About the African wildlife: health, physical & chemical restraint Course

Short history

The African wildlife: health, physical & chemical restraint Course was born as an idea in 2023, during a meeting between Prof. Norman Mukarati and Prof. Andrei D. Mihalca which took place in Harare, Zimbabwe. The first international edition was organized in Harare, Zimbabwe, in August 2024, with the prospect to have it as a biennial event (i.e. every two years).

This exciting practical and theoretical course is organized by the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe in collaboration with Parasitology Consultancy Group. Corușu, Cluj, Romania.

About the locations

The theoretical activities and some practical activities (gun target practice, crocodile necropsies and sampling)  will take place at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zimbabwe in Harare, Zimbabwe. The practical activities are divided between several locations, as follows:

• Umfurudzi Game Park is a protected wildlife area in northern Zimbabwe, known for its scenic landscapes of miombo woodland, river valleys, and granite hills. The park hosts diverse wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, and a variety of antelope species.

• Haka Game Park is a private wildlife reserve located just outside Harare, offering a convenient and safe environment for practical wildlife training. Set within beautiful miombo woodlands and open grasslands, it hosts species such as giraffe, zebra, and various antelopes.
• Lake Chivero Recreational Park lies on the shores of Lake Chivero, west of Harare, and is one of Zimbabwe's best-known wildlife and conservation areas. The park combines scenic lake views with diverse habitats supporting species such as white rhino, zebra, giraffe, and numerous bird species.
• Lion and Cheetah Park, located near Harare, is a well-established wildlife facility that houses lions, cheetahs, and other native species in semi-natural enclosures. It provides a safe and controlled environment for observing and practicing wildlife immobilization procedures, allowing participants to gain valuable experience working with large carnivores under professional supervision.

From 2004 to 2011 , the location of the our summer schools was in Sfântu Gheorghe, at the junction of Danube with the Black See. Since 2012, the event takes place annually (usually in July) in the traditional and remote village, Chilia Veche, on the Chilia branch of Danube, at the border of Romania with Ukraine.  

Until 2023, the main site of the summer school was on Ostrovul Tătaru, a large island separated from the main village by the Tătaru channel and reachable only by boats or by the mobile bridge, crossing the channel. The facilities consisted of a field station, offering basic accommodation facilities (camping, kitchen, outdoor showers and latrines) and a lab equipped for field parasitology diagnostics. A recreational area (table tennis, pool billiard, swimming pool) together with dinning place for the evening is offered by Pensiunea Vital, a locally run touristic facility.

From 2024, the new location of the summer school is at the margin of the Chilia Veche Village (45.426302266731675, 29.299543551877516) in a traditional local lodge.