Dr. Morfeld could not make the presentation today and hopefully can be rescheduled in the future.

Presented by Kari Morfeld, Reproductive Physiologist &amp: Endocrinologist | Physiology Consulting Services

Captive breeding practices serve as a tool to augment populations of threatened or endangered species; however, the success rates vary drastically across species, zoos, and the private sector in the US. Dr. Morfeld’s presentation will discuss conservation research in these various sectors and highlight several opportunities to improve breeding success through adjustments in management practices, changes in husbandry, routine hormone monitoring, and reproductive evaluation. Case studies and data focused on African elephants and giraffes will be presented to address ways in which we can optimize reproduction. Additionally, Dr. Morfeld will touch on the challenges and advantages of working with conservation organizations both in the US and South Africa to compare breeding success between zoo-managed and free-ranging populations.

Speaker’s Biography
Dr. Morfeld is a reproductive physiologist and endocrinologist based in Omaha, Nebraska. She is the founder and president of the non-profit organization, For Elephants Inc., and founder and CEO of Morfeld Research and Conservation, LLC. She serves numerous zoos, the private sector, and several government and conservation organizations through wildlife reproductive services and research. Dr. Morfeld mentors undergraduate and graduate students by providing unique opportunities in conservation and research in the US and through her elephant field program based in South Africa. Dr. Morfeld received her B.A. in Biology from Nebraska Wesleyan University and M.S. in Animal Science from University of Nebraska, Lincoln. For her dissertation, Dr. Morfeld studied body condition in zoo-managed African elephants with a concentration on the reproductive and metabolic health implications of poor body condition at George Mason University. Dr. Morfeld currently serves as the Chair for the AZA Reproduction and Endocrinology Scientific Advisory Group. Although the primary focus of Dr. Morfeld’s research has historically been on African elephants, her organization currently monitors the well-being of a diverse number of species including giraffes, polar bears, dolphins, penguins, capybaras, chimpanzees, rhinoceros, European fallow deer, eland, bongos, water buffalo, and many more!

This seminar is only on Zoom: https://unl.zoom.us/j/92646980472