Often the word “conservation” is synonymous with beach clean ups, recycling, planting trees, etc. What about “wildlife conservation”? Wildlife conservation is the preservation and protection of animals, plants, and their habitats. One component of wildlife conservation that is often overlooked is their health.
Just like humans and our pets, animals like lions and dolphins get sick or injured and need healthcare too! Unfortunately, zoological medicine is behind what’s available for pets. Zoo and wildlife veterinarians are working hard to catch up, but this research requires funding- and lots of it. The Wild Animal Health Fund, a program of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians is working hard to solve the conservation puzzle by funding health studies for zoo animals and wildlife. These health studies are led by the best and brightest veterinarians and researchers who have dedicated their life to helping these animals.
When you go to the doctor because you aren’t feeling well, your doctor might order blood work or other tests to see what’s going on. Your doctor knows what levels aren’t normal and can easily see when something is wrong. Our animal friends get sick too, but sometimes (a lot of times), there isn’t baseline health information for zoo and wildlife veterinarians to compare. For example, a recent study funded by the Wild Animal Health Fund focused on gathering baseline blood samples for Galapagos tortoises, a critically endangered species. Now that the veterinarians have those baseline samples, they can see when something is wrong. This is one of the large issues in the zoological medicine/wildlife conservation community. How can veterinarians begin a treatment plan if they don’t even have the basic health parameters?
Wild Animal Health Fund studies range in topics from baseline health to disease treatments and prevention. A gap in health information is just one of the issues that zoo and wildlife veterinarians are facing, on top of the rapid spread of disease and the lack of funding for health studies. It’s important that we speak up for the animals and tell the world that their health is part of conservation too!
2022 was a successful year for the Wild Animal Health Fund, and we are looking toward 2023 as being our best year yet! With the help of our partners like the El Paso Zoo, we are funding $250,000 in veterinary health studies for zoo animals & wildlife. To learn more about the Wild Animal Health Fund, visit our website here.
Photos
Cover and Top – Marc Veraart, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Bottom – Tortoise Daniel Ramirez, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition 