Wildlife Medicine and Conservation

Online 2022

The Wildlife Medicine & Conservation online course is designed to give veterinarians, veterinary students and biologists an  overview of conservation and medical threats to wildlife species and to introduce support approaches in Belize.

 

2024 dates:

Section I- June 26th- July 7th, 2024

Section II- August 2-14, 2024

Note that we do charge a small registration fee of $50.00

register now

Course Summary:

Course Lecturer: Dr. Isabelle Paquet-Durand, DVM, PhD, CWR (Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator).

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General course description: This course is designed to give veterinarians, veterinary students and biologists an overview of conservation and medical threats to wildlife species and to introduce support approaches in Belize. The Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic – BWRC is a wildlife veterinary teaching clinic in Belize and this course will present activities and  former patients as case examples as well as follow current patient cases during live  rounds.

BWRC Participants will be introduced to wildlife traffic, human wildlife  conflict and avoidance, wildlife rescue, emergency response and rehabilitation, anatomy with an emphasis on comparative forensics, basic clinical applications, examination and  restraint of wildlife patients. Then the class will focus on veterinary support to  conservation efforts with case studies and program examples. Species include mammals,  birds and reptiles with in depth coverage on psittacine species and reptile conservation  work. This course is comprised of live lectures with discussion, demonstrations on  camera, pre-recorded lectures and assigned videos, reading, quizzes and final student  presentations.

Learning Objectives:

This program improves student’s knowledge and abilities in the following areas

  • Know a variety of common, rare and endangered wildlife species of Belize/Central  America.

  • Discuss the general issues related to wildlife and conservation threats.

  • Discuss the role of veterinarians as well challenges and opportunities for veterinarians in  conservation and wildlife medicine.

  • Explain the major challenges of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.

  • Discuss common diseases of selected species during the course as well as Green Iguana  medicine and conservation efforts.

  • Understand the importance of wildlife traffic and human wildlife conflict.

  • Know basic human wildlife conflict avoidance tactics.

  • Conduct a basic assessment of wild animals.

  • Understand the challenges for examination and restraint of wild animals as well as issues  caused by captivity.

  • Know about biology, threats and in-situ conservation efforts for Scarlet macaws (Ara macao) and Central American River Turtles (Dermatemys mawii)

  • Understand the regulatory and practical applications associated with wildlife  conservation.

Course Reading:

Once registered, An extensive list of websites and book references will be given after  registration; videos on different subjects will be assigned. 

Required Equipments:

A computer with Internet access for video streaming is needed. Zoom will be used for the  live sessions (free) and Thinkific as a platform for some self guided lectures. A closed  Facebook group will be created for additional video content and discussion outside of  classroom time.

 

Schedule Sessions 2022:

  • SESSION I CONTACT US NOW

*Please contact BWRC for alternative dates and scheduling options. We can customize this course delivery from 10 days to 13 weeks according to your groups needs.

LIVE class will be held between 4 pm and 6:30 pm CST on Sundays in weeks 1-4 and between 1pm- 3 pm in week 5, accounting for some discussion time at the end with a total contact time of 2-2.5 h per classroom session. Prerecorded lectures will generally be uploaded on Monday and Wednesday. Some may be offered as LIVE lectures for those available. All live lectures are recorded. Some flexibility is built into the schedule to take special interests into account and questions and discussions are encouraged on all lectures.

  • Week 1: Sunday: Introduction to the course, recommended reading, Wildlife species of Belize, Current/common patients at BWRC (2-2.5 h LIVE with interactive discussion)

    • Introduction to wildlife conservation issues and approaches with Belizean examples (1h)
    • Wildlife Traffic and Crime: case examples and common species (1h) Quiz I
  • Week 2: Sunday: Human-Wildlife Conflict: From cats to snakes, with case examples and mitigation; Update on current patients (2-2.5 h LIVE with interactive discussion)

    • Examination of non-domestic species (1.5h) Quizz II
    • Interesting x-rays and forensics examples (1h)
  • Week 3: Sunday: Basic clinical applications in non-domestic species (injections, fluids therapy, wing wraps, catheters, and blood draws), Update on current patients (2-2.5 h LIVE with interactive discussion)

    • Necropsies (1.5h)
    • Introduction to Wildlife Rescue and rehabilitation (1h);
    • Capture, restraint and immobilization equipment and examples (1h)
  • Week 4: Sunday: Introduction to in situ Conservation programs: Scarlet Macaw in situ conservation from 2010-2020 (1.5-2 h LIVE with interactive discussion)

    • Introduction to reptile medicine and conservation programs: Green Iguana Project,
      Update on current patients (1.5 h)
    • Introduction to conservation programs: Central American River Turtle (1h)
  • Week 5: Sunday 1 PM-3 PM: Final presentations: Animal profile and Zoonotic disease
    Update on current patients and final discussions

Students Assesments:

Students can take this course for their personal development and opt out of final presentation and quiz, or students can enroll for a BWRC Certificate of completion. For the BWRC certificate participation will be recorded, 2 quizzes as well as 2 short presentation topics will be assigned.

Students seeking credit through their home universities are responsible to approach their student offices to inquire if this would be considered, and we will gladly communicate with the relevant offices and provide required documentation. Dr. Paquet-Durand’s hands on courses have been accredited by several Universities for many years. But since this online format is new to most and it will take time to establish accreditation school by school as requested.

Participation:

Students are expected to attend all live sessions and participate in  discussions, as well as view all pre-recorded lectures. All live sessions will be recorded  for later viewing and students who miss live sessions can get participation points by  adding to the class discussion via email. A discussion group will be created on Facebook  and participation is encouraged. well as view all pre-recorded lectures. All live sessions will be recorded  for later viewing and students who miss live sessions can get participation points by  adding to the class discussion via email. A discussion group will be created on Facebook  and participation is encouraged.

Presentation:

Each student will prepare and record 2 short presentations (5 minutes  each): The topics will be an “Animal profile” on a wildlife species of Belize and one  zoonotic disease presentation. Outline and sample presentation will be shared

Quizzes:

2 quizzes will be assigned and then discussed as a group. Further quizzes can be provided upon request.

Course Gallery:

Schedule:

Register now and let us know your preferences for dates and times in the future. Note that our registration deadline is set 14 days prior to class start. See list of topics that will be covered this course.

  • Introduction to the course, recommended reading, Wildlife species of Belize,current patients at BWRC (LIVE)
  • Introduction to conservation issues and approaches with Belizean examples.
  • Wildlife Traffic and Crime.
  • Human Wildlife Conflict; Update on current patients
  • Wildlife examination and situational assessment.
  • Comparative osteology and forensics examples (live demo).
  • Basic clinical applications in non-domestic species and necropsy; Update on current patients (live session).
  • Introduction to Wildlife Rescue and rehabilitation; restraint and immobilization equipment.
  • Introduction to reptile medicine and conservation program: Green Iguana Project.
  • 20th Introduction to Conservation program: Scarlet Macaw in situ conservation from 2010-2020; Update on current patients.
  • Introduction to conservation programs: Central American River Turtle.
  • Final presentations: Animal profile and Zoonotic disease.
  • EXTRA Date, in case of emergency cancellation/nationwide disconnection/…
  • Quiz; Update on current patients and final discussions.
Note that we do charge a small registration fee of $50.00
register now
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