RESEARCH TOPICS

Various key clinical disciplines in zoological medicine: anaesthesia and sedation, infectious diseases, pathology, reproduction

RESPONSIBILITIES

Coordination of medical care for animals at Antwerp ZOO and Planckendael ZOO

AREAS OF INTEREST FOR RESEARCH

• Anaesthesia and sedation
• Clinical pathology
• Dentistry
• Clinical care of Giraffidae (okapis and giraffes)

A primary focus on diagnosis, treatment and preventive measures, for both individual animals and groups of animals.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

I graduated from Ghent University in 2015. A keen interest in exotic animal veterinary medicine prompted me to look for career opportunities both in Belgium and abroad with a view to broadening my knowledge of this fascinating discipline. This led me to work in places such as South Africa and Asia. Closer to home, I was also employed as a farm vet in the Flemish region 'Kempen'. In addition to the above, I also worked at a rescue centre for wild animals at Ghent University, where I gained even more experience caring for exotic species. I also spent five years as a veterinary anaesthesiologist in Belgium, the Netherlands and France, in which I focused on the chemical immobilisation of wild animals that have escaped or are difficult to get close to. This is a key competence when working with dangerous and/or wild animals, for which I have taken numerous training courses.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

• European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians (EAZWV)
• American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV)
• Assessor on scientific review committee for the annual EAZWV conference

KEY PUBLICATIONS

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma in a Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) – pending

Standardisation of sperm collection and sperm assessment among cervids Research as part of my master’s thesis

Worm infections among donkeys Research as part of my master’s thesis