Our wildlife capture field course is for veterinarians interested in free- ranging conservation and management. If you are physically fit, enjoy strenuous outdoor work and a high level of adrenaline, this is the course for you!
On our course, you will learn professional and humane animal handling during capture. Through lecture presentations and fieldwork, we will teach you practical techniques to maximize field success and minimize risk to people and animals.
Classroom topics will include chemical and mechanical game capture, drug delivery systems, immobilization drugs, and field anesthesia procedures. And your hands-on experience will include darting practice and wildlife captures in free-ranging situations.
TYPES OF CAPTURES
Depending on what captures are available at the time, your capture experience may range from a nighttime lion capture to catching several hundred antelope in a day. All captures are done for legitimate management reasons. Your participation in captures will be as extensive as possible, limited only by field conditions, the
species being handled, and safety issues.
We will work with very dangerous wild animals in free-ranging situations. We try our best to ensure your safety, however, you participate in captures at your own risk and you must act responsibly.
REQUIREMENTS
You MUST be a graduate veterinarian
Many of our hands-on activities require a high level of physical fitness. For safety sake, you are expected to be able to sprint short distances (100meters), run medium distances (200 meters), climb over 2 meter (6 ft.) fences, and have a great deal of endurance!
The captures you will participate on will expose you to rough conditions. You must be prepared to be up very early, working outside, in the sun, doing physical work most of the day. And you will have the time of your life!
TUITION COVERS
Collection and drop off at Eastgate Airport, Hoedspruit, Limpopo Province (formerly the Northern Province), South Africa (easiest means of arriving)
Nine days full room and board at the Parawild Camp on a Game Farm (running hot water, dormitory style showers)
All equipment and drugs to be used
Transportation to and from captures
Gate and entrance fees at parks
Course training manual on wildlife capture
TUITION DOES NOT COVER
Airfare (but we can recommend a travel agent)
Bar tab (we have some great African beers)
CREDITS
Academic credit at the undergraduate or graduate levels, as well as Continuing Education Units (CEUs), are available through Western Kentucky University for participation in this course.
Please visit http://bioweb.wku.edu/Africa/ or email
Michael.Stokes@wku.edu for more information.
ACCOMMODATIONS AND FOOD
You will stay in the Parawild Camp on a Game Farm (running hot water, dormitory style showers). Necessary camping equipment and food will be provided. We operate in the Limpopo Province (formerly the Northern Province) of South Africa.
Participants will be picked up at the airport in Hoedspruit.
REGISTER
Your 9-day course fee ($2400 US dollars) covers all expenses except
airfare and bar tab (we’ve got some great South African beers). You can register
on-line at our website or send us an email (safari@parawild.co.za) with the application form. Either method will reserve your place for 30 days. Your $700 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your place on the course after those 30 days. Places on the course are reserved on a 'first-come, first served' basis.
The only exception to the non-refundable status of the deposit is if the session you request is full. In this case, the deposit will be returned you. The balance of tuition ($1700) will be due one month before the start of your session.
