Toxoplasmosis, a parasite-borne disease, has killed seven wallabies at the Virginia Zoo over the past 11 months. The zoo’s remaining wallabies have been quarantined. Zoo officials confirmed the deaths on Monday. The wallabies that had passed away were among 10 that the zoo brought in from New Zealand last year. Zoo veterinarian Dr. Amanda Guthrie said the wallabies don’t have a natural immunity to the disease, because it’s not indigenous to New Zealand. She also stated that she didn’t expect the wallabies to be so susceptible to the disease in a short amount of time. The zoo plans to bring in wallabies from other zoos that have survived in captivity for a certain period of time.
