Zoo & Wildlife Vets' challenges

Did you know?

Below is a list of the six challenges zoo and wildlife veterinarians face every day.

Knowledge Gap

There is a gap in knowledge of disease development in zoo animals and wildlife. Zoo veterinarians base the treatment of diseases on experiences in similar domestic animals, like cats and dogs.

Stress Factors

Accessibility problems and animal stress factors make the delivery of medications extremely challenging.

Assessing Health

In-country circumstances limit assessing health and disease in free-ranging populations.

Animal Cooperation

Many animals will not cooperate with external devices of any sort.

Medicine Metabolization

Non-domestic species metabolize medicine very differently, and appropriate drug dosages are yet available or known.

Complicated Ecosystems

Diseases move through an ecosystem in a very complicated fashion.

Animals can't ask for help. That's why we're here.

The Wild Animal Health Fund advocates for endangered animals all around the world.