Objectives:

-To provide information on the diagnosis and rescue of marine animals that are stranded, sick or injured on our shores.
-To learn the techniques used in the transport, care, conditioning, nutrition and general rehabilitation of marine animals.
-To introduce the biology of turtles, cetaceans, elasmobranchs, sea birds and pinnipeds.
-To understand the conservation problems that affect marine animals.
-To understand the interaction of fisheries with marine life, the views of fishermen and the importance of fisheries in achieving solutions to problems affecting marine life.

Program:

1. Sea Turtles
• Biology.
• Conservation problems.
• Overview of the ecology and population dynamics of the Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta).
• Habitats and threats to the species in the Mediterranean.
• Anatomy, Physiology and Adaptations to the environment.
• Manipulation & Exploration. Description of the management techniques needed for the care of these animals. Explanation of minimally invasive exploration techniques.
• Diagnosis (X-ray, ultrasounds, magnetic resonance imaging...) and surgical techniques.
• Parts of the general physical exam of sea turtles.
• Clinical procedures and treatment of the more common diseases.
• Haematology and Laboratory techniques. Workshop on blood analysis and cell identification in Caretta caretta. Haematological alterations and clinical interpretation.
• Sea turtle autopsy. Practical workshop on the post-mortem analysis of a loggerhead turtle. A description of the steps to follow, instruments necessary and practical anatomy.


2. Cetaceans
• Biology.
• Conservation problems.
• Identification of species, habitats and the ecology of cetaceans in the Mediterranean.
• Description of the principle threats that affect their survival.
• Anatomy, Physiology and Adaptations to the environment.
• Anatomical features specific to Cetaceans in the Mediterranean.
• Action when faced with a cetacean stranding. Examination and diagnosis.
• Assistance protocol for cetacean strandings and clinical examination techniques.
• Dolphin rescue simulation. Practical workshop on procedures at a dolphin stranding: physical examination, initial treatment and rescue material necessary.
• Dolphin autopsy. Practical workshop on the post-mortem analysis of a Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruolealba). Description of the steps to follow, instruments necessary and practical anatomy.
• Most common diseases in cetaceans.


3. Sea birds
• Biology.
• Conservation problems.
• Overview of the ecology and population dynamics of endangered sea birds in the Mediterranean. Habitats, threats and species identification.
• Anatomy, Physiology and Adaptations to the environment.
• Anatomical features specific to endangered sea birds in the Mediterranean.
• The recovery of sea birds. The rescue, transport and conditioning of these animals.
• Handling of sea birds. Safety standards.
• Examination, Diagnosis and surgical techniques. Case studies.
• Liberation in their natural habitat.
• Sea bird autopsy. Practical workshop on the post-mortem analysis of a sea bird. Description of the steps to follow, instruments necessary and practical anatomy.


4. Pinnipeds
• Anatomy, Physiology and Adaptations to the environment.
• Handling and examination.
• Clinical treatment. Treatments and facilities.
• Biology. Conservation problems.


5. Zoonoses
• Most common marine animal illnesses that can be contagious for humans.
• Methods of prevention.


6. Assistance and Rescue Protocols in case of ecological disasters
• Ecological disasters.
• Work network. Rescue network.
• Assistance and Rescue Protocols for marine animals.
• Dolphin rescue simulation. Practical workshop on procedures at a dolphin stranding: physical examination, initial treatment and rescue material necessary.
• Case study: Prestige. Protocol of action when faced with an oil spill in the marine environment. Conclusions drawn from the practical experience of the Prestige case.
• Considerations of communication.

Teaching staff:

CRAM Staff: Veterinarians:Ferran Alegre, Pascual Medina,Marina Andrés; Biologist: Jordi Boada.

External specialists: Lluis Cardona (Professor Universitat de Barcelona - UB), Mariano Domingo (Professor Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona - UAB and Director of CReSA), Sara Soto (Professor UAB), Ester Bach (Professor UAB), Carles del Castillo (Veterinarian, specialist in exotic animals), Joan Mayné (Head of the Torreferrussa Fauna Recuperation Centre), Fernando Alegre (veterinarian from Bluedisplay and the Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre Lenie 't Hart, Holland).

Credit recognition 2010: This course has credit recognition in various national universities. Ask at your university or formacion@cram.org

Evaluation: Assistance will be monitored. An 80% attendance rate must be completed to pass the course. Students interested in receiving credit from their university much also pass a written test at the end of the course.

Contact details: formacion@cram.org - aulacram@cram.org - 93 752 45 81