Quarantine for Wildlife Importation for Ex situ Conservation at the Zoological Gardens

Abstract

Zoological gardens keep many kind of endangered wildlife outside its natural habitat for species survival and future reintroduction and breed them intentionally under keeping genetic diversity. Zoological gardens build international network to effectuate these activity so-called ex situ conservation. Control of infectious disease is large issue when wild animals in captivity are moved internationally. Animal health requirements of wildlife import for each species have been established by animal health authority of each country, Legal quarantine are conducted by animal quarantine service of ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries when zoo import these wildlife from abroad, based on the act on prevention of infectious diseases and medical care for patients suffering infectious diseases, the act on domestic animal infectious diseases control, rabies prevention act. For example, it is necessary for primates to legal quarantine at export country and import country for 30 days each, intended for Ebola hemorrhagic fever and Marburg disease, based on the act on prevention of infectious diseases and medical care for patients suffering infectious diseases. But there are few zoo facilities where legal quarantine can be performed in Japan. Legal quarantine may often become a barrier to effectuate ex situ conservation under the international cooperation. It is necessary to prepare the quarantine facility fit for zoo animals and to revise the laws to suppose to ex situ conservation at the zoological gardens.