Herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians and reptiles. Birds, which are cladistically included within Reptilia, are traditionally excluded here; the scientific study of birds is the subject of ornithology.
The National Zoological Park, commonly known as the National Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. It is part of the Smithsonian Institution and does not charge admission. Founded in 1889, its mission is to "provide engaging experiences with animals and create and share knowledge to save wildlife and habitats".
A veterinarian (vet), also known as a veterinary surgeon or veterinary physician, is a medical professional who practices veterinary medicine. They manage a wide range of health conditions and injuries in non-human animals. Along with this, vets also play a role in animal reproduction, animal health management, conservation, husbandry and breeding and preventive medicine like animal nutrition, vaccination and parasitic control as well as biosecurity and zoonotic disease surveillance and prevention.
An avian veterinarian is a veterinarian who specializes in treating birds. All veterinarians, upon first qualification from a certified veterinary college, may treat any species. Additional training is required for qualification to become a recognized specialist in the care of birds.
The Oakland Zoo is a zoo located in the Grass Valley neighborhood of Oakland, California, United States. Established on June 6, 1922, it is managed by the Conservation Society of California, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of wildlife both locally and globally. The zoo is home to more than 850 native and exotic animals. It is recognized for its outstanding leadership in animal welfare, animal care, particularly its elephant care program, its rescue, rehabilitation and conservation programs and for its Leed-certified, 17,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art veterinary hospital—the largest wild animal veterinary facility in Northern California. Oakland Zoo is the recipient of numerous "Best of" awards, including 30 Best U.S. Zoos by U.S. News & World Report and "10 Best" by USA Today Reader’s Choice Awards.
The Detroit Zoo is a zoo located in Royal Oak, Michigan, spanning 125 acres and housing more than 2,000 animals and more than 245 different species. It was the first U.S. zoo to feature bar-less habitats, and is regarded to be an international leader in animal welfare, conservation and sustainability by the Detroit Zoological Society.
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo aka Cleveland Zoological Park is a 183-acre (74 ha) zoo in Cleveland, Ohio. The Zoo is divided into several areas: Australian Adventure; African Savanna; Northern Wilderness Trek, The Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building, Waterfowl Lake, The RainForest, and the newly added Asian Highlands. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has one of the largest collections of primates in North America, The Zoo is a part of the Cleveland Metroparks system.
A veterinary specialist is a veterinarian who specializes in a clinical field of veterinary medicine.
A zoo is a facility in which animals are housed within enclosures, cared for, displayed to the public, and in some cases bred for conservation purposes.
Veterinary anesthesia is anesthesia performed on non-human animals by a veterinarian or a Registered Veterinary Technician. Anesthesia is used for a wider range of circumstances in animals than in people, due to animals' inability to cooperate with certain diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Veterinary anesthesia includes anesthesia of the major species: dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, as well as all other animals requiring veterinary care such as birds, pocket pets, and wildlife.
Dr. Martin R. Dinnes was a veterinarian from Agua Dulce, California, recognized for his accomplishments in veterinary medicine. He died on December 12, 2017.
American College of Zoological Medicine was established in 1983 as an international specialty organization of veterinarians with special expertise in zoological medicine.
An exotic pet is a pet which is relatively rare or unusual to keep, or is generally thought of as a wild species rather than as a domesticated pet. The definition varies by culture, location, and over time—as animals become firmly enough established in the world of animal fancy, they may no longer be considered exotic.
Veterinary medicine in the United States is the performance of veterinary medicine in the United States, normally performed by licensed professionals, and subject to provisions of statute law which vary by state. Veterinary medicine is normally led by veterinary physicians, termed veterinarians or vets.
William Reid Blair, DVS, better known as W. Reid Blair, worked at the New York Zoological Park from 1902 to 1940. He began as Assistant Veterinarian and Pathologist and retired from the Zoo as its Director. During his 38-year career at the Zoo, he implemented many advancements in the care of captive animals, and he focused on the educational capacity of zoos. Additionally, it was Dr. Blair who relaxed the insistence of William T. Hornaday, the Zoo's first director, on the use of the formal name "New York Zoological Park" in favor of the more familiar "Bronx Zoo."
Peter Brazaitis is an American herpetologist and forensic specialist in herpetology and worked for the Wildlife Conservation Society from 1954 to 1998. He began as a reptile keeper at the Bronx Zoo, became Senior Keeper in 1967, Assistant Animal Manager in 1970, and Superintendent of Reptiles in 1972. In 1988, he transferred to the Central Park Wildlife Center as Assistant Curator of Animals and became Curator of Animals in 1990, a position he held until his retirement in 1998.
Dr. Emil P. Dolensek, D.V.M. (1941–1990) was Chief Veterinarian for the New York Zoological Society from 1969 to 1990. He was born in Traverse City, Michigan, and graduated in 1967 from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He worked in private practice in Connecticut until he joined the staff of the New York Zoological Society as one of a handful of full-time zoo veterinarians in America. In addition to caring for animals at the Bronx Zoo, he also cared for animals at the New York Aquarium in Coney Island and, after 1981 when the NYZS took over management of the New York City zoos, he was responsible for the health of the animals at the Central Park, Prospect Park, and Queens Zoos. Dr. Dolensek was awarded the centennial gold medal of the New York State Veterinary Medical Society for his contributions in the field and was a past president of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.
Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine is a quarterly peer-reviewed medical journal published by Elsevier in cooperation with the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians and the European Association of Avian Veterinarians. It was established in 1992 as Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine, obtaining its current title in 2006. The editor-in-chief is Nicola Di Girolamo.
Kay Mehren is an American-Canadian veterinarian, who is the former senior veterinarian of the Toronto Zoo. She can be seen in the television series Zoo Diaries.
Anna Louise Meredith is Professor of Conservation Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, where she has previously served as chairperson of zoological conservation medicine at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
