VIEW - Veterinary Initiative for Endangered Wildlife

20/12/2025

Dr. Jenn Yu recently presented her findings from a North American serology study on elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) at the 2025 International Elephant Foundation Symposium, hosted by Fort Worth Zoo. She also shared project updates on our Asian elephant EEHV projects at the Global EEHV Summit, hosted by Dallas Zoo. Her ongoing research uses an epidemiologic approach to understand the social factors that may influence susceptibility to EEHV hemorrhagic disease, a potentially deadly viral disease that affects young Asian and African elephants in managed care. We look forward to seeing where her research goes next!



International Elephant Foundation:
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Facebook and LinkedIn: International Elephant Foundation

Dallas Zoo:
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Facebook and LinkedIn: Dallas Zoo

Fort Worth Zoo:
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Facebook and LinkedIn: Fort Worth Zoo

15/12/2025

World Monkey Day 🐒 | Celebrating Primates, Protecting Their Future

We at VIEW are happy to celebrate World Monkey Day yesterday. We celebrate monkeys not just for their intelligence and social complexity, but for the vital roles they play in healthy ecosystems—from seed dispersal to maintaining forest balance.
Across Africa and beyond, primates face growing threats from habitat loss, human–wildlife conflict, illegal trade, and disease pressures. Conservation, research, and community education are essential to ensuring their survival.
At the Veterinary Initiative for Endangered Wildlife (VIEW), we are committed to promoting coexistence, strengthening conservation awareness, and supporting evidence-based approaches that protect primates and the ecosystems they depend on.
This World Monkey Day, let us move beyond admiration to action—by protecting habitats, respecting wildlife, and investing in conservation that lasts.

11/12/2025

Today we at VIEW honor the remarkable life of Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton, a true titan for wildlife and a lifelong guardian of elephants around the world.
For nearly six decades, Dr. Douglas-Hamilton dedicated his life to studying, understanding, and protecting the majestic African elephant. He founded Save the Elephants in 1993, revolutionizing elephant conservation and inspiring countless people to care for these incredible beings and the landscapes they call home. His groundbreaking research helped reveal the realities of the ivory crisis and was instrumental in shaping global action to protect elephant populations.
Dr. Douglas-Hamilton wasn’t just a scientist — he was a visionary, a storyteller, and a beloved figure in conservation. His work helped ensure that future generations could know elephants not as statistics, but as sentient, intelligent creatures with complex lives and deep emotional bonds.
Thank you, Dr. Douglas-Hamilton, for a life lived in service of wonder, compassion, and real change. Your legacy will continue to echo across the savannas and in the hearts of all who cherish wildlife.
🕯️ Rest in peace.


Photo credit: Ndovultome / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

28/11/2025

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today, we're especially grateful for each of you - your encouragement, your engagement, and your belief in our work make everything we do possible. Thank you for being a part of the VIEW community and for supporting our mission all year long. Wishing you a joyful holiday filled with gratitude, connection, and peace.

18/11/2025

🌟 Workshop Success! 🌟
We’re thrilled to share the success of the Clinical Pathology Laboratory Training Workshop, held on October 30, 2025, at the University of Rwanda, Nyagatare Campus! 🔬
In partnership with the University of Rwanda, VIEW led a hands-on training session focused on the VETSCAN VS2 analyzer — a key tool for advancing veterinary diagnostics. The workshop brought together 19 passionate participants for a day of immersive learning in hematology and biochemistry techniques.
📊 Key Highlights:
• Participants reported a significant boost in knowledge and skills
• Students rated the workshop as highly valuable for their future work.
• The hands-on sessions were especially praised, building confidence in lab procedures and diagnostic interpretation.
💬 What’s Next?
The enthusiasm was incredible, with clear demand for more advanced training in molecular diagnostics, cytology, and wildlife sampling. We’re committed to continuing this momentum with more workshops and deeper curriculum integration.
A huge thank you to Conservation Nation for their generous support, the University of Rwanda for hosting, and all the trainers, facilitators, and students who made this day so impactful. Together, we’re building a stronger foundation for One Health in Rwanda! 💙

12/11/2025

Dr. David Murenzi recently completed a two-month wildlife veterinary training at The Wilds in Ohio, supported by VIEW and Conservation Nation. During this time, he worked hands-on with endangered species, gaining experience in field anesthesia, herd health, diagnostics, and pathology.

This training strengthened his clinical confidence, improved his skills in remote immobilization and treatment of free-ranging wildlife, and deepened his understanding of conservation medicine and population health.

He returned home better prepared to support wildlife health initiatives in Rwanda and the region.

Pic 1: Dr. Murenzi checking vitals of a takin after darting it for a hoof trim and relocation
Pic 2: Dr. Murenzi collecting a blood sample on a takin
Pic 3: Dr. Murenzi collecting a blood sample on a bison with a septic wound
Pic 4: Dr. Murenzi visual exam on a male giraffe

03/11/2025

Happy International One Health Day!

Today we appreciate the complex interconnectedness between animal, human, and environmental health and well-being! As scientists, veterinarians, and conservationists, we recognize that disturbance of intact ecosystems can drive the emergence of new diseases or increase the prevalence and geographic spread of known pathogens and parasites. As human activity expands into once wild places, this can also have a downstream effect on people as the interface between wild animals, domestic livestock, and human communities grows ever closer.

Protecting the environment also protects animal and human health and wellness.

29/10/2025

Do you know how to tell Asian and African savannah elephants apart?

Here are just a few ways:

SIZE: African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) are the largest and heaviest living land animal! Adult males can reach 11 ft. in height and weigh as much as 7 tons! In comparison, Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) adult males can reach 9 ft. tall and weigh up to 5 tons.

EARS: Asian elephant ears are smaller and round in shape. African savannah elephants have larger, fan-shaped ears. Some people think Asian elephant ears look like India, while African savannah elephant ears look like the African continent.

TRUNKS: Both Asian and African elephants use their prehensile trunks to forage and manipulate objects in their environment, but did you know their trunk anatomy is different? African elephant trunks have two “finger-like” projections at the tip, which allows them to pinch or grasp objects. In contrast, Asian elephants have only one finger-like projection and a bulbous end, and they tend to use their trunk in a wrapping motion around food items, rather than gripping with the tip. You can read more about their distinct trunk anatomy here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-023-04945-5 #:~:text=Trunk%20musculature%20consists%20of%20~40%2C000,objects%20with%20their%20trunk12.

TUSKS: Usually, only Asian elephant males have tusks, while both male and female African elephants can sport tusks. African elephants also tend to have larger tusks overall!

23/10/2025

Dr. Charline Rutagengwa, VIEW Veterinarian, Rwanda and Dr. Emmanuel Irimaso, University of Rwanda, UR, had the privilege of representing VIEW at the 2nd International Wildlife Scientific Conference, hosted by the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) in Naivasha, Kenya (23rd–25th September 2025). They engaged in discussions with colleagues from across the region.
Dr. Charline shared insights from the ongoing research on pesticide residues in Akagera National Park, the conference was above all an opportunity to learn. They gained valuable perspectives on innovative approaches in wildlife health surveillance, human–wildlife coexistence, and how scientific evidence can be better integrated into conservation policy. One key lesson was the importance of cross-border collaboration and harmonized monitoring to effectively address shared challenges.
We are grateful to WRTI and all the partners for convening such a rich platform for exchange and collaboration and to Conservation Nation for making our participation possible through their generous support.

20/10/2025

Well into the late summer, our on-the-ground project partners in Asia were hard at work conducting elephant field sampling activities. This field sampling is being undertaken for a project on elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) hemorrhagic disease – a potentially deadly syndrome in young Asian elephants. Blood is sampled from elephants to measure their antibodies against this virus. This project aims to better understand the impact of this disease and potential risk factors in the region. This study is led by VIEW-supported veterinarian and PhD student Dr. Jenn Yu as a component of her training, and was made possible with support from Morris Animal Foundation through a Wildlife Health Training Fellowship.

04/10/2025

🌍🐾 World Animal Day 🐾🌍

Today we honor the incredible animals that make our world richer, from the gentle giants to the most elusive predators. Every life plays a role in balancing ecosystems and reminding us of our responsibility to protect and care for them.

From feeding orphan giraffes, to walking beside antelopes, to working hands-on with lions in the wild, I’m reminded every day why conservation matters. Protecting animals is not just about them, it’s about safeguarding the health of our shared planet. 💚
Let’s continue to build a future where people and animals can thrive together.

In these photos we see our VIEW vet Charline from Rwanda doing the incredible work we are so proud of.

02/10/2025

With deep respect and gratitude, we join the world in mourning the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall, an iconic and global leader in primate conservation. Her vision, courage, and lifelong dedication to wildlife and our planet’s future have inspired generations and transformed conservation.

Please read more from this BBC article:

The primatologist was a "tireless advocate" for species protection, her institute says.