Wildside Vet, African Wildlife Veterinarian Experience
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13 Days |
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Hoedspruit, South Africa |
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Fully Furnished Accommodation |
Wildside Vet, African Wildlife Veterinarian Experience
Program Overview
Wildside Vet, African Wildlife Veterinarian Experience
What is the goal of the project?
The goal of this project is to have interns work alongside an experienced exotic wildlife veterinarian to sedate, treat, relocate, and perform surgery on animals on private game reserves.
You will learn about disease control, veterinary drugs and their uses, assist with game capture, and help with medical work. You will be responsible for ensuring that the animals treated are comfortable and monitoring the effect of anaesthesia on vital signs. You will also be responsible for assisting in the preparation and administration of drugs. Each animal is different, and interns will need to be flexible.
What will I be doing?
The internship provides an in-depth look at veterinary medicine and conservation through hands-on work. Interns will learn what it takes to be a wildlife veterinarian and conservationist, and will also have the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and understanding of wildlife conservation and management efforts through this program.
Some of the activities that interns may do include:
- Practical darting session from a helicopter
- Intravenous injection and intramuscular injections
- Chemical restraint of wild animals
- Chemical immobilization of individual species
- DNA sampling on various species
- Preparation of all non-scheduled drugs
- Pregnancy diagnosis
- Wound treatments and abscess lacerations
- Rhino de-horning to fight the illegal poaching trade
- Immobilizing buffalo and antelope to measure horn size for animals for sale
- TB testing on buffalo
- Game drives on nearby reserves to identify animals and learn typical behaviour in the wild
- Mineral and vitamin injections delivered by darting and or sedation
- Waterfall swims, giant baobab excursions, and team bonding activities
Program Videos
What will I learn?
This internship will allow you to learn how to work as part of an exotic animal care team while developing skills to provide veterinarian care for a wide range of animals. You will anatomy and physiology of South African wildlife and how game reserves work in South Africa. You will build your skills and your network as you meet people from all over the world who are passionate about caring for wildlife.
What previous experience or skills do I need?
Interns need to show enthusiasm, positivity, maturity, and independence, adaptability, and willingness to work in a team
Where will I be?
How does housing and food work?
What’s included?
Meals at the project, housing, all the veterinarian, educational, cultural activities, local expert lectures, and game drives. Wifi, laundry, and a practical darting session from a helicopter are included. Transfer to and from the project from Hoedspruit. Pre-departure support, logistic support at the Johannesburg airport during your arrival and your departure, a Field Study Abroad t-shirt, Project Cap, and Fleece.
Not Included: International flight, Transfers, International Health and Travel Insurance, and Optional excursions.
How to Finance your internship
Pricing starts at $*** for 2 weeks.
Most universities have a wide range of scholarships for study abroad. You can check with your university to see which scholarships they offer. You should visit your study abroad/global engagement office and your department. Your department may have travel funds available to assist with airfare or other program-related expenses.
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