Wilder International founder Matyas Liptovszky attended the Zoo and Wildlife Health Conference 2025 in Győr, Hungary. Originally from Hungary, Mat has worked at Győr Zoo previously, so it was a bit of a homecoming, as much as important scientific and networking opportunity.
Mat shared their latest research on vitamin D deficiency in great apes, which does not only affect apes in zoos, but can also impact them in sanctuaries as well. Important factors include diet, unrestricted access to outdoor spaces, meaning animal husbandry and care practices can influence the presence or absence of this condition. Mat and his colleagues also presented a poster on a quick ultrasonography technique in bush dogs, a small South American carnivore which is poorly studied.
This conference is the biggest get-together of zoo and wildlife health professionals in Europe, and increasingly becoming an international forum to share experiences, cutting edge research and to make long-lasting connections. This year more than 350 veterinarians from over 45 countries made the journey to join the conference to advance wild animal care, health and welfare. The location was a great symbol of this connectedness, Győr lies at the crossing of three rivers, and has connected people for hundreds of years.
