Measuring the success of wildlife rehabilitation: Koalas and Brushtail possums

Native mammal populations in Southeast Queensland are under threat from habitat loss through land development, dog attacks and motor vehicle accidents. Animals that are not killed from these impacts are sometimes rescued, rehabilitated and later released back into the wild, usually in their area of origin. Although the release of these animals is a relatively common practice, little post release monitoring has been carried out and reported to assess the success of the animals in the wild. This paper discusses the results of three recent studies which have monitored the movements and health of rehabilitated and translocated koalas (Phascolarctos ciniereus) and common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecular): one conducted by Wildcare Australia in 1995- 1996, the other two in collaboration with the University of Queensland. The results indicate that the survival and health of the great majority of the released animals were good and that they were usually able to establish new home ranges during the tracking period. Such findings seem to contradict the results of studies conducted in southern Australia which have monitored the release of translocated possums and gliders, and suggest that there are some key factors which may be critical in determining the success of such releases. These factors include the age of admission and the duration of care, and in particular the selection of the release site. With both koalas and brushtail possums, the release site was found to be critical in determining both the survival and dispersal of the released animals. Consequently, while these studies confirm that the reintroduction of koalas and common brushtail possums may be a viable management strategy, the individual characteristics of the animals themselves and of their release areas must be carefully considered. It is recommended that further research of these key release factors be undertaken and that the work be extended for other species which are commonly released following rehabilitation

Responses of White-bellied Sea-Eagles 'Haliaetus leucogaster' to encroaching human activities at nest sites

Nest sites of the White-bellied Sea-Eagle 'Haliaeetus leucogaster' are under increasing pressure from encroaching development and other human activities in coastal south-eastern Australia. Nests in the path of development have sometimes been destroyed or displaced, or become too disturbed for continued successful breeding. This paper reviews eight such cases, six for which mitigation measures (artificial platform, exclusion or environmental protection zones, forced rebuilding at safer sites) were attempted, successfully in three of these (i.e. young fl edged) after management actions: (1) Relocation of the intact nest to a platform among other trees nearby (successful in the short term (6 years), ultimately abandoned); (2) Removal of a pair's nests in a highway upgrade zone, to encourage rebuilding in safer forest sites nearby (initially successful); (3) Exclusion zone (50 m and 130 m radius) buffering a long-term nest from a new housing estate on three sides (successful in the short term, 2 years); (4) E3 zoning ('Environmental Management') of a bushland remnant enclosing a formerly productive eagles' nest adjoining a new housing estate (nest unsuccessful then abandoned after development proceeded); (5) Site management of a long-term nest in a recreation reserve 30 metres from a new housing estate (inconclusive, as the eagles left the site before clearing commenced); (6) Deactivation of an established nest in a pipeline easement, to encourage rebuilding in safer forest sites nearby (use and outcome of a possible alternative nest not determined by the proponent). Overall, buffer zones (50-130 m around active nests) had mixed success, and the more highly and frequently disturbed nests had low breeding productivity or were abandoned. With rapid expansion of urbanisation likely to continue in coastal northern New South Wales, this region may become a population sink for the White-bellied Sea-Eagle. Therefore, given its small population (~800 pairs in NSW) and the potential for an estimated 10 percent decline in abundance in three generations (this study), it is recommended that the Sea-Eagle be considered for listing as vulnerable in NSW

Case report - LIVER CIRRHOSIS ASSOCIATED WITH A NON-RESPONSIVE ASCITES IN A 10 MONTH OLD ALSATIAN DOG

A ten month old Alsatian bitch presented with complaint of recurring ascites over a period of three months and had ‘been refractory to diuretic therapy. The condition was diagnosed as liver cirrhosis by serum chemistry, exploratory laparotorny and histopathology of the liver. Result of the serum chemistry showed a progressively decreasing serum albumin and liver, enzymes. Similarly the Albumin /Globulin (A:G) ratio was progressively decreasing. Haematological findings were that of anaemia of chornic disorder (mild normocytic, normochromic, non responsive). The PCV, HB and RBC also decreased progressively. Exploratory laparotomy findings were that of a slightly enlarged liver with diffuse miliary nodules on .both the parietal and visceral surfaces. Few larger nodules ‘were also present. ‘The liver was firmer in consistency and two separate masses of fibrinous tissue measuring about 5 cm in length and 2cm in thickness were seen floating in the abdominal transudate. The transudate which measured about 15 litres was colourless and slightly cloudy. The bitch was euthanised following laparotomy and on the owners request due to the non-responsiveness of the animal to diuretic and other supportive therapies

Case report - LIVER CIRRHOSIS ASSOCIATED WITH A NON-RESPONSIVE ASCITES IN A 10 MONTH OLD ALSATIAN DOG

A ten month old Alsatian bitch presented with complaint of recurring ascites over a period of three months and had ‘been refractory to diuretic therapy. The condition was diagnosed as liver cirrhosis by serum chemistry, exploratory laparotorny and histopathology of the liver. Result of the serum chemistry showed a progressively decreasing serum albumin and liver, enzymes. Similarly the Albumin /Globulin (A:G) ratio was progressively decreasing. Haematological findings were that of anaemia of chornic disorder (mild normocytic, normochromic, non responsive). The PCV, HB and RBC also decreased progressively. Exploratory laparotomy findings were that of a slightly enlarged liver with diffuse miliary nodules on .both the parietal and visceral surfaces. Few larger nodules ‘were also present. ‘The liver was firmer in consistency and two separate masses of fibrinous tissue measuring about 5 cm in length and 2cm in thickness were seen floating in the abdominal transudate. The transudate which measured about 15 litres was colourless and slightly cloudy. The bitch was euthanised following laparotomy and on the owners request due to the non-responsiveness of the animal to diuretic and other supportive therapies

Análise dos efeitos da utilização da tala seriada em crianças portadoras de paralisia cerebral: uma revisão sistemática da literatura Analysis of the effects of the use of serial casting in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review of the literature

OBJETIVOS: realizar uma revisão sistemática da literatura através da seleção e análise criteriosa de artigos científicos que investigaram os efeitos da tala seriada em crianças com diagnóstico clínico de paralisia cerebral espástica. MÉTODOS: busca sistemática na literatura foi realizada no período de março a agosto de 2004, nas bases de dados eletrônicas Medline, Lilacs e PEDro publicados nas línguas inglês e português, no período de 1980 a 2004. O nível de evidência dos artigos estudados foi qualificado utilizando-se a escala Magee. RESULTADOS: os quatro artigos incluídos nessa revisão preencheram todos os critérios de inclusão e foram classificados como fracos de acordo com a escala Magee (índice de concordância Kappa K=1,0) devido às limitações metodológicas apresentadas. CONCLUSÕES: as evidências utilizadas nessa revisão sistemática não apresentam nível que possa suportar a utilização clínica da tala seriada em crianças com paralisia cerebral. Futuras pesquisas devem ser realizadas em observância à necessidade de maior rigor metodológico dos estudos para a fundamentação da prática baseada em evidência.<br>OBJECTIVES: to perform a systematic literature review through a careful survey of scientific articles investigating serial casting effects in children clinically diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy. METHODS: systematic literature survey performed during the period of March to August 2004, in Medline, Lilacs and PEDro electronic databases published in English and Portuguese from 1980 to 2004. The evidence level of the articles studied was rated according to the Magee scale. RESULTS: the four articles included in this review met all the inclusion criteria and were rated poor according to the Magee scale (agreement index Kappa K = 1.0) due to the methodological limitations determined. CONCLUSIONS: the evidence used in this systematic review was insufficient to support the use of serial casting in children with cerebral palsy. Further research is required to fulfill the need of higher methodological standards to validate evidence based practice