One World - One Health TM Website
 The WCS Health Programs have launched a new website where you can learn more about our global initiatives, training opportunities and the wild animal species we work with, from the New York zoological parks and aquarium to the arid grasslands in Central Asia, the humid rainforests of the Congo and beyond.



Wild Ass on the Roam Again
For the first time in over a century, Asiatic wild ass or kulan are roaming the central steppes of Kazakhstan. Kulan once ranged all across the Middle East and Central Asia- from the Mediterranean to the east of Mongolia. During the last two centuries their presence has dramatically decreased to less than 3% of their former range. Dr Chris Walzer, Director of WCS's Wildlife Health Program recently assisted with the translocation and release of 9 kulan into an acclimatization enclosure within a Kazakh protected area: the first step in a multi-year project to restore large herbivores to this unique steppe habitat.



First Iranian Field Guide on Wildlife Disease

Iran hosts a rare and unique assemblage of wildlife and habitats, with such emblematic species as the Asiatic cheetah, and wild ungulates such as the Persian gazelle and ibex which are threatened by spill-over of disease from domestic livestock. WCS veterinarian, Dr Stephane Ostrowski, recently collaborated with Dr Iman Memarian and his research team to produce the first guide to wildlife diseases in Iran.



Risk Versus Reward for Royal River Terrapin
 Southern River terrapins (Batagur affinis) are amongst the top 25 most endangered turtles in the world and are now only found in the Western Malay peninsula and Cambodia. WCS conservation efforts have seen 250 turtles raised as part of a head-start program in Cambodia, with successful release into the wild of more than 40 individuals bearing GPS transmitters. Obtaining baseline data on health status is a key part of the program: it aids in management of the turtles and is vital for identification of potential pathogens in order to assess risk versus reward for reintroduction programs and ensure disease is not introduced into wild populations.





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The Wildlife Conservation Society was among the first zoos in the world to have full time veterinary care for their animals, with a clinician and pathologist hired in 1903 and a zoo animal hospital opening at the Bronx Zoo in 1916. We were also one of the first conservation organizations with a dedicated team of wildlife veterinarians deployed around the world to address the health of free ranging wildlife and problem-solve at the wildlife / domestic animal / human health and livelihoods interface, all underpinned by a foundation of environmental stewardship.
To learn how to support the  One World - One Health  portfolio at WCS, please contact Dr. Chris Walzer at cwalzer@wcs.org or Dr. Paul Calle at  pcalle@wcs.org .

  And please let us know if you have comments on this e-newsletter.






Photo Credits- WCS (WCS Wildlife Health Programs website); Daniel Rosengren/ Frankfurt Zoological Society (kulan release); Dr Iman Memarian (wildlife disease guide); Sitha Som/ WCS (Batagur)

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