Rhino Dehorning Mission

Course overview

Join our team on a week-long educational course about rhino care, management, and medicine whilst you help with an exciting dehorning mission. This is ideal for anyone wanting to support conservation, and developing clinical knowledge and skills around megaherbivore medicine. This mission is not just a training course. It's an experience that connects participants to the broader concepts of wildlife conservation, immerses them in the African wilderness, and fosters a sense of unity among those who share a passion for preserving the world's rhino population. The majestic rhinoceros, one of the world's most iconic animals, has been pushed to the brink of extinction due to poaching, habitat loss, and the illegal trade of its horns. These magnificent creatures, revered for their strength and resilience, have become targets for poachers who seek to profit from the black-market value of rhino horn. Conservation efforts have intensified globally, and one of the most effective methods of protecting rhinos from poaching is dehorning. Dehorning is bringing them back from the brink. This is the backdrop of the Rhino Dehorning Mission, a hands-on educational program designed to bring passionate people in the veterinary industry together in a collaborative effort to protect rhinos. For seven days, participants aim to dehorn at least 6 rhinos, whilst also carrying out practical training and immersive lectures about the science of rhino health, anatomy, physiology, and immobilization. When the sun sets, the evenings are filled with social and cultural activities, including bush walks, campfires, and traditional African dance performances so delegates can discover more about Namibian culture and history. The mission schedule may alter and change depending on the weather and animals. For example, we may do more dehornings on a single day than planned if many rhinos are found in one area. We may even dart multiple rhinos at once! In such instances, the lectures will be shifted around to put the animals' best interests at the forefront of our mission.