by Flo Ollivet-Courtois, DVM

About Her Story

"From their expressions, I knew the farmers doubted a female veterinarian from the city could succeed where they had failed. But rescuing the bison safely and quickly mattered more than spending time in talk, so I just kept going."

About the Author

Florence Ollivet-Courtois comes from a family of veterinarians, representing the fourth generation to take up the profession. She earned her veterinary degree from the Alfort Veterinary School in Paris, and has worked on the staff of the Paris Zoo (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle) for eight years, currently serving as a veterinary consultant in zoo and wildlife medicine and surgery. She is a consultant for 16 European zoos—and volunteers in a fire fighter department in a southern suburb of Paris, where her husband Marc, a professional fire fighter, specializes in rescue-dog training and in dangerous-animal capture. Dr. Ollivet-Courtois is a member of the European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians and the French association of zoo veterinarians. Her areas of expertise include mega herbivore anesthesia, wild animal transport, and zoo renovation. She is in charge of the veterinary aspects of the brown bear reintroduction program in southern France.