24 April 2024
Importation of zoo hippopotamuses and their semen from approved countries – draft report
We initiated this policy review after interest from the Australian zoo community identifying these species as a priority to improve the genetic diversity of existing zoo collections.
The review considers current scientific information, international standards developed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), advice from scientific experts and operational practicalities.
This draft review has identified diseases of biosecurity concern for this commodity and we have undertaken risk assessments of these diseases.
The review proposes to:
- Allow the importation of eligible zoo common hippos (Hippopotamus amphibius) and pygmy hippos (Choeropsis liberiensis) and their semen into Australian zoos from approved countries, subject to a range of biosecurity measures
- Allow only animals that have been resident since birth or at least 12 months prior to export in zoo or wildlife parks that are approved, licensed or registered by the exporting country
- Apply biosecurity risk mitigation measures including disease freedom periods and testing in quarantine for the diseases identified by this review.
We invite comments on technical aspects of the diseases of biosecurity concern and the proposed measures. We are particularly interested in your comments about the appropriateness of these measures and any other measures that would provide equivalent risk management outcomes.
The 60-day comment period on this draft will commenced on Wednesday, 24 April 2024 and concluded at 4pm Monday, 24 June 2024.
For further information see the Have Your Say page.
To receive information and updates on biosecurity risk analyses, subscribe to Biosecurity Risk Analysis Animal at subscribe.agriculture.gov.au/subscribe. Subscribers will receive biosecurity advice notices and other notifications about animal biosecurity policy.
Dr Peter Finnin
Assistant Secretary
Animal Biosecurity
Email: animalbiosecurity@aff.gov.au