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Country: SOUTH AFRICA
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Program description: |
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WORK WITH A WILDLIFE VET! The Shimongwe Wildlife Veterinary project offers volunteers the opportunity to work closely with a wildlife veterinarian. The project is based in the stunning Limpopo Province, the most prolific wildlife area in Southern Africa.
We work with a number of veterinary practices, all of which are very well established and have busy schedules. Volunteers will join the practice and day-to-day activities of an active and experienced wildlife veterinarian in the field. Depending on each volunteer’s capabilities, volunteers will actively assist in most tasks that have to be performed - and not just sit back as spectators. Volunteers will actively partake in the treatment and physical handling of animals and the administration of low schedule drugs. The animals you may work with ranges from various antelope species, to elephants and lions.
Since the wildlife vet moves between local landowners, volunteers will more than likely get to travel a great deal in the Limpopo province of South Africa. This project is small, personal and very hands on and the vet usually never takes more than 3 students at a time.
Volunteers interested in a career in the veterinary field or animal care will benefit most from this project, but anyone with a strong interest in veterinary work can join.
It must be emphasized that these are totally wild animals the vet is working with and therefore not without its dangers. A certain level of fitness and determination is required by the students as the work can be strenuous. It is up to the vet’s discretion to judge the competence of each volunteer and the risks involved in each activity, before allowing the volunteer to participate in a specific activity.
The programme is practically orientated and you will most likely gain experience in the following activities:
* Game capture and immobilizing animals. By law only a registered vet can use the high schedule drugs to immobilize animals. You will however still learn a lot about the drugs involved and darting techniques, and will administer low schedule drugs
* Taking blood samples from animals
* Animal translocation
* Medical work on injured or sick animals
* Diagnosing and treating various conditions or diseases in animals
* Animals that the vet frequently work with: Sable-antelope, buffalo, giraffe, lion, elephant, roan-antelope, nyala, eland.
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General program information: |
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Program open to: Everyone
Age range: 17+
Travel to site: Varies
Is opportunity more independant or group orientated: Varies
No. in group: 2-4
Living arrangements on the program: Varies, Apartment, Tents/Rustic Accommodation, Group living, Home stays (living with local families)
What are the dates of this program: Throughout the year. Project closes for December and January.
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Cost or price of this program: |
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From £3030 for 4 weeks up to £4890 for 12 weeks, including return flights from London, local transfers, all meals and accommodation.
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Application process Involves: |
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Contact us for an application form
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