by Amy Rae Gandolf, DVM

About Her Story

"This case affected me on a personal level more than most. This gentle lemur suffered from a complex disease that we never figured out, not unlike my mom’s illness. The harsh reality is that we don’t always find the answer in zoological medicine—or in human medicine."

About the Author

Originally from East Haddam, Connecticut, Amy Rae Gandolf developed a passion for wildlife as a child, an interest she pursued during veterinary school at Ohio State University. She gained field experience through volunteer work with wildlife conservation and rehabilitation organizations from Ohio to Guatemala and Thailand—experience that was strengthened by further training in a veterinary residency at the Wilds, a wildlife conservation center in Ohio. Following her residency, Dr. Gandolf worked as an associate veterinarian at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, where she encountered the lemur described in this chapter. In addition to working with species of various shapes and sizes in clinical practice, Dr. Gandolf has been involved in a number of research projects: issues of environmental toxicants affecting wildlife in both the U.S. and Uganda, brown bear health in Sweden, and pharmacokinetic studies with zoo animals. Her ardor for free-ranging wildlife, research, and travel continues to inspire her efforts to aid in the ongoing development and improvement of wildlife management.