Since European settlement, Australia has a worse extinction record than any other nation on Earth. In addition, Australia has the highest number of threatened reptile and amphibian species in the world. In response to the serious threats posed to indigenous herpetofauna, Zoos Victoria (ZV) has embarked on a series of conservation campaigns to preserve some of the country's most endangered species. These include the Baw Baw frog ( Philoria frosti ), southern corroboree frog ( Pseudophryne corroboree ), northern corroboree frog ( Pseudophryne pengilleyi ), spotted tree frog ( Litoria spenceri ), stuttering frog ( Mixophyes balbus ), grassland earless dragon ( Tympanocryptis pinguicolla ), alpine she-oak skink ( Cylodomorphus praealtus ), and Guthega skink ( Liopholis guthega ). The aims of this article are to outline the main threats that have resulted in the decline of these species and the measures that ZV is undertaking in order to fight their extinction.

Nineteen adult, free-ranging Macquarie River turtles ( Emydura macquarii ) were used to examine the effects of IV and IM dosing of alfaxalone. Turtles were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, and alfaxalone at a dose of 9 mg/kg was injected into either the right jugular vein ( n = 10) or left thigh musculature ( n = 9) of individual animals. Heart rate, respiratory rate, cloacal temperature, time to regaining spontaneous movement, and response to noxious stimuli were recorded. Intravenous alfaxalone at a dose of 9 mg/kg was an effective sedative in all turtles within this treatment group and allowed for rapid intubation with no obvious complications. Mean sedation time for turtles given alfaxalone IV was 14.3 min (SD: 5.4, min–max: 8–25). All turtles administered IV alfaxalone underwent a prolonged period of reduced respiratory rate, but all recovered uneventfully. Turtles within the IV group also maintained withdrawal reflexes, palpebral reflexes, and jaw tone for the duration of the experiment and, as such, alfaxalone must be used in conjunction with other methods of analgesia under circumstances where pain is expected to occur. Conversely, IM alfaxalone at a dose of 9 mg/kg did not result in any sedative effects and was therefore considered ineffective.

Chromobacterium violaceum is a Gram-negative bacterium that is an uncommon opportunistic pathogen of humans and animals. Infection is typically associated with exposure to contaminated soil or water in tropical climates. Reports of Chromobacterium violaceum infection in reptiles are scarce, and there are no records of infection in chelonians. Here we report the isolation of Chromobacterium violaceum from an adult, female, captive Macquarie turtle ( Emydura macquarii ) from temperate Australia. It is not known whether identification of Chromobacterium violaceum was incidental or whether infection played a role in disease. The source of the bacteria in this case could not be identified. Clinicians should include this pathogen in a list of differential diagnoses when presented with septicemic reptiles and should be aware of the potential human health risks.

Thirty-nine reptiles representing 11 squamate species were used to examine the effects of intravenous alfaxalone. All animals examined were captive-born, healthy, and had no history of chronic illness. Alfaxalone at a dose of 9 mg/kg was injected into the ventral coccygeal vein of each animal, and heart rate, respiratory rate, cloacal temperature, time from loss to regaining righting reflex, spontaneous movement, and response to noxious stimuli were recorded. Intravenous alfaxalone at a dose of 9 mg/kg was an effective sedative in most species examined with no obvious complications observed. Loss of righting reflex was not achieved in four (57.1%) blotched bluetongue lizards ( Tiliqua nigrolutea ), two (33.3%) coastal carpet pythons ( Morelia spilota mcdowelli ), and one (50%) red-bellied black snake ( Pseudechis porphyriacus ). Further research is required for alfaxalone use in these species.

ABSTRACT The pygmy desert monitor ( Varanus eremius ) is a small lizard that is found across the northern part of Australia. These timid lizards primarily prey on small lizards, scorpions, and large insects. As a carnivore, it is possible that these animals are exposed to a variety of parasites. Larval stages of the physalopterid nematode Abbreviata tumidocapitis were found encysted in various tissues and were free in the coelomic cavity of a wild-caught pygmy desert monitor. In addition, three adult Hastospiculum gouldi were recovered from the coelomic cavity. This is the first time that Abbreviata tumidocapitis and Hastospiculum gouldi have been found in this species of monitor.

ABSTRACT An adult female, wild-caught yellow-spotted monitor, Varanus panoptes panoptes , was presented to the Australian Wildlife Health Center after failing to lay eggs following capture. Pre-ovulatory follicular stasis was diagnosed based on radiology and exploratory celiotomy and the condition was resolved following surgical excision of the diseased ovaries. This is the first reported case of pre-ovulatory follicular stasis in this species of monitor.

ABSTRACT A free-ranging, adult female eastern bluetongue skink, Tiliqua scincoides scincoids , was presented to the Australian Wildlife Health Centre with multiple skull fractures secondary to presumed road trauma. Fracture reduction and stabilization was accomplished using a combination of non-absorbable suture material and an intramedullary pin. Fracture healing was complete by three and a half months post surgery and the animal was subsequently released at the capture point.