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Three students from the University of
Georgia, Gaby Flacke, Trish London, and Carrie McColgan, ventured into
the jungles of Veracruz, Mexico,
from July 10 through August 11, 2000, to work with local veterinarians
and veterinary students on several conservation projects. The externship
was sponsored through a Texas
A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine Fund
for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.
S. Department of Education grant, and was intended to give veterinary
students an international experience in
veterinary medicine.
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Our home base was the small village of Catemaco, located
approximately three hours south of the city of Veracruz. We lived in an apartment which
housed several graduate students from around the world, all conducting research projects
in conjunction with the Universidad Veracruzana. Each weekday morning at 8:30 am, we would
ride to the local fruit market and pick up the daily ration for the animal inhabitants of
the University's jungle research station. The ration included avocados, carrots, apples,
oranges, pineapples, tomatoes, cucumbers, and plenty of bananas. We also somehow acquired
a load of branches every day, which mysteriously appeared at the side of the road, as we
passed on the way to the research station.
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The three main species housed at the research station
were howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and agouti, a medium-sized, nocturnal, forest
dwelling rodent. We would feed all of the animals each day, and gather data for different
research projects. We were collecting urine samples and vaginal cytology swabs from the
female agouti in order to determine the specifics of their estrous cycle. The howler
monkeys were four females, part of a behavior study, and the many spider monkeys were
involved in a reproductive study. We anesthetized several male howler monkeys, drew blood
samples, and performed electro-ejaculation. The data obtained from lab tests on the
samples were intended to provide a basis for normal values for spider monkeys in the wild.
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Our work schedule also allowed for several side-trips on the
weekends, and we ventured to many of the surrounding areas to experience some of the
southern Mexican culture. On one trip, we visited the beautiful city of Oaxaca, and saw
the Zapotec Indian ruins at Monte Alban. Overall it was a very enlightening and exciting
experience. It was very interesting to see how veterinary medicine was practiced in
another country, and to work with many different international students on a myriad of
projects. The apartment in which we stayed was a lively and vibrant environment, a source
of constant activity. Each evening, all the students would gather and cook a meal, partake
in the local beverages, and discuss the day's activities. The trip was an excellent
learning experience and an opportunity to meet many different people who are interested in
conservation medicine.
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