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INTERVENTIONS IN WILD ANIMAL HEALTH

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

Our IWAH 2024 course has now come to an end but we’re making big plans for 2025. Watch this space for updates but in the meantime check out the stories and photos from our past courses to see the exciting opportunities and experiences that joining IWAH can deliver.

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

£3599

Course Location 2024 – 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

Dr. Neil Anderson

Programme Director

University of Edinburgh

Prof. Pradeep Malik

Professor

Wildlife Institute of India

Prof. Parag Nigam

Professor

Wildlife Institute of India

Dr Amanda Guthrie

Head of Wildlife Health Services

Zoological Society of London

Dr. Tony Sainsbury

Senior Lecturer, Institute of Zoology

Zoological Society of London

Dr. Rajan Amin

Senior Fellow, Conservation Programmes

Zoological Society of London

Alexandra Thomas

Wildlife Health Bridge Co-ordinator

Zoological Society of London

Dr Lee Skerratt

Associate Professor

University of Melbourne

Dr Nic Masters

Director of Wildlife Health

Toronto Zoo

Prof. Richard Kock

Lecturer in Wildlife Health and Emerging Disease

Royal Veterinary College

Dr. Stuart Patterson

Lecturer in Wild Animal Health

Royal Veterinary College

Stories

26th February 2024 in 2024

26th February 2024 – by Dr Hamza Nadeem

A Bittersweet farewell: As the sun rose on the final day of our wildlife conservation course, a mixture of emotions filled my heart. Excitement for the day ahead mingled with…
Read More
25th February 2024 in 2024

25th February 2024 – by Dr Tom Tran

It has been many moons. The end of the course is approaching. I am both deeply saddened for everyone in our cohort will soon part ways. But there is no…
Read More
24th February 2024 in 2024

24th February 2024 – by Dr Siva Ranjani

The day started at dawn, 6.30 am with an aromatic chai and coffee. The guys selected for the darting team practiced with tremendous effort, great excitement, and hope. After a…
Read More
More stories

For news and updates

If you are interested in receiving updates about the course including dates and locations please sign up using this form

Applications

If you are eligible and wish to apply for a space on our 2024 course please contact us at WildlifeHealthBridge@ioz.ac.uk. 

Please include your name, qualifications, and a copy of your CV so we can confirm eligibility.