Veterinarians Meet For Conference

ATLANTA – July 14, 2016 – Hundreds of veterinarians from around the globe are set to meet in Atlanta for a joint conference beginning July 16 through July 22. The conference will bring together the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV), the European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians (EAZWV), and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) at the Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Atlanta.

Co-hosted by Georgia Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta, the event will be the first ever joint AAZV/EAZWV/IZW Conference, expecting over 500 veterinarians and over 100 veterinary students to be in attendance. Attendants of the conference can expect a wide array of scientific session talks and events. For a more detailed list, please visit www.aazv.org/program.

“Georgia Aquarium is very happy to be co-hosting the 2016 AAZV/EAZWV/IZW Conference with Zoo Atlanta,” said Tonya Clauss, director of animal health. “We’re looking forward to hearing the research and findings from all three organizations throughout the course of the week. This conference is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in the veterinary field.”

Veterinarians attending the conference have the opportunity to engage in 14 different workshops and scientific talks covering a variety of topics, including Reptiles and Amphibians, Reproduction, Aquatic Animal Medicine, and Emerging Infectious Diseases. The AAZV/EAZWV/IZW Conference is a unique opportunity for the best veterinary professionals to immerse themselves in lectures and findings from zoological organizations from around the globe.

“Zoo Atlanta is proud to join Georgia Aquarium in welcoming the first joint conference of the world’s foremost leaders and leaders-to-be in the field of veterinary care,” said Hayley Murphy, DVM, vice president of animal divisions and director of the Great Ape Heart Project headquartered at Zoo Atlanta. “What we do independently as veterinary professionals has the power to improve the lives of the animals in our stewardship, but what we are able to do collectively has the power to change the lives of animals around the world, not just within our own organizations, but in the wild, where our constantly-evolving knowledge of animal health can help shape the future of their species.”

Special discounts to Georgia Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta are available to attendees of the conference. Registration for the 2016 AAZV/EAZWV/IZW Conference is still open. For prices and more information, visit www.aazv.org/Registration2016.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Jessica Fontana Senior Manager of Communications, Georgia Aquarium

404.581.4391 – office

jfontana@georgiaaquarium.org

Rachel Davis Director of Communications, Zoo Atlanta

404.624.2812 – office

rdavis@zooatlanta.org

About Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that contains more than 10 million gallons of water and has the largest collection of aquatic animals. Georgia Aquarium’s mission is to be a scientific institution that entertains and educates, features exhibits and programs of the highest standards, and offers engaging and exciting guest experiences that promote the conservation of aquatic biodiversity throughout the world. Georgia Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. For additional information, visit www.georgiaaquarium.org.

About Zoo Atlanta

Viewed as one of the finest zoological institutions in the U.S. and a proud accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Zoo Atlanta has a mission to inspire value and preservation of wildlife through a unique mix of education and outdoor family experiences. From well-known native wildlife to critically endangered species on the brink of extinction, the Zoo offers memorable close encounters with some 1,300 animals from around the world. The Zoo’s newest destination, Scaly Slimy Spectacular: The Amphibian and Reptile Experience, featuring more than 70 species in a 111,000 square-foot complex, opened in 2015 and is the world’s first LEED Gold-certified reptile and amphibian exhibit. Zoo collection highlights include Mei Lun and Mei Huan, the only giant panda twins in the U.S.; North America’s largest zoological collection of great apes; and a global center of excellence for the care and study of reptiles and amphibians. Up-close-and-personal animal experiences include behind-the-scenes Wild Encounters with African elephants, Aldabra giant tortoises, giant pandas, lemurs, Sumatran tigers and warthogs. Zoo Atlanta is open daily with the exceptions of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Keeper talks, interactive wildlife shows, education programs and special events run year-round. For more information, visit zooatlanta.org.