Wildlife Conservation Medicine

Wildlife conservation operates at an epicenter where human, animal, and environmental health converge, giving it special relevance in safeguarding global health, animal welfare, and human well-being. This course aims to prepare wildlife professionals to operate at this nexus with knowledge, skills, and ethical responsibility. Through a multidisciplinary lens, the course equips participants—primarily veterinarians—with a deep understanding of wildlife health, ecosystem dynamics, and the interconnectedness championed by the One Health approach. Graduates will be capable of contributing meaningfully to conservation initiatives, responding to emerging health threats, and promoting sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife.

- 26/06/2027

Carolina Bento

Researcher in Marine Species Conservation and Assistant Professor at EUVG. DVM, MSc., PhD in Veterinary Science Carolina completed her Degree in Veterinary Medicine and Master's degree at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Lisbon, and a PhD in virology and immunology of cetaceans at the same institution. Additionally, she recently (in 2023) completed a Master's degree in Bioinformatics and Biostatistics at the Universidad Catolica de Murcia. Working as a veterinarian at Vetcondeixa, specializing in small and exotic animals, she also serves as an Assistant Professor at EUVG. Since 2009, she has extensively collaborated with Cram-ECOMARE, contributing to internships, projects, and providing veterinary consulting services. Carolina has completed postgraduate courses in exotic and wild animal medicine and surgery, as well as in abdominal and cardiac ultrasound.

Carlos Gonçalo das Neves

Chief Scientist da European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). DVM, PhD, Dipl. ECZM (Wildlife Population Health) Professor Carlos Gonçalo das Neves, is a Portuguese and Norwegian citizen, graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the Technical University of Lisbon in 2004, and received his PhD in Veterinary Sciences (area of virology) in 2009 from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Sciences. He also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a Certificate in Public Policy from the London School of Economics. He is currently the Chief Scientist of the European Food Safety Authority, having previously served between 2019 and 2022 as Director of Research and Internationalization at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NVI), after having also served there as Director of Virology and Director of Food Safety and Emerging Threats. He is also a Full Professor at the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Tromsø, Norway. Prof. das Neves has worked in the field of wildlife diseases, and has experience in topics related to ONE HEALTH, zoonotic diseases, AMR, emerging threats and food systems. He has a strong background in science policy, advocacy and strategic partnership development. In 2013 he obtained the specialist diploma of the European College of Zoological Medicine, and served between 2018 and 2023 as the chair of the Wildlife Population Health Specialty of the same College. Between 2014 and 2018 he also served as an animal welfare and health specialist on the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment. He is a commissioner in the Lancet ONE HEALTH Commission, and a member of the Global 1 Health Network and the One Sustainable Health Forum, as well as one of the lead authors of the developing report "Nexus" on the interlinkages between biodiversity, water, food and health of the IPBES (Intergovernmental Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services). He is a member of the IUCN Wildlife Health Specialist Group, and served between 2019 and 2021 as president of the Wildlife Disease Association. He was also Honorary Consul of Portugal in Norway between 2010 and 2017.

Nuno Marques Pereira

Veterinarian at Oceanário de Lisboa and Centro de Recuperação do Lobo Ibérico. DVM, Invited Professor at ULHT Nuno Marques Pereira graduated in Veterinary Medicine at the Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária Universidade de Lisboa, in 1987. He began his professional life at a small animal clinic, working simultaneously with wild animals such as the Iberian wolf, collaborating with the Centro de Recuperação do Lobo Ibérico in Mafra. Twenty-six years ago, he shifted his focus to aquatic animal medicine, assuming the role of attending veterinarian at the Oceanário de Lisboa. In addition to his emphasis on ornamental fish medicine, since 2006, Nuno has served, in the Lisbon area, as the attending vet in several aquatic animal research facilities. Over the years, he has gained experience in the medical and surgical care of aquatic birds, teleosts, elasmobranchs, and amphibians. Since 2005, he has been an invited lecturer at the Veterinary Faculty of Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias in Lisbon, where he teaches courses on Fish Medicine and Conservation Medicine.

Gonçalo Rosa

Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, UK, IMIB-CSIC Instituto Mixto de Investigación en Biodiversidad, IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Gonçalo M. Rosa is a multidisciplinary conservation scientist linking both field and experimental work with modelling and cutting-edge molecular tools to better inform effective conservation management. Gonçalo’s research has focused on mechanisms that underpin global biodiversity change and how populations respond to emerging threats in the Anthropocene. His work seeks to understand the mechanisms that drive emerging diseases in wildlife. Particularly, Gonçalo is interested in using amphibians to investigate temporal disruptions in stable host-pathogen systems and how immunity traits affect ecological dynamics. While Gonçalo’s early work integrated population ecology with conservation-based studies in Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, the increasing recognition of emerging infectious diseases as a global driver of biodiversity loss took him to new challenges in Iberia, the Caribbean, and Central America. Additional lines of research include the interplay between multiple threats—such as invasive species or habitat alteration—pushing the boundaries of wildlife health.

Tom Hellebuyck

Head of Division for Exotic Companion Animals and Wildlife at Ghent University. DVM, PhD, Dipl. ECZM (Herpetology)

Graduated as a veterinarian from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Ghent University (Belgium) in 2006. Following his PhD, which focused on Devriesea agamarum infections in lizards, he continued to perform research on the health problems of a variety of reptiles, amphibians, and birds.

He became head of the clinic at the Division for Exotic Companion Animals and Wildlife at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Ghent University.

He is a Diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine (Herp) and is actively involved in several ECZM committees.

He has authored and co-authored numerous scientific publications and book chapters and is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences. In addition, he acts as an advisor to national authorities with regard to reptile medicine and welfare. He is the current representative member of the country in the ARAV International Committee.

Hugo Lopes

Lecturer and speaker on wildlife surgery, medicine, and rehabilitation. DVM, PG Degree in Exotic Animals (IFEVET) Graduated Veterinary Medicine School of the University of Tras os Montes e Alto Douro in 2002, and completed curricular externships in Exotic Animal Clinics in Madrid and Barcelona, Spain, and at The Raptor Center of the University of Minnesota (Wild Animal Rehabilitation Center). Started his professional life at The Raptor Center of the University of Minnesota for 3 years, where he completed the Internship and was Assistant Clinical Director for 1 year, before returning to Portugal. Upon his return, did new externships in Exotic Animal and Wildlife Rehabilitation in Madrid, Barcelona, and Berlin, while doing Exotic Animal Practice in Lisbon and collaborating with Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers around Portugal. In 2009 co-founded Vetolaias, a Small Animal and Exotic Animal Veterinary Clinic in Lisbon, and dedicated to Exotic and Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, while also working as Clinical Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers in Olhão (RIAS) and Cadaval (CRASM). Frequent lecturer and trainer, his main areas of interest are; Wildlife Rehabilitation, and Wildlife, Falconry, and Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery. In 2023 moved to Braga to pursue new professional and personal goals, and completed a Post Graduate Degree in Exotic Animals (IFEVET).

Ricardo Brandão

Clinical Director at CERVAS, Coordinator of “Programa Antídoto”. DVM, MSc. Conservation Biology Ricardo Brandão graduated in Veterinary Medicine by UTAD in 2002, with further studies in Conservation Biology. Founder and President of the NGO ALDEIA between 2003 and 2009 and, again, since 2024. Coordinator of Programa Antídoto – Portugal between 2003 and 2010. Collaborator of Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Institute at Serra da Estrela Natural Park, between 2005 and 2008. Coordinator and Veterinarian of CERVAS since 2009. Member of veterinary teams in threatened species (Bonelli´s Eagle, Iberian Wolf) conservation projects since 2006. Teacher of the Wild Animal Conservation class at EUVG since 2021.

João Brandão

DVM, MS, Dipl. ECZM (Avian), Dipl. ACZM

Professor of Avian, Exotic, and Zoological Medicine - Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Colorado State University, USA. Earned his veterinary degree from the University of Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro in Vila Real, Portugal. He completed exotic animal and zoological medicine internships at the Great Western Referrals (Swindon, UK), Tufts University (North Grafton, MA), and the University of Georgia (Athens, GA). Brandao completed a three-year zoological medicine residency and a Master of Science degree in Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Louisiana State University. He is a diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine (Avian), the American College of Zoological Medicine, and EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Avian Medicine and Surgery. He has been awarded the Debbie and Wayne Bell Professorship in Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

Manuel Garcia Hartmann

President of the NGO MarLab, Expert in zoo and marine mammal medicine. DVM, PG Specialization in Wildlife Medicine Manuel Garcia Hartmann is a veterinarian working with captive and rehabilitating wildlife since graduating from veterinary college in Giessen, Germany, in 1989 and obtaining a postgraduate specialization in zoo and wildlife medicine in 2002 from the German Official College of Veterinarians, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Throughout his career, Manuel has contributed to marine animal conservation in many roles, such as chief pathologist for the Dutch Marine Mammal Stranding Network, in the Netherlands, head of the veterinary department of the Seal Rehabilitation and Research Center Pieterburen, Netherlands, head of the veterinary department and director of research and curator of Marineland Antibes, France. Currently, Manuel is the President of MarLab, a non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to nature conservation, based in France. And collaborates as an international veterinary consultant for the Center for the Rehabilitation of Marine Animals of the University of Aveiro, and for marine wildlife and zoo animals in several countries, such as Lithuania, France, Greece, Israel, Russia, China.

Luís Pedro Carmo

Senior Research Assistant at the Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern. DVM, PhD, Dipl. ECVPH Luís has completed his Integrated Masters in Veterinary Medicine at the Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute from the University of Porto (Portugal). He started his research journey at the University of Copenhagen, where he conducted an exposure assessment of ESBL-producing bacteria from meat. He would then go to Switzerland, where he would complete his PhD and his specialization from the European College of Veterinary Public Health at the University of Bern. He would remain at the University of Bern for almost 9 years, conducting epidemiological research, doing consultancy for various stakeholders (e.g. other faculty departments, federal offices, industry actors) and teaching. In 2022, Luís moved to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute to work as a senior researcher where he stayed for 3 year before heading back to the University of Bern. Luís has extensive experience in project management and teaching. His research interests are wide and range from health surveillance, integrated approaches to health, sustainability to systems thinking. He is very keen on the use of collaborative approaches, such as transdisciplinarity.

Norin Chai

DVM, MSc., PhD. Diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine (Zoo Health Management) Norin graduated from the Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort,France and completed two Master of Science, one in «Tropical animal pathology» and one in “Tropical Animal Production”. In 1996, he finished his doctoral degree in Veterinary Medicine on “Ecology and Ethology of the Leopard (Panthera pardus)”. He started his career with the position of director of the National Park of Manda (Chad) from 1995 to 1996. In 1997, he entered the National Museum of Natural History (France) as a research Engineer and as the deputy director of the Parc de la Haute Touche (zoological park in center of France). In 2000, he moved back to Paris as a field vet in the Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes (a zoo in Paris). In 2008, he finished his second doctoral degree (PhD) on Amphibian medicine. In 2013 he became a Diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine in Zoo Health Management. From 2005 until September 2020, he had been the head veterinarian and the deputy director of the Ménagerie. He quite his position in October 2020 to follow his own personal projects. Norin is the founder and president of Yaboumba, a NGO working in Conservation and humanitarian projects. He is regularly asked for expertise on wildlife medical cases and conservation projects around the world. He has published numerous articles in veterinary journals, national magazines, and given hundreds of lectures in national and international congresses.

Jorge Soares

Wildlife Veterinarian, founder of the BeWildAid NGO. DVM, MSc. (Wild Animal Health), CertZooMed, MRCVS. Degree in Veterinary Medicine by the Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal. Master of Science in "Wild Animal Health" by the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London & The Royal Veterinary College, University of London and Certificate in Zoological Medicine by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. For the last 25 years has worked in several zoological parks & conservation organizations. From 2010 to 2014 was the Director of Veterinary and Laboratory Services for the Saudi Wildlife Authority, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Between 2015 and 2019 was the Director of Veterinary & Laboratory Services for the Loro Parque Fundación, Loro Parque & Poema del Mar, Canary Islands, Spain. In January 2020 founded BeWild Aid a ONG providing expert veterinary services for Ethiopia´s Prime Minister´s, the Ethiopia Wildlife Conservation Authority and regional wildlife authorities implementing the “state of art” headquarters of the Ethiopian Wildlife Veterinary Services, providing services across the region and to other conservation projects around the world. Since July 2022 is also providing veterinary services as the Head of Veterinary Services in India in what is becoming the largest wildlife rescue operation in the world.

Mariana Fragoso

DVM, MSc., PhD. Diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine (Zoo Health Management) Graduated from the Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort,France and completed two Master of Science, one in «Tropical animal pathology» and one in “Tropical Animal Production”. In 1996, he finished his doctoral degree in Veterinary Medicine on “Ecology and Ethology of the Leopard (Panthera pardus)”. He started his career with the position of director of the National Park of Manda (Chad) from 1995 to 1996. In 1997, he entered the National Museum of Natural History (France) as a research Engineer and as the deputy director of the Parc de la Haute Touche (zoological park in center of France). In 2000, he moved back to Paris as a field vet in the Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes (a zoo in Paris). In 2008, he finished his second doctoral degree (PhD) on Amphibian medicine. In 2013 he became a Diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine in Zoo Health Management. From 2005 until September 2020, he had been the head veterinarian and the deputy director of the Ménagerie. He quite his position in October 2020 to follow his own personal projects. Norin is the founder and president of Yaboumba, a NGO working in Conservation and humanitarian projects. He is regularly asked for expertise on wildlife medical cases and conservation projects around the world. He has published numerous articles in veterinary journals, national magazines, and given hundreds of lectures in national and international congresses.

Thomas Bernd Hildebrandt

Prof. Thomas Bernd Hildebrandt heads the department of Reproduction Management at Leibniz-IZW and is full Professor of Wildlife Reproduction Medicine at Freie Universität Berlin, as well as being an honorary professor at the University of Melbourne, Australia. From 1986 to 1992 he studied veterinary medicine at Humboldt-Universität in Berlin, received his doctorate summa cum laude from Freie Universität Berlin and is certified as a zoo, wildlife and game veterinarian. In his special field, reproduction biology, he is one of the pioneers of assisted reproduction in large mammals, including elephants, rhinos, big cats, and panda bears. He is represented in several professional societies, is Honorary Professorial Fellow Life Sciences at Melbourne University, Research Associate of the Smithsonian Institution (National Zoological Park), Fellow of the Zoological Society of San Diego Zoo, Scientific Associate of the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Conservation Fellow of the Zoological Society London and Veterinary Advisor for the European elephant Taxon Advisory Group. He is also a passionate supporter of the public communication of science, talking at science meetings across the globe and he has also presented his work on the BBC. He has served on numerous advisory bodies in Europe and elsewhere. He has been Associate Editor of Human Reproduction and Molecular Human Reproduction. He has published 153 papers, written 24 book chapters, given over 212 presentations (including 50 plenary lectures) and has 5 patents.

Susanne Holtze

Dr. Susanne Holtze studied biology at Freie Universität Berlin, conducted her master’s thesis at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. For her doctorate, she worked at Charité Berlin and the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig. She obtained a degree in veterinary medicine from Freie Universität Berlin. Since 2012, she has been working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Leibniz-IZW focusing on ageing research as well as assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in endangered species.

Five Modules:

Detection, Surveillance And Emerging Diseases

Recognize and discuss the interconnections between human, animal, and environmental health
Manage infectious diseases at the interface between animals, humans and the environment
Collect, analyse and interpret data to inform decision-making in at the human-animal-environment interface
Determine a sampling strategy for a surveillance system
Transform raw data into actionable knowledge and ultimately, actionable wisdom

Birds

Recognize the anatomical and physiological characteristics relevant to avian conservation medicine
Design a safe and effective plan to capture, contain and transport wild birds
Assess, diagnose and treat diseases in wild birds
Implement preventative and mitigating measures
Evaluate and interpret scientific evidence in the context of avian conservation medicine

Reptiles And Amphibians

Design a safe capture, restraint and immobilization plan for reptiles
Perform examinations, and establish a diagnosis and treatment plan for reptile diseases
Design a safe capture, restraint and immobilization plan for amphibians
Address health issues in amphibian conservation

Marine Animals

Establish priorities and make clinical decisions in marine wildlife conservation
Incorporate knowledge in animal welfare and behavior into marine wildlife medicine
Recognize ecologically relevant diseases of fish, marine birds and marine turtles
Plan ahead for special challenges of marine mammal patients

Mammals

Recognize and manage priorities in mammal conservation medicine
Design safe and effective capture and restraint plans for wild mammals
Assess, diagnose and treat relevant diseases in wild mammals
Design quarantine protocols and preventative plans
Integrate community engagement into conservation medicine

*Provisional program under update

DETECTION, SURVEILLANCE AND EMERGING DISEASES
- One health in changing times
- Infectious diseases at the interface between animals, humans, and the environment
- Integrated surveillance systems
- Wildlife disease in Europe: an overview
BIRDS
- Anatomy and Physiology – Key Aspects for the Medicine and Rehabilitation of Wild Birds
- Capture, Restraint, and Transport of Wild Birds
- Physical Examination and Diagnostic Procedures in Wild Birds.
- High mortality events: botulism, toxic algal blooms, starvation events.
- Intoxications in wild birds
- Selected infectious diseases of wild birds
- Refeeding syndrome in raptors
- Selected wild bird zoonotic diseases
- Anaesthesia and sedation of wild birds
- Common conditions in avian conservation: oil spill response, and capture myopathy
- Wild Bird Rehabilitation
- Avian Conservation Medicine
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
- Anatomy, physiology, and behaviour of reptiles: an overview
- Restraint, immobilization, anaesthesia, administrations and sampling in reptiles
- Reptile infectious and non-infectious diseases
- Reptile reproductive disorders
- Reptile surgery
- Real life examples of One Health cases from Borneo
- Anatomy, physiology, and behaviour of amphibians: an overview
- Capture, Restraint, and Immobilization (Sampling, Marking, and Monitoring)
- Emerging infectious diseases and conservation threats in amphibians
MARINE ANIMALS
- Anatomy and physiology of teleosts and elasmobranchs.
- Main fish diseases and their correlation with conservation issues.
- Chemical immobilization and anaesthesia.
- Collection of biological material and other diagnostic techniques related to conservation medicine.
- Surgery and necropsy.
- When marine mammals strand
- Marine reptiles: sea turtle conservation
- Soft skills and community engagement in sea turtle conservation
- Introduction
- Behaviour of marine mammals from a veterinary perspective
- Common diseases in marine mammals, including zoonosis and disease management
- Rehabilitation of pinnipeds and cetaceans
- Welfare of marine mammals, especially dolphins
MAMMALS
- BioRescue
- Assited Reproductive Technologies in wildlife
- Biobanking
- Semen Cryopreservation in wildlife
- Conservation medicine – Challenges in the Horn of Africa
- Ecosystem conservation – What is the role of a wildlife veterinarian? A case study of Ethiopia
- Clinical management of elephants
- Conservation medicine in Africa – directing a National Park
- Conservation medicine in America – case studies in Alaska, Costa Rica, Peru, Brazil
- Wild Felid medicine and surgery
- The role of veterinary associations in wildlife conservation
- Conservation medicine in Asia – the role of a wildlife veterinarian, from rescue centres to zoological parks in Cambodia, Laos and Indonesia
- Primate medicine and surgery

1650€ (Early Bird Prices: 1400€ + 4 installments payment option available)

TRAINING
CERTIFIED

Who is this training for?

The Postgraduation in Wildlife Conservation Medicine is primarily designed for veterinarians and final stage veterinary students. However, the program also acknowledges the interdisciplinary nature of wildlife conservation and the One Health approach. As such, it can accommodate professionals from related fields including biologists, ecologists, public health specialists, and environmental scientists—whose work intersects with wildlife health and conservation. Participation from these groups is welcome under specific circumstances, where their roles support or complement veterinary-led initiatives. This inclusive design ensures the program remains collaborative while maintaining a core focus on veterinary expertise.

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Testimonials

Como estudante finalista de Medicina Veterinária, apaixonada por vida selvagem e conservação, este curso foi exatamente o que eu precisava! Um excelente ponto de partida para todos os estudantes que pretendem ingressar na medicina de conservação da vida selvagem ou para aqueles que procuram consolidar os seus conhecimentos nesta área!

Catarina M., antiga estudante PG Medicina Conservação Vida Selvagem

It was an excellent course, and I would do it all over again without hesitation.

Mauro P., antigo estudante PG Medicina Conservação Vida Selvagem

It gave me exposure to a unified ‘One Health’ approach to health, collaboration, and conservation. I was able to learn from a distinguished group of very accomplished faculty and participate with an equally stimulating group of peers. The administration was handled excellently as well. Truly grateful to have been part of this endeavour! Thank you!

Aayush A., antiga estudante PG Medicina Conservação Vida Selvagem

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