Kendra DuRussel always knew she wanted to be up close and personal with the big cats like tigers, cheetahs and lions. But it was a brand new experience when those dreams came true last month.
DuRussel landed in Africa in November for a two-week pre-vet volunteer internship in Sinza.
The two-week program had the Flin Flonner helping to take care of the local dogs as well as assist on two captures of wild animals.
“It was a lot of fun,” said DuRussel. “It was sad to leave. I may have cried at the airport a little bit.”
DuRussel was one of four volunteers with the program – the others travelling from Florida, Germany and Denmark – who worked alongside a veterinarian.
The group wasn’t able to spend the entire two weeks alongside the trained professional, but DuRussel says the time they did spend together was eye opening.
“I know this is what I want to do for sure,” said DuRussel, although there wasn’t any doubt before the trip. “It was unfortunate that we only got to work with the vet for one day, but we still go to do a lot of hands on stuff that you wouldn’t get to do here”.
Experience pays off
“I think one of the requirements of getting in [to pre-vet] school is having a lot of experience working with animals,” said DuRussel, who has since applied to university to work towards pre-vet and then veterinarian school.
The experience DuRussel has gained is valuable beyond measures, as she says it would take years to gain that experience in a veterinarian office.
She, along with the other volunteers, were able to give injections to dogs as well as flea baths, capture wild animals like impalas and blasbok – a type of antelope – and help give a reversal injection to an animal who had been tranquilized.
“It’s definitely going to help me and set me a part,” she said, eager to get the next steps going.
DuRussel is currently a paramedic for the Northern Regional Health Authority, but plans to switch her focus as she continues on through school.
Weekends off
DuRussel and her three coworkers were able to spend the weekends exploring the community and experiencing the different culture.
She visited the Inkwazi Game Park and came face-to-face with cheetahs, elephants and lions.
“The cheetahs were so cute,” she said. “They were hand-raised from just a couple days old because their mother had rejected them. They were so cute and purring and kissing my face. It was really awesome.”
Ever since DuRussel was a little girl she knew she wanted to see the “big cats” but she says she had no idea she would be that close.
“I just wanted to be able to see them, so that was a big plus for me,” she said.
DuRussel was able to not only see the exotic animals, but also lay with them and pet them.
Between giving injections and experiencing different situations with exotic animals to laying with cheetahs, DuRussel says her trip was “awesome” all around.
Uncertain future
Though DuRussel’s trip to Africa confirmed her desire to work with animals she says she is still unsure what the future holds for her.
“I’m not really sure what I want,” she said “[I’m not sure] if I’m going to be a small animal vet or if I’m going to specialize in something. I really like the exotic animals, of course, so that could be a path that I might go down.”
She has since applied to university and will work towards her ultimate goal of becoming a veterinarian.
Thailand fun
After her two weeks in Africa, DuRussel spent another 11 days travelling in Thailand to see the sights.
More exotic animals were on the itinerary as DuRussel was able to ride an elephant bareback and then bathe it in the river.
