Perth Zoo to build a Black Cockatoo hospital to boost bird flu response

Perth Zoo will spend at least half a million dollars to build a black cockatoo hospital at its South Perth site as H5 bird flu threat looms for WA’s wildlife.

Last week the zoo awarded a $450,000 tender to Instant Transportables to supply and install four transportable buildings at Perth Zoo to be used as a “triage and care” facility for black cockatoos.

“While we do not yet know what impact avian influenza may have on black cockatoos, nor what effect a local incursion may have on wildlife treatment numbers, it is important that Perth Zoo have the capacity and infrastructure in place to respond,” a Perth Zoo spokeswoman said.

The tender does not include the cost of fitting out the facility.

Australia recorded its first confirmed case of H5 flu in a brown skua found in the remote Cape Le Grand area east of Esperence in June and has recorded 676 positive cases across the country since.

WA hasn’t recorded a positive case since July and has only confirmed a total of 10.

The arrival of the virus in Australia caused alarm bells among conservationists and the agriculture sector worried what runaway transmission of the virus could do to native and livestock populations.

The flu has ravaged bird populations across the globe and caused the cancellation of poultry events at the Perth Royal Show.

Its impact on native wildlife is also devastating with 13,000 baby seals killed by the virus on the remote Australian territories of Heard Island near Antarctica.

Its potential to kill native wildlife in WA is not yet known, but experts anticipate it could be devastating, particularly in populations that are already endangered including black cockatoos.

Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn said while no new positive cases had been recorded since July, the risk of further incursions remains and the state could not become complacent.

“Bird flu is expected to remain an ongoing wildlife disease, which means continued monitoring, surveillance and preparedness are essential,” he said.

“Overseas experience has shown bird flu can spread rapidly through wildlife populations and cause substantial mortality, which is why vigilance and early detection remain critical.”

The cockatoo hospital follows a vaccination trial being run by the Perth Zoo that began in May.

The zoo spokeswoman said the hospital would increase capacity to treat and stabilise wild black cockatoos, create greater separation between wild bird admissions and resident zoo animals, and enable the safe continuation of Perth Zoo’s black cockatoo program.

She said the hospital would be separate from the rest of the zoo.

“A key biosecurity principle adopted by zoos and wildlife institutions around the world is to separate wild animal admissions from resident zoological animal collections wherever possible,” she said.

“Establishing a dedicated black cockatoo triage and care facility separate from Perth Zoo’s resident animal hospital reduces the potential risk of disease transmission between wild bird patients and animals living within the zoo.

“The facility will be installed within the zoo grounds, currently a back of house, non-display area that is earmarked in our master plan for the future conservation and veterinary science precinct.”

Hamish Hastie is WAtoday's state political reporter and the winner of five WA Media Awards, including the 2023 Beck Prize for best political journalism.Connect via X or email.