Offsite Electives

This elective externship provides students with an immersive learning experience in community-based animal welfare initiatives in Tanzania. Participants will engage in practical activities focused on treatments and care for donkeys, dogs and cats-species often neglected within local communities. Through participation in outreach programs, animal health education, and welfare improvement project, students will develop competencies in field based veterinary practices, cross- cultural communication and community engagement.

Student can shadow and observe all procedures and surgery. Can provide instruction and allow demonstartion of procedures, imaging etc under supervision.

The Small Animal and Exotics experience at BluePearl Pet Hospital – Richmond provides veterinary students with immersive, hands-on exposure to specialty and emergency medicine in a high-volume referral setting. 

Students will rotate through various specialty and emergency departments within the hospital, including:

• Emergency & Critical Care
• Internal Medicine
• Neurology & Neurosurgery
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Exotic Animal Medicine
• Coming in 2026, cardiology

The elective emphasizes a combination of clinical observation, supervised participation, and case-based learning across both common and complex presentations in dogs, cats, and exotic species.

Okeechobee Livestock Veterinarians is a four doctor ambulatory large animal practice servicing mostly food animals in central and south Florida. We service primarily beef and dairy cattle but also see swine, small ruminants, horses, camelids, and exotic hoofstock. 

Externship Student Responsibilities

Externship students will gain hands-on clinical experience by assisting veterinary staff and observing daily hospital operations. Students may:

Shadow veterinarians during client appointments, medical workups, and surgical procedures.

Assist in the interpretation of diagnostic tests, including bloodwork, urinalysis, and radiographs.

Support the veterinary team with patient handling, history taking, and medical record documentation as appropriate.

Participate in case discussions and treatment planning to enhance their clinical reasoning skills.

Uphold hospital protocols, maintain a clean and organized work environment, and ensure compassionate care for all patients

Student will shadow Dr. Lewis with his outpatient visits and will experience client communication, record keeping (SOAP)  and treatments for patients.

The Wildlife Forensic Academy provides both study abroad courses and internships. Internships can be based at the academy or at partner organisations such as wildlife clinics and rehabilitation organisations. The internship are designed on a individual student basis and it is best to contact us to discuss opportunities. 

The two week wildlife veterinary forensics study abroad course is designed specifically for Wildlife Veterinarians, Veterinarians, and Veterinary Professionals and offers an unparalleled opportunity to enhance your expertise in Wildlife Forensics. Blending in-depth training with immersive educational tourism, this program provides a truly unique African experience. Gain essential skills in wildlife forensics while exploring South Africa's rich biodiversity, and take your professional knowledge to new heights in one of the world's most exciting conservation environments.

Objectives:

• Build foundational knowledge through theoretical lectures, understanding the frameworks in wildlife forensics and crime investigation;
• Apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios through hands-on demonstrations, exercises, and summative assessments;
• Gain a holistic understanding of wildlife forensic work by exploring local ecology, environmental contexts, and cultural influences on wildlife crimes;
• Recognize the interconnectedness of human-wildlife conflict;
• Explore historical cultural influences on wildlife conservation and criminal activities, and develop awareness of governmental and non-governmental organizations in wildlife protection;
• Acquire survival skills, including knowledge of firearms and projectiles relevant to veterinary practitioners dealing with situations involving weapons;
• Acquire skills in conducting forensic necropsies, including hands-on experience in entomology and decomposition stages to estimate time of death and link suspects to crimes through insect identification and carcass documentation;
• Demonstrate understanding of wildlife veterinary pharmacology, emphasizing practical applications in the field, and gain comprehensive knowledge of toxicology related to wildlife crimes, identifying threats to biodiversity;
• Acquire knowledge of wildlife crimes and illegal wildlife trade, addressing issues like poaching and trafficking, and develop practical skills in crime scene processing, survival techniques, and evidence collection;
• Enhance proficiency in legal aspects associated with wildlife crime.

This course is for you if:

• You are a veterinarian, veterinary assistant and/ or veterinary science student
• A professional involved in wildlife protection, game reserve management, wildlife conservation, and animal handling
• A student exploring veterinary science as a potential career path and seeking greater insight into the field
• We welcome participants from diverse backgrounds who are passionate about animal care and the application of science in the pursuit of justice.

Program: 

This training includes the following:

• Introduction to Wildlife Crime, Poaching and Illegal Trade;
• Marine Wildlife Poaching;
• Wildlife Forensic Postmortem Training;
• Basic Introduction to Firearms and Projectiles Utilized in the Field of Wildlife Veterinary Medicine;
• Role of Forensics;
• Forensic Traces (Detection and Collection);
• Crime Scene Management;
• Crime Scene Preservation;
• Forensic Photography;
• Forensic Entomology;
• Wildlife Anatomy: Handling and First Aid;
• Forensic Veterinary Pathology and Toxicology;
• Human-Wildlife Conflict and Illegal Wildlife Trade;
• Hands-on Experience Laboratory Training:
  • Human Behaviour at the Crime Scene;
  • Courtroom Training;
• Anti-poaching, Tracking and Basic Survival Skills;
• Injured and Poisoned Animal Management;

Educational Touristic Activities:

• San Cultural Experience;
• Iziko Museum;
• Marine Conservation and Research;
• Tour of Cape Point and Table Mountain;
• Cape Town Waterfront;
• Two Oceans Aquarium Educational Tour;
• Seabird and Raptor Rehabilitation Tour;
• Cheetah Outreach Educational Tour;
• Game Drive;
• There will also be a morning with surfing/sea kayaking/whale watching/ snorkelling with seals - weather permitting.
   

What You Will Learn:

Attendees enrolled in this course will delve into the intricate relationship between historical cultures and wildlife crimes, gaining insights into cultural influences on both wildlife conservation efforts and criminal activities. They will develop an awareness of governmental and non-governmental organizations involved in wildlife protection and rehabilitation, broadening their understanding of wildlife conservation ecosystems. The curriculum includes survival skills such as familiarity with firearms and projectiles relevant to veterinary practitioners encountering weapon-related cases, as well as forensic necropsy techniques for investigating deceased wildlife. 

Additionally, attendees will acquire knowledge in toxicology and pharmacology pertinent to wildlife veterinary practices, including the identification and practical application of drugs and toxins in the field. Proper crime scene management and processing techniques will be honed, encompassing skills in evidence collection, post-mortem examinations, and anti-poaching behaviours. Legal aspects of wildlife crimes will also be covered, including courtroom presentation, forensic photography, and the art of providing testimony in simulated courtroom scenarios, ensuring students are equipped to effectively communicate findings in legal and investigative contexts while understanding the nuances of evidence presentation and cross-examination.

Attendees will also participate in a range of educational visits and activities which will provide you with knowledge of the different organisations and initiatives actively working in conservation in South Africa as well as gaining a better understanding of South African culture. 

How You Will Learn:

A mix of lectures, demonstrations, flipped classroom and hands-on practical activities will be utilised.  In addition, education excursions will be integrated into programme to provide background context to South African wildlife, conservation and culture. 

Lectures
Theory, knowledge, understanding

Experimental Learning
Practice, problem solving, application

Educational Excursions
Context, background, culture

Educational Aims:

1. To present and enhance knowledge and practical skills in wildlife crime investigations and wildlife veterinary science.
2. To apply current forensic-, policing knowledge and skills to wildlife crime investigations including the criminal justice chain and recovery, analysis and interpretation of evidence.
3. Facilitate a knowledge exchange opportunity between local and international wildlife professionals. 

Learning Outcomes:

1. Establish foundational knowledge in wildlife forensics and crime investigation.
2. Apply theory in practical settings and assessments.
3. Understand wildlife forensic work, integrating local ecology and cultural influences.
4. Recognize and neutralize human-wildlife conflicts.
5. Investigate historical cultural impacts on conservation and crime, and roles of organizations.
6. Acquire survival skills for veterinary practitioners, including firearm knowledge.
7. Gain proficiency in conducting forensic necropsies and linking suspects to crimes.
8. Understand wildlife pharmacology and toxicology, focusing on practical applications and biodiversity threats.
9. Develop skills in addressing wildlife crimes and illegal trade, including evidence collection.
10. Enhance legal proficiency for courtroom presentation and testifying effectively. 

To observe and participate in exams and surgeries.

Externship to include exposure to the following: avian and aquatic medicine (water quality, necropsies, +/- immobilizations, +/- surgery, emergency stabilization, public health). Pending the duration of the externship- students would be required to pick a case study or animal to present on. 

Students are involved in both hospital and ambulatory appointments. They are allowed to assist with procedures and treatments under direct supervision of a veterinarian as deemed appropriate. Students are also able to scrub in for surgeries, assist with anesthesia and hospital patient care. Students with interest may also observe and assist in our equine and/or canine rehabilitation centers on site. Students are encouraged to join veterinarians on after hours emergencies both in the field an in the hospital.