Role of Veterinarian in a Zoo

There is an important role of a veterinarian in a zoo. Health and Disease management are given utmost priorities by the zoo veterinarian in general.

Technical suggestions need to be offered with regard to the management of health and diseases in case of the captive wild animals belonging to various species.

Veterinarians in the zoos have multitasks in general. Director will be assisted in the fields of health and disease management effectively.

Healthcare of Newly Arrived Wild Animals

The newly arrived wild animals whether it is a herbivore or carnivore or omnivore has to be properly taken care of by taking the wild animal in a safe manner to the quarantine unit and the related health care measures may be carried out in a planned manner.

Clinical observation, sampling etc. may be carried out depending on the wild animal species under investigation.

Prophylaxis and Therapy

Prevention is given much emphasis in addition to the treatment of the sick wild animals. Due vaccination has to be carried out in order to prevent the occurrence of diseases in case of wild animals.

Periodical examination of wild animals has to be carried out in a systematic manner in order to find out any disease in the beginning stage itself. Surgeries have to be performed whenever required as the case with infighting incidences or breeding programmes.

Whenever wild animal becomes sick, he needs to give the right kind of therapy subsequent to the diagnosis of the case. Parasitic conditions need a special monitoring and therapy in all species of wild animals.

Postmortem

When animals die due to diseases or other reasons, post-mortem has to be carried out in a systematic manner. Post mortem is one of the important components that is to be taken with more care and cautions.

Veterinarians involving post mortem of wild animals should take care of the features related to the Zoonotic diseases in particular like anthrax or salmonellosis.

Hence, wearing coveralls and gloves in addition to the spectacles to protect the ocular regions are most significant features to be taken care of.

Feed and Meat Inspection

Spoiled feeds if found may be discarded. The meat received needs to be inspected in a systematic manner and the diseased ones if any have to be discarded.

Any nodular growths or worms affected regions may be discarded. Fish also needs to be inspected for the healthy status. Rotten fish if any has to be immediately discarded.

Translocation and Technical Assistance to the Zoo Personnel

If any animal is to be translocated, immobilization is to be carried out and safety of the wild animal under immobilization has to be ensured always to the possible extent.

Whenever any technical assistance is required, it has to be offered in a systematic manner with regard to the translocation.

Care has to be taken to avoid any type of wound or injury to the wild animal under transport during the translocation and similarly safety measures have to be carried out with regard to the immobilization.

Display of Wild Animals in Zoos

Wild animals are displayed in an informative manner to the visiting persons or public and followings are undertaken in general for the display of wild animals in zoo set up:

• Taxonomic arrangement (Non-human primates as first unit).
• Zoo geographical arrangement (wild animals of India and Australia or other country).
• Ethological arrangement (Common langurs and Chital in a group).
• Mixed species-exhibits (eg. Spotted deer and black bucks).
•  Miscellaneous arrangement.