Rate My Professor Annabelle Olsson

Associate Professor Annabelle Olsson is a distinguished wildlife veterinarian at the University of Sydney's Sydney School of Veterinary Science within the Faculty of Science. She holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Science, PhD, and MSc. With extensive experience practising in far north Queensland, she has worked closely with captive wildlife, avian, reptile, and exotic patients, including extensive involvement in indigenous communities. Currently, she serves as the Director of the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital at the Camden campus, where she leads efforts in treating and rehabilitating native Australian wildlife such as koalas, wombats, and other species. Her role involves coordinating veterinary care, research, and conservation initiatives, contributing to the hospital's mission of wildlife health and ecosystem preservation. Olsson's career at the University of Sydney encompasses clinical practice, teaching, and leadership in wildlife medicine.

Olsson's research specializations focus on wildlife health and conservation, particularly anesthesia and analgesia in reptiles, viral pathogens in wildlife, and clinical management of native species. Key publications include 'A new lineage of Ranavirus micropterus1 infects ornamental wrasses from the Great Barrier Reef and causes severe disease in captivity' (2026), 'Suspected iron deficiency anaemia in two hand-reared, suckling bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus): a case report' (2025), 'Two Avastrovirus Species Discovered in Psittaciformes Expand the Host Range of the Family Astroviridae' (2025), and several studies on chemical immobilization of estuarine and freshwater crocodiles, such as 'Preliminary studies of chemical immobilization of captive juvenile estuarine (Crocodylus porosus) and Australian freshwater (C. johnstoni) crocodiles with medetomidine and reversal with atipamezole' (2012), 'Medetomidine immobilisation and atipamezole reversal in large estuarine crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) using metabolically scaled dosages' (2012), and 'The effects of decreased body temperature on the onset, duration and action of medetomidine and its antagonist atipamezole in juvenile farmed estuarine crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus)' (2013). Her work has advanced protocols for safe handling of crocodiles and identified novel viral threats in Australian wildlife and ornamental fish. Olsson has presented at conservation biology conferences and contributes to public outreach through the hospital's activities, enhancing awareness of wildlife conservation. Her expertise spans reptiles, conservation biology, endangered species, mammals, wildlife management, and field experience.