Year one of VI’s Kenya Vet Training Program was a Huge Success
20 Kenyan veterinary students recently completed VI’s groundbreaking Veterinary Training Program, which culminated in a firsthand experience observing and participating in conservation medicine at the Ol Pejeta and Loisaba wildlife conservancies.
This program, a partnership with prestigious institutions including the University of Nairobi, Egerton University, and the Kenya Wildlife Service, began in November 2023 with a 10-week theoretical component focused on a holistic, One Health approach to wildlife healthcare management. Upon completion of the theoretical portion, students had the incredible experience of putting their learning into practice with a week-long field component at two of Kenya’s leading conservancies.
The goal of VI’s Vet Training Program is to create a positive, long-term impact on the health and well-being of animals in Kenya and grow the country’s capacity for wildlife care. Kenya is home to around 25,000 species of animals, including many of our planet’s most endangered and awe-inspiring large mammals. This, coupled with an ever growing human population of 55 million, has resulted in increasingly complex cases of human wildlife conflict and rising threats to endangered species. By preparing the next generation of Kenyan veterinarians with knowledge and skills related to conservation medicine and an in-depth understanding of the human-animal interface, we can support the health of animals – both wild and domestic, as well as humans, and our shared environment!
