The Western Ground Parrot (Pezoporus
flaviventris) is a
critically endangered medium-sized parrot. There are fewer than 140 Western
Ground Parrots left in the wild in two conservation reserves on the south coast
of Western Australia.
In 2009 and 2010, a total of 10 wild individuals were brought into captivity by
the Department of Parks and Wildlife to develop husbandry techniques and
explore the prospects of a breeding for release program. Although there were
some breeding attempts, these were unsuccessful and in 2014, the remaining
individuals (3 females and 4 males) were transferred to Perth Zoo for ongoing
breeding attempts.
A disease risk analysis was undertaken in preparation for bringing the first
birds into captivity. A second analysis was undertaken in 2013 in preparation
for the transfer of remaining individuals to Perth Zoo. While the diseases
under consideration changed little from 2009 to 2013, the relocation to a zoo
environment presented a number of new potential avenues of disease risk to
birds.
The 2013 review addressed a range of biosecurity risks to the parrots,
including: location and health status of other psittacine species in the zoo
collection; exposure to free-ranging bird species; health status of local
free-ranging psittacines; keeping staff involvement with husbandry of other zoo
animals. The review resulted in the implementation of a pre- and post-arrival
disease screening plan, a quarantine plan and post-quarantine procedures for
ongoing biosecurity.
The early involvement of personnel with expertise in psittacine health and
captive husbandry, as well as the biology of the species in the wild, was
instrumental in achieving a robust ongoing plan for biosecurity for this
captive population. Excellent communication with all stakeholders was critical
to the prompt development of the disease risk analysis and effective
implementation of its recommendations.