Australian Mammals: Biology and Captive Management : Biology and Captive Management

Winner of the 2004 Whitley Medal. Shortlisted in the Scholarly Reference section of the 2004 Australian Awards for Excellence in Educational Publishing. This authoritative volume represents a complete and comprehensive guide to the husbandry of Australian marsupials and other mammals. Australian Mammals: Biology and Captive Management dedicates a chapter to each group of animals including the platypus, the echidna, carnivorous marsupials, numbats, bandicoots and bilbies, koalas, wombats, possums and gliders, macropods, bats, rodents and the dingo. For each animal group the following information is covered: Biology Housing Capture and restraint Transport Diet Breeding Artificial rearing Behaviour and behavioural enrichment The book provides a complete literature review of all known information on the biology of each group of animals and brings information on their biology in the wild into captive situations. Also, for the first time, it provides practical guidelines for hand-rearing, and has been extensively reviewed by zookeepers and veterinarians to incorporate the most up-to-date information and techniques. Australian Mammals: Biology and Captive Management provides practical guidance for zoo-keepers, veterinarians, zoologists, researchers and students. Contents......Page 6 Foreword......Page 18 Introduction......Page 20 Acknowledgments......Page 22 Outline......Page 23 1 Introduction......Page 24 3.4 Diet in the wild......Page 25 4.1 Exhibit design......Page 26 4.3 Spatial requirements......Page 28 5.1 Hygiene and cleaning......Page 29 5.2 Record keeping......Page 30 6.1 Captive diet......Page 31 7.2 Catching bags......Page 32 7.3 Capture and restraint techniques......Page 33 8.1 Daily health checks......Page 34 8.3 Known health problems......Page 35 9.5 Behavioural problems......Page 38 9.6 Signs of stress......Page 39 9.9 Intraspecific compatibility......Page 40 10.3 Reproductive status......Page 42 10.10 Nesting requirements......Page 43 10.14 Age at weaning......Page 44 11.1 Housing......Page 45 11.2 Temperature requirements......Page 46 11.3 Diet and feeding routine......Page 47 11.5 Data recording......Page 48 11.10 Weaning......Page 49 12 Acknowledgments......Page 50 Addendum 2 Bringing platypus in from the wild......Page 51 Addendum 3 Rescued platypus......Page 53 1 Introduction......Page 56 4.1 Exhibit design......Page 57 4.9 Enclosure furnishings......Page 58 6.1 Captive diet......Page 59 7.3 Capture and restraint techniques......Page 60 7.4 Weighing and examination......Page 61 8.2 Detailed physical examination......Page 62 8.3 Known health problems......Page 63 9.1 Activity......Page 65 9.7 Behavioural enrichment......Page 66 10.3 Reproductive status......Page 67 10.6 Timing of breeding......Page 68 10.16 Growth and development......Page 69 11.2 Temperature requirements......Page 70 11.3 Diet and feeding routine......Page 71 11.5 Data recording......Page 72 11.10 Weaning......Page 73 12 Acknowledgments......Page 74 1 Introduction......Page 76 3.4 Diet in the wild......Page 78 3.5 Longevity......Page 80 4.2 Holding area design......Page 82 4.6 Temperature requirements......Page 84 4.9 Enclosure furnishings......Page 85 5.3 Methods of identification......Page 86 6.1 Captive diet......Page 87 7.3 Capture and restraint techniques......Page 91 7.4 Weighing and examination......Page 93 8.1 Daily health checks......Page 94 8.3 Known health problems......Page 95 9.1 Activity......Page 97 9.2 Social behaviour......Page 98 9.3 Reproductive behaviour......Page 101 9.7 Behavioural enrichment......Page 102 9.10 Interspecific compatibility......Page 103 10.1 Mating system......Page 104 10.2 Ease of breeding......Page 106 10.3 Reproductive status......Page 107 10.4 Techniques used to control breeding......Page 109 10.6 Timing of breeding......Page 111 10.11 Breeding diet......Page 112 10.15 Age at removal from parent......Page 115 11.1 Housing......Page 116 11.2 Temperature requirements......Page 117 11.4 Specific requirements......Page 118 11.8 Behavioural considerations......Page 119 12 Acknowledgments......Page 120 1 Introduction......Page 122 3.4 Diet in the wild......Page 123 4.1 Exhibit design......Page 124 4.2 Holding area design......Page 125 4.6 Temperature requirements......Page 126 4.9 Enclosure furnishings......Page 127 6.1 Captive diet......Page 128 6.2 Supplements......Page 129 7.3 Capture and restraint techniques......Page 130 8.1 Daily health checks......Page 131 8.3 Known health problems......Page 132 9.3 Reproductive behaviour......Page 134 9.9 Intraspecific compatibility......Page 135 10.3 Reproductive status......Page 136 10.4 Techniques used to control breeding......Page 137 10.16 Growth and development......Page 138 11.3 Diet and feeding routine......Page 139 11.7 Hygiene......Page 141 12 Acknowledgments......Page 142 Addendum 1 Sustainable termite harvesting techniques......Page 143 Addendum 2 Artificial diet preparation of egg custard......Page 147 Addendum 3 Example of 100% termite diet prior to breeding season (November–March) in numbats......Page 148 1 Introduction......Page 150 3.5 Longevity......Page 151 4.3 Spatial requirements......Page 152 5.2 Record keeping......Page 153 6.1 Captive diet......Page 154 7.3 Capture and restraint techniques......Page 155 7.6 Transport requirements......Page 156 8.2 Detailed physical examination......Page 157 8.3 Known health problems......Page 158 9.2 Social behaviour......Page 159 9.8 Introductions and removals......Page 160 10.3 Reproductive status......Page 161 10.7 Age at first breeding and last breeding......Page 162 10.13 Litter size......Page 163 11.3 Diet and feeding routine......Page 164 11.7 Hygiene and special precautions......Page 166 12 Acknowledgments......Page 167 1 Introduction......Page 168 3.1 Morphometrics......Page 170 3.3 Conservation status......Page 171 3.5 Longevity......Page 172 4.1 Exhibit design......Page 173 4.2 Holding area design......Page 174 4.7 Substrate......Page 175 5.1 Hygiene and cleaning......Page 176 6.1 Captive diet......Page 177 6.3 Presentation of food......Page 181 7.3 Capture and restraint techniques......Page 182 7.6 Transport requirements......Page 183 8.1 Daily health checks......Page 184 8.2 Detailed physical examination......Page 185 8.3 Known health problems......Page 186 8.4 Chlamydia control......Page 189 9.1 Activity......Page 190 9.6 Signs of stress......Page 191 10.3 Reproductive status......Page 192 10.4 Techniques used to control breeding......Page 193 10.13 Litter size......Page 194 10.16 Growth and development......Page 195 11.1 Housing......Page 196 11.3 Diet and feeding routine......Page 197 11.4 Specific requirements......Page 199 11.7 Hygiene......Page 200 12 Acknowledgments......Page 201 Addendum 1 The management of eucalyptus plantations for koala fodder......Page 202 1 Introduction......Page 206 3.4 Diet in the wild......Page 207 4.1 Exhibit design......Page 208 4.7 Substrate......Page 209 5.3 Methods of identification......Page 210 7.3 Capture and restraint techniques......Page 211 7.6 Transport requirements......Page 212 8.2 Detailed physical examination......Page 213 8.3 Known health problems......Page 214 9.1 Activity......Page 216 9.2 Social behaviour......Page 217 9.6 Signs of stress......Page 218 10.1 Mating system......Page 219 10.5 Occurrence of hybrids......Page 220 10.11 Breeding diet......Page 221 10.16 Growth and development......Page 222 11.3 Diet and feeding routine......Page 223 11.4 Specific requirements......Page 224 11.8 Behavioural considerations......Page 225 12 Acknowledgments......Page 226 1 Introduction......Page 228 3.4 Diet in the wild......Page 229 3.5 Longevity......Page 232 4.1 Exhibit design......Page 233 4.5 Weather protection......Page 237 5.1 Hygiene and cleaning......Page 238 5.2 Record keeping......Page 239 6.1 Captive diet......Page 240 7.3 Capture and restraint techniques......Page 244 7.6 Transport requirements......Page 246 8.2 Detailed physical examination......Page 247 8.3 Known health problems......Page 248 9.1 Activity cycles......Page 250 9.2 Social behaviour......Page 252 9.9 Intraspecific compatibility......Page 255 9.10 Interspecific compatibility......Page 256 10.2 Ease of breeding......Page 257 10.3 Reproductive status......Page 258 10.10 Nesting requirements......Page 259 11.1 Housing......Page 261 11.2 Temperature requirements......Page 262 11.3 Diet and feeding routine......Page 263 11.7 Hygiene......Page 265 11.10 Weaning......Page 266 12 Acknowledgments......Page 267 1 Introduction......Page 268 3.5 Longevity......Page 269 4.1 Exhibit design......Page 274 4.4 Position of enclosures......Page 279 5.1 Hygiene and cleaning......Page 280 5.3 Methods of identification......Page 281 6.1 Captive diet......Page 282 7.3 Capture and restraint techniques......Page 285 7.6 Transport requirements......Page 290 8.1 Daily health checks......Page 291 8.2 Detailed physical examination......Page 292 8.3 Known health problems......Page 293 9.1 Activity......Page 299 9.2 Social behaviour......Page 300 9.5 Behavioural problems......Page 302 9.9 Intraspecific compatibility......Page 303 10.2 Ease of breeding......Page 304 10.3 Reproductive status......Page 305 10.6 Timing of breeding......Page 307 10.13 Litter size......Page 309 10.15 Age at removal from parent......Page 311 11.3 Diet and feeding routine......Page 312 11.4 Specific requirements......Page 315 11.7 Hygiene......Page 316 11.9 Use of foster species......Page 317 12 Acknowledgments......Page 318 1 Introduction......Page 320 3.5 Longevity......Page 321 4.1 Exhibit design......Page 326 4.3 Spatial requirements......Page 329 4.6 Temperature requirements......Page 330 4.7 Substrate......Page 332 4.8 Roosting boxes......Page 333 5.1 Hygiene and cleaning......Page 334 5.3 Methods of identification......Page 336 6.1 Captive diet......Page 339 6.3 Presentation of food......Page 343 7.2 Catching bags and other containment devices......Page 344 7.3 Capture and restraint techniques......Page 345 7.6 Transport requirements......Page 348 8.1 Daily health checks......Page 349 8.3 Known health problems......Page 350 9.1 Activity......Page 354 9.5 Behavioural problems......Page 356 9.10 Interspecific compatibility......Page 357 9.11 Suitability to captivity......Page 358 10.2 Ease of breeding......Page 359 10.3 Reproductive condition......Page 360 10.6 Timing of breeding......Page 361 10.15 Age at removal from parents......Page 364 11.1 Housing......Page 365 11.3 Diet and feeding routine......Page 368 11.5 Data recording......Page 371 11.10 Weaning......Page 372 12 Acknowledgments......Page 373 1 Introduction......Page 374 3.5 Longevity......Page 375 4.1 Exhibit design......Page 377 4.2 Holding area design......Page 378 4.8 Nest sites......Page 379 5.2 Record keeping......Page 380 6.1 Captive diet......Page 381 6.3 Presentation of food......Page 382 7.3 Capture and restraint techniques......Page 383 8.2 Detailed physical examination......Page 384 8.3 Known health problems......Page 385 9.1 Activity......Page 386 9.2 Social behaviour......Page 387 9.8 Introductions and removals......Page 390 10.1 Mating system......Page 391 10.3 Reproductive condition......Page 392 10.5 Occurrence of hybrids......Page 394 10.12 Oestrous cycle and gestation period......Page 396 11.1 Housing......Page 398 11.3 Diet and feeding routine......Page 399 11.4 Specific requirements......Page 400 11.10 Weaning......Page 402 12 Acknowledgments......Page 403 1 Introduction......Page 404 3.5 Longevity......Page 405 4.1 Exhibit design......Page 406 4.3 Spatial requirements......Page 407 5.3 Methods of identification......Page 408 6.3 Presentation of food......Page 409 7.6 Transport requirements......Page 410 8.2 Detailed physical examination......Page 411 8.3 Known health problems......Page 412 9.1 Activity......Page 417 9.2 Social behaviour......Page 418 9.7 Behavioural enrichment......Page 420 9.11 Socialisation......Page 421 10.2 Ease of breeding......Page 422 10.5 Occurrence of hybrids......Page 423 10.7 Age at first and last breeding......Page 425 10.15 Age at removal from parents......Page 426 11.3 Diet and feeding routine......Page 427 11.5 Data recording......Page 428 11.10 Weaning......Page 429 12 Acknowledgments......Page 430 G......Page 431 K......Page 432 W......Page 433 B......Page 434 M......Page 435 A......Page 436 B......Page 437 D......Page 438 F......Page 439 H......Page 440 L......Page 441 M......Page 442 R......Page 443 S......Page 444 W......Page 445 C......Page 446 A......Page 447 G......Page 448 L......Page 449 S......Page 450 F......Page 451 M......Page 452 A......Page 453 G......Page 454 M......Page 455 S......Page 456 Z......Page 457 C......Page 458 F......Page 459 G......Page 460 J......Page 461 M......Page 462 Q......Page 463 S......Page 464 W......Page 465 B......Page 466 C......Page 467 E......Page 468 H......Page 469 J......Page 470 L......Page 471 M......Page 472 R......Page 473 S......Page 474 W......Page 475 C......Page 476 G......Page 477 J......Page 478 M......Page 479 R......Page 480 V......Page 481 B......Page 482 C......Page 483 I......Page 484 M......Page 485 S......Page 486 W......Page 487 G......Page 488 T......Page 489 Z......Page 490 C......Page 491 H......Page 492 M......Page 493 P......Page 494 Z......Page 495 Appendix 2 – Enclosure sizes......Page 496 Appendix 3 – Suppliers and Wildlife Agencies......Page 499 Appendix 4 – Marsupial milk, milk formulas and comparison with monotreme and eutherian milk......Page 505 Appendix 5 – Taking body measurements......Page 510 G......Page 511 R......Page 512 Z......Page 513 G......Page 514 A......Page 515 M......Page 516 C......Page 517 G......Page 518 K......Page 519 S......Page 520 W......Page 521 L......Page 522 C......Page 523 O......Page 524 G......Page 525 C......Page 526 G......Page 527 O......Page 528 V......Page 529 B......Page 530 C......Page 531 G......Page 532 J......Page 533 L......Page 534 O......Page 535 R......Page 536 T......Page 537 B......Page 538 F......Page 539 K......Page 540 M......Page 541 S......Page 542 B......Page 543 F......Page 544 V......Page 545 M......Page 546 Z......Page 547

Winner of the 2004 Whitley Medal.

Shortlisted in the Scholarly Reference section of the 2004 Australian Awards for Excellence in Educational Publishing.

This authoritative volume represents a complete and comprehensive guide to the husbandry of Australian marsupials and other mammals. Australian Mammals: Biology and Captive Management dedicates a chapter to each group of animals including the platypus, the echidna, carnivorous marsupials, numbats, bandicoots and bilbies, koalas, wombats, possums and gliders, macropods, bats, rodents and the dingo.

For each animal group the following information is covered: Taxonomy; Housing Requirements; General Husbandry; Feeding Requirements; Handling and Transport; Health requirements; Behavior; Breeding; and Artificial Rearing.

The book provides a complete literature review of all known information on the biology of each group of animals and brings information on their biology in the wild into captive situations. Also, for the first time, it provides practical guidelines for hand-rearing, and has been extensively reviewed by zookeepers and veterinarians to incorporate the most up-to-date information and techniques.

Australian Mammals: Biology and Captive Management provides practical guidance for zoo-keepers, veterinarians, zoologists, researchers and students.

This authoritative volume represents a complete and comprehensive guide to the husbandry of Australian marsupials and other mammals. Australian Mammals: Biology and Captive Management dedicates a chapter to each group of animals including the platypus, the echidna, carnivorous marsupials, numbats, bandicoots and bilbies, koalas, wombats, possums and gliders, macropods, bats, rodents and the dingo. For each animal group the following information is covered: Biology; Housing; Capture and restraint; Transport; Diet; Breeding; Artificial rearing; and Behaviour and behavioural enrichment. The book provides a complete literature review of all known information on the biology of each group of animals and brings information on their biology in the wild into captive situations. Also, for the first time, it provides practical guidelines for hand-rearing, and has been extensively reviewed by zookeepers and veterinarians to incorporate the most up-to-date information and techniques. Australian Mammals: Biology and Captive Management provides practical guidance for zoo-keepers, veterinarians, zoologists, researchers and students. Winner of the 2004 Whitley Medal. Shortlisted in the Scholarly Reference section of the 2004 Australian Awards for Excellence in Educational Publishing.