Ongoing Projects

Gorilla Health - In the fragile lowland forests of Africa, the FVP launched a preventive health care program to protect populations of endangered western lowland gorillas. The program includes education for park rangers, researchers, and local inhabitants to reduce the transmission of diseases between humans and gorillas, as well as the collection of hundreds of biological samples which are analyzed as part of a comprehensive gorilla health evaluation. Read the latest trip report.

Latin American Training - In collaboration with local universities and non-governmental organizations, the FVP has run several training workshops for regional veterinarians and vet students in Argentina and Colombia. More are planned for the coming months. Topics covered in these training workshops include: proper immobilization techniques for wildlife, routine examination procedures, sample collection, and preventive medicine. Read a Report from the  Peruvian Training Workshop.

Sponsoring of WDA members - The FVP has sponsored over one hundred new memberships in the Wildlife Disease Association, and is looking for more possible candidates to sponsor. Veterinarians who work with wildlife in Africa, Asia, South America and Eastern Europe are eligible. Membership includes a subscription to the Journal of Wildlife Disease.  Click here for the WDA membership form.

Funding of Small Field Studies -Foreign veterinarians also have the opportunity to apply for funding from the FVP to carry out field projects studying aspects of wildlife health. Here is information on some of the projects we’ve sponsored already:

Mara-Sheep-Hare Disease Interactions in Patagonia, Principal Investigator: Dr. Carolina Marull. Click here for a full report.

Ticks and Tick-borne diseases at El Ray National Park, Argentina, Principal Investigator: Dr. Pablo Beldomenico. Click here for a full report.

Health of Free-ranging Raptors in Argentina, Principal Investigator: Dr. Miguel Sagesse. Click here for the full report.

Mazama in the Atlantic Forest Fragments of Brazil, Principal Investigator: Dr. Paulo Mangini. Full report to come.

Serological Survey of Ocelots and Coyotes in Tropical Deciduous Forests of Mexico, Pricipal Investigator: Dr. Carlos Lopez Gonzalez. Click here for a full report.

Health Status of Nestlings of Endangered raptor Species in Hungary, Principal Investigator: Dr. Karoly Erdelyi. Click here for a full report.

Non-Invasive Health Monitoring of Procedures For Free-Living Ungulates in India, Principal Investigator: Dr. Sushil Sood. Full report to come.

Health Assessment of Wild Populations of Capuchins and Howler Monkeys in Colombia, Principal Investigator: Dr. Fernando Nassar Montoya.  Click here for a full report

Assessment of Brucellosis in Impala and Zebra Sharing the Same Rangeland with Livestock in Uganda, Principal Investigator: Dr. Joseph Okori. Full report to come.

Health Evaluation of free-ranging African Green Monkeys, De Brazza Monkeys, and Black and White Colobus Monkeys in Uganda, Principal Investigator: Dr. Josephine Afema.  Full report to come.

Health Evaluation of free-ranging Mexican Beaded Lizards, Principal Investigator: Dr. David Espinosa.  Full report to come.

Investigation of microfilariasis in captive Asian elephants and domesticated animals in India, Principal Investigator:  Dr. Khyne U Mar.  Full report to come.

Health status of free-ranging vizcachas in the Arid Chaco of Argentina, Principal Investigator: Dr. Hebe Ferreyra.  Click here for a full report.

Survey of the gastro-intestinal helminths of habituated and non-habituated wild chimpanzees and humans in Uganda, Principal Investigator: Lawrence Mugisha.  Full report to come.

Forest Elephant Tracking -For several years now, the FVP has been assisting WCS researcher Steve Blake with his forest elephant tracking project in Congo and the Central African Republic. Our veterinarians safely immobilize the elephants so that Mr. Blake can fit them with a tracking collar. Click here for the latest trip report.

Sea birds, sea lions, and seals - The FVP is involved in long-term monitoring of toxin levels in several species of birds found in Peru and Argentina, including Guanay cormorants, giant petrels, and red-legged cormorants. FVP veterinarians are also studying immunology in fur seals, elephant seals, and sea lions. Click here to read the latest report.

Bolivia Projects - FVP veterinarians are working with a variety of species in several national parks in Bolivia. Recent trips have focused on maned wolves, oncillas, tayras, armadillos, blue-fronted parrots, tapirs, and peccaries.  To read the latest trip report Click here.