Daniela Ocando, DVM

Veterinarian

Daniela is a Venezuelan/Portuguese veterinarian, born in Venezuela and raised in Portugal from a young age. She graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Lisbon University in January of 2025 with a dissertation about gastrointestinal parasites in the Felidae of the Barcelona Zoo. Towards the end of her studies she interned in a wildlife rescue center, Rescue Center Costa Rica, and at the Barcelona Zoo. During her internships she discovered a passion for neonatology and rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife. She fell particularly in love with sloths, but she also loved to work with racoons, possums, squirrels, porcupines, primates, red pandas, and several reptiles, avians and carnivores. She also volunteered for a few days in a small rescue center in Rustenburg, South Africa – We Care Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, a place where she helped the owner care for neonates and support her mission, as the only wildlife rescue center in her city. She works as a small animal clinician in Portugal, and has since done 3 courses in Ultrasound imaging. Her goal is to gain experience and improve her medical critical thinking before she goes back to work with wildlife. She is a vet with a cat, rabbit and at times dog fur allergy, so that should tell you how much she loves her job. She loves to travel, she’s been to 12 countries in 3 continents and one of her dreams is to go backpacking in Central/South America, as well as in Southeast Asia. In her free time she loves to go to the beach, take hikes and visit new places and restaurants. She has a small rescue dog named Fénix whom she loves dearly, even though his constant high-pitched barks have been slowly deteriorating her hearing abilities. She is caring and dearly loves her friends, family and boyfriend, and she loves making new friends and meeting new people from different countries and cultures. She loves to teach and share her passion for wildlife with anyone interested in the topic!