Kruger National Park
Veterinary Wildlife Services: Kruger National Park (VWS: KNP) is based in Skukuza, the administrative hub of KNP, and is responsible for providing veterinary and operations support in managing this large South African national park.
Support is also provided to the more northern national parks (NP) in the country including Marakele and Mapungubwe. For large capture operations, VWS based in Kimberley (VWS: KMB) and VWS: KNP will join forces to provide the necessary expertise, personnel and equipment.
VWS: KNP is divided into two parts, Veterinary and Operations; however, we function as a single unit as the success of most operations is dependent of both components working in unison. The Veterinary component is made up of six staff members including veterinarians, veterinary technologists and laboratory staff. Operations has a staff complement of 20 consisting of an operations manager and co-ordinator, boma manager, capture supervisor, specialist capture, boma and equipment assistants, and boma and capture assistants. The office is managed by an administration officer and two cleaning staff.
The diversity in VWS: KNP expertise allows for implementation of multiple functions within SANParks. These functions include supporting conservation efforts through the capture and translocation of wildlife, ensuring the welfare of animals in holding facilities, and supporting antipoaching efforts through the treatment of injured animals. VWS plays a critical role in research by providing support for projects implemented by other SANParks departments or internal projects conducted by VWS in collaboration with external researchers and institutions. VWS has developed and manages a biobank, a long-term storage facility of biological materials collected from multiple wildlife-species during immobilization procedures or necropsies. These materials are made available for research projects, especially those that have spatial or temporal components. VWS staff are privileged to work with free-ranging wildlife living under natural conditions, conduct ground breaking research in this environment, and develop novel veterinary and operations procedures. As VWS, we endeavour to pass on the knowledge generated under these exceptional circumstances to other veterinarians, scientists and park managers through published articles, attending conferences and holding training courses.