Vets and conservation: helping to restore the balance (Via Herp Digest)

Vets and conservation: helping to restore the balance
Joseph Flanagan explains how vets are contributing to a unique conservation project in the Galapagos Islands.
Downloaded from veterinaryrecord.bmj.com on January 21, 2011 - Published by group.bmj.com
Joseph P. Flanagan, DVM, Director of Veterinary Services, Houston Zoo, 1513 Cambridge Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA e-mail: jflanagan@houstonzoo.org

AN ecosystem can be considered to be analogous to a living organism: each species in that ecosystem being analogous to the organs of a body, with the health of the whole dependent upon the health of each of the constituent parts.

Island ecosystems tend to be relatively simple, having relatively few species when compared to larger land masses or continents. Loss of one species or the introduction of others can have a rapid, dramatic impact on other species in the habitat and can cause the ecosystem itself to fail or die. While remnant populations of native species may still exist, they are at different population levels and their interspecies interactions, and impacts on the environment, might be changed.

Wildlife veterinarians can play key roles in the conservation of biodiversity and the restoration of balance in an ecosystem. One typically would think that the role played by veterinarians would be to enhance wildlife production, diagnose disease problems, treat diseased or injured animals, or provide anaesthesia or chemical restraint for translocation of animals. However, as illustrated of this issue (Knafo and others 2011), they can also contribute in other ways; the paper describes how, in a unique situation, the sterilisation of giant tortoises is contributing to the restoration of a natural state on the small island of Pinta in the Galapagos archipelago.

In December 2008, the Galapagos National Park Service asked us about the possibility of sterilising giant tortoises. Could it be done? If possible, what would be needed, and when could it happen?

Each of the islands in the Galapagos is a unique ecosystem. While there are many animal and plant species that are common to many of the islands, each island has a unique combination of plants and animals, unique geology, terrain, weather, and, especially, a unique degree of impact from human degradation. Humans have exploited the islands for nearly 500 years, harvesting wildlife - sometimes to extinction, and introducing domestic animals and pest species such as rodents, but also invertebrates and plants.

Restoration of the island of Pinta was nearly complete. Introduced goats had been eradicated and native vegetation, grazed to near extinction by over 40,000 feral goats, was returning with thick, herbaceous and woody growth. Other native wildlife species were still present. The only key species that was missing was the giant tortoise. Tortoises were harvested by whalers and pirates in the 18th and 19th centuries as a source of fresh meat for use during their long months at sea. Giant tortoises on Pinta were thought to be extinct for most of the last 100 years until a single animal 'Lonesome George' was found there in 1971. George was removed to the Charles Darwin Research Station in 1972 amid hopes a mate might be found, and the pair could breed, resulting in repopulation of the island with a species of tortoise found nowhere else on Earth. Despite worldwide efforts to locate tortoises with 'Pinta' genes, no mate for George has been found.

The problem on Pinta Island was that, with no herbivore, surviving vegetation was growing unchecked. There was no disturbance, no large seed disperser, and no cropping of lush growth. What should be a mosaic of grassland pampas, scrub and desert vegetation was becoming a woodland with a canopy of vegetation not conducive to the survival and well being of the other species of wildlife present on Pinta. Pinta Island needed a large herbivore, a giant tortoise. The 'native' species or a suitable alternative was not yet available. Introduction of another species as surrogate may one day occur, but a 'habitat engineer' was needed immediately to maintain biodiversity.

The Galapagos National Park Service has maintained a herd of giant tortoises, which was produced in the early years of its tortoise captive propagation programme. These animals had no known ancestry when hatched, but are now recognised as hybrids between species of tortoises found on the different islands in Galapagos. These animals have no 'home island' where they could be released. If sterilised, however, they could be used to help restore the habitat on Pinta, while the search for the most appropriate pure species of tortoise continues. The hybrid tortoises ranged in size from 20 to 100 kg and there were both male and female tortoises in the group.

Veterinarians sterilise a giant tortoise ahead of its release on to Pinta Island in the Galapagos archipelago and discomfort to the animal. Castration or vasectomy would have required an intracoelomic procedure utilising general anaesthesia and a much greater risk of complications. In addition, the procedure developed and performed can be done in the future by local veterinarians without elaborate equipment or advanced surgical skills.

Planning and logistics had to account for performing up to 50 surgeries in one week. A veterinary team, endoscopic surgical equipment, supplies, and medications all had to be brought in. A surgical 'suite' had

Elective sterilisation in chelonians is not routinely performed. Surgery of the chelonian reproductive tract is normally performed when there is a health problem such as retained ova in females, or prolapsed phallus in males. In these cases, surgery is generally performed to salvage the life of the patient. There are a number of procedures that can be done to render tortoises reproductively sterile. Males can be castrated, vasectomised, or their phallus can be amputated (the phallus is used for copulation, but does not play a role in the elimination of urinary waste). Females can be ovariectomised or hysterectomised. The goal was that both sexes would be rendered infertile, so there would be no chance of genetic contamination if a pure species from another island is one day introduced to the island.

Ultimately, the decision to perform endoscope-assisted ovariectomy was made because it could be performed through the limited access of the prefemoral fossa. A small incision and minimal tissue handling would result in rapid healing and minimal discomfort to the animal (Knafo and others 2011). Males were sterilised by amputation of the phallus (Rivera and others 2011). The procedure could be done utilising intrathecal anaesthesia, resulting in minimal risk

to be established, and housing identified for postoperative monitoring and recovery. Contingencies for managing emergencies or adverse response to anaesthesia, and aftercare of the patients were necessary. Most importantly, the team had to be able to adapt their skills to solve unique problems and achieve their goals. Surgeries were performed during November 2009.

After recovery, the tortoises were monitored for complications. General health was determined through individual physical examination, haematology and serum chemistry assays, and faecal examinations. Their intestinal tracts had to be free of seeds from any vegetation they consumed before transport to Pinta, so they had to be fed a seed-free herbaceous diet for two months before release. Finally, to prevent the introduction of parasites or other disease-causing agents, the animals had to be screened and prophylactically treated for enteric nematodes before being transported to their release site. Thirty-nine tortoises travelled by boat to Pinta Island in May 2010 to play their part in restoring the balance of nature in this remote part of the world.

Veterinarians skilled in reptile medicine and surgery were critical to the success of this project. The release site was selected based on knowledge of historical habitat used by tortoises on the island. Post-release monitoring of the tortoises is being performed to assess their impact on the environment and to monitor their interactions with other species on the island.

References
KNAFO, S. E., DIVERS, S. J., RIVERA, S., CAyOT, L. J., TAPIA-AGUILERA, W. & FLANAGAN, J. (2011) Sterilisation of hybrid Galapagos tortoises (Geochelone nigra) for island restoration. Part 1: endoscopic oophorectomy of females under ketamine-medetomidine anaesthesia. Veterinary Record doi: 10.1136/vr.c6520
RIVERA, S., DIVERS, S. J., KNAFO, S. E., MARTINEZ, P., CAyOT, L. J., TAPIA-AGUILERA, W. & FLANAGAN, J. (2011) Sterilisation of hybrid Galapagos tortoises (Geochelone nigra) for island restoration. Part 2: phallectomy of males under intrathecal anaesthe- sia with lidocaine. Veterinary Record doi: 10.1136/vr.c6361

Veterinarians Find Infections Faster by Monitoring Blood Compound; Blood Test for Dogs Could Lead to Similar Human Test

ScienceDaily (Dec. 5, 2011) — In pets and people, the time it takes to diagnose an infection may mean life or death. Now, a University of Missouri veterinarian is identifying ways to diagnose pet infections in approximately a third of the current diagnosis time. The resulting test could be used eventually for humans.


"Infections can be difficult to diagnose, and many veterinarians have to send samples to a lab and wait three days or more as the lab attempts to grow a culture," said Amy DeClue, assistant professor of veterinary internal medicine in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine. "Meanwhile, the infection continues to spread each day that veterinarians wait on lab results, which is detrimental to the patient. In extreme infections, called sepsis, more than half of patients die. My group has been evaluating different blood biomarkers that could give a quick and accurate indication of infection, and we believe we've found a biomarker that will only require a simple blood test."


DeClue and her colleagues found that measuring the amount of the blood biomarker N-terminal portion of pro C-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pCNP) is a good indication of infection, and the same is true in humans. Working with collaborators at Veterinary Diagnostics Institute, DeClue hopes to develop a portable bedside test that veterinarians could use to quickly test patients for infection and ultimately target a better cure.

"In animal and human medicine, one goal is to reduce the amount of antibiotics used in treatment, to reduce bacterial resistance to antibiotics," DeClue said. "If successful, future tests could help veterinarians tailor treatment to the specific problem and reduce antibiotic use."

"The systems in dogs and people are very applicable to each other, so whatever biomarkers we find in dogs could also benefit people," DeClue said.

DeClue has tested several biomarkers for infection in dogs. "Evaluation of serum NT-pCNP as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for sepsis in dogs" was published in the May-June issue of the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine and "Plasma nitrate/nitrite concentrations in dogs with naturally developing sepsis and non-infectious forms of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome," was published in the November issue of the journal Veterinary Record. Co-authors include Kara Osterbur, a graduate student and emergency and critical care resident in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205140603.htm

Zoo vet makes house calls for sick turtles (Via Herp Digest)

Zoo vet makes house calls for sick turtles

by ALLAN TURNER, HOUSTON CHRONICLE

August 26, 2011



GALVESTON - Eighteen years ago, a lunch plate-sized female Kemp's ridley sea turtle - one of thousands hatched and nurtured to save the species from extinction - was released off Galveston Island. This May, the turtle, weighing about 100 pounds and laden with dozens of eggs, returned to nest near Jamaica Beach.



It should have been a victorious return, an indication that the endangered species, reduced to only 300 known breeding females in 1985, was making a comeback. But this return was no success.

A boat's propeller had cleaved a 100-square-inch segment from the animal's shell, shattering much of what remained. Bleeding, oozing, its mangled rear quarters resembling hamburger meat, the turtle that would be designated LNH110528-01 seemed destined to die.



Discovered by a beachcomber, the animal was taken to the National Marine Fisheries Service's Galveston turtle hospital and a frantic call was placed to Dr. Joe Flanagan, veterinary chief at the Houston Zoo.

When it comes to sick or injured turtles, Flanagan, 53, is the region's go-to doc, a gray-haired, avuncular Dr. Oz, Marcus Welby and Dr. Ruth rolled into one. Ben Higgins, manager of the fishery service's sea turtle program, calls Flanagan's volunteer work key to his hospital's success.

"We can't afford a veterinarian," he says.



Up to 45 turtles a year - victims of infections, propellers or fishhooks - come under Flanagan's care. Most are treated at the Houston Zoo, where he oversees the 17-member team charged with caring for the facility's 6,000 animals.



Those requiring long-term care are kept in tanks at the Galveston hospital, an unfunded sideline of the federal program to test strategies to save turtles from commercial fishing operations.

Armed with a sophisticated pharmaceutical arsenal and skilled at delicate surgical maneuvers accomplished through tissues outside the shell, Flanagan modestly plays down his role in turtle health.

"Turtles," he says, "will survive."



Flanagan, a Nebraska native who took his veterinary training at Iowa State University, professes a fascination with turtles that dates to his childhood.



"They occur all over the world, from oceans to deserts. They all hatch from eggs, but some in less than two months and others in 18. The come in all sizes. Some fit in the palm of your hand, some are 6 to 8 feet. . They're just neat to look at."



This week, Flanagan's hospitalized patients included tiny hawksbill turtles whose flippers were severed by fibers of nylon bags in which they'd become entangled; a turtle that suffered bleeding after a fishhook was extracted from its neck; loggerhead hatchlings that inexplicably stopped eating; and LNH110528-01, which was to be examined for possible release.

Touch-and-go



The fate of the stranded ridley was touch-and-go after she was discovered May 28 while attempting to dig nest holes near Jamaica Beach. A boat's propeller had sliced away much of her shell, exposing muscle, fat and connective tissue.



"It was certain that a person couldn't go through that surgically without worry of totally contaminating the abdominal cavity," Flanagan says.



An ultrasound showed she was filled with eggs. Flanagan administered oxytocin, medication to induce laying, obtaining 68 eggs, most of which hatched. Systemic anti­biotics were given, but the situation remained grim.



The turtle refused to eat, either because she was suffering intense pain or because other eggs remained in her body. X-rays showed she still carried more than a dozen eggs.



A "living tag" on the turtle's shell revealed it had been one of the ridleys hatched in a discontinued Galveston breeding program in 1993. Flanagan, who had worked as a volunteer in that program, feels a special tie to the injured animal. Recalling her fate "almost brought tears to my eyes."



In mid-July, broken shells were found in her tank. More oxytocin was given and the rest of the eggs expelled. At that point, the patient's health and prognosis improved. The open wounds have sealed and toughened.



Not quite ready to go



Although a final decision has not been made, it appears after Flanagan's examination of the turtle that the ridley is not ready to be released.



Protective bone eventually will grow beneath the damaged shell, but that process could take a year. Fractured parts of the remaining shell could be reinforced with braces, but there's no guarantee the patch would last.



"If we release her as she is," Flanagan says, "she never will heal."

Bill mandates 'fixing' of cats, dogs before sale

By Rob Shikina

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Apr 17, 2011

State lawmakers are looking at a bill that would require pet retailers in Hawaii to sterilize all cats and dogs before selling them.

Passing such a law would lessen the suffering of feral cats because of overpopulation and reduce the number of animals euthanized in shelters, said Inga Gibson, state director of the Humane Society of the United States. Many feral cats are the offspring of abandoned house cats that haven't been sterilized, she added.

House Bill 243 notes that an unsterilized female cat can give birth to two litters a year, which, extrapolated over seven years, could lead to 400,000 cats.

Feral cat colonies continue to grow despite various efforts to control the cat population, and the pressures of overpopulation lead to starvation of the weakest and the spread of disease and mange, a form of animal cruelty when uncontrolled, the bill says.

"It's a tremendous issue," Gibson said. "We have a large feral cat issue throughout the state. One of the contributing factors is the sale of unsterilized cats."

Feral cats are also a threat to Hawaii's endangered birds, according to the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

The bill is just one version of animal cruelty legislation that is heading to a conference committee to work out differences between House and Senate versions.

State laws mandating the spaying or neutering of dogs or cats appear to be rare. At least one state, Rhode Island, mandates it if the animals are released from a shelter. Some counties on the mainland, however, completely ban the sale of cats or dogs, while a Los Angeles ordinance from 2008 requires pet owners to sterilize their dogs or cats by the age of 4 months.

Despite the large feral cat population, the Humane Society opposes euthanasia and supports managed cat colonies for unsocialized cats, where a caretaker will get the animals sterilized, microchipped, vaccinated, fed and looked after.

"It's not an easy life for a cat that's not part of a managed colony," Gibson said.

Theresa Donnelly, who breeds boxers and is secretary of the Boxer Club of Hawaii, said the bill wouldn't affect purebred dogs because hobby breeders usually sell person to person, which is not regulated by the bill.

"Any reputable breeder would never sell to a pet store anyway," she said. Hobby breeders want to meet potential owners to make sure their dogs will have a safe home and possibly establish a relationship with the new owners to promote ethical breeding, she said. "People who want to breed animals should be mentored."

Tish Rothwell, owner of the Pet Depot in Ewa Beach, said her business has been fixing cats before adopting them out ever since hundreds of animals were rescued from a Waianae no-kill shelter when the owner died in July 2009.

After the rescue, shelters were full and couldn't take animals from people who were trying to give up their pets. Rather than see cats euthanized in shelters, Rothwell's store took the animals and sterilized them before adopting them out for a fee that covered medical costs.

"We want to be responsible and keep that out-of-control cat population down," Rothwell said.

However, she has concerns about mandating the fixing of dogs. They recover slower than cats after being spayed or neutered and require more care, raising the cost of the animals.

Brent Chung, manager of Kalihi Pet Center, said some customers may not mind if the bill becomes law, but pet stores may require breeders to have dogs fixed before selling them to the retailer, reducing the supply of dogs in stores. He said some veterinarians are backlogged and the dogs may be months old by the time an animal can be sterilized, frustrating customers that want dogs as young as 6 weeks old that are easier to train. He suspected the bill could also boost sales of unsterilized dogs outside of stores. "They'll beat the system, no matter what," he said.

The bill has an effective date of January.

Honolulu Star Advertiser: http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20110417__Bill_mandates_fixing_of_cats_dogs_before_sale.html

Polar bear Mercedes put to sleep

15 April 201

Mercedes the polar bear has been "put to sleep" after a "recent rapid deterioration in her welfare", the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has announced.

The 30-year-old female bear was moved from Edinburgh Zoo to a new, larger enclosure at the Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore two years ago.

She had been suffering severe arthritis which was treated with painkillers.

The RZSS said it was "with great sadness" that it announced the death.

Mercedes was captured after being rescued from being shot in Canada in 1984 and added to the animal collection at Edinburgh Zoo.

She was relocated to the park at Kincraig in 2009.

During her 25 years in Edinburgh, Mercedes reared two cubs, both sired by her partner Barney, who was born at Whipsnade Zoo.

After the death of Barney in 1996, Mercedes lived by herself at Edinburgh Zoo until she moved to the Highland Wildlife Park in 2009.

A two-year-old male polar bear called Walker was introduced to Mercedes's enclosure in November 2010.

However, an ageing Mercedes was not happy to play with a young cub.

Rapid downturn

A statement from the RZSS, which runs Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park, said: "More recently we noted a marked and rapid downturn in her behaviour and her demeanour, and she appeared to be ageing very rapidly and possibly showing signs of senility.

"We had been keeping her separate from the male bear so as to avoid any possibility of him causing her to move more than she wanted to.

"Recently, all of the individuals responsible for her care sadly concluded that our only remaining option was to put her to sleep on age and health grounds."

Simon Girling, RZSS head of veterinary services, said: "We have been monitoring Mercedes's condition for some time now and have tried a number of different therapies for her advanced arthritis, which we were having some success with.

"However, even on medication, Mercedes has now taken a significant turn for the worse in terms of her mobility and is also showing signs of mental confusion.

"This deterioration in her welfare has prompted us to step in and humanely euthanase her."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-13094316

Lake legend spawns mystery creature

Members of a rescue team stand around a giant freshwater turtle after successfully
capturing it in Hanoi's Hoan Kiem Lake last Sunday (April 3). The state established
a team of animal experts, veterinarians and conservation workers to capture the rare
turtle and administer treatment.

Last updated: 4/7/2011 8:00

Experts pooh-pooh claims of another animal spotted in Hoan Kiem Lake

Controversy has given way to mystery following the capture of the turtle with legendary status in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake last Sunday.

It is said that while they were trying to capture the ailing turtle, workers spotted another giant creature surface several times, but foreign experts have expressed strong skepticism about the possibility, calling it “wishful thinking.”

As medical treatment gets underway for the captured turtle, scientists say the only hope of sustaining the species – and the legend – is to have a male turtle in another lake west of Hanoi be taken to China where it can mate with the only female alive.

Most experts believe the Hoan Kiem turtle belongs to a species called Rafetus swinhoei - of which only four members are believed to be left in the world. One lives in the Dong Mo Lake in the west of Hanoi, while two others are being raised in captivity in China.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Ngoc Khoi, general director of KAT, a local company hired to capture the Hoan Kiem turtle, told the media this week that his workers had seen another giant creature surfacing at different places.

“Thinking that there is another [giant turtle] in the lake is just wishful thinking,” said Douglas Hendrie, an American technical advisor from Education for Nature - Vietnam (ENV), the country’s largest conservation group. “Some people may want to believe so badly that there is another… in the lake, that they actually convince themselves there is.”

“If there is another animal there [in Hoan Kiem Lake], my first question is: how did it get in the lake?” said Timothy McCormack, a coordinator with the Asian Turtle Program. McCormack said that the turtle rescued last Sunday has been photographed for a number of years and it is quite easy to distinguish it because of many injuries found on its head, legs, and elsewhere.

“If there is a new animal in there, I find it very hard to believe it has been hiding for ten, twenty or forty years and just shows itself now. It is more likely that [it] was just recently put in the lake.”

Under treatment

Last Sunday, it took at least 50 people, including members of special forces, two hours to net the turtle which was later put in a cage and pulled to a small island in Hoan Kiem Lake. Veterinarians have carried tests to ascertain what is ailing the creature at a makeshift hospital in the lake that was recently expanded and equipped with a small holding tank.

A steering committee has been set up to make decisions about the turtle, believed to be more than a hundred years old, and which weighs around 200kg. The results of the examination are not known.

“Overall, the turtle is doing very well now,” said KAT’s Khoi.

“I think we’ll have to wait and see how serious the injuries are. It looks like a lot of treatment has dealt with the external and visible injuries,” McCormack said. “It would be interesting to know if there are any other internal infections.”

In recent months the giant creature has made both international and local headlines by surfacing almost twice as frequently as in previous years. Injuries and lesions on its carapace, neck, and legs have been photographed and experts have blamed the lingering pollution and illegal fishing at the lake for the turtle’s ailments.

“I really hope that [the treatment] is successful. I hope they will find exactly what is wrong with the turtle,” said McCormack.

Both McCormack and ENV’s Hendrie concurred that the Hoan Kiem turtle, whose sex is yet to be determined, was too sacred for any kind of breeding program. They pointed instead to the male turtle of the same species living in Dong Mo Lake west of Hanoi.

“Looking at the international breeding program, the animal from Dong Mo would be a perfect candidate. It’s quite strong,” said McCormack. “Of course people wouldn’t want the legend to leave the [Hoan Kiem] lake.”

The legend goes that in the 15th century, the turtle handed Emperor Le Loi a magic sword that he used to repel a Chinese invasion. After his victory, Le Loi returned the weapon to the turtle that dived back into the lake with the blade clutched in his mouth. Hoan Kiem literally translates as the “Lake of the Returned Sword.”

“For people of older generations like us, the cultural and historical significance of the Hoan Kiem turtle is irrefutable,” said Le Chuc, a prominent Hanoian actor and stage director. Chuc said since the turtle was captured, he has dropped by the Hoan Kiem Lake between three to four times everyday to check on it.

“I cannot imagine the day the turtle is not there anymore. Hoan Kiem would be just a lake with water,” Chuc said.

“As the world goes through tough times, I pray for the wellbeing of the turtle that is a shining light in this material world.”

http://www.thanhniennews.com/2010/Pages/20110409160731.aspx

Vermont Mulls Animal Hoarding Bill

Posted: March 10, 2011, 7:25 p.m., EDT

Vermont has introduced a bill that seeks to impose criminal penalties for animal hoarding.

As written, House Bill 371 defines an “animal hoarder” as any person who:

• Possesses five or more animals;
• Fails to provide adequate food, water, shelter, rest, sanitation, or necessary medical attention or transports an animal in overcrowded vehicles;
• Keeps the animals in a severely overcrowded environment; and
• Displays an inability to recognize or understand the nature of or has a reckless disregard for the conditions under which the animals are living and the deleterious impact they have on the animals’ health and well-being.

The state’s animal cruelty laws define animals as “all living sentient creatures, not human beings.” This could mean a wide array of animals, including cats, dogs, small animals, birds and reptiles.

Violators would be guilty of animal cruelty and could face up to one year’s jail time, a fine of up to $2,000 or both. Second and subsequent violators could face up to two years in jail, a fine of up to $5,000 or both.

Under state law, a “humane officer” may seize an animal without a search warrant if he or she witnesses a situation in which the animal’s life is in jeopardy and immediate action is required to protect its health or safety. A “humane officer” includes law enforcement officers, auxiliary state police officers, deputy game wardens, humane society officers, employees or agents; animal control officers; or any officer authorized to serve criminal process.

In an industry alert released today, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) cautioned against warrantless searches, claiming such searches invite potential for harassment and abuse of police power.

H 371 has been assigned to the House Committee on Agriculture where it awaits action.

To view H 371 in its entirety, click here.

http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vet-breaking-news/2011/03/10/vermont-mulls-animal-hoarding-bill.aspx

Animal protection statute threatened, says veterinarian

February 20, 2011

Veterinarian Yesenia Fernández Santos spoke out in favor of the newest animal welfare law Friday, saying it was a far reaching legislation which only needs to be understood better.

However, she said an animal registry is necessary to protect people and animals from the threat of rabies. The registry has been an unpopular measure which also must be explained before it can be effective, she said.

Law 154 — known as the Law for the Welfare and Protection of Animals — signed by Gov. Aníbal Acevedo Vilá in August 2008, is considered the best animal protection law to date.

Fernández testified in a public hearing of the Senate Natural and Environmental Resources Committee which was considering eliminating the 2008 law and integrating it into yet another proposed law.

Senate Bill 1811, introduced by Sen. Melinda Romero, would eliminate Law 154 and two earlier ones. The bill would create the Welfare Code for Animal, Wildlife and Flora and supersede the laws of Regional Animal Refuge (Law 36 of 1984), the New Wildlife Law (Law 241 of 1999) as well as Law 154.

Fernández said that Law 154 should not be included in Bill 1811, because a law of such length would become diluted within the measure, she said at the hearing presided by Sen. Ramón Díaz Hernández substituting Chairwoman Luz M. Santiago González.

“The deficiencies of that statute have nothing to do with the content of the law, but rather with the limited knowledge of the law, on the part of the general public, the police as well as prosecutors and judges.”

The law covers a number of issues relating to domestic animals, including classing many actions of mistreatment, abuse or abandonment as felonies, with harsh penalties.

Despite her endorsement of Law 154, she suggested in her testimony that the government mount an anti-rabies campaign in the same way they did for dengue and flu.

“Since rabies is a deadly illness and endemic in our country, the veterinarians have been advocating an animal registry for years,” said Fernández. “I am happy to know that this piece of legislature is considering this action. However, I should mention that the way the animal registry has been developed, the people see it as just another tax and not a solution to the problem of rampant animal overpopulation. If we want to change that mentality, we must educate the people about rabies and its implications, as much for the sake of our health as for that of the animals.”

She noted that since the bill provides for the free registry of farm animals, it would be wise to begin with mandatory rabies vaccination for dogs, cats, cows and horses, which are the link between humans and our “principal carrier of rabies, the mongoose.”

The Health Department has long endorsed the need for mandatory rabies vaccines, but have consistently shown figures which indicate that only one or two cases of rabies have among humans have ever been reported in Puerto Rico.

http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Animal-protection-statute-threatened-says-veterinarian

Newbury racing cancelled after mystery deaths

Sat Feb 12 2011 14:15:53

Racing has been called off at Newbury in extraordinary circumstances after Fenix Two and Marching Song collapsed and died in the parade ring before the first race.

An inquiry and immediate post-mortem examinations were announced, with the reasons for the deaths unknown amid speculation the horses died from some form of electric shock emanating from underneath the paddock.

Some horses had already made it down to the start and there were reports that others had "wobbled" on entering the paddock.

Nicky Henderson was quick to withdraw his runner Kid Cassidy, while Andy Turnell, trainer of Marching Song, said: "It looks like they've been electrocuted. My fellow seemed perfectly all right and I was about to leg him up but he just went straight down."

Jonjo O'Neill, trainer of Fenix Two, said: "Kid Cassidy was in front and he took a turn.

"We thought he was bucking and kicking and he went down on his knees then he seemed to be OK."

He added: "Mine reared up and we couldn't get him back, it was like he was stuck to the ground. It was the weirdest thing I've ever seen in my life."

Denman's owner Paul Barber was in the paddock and said: "The girl of Turnell's said she felt a tingling as she led them round and then Nicky's horse went down.

"They were getting the shocks off the grass, not off the tarmac. I've never seen anything quite like that ever."

Stipendiary steward Paul Barton said: "We are going to hold an inquiry and interview those connected with the horses. We are not going to use the parade ring for the rest of the meeting. The horses will parade in the pre-parade ring and leave from that point.

"The veterinary team are in charge of whatever precautions as far as the other horses are concerned. They have checked all other horses in this race."

http://itn.co.uk/2f3ad34f2fac2fa81373f9196ce25104.html

Cross-eyed opossum on diet to improve health and eye alignment

Published: 30 Jan 11 10:47 CET

A cross-eyed opossum from Leipzig Zoo has been put on a diet which will not only make her slimmer and healthier – it may also help her eyes look in the same direction.

Heidi the cross-eyed opossum became an internet sensation after being moved from North Carolina, via Denmark to the east German zoo.

Someone set up a Facebook page for her which has as of Sunday morning, prompted 284,547 people to note that they ‘like this’, and thousands to leave comments on how sweet they think she is.

Click here for a Heidi photo gallery.

Yet her eye problem – likely caused by fatty deposits behind her eyes – is symptomatic of her general obesity which zookeepers in Leipzig now say they are tackling.

“She is making clear progress with mobility, and can now use her tail much better to hold onto things,” said Maria Saegebarth, spokeswoman for the zoo.

She said the opossum’s obesity is thought to have been responsible for her eye problem.

Saegebarth said Heidi is becoming more active as she loses weight out of sight of the public in a private area of the zoo. She will be put in the new giant tropical hall which is due to be opened in July.

DPA/hc

http://www.thelocal.de/national/20110130-32759.html

Cross-eyed opossum on diet to improve health and eye alignment

Published: 30 Jan 11 10:47 CET

A cross-eyed opossum from Leipzig Zoo has been put on a diet which will not only make her slimmer and healthier – it may also help her eyes look in the same direction.

Heidi the cross-eyed opossum became an internet sensation after being moved from North Carolina, via Denmark to the east German zoo.

Someone set up a Facebook page for her which has as of Sunday morning, prompted 284,547 people to note that they ‘like this’, and thousands to leave comments on how sweet they think she is.

Click here for a Heidi photo gallery.

Yet her eye problem – likely caused by fatty deposits behind her eyes – is symptomatic of her general obesity which zookeepers in Leipzig now say they are tackling.

“She is making clear progress with mobility, and can now use her tail much better to hold onto things,” said Maria Saegebarth, spokeswoman for the zoo.

She said the opossum’s obesity is thought to have been responsible for her eye problem.

Saegebarth said Heidi is becoming more active as she loses weight out of sight of the public in a private area of the zoo. She will be put in the new giant tropical hall which is due to be opened in July.

DPA/hc

http://www.thelocal.de/national/20110130-32759.html

Hip cat: Tiger gets landmark artificial joint operation

Published: 27 Jan 11 16:03 CET

A tiger in Germany has become the world's first to be given an artificial hip after a three-hour-operation by a team of vets that she only barely survived, Leipzig University said on Thursday.

Girl, as the Malayan tiger at Halle Zoo in eastern Germany is known, had been in visible pain for close to a year because of problems in her right hip joint, the university said.

"Malayan tigers are one of the world's most endangered species, with only around 500 estimated to be living in the wild. This was another reason to operate on Girl," a statement said.

The ferocious eight-year-old feline patient was not that long in the tooth either, with a life expectancy of 20.

During the operation by five specialists, Girl's heart came close to stopping, but anaesthetist Michaele Alef was able to save her.

Girl is now recovering in a separate enclosure back in Halle Zoo, and once a six-week danger period when the new hip could dislocate is over, there is a chance that it will last her the rest of her life.

"We are happy," said Peter Boettcher, another member of the team that also included Italian Aldo Vezzoni, a specialist with a wealth of experience fitting artificial hips in dogs, who worked for free.

Artificial hips of the kind implanted into Girl were first developed by professor Pierre Montavon from the University of Zurich with Swiss firm Kyon, and contain titanium for better performance and durability.

They were first used only in dogs but in recent years have also been implanted in humans.

AFP/rm

http://www.thelocal.de/society/20110127-32711.html

Hip cat: Tiger gets landmark artificial joint operation

Published: 27 Jan 11 16:03 CET

A tiger in Germany has become the world's first to be given an artificial hip after a three-hour-operation by a team of vets that she only barely survived, Leipzig University said on Thursday.

Girl, as the Malayan tiger at Halle Zoo in eastern Germany is known, had been in visible pain for close to a year because of problems in her right hip joint, the university said.

"Malayan tigers are one of the world's most endangered species, with only around 500 estimated to be living in the wild. This was another reason to operate on Girl," a statement said.

The ferocious eight-year-old feline patient was not that long in the tooth either, with a life expectancy of 20.

During the operation by five specialists, Girl's heart came close to stopping, but anaesthetist Michaele Alef was able to save her.

Girl is now recovering in a separate enclosure back in Halle Zoo, and once a six-week danger period when the new hip could dislocate is over, there is a chance that it will last her the rest of her life.

"We are happy," said Peter Boettcher, another member of the team that also included Italian Aldo Vezzoni, a specialist with a wealth of experience fitting artificial hips in dogs, who worked for free.

Artificial hips of the kind implanted into Girl were first developed by professor Pierre Montavon from the University of Zurich with Swiss firm Kyon, and contain titanium for better performance and durability.

They were first used only in dogs but in recent years have also been implanted in humans.

AFP/rm

http://www.thelocal.de/society/20110127-32711.html

Nainital’s favourite big cat ready to head home

Nanital Zoo plans to keep the trophy inside the same enclosure where Rani used to stay when she was alive

The much-loved snow leopardess who died last year has been made into a lifelike trophy by taxidermist Santosh Gaikwad from Bombay Veterinary College and will be flown to Delhi soon

Virat A Singh

Posted On Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 02:01:07 AM

Less than a year after Rani the snow leopardess died, Mumbai is all set to gift the Nanital Zoo an everlasting memory of her. Rani’s body was brought in to Mumbai from Nanital in April 2010.

Dr Santosh Gaikwad, a Mumbai-based taxidermist, has finished working on a trophy of Rani, which will be given to Nanital later this month.

Parag Madhukar Dhakate, Divisional forest officer of the Tarai Haldwani region in Uttarakhand, said, “Those visiting the Nainital zoo were emotionally attached to Rani who was the only snow leopard there.

“Hence, a decision was taken to convert her into a trophy after her death and now we are even planning to keep her trophy inside the same enclosure where she used to stay when alive.”

Dhakate, who visited the Maharashtra State Wildlife Taxidermy Centre at SGNP on Tuesday morning, felt the trophy was very lifelike. The trophy stands four feet tall and is six feet long. It weights around 80 kg.

Dhakate added that the trophy would be taken by flight to Delhi from where it will be taken to GB Pant High Altitude Zoo at Nainital.

Dr Gaikwad, who works as professor of anatomy at Bombay Veterinary College, said the job of making Rani’s trophy was not a cakewalk.

Despite having made around 50 trophies of various animals - ranging from lions to elephants - Gaikwad said it was a challenge to make sure Rani’s looked real and the proportions were the same.

“Another problem was that the skin on the leopard’s body had lost a lot of fur, despite being preserved for months,” he said, “Most of the skin had bundled up. I had to conduct a lot of chemical procedures on the coat to ensure there was no further loss of fur and it looked fresh.”

Gaikwad started making the trophy in July, three months after Rani’s death and completed the task in December.

Gaikwad said he was happy with the creative freedom given to him by the Uttarakhand forest officials.

“I gave it a standing pose, with front limbs elevated on the rocks. This trophy is also special as all its sharp claws have been retained, as per the wish of the forest officials,” he added.

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/2011011920110119020106981c5ef4be8/Nainital%E2%80%99s-favourite-big-cat-ready-to-head-home.html

Nainital’s favourite big cat ready to head home

Nanital Zoo plans to keep the trophy inside the same enclosure where Rani used to stay when she was alive

The much-loved snow leopardess who died last year has been made into a lifelike trophy by taxidermist Santosh Gaikwad from Bombay Veterinary College and will be flown to Delhi soon

Virat A Singh

Posted On Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 02:01:07 AM

Less than a year after Rani the snow leopardess died, Mumbai is all set to gift the Nanital Zoo an everlasting memory of her. Rani’s body was brought in to Mumbai from Nanital in April 2010.

Dr Santosh Gaikwad, a Mumbai-based taxidermist, has finished working on a trophy of Rani, which will be given to Nanital later this month.

Parag Madhukar Dhakate, Divisional forest officer of the Tarai Haldwani region in Uttarakhand, said, “Those visiting the Nainital zoo were emotionally attached to Rani who was the only snow leopard there.

“Hence, a decision was taken to convert her into a trophy after her death and now we are even planning to keep her trophy inside the same enclosure where she used to stay when alive.”

Dhakate, who visited the Maharashtra State Wildlife Taxidermy Centre at SGNP on Tuesday morning, felt the trophy was very lifelike. The trophy stands four feet tall and is six feet long. It weights around 80 kg.

Dhakate added that the trophy would be taken by flight to Delhi from where it will be taken to GB Pant High Altitude Zoo at Nainital.

Dr Gaikwad, who works as professor of anatomy at Bombay Veterinary College, said the job of making Rani’s trophy was not a cakewalk.

Despite having made around 50 trophies of various animals - ranging from lions to elephants - Gaikwad said it was a challenge to make sure Rani’s looked real and the proportions were the same.

“Another problem was that the skin on the leopard’s body had lost a lot of fur, despite being preserved for months,” he said, “Most of the skin had bundled up. I had to conduct a lot of chemical procedures on the coat to ensure there was no further loss of fur and it looked fresh.”

Gaikwad started making the trophy in July, three months after Rani’s death and completed the task in December.

Gaikwad said he was happy with the creative freedom given to him by the Uttarakhand forest officials.

“I gave it a standing pose, with front limbs elevated on the rocks. This trophy is also special as all its sharp claws have been retained, as per the wish of the forest officials,” he added.

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/2011011920110119020106981c5ef4be8/Nainital%E2%80%99s-favourite-big-cat-ready-to-head-home.html

'Sick prank' leaves cat dyed pink in Swindon

24 September 2010

The RSPCA have criticised a "sick prank" in which a cat had its fur dyed pink and was then thrown over a garden fence in Swindon.

Officers are looking for the owner of the cat, which was found by a man in his garden in Wesley Street on 18 September.

The two-year-old, who has been named Pink, is said to be in good health.

However, vets have not been able to wash the dye out of her fur and she will have to wait for it to grow out.

It is thought the naturally white domestic short-haired cat is either a stray or has been abandoned.

This is because the fur around her neck has a pattern which suggests she has been wearing a collar fairly recently.

'Poor creature'

But the RSPCA said she could be someone's missing pet who was the victim of a prank.

Veterinary surgeon Penny Gillespie, who is caring for Pink at Cheldene Veterinary Centre and Boarding Cattery, said: "We have no idea what the dye is or how long it will last.

"It is clearly not toxic but still unpleasant.

"The person responsible has covered her thoroughly all over but avoided putting any around the animal's eyes and nose.

"Further washing would stress Pink and probably would not help to remove the colour so it will be case of waiting for it to grow out."

RSPCA officer Carl Hone said: "When I got the call I thought perhaps it would be a cat with something natural on their coat or which had rubbed against wet paint but this poor creature has been dyed completely pink, except around her eyes and nose, so she looks like she has a white mask on."

He added: "We are very keen to trace the person responsible for doing this to the cat and I would urge anyone with information, or who knows who she belongs to, to please call the RSPCA."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-11407516

'Sick prank' leaves cat dyed pink in Swindon

24 September 2010

The RSPCA have criticised a "sick prank" in which a cat had its fur dyed pink and was then thrown over a garden fence in Swindon.

Officers are looking for the owner of the cat, which was found by a man in his garden in Wesley Street on 18 September.

The two-year-old, who has been named Pink, is said to be in good health.

However, vets have not been able to wash the dye out of her fur and she will have to wait for it to grow out.

It is thought the naturally white domestic short-haired cat is either a stray or has been abandoned.

This is because the fur around her neck has a pattern which suggests she has been wearing a collar fairly recently.

'Poor creature'

But the RSPCA said she could be someone's missing pet who was the victim of a prank.

Veterinary surgeon Penny Gillespie, who is caring for Pink at Cheldene Veterinary Centre and Boarding Cattery, said: "We have no idea what the dye is or how long it will last.

"It is clearly not toxic but still unpleasant.

"The person responsible has covered her thoroughly all over but avoided putting any around the animal's eyes and nose.

"Further washing would stress Pink and probably would not help to remove the colour so it will be case of waiting for it to grow out."

RSPCA officer Carl Hone said: "When I got the call I thought perhaps it would be a cat with something natural on their coat or which had rubbed against wet paint but this poor creature has been dyed completely pink, except around her eyes and nose, so she looks like she has a white mask on."

He added: "We are very keen to trace the person responsible for doing this to the cat and I would urge anyone with information, or who knows who she belongs to, to please call the RSPCA."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-11407516

Medical aid for injured elephant

Aug 23 - Timely intervention by forest rangers and veterinarians save the life of a badly injured wild elephant at the Kaziranga National Park in India's northeastern state of Assam. Tara Cleary reports.

http://uk.reuters.com/news/video?rpc=401&videoId=143346237&feedType=VideoRSS&feedName=OddlyEnough&rpc=401&videoChannel=4

Gorilla saved by French doc's hip op

Agence France-Presse
Posted at 08/21/2010 3:25 PM | Updated as of 08/21/2010 3:25 PM

PARIS - A French surgeon may have entered the record books by saving a 70-kilo (154-pound) female gorilla that sustained a crippling injury after falling from a tree in a safari park.

Louis-Etienne Gayet, an orthopaedic surgeon at the University Hospital Centre in Poitiers, central France, was called in to help eight-year-old Kwanza after the ape snapped her thighbone at Vallee des Singes (Valley of the Apes) in Romagne.

The break occurred very close to where the thighbone, or femur, enters the hip, where its ball-like end is enclosed by a ring of bone, the park said in a press release on Friday.

The problem was that, because the femur had been completely fractured, the ball end twisted around in the hip casing. As a result, the two bones were left back-to-front.

Delicate cases such as these are relatively common in human surgery but almost unheard-of for veterinarians.

Gayet rolled up his sleeves and in a three-hour operation at a veterinary clinic last Monday gently turned the bone's ball end in the right direction and reattached it to the rest of the femur with a 15-centimeter (six-inch) plate, along with an eight-cm (3.5-inch) screw in the hip.

There was a stroke of luck because Kwanza, still youthful in gorilla terms, has the same femur anatomy as a human adult, which meant Gayet could fix a standard plate which he uses in his day-to-day patients.

The neck of a femur in a young gorilla forms a boney crook of about 130 degrees. In adult gorillas, the angle is about 100 degrees, Gayet explained.

Kwanza can now crawl around, but it will take another six weeks to know whether the bones have knitted properly and she has recovered full mobility.

"It was a fantastic experience," Gayet said in an interview with AFP, before wondering aloud: "I don't know -- has anyone ever fixed a fracture of the neck of a femur on a gorilla before?"

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/classified-odd/08/21/10/gorilla-saved-french-docs-hip-op

Bird with two broken legs gets treadmill rehab

August 6, 2010

A clumsy kiwi bird with two broken legs is being given rehabilitation treatment -- including treadmill sessions.

The runtish bird was originally taken to vets when it was found in a bad condition in New Zealand in December.

Dubbed Piwi, the bird had a broken leg that had healed badly and vets were left with no option other than to re-break it and straighten it.

But shortly after it was taken to a wildlife park for rehabilitation the dopey bird somehow broke it's other leg resulting in a visit to Massey University's Wildlife Ward.

Once there it was given rehabilitation treatment including 'running' on a treadmill… and it didn't even need to pay an excessive gym joining fee.

LINKS
Massey University

http://newslite.tv/2010/08/06/bird-with-two-broken-legs-gets.html