Thin camel among welfare complaints

A SKINNY camel and a “staggering” Tasmanian devil featured in complaints about Tasmanian zoos and wildlife parks over the past two years, documents show.

Documents released by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment under Right to Information contain complaints lodged with the Wildlife Management Branch.

One complaint from February last year said a visitor to an unnamed location was concerned about an “extremely skinny camel”, along with “thin and miserable” looking animals including cassowaries, lions and Tasmanian devils.

A DPIPWE officer inspected the site and found that all the complaints were unfounded apart from the one referring to the camel.

Follow-ups in relation to the camel found its health was back on track after being treated for worms and provided with a special diet.

Another complaint from October last year said a caller was concerned about two devils in captivity.

It said one had an “ugly” wound on its side and another was seen to be staggering.

The site was inspected by DPIPWE and the animals were treated by a vet.

An inspection of a park in January 2018, which was prompted by complaints, resulted in a number of concerns logged by a DPIPWE officer.

The officer noted a “scruffy” pademelon, a corella that looked “puffed up”, two unwell possums and devils without dens. The animals were ordered to be vet checked and the birds to be moved to bigger aviaries and devils to be provided with dens.