RESEARCH TOPICS

Various key clinical disciplines in zoological medicine: anaesthesia and sedation, infectious diseases, pathology, reproduction

RESPONSIBILITIES

Coordination of medical care for animals at Antwerp ZOO and Planckendael ZOO

AREAS OF INTEREST FOR RESEARCH

• Anaesthesia and sedation
• Clinical pathology
• Dentistry
• Clinical care of Giraffidae (okapis and giraffes)

A primary focus on diagnosis, treatment and preventive measures, for both individual animals and groups of animals.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

I graduated from Ghent University in 2015. A keen interest in exotic animal veterinary medicine prompted me to look for career opportunities both in Belgium and abroad with a view to broadening my knowledge of this fascinating discipline. This led me to work in places such as South Africa and Asia. Closer to home, I was also employed as a farm vet in the Flemish region 'Kempen'. In addition to the above, I also worked at a rescue centre for wild animals at Ghent University, where I gained even more experience caring for exotic species. I also spent five years as a veterinary anaesthesiologist in Belgium, the Netherlands and France, in which I focused on the chemical immobilisation of wild animals that have escaped or are difficult to get close to. This is a key competence when working with dangerous and/or wild animals, for which I have taken numerous training courses.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

• European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians (EAZWV)
• American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV)
• Assessor on scientific review committee for the annual EAZWV conference

KEY PUBLICATIONS

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma in a Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) – pending

Standardisation of sperm collection and sperm assessment among cervids Research as part of my master’s thesis

Worm infections among donkeys Research as part of my master’s thesis

De Ridder, T., Goossenaerts, E., Spruyt, J., Van Ginneken, C., Aerts, P. & MacLaren, J.A. (2024) First description of the baubellum in the spectacled bear Tremarctos ornatus (Mammalia: Ursidae). Journal of Anatomy, 00, 1–5.