Dr. Manuel Alonso Rivero Cervantes

I was born and raised in Mexico City. At a young age I developed an interest towards wildlife conservation and veterinary medicine. I graduated with honors as a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine and Husbandry (M.V.Z.) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico Faculty of Veterinary and Husbandry (FMVZ de la UNAM) in 2018 after attending to a wildlife rehabilitation center in Florida, United States. Afterwards I joined a small-animal private hospital in Mexico City for 3 years, followed by two internships in the United States, held by veterinary hospitals that attended exotic pets as well as wildlife. I also volunteered as a veterinary practitioner at zoos, such as the Chapultepec Zoo and the Zoo of Miami. Throughout this time, my main approaches towards One Health were related to animal welfare, safe use of veterinary drugs, zoonotic prevention, and wildlife conservation through veterinary care of individual clinical cases. On April 2023 I joined the General Directorate of Wildlife (DGVS) of SEMARNAT the federal agency responsible of all conservation and management policies of wildlife and habitats in Mexico, specifically, at the Subdirectorate of Health. Amongst our current attributions, we establish and implement, in accordance with applicable legal provisions, health measures regarding wildlife, including endangered species. I have had the responsibility to evaluate, assess and dictaminate permits, authorizations, and agreements regarding wildlife health in topics such as New World Screwworm, Avian Influenza, Rabies, Brucellosis, COVID-19 and Tb; Control of Invasive Species, like feral dogs and cats, and Management and Release of Endangered Species, such as Mexican Wolves and California Condors. I am currently undertaking a Veterinary Epidemiology diplomaed course as a pre-requisite for a following Master's Degree program. Finally, my hobbies remain interacting with animals and nature as well as travelling, alongside learning about history and working out.