WILDLIFE CAPTURE

Wildlife Capture Africa

The Chemical and Physical Restraint of Wild Animals Course is conducted annually by Wildlife Capture Africa in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Veterinary Association Wildlife Group and the South African Wildlife Veterinary Group. For the past two decades, this intensive program has educated wildlife health and management professionals from all over the world in the science of chemical and physical restraint of wild animals. Participants obtain a wealth of both theoretical and practical information and training.

The Chemical and Physical Restraint of Wild Animals Course is organized and taught by many local and international leaders in the field of wildlife capture and restraint. This state of art training course integrates current and important topics including pharmacology, physiology, safety and first aid in the field, chemical immobilization, drug injecting equipment, dart projectors, ancillary treatments in wildlife capture, transport of wild animals, and post mortem techniques.

Lectures are held in both in the field and in a modern, custom designed education/conference facility. This allows for a comprehensive education in both the theoretical and practical aspects of wildlife capture.

Wildlife Capture Africa is held for one week every year in February. The course has been designed to service both local and international veterinarians and wildlife management specialists. The week’s lectures and practicals culminate in both a written an oral exam. Upon successful completion of the examinations, candidates will receive a course certificate for the Chemical & Physical Restraint of Wildlife.

The Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve has been host to the course since 2000. Malilangwe is a large multi-use game ranch situated in the Chiredzi District of south-east Zimbabwe, an area known as the ‘lowveld’. The reserve is operated under the Malilangwe Trust, a non-profit Zimbabwean organization dedicated to both wildlife and environmental conservation, and rural development. The estate has a large amount of wildlife, including black and white rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo, eland, giraffe, and many other species that have been introduced onto the land by the Trust.

Wildlife Capture Africa represents the evolution of ideas, knowledge, and experience over the last 30 years that can only be of benefit to the wildlife industry in southern Africa and those professionals around the world working with captive or free-ranging wild animals. In addition, this course provides tremendous opportunities to network with fellow professionals, and is an experience that will not be forgotten for years to come.