What:
Woodland
Park Zoo’s Director of Animal Health Dr. Darin Collins is here
from Indonesia and will present a lecture to zoo staff and volunteers,
highlighting his assessments from one year’s avian influenza surveillance
activities in Indonesia. Collins also will share activities related to
his role as the program director for Woodland Park Zoo’s Indonesian
Veterinary Training Program. Media are invited to attend the
lecture and interview Dr. Collins.
Dr. Darin Collins has been on a professional sabbatical with the New
York-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) since February 2007. He
is currently the WCS Global Avian Influenza Network for Surveillance
(GAINS) field veterinarian for Indonesia. GAINS is a WCS program supported
by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Avian
influenza is endemic in many wild bird populations and occurs in a number
of different strains. The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1)
is a zoonotic disease of major focus in Indonesia and throughout the
world.
Current research and activities conducted by the WCS GAINS Indonesia
Team are directed towards containment and control activities, in-country
surveillance and early warning systems, and improved communications to
increase public awareness and preparedness in Indonesia and globally.
When:
Wednesday, February 6, 2008, 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Where:
Woodland Park Zoo’s Education Center at N. 50th St. & Fremont Ave.
N.
Who:
Available for interviews:
Dr. Darin Collins; and Indonesian embassy personnel, including Dr. Heru Setijanto
who serves in the veterinary advisory capacity to the Indonesian National Committee
for Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness.
Info:
For information about the open houses, call 206.684.4800 or email webkeeper@zoo.org.
Beginning January 25, the zoo’s phone number will change to 206.548.2500.
Since 1895, WCS has worked from Bronx Zoo headquarters to save wildlife and wild
lands throughout the world. Today WCS is at work in 53 nations across Africa,
Asia, Latin America and North America, protecting wild landscapes that are home
to a vast variety of species from butterflies to tigers.
Accredited
by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), award-winning Woodland
Park Zoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting
international standards for zoos all over the world. Conservation,
education and excellent animal care are at the core of the zoo’s
mission. The zoo is helping to save animals and their habitats in
Washington state and around the world including tree kangaroos, snow
leopards, red-crowned cranes, African wild dogs, western pond turtles
and Oregon silverspot butterflies. By inspiring people to care and
act, Woodland Park Zoo is making a difference in our planet’s
future.
