Overview of User Contexts

Kora serves a remarkably diverse community of animal stewards. They work across eight primary contexts:

• Commercial farms
• Wilderness conservation
• Veterinary clinics
• Regulatory agencies
• Zoos and wildlife facilities
• Community health programmes
• Research institutions
• Wildlife management

This diversity is not accidental. It reflects the reality that modern animal care increasingly crosses traditional boundaries.

The Eight Primary User Contexts

1. Farmers and Agricultural Producers

Who They Are Farmers and ranchers managing livestock for commercial production, subsistence farming, or mixed agricultural operations.

This includes:

• Dairy farmers
• Beef producers
• Sheep and goat operations
• Poultry farms
• Mixed-species agricultural holdings

What They Manage

• Commercial livestock herds (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry)
• Individual breeding stock requiring detailed genetic records
• Production animals tracked at the group level
• Feed inventory and consumption
• Pasture rotation and grazing management
• Sales, purchases, and animal transfers

What Kora Helps Them Do

• Track animal health and productivity from birth to sale
• Manage feeding schedules and calculate feed costs
• Document treatments and maintain withdrawal period compliance
• Record weights and monitor growth trends
• Coordinate veterinary visits and follow-up care
• Maintain complete traceability for regulatory compliance and premium market access
• Generate health certificates for animal sales and exports
• Monitor biosecurity to prevent disease introduction

Real-World Example A dairy farmer in Australia manages 200 milking cows and 50 replacement heifers. She uses Kora to track individual breeding stock with complete health histories. She manages the main milking herd as a group.

When she needs to export animals, Kora generates the complete traceability documentation. Importing countries require specific records. Vaccination records, movement history, and health certificates are always ready for inspection.

2. Veterinarians and Veterinary Professionals

Who They Are Licensed veterinarians providing clinical care across multiple properties, species, and contexts.

This includes:

• Private practitioners
• Mobile veterinarians serving rural areas
• Zoo veterinarians
• Wildlife veterinarians
• Veterinary specialists

What They Manage

• Animal health across multiple client properties
• Clinical observations and diagnoses
• Treatment plans and medication protocols
• Disease surveillance and outbreak response
• Antimicrobial stewardship and resistance monitoring
• Health certificates and regulatory documentation
• Cross-species clinical care (livestock, wildlife, exotic species)

What Kora Helps Them Do

• Access complete animal health histories across all properties they serve
• Document clinical findings with photos and detailed observations
• Create treatment plans with automatic scheduling
• Track antimicrobial usage with WHO classification and justification requirements
• Automatically identify animals exposed to contagious diseases
• Coordinate with other veterinarians on complex cases
• Generate regulatory reports for disease surveillance
• Maintain professional documentation for liability protection

Real-World Example A rural veterinarian in Kenya serves twenty farms, two wildlife sanctuaries, and a small zoo.

When she diagnoses foot-and-mouth disease at one farm, Kora helps immediately. The system automatically identifies which other animals she recently examined might have been exposed. It uses her visit timeline and animal movements to calculate risk.

She can immediately contact affected farmers. She implements coordinated quarantine protocols across multiple properties.

3. Conservation Organisations and Environmental NGOs

Who They Are Conservation groups, environmental NGOs, wildlife trusts, and conservation programmes. They work to protect endangered species, restore ecosystems, and coordinate breeding programmes for threatened populations.

What They Manage

• Endangered species populations
• Conservation breeding programmes across multiple institutions
• Habitat monitoring and restoration projects
• Human-wildlife conflict incidents
• Wildlife health surveillance
• Population genetics and breeding recommendations
• Community conservation programmes
• Field research and monitoring data

What Kora Helps Them Do

• Track individual endangered animals with GPS coordinates and monitoring history
• Coordinate international breeding programmes with genetic analysis
• Document CITES compliance for endangered species
• Monitor population trends and conservation metrics
• Record wildlife sightings and distribution patterns
• Manage habitat restoration with environmental impact tracking
• Coordinate with government authorities on conservation policy
• Integrate community livestock programmes with wildlife protection

Real-World Example A rhino conservation NGO in East Africa uses Kora to track forty individual black rhinos across three protected areas.

Each rhino has a complete history:

• GPS collar data
• Anti-poaching patrol observations
• Health assessments
• Family lineage

When planning translocations to establish new populations, Kora provides genetic diversity analysis. This ensures the founding population maximises genetic health.

4. Zoos and Wildlife Facilities

Who They Are Zoos, aquariums, wildlife parks, safari parks, and specialised breeding facilities. They manage diverse species collections for conservation, education, and research.

What They Manage

• Multi-species animal collections (hundreds of species in large zoos)
• Participatory breeding programmes (Species Survival Plans, European Endangered Species Programmes)
• Animal acquisitions and transfers between institutions
• Veterinary care across vastly different species
• Visitor management and biosecurity
• Educational programmes tied to conservation outcomes
• Research collaborations with universities and conservation groups

What Kora Helps Them Do

• Track individual animals across diverse species with species-specific care protocols
• Coordinate breeding programmes with other zoos worldwide
• Maintain studbook records with pedigree analysis and inbreeding calculations
• Generate breeding recommendations based on genetic diversity
• Document animal welfare with five-domain assessments
• Manage complex feeding schedules for specialised diets
• Coordinate veterinary care across species requiring different specialists
• Track sustainability metrics (energy, water, carbon footprint)

Real-World Example A mid-sized zoo manages 500 animals across 80 species. They participate in breeding programmes for six endangered species. This requires coordination with zoos on three continents.

Kora helps them track genetic compatibility and coordinate transfers. It maintains international studbook records. It ensures that breeding decisions prioritise genetic diversity.

When they send a critically endangered frog to a European zoo for breeding, all records transfer seamlessly. This includes health records, genetic data, and CITES documentation.

5. Wildlife Management and Field Researchers

Who They Are Wildlife managers, field biologists, park rangers, game wardens, and researchers. They study wild animal populations in their natural habitats.

What They Manage

• Wild animal populations in protected areas
• Wildlife sightings and distribution data
• GPS tracking data from collared animals
• Population censuses and demographic monitoring
• Human-wildlife conflict incidents
• Poaching incidents and anti-poaching patrols
• Habitat quality assessments
• Wildlife disease surveillance

What Kora Helps Them Do

• Record wildlife sightings with GPS coordinates, photos, and population counts
• Track marked or collared individual animals
• Document human-wildlife conflict with location and severity
• Monitor population trends over time
• Conduct systematic wildlife surveys
• Map animal distribution and habitat use
• Document evidence for research (photos, videos, audio recordings)
• Coordinate with conservation organisations and regulatory authorities

Real-World Example A wildlife management team monitors elephant populations across a national park. Rangers use Kora on mobile devices to record elephant sightings during patrols.

They capture:

• GPS coordinates
• Herd size
• Age structure
• Behavioural observations

When human-elephant conflict occurs (crop raiding, infrastructure damage), incidents are documented with photos and location data.

Over time, the accumulated data reveals movement patterns and conflict hotspots. This informs decisions about wildlife corridors and community engagement strategies.

6. Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs)

Who They Are Community-based animal health workers, paravets, and village veterinary volunteers. They provide basic animal health services in rural and underserved areas, often under veterinary supervision.

What They Manage

• Basic animal health monitoring in remote communities
• Simple treatments (deworming, vaccinations, wound care)
• Disease surveillance and early outbreak detection
• Health education for livestock owners
• Referrals to veterinarians for complex cases
• Community livestock improvement programmes

What Kora Helps Them Do

• Record basic health observations during field visits
• Document treatments with supervision protocols
• Track vaccination coverage in communities
• Report disease outbreaks to supervising veterinarians
• Maintain simple animal records for community members
• Use mobile-optimised interfaces for field work
• Generate reports for programme coordinators
• Connect with veterinarians for guidance

Real-World Example A CAHW serves twelve villages in a mountainous region with limited veterinary access. Using Kora on a basic smartphone, she records observations during animal health camps.

She identifies sick animals, administers basic treatments, and flags cases requiring veterinary attention.

When she observes unusual symptoms suggesting a contagious disease, her observation immediately alerts the supervising veterinarian 50 kilometres away. The veterinarian can review photos and provide guidance remotely.

7. Regulatory Authorities and Government Agencies

Who They Are Veterinary authorities, animal welfare inspectors, export certification agencies, disease surveillance programmes, and government officials. They oversee animal health, welfare, and traceability compliance.

What They Manage

• Compliance monitoring across multiple operations
• Disease surveillance and outbreak investigation
• Export/import certification and inspection
• Animal welfare enforcement
• Traceability verification for food safety
• Outbreak investigation and contact tracing
• Regulatory reporting and analytics

What Kora Helps Them Do

• Access anonymised cross-operation data for disease surveillance
• Verify traceability chains during inspections and investigations
• Monitor compliance with quarantine and biosecurity requirements
• Investigate disease outbreaks with movement history
• Generate regulatory reports and analytics
• Coordinate responses to animal health emergencies
• Issue health certificates for international trade
• Track antimicrobial usage patterns for stewardship programmes

Real-World Example When a veterinary authority investigates a suspected outbreak of African swine fever, inspectors use Kora to trace all pig movements from affected farms over the past 60 days.

The system identifies every property that received animals from outbreak farms. This enables targeted quarantine and testing.

Complete movement histories, health certificates, and biosecurity records are available for immediate review. This accelerates outbreak containment and prevents further spread.

8. Veterinary Paraprofessionals and Farm Managers

Who They Are Veterinary technicians, animal care technicians, farm managers, ranch foremen, and trained assistants. They work under professional supervision to provide daily animal care and management.

What They Manage

• Daily animal care routines (feeding, observation, basic health checks)
• Task execution assigned by veterinarians or farm owners
• Record keeping for animal activities
• Equipment and supply inventory
• Coordination between owners and veterinarians
• Implementation of treatment plans

What Kora Helps Them Do

• Execute daily care tasks with clear assignment and tracking
• Record routine observations and flag concerns for professional review
• Implement treatment plans created by veterinarians
• Manage feeding schedules and inventory
• Coordinate between farm owners and veterinary professionals
• Maintain accurate records for regulatory compliance
• Monitor animal welfare with structured assessments

Real-World Example A farm manager oversees daily operations on a large cattle ranch while the owner travels frequently.

Using Kora, she manages feeding schedules, records health observations, and coordinates with the veterinarian on treatment protocols.

When the veterinarian creates a treatment plan for a sick animal, the farm manager receives automatic task assignments. These include dosage, timing, and monitoring requirements.

The owner can review all activities remotely. They remain confident that complete records are maintained.

Cross-Context Users: The Reality of Modern Animal Stewardship

Many Kora users do not fit neatly into one category. They work across multiple contexts simultaneously.

The Multi-Context Veterinarian

Veterinarians often serve dramatically different facility types in a single week:

• Monday: Commercial dairy farms (200+ cows, production focus)
• Tuesday: Wildlife sanctuary (rehabilitation and release)
• Wednesday: Small zoo (exotic species, conservation breeding)
• Thursday: Community livestock programme (basic herd health)
• Friday: Individual companion animals (pets)

Kora adapts to each context. It maintains a consistent professional interface and complete record continuity.

The Conservation-Oriented Farmer

Modern farmers increasingly integrate conservation into agricultural operations:

• Commercial livestock production for income
• Heritage breed conservation to preserve genetic diversity
• Wildlife corridors allowing safe passage through the property
• Habitat restoration projects improving ecosystem health
• Sustainable agriculture certifications requiring environmental tracking

Kora handles all these dimensions in a unified system. It shows how conservation and production coexist.

The NGO Serving Multiple Missions

Conservation NGOs rarely focus on a single activity:

• Endangered species monitoring and protection
• Community livestock health programmes supporting rural livelihoods
• Human-wildlife conflict mitigation
• Habitat restoration and reforestation
• Environmental education and capacity building
• Research collaborations with universities

Kora connects these programmes through shared data.

Livestock health surveillance informs wildlife disease monitoring. Human-wildlife conflict data shapes conservation strategies. Habitat quality metrics influence both wildlife and livestock management.

The Zoo with Field Conservation Programmes

Modern zoos extend far beyond their physical boundaries:

• On-site animal collection requiring daily care
• Participation in international breeding programmes
• Field conservation projects in partner countries
• Wildlife rehabilitation and release programmes
• Research collaborations generating field data
• Educational programmes connected to conservation outcomes

Kora seamlessly integrates zoo collection management with field conservation data. It shows the continuum from captive breeding to wild population recovery.

Educational Institutions and Research Organisations

Who They Are Universities, research institutions, veterinary schools, agricultural colleges, and teaching facilities. They use animals for education, research, and training.

What They Manage

• Teaching animal collections
• Research animals with experimental protocols
• Student training programmes
• Research data collection
• Animal welfare compliance for research ethics
• Breeding programmes for research animals

What Kora Helps Them Do

• Track animals used in teaching and research
• Document animal welfare compliance for ethics committees
• Manage research protocols and data collection
• Train students on professional animal management systems
• Maintain research animal breeding programmes
• Generate reports for institutional review boards

Public Access and Transparency

Who They Are General public, consumers, journalists, and advocates interested in animal welfare, food system transparency, and conservation outcomes.

What They Access

• Public-facing animal information (zoo animals, conservation projects)
• Supply chain transparency for food products
• Conservation success stories
• Educational content about animal care and welfare

What Kora Enables

• Zoos can provide public access to animal profiles and conservation stories
• Farmers can share traceability data with consumers purchasing their products
• Conservation organisations can publish population recovery metrics
• Educational institutions can showcase student training and research outcomes

What Unites These Diverse Users

Despite working in vastly different contexts, Kora users share common needs:

Complete Lifetime Records Whether tracking a dairy cow, an endangered rhino, or a zoo elephant, users need complete, permanent documentation. This covers birth through the animal's entire lifetime.

Regulatory Compliance Farmers need export certificates. Zoos need CITES documentation. Veterinarians need treatment records. Conservation organisations need permit compliance. Kora handles all of these through unified traceability.

Disease Prevention and Biosecurity Disease does not respect context boundaries. The same epidemiological principles apply to commercial farms, wildlife sanctuaries, and zoo collections. Kora's biosecurity tools work everywhere.

Collaboration Across Boundaries Veterinarians serve multiple farms. Zoos coordinate breeding programmes internationally. Conservation organisations work with government agencies. Farmers supply traceable products to consumers. Kora enables this collaboration without forcing everyone into separate systems.

Evidence-Based Decision Making You need accurate, accessible data whether you are:

• A farmer deciding when to sell animals
• A conservationist evaluating genetic diversity
• A veterinarian selecting treatments
• A researcher analysing population trends

Kora provides it.

Respect for Professional Expertise Farmers know their land and animals. Veterinarians know clinical medicine. Conservationists know ecosystem dynamics. Researchers know scientific methods. Kora provides tools that enhance professional judgement, not replace it.

Finding Your Place in Kora

When you start using Kora, you will choose a user type that reflects your primary role. This determines which features you see and what actions you can take.

But your user type is not a limitation. It is a starting point.

As you will discover in Chapter 3: User Types & Permissions, Kora recognises that modern animal stewardship is collaborative, cross-contextual, and constantly evolving. The platform adapts to your work, not the other way around.

Whether you manage ten backyard chickens or coordinate international conservation programmes for endangered species, Kora provides the tools you need. No more, no less. You care for animals responsibly, document their histories completely, and make informed decisions about their welfare and management.