NEWS AND VIEWS
FUNDING FOR WILDLIFE PROJECTS AND COURSES
ON THE MOVE
The NZVA’s Wildlife Society special interest branch is offering two grants to support veterinarians and other researchers in improving their skills in, or undertaking projects related to, preserving endangered wildlife.
ASH KEOWN IS ON THE MOOOOVE LAST MONTH ASH Keown moved from his role as NZVA Veterinary Manager (Large Animal) to join Fonterra as its Veterinary Technical Manager – part of Fonterra’s On Farm Excellence team. His role involves supporting farmers to continue to improve dairy cattle welfare in New Zealand. “I’m really excited to be keeping my ties to the veterinary profession and NZVA members,” Ash says. “I hope to be able to strengthen the link between the dairy industry and veterinarians, and for us to work together to polish the animal welfare jewel in our crown.” Ash was a vital part of the NZVA veterinary team and will be missed. Best of luck Ash! Ash can be reached by emailing ash.keown@fonterra.com. n
WE WANT YOUR CASE STUDIES! We love to publish interesting and unusual case studies in VetScript! Have you had a patient needing an out-of-thebox treatment solution? Treated a species that’s not your run of the mill? Learned something new about a problem you see often? Let us know. Case studies should ideally be accompanied by highresolution photos. Contact the Editor at vetscript@vets.org.nz for more information. n
PHOTOGRAPHY: BRAD BONIFACE, ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
THE PRACTITIONERS GRANT supports practising veterinarians to take part in CPD in the area of wildlife medicine. It can be used to fund a wide array of activities; previous grants have been used for practical placements, online courses and practice-based wildlife disease investigations. All practising veterinarians are eligible to apply, and this year’s Practitioners Grant is valued at $2,200. The Marion Cunningham Memorial Fund is awarded to students undertaking projects that are practicable and relevant to current wildlife concerns. The research should enhance veterinary contributions to the welfare and management of New Zealand’s wildlife and promote communication among both veterinarians and non-veterinarians with expertise in wildlife management and research. It should also encourage conservation, especially by veterinary contributions to the management of threatened species. Students undertaking scientific research are eligible to apply and this year’s fund is valued at $2,700. If you have an idea that will either improve your skills as a wildlife veterinarian or benefit the profession’s knowledge of wildlife disease, please apply. Applications for both grants are now open and close on 31 October 2020. Applying is easy – simply fill in the application form telling the Wildlife Society what you want to do with the money! For more information and the application form, please visit www.nzva.org.nz/ page/wildlife or get in touch at wildlife@vets.org.nz. n
ANNUAL REPORT AVAILABLE THE NZVA 2019 annual report, Their Future, is Our Future, is now available at https://cdn.ymaws. com/www.nzva.org.nz/resource/ resmgr/docs/publications/nzva_ annual_report_2019.pdf. NZVA annual reports dating back to 2008 are also available online. n
www.facebook.com/nzvavets
DAYS OF NOTE ALL SEPTEMBER SAVE THE KOALA MONTH 21 SEPTEMBER INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE 22 SEPTEMBER WORLD RHINO DAY 26 SEPTEMBER INTERNATIONAL RABBIT DAY 28 SEPTEMBER CANTERBURY (SOUTH) ANNIVERSARY DAY
VetScript September 2020 – 9
