Roy G. Bengis

Dr. Roy Bengis graduated from the University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort in 1971 with a B. VSc. Degree and interned at the University of Pennsylvania from 1972-1973. He holds a M.Sc. in physiology and pharmacology from the University of Mississippi (1975) and a Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Mississippi (1978). Dr. Bengis was a consultant for the Jackson Zoo in Mississippi. He is currently the Chief State Veterinarian of Kruger National Park, where he has worked since 1978. Dr. Bengis has authored or co-authored seventy-two scientific publications and is Africa’s representative on the World Organization for Animal Health’s (OIE) “Working Group on Wildlife Diseases.” He is an external examiner in Wildlife Medicine at the University of Pretoria and Chairperson of the Wildlife Disease Advisory Group and the Buffalo Committee of the National Directorate of Veterinary Services. Dr. Bengis’s fields of interest are wildlife disease epidemiology, infectious disease risk assessment related to translocations, wildlife/domestic livestock interface issues and chemical immobilization of free-ranging animals. His hobbies include reading, fly-fishing, fly-tying, snorkeling, target and wing shooting, herpetology and bird watching.