Shadowing in a 100% wildlife practice in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Students live on site in a wildlife reserve/game farm. 90-100% ambulatory wildlife practice, up to 10% research depending on time of year, opportunity to spend a day with government livestock vet if desired. Most work is immobilisation and translocation of healthy wildlife. Practice specialises in giraffe, rhino, hippo immobilization but treats all wildlife. As well as translocations we do wildlife herd health, snare removal, rhino dehorning, medical care of poaching victims at a rhino orphanage, occasional field surgeries (e.g., lion vasectomy, rare).
Four veterinarians, one veterinary nurse, one game capture manager, capture team. One of the veterinarians is a diplomate of both the American College of Zoological Medicine and the European College of Zoological Medicine, and a South African Veterinary Council Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine.
Digital x ray, research facilities on site (mostly immobilization physiology research), fully equipped ambulatory vehicles, quarantine facilities for wildlife. Potential opportunities to accompany vets to other sub Saharan African countries e.g., Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique if work takes us there.
Full time including on call for emergencies, 40 hours/week. Caseload varies dramatically depending on time of year, July/August can be 80 hours a week but students always have the opportunity to stay on the farm if they are tired. Usually weekends off, students have the opportunity to join for emergency callouts if desired. 100% shadowing, students will be allowed to give injections, monitor anesthesia, collect samples but will not be allowed to manage animals alone and are not permitted to dart animals. Dart gun practice on a target will be provided.
Ngongoni Game Farm
16 Uitkyk Road
Mbombela
1240
South Africa