Fota ostriches put down over possible avian TB

A POTENTIAL outbreak of avian TB at Fota Wildlife Park in Cork has resulted in the facility’s flock of ostriches having to be put down.

The alarm was raised when a new ostrich which was introduced to the flock died showing signs of disease soon after arriving at the park. Director of Fota Dr David Gibson said the decision to put down the park’s three other ostriches last week was a necessary precaution to stop the potential spread of avian TB to the rest of the facility’s collection of some 400 wild birds. All of the birds are routinely screened for the disease.

“One bird showed signs of avian TB which is a very widespread contagious disease in wild birds. We are still waiting for a definite answer as to whether he had the disease. It’s always a shame when we have to make a decision like this, but at the end of the day, we are professionals and we understand we have to make these kinds of decisions for the overall welfare of the animals in the park,” he said.

Dr Gibson said replacing the ostrich flock was not a major priority for the park at the moment and it would probably be about a year before they would be replaced. Ostrich eggs were not difficult to obtain, he said, and the park would probably source them from the UK.

“The ostrich is not an endangered species, but it has a good education and display value, obviously being the largest bird in the world, which is why the flock will be replaced in the future,” he said.

“We will be bringing in eggs or very young birds in the next 12 months to replace the flock.”

The ostrich potentially carrying the disease was bought from a private collection to replace another bird which died after he was involved in a fight with a scimitar-horned oryx, a type of desert antelope, which shared a compound with the ostriches. One of the ostriches who had to be humanely put down last week was aged 16 and the others were aged eight and four years. Dr Gibson explained there were not many wildlife parks like Fota in Europe and its most unique aspect was its openness. We have as little boundaries and fencing as we can safely cope with so the animals have a lot of room to roam around and some roam freely. Visitors love how they can get so close to the animals.”

Planning permission is being sought for a €4 million development at Fota Wildlife Park. If permission is granted, the operators of the facility hope to start work soon on a new entrance and a new exhibit of Sulewesi-crested macaque, a primate from Indonesia.

Fota Wildlife Park was opened in 1983 by former president Patrick Hillery, and is a joint project of the Zoological Society of Ireland and University College Cork.