Tag Archives: zoo medicine

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. 

Meet Dr. Matt Marinkovich – Our 17th Biannual Special Species Symposium Keynote Speaker!

  By Maison Scheuer • March 14, 2023

The Zoo and Wildlife Society (ZAWS) at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine is so excited to welcome Dr. Matt Marinkovich as the keynote speaker for the 17th biannual Special Species Symposium, the purpose for which is to foster students’ educational experience related to non-traditional species through a series of lectures and hands-on labs led by experts in the fields of wildlife, exotics, zoo, and conservation medicine. Dr. Marinkovich obtained his veterinary degree from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014, and once held a position on the ZAWS E-board planning the exact same symposium where he will now give his keynote address, “From LH2 to the San Diego Zoo: Lessons from a Journey into Zoo Medicine.”

One of the many aspects Dr. Marinkovich valued about his education at Cornell University was the depth and breadth. He acknowledged some students’ desire to specialize and narrow their education to non-traditional species but confirmed that so much more can come from a diverse education. In fact, Dr. Marinkovich confessed that he still frequently integrates knowledge that he gained during his fourth-year large animal internal medicine rotation into his treatment plans at the San Diego Zoo. “A diverse education not only offers ample opportunities to gain good doctoring skills, but it allows one the opportunity to fall in love with a field of study that perhaps was never considered prior to vet school.” Afterall, in zoological medicine, he states, “everything is applicable.”

Keeping an open mind has always been important to Dr. Marinkovich because, “you may become enamored by something you never knew you would.” In fact, Dr. Marinkovich was a natural history major in undergrad, and it was not until he obtained a job as a veterinary assistant that he fell in love with medicine. When asked about what motivated him to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, Dr. Marinkovich remembered being blown away by all the problem-solving veterinarians get to do on a daily basis. He also latched onto the idea that veterinary medicine would not only enable him to help animals, but the people who interact with them as well. From studying zoonotic disease, to counseling owners through a clinical case, Dr. Marinkovich enjoyed how much veterinary medicine would allow him to support human and animal welfare.

Although Dr. Marinkovich kept his options open throughout vet school, he always had a special interest for non-domestic species. He specifically had a passion for wildlife and conservation and following an opportunity to spend a summer with a pathologist at SeaWorld, he knew that zoological medicine was the career for him. The more exposure to exotic species that Dr. Marinkovich got, the more he realized he enjoyed the challenge of coming up with creative solutions to manage their health. Dr. Marinkovich also admired zoological medicine as a student because he recognized that it would provide a chance to stimulate a passion for conservation among his community while still managing chronic disease, as well as high-pace, high-intensity clinical cases.

While Dr. Marinkovich eventually obtained his dream job working as a Clinical Veterinarian at the San Diego Zoo, a place where his grandparents took him since he could walk, he wants to be transparent that his road to success was not a straight shot. He did not match with a zoo residency the first time he applied, which he acknowledged as part of his triumph. Instead of becoming discouraged, Dr. Marinkovich viewed this as an opportunity, one that he took to complete two internships at the Animal Medical Center, the world’s largest non-profit animal hospital. Through his rotating small animal internship, Dr. Marinkovich gained clinical experience and client communication skills that he still uses today. However, it was not until his second internship in emergency and critical care medicine that Dr. Marinkovich was pushed out of his comfort zone, where he admittedly learned and grew the most, and gained confidence in himself as a veterinarian. Through this high-pressure experience, with his feet to the fire, Dr. Marinkovich realized that he had what it would take to be a zoological veterinarian.

Excitingly, and with persistence, Dr. Marinkovich matched with the UC Davis San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Sea World Zoo Residency, an intense 3-year program offering clinical competency in exotic, zoo, aquatic, and wildlife medicine. During his first year, he spent a lot of time at the Sacramento Zoo and the Marine Mammal Center where he got to study lactate clearance in stranded pinnipeds. His second year was spent with some of the 12,000 rare and endangered species living within the 100-acre wildlife park at the San Diego Zoo, as well as the wide array of aquatic animals cared for by SeaWorld. During his third and final year, he used his cultivated knowledge to provide innovative, state of the art care for the magnificent animals at the San Diego Safari Park, including elephants, rhinos, and cheetahs.

After completing his residency, Dr. Marinkovich was pleased to stay at the San Diego Zoo working as a relief veterinarian. Then, much to his delight, he was offered a full-time position at the San Diego Zoo, where he expects to stay for life. Some may wonder how someone could be so willing to stay in the same work environment for so long, but no day is ever the same for Dr. Marinkovich at the San Diego Zoo. There are still times when he is presented with a new problem or a new species, offering an opportunity to learn something new every day. The constant intellectual stimulation offered by the San Diego Zoo is complemented by the excellent team of veterinarians who work there. When asked what he most enjoys about his job, Dr. Marinkovich mentioned the inspiring group of veterinary professionals that he gets to work with every day who support one another’s growth and wellbeing. Furthermore, he appreciates how interdisciplinary and collaborative the efforts of the San Diego Zoo are, recalling a time when the veterinary team worked closely with human doctors to resolve a complicated renal abscess on an older beloved orangutan.

 

Another aspect of the San Diego Zoo that Dr. Marinkovich greatly appreciates is the myriad opportunities to get involved with conservation initiatives. He has been all over the world, investing time and energy towards making it a more sustainable place to live, for both humans and animals. The San Diego Zoo has 8 different conservation hubs located throughout the world that share responsibilities such as disease investigation, biodiversity banking, and recovery ecology. In an uplifting effort through a captive breeding and release program designed by the San Diego Zoo, Dr. Marinkovich and his team are helping save the San Clemente loggerhead shrike, an endangered passerine bird. Dr. Marinkovich tells readers to stay tuned for more exciting conservation stories offered during his keynote address at the Special Species Symposium!

Dr. Marinkovich is thrilled to come back to Cornell University and looks forward to seeing how it has changed since graduating in 2014. He is really looking forward to reconnecting with his vet school mentors, namely Dr. Noha Abou-Madi and Dr. Karen Kerns, who both play such an important role in the lives of students interested in pursuing zoological medicine. But, perhaps most notably, Dr. Marinkovich is eager to interact with vet students who share his drive to make a difference in the world through the lens of veterinary medicine. It was not that long ago that Dr. Marinkovich was an aspiring zoo vet like many of us, so he recognizes the stress and hard work that goes into actualizing that dream. Through his lecture, he hopes to convey excitement, ambition, and peace of mind, being a huge proponent for mental health in veterinary medicine. I felt so inspired by Dr. Marinkovich in just the short while I got to spend interviewing him for the WildLIFE Blog, an interaction I consider myself lucky to have had. Be sure to register for the 17th biannual Special Species Symposium so that you can relish in his journey towards becoming a Clinical Veterinarian at the San Diego Zoo, a story that will fill you with admiration, motivation, and awe.

 

 

Maison Scheuer is the 2022-2023 WildLIFE Blog Editor and a proud member of Cornell ZAWS. Her passions lie at the intersection of veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation. She loves to travel and has spent time in Canada, Thailand, Alabama, Belize, and Honduras where she studied Columbian ground squirrels, elephant conservation, wildlife rehabilitation, and veterinary medicine. Though particularly interested in One Health and international medicine, she has also discovered a love for small animal medicine through her experience working as a veterinary technician at a full-service exotics and small animal private practice.

The Daphne Diaries: Reflecting on my Externship at the Abilene Zoo

  By Colleen Sorge • February 13, 2023

 

 Macho the black rhino greets his adoring fans before undergoing routine venipuncture.

My experience as a first-year vet student in 2020 was largely shaped by the pandemic and the many limitations it imposed. When I first learned about the Abilene Zoo in April 2021, it was through a Cornell Zoo and Wildlife Society (ZAWS) lecture given by Dr. Stephanie Carle, the Abilene Zoo’s senior veterinarian, over Zoom. Spending my lunch hour puzzling through case-based questions with my classmates (albeit virtually) offered a glimpse into the many opportunities available to us as veterinary students—something I had lost sight of somewhat amid the organized chaos of first year. Dr. Carle concluded her talk by discussing the Abilene Zoo’s veterinary externship program. Immediately, I had my sights set on participating in the program.

 

I had my chance in June 2022 when, funded by a Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) Veterinary Experience Grant, I traveled to Abilene, Texas for a three-week externship. It was an adventure over a year in the making, and despite how high I had allowed my expectations to climb in that time, the experience managed to exceed them.

 Daphne enjoys her morning feeding!

The Abilene Zoo is home to over 280 species. The first resident I met upon my arrival was also one of the zoo’s newer residents. Daphne is a giant anteater who was born at the zoo in March of 2022 and, upon my arrival, was living in the clinic to receive round the clock care from the zoo’s veterinary and animal care staff. Daphne is a twin, and her mother was unable to care for both Daphne and her twin brother Arnaud. With input from zoos across the country, the Abilene Zoo was able to craft a customized care plan for Daphne that allowed her to gain weight and overcome a myriad of complications so that by the time I met her, she was thriving.

During my time at the zoo, I had the opportunity to bottle feed Daphne and to accompany her on her excursions to see the zoo and interact with her anteater family members. As I told Daphne during one of her late-night bottle feedings, I am also a twin and, unlike my sister, I spent an extended period in the hospital as a baby. I thought Daphne might appreciate that we were kindred spirits. (Her expression remained pretty neutral, so it’s hard to say if the point hit home. Perhaps I saw the corner of her long snout pull up in a smile.)

 One of the zoo’s resident roadrunners undergoes a pre-shipment exam.

While I spent lots of time with Daphne, I also had opportunities to interact with many of the zoo’s species. Highlights of my experience included assisting with a pre-shipment exam for a roadrunner, helping to treat pododermatitis in one of the zoo’s resident flamingoes, participating in a neonatal exam of a steenbok, and medicating a capybara with conjunctivitis.

Other favorite opportunities included monitoring Jamie, a heavily pregnant giraffe in the zoo’s herd, and examining Rico, a fossa hospitalized after fracturing his humeral condyle. I was ultimately able to travel with a team from the zoo to Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center to observe Rico’s orthopedic surgery.

When I wasn’t seeing cases in the hospital with Dr. Carle and Dr. Mike Nance, the zoo’s second veterinarian, I was able to explore the zoo and gained a better understanding of the husbandry practices used by zoo staff to keep the collection animals healthy and happy. I was also able to participate in events hosted by the zoo, including Dreamnight, a cost-free event allowing children with special medical needs to enjoy the zoo with their families. This allowed me to feel at home in Abilene.

 Rico the fossa receives a physical exam after sustaining an orthopedic injury.

The Abilene Zoo is also home to a clinic exclusively for injured and orphaned native birds. While I worried that my bird experience was somewhat deficient when I arrived in Abilene, during my externship I was able to practice my diagnostic and clinical skills while also improving my native bird identification skills. I didn’t expect to enjoy my work in the rehabilitation center as much as I did. However, working towards returning wild birds to their habitats, thereby giving them a second chance and helping to support their ecosystems, was incredibly rewarding.

When I wasn’t at the zoo, I was grateful to be able to accompany Dr. Carle and Dr. Nance as they fulfilled their other professional obligations. During my three weeks, their enthusiasm for teaching and fielding questions never waned. I visited the Abilene Animal Services Adoption Center to complete evaluations of new small animal residents, and also joined Dr. Carle during her shifts at the local emergency clinic. There, I saw cases I likely wouldn’t have encountered in the northeast, including advanced heartworm disease and rattlesnake envenomation.

 A neonatal steenbok undergoes her first exam.

I gained a great deal of knowledge from participating in the journal group at the zoo and working through sample cases with the veterinary team. I was able to live at the zoo throughout my externship, so my down time was spent conducting research and preparing a presentation I gave at the close of the externship on nutritional care for zoo animals.

 

I am tremendously thankful for all of the people and animals I met and learned from while in Abilene. I left this externship armed with new knowledge and skills, photos to cherish, mentors to look up to, and a newfound appreciation for Texas cuisine.

 More bonding time with Daphne!

Colleen Sorge, Class of 2024, is a Cornell DVM student from Long Island, NY. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Animal Science from Cornell University in 2020. She has a wide range of interests within the veterinary field, including both small animal and wildlife medicine.

Guidance from Graduates: Dr. Matt Marinkovich (DVM ‘14)

  By Colleen Sorge • February 21, 2022 Uncategorized

Dr. Matt Marinkovich always had a passion for wildlife but was initially unsure as to what career path might suit him best. “I always knew I wanted to do something with wildlife or something conservation related, but it took a little while to find what that niche was, whether PhD or vet school. I had a couple experiences at SeaWorld San Diego when I was in undergrad and at the National History Museum in Santa Barbara working with the Marine Mammal Stranding Network that led me to really feel like veterinary medicine was the route to go.” After taking 3 gap years, he began his time at Cornell Vet, going on to complete his DVM in 2014.

Dr. Marinkovich is quick to acknowledge the role that Cornell played in his success, recalling formative moments like an Expanding Horizons experience with the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project and praising the faculty he worked with as a student. “You have people there who are really quality professors, but also really quality people and really good mentors. I think I learned a ton from them both from an academic standpoint and also what it means to be a good clinician.” His experiences at Cornell have largely shaped his approach to clinical practice. “There’s still a million things that I don’t know. I’m still surprised every day and challenged every day which is one of the reasons I love wildlife medicine. But in vet school you really develop that approach to cases and that approach to working with others and being part of a team.” Asked what Cornell courses he suggests, Dr. Marinkovich recommends casting a wide net. “The nice part about being a student interested in zoo or wildlife is that everything is applicable. There’s no class and no species that isn’t applicable to your potential future profession. I just tried to soak up as much as I could and be a sponge as much as I could.”

After graduation from vet school, Dr. Marinkovich completed rotating small animal and emergency and critical care specialty internships, both at the Animal Medical Center, before matching with the UC Davis San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Sea World Zoo Residency. After completing his residency in 2019, he began his current position working as a clinical veterinarian at the San Diego Zoo. The work is just as exciting as it sounds! “My dream was to end up at a place like San Diego Zoo, which has a very high-volume clinical case load. We have tons of animals and we provide very high level care to all of the wildlife in our care.” A highlight of the position, he says, is the ability to apply teamwork to particularly challenging cases, as the zoo currently has six veterinarians, a fellow, and a resident. While the medical care of the zoo’s animals takes up the bulk of his time, Dr. Marinkovich also has the opportunity to help support international conservation efforts. “The San Diego Zoo is very involved with Hawaiian forest bird conservation and we have facilities in Maui and the Big Island. I’ve been out there several times to provide medical treatment for the animals in our care out there. I went to Madagascar when I was a resident to help provide emergent medical care to tortoises from a recent confiscation.” Today his favorite cases are usually the ones that demand the most time, facilitating a personal connection. Dr. Marinkovich recalls treating a ring-tailed lemur as a resident and the fulfillment he felt nursing the individual back to health. “That’s an animal that I’ll still go and visit at the zoo years later.” On another occasion, he worked alongside radiologists and human respiratory specialists to diagnose and treat bronchomalacia in an adult male orangutan. “Cases like that where we’re alerted to a problem, we diagnose the source of the problem, and we develop novel ways to fix that problem, especially in a species that is important to us and the greater conservation world are really exciting and really valuable.” 

While well aware that the field of zoological medicine is competitive, Dr. Marinkovich has a refreshing viewpoint. “I think really just focusing on becoming the best vet you can be is the number one step. I think what we look for in terms of a good resident is someone who has a really good foundation in veterinary medicine, and that involves all species. The next time you have to help pull a calf, it may be an exotic bovid rather than a dairy cow.” His perspective, he says, is largely informed by his respect for mental health. “I’m a huge proponent of mental health and being happy with what you’re doing and enjoying each step of the journey. I think you need to take each step and try to get the most out of each experience for what it is. It’s great if zoo residency or working a zoo job works out, but if not, being a vet is an awesome job and you still have that to be fulfilled by. You have to try to not let the quest for that elusive zoo resident position to be the end all and be all of what it means to be fulfilled in this field. Developing your skill sets, really focusing on your own mental health, and who you are as a vet and as a person is going to set you up for success.” 

Regardless of one’s exact career trajectory, Dr. Marinkovich emphasizes the abundant opportunities to contribute to conservation and the health of wildlife species. “There are so many really interesting and fulfilling ways to be a veterinarian involved with wildlife and conservation. A lot of those opportunities may not have all been fully explored or fleshed out yet, so the sky’s the limit if you are passionate about something. I think our field will be better off because of that. There is an increasing need for people who have a skill set and a passion for the world around them and the wildlife that’s in it. It is a daunting time for people who are passionate about wildlife, but there are a lot of opportunities to find your niche and the way that you are going to make your mark.”  

 

Colleen Sorge, Class of 2024, is originally from Long Island, NY. She graduated with a B.S. in Animal Science and a minor in English from Cornell University. She often finds herself missing her humanities courses in vet school and is thrilled she can combine her passions for writing and for veterinary medicine as the WildLIFE Blog Editor.

An UnBELIZEable Experience

  By Laci Taylor • July 31, 2019

Laci examines an anesthetized jaguar prior to a procedure

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 between 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. 

Laci feeds a tapir at the Belize Zoo

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, 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 versus 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! 

Xunantunich, a cultural site in Belize

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 archaeological 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!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laci Taylor, class of 2022, is a DVM student at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is interested in wildlife and aquatic medicine and hopes to make a global impact as a wildlife veterinarian. Laci hopes to promote biodiversity through rehabilitation and conservation – fields that serve as pathways for understanding many pertinent issues today from the transmission of zoonotic diseases which affect public health, to restoring endangered species.