Help me get to the Wild Cat Conservation Symposium!

My name is Sandra Ortiz, I am a wildlife veterinarian from Mexico City.  I have been working on jaguar conservation projects since 2008 in several part of the Yucatan Peninsula. Over the years, this amazing job has evolved into a full research/life project/mission for me, based on a much needed assessment of the health status of wild jaguar populations in Mexico, and most important, how the increasing human populations and their domestic animals may bring jaguars a step closer to extinction with the risk of infectious diseases.

I developed a project for my master's degree thesis to indentify the risk of exposure of infectious diseases from dogs in rural communities that could be transmitted to jaguars, as well as other important wild carnivores. My results were striking: I found high prevalences of distemper, parvo and adenovirus, some of the most infectious diseases of dogs that are known to affect wild felines. Also I found that the way people care for (or a lack of care) dogs is actually an important factor for the presence of these diseases. People compete with jaguars by hunting their natural prey, causing jaguars to prey on domestic cattle or even dogs. Also, dog owners sometimes encourage the harasment of wildlife that enter their property and keeping dogs unrestricted around the villages creates greater opportunities for contact with jaguars and other carnivores, specially in those villages surrounding natural protected areas like the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.

Now, with my findings on the risk of infectious diseases and interesting interactions between jaguars and dog ecology, I want to expand the project and create a more integrative approach. A One Health initivative that involves and benefits the health and welfare of people, domestic animals, wildlife and the environment. And this is the aim of this ongoing project I am developing in the Selva Maya, home of 50% of all the jaguars that live in Mexico.

The first International Symposium on Wild Cats Conservation in the Americas will be held in Saraquipi, Costa Rica on may 23-26th. A gather of top feline researchers to share experiences and knowledge for the conservation of the most endangered cats of the world, including jaguars. This would be a very important platform in which to present my research project and connect with likeminded wild cat specialists. Last week I received my aceptance letter to give an oral presentation of my research!! 

Unfortunately, after I financed my master's project, I cannot afford to pay for the registration and flight ticket from Cancún to Costa Rica.

I will pay for all my expenses in Costa Rica as I am saving money from a temporal job, but I would like to ask you if you could help me get myself and my project to the symposium.

Every dollar, peso, euro, whatever you can donate is much needed and largely appreciated. The costs are included below:

*Registration (including shared student accommodation and food at the beautiful selva eco-resort): $275 USD

*Round flight Cancun-San José or Cancun-Mexico City-San José: $700 USD

Donations can be made through paypal and all credit and debit cards are accepted. I included the paypal fees in the estimated costs, so you won’t be charged of anything else and I will have all the necessary funds to make the trip and registration.

I am offering rewards to thank you for your amazing help!

 Also I will start a blog to keep everyone updated on the trip and my project, can't wait to start sharing my dream with you!

 Thank you all for your support and looking forward to saying hola from Costa Rica!