Wildlife veterinarian
Hi everyone,
I’m a veterinarian, and I’ve been working for the past year in a small animal clinic, where I’ve been gaining hands-on clinical experience and building my confidence as a young vet.
My long-term goal, though, has always been to work with wildlife. I’m especially interested in wildlife medicine and conservation in Africa, and I’m trying to figure out the best path forward.
I’ve come across several internships and volunteer programs, but it’s hard to know which ones are actually respected and can help open doors in the field.
For those of you with experience:
- Which wildlife programs or internships in Africa would you recommend, and which would you avoid?
- Do you know anyone who successfully built a career in wildlife medicine? How did they get there?
- What experiences, skills, or qualifications made the biggest difference in helping them break into the field?
- If you were starting over as a young veterinarian with one year of small animal experience, what would you do next?
I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences or any advice. Wildlife medicine is the career I want to build, and I’m trying to make smart decisions about my next steps.
Thank you!