Dr. Charline Rutagengwa, VIEW Veterinarian, Rwanda and Dr. Emmanuel Irimaso, University of Rwanda, UR, had the privilege of representing VIEW at the 2nd International Wildlife Scientific Conference, hosted by the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) in Naivasha, Kenya (23rd–25th September 2025). They engaged in discussions with colleagues from across the region. Dr. Charline shared insights from the ongoing research on pesticide residues in Akagera National Park, the conference was above all an opportunity to learn. They gained valuable perspectives on innovative approaches in wildlife health surveillance, human–wildlife coexistence, and how scientific evidence can be better integrated into conservation policy. One key lesson was the importance of cross-border collaboration and harmonized monitoring to effectively address shared challenges. We are grateful to WRTI and all the partners for convening such a rich platform for exchange and collaboration and to Conservation Nation for making our participation possible through their generous support. (fb)

Well into the late summer, our on-the-ground project partners in Asia were hard at work conducting elephant field sampling activities. This field sampling is being undertaken for a project on elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) hemorrhagic disease – a potentially deadly syndrome in young Asian elephants. Blood is sampled from elephants to measure their antibodies against this virus. This project aims to better understand the impact of this disease and potential risk factors in the region. This study is led by VIEW-supported veterinarian and PhD student Dr. Jenn Yu as a component of her training, and was made possible with support from Morris Animal Foundation through a Wildlife Health Training Fellowship. #elephants #elephant #asianelephant #conservation #wildlifeconservation (fb)