Animal Hospitals Crucial for Indonesian Wildlife Conservation Facilities

The crucial role of animal hospitals within conservation facilities (ex-situ) in improving the welfare of wild animals in Indonesia is being highlighted. Animals residing in these facilities must be protected from illnesses, injuries, and diseases stemming from inadequate enclosures, unsanitary food sources, or interactions with humans. The five international principles of animal welfare – freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury, and disease; freedom to express normal and natural behavior; and freedom from fear and distress – should serve as guidelines for the establishment and operation of animal hospitals. Intan P. Hermawan, a veterinarian and lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya, states that animal hospitals possess vital functions in maintaining animal health, facilitating recovery from illness, and managing emergency cases. Animal hospitals are equipped to cater to all types of animals, ranging from pets and livestock to exotic and wild animals. According to Hermawan, these facilities are equipped with advanced medical equipment such as blood analyzers, X-rays, ultrasounds, EKGs, and PCR machines, supported by a reliable team of veterinary medical professionals. Furthermore, animal hospitals can provide not only outpatient and inpatient services but also perform minor and major surgeries. Hermawan emphasizes that conservation-focused animal hospitals should also be equipped with isolation rooms, recovery wards, surgical suites, rehabilitation areas, lactation rooms, and post-traumatic care facilities. The principle that all sick animals, whether protected or not, have the right to receive appropriate medical treatment underscores the importance of establishing animal hospitals within conservation institutions. A black panther or Javan leopard at Taman Safari Indonesia, Bogor. Photo: Falahi Mubarok/Mongabay Indonesia.