Wildlife
Addressing Management of Captive Cheetahs to Curb Feline Herpesvirus
MAF Successful Outcome: Feline herpesvirus (FHV) is a viral infection that is endemic in captive cheetahs and can cause respiratory disease and debilitating skin and eye ulcers. Some cheetahs have such severe symptoms that they must be euthanized. Scientists at the San Diego Zoo studied such factors as demographic characteristics, medical history and FHV exposure to predict the presence and severity of FHV infection. They identified common symptoms and developed management recommendations to reduce the risk of FHV in captive cheetahs. Of the cheetahs studied, 40 percent were considered FHV-positive, with most cases occurring in cubs.... Read more.
Posted by MAF on August 6, 2010
Categories: Animal health, Wildlife health
PermalinkLending a “Fin” and Fund in Helping Dolphins
MAF staff members John Taylor and Tina Martinez traveled to Sarasota, Florida, to spread the word about the first study funded by the Betty White Wildlife Rapid Response Fund. The study looks at the long-term effects of the oil spill on nearby dolphins. Staff met with Dr. Randy Wells, lead investigator from the Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, and spent about three hours on a boat in Sarasota Bay, where they came along about 20 dolphins, including six calves less than two weeks old. These dolphins are all part of the research being conducted. They also came across three generations of dolphins: a... Read more.
Posted by MAF on June 23, 2010
Categories: Animal health, Animal studies, Wildlife health
PermalinkMAF Goes Wild with Betty White
Betty White Promises to Match $25K in Donations to Morris Animal Foundation for Wildlife
Wildlife Rapid Response Fund Addresses Urgent Wildlife Health Needs Like Those Emerging from the Gulf Coast Oil Spill
May 10, 2010/Denver — In times of wildlife health emergencies, Morris Animal Foundation—and Betty White—are there to help. Morris Animal Foundation is currently working with wildlife scientists to determine needs for wildlife health... Read more.
Posted by MAF on May 11, 2010
Categories: Animal health, Animal welfare, Betty White, Wildlife health
PermalinkSaving Endangered Amphibians
A New Game of Leapfrog: Giving Amphibian Populations a Boost
Frogs—and other amphibians, such as toads and salamanders—are declining in numbers, and in some areas of the world they are becoming extinct. Although many speculate on the reasons for the decline in these critical animals, a Morris Animal Foundation-funded researcher has devised a solution for at-risk species in captivity: in vitro fertilization (IVF).
With ongoing Foundation support, Dr. Andrew Kouba has spent countless hours developing and perfecting artificial insemination techniques for endangered amphibians. The big payoff came with the recent... Read more.
Posted by MAF on February 1, 2010
Categories: Animal health, Animal studies, Wildlife health
PermalinkBetter Nutrition for Birds
Morris Animal Foundation has funded avian studies for nearly 25 years, and much of that research has gone into improving nutrition for companion birds. A few highlights are below.
All birds require vitamin A to maintain the functionality of their vision, the lining of the mouth, the esophagus and other body surfaces. Nutritionally, though, vitamin A is the most challenging of the vitamins because it is the most likely vitamin to be either deficient or excessive in the... Read more.
Posted by MAF on November 30, 2009
Categories: Bird health , Nutrition
PermalinkRare Births of Captive Clouded Leopard Cubs
Morris Animal Foundation funding may lead to rare births of captive clouded leopard cubs
By Heather Grimshaw
From AnimalNews 9.1
The clouded leopard population is in dire straits. Only 78 cats remain in the North American Clouded Leopard Species Survival conservation program. Because of various factors—including a high rate of males killing females and reproductive issues—their numbers continue to fall.
But Morris... Read more.
Posted by MAF on November 5, 2009
Categories: Animal studies, Wildlife health
PermalinkMountain Gorilla Web Exclusive
Watch John Taylor, MAF COO, get up front and personal with the mountain gorillas at the MAF-funded Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project in Rwanda.
Posted by MAF on August 18, 2009
Categories: Animal health, Wildlife health
PermalinkNew Knowledge to Fight West Nile Virus in Raptors
Study results
West Nile virus (WNV) infects the eyes of red-tailed hawks, causing vision impairment that may lead to total blindness. With funding from MAF, scientists now have a better understanding of how the virus targets and damages the retina, and they were also able to identify different types of lesions that they believe represent various stages of WNV disease. This valuable knowledge will help with early diagnosis, determine severity of disease... Read more.
Posted by MAF on August 11, 2009
Categories: Animal health, Bird health , Wildlife health
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