Malaysian vet bags Sandosham Gold Medal for research on parasitology

Dr Vellayan has been interested in veterinary science since he was a secondary school student. Photos: Filepic

For four decades, Universiti Teknologi Mara’s (UiTM) Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Vellayan Subramaniam, 69, has tirelessly conducted countless research on parasitology and tropical medicine in South-East Asia.

He has studied tick infestation on lions, Japanese encephalitis, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and DNA sequencing and microbial diversity in Malaysian wildlife.

It’s no surprise that his resume is 147 pages long, comprising a long list of publications (over 60 journals), professional qualifications, conferences attended, and papers presented.

He added not one but two feathers to his cap by earning the prestigious Fulbright scholarships in 2000 and 2006.

Last month, the former assistant director of Kuala Lumpur’s Zoo Negara chalked another milestone when he received the Sandosham Gold Medal (SGM) 2021 given by the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (MSPTM).

When he was the chief veterinarian at Zoo Negara, Dr Vellayan performed countless surgeries and provided intensive care for infant animals abandoned by their parents. Photo:Filepic

Dr Vellayan received the award for his contributions to those fields in South-East Asia.

“I am happy and deeply honoured to have won the medal.

“I have always aimed for this recognition, and I’m pleased people have recognised my hard work,” said Dr Vellayan during a phone interview recently.

He was the 15th recipient of the award, named after the late researcher Dr A. A. Sandosham, who made numerous contributions to parasitology and tropical medicine. The gold medal is awarded every two years to outstanding scientists.

The announcement was made by MSPTM president Dr Sam Mohan via a virtual ceremony witnessed by society members across Malaysia.

“Dr Vellayan is a legend, and an active member of the MSPTM. He’s a well-known wildlife veterinarian and an exemplary academician. He’s always contributing to our society in one way or another.

“It is our honour to award Dr Vellayan for his tireless and dedicated service to the industry and society at large. He is a revered veterinarian not only in Malaysia but also Asia,” said Dr Sam during the ceremony.

Dr Vellayan has rehabilitated hundreds of wildlife animals, including bears, giraffes, elephants and orang utans. Photos: Dr Vellayan Subramaniam

Decades of dedication

Dr Vellayan has been interested in veterinary science since he was a secondary school student at Klang’s Anglo Chinese Secondary School (SMK Methodist ACS).

“I’ve always loved animals. I grew up in Port Klang (Selangor) and my mother reared cows and goats to make ends meet. I’ve looked after livestock from young and I believe that sparked my interest to study veterinary science.

“After graduation, I decided to focus on parasitology to further understand how parasites affect wildlife animals and humans.

“My research encompasses the identification of different parasites and hosts and methods of treatment,” said Dr Vellayan, who earned his Bachelor of Veterinary Science from Madras Veterinary College in Chennai and a Master of Science in Primate Nutrition from the then Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (currently Universiti Putra Malaysia).

Dr Vellayan was attached to Zoo Negara for close to three decades.

In 1994, the father of two clinched MSPTM’s Nadchatram Silver Medal, given to outstanding scientists below 45 years old.

In 2010, he gained an entry in the Malaysia Book of Records for “Longest-Serving Zoo Veterinarian”.

Dr Vellayan has dedicated three decades of his career to caring for wild animals in the zoo. He’s treated thousands of wildlife animals, including bears, sea lions, elephants and orang utans.

As the zoo’s chief veterinarian, he’s performed many surgeries and provided intensive care for infant animals abandoned by their parents. He has also trained hundreds of zoo keepers on animal welfare and behaviour.

“There are many challenges in treating wild animals. They include the methods used to sedate different animal species, perform tests and prescribe medications.

“But it is always a joy when the animal recovers and I’ve given them a chance to a new and healthy life.

“I always have fond memories of monkeys that I have helped to raise from the infant stage and then watch them grow. I adore them,” said Dr Vellayan, who runs a home-based exotic animal veterinary clinic in Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur.

Following his retirement from Zoo Negara in 2008, Dr Vellayan spent the next 14 years on academics and research.

He has served in several institutes of higher learning since 2009. He is currently attached to UiTM’s Pharmacy Faculty and is also the editor of MSPTM’s journal Tropical Biomedicine.

Dr Vellayan hopes Harin (centre) will follow in his footsteps and become a veterinarian.

The friendly vet manages his time well, balancing it between lectures, research projects, running his clinic and slipping in time to play with his only grandson, Harin Vinnaeishwaran, three.

“I wake up at 4.30am to prepare my lecture notes, work on my research work, play with my dogs and tend to my garden.

“It’s important for senior citizens to keep their mind active in their twilight years,” said Dr Vellayan, who’s also donated all parasite samples isolated by him to MSPTM and UPM’s Veterinary Medicine Faculty.

He has this advice for youths who want to pursue their studies in veterinary science: “If you have the interest, you should go ahead with your pursuits. While in college, many girls were discouraged from pursuing veterinary studies. Their parents felt the workload was too heavy, and the job scope wasn’t suited for girls.

“In any job, there will be many ups and downs. You must love your job. If you love your profession, everything will fall into place,” said Dr Vellayan, who hopes that Harin will become a wildlife, zoo and exotic animal veterinarian like him one day.