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.