ADVANCED WILDLIFE IMMOBILISATION AND CONSERVATION COURSE FOR VETERINARY STUDENTS AND VETERINARIANS
July – August 2008/9

This course is intended to build on what students learnt in their first course with us and goes into more depth on some topics, while reviewing others. Several new topics are introduced too. There will also be more hands on work and practical opportunities.
The course aims to take students/veterinarians to the next level and hone some skills learnt previously, while introducing new knowledge and skills too.
The knowledge and experience gained during this course will serve course delegates well in any field of wildlife work, anywhere in the world.

Day 1, Sunday, 27 July 2008

Arrival day – all delegates must arrive today before 11am to facilitate transfers. Delegates from the same faculties should try to arrive on the same flight - arrangements to be made by delegates and advised. Delegates arriving later can be accommodated but transfers may then be for their own cost.
(Early arrivals/activities/travel can be facilitated by Brothers Safaris at an additional cost.)

Met by a Brothers Safaris representative, and transferred to De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre, just North West of Pretoria (approximately 1 hour drive).
Check in and acclimatise/relax for the rest of the day.

In the evening there will be an overview of the course before dinner at the lodge.
Overnight at De Wildt Cheetah Lodge.
(During your stay at De Wildt, Dr Brothers might not overnight at the lodge – lodge staff live on the premises should any assistance be required at night.)

De Wildt Cheetah Lodge is situated just north west of Pretoria, in the De Wildt area. The lodge is set in lush green gardens on an adjacent property to the breeding Centre, nestled in the foothills of the Magaliesberg mountain range. This presents a landscape of open veld (bush), many indigenous trees, and a panoramic view to the north.
A renovated old farm homestead, the lodge has eight suites, each individually decorated to highlight the species that are bred at the Centre, or the environment.

Day 2, Monday, 28 July 2008

After breakfast at 8.00 am, we will start with some revision lectures for the day, Dr Peter Brothers (Wildlife Veterinarian):
Pharmacology and Physiology; First Aid; Species Specific Considerations, etc.

Enjoy lunch at 12.00 pm at the De Wildt Cheetah Lodge.

Dinner at 7.00 pm at the lodge and overnight at De Wildt Cheetah Lodge.

Day 3, Tuesday, 29 July 2008

Breakfast at 7.00 am is followed by a transfer at 7.45 am to nearby Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty.

We spend the day being lectured by various specialists in their field and cover aspects such as bacterial and viral diseases at the wildlife-domestic stock interface; the basics of Veterinary dentistry and its applications in wildlife; and toxicology and wildlife.

Lunch at Onderstepoort before transferring back to De Wildt Cheetah Lodge for dinner and to overnight.

Day 4, Wednesday, 30 July 2008

Breakfast at 7.00 am is followed by a transfer at 7.45 am back to Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty.

We spend the morning on wildlife pathology – a theory session followed by a practical session at the Department of Pathology.

Lunch at Onderstepoort before transferring back to De Wildt Cheetah Lodge for an afternoon of lectures:
Dr Peter Caldwell – The captive management of predators.

Dinner and overnight at De Wildt Cheetah Lodge.

Day 5, Thursday, 31 July 2008

Early breakfast at 6.30 am, followed by a transfer to the neighbouring De Wildt Cheetah Centre for a practical session.

Several cheetah will be immobilised for a routine health check and annual management treatments, which includes gastric scoping. Dr Gerhard Steenkamp, the veterinary dentist, will also be present to do dental checks on all patients and do any basic procedures that need doing.
Other animals needing treatment may also be immobilised during the course of the morning, time permitting.
Assist in monitoring the patients, taking relevant samples and doing dental work while learning from the respective vets involved.
(Confirmation of actual work subject to confirmation and what needs doing nearer the time.)

Return to the lodge for lunch at 12.30 pm.

Lunch is followed by lecture sessions, with an afternoon tea break.
The afternoon’s lectures will be presented by Dr David Gerber (Theriogenologist) and will focus on Theriogenology in wildlife.

Dinner at 7.00 pm and overnight at De Wildt Cheetah Lodge.

Day 6, Friday, 1 August 2008

After breakfast we check out of the De Wildt Cheetah Lodge and transfer to a reserve for some work on rhino and/or elephant (specific reserve still to be finalised).

Check in and enjoy leisure time before an afternoon game drive to introduce you to the reserve and to discuss/plan the procedures starting tomorrow.

Dinner and overnight in camp.

Day 7, Saturday, 2 August 2008

Depending on the final work scheduled for today, this is likely to be the typical day:

After early morning tea/coffee and snacks, we set off in search of the elephant targeted for collar replacement (collar batteries have a limited life and thus the collar needs to be replaced before the signal fails which would make it difficult to locate and monitor the individual in question).
Once located and the ground team is in position, we will endeavour to dart the elephant from a helicopter. When the elephant is immobilised and it is safe for the ground crew to move in, we’ll get up close and personal with our patient, helping monitor vital signs and replace the collar, and taking samples while examining this magnificent beast in detail. Of course there will be time for those once in a lifetime photos too!
The total procedure from darting to recovery will take approximately one hour.

When recovering the elephant may be ill tempered and this can be a tense moment... All being well he will stroll off into the bush under our watchful eyes, and we’ll return to the lodge for brunch and to rid ourselves of some of the adrenalin that is sure to have flooded our bodies!

After brunch we critically review the procedure.

Enjoy leisure time in camp before high tea and another game drive to check up on our patient.
We enjoy dinner in camp and are sure to spend some time sitting around the fire discussing the day’s experiences!

Day 8, Sunday, 3 August 2008

Early morning guided walk in the reserve with a local guide, or another game drive depending on what the group choose to do as a whole.

Return to camp for buffet breakfast at 9.30am and check out at 10.30 am. Transfer to Mattanu Game Ranch in the Northern Cape.

Lunch en route for your own expense.

Check in late afternoon and enjoy leisure time in camp.
Tonight we’ll review camp rules and our plans for the stay here with the Kriek family – father Dr Johann Kriek is a Wildlife Veterinarian and helicopter pilot, oldest son Johann is a helicopter pilot and youngest son is the marketing manager and heads up the ground crew on capture operations.

Enjoy dinner and overnight at Mattanu.

Mattanu Game Ranch is a unique Kalahari savannah Bushveld farm about 60km outside Kimberley on the Barkley-West road. This 2300ha Game Ranch, owned by the Kriek family, started in 1991 when the owner, Dr JC Kriek, imported 95 endangered roan antelope and 65 rare sable antelope species into South-Africa from Malawi. This is regarded as the most successful game capturing and importing operation ever. Hence the name Mattanu meaning, gift from above. The ranch boasts over 36 species, including rare species like roan and sable antelope. Mattanu also operates a disease free buffalo breeding project.

The thatched and tented accommodation nestles between Camel thorn trees and is a combination of shared accommodation – some en-suite, some with shared bathroom facilities. The water hole at the front of the lodge attracts wildlife for their daily drinks and provides some great game viewing on your doorstep!

Day 9, Monday, 4 August 2008

Breakfast at the lodge.

This morning will be dedicated to reviewing dart gun systems and darts and then loading and firing darts at a target to prepare us for this work on patients – a practical session of loading darts and firing them at a target – Dr Peter Brothers.

Lunch at the lodge.

This afternoon we’ll have a theoretical presentation on helicopter safety and darting by Johann Kriek Jnr, followed by a practical helicopter session darting a target with a paintball gun. This will give you an excellent idea of what is required when darting from the air!

Time dependent we’ll do a game drive on the ranch to show you the lay of the land and the various species on the ranch.

Dinner and overnight at Mattanu.

Day 10, Tuesday, 5 August 2008

Early morning light breakfast/continental style breakfast before setting out for the day’s activities.

Our time spent here will involve as much practical work as possible, mostly in the mornings. Routine management procedures on the ranch as well as work for clients in the area will be undertaken, subject to suitability for our group. Typically this work will include numerous immobilisations for various reasons, and of various species, mostly antelope. Subject to progress on the course, students/vets will discuss and decide doses, load darts and actually fire them in some instances, depending on the situation. Competent hands-on involvement will be expected in order to hone certain handling and monitoring skills.
Work will only be decided/finalised nearer the time and students/vets need to be flexible in this regard since this is the nature of wildlife practice which is solely what Dr Kriek practises.

Lunch will be back at the lodge, or a packed lunch if we are out in the field.

This afternoon Dr Kriek will lecture you on the breeding and management of rare species, based on years of personal experience. After the lecture we’ll head out onto the ranch to show you the practical aspects of the lecture.

Enjoy sundowners in the bush and return to the lodge after sunset.

Dinner and overnight at Mattanu.

Day 11, Wednesday, 6 August 2008

Early morning breakfast before setting out for the day’s veterinary work.

Lunch back at the lodge, or a packed lunch, pending the day’s work.

Time dependent we’ll have an opportunity to put all the theory into practice and vaccinate some of the animals on the reserve/dart animals that need treatment, from the helicopter! This exercise will be run over two afternoons to allow enough time for everyone to get a fair chance.

Dinner and overnight at Mattanu.

Day 12, Thursday, 7 August 2008

Early morning breakfast before setting out for the day’s veterinary work.

Lunch back at the lodge, or a packed lunch, pending the day’s work.

Time dependent we’ll have an opportunity to put all the theory into practice and vaccinate some of the animals on the reserve/dart animals that need treatment, from the helicopter! This exercise will be run over two afternoons to allow enough time for everyone to get a fair chance.

Dinner and overnight at Mattanu.

Day 13, Friday, 8 August 2008

Early morning breakfast before setting out for the day’s veterinary work.

Lunch back at the lodge, or a packed lunch, pending the day’s work.

This afternoon we’ll review anything we have not yet managed to do or will present some further lectures, time dependent.

Enjoy your final dinner and evening at Mattanu.

Day 14, Saturday, 9 August 2008

After breakfast we check out at 9.00 am and transfer back to Johannesburg International Airport in time for connecting flights home/to your next destination – approximately 6 hours drive. Arrive in Johannesburg at about 3.30pm.
Please do not book flights departing before 6.30pm tonight.
Lunch en-route for your own expense.

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Cost per person sharing:
ZAR 25 000-00 per delegate sharing
Single supplements apply where/when available.

The course cost includes meals and accommodation as indicated above, all land transfers in a comfortable air-conditioned mini-bus, guides and lecturers as above (Dr Peter Brothers throughout and local guides where indicated), all practicals and lectures as above, all tours and activities as above, Park entry fees, VAT and Government Tourism levies.

Not included are flights, drinks, meals as indicated for your own expense above, optional additional activities, items of a personal nature, gratuities (budget on approximately R200 over the duration of the course), travel/medical insurance (compulsory and we have details of a good policy which covers you here in SA, should you need assistance with this) and pre- and post-course activities (we have a leisure department that can assist with these activities).

Departure Dates :

27 July - 9 August 2008

SPACES LEFT

 

Course dates 2009 - itinerary still to be finalised:

26 July - 8 August 2009

SPACES LEFT

 

Please Note:

Please note the following regarding the darting/immobilisation procedures:
While every endeavour is made to locate and dart the animal in question, factors such as severe weather conditions or illness involving the animal, unable to locate or approach the animal close enough due to bush conditions, failure of the animal to come to a bait, etc. which are all unpredictable, may prevent the darting from going ahead. Every effort will be made to ensure that the client participates in the darting procedure, or similar, as laid out in the itinerary, but the animal's welfare will not be compromised at any stage, and a procedure may have to be aborted and the animal revived in certain circumstances. This may shorten the procedure/down time, and hence the close up experience for the client. Brothers Safaris, its staff, and appointed agents will not be held liable for any losses incurred by a client as a result of such situations, and accept no responsibility whatsoever. Every endeavour is made to ensure the health and safety of all our clients, but any procedure with a potentially dangerous wild animal and veterinary drugs is of such a nature that certain circumstances may be beyond our control. Should any such situation arise which leads to death or injury due to any reason whatsoever, Brothers Safaris, its staff, and appointed agents, will not be held liable for any losses incurred as a direct, or indirect, result of such a situation, or our actions in such a situation.