Author Archives: Rimsha Malik

Conserving Imperiled Wild Cats through Reproductive Research

  By Rimsha Malik • June 14, 2024 , ,

Last year at the special species symposium, I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Bill Swanson speak about his work at CREW, the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden’s Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife. CREW applies assisted reproductive technologies for the conservation and propagation of wild animals, especially rhinos, bears and felids. One of their major priorities is to collect and cryopreserve sperm from all the males within zoo-housed populations. The frozen sperm is stored in CREW’s CryoBioBank, which can provide samples for future artificial insemination procedures and serve as a safeguard against the loss of genetic diversity.

At the symposium, Dr. Swanson discussed the artificial insemination surgeries and new technologies that were being used in the veterinary field for conservation and research purposes, and I truly fell in love with the idea of wildlife theriogenology. Upon completion of the symposium, I reached out to Dr. Swanson, who then put me in contact with Dr. Lindsey Vasandt, the Director of the Imperiled Cat Signature Program. She was quick to respond, and suggested a zoom meeting, one in which we ended up discussing my career interests, plans for the future, etc. Not only was she very reassuring when it came to my newer interest in reproduction, but also gave quite a bit of advice and ideas for my future career path. During our talk, she mentioned that CREW frequently hosts student externs that are interested in wildlife theriogenology, and I expressed my interest in doing such during a break in vet school. Once we lined up our schedules, we decided on a two-week externship during winter break.

While externing at CREW, I had the opportunity to travel to the Chattanooga Zoo, TN and Toledo Zoo, OH, where three snow leopards and one jaguar were scheduled to be anesthetized for their annual physical examinations and we opportunistically decided to perform reproductive exams (and semen collection in the males). In the female snow leopard, we performed a reproductive exam along with an endoscopy to investigate a potential muco/hydrometra that had previously been found on diagnostic imaging. In the two male snow leopards and one male jaguar, we performed reproductive examinations as well as semen collection via electroejaculation. I had the amazing opportunity to take an active part in the process by helping with the examinations as well as running the machine for the electroejaculations. I then aided in the process of semen freezing via cryopreservation for storage in the “frozen zoo” held at the CREW facility, working on a step-by-step basis set by protocols for ensuring proper additive amounts and hopefully, freezing success. Once we returned to the CREW facility, I helped in the preparation of a genetic study in their domestic cat population by performing castrations, assisting with semen collections via electroejaculation and urinary catheter placement, and blood work on four males. My first ever neuters!

 

My favorite memory would have to be my first semen collection. Not only was it on a jaguar, which is a truly remarkable species, but we collected over a billion sperm total from him (that is quite a lot, especially for a feline). This is something I will never forget, no matter how silly it might sound. Knowing how important it is for preserving genetics for generations to come, it felt so good to know that we collected and stored so many chances for future jaguar conceptions. This is huge in the field of conservation, and who doesn’t love the idea of baby jaguars!

I went into the externship most excited to work with snow leopards, a species that I have always idolized and dreamed of working with. It was so rewarding to not only see these animals up close and personal, but contributing to their future successes in reproduction made me feel like I was truly making a difference. I have to say they were a lot fluffier then they even look, and I was in complete awe of their huge tail, which was both long and thick with fur. This experience truly made me fall in love snow leopards, making their way towards the top of my list when it comes to favorite animals. I was so lucky to get the chance to work with them, and have since heard and seen so many success stories in snow leopard breeding across the country, making my time with them just that much more memorable.

During this experience, I truly found a path in veterinary medicine that I am confident in and proud of pursuing. I learned so much about myself, my aspirations, and the veterinary community, and I feel like I gained such a higher appreciation for conservation medicine and all of the factors that go into to ensuring the safety of animals for generations to come. I also found such a great mentor in Dr. Vansandt, and she is someone I feel as though I can always turn to for career and professional advice, questions, and concerns. I look forward to staying in contact with her for the rest of my veterinary school experience and beyond.

I have always been interested in pursuing a career in zoological medicine, a field that I find intriguing and necessary for ensuring the protection of wildlife and educating people around the world. However, my interest in reproductive medicine/theriogenology has grown over the years, especially considering its impact on conservation. Growing up, conservation was always the number one factor I had on my mind when it came to my career, and knowing that I can tie my passion for both zoological medicine and reproduction brings me nothing but excitement. This externship allowed me to explore what a career in this field can look like, and how I can tie these two loves together in a practical and achievable way. My time at CREW also allowed me to grow my understanding of the impact and importance of research on conservation, highlighting how much I would like to incorporate it into my future career.

My best recommendations to students interested in pursuing a career in the wildlife/zoo field would be to take every opportunity you get and run with it. Whether it aligns with your career path or not, you never know how much an experience can influence your clinical skills, professionalism, or even your growth as an individual. I have experience in lab animal medicine, wildlife rehabilitation, and production animal medicine to name a few, all of which have shaped me into the person I am today. As a future vet, it is so important to value every animal, no matter how big or small, scaly or furry. Every animal, every experience and every moment matters when it comes to becoming your best self as a professional and individual, so that one day you can make valuable contributions to the field of veterinary medicine.

 

 

My name is Natalie Smith and I am in the class of 2027. I am originally from Youngstown, NY and I obtained my BS in Biomedical Science: Medical and Veterinary Sciences from the University of New Hampshire in May 2022. I am interested in pursuing a career in zoological/wildlife conservation medicine with a focus in theriogenology for conservation purposes. I also am very passionate about travel, so I would love to incorporate it in my future career. I am a huge proponent of mental health and love to share my experiences and advice for vet school via social media @natalie.vet !!

Winter Wonders during a Seneca Park Zoo Externship!

  By Rimsha Malik • February 18, 2024 ,

Choosing Seneca Park Zoo:

Being a Rochester native, Seneca Park Zoo, home to nearly 100 different species, has always been my home zoo. A couple of years ago, Dr. Chris McKinney, who had worked at the small animal GP my family pets see, transitioned from relief veterinarian to full-time zoo veterinarian. So, as a veterinary student very much interested in a career in zoo medicine, I reached out. And for the past couple of years, as my schedule allowed, I went in for a few days here and there to shadow. This past winter, my schedule finally opened up long enough to facilitate a ~3-week externship, and I took full advantage!

Typical Day:

Canada lynx receiving anesthetized physical exam and survey radiographs.

Each day at the zoo started off similarly enough – review the previous days’ keeper reports for all of the animals housed at the zoo, check in on hospitalized animals in the clinic (if there were any), and then check on any of the animals that had a problem (big or small) flagged in their reports.

Beyond that, there was no “typical day” – which for me, makes zoo medicine so appealing and such a unique challenge. A few days were spent working through planned procedures – an anesthetized full physical/radiographs on a Canada Lynx, annual exams for the Burmese pythons, etc. Others we’d find ourselves bouncing between exhibits as various questions/concerns from the keepers would arise throughout the day. Others yet, we would have a relatively quiet afternoon – allowing me to take full advantage of the veterinary library or review literature to update protocols in advance of the zoo’s AZA accreditation renewal this spring.

And while there was no typical day, the experience as a whole was reflective of what can be expected with a career in zoo medicine – a balance of paperwork/meetings, speaking with keepers, observing the animals, and the actual hands-on clinical work with the animals.

Olive baboon receiving laser therapy treatment

Favorite Memories:

Having learned so much and worked with so many incredible people and animals, it’s impossible to pare it down to one favorite memory or experience. From laser therapy on a baboon, to blood draws on a bearded dragon, to evaluating lameness on a gray wolf, I got to do and see so much. But, some of my personal highlights included the visits to the giraffe barn, working with the sea lions, and Loki (a domestic rat).

About 2 weeks before my externship, the zoo announced the birth of a giraffe calf. And then again, just 2 days before my externship, the zoo announced the birth of a second giraffe calf. And of course, while the calves were incredibly cute and a joy to observe, following Kipenzi’s case (one of the mothers) was particularly memorable. This past summer, Kipenzi was found to have a mass on her jaw that was biopsied and confirmed to be squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Kipenzi’s care includes scheduled radiographs to assess progression and the application of an immunostimulant as a chemotherapeutic.

Working with the sea lions was another highlight for me. During my externship, there was a flare-up in corneal pathologies. With the sea lions receiving such extensive training and already being conditioned to receive eye-drops daily, I got to have a more hands-on role in this case which was very rewarding. It also led to discussions between myself and the veterinary team on corneal management for sea lions – something we are hoping to potentially explore as a research study in the future.

Feeding/training session with California Sea lions in which we are also able to examine their eyes.

 

 

 

And lastly there is Loki the domestic rat – one of the few patients who didn’t quickly scurry away upon the veterinary team’s arrival. Loki had originally presented for a small mass on his cheek which was drained and debrided. We made several follow-up visits to assess his wound as it healed, and Loki, who liked to climb up our arms and perch on our shoulders during his re-checks, quickly became a favorite patient of mine.

Recommendations:

As cliche as it may sound, my biggest piece of advice is to take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way – be it small animal, large animal, exotics, or zoo! All of the zoo/wildlife veterinarians I’ve had the privilege of working with up to this point, have all emphasized the importance of having a good foundational knowledge in the domestic species. And even in my 3 short weeks at Seneca Park Zoo, I found this to be true – I was constantly relating management of species like wolves, giraffes, elephants, etc. back to that foundation of dog, cat, cow, and horse.

Final Thoughts:

I am so incredibly grateful to the amazing team at Seneca Park Zoo – Dr. Chis McKinney, technicians Robin and Tammy, and all of the keepers and curators I met. Everyone there was not only eager to teach and share their knowledge/experiences, but also incredibly supportive and encouraging. I’ve left this experience with so much new knowledge and many incredible memories that I will take with me as I continue to navigate my journey in zoo medicine.

 

Erin Guntrum, Class of 2025, is from Rochester, NY and received her B.S. in both Animal Behavior, Ecology, & Conservation (ABEC) and Biological Science from Canisius College (now Canisius University) in 2021. While at Cornell, Erin has been a student technician at the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital. She has also been a member of ZAWS, SAVMA, and the behavior and therio clubs. Erin hopes to pursue a career in zoological medicine and participate in research related to conservation, behavioral endocrinology, and theriogenology.

Baby Giraffes Galore! Great Adventures at Six Flags Wild Safari

  By Rimsha Malik • November 28, 2023 ,

Why did you choose to pursue this particular experience?

In the summer of 2020, I began working at Six Flags Great Adventure Wild Safari in Jackson, NJ, as a seasonal warden focusing specifically on the husbandry of various species in the safari park. The following summer, I participated in a pre-veterinary internship. Since entering vet school, I have continued to return home to the safari on holiday breaks. It felt only right that my last summer, prior to entering clinics, be spent at the place that has helped me discover my passion for zoological medicine and continues to challenge me to improve in the clinical skills, diagnostics techniques, and treatment methods involved in the field. 

What was a typical day like?

While participating in the veterinary internship, I was mainly responsible for the care of the animals that resided in the clinic and assisting the veterinary staff with procedures and treatments. A typical day began with bottle feeding and treating animals in the clinic followed by accompanying one of the vets on morning rounds of the park. After we rode through the safari, following up on patients and observing all the species within the park, each day was variable. This is the aspect of zoo medicine that has always been so appealing to me! Some days were booked with planned procedures and check-ins on species of all shapes and sizes. Others would start off calmly and the course of the day would change abruptly with reports of concerns out in the safari. Throughout the day, I would keep track of neonatal feeding schedules and monitoring critical cases that were in the clinic. I also played a role in teaching the pre-veterinary interns that were rotating through the clinic anatomic and physiologic concepts that will hopefully prepare them for their future goals of veterinary school. No matter which path the day took, each day would end with another drive through the safari and watching the elephants walk back to the barn.

What was your favorite memory from this experience? 

Each time I return to the safari, I love seeing animals that were hand-reared or patients in the clinic, doing well on exhibit. In the early winter of 2021, a young Roosevelt Elk was brought into the clinic with a severe infection in her hoof. While there for winter break, I had the opportunity to help hand-rear the elk and assist with chemical immobilizations, bandage changes, and radiographs of her distal limb. After a lengthy period of treatment, her condition began to improve. When returning this summer, I was excited to see how well she was doing as she began her reintroduction phase with other species in the American Section!

What species did you enjoy working with the most?

Nothing could top the giraffe calves born this summer! One in particular, Chich, was by far my favorite as I had the privilege of caring for the not–so-little-guy in the clinic. Being born at roughly 200lbs, Chich was having difficulty standing on his own, and needed additional care to help him get back on his feet! 

What were the outcomes of this experience?

Through interning in the safari, I have become more confident in all aspects of veterinary medicine. I developed essential clinical skills like venipuncture and injection administration, while also expanding upon skills, like darting, are more specific to zoo medicine. Improving upon evaluating diagnostics, specifically interpreting radiographs and blood work, was a goal I set for myself this summer, and through the guidance of my mentors I feel like I have made strides towards achieving that. The most valuable veterinary skill I feel I improved upon was my critical thinking, as my thoughts on every aspect of a case were always prompted before the next steps were pursued. This improved not only my thought process surrounding the pharmacology of chemical immobilization and treatment of disease immensely, but also allowed me to step back and consider factors like herd dynamics when it came to the methods that would be used for diagnostics and treatment. Overall, building the trust of my mentors to be more involved in the cases within safari, teaching the pre-veterinary interns, and beginning to write medical records, was a result of this internship that I was beyond grateful for. 

 

What are your goals in veterinary medicine? 

With ambitions to become a zoo veterinarian, this opportunity allowed me to experience what every day could look like within a zoo. After being exposed to field medicine in the safari setting, it has fine-tuned my goals to aspire to work in a safari setting. Intercommunication between a number of species over a vast landscape creates a whole different aspect of veterinary medicine that is scarcely found anywhere else. One must incorporat

e multi-herd dynamics, population medicine, and focus on the individual animal all under one umbrella, which excites me. With so many different paths open to pursue in veterinary medicine, being passionate about what you are doing and genuinely happy in a position is something that should never be compromised. After this internship, I have cemented that zoo medicine is where I am meant to be, and where I hope to find myself in the future.

What are your recommendations to students interested in the wildlife/zoo field?

I would advise those interested in the wildlife/zoo field to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way because you never know what doors that experience may open for you. Enter every new experience with an open mind and this will allow you to take away the most you can from each. Once you find what makes you happy, work hard and find a strong support system that you can rely on to help you remember why you love doing what you are doing if times get tough.

Erica Jackson, Class of 2025, is originally from Toms River, NJ and obtained her BS in Pre-Veterinary Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. While at Cornell, Erica was the President of the Zoo and Wildlife Society and a student technician in the Exotics Department of the CUHA. She also was a member of SAVMA, AABP, and enjoyed choreographing and dancing in the Dance Collective. Erica aspires to pursue zoological medicine in the future and is very appreciative of her mentors and advisor for helping her develop as a veterinary student and professional.