Dr. Jan Ramer, Indianapolis Zoo Vet, Leaves to Manage Mountain Gorilla Project

By Maura Giles 

Indianapolis, IN - The Indianapolis Zoo is honored to announce that Dr. Jan Ramer, Associate Veterinarian, will be taking a two-year leave of absence to participate as Regional Manager with the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP). Dr. Ramer will be assuming this new role beginning August 1, 2009. The position manages seven veterinarians (known as The Gorillas Doctors) in three countries (Rwanda, Congo and Uganda) and 15 lay people (guards, orphan gorilla care takers), and facilitates the growing human health program in the area. It is a model conservation program with the "ecosystem health" approach. Dr. Ramer's participation in the program reflects the Zoo’s commitment to both in-situ and ex-situ conservation programs.

On making the announcement, Dr. Ramer said, “I am very honored to have been chosen for this position. I look forward to being able to contribute to a conservation program that truly works toward a one health solution to a very complicated conservation issue. I am excited to meet my new team of colleagues in Africa and learn as much as I can from their extensive experience with the gorillas, and to meet the amazing gorillas themselves. I still think someone might pinch me and it will all be a dream.” During the 24 months that Dr. Ramer is in the field she will still be a part time employee of the Indianapolis Zoo so that she can continue her duties for the International Iguana Foundation, the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and several other specific tasks that can be done remotely. An interim veterinarian will be hired for the period of time that Dr. Ramer will be in Africa, and Dr. Ramer will resume her regular role as the Zoo's Associate Veterinarian in July 2011.

Jan Ramer to Manage MGVP
MGVP staff work in three countries: Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Mountain gorillas are found only in Central Africa and only in two regions: 1) the Virunga Massif mountain range that includes the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, the Virunga National Park in the DRC, and the Mgahinga National Park in Uganda; and, 2) the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda. The field veterinarians in each country work together whenever possible. The regional headquarters are centrally located in Musanze, Rwanda—an hour's drive from both the DRC and Uganda. The project maintains its international headquarters in Maryland, USA, and its regional headquarters in Ruhengeri (Musanze), Rwanda.

The mountain gorillas are the only great apes whose numbers are actually growing. Although this species remains endangered, their numbers have grown from 248 to over 360 individuals in the Virunga Massif in Rwanda alone. The total number of mountain gorillas is estimated to be 700-750 individuals.

MGVP began as the Volcano Veterinary Center in 1986, a tiny clinic established by the Morris Animal Foundation at the request of the late anthropologist, Dr. Dian Fossey. At that time, health care was not available to the mountain gorillas. In 1985, Dr. Fossey met with wildlife enthusiast Ruth Morris Keesling, whose father was Dr. Mark Morris, founder of the Morris Animal Foundation and requested funding for a veterinary program. Ms. Keesling responded with the idea of a veterinary clinic. The Foundation responded by working with the Rwandan government to create a health-care policy that would protect the mountain gorillas. It built a veterinary center and hired a veterinarian, whose job was to provide medical care to gorillas that sustained human-caused illnesses or injuries.

For nearly 20 years now, MGVP veterinarians have been helping mountain gorillas survive by providing them with life-saving veterinary care for human-caused or life-threatening illnesses and injuries. With teams of experienced personnel, MGVP veterinarians track ailing gorillas, observe and treat them when needed - inside their native habitat. Because it takes healthy people to save wildlife, they also run an employee health program for park staff. The MGVP also provides health care and monitoring for the endangered eastern lowland or Grauer's gorilla in Congo, and for a handful of orphaned gorillas.

Ramer to Manage MGVP
Without the MGVP, mountain gorillas might not exist today. Still, these animals remain critically endangered due to threats from war, poaching, habitat destruction and human disease. Their numbers remain critically low, with no fall back breeding population in sanctuaries or zoos. More information is available on the MGVP’s web site at: http://www.gorilladoctors.com.

Located in White River State Park downtown, the Indianapolis Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Association of Museums as a zoo, aquarium and botanical garden. The Indianapolis Zoo will empower people and communities, both locally and globally, to advance animal conservation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things.

To view Indianapolis Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-19-Indianapolis_Zoo