Wednesday June 30 PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

Last Post until July 4^th

8 – 9:15 am: From Honeybees to Rhinoceros: Conservation engages all forms of life

Presenter: Robin Radcliffe, Cornell University and the International Rhino Foundation

Radcliffe's work focuses on the health and conservation of rhinoceros species around the globe, yet his interest in finding sustainable conservation solutions is broad-based. He compared and contrasted significant conservation challenges facing two seemingly disparate taxonomic organisms: the tiny honeybee on one end of the size scale and the megavertebrate rhinoceroses on the other.

9:30 am – 12:00 pm: Group Project Presentations

Five group project were presented: Refuse Burning, Rhinocerous Translocation, White Nose Syndrome of Bats, Poaching of Wildebeest in the Serengetti (my project) and one that I cant remember…Each presentation lasted approximately 20 minutes followed by 10 minutes of Q&A.

All in all, our presentation went well.

12:00 pm: Lunch

1:00 – 3:00 pm: Pack up

This what I am currently doing. We will be on St. Catherines Island for the next 3 days. I will not have internet or a computer so the blog will be on hiatus until July 4^th. Here is the schedule for the remainder of the day:

3:00 pm: Depart White Oak L; drive to St. Catherines Island J
5:00 to 7:30 pm: Depart dock, boat to island; set up camp upon arrival.
7:30 to 9 pm: Dinner; brief introduction to our St. Catherines Island unit.

Tuesday June 29, 2010 CASE STUDIES IN ECOSYSTEM HEALTH

Happy Birthday to Me!

I only took a few photos today but others took a bunch so I will add more in the near future!

The morning lecturer did not make it on time so we did not have any scheduled activities until 10:00am. I took advantage and slept in until 9:00. All day long I received Happy Birthday notes and well wishes. Everyone was so nice!

7:30 am: Breakfast

10:00 am – 12:00 pm: African Elephants: Saving an Iconic Species from Overpopulation

Presenter: Mark Stetter, Disney Animal Programs

Stetter described his collaborative work to assist wildlife managers in South Africa with the problem of elephant overpopulation in parks and reserves by developing techniques for surgical sterilization of free-ranging elephants in the field. Stetter is the lead veterinarian for Disney and was a totally awesome guy. Some of his work has been referenced on the Colbert Report:

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/76929/october-18-2006/elephant-vasectomies

12:00 pm: Lunch

1:00 – 2:30 pm: The Mountain Gorilla One Health Program

Presenter: Mike Cranfield, UC Davis and Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, Inc.

As the Director of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project and Co-Director of the Mountain Gorilla One Health Program, Cranfield is closely involved with addressing the complex human health and welfare issues surrounding the conservation of mountain gorillas, including the vital role that ecotourism plays in protecting the species from extinction, as well as the critical role that veterinary medicine plays in ensuring the sustainability of the species. It was another awesome talk!

2:45 – 4:00 pm: Role of the wildlife veterinarian in species conservation efforts

Presenter: Dave Hunter, Turner Enterprises, Inc. and Turner Endangered Species Fund

Hunter spent the first part of his career as a wildlife veterinarian working for state wildlife agencies in California and Idaho, and now serves as head veterinarian for the domestic and wild animal populations living on Ted Turner's ranches in North and South. His experiences as a wildlife veterinarian range from darting bighorn sheep to negotiating park boundaries in foreign countries. He is the only veterinarian for Ted Turner and it keeps him busy. A very fun presenter and all around cool dude.

4:00 – 6:30 pm: Group Project Part III work time

We worked furiously to complete our group presentation. Once we were done I played some foosball, darts and pool with some classmates and Kirstens children (15 year old Jasper and 9 year old Maya).

7:00 pm: Dinner

After dinner the staff was so nice and brought me out some birthday cake while all of the envirovet particpants sang to me. Everyone was so nice! Since it was also our last night at White Oak, we had a big party with free alcohol. Many games were played and pictures taken. I had a great time celebrating my birthday with some of the countries most prominent wildlife and zoo veterinarians. As the party at the bar began to die down, most of the students headed to the pool. We finished the night with a long pool volleyball session and some intense chicken fights.

Monday June 28, 2010 - WILDLIFE AND ECOSYSTEM HEALTH POLICY

Using old photos today:

7:00 am: Breakfast

8:00 – 10:15 am: The Role of Government and Policy in Wildlife and Ecosystem Health

Presenter: Dean Goeldner, Congressional Agriculture Committee Staffer

Based on many years working as a veterinarian in both the legislative and executive branches of the United States government, and in the Governmental Affairs Office of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Goeldner talked about how lawmaking works, and how and when veterinarians play a critical role.

10:30 – 12:00 pm: Scientific Citizenship - Translating Research into Action

Presenter: Patricia Conrad, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

Conrad, a veterinary parasitologist, is committed as a scientist to make sure her research is relevant to human, animal and ecosystem health, providing much-needed information for decision-makers. She has taken this commitment one step further by seeking special training in communicating science. She shared her thoughts and experiences.

12:00 pm: Lunch

1:00 – 2:45 pm: Citizenship – Exercising Environmental Rights under the Law

Presenter: Thomas Dawson, Wisconsin Department of Justice.

Dawson shed light on some of the country’s most powerful environmental laws, discussed their limitations, and was frank about the motivations of the legal profession, corporate America, and conservationists in using courts of law to wage environmental battles. He inspired us all to exercise our rights as citizens to participate in the democratic process and use the law to achieve our goals. Dawson has taken an environmental case all the way to the Supreme Court!

3:00 – 4:30 pm: Civil Upheaval and War

Presenter: Mishkat Al-Moumin, Futrell Visiting Scholar, Environmental Law Institute

Al-Moumin, former Iraqi Minister of the Environment (who survived a suicide bombers attack on her life), described how poverty, violence, civil upheaval and war are causal of, and caused by, ecosystem degradation. Poverty, corruption, religious and tribal conflict, and limited access to resources can lead to cruel governance, spark civil unrest, and cause war. Such civil violence then exacerbates human pressures on the environment. Al-Moumin wrapped up with a case study on the “ecocide” of wetlands in southern Iraq. She was an incredible speaker with a very powerful story. I think that everyone learned a great deal from this lecture.

4:30 – 6:30: Group Project Part III work time

We split up the final portion of our group project.

7:00 pm: Dinner

Evening: How to effectively work with difficult people and resolve conflicts

Presenter: Kelly Williamson, White Oak Conservation Center and White Oak Plantation

The ability to communicate effectively affects every aspect of a person’s life. As well, interpersonal and intragroup conflict presents problems for many people, and the resulting stress often spills over into their lives outside of work. This session was geared towards students to help us recognize our effectiveness in communicating with others, and understand sources of, and common reactions to, conflict in the workplace.

Ohh and apparently Canadians call foosball Babyfoot...

Sunday June 27 – FREE DAY!!

Happy Birthday Jackie!

Using Old Photos for today:

I slept in today and did not do much worth blogging about. I watched the soccer game, went shopping to get a few things that I forgot, and then went for a bike ride in the rain. After dinner we started the process of designing a group T-shirt, it was fairly contentious.
The best part of the day was when the girls from Indonesia wanted to get a picture in front of Wal-Mart.

Saturday June 26 NON-CLINICAL COMPETENCIES

Today was filled mostly with lecture so today’s pictures are from various points from the last week.

7:00: Breakfast

8:00 – 10:15 am: Grant Writing

Presenter: K. Gilardi

Gilardi has spent considerable time on both sides of the grant proposal process: writing and reviewing. She utilized a “recipe” for grant-writing prepared by Robert Perry to walk us through the essentials of preparing an excellent proposal. We then read and reviewed a grant, holding a mock grant review panel, and decided whether or not to fund the grant proposal. We also discussed why or why not groups decided to fund the proposal.

10:30 am – 12:00 pm: Practicing Ecosystem Health

Presenter: Gwen Griffith, Cumberland River Compact

Griffith's career as a veterinarian has spanned the gamut between work as an equine practitioner to her present position as the director of a watershed protection program, funded by the EPA and run by a regional nonprofit, the Cumberland River Compact. Griffith's career exemplifies the many paths one can forge as a veterinarian with a commitment to wildlife and ecosystem health.

12:00 pm: Lunch

1:00 – 4:00 pm: Media Training

Presenter: Rob Hilsenroth, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians President

Hilsenroth advised us on how and when to work with the print and broadcast media to convey conservation messages and communicate about environmental crises. We had a chance to practice interview techniques. We also practiced media skills in group activities and on camera.

4:15 – 5:45 pm: Finding and Forging a Path

Presenter: Ted Mashima, American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges

Successful careers for wildlife and ecosystem health practitioners depend on non-clinical competencies in communication (interpersonal, oral, written), networking, management, leadership, adaptability, negotiation, and facilitating mentor relationships. Mashima, a ACZM-board certified veterinarian with a breadth of experience in mentoring students, offered insight and guidance on how to gain these skills throughout a career. I also thought it was exciting that Mashima was the lead author of the book “The Rhino with Glue on Shoes”, which my mother gave to me last year.

7:00 pm: Dinner

As usual we had a fabulous dinner. When we were done eating, Nate and I went on a bike ride around the property we cruised around the golf course and returned to the big game room just before the rain started pouring down. From there we spent a large portion of the evening hanging out with Mashima, playing beer pong, and getting in a great game of pool volleyball.

Friday June 25 SMALL POPULATION MANAGEMENT

7:00 am: Breakfast

8:00 – 10:30 am: Ex-situ Conservation: Endangered Species Reproduction

Presenters: Linda Penfold (White Oak Conservation Center) and Bill Swanson (Cincinnati Zoo's Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife)

Penfold and Swanson presented principles, techniques and strategies used to enhance the reproductive health of threatened and endangered species in captivity, as well as ways in which this research is coupled with conservation of these species in the wild, including the challenges inherent in linking captive breeding to in situ conservation. Penfold also illustrated real-life problem-solving in the areas of assisted reproduction, animal translocation, and biological sample handling.

10:45 am – 12:30 pm: Conservation Genetics

Presenter: Steve O’Brien, National Institutes of Health

O’Brien introduced students to the principles of conservation genetics, and to the issues surrounding genetic management of small populations in a conservation setting. We were introduced to the research and investigative tools used to study the genetics of small populations. He had a great sense of humor and gave a very entertaining presentation.

12:30 pm: Lunch

1:30 – 6:00 pm: Laboratories

Leads: Linda Penfold, Bill Swanson, and Cyd Teare (White Oak Conservation Center)

We rotated through concurrent laboratories on: 1) assisted reproduction techniques; and 2) biological sample handling. I got to practice making blood smears, looking for sperm under the microscope, and cutting up testicles and ovaries. We also did some necropsy work on the uterus of a pregnant dog before learning about some practical field equipment.

6:00 pm: Dinner

Evening: Special Presentation: Biodiversity and Climate Change.

Presenter: Tom Lovejoy, H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment

Climate change is one of the defining environmental issues of our generation. Lovejoy presented on the importance and value of biodiversity, and on the current and future impacts of global climate change on fundamental biological processes and ecosystems. All in all, this was depressing as it feels like no one cares enough about the issue to fix it and it will soon be too late...

Thursday June 24 WILDLIFE IMMOBILIZATION (cont)

5:45 am: Breakfast

6:30 am – 12:30 pm: Immobilization of Wildlife – Field Demonstrations. Leads: Citino, Fleming, Klein and Zuba, and WOCC animal care staff

Field demonstrations of, and hands-on experience with, physical restraint and immobilization of large ruminants (bongo), zebra, and other sensitive and/or difficult species (e.g. gerenuk).

For this lab I was grouped in the zebra group. We got to witness the firing of the immobilization dart, and the initiation of anesthesia. Once the animal was down our group sprang into action. Part of my role was to begin begin intranasal oxygen and then take blood samples from the jugular vein. I then placed myself next to Rolando for the ultrasound (to check for pregnancy). It was an AMAZING experience. Here is the takedown video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL-JeTNEXKQ

After the immobilizations were comlete we inspected the squeeze shoot used for giraffes and went over the physiology of the anesthesia. By the time we returned to the lake lodge everyone was hot, hungry, and tired. We took a quick dip in the pool before lunch.

12:30 pm: Lunch

While eating we watched a video presentation by White Oak Animal Care staff on mechanical, physical and behavioral restraint techniques used at White Oak Conservation Center.

Afternoon: Nap and group project Part II work time

Once the video was over I headed back to my room for a quick nap. About an hour later our group convened to work on our project. When we were done I started some laundry and by then it was time to get some more food.

7:00 pm: Dinner

At dinner I sat with Citino and listened to some crazy stories he has about being a zoo veterinarian. The highlight was the story of a chimpanzee that got loose and almost ripped his head off. We were privileged to be joined by Linn Klein, who worked as the anesthesiologist for Barbaro and had many stories of her own to share.

Wednesday June 23 WILDLIFE IMMOBILIZATION

7:00 am: Breakfast

8:00 am – 12:30 pm: Immobilization of Wildlife - Lectures

Presenters: Scott Citino, Greg Fleming (Disney Animal Kingdom), Lin Klein (University of Pennsylvania) and Jeff Zuba (San Diego Wild Animal Park).

Citino, Fleming, Klein and Zuba provided a comprehensive overview on comparative anesthesiology and pharmacology, immobilization methods and equipment, physical vs. chemical restraint, and safety practices for use with captive and free-ranging wildlife.

12:30 - 1:30 pm: Lunch

1:45 – 6:00 pm: Immobilization of Wildlife - Lab

Leads: Citino, Fleming, Klein and Zuba

A hands-on laboratory introducing us to equipment of value in zoos and the field for darting, immobilization, anesthesia, and monitoring of vital signs. The lab began in the animal science center where Citino described the uses of various fire arms. Zuba then went through protocols and assisted us in assembling darts. Roland, a veterinarian in residency (who spent some time at OSU doing anesthesiology) was also extremely helpful in this portion of the lab. We then went to the horse arena and tested out 10 different darting methods.

Once back to the lake house, we all took a quick swim and had a short pool volleyball game.

7:00: Dinner

I played a quick game of billiards after dinner and then was instructed to get some sleep because we have an early day tomorrow.

Tuesday June 22 WILDLIFE HEALTH

7:30 am: Breakfast

8:30 – 12:00 pm: Anthropogenic Drivers of Disease Problems in Wildlife

Presenter: John Fischer, Southeast Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS)

Fischer presented an overview of important diseases of wildlife, with an emphasis on diseases that occur as a result of human perturbation of natural ecosystems. Also, he introduced the purpose, principles and practice of wildlife disease surveillance, and talked about the role of the wildlife disease diagnostician in monitoring ecosystem health.

12:00 pm: Lunch

After lunch we were oriented on techniques.

1:00 – 5:00 pm: Laboratory - Wildlife Necropsy

Lead: Kevin Keel, SCWDS

As part of routine white-tailed deer herd health surveillance at White Oak Plantation, we broke into groups of six to conduct a white-tailed deer necropsy, collecting and recording extensive pertinent data. I was shocked by the number of ticks and chiggers on the deer and we all spent much of the necropsy session trying to remain parasite free.

During our break many of us visited the pool to wash off all of the ticks and try to escape some of the odors associated with necropsy.

6:30 pm: Dinner

Evening: Wildlife Translocation: Applying Principles of Risk Management

Presenter: Scott Citino, White Oak Conservation Center

As a prelude to the Wildlife Immobilization unit, Citino discussed the implications of wildlife translocation and reintroduction programs for the health and sustainability of free-ranging populations, stressing ways to avoid pitfalls in planning and implementing a translocation program.

The remainder of the evening was spent at the bar. I was fortunate enough to talk for a long time with Dr. Zuma of the San Diego Zoo about his work on the California Condor project. He also shared some of his pictures elephants he has darted in South Africa. We followed this up with a game of darts.