Asian Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine: A Possible Core Organization of Wildlife Disease Surveillance Network in East Asia and Oceania

Abstract

The Asian Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (ASZWM) was officially founded in 2006 as a scientific body and accredited by the Asian Association of Veterinary School. An annual meeting is held every year. Participants from 20 countries have given around 600 presentations so far. Establishing a zoo veterinarian network among Asian countries has been one of the main subjects in the past meetings. As the next step in developing and sustaining an Asian network of conservation medicine and zoo and wildlife medicine, the society board has decided to start certifying a diploma. Thus, in 2012, the Asian College of Conservation Medicine was established under the society board as the diploma accreditation body. In addition, the society will take on a role as the Asian geographic section of the Wildlife Disease Association. In the scenario mentioned above, ASZWM could become a core organization of the wildlife disease surveillance network in East Asia and Oceania.