Growing number of Emirati veterinarians set to transform animal care in UAE

Growing number of Emirati veterinarians set to transform animal care in UAE

Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s people have always had a close relationship with the animals of the land; now, a number of Emiratis are set to transform animal care, animal production and food security as they graduate in increasing numbers from UAE’s first university-based veterinary programme. In fact, the majority of graduates from the UAE University’s Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine programme have so far been Emirati women, Dr Bhanu Chowdhary, dean of the university’s College of Food and Agriculture, told . “Historically, the Emirati people have cherished and nurtured their bond with various animal species, especially horses, falcons, camels, sheep and goat. This inherent knowledge about wildlife has not, however, been converted into commercial, medical and entrepreneurial know-how thus far. But as I see the passion of our students, I am convinced that we will soon see very qualified animal surgeons emerging from the UAE, and they just as well may be Emirati women,” Dr Chowdhary. He was speaking on the sidelines of the 37th World Veterinary Association Congress, a three-day meet in the capital that is seeing the attendance of veterinary experts and officials from around the world. A major focus of the conference is the intricate and unbreakable link