African Wildlife Health and Restraint Course | Zimbabwe

Between 3 and 10 August 2026, our team participated in the intensive field course "African Wildlife: Health, Physical & Chemical Restraint" in Zimbabwe.

The programme combined wildlife medicine, field anaesthesia, capture techniques, animal handling and practical discussions on the management of free-ranging African wildlife. Activities were carried out across several locations, including Umfurudzi Park, Haka, Lake Chivero, Lion Park, the Mazowe/Makumbiri area and Imire, providing participants with exposure to a wide range of species, field conditions and management settings.

Training focused on the principles and practical application of physical and chemical restraint, safe handling of wildlife, immobilisation protocols, field monitoring, risk assessment and decision-making during wildlife interventions.

The course also addressed broader aspects of wildlife health, including the interface between conservation, veterinary medicine and population management. Working directly in the field allowed participants to understand how capture and restraint procedures need to be adapted to species, environment, logistics and animal welfare considerations.

For our team, the programme represented an important contribution to advanced field-based veterinary training and to the development of practical expertise in wildlife health and restraint under African conditions.