Wildlife Veterinarian Career Profile
- Career Name - Wildlife Veterinarian
- Category - Health / Business / Marine Conservation / Wildlife Conservation
- Skills Required - Life skills 40% - Career skills 60%
- Basic School Subjects - Biology, Science, Business Studies
- Minimum Required Education - Doctoral Degree
- Species Worked With - Critters, Wildlife
- Kind of Interaction with Animals - Direct
Do you want to work as a wildlife veterinarian?
READ: This page helps you to read about the career and the info you need to decide on whether this is indeed the career you want to follow.
RESEARCH: Learn about the skills required and minimum subjects to enter this career, as well as the places where you can study further after school.
PREPARE: If you want to plan and prepare for your career, then join the OZT Community! Members have access to tools while chatting with other students and experts from around the world. Prepare to be amazed!
CAREER MENTORS
UPDATED: 14 May 2023
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What is a Wildlife Veterinarian?
A Veterinarian is a doctor who protects the health and well-being of both animals and people by treating animals for various ailments and diseases. A wildlife veterinarian studies even further to be able to work exclusively with wild animals.
Further specialization is possible, as can be seen in these profiles:
Career Categories
The Animal Keeper falls within the following Career Categories:
- Health
- Business
- Marine Conservation
- Wildlife Conservation
Specialization?
Wildlife veterinarians do not just specialize in certain species, but may also in kinds of medicine, such as epidemiology, pathology, infectious diseases, toxicology
State employed?
Most of the certified wildlife veterinarians work for governments, overseeing the natural resources of their land, rivers and oceans
What does a Wildlife Veterinarian do?
Groups of animals a Wildlife Veterinarian works with
What is the level of Interaction with the Animals?
- Directly - A person works directly with the animals with some form of physical contact at least once every few days
- Indirectly - The career doesn't require direct or physical contact at all.
What does a Wildlife Veterinarian focus on?
They treat sick wild animals in the outdoors, or wherever wild animals might be held captive to administer medical treatment and rehabilitation. They also do research to control animal diseases.
What are the daily tasks of a Wildlife Veterinarian?
- Diagnoses animal health problems
- Vaccinates against diseases, such as rabies
- Medicates animals suffering from infections or illnesses
- Treats and dresses wounds
- Sets fractures
- Performs minor to complex surgery, depending on training
- Advises owners about animal feeding, behavior and breeding
- Euthanizes animals when necessary
- Provides preventive care to maintain the health of livestock
- Performs diagnostic tests such as X-ray, EKG, ultrasound, blood, urine, and feces
In which Environment does a Wildlife Veterinarian work in?
What are the environment and places of employment like?
Environment –
Wildlife veterinarians work primarily outdoors, but can spend time indoors doing surgery and running tests.
Places of Employment –
Most wildlife veterinarians work in their own private practices. Vets may be employed or contracted by hospitals, government agencies, educational institutions, wildlife management groups, game ranches, animal sanctuaries and rescue centers.
What is the Average Yearly Salary for a Wildlife Veterinarian?
South Africa: Annual salary of R470,000
Australia: Annual salary of AU$65,000
UK: Annual salary of £30,000
USA: Annual salary of $75,000
Can Wildlife Veterinarians be promoted?
Promotion to senior levels are available in most careers. The levels of each promotion might differ from organization to organization, but generally are the following for wildlife veterinarians who work for an organization:
Junior Veterinarian > Senior Veterinarian > Head Veterinarian > Department Manager or Director
What difficulties does a Wildlife Veterinarian face?
Being a Veterinarian does have some difficult moments, and it’s good to know these things before you truly make a decision to pursue this career:
- Most veterinarians are on call around the clock since emergencies can occur at any time.
- Schedules may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- Dealing with sick animals and their distraught owners can be very stressful.
- Vets may in certain circumstances need to put an animal to sleep, called euthanasia.
- Sick or frightened animals may bite, kick, or otherwise injure those who are treating them.
- Working in the wild is exactly what it means.
- The outdoors can be dangerous and even life threatening.
Future Growth and Possibilities of the Career:
Employment of veterinarians is projected to grow by 9% annually, one of the highest for an occupation, mainly due to the growth in wildlife veterinary sciences. Globally 5 out of every 6 Veterinarians work in their own practices. The rest are employed in government, universities and laboratories. Close to 65% of Vets are male.
Which Skills do Wildlife Veterinarians need?
The skills required for a career as a wildlife veterinarian can be divided into two very important groups. The first is the group containing life skills, which are the core skills that are necessary or desirable for full participation in everyday life. The second group is career skills, or the specific skills required to allow a person to enter and operate effectively within a specific career. Some or maybe even all of the life skills can assist in strengthening the career skills, and they might even be the same for specific careers.
Life Skills:
- Self-awareness
- Empathy
- Critical thinking
- Creative thinking
- Decision making
- Problem Solving
- Effective communication
- Interpersonal relationship
Career Skills:
- compassion for animals
- a steady and patient nature
- interest in the biological sciences
- good powers of observation
- have respect and love for animals and the ability to work with them
- good coordination to handle instruments
- good vision, hearing, stamina and health
able to think and act quickly and calmly in response to wild animals
Which Subjects must I have at School to help me prepare for this career?
Biology must be you primary focus at school, as it will help you to gain admission into University, as well as give you the basic knowledge of biological concepts.
Science, chemistry and mathematics are all important to gain University admission. Each University will have a different pass rate requirement.
Business Studies is always the one subject almost never taken as a high school subject, but equally as important as all the other subjects. Most veterinarians start their own businesses, and many fail due to a lack of business knowledge.
The subjects you choose at school are important as they lay the foundation for further studies at college or university. While still at school, it’s also important to learn more about the animals you will work with, as well as gain some experience.
OZT has a list of various tertiary institutions where you can study further, after school. Each of these institutions also have their own Group page on OZT where you will find the exact subjects they require of you to have passed in school. Keep these requirements in mind, and discuss it with your school, guidance counselor and parents to ensure that you are prepared!
What will I need to Study to become a Wildlife Veterinarian?
Minimum educational qualification
To become a Vet you will need to study towards a Doctoral Degree in Veterinary Sciences, starting out with a Bachelor’s in Veterinary Science (BVSc). To specialize in working with wildlife requires at least another 2 years of intense studies in wildlife medicine.
Subject focus
Studying veterinary medicine will automatically indicate the subjects to follow. You will only have a far broader choice as you start to specialize.
Study duration
The duration of a Bachelor’s Degrees can be up to 4 years, and another 4 years for a Doctorate. Short Courses are usually between a few weeks and a year.
FREE Career Path Plan
If this is your dream career that you want to pursue, then it’s important to plan the way forward.
Why is planning important?
To ensure that you understand the requirements for your career, and that you are always prepared for the next step on the road towards your dream. A preparation path is like a road map to where you want to be.
Possible Paths:
Preparing for a career as a Wildlife Veterinarian involves a multifaceted approach that begins in high school and continues through tertiary education and beyond. Here’s a detailed career preparation path for a high school student interested in pursuing this career:
1. Attend Career Guidance Sessions
Understand the roles, responsibilities, and educational requirements of a Wildlife Veterinarian. Participate in career counselling sessions at school, attend veterinary career fairs, and meet professionals in the field to gather insights.
2. Research All Possible Careers
Explore various careers related to wildlife, veterinary medicine, and conservation. Use online resources, library books, and informational interviews with professionals to learn about different career paths.
3. Explore Educational Paths
Identify the educational requirements for becoming a wildlife veterinarian. Research universities and colleges offering veterinary medicine programmes and specialised courses in wildlife and conservation.
4. Align High School Subjects with the Educational Path
Take relevant courses that will prepare you for a veterinary degree. Focus on subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Environmental Science.
5. Obtain a High School Diploma or Equivalent
Graduate with the necessary academic background for higher education. Maintain good grades and meet all graduation requirements.
6. Learn About Animals You Will Work With
Gain knowledge about various wild animal species and their behaviours. Read books, watch documentaries, and participate in wildlife observation activities.
7. Align Post-School Path with Career Goals
Decide whether to enter a career/job directly, continue studying, or start a business. Develop a plan based on your interests and career goals. Most likely, this will involve pursuing further education in veterinary medicine.
8. Gain Experience Through Volunteering, Internships, Mentorships, etc.
Obtain hands-on experience working with animals and understanding their health needs. Volunteer at animal shelters, wildlife rehabilitation centers, zoos, and veterinary clinics. Seek internships and mentorship opportunities with experienced wildlife veterinarians.
9. Pursue Extracurricular Activities
Develop a well-rounded skill set and demonstrate your commitment to animal welfare. Join clubs related to animals and science, participate in science fairs, and engage in outdoor activities such as hiking and bird watching.
10. Join Professional Associations
Network with professionals and stay informed about the field. Become a student member of associations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) or the Wildlife Disease Association (WDA).
11. Gain Specialized Skills
Acquire skills relevant to wildlife veterinary medicine. Take courses in wildlife biology, conservation, and veterinary techniques. Learn about anesthesia, surgery, and disease management specific to wild animals.
12. Network with Professionals
Build a professional network that can provide guidance and opportunities. Attend conferences, workshops, and seminars. Connect with veterinarians, researchers, and conservationists.
13. Enter the Job Market After Tertiary Studies or Launch a Business
Start your career as a Wildlife Veterinarian. Apply for positions in wildlife rehabilitation centers, zoos, research institutions, and conservation organizations. Alternatively, consider starting your own veterinary practice focused on wildlife.
14. Stay Updated and Pursue Continuing Education
Keep up with advancements in veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation. Attend continuing education courses, earn certifications, and stay active in professional associations. Regularly read scientific journals and participate in relevant training programmes.
Possible Combined career paths
It is possible to sometimes combine two or more related careers. This normally happens when you study and practice a specific main career, but the knowledge and experience gained also help you to have a paying hobby or secondary income career.
Possible Alternatives (there are a lot more):
Training and Apprenticeship
Even though it is important to study to get into some of the animal careers, most of the skills you will need as a veterinarian will be acquired through practice. This means that you will learn how to perform some of the daily tasks by actually doing it a few times and learning the steps.
Apprenticeship is also possible where you need to learn skills from a more senior wildlife veterinarian.
Join the Wildlife Veterinarians Group in the OZT Community to learn more and even interact with the educational institutions that will help you secure your dream career!
Average level of education of those entering the career:
Licenses, Certifications, Registrations and Professional Associations
Certain animal careers require some form of legal certification to prove that you can indeed do the work, and work with the necessary equipment.
Learn more about requirements by joining the Community.
Professional Associations
Where can I study further?
All of the above information will help you understand more about the Career, including the fact that there are different paths to take to reach it. But if you are almost done with High School (Grades 11 or 12), you also need to start thinking about further studies, and WHERE you will study.
See the List of Universities, Colleges and Online Training Academies who offer courses towards zoology.
How do I start to prepare for this Career?
If you do decide on following this career, then OZT can assist you in figuring out a path to prepare, as well as help you to gain further knowledge about the career and the animals you will be working with. We do this by offering you FREE career development tools. There are almost a dozen free tools, but these are the three primary ones:
CAREER PATH PLAN
Use the career path plan above on this profile as an example to follow, or to work out your own path.
COST; Free
ACCESS: Open to visitors and Members
SHORT COURSES
Access easy-to-use short courses to make your career preparation easier! The basic information in each course is free, but the rewards can only be unlocked as an OZT member!
COST; Free
ACCESS: Open to visitors and Members
STUDY GUIDE
Get a supercharged study guide that fits into the career path plan! Now that's really upping your preparation game! Join us for free to gain access!
COST; Free
ACCESS: Members Only
But, if you are still uncertain about choosing this specific career, and even where to start, then have a look at our special series of WHAT NEXT courses (link below). They take you through all of the questions you might have on how to choose the right career, what to do while at and after school, and even how to start your own business.
OR
Join the OZT community and career chat Group
Join us as a special member and learn more about becoming a wildlife veterinarian.
Members of the Platform have special access to:
- Info on the best places where you can study (colleges, universities and online)
- Expertly designed advice to prepare you for the career, and links to places where you can gain valuable experience. For some career experience is necessary, otherwise you wont get the job!
- Top notch info on each of the different species you will work with
- Make friends around the world and share knowledge
- Compete and win points, badges, games, prizes and certificates. Be the best of the best, while you learn and prepare!
If you have decided on being a Wildlife Veterinarian, please click on the JOIN GROUP button. Members will be directed to the Group, while non-members will be assisted to register first.
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