VET SC 7213RW - Wildlife and Conservation Practice

Roseworthy Campus - Semester 1 - 2022

The course will provide students with the opportunity to learn and apply the principles of evaluating case history, clinical presentations, diagnosis and treatment or management of medical and surgical conditions in wildlife practice, zoo animal practice, avian practice, aquarium fish practice and exotic pet practice. In addition it will provide students with the opportunity to learn and apply the principles of wildlife disease ecology, conservation medicine and ecohealth and conservation practice.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code VET SC 7213RW
    Course Wildlife and Conservation Practice
    Coordinating Unit School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s Roseworthy Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 7 hours per week plus 1 field trip
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites Completion of Level I of DVM or equivalent
    Assumed Knowledge Passed all BSc (Vet Bioscience) exams
    Restrictions Available to Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students only
    Course Description The course will provide students with the opportunity to learn and apply the principles of evaluating case history, clinical presentations, diagnosis and treatment or management of medical and surgical conditions in wildlife practice, zoo animal practice, avian practice, aquarium fish practice and exotic pet practice. In addition it will provide students with the opportunity to learn and apply the principles of wildlife disease ecology, conservation medicine and ecohealth and conservation practice.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Wayne Boardman

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Describe the veterinary management (preventative programs, husbandry, medicine and pathology) of native mammals, native birds, native herpetofauna, exotic pet practice, ornamental fish and zoo animals.
    2 Describe the principles of wildlife management, conservation medicine/ecohealth, biodiversity health, ecosystem health and one health.
    3 Describe the threats to wildlife health, biodiversity health and ecosystem health and mechanisms and tools to reverse these threats and support the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem health.
    4 Recognise wildlife disease as a threat to conservation, how environmental changes can affect the emergence of disease and describe the effects of significant emerging infectious diseases on wildlife health, biodiversity health and ecosystem health.
    5 Critically appraise a topic relevant to conservation medicine and present to an audience and review a wildlife species health program and present to an audience.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1, 2, 3, 4, 5

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1, 2, 4, 5

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    5

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1, 2, 3, 4

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    5

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    4, 5
  • Learning Resources
    Recommended Resources
    Roseworthy Library Resources
    Online resources
    Access to various animal holding facilities, including the Companion Animal Health Centre at Roseworthy, Adelaide & Monarto Zoos
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Lectures, tutorials, practicals, case studies, field trip
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g.,
    lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).
    Learning Activities Summary
    The course is divided into three modules:
    1. Wildlife Practice
    2. Zoological Practice
    3. One Health and Conservation Practice

    Dependent on the availability of specimens and material, the topics below will be covered in a combination of lectures, practicals and tutorials. Wildlife Practice and Zoological Practice will be more practical-based, whereas One Health and Conservation practice module will be more lecture & concept based. The field trip will concentrate on aspects of Wild Animal practice and Zoological Practice

    1. WILDLIFE ANIMAL PRACTICE
    Topics covered will include the radiology, anaesthesia, common diagnostic and medical procedures management, nutrition and common health problems of free-ranging wild animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish). 

    2. ZOOS PRACTICE
    Topics covered will include the role of the veterinarian in zoos and conservation programs, preventative medicine programs, anaesthetic principles, the principles of zoo animal management as it pertains to the veterinarian and common health problems of selected taxa including privately owned wild animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, exotic pets and fish).

    3. ONE HEALTH and CONSERVATION PRACTICE
    Topics covered will include the principles of Conservation Medicine/Ecohealth and One Health and the principles of conservation biology and disease ecology as they pertain to veterinarians researching and managing wildlife health and disease problems and the effects of anthropogenic changes including climate change on the emergence and re-emergence of infectious wildlife disease.
    Specific Course Requirements
    Attendance at all lectures and practicals is compulsory.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Hurdle Learning Outcome Due
    Wildlife Health Program Group Presentation Formative & Summative 10% No 1, 2, 5 ~Weeks 1 or 3 or 5 or 7 or 9 or 11
    Tutorial Quizzes Formative & Summative 21% No 3, 4 ~Weeks 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
    Pathology Assignment  Formative & Summative 9% No 1 ~Week 7
    Conservation Medicine Presentation Formative & Summative 20% No 3, 4, 5 ~Week 12
    Final Exam Formative & Summative 40% Yes 1, 3, 4 Exam period
    Assessment Related Requirements
    HURDLE REQUIREMENTS

    Assessment Item Requirement for hurdle Is additional assessment available if student does not meet hurdle requirement? Details of additional assessment, if known
     Final Exam Attain a score of 50% for the Final Exam Yes Students that do not attain this minimum requirement must attain a cumulative minimum of 45% to be eligible for an additional assessment, which will take the form of an oral examination.


    Assessment Detail
    Wildlife Health Program Group Presentation. (10% of final grade). Students in groups will research a health program for species/taxa and present as a power point presentation to lecturers and fellow students during the Monarto Zoo Field Trip. Students will receive a group mark.

    Tutorial Quizzes (21% of final grade). Students will undertake 7 mini examinations during each set of tutorials. These will test the students understanding and knowledge of topics covered during the previous week. These exams will assist with formative learning.

    Pathology Assignment (9% of final grade).
    Students will complete a pathology assignment within 2 weeks of the practical.

    Conservation Medicine Presentation (20% of final grade).
    Students in small groups will critically review a topic relevant to a conservation practice/medicine topic and present as a power point presentation to lecturers and fellow students. Students will receive a group mark.

    Final Examination (40% of final grade).
    Students will undertake a 3 hour theory examination that will consist of a variety of question types.
    Submission
    Late Submission

    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A mark of zero will be allocated to late submitted assessment.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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