Strategy for managing wildlife disease in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area

Annie Philips and CONTACT DETAILS Michael Driessen Wildlife and Marine Wildlife and Marine Conservation Section Conservation Section Biodiversity Biodiversity Conservation Branch Conservation Branch GPO Box 44 DPIW, Tasmania 2008 Hobart TAS 7001

Department of Primary Industries and Water Published by: Acknowledgments: Department of This project was funded by the Commonwealth Primary Industries and Water, and Tasmanian governments through the Tasmanian GPO Box 44, Hobart, TAS, 7001 Wilderness World Heritage Area Fauna Program. Sincere thanks to Ian Langstaff and Stephen Mallick May 2008 who made significant contributions to an original draft. Thanks also to reviewers including Clare ISBN: Hawkins, Mary-Lou Conway, Philip Bell, and Rosemary 978-0-7246-6442-9 Gales. Thanks to the Health Laboratories, Launceston for their ongoing support in wildlife Written by: disease investigations. Annie Philips Michael Driessen

Graphic Design: Brett Littleton

Front cover photo: Iain Stych Printed on Monza Satin recycled paper derived from sustainable forests, elemental chlorine free pulp and Back inside cover photo: certified environmental management systems. Chris Tzaros Strategy for managing wildlife disease in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area

Annie Philips and Michael Driessen Wildlife and Marine Conservation Section Biodiversity Conservation Branch DPIW, Tasmania 2008

1 Overview of the Strategy

Wildlife disease has affected biodiversity, ecosystem The overarching goal of this strategy is to protect integrity, human and livestock health, and economies biodiversity and human health within the TWWHA around the world on an ascending scale in recent by minimising the impact of wildlife disease. times. In the first six months of 2003, diseases reservoired in wildlife were second only to war A number of strategic actions are developed within in claiming attention and causing expenditure by the framework of six goals: governments around the world (Environment Canada 2004). The island State of Tasmania has not escaped • Prevention of emerging disease this threat with the recent emergence of several • Early detection of new disease significant diseases such as Devil Facial Tumour • Rapid response to new disease Disease (DFTD) and Chytridiomycosis that threaten • Managing existing disease the Tasmanian devil and native respectively. • Education and training • Communication The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) plays a significant role in the conservation Strategic actions address these goals by focussing on of Tasmania’s wildlife including those of world heritage appropriate passive and targeted strategic surveillance, significance. This strategy provides a framework for reporting, research, and disease management. considering wildlife disease threats to the TWWHA by identifying and prioritising those threats and recommending priority actions for threat mitigation. Current TWWHA disease threats are prioritised within the strategy using standard risk analysis frameworks. The highest priority diseases identified for management in the TWWHA are Chytridiomycosis, DFTD, and Psittacine Circoviral Disease (PCD) affecting Orange-bellied Parrots. Mucormycosis in platypuses is also prioritised as more research is needed to adequately assess risk. This strategy also addresses wildlife disease threats to the health of visitors and people who work within the TWWHA.

2 Contents

Overview of the Strategy ...... 2 1 Introduction ...... 4. 1.1 Need for a TWWHA wildlife disease strategy...... 4 1.2 State, national and international context ...... 4 1.3 The scope of the strategy ...... 4 1.4 Wildlife disease definition and current intelligence ...... 5 1.5 Effects of wildlife disease on biodiversity and the environment, human and livestock health, and its economic implications ...... 5 1.6 Adaptiv