Dr Dorothy Breed, a veterinarian and urban wildlife specialist in the City of Cape Town’s Environmental Management Department, has always had her focus on nature’s pulse.

With August being Women’s Month, the City is celebrating the many extraordinary women employed by the administration, among them Breed who grew up with wildlife on a farm outside Polokwane.

Dr Breed became a veterinarian because she wanted to contribute to the ‘bigger’ picture.

“It is a rewarding career, but it also has its challenges. For instance, managing wildlife in an urban setting can be difficult due to the different views that people have towards animals. You have to constantly navigate between best practice, science, animal welfare and human interest. Also, wild animals are usually very sick or injured by the time they allow themselves to be caught by humans, and often require humane euthanasia.”

Some of her career highlights include:

· reintroducing eland to Blaauwberg Nature Reserve

· rehabilitating a honey badger and successfully releasing it at Bokbaai in 2017

· translocating the City’s bontebok herd to a new site.

Dr Breed is the only female wildlife veterinarian, particularly, in the game capture work. The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Marian Nieuwoudt says she’s proud of Dr Breed’s achievements and contribution to the conservation of Cape Town’s wildlife.

“Urban conservation is a growing international field and extremely important in creating a sustainable city. We have an incredible unit called the Conservation Services Unit within the Biodiversity Management Branch, that does great work to promote and build conservation within the City of Cape Town. Who better to lead and promote nature conversation than the dynamic Dr Breed.”