Good afternoon and happy Monday dvm360 readers! We cannot believe that we are already at the end of July with August right on the horizon. Did you see the announcement sharing the news about our 2024 Hospital Design Contest grand prize winners and merit winners? This year, we added an additional Grand Prize category and named 7 merit winners! You can learn more about the winning hospitals in our upcoming August print publication of dvm360, this release 

Here is what you can find this week on dvm360.com:

Equine specialists Large Animal Clinic at the UC Davis veterinary hospital helped Tenacious Candy, a 2-year-old Thoroughbred filly, after she presented to the clinic with a prolapsed third eyelid, a rigid mouth, and a stiff body and tail, all classic signs of tetanus.

Phil Tucak, BSc, BVMS, will share his latest installment of the Veterinary scene down under, where he highlights the Vetdorida festival, which celebrates veterinary and allied professionals in support of mental health and wellbeing as well as a new incident management accreditation for volunteer veterinarian in emergency services.

On this week’s episode of The Vet Blast Podcast, Baran Schultz, owner of Schultz technology will discuss technology in veterinary medicine with our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition released its 2024 Hill’s Pet Nutrition State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report which obtained insight from a diverse group of 2,500 current and prospective pet owners to understand concerns, accessibility, and the most expensive parts of pet care these owners face.

Greater Good Charities and Harz Loving Paws have airlifted more than 90 at-risk shelter pets from Louisiana and Alabama to New Jersey to help them find their forever homes. Each pet on the flight was fully vetted and health certificated.

Articles

Here is a sneak peek of this week’s headlines 

Sneak peek: Hill’s Pet Nutrition released its 2024 State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report, and other veterinary news 

A recent report on shelter cat and dog adoption indicates animal shelters throughout the United States have been experiencing an overcrowding crisis for 4 years in a row with animals experiencing an increased length of stay since 2019. Shelters and rescues received 6.5 million cats and dogs in 2023 alone.

The 2024 report, Hill’s Pet Nutrition State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report, is an annual research initiative by Hill’s Pet Nutrition on the obstacles to pet adoption. Highlighting issues such as the cost of pet care, access to veterinary services, and housing restrictions, the report is based on insights from a socio-economically diverse group of 2500 current and prospective pet owners, according to an organizational release.

The report offers a comprehensive look at consumer perceptions and behaviors and reveals the factors contributing to the rising number of animals entering shelters and the declining adoption rates. It also includes perspectives from animal welfare leaders and innovative shelter programs to highlight potential pathways and solutions for overcoming adoption barriers, reducing owner surrenders, and boosting adoption rates.

"The 2024 Hill's Pet Nutrition State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report gives the animal welfare community difference-making data," Jim Tedford, president and CEO at The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, said in a release.

 "It allows animal shelters to better understand what pet parents need to make adoption more accessible so they can equip pet parents with the information and resources needed to welcome a shelter pet into their home."

According to the release, additional report findings revealed that

Overall, 66% of Americans are receptive to adopting shelter pets, with younger generations showing an even greater inclination to adopt.

Almost half of respondents reported cost of pet ownership as the biggest challenge to pet ownership.

84% of respondents said veterinary care is the costliest part of pet ownership.

Pet adoption is more challenging for individuals earning less than $75,000, with those making less than that amount being more likely to surrender a pet because of financial difficulties.

Individuals earning less than $50,000 are more likely to encounter pet-related housing restrictions and are more frequently affected by the cost of veterinary care when deciding whether to adopt a pet.

Fewer than 25% of respondents said they were likely to adopt a large dog, and 37% of those aged 18 to 24 years were open to adopting a large dog.

Forty percent of prospective fosters are afraid to adopt their foster pet, and 64% of potential foster caregivers indicated that they would be likely to foster if the costs of pet care were covered during the process. According to the release, fostering generally requires minimal financial investment.

Respondents rated post-adoption behavioral services as more likely to positively impact adoption decisions (34%) compared to pre-adoption behavioral services (30%).

Among those who experienced anxiety after adoption, 46% identified behavioral issues as the primary cause.

For individuals who had surrendered a pet, 24% cited behavioral or training problems as the main reason for relinquishment.

A vast majority (94%) of pet owners who considered giving up their pet chose to keep it after receiving support.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, approximately only 100,000 of millions of shelter cats who enter the shelter as strays are returned to their owners.

 Since January 2021, animal shelter populations have seen an increase of 900,000 animals.

 Data from Shelter Animals Count, a national database for animal rescues and shelters, revealed that animals of all sizes are facing longer stays in shelters compared to 2019, which is exacerbating the crisis of overcapacity in these facilities, according to the news release.

"Collaboration and a community-centric approach are crucial to finding impactful ways to address pet homelessness and over-capacity issues in animal shelters," Karen Shenoy, DVM, US chief veterinary officer at Hill's Pet Nutrition, said in the release.

 "Outside of our more than 22-year history of providing nutritional support to more than 1,000 animal shelters, we are also committed to providing support beyond nutrition to give our shelter partners and the broader animal welfare community data and insights to help us work collectively to create a happier and healthier world for pets and the people who care for them.”

"Animal sheltering organizations across the country are now grappling with a 'new normal' where dogs are now waiting nearly twice as long to get adopted than they were prior to the pandemic," expressed Stephanie Filer, executive director at Shelter Animals Count, in the release.

 "The Hill's Pet Nutrition State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report provides invaluable insights into why the capacity crisis is occurring so that sheltering organizations, and their communities alike, can actually do something about it."

Hill’s pet nutrition releases 2024 state of shelter pet adoption report. New release. Hill’s Pet Nutrition. July 25, 2024. Accessed July 29, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hills-pet-nutrition-releases-2024-state-of-shelter-pet-adoption-report-302206618.html

Hill’s Pet Nutrition 2024 State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report. Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Accessed July 29, 2024. 

https://www.hillspet.com/content/dam/cp-sites/hills/hills-pet/en_us/general/documents/shelter/shelter-equity-state-of-pet-adoption-2024.pdf

Pet statistics. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Accessed July 29, 2024. 

https://www.aspca.org/helping-people-pets/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics

The 2024 Hill’s Pet Nutrition State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report offers data on the factors behind the increasing number of animals being placed in shelters and the decreasing rates of adoption

New report reveals shelter pet adoption data 

Effective leadership in the pet and veterinary sector is essential for maintaining operational efficiency. Additionally, strong leadership can enhance the quality of pet care and products, while also fostering professional development within industry teams.

Several veterinary businesses have recently appointed new leaders. Among those advancing in their careers are the following individuals:

Photo courtesy of Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc

Petco Health and Wellness recently announced its appointment of Joel D Anderson as its new CEO. Anderson will begin his work on July 29, 2024. He was also chosen to serve on Petco’s Board of Directors. Anderson has more than 30 years of experience in retail leadership. Prior to his recent appointment, Anderson was the CEO of Five Below, where he helped the company grow its number of stores from 366 to more than 1,500 and grew its revenue from $500 million to more than 3.5 billion, according to an organizational release.

"I am excited to join Petco at a pivotal time as we reposition the business for a stronger future," said Anderson in the release.

 "Petco is the leader in pet health and wellness and I see many opportunities to improve performance. I look forward to working closely with Glenn, the leadership team, and the Board of Directors to create value for all our stakeholders."

On July 29, 2024, R. Michael Mohan will shift from his position as interim CEO to lead a new Board committee dedicated to Petco's value creation efforts. He will collaborate with Anderson to facilitate a seamless leadership transition and to maintain progress toward the company's goals, according to Petco.

Colin Mitchell, BVMS, MS, DACVS, head of the department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Louisiana State University

Colin Mitchell, BVMS, MS, DACVS, head of the department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Louisiana State University. (Photo courtesy of Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine)

The Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Veterinary Medicine expressed its enthusiasm in its announcement of Colin Mitchell as the new head of department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS). Mitchell will step into his new position on July 29, 2024. Currently, Mitchell is a professor of equine surgery at the university. Since 2020, he has held the roles of clinical lead and director of large animal services at LSU Vet Med. Mitchell earned his Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and his Master of Science from the University of Minnesota. Additionally, he is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Alongside his roles in teaching and leadership, Mitchell is well-regarded for his specialized knowledge in orthopedics, laminitis, and soft tissue surgery.

“I'm looking forward to helping support the VCS faculty as they continue to provide outstanding veterinary education to our current and incoming student classes, as well as cutting-edge clinical research and world-class care for our patients in both the small and large animal hospitals,” expressed Mitchell in a news release.

“Dr Mitchell is a talented and compassionate faculty member, equine surgeon, and member of the school leadership team. He will continue the great work begun by his accomplished predecessor, Dr. Frank Andrews,” said dean Oliver A. Garden, BVetMed, PhD, FHEA, FCPP, FRCVS, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA, in the release.

 “With his extensive teaching, clinical, and administrative experience and deep commitment to veterinary medicine and clinical science, I could not be more confident that the department will continue to thrive and innovate under Dr Mitchell’s leadership as we deliver on our vision to better the lives of animals and people.”

Arnold L Goldman, DVM, MPH, CEM, president of Independent Veterinary Practitioners Association

Arnold L Goldman, former treasurer of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), was recently announced president of Independent Veterinary Practitioners Association (IVPA)— a nonprofit organization that advocates for independent veterinary practitioners. Goldman has directed various organizations across professional societies, homeland security, banking and business sectors, charitable foundations, and local government. With experience in state and federal advocacy, his interests encompass strategic planning, fiscal policy, and mission-driven leadership.

“In accepting this role I delineated an important goal for my term as IVPA president, one that in my view will be the most consequential to our cause. That is to grow is our membership by an order of magnitude, such that we qualify for admission into the AVMA House of Delegates as an Allied Group,” expressed Goldman in a release.

“Encouragement of membership growth and with it the opportunity to exert optimal influence isn't a one person show. It is every IVPA member's role too, if we hope to preserve independent practice as a desirable professional destination,” he continued.

 “With so much anxiety about and concern for professional burnout roiling the professional lives and ambitions of our colleagues, it is perhaps counterintuitive that the straightest path to professional autonomy, personal satisfaction and work-life balance is through practice ownership.”

Jamie Cohen, LCSW, social worker at Schwarzman Animal Medical Center

Jamie Cohen, LCSW, social worker at Schwarzman Animal Medical Center. (Photo courtesy of Schwarzman Animal Medical Center)

Jamie Cohen recently joined Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC) as its full-time, onsite, licensed clinical social worker. Her role will include providing practical and emotional support for difficulties that arise from the illness or loss of an animal companion. Cohen has more than 11 years of experience assisting trauma survivors of all ages and providing support to individuals and families coping with the loss of a loved animal companion. Her skills encompass crisis intervention, grief counseling, and trauma support, with her most recent role being in the Victim Services Unit at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office. She earned a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Washington University in St. Louis.

“I am excited to be a part of the AMC team,” said Cohen in an organizational release.

 “When I found out that AMC offered social work services to pet owners, I was so moved. For many, the loss of a pet can be even more intense than the loss of another human. As a pet parent of 2 furbabies, I understand that pets can become members of the family. I am happy to be able to provide support to those struggling as they navigate the challenges of caring for their sick pets, as well as grieving the loss of their beloved pet.”

“Veterinary social work has become an important subspecialty of social work that focuses on supporting the needs of the human side of the relationships between people and animals,” Helen M. Irving, RN, MBA, president and CEO of AMC, stated in the release.

 “We are seeing a real need for resources and services with our pet parents and are thrilled to welcome Jamie Cohen, who will help these families navigate complex and often difficult moments in their lives, as part of our compassionate and expert team at AMC.”

Samantha Allan, BVSc, CEO of Animal Health Australia

Samantha Allan, BVSc, CEO of Animal Health Australia. (Photo courtesy of Animal Health Australia)

Animal Health Australia (AHA), a nonprofit national organization that protects, improves, and enhances Australia’s animal health and biosecurity, welcomed Samantha Allan as its new CEO. According to the organization, prior to her recent appointment, Allan was the general manager of Emergency Preparedness, Animal Health and Biosecurity at AHA for 5 years. According to the AHA Board, the organization faces a pivotal point, and Allan’s appointment comes as the company aims to improve their biosecurity prevention, preparedness, and response capabilities.

“We look forward to welcoming the new leadership from Dr Allan and know that together with our members and the team at AHA she will work tirelessly to continue protecting our Australian livestock sector from the rising threat of incursions,” expressed Sharon Starick, chair of the AHA Board, in a news release.

 ““Plus, her commitment to our members – listening, learning, advising and recognizing their diverse needs has been impeccable.”

“It’s a tremendous privilege to work alongside the talented AHA team and our members to ensure that our livestock industries can continue to produce world-class food and fibre,” said Allan in the release.

 “The biosecurity space has never faced more challenges, with the current avian influenza outbreak an example of the increased biosecurity threats we face. However, it also shows the power of collaboration – with our industry and government members working together to manage the outbreak effectively and promptly.”

Petco names Joel D. Anderson as chief executive officer. News release. Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. July 17, 2024.

LSU Vet Med announces new Veterinary Clinical Sciences department head. News release. Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. July 12, 2024. Accessed July 25, 2024. https://www.lsu.edu/vetmed/news/2024/mitchell_vcs_head.php

Goldman AL. Former AVMA treasurer Dr. Arnold L. Goldman assumes presidency of Independent Veterinary Practitioners Association (IVPA). News release. July 22, 2024.

Schwarzman Animal Medical Center announces Jamie Cohen, LCSW, as AMC’s veterinary social worker. News release. July 25, 2024. Accessed July 25, 2024.

 Leadership change at Animal Health Australia marks new era. News release. Animal Health Australia. July 12, 2024. Accessed July 26, 2024. https://animalhealthaustralia.com.au/leadership-change-at-animal-health-australia-marks-new-era/

Check out the latest news in the veterinary industry with these 5 recent position promotions

Paws and profits: Recent leadership changes in the veterinary industry

The Dunmorean Animal Hospital is a large companion animal clinic with a devoted clientele and an excellent medical staff. If you ask the hospital manager the secret to its success, she will cite reasons that include cutting-edge veterinary medical care and continuing educational opportunities for veterinarians. She would then emphasize the most important factor: the capability and efficient use of the veterinary technicians. The hospital manager would also say that everyone knows the value of excellent technicians. Despite that, the technicians’ role within the clinic dynamic is often taken for granted. Many practices have an established pay range for technicians. When a technician is highly skilled or exceptionally productive, they never really have the option of negotiating compensation increases that may fall outside the clinic’s standard pay range. Many clinics track the metrics and production of veterinarians closely and use them when determining their bonuses or compensation adjustments. Rarely are the metrics for the technicians tracked similarly

The compensation evaluation procedures for technicians vs veterinarians created a recent issue at the Dunmorean Animal Hospital. The veterinary staffing environment today is competitive and challenging. Dunmorean Animal Hospital has had difficulty finding qualified, capable technicians to meet its staffing needs. In addition, some technicians have left the practice in recent months for more lucrative positions. The technicians in a progressive veterinary facility, such as the Dunmorean Animal Hospital, are essentially nurse practitioners. They are responsible for sophisticated patient intake information, client communication, radiology, and radiology specialty interface referrals. They perform all blood draws, intravenous (IV) catheter placements, and ultrasound-guided urine aspiration, as well as calculate and prepare all medications and renewals for veterinarian approval. In addition, under veterinary supervision, they handled a full calendar of technician appointments that consisted of sutures, removals, bandage changes, IV and intramuscular medication administration, and follow-up procedures for postsurgical and chronic medical maintenance patients.

The hospital director was committed to not losing any more highly skilled and valuable technicians due to rigid pay scale parameters and the lure of higher-paying positions at other facilities. It was determined that in addition to the veterinarian performance monitored by the veterinary software program, technician performance would also be tracked. This way, monetary compensation could be more realistically adjusted to performance and not simply be a function of a predetermined pay range. The veterinary technician staff members were elated. This certainly would not lead to anyone’s compensation being lowered, but it could result in some meritorious increases. This could eliminate turnover and result in the long-term employment of many valued and experienced technicians.

It has been my experience that the retention of experienced and skilled veterinary technicians greatly influences practice efficiency and income production. When a highly qualified technician applied at my clinic, I would hire them regardless of the need. I would then see that they were put in a position to grow the practice. For some reason, many practices track veterinarians metrics yet see technician compensation as part of overhead expenses. Qualified technicians are well educated and prepared to assist the practice on day one, but they are harder to find than veterinarians. Do not let money stand in the way of acquiring them.

When it comes to compensation at the clinic for veterinarians, what about the technicians?

The numbers game can add up to a winning strategy for practices

A Beagle photographed during an undercover investigation in 2022 into the Indiana toxicology lab operated by Inotiv. (Photo courtesy of the Humane Society of the United States and the American Veterinary Medical Association)

Envigo, an Indiana-based Beagle-breeding company for research purposes and one of the largest suppliers of laboratory animals in the United States, pled guilty to violating the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) by neglecting thousands of dogs at its breeding facility in Cumberland, Virginia. The company will be paying a fine of more than $35 million, representing the largest-ever fine in an animal welfare case, according to a news release.

The plea came on June 3, 2024, when Envigo pleaded guilty to 1 misdemeanor count of conspiring to knowingly violate the AWA. In addition, the company also pleaded guilty to 1 felony count of conspiring to knowingly violate the Clean Water Act (CWA),

 which makes it illegal to release any pollutant into navigable waters unless through a permit.

“Envigo promoted a business culture that prioritized profit and convenience over following the law. This callous approach led to dire consequences: the inhumane treatment of animals and the contamination of our waterway,” said US attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh for the Western District of Virginia, in a Department of Justice (DOJ) release.

 “The historic monetary penalties and significant compliance measures as part of these guilty pleas send a clear message: every company, in every industry, must have compliance and corporate responsibility as a critical part of their business model.”

As part of the plea agreement, Envigo will serve probation for a period of 3 to 5 years. Inotiv, Envigo’s parent company, agreed to pay $22 million in criminal fines ($11 million per violation), marking the highest fine ever imposed by the DOJ in an AWA case. Additionally, Inotiv will pay $13.5 million to support animal welfare and environmental projects, cover law enforcement costs, and improve its own facilities.

The criminal and civil investigations into Envigo by the DOJ were triggered after inspectors from the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported more than 60 violations of animal welfare laws at the Class A dog breeding facility in Virginia between July 2021 and March 2022.

More than 50% of these violations were classified as “direct” or “critical” violations. Some of the concerns regarding Envigo’s facility included hazardous wire flooring, failing to provide veterinary care, unsanitary conditions, euthanasia of dogs without anesthesia, and a lack of documentation for the cause of death for hundreds of puppies.

The DOJ carried out a search warrant at the facility in May 2022. The complaint alleged that the company failed to meet the minimum standards of the AWA for handling, housing, feeding, watering, sanitation, and adequate veterinary care, among other requirements, according to a release.

Moreover, according to court documents, Envigo violated the AWA by failing to adequately operate and maintain its facility’s wastewater treatment plan.

As a result, “massive” amounts of improperly treated wastewater were illegally dumped into a local waterway, affecting the health and wellbeing of the community and the dogs at the facility.

At the breeding facility, Envigo had more than 4,000 beagles onsite. The company settled civil charges that accused it of showing a “disregard” for the dogs' welfare and agreed to forfeit the thousands of Beagles it had onsite in June 2022.

 The 4,000 beagles have since been put up for adoption.

“Envigo’s violations of the Clean Water Act and the Animal Welfare Act directly resulted in the contamination of a local waterway, negatively impacting the health and wellbeing of the community, and the horrible suffering of over 4,000 Beagles. This precedent-setting case emphasizes the power of collaboration between local, state, and federal authorities,” said Jason Miyares, Virginia attorney general, in a news release.

Envigo will also be required to adhere to stricter animal care standards and will be subject to a compliance monitor, a nationwide compliance plan, and other terms outlined in the agreements. The compliance monitor will oversee the company’s compliance to enhanced animal welfare requirements. Moreover, the company also agreed to shut down the facility, which was officially closed in September 2022.

The case was investigated by the USDA’s office of Inspector General and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division. Sentencing is set for October 7, 2024.

Envigo pleads guilty to neglecting dogs, faces $35M fine. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. July 24, 2024. Accessed July 25, 2024. 

https://www.avma.org/news/envigo-pleads-guilty-neglecting-dogs-faces-35m-fine?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-news

Summary of the Clean Water Act. United States Environmental Protection Agency. June 12, 2024. Accessed July 25, 2024. 

https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-water-act#:~:text=The%20CWA%20made%20it%20unlawful,pipes%20or%20man%2Dmade%20ditches

Animal breeder pleads guilty to animal welfare and pollution crimes and will pay more than $35M, including record fine in an animal welfare case. News release. United States Department of Justice. June 3, 2024. Accessed July 25, 2024. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/animal-breeder-pleads-guilty-animal-welfare-and-pollution-crimes-and-will-pay-more-35m 

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/animal-breeder-pleads-guilty-animal-welfare-and-pollution-crimes-and-will-pay-more-35m

Following its guilty plea, Envigo will pay the largest-ever fine in an animal welfare case

Dog-breeding research company to be sentenced for inhumane treatment of Beagles and environmental violations

Humans have used plants for traditional and herbal medicines throughout history and continue to do so to this day. Humans know about thousands of medicinal plants but are not the only living things that use plants for healing. A recent study published in 

 observed the first systematically documented case of a non-human species using a biologically active plant to self-treat an active wound.

One of the first cases of animal self-treatment was documented in the 1960s by Jane Goodall, who observed whole leaves in the feces of chimpanzees. In the 1990s, this behavior was labeled as “whole leaf swallowing” and discovered to have anti-parasitic properties. Whole leaf swallowing has been observed in chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and the white-handed gibbon (Asian ape species). Researchers have observed several other instances of primates ingesting plant parts to prevent and treat illness. Chimpanzees were observed traveling away from their usual route to find the 

 plant which has anti-parasitic properties. A wounded orangutan was observed eating ginger leaves which have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. 

This study took place in Gunung Leuser National Park in South Aceh, Indonesia. The research field was about 865 and consisted of peat swamp forest. Data collection began when an individual Sumatran orangutan was spotted in the forest and while they were active during the day. Researchers collected data at 2-minute intervals via photos, video recordings, and written notes. Researchers followed 1 individual male orangutan named Rakus throughout the summer of 2022 and observed him using liana leaves to treat his facial wound on June 25, 2022.

The study found that the liana plant is part of the orangutans’ diet in this area, but it is rarely eaten. Researchers collected data on 132 orangutans, and only 47 consumed liana leaves, fruits, or parts of the stem. They observed Rakus chewing the leaves without swallowing and using his fingers to put the plant juice onto his facial wound. He also covered the entire wound with chewed leaf material. The wound did not show any signs of infection, and by July 19, 2022, it had fully healed. Chemical analysis of the liana plant showed that it contains furanoditerpenoids and protoberberine alkaloids which have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antioxidant, and analgesic properties. Out of 38 plants used in ethnomedicine in South Vietnam, this specific liana plant had the highest antimalarial activity, and the leaves and stems can inhibit the growth of several bacteria species.

Orangutans are known to be incredibly smart, but this study demonstrates there is a lot to learn from our non-human primate counterparts. Humans need to respect the complex lives of primates and preserve their environments because these creatures hold many secrets of nature to learn from.

 is a 2025 PharmD at the University of Connecticut

Laumer IB, Rahman A, Rahmaeti T, et al. Active self-treatment of a facial wound with a biologically active plant by a male Sumatran orangutan. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):8932. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-58988-7

The primate's guide to healing with nature