About IWAH
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL), The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), The Royal Veterinary College, The University of Edinburgh (UoE) and The University of Melbourne (UoM), have been motivated to run this course in recognition of the need to conserve globally important biodiversity in South Asia and other biodiverse areas, which are also a hotspot for wildlife diseases and conflict. These wildlife diseases are relatively unstudied and unchecked, therefore is an important need for greater expertise in, and greater numbers of, wildlife health professionals to tackle them. Such wildlife health professionals are needed to undertake interventions in the health, welfare and conservation of wild animals, to investigate emerging infectious diseases and to ensure human well-being.
Programme
Subjects
Wild Animal population monitoring
Wildlife Health and Field Disease Investigation
Wildlife Crime and Forensic Investigation
Wild Animal Restraint and Anaesthesia
Participants will carry out a variety of practical and theoretical work, where they are given as many chances as possible to have a hands-on learning experience.
Tuition will be carried out in the field to develop skills in human-livestock wildlife conflict management, disease outbreak investigation, forensic investigation and monitoring of the health of declining species. It will include techniques for field monitoring of wildlife (using a range of techniques including animal tracks and signs, dung/pellet identification and quantification, census techniques, camera trapping, and radio telemetry), biological management, visual health monitoring of free-living animals, best practice in wild animal anaesthesia techniques, demonstration and hands-on practice, clinical examination in the field, sampling techniques for infectious disease screening, pathological examination in the field, and disease surveillance scenarios.
Timing
The IWAH 2023 course is once again open to both national and international participants. The 2023 programme is expected to run between 16th February – 5th March.
Assessment
Written assignment, Field skill evaluation.
Elegibility&Costs
Candidates ideally have a recognised veterinary qualification to attend this course. Veterinary students in their clinical years of study may be considered if spaces become available.
MVetSci Conservation
Medicine Students
This course may be taken as an elective course within the Conservation Medicine MVetSci.
Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) Students
A number of places are also available for veterinarians who are not enrolled in the Conservation Medicine programme and wish to apply as CPD candidates.
Course fee for CPD students a total of
£2999
Course Location 2023 – India, Sariska Tiger Reserve
The bulk of field exercises and teaching will occur in Sariska Tiger Reserve, an area 866km2 in size, located in Rajasthan. The Park was declared a wildlife reserve in 1955 and then a tiger reserve in 1978.
Sariska is part of India’s project tiger and in recent years carried out a tiger relocation scheme due to the decimation of tiger numbers in the park, making it an excellent base to learn about conservation management.
The Park also benefits from a range of ungulate, avian, primate and predator species which allow a wide range of field techniques and opportunities for observations to be made during the course. You will also have the opportunity to witness human-wildlife interactions first hand, due to the many villages and temples located within the park.
Course Organisers
Alexandra Thomas
Wildlife Health Bridge Co-ordinator
Zoological Society of London
Dr. Amanda Guthrie
Senior Veterinary Officer
Zoological Society of London
Dr Lee Skerratt
Associate Professor
University of Melbourne
Stories
8th February 2020 – (by Shiva Sawmy)
After spending my day off exploring the amazing city of Jaipur on the eve, I woke up this morning even more excited, as today marked the start of lectures and…
Read More
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Applications
If you are eligible and wish to apply for a space on our 2024 course please contact us at [email protected].
Please include your name, qualifications, and a copy of your CV so we can confirm eligibility.