Ex situ and In situ Conservation Skills for Zoo and Wildlife Veterinary Students Course
Ex-situ and in situ conservation skills for zoo and wildlife veterinary course will be held at Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College (AVC), Walailak University, Nakorn Si Thammarat province, Thailand, January 14-21, 2023, to engage in properly plan, implement and maintaining ex-situ and in situ conservation program for the zoo and wildlife veterinary students. The workshop will be held in ex-situ and in-situ facilities in 10 key areas with real-life situations and excellent experiences.
Objectives:
1. Short training course for young veterinary students who are interested in the zoo and wildlife fields.
2. Ex-situ and in-situ conservation important skills for young veterinary students.
3. Make a international young zoo and wildlife veterinary network
Ex-situ facilities:
- Songkhla zoo, Songkhla province
- AVC, Walailak University
- Safari World, Bangkok
- Elephant care Samui, Samui Island
- Elephant world, Kanchanaburi province
- Khao PratubChang Wildlife Breeding center, Kanchannaburi province
In situ facilities:
- Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, Prajeubkirikan province
- Khao Chong Pran, Ratchaburi province
- Khao Namphu Nature and Education center, Kanchannaburi province
- Khao SalakPhra Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanchannaburi province
Teaching & Learning
- A total of 7 Thai and 8 International students join in this upskill project
- Five important aspects of captive population management: Husbandry, zoo design and management, restraint, sample collection, and animal health in zoos and other captive (ex-situ) facilities.
- Five important aspects of habitat population management are covered: Sanctuary facilities, animal trapping, sample collection, wild life behavior, and wild life research in the field (in-situ).
Partnerships :
- Six Ex situ facilities (3 from governments and 3 from non-governments)
- Four In situ facilities (3 from governments and 1 from non-governments)
- Three veterinary collage for International zoo and wildlife network
(Thailand-Australia-South Korea)
Presentations and meetings with relevant stakeholders to facilitate practical implementation. 1) Designing one-day nature study tour routes. 2) Designing two-day, one-night nature study tour routes. 3) Designing multi-night nature study tour routes. 4)Creating eco-tourism guides (birdwatching/plant identification). And 5) Developing directional signs/route guides.
Research & Innovation
- The primary objective of this project was to encourage the conservation and sustainable utilization of Tan Island’s natural resources.
- The project aimed to preserve at least 1,946 Rai of Dry Evergreen Forest, 139 Rai of mangrove forest and 157 Rai of grove wood.
- Within this project, students in their sixth year who were participating in the “Clinical Practice of Zoological Medicine” course took part in hands-on activities. These activities included birdwatching, wildlife photography, studying wildlife food plants, grasping the significance of ecosystem interdependencies.
- This project was launched in response to the community’s requests on Tan Island, indicating an interest in university participation to assess the viability and appropriateness of conservation-focused tourism management. The project garnered strong support from various stakeholders, including both government and private sector entities.
