PROJECT OVERVIEW

Project Type: Vet Shadow Experience

Location: Eastern Cape – South Africa

Pick up Point: Port Elizabeth – South Africa

End City: Port Elizabeth – South Africa

Duration: 14 Days

Price: from £1,599

Accommodation: Purpose built accommodation and residential stay when on vet visits

Meals: Three meals a day included plus unlimited tea and coffee

Age Range: 18+

FURTHER INFO

The Wildlife Vet Shadow has been formulated to provide you with a hands on, work based learning experience into Wildlife Veterinary practices in South Africa. The project covers mostly practical based learning as you will be living and working with our vets. The programme will expose you to conservation activities as well as hands on veterinary procedures and techniques. The objectives of the course are:

– Expose participants to behind the scenes veterinary wildlife practices at Shamwari Game Reserve and other game parks and farms
– To gain invaluable experience through exposure to practical and hands on skills in the wildlife veterinary field
– Experience firsthand Shamwari’s award winning wildlife department which encompasses conservation, ecology and wildlife management
– To educate the principles of wildlife veterinary decisions compared to domestic circumstances and the larger conservation ethics that govern these procedures
– Introduce pharmacology with the emphasis on wildlife drugs
– Provide an understanding of the drugs and techniques required to incorporate veterinary procedures into wildlife management
– Introduce disease producing agents and the affects on wildlife species
– Immobilisation and darting techniques used for various wildlife species

As part of the Wildlife Vet Shadow you will be introduced to a number of conservation activities and veterinary interactions and procedures. It is important to understand that the type of veterinary interactions you will have whilst on your vet shadow cannot be guaranteed however some of the typical procedures you can expect to assist with include:

Animal Translocation
The main work that you would be involved with are translocations. These translocations could include rhino, giraffe, carnivores or any antelope depending on what is required. Most of these take place with the help of a helicopter.

Introduction to Darting Techniques
The various darting techniques used for game capture and immobilisation, learning to handle the various darting systems and target practice.

Management of Species
The management and control of rare and valuable game in semi intensive camps.

Postmortems
Conduct postmortems with veterinary staff for research and assessment.

Any Emergency Veterinary Procedures
As required by the veterinary team on the reserve.

Treatment of Sick or Injured Wildlife
You will assist with any treatments of wildlife as and when required.

As part of your Vet Shadow Experience at least 5 days will be spent working alongside the conservation team at Shamwari Game Reserve. Activities may include:

Game Monitoring: Rhino, Elephants, Predators
With regular monitoring it is possible to identify individuals, compile information about the family structure and determine feeding and special ecology. Data collected is used to assist in the managing decisions for the reserve.

Telemetry Tracking
Monitoring of some high profile animals like cheetah and leopard are required using telemetry tracking equipment due to the neighbouring properties carrying livestock and the elusive nature of some of the species.

Management of Breeding Centre
Management of breeding centre can include anything from veld (open country or grassland) conditions assessment, mapping of breeding area, mapping of alien vegetation, monitoring animal numbers and managing water points.

Volunteering at Born Free Foundation
It is the mission of both the Born Free Foundation and Shamwari Game Reserve to promote the conservation of species and the protection of habitat while maintaining a humane and compassionate approach to the welfare of animals and therefore it is their goal to create an awareness of the horrific way in which wildlife is exploited in captivity around the world. An opportunity will be given on a weekly basis for individuals to volunteer at the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary.

Volunteering at Animal Rehabilitation Centre
Shamwari Animal Rehabilitation Centre was set up to aid in rehabilitating injured animals found on the reserve and surrounding community. The aim is to give the animal short term care and release it back into the environment. The centre boasts avian, small and large stock boma (enclosure) areas which house the various species which may find their way to Shamwari.