About this season
The brightest young vet students from around the world take on the ultimate test as they are plunged into the African wilderness for a crash hands-on course in animal conservation. Under the guidance of wildlife vet Dr Will Fowlds, whose family have lived on the Amakhala Game Reserve in South Africa for five generations, the students will work long hard days in the extreme environment. Not knowing when they will be called upon to sedate an elephant or assist in a rhino’s autopsy, will they rise to the challenge or be crushed by the pressure? Famed vet Steve Leonard will be on hand to help out and offer support to the strained and emotional students. Set in the exotic, beauty of wild Africa the young vets are far from home as they face the greatest challenge of their lives.
Episodes (12)
1. Safari Vet School
Aired 6 January 2012 • 30 min
Tears and terror as straight ‘A’ students from the cream of UK vet schools step up to the life and death challenges of being a wildlife vet. Pinning down animals barely under sedation with claws and teeth that could rip them to sheds, welcome to one of the toughest vet schools in the world.
2. Lion and Zebra
Aired 13 January 2012 • 30 min
Sixteen British vet students face a terrifying challenge. Charlotte has never even seen a lion and now has to operate on one; Thom has a stand-off with a very angry zebra. Learning to be a wildlife vet is about to get even tougher.
3. Rhino
Aired 20 January 2012 • 30 min
The rhino is being poached to extinction. At one of the toughest vet schools in the world 16 British vet students learn what it takes to be a wildlife vet and what they can do in the fight to save the rhino.
4. Giraffe
Aired 27 January 2012 • 30 min
A mother and baby giraffe have to be moved to another game reserve, but first they have to be caught. Sixteen British vet students experience the triumph and trials of being a wildlife vet.
5. Oryx
Aired 3 February 2012 • 30 min
In the wilds of South Africa, UK vet students Thom, Nadia and Natalie, are learning to expect the unexpected when a procedure to capture and remove Oryx doesn’t go to plan.
6. Dogs
Aired 10 February 2012 • 30 min
TV vet Steve Leonard is pushed to the limit as he is left in charge of 16 students and a hall full of barking dogs. And Nadia gets another chance to act as team leader.
7. Lion and Rhino
Aired 17 February 2012 • 30 min
Thom and Camilla come up against big problems when it looks like their captured lion is in trouble. The students deal with black rhino which can be incredibly ferocious.
8. Hartebeest
Aired 24 February 2012 • 30 min
While relocating some hartebeest, Hannah's team are faced with a potentially serious situation when the temperature of one of the anesthetised creatures keeps rising.
9. Eland and Giraffe
Aired 2 March 2012 • 30 min
The students are at the neighbouring Shamwari Game Reserve preparing to capture a herd of eland and a breeding pair of giraffes, but not everything goes to plan.
10. Zebra
Aired 9 March 2012 • 30 min
The students have to capture a zebra and all seems to be going well until the animal's heartbeat leaps dramatically - can they get things back on course?
11. Buffalo
Aired 16 March 2012 • 30 min
Newly qualified vet Sam from Cambridge University is team leader responsible for darting and moving two buffalo - so Will and Steve want to see how he shapes up under pressure.
12. Final Episode
Aired 23 March 2012 • 30 min
Last in the series following British veterinary students as they study in South Africa. It is the last day of the course at the school and Rebecca is desperate to prove her worth.