Are you a Veterinary Student, Veterinarian, Vet Nurse or in the Animal Science field? Looking for an internship or further skills development in Zoo, Exotics or Wildlife?
COURSE DATES 2020
| UNIVERSITY | DATES | AVAILABILITY |
| Adelaide Australia | 5 to 18 April 2020 | FULLY BOOKED |
| Ross – St. Kitts | 19 April to 2 May 2020 | FULLY BOOKED |
| LMU | 17 to 30 May 2020 | 3 Seats available |
| OPEN | 31 May to 13 June 2020 | 11 Seats available |
| SGU 1 | 14 to 27 June 2020 | 1 Seat available |
| SGU 2 | 28 June to 11 July 2020 | 1 Seat available |
| K-State | 12 to 25 July 2020 | 4 Seats available |
| OPEN | 26 July to 8 August 2020 | 9 Seats available |
| Ross – St. Kitts | 23 August to 5 September 2020 | 2 Seats available |
| Adelaide 2 | 6 to 19 September 2020 | FULLY BOOKED |
| Adelaide 3 | 19 September to 3 October 2020 | FULLY BOOKED |
We have you covered!
Since 1998 we have offered over 1000 participants the experience of a lifetime from over 20 countries! Come and join us for the trip you’ll never forget!
INTRODUCTION TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION MEDICINE COURSE
This is the first course in our product range. It serves as a introduction to what a wildlife veterinarian might engage in on a daily basis in the South African game ranching industry. It is primarily veterinary orientated.
Format: Our courses are offered from our base of operations near Nelspruit in conjunction with Wildlife Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd. Dr JP Raath (BVSc), developer of the courses, lectures the course together with Wildlifevets.com’s practise veterinarians.
During the course, participants can expect to receive lectures and practical experience in the following aspects:
- Practical demonstrations and active participation in field work
- Various Capture Methods – Mass Capture, Chemical Capture, Passive Capture
- Basic Applied physiology
- Basic Pharmacological principles from injection to recovery
- Current and new pharmacological preparations
- Equipment- darting with a range of projectors
- Basic principles of immobilization
- Species specific information
- Problems under anesthesia
- Confined space darting
- Conservation strategies in South Africa
The course takes place in a fairly relaxed environment with some very intense days of veterinary field work and captures. Participants will be based at Source Tree Lodge, Mpumalanga. Transport is provided in the form of a 14 seater bus, with a very friendly team leader at the group’s side from start to finish. We have been presenting course for over 20 years and haven’t lost a student yet 😉 Participant safety during the course is our primary concern!!!
Duration: 13 Days – Arriving on the Sunday afternoon, after lunch, and departing a fortnight later on the Saturday morning, after breakfast.
While we attempt to keep to a schedule, due to operational and client requirements, days are often swapped around in order to fit in with the veterinary work scheduled.
Day 1 – Intro Day: This is an orientation and preparation day used to orientate and familiarise the participants with the equipment and techniques they might encounter whilst on the course. The day starts in the lecture room with an Introduction to African game farming, and lectures on basic wildlife capture, handling and safety in the field. A formal darting lesson is held after a scrumptious lunch at the lodge, ended off by a friendly darting competition amongst participants. We usually wrap it up with sundowners on our mountain 😉
3/4 Days Capture & Relocation – This is dependent on what capture and relocation work the veterinary team has planned. The participants ARE the working team and together with the Practice Veterinarian/s or Game Capture Specialist they will assist in capture and handling, monitoring and treating, as well as relocating wildlife on surrounding farms and parks in Mpumalanga. Species may include anything from Rhino, Elephant, Buffalo, Sable, Impala, Wildebeest to warthog, perhaps even Lion!
2/3 Days Research – Research for Wildlife Pharmaceuticals forms an important part of the Veterinary Practice’s schedule and participants assist, hands on, while learning about groundbreaking new pharmaceutical products. This is done at our facility and includes species ranging from African Antelope to Crocodiles to Wildebeest. This is also a great opportunity to learn how to effectively setup and manage a protocol for longer term PhD studies.
1 Full Day Open Vehicle trip to Kruger National Park – Participants are briefed on the state of Kruger’s elephant population and see for themselves what the importance is of management in a fenced ecosystem. This is an ideal opportunity to take photographs of South African Wildlife in their natural environment. Don’t hesitate to ask Geran Raath, (professional photographer, for photographic advise!
POSSIBLE: 1 Full Day Rehabilitation Visit – Maholoholo Rehab, The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre and Jessica the hippo are visited to show the importance and downfalls of rehabilitation, breeding or captivity of wild animals.
1 Full Day Pharmacology – Dr J.P Raath (Cobus) founder and head veterinarian at Wildlifevets/CEO Wildlife Pharmaceuticals will BLOW YOU MIND! Dr Raath started his career in Kruger National Park in 1983, as a Veterinarian for National Parks Board South Africa, KNP. After developing and researching many of the systems and management plans that are in place today, he decided to open a private practice in 1996. Realizing the necessity for more development in conservation medicine globally, Dr Raath linked up with Dr William Lance of Wildlife Pharmaceuticals (USA), and brought even more expertise to Southern Africa. Dr Raath registered Wildlife Pharmaceuticals South Africa in 1997, and this move demonstrated not only his love for what he was doing, but also a vision to the future of conservation in South Africa. Closely linked, Wildlifevets.com was established in 2001 and operated in the Mpumalanga area. Starting as a veterinary practice with Dr Raath’s skill and passion, it has grown into a force in the wildlife industry educating, developing and working over a vast area. Now a wildlife management and education, (technology transfer) company, Wildlifevets.com employs full time staff, to deliver the top quality service and professional touch that must be expected in the wildlife sector. With projects and research stretching from the Kwa-Zulu Natal to the Middle East, the energy and dedication this company invests in its clients, and more importantly the animals they work with, is phenomenal.
1 Full Day Community Work – “Paying it Forward”. Siyatutuka Farmers Community Project forms part of our community responsibility program and deals with the interface zones surrounding Kruger National Park. Participants will start an early morning with assisting the state veterinary technicians dipping, vaccinating and treating cattle from the local farmers. Often our teams work on over 300 cattle in a morning is a very rural and rough environment. Its like “Bovine-Bootcamp” and participants are often surprised at how unique the issues and conditions are that these farmers face. Thereafter participants assist with the vaccination of community dogs and cats in the townships of eastern Mpumalanga. Since 2015 we have vaccinated in excess of 3500 dogs.
1 Day Elephant Interaction & Panorama Excursion – On the middle Sunday of the course the participants set off to interact with elephants, a one in a lifetime up close and personal experience with majestic creatures, and then take a leisurely tour through the Mpumalanga Escarpment to see some of the picturesque scenery.
Although there is a formal lecture component regarding Pathology, Pharmacology and certain case studies the course tends to favor informal discussions/debates surrounding conservation issues. Issues regarding culling, hunting, game ranching and rhino trade are generally discussed around the fire in the evenings.
THE NITTY GRITTY:
Course Cost 2019 – US $4000.00
Duration – 13 Days
Accommodation – Included
Meals – Included
Transport from/to Airport – Provided (Kruger Mpumalanga Int Airport)
Visit to Kruger – Included
Do I get to do hand on work or just watch? – Better get ready to work!
Do I get to touch an Elephant? – Yes
Is there a bar? – Yes! (Bar tab excluded)
Will I learn, grow and have a good time? Silly question! Answer: MOST Definitely!