Legacy Wildlife Services - VetX

Legacy Wildlife Services - VetX Wildlife capture, conservation, and adventure collide! 🌿🦒
VetX Legacy Wildlife takes you behind the scenes of real wildlife veterinary work in South Africa.

Join our team! Wildlife & Veterinary Training, Conservation & Volunteering

12/08/2026

One family group. One relocation. A new home. 🦌🌍

Relocating an entire sable family group takes planning, precision and a team working together from the first dart to the final release.

Each animal is individually immobilised, monitored and assessed before transport while the bigger picture remains just as important: moving the group safely and efficiently as a unit.

For our VetX delegates, operations like this bring wildlife veterinary medicine to life.

Chemical immobilisation. Anaesthetic monitoring. Safe handling. Transport. Wildlife management. And finally, one of the best parts of the job - watching the family step out together into their new home.

This is what learning wildlife medicine in the field looks like.

Would you want to be part of a relocation like this? 👇

Wildlife Vet School: Loading a Dan-Inject dart 💉Could you prepare a dart in under 60 seconds while the capture team is w...
02/08/2026

Wildlife Vet School: Loading a Dan-Inject dart 💉

Could you prepare a dart in under 60 seconds while the capture team is waiting?

Every wildlife immobilisation starts long before the trigger is pulled.

Before a veterinarian can safely dart an animal, every drug must be accurately calculated, measured and loaded into the dart. There are no shortcuts because every decision can influence the success of the immobilisation and the welfare of the animal.

At VetX, this is one of the very first practical skills our delegates master.

Dan-Inject darts are reusable remote drug delivery darts used with a Dan-Inject CO₂-powered dart rifle. Each dart contains two separate chambers:

💉 A chamber holding the immobilisation drugs.
💨 A manually pressurised air chamber.

The air inside the dart doesn’t launch it, that’s the rifle’s job. Instead, it provides the pressure needed to inject the medication after impact.

Sounds straightforward…

Until you’re standing in the field.

Before a dart can even be assembled, our delegates must:

• know the animal species and drug combination.
• Calculate multiple drug doses.
• Convert those doses into the correct volumes.
• Select the correct dart and needle.
• Load the medications accurately.
• Pressurise the dart correctly.
• Prepare it safely for the rifle.

And they quickly learn there’s rarely time to reach for a calculator.

During a capture operation, the helicopter is in the air, the ground team is in position, and the opportunity can disappear in seconds.

That’s why we teach our delegates to individually perform the calculations in their heads and prepare darts efficiently, without ever compromising on accuracy. A skill they will take with them for the rest of their veterinary career.

Because every experienced wildlife veterinarian makes it look effortless, but behind every perfectly prepared dart are countless calculations, repetition and practice.

Wildlife medicine isn’t just about taking the shot. It’s about everything that happens beforehand.

🦏 Wildlife Vet School

Every immobilisation teaches us something. But only if we collect the data.Wildlife anaesthesia isn’t just about getting...
28/07/2026

Every immobilisation teaches us something. But only if we collect the data.

Wildlife anaesthesia isn’t just about getting an animal safely immobilised. It’s about continuously assessing whether our protocol is working, identifying potential complications before they become life-threatening, and learning how to make the next immobilisation even safer.

During every procedure, our delegates are assisting with monitoring and recording vital parameters - including heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, body temperature, anaesthetic depth and recovery quality. These aren’t just numbers on a sheet, they’re the information that guides clinical decision-making in the field.

One of the biggest risks during opioid-based wildlife immobilisations is hypoxaemia (low blood oxygen levels). Potent opioids can significantly depress respiration and reduce oxygen exchange, even when an animal appears stable. That’s why supplemental intranasal oxygen has become a cornerstone of modern wildlife anaesthesia. Improving oxygen delivery helps protect vital organs, reduces anaesthetic complications and contributes to smoother, safer recoveries.

Keeping detailed anaesthetic records also allows us to evaluate every immobilisation afterwards:
• Was the drug protocol appropriate?
• How quickly did induction occur?
• Were the physiological parameters stable?
• Could the protocol be improved for the next animal?

Good wildlife medicine isn’t built on assumptions - it’s built on careful observation, accurate records and constantly learning from every case.

Because every immobilisation should leave us with two successful outcomes:
A healthy animal… and better veterinarians.

Natura Stables and Sables
🦏 Wildlife Vet Series | Anaesthetic Monitoring

A few moments from our recent trip to the Karoo ✨The delegates assisted with relocation of Springbuck. After chemical im...
28/07/2026

A few moments from our recent trip to the Karoo ✨

The delegates assisted with relocation of Springbuck. After chemical immobilisation the delegates are monitoring respiration and heart rate on the way to the trailer.

The delegates are helping walk this Springbuck to the back of the vehicle.

The delegates are ensuring that the Speingbuck are safely transported to their trailer. The animals are kept sternal to prevent bloating and blindfolds are applied to minimise stress.

Mass capture of white springbuck.
The delegates were lucky enough to take part in several mass capture of white springbuck.

Success - first round we got a few in the nets 💪🏽

Hein using the drone to help guide the herd of springbuck into the nets.

After catching the animals in the nets, we transported them to their new home. The delegates are ensuring that the animals are safely transported.

We hold springbuck females by the ears and not the horns as the horns on females are thinner and more fragile.

These Springbuck recieved intramuscular tranquilisers to calm them down before they were relocated to their new home. The vet students helped monitor them during transport.

Chemical immobilisation and surgical removal of a tumor on a Blesbok.

The male Blesbok was reported loosing weight, changed behaviour, decreased mentation and hanging ears. We decided to dart him to check him out and we found a large growth on both ears. We removed the tumors, collected specimens and blood for further investigation.

We will do a seperate post on our findings ☺️

After the procedure was finished we reversed the Blesbok and he walked off.

Lots of time spent on dusty roads on the back of this bakkie.. if you know, you know 🤪

Sable relocation.

This sable bull was darted in order to relocate him to a new area. Another bull was going to take his place with the breeding herd in order to ensure proper genetic diversity.

Pipes are placed on the tip of the horns to protect both us and the animal from injury during the transport.

The delegates are monitoring heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature during the transport. They monitor SpO2 with our pulseoximeter and administering intran

“Highly recommend making impulsive life decisions that involve flying halfway across the world.Worst case? You come home...
12/07/2026

“Highly recommend making impulsive life decisions that involve flying halfway across the world.

Worst case? You come home sleep deprived, emotionally attached to people you met three weeks ago, and with a camera roll that makes everyone think you’ve been photoshopped into The Lion King.

Best case? …Exactly that.

When I signed up for VetX | Legacy Wildlife Services , I figured I’d learn a few new skills, see incredible wildlife, and embarrass myself a moderate amount, more than moderate if I’m being honest. Turns out the embarrassment was free - but so was the confidence I gained.

For 3 weeks in South Africa, I worked with animals I’d only dreamed of seeing, let alone helping care for. Every day was another, “Wait…they’re actually letting me do THIS?!” moment.

But here’s what makes VetX Legacy Wildlife different. This isn’t a “hold this rhino and smile for the ‘gram” program. Nothing is done just for a cool photo. Every animal interaction has a purpose. Every procedure is a lesson. Every safety briefing exists because mistakes in wildlife medicine don’t come with an “oops.”

The animals always come 1st and so do the students.

They don’t just teach you what to do-they teach you why, how to think critically, work as a team, and make good decisions under pressure.

As the only veterinary technician in a group made up almost entirely of future veterinarians, I honestly wasn’t sure where I’d fit in. Turns out…I fit in just fine. Not because anyone lowered the bar, but because everyone genuinely wanted each other to succeed. Somewhere between the early mornings, rain, dirt-covered clothes, endless laughs, and unforgettable moments, strangers became family. A dysfunctional family? Absolutely. But family nonetheless.

If you’re considering VetX | Legacy Wildlife Services …Do it!

Just be prepared to come home wanting to book another flight, talking about wildlife medicine to anyone who’ll listen, and saying, “Okay…but look at THIS one,” about 2,000 times.

To every instructor, mentor, and friend - thank you. You didn’t just teach me wildlife medicine. You reminded me exactly why I fell in love with veterinary medicine ❤️”

Every course reminds us why we do what we do.Watching passionate veterinary students challenge themselves, grow in confi...
10/07/2026

Every course reminds us why we do what we do.

Watching passionate veterinary students challenge themselves, grow in confidence, and fall even more in love with wildlife conservation is the greatest reward. Here’s what Karen, a Danish veterinary bachelor student had to say after joining us on the VetX Wildlife Capture & Care course.

“Participating in the VetX course was an experience I’ll never forget, and definitely one of the highlights of my journey in veterinary medicine.

Getting to work hands-on with wildlife challenged me in the best ways both personally and professionally and taught me so much about wildlife medicine, conservation, and teamwork. I came home with new skills and a lot more confidence.

No two days were the same - from capturing and treating species such as zebras, buffaloes, and impalas to learning how to dart animals both from the ground and from a helicopter. On top of that, I met so many great people along the way who made the experience even more special.

Jo, Hein and their team are so welcoming and passionate about what they do and about sharing their knowledge. I will forever recommend VetX to anyone considering it - and I really hope I’ll get the chance to return one day myself!“

09/07/2026

Take me to South Africa 🌍

To the endless landscapes. The wildlife. The adventure.

To the early mornings, dusty boots, unforgettable captures, and sunsets that make you stop for a moment.

To the people who share your passion and the memories you’ll be talking about for years to come.

Because some journeys aren’t just about where you go…

They’re about who you become along the way. 🌍

What is it really like to spend three weeks learning wildlife veterinary medicine in the field in Africa?Rather than hea...
09/07/2026

What is it really like to spend three weeks learning wildlife veterinary medicine in the field in Africa?

Rather than hearing it from us, we’d rather you hear it from the veterinarians and students who’ve lived it.

Here’s what Aurélie, a qualified veterinarian from Belgium shared after completing our course.

“The Vet-X program is so much more than a conservation program, it is an unforgettable experience. You become part of an amazing team, make friends from all over the world and gain hands on experience working with wildlife.

Jo and Hein put so much passion and effort into the program and, most importantly, they trust you with real responsibility, giving you the confidence and opportunity to work with wildlife.

I will never forget how we catched the first springbok in the karoo and how shooting from a helicopter felt like a movie.

This experience made me fall in love with Africa and wildlife. It is something I will never forget. I still look back to it with a big smile.”

Address

R328
Hartenbos
6695

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 13:00

Telephone

+27 822931803

Website

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