Working with wildlife in South Africa

Lara Savage (2020, Veterinary Sciences)

My placement gave me the oppor tunity to gain insight and experience as an integrated par t of a unique and historically successful wildlife rehabilitation operation.

FreeMe Wildlife KZN is a unique rehabilitation group that deals with a diverse array of indigenous South African wildlife, par ticularly reptiles, raptors, and ser vals

Unlike many wildlife rescue centres, they run a par ticularly private operation, prohibiting all public access, whilst implementing a treatment policy that is founded on the principle of only admitting animals that have a legitimate prospect of full recover y and successful release Such a strategy prioritises two key elements to best prepare the animals in their care for life after release Firstly, they are committed to replicating each patient’s natural environment as closely as possible to ensure that their animals can continue to express and develop normal behaviour; this is especially impor tant for juveniles. The second is a focus on keeping human interaction to a minimum wherever possible This prevents dependency and imprinting from occurring – associations which could hinder an animal’s chances of sur vival post-release

Throughout my stay I kept a comprehensive journal of each day’s events. I was able to take on an active role within the organisation administering treatments and conducting clinical examinations. Treatments included electrolyte tor toise baths; vitamin K injections for a spotted eagle-owl with suspected internal bleeding; deliver y of Doxybiotic (containing Doxycycline) and Midazole (containing Levamisole and Albendazole) to red eye doves, olive pigeons and other small birds in care I also oversaw a jackal buzzard’s flight practice (admitted with a broken coracoid); tube feeding chicks, hatchlings and a hadeda (with suspected concussion); bottle feeding a young duiker (severely burnt during firebreak burning)

Fur thermore, I was able to sit in on a few lectures delivered on site, concerning morphic fields and epigenetics The objective of these classes was to emphasise the influence of environmental factors on an animal’s behaviour and capacity for recover y as demonstrated by the way the team dealt with the admission and diagnostic investigation on a secretar y bird that was admitted during my stay

The most unique par t of my experience came in the form of the post-mor tem necropsies I was tasked with carr ying out I was able to dissect a range of exotic species that I would other wise have never had the oppor tunity to investigate in such detail These included birds of prey, geese, doves, pigeons, tor toises, snakes, a chameleon, two duikers and a rock monitor lizard (known locally as Leguaan). This provided a per fect oppor tunity to consolidate my exotic species anatomy knowledge and develop it beyond the bounds of the lecture syllabus Additionally, it gave me immersive problem-solving experience as I had to discern healthy features from those that were potentially pathological, to decide upon a likely cause of death Following each necropsy, I had to write a full repor t which was then digitally transcribed and filed in the FreeMe database

I am immensely grateful to have received a Jesus College Study Grant towards this trip – I would not have gained such rewarding experience without it. Thank you.