Focusing on elephant and rhino (megaherbivore) physiology, capture, handling, medicine, and surgical intervention, you will take part in lecture teaching, practical sessions, and real wildlife work in South Africa. The week-long course is broken down into seven modules. Each module includes a practical component and is complemented by getting out into the bush to work with real cases. Please note, this is a rough plan, and it may alter on long or short notice, or day to day. We will always accommodate the welfare and needs of the animals first.

Module One: Planning Wildlife Procedures 

The focus of this first module is to give you a broad understanding of the role of a wildlife vet and how procedures are planned and executed. Topics will include conducting clinical exams (both hands-on and hands-off), understanding normal physiology and when intervention is required, managing the logistics of wildlife procedures, implementing health and safety measures for staff.

Module Goals: 

1. Gain confidence in performing clinical exams on elephants and rhinos, both hands-on and hands-off.

2. Understand the normal physiological parameters of megaherbivores during clinical examinations.

3. Learn how to plan a veterinary procedure for a megaherbivore.

4. Develop a thorough understanding of health and safety protocols and how to implement them to keep both people and animals safe.

Module Two: Chemical immobilization of mega-herbivores

Explore the differences in drug combinations used for black and white rhinoceros, as well as for different age groups of elephants. You will assess the options for helicopter versus land darting and compare immobilisation techniques for captive versus wild animals. You will also examine standard drugs that have been widely used, along with new research-based combinations currently being implemented by leading experts in Africa.

Module Goals:

1. Know the immobilisation, sedation, and anxiolytic drugs used for megaherbivores.

2. Understand the processes of partial and full reversal of immobilisation drugs.

3. Recognise how techniques vary depending on the capture method.

4. Select the most appropriate immobilisation method based on the animal and the scenario.

Module Three: Darts and Projectiles

This module introduces the principles and practical considerations of using darts and projectile systems for the chemical restraint and treatment of megaherbivores and other species. Explore the range of dart guns and delivery systems used in wildlife medicine, including gas-powered and charge-powered rifles, and understand how factors such as animal size, skin thickness, distance, terrain, and behaviour influence equipment choice. The module covers dart design and function, including dart size and volume, needle length and type, barbs, flight stability, impact dynamics, and drug delivery mechanisms. Tracking systems and recovery of darts are also discussed, with a strong emphasis on animal welfare, operator safety, and minimising injury.

Module Goals:

1. Differentiate between gas-powered and charge-powered dart guns and select the appropriate system for specific megaherbivore scenarios.

2. Evaluate dart design features—including size, needle type, barbing, and flight characteristics and explain their impact on drug delivery and animal safety.

3. Apply species-, environment-, and situation-specific factors to choose suitable darting equipment and projectile configurations.

4. Explain the role of dart tracking, recovery systems, and post-darting monitoring in ensuring effective treatment and ethical wildlife practice.

Module Four: Immobilisation and Injectable Drugs for Elephant and Rhino

This module focuses on the pharmacological principles and practical application of immobilisation drugs used in elephants and rhinoceroses, with particular emphasis on opioids, alpha-2 agonists and antagonists, and reversal agents. Develop an understanding of species-specific drug selection, dose calculation, onset and duration of action, and common complications associated with chemical restraint. The module explores pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations, including drug interactions. A dedicated practical session allows delegates to plan complete immobilisation procedures, integrating drug choice, delivery method, safety protocols, and emergency contingencies, mirroring real-world wildlife veterinary scenarios.

Module Goals:

1. Explain the mechanisms of action, indications, and risks associated with opioids, alpha-2 agonists and antagonists, and reversal agents in elephants and rhinoceroses.

2. Select appropriate immobilisation and reversal protocols based on species, age, body condition, and field conditions.

3. Identify key pharmacological considerations, including dosing accuracy, drug interactions, and factors influencing drug metabolism and effect.

4. Design and justify a comprehensive immobilisation plan, incorporating drug selection, safety measures, monitoring, and emergency response strategies.

Module Five: Field-Based Medical Procedures for Elephant and Rhino

This immersive module provides delegates with hands-on, field-based experience carrying out medical procedures on free-ranging elephants and rhinoceroses on the reserve we are living in. This module bridges theory and practice, allowing delegates to see all they have learned in action and participate in essential veterinary interventions such as health examinations, sample collection, GPS collaring, and contraceptive implanting while adhering to strict safety, ethical, and welfare standards. Emphasis is placed on teamwork, situational awareness, and adapting clinical decision making to unpredictable field conditions.

Module Goals:

1. Safely participate in and assist with medical procedures on elephants and rhinoceroses in a field setting.

2. Perform selected veterinary interventions appropriate to megaherbivores.

3. Apply best-practice animal welfare, biosecurity, and personal safety protocols during bush-based veterinary work.

4. Reflect on field experiences to integrate practical skills with theoretical knowledge in wildlife medicine.

Module Six: Elephant Communication and Herd Dynamics for Veterinarians

This module explores the complex social structures, communication systems, and behavioural dynamics of elephant herds, with a focus on their relevance to veterinary practice and field safety. Delegates will examine verbal, infrasonic, visual, and tactile communication, and how these signals influence herd movement, stress responses, and reactions to veterinary interventions. Understanding matriarchal leadership, herd cohesion, and individual roles within the group enables delegates to anticipate behaviour during immobilisation and medical procedures.

Module Goals:

1. Describe key forms of elephant communication and interpret their behavioural significance.

2. Explain elephant herd structure, social roles, and leadership dynamics relevant to veterinary interventions.

3. Anticipate behavioural responses of elephants during veterinary procedures to improve safety and welfare outcomes.

4. Integrate behavioural understanding into field decision-making and immobilisation planning.

Module Seven: Management of Poaching-Related Trauma in Megaherbivores

This module addresses the assessment and treatment of severe injuries resulting from poaching, including snare wounds, gunshot injuries, and complex facial trauma in elephants and rhinoceroses. Dr Johan Marias will share his industry leading experience and medical knowledge as delegates learn approaches to wound evaluation, infection control, pain management, and long-term treatment planning in challenging field conditions. Ethical considerations, prognosis, and rehabilitation options are discussed, with a strong emphasis on animal welfare and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Module Goals:

1. Assess and classify snare wounds, gunshot injuries, and other poaching-related trauma in megaherbivores.

2. Describe appropriate wound management, analgesia, and infection control strategies in field and clinical settings.

3. Describe principles and methods of facial reconstruction and complex tissue repair following traumatic injury.

4. Make informed treatment and welfare decisions, considering prognosis, resource limitations, and long-term outcomes.