Project African Wilderness: Wildlife Management

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

Wildlife Management Click here for our Wildlife Policy

Wildlife management and Animal Health in Malawi is not yet very developed. The country only has a small number of Malawian trained professionals, who are usually technicians, not trained veterinarians. They are dedicated and motivated individuals who are, due to their excellent training and enormous experience gained from constantly working in the field, doing a tremendous job.

Their main problem however, is a lack of access to the necessary equipment. Basic equipment such as dart guns, sedatives or anesthetics and even more simple capturing tools or implements are rare as they have to be imported. When they are present, they are often in a state of disrepair. Basic drugs such as antibiotics or disinfectants are easier to find, and nowadays it is possible to purchase syringes etc, locally, but how does one treat a wild animal if you cannot even capture it in a safe way?

Officers may have to be trained in the use of capturing tools, which could be done locally by a visiting professional. Regular updates on progress and new developments in the field of wildlife management, public health issues relating to wildlife and wildlife health can now be accessed via internet, indeed this is rather well established in most of the country.

(PAW Wildlife Vet Kristina Cuisinier)

If you would like to make a contribution to animal health, antibiotics, veterinary equipment, game capture and translocation, please contact us directly at barefoot@projectafricanwilderness.com