Using Thermal Imaging to Monitor Body Temperature of Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in A Zoo Setting

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Body temperature regulation is integral for the health and well-being of animals, especially in Zoo settings. Endothermic vertebrates such as small mammals are able to maintain a constant internal body temperature; however, extreme variation in body temperature may be reflective of underlying injuries or health issues. Thus, new technology that can enable the measurement of body temperature of small mammals without need for capture and handling can be very useful for the monitoring of animals in Zoos. In this study, we report the application of an IR thermal imaging camera for monitoring the body temperature of koalas. We found that the eye and abdomen were the most consistent body features to record body temperature. This tool will have useful application for welfare evaluation of small mammals, such as koalas in Zoos. ABSTRACT: Non-invasive techniques can be applied for monitoring the physiology and behaviour of wildlife in Zoos to improve management and welfare. Thermal imaging technology has been used as a non-invasive technique to measure the body temperature of various domesticated and wildlife species. In this study, we evaluated the application of thermal imaging to measure the body temperature of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in a Zoo environment. The aim of the study was to determine the body feature most suitable for recording a koala’s body temperature (using coefficient of variation scores). We used a FLIR530(TM) IR thermal imaging camera to take images of each individual koala across three days in autumn 2018 at the Wildlife Sydney Zoo, Australia. Our results demonstrated that koalas had more than one reliable body feature for recording body temperature using the thermal imaging tool—the most reliable features were eyes and abdomen. This study provides first reported application of thermal imaging on an Australian native species in a Zoo and demonstrates its potential applicability as a humane/non-invasive technique for assessing the body temperature as an index of stress.