Vanier Student’s Internship Experience at CCF

This spring, I had the incredible opportunity to complete a veterinary internship at the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in Namibia. Currently, I am in my final year of Animal Health Technology at Vanier College in Montreal, and I will be starting my Life Sciences degree with a specialization in Animal Biology at McGill University this fall. Spending five weeks immersed in hands-on wildlife and livestock veterinary care at CCF was not only the perfect way to apply what I have learned but also a life-changing experience I will never forget.

A Vet Tech Intern in the Field

As a veterinary technician intern, I was primarily placed on the vet team, where I assisted with the medical care of a wide range of animals—from cheetahs and livestock guard dogs to goats and sheep. My daily responsibilities included bandage changes, administering vaccines and IM injections, taking x-rays, drawing blood, running diagnostics, and performing FAMACHA checks to monitor anemia caused by the Haemonchus contortus parasite. We also provided treatments such as fluids, antiparasitics, and wound care—sometimes in a clinical setting, other times out in the field.

One of the highlights of my veterinary experience was taking blood from the tail of a cheetah. I also had the opportunity to vaccinate cheetahs and goats, and even assist in monitoring a pregnant livestock guardian dog prior to giving birth. These moments allowed me to expand my technical skills and grow more comfortable working with a variety of animal species under different conditions.

Outreach Project

Beyond hands-on clinical work, I collaborated with a fellow intern on an educational outreach project: designing a pamphlet on common livestock diseases for Namibian farmers. We focused on coccidiosis, lumpy skin disease, foot rot, and the Haemonchus contortus parasite—all of which pose serious challenges to rural animal health. Creating a resource to help local farmers better understand and prevent these diseases was an especially meaningful part of my experience.

My Highlights at CCF

CCF’s internship program also gave me the chance to work with other departments, like the cheetah and ecology teams, helping me gain a broader understanding of the organization’s conservation mission. I joined in game counts—which involved surveying prey populations over several days in different reserves—and got to visit one of CCF’s farms to treat goats for parasites, wounds, and abscesses.

Some of my most memorable experiences were not just clinical, but equally social:

• Watching a sunset from Leopard Hill
• Doing a night drive and spotting giraffes in the moonlight
• Helping with bandage care on a bat-eared fox
• Joining a sunset drive with fellow interns after a long day’s work
• Visiting the cheetah cibs

Weekend Getaway to Etosha

One of the major perks of interning at CCF is the chance to explore Namibia. I worked 2.5 weeks straight to earn some time off, and it was absolutely worth it! I went on a 3-day trip to Etosha National Park with two other interns. We camped in Okaukuejo, stayed in a lodge in Halali, and saw an incredible array of wildlife: elephants, lions, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, hyenas, jackals, springbok, and more. Watching these animals roam freely in their natural
This internship was everything I hoped for and more. It was an opportunity to apply my knowledge, step out of my comfort zone, and deepen my understanding of conservation habitat was an unforgettable highlight and something I strongly recommend if given the opportunity to any future intern. medicine in a truly unique environment. My time at CCF gave me both the skills and inspiration to continue pursuing a future in large animal medicine.

To anyone considering an internship at CCF—go for it. You’ll gain hands-on experience, meet incredible people from around the world, and make memories that last a lifetime.

Rachel is an Animal Health Technology Student, Vanier College | Future Life Sciences Student, McGill University