Synopsis / Reflection

Going into freshmen year of college, I had no idea what I wanted to do when I got older. To me, that part of my life was too far in the future to think about. When everyone around me suddenly knew exactly what they wanted and had a plan to accomplish it, I started thinking more about what exactly I wanted to do. For the longest time, the only thing I knew was that I wanted to work with animals. Before writing this blog, I didn’t know of any occupations working with animals except for ordinary veterinarians, and while there is nothing wrong with being a veterinarian for domestic animals, I knew that it wasn’t for me. What I didn’t know though, was that there are so many more possibilities out there. The options are endless, so I picked one that sounded interesting to me personally, wildlife veterinary medicine, and used this blog to explore it. 

At first, writing the blog posts was a challenge for me because I didn’t know much about veterinarian medicine, let alone wildlife veterinarian medicine. Not having any previous knowledge, classes or experience made it very difficult for me to write certain posts that involved physically going out into my field. However, posts involving controversies and especially the free posts were the easiest for me. Free posts were simple because of how easy it was for me to find interesting things to write about in my field. Animals and the people working with animals do extraordinary things, and all it takes is a simple google search to find it. 
As I spent time researching my field, I realized how much this job would be great for me and I think it is really important for someone to know every aspect, positive and negative, about their field before they decide they want to spend the rest of their lives in it. I found numerous amounts of positives including different organizations, like the gorilla doctors and elephant sanctuaries. These veterinarians spend their time helping animals that most people would over look. Some risk their lives and some spend the majority of their time away from their families, but they still do it. The more of these organizations and links I found the more excited I got, and the more I wanted to pursue this career. 
     However, I knew that nothing is perfect, so I figured this occupation must have a few negative aspects of it, and of course, like everything else, it does. I found articles explaining the hardships of working in the wild and the amount of debt in schooling alone is enough to turn anyone away. That being said, by learning the negatives about this field, I realized how passionate and dedicated anyone who remains in veterinary medicine must be to go through all of it. To those who truly want to be a vet, or work with animals, it’s not about the money, it’s about loving their jobs and helping those animals who cant help themselves. Realizing that I would one day be surrounded by people like that, just added on to my excitement and made me more driven to become a wildlife veterinarian. 
     This blog not only gave me a reason to start thinking about my future, but also it helped me to get excited for it. Wildlife veterinarian medicine was a spur of the moment choice for me, and throughout research and blog posts I decided that it may actually be the perfect career field for me. One day I hope to be apart of an organization similar to those I found for this project. 

Week #10: Remixing Knowledge

A very common example of a “Remix” in the field of Wildlife Veterinarian Medicine is in the form of a brochure. Brochures are simple ways to get information out into the world. One example I found was an organization known as the AZA, or the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and their attempt to spread the word about why it not a good idea to have wildlife animals as pets. 
This brochure target audience is most likely every day people, who have an interest in exotic animals. If you think about it, who else would want to own a tiger besides someone who just really likes tigers? This audience also is most likley not going to have any type of degree or experience working with animals, because if they did they would know from basic knowledge why it is not a good idea to own a wild animal. 
I think the purpose behind this brochure is to stop people from trying to take in undomesticated animals. People believe that these wild animals can grow up in their home and act similar to a dog, but in reality this isn’t true. When owners realize that, it puts the owner and the animal in danger. Zoos, sanctuaries and aquariums usually have to step in and take in the animal, which can no longer live in the wild because it most likely would not be able to defend itself properly. 

Brochures are a very good way to show information, while at the same time keeping interest and remaining professional. Brochures are short and get right to the point because there is not a lot of space for useless information that does not matter. People in today’s society are used to reading with pictures and short amounts of writing at a time, and a brochure is an easy way to accommodate for those preferences. 

References

Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Why Wild Animals Don't Make Good Pets. N.p.: Association of Zoos and Aquariums, 2009. AZA.org. Association of Zoos and Aquariums, n/a. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

Free Post: Wildlife Trade

     The Huffington Post recently posted an article that explains what really happens during wildlife trade. Wildlife trade is what happens when a wild animal is removed because they are either a danger to the area they are in or they are transported for human demand, such as medicine, pets, entertainment etc. These animals often suffer from “broken bones, crushed internal organs, limb loss, suffocation, dehydration, starvation, malnutrition, disease, chronic stress and fear.” This article was written not necessarily to give information about these animals, but more to identify the fact that animal welfare is rarely ever mentioned. In fact, between 2006 and 2011 animal welfare was almost never mentioned at all. Wildlife trade is a very big business now-a-days, despite the many different opinions concerning it, and with this business growing as quickly as it is, more animals are being put in danger and are suffering every day. 

     Although, this post may sound preachy, but this article created many strong opinions of mine to shine through. Personally I feel that wildlife trade is wrong in many ways, I think that in-order to transport any type of animal anywhere, there should be some sort of law saying that a wildlife veterinarian should be present. These animals suffer through a lot of pain and some even end up dying because they are not treated humanely. While animal welfare groups are recently trying to make a difference and give more attention toward what is happening regarding wildlife, I think one thing they should be pushing as well is involving veterinarians. In fact, if you think about it, a hospital would never transport a patient to another place without a doctor to make sure they arrived safely; why should animals be treated any less humanly, especially since they’re the ones being taken without any consent. 

References

D'Cruze, Neil. "Wildlife Trade - Why Is No-one Shouting About Animal Welfare?" The Huffington Post UK. HPMG News, 6 Jan. 2014. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.

Free Post: The Difference Between Wildlife Sanctuaries and Zoos

 Head trainer of Dade City's Wild Things feeds a two-week-old Siberian tiger cub.

Lately, many people have blurred the line between their views of zoos and wildlife sanctuaries, but in reality they are very different. To start off, wildlife sanctuaries take in animals that were abused or neglected. Sanctuaries main focus is to care for these animals and help them to be healthy and living a better life. Whereas, zoos are more of animal exhibits for people all over the world to view these animals. Rather than taking in animals who have been hurt or abandoned, zoos collect animals based on public opinion and research possibilities. While I’m not saying zoos are in the wrong or the right, but personally I feel that sanctuaries are a better place for the animals. Especially since in sanctuaries the animals are not being watched and gawked at all day. 
However, sanctuaries do allow observers and sometimes, with young animals, sanctuaries allow interaction. While there is some controversy about whether it is safe for the public to interact with wild animals, experts say that young animals having human interactions will make it easier for doctors to treat them in the future when they’re older. On the other hand, as you might know, zoos are mainly for observing and admiring animals from afar. When you go to the zoo, there aren’t many opportunities to feed baby tigers and to interact with other animals like there are in wildlife sanctuaries. 
Although there are many different opinions on zoos and sanctuaries, I feel that it is important to understand the difference and I think it is necessary to know the priorities of each. I personally love going to the zoo, but I would love to visit a wildlife sanctuary one day. 

References

Shea, Rachel H. "Are Wildlife Sanctuaries Good for Animals?" National Geographic. National Geographic, 20 Mar. 2014. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.

Week #9: Recognizing Significance

This is a screen shot of CNN's story and interview with the
veterinarians who are working with the koalas.

It has recently been brought to the public that Koalas in Australia are dying off from diseases and loss of habitat. CNN covers the story and speaks to Wildlife experts about the crisis. Many of them agree that if something does not change in Australia to help protect these animals, Koalas could become extinct within the next 30 years. Now, while this may upset fellow animal-lovers out there, why should this matter to everyone else? Well, other than the fact that these animals are carrying infectious diseases such as Chlamydia and AIDs, Koalas also are a large contributor for Australia’s economy. 
CNN talks about the importance of the Wildlife Veterinarians working with these animals to discover the reasons behind the decline in the population. Also, at least 700 Koalas every year are brought into intensive care for treatment. Without the Veterinarians there, there would be no koalas. Furthermore, while interviewed, a wildlife veterinarian shares that the largest reason behind this koala problem is the loss of habitat due to forest fires and deforestation. 
Basically, without Wildlife Veterinarians, there would be no one to care and treat for these animals. Also, there is a slim chance someone would have noticed the mass declined amount of trees and forest life in Australia. 

References

Coren, Anna. "Koalas in Australia Dying from AIDS, Habitat Loss." CNN. CNN, 14 Dec. 2009. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.

Week #8: Practicing My Knowledge

This past week I attempted to find a situation I could put my knowledge on Wildlife Veterinary Medicine to work; however I found it very difficult. Because Veterinary Medicine is such a competitive field, I found it nearly impossible to find an experience that I did not need any qualifications or experience for. This post made me realize how little I know about how to treat animals, mostly because I haven’t taken any of those classes yet. I assume that treating animals in real life is a lot different than in the text books. Text books don’t necessarily talk about just how wild these animals are, and also how the veterinarian will live and feel while trying to work with these animals. 

Free Post: "Trapped Animals- Animal Welfare Institute"

     Although there are some professional animal trappers in the world, the amount of people illegally trapping and killing wild animals is much greater. Today people are trapping wild animals using inhumane traps like leg holds. People illegally trap these animals for fur and other reasons. An organization called The Animal Welfare Institute is a non-profit group who's goal is to decrease the amount of pain animals suffer because of humans. They aim to stop steal jaw traps, which animals like raccoons actually chew off their own limbs to get out of, and they aim to end other hurtful and violent methods of controlling animal populations. 
      While it would be ideal to stop people from trapping animals for fur, it will definitely be an uphill battle. Many people do not care about the animal enough to not buy a fur coat or other pieces of fur clothing. I think it is a really good thing this organization is doing to help these animals. They are working with legislators, veterinarians, inventors, biologists, trappers and the public to end the fear and pain wild animals are suffering. They use their website and broschours and other advertisements to get the word out that these are happening, as well as a way for people to help. 

References

N/a. "Trapped Animals." Animal Mosaic Global Animal Connection. Animal Welfare Institute, 2011. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. <www.animalmosaic.org>.

Free Post: "Elephant Painting a Picture"

As you can tell, this video shows an elephant painting a picture. However, he is not painting just any picture, but he is painting a self portrait. Although this is not necessarily concerning veterinarian medicine, it is still very important. In order for this elephant to be capable of drawing a self portrait, he needs to be trained, and in order to train an elephant, the trainer must really understand him and how his mind works. Understanding animals, especially undomesticated ones is not an easy job. Animal trainers and zookeepers need a lot of training, but they’re not the only ones. Wildlife Veterinarians also need to understand animals by the way they think, learn and act. Although this video might not seem very necessary or relevant, it opened my eyes to an entirely different aspect of wildlife that I didn’t pay much attention to in the past. As I watched and was amazed at this elephants ability to paint himself, I thought about all the other amazing things animals are capable of. I started searching google and youtube for other videos similar to this and realized that now-a-days people use videos and social media to show and help the world to understand these wild animals. These methods are a quick and simple way for people like me to get a better understanding of the life of working with wild animals.

Week #7: Contemplating Controversy

When treating a sick animal, the ending is not always a happy one. Sometimes, especially while dealing with undomesticated animals, it is too late and they are too sick to be treated. What to do in that situation is what leads to controversy. One of the biggest controversies in wildlife medicine is the use of euthanasia. 
Euthanasia is used to put animals to sleep by causing them to go in and out of consciousness followed by cardiac arrest. Using Euthanasia is meant to lower the stress and discomfort of the animal while it is being put down. However, there are many different opinions on this topic. 
First of all, many people believe that Euthanasia is better for the animal and that it is more humane. Some people who live in areas that have high populations of undomesticated animals believe that lethal methods are good for population control. By using Euthanasia, people have a better sense of controlling numbers and amounts of animals in certain areas. However, many people believe that killing an animal, even with euthanasia is wrong. Most of Americans think it is a better idea to simply relocate these animals. New York residents were surveyed and most believed it was a better idea to trap the animals and relocate them while not harming the animal. While this in theory is a good idea, translocating is not always problem-free. In fact, there are many problems with translocating like the low survival rates of the animals and spread of disease. Also, while moving animals to a different location does have a positive outcome for the New York residents, there is no way to guarantee that the overpopulation of animals will not pick up again in a different place.
          Because wildlife euthanasia is so controversial the NWCOA (national wildlife control operators association) decided to review their guidelines and evaluate the different outcomes of different euthanasia. They interviewed and experimented the impacts of many different types of euthanasia and came up with results indicating both negative and positive effects. The NWCOA decided that wildlife professionals must consider the welfare of the animal in any and every of their activities. Along with the basic laws and regulations of wildlife veterinarians, this controversy ended in a new guideline which basically says that wildlife professionals need to use their professional and best judgment to determine the best method for each individual situation. 

References

Julien, Timothy J., Stephen M. Vantassel, Scott R. Groepper, and Scott E. Hygnstrom. "Human Wildlife Interactions." Euthanasia Methods in field Settings for Wildlife Damage Management (2010): 158-64. Academia. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.

Week #6: Evaluating Sources

The Effects of Veterinary Fences on Wildlife Populations in Okevango Delta, Botswana

In Botswana many herds of species and wildlife roam the country with no control causing diseases and dangerous amounts of overpopulations of animals. A solution for this problem was Veterinary Fences. A veterinary fence is a kind of boarder that keeps wildlife from passing through a certain area. This article shows the effects these fences have on the populations of wildlife in Okavango Delta, Botswana. This article says that these fences were meant to prevent diseases from spreading amongst livestock and can cause great economic benefits. But how does it affect the animals? Well, according to this article, certain fences were meant to control certain animals and diseases. For example, apparently The Buffalo Fence  was the most important because it stopped the spread of foot and mouse disease from spreading from buffalo to other kinds of cattle populations. However, it is also known for being one of the most destructive fences to migratory wildlife species. While this fence is meant to stop buffalo and cattle diseases from mixing, it also cuts across a migration path for other species such as zebras, wildebeest, and elephants. These fences are causing deaths amongst migratory wildlife because animals get separated from their groups, poached, and trapped while walking along veterinary fences. 

     This article also goes on to explain what would happen if these fences are removed and what the new laws and regulations are now that the fences have been evaluated. From what I currently know about my field, I can see that this article does a good job at not being bias. It provides both positive and negative viewpoints of the fences and the results that came from them. Along with references supporting this article, there are also charts and graphs to provide visuals as well. My response to this article was just that it made me more aware of the consequences in changing the habits of wildlife. 

References

MBAIWA, JOSEPH E., and ONALETSHEPHO I. MBAIWA. "International Journal of Wilderness." The Effects of Veterinary Fences on Wildlife Populations in Okavango Delta, Botswana 12.3 (2006): 20-23. Web.

N/a. "Fences in Botswana." Protecting the Environment with Intelligence. EIA International, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. <http://www.eia-international.org/our-work/ecosystems-and-biodiversity/habitat-destruction/fences-in-botswana>.

Free Post: "Zoo Careers and Salaries"

While some people like myself pick their jobs based on their passions and interests, some people work for the money. That I understand because we need money to support ourselves, and one day our families, so I decided to compare the salaries of different occupations within workers with zoo careers and this is what I found:

Zoo Veterinarian- Zoo Veterinarians are responsible for the health of all the animals within the zoo. They generally perform surgeries, fix wounds, and perform tests to treat each animal. The average salary for a Zoo Veterinarian in 2011 was  $82,040 per year.

Zoologist- Zoologists working in zoos usually perform experiments and do research on the captive animals while providing the zoo with data about the captive animals. The average salary for a Zoologist in 2011 was  between $60,000 and $70,000 per year. 

Zoo Curator: A Zoo Curator is responsible to oversee and supervise all of the zookeepers and veterinarians. They make the a lot of the decisions about animal breeding and acquiring new animals. The average salary for a Zoo Curator in 2011 was $48,800 per year.

Zoo Veterinarian Technician: The job of a Veterinarian Technician is to assist the Zoo Veterinarian with treatments and other procedures and tests. The average salary of a Zoo Vet Tech in 2011 was between $35,000 and $45,000 per year.

Zoo Registrar: Zoo Registrar is an administrator position that takes care of the paper work necessary by law and other reasons to keep the animals in the zoo. Zoo Registrars also advertise and do other campaigns needed by the zoo. While the salary fluctuates a lot, a reasonable salary for Zoo Registrars is $30,000 a year.

Zoo Keeper: Zoo Keepers provide a daily care for the animals they supervise. Zoo Keeper jobs are hard to come by because they use hands-on interactions with exotic animals. The average salary for a Zoo Keeper is between $20,000 and $30,000 a year in 2011.

References:

Kramer, Mary H. "Zoo Careers and Salaries." About.com. About.com, 2012. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. <http://animalcareers.about.com/od/Wildlife/a/Zoo-Careers-And-Salaries.htm>.

Week #5 Prompt: Defining Ethics

     Although the The Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics are currently under review, it remains in effect for all veterinarians. The introduction to The Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics states: 

     "All veterinarians are expected to adhere to a progressive code of ethical conduct known as the Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics (the Principles). The basis of the Principles is the Golden Rule. Veterinarians should accept this rule as a guide to their general conduct, and abide by the Principles. They should conduct their professional and personal affairs in an ethical manner. Professional veterinary associations should adopt the Principles or a similar code as a guide for their activities."

    While this introduction broadly explains that all veterinarians should follow these rules, the principle of ethics explains in detail what is expected of them. In general The Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics says that veterinarians should always put their patients needs first, always try to improve, and not  let outside sources influence how they treat their patients. These key points in the code of ethics stood out to me because they correspond to my own beliefs and I can relate to them as a college student. 

"Veterinarians should first consider the needs of the patient: to relieve disease, suffering, or disability while minimizing pain or fear."

- This relates to my own belief because as a person I think it is important to think of others before myself. Especially when people are need someone to be there to help them, the selflessness of my own actions could help them get through a bad time in their lives. As a college student, being surrounded by many different kinds of people can be difficult, and it is a big transition. Helping and understanding that other people are not necessarily cope the same way I do, I can practice putting their needs first. Although this is not the same as treating animals, to me, the basic idea is very similar.

"Veterinarians should strive to enhance their image with respect to their colleagues, clients, other health professionals, and the general public. Veterinarians should be honest, fair, courteous, considerate, and compassionate. Veterinarians should present a professional appearance and follow acceptable professional procedures using current professional and scientific knowledge."

- This relates to my own beliefs because I think it is important to always be the best person you can be. As a college student it is easy to go to class, or even to skip class, and just sit in bed all day like a potato; however, to be the best person I can be, I not only go to class, do the work and study, I also find social clubs and organization while also finding a job. Balancing all these different aspects of my life, is practice for how I can balance my career while also trying to find new ways to improve in it. However, improvement does not stop at successfulness or becoming better at doing tasks. Improving also means becoming a better person. Veterinarians should be honest, fair and so forth, and although being a college student does not necessarily prepare me for that, living on my own and growing up does. 

"The choice of treatments or animal care should not be influenced by considerations other than the needs of the patient, the welfare of the client, and the safety of the public."

- This relates to my own beliefs because I think it is important to make my own opinions, and take my own actions uninfluenced by what other people say and do. As a college student I can practice this easily because I often have to try to remain unbiased to other's opinions in regards to my friends, professors and even their opinion on my major. I think being a college student will help me practice this more based on the fact that there are so many different opinions in one place, that I constantly have to decide what is best for myself, or in the case of my major, what is best for the animal.

Free Post: "So You Want to Become a Wildlife Vet, ah?"

Often when I am interested in something, I tend to research and find out everything I can about that topic; in this case, it was wildlife veterinary medicine. While I was researching I came across a website called “Vets Into the Wild” written by a wildlife veterinarian. While reading this website I came across an article that shines a light on the darker side of becoming a wildlife vet. He talks about how his entire life he wanted to work in the wild treating animals, but once he got more into his career he realized it’s not all fun and games.
For example, he mentions that when he finally got a job offer it wasn’t anything like he expected. He went into the rainforest and everyday he worried about catching some life-threatening disease and all of the other dangers from being there. Besides from third-world country diseases, there are also many bugs and they often don’t have up to date technology. 
     However, my favorite point he brought up was that the animals are, in fact, wild. For some reason many people believe that the animals are willingly going to let a vet treat them, but the facts are they aren’t. It is very dangerous going into these places, and most of the times animals have to be hit with sleeping darts before they can treat them. This article really opened and forced me to second think my career path. 
Although I do want to treat exotic animals of some sort, I would have to seriously think about the opportunity I am given and if the risks are worth it. This article made me wonder if captive exotic animals, like in zoos or other places, would be better for me to work with. No matter the situation I end up in, I do believe that treating undomesticated animals is something I really want to do in my life. 

References

N.A. "So… You Want to Become a Wildlife Vet, Ah?" Weblog post. Vets into the Wild. Wordpress.com, 28 June 2010. Web. <http://outdoorvets.com/2010/06/28/so-you-want-to-become-a-wildlife-vet-ah/>.

Free Post: Interview with Dr. Carlos Sanchez

Listen to the audio podcast.

     While exploring what it would be like to work as a veterinarian in a zoo instead of an exotic place, I came across an article which explains the duties of a Zoo Veterinarian from the perspective of Dr. Carlos Sanchez. The first question talks about what a typical day is like, in which he responds that every day is always different. He talks about how he’ll go from treating an Alpaca to checking on a butterfly that isn’t flying correctly. In other questions he mentions how his job can be difficult because every animal is different, and it is harder to find the problem in unique animals because we do not always know what should be considered abnormal for them.
     Dr. Carlos Sanchez then goes on to talk about how he became a Zoo Veterinarian, his goals and other aspects of the job. A part of his interview that really stood out to me was how he feels about the animals he treats. He mentioned that unlike a pet, wild animals hide their symptoms if they’re sick or injured which sometimes results in it being too late to treat them. He also mentioned how losing an animal is probably the hardest part of the job, and if it wasn’t for the zookeepers themselves they usually wouldn’t realize that the animals were even sick. 
    His interview really put this career path in perspective for me. A lot of blogs and website’s are very bias when describing this career, and while it is nice knowing the pros and cons from each person, having honest answers like his give me a better outlook of what I possibly have the chance to do when I finish school. He gives real details which give me insight on what my life would be like if I were to become a Zoo Veterinarian. In my opinion, every job has its advantages and disadvantages, and for me at least, being able to work with and help these animals is enough to weight out all the negative aspects of the job.

References

"Interview with Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Carlos Sanchez." Interview by Carlos Sanchez, Dr.Teachers. Interview with Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Carlos Sanchez, 04 Feb. 2014. Web. 06 Feb. 2014. <http://kids.usa.gov/transcripts/zoo-veterinarian.shtml>.

Week #4 Prompt: Observing Community

     A big part of any career working with animals is experience, kind of like “practice makes perfect.” At Michigan State University there are a large amount of clubs and organizations that relate to any field, hobby, or interest a person has. For me, one group, the Zoo, Exotic and Wildlife club, really stood out. When going on their website I found that they are a club specifically striving to give veterinary students more information about working with animals from zoo’s and the wild. This organization not only provides information on special species, but also gives students hands-on experience opportunities, which not only is interesting for the students, but also is beneficial for their resumes.
    The Zoo, Exotics and Wildlife Club has a strong belief in helping animals; in fact, their quote: "We care for wildlife animals...because they are a part of our family," describes them pretty well. They also communicate by having meetings on Tuesdays and their own bulletin board in the Natural Science building. For just a small fee a year, members get opportunities to participate in all sorts of different events. For example, exotics animal laboratory, which includes not only a lecture to educate but also a chance for students to handle these animals and get a better sense of what is being taught. Also, this club gets a behind the scenes tour the Potter Park Zoo, along with a few other field trips as well. Furthermore, the Zoo, Exotics and Wildlife Club also participates in volunteer work. For about an hour a day, the have the opportunity to work with Wildlife Veterinarians to treat live animals. 
     Clubs like this are very beneficial for students in my major and majors similar to mine. I think they give you the experiences you need to figure out if this is something you actually want to do for the rest of your life, and if it is, the club gives you the opportunity to do it. Being a part of the community by joining clubs and groups is not only a good way to meet people who have similar interest to you, but also to start networking to get your name out there incase anyone hears an opportunity you may be interested in.

References

"MSU Zoo, Exotics, & Wildlife Club." MSU Zoo, Exotics, & Wildlife Club. Michigan State University, 2010. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.

Week #3 Prompt: Interviewing a Professional

     Interviewing a professional who works with animals from zoo's or from the wild was much more difficult than I realized. Many of them are very busy, which is understandable. However, in order to become a Wildlife Veterinarian, I am graduating as a Zoology major; therefore, I interviewed my Zoology advisor, Katie Licht. During my meeting with Katie Licht, she not only talked to me about my personal goals and what I can do in order to become someone who works with exotic animals, but she also gave me great insight into her profession. 

What routes can someone take in order to work with exotic animals?
     -Well there are a lot of different options, especially in the Zoology field. You can either go to veterinary school and specialize in a species, or you can go to grad school and specialize in learning their behavior, which is somewhat what I did, or doing research, or you can participate in internships or volunteer places.

Do you like what you're doing now?
     -I love Zoology but I wish I would have taken a different route in grad school. There are 3 options in order to work with animal behavior, and I chose more of a psychology behind people and animals rather than just animals themselves, which I do want to start working more with.

What is your best advice to students that want to go to grad school or veterinary school?
     -Take all your recommended classes, and work very hard. Also, participate in internships and work with animals to get as much experience as you can.

How often do you work with animals?
     -Well my friends actually work a lot more with animal behavior and training than I do. They work at zoos and have to train the lions to sit before they eat and things like that. 

In any profession working with animals, what kind of writing do you have to do?
     -Well it all depends exactly what your job is and entails. If you are a researcher, you're going to have to write notes and more of scientific journal typed writings. Whereas, if you are a traditional vet you write follow-ups and examinations on your patients.

How do people in this career path do their writings?
     -There are a ton of different ways people can write and get their information out. Some people write blogs, or scientific journals. Also, some people end up being professors or do some sort of teaching, so they write all of their knowledge in books or lectures. 

     I think talking with Katie helped me in regards to pointing me in the right direction. Also, she had a lot of good points and different inside perspectives on each different path I could take to become someone working with wildlife. I think her experience as she went through school and her career opened up my eyes to the different experiences I will go through. 

Free Post: The Elephant Sanctuary

"A natural refuge where sick, old and needy elephants can once again walk the earth in peace and dignity."

      The Elephant Sanctuary, in Hohenwald Tennessee, is a designed to  care and nurture old elephants from zoos and circuses. This non-profit organization meets the needs of endangered elephants while also letting them live their lives as normal as possible. Instead of having the elephants in cages, they have "people fences", which keep visitors out instead of the elephants being trapped in. The missions of The Elephant Sanctuary are to provide and care for old and sick elephants with the luxury of green fields, and heated barns in the winter, and to provide education to the public on how important it is to save this endangered species. 

     However, because this sanctuary is a "true sanctuary,” it is not open to the public. The Elephant Sanctuary organization believes that because these elephants have spent their entire lives in cages being observed by the public eye, that once they come here they should not be disturbed, except for those employed which care to the needs of this animal. 

     The Elephant Sanctuary Organization uses its website and video blog to send information to the public about its mission to help animals and exactly what they're are doing inside the 2700 acres. The website contains live streaming videos that people can watch in order to keep track of the elephants. Their website also makes readers feel connected with each elephant by using pictures and by sharing each elephant’s story. 

     I can personally connect with what this organization is trying to accomplish because elephants are my favorite animal and I don't want them to become extinct. Elephants are such gentle creatures and it's upsetting to hear about them being poached and killed off for any reason. One day i hope to get the chance to visit or work at a place with elephants. I also like that this organization isn't meant for showcasing elephants. I like that it is closed to the public so they can live in peace.  

   

References

"The Elephant Sanctuary : Hohenwald Tennessee." The Elephant Sanctuary : Hohenwald Tennessee. United States Department of Agriculture, 2013. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.

Free Post: Ainslie Campbell's Wildlife Adventures

   

        This video interests me because it shows the opinion of someone who is actually on the trip and shows unprofessional taken pictures of her. I learned that as a wildlife veterinarian, first you see a hurt animal and then, because after all the animal is wild, you use darts which make the animal unconscious so vets can help them. From this video and website I see the precautions wildlife veterinarians take because not all animals are willing to be as friendly as some organizations would like people to believe. However, I one day would like to work for an organization that helps animals, and not volunteer or pay to go on trips like these. 

    Ainslie Campbell, a wildlife veterinarian, promotes an organization called "Wildlife Vet Adventures." This organization gives vet students and recent graduates an opportunity to experience first hand what a wildlife veterinarian does. They treat animals that look hurt, injured or sick, and help them to recover. This program not only is a great learning opportunity but also gives veterinarians experience.  People like Ainslie Campbell who are on this expedition post videos on YouTube to get the word out to other students and recent graduates about their own time and the experience they could have. This program also has its own website. The website gives dates and photos and program information for anyone that is interested in joining. 

References

Wildlife Vet Adventures. Prod. S. Botha. Perf. Ainslie Campbell. Wildlife Vet Adventures, 2013. YouTube. 

Free Post: Gorilla Doctors

   While doing some research on the internet, I stumbled across an article about a group of veterinarians who call themselves The Gorilla Doctors. The Gorilla Doctors is an organization dedicated in saving the mountain gorilla species. According to the website, there is only around 800 mountain gorillas left in the entire world, and more are dying from diseases and other health problems every day. This group of international veterinarians are traveling to different countries around the world to help save this species. They go by the motto "Saving a species, one gorilla at a time." 

           The Gorilla Doctors have a website, www.gorilladoctors.org, where people can view pictures and read stories of the gorillas these vets have saved. They also have a section where they talk about who they are and what their mission is. They use the media, as in Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc., to deliver their story to the world. The style of writing they use on their website relates to readers and makes them care about the gorillas that this company is working so hard to save. There is even an option to donate to the organization to help them continue saving these animals. The Gorilla Doctors have news clips and offer special trips for people to go visit these gorillas as well.
       Because of this organization, the mountain gorilla population is growing and the gorillas are getting friendlier with human interaction. The work that The Gorilla Doctors are participating in is the kind of work I want to do once I get my degree. I want to be able to interact with and care for animals similarly to the way this organization does. 

References:

"Gorilla Doctors - Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project - Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project." Gorilla Doctors - Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project - Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project. Gorilla Doctors, 22 Jan. 2014. Web. 22 Jan. 2014.

Week #2 Prompt: Comparing Wildlife Medicine Writing

Every piece of writing can be delivered in a different way, especially in the Veterinary Medical Field. Elliot Garber is a Veterinarian for Wildlife with an internet blog. His blog contains opportunities for other vet students or doctors to get the chance to experience. Also, the purpose for his blog is to make people more aware of this profession and to give advise to those who are looking into Wildlife Medicine as well. The delivery he uses for his blog affects the reader/writer relationship in a positive way by using pictures of places and animals he has gotten to work with. Also he  blogs about interviews with other veterinarians and his journey into becoming one himself. This style makes the blog not only more interesting, but also more relatable to the readers because they can connect his life experiences with similarities of their own, which leads to a broader audience. Even people who are not interested in becoming a veterinarian can find something on this blog to look or read about. 

On the other hand, a more scientific approach used to get information out into the world is a scientific journal. The Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine published by the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians talks about wildlife health and conservation of endangered species. The American Association of Zoo Veterinarians uses a scientific and scholarly styled writing. This article does not use pictures or tell stories; however it’s simple, plain delivery demonstrates that it is full of information. This delivery method will affect the reader/writer relationship in a positive way because it suggest a more specific audience which is genuinely interested in Wildlife Medicine. Although the readers may not be able to relate as well, this delivery method is more organized and the readers know exactly what they’re reading unlike the blog where each post is about something new. 

References

Garber, Elliott. "The Uncommon Veterinarian." Elliott Garber. N.p., 2014. Web. 22 Jan. 2014.

Hutchins, Michael, Tom Foose, and Ulysses Seal. "The Role Of Veterinary Medicine in Endangered Species Conservation." Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (1991): n. pag. Print.

Week #1 Prompt: 10 Questions about Wildlife Vet. Medicine

What exactly does a Wildlife Veterinarian do?

“Deworming of a cougar kitten. Photo by MyFWCmedia, Flickr“

Wildlife Veterinarians help sick animals similar to the way traditional vets do; however, wildlife veterinarians work with animals a little less tame. Wildlife Veterinarians work with exotic animals such as jaguars and elephants and pretty much any species you can find in the wild. Some of their job duties are monitoring the habits and behavior of animals, developing meal plans and nutritional needs for each species, and if they are working in a facility with closed animals, examining blood work, x-rays and so on for every animal. Wildlife Veterinarians also monitor endangered species and perform surgery or any other treatments that any animal may need. [2]

What are the requirements to become a Wildlife Veterinarian?
A Wildlife Veterinarian must first take preveerinary courses which require classes in organic and inorganic chemistry, many different biology classes, animal nutrition, genetics, zoology, etc. After taking all the required courses, applicants for veterinary schools require high standardized test scores such as Graduate Record Examination, the Veterinary College Admission Test, or the Medical College Admission Test. Wildlife Veterinarians then have to complete vet school, while also volunteering and participating in internships where they work around exotic animals. [1]


How many vet schools are there?
Veterinary schools must meet certain standards which are accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medicine Association. In the United States, there are 28 accredited veterinary schools. One of which is Michigan State University. [1]

How competitive is this field?

Veterinary Medicine is a very aggressive field, one of the reasons being that vets are required to earn a degree in by an accredited school. Because there are not many veterinary schools in the United States, the field of Veterinary Medicine is very competitive.  [1]

What are the job opportunities?
There are many different fields and job opportunities for Wildlife Veterinarians. Jobs can range from zookeepers, to professors, to international wildlife experts, which is what I want to do. [2] With the range of possibilities endless, employment of veterinarians is predicated to grow 12 percent in the next 10 years which is average, but means more jobs are going to open up for people like to me join the filed. [3] 

What is the work environment like?

  

Working as a Veterinarian for exotic animals is similar to conditions of a zookeeper. They can work anywhere from a hospital setting to an animal’s natural habitat somewhere in the wild. Also, like people, animals need care no matter the weather or time of day. Wildlife Veterinarians work everyday of the week, at any time of the night or day. [2]

What is the average salary for Wildlife Veterinarians?
Although, in my opinion those who become Wildlife Veterinarians are not doing it for the money, it should be taken into account. The average salary for starting off vets is around $48,000. However, while traditional vets start their own private practice earn around $110,000, Wildlife Veterinarians who work for the government earn an average of around $100,000. [1]  


How long does it take to become a Veterinarian?
The time it takes to become a Veterinarian is different in every case. The average Veterinarian takes about 8 years in school before they can start their career. However, some vet students who are in accelerated programs complete their education in 6-7 years. Other vet students who specialize in certain species generally spend  11-12 years in school and training. [4]

Is working with animals in the wild dangerous?
Yes. Animals tend to be more aggressive and are more likely to injure people around them when they are stressed or in pain. Even vets with years of experience are sometimes hurt or even killed by animals. Being kicked or suffocated by a fallen animal are only some of the risks to working with large animals and wildlife. [1]

What is the difference between Wildlife Medicine and the traditional Veterinarian medicine?

Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Cranfield, started an organization
 called Gorilla Doctors where they treat and work with gorillas.  

          Traditional Veterinarians take care of animals like dogs and cats in a pet clinic, while wildlife veterinarians diagnose and treats animals like giraffes and elephants. Wildlife Veterinarians specialize in exotic animals; therefore, have many challenges that differ from those who work with domesticated animals. Wildlife vets are required to know not only the anatomy, but also the behavior of hundreds of different species. [2]

   


    In this post I attempted to use a textbook to answer my questions about the field of wildlife veterinary medicine. Because most answers vary depending on the person, animal, place etc. textbooks were not the best way for me to find information. For the questions I couldn't find in the textbook, I used the internet. The internet, in my opinion, is the easiest and fastest way to find information. Another resource that could have been helpful would be if I could have talked to a Wildlife Veterinarian in person to ask them the questions I had.

References

• [1] Whatley, Oneida. A Beginner's Guide to Become a Professional Veterinarian, The English Press, 2012. Print
• [2] Wadmin, J. I. "Wildlife Veterinarian Job Description." Jobs in Wildlife. Weaver, 6 Dec. 2011. Web. 22 Jan. 2014.
• [3]Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Veterinarians, 
  web http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinarians.htm (visited January 22, 2014).
• [4] N.a. "How Long Does It Take To Become A Veterinarian?" Access 2 Knowledge. Access2Knowledge, 19 Sept. 2013. Web. 22 Jan. 2014.