In the meantime, Victorian zoos have restricted customer entry to sure animal enclosures in a bid to stop the doable unfold of foot and mouth illness.
Zoos Victoria chief govt Jenny Grey mentioned paid encounters with giraffes, kangaroos and elephants – the place guests are guided via the exhibit by a zookeeper – have been cancelled and present bookings refunded.
A household visiting the giraffe exhibit at Melbourne Zoo final 12 months. Credit score:Joe Armao
Individuals dwelling with livestock have been requested to keep away from going to the zoo and people arriving in Australia from Indonesia have been advised to attend 48 hours earlier than visiting.
The general public pathway alongside the “path of the elephants” at Melbourne Zoo, the place elephants stroll between paddocks, has additionally been closed to the general public to make sure the animals should not strolling over soil that would have been introduced in from exterior the grounds.
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Guests will nonetheless be capable of have a look at the animals from exterior the enclosures.
The modifications comply with a collection of briefings between zoo veterinarians, biosecurity officers from the state and federal governments, and representatives from the Zoo and Aquarium Affiliation over the previous week.
“We’re exercising an abundance of warning to make sure the animals in our care stay as secure as doable,” Grey mentioned.
She added that the measures, which apply to Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Vary Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary, shall be reviewed each day.
Throughout a press convention earlier this morning, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews welcomed the measures and mentioned the state authorities was working with federal authorities to guard Victoria’s farms.
“This sector is price tens of billions of {dollars} to us yearly so we’ve bought to do every thing we are able to to maintain it secure,” he mentioned.
