Announcement No.1 The First ASCM Asian Wildcat Conservation Workshop jointed with Tsushima Forum 2017 Tokuma Yanai, Senior board of ASCM Objectives: To exchange and share the information as well as the research works on conservation, ecology, pathology, management, and others of leopard cats. Background: During the 9th International Meeting of ASCM last year in Taipei Zoo, Taiwan, we had successfully organized the Wildcat conservation session. Various topics on leopard cat including the conservation, ecology, biology, veterinary medicine, pathology, and epidemiology were discussed by experts from several countries. To further enhance and strengthen the connections for the conservation on the leopard cat (or Asian wildcat) in Asia, we Asian Society of Conservation Medicine (ASCM) proposed to establish Asian network on leopard cat conservation by having biennial workshop or meeting, which will travel around the habitat areas. Core members of the network could be from Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and Bhutan. This time as an initiation for establishing the networking, we proposed a joint workshop with Tsushima Forum 2017. Host: Asian Society of Conservation Medicine (ASCM) Co-host: Tsushima Municipal Office and The Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center Contact person: Dr. Tokuma Yanai (ASCM; Gifu University) Venue: Email: yanai@gifu-u.ac.jp The Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center (Dec. 8 evening); Tsushima Municipal Exchange Facility 3 Floor (Dec. 9 and 10), Tsushima Island, Japan
Agenda for the First ASCM Asian Wildcat Conservation Workshop in Tsushima Japan in 2017 Date: December 8-10, 2017 December 8 (Arrival date) and ports: Yamaneko Airport from Fukuoka (20 minutes) Izuhara Port from Busan Hidakatu Port from Busan Getting together and Evening Meeting in The Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center, Tsushima. A short lecture and welcome party will be held. Stay a night at Japanese Minshuku (guesthouse) around the center. December 9 Move for the Izuhara City for Joint Meeting (Bus or car) 1000-1200 Morning session for Asian Wildcats (Tsushima Municipal Exchange Facility 3 Floor) 13:30- Field Tour for Tatsurayama Tsushima Leopard Cat Reintroduction Station Evening- Welcome Party hosted by Tsushima City Office December 10 Morning Session for Local Students Taiwan-Tsushima International Discussion on Leopard Cat Conservation Afternoon Poster Session (jointed with Tsushima Forum): Poster Presentation for Asian Wild Cats Conservation 1600-1800 Leopard Cat Conservation Session: Keynote Lectures (from Taiwan, Japan, Korea)
Attendance fee: 250 USD or 28,000 Yen (Including 3 nights of accommodations (Dec. 8, 9 and 10), two lunches (Dec. 9 and 10), 1 Banquet (Dec. 9) and Excursion (Dec. 9)) Deadline for registration: November 5 th for leopard cat workshop (ASCM) Posters and Lectures: Any poster presentations including previously presented are acceptable. Abstracts should be sent to: Dr. Tokuma Yanai Department of Veterinary Pathology, Gifu University E-mail: yanai@gifu-u.ac.jp and taeko_yanai@hotmail.com (Both)
Abstract format: Forensic Necropsy of Tsushima Leopard Cats (Felis bengalensis euptilura) for the conservation Tokuma Yanai 1, Mari Yamauchi 1, Akihiro Hirata 2, Hiroki Sakai 1, Shizuka Kageura 1 1- Lab of Veterinary Pathology, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan 2- Life Science Research Center, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan 3 - The Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center, Tsushima, Nagasaki, Japan Tsushima Leopard Cat is one of seriously endangered subspecies of a Bengali wildcat. The estimated population is around 70-100 (2010). The Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center is in charge of habitat control as well as rescue and release, and all carcasses found were sent to Gifu University for forensic necropsies. Recently, the forensic pathology has been noticed as a useful method to get various information needed for conservation of endangered species, including the cause of death, nutrition, and diseases surveillance as well as collecting genetic samples. From 2014 to now over 20 heads of Tsushima Leopard Cats found dead in Tsushima and some zoo were sent to Gifu University for complete necropsy. At necropsy, after gross examination, various organs and tissues were collected for histopathology and genetic analysis. Histological samples are fixed in 10% neutralized formalin and genetic samples are preserved at -30 or -80o C. The individual data including gross and microscopic reports as well as genetic samples, gastric contents and remaining carcasses are sent back to the center in Tsushima for preservation. The reproductive organs are sent to Kobe University from the center. The causes of death for 20 cases found in Tsushima were mainly traffic accidental deaths, and a few infants died in zoos were cause-unknown, probably weakness or maternal neglect. Traffic accidental cases got multiple bone fractures, usually head and neck area with frequent eye ball protrusions, as well as pulmonary or hepatic multifocal petechiae and hemothrax and hemoperitonium. Histologically, there were various subclinical background infectious diseases including high prevalence of pulmonary lungworm (Aelurostrongylus abstrusus) infections (over 50%) with a few seriously affected cases and occasional meningeal nematode infections which might bring depression to the animals. Other occasional myocardial hepatozoonosis and frequent intestinal nematode infection might affect health condition of animals to some extent. Forensic pathological study may be useful for assessment of health conditions of wild animals. Key words: Forensic pathology, Felis bengalensis euptilura, conservation Note: Do not exceed 2 pages (A4 size)