Vets on the Wild Side

In Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, vet Dave Cooper treats a wounded rhino, a lion with a toothache, and vaccinates cubs—navigating Zululand’s misty terrain to safeguard endangered wildlife.

In Kruger, vets test elephant contraception by tracking a collared female. As they assess pregnancy and disease, they face the vast challenge of monitoring herds across the plains.

At Zimbabwe’s Imire Sanctuary, a young black rhino is darted in a bid to save the species. Elephants assist, while a calf reluctant to return to the wild tests vets’ dedication.

In Kruger, vets use dart guns and helicopters to sedate rhinos, zebras, and crocs. The Game Capture Course trains global vets in the latest wildlife rescue and sedation techniques.

Vets test gentler sedatives on nyalas to reduce stress. Dave Cooper and Douw Grobler evaluate the drug’s potential, tackle buffalo and enjoy a lighthearted ‘gnus flash’ moment.

Dave Cooper leads buffalo testing for TB in Natal, using helicopters to herd and dart the dangerous beasts. In Kruger, a lion is sedated and checked for disease and fertility.

A young rhino needs surgery in Umfolozi before a game auction. In Kruger, surplus buffalo are sold as vets warn visiting trainees of disease risks during a game capture course.

Dave Cooper treats two injured wildebeest, considers euthanasia, and Clare Speedy cares for a serval. At home, Cooper’s wild menagerie includes dogs, bush babies and hippos.

At the world’s biggest game auction in Natal, Dave Cooper checks animal health, lassos a giraffe, saves a collapsed wildebeest, and watches intense bidding unfold.

At Vaalbos Park, Paul Meyer captures hartebeest and zebra with helicopters and nets. In Natal, Dave Cooper autopsies a buffalo that died during TB testing.

On Lake Kariba, vets silently capture crocs for disease checks. In Natal, CROW treats injured small mammals, mostly from road accidents, to release them safely back into the wild.

To fix inbreeding in Natal’s lion population, new lions are flown in from Namibia. Vet Dave Cooper oversees their capture, transport, and hopeful integration into local prides.