Work on the Wild Side is a new ten-part series which follows vets and volunteers who gave up their day jobs in the UK and moved to South Africa to rescue, rehabilitate and release some of the world’s most endangered animals.

Each half-hour programme transports us to South Africa, where we will see our vets and volunteers relocate giraffe, rescue a two-week old hippo, take to the high seas to tag sharks, become surrogate mums for orphaned monkeys and give mouth to mouth resuscitation to a cheetah - all in a day’s work.

The series captures South Africa’s vibrancy and colour while shining a light on the critical conservation issues affecting these most vulnerable of species.

It’s an emotional rollercoaster as our wildlife heroes let us into their lives and talk about their passion to save animals in danger of extinction, from penguins and sharks in the Western Cape to the ‘Big Five’ in the Northern Plains.

With production units working across dozens of different locations, the series was shot on location in South Africa before the global pandemic by Waddell Media, a leading producer of factual, lifestyle and entertainment programming for the UK, Irish and international markets, based in Holywood, Co Down, Northern Ireland.

Short bios on the hardworking professionals and volunteers featured in this series and the organisations they represent are attached.

Credits

Series Producer Lee Salisbury
Executive Producer Jannine Waddell

Meet some of the British wildlife heroes who have dedicated their lives to saving the world’s most endangered species.

Emma De Jager (32) is in her own words ‘one of those crazy animal lovers’. Originally from Reading she moved to South Africa 14 years ago at the age of 18 and quickly realised she didn’t want to go home. She now runs her own wildlife sanctuary the Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre which is driven by a single goal to do its part in making the world a better place for all the South African wildlife needing help. From the tiny little dwarf mongoose to the majestic caracal, and many in between it strives to build productive relationships and make a positive impact with its pursuits. In this series Emma introduces us to the animals that have stolen her heart as she works to rehabilitate Hector the hippo, Mars the aardvark, No Name the warthog and many more back into the wild.

Emma says: “We do it because we love it… it’s heartbreaking and amazing.”

At Care for Wild, the largest Rhino sanctuary in the World we meet Will Shortridge ( 25) a zookeeper from Colchester and Rachel Pfeiffer (30) a veterinary nurse assistant from Kent. Care for the Wild’s mission is to save the black and white rhinos from extinction and Will and Rachel share founder Petronel Nieuwoudt’s passion to rescue abandoned, injured, and orphaned rhinos and to rehabilitate them wherever possible.

While filming the release of a baby Rhino she’s cared for… Rachel sums up her life in SA:

“It’s moments like this and you don’t always know when they are going to come, but there are moments in the day, little bits of magic and you know exactly why you are here. You see the baby rhinos land in the helicopter, broken, literally broken, in spirit and body and we know what can be achieved, that’s what being a part of this team is all about. As a team we make a difference, we save Rhinos that’s what we do.”

Working in the frontline in the battle against poaching are MediVet’s – Dr Emily Baxter (29), Dr Annie Mears (27) and Dr Lisa Graham (33) from the UK. They’ve joined SA wildlife vet Dr Will Fowlds, to champion the plight of the rhino and other keystone species, being decimated due to the illicit trade in wildlife products. These wildlife vets are involved in dangerous conservation work often having to capture and move elephants, lions, giraffes and rhinos by land and air to ensure their survival. Emily says: “It’s my dream job we just get to work with the most amazing people and animals.”

Harriet Nimmo (56) from Croydon and her husband Mike Kendrick have travelled the world, but it was always Africa that touched their hearts. In 2011 they finally made the move, packing up their successful UK careers and moving to South Africa where they’ve now built a house in the bush and have giraffe, warthogs, porcupines and mongooses drinking out of their bird bath. Harriet works with Elephants Alive whose mission is to ensure the survival of elephants and their habitats promoting harmonious coexistence between elephants and people.

At Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT), Marine Biologist Alison Towner (34) works with the Marine Big 5 - sharks, penguins, whales, seals and dolphins raising awareness worldwide of their plight. Alison is recognised globally as one of the leading experts in marine conservation. Graduating from Bangor University in Wales in 2006, Alison joined the Dyer Island Trust 13 years ago which is close to the southern tip of Africa. Whenever a marine animal is in need in this area, at sea or on land, DICT is called in.
Josie du Toit (40) grew up in Portsmouth and has been passionate about helping animals from a young age. Qualified as a veterinary nurse she is now a Director of the Vervet Monkey Foundation, in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. They rehabilitate and provide sanctuary to over 500 primates, orphaned, injured, abused, ex-laboratory or unwanted pets. Josie’s burning desire is to set up a Vervet Forest where these little primates can run free from human harm.

Jenna Hensman (36) was born in Dublin but grew up in Kent. While at university, she met Zimbabwean born Sean Hensman and moved to South Africa in 2011 to join him. The couple now work for the wildlife research centre set up in memory of Sean’s father, the Rory Hensman Conservation and Research Unit (RHCRU), dedicated to the conservation and protection of elephants through education and research efforts.

Surrey born Debbie Morris (50s) went out to South Africa with her husband when they retired in 2018 to volunteer at the Riverside Wildlife Rehabilitation centre which specialises in the scientific rehabilitation of SA’s 5 primate and other wildlife species back into their natural native habitats. The couple now have a 3 year visa and are back at Riverside looking after the centre’s many orphaned baboons and vervet monkeys who need constant care.

SERIES BILLINGS

EPISODE 1

Today, Rachel and Will from Care for Wild are checking in with orphaned rhino Lilli. Lilli was brought to them when she was just three months old after her mum had been poached for her horn. In the Eastern Cape vet Dr Emily Baxter is in charge of moving some giraffe, one of the riskiest procedures for a wildlife vet.

EPISODE 2

In the second episode, Cornish vet Emily carries out the risky procedure of anaesthetising a cheetah and Emma from Umoya Kahula becomes surrogate mum to a very cute abandoned three-week old baby hippo, Hector.

EPISODE 3 – Saturday 27 March at 15.25

Vet Will has a huge task on his hands as he has to move Harry, a five tonne troublesome bull elephant, to a new home. On the Western Cape, marine biologist Alison, prepares to release three critically endangered African penguins back into the ocean.

EPISODE 4 – Saturday 3 April at 14.45

It’s a big day for vets Annie and Will. A dangerous pride of lions at Sibuya Game Reserve need to be moved. The lions hit the headlines in 2018 after killing and eating some poachers, so today’s task is a dangerous one. Jenna and Sean are joined by their resident elephants and Trouble the meerkat in a unique experiment.

EPISODE 5 – Saturday 10 April at 11.30

Series following vets and volunteers who have moved to South Africa to help save some of the world’s most iconic animal species. Harriet has been called out to an elephant who has been caught in a snare and three warthogs give Emma from Umoya Kahula the run-around.

EPISODE 6 – Saturday 17 April at 16.00

In the Eastern cape vets Emily and Will need to relocate two cheetah’s to spread blood lines. Volunteer Debbie is put to the test as nine orphaned baby monkeys arrive at Riverside Rehabilitation Centre.

EPISODE 7 – Saturday 24 April at 16.00

Harriet and the team at Elephants Alive are on a mission to save three elephants known as the Naughty Boys who are breaking out of their reserve and destroying local crops. Not wanting to see them put down, the team have come up with a plan. Over at the world’s largest Rhino sanctuary, Will is bonding with orphan Arthur.

EPISODE 8 – Saturday 1 May at 17.30

In the Eastern Cape, it’s rhino day for vet Emily as she needs to move three male rhinos to a new home. At the Vervet Monkey Foundation, Josie has a new arrival, Dobby.

EPISODE 9 – Saturday 8 May at 16.30

On the Western Cape we join Marine biologist Alison as she goes shark tagging. Emma at Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre has tiny bush babies that need round the clock care.

EPISODE 10 – Saturday 15 May at 16.00

Today Emma is faced with a very poorly emergency patient, a baby nyala antelope and Will and Rachel at Care For Wild introduce us to orphaned baby rhino’s Ribbon and Lazuli whose mums were killed for their horns.