Course overview
The core course will provide DVM 2 students with the opportunity to learn about clinical wildlife practice and some aspects of zoo and exotic pet practice. Furthermore, students will learn about the principles of wildlife population management and health, one health and biodiversity and ecosystem health. Course content will consist of interactive lectures, tutorials, practicals and a field trip. Assessment will comprise quizzes, group assignments and a final examination. At the end of the course, students will acquire day one veterinary competences and have a broader understanding on the biodiversity conservation issues we face in society and how they veterinarians can contribute to the conservation of biodiversity.
Course learning outcomes
- Describe the veterinary management (preventative programs, husbandry, medicine and pathology) of native mammals, native birds, native herpetofauna, exotic pet practice, ornamental fish and zoo animals.
- Describe the principles of wildlife management, conservation medicine/ecohealth, biodiversity health, ecosystem health and one health.
- Describe the threats to wildlife health, biodiversity health and ecosystem health and mechanisms and tools to reverse these threats and support the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem health.
- Recognise wildlife disease as a threat to conservation, how environmental changes can affect the emergence of disease and describe the effects of significant emerging infectious diseases on wildlife health, biodiversity health and ecosystem health.
- Critically appraise a topic relevant to conservation medicine and present to an audience and review a wildlife species health program and present to an audience.