WildAssist Africa™ Securing our Boundaries with Healthy Pets kicks off with One Big Step

Securing the Boundaries with Healthy Pets

What happens when wildlife conservation meets community veterinary care? You get One Health in action.

WildAssist Africa partnered with Motse Community Trust and Limpopo-Lipadi Wildlife and Wilderness Reserve in march 2026 to run a pilot vaccination and sterilization campaign in the villages of Tsetsebjwe and Moletemane in Botswana's Tuli Block. The response from both communities exceeded all expectations.

Why does this matter? Free-roaming dogs and cats living alongside wildlife create real disease risks for the animals, for the wildlife around them, and for the people who depend on them. Rabies, parvovirus, distemper: these aren't abstract threats. They're daily realities for rural communities with little access to veterinary care. Healthy pets mean healthier people and healthier wildlife. That's One Health.

In just 5 days, our team attended to 345 animals across both villages, vaccinating against rabies and other diseases, deworming, treating for parasites, and performing sterilisations. People came on foot, by donkey cart, some waiting two days to be seen. Kgosi Phole of Tsetsebjwe led by example and brought his own dog in on day one.

None of this happens without people who give their time, skills and suitcases. Vets and vet technicians from the US, Canada and Austria flew in as volunteers. The spirit was outstanding and the team worked brilliantly together, long days and all. And the reserve rewarded them: wild dogs, elephants, lions, brown hyena and more during game drives at LL. More pictures in the galleries..!

Huge thanks to Motse Community Trust and Limpopo-Lipadi for making this possible on the ground; Kyron, V-Tech, Virbac South Africa, Medswana and Sedilega Hospital for donating drugs and consumables; the veterinary practices in Canada who filled the gaps; the Department of Veterinary Services; and Vet and Agric Consultants in Gaborone.

This was a pilot. The need is clear, the communities are ready, and we are planning the next campaign for September 2026. Contact us if you want to join and be part of making a difference, one step at a time.

#WildAssistAfrica #OneHealth #CommunityVetCare #Botswana #TuliBlock #WildlifeConservation #HealthyPets #Motse #LimpopoLipadi