Meet the BEAR 2026 Speakers!
We are thrilled to introduce the incredible experts who will be sharing their knowledge at the BEAR 2026. From exotic animal medicine to wildlife conservation, our speakers bring a wealth of experience and passion for the veterinary world. Get ready to be inspired!
Dr. Mara Moldovan
🦔 Practicing veterinarian at Exotic Vet Center, Bucharest
Background: DVM (Cluj-Napoca), traineeship in exotic companion animal medicine at Exoclinic (Clínica Veterinária de Exóticos, Lisbon), externship in exotic animal medicine (École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, France), a one-year residency training in Small Mammals, ECZM (Ghent University, Belgium).
Expertise: Exotic small mammals and birds
Dr. Sophie Asp Laursen
🦍 Zoo veterinarian at Kolmårdens Djurpark, Sweden
Background: DVM (University of Cpenhagen), zoo guide and veterinary assistant (Copenhagen Zoo), zoo veterinarian (Nordens Ark).
Dr. Asp Laursen has co-authored publications on sedation protocols in psittacines in collaboration with Copenhagen Zoo
Expertise: Zoological medicine, leading equine hospitals in Germany and Denmark, focusing on ICU and anesthesia
Dr. Carina Ziegler
🐍 Clinician at Exotic Vet Center in Bucharest and Extraordinary Pets Vet in Sibiu (Romania), and co-founder of Centrul Chelonian Transilvania, an NGO dedicated to chelonian rescue and conservation.
Background: DVM (Timisoara), international internships at New England Wildlife Center, Cape Wildlife Center and Odd Pet Vet (USA).
Expertise: Exotic, reptile internal medicine, chelonian surgery and rehabilitation, and wildlife conservation medicine.
Dr. Alexandru Diaconescu
🧠Professor of Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Romania.
Background: DVM (Bucharest), PhD in Medical Sciences in 1999, with research focused on the use of hormones in animal reproduction .
Expertise: Reproductive physiology and hormonal management in domestic animals.
Dr. Alessandro Cozzi
🦡 CEO and Head of the Department of Ethology and Neurosciences of IRSEA.
Background: DVM (Pisa). Past president of the European College Animal Welfare and Behavioral Medicine (ECAWBM). Masters of Behavioral medicine of companion animals from Pisa, Italy.
Expertise: Research in ethology, animal welfare, and chemical communication in both domestic and wild animals.
Dr. Mihai Macinic
🦔 Founder & President of ARVAES (Romanian Exotics and Wildlife veterinary Association), Co-founder and practitioner at ExoticVet Center.
Background: DVM (Bucharest), externships in small mammals medicine in France (Alfort) & in avian and exotic pets in the Netherlands (Utrecht). PhD student in the FMVB, Romania.
Expertise: Exotic pet medicine.
Dr. Laura Urdes
🌊 Associate Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Spiru Haret, Bucharest, Romania, and President Elect 2026 of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA).
Background: DVM (Bucharest), PhD in Livestock Health and Production (Royal College University of London), certified in Aquatic Veterinary Medicine (CertAqV).
Expertise: Aquatic veterinary medicine, One Health in aquatic ecosystems, aquatic animal health.
Dr. Ioana Popescu
🔬 Veterinarian at the University of Liverpool, School of Veterinary Medicine in the Exotic Animal Department and pursuing a doctoral research at the Zoological Society of London.
Background: DVM (Vienna). Clinical internship in small and companion animal surgery and medicine (Vienna), Master's degree in Conservation Medicine (University of Edinburgh).
Expertise: Clinical veterinary practice, conservation medicine and research on exotic and wild species.
Dr. Paolo Selleri
🦍Former President of the Rome chapter of ENPA (Ente Nazionale Protezione Animali), former President of SIVAE (Società Italiana Veterinaria per Animali Esotici) and Vice President of ANMVI (Associazione Nazionale Medici Veterinari Italiani).
Background: DVM (Lyon), PhD in Animal Medicine (University of Padua) and has specialized training in Avian, Rabbit, and Game Animal Pathology, ECZM diplomaas in both Herpetology and Small Mammals.
Expertise: Exotic animal medicine, sustainable development and biodiversity awareness
Dr. Pablo Moron Elorza
🐟 Responsible veterinarian in zoological and aquarium facilities and Assistant Lecturer at the Complutense University of Madrid
Background:, DMV (Madrid), PhD in collaboration with Oceanogràfic Aquarium of Valencia, specializing in aquatic veterinary medicine and clinical pharmacology.
Expertise: Wildlife and aquatic animal medicine.
Dr. Emily Fyfe
🌎 Conservation veterinarian & Programs Officer at the World Veterinary Environmenta Alliance.
Background: DVM (UC Davies, California), UNEP internship, research with the French Biodiversity Office, Bachelor's degree in Neurobiology and Behaviour, Master's degree in Animal Sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia), Master of Science in Conservation Medicine at the Edingburgh, one-year veterinary internship in San Diego. Active member of EcoVeto and Vétérinaires Pour la Biodiversité.
Expertise: One Health, conservation medicine & science communication.
Dr. Cristina Muzzini
🏥 Veterinarian at a 24-hour Veterinary Hospital in Italy.
Background: DVM (Parma), gratuated in Neurobiology,
Expertise: Veterinary medicine, client communication and veterinary education, companion and exotic animals.
Dr. Nicola Zorzato
🦎Exotic animal veterinarian, coordinator for exotic animals at a 24-hour hospital, Parma
Background: DVM (Padua), internship at the AREPH clinic (Camden, Sydney).
Expertise: Exotic animal veterinary medicine
Dr. Eva Louste
🦅Resident of the European College of Zoological Medicine (ECZM, Avian Specialty) & Clinical assitant at the Nacology team
Background: DVM (Lyon), thesis on intoxications in Red Kites (Milvus milvus, a raptor species), one-year internship in the Exotic Animal (NAC) Department of CHV Frégis, postgraduate Diplomas in exotic animal medicine and surgery & Avian pathology (Alfort)
Expertise: Avian medicine, exotic animal veterinary medicine
Dr. Ioana Rosu
🐎Teaching Assistant in the Department of Clinical Sciences at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bucharest
Background: DVM (Bucharest), PhD on the Anesthesia of feral free-roaming horses in the Danube Delta (Bucharest), Recover CPR-Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) certifications.
Expertise: Wildlife rehabilitation & conservation.
Dr. Ovidiu Rosu
🦡 Wildlife veterinarian and wildlife advocate, works with ARCA & Founder of Luana's Dream Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Center
Background: DVM (Bucharest), PhD on "Reproductive Management of the Feral Equine Population of Letea Sandbank - Danube Delta", has been working for International Animal Rescue in Indonesia, with FOUR PAWS International, participate in several international animal rescue and disaster relief missions, including the Gaza Strip (2016), Iraq (2017), the Indonesia earthquakes (2018), and Romania during the Queen Hind capsized ship rescue (2019).
Expertise: Wildlife conservation, marine science, and conservation project development. Currently pursuing a Master's in Business, Finance, and Investments to integrate financial strategy into wildlife protection efforts.
Hana Stehlikova & Katerina Jechova
🐾Two veterinary medicine students from the Czech Republic, currently in our fourth year of study. Both of us have a strong interest in equine and exotic medicine. While we frequently work with horses, opportunities to gain hands-on experience with exotic animals in our country are very limited.
To gain deeper insight into wildlife medicine, we completed a five-week internship at a wildlife sanctuary in Costa Rica, where we worked with a wide variety of species alongside local veterinarians. We would like to share our experiences and the valuable knowledge we gained, as well as encourage others to explore similar opportunities, if it is something they are interested in.
