Hi Zoo Boy,
In Europe zoos have to observe strict quarantaine regulations and testing procedures for infectious agents before animals are allowed to enter or be exported within the zoo community. However, the administrative obstacles put in place have become so cumbersome that sometimes it is almost impossible to im- or export an animal species (f.i. lesser mouse deer for fear of .... FMD). Zoos (particularly those within the EEC) are not exempt and thus find it hard to set up overseas animal exchange programmes (even if these are required by the need to preserve the genetics in individual wild animal populations in EEP zoos). So, the situation is in someways similar to the Australian experience. However, we have many more zoos and populations of individual EEP programmes are generally large enough to be able to maintain them for a considerable time without outside gene pooling.
The veterinary regulations for wildlife are in strictest contrast to those for domestic stock. These may be im- and exported ad libitum (since they are considered disease free). However, no vaccination .. nor other vet health measures are taken and thus ... pandemics become a potential threat. Exactly, for these reasons wildlife im- and exports are regulated and vet health testing for wild animals exists, yet for domestic stocks they are not.
I concur that both should be regulated and only then can we best protect the interests of wildlife conservation and secure the economics of domestic rural farming communities. Preventative vaccination, transparant import and export quarantaine, strict transport regulations and restrictions on the proximity of farms to oneanother are an effective means of combatting any potential vet health risks (long before these occurred eventually) for both wildlife and domestics. All must play their part. If you then transpose this set up to the Australian situation you have a pretty watertight vet health system (MARK already suggested to that effect).
I hope you do not take this to personally, it is just a matter of opinion.
Cheers,
Jelle
In Europe zoos have to observe strict quarantaine regulations and testing procedures for infectious agents before animals are allowed to enter or be exported within the zoo community. However, the administrative obstacles put in place have become so cumbersome that sometimes it is almost impossible to im- or export an animal species (f.i. lesser mouse deer for fear of .... FMD). Zoos (particularly those within the EEC) are not exempt and thus find it hard to set up overseas animal exchange programmes (even if these are required by the need to preserve the genetics in individual wild animal populations in EEP zoos). So, the situation is in someways similar to the Australian experience. However, we have many more zoos and populations of individual EEP programmes are generally large enough to be able to maintain them for a considerable time without outside gene pooling.
The veterinary regulations for wildlife are in strictest contrast to those for domestic stock. These may be im- and exported ad libitum (since they are considered disease free). However, no vaccination .. nor other vet health measures are taken and thus ... pandemics become a potential threat. Exactly, for these reasons wildlife im- and exports are regulated and vet health testing for wild animals exists, yet for domestic stocks they are not.
I concur that both should be regulated and only then can we best protect the interests of wildlife conservation and secure the economics of domestic rural farming communities. Preventative vaccination, transparant import and export quarantaine, strict transport regulations and restrictions on the proximity of farms to oneanother are an effective means of combatting any potential vet health risks (long before these occurred eventually) for both wildlife and domestics. All must play their part. If you then transpose this set up to the Australian situation you have a pretty watertight vet health system (MARK already suggested to that effect).
I hope you do not take this to personally, it is just a matter of opinion.
Cheers,
Jelle
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