Two Fitzwilliam students Nadia Alnaimi and Amy Coleman were filmed for the ITV series ‘Safari Vet School’, to be broadcast on 6 January 2012.
Nadia Alnaimi (Veterinary Medicine 2006) and Amy Coleman (Veterinary Medicine 2007) attended a course run by wildlife vet Dr Will Fowlds on the Amakhala Game Reserve in South Africa as part of their clinical veterinary medicine training.
Amy (on the left) explained: “All postgraduate vet students are required to undertake extra mural studies in the vacation – this was a good opportunity to learn about the care and treatment of wild animals including lions and zebras.”
They had to perform a wide variety of procedures, often for the first time, and sometimes in difficult circumstances.
Nadia, in her final year of study, said: “Our work with the animals always took precedence over the filming – we had to take clinical responsibility and make clinical decisions.”
The experience in South Africa had profound effects on the whole group.
Nadia said: "We all expected to learn a lot about wildlife and improve our practical skills. What we actually got was a life-changing experience. The thing that impacted upon us the most was the rhino poaching crisis currently taking place in South Africa. So when we got back we set up Team Rhino to help raise awareness and funds."
Watch the first programme here >>
The Veterinary Medicine course at Cambridge lasts 6 years – 3 years pre-clinical studies followed by 3 years clinical.
Read more about studying veterinary medicine at Fitzwilliam >>
Posted: 13 December 2011