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Volunteer Vet
A love of chimps and a sense of adventure inspired Dr Stephen van der Spuy, Executive Manager: Animal Department at the Johannesburg Zoo, to join the JGI SA team as our volunteer vet.
Highly experienced in wild animal care, Stephen helps out at the Sanctuary and provides veterinary assistance on JGI rescue missions when he can. He was recently part of the team that rescued five baby chimps from the Sudan, and was also involved in the Angolan and Mozambican rescues last year.
He volunteers because he loves chimps, is passionate about conservation and believes JGI SA is doing great things for conservation and education.
“I also love visiting new countries and the rescues are often real adventures,” he says. “I enjoy the plane trips and the dodgy landings on dirt airstrips.”
His work includes anaesthetising chimps where necessary for transportation, taking blood samples, inserting identity chips, de-worming and parasite treatment. Stephen also gets involved in contraception for all the females at the Sanctuary.
He often forms part of the pre-rescue team, as chimps need to have blood tests before permits can be issued for their cross-border translocation. Chimps are all tested for Yellow Fever, Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), Marburg and Ebola before being brought to quarantine at Chimpanzee Eden.
Stephen does this work in his spare time, over weekends. “The Johannesburg Zoo is very supportive of me, and I couldn’t do it without their support,” he says.
“Stephen’s help is absolutely invaluable to us,” says Sue Slotar, JGI SA Executive Director. “We are very privileged to have him on the team, and would like to take this opportunity to thank him for everything he does for JGI SA.”
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Eugene and Stephen and chimp |
Stephen being filmed |
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Sudan
Airstrip |
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