An Odd Visitor
An odd visitor came to Chintsa yesterday- a lost SubAdult African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus). Students found “him” on the beach but didn’t realise how abnormal it was so on hearing, Alex immediately called her friends at East London Aquarium. The advised collecting him, giving him fluids and keeping him warm.
Happy Birthday Little Lala the Nyala
🍰Happy 4-month birthday to Lala the Nyala 🎈 We were requested to help with a nyala calf who was only 3 weeks old and struggling. The reserve owners saved her from getting kicked by emus on their farm when her mother left her in hiding while she went to forage (it’s a normal behaviour for nyalas with calves up to one month old).
Finally, We Got Him!
We got him! After a number of weeks of attempting to immobilise a particular Cape Buffalo bull, Dr Luis finally darted him and he is now in a boma waiting the results of his tests before being moved to another property. Our next step is to immobilise him in a few days to ensure he is disease free.
Emergency Cesarean Section
ALL HANDS ON DECK! This week our Vet Student course had an emergency cesarean section (aka C-Section). After a game capture for a reserve owner, we were asked to assist us for advice on his dog. Cesarean sections can be common in practice but they are used as an emergency procedure to help in whelping (dog giving birth) or with certain breeds who are known to have dystocia (difficulty giving birth).
Teaching the Children of Chintsa Township
We are asked each year to talk to the children of Chintsa Township about their dogs while they’re on school holidays. Education and public speaking is an important part of the veterinary profession and our students run the lesson on their own, deciding on the topics and how to present to different ages and cultures.
Wolves Returning Home
We visit the East London Zoo regularly and this visit we assisted with moving the 3 Grey Wolves back to their old (now renovated) enclosure. While the vet, Dr Luis, was there, we also observed the stitching up of a Black-Backed Jackal’s lip.
Helicopter Capture
Our students got to go on a helicopter capture this week. Helicopters play an important role in the game farming industry. Instead of capturing or darting by foot or vehicle, a helicopter and a net provides a more efficient and less time consuming approach to these tasks.
New Fundraising Tools
Our partners at FundMyTravel have released a new and improved Fundraising Suite for volunteers! Check it out.
Livestock Day at Safari GVE
One of the many pleasures we get to experience in South Africa on our program is a wide range of species to help. We not only do community dogs and cats and the safari wildlife, we also get hands on experience with livestock animals.
Students take on a Buffalo Capture
The other day some of our students went out on the quest of a buffalo capture. These amazing creatures can weigh around 900kg which is nearly 2,000lbs! Luckily we had a heavy duty stretcher and many happy volunteers to help!