Bear Conservation Medicine

The Bear Conservation Medicine Program collaborates with more than 120 zoological parks on four continents. The program objective is to improve the welfare of "bear ambassadors" in captive conservation breeding and management centers around the globe. The program also works with governments and private wildlife conservation agencies to help save these vanishing species from extinction in the wild. The program's conservation health monitoring projects support the work of wildlife biologists dedicated to preserving the 8 species of bears. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jordan Schaul, B.A., M.S., Ph.D. (D.V.M. Candidate); Assistant Director, Laboratory for Wildlife & Environmental Health (LWEH), College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences (Formerly of the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University); Affiliate Research Scientist, Fundacion Zoobreviven (Ecuador); Research Associate, The Alaska Zoo; Animal Keeper Emeritus; & Correspondent Editor & Captive Bears Correspondent- Western Hemisphere Section, International Bear News (International Association for Bear Research & Management (IBA) / World Conservation Union (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC), Bear Specialist Group (BSG))
<ibanews@bearbiology.org> ; <j.schaul@conservationinstitutute.org> ; <schaul.2@osu.edu> ; <jschaul@westernu.edu>

Shannon Jensen, B.S. (M.S. Candidate); Curator & Research Coordinator, The Alaska Zoo, Anchorage, Alaska; & Graduate Student, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska- Anchorage
<sjensen@alaskazoo.org> ; <sjensen@bearconservationmedicine.org>

Teresa Morishita, B.S., M.S., D.V.M., M.P.V.M., Ph.D., Dipl. ACPV; Professor, Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences; Adjunct Professor & Extension Veterinarian, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University (OSU); Adjunct Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, College of Food, Agriculture, & Environmental Science, OSU; Director, Laboratory for Wildlife & Environmental Health; Director, Avian Disease Investigation Laboratory; Editorial Board, Avian Diseases; & Editor, Journal of Zoo & Wildlife Medicine (AAZV / EAZWV) <jzwm_editor@yahoo.com> ; <morishita.1@osu.edu> ; <tmorishita@westernu.edu>

Else Poulsen, B.S., Animal Management Consultant, Behavioral & Environmental Solutions, Ontario, Canada; Animal Keeper Emeritus, Calgary & Detroit zoos; Inaugural Lead Keeper (Emeritus), "Arctic Ring of Life" exhibit, the largest polar bear exhibit in the world.
<embpoulsen@hotmail.com> ; <epoulsen@bearconservationmedicine.org>

Karen Ehnert, B.S., D.V.M., M.P.V.M, M.S., Dipl. ACVPM; Senior Veterinarian, Veterinary Public Health Programs, Department of Health Services, Los
Angeles County, California; Adjunct Faculty, College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University, Los Angeles, California
<kehnert@ladhs.org>

Albert Lewandowski, B.S., D.V.M; David Steffee Chair of Veterinary Medicine, Sarah Allison Steffee Center for Zoological Medicine, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo ; Member, Accreditation Committee, Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA)
<ahl@clevelandmetroparks.com>

Linda Dehoff, R.V.T; Hospital Administrator & Medical Records Manager, Sarah Allison Steffee Center for Zoological Medicine, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo <led@clevelandmetroparks.com>

Chris Bonar, B.S., V.M.D; Associate Veterinarian, Sarah Allison Steffee Center for Zoological Medicine, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo <cjb@clevelandmetroparks.com>

Victoria Voith, B.S., D.V.M, Ph.D., DACVB; Professor, Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences; Adjunct Professor, California State Polytechnic University- Pomona
<vvoith@westernu.edu>
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BCMP Sanctuary, Zoo, & Rehabilitation Facility Advisors for Animal Care, Research, & Welfare
Husbandry, Training, & Enrichment Advisors; Propagation & Rearing Advisors; Animal Welfare Advisors; Conservation & Captive Research Advisors
Conservation & Field Research Advisors; Population Health & Clinical Research Advisors; Laboratory & Veterinary Technology Advisors; Veterinary Public Health & Safety Advisors; Environmental/Public Policy Advisors; Mustelid Husbandry Advisors

The LWEH offers epidemiological and diagnostic services for investigations of infectious & zoonotic pathogens in captive and free-ranging wildlife species. Research programs include surveillance studies of terrestrial and aquatic vertebrates (including native and exotic herpetofauna, ichthyofauna, and avifauna). The LWEH also provides laboratory resources for monitoring ecosystem health (i.e., air & water quality) in conjunction with our affiliate researchers at the OSU-CVM's Avian Disease Investigation Laboratory (ADIL). Both the Avian Disease Investigation Laboratory (Infectious/Zoonotic Diseases) and the Laboratory for Wildlife & Environmental Health will be relocating to Western University's College of Veterinary Medicine (Los Angeles, California) in August of 2006.

Mission: To contribute to the health and well-being of wildlife ambassadors in captive conservation programs, as well as monitor ecological, animal, and human health through our conservation health studies.