The Cornell students gave a spider monkey a vasectomy, transported a jaguar to a more suitable habitat, learned how to properly restrain caimans (type of crocodile), treated lacerations on a boa constrictor, examined dozens of scarlet macaws and recommended better diets for animals as diverse as a box turtle and an agouti.

The seven students -- all in Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine -- practiced these clinical skills while in Honduras with the International Veterinary Medicine Abroad program for 10 days in January. They earned one credit for the experience through which they helped local animal caretakers improve the quality of life for captive native wildlife.

Care can be difficult in this developing nation, where resources are scarce, said Tamika Lewis, DVM '09, but the desire to help animals is overwhelming.

"Wildlife is part of a delicate system hanging in the balance," Lewis said. "The system is inherently fragile, and it is tested every day by decisions people make. Animals, humans and nature are all connected, and veterinarians are instrumental in ensuring the system thrives."

Accompanied by Cornell veterinarians Jamie Morrisey and Marisa Bezjian, senior lecturer of exotic and wildlife medicine and zoological medicine resident, respectively, the students consulted with the owners of Macaw Mountain, Copan Ruins and Rancho San Luis.

"At Cornell's hospital, the exotics service is an elective rotation," said Lewis. "As such, we may not have the opportunity to work with a high volume of different species of birds or other exotic animals during our clinical rotations. Practicing veterinary medicine in a tropical country gave us the opportunity to add depth to our portfolio of cases."

To prepare for the trip, students familiarized themselves with the husbandry and diet needs of Honduran wildlife and practiced conducting physical exams and drawing blood. On site, they put these skills to use doing hands-on work and making creative -- and inexpensive -- suggestions for diet, habitat and enrichment activities.

"The experience was an eye-opener," said Lewis. "It can be easy to forget that we have opportunities and advantages in the United States that people in other nations might consider luxuries. Our recommendations had to make use of available resources and could really only 'cost' time."

Stephanie Specchio is director of communications at the College of Veterinary Medicine.