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Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Studies

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	-	Wildlife, Ostriches & Crocodiles: WOC 510
	-	MMedVet (Fer) 2007

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Organisational component

1. General premise and educational approach

Significance of this module	Veterinary involvement in wildlife is expanding substantially and is becoming increasingly specialised. This module is designed to provide an overview of the veterinary field of wildlife and the skills needed to practice in the field It is a prerequisite module for admission to the elective clinical rotation in the Kruger National Park and other Parks during the course of the final year
Instructions for using the study guide	Use this study guide to prepare in advance for each of the individual lecture sessions.
Educational approach	Students are required to gain sufficient understanding during prior preparation to participate in discussions during the course of each lecture Lecturers are not required to provide or deal with all the required information during lectures, but only with the relevant concepts on an integrated basis So-called ‘full notes’ will not be supplied. Ample information is available in the Onderstepoort library and on the Web

2. Contact information

	Name	Location	Telephone number	E-mail address
Programme manager	Prof N Kriek	Ethology and Physiology. Room 2-11	012 5298557	nick.kriek@up.ac.za
Lecturer	Prof J Skinner	Ethology and Physiology Room 2-12	012 5298559	john.skinner@up.ac.za
Lecturer	Dr L Venter	CACS Room 4-57	012 5298136	leon.venter@up.ac.za
Lecturer	Dr P Buss	KNP	013 7354149	PeterB@sanparks.org
Lecturer	Dr C Raath	Ngongoni		jpraath@iafrica.com
Lecturer	Dr R Bengis	KNP	013 7355641	RoyB@nda.agric.za
Lecturer	Dr L van Schalkwyk	Orpen	0836332203	louis.vanschalkwyk@up.ac.za
Lecturer	Dr W Burger	Oudtshoorn		Person to be confirmed
Lecturer	Dr J Myburgh	Paraclinical Sciences Room 1-58	012 5298350	jan.myburgh@up.ac.za
Secretary	Me UM du Plessis	Ethology and Physiology. Room 2-11	012 5298558	unita.duplessis@up.ac.za

Venues:

· Consult the 5^th year lecture roster; locality of practicals to be announced in class

· Consulting hours: on appointment

3. Study materials and purchases

References to the prescribed textbook and other additional study material such as books for further reading, subject periodicals, class notes, and Internet references will be made available by the individual lecturers

4. Learning activities

4.1 Contact time and learning hours

WOC 510: Schedule of lectures for 2007

Date	Theme	No of periods	Lecturer
07-01-03	Introduction	4	Prof N Kriek
07-01-10	Physiological ecology	4	Prof J Skinner
07-01-17	Physiological ecology	4	Prof J Skinner
07-01-24	Physiological ecology	4	Prof J Skinner
07-01-31	Immobilization and capture	4	Dr L Venter
07-02-07	Immobilization and capture	4	Dr L Venter
07-02-14	Immobilization and capture Veterinary science in commercial game farming	1 3	Dr L Venter Dr C Raath
07-02-21	Conservation and veterinary science	4	Dr P Buss
07-02-28	Interface and conservation medicine GIS and epidemiology	2 2	Prof N Kriek Dr L van Schalkwyk
07-03-07	Diseases of wildlife: context	4	Dr R Bengis
07-03-14	Ostriches and veterinary science	4	Dr W Burger
07-03-21	Crocodiles and veterinary science	4	Dr J Myburgh

Block test: 4 – 22 June

Two announced tests according to the test schedule during the course of the module

4.2 Contact sessions

Specific information, rules and requirements:

· Contact sessions with lecturer as per the schedule in 4.1

· Practical sessions will be scheduled for immobilization and game capture. These sessions are not compulsory and participation in them may involve travel and time away from the Faculty. Students will be kept informed of opportunities as they arise

5. Assessment

5.1 Assessment policy and approach

· Admission to examinations are in accordance with the Faculty’s rules

· Two announced tests will be scheduled during the course of the semester. Their results will count on an equal basis towards compiling the semester mark.

· The semester mark comprises 50% of the final mark

· A final written examination will be scheduled during the block test/examination period lasting from 4 – 22 June

6. General

· Policies, rules and arrangements regarding professional conduct are in accordance with general Faculty and University regulations

· Since a number of lecturers from out of the Faculty will conduct some of the lectures, keep in mind that it is exceedingly bad manners not attend these lectures. Not only does this practice reflect badly on the Faculty but also on its students and poor attendance will have a serious influence on the attitude of members of the profession towards graduates in the fields concerned.

Study component

1. Module specifications

1.1 Purpose statement

This module is a one-semester elective structured to provide veterinary students with basic background knowledge of the scope of the activities and the skills required to function in the field of wildlife, and farmed ostriches and crocodiles.

It is anticipated that attendance of this module would allow students to make an informed decision whether to enter these fields of activity after they qualify as veterinarians

1.2 Learning presumed to be in place

Students are assumed to have retained a good understanding of basic anatomy and physiology, immunology, pharmacology, infectious and parasitic diseases and pathology of domesticated animals dealt with in BVSc II – IV. These concepts will serve as the basis for the discussions in this module

1.3 Articulation with other modules in the programme

This module is a prerequisite for students interested in the field of wildlife and who wish to be admitted to the wildlife elective in the Kruger National Park and other conservation areas during the course of the final year. Successful completion of this module is a prerequisite for admission to these rotations

2. Study themes of the module

	Theme	Specific outcome and assessment criteria
Unit 1	Introduction	1. Understanding the terms: wildlife and the varied role of veterinarians in the different fields of wildlife 2. Develop an opinion about the broad context and relevance of wildlife 3. Have an understanding of the national and international organisations active in the field of wildlife
Unit 2	Ecological physiology	1. Understanding the basic concepts of ecology with emphasis on the physiological characteristics of various species
Unit 3	Capture and immobilization	Have an understanding of: 1. Drugs used in game capture 1.1. Capture of carnivores 1.2. Capture of herbivores 1.3. Capture of primates 1.4. Long-acting tranquillisers 1.5. Safety measures and emergencies 2. Delivery systems 2.1. Darting systems 2.2. Pole syringing 3. Mass capture methods 3.1. Passive capture 3.2. Active capture
Unit 4	Conservation	1. Understanding the role of veterinarians and the skills required to function in the field of conservation of wildlife
Unit 5	Commercial	1. Understanding the scope of private practice as it pertains to the private wildlife industry 2. Understanding the scope of opportunities in the field of veterinary wildlife and the skills required to operate in this field
Unit 6	Conservation medicine	1. Understand the concept of conservation medicine as it pertains to the interaction between wildlife, domesticated animals and humans at the interface between conservation areas and communities on their borders
Unit 7	GIS and epidemiology	1. Understand the use of GIS and spatial epidemiology in dealing with risks at the interface
Unit 8	Disease context	1. Understanding the context of disease ecology 2. Have specific knowledge of important diseases as they pertain to the management of wildlife in conservation and commercial farming enterprises
Unit 9	Ostriches	1. Understand the extent and issues of ostrich farming as they pertain to veterinary inputs and skills
Unit 10	Crocodiles	1. Understand the extent and issues of crocodile farming as they pertain to veterinary inputs and skills