A risk assessment for the Emperor tamarin has been conducted by the Department.
As a key component of risk assessment for import into Tasmania, conventional climate modelling was applied to compare the state’s environment with the species’ natural range in Brazil.
CLIMATCH revealed “extremely low” potential (no match) for suitable habitat across the entire state, indicating little or no probability that Emperor tamarins could survive in the wild.
The risk assessment determined the Emperor tamarin as moderately dangerous to humans, having a low establishment risk and with a low consequence of establishment. It was therefore proposed the species be assigned to a moderate threat category.
Following the initial risk assessment, the Department considers permitting the importation of animals assessed as ‘moderate risk’ into the State as long as appropriate mitigation measures, enforced through a wildlife exhibition licence, can be identified and applied.
Mitigation options to reduce the risk associated with importing Emperor tamarin include:
- Limiting importation to registered wildlife parks or zoos to ensure the holding facility meet the stringent keeping standards Tasmania applies to all institutions.
- Require any wildlife park or zoo to submit aEmperor tamarin Species Management Plan (including enclosure details) prior to import; and
- Require wildlife exhibition facility licence holders to clearly demonstrate that they have proficient keepers for the species.