"10/10 The entire experience was hands on from beginning to end, I honestly can’t recommend this program enough !”Nikita
“10/10 I felt like I learnt more within the 3 weeks about veterinary nursing than I have in the last year I've been studying.” Ash
Our original and most popular Wildlife Veterinary Experience, this special program is specifically designed for students or professionals in the fields of veterinary, vet nursing or animal sciences wishing to gain more insight into the world of veterinary care at an African wildlife sanctuary. Offered 4 times per year, the program is capped at 10 participants per intake to ensure all members of the group have plenty of practical opportunities.
Choose between two fantastic itineraries - the February and September intakes are all veterinary-focussed activities whereas the June and November itineraries include a variety of veterinary, wildlife rehab, husbandry, enrichment and cultural activities. Click through to the Itinerary page or request the Info Pack below.
You can expect to be trained for and participate in the capture and anaesthesia of a variety of resident animals for health check purposes, and other veterinary activities which may arise. Previous groups have been involved in lion health-checks, de-horning of rhino, baboon castrations, meerkat surgery, relocations of cheetah, immobilisation of elephant +++.
The veterinary program can easily be combined with a week or more of general wildlife volunteering at the sanctuary and/or time spent at the exciting Timbila Reserve research project. Refer to the African Wildlife Sanctuary and Research Weeks info packs for details.
Participants can expect to be trained for wildlife capture, anaesthesia and health checks:
participating in the capture and anaesthesia of resident animals
classes and presentations
sampling and health checks
daily veterinary activities performed by our wildlife veterinarians and on an ad hoc basis, participating in other veterinary activities that may arise. This may include the capture and movement of wild animals or collaring of wild caught predators.