A VETERINARY nurse is swapping life at a Malton practice to help lions, rhinos, elephants and giraffes in South Africa.

Christine Abbott, 24, is among a group of volunteers who left last week for the two-week conservation project at the Welgevendon Private Game Reserve in South Africa.

Christine, who works at both Mount Veterinary Group in Malton and Minster Vets in York, will have the chance to experience hands-on wildlife veterinary work behind the scenes at one of South Africa’s biggest Game Reserves.

Under the direction of one of South Africa’s leading wildlife vets, Dr Peter Caldwell, the team will experience game capture and relocation, and carry out various tasks, including meerkat tracking, collecting DNA from rhinos and helping in the conservation of endangered species.

Christine said: “It is going to be the experience of a lifetime. I am most excited about working with lions as I love cats, especially big cats. Although I love working with small animals at both Mount Vets and Minster Vets, going to South Africa is really going to open my eyes about how I can develop my career in the future.

“The trip is going to be very rewarding and it is also a great opportunity to travel and experience another lifestyle.”

Christine trained as a hairdresser before pursuing her dream to become a veterinary nurse. She worked as an animal nursing assistant, before becoming a student veterinary nurse.

She divides her time between Mount Vets and Minster Vets, which are part of the Vet Partners group, looking after cats, dogs, rabbits and other domestic pets.

Her South African adventure was organised through Askham Bryan College, where she is studying for a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing.

Christine added: “We will be living on the research camp in permanent tent structures with electricity. We will be surrounded by wildlife, with only an electric fence separating us from wild animals. The elephants and giraffes can reach over the fence to eat from the trees above us.”