Acknowledgements
We acknowledge that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia have a deep spiritual and cultural connection to land, water and the skies and that the health of the natural environment, people and other animals are intimately connected.
For tens of thousands of years, Indigenous communities have managed the land and its inhabitants to ensure environmental harmony and sustainability. Their relationship with animals is evident throughout Traditional knowledge systems. Many of the Australian wildlife species we work with have deep cultural significance as Totems, with ancient knowledge woven into Songlines and Dreaming stories that have been handed down over many generations. It is incumbent on all who care for the environment, plants and animals, to listen, respect and apply Traditional knowledge to the health and conservation of wildlife. We acknowledge the Traditional custodians of lands throughout Australia and honour their ancestors, and Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia.Producing this revised edition posed some unique challenges and opportunities. Updating and editing an existing text was more difficult than expected; however, it was an opportunity to add a new chapter on assessment, triage and treatment of bushfire-affected wildlife and make improvements based on feedback on the previous edition. We thank Mark Hamilton, Tracey Kudis, Briana Melideo of CSIRO Publishing for their guidance and patience throughout the process, and copy editor Kerry Brown for editorial assistance. Our sincere appreciation to the chapter authors for their time and effort in reviewing and updating their chapters and appendices. The production of a textbook relies on authors accessing peer reviewed and grey literature, but equally important is the opportunity to draw on their own anecdotal knowledge and experience and that of others. We are grateful for this contribution to knowledge of Australian mammal medicine.
Other valuable sources of information for authors include repositories of wildlife health and disease data. In Australia we are fortunate to have several. Wildlife Health Australia’s electronic Wildlife Health Information System (eWHIS) database captures information relating to wildlife health surveillance and disease investigation in Australia. The Australian Registry of Wildlife Health with long-term support from Taronga Conservation Society Australia, the University of Sydney and the NSW Departments of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), and Primary Industries and Regional Development, maintains a database spanning nearly 40 years of wildlife health surveillance and disease investigation. Other sources include databases such as ZIMS (Species 360) and diagnostic imaging libraries held by zoo and wildlife sanctuary veterinary departments. We thank the managers and registrars of these databases for access and use of their data and images in this revised edition of Current Therapy in Medicine of Australian Mammals.I (Larry) thank my partner Chantal Whitten for her support and patience during the course of the project. To my mother Laura, sister Derryn, son Daniel and daughter Rianne, and work colleagues, I thank them for their encouragement, support and inspiration. Finally, thanks to Tim, for his contribution and editing support.
I (Tim) thank my daughters, Hannah and Eliza, and my work colleagues for their understanding and support during the writing and editing of chapters. Thanks to Larry for the opportunity to be involved in this revised edition and for his support throughout the process.