Christmas Island reptile health
The Registry team first detected an unusual Enterococcus species in a critically endangered Blue-tailed Skink in 2014, a serious threat to the remaining threatened and endemic reptiles on Christmas Island.
Wildlife health
Protecting wildlife with leading research
Combining science and technology, Taronga’s scientists are monitoring and investigating the health of wildlife populations to protect biodiversity and biosecurity.
Protecting wildlife with leading research
Combining science and technology, Taronga’s scientists are monitoring and investigating the health of wildlife populations to protect biodiversity and biosecurity.
530 animals in 2024
were examined by the Registry across 123 unusual or mass mortality events.
320 animals in 2023
from 117 unusual events, which is a significant increase in caseload from 2024.
~90%
of animals in the wildlife trade seized by authorities in Australia are reptiles.
Less than 10%
of total illegal wildlife trading are detected, according to experts.
530 animals in 2024
were examined by the Registry across 123 unusual or mass mortality events.
320 animals in 2023
from 117 unusual events, which is a significant increase in caseload from 2024.
~90%
of animals in the wildlife trade seized by authorities in Australia are reptiles.
Less than 10%
of total illegal wildlife trading are detected, according to experts.
Safeguarding wildlife health programs
Health assessment & translocation of Long-nosed Potoroos, Southern Brown Bandicoots and Eastern Quolls
Taronga’s scientists are helping re-establish Long-nosed Potoroos, Southern Brown Bandicoots and Eastern Quolls in Booderee National Park through health assessments, translocations and post-release monitoring. Early results are showing that animals are surviving, settling in and producing young.
Bellinger River Turtle: mortality investigation, virus ecology and husbandry
In 2015, a previously unknown virus swept through the 55 km range of the Bellinger River Turtle, killing an estimated 90% of its 4,000 individuals in just six weeks. Scientists from Taronga’s Australian Registry of Wildlife Health, working with colleagues at NSW Department of Primary Industries, identified the new virus and have since been developing methods to control the disease.
Wildlife Forensics
Working with border control, Taronga's scientists and partners have created tools to combat illegal wildlife trade and forensics – applying science to protect species from exploitation and trafficking.
Administering Safe Pain Relief to Koalas
Koalas suffer painful conditions from burns and other injuries, as seen during the Black Summer fires. In collaboration with the University of Sydney, we investigated how koalas absorb, distribute and metabolise pain medications, specifically paracetamol and tramadol.
Taronga’s Australian Registry of Wildlife Health
For the last 40 years, Taronga's Australian Registry of Wildlife Health have diagnosed responded to and monitored emerging wildlife diseases and threats to Australia’s native species.
Our impact
Blue-tailed Skinks and Lister’s Geckos
Taronga holds the only conservation breeding populations outside Australia’s Christmas Island as critical insurance populations and have released Taronga-bred animals back to the wild.
Long-nosed Potoroos and Southern Brown Bandicoots
Post release monitoring via cameras and trapping has confirmed the persistence of these species released in Booderee National Park.
Wildlife forensics
The illegal wildlife trade is a major global issue, with Australian native reptiles, particularly shingleback and blue-tongue lizards, being the most commonly trafficked species.
Blue-tailed Skinks and Lister’s Geckos
Taronga holds the only conservation breeding populations outside Australia’s Christmas Island as critical insurance populations and have released Taronga-bred animals back to the wild.
Long-nosed Potoroos and Southern Brown Bandicoots
Post release monitoring via cameras and trapping has confirmed the persistence of these species released in Booderee National Park.
Wildlife forensics
The illegal wildlife trade is a major global issue, with Australian native reptiles, particularly shingleback and blue-tongue lizards, being the most commonly trafficked species.
Australian Registry of Wildlife Health
The Registry currently holds over 25,100 individual cases and plays a critical role in identifying and responding to disease outbreaks affecting native species.
Taronga has been trialling two novel AI-technologies with enforcement agencies, with the tech tools trialled in a world first end-to-end ‘Detect and Trace’ pathway with Federal agencies and real-world seizures. This trial involved over 100 animals being saved from the illegal wildlife trade and provided new intelligence to authorities.
Dr Phoebe Meagher
Wildlife Conservation Officer
Taronga Conservation Society Australia
Conservation stories
Sept 13, 2019
Blue tailed skink
The critically endangered Christmas Island blue-tailed skink was released back into the wild following a hugely successful decade-long captive breeding program.
Newsroom
Explore the Taronga newsroom for media releases, updates and stories covering wildlife care, conservation, research and events across both Zoos.
