Zoos in Victoria have stopped providing close-up encounters with sure animals to guard them from the danger of foot and mouth illness.
Individuals who have livestock and who've just lately returned from Indonesia are additionally being requested to keep away from the zoos amid fears the illness might unfold in Australia.
Zoos Victoria, which runs Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Vary Zoo, has despatched an e mail to its 300,000 members advising them of the brand new measures in place.
It advises that each one giraffe, kangaroo and elephant animal encounters is not going to be obtainable for the time being.
An space of Melbourne Zoo has additionally been blocked off to the general public.
"The general public pathway alongside Path of the Elephants at Melbourne Zoo the place the Critically Endangered Asian Elephants stroll between paddocks is now blocked to make sure the elephants should not strolling over soil that would doubtlessly been introduced in from outdoors the zoo grounds," the e-mail explains.
The e-mail additionally requests sure folks keep away from visiting zoos for the time being.
"If you happen to like with any livestock, aside from horses, we ask you to please not go to the zoo for the time being," it reads.
"We request that any zoo members or guests who've just lately been to Indonesia please wait at the very least 48 hours since returning to Australia earlier than visiting the zoo."
Zoos Victoria CEO Dr Jenny Grey mentioned the measures had been introduced in out of "an abundance of warning" to guard the animals.
"Over the previous week, Zoos Victoria's veterinarians have liaised with biosecurity officers from state and federal governments, and the Zoo and Aquarium Affiliation, to contemplate the animal well being dangers related to the present outbreak of Foot and Mouth Illness in Indonesia," she mentioned.
"We're reviewing the state of affairs and our containment measures each day."
Dr Grey mentioned future paid encounters with giraffes, kangaroos and elephants had been cancelled and can be robotically refunded.
Invisible to the bare eye, it is considered one of Australia's largest kilers