The Wildlife Health Cornell Center of Excellence represents an unprecedented approach to the health challenges wild animals face here in the northeast U.S. and around the world - a comprehensive, science-based response by a team of the world's top wildlife and ecosystem health experts. 

We're excited to introduce to you a new short video - " Wildlife Health Cornell: The Student Experience" - created by our own Cornell DVM student Benjamin Jakobek, class of 2020. This five-minute film showcases Cornell veterinary students in their final year sharing how their wildlife-related experiences at Cornell have enriched their learning, broadened their perspectives, and helped them discover new career paths incorporating wildlife health and conservation.

We hope you enjoy the film and feel as inspired as we do as these intellectually curious (and adventurous!) students begin their life-changing careers, each on their own unique journey as a member of the next generation of conservation leaders.

For more information on the work of the Wildlife Health Cornell  Center of Excellence, please visit www.wildlifehealthcornell.org. As in the past, we hope you find this e-newsletter useful and thought-provoking. Please let us know! 
 
- Steve Osofsky, DVM
Jay Hyman Professor of Wildlife Health & Health Policy
Great White Shark
© Elias Levy [ CC BY 2.0 ]
The Great White Shark Genome is Here!
 
Cornell scientists and partners have mapped out the intriguing great white shark genome for the first time. This DNA detective work can help scientists better understand the population dynamics of endangered shark species, and provide insights on how their renowned wound-healing properties and low cancer rates could someday translate into medical treatments for people. More in this video.
Giraffes
© M. Atkinson
A Plea to Botswana: Please Rethink a "Not Enough Fences" Approach
 
Botswana is considering significant changes to its approach to wildlife management. Wildlife Health Cornell's Dr. Steve Osofsky believes that now is not the time to cut-off migratory corridors or build new fences. Instead, it's time to make land-use decisions that will be socially, ecologically and economically sustainable for generations to come.
SCOPES Cover
Making a World of Difference:
Annual Report 2018
 
Now more than ever, animal and human health issues require solutions that span oceans and borders - and the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine is hard at work. Read about the impacts our faculty and staff, students, and alumni are having around the globe.
Dog
Canine Distemper Virus in North America
 
Cornell scientists discovered that a young dog imported from South Korea into Canada brought along a dangerous hitchhiker: the Asia-1 strain of canine distemper virus, which had never before been reported in North America. If the virus comes into contact with wildlife, it may take a serious toll on wild carnivore populations.
Deer
The Evidence for Prions as Cause of Chronic Wasting Disease
 
Wildlife Health Cornell's Dr. Krysten Schuler examines the scientific evidence that supports prions as the agent of Chronic Wasting Disease and recommends next steps for tackling this disease threat. Read more about the community conversations here.
Vet Student Working with Communities
 
Cornell veterinary student Daniel Foley '21 spent last summer in and around Chitwan National Park, Nepal investigating the prevalence of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus in domestic goat herds bordering the park, and assessing the risk of disease transmission from livestock to wildlife.
Hawaiian Honeycreeper
©  Ludovic Hirlimann [ CC BY-SA 2.0 ]
Postdoctoral Fellow Focused on Saving Native Birds of Hawai'i
 
Wildlife Health Cornell is excited to welcome the newest member of our team, Atkinson Center Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Katherine McClure, who will focus on optimizing landscape-level mosquito control efforts to save Hawai'i's highly imperiled native birds from the scourge of avian malaria.
Cornell Animal Health Hackathon
 
The Lean Preen Machine team had an unprecedented double victory by taking home the prizes for "Most Innovative" & "People's Choice" at this year's Cornell Animal Health Hackathon! The team developed a novel device that uses ultrasound wave energy to more efficiently clean birds affected by oil spills.
Baby Fox with Flower
© R. Gilbert
Your gift literally means the world to us!
 
Please consider supporting Wildlife Health Cornell by giving online, or contacting Sheila M. Reakes at 607-253-4310 or <smr45@cornell.edu>.
                     

The Wildlife Health Cornell Center of Excellence envisions a healthy future for wildlife, people and planet. We strive to develop proactive, science-based approaches for sustaining a healthier world. By improving knowledge, understanding, and capacity at the interface of wildlife health, domestic animal health, and human health and livelihoods, environmental stewardship can be enhanced today, and for tomorrow.
To learn more about Wildlife Health Cornell, please contact
Dr. Steve Osofsky at  s.osofsky@cornell.edu or visit our website .
 
Please let us know if you have any comments on this e-newsletter,
an d if you find it useful! Thank you for your support.