City: Cape Town
Organization: CIEE for travels/housing; SANCCOB to set up volunteering. About: Volunteer at the SANCCOB rehabilitation center for seabirds and other sea-life. Most volunteer programs are 4 to 6 weeks in duration and involve husbandry as well as medical care. There is a potential to get involved in their various research projects but that must be set up by contacting SANCCOB. Housing: Contact SANCCOB for a list of accommodations volunteers have used in the past in order to set up your own housing. Contact: Check out the SANCCOB International Volunteer webpage for more information and application. Avg cost of excursion: $100, not including flights or housing. |
Eko Tracks Veterinary Field Study
City: Multiple cities are visited
Organization: Eko Tracks About: Work with local veterinaries and conservationists in the field of wildlife medicine throughout various towns in South Africa. Guest lectures and demonstration labs are held to learn about appropriate wildlife capture and handling. Visits to various National Parks are included to promote understanding of wildlife management, In addition, you will work with local veterinarians in the field of shelter medicine, helping with spays/neuters as well as visiting rural villages to provide vaccinations and medication as community care. Best time of year: May - December Eko Track organizes several different "Field Study" trips throughout the year. Most are 3 weeks in duration and are available mostly between the months of May and December. Housing: Accommodations are provided for the duration of the trip. Avg cost of excursion: $4700, not including flight Contact: Visit the Eko Track webpage to find the application form for the Veterinary Field Study. |
Beginner-Level Experience with Wildlife MedicineCity: multiple cities visited
Organization: Loop Abroad Expected experiences: Volunteer at Feracare Wildlife Centre and assist with veterinary care, husbandry, and captive enrichment for cheetahs and other African wildlife. Be taught under a Loop Abroad veterinarian mentor and attend very hands-on wet labs on darting and immobilization, necropsy, suturing, and field diagnostics. Technically geared towards pre-veterinary students but can still be an intro for vet students wanting to start down the zoo med path Best time of year: Summer (May - July) - 2 or 3 week programs Housing: included in program cost Avg cost of excursion: $4000 including flight Contact: Visit the Loop Abroad website for more information Funding: scholarships available on Loop Abroad website Recommended by: Rachel Sanchez, Class of 2022 |
Wildlife Conservation Medicine ExpeditionCity: multiple cities visited
Organization: EcoLife Expected experiences: Fully immerse yourself in the wildlife of South Africa, observing wildlife in Kruger National Park, learning about game management, and shadowing veterinarians on their calls. This includes sedating and relocating cape buffalo, vaccinating impala, assessing an enucleation of a golden wildebeest, and darting a Nyala. They taught us how their agrotourism and hunting was actually used as conservation for the rest of the species. We learned how to dart from a helicopter and all about wildlife pharmacology. We got an intense few days of infectious diseases lesson while staying at a bush camp surrounded by the wildlife. We also got to treat domestic animals in the villages and educate them on zoonotic parasites. Best time of year: summer Duration: 4 weeks Housing: included in cost but keep in mind most of the time sleep outdoors Avg cost of excursion: $5000 Contact: on website Recommended by: Madison Alvey, Class of 2021 |
Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary Volunteer |
Country: Namibia
Organization: Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary About: Volunteer with rescued wildlife at Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary and conduct research at local veterinary research sites. Experience is offered in 10 day periods in February, April, and September/October. Area of emphasis: Wildlife Link: https://www.naankuse.com/education-veterinary-wildlife-experience?gclid=Cj0KCQjw4s-kBhDqARIsAN-ipH0xktjPEls7B0-Va9SuRRn5KwojVQVV_jrwBK2lqzodgOY1cIpMc8oaAo7PEALw_wcB |
Live 4 Now Wild Vets Veterinary Courses
Organization: Live 4 Now
About: Complete a Full or 2-week Veterinary Science Course with Live 4 Now Wild Vets. Gain hands-on experience with wild animals and work alongside wildlife veterinarians to learn about wildlife diseases, animal rehabilitation, game capture techniques, ecological management, and more. Area of emphasis: Wildllife/zoological Link: www.live4now.co.za/#!/wildvets |
Conservation Africa Volunteer
Organization: Conservation Africa
About: Volunteer with Conservation Africa and work alongside some of Africa's most experienced wildlife vets to assist them with immobilizing and moving many different species, testing for diseases, performing necropsies, and more. Area of emphasis: Wildlife/zoological Link: www.conservationafrica.net/our-projects/wildlife-veterinary-experience |
Vets Go Wild Training Module
Organization: Vets Go Wild
About: Work with Vets Go Wild on a 16-day module and receive training in the care of animals at Amakhala Game Reserve and Addo Elephant National Park both located in the Eastern Cape in South Africa. Animals seen include rhino, African buffalo, big cats, cheetah, giraffe, and more. Area of emphasis: Wildlife/zoological Link: https://worldwideexperience.com/vets-go-wild/ |
Wildlife Vets Introductory Course
Organization: Wildlife Vets
About: Complete Wildlife Vets introductory course and complete clinical work, community projects, and large-scale game operations. Area of emphasis: Wildlife/zoological Link: https://www.wildlifevets.com/application/ |
Grabouw Animal Welfare Society Volunteer
Organization: Grabouw Animal Welfare Society
About: Volunteer with Grabouw Animal Welfare Society (G.A.W.S.) and work in sterilization clinics to provide veterinary care and rescue services to animals who are starving, sick, abused, and unwanted. Area of emphasis: Small animal Link: https://www.facebook.com/GrabouwAWS/ |
SYMCO
About: Attend SYMCO: the International Symposium on Wildlife Utilization in Southern Africa. This serves as a platform for leading speakers, both local and international, in the fields of Veterinary and Natural Sciences, to address veterinary students on a host of wildlife management topics and the role of veterinarians in wildlife utilization.
Area of emphasis: Wildlife Link: http://symco.co.za/wp/ |