The information below has been provided for you by the supported placement organisation running the placement. You can contact the company for more information using the links at the bottom of this page.
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This placement would suit... Students wanting to become vets and those currently undertaking a veterinary degree. Anyone wanting to learn more about wildlife veterinary work.
 Depending on each volunteer’s capabilities, volunteers will actively assist in most tasks that have to be performed - and not just sit back as spectators. Some of the work involves the use of dangerous and highly scheduled drugs to immobilise animals, and these will only be used by the veterinarian (by law). Volunteers will however actively partake in the treatment and physical handling of animals and the administration of low schedule drugs. This ranges from various antelope species, to elephants and lions. These activities are filled with excitement and hard work and are very rewarding. Do not expect to stay clean, as you will get the opportunity to really get a 'hands-on' animal experience.
Since the wildlife vet moves between local landowners, volunteers will more than likely get to travel a great deal in the Limpopo province of South Africa. This project is small and personal and very hands-on as the vet never takes on more than two volunteers at a time.
Volunteers interested in a career in the veterinary field or animal care will benefit most from this project.
It must be emphasised that these are totally wild animals the vet is working with and therefore not without their dangers. A certain level of fitness and determination is required by the students as the work can be strenuous. It is up to the vet’s discretion to judge the competence of each volunteer and the risks involved in each activity, before allowing the volunteer to participate in a specific activity.
The programme is practically orientated and you will most likely gain experience in the following activities:
- Game capture and immobilising animals
- Animal translocation
- Medical work on injured or sick animals
- Diagnosing and treating various conditions or diseases in animals
Animals that the vet frequently works with: sable-antelope, buffalo, giraffe, lion, elephant, roan-antelope, nyala, eland, etc.
A note from the vet
Due to the highly specialised nature of this project, affording volunteers such a unique experience, the vet has written an outline to help give a realistic impression of what to expect:
"I have a business that attends to the veterinary aspects of wildlife. It is sometimes dangerous, and it requires long hours, sometimes with a bit of frustration tied to it! We spend a lot of time travelling, and when things happen, they happen fast.
I work with extremely dangerous drugs to immobilise animals, and these animals are often worth quite a lot of money. My practice is about doing things and doing them against time to minimise risk to the animals first, and second, but just as important, to minimise risk to the people as well. This requires my personnel and volunteers to be physically able to react to unforeseen situations in an appropriate way to prevent injuries.
Initially, I expect my students to first observe, then to join me in my work only when they feel ready to do something. I routinely require that they do the back-up treatments as needed. It usually includes a lot of injections, sweat and hard work. It is not uncommon for them to then even dart animals themselves in controlled circumstances, should I be comfortable with their level of knowledge and enthusiasm. I teach them as we go, and often have discussions on the road to the next call-out, stating what to expect, and what the risks involved could be.
Students live with me in my house in the Selati Nature Reserve. All the cooking and cleaning is done by ourselves, and everybody joins in to do the chores. Breakfast is supplied on a 'help yourself' basis. I do supply bread and something to put on it for lunch, or we buy lunch on the road. Supper is usually either cooked by us or supplied by the next client."
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0845 344 7518 |
 | African Conservation Experience: We arrange for young people to work on Game and Nature Reserves throughout Southern Africa, playing an active role in Conservation and the maintenance of the Environment – working in intimate association with Game Rangers and Conservationists in the Wild |
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