Training:

WVI has participated in many veterinary workshops in several locations in Russia benefiting tiger biologists, vets and veterinary students. Working with the Wildlife Conservation Society – Russia (WCS-Russia) staff on field projects in the Russian Far East has provided innumerable opportunities to provide practical clinical training to young vets and biologists over many years. Russian wildlife vet, Dr Misha Gonchuruk, has received training on large carnivore anaesthesia in the UK as well as in Russian zoos and in field conditions in the Russian Far East.

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Practical Clinical Help:

WVI has assisted with the radio-collaring and health assessments of wild tigers in the Russian Far East, working with WCS-Russia.

We provide clinical support to the Alexyevka Tiger and Leopard Rehabilitation Centre.

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Disease Investigation:

As well as collecting a wide range of samples from leopards and tigers in the Russian Far East for disease analysis, WVI collaborates with colleagues from the Russian Academy of Sciences, WCS-Russia and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in ongoing investigations into disease risks for wild tigers and leopards.

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Information and Advice:

We are in regular communication with the Alexyevka Tiger and Leopard Rehabilitation Centre in the Russian Far East, and ZSL’s team based at the Lasovsky State Nature Reserve – providing advice as necessary.

A field manual (“Principles and Practice of Field Anaesthesia”) was written for field staff in 2004 and revised in 2005, 2006 and 2009 – specifically tailored to the conditions of the Russian Far East.

In 2011, John Lewis of WVI collaborated with others to analyse data collected over many years by WCS-Russia – leading to the first published survey of disease exposure in wild Russian tigers*. Goodrich J. et al (2012), J. Wildlife Diseases, 48 (1), 186-189

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Research:

WVI has facilitated studies into whether ticks in the Russian Far East carry disease agents that might affect tigers.