Gerard Nebot
Qualifications
Degree in Veterinary Science
​
Position
PhD candidate
​
Overview
I am a PhD candidate supervised by Dr. Oscar Cabezón, Prof. Ignasi Marco and Dr. Rafael Molina-López. The goals of the thesis undertaken right now are: to evaluate and establish a series of criteria that will guide the clinical staff of the Wildlife Rescue Centres facing raptors (Falconiformes & Strigiformes) with permanent visual impairment, establishing protocols to discern which animals may be capable of successful rehabilitation and reintroduction, and in which cases the impossibility returning to the natural environment will have to evaluate the possibility of humanitarian sacrifice in the first instance to avoid unnecessary suffering. Aiming to raise number of reintroductions to have a positive impact in conservation medicine.
Background
​ I’ve always been strongly interested in nature and animals, walking around the forest or collecting dead bodies as a kid just to admire their anatomy or colour patterns. I graduated from Veterinary Medicine University in 2018 in Valencia, where I was deeply engaged in the Board of the Student Association for Zoological Medicine (Exotic and Wildlife) for 4 years as president. We organized weekly self-formation and brought lecturers in an annual event, set a networking basis for practical experience and collaborated in research projects.
During the Vet School years, I also enjoyed the opportunity to be a fellow at the Wildlife Rescue Center in L’Albufera, an intern in Pathology for 4 years, Team leader, and fellowships in Anatomy, Diagnostic Imaging and IT service. Since then, I’ve been member of EAZWV and have had the luck to assist to Conferences in Berlin and Prague, and Workshops in Budapest (Avian Medicine), Zurich (Elephant Medicine) and Munich (Herpetology), increasing year by year my interest in Wildlife, Research and Conservation Medicine.
After graduating, I started working in a Small Animal Hospital, taking the emergency shifts for 4 months, until I switched to an exclusively Exotic Animal practice, for a year, and joined WDA and EAAV. I started a GPC postgrad course with Improve International in Madrid: Exotic and Wildlife Medicine and Surgery. Before starting the PhD project, I spent 2 months in Ecuador, joining Wildlife Rescue Centres to volunteer and travelling through the Amazonian Rainforest to observe Wildlife. For several years, in my free time I’ve joined and guided groups of Wildwatching, mainly around Spain, and we have been lucky enough to observe from wild Iberian Lynx mating (Lynx pardinus), to Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) packs roaming, or Brown bear cubs (Ursus arctos), Imperian eagle couples and nestlings (Aquila adalberti), and a long list of natural beauties.
