animals are to promote the animal diversity and protect threatened species (Gracenea et al., 2002 ; Kelly & English, 1997 ; Parsani et al., 2001 ). Zoos have a major role in wildlife conservation, for example, 173 mammal species are in the verge of extinction on six continents (Ceballos & Ehrlich, 2002 ), and most of these species are used for captive breeding in zoos to preserve their gene (Alroy, 2015 ).…”

Coprological survey of gastrointestinal parasites of mammals in Dehiwala National Zoological Gardens, Sri Lanka

“…Zoological gardens play an important role in the promotion of animal biodiversity by protecting endangered species (Kelly and English, 1997). Since animals are kept in confined areas, parasitic diseases constitute one of the major problems in zoological gardens around the world due to high environmental contamination (Rao and Acharjyo, 1984).…”

Dealing with diseases in wildlife

“…1 This new veterinary interest may have evolved along with the attitudes of an increasingly urbanised Australian society, which values the protection of native wildlife and their habitats, or it reflects an extension of veterinary expertise into an area of considerable scientific interest. 2 There has been limited debate amongst biologists or veterinarians on the significance of infectious diseases in natural ecologies and or species conservation. Diseases in freeranging wildlife, other than those in species of economic importance or diseases of public health significance have long been overlooked and rarely monitored.…”