This authoritative volume represents a complete and comprehensive guide to the husbandry of Australian marsupials and other mammals. Australian Mammals: Biology and Captive Management dedicates a chapter to each group of animals including the platypus, the echidna, carnivorous marsupials, numbats, bandicoots and bilbies, koalas, wombats, possums and gliders, macropods, bats, rodents and the dingo.
For each animal group the following information is covered: Biology; Housing; Capture and restraint; Transport; Diet; Breeding; Artificial rearing; and Behaviour and behavioural enrichment. Australian Mammals: Biology and Captive Management provides a complete literature review of all known information on the biology of each group of animals and brings information on their biology in the wild into captive situations. Also, for the first time, it provides practical guidelines for hand-rearing, and has been extensively reviewed by zookeepers and veterinarians to incorporate the most up-to-date information and techniques.
Australian Mammals: Biology and Captive Management provides practical guidance for zoo-keepers, veterinarians, zoologists, researchers and students.
Foreword
Introduction
Acknowledgments
Outline
1. Platypus
2. Echidnas
3. Carnivorous Marsupials
4. Numbats
5. Bandicoots
6. Koalas
7. Wombats
8. Possums and Gliders
9. Macropods
10. Bats
11. Rodents
12. Dingoes
Dr Stephen Jackson has been a keeper at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, the Curator of Life Sciences at Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria, and is presently involved with the regulation of zoos, mobile animal displays and circus industries in New South Wales. Since his thesis on the ecology of the endangered mahogany glider, Petaurus gracilis, in North Queensland, he has published numerous papers on the biology of Australian mammals both in captivity and in the wild.
" [...] the best book on its subject ever to appear [...] an essential purchase for any zoo holding animals from the region it is devoted to [...] every zoo should buy this book."
- Nicholas Gould, International Zoo News 51/2, March 2004
" [...] this is a landmark publication and the reference for all those interested in maintaining animals in captivity. It matters not whether you are a professional, research institution, wildlife carer, National Parks personnel or an enthusiastic amateur – this book is for you [...] it contains the work and knowledge of a large number of experts and professionals, many of whom I have come to know personally over the years, I believe it will become a 'must have' volume on the library shelves of people seriously interested in the future of Australian mammals."
- Ed McAlister AO, President, World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
" [...] provides practical guidance for zoo-keepers, veterinarians, zoologists, researchers and students."
- ARAZPA Newsletter, Number 61, February 2004
" [...] every wildlife carer, zoo, and breeding facility (in Australia and elsewhere) that holds or breeds Australian mammals should have one of these volumes."
- Karen Firestone, Australian Mammalogy v.27, 2005
"Australian Mammals is an impressive guide to our current knowledge of Australian native mammal husbandry and will certainly be a worthwhile purchase for anyone involved in the captive care of mammals."
- Jenny Martin, University of Melbourne, Austral Ecology v.30 2005
"This is a 'must-have' for all veterinarians with any likelihood of working with Australian mammals. Many clients of veterinarians will also find it valuable. [...] It will become one of those books with pages well worn by frequent referral or just because of its inherent magnetism."
- Dr I Denney, Western Plains Zoo, Australian Veterinary Journal v.83 no.4 April 2005