More than 750 animals were treated during pioneering week-long clinics in the eastern reaches of Botswana’s celebrated Okavango Delta, where working horses and donkeys sustain fragile rural livelihoods

Two British veterinary surgeons have helped deliver the first organised veterinary outreach to six isolated villages in the eastern Okavango Delta, treating more than 750 animals in a single week in one of Botswana’s most remote and inaccessible regions.

Wendy Furness and Michael Colgan joined the Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS) for one of the charity’s most ambitious projects to date, establishing temporary clinics in the Seronga region, an area in the panhandle of the Delta where routine veterinary care is all but non-existent despite the surrounding richness of its wildlife.

Reaching the villages was an expedition in itself. Working alongside local village leaders and community partners, the team travelled more than six hours over rough roads before completing the final leg by boat to reach communities that had previously had little or no access to veterinary services. Much of the work took place in the heart of major wildlife corridors, obliging the vets to remain alert to elephant, lions, wild dogs and snakes as they assembled the clinic each day ahead of the heat.

Over the course of the week the team treated 755 animals: 561 dogs, 18 cats, 82 donkeys and 94 horses. Services ranged from dog and cat neutering, rabies vaccination and parasite control to the treatment of medical conditions, alongside preventative healthcare and welfare advice for owners. Dedicated equine clinics offered basic care and guidance on the working horses and donkeys that remain vital to local livelihoods.

Demand outstripped every expectation, underlining both the scale of unmet need and the value these communities place on the health of their animals.

Dr Wendy Furness (pictured left with one of her patients) said: “This was the third time we have volunteered with MAWS, and it was by far the most logistically challenging project we have undertaken. Once we reached the villages there was no possibility of returning for forgotten equipment, so every aspect of the clinics had to be meticulously planned by Carmen and Vasco.

“In addition, the local team from conservation charity Communities Living Among Wildlife Sustainably (CLAWS) had put in a lot of work in advance on the ground to ensure we could work alongside them, and that the people from the villages we were visiting were able to make the most of what we had to offer.

“Cases were rich and varied – from straightforward rabies vaccinations to more unusual cases such as a horse that had been attacked by a crocodile, severe eye injuries and a kitten that had been attacked by a monitor lizard. Many of the routine operations are more complicated than normal as tick borne disease increases the risks of bleeding. All part of a day’s work in such a remote location without access to regular vet care, often with an impromptu audience.”

Reflecting on the wider significance of the work, she added: “This work also throws up wider important issues as nearly 60,000 people die from rabies worldwide which is not something that is even on the radar for us in the UK anymore. But improving the health of domestic animals in places like the villages around Seronga delivers benefits that extend far beyond individual patients. Healthy dogs, cats and horses and donkeys support household livelihoods, improve animal welfare and reduce the risk of rabies affecting both people and wildlife and diseases such as distemper spilling over into wildlife. The work done by the team at MAWS is inspirational.”

The veterinary team also included the MAWS support staff Carmen and Vasco, the volunteer Ansie, and Thomas, a local farrier. Based in Maun at the gateway to the Okavango Delta, MAWS works to improve domestic animal welfare as an integral part of protecting both human and wildlife health across Botswana.

Dawn Torre, Chair of MAWS, said: “We are so grateful for the support and expertise of people like Wendy and Michael who become part of our team for a short space of time and really help make a difference to our communities.”

She continued: “We are also delighted the outreach programme has enabled us to assess community demand for future preventative veterinary care, particularly rabies vaccination and sterilisation. The exceptional attendance demonstrated strong local demand, while also highlighting the limited availability of rabies vaccines and post-exposure treatment for people in these remote communities – an important public and veterinary health challenge.”

The project was supported by Ark Impact and VetThing, which sponsored Wendy and Michael’s volunteer work and the consumables for the mission. MAWS also received logistical and financial support from CLAWS (Communities Living Among Wildlife Sustainably), while Animal Aid Abroad funded the dedicated equine clinics, with Jumbo Junction and Swamp Stop providing much-needed food and beds.

Find out more about MAWS, their work and how to support them at www.maunanimalwelfare.com. Vets and Nurses can also volunteer through Worldwide Veterinary Service www.wvs.org.uk

Main photo (L to R): the volunteer vet team and their equipment travel to remote villages in Botswana; vets Wendy Furness and Michael Colgan operating in one of the temporary clinics; images © Wendy Furness