Following up on the successful trip made by
Heather Bacon and Jess Davies in March 2019, Dr. Nic Hayward, a European veterinary
specialist in diagnostic imaging travelled to Vietnam in December 2019 to
deliver specialised training in ultrasonography. As part of her trip, Nic
visited the Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW) rescue Centre in Cuc Phuong National
park, the Four Paws bear rescue centre in Ninh Binh, and the Animals Asia bear
sanctuary in Tam Dao National park.
During her trip, Nic engaged with a variety
of different activities, including the delivery of welfare assessment training
by JMICAWE partner Wild Welfare (www.wildwelfare.org) at the SVW
rescue centre which cares for wild animals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade,
specifically pangolins; critically endangered mammals who are trafficked for
traditional medicine. In March of last year, Heather and Jess brought an
ultrasound machine to the SVW team and gave basic instruction on ultrasound
imaging including pregnancy diagnosis, but this was further developed during
Nic’s trip, which included scanning several pangolins, leopard cat, tiger cubs,
and a Douc langur.
The Animals Asia and Four paws rescue
centres rescue and rehabilitate bears used in the illegal bear bile trade.
Through her visits, Nic was able to advise on specific aspects of
ultrasonography including obtaining images of tricky parts of the anatomy such
as adrenal glands, and the best approaches to cardiac scanning.
The use of non-invasive imaging techniques
such as ultrasonography allows rapid and accurate detection of a range of
veterinary problems, and so the wide range of training that Nic was able to
deliver across a variety of species rescued from the illegal wildlife trade,
will help to improve the diagnosis and treatment of problems in these rescued
animals. JMICAWE was delighted to be able to support Nic’s work and to continue
collaboration with our charity partners who are providing much-needed
rehabilitation, sanctuary, and in some cases even reintroduction to the wild,
of illegally trafficked wild animals.
