Wandering Wildlife Vet

This is my last post from Zimbabwe. As I’m sitting in the airport writing this, I can’t help but feel like I’m not supposed to be leaving. I’m excited for my next project in Namibia but I’m so sad to be leaving Chipangali. What an incredible first 6 weeks. The rest of my time has so much to live up to. I will never forget the experiences, animals, and people that I got to share my time with. To the Wilsons, thank you for allowing me to experience things I never thought I would. Thank you for making me feel so welcomed and appreciated everyday I was there. Thank you for giving me a home away from home and making it so hard to leave. I can’t wait to come back and I promise you I will. To all the volunteers I met along the way, thank you for sharing in this incredible time with me. You made all the difference in the world. I couldn’t forget all the laughs and good times we had together even if I tried. I can’t wait to see you all somewhere else in the world someday.

I had the most incredible last week. Since my last post, we rescued and rereleased a pangolin. Most of you probably don’t know what a pangolin is but I am so lucky to have gotten to see and hold one. Pangolins are similar to armadillos in that they have hard keratin for protection and they roll into balls to protect themselves. They are the most trafficked mammal in the world. Similar to rhino horn, some Asian cultures believe that the keratin scales have medicinal powers so poached collect these animals to obtain their scales. Keratin is nothing more than what your fingernails are made out of but these animals are being killed for it. They are so endangered that most people in the countries they live have never even seen one and probably never will.

We also were able to release 3 snakes that had been caught at residences in Bulawayo. All 3 are very venomous so the staff had to handle them with extreme care. We released a puff adder, night adder, and a boomslang (shown in order). Anyone who knows me knows that I have a big fear of snakes but I have grown to appreciate their ecological importance and understand why we should keep them around. I still just keep my distance.

On Thursday, all the volunteers were able to go to a local school to bring the teachers and students supplies and books that had been donated. It is shocking how different schools are here versus in the states. For one, the students usually only attend class from 8am – 12pm because they have to help their families in the afternoon. The students are also taught how to garden and cook while they are at school. They do not have janitors so all the students are responsible for cleaning the classrooms. I feel the students learn much more responsibility, independence, and respect at school. They also seem to have a greater appreciation for having the opportunity to be at school and get an education than kids do back home. The classes were very small while we were there because it was raining and a lot of kids do not come in the rain. Almost all the students walk to school, some long distances, so it is difficult for them to get there in the rain.

Monday was the last night that we bottle fed the baby antelopes. I’ve really enjoyed getting to watch them grow. I’m going to miss my little Jager so much. I can’t wait to come back and see him all grown up. Tuesday night they wanted their bottles so bad and it was so hard to resist but it is time for them to eat an adult diet (leaves and fruit). They are starting to get their little horns as well and soon it will hurt if they butt us for their milk.

Two flights stand between me and a completely new and different experience. I will arrive in Namibia later tonight to start my new project in the morning. I’m not sure what to expect but I know it will be amazing whatever it is. I can’t wait to see and explore a new country with a totally different landscape. As far as I know, I will be camping quite a lot so service and internet will be sparse. I will do my best to update as much as possible and I hope I am able to. Also, I will find out if I have been accepted to UGA vet school in the next week or so! Fingers crossed that everything I have done will be worth it.

Thank you all for reading and keeping up with my journey! We’ve made it through one project and there are three more to go. Next post coming to you from Namibia!