In South Africa's Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, covering 97,000 hectares of rugged terrain, wildlife vet Dave Cooper faces a demanding day. He treats a rhino with battle wounds, a lion with a toothache, and vaccinates lion cubs, showcasing the challenges of wildlife care in the vast reserve as he navigates the misty valleys of northern Zululand to protect the animals under his watch.

In Kruger National Park, vets test a new elephant contraception method. A helicopter transports a wildlife vet to locate a young female elephant previously vaccinated and fitted with a radio collar for a pilot program. The team hopes to determine if the contraception worked or if she's pregnant, while also addressing foot-and-mouth disease risks in elephants across the park's open plains.

Zimbabwe's Imire Game Sanctuary works to protect black rhinos, whose numbers had dropped to around 200 due to poaching. Vet Chris Foggin darts a young calf as part of a long-term breeding effort to boost the population. Explore how elephants assist in rhino capture and introduce a young calf reluctant to return to the wild, emphasizing conservation efforts and animal care strategies.

This episode explores game capture techniques for rhinos, zebras, and how to avoid crocodile attacks. Using helicopters and dart guns with the immobilizing drug M99, which works in 6-8 minutes, teams track and sedate animals. Qualified vets from around the world attend the annual Game Capture Course in Kruger National Park, learning cutting-edge methods for wildlife management and protection.

Wildlife vets test milder anesthetics on nyalas in the cool early hours, minimizing animal stress during captures. Dave Cooper, responsible for Hluhluwe-Umfolozi's 97,000 hectares, is joined by Kruger vet Douw Grobler to assess the drug's viability for use in South Africa. The episode also features a stubborn buffalo named Bismarck and a lighthearted 'gnus flash.'

Buffalo, dangerous yet valuable if disease-free, require constant monitoring for bovine tuberculosis. In Natal, Dave Cooper and the Game Capture team herd, dart, and test thousands of buffalo with helicopter assistance. A lion in Kruger National Park is lured for darting and health tests, including bovine TB, canine distemper, and fertility tests to ensure the lion is still a viable breeder.