Dr. Jerry Haigh is a storyteller, author, and wildlife veterinarian whose career has spanned five decades and four continents. He has treated countless different species including rhino, elephant, lion, buffalo, and leopard. Jerry’s forthcoming book, “Reindeer Reflections: Lessons from an Ancient Culture” chronicles his time working alongside nomadic reindeer herders in northern Mongolia.
Jerry has something that few people possess: hands-on experience working with wildlife paired with extensive scientific knowledge. His understanding of the animal kingdom is both intimate and technical. In one breath he can explain the biological nuances of the caribou mating cycle, and in the other he can tell you about that time he saved a trapped deer from a pack of hungry coyotes.
This episode is a must-listen for any animal lover. Tune in to hear Jerry discuss some of the most fascinating cases from throughout his storied career!
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0:00 Intro
1:42 Jerry’s formative years and early career
3:36 What Jerry learned from his first wildlife patient, a giraffe
5:00 An extremely unusual case with a rhino
6:31 The danger of being a wildlife veterinarian
7:37 Fentanyl as an animal sedative
9:50 The Tsaatan tribe aka the “People of the Reindeer”
12:14 The ancient process of animal domestication
17:36 Little known facts about reindeer mating
20:46 How Jerry saved a trapped deer from coyotes
23:08 Could you domesticate any species of animal?
24:27 The science of Rudolph and his red nose
28:44 The origin of “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer”
29:45 Jerry’s experience being healed by a 103-year-old shaman
35:11 The continuous decline of indigenous cultures
36:59 Jerry’s advice on how to be a better storyteller
39:56 Flesch-Kincaid readability scale
43:53 Jerry’s work dealing with inbreeding and disease
48:00 Bears and wolverines prey on reindeer
52:04 Reindeer as pets
53:30 “One final question”
53:57 Wrap-up
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Buy the book! Reindeer Reflections: Lessons from an Ancient culture
Dr. Jerry Haigh
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