The University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science has detailed a year of significant clinical advancements, including South Africa’s first-ever CT scan on a live adult rhino and major breakthroughs in equine fertility. During a recent briefing at the Onderstepoort campus, Dean Professor Vinny Naidoo reported that the faculty’s research into wildlife conservation and zoonotic diseases has gained increased international recognition over the past year. Central to these achievements is the Onderstepoort Wildlife Clinic.
Established in 2020, the facility recently collaborated with theCare for Wild Rhino Sanctuaryto perform the country’s first CT scan on a live adult rhino. According to the faculty, the procedure provides conservationists with unprecedented diagnostic data for the species. Further research is being conducted at theHans Hoheisen Wildlife Research Station(HHWRS) near the Kruger National Park.
The station serves as a training ground for final-year veterinary students, who rotate through the facility to gain practical experience in wildlife management and community-based veterinary medicine. The faculty also provided an update on “Njozi,” a well-known female cheetah from the Rietvlei Nature Reserve. In mid-2025, veterinarians performed complex surgery on the animal to repair a new forelimb fracture involving a previous, poorly healed break.
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Professor Katja Koeppel confirmed that Njozi is set to be relocated to the Cheetah Conservation and Research Centre near De Wildt for further rehabilitation. The relocation is pending a permit from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Once fully recovered, the cheetah will continue her role in the local conservation programme.
In the field of domestic animal research, the Section of Reproduction successfully achieved South Africa’s first equine pregnancies using in-vitro derived embryos. This development is expected to assist in preserving genetic diversity and advancing assisted reproductive technologies within the local horse breeding industry. Additionally, the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH) received Gold Status accreditation for its Cat Clinic from Royal Canin.
Dr Alfred Kgasi, director of Clinical Services, stated the certification recognizes the facility’s adherence to international standards for feline care. The faculty concluded by emphasizing that its current research focus remains on the intersection of animal health, human disease, and the long-term sustainability of South Africa’s endangered species. Breaking news at your fingertips…Follow Caxton Network News onFacebookand join ourWhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak.Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus opFacebooken sluit aan by onsWhatsApp-kanaal.
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