Ep 1: Chloe Buiting - Vet & Wildlife Conservationist on Protecting the Natural World

WARNING: The content gets slightly graphic when discussing the
realities of poaching in South Africa.





Our guest for today is Chloe Buiting – an Australian vet &
wildlife conservationist who grew up in Lord Howe Island,
Australia. She knew from a young age that she wanted to dedicate
herself to protect wildlife and ended up going to veterinary
school.





One of her more interesting placements was in South Africa, where
she was involved in things like capturing giraffes, dehorning
rhinos (to try to protect them from poachers) & working with
wild cats. We also learn of a unique men's Calvin Klein scent
that draws in the wild cats - which you will learn about once you
listen!





We also talk about: 





- Life as a veterinary student, including placements;


- The realities of poaching in South Africa & the big debate
over what to do with the horns of the rhinoceros;


- What it’s like to capture a giraffe in the wild (hint: you need
a helicopter!);


- The importance of ecotourism (including gorilla work in the
DRC, Rwanda & Uganda), Thailand’s first 


- Working with amputee elephants out of the world’s first
prosthetic hospital for elephants in Chiang Mai;


- Being on the front line in the 2020 Australian Wildlife (the
fire went right up to her backyard in Kangaroo Island!); 


- The future of veterinary medicine (hint: 3D printing beaks for
toucan is already a reality!);


- Whether you can make money as a vet; and


- What WE can do to support wildlife conservation efforts.





If you're interested in wildlife conservation or just want to
know more about this fascinating world, this is the episode for
you. The show notes can be found at
https://www.sothisismywhy.com/episode1/ 





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