Wildlife Forensic Academy, South Africa

The Wildlife Forensic Academy provides both study abroad courses and internships. Internships can be based at the academy or at partner organisations such as wildlife clinics and rehabilitation organisations. The internship are designed on a individual student basis and it is best to contact us to discuss opportunities. 

The two week wildlife veterinary forensics study abroad course is designed specifically for Wildlife Veterinarians, Veterinarians, and Veterinary Professionals and offers an unparalleled opportunity to enhance your expertise in Wildlife Forensics. Blending in-depth training with immersive educational tourism, this program provides a truly unique African experience. Gain essential skills in wildlife forensics while exploring South Africa's rich biodiversity, and take your professional knowledge to new heights in one of the world's most exciting conservation environments.

Objectives:

• Build foundational knowledge through theoretical lectures, understanding the frameworks in wildlife forensics and crime investigation;
• Apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios through hands-on demonstrations, exercises, and summative assessments;
• Gain a holistic understanding of wildlife forensic work by exploring local ecology, environmental contexts, and cultural influences on wildlife crimes;
• Recognize the interconnectedness of human-wildlife conflict;
• Explore historical cultural influences on wildlife conservation and criminal activities, and develop awareness of governmental and non-governmental organizations in wildlife protection;
• Acquire survival skills, including knowledge of firearms and projectiles relevant to veterinary practitioners dealing with situations involving weapons;
• Acquire skills in conducting forensic necropsies, including hands-on experience in entomology and decomposition stages to estimate time of death and link suspects to crimes through insect identification and carcass documentation;
• Demonstrate understanding of wildlife veterinary pharmacology, emphasizing practical applications in the field, and gain comprehensive knowledge of toxicology related to wildlife crimes, identifying threats to biodiversity;
• Acquire knowledge of wildlife crimes and illegal wildlife trade, addressing issues like poaching and trafficking, and develop practical skills in crime scene processing, survival techniques, and evidence collection;
• Enhance proficiency in legal aspects associated with wildlife crime.

This course is for you if:

• You are a veterinarian, veterinary assistant and/ or veterinary science student
• A professional involved in wildlife protection, game reserve management, wildlife conservation, and animal handling
• A student exploring veterinary science as a potential career path and seeking greater insight into the field
• We welcome participants from diverse backgrounds who are passionate about animal care and the application of science in the pursuit of justice.

Program: 

This training includes the following:

• Introduction to Wildlife Crime, Poaching and Illegal Trade;
• Marine Wildlife Poaching;
• Wildlife Forensic Postmortem Training;
• Basic Introduction to Firearms and Projectiles Utilized in the Field of Wildlife Veterinary Medicine;
• Role of Forensics;
• Forensic Traces (Detection and Collection);
• Crime Scene Management;
• Crime Scene Preservation;
• Forensic Photography;
• Forensic Entomology;
• Wildlife Anatomy: Handling and First Aid;
• Forensic Veterinary Pathology and Toxicology;
• Human-Wildlife Conflict and Illegal Wildlife Trade;
• Hands-on Experience Laboratory Training:
  • Human Behaviour at the Crime Scene;
  • Courtroom Training;
• Anti-poaching, Tracking and Basic Survival Skills;
• Injured and Poisoned Animal Management;

Educational Touristic Activities:

• San Cultural Experience;
• Iziko Museum;
• Marine Conservation and Research;
• Tour of Cape Point and Table Mountain;
• Cape Town Waterfront;
• Two Oceans Aquarium Educational Tour;
• Seabird and Raptor Rehabilitation Tour;
• Cheetah Outreach Educational Tour;
• Game Drive;
• There will also be a morning with surfing/sea kayaking/whale watching/ snorkelling with seals - weather permitting.
   

What You Will Learn:

Attendees enrolled in this course will delve into the intricate relationship between historical cultures and wildlife crimes, gaining insights into cultural influences on both wildlife conservation efforts and criminal activities. They will develop an awareness of governmental and non-governmental organizations involved in wildlife protection and rehabilitation, broadening their understanding of wildlife conservation ecosystems. The curriculum includes survival skills such as familiarity with firearms and projectiles relevant to veterinary practitioners encountering weapon-related cases, as well as forensic necropsy techniques for investigating deceased wildlife. 

Additionally, attendees will acquire knowledge in toxicology and pharmacology pertinent to wildlife veterinary practices, including the identification and practical application of drugs and toxins in the field. Proper crime scene management and processing techniques will be honed, encompassing skills in evidence collection, post-mortem examinations, and anti-poaching behaviours. Legal aspects of wildlife crimes will also be covered, including courtroom presentation, forensic photography, and the art of providing testimony in simulated courtroom scenarios, ensuring students are equipped to effectively communicate findings in legal and investigative contexts while understanding the nuances of evidence presentation and cross-examination.

Attendees will also participate in a range of educational visits and activities which will provide you with knowledge of the different organisations and initiatives actively working in conservation in South Africa as well as gaining a better understanding of South African culture. 

How You Will Learn:

A mix of lectures, demonstrations, flipped classroom and hands-on practical activities will be utilised.  In addition, education excursions will be integrated into programme to provide background context to South African wildlife, conservation and culture. 

Lectures
Theory, knowledge, understanding

Experimental Learning
Practice, problem solving, application

Educational Excursions
Context, background, culture

Educational Aims:

1. To present and enhance knowledge and practical skills in wildlife crime investigations and wildlife veterinary science.
2. To apply current forensic-, policing knowledge and skills to wildlife crime investigations including the criminal justice chain and recovery, analysis and interpretation of evidence.
3. Facilitate a knowledge exchange opportunity between local and international wildlife professionals. 

Learning Outcomes:

1. Establish foundational knowledge in wildlife forensics and crime investigation.
2. Apply theory in practical settings and assessments.
3. Understand wildlife forensic work, integrating local ecology and cultural influences.
4. Recognize and neutralize human-wildlife conflicts.
5. Investigate historical cultural impacts on conservation and crime, and roles of organizations.
6. Acquire survival skills for veterinary practitioners, including firearm knowledge.
7. Gain proficiency in conducting forensic necropsies and linking suspects to crimes.
8. Understand wildlife pharmacology and toxicology, focusing on practical applications and biodiversity threats.
9. Develop skills in addressing wildlife crimes and illegal trade, including evidence collection.
10. Enhance legal proficiency for courtroom presentation and testifying effectively. 

The WFA has a group of 12 lecturers from veterinarians to ecologists and legal professionals. Our facility has multiple crime scenes, laboratory, court room, body farm and 1600 hectares of wildlife reserve for practicals and research. 

We have partnerships with universities, wildlife clinics and rehabilitations that have their own infrastructure, staffing and equipment. The training for the student will depend on the partnership chosen and the path taken. South Africa has a high diversity of wildlife and many threats due to development, wildlife crime and human and wildlife conflict. 

Student responsibilities will depend on placement. For courses: completion of course with associated assignments is needed. For internships it will depend on placements but can include animal management, care, feeding, cleaning, treatment, sampling, behvioural recording, release and post mortems. 

Our placements can be at a bird rehabilitation organisations, wildlife clinic, cheetah rehabilitation and care facility, the wildlife forensic academy, aquarium, baboon management organisation or other. 

Buffelsfontein Game and Nature Reserve
Yzerfontein
Yzerfontein
7351
South Africa