Alonso Aguirre

Dr. Alonso Aguirre is a veterinarian, but he's not the kind that takes care of your pet dog or cat. Alonso is a wildlife veterinarian, and he has a very special job. He studies the health of animals in the wild. Wild animals get sick just like people do, and Alonso keeps track of the diseases that wild animals get. He also studies how those diseases spread among wild animals, domestic animals, and people. Alonso became a veterinarian because he wanted to work with sick animals. He also went to school to study wildlife biology because he wanted to work with wild animals.

Alonso likes to work with marine animals. One of his favorite animals is the sea turtle. Unfortunately, many sea turtles have been getting a disease that causes them to get wart-like tumors on their bodies. Sometimes a turtle gets so many tumors that it can't see or eat. Alonso has been studying this disease and working to find its cause and a cure. He believes that it is caused by a virus. Turtles that have been living in polluted areas get this disease, so by cleaning the polluted water we can help to keep more sea turtles from getting sick. Alonso has also worked with monk seals in Hawaii. These endangered seals are having fewer babies than in the past. This may be because they are getting sick.

Wildlife veterinarians and biologists like Alonso work with animals in zoos and in the wild. Animals and humans get sick when their homes become overcrowded or polluted. Sometimes, too many animals are crowded into small patches of forest, or the oceans in which they live become polluted. Also, wild animals can get sick when they come into contact with people and domestic animals such as dogs, cats, and cattle. Wildlife veterinarians work to understand what causes animals to get sick and how far the diseases have spread. Alonso believes that he can save endangered species by working to keep them healthy.

Do you have questions for Alonso?
E-mail Alonso to ask him about his work.