Rona Nadler Valency, DVM

Link to Zoo Survey

A World Survey of Neurological Diseases among Captive Lions (Panthera leo) in Zoological Gardens

 

merav

Merav Shamir, DVM Dipl. ECVN
Professor of Veterinary Neurology & Neurosurgery
E-mail: Merav.shamir@mail.huji.ac.il

 

rona

Rona Nadler Valency, DVM
Wildlife Veterinarian and PhD student
E-mail: lionsurvey15@gmail.com

School Contact Information

Koret School of Veterinary Medicine,
The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food & Environment,
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Address: Herzl 229, P.O. Box 12,
Rehovot 76100, Israel

Phone: +972-(0)8-9489021/31;
Fax: +972-(0)8-9467940
E-Mail: vet.school@mail.huji.ac.il

 

Wildlife Veterinarian and PhD student

rona lion

Koret School of Veterinary Medicine
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Tel: +972 (523) 727125
E-mail: lionsurvey15@gmail.com

Education

2002-2007

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Graduated with Honors & Valedictorian,
University of Veterinary Medicine, Kosice, Slovakia.

1993-1998

Ostrovski High School, Ra’anana, Israel – Biology major (Hons).

1989-1993

Bonn American High School, Bonn, Germany

1984-1989

Zurich International School, Zurich, Switzerland

Professional Experience

2014-present

Academia and research – PhD student, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine,
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

2009-2014

Senior Veterinarian in the Israeli Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Center at
the Zoological Center of Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan (Safari) and
the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority.

June 2009

Research regarding skull malformations in lions, National Museums of Kenya (Nairobi).

2008-2009

Veterinarian and Assistant Manager at “The Colobus Trust”, primate conservation and rescue center, South Coast, Kenya. I operated a 24 hr. rescue unit at the Trust where we treated a variety of primate species and small carnivores from the wild. I helped manage the Trust in areas such as animal welfare, rehabilitation of ex-pet primates, education and funding. I also assisted the Lion Conservation Fund (LCF) with field projects in Kenya.

2007-2009

Volunteer in “Born to the Wild" project, Veterinary staff, the Israeli Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Center at the Zoological Center of Tel Aviv- Ramat Gan (Safari) and the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority.

2007-2008

Veterinarian in "The Clinic", a small animal vet practice in Tel-Aviv, Israel.

2004-2007

Volunteer in the Jerusalem Zoo, Veterinary staff, during semester vacations. My volunteer work included- assisting in patient care, capture, treatment and participating in zoo conservation projects.

Summer 2006

Entrepreneur and partner in “Young Vets” summer camp: summer activity for children learning about animal conservation

August 2003

Volunteered in a conservation and relocation project of a variety of wildlife species in South- Africa.

2002 May-September

Worked as an assistant to Veterinarian Dr. Bernard Hurwitz, Animal Clinic Ra'anana, Israel.

Military service

1998-2000

Served in the Israeli Army (IDF) as a non-commissioned officer in the Nahal Brigade. My job was to assist immigrant soldiers in matters such as social integration, language and emotional support.

March 2000

Received a citation from Commander in Chief of IDF

Conferences and continuing education

  • Conference; "Veterinary Research Studies in Wildlife, Exotics and Zoo animals" at the Jerusalem Zoo, 2015-02-10. Speaker: "Hepatozoon in an Egyptian Vulture, case report"
  • Continuing veterinary education program; "EAZA Academy Avian Endoscopy, Surgery and Emergency Medical Care Course", The Zoological Center Tel-Aviv, 8-9 Dec 2013
  • Continuing veterinary education program; "Clinical Aspects in Radiology and Anesthesia", Hebrew University Veterinary Hospital, 2011 Dec-20 to 2012 Mar-20
  • Conference; 9th annual "Israel Zoo Association" at Bar-Ilan University, 2012-02-27
  • Conference; "Veterinary Research Studies in Wildlife, Exotics and Zoo animals" at the Jerusalem Zoo, 2012-02-22
  • Conference;" International Vulture Conservation in Israel" at Kfar-Blum, 2011-09-19
  • Externship; "Wildlife Hematology" Rotterdam Zoo Holland, 2011 Jan-31-to-Feb-05
  • Conference; 8th annual "Israel Zoo Association" at Hay-Park Kiriat Motzkin, 2011-03-01
  • Conference; "Veterinary Research Studies in Wildlife, Exotics and Zoo animals" at the Jerusalem Zoo, 2010-11-23
  • Conference; "Veterinary Research Studies in Wildlife, Exotics and Zoo animals" at the Jerusalem Zoo, 2009-11-17. Speaker; "Occipital Malformation in Lions (Panthera leo)".
  • Conference; 5th annual "Israel Zoo Association" at Bet-Samuel Jerusalem, 2008-02-21

Research and articles

  1. Saragusty J, Shavit-Meyrav A, Yamaguchi N, Nadler R, Bdolah-Abram T, Gibeon L, et al. (2014) Comparative Skull Analysis Suggests Species-Specific Captivity-Related Malformation in Lions (Panthera leo). PLoS ONE 9(4): e94527. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0094527
  2. Horowitz, I. H.; Yanco, E.; Nadler, R. V.; Anglister, N.; Landau, S.; Elias, R.; Lublin, A.; Perl, S.; Edery, N.; Rosenzweig, A. B. Acute Lead Poisoning in a Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) in Israel. // Israel Journal of Veterinary Medicine; Sep2014, Vol. 69 Issue 3, p163
  3. Horowitz, I., Hatzofe, O., Anglister, N., Landau, S. & Nadler R. (2011) A five year summary of wildlife treatment and rehabilitation at the Israeli Wildlife Hospital. International Conference on Diseases of Zoo and Wild Animals, Lisbon, Portugal, Vol. 2011, pp. 54-56

Journal Reviewer

  • Review Editor of the Editorial Board of Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery, section of wild and exotic animals

Pending publications

  • Molecular Characterization of Hepatozoon neophrontis discovered in adult Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) in Israel. Nadler, R. V; Yanco,E ; Horowitz, I. H., Anglister, N.; Rosenzweig, A. B, Landau, S.; Elias, R.; Biala Y and Baneth G.

Language skills

  • Hebrew (mother tongue level)
  • English (mother tongue level)
  • German (medium level)
  • Romanian (partial level)