First-Year Veterinary Students Engage in Exotic Animal Care and Griffon Vulture Conservation Project

First-year veterinary students had a unique experience recently. They visited Dr C. Antoniou’s exotics clinic as part of their Animal Husbandry course, led by Dr Daphne Mavrides. This visit provided insights into the care of exotic species, including birds, reptiles, and small mammals, which differ from the husbandry of common pets like cats and dogs. The students also learned how to handle various animals such as pigeons, crows, goshawks, ferrets, and guinea pigs.

Additionally, some students joined Dr Antoniou in a special conservation activity. They participated in the ringing of 8 Griffon Vultures, part of the “LIFE with Vultures CY” project, funded by the EU. These vultures, arriving from Spain, are part of the efforts to prevent the extinction of the species in Cyprus. A total of 44 Griffon Vultures have been brought to Cyprus for this purpose. The restocking of Griffon Vultures is a significant action among many others aimed at reducing the use of poison baits, a major threat to the species.

The birds from Spain are typically first-year birds rehabilitated in Spanish wildlife hospitals. After veterinary checks and quarantine, they are transferred to countries like Cyprus or Sardinia. This transfer is organized by the Vulture Conservation Foundation, a partner in the project.

We thank the Game and Fauna Service and BirdLife Cyprus for allowing our students to experience these conservation efforts. For more information on this project, visit https://lifewithvultures.eu/ and follow BirdLife Cyprus’ social media for updates.