Ep. 65: Suzan Murray - The Wildlife and Human Population Is Inextricably Linked - Smithsonian
We are so happy to be here with Suzan Murray, who is the program director of the Global Health Program of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. She has been with Smithsonian for over 30 years -- thirteen of which was as head of the National Zoo hospital. She is now working with the Smithsonian Global Health Program to build bridges and create international collaborations to increase and diffuse knowledge in wildlife and human health care.
In this podcast, Murray talks about how the health of the environment, humans and animals is inextricably linked. Illnesses that are in the wildlife population can jump into the human population, just like the Corona viris. Murray is working with UC Davis and USAID on a project called PREDICT which uses modeling to identify the regions in which the next emerging disease is most likely to erupt.
Murray also talks about the pandas, the elephants and even the incredible flying fox.
Murray is enamored by all of the diverse expertises needed to care for wildlife. She sees the clear power of interdisciplinary and international teams working together to solve the world’s problems.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the Smithsonian will host the 2020 #EarthOptimism Summit in Washington, DC on April 22-25th. The Summit will showcase stories of both small- and large-scale actions that frame the conversation and demonstrate that success is possible.
More From Suzan Murray
Smithsonian Profile for Suzan Murray
Conservation Biology Institute Website: https://www.si.edu/unit/conservation-biology-institute
Global Health Program: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/global-health-program
Earth Optimism: https://earthoptimism.si.edu
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Show Notes
[01:29] I've known I wanted to be a wildlife vet since I was five, since I was watching TV with my dad and we were watching National Geographic. And Dr. Goodall was on there. And I told my dad, that's what I want to do. And at that point, he said, OK.
[02:14] When I was in veterinary school, Dr. Goodall was my thesis advisor. So I ended up working in Tanzania along with her on a project looking at chimp, baboon and human health.
[04:19] There is a larger thought paradigm that the health of everything, environment, humans and animals is inextricably linked.
[04:34] There is a holistic approach when we think about how all the pieces work together. What do animals need? What do people need? What does the environment need and how does it all play?
[00:05:16] Those are illnesses that are in the wildlife population and jump into the human population.
[06:23] With the project Predict (UC Davis and USAID) we use modeling to identify the regions in which the next emerging disease is most likely to erupt. Then we work with those countries to identify a country coordinator within that country. And then from there we look at where are the danger zones, build in the laboratories and then we start doing the surveillance of wildlife species.
[09:49] I think the thing that gets me is that when ordinary people like Lynn Mento from FONZ in the face of their average day do extraordinary things to help the team, to help animals, to help people. And there's a lot of it, whether it's a keeper at the zoo, whether it's a technician, whether it's a primate keeper or a geneticist, a reproductive physiologist. These are all these people that work -- that are so brilliant in their own mind. And they're kind of behind the scenes but really complete the whole puzzle.
[11:14] Why does this elephant who's so much larger, why does she listen to this teeny person? And it's important because they've spent years developing that relationship of love, trust and mutual respect.
[13:29] Kenya Wildlife Services
[15:14] If we look at the species that are most likely to have a virus that can hurt humans, it's bats, primates and rodents.
[00:17:21]The successful project is not one that doesn't have a bump in the road, but it's how you manage the bumps in the road.
[19:27] The health of animal minds is very important. Endocrinologists have devised ways of pulling different hormones out and of the feces and urine they can look at stress hormones.
[25:13] Dr. Mark Val Trudeau was in China right now working with giant pandas and Chinese colleagues on health issues there. You've got Dr. Don Zimmerman, who leads our Africa regional program, and she's working on modeling for Ebola in gorillas. Can we vaccinate gorillas and keep gorillas and people healthy?
[27:26] No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. And the more that we can create these partnerships and work together, the more we're going to be successful, especially if we're trying to look at solving some of the world's greatest problems. And so I gave the example of, you know, the bats in Myanmar, and that's not the world's greatest problem. But it is an example of how four different groups came together with tremendous expertise to learn about something regarding conservation and health.
Thank you for joining us on HealthGig. We loved having you with us. We hope you'll tune in again next week. In the meantime, be sure to like and subscribe to this podcast, and follow us on healthgigpod.com.
“There is a larger thought paradigm that the health of everything, environment, humans and animals is inextricably linked.” - Suzan Murray
“The successful project is not one that doesn't have a bump in the road, but it's how you manage the bumps in the road.” - Suzan Murray
“No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. And the more that we can create these partnerships and work together, the more we're going to be successful, especially if we're trying to look at solving some of the world's greatest problems.” - Suzan Murray
Keywords
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