World Renowned Wildlife Vet, Dr Peter Rogers

With decades of experience, Dr Peter Stewart Rogers is considered one of the most experienced wildlife veterinarians in the world. He specializes in the capture and veterinary care of some of South Africa’s most endangered species, including the southern white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African elephant, cheetah, African wild dog, African lion, Temminck’s ground pangolin and many other species.

After qualifying at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty in 1984, Peter spent his first three years working in private practices in Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town, building up experience in the veterinary care and treatment of companion animals, horses and livestock. In 1987 Peter was employed by the then Natal Parks Board – now Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife – where he built up vast experience in the capture and care of wildlife, specializing in the white rhino, black rhino, African elephant, Cape buffalo, nyala and the like.

He worked tirelessly in protecting, translocating and treating the wild inhabitants of Hluhulwe-Imfolozi, Mkuze, Ndumo and Ithala game reserves, as well as private reserves in KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring Swaziland, up to 1995. Peter was part of a team responsible for hand-rearing and relocating an orphaned white rhino heifer, Lahliwe –‘ The Rejected One’- from Umfolozi Game Reserve to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre in October 1992. Lahliwe was paired up with a young bull from Longleat Zoo in England, named Ronny. Ronny had been brought back to South Africa and was looking for a mate! This was when Peter met the owner of the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, Mrs Lente Roode. Unfortunately, both young rhinos were poached about a year later.

In 1995, Peter entered the next chapter of his exciting career as a wildlife veterinarian, when he was employed by the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre.

Peter was presented with the exciting and daunting challenge of successfully raising captive bred cheetah cubs. For a few years prior to his arrival, the cheetah cubs had been either dying at birth, or within the first few days thereafter. Peter and an expert team of veterinary specialists from the University of Pretoria got together and soon solved the problem. The cheetahs were found to be suffering from a vitamin E deficiency and a food supplement was formulated, which was added to their diet. Soon great success was celebrated in the successful rearing of captive bred cheetah cubs.

Pro Vet Wildlife Services

Dr Rogers registered his private practice in 1995 and practiced privately in his free time, while he was employed by the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre. He fully pursued the next thrilling step in his illustrious career, in 2001, from his small practice in Kampersrus, mainly focusing on wildlife but, also attending to the many companion animals and livestock in the surrounding area. Soon the need for a larger and more accessible practice prompted Dr Rogers to move his practice to Maroela Park in the town of Hoedspruit in 2003.

He employed another veterinarian to care for the companion animals in 2005, so that he could focus more on his wildlife work. In 2006 the Provet Wildlife Services and Companion Animal Hospital moved into the custom-built practice at the present location, at 17 Raptors’ Safari Junction in Hoedspruit.

Provet is a fully registered animal clinic and the hospital boasts modern equipment and services, such as anaesthetics, digital x-ray, ultrasound and blood analysis machines.

Wildlife Vet Online

Wildlife Vet Online is ideal for students of veterinary science and other biosciences (e.g. ecology, zoology and wildlife conservation). It is presented by Dr Peter Rogers (BVSc). He is undoubtedly one of the most experienced wildlife veterinarians in the world. He specializes in the capture, rehabilitation and relocation of some of South Africa’s most endangered species.

Each module in this series provides two to four hours of clinical EMS (extra-mural studies), certified by Dr Rogers. Optional extra credit assignments are similarly certified. Our student members also receive certificates and have access to additional resources. Currently, the series covers African Elephants (two modules), African Rhinos (two modules), Cheetah Management and Pangolins. We supplement lectures with monthly Q & A sessions, exercises and worksheets.


One response to “World Renowned Wildlife Vet, Dr Peter Rogers”

  1. DAKTARI Welcomes Lion Brothers – Daktari welcomes 12-year-old lion brothers to our camp. With the help of our network and wildlife vet, Dr Peter Rogers, we have successfully relocated Duma and Telo to our reserve here at…read more.

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