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UK vet nurse heads to Zimbabwe to train anti-poaching dog handlers
Rachel Bean, a qualified veterinary nurse and globally respected canine first aid expert, will soon travel to the Phundundu Wildlife Area in Zimbabwe to volunteer with Dogs 4 Wildlife, a UK-based charity supporting anti-poaching operations with trained conservation dogs and ranger teams.
Rachel will be delivering her pioneering iPET Network Level 4 Award in Canine First Aid, the only Ofqual-regulated qualification of its kind in the UK, and one that she personally wrote.
“This is more than just a training session, it’s about empowering rangers and handlers to save their dogs’ lives in the event of injury on the front line,” said Rachel. “These dogs are incredibly brave, risking their lives daily to protect some of the world’s most endangered species. They deserve the very best care.”
Her work in Zimbabwe will include training teams who work with extraordinary dogs like Shinga, a conservation canine deployed to the Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy, partnering with veteran anti-poaching dog Murwi, who was introduced to the unit in 2018.
The dogs and their handlers operate in some of Africa’s most dangerous poaching hotspots, where black and white rhinos are under constant threat. Their presence is both a deterrent to would-be poachers and a last line of defence for rhino breeding programmes critical to the species’ survival.
This is not the first time that the award-winning animal expert has travelled abroad to help animals. Rachel recently returned from Kenya, where she volunteered with the Action For Cheetahs Charity.
Rachel, who travels across the UK delivering canine first aid training to dog owners and professionals alike, is well known for bringing her own dog Chilli along to classes.
Chilli is a four-legged star in her own right, “acting out” various ailments and scenarios for training purposes, with such star quality that she even landed a spot as Linda Biscuits, the canine sidekick to comedian Joe Lycett on the BAFTA-winning Joe Lycett’s Late Night Lycett.
“I couldn’t be prouder of Chilli,” said Rachel. “She’s helped me teach thousands of people how to save a dog’s life, and now we’re taking that knowledge global.”
Dogs 4 Wildlife has built a reputation for delivering highly trained canine units to reserves and conservation areas across Southern Africa. Their collaboration with Imire epitomises the charity’s values: conservation, education, community, and a relentless fight against the illegal wildlife trade.
To find out more about Rachel Bean go to https://www.facebook.com/RachelBeanVetNurse