Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

Dr. TanDY

Found this article about Dr Vellayan from The Star - He is one of the most well known zoo veterinarians in Malaysia.

Site url:
http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2006/1/29/education/13223786

Quote:
Working with animals

Having spent more than 25 years at Zoo Negara as a clinical zoo and wildlife veterinarian, Dr S. Vellayan was among the first Malaysians to pursue a Masters degree from the Department of Animal Science under the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science at UPM.

Presently an assistant director at the zoo, he is no longer in charge of the animal hospital.

Dr Vellayan, who was in UPM from 1979 to 1981, says his thesis was on the chemical composition and digestibility of food eaten by lar gibbons in Malaysia.

“I was the first postgraduate student to stay on campus. At first they didn’t know how much to charge me but eventually they gave me a single room in the hostel.

“I used to spend about two weeks in the forest where I did my research and the rest of the time on campus,” he adds.

He also tutored undergraduates in veterinary science and agricultural science in various areas including anatomy, nutrition and physiology.

He is now an adjunct associate professor at the university and also supervises students in various undergraduate degrees in biology, nutrition, animal husbandry and veterinary science doing their practical at the zoo.

“I feel it is only fair to continue sharing my knowledge with the university,” he adds. – BY KAREN CHAPMAN