When Professor Noel ­Fitzpatrick noticed a ­rhinoceros within the wild for the primary time the majestic animal took his breath away.

The famed veterinary surgeon, often known as The Supervet, is used to treating domesticated pets at his Surrey clinic, so this massive and ­spectacular animal was a sight to behold.

“Wow,” gasps Noel, 55, throughout a particular one-off present The Supervet: Safari Particular. “That’s simply unimaginable.”

The Irish vet, who’s on the forefront of innovation in orthopaedics and neurosurgery for small animals within the UK, makes use of his experience to take care of wildlife in South Africa.

“My job again house is to take care of a cat or a canine, their job is to take care of a species on the sting of extinction, I actually hope I could make some form of ­distinction,” Noel says.

He visits Gondwana Recreation Reserve within the Western Cape and hears in regards to the plight of endangered rhinos, whose numbers have dropped by greater than 95% previously century, with the primary purpose being unlawful poachers.

These rhinos are killed for his or her horns which can be value greater than their weight in gold on the black market, regardless of being made from keratin, which is identical substance as fingernails.

“It’s completely and totally absurd that human beings are chasing this and killing these stunning animals,” a taken-aback Noel says.

His first process helps to insert a tracker within the horn of one of many oldest males on the reserve, a rhino named Bruno.

The massive animal has misplaced his tracker a number of occasions from round his leg because of his penchant for ­working after feminine rhinos, so implanting the tracker to maintain him underneath surveillance and away from hazard is a model new process for the reserve.

First Noel and the group search for the animal from a chopper then tranquillise him earlier than giving him the implant.

Noel then travels to the world’s first rhino orphanage to fulfill cute Kolisi, who was attacked by a pack of hyenas that killed his mom and mauled his foot.

With a part of the foot bone eaten away, The Supervet assists with constructing and designing a prosthetic foot, the primary for the species, to assist the animal who has ­developed scoliosis because of the harm. “All the pieces is not possible, till it occurs, the worst factor can be to not attempt,” he explains.

The programme then follows Noel as he heads off to assist two huge cats at Lionsrock Massive Cat ­Sanctuary within the japanese Free State, which is once more a primary for him.

“It’s with equal measure of intrigue and trepidation that I are available due to course I’ve by no means handled surgical procedure on huge cats earlier than, the largest cat I’ve ever labored on is a Maine Coon,” the professor says. “Will probably be a rare privilege to be within the ­presence of those ­magnificent animals.”

The primary affected person is Laziz, a 15-year-old Bengal tiger rescued from a non-public zoo within the Gaza Strip, who’s affected by limb deformities and osteoarthritis.

It grew to become often known as the worst zoo on this planet. Laziz was confined to a small area with a concrete flooring.

The opposite huge cat Noel units about serving to is Ricky, a 13-year-old lion with deformed entrance legs because of mistreatment and captive breeding who was saved as a pet in Romania.

Noel operates on each animals and so they develop into the primary ever wild huge cats to have a brand new remedy for ­osteoarthritis. Upon seeing Laziz stroll after his operation, the veterinary surgeon beams with satisfaction.

It’s unimaginable to see him waking up, since you genuinely really feel that you just’ve made a distinction. All this know-how is identical for human, the identical for a canine, the identical for a tiger,” he says.

“We’re all one, if folks might simply realise that for a second, wouldn’t the world be such a greater place?”

And it seems that Noel may need fallen in love along with his new function caring for wild animals, as he admits: “Really I’ve felt extra comfortable and welcome by this setting than I ever have in my life, it’s ­overwhelmingly ­stunning.”

Talking of the entire ­expertise, Noel says: “Having the chance to journey to South Africa and spend time with the magnificent animals of the savannah and the great selfless individuals who dedicate their lives to taking care of them – typically in very troublesome circumstances, together with unlawful poaching and battle – was actually life-changing.

“I discovered the dedication, compassion and scientific talent of the veterinary ­professionals I met profoundly ­inspirational. What I skilled was eye opening to the immense challenges and ­duty we’ve as ­humankind to step up and take care of these unimaginable animals who’re intrinsic to our legacy on planet earth.”

This article by Lydia Veljanovski was first printed by The Mirror on 22 February 2023. Lead Picture: The Irish vet, who’s on the forefront of innovation in orthopaedics and neurosurgery for small animals within the UK, makes use of his experience to take care of wildlife in South Africa (Picture: Channel 4).

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