Please Do Not Tap On the Glass

Come out and hear Dr. Lucy talk about her experience treating Rwanda’s wild mountain gorillas, plus stories from her book, “The Rhino With Glue-on Shoes.”

WHO: Dr. Lucy Spelman (see bio below)
WHAT: Lecture & Book Signing “Taking Care of Wild Animals, One Patient at a Time:The Rhino with Glue-on Shoes—and More”
WHERE: Signature Theater in Arlington, with a book signing afterward at Busboys & Poets. There is plenty of parking.
WHEN: 7 p.m., Monday October 5, $10 admission

Mohan, the rhino with glue-on shoes Phot: Jessie Cohen NZP

In this lecture—geared to animal lovers of all ages—Lucy gives the audience a fascinating and up-close look at wild animals, the dedicated professionals who care for them, and the dynamic relationships that exist between doctor and patient. She highlights some of the essays from her recent book, “The Rhino with Glue-on Shoes” which includes 27 heart- warming short stories written by today’s top zoo and wildlife vets. Co-edited with her friend and colleague, Dr. Ted Mashima, this compilation is filled with the real-life medical drama that ensues when patients range in weight from several tons to less than an ounce, and their symptoms include broken bones and upset stomachs.

Taking care of wild animals is an experience that comes with plenty of surprises, especially since vets can’t communicate (at least not in words) with their sometime dangerous patients. Imagine treating an anorexic eel, or fixing a kangaroo’s broken neck. Lucy continues with a few stories of her own from her most recent veterinary adventures with mountain gorillas in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda. She describes the challenges associated with treating an endangered species in its own habitat, and the importance of adopting a more inclusive, integrated “one-health” approach to conservation. The health of the gorillas is inextricably linked to the health of their ecosystem, and all who live there—including humans. Her stories offer hope that humans and animals can do better than coexist, together they can thrive.

Nyandwi snare removal in Rwanda

Come listen to Dr. Lucy recount tales of discovery, compassion, and cutting-edge animal medicine. Books will be available for sale and signing.

Dr. Lucy H. Spelman is a veterinarian committed to the study and advancement of health care for wild animals. She is also a world-renowned zoo and wildlife vet who has held several leadership positions. Her patients include endangered animals in far-flung parts of the globe-giant pandas in China, Asian elephants in Burma, giant river otters in Guyana, and mountain gorillas in Rwanda. She is a former director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo and has just returned from central Africa after managing the field programs for the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project for nearly three years. She has also worked as a consultant for Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel, and has been filmed at work for television. Lucy is currently a visiting Assistant Professor at Brown University where she initially earned her bachelor’s degree (A.B.) in biology (1985.) After receiving her D.V.M. from the University of California at Davis (1990), she completed her post-doctoral training at North Carolina State University and passed her specialty boards the next year (1994), becoming the 43rd member of the American College of Zoological Medicine and the first to achieve this status right out of her residency. Her latest accomplishment is the publication of “The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes,” a collection of heart-warming stories written by zoo and wild animal vets about their patients. The book was published in hard cover last year and has just come out in paperback (June 23, 2009.) Lucy co-edited the book and contributed the story that gives the book its title about a rhino with sore feet. For more, go to www.drlucyspelman.com.