meet Karim, forensic pathologist for animals

Latex gloves, scalpels, scissors and mask… Karim Daoud is ready to carry out the autopsy of the day. “Today we received a crow to autopsy to determine the cause of death”says the medical examiner facing the poor bird, found dead in the 9th arrondissement in Paris.

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“We did an external examination, and then we proceed to the opening and so we have all the anatomyexplains Karim Daoud. You can see straight away that there is internal bleeding. There were two traumas, a first cranial one by a car for example, and then a predation. He was caught by a dog or a cat.

“In any case, I rule out all infectious diseases on this subject, whether of bacterial or viral origin.”

Karim Daoud, medical examiner for animals

at franceinfo

A multi-faceted profession

Karim Daoud therefore excludes, thanks to his autopsy, infection with avian flu. This is one of his main missions at the moment. But its epidemio-surveillance work has many other facets. “In the surveillance of wildlife, there is first of all a hunting issue and knowing whether the game is sick or not, explains Karim Daoud. You have the economic stake: if it is a question of farm animals, for example, determining the cause of the death of a cow, a sheep, and so on to protect the other animals. You also have the issue of heritage, that is to say that you have species that are disappearing. If you don’t watch the wildlife, who tells you that tomorrow we may not have any more hares or rabbits, etc.?

Karim Daoud likes diversity in his job. Recently, for example, he autopsied mute animals, wild boars and even a wolf.

“I have the chance to do an exciting job that I love, and it’s not as if I was doing a job that was routine.”

Karim Daoud, medical examiner for animals

at franceinfo

But a profession that is in danger: Karim Daoud’s laboratory is threatened with closure due to the drop in public funding