Veterinary Wildlife Studies VWS 800 For the detail pertaining to the specialist module, see page 62 of the booklet Regulations and Syllabi of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, 2006. The course includes the subject material of ZEN 705 and FAR 708.    The course is a broad-based, in-depth theoretical and practical training with emphasis on the skills required to capture, transport and manage free-ranging and indigenous captive animals with due consideration of conservation medicine and ecology, the interactions of wildlife, domestic animals and humans, and the control of diseases of wildlife   At least 60% of a student's time will be scheduled for experiential training under supervision/guidance. This aspect of training will take place during the 2nd and 3rd years of the course in the case of full-time students and will normally require the student to spend time away from the Faculty   The curriculum will include relevant aspects of: ·         Drugs used in wildlife and exotic species ·         Wildlife capture and translocation ·         Ecology ·         Wildlife ranching ·         Conservation ·         Eco-tourism ·         Legal and ethical matters as they pertain to wildlife conservation and the wildlife industry ·         Wildlife/domestic animal/human interface ·         Experiential training   On completion of the course a specialist wildlife practitioner will be expected to be able to: ·         Provide specialist veterinary services (capture support in complex/high profile and consultancy) ·         Take legal and professional accountability for the above operations ·         Contribute to the research activities through research planning, management and execution of research projects ·         Manage the flow of information as required to assist in management of wildlife conservation areas/conservancies/farms/breeding establishments ·         Manage and develop the skills of subordinates ·         Liaise with internal and external stake-holders ·         Control a project budget and veterinary budget (where applicable) ·         Manage assigned projects, and ·         Be competent in general administration   In order to do this, specific competencies will need to be developed. Training that provides the following outcomes will enable a graduate to have these competencies and to perform at the required level.    The graduate must be able to: ·         Plan, undertake and complete complex wildlife veterinary capture operations; ·         Choose and administer appropriate drugs and understand the possible interactions on a per species basis for treatment and immobilization; ·         Identify risks to employer and owner (based on information obtained in the field, research or consultation), quantify this risk and utilize appropriate mechanisms to communicate the risks as well as appropriate response and management plans; ·         Understand and be able to interpret and implement the legal requirements of veterinary disease control and the wildlife industry; ·         Understand that disease control and treatment has relevance in wildlife populations, especially in game ranch and breeding facilities but in free range situations there is often a bigger requirement to understand the risk involved with disease in wildlife and control or treatment may not be appropriate or practical - the role of diseases in the ecosystem and its effects on population dynamics need to be understood before any treatment or control program is initiated ·         Understand, communicate and manage possible disease impact of wildlife veterinary operations and disease impact on wildlife/ livestock and people interfaces; ·         Demonstrate sensitivity to bio-diversity conservation and the ecology interface of wildlife management and to predict and consult on the impact that certain veterinary actions can have on biodiversity conservation and ecology interface; ·         Communicate effectively with researchers and other wildlife practitioners; ·         Develop specifications and ensure the implementation of the requirements for equipment and facilities used in wildlife veterinary practice ·         Utilize research methodology to design and plan research and to execute and facilitate veterinary research ·         Demonstrate an awareness and sensitivity towards social ecology principles ·         Understand the principles of conservation medicine, and ·         Understand the principles applying to dealing with issues and risk at the interface: the risk that domestic animal diseases have for wildlife, which wildlife disease may effect domestic species, and how these issues will impact on human livelihoods

TEXT BOOKS   WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT(Techniques, Interventions and Manipulations) 1.       Game Ranch Management.  J du P Bothma (Editor) ISBN 0 627 02471 8. Van Schaik (2002) 2.       Intensive Wildlife Production in South Africa. J du P Bothma and N van Rooyen (Editors) ISBN 0 627 02549 8 Van Schaik. (2005) 3.       The Kruger Experience. HC Biggs, JT du Toit and KH Rogers (Editors). ISBN 1-55963-982-2. Island Press. (2003) 4.       The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion. JD Skinner and CT Chimimba. ISBN 10-0-521-84418-5. 2005 5.       Wildlife Resources. HH Roth and G Merz. ISBN 3-540-061357-9. Springer (1997) 6.       Ecosystem management: Adaptive Community-based Conservation (2002). Gary Meffe, Larry Nielsen, Richard Knight and Dennis Schenborn.   ECOLOGY Prerequisite undergraduate reading for ecology. The ecology course for M Med Vet (Fer) is offered at 700 (honours) level. To allow sensible and active participation in the discussion sessions based on the reading matter for the honours course, undergraduate background knowledge is essential. The following three recommended texts would supply the necessary background: 1.       "Ecology: individuals, populations and communities". Begon, M., J. L. Harper and C. R. Townsend Blackwell Scientific Publications. Oxford. (about 900 pages and available in paperback) 2.       Principles of Conservation Biology. Meffe, G. K. and C. R. Carroll (1997) (2nd Edition) Sinauer Associates, Inc. Sunderland, Massachusetts. 3.       Essentials of Conservation Biology. Primack, R. B. (2002) (3rd Edition).   Sinauer Associates, Inc. Sunderland, Massachusetts.   Further reading in general and applied ecology is recommended. Consider the following texts: 4.       Science of Ecology (1994) ; Brewer 5.       Ecology – concepts and application (2005) : Molls 6.       Wildlife Ecology and management (1999) : Bolen & Robinson   CAPTURE AND TRANSLOCATION 1.       The Capture and Care Manual: Capture, Care, Accommodation and Transportation of Wild African Animals. AA McKenzie (Editor). ISBN 0 620 17608 3. Pretoria: Wildlife Decision Support Services (1993) 2.       The Capture, Care and Management of Wildlife. M la Grange. ISBN 0 627 02611 7. Van Schaik. (2006) 3.       Chemical and physical restraint of wild animals (a training and field manual for African species): Eds. Mike Kock, David Meltzer and Richard Burroughs (2006)   WILDLIFE DISEASES 1.       Zoo and wild animal medicine.   Murray E. Fowler and R. Eric Miller [eds]. ISBN 0721694993. St. Louis, Mo.; London: W.B. Saunders, 2003 2.      Infectious Diseases of Wild Mammals ( 3rd edition -2001) :Eds. Elizabeth Williams and Ian Barker 3.      Parasitic Diseases of Wild Mammals ( 2nd Edition –2001) : Eds : William Samuel, Margo Pybus and Alan Kocan 4.      Infectious Diseases of Wildlife: Detection, Diagnosis and Management (Parts 1 & 2): O.I.E. Scientific and Technical Review. Volumes: 21(1) and 21(2), 2002. 5.      Emerging Zoonoses and Pathogens of Public Health Concern: O.I.E. Scientific and Technical Review: Vol 23, 2004. 6.       The Ecology of Wildlife Diseases (2002): Eds : Hudson, Rizzoli, Grenfell, Heesterbeek and Dobson 7.       Conservation Medicine: Ecological Health in Practice. A Aguirre RS. Ostfeld G M Tabor C House, MC Pearl (Eds). ISBN 0915150937. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press (2002) 8.       Practical Wildlife Care. L Stocker. ISBN 13 978-1-4051-2749-3. Blackwell (2000)   VETERINARY FORENSICS 1.       Wildlife Forensic Pathology (2003): Richard K. Stroud   ADDITIONAL READING 1.       The behaviour guide to African mammals (1995): Richard D Estes 2.       Environmental Ethics (2002) : Eds. : David Schmidtz and Elizabeth Willott 3.       Practical statistics for Field Biology (2003) : Fowler, Cohen and Jarvis   LEGISLATION 1.       Animal Disease Act (Act 35 0f 1984), soon to be replaced by the Animal Health Act (Act 7 of 2002). 2.       The Animal Slaughter and Animal Products Hygiene Act (Act 87 of 1967) soon to be replaced by the Meat Safety Act (Act 40 of 2000). 3.       The Medicines Control Act ( Act 101 of 1965) 4.       The Fertilizers, Animal Feeds and Remedies Act (Act 36 of 1947). 5.       The Act on Veterinary and Para-veterinary Professions (Act 19 of 1982) 6.       The National Environmental Management - Protected Areas Act (Act 57 of 2003 and amended by Act 31 of 2004). 7.       The National Environmental Management - Biodiversity Act (Act 10 of 2004) 8.       Veterinary Drug Control and Management for the Practicing Veterinarian in South Africa. Eds. GE Swan, RD Sykes, S Banco and V Naidoo, University of Pretoria 9.       National Code:Transportation of Wildlife 10.   National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAB)   JOURNALS (Relevant articles in the current issues and those of the last five years) Journal of Wildlife Diseases Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine Koedoe   Web sites: Library in your office tyds@tuks   Browse journals, databases, websites, conferences and e-books through the University library and related services   Use Electronic resources > Databases > Wildlife Diseases on the UP Portal for specific searches. Scan the other available resources for relevant topics   Create specific ‘alert’ topics or ‘current awareness alerts’ in ScienceDirect or Scopus. The topics included should be discussed with the various study leaders and the course coordinator and should assist you to acquire current publications and information relevant to your study area   Get accustomed to store and use references in Reference Manager

In the case of full-time students the first year to 15 months will be devoted to the attendance and completion of ancillary modules. In the case of part-time students already in the employment of approved institutions, course work may be scheduled over a longer period.  Combined distance learning and intensive contact learning sessions will be scheduled to accommodate part-time students.   The following core ancillary modules must be successfully completed:   Veterinary Research Methodology VRM 811 (commences 20 February 2006 on-line; there is a second course starting in July 2006. Contact either Prof Joop Boomker (012 529 8166) or Prof B Penzhorn (012 529 8253) for details) Wildlife PAT 706 (Commences at the beginning of February. Contact Prof Leon Prozesky for details at 012 529 8054) Veterinary Epidemiology EPI 751 (contact session in May for 3 – 4 days) Veterinary Epidemiology EPI 752 (The two modules EPI 751 and 752 can be completed in one semester. The examination is traditionally in June of each year. The course can be commenced at any time of the year but it is advisable to do so as early in the year as it is possible – preferably not later than February to allow the coursework and assignments to be completed by June. The course is a paper-based distance learning course with a contact session as indicated above)

Elective Ancillary Modules: A number of elective modules is listed in the Faculty Year Book that is offered as ancillaries for the MMedVet (Fer) degree programme. It is, however, recommended that two of the following elective ancillary courses be taken:   Selected Infectious Diseases: Animal Health Management SID 811 (not available yet) Selected Infectious Diseases: Wildlife SID 817 (commences on 20 February 2006. Contact Prof M van Vuuren (529 8329)) Tick-borne Diseases: Wildlife TBD 814 Clinical Reproduction: Wildlife GSK 718 (The module commences at the beginning of February 2006 – contact Prof Bertschinger at extension 8214) Reproductive Biology: Wildlife GSK 717 (The module commences at the beginning of February 2006 – contact Prof Bertschinger at extension 8214)   The number of credits for the all modules should not be less than 18 or more than 24   (The credits in the current yearbook of the Faculty are confusing and reflect two systems. The composition of the course should in all instances be discussed with the course coordinator)

Experiential training At least 60% of the student's time will be scheduled for experiential training under supervision/guidance. This aspect of training will take place during the 2nd and 3rd years of the course in the case of full-time students and will normally require the student to spend time away from the Faculty   Depending on the availability of cases, candidates may spend some time in the Faculty. However, it is anticipated that most of the experiential training would be conducted outside of the Faculty   Specific arrangements have been made with a number of wildlife practitioners and SANParks officials to assist with experiential training. Contact the course coordinator for details of training opportunities and related arrangements; all arrangements must be cleared with the course coordinator   Experiential training consists of the following: ·         Most of the time to be spent working in game parks or with a approved private veterinarian active in the field of wildlife ·         The student works under the guidance of a parks, and/or private wildlife veterinarian/s and will assist in the wildlife conservation/farming-related activities and game capture ·         Students should make an effort to gain the maximum possible benefit from exposure to Faculty experts in relevant disciplines and should consult these experts wherever necessary in the course of the training period ·         Domestic animals may be used to teach certain procedures such as reproductive techniques, ultrasound, hoof care and immobilization   Evaluation of logs Case logs must be submitted to the Director of the Veterinary Wildlife Centre (the course coordinator) for evaluation at mid-year and at the end of each year, and other logs annually

Research project As part of the study for the degree, the candidate must plan, execute and report on an approved research project under the guidance of a research supervisor. To enable the candidate to do this, he/she is required to complete the module in research methodology (VRM 811) successfully in the first year of study. This module includes the preparation of a research protocol. It is intended that this protocol be that for the research project required for the completion of the dissertation   An oral protocol defence, open to Faculty members, is required before the protocol is submitted for approval by the Research and Animal Use and Care Committees. At the time of submitting the dissertation a research article in a form suitable for submission to a refereed, ISI listed journal must also be submitted.    A published research article(s) can be used as part of a dissertation according to the stipulation in the General and Faculty regulations   The publication dealing with the results of the research project must be submitted before or with the dissertation to satisfy the requirements for the degree   Publications A publication is required as part of the degree (see General and Faculty rules)   The article must be a research publication arising from the research project

Conference attendance is strongly recommended, and presentations at conferences even more so. Candidates are expected to participate in Faculty day proceedings and to deliver at least one oral presentation during one of these events while registered for the degree

Assessment will be in accordance of the rules of the University of Pretoria and the stipulations of the regulations of the Faculty of Veterinary Science. Please refer to these regulations at the commencement of the course to prevent eventual misunderstanding   Ongoing evaluation: After the first 6 months and thereafter at the end of each year, the HoD and supervisor will evaluate progress. All logs should be handed in, in advance of these evaluations. Continuation in the programme from year-to-year will be dependent on adequate progress during the course of the ensuing year

The examination in the specialist module can only be taken after a minimum of 2 years training.     The examination consists of written and oral sections. The examination mark comprises 75% of the final examination mark, the other 25% being obtained by the examination of the dissertation   Each of the marks obtained in the written (3 hours) and oral (1 hour) examinations count 50% of the examination mark. Supplementary and other examinations are conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the University and Faculty of Veterinary Science

According to the study guides of the relevant modules

According to the study guides of the relevant subjects

Evaluation of logs Case logs must be submitted to the Director of the Veterinary Wildlife Centre for evaluation at midyear and at the end of each year, and other logs annually. These logs are used in the student's evaluation   Case log (game capture, clinical cases and necropsies): The log should containing the following details: ·         Date, ·         Species captured, ·         Method of capture, ·         Procedures carried out, ·         Necropsy cases and diagnosis, and ·         Other relevant information   Activity Log ·         Game parks, private practices and zoos visited ·         Courses and conferences attended ·         Lectures attended ·         Veterinary Wildlife Studies 800 sessions attended, and ·         Other relevant information   Presentations Log ·         Seminars and case reports presented, ·         Presentations at conferences or meetings and ·         Other relevant information   Procedures Log Candidates must maintain a log in tabular form of allprocedures performed. The required list of procedures is provided in Addendum 1

The supervisor(s) and at least one external examiner evaluate the dissertation. The mark for the dissertation comprises 25% of the final examination mark

Category	Procedure	Species	Self	Assist
Large carnivores	Capture	lion, cheetah, wild dog	ü
	Semen collection	in one species	ü
	Examination for breeding soundness/pd	in one species	ü
	Handling in captivity	cheetah and wild dog	ü
	Necropsy	lion or cheetah	ü
	Aging and dental examination	lion, cheetah	ü
Leopard	Capture			ü
Primates	Capture	baboon, monkey	ü
Medium antelope	Capture	impala, springbok	ü
	Mass capture		ü
Large antelope	Capture	kudu, sable, Oryx, wildebeest	ü
Buffalo	Capture		ü
	Mass capture			ü
	PM		ü
	Aging		ü
	PD		ü
	Evaluation of a bull		ü
Zebra	Capture		ü
	Mass capture			ü
Elephant	Capture		ü
	Translocation			ü
Rhinos
Black rhino	Capture and translocation			ü
White rhino	Capture		ü
	Translocation			ü
Various species	Necropsy		ü
Various species	Helicopter darting		ü
Various species	Passive capture		ü