Staff from the National Zoo and counterparts from around the country are awaiting advice on preventative measures designed to reduce the risk of foot-and-mouth disease to animals in captivity.
Peak body, the Zoo and Aquarium Association, will provide guidelines to members on Thursday to prevent a spread should the disease hit Australian shores, following an outbreak in Indonesia.
Melbourne Zoo has already moved to restrict visitors to animals deemed at risk, with elephant, giraffe and kangaroo enclosures off limits.
