Recently OVAID were pleased to help sponsor vet Dr Aisyah Fadia a member of the veterinary team from the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP), to attend a 4-day Wildlife Pathology Course in Malang, Indonesia. The programme was a collaboration between the Australian Registry of Wildlife Health - Tarongga Conservation Society, Australia & the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia. 

 

Aisyah’s own words describe her appreciation and just how much she gained from this training opportunity: "Thank you so much for OVAID’s continued support. The course aligned perfectly with my professional learning aspirations and the emphasis on hands-on training, field visits and interactive sessions has provided me with invaluable practical skills."

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Recognizing the significance of wildlife conservation and the integral role pathology plays in safeguarding biodiversity, wildlife pathology stands at the forefront of effective conservation, providing critical insights into the health of endangered species. Orangutans, an emblematic species on the brink of extinction, face multifaceted challenges ranging from habitat loss to health-related threats. In light of this, OVAID and SOCP recognise the urgent need to deepen expertise in wildlife pathology, specifically tailored to orangutan conservation. 

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The Indonesia Wildlife Pathology Short Course stood out as an exceptional opportunity to bridge the gap between theory and real-world application. The course's focus on wildlife diseases, necropsy techniques, and emerging issues aligned perfectly with Aisyah's career aspirations and the course's emphasis on hands-on training, field visits, and interactive sessions served to enhance Aisyah’s professional capabilities and contribute meaningfully to the broader goal of preserving Indonesia's rich biodiversity and to the conservation efforts of orangutans and their habitats.

 

Specific subjects covered during the four-day intensive course included post-mortem examinations, necropsy techniques, biosafety, sample collection and histopathology interpretation together with discussions on emerging viral diseases.

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Aisyah was also invited to deliver a presentation on the case history of an orangutan which she and the SOCP vet team had cared for, for discussion by the participants and lecturers.