Holly Haefele DVM

Holly Haefele, DVM Begins First Full Year as Fossil Rim’s Director of Animal Health

She has had a busy year, ranging from surgery on Kusamona, one of our black rhinos, to remove a malignant melanoma to around 130 immobilizations and added hoof trims to even having to perform a tail amputation on one of our giraffe. This is but a part of her challenging job of maintaining daily control over the health of over 1100 animals that call Fossil Rim home.

During her “spare” time she has also been collaborating with Texas A&M University to develop a vaccine for the virus contracted by Attwater Prairie Chickens and other birds as well as co-authored a publication on this subject in conjunction with the University of Georgia, and is now working on two more papers for publication.

Another part of her daily routine includes the training of about 10 vet student preceptors a year, whose assistance we are pleased to have. Holly said she is happy that we were fortunate enough to hire Dr. Allison Wack in mid July for a one-year Veterinary Fellowship and that our vet tech passed her Registered Veterinary Technician exam to now become registered in Texas. She is also overjoyed that this year saw the purchase of a new vet van.

We are so pleased and fortunate to have Dr. Haefele caring for the animals at Fossil Rim.