New Channel 4 Series Shines Spotlight on Rhino Protection Efforts

The tireless conservation work of Wilderness Foundation Africa, which is supported by generous donations from Medivet’s colleagues and clients, features in a new Channel 4 series, Work On The Wild Side.

The 20-part series, which starts on Monday 18th May, focusses on vets and volunteers working on the frontline in the battle against poaching in Africa. They have given up their day jobs in the UK and moved to South Africa to rescue, rehabilitate and release some of the world’s most endangered animals.

Three of those volunteers - Dr Emily Baxter (29), Dr Annie Mears (27) and Dr Lisa Graham (33) – now work alongside former Medivet vet and Wilderness Foundation Africa project co-ordinator Dr William Fowlds, to champion the plight of rhinos and other endangered species being targeted by poachers.

Over the past five years Medivet clients, colleagues and partners have raised over £600,000 for Wilderness Foundation Africa through its Saving the Rhino campaign. Generous clients are offered the opportunity to add 50 pence to their veterinary bill to support the campaign.

The funds raised have played a crucial role in helping to protect the rhino - enabling Wilderness Foundation Africa’s Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative to support these critically endangered species across a wide range of activities. This includes the treatment of poaching attack survivors plus the care and rehabilitation of orphaned baby rhinos.

Contributions, made by clients using Pennies (the digital charity box) within its practices, have helped to fund two cold scent tracker dogs – Ella and Ziggy – who work with anti-poaching units, while support has also been provided for intelligence-sharing amongst local law-enforcement agencies. Funds have additionally been deployed to help drive global awareness, provide community services as well as essential field-based veterinary equipment.