Page 24 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2023

Interventions in Wild Animal Health

trains vets in India

Dr Stuart Patterson, Associate Dean for Postgraduate Teaching and Learning

s soon as we left the crowds crime and forensic investigation, and wild founding member of the WHB, working
of Delhi behind and began to animal restraint and anaesthesia. The with colleagues at ZSL as early as 2009
zip south along the highway delegates were made up of local Indian to establish this programme.
towards Rajasthan, I could wildlife vets, CPD students from around The WHB vision is to achieve global
Aappreciate the developing the world, and MSc students from the capacity in highly trained wildlife health
infrastructure in India. This was my University of Edinburgh. Teaching was professionals in a synergised network.
second trip to the Sariska Palace tiger delivered by members of the Wildlife As well as this field course, member
reserve, helping to lead the Interventions Health Bridge (WHB), a collaboration institutions run their own courses, such
in Wild Animal Health (IWAH) field of institutions that have been working as our MScs in Wild Animal Health and
course, and it was fantastic to be back. together for over ten years. Wild Animal Biology, feeding into this
Whilst the road network had changed, This was the eighth annual iteration network of trained professionals.
as we approached the palace, it was of this course, all so far hosted at the
reassuring to see that the grandeur of Sariska in Rajasthan, India (barring online Our local hosts are always fantastically
the course’s setting remained the same. welcoming. Arriving at a tiger reserve
versions in 2021 and 2022), and I have
The 2023 IWAH field course got been involved in the organisation of four for the first time is always going to be a
big experience, but arriving to garlands,
underway on 16th February this year, of these on behalf of the RVC. cool drinks and local drums is something
with 21 participants from eight different The WHB is made up of staff from the else! It was great to see how quickly
countries arriving in Delhi. For over two Zoological Society of London (ZSL), participants from around the world
and a half weeks these veterinarians from University of Edinburgh, University of bonded, both with each other, and with
around the world would be receiving Melbourne, Wildlife Institute of India, and the tutors, more often than not, over
advanced training in wild animal ourselves at the RVC. During his time at cups of sweet chai! It wasn’t all hard
population monitoring, wildlife health the RVC, Professor Richard Kock was a work and learning. We were welcomed
and field disease investigation, wildlife

24