Gabrielle Van der Gaag - South Africa

This summer, I participated in the Vets Go Wild program on Amakhala Game Reserve in South Africa, an immersive experience that integrated veterinary medicine, conservation, and community engagement. Over several weeks, I worked alongside wildlife veterinarians and conservationists, gaining hands-on experience with some of the world’s most endangered species. I assisted with the immobilization, monitoring, and sample collection of various antelope species, buffalo, giraffe, big cats, and white rhinoceros. Standing in the savanna beside a tranquilized white rhino, feeling its breath rise and fall, I understood the weight of our work. I helped monitor vital signs, collect DNA, blood, and fecal samples, and apply ear notches and tracking collars - procedures that directly support anti-poaching initiatives and long-term population research. These moments demonstrated how veterinary medicine extends beyond individual patient care; it plays a vital role in protecting entire species and ecosystems.

In addition to fieldwork, I attended formal lectures on conservation medicine, wildlife pharmacology, disease ecology, and the illegal wildlife trade. This academic foundation deepened my understanding of how veterinary interventions, data collection, and public policy intersect to support sustainable wildlife management. I also assisted in the relocation of large predators and antelope to maintain genetic diversity and ecological balance across reserves, an experience that required collaboration, adaptability, and thoughtful consideration of animal welfare at every stage.

Equally impactful were the community outreach experiences. I took part in a service day at a local orphanage, where we introduced children to animals and taught gentle handling skills. We learned how early, positive exposure to animals fosters empathy and reduces the likelihood of involvement in poaching - and crime as a whole - later in life. Witnessing this connection between education, compassion, and conservation was profoundly moving. I also participated in a small-animal access-to-care clinic, providing vaccinations, preventatives, and sterilization surgeries for companion animals in neighboring communities. These clinics allow the human-animal bond to strengthen throughout an individual’s life regardless of socio-economic status, maintaining the same values we used at the orphanage in the larger community. These experiences highlighted the One Health principle—the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health and wellbeing.

Working in another country significantly increased my cultural awareness. Collaborating with South African veterinarians, wildlife rangers, and community leaders exposed me to new perspectives on conservation and resource management. We were using the same pharmaceutical principles and medical techniques that I apply daily in my home clinic, and some similar to those used in managing feral cat populations, but in an entirely different context - with limited accessibility and reverberations that felt larger than life. I gained a deeper appreciation for the complex cultural and socioeconomic factors that shape conservation strategies and community relationships with wildlife. Immersion in this new culture not only broadened my worldview but also helped me recognize how my own experiences shape the way I serve animals and people alike. This awareness has made me a more empathetic and globally minded future veterinarian.

Ultimately, the Vets Go Wild program reaffirmed my commitment to practicing veterinary medicine with compassion, curiosity, and cultural humility. It strengthened my belief that every act of care, whether treating a rhino or vaccinating a community dog, contributes to a more connected and compassionate world.