A former Highsted Grammar School pupil has returned from a dream gap year placement working in South Africa with wild animals. She spoke to chief reporter Nicola Forman.

Rachael Pfeiffer has spent the last three months working as a volunteer at an animal rehabilitation centre as part of the African Conservation Experience (ACE).
The 19-year-old spent her time working with animals such as lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas at the Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre.
The centre re-introduces rehabilitated wildlife to natural environments. It also creates homes for orphaned, poisoned or injured wildlife, which due to their injuries, will be unable to return to their natural environments and establishes breeding facilities for wildlife, which cannot be reintroduced into the wild.
Rachael, of Gregory Close, Sittingbourne, said: “As a student at the centre, I experienced a basic introduction to game farm management, wildlife veterinary work and animal behaviour and welfare.
“Students were encouraged to enter into debates and we tackled controversial issues such as elephant culling and trophy hunting. Lessons were given in tree identification, tracking and shooting.”
Rachael was also involved in the day-to-day running of the centre which involved starting work at 6am and finishing at 6.30pm. Her duties included feeding the animals, general health checks, food preparation and caring for the baby animals.
She added: “My time in South Africa was full of amazing and unbelievable moments but there was also a substantial amount of challenge and by no means was this trip easy.
“It takes a while to get used to ripping dead chicks apart and having your arms covered in blood. There were difficult moments, too, with the cheetah cub and lion cubs that were brought in, but what I found so inspiring was the support that the students gave each other.
“Everyone helped each other and it was such a great feeling when the staff and students were able to see an animal make progress.
“It was a journey full of learning and discovery at the end of which I found myself equipped with knowledge, disciplines and ways of thinking that have given me a different perspective of the world.
“It’s the dedication of ACE and Moholoholo staff that allow students to leave Africa with incredible experiences.”
Rachael says she hopes to return to Moholoholo soon but is due to start a degree course in animal management at Hadlow College.”

Her best bits

Racheal recalled her most memorable moment during her stay.
She said: “Two baby rhinos were rejected by their mothers in Kruger National Park. Normally, nature would run its course but under certain circumstances, park officials are required to intervene and so both rhinos came to the centre.
“Baby rhino 1, Kuza, was premature but still weighed in at 40kg. Baby rhino 2, Satara, arrived one week later.
“I was asked by the veterinary nurse to help her look after the rhinos for the first few weeks as they require 24-hour care and feeding every two hours.
“Sleep was practically non existent!
“Due to their poor eyesight, rhinos stay very close to their mum and so Kuza and Satara practically slept on top of me.
“When you are sharing a bed with two 40kg rhinos, you are awake at their slightest movement!”