Carbamate Toxicosis in Carnaby’s Cockatoos (Zanda latirostris) in a Drying Climate

Pesticide exposure poses a growing threat to the health of wild avian populations worldwide. This report documents the first detections of agricultural chemicals in the tissues of wild Carnaby's cockatoos (Zanda latirostris) in Western Australia. The events, characterised by morbidity and mortality, occurred in a national park near Perth, following periods of elevated summer temperatures over two seasons. Toxicological analysis of liver and digestive tract contents identified multiple pesticides and an herbicide, including methomyl, a highly toxic carbamate insecticide. Hot weather conditions preceding the events potentially increased the cockatoos' use of alternative water sources for drinking, such as those in commercial vegetable gardens adjacent to the park. This represents the first published instance of insecticide poisoning in wild black cockatoos and introduces a new transmission pathway for agricultural chemical exposure in Carnaby's cockatoos. It highlights the need for targeted conservation strategies such as bird watering stations, and longer-term research on the impacts of agricultural chemical exposure in wild avian populations.