Featured Staff – Sydney Shipefi – Veterinarian

Sydney grew up on a small village farm in Omusati region in northern Namibia. His family raised cattle, goats, sheep and domestic chickens and had pet dogs and cats. From his experience of seeing his family’s animals becoming sick and dying and not knowing what he could do to help the animals, Sydney was inspired to become a veterinarian so he could help the animals. His desire to a veterinarian came before Sydney had even started primary school.

Sydney completed his high school education at Ella du Plessis high school in Windhoek and went on to continue his studies at Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania. He studied a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM), which he obtained on 23rd November 2018. During his years of being a veterinary student, Sydney’s interest in working with wildlife, grew and he discovered saving nature was what he was passionate about. During his third year as a veterinary student, Sydney decided to apply for an internship program at CCF to gain more practical and theoretical knowledge about wildlife veterinary medicine.

His passion and interest in wildlife continued to grow throughout his studies and Sydney decided to focus his skills to becoming a wildlife vet. Sydney joined the CCF team in August 2019, to gain more practical skills and theoretical knowledge about wildlife medicine in hope it will prepare him for the Namibian Veterinary Council examination next February.

Sydney hopes he can fulfill his career ambition of devoting his knowledge, experience, skills and energy to the treatment and performance of humane animal care to ensure animal safety and well- being and to play a significant role in saving wildlife.