I've visited this zoo twice and the puffin exhibit has been one of the highlights for me. Having it outdoors and open to fresh air is almost unique in the zoo world, and while it is not a massive enclosure there are a number of the birds in the habitat and that again is something of an anomaly in the zoo industry. Usually in zoos puffins are indoors and behind glass, while this exhibit at the Point Defiance Zoo has them outdoors and the visitor viewing opportunities are either underwater behind glass or also netting as well.
@snowleopard: Well, there's a reason why most puffin species are kept indoors behind glass; otherwise, they wouldn't stay for long among the living...Wonder how Point Defiance manages the outdoor husbandry without losing too many animals.
Besides of mosquito-borne diseases fatal for birds like Western Nile or Avian malaria, there would still be other possible diseases, may it be eimeriosis, aspergillosis or various bacterial infections puffins tend to get in captivity, without any mosquito involved. Nevertheless, the apt weather conditions could really play an important role in the general health of the birds.
@Ituri: Regarding natural range-even that might not mean much, as captive conditions might change important parameters, for example due to greater constant closeness of animals to each other, prompting the spread of diseases.
Nevertheless, as stated before, I think that the mentioned apt weather could be benefical.
It is obviously working for both the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, and both facilities have kept their puffins outdoors for some time now.
At the Oregon Coast Aquarium 19% of their tufted puffins succumbed to Aspergellosis. They have also had some problems with this fungus afflicting the other birds in their outdoor aviary. Considering the proximity of the Oregon coast Aquarium and the Point Defiance Zoo, the fact that both hold their seabirds in open outdoor aviaries, and the high prevalence of Asergillosis in Alcidae in Zoos I do not think it would be unreasonable to assume that puffins at the Point Defiance Zoo also suffer from Aspergillosis.
Monroe , A., Noah, P. and Brown, S. (1993): Comparison of Medical treatment Regimes For Aspergellosis in Captive Tufted penguins (Lunda cirrhata). AAZPA 1993 Annual Conference Proceedings: 78-82.
