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what’s 9+10??

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Every immobilisation teaches us something. But only if we collect the data.

Wildlife anaesthesia isn’t just about getting an animal safely immobilised. It’s about continuously assessing whether our protocol is working, identifying potential complications before they become life-threatening, and learning how to make the next immobilisation even safer.

During every procedure, our delegates are assisting with monitoring and recording vital parameters - including heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, body temperature, anaesthetic depth and recovery quality. These aren’t just numbers on a sheet, they’re the information that guides clinical decision-making in the field.

One of the biggest risks during opioid-based wildlife immobilisations is hypoxaemia (low blood oxygen levels). Potent opioids can significantly depress respiration and reduce oxygen exchange, even when an animal appears stable. That’s why supplemental intranasal oxygen has become a cornerstone of modern wildlife anaesthesia. Improving oxygen delivery helps protect vital organs, reduces anaesthetic complications and contributes to smoother, safer recoveries.

Keeping detailed anaesthetic records also allows us to evaluate every immobilisation afterwards:
• Was the drug protocol appropriate?
• How quickly did induction occur?
• Were the physiological parameters stable?
• Could the protocol be improved for the next animal?

Good wildlife medicine isn’t built on assumptions - it’s built on careful observation, accurate records and constantly learning from every case.

Because every immobilisation should leave us with two successful outcomes:
A healthy animal… and better veterinarians.

@naturastablessables
🦏 Wildlife Vet Series | Anaesthetic Monitoring

#VetX #WildlifeVeterinarian #WildlifeMedicine #WildlifeAnaesthesia

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First rule of wildlife capture is: you don’t talk about wildlife capture.

They take this shit so seriously that I was a victim of it before I even left the airport. I was asking about possibly going to see the game lodge that @ashleygous and @heininthewild used to work at, and Ashley looked me dead in the face and lied. So, I was understandably kind of speechless when Hein told us what we were actually going to be doing after we got back from our weekend in Mossel Bay.
We were headed to the Karoo to net gun and dart large numbers of wildebeest and eland.

Now, I’d only known Hein for less than a week, but I truly believe that even if I’d known him for years, nothing could have prepared me for his happy dance when he got to tell us. He legit danced.
It was hilarious, and he probably would’ve gotten a bigger reaction out of all of us if we weren’t already 0–2.

After our missed springbok evening, we were supposed to go out and perform a wellness exam on one of the most expensive springbok in the world. I learned they usually sell for around R1,150 ($92), but this guy was worth an absolutely unbelievable R4,000,000 ($245,361), apparently because of his color and size.

But then a truck got stuck in front of the property’s entrance because of all the rain.

This was not the first time the rain fucked us, and it definitely wouldn’t be the last.

So, while we were all excited about the possibility of a massive wildlife relocation, it was more of a we’ll believe it when we see it situation.

Aaaahhhh… the Karoo.

Well, first, let’s remind the audience that it was the beginning of winter in South Africa. And now we’re about to drive up into the mountains.

In winter. Fuck my life.

The area we were headed to sat at about 1,782 meters (5,845 ft) above sea level and was roughly a five-hour drive from the farm. We were even told we might see snow.Not only did we see snow, but we also got hail and rain.

So.

Much.

Rain.

The Karoo typically receives only about 200 mm (7.9 inches) of rain in an entire year. By the time we arrived—only six months into the year—it had already received around 350 mm (13.8 inches), and that didn’t even include everything that fell while we we

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Take me to South Africa 🌍

To the endless landscapes. The wildlife. The adventure.

To the early mornings, dusty boots, unforgettable captures, and sunsets that make you stop for a moment.

To the people who share your passion and the memories you’ll be talking about for years to come.

Because some journeys aren’t just about where you go…

They’re about who you become along the way. 🌍

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The wildlife is what brings everyone here.

But it’s the friendships, the shared experiences, and the memories made in the field that you’ll carry with you long after the course ends.

A few of our favourite moments from this year’s VetX courses. 🌍❤️

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Our first weekend off! Each weekend off we get to vote on where we want to go, and every destination has different activities to choose from. This time we landed on Mossel Bay—the closest town to the farm.

Our first adventure was a horseback safari. They split us into two groups: the experienced riders and the “please just stay on the horse” riders. The inexperienced group took a nice relaxing walk, while the experienced group got to canter through this massive reserve. Our guide was incredible and somehow turned a 2-hour ride into almost 3. Apparently none of us knew how to leave.

My horse was named Karoo, and I’ve got to say… he was kind of a dick. He spent the ride trying to bite the other horses, would canter for about six seconds before deciding grass was a higher priority, and generally ignored every suggestion I made. Looking back, he was the perfect introduction to the actual Karoo. More on that later.

Please enjoy my beautiful wildlife photo featuring an elephant’s ass. I like to think it really ties the whole picture together.

That night we discovered two things: wine is delicious, and currency conversion should never be attempted after wine. We went to this ridiculously nice steakhouse where they parade all the cuts of meat past your table like a beauty pageant. I had a three-course meal, was involved in spilling a bottle of wine, finished with crème brûlée, and somehow the bill was only $35. I still don’t know if that’s a bargain or if I accidentally committed tax fraud.

Things we learned:

* Only Caterpillar can successfully calculate and split our bill.
* There is no such thing as buying too many coats
* The European 1 is absolutely unhinged… it’s basically a walking ⛺️. @piafeli19 @katha7.7
* @hadley.leap’s purse violates several laws of physics, and she smuggled a beer glass for me
* @ashleygous’s playlist has officially become the soundtrack of this trip.
* We prepared for the Karoo the only way we knew how: by buying an unreasonable amount of beer and cider. In hindsight… that may have been the only thing we actually prepared for.

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A successful wildlife capture is all about teamwork!

Thee pilot who positions the animal.

The ground team securing the animal safely.

The handlers monitoring every breath.

The delegates learning by doing.

And the reserve staff who make it all possible.

Wildlife capture is a team effort, where every role matters and every decision counts.

These are the moments our delegates experience at VetX not just watching from the sidelines, but becoming part of the team.

Because that’s where the real learning happens.

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Yup.

That’s us, all dressed up and no springbok to show for it.

We had the dart gun ready. We found the springbok. We tracked it. We hiked up and down not one, but two ravines. In the dark. In the South African winter. And… we failed.

And honestly? That’s exactly what sets @vetx_legacywildlife apart.

Not because we failed, but because @dr.jo_inthewild and @heininthewild refuse to perform unnecessary medical procedures just so a group of students can get field experience and/or a picture for the gram.

This is what real wildlife capture looks like. Animals don’t care about our schedules, our timelines, or the fact that we were all excited to work on our first animal. Sometimes you do everything right and it still doesn’t happen. That’s not failure—that’s reality. The welfare of the animals and the safety of everyone involved always comes first.

Unfortunately, not every program shares those ethics. Some repeatedly sedate and anesthetize the same animals every time a new group comes through. That’s a reality too, and it’s one I wanted no part of.

Was I disappointed? Absolutely. Was I angry? Not even a little. Because somewhere between the second ravine and the hike back, I realized life doesn’t always give you the experience you planned for. Sometimes the lesson is learning that doing the right thing means walking away empty-handed.

And honestly, I’m proud that’s exactly what we did.

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You can’t add more days to your life, but you can add more life to your days.

Life isn’t measured by the number of days we live, but by the moments that takes your breath away and reminds you what life is all about.

Another VetX Wildlife Capture & Care course has come to an end, and what a journey it has been. New friendships, unforgettable wildlife encounters, mass capture, netgunning and lessons that can’t be learned from a textbook, and memories that will last a lifetime.

To everyone who joined us - thank you for your passion, your curiosity, and your willingness to work hard.

Until the next adventure… 🌍🦏🚁

#VetX #WildlifeCaptureAndCare #KukamataGameCapture

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As a vet tech, I know animals. Gimme a dog, a cat, a knee or some drugs (anesthesia tech :) and I’m right at home. Give me an elephant in the wild and all of a sudden I’m acting like a 5 year old!

No documentary, photo or nature show prepares you for seeing elephants, giraffes, rhinos and loins up close and personal and as close to the wild as they can be. The awe is real. The happy tears are real.

Somewhere between all the excitement, I was reminded why I fell in love with animals in the 1st place. Before the medicine, the exams, and the endless studying, there was wonder.

And South Africa gave that back to me.

I thought I was prepared for this trip but I wasn’t in the best way.

I’ll slowly start to share my pictures and experiences but right not after a week of no cell service I’m enjoying more of being in the moment. So be prepared for a lot of crazy stories that I’ve been so grateful to share with all the amazing people I’ve tagged.

#tripofalifetime #vettechstudent #dreamcometrue

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Your newest alumni 🥲💝… Thank you BL for the best high school experience with the bestest friends in the 🌎

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Vacay sponsored by @oasis & @greenday 🤘🤘

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