STUDENT EXPERIENCE: THAILAND

Submitted by Holly Schwarzman, Ross University

Thailand Elephant Medicine Externship - A Ton to Think About!

"Over the past spring break, I was provided the opportunity to take a trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand to study elephants. This experience was planned with ZEW (Zoo, Exotics, and Wildlife) club at Ross University through Loop Aboard's externship program. This experience allowed 9 students to delve into the fascinating realm of elephant medicine. 

While on the trip we visited two sanctuaries- one was a protected contact and the other being free contact with the elephants. This gave us the opportunity to see how two different types of sanctuaries were run and how the elephants displayed different behaviors with diverse environments. 

BEES (Burm &Emily Elephant Sanctuary) was the first one we visited. This sanctuary is run in completely closed contact with the elephant. This means that tourists are to observe elephant behavior from a far and no touching of the elephants is permitted by anyone other than the veterinary team or elephant handler. We were able to do elephant hikes into the forest to see them display natural behaviors and how they interacted in a social manner. Additionally, we completed an enrichment project that provided the elephants a means of cognitive entertainment and mental stimulation. 

Ran-tong- Save and Rescue Elephant Centre was the second sanctuary we visited. This one was run much different than BEES. Ran-tong allowed for free contact with the elephants as long as the handler was nearby. Tourists were able to touch and feed the elephants and the elephants were given specific instructions by their handler on how to behave. This was a much different scenario as the free contact can be increasingly more dangerous if the elephant decides to disobey the handler. They did not allow riding of the elephants and the elephants were allowed to not participate in activities if they did not choose.

While at the sanctuary, the program allowed us as vet students to get a more in depth look at the aspects that go into elephant medicine. We were given multiple lecture series over various aspects of elephant care. Topics ranging from, husbandry, behavior, diet, physiology, anatomy, preventative care, surgery and anesthesia were some of the subjects covered. On top of the courses, we were able to do hands activities as well. We were able to do foot care, training sessions, fecal collection, blood smear analysis, intramuscular vitamin injections and I was even able to collect blood from the auricular vein!

During the two-week program, we were instructed to create a public service announcement promoting conservation and education on the issues that elephants face. With both African and Asian elephants being listed as endangered, it's important to bring awareness to this issue by sharing the knowledge we have as veterinarians with others. I was able to create an educational pamphlet on the reasons why elephant numbers are declining and what we can do to help. 

One of the major causes in the decline of the elephant populations has to do with humans- animal conflict leading to poaching, habitat loss, and illegal trading of elephant parts. This is a challenge in most areas of the world as the human population increases and encroaches on other animal’s habitats. Some ways to alleviate this conflict is to make stricter regulations on poaching and try to draw attention to the fact that we can live in harmony with the elephants. 

Creating sustainable places for tourists to visit and see/ learn about the dangers these magnificent creatures face helps to encourage more people to care about the status of elephants. Sanctuaries like the two we visited work diligently to bring this notion to light. Additionally, elephants are a keystone means and they are an essential part of the ecosystem. As their numbers dwindle it will leave a lasting impact on the human population, and the biodiversity of other species as well. 

While I learned a vast amount of information and greatly enjoyed the program overall, it really brought light to the issues many wild species are currently facing. This externship has motivated me to continue to pursue a career in the field of conservation medicine as I move through my DVM course. Hopefully one day I will be able to accomplish my goal of bringing awareness to the despite need to protect this wonderful species."

Vet Students Abroad: Dominican Republic

Congratulations to Kassandra Schneider on her 2020 International Veterinary Experience Committee (IVEC) Individual Scholarship!  We love to see students thriving in the field and we are so glad to see that those funds helped you to have a successful experience.  

In winter 2019, I participated in a student-run team bringing veterinary care to underserved areas of the Dominican Republic. We cared for dogs, cats, horses, pigs, chickens, and goats in five different communities in a developing nation. This trip (my first trip abroad!) taught me so many unforgettable lessons and brought deep meaning both to my career and my life as a whole.

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Belize Zoo Externship

Stacie Munden, Ross University

Normally during Christmas time people think of lights and Christmas trees and presents. For me, this is not what I had in mind. I spent a week of my Christmas break at the Belize Zoo learning about anesthesia, ultrasound, and treatments for animals I had never seen before. The Belize Zoo houses all different animals including tapirs, spider monkeys, crocodiles, ornate hawk eagles, jaguarundis, jaguars, peccaries, harpy eagles, as well as many, many more. The zoo allows students and veterinarians to come help perform physical exams, diagnoses, preventative medicine, and treat injuries. This is exactly what five of my colleagues and I did for our Christmas break.

On our first day at the zoo we got to go on a tour of the zoo and were shown the on-site clinic. We spent that morning getting acquainted with the supplies and drugs that the clinic had. We were tasked with organizing all the drugs in similar groups using Plumb’s which was a great review of pharmacology and to prepare us for the upcoming week. After organizing the drugs that afternoon we anesthetized a howler monkey to perform a physical exam, ultrasound for pregnancy, and treat her mastitis. The veterinarian overseeing us let us take charge of the anesthesia by splitting up the tasks amongst us so we were all able to take part. This experience solidified what I had learned in my anesthesiology class.

The second day was just as amazing as the first, if not more. We started the day by anesthetizing a jaguar! Once again we were responsible for the anesthesia with the guidance of the veterinarian. We drew blood and did a physical exam to check old injuries. Our next patient was the cutest little four-eyed opossum. They do not actually have four eyes, but white eyebrows which can look like two extra eyes in the dark. We did another physical exam, blood draw, and sexed him, determining that he was indeed a male. The zoo then let us name him which we decided to bestow upon him the name of Bernardo, a fitting name for an opossum. Our next task was performing radiographs on an ornate hawk eagle that was unable to fully extend his wing. They are one of my favorite birds at the zoo along with the harpy eagle. I got to help position him for radiographs, but the images had to be sent off for processing so we were not able to see the results. Our next two patients were crocodiles where we drew blood, did physical exams, and replaced a bandage on the tail of one of the crocodiles. For each of the animals we took blood from, we determined the PCV, TP, and looked at blood smears under the microscope.

On the third day two peccaries were sedated to be moved, so we performed another physical exam and drew blood. This was amazing because I had to draw blood from the peccary and was unsure of where to draw blood from, so I found a vein on the leg and got blood on my first try which impressed my colleagues. The third peccary that was sedated was brought into the clinic where we performed an ultrasound guided cystocentesis with the help of my friend who wants to become boarded in diagnostic imaging. The next chapter of the day was full of tapirs! I had never heard of a tapir before this and our job was to anesthetize two tapirs and administer parasiticide in addition to the physical exam and bloodwork. The tapirs look like a mix of a horse and rhino with a long nose but have a goofy personality. They quickly became one of our favorite animals at the zoo.

Thursday and Saturday were our days off from the zoo where we went to Xunantunique and the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave. Xunantunique is a Mayan archeological site. We walked around the ruins and our tour guide told us about the history. We also stopped at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel where the owner of this hotel has created the Green Iguana Conservation Project to reduce the decline of green iguanas. We got to see where the green iguanas are housed before being released. On Saturday we went spelunking through the “ATM” cave. I did not know what all this entailed, but this was by far the most amazing cave I have ever seen. This adventure started by swimming across a river and hiking down a trail to the entrance. The entrance to the cave is actually a river that comes out of the cave. We had to swim into the cave and through a narrow spot before walking/swimming about a half mile into the cave. At the end of the cave was an ancient sacrificial site with artifacts lying on the cave floor.

Friday was our last day at the zoo which we spent doing physical exams and bloodwork on the birds. I got to draw blood from a Harpy eagle and scarlet macaw! The harpy eagle is a large bird of prey with huge talons that were the size of my hand! We also did physical exams on the ornate hawk-eagles at the zoo. We ended the day learning how to load and shoot blow darts at a target which I could still use some more practice. This was by far the most amazing experience I’ve had thus far and I’ve gained so much experience that will be beneficial for me to use for not only exotic species of animals but our domesticated pets too. I hope to go back someday and would recommend this experience to anyone!

South Africa Study Abroad Course: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

Rachel Ellerd, Texas A&M

It was a crisp, chilly June morning when 16 eager veterinary students excitedly unloaded off the bus at Amakhala Game Reserve. We were ready to start our South Africa study abroad course and gain knowledge and skills involved in the immobilization and conservation of wildlife. Guided by Dr. Peter Brothers, the veterinarian leading our course, and Dr. Alice Blue-McClendon, our professor from the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine, we quickly gathered into two game-viewers and headed off on our first safari ride. Within minutes, we were immersed in herds of cape buffalo, wildebeest, zebra and white rhino. While the sun set along the horizon, a full-grown African elephant walked within inches of our game-viewer, and I knew this would be a trip to remember.

The view of the sunrise from our tents at Mattanu Game Reserve

After getting a taste of the adventure that awaited us, we spent our first full day in the classroom learning the basics of African wildlife management. 

A herd of giraffe at Amakhala Game Reserve

Next came physiology and pharmacology. Safety being our instructor’s top priority, we learned the ins and outs of the different tranquilizers, sedatives and antidotes we would be working with in the field as well as how and why specific ones work for different species. 

Texas A&M CVM South Africa study abroad class

Brimming with excitement, we started out the next morning by darting wildebeest. It didn’t take long until all 20 veterinary students were working like a well-oiled machine, each with their own duties to make the process as efficient as possible. Each student was able to practice different skills such as administering vaccines, anti-parasitic medicine, drawing blood and monitoring vital signs. 

One of the rescued leopards at Shamwari Big Cat Rescue

Between classroom and safari work, we were able do some sightseeing. Addo Elephant National Park, the third-largest national park in Africa, is a must-see for any elephant lover. One of my favorite days of our trip was an excursion off the coast of Port Elizabeth. We journeyed to St. Croix island, home to the largest breeding colony of African penguins. On our boat ride there, we encountered a pod of more than 100 bottle-nosed dolphins and a rare southern right whale with her calf.

Southern Right Whale, off the coast of Port Elizabeth

Finally, our last stop in the southern cape consisted of giving back to the African community. We brought donations to Isopho, a facility that assists victims of the AIDS pandemic, most of whom are children. The smiles on the kids’ faces were priceless as they scored against us in games of soccer and when they each got their very own bag filled with hygiene care products and treats.

Rhinos during sunset, Amakhala Game Reserve

The next leg of our journey took place at the Mattanu game reserve in the northern cape of South Africa. It was here that we took on our largest and most dangerous immobilizations—giraffe. Because of their enormous size, it took careful planning, incredible skill, teamwork and a little bit of luck to safely dart, treat and guide them onto a specialized trailer using a system of ropes. Once loaded, the feeling of accomplishment that swept over our team was unforgettable.

Walking the giraffe to the transportation vehicle

After more immobilizations, we continued our lectures on the diseases of African wildlife and their conservation. One lecture that really changed my way of thinking was Dr. Brothers’ lecture about hunting and its positive effect on conservation. 

Dr. Brothers teaching me how to shoot a dart gun

Going into the study abroad, it seemed counter-intuitive to me that hunting could help save species from extinction. However, we learned that without carefully maintained and humane hunting to sustain the value of African wildlife, many populations would be killed off to be eaten and make room for farmland instead of being carefully managed and conserved. In addition, the revenue made from hunting is put back into protecting wildlife. 

Sunset at Mattanu Game Reserve

Although all the animal darting was done by veterinarians, we had a unique opportunity to practice shooting from a helicopter on our own. Each student had a short ride in a helicopter that chased a pretend antelope (a volunteer on a four-wheeler with protective gear and a cut-out target on his back) and had five shots with a paintball gun with which to test their skill. 

Immobilization of a red hartebeest

Belize Zoo Experience

Laci Taylor, Cornell University

This summer I had the opportunity to participate in a one-week experience at the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center through a course at Cornell called International Experience in Wildlife Health and Conservation. The course is a partnership with Cornell and the Belize Zoo in Central America. As an aspiring wildlife veterinarian, I found the course to be highly rewarding as it was unlike any other offered in the core veterinary curriculum. 

The Belize Zoo was started in 1983 by Sharon Matola to educate the people of Belize and tourists alike. One of the most interesting aspects of the Belize Zoo is that the entirety of its animals arrive as orphans or rescues and all of its animals are native species, many of which are at risk for extinction. Through educational programming, the zoo aims to dispel some of the negative stereotypes and myths engrained in Belizean culture that cause the public to intentionally harm or kill animals. One such myth is that the sighting of certain species of owls means that death is coming for someone close. The educational component of the zoo ultimately contributes to the preservation of many local endangered species populations.

While at the zoo, I worked with a wide variety of species ranging from spider monkeys to jaguars. Alongside some of Cornell’s veterinary faculty and the Belizean zookeepers, I was able to attend lectures, practice physical exam and clinical skills, take and analyze lab samples, as well as observe and assist in anesthesia and dentistry procedures. In just one week, I learned to insert my first catheter, participated in a dental extraction and gave preventative vaccines to a jaguar, ran diagnostic testing and bloodwork on a howler monkey and performed an ultrasound on a puma, amongst many other wonderful clinical experiences! One of my most memorable experiences was assisting in the dental procedure on one of the zoo’s jaguars. Before I wanted to be a veterinarian, I wanted to be a dentist, so this was an especially impactful opportunity. As a rising second year, I hadn’t yet learned about dentistry in the curriculum so assisting was a great hands-on introduction. During the procedure I learned about simple vs surgical extraction. The extraction on the jaguar was a surgical extraction which meant that the removal of the tooth required creation and elevation of a flap, and removal of bone. I watched the dentistry resident use many different dental surgery tools to remove the periodontal ligament from the tooth and I was able to loosen the last bit of periodontal ligament, ultimately “delivering”, or removing, the tooth!

When we weren’t working in the Belize Zoo Veterinary Clinic, the team immersed itself in the history, culture and traditions of Belize. One such experience was a trip to Xunantunich, an ancient Maya archeological site in Western Belize consisting of four major architectural groups. Additionally, we traveled to San Ignacio, Belize to a marketplace where farmers, traders and vendors from all walks of Belizean life gather. 

My desire to make a global impact as a wildlife veterinarian drew me to this opportunity and participating only reaffirmed this desire. The course at the Belize Zoo allowed both students and faculty to broaden their veterinary experiences by providing veterinary care to zoo animals all while learning about Belize’s conservation efforts. It is a course I highly recommend!