Daniel Zuñiga

Dr. Daniel Zuñiga serves as a veterinarian and wildlife researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Radolfzell, Germany, where he is a core member of the Animal Care department's veterinary team. In his dual role as Animal Welfare Officer (Tierschutzbeauftragter), he oversees comprehensive health programs, ensures legal compliance for bird and fish facilities, and facilitates animal experiment permits through scientific and regulatory guidance.

His educational foundation includes a PhD in Ecology and Evolution focused on blackbird migration patterns, establishing his interdisciplinary expertise at the veterinary-ecology interface. Key research domains encompass:

• Animal health and welfare protocols in research settings
• Wildlife capture techniques and chemical immobilization of mammals/birds
• Biotelemetry applications for energy expenditure and behavioral analysis
• Physiological stress response mechanisms
• Hormonal implant studies in ecological contexts
• Migration ecology with specialization in avian species

Dr. Zuñiga's work bridges clinical veterinary practice with field ecology, enabling ethically compliant wildlife research through surgical expertise and regulatory stewardship. As part of the institute's operational backbone, he ensures seamless integration of animal welfare standards across all research activities while advancing methodologies for non-invasive physiological monitoring.