nine-banded armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus). informal program previously a derp under 2009 rcp...
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Nine-banded armadillo(Dasypus novemcinctus)
Informal Program• Previously a DERP
under 2009 RCP
• Studbook kept by Amanda (Hall) Ott of the Scovill Zoo.
• Wild caught animals are available.
• Fifth most commonly held species under PAX TAG umbrella
• Have been kept in zoos since late 1800s.
• Nuisance / invasive species in much of its current range
Nine-banded armadillo(Dasypus novemcinctus)
• Captive population has ballooned from 16 in 2007 to over 50 in 2014 due to the acquisition of wild-born individuals.
• In spite of prevailing assumptions, acclimation to captivity has not been problematic.
• Good potential for use in interpretive programs.• Would alleviate some demand for other
armadillo species being used in education.
Nine-banded armadillopotential educational storylines
• State Mammal of Texas and only xenarthran native to North America.
• Undergoing a phenomenal range expansion.
• Gives birth to identical quadruplets.
• Delayed implantation.
• Only non-primate to carry leprosy.
The nine-banded armadillo(coming soon to a state near you)
Nine-banded armadillo(Dasypus novemcinctus)
Implantation of the fertilized egg is normally delayed in nine-banded armadillos for 14 weeks
Nine-banded armadillo(Dasypus novemcinctus)
This female gave birth after having been housed in captivity (without a male) for 17 months.
Nine-banded Armadillo(Dasypus novemcinctus)
Anecdotal reports state that in some cases implantation has been delayed for as long as three years
Leprosy in “armadillos”
• New England Journal of Medicine report– Truman, et al: Probable Zoonotic Leprosy in the
Southern United States
• Demonstrates link between armadillo-borne and human-contracted leprosy– Wild armadillos and many patients with leprosy in the
southern United States are infected with the same strain of Mycobacterium leprae.
• NY Times, Time Magazine and CNN.com all carried the story
• Concerns were posted to AZA’s curator’s and public relations listserves.
Leprosy in “armadillos”
• "Leprosy is a rare disease and will remain a rare disease."
• “The important thing is that people should be discouraged from consuming armadillo flesh or handling it.”
• the chances of contracting leprosy from armadillos are literally "one in a million" for people living in that part of the country wherein the highest incidence of leprosy in armadillos (15 - 20%) has been recorded.
--- Richard Truman, author of the study
Leprosy in “armadillos”
• 95% of humans are immune to leprosy.• Very rare in the US, currently numbering about 150
cases yearly. By comparison, the average American is:– six times more likely to be struck by lightning,– nine times as likely to contract West Nile Virus and – fifteen times as likely to contract Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
• Other than primates, only the nine-banded armadillo is known to harbor Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium that causes leprosy.
• Nine-banded armadillos will succumb to the disease and tend to do so more quickly than symptoms will develop in humans.
• Leprosy is easily treated in humans.
Nonetheless…• Apprehension about leprosy is a cultural
artifact and will persist.
• Captive-reared nine-banded armadillos will be perceived of as “clean.”
• Zoos will always prefer using captive-born animals over wild-caught ones in programs.
• Little effort has been made to breed the species in the past.
Conclusions• The PAX TAG maintains a formal
studbook program for Nine-banded Armadillos.
• Breeding is encouraged.
• Until breeding becomes commonplace, the species will not be recommended as an SSP.
• Having the studbook data collected in advance will keep the TAG ahead of any potential statistical needs in the future.