Wildlife Forensic Academy

22/09/2026

What if your veterinary training could take you beyond the clinic? 🐾🔬

Wildlife veterinary medicine isn’t only about treating animals. Sometimes, the veterinarian is also part of the investigation.

Our 2-Week Wildlife Veterinary Forensics Course is designed for veterinary students, veterinarians and veterinary professionals who want to understand what happens when veterinary science meets wildlife crime and criminal investigation.

From forensic necropsies and pathology to crime scene processing, evidence collection, toxicology, forensic entomology and courtroom procedures, participants develop practical skills that can be applied to real-world wildlife cases.

And you won’t just learn from a classroom.
- Hands-on forensic training
- Practical laboratory and necropsy experience
- Wildlife crime scene investigation
- Toxicology & forensic pathology
- Understanding evidence within the criminal justice system
- Wildlife handling, conservation & human-wildlife conflict
- Immersive learning in South Africa’s unique wildlife environment

But don’t just take our word for it - hear directly from one of the final-year veterinary students from University of Pretoria about his experience 🎥

If you’re studying veterinary science and wondering where your degree could take you, wildlife forensics might be a path you haven’t considered yet.

🗓️ Upcoming course dates:
- 22 November 2026
- 1 August 2027
📍 Buffelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve, South Africa

Find out more and apply via the WFA website: https://www.wildlifeforensicacademy.com/2-week-veterinary-course

22/09/2026

📣 YOU ASKED. WE ANSWERED.
We heard you - you wanted a little more time to get your research, ideas and experience ready. So, we’ve extended the abstract submission deadline!

🗓️ NEW DEADLINE: 30 SEPTEMBER 2026

The first-ever Wildlife Forensic Symposium 2027 is coming to South Africa, and we want your work to be part of it.

📅 4–6 March 2027
📍 Buffelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve, South Africa
💻 Hybrid - join us in person or online

We’re bringing together researchers, practitioners, students, veterinarians, forensic scientists, conservation professionals, law enforcement and legal experts to share research, casework, innovations and practical experience.

🔬 WHAT CAN YOU SUBMIT?
Have you conducted research, developed a new technique, worked on a wildlife crime case, explored an emerging technology, or encountered a challenge others could learn from? We want to hear from you.

Topics include:
- Wildlife forensics & crime investigation
- Veterinary pathology & forensic toxicology
- Taphonomy & entomology
- Illegal wildlife trade & disease
- Law enforcement & justice
- AI & emerging technologies
- Conservation, policy & livelihoods

🇿🇦 JOIN US IN SOUTH AFRICA
Experience two days of scientific presentations + a full day of practical forensic workshops, followed by our Symposium Braai - bringing delegates and speakers together for good food, conversation and networking.

Registration fees:
🇿🇦 Local in-person: R1,500
🌍 International in-person: R2,500
🎓 Student in-person: R750
💻 Online: R750

🎉 10% early-bird discount until 30 November 2026
Delegate registration opens soon.

📣 DON'T MISS YOUR EXTRA TIME!
Submit your abstract by 30 September 2026.

🔗 wildlifeforensicacademy.com/wfa-symposium

Showcase your work. Share your expertise. Connect with the international wildlife forensic community.

17/09/2026

Our students recently swapped the classroom for the trails of Cape Point Nature Reserve, hiking from the iconic Cape Point Lighthouse all the way to the Cape of Good Hope.

Cape Point earned its historic reputation as the “Cape of Storms” thanks to the treacherous winds and seas that challenged early sailors - and judging by our hike, the wind is still very much keeping the tradition alive! 🌊💨

But the real highlight? Learning about the incredible wildlife and ecology of the Cape Floristic Region, with a special focus on the unique fynbos that makes this landscape so globally important. 🌱

Because sometimes the best classroom has no walls.

A huge thank you to our guide Binny from Wild Treasure for leading the walk, and to our students for braving the wind, embracing the elements and making the most of the experience! 🥾🌿

15/09/2026

We missed seeing you at WFA this year - don’t miss out on 2027🐾

Applications are now open for our 2027 Wildlife Forensic Academy courses, designed for university students, recent graduates and working professionals looking to build practical knowledge and skills in wildlife forensics, conservation and wildlife crime investigation.

🔎 1-Week Wildlife Forensics & Crime Scene Management
A focused introduction to wildlife crime scene investigation, designed particularly for local South African participants.

🌍 2-Week Wildlife Forensics, Crime Scene Management & Illegal Wildlife Trade
Explore wildlife crime investigation alongside the complexities of illegal wildlife trafficking and trade.

🐾 2-Week Wildlife Veterinary Forensics
Develop an understanding of forensic approaches to wildlife pathology, trauma, evidence and veterinary investigations.

🌱 2-Week Applied Conservation & Forensics
Discover how forensic science can be applied to practical conservation challenges and wildlife protection.

🕵️ 4-Week Wildlife Forensics, Crime Scene Management, Illegal Wildlife Trade & Conservation
Our most comprehensive programme, combining wildlife forensics, crime scene management, illegal wildlife trade and conservation.

🌍 Wildlife & Wicked Problems Hybrid Masterclass
Take an interdisciplinary look at some of conservation’s most complex challenges, including wildlife crime, public health and zoonotic disease.

We also offer student-focused internships for those wanting to take their learning further through research, e-learning and practical placement opportunities with conservation and wildlife organisations.

⚠️ Courses are beginning to reach capacity for 2027, so we encourage you to start planning early.

We’d love to see you at WFA in 2027!

Find course dates, programme details and application information here: https://www.wildlifeforensicacademy.com/courses

Our courses integrate forensic science, conservation biology, and practical crime scene management, ensuring that chain of custody is effectively maintained. We focus on building technical competence and investigative confidence so that students leave with real-world, courtroom-ready skills. Our cre

10/09/2026

ABSTRACT DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING - HAVE YOU SUBMITTED YOURS?

The first-ever Wildlife Forensic Symposium 2027 is coming to South Africa - and we want your research, expertise and experience to be part of it.

📅 4–6 March 2027
📍 Buffelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve, South Africa
💻 Hybrid — in person or online

Bringing together researchers, practitioners, students, veterinarians, forensic scientists, conservation professionals, law enforcement and legal experts, the Symposium will explore wildlife crime, forensics, conservation and emerging technologies.

📣 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
Have you conducted research, developed a new forensic technique, worked on a wildlife crime case, developed an innovative technology, or encountered a challenge others could learn from?

We want to hear from you.

Topics include wildlife forensics, wildlife crime investigation, veterinary pathology, toxicology, taphonomy & entomology, illegal wildlife trade & disease, law enforcement, AI and emerging technologies, conservation, policy and sustainable livelihoods.

⏰ ABSTRACT DEADLINE: 15 SEPTEMBER 2026
Don't wait until the last minute. Submit your abstract now for the opportunity to showcase your work as part of the inaugural Symposium.

JOIN US
Online attendance is available, but the real Symposium experience is in South Africa.

🇿🇦 Local South African in-person: R1,500
🌍 International in-person: R2,500
🎓 Student in-person: R750
💻 Online: R750

🎉 10% early-bird discount until 30 November 2026

Delegate registration opens soon.

Enjoy two days of scientific presentations plus a full day of practical workshops, with hands-on learning and specialist techniques - followed by our Symposium Braai, a proper South African networking evening bringing delegates and speakers together over good food, conversation and a braai. 🔥

If you can make it to South Africa, don't miss it.

📣 SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT BEFORE 15 SEPTEMBER 2026

🔗 https://www.wildlifeforensicacademy.com/wfa-symposium

Showcase your work. Connect with the international wildlife forensic community. Be part of the first Wildlife Forensic Symposium.

08/09/2026

Who Else Lives in the Reserve? Look Closely - You Might Spot a Cape Dwarf Chameleon 👀🦎

A nature reserve is home to more than the animals we notice at first glance.

Among these easily overlooked residents is the Cape Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion pumilum). Small in size and skilled at blending into surrounding vegetation, these chameleons can be surprisingly difficult to spot. You might even walk right past one without noticing!

The Cape Dwarf Chameleon is currently classified as Near Threatened. As habitat loss and fragmentation continue to affect their populations, protecting the natural environments they depend on becomes increasingly important.

You may find them among plants such as Cape Snow Bush (Eriocephalus africanus), as pictured in the series. Cape Snow Bush is an indigenous shrub found in many parts of South Africa. It has small, aromatic leaves and produces fluffy white flowers and seed heads that can make the plant look as though it has been covered in snow - hence the name. ❄️🌿

For a chameleon, these plants are more than just part of the scenery.

Vegetation provides places to hide, climb and hunt for food, helping them survive in their natural habitat.

So next time you visit Zandvlei, slow down and take a closer look at the plants around you. You might just discover a tiny chameleon hiding in plain sight. 👀🦎

07/09/2026

ABSTRACT DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING - HAVE YOU SUBMITTED YOURS?

The first-ever Wildlife Forensic Symposium 2027 is coming to South Africa - and we want your research, expertise and experience to be part of it.

📅 4–6 March 2027
📍 Buffelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve, South Africa
💻 Hybrid — in person or online

Bringing together researchers, practitioners, students, veterinarians, forensic scientists, conservation professionals, law enforcement and legal experts, the Symposium will explore wildlife crime, forensics, conservation and emerging technologies.

📣 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
Have you conducted research, developed a new forensic technique, worked on a wildlife crime case, developed an innovative technology, or encountered a challenge others could learn from?

We want to hear from you.

Topics include wildlife forensics, wildlife crime investigation, veterinary pathology, toxicology, taphonomy & entomology, illegal wildlife trade & disease, law enforcement, AI and emerging technologies, conservation, policy and sustainable livelihoods.

⏰ ABSTRACT DEADLINE: 15 SEPTEMBER 2026
Don't wait until the last minute. Submit your abstract now for the opportunity to showcase your work as part of the inaugural Symposium.

JOIN US
Online attendance is available, but the real Symposium experience is in South Africa.

🇿🇦 Local South African in-person: R1,500
🌍 International in-person: R2,500
🎓 Student in-person: R750
💻 Online: R750

🎉 10% early-bird discount until 30 November 2026

Delegate registration opens soon.

Enjoy two days of scientific presentations plus a full day of practical workshops, with hands-on learning and specialist techniques - followed by our Symposium Braai, a proper South African networking evening bringing delegates and speakers together over good food, conversation and a braai. 🔥

If you can make it to South Africa, don't miss it.

📣 SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT BEFORE 15 SEPTEMBER 2026

🔗 https://www.wildlifeforensicacademy.com/wfa-symposium

Showcase your work. Connect with the international wildlife forensic community. Be part of the first Wildlife Forensic Symposium.

05/09/2026

THE FIRST WILDLIFE FORENSIC SYMPOSIUM IS COMING - AND ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN! 🚨
⏰ ABSTRACT DEADLINE: 15 SEPTEMBER 2026

Don't miss your opportunity to showcase your research, share your expertise and contribute to the inaugural Wildlife Forensic Symposium 2027.

For the first time, the WFA will bring together an international community working across wildlife forensics, wildlife crime, conservation, veterinary science, law enforcement and justice - and we want to hear from you.

Have you:

🔬 Conducted research relevant to wildlife forensics or wildlife crime?
🧪 Developed a new forensic technique or methodology?
🦏 Worked on an interesting wildlife crime case?
🤖 Developed an innovative technology or application?
🧬 Investigated veterinary pathology, trauma or disease?
⚖️ Worked on wildlife crime enforcement, prosecution or legal processes?
🌍 Explored conservation, policy, economics or sustainable livelihoods?
💡 Encountered a challenge in the field that others could learn from?

This is your opportunity to put your work in the spotlight.

Selected abstracts will form part of the Symposium's two-day scientific programme of oral and poster presentations, bringing researchers and practitioners together to share knowledge, spark collaboration and advance the field of wildlife forensics.

📣 DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE
Abstract submissions close on 15 September 2026.

If you've been thinking about submitting, now is the time. Get your abstract ready, submit early and secure your opportunity to have your work considered for presentation at the first-ever Wildlife Forensic Symposium.

💻 Hybrid modality - join us online or in-person in South Africa
📅 4–6 March 2027
📍 Buffelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve, Cape Town, South Africa

🔗 Submit your abstract:
https://www.wildlifeforensicacademy.com/wfa-symposium

Be one of the voices that helps shape the inaugural Wildlife Forensic Symposium 2027.

Details on delegate registration will be released soon

04/09/2026

From surgery and pathology to wildlife crime scenes and forensic entomology - Tayla was ready to dive into it all 🔬🐾🦏

As a final-year veterinary student at the University of Pretoria with a passion for surgery and pathology, she enjoyed discovering how her veterinary knowledge could be applied to wildlife crime investigations. She was also exposed to the interdisciplinary nature of wildlife forensics - including the connections between veterinary and human forensics, and even the fascinating field of forensic entomology 🪲

With dreams of working in wildlife surgery and possibly combining it with conservation research, we look forward to seeing where her journey takes her. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that South Africa gets to hold onto Tayla 🤞but wherever she ends up, we know the wildlife world will be gaining a passionate and dedicated vet!

Thanks for sharing your experience with us, Tayla! 🐾

02/09/2026

THE FIRST WILDLIFE FORENSIC SYMPOSIUM IS COMING - AND ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN! 📣

⚠️ ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE APPROACHING: 15 SEPTEMBER 2026

Don't miss your opportunity to showcase your research, share your expertise and contribute to the inaugural Wildlife Forensic Symposium 2027.

For the first time, the Wildlife Forensic Academy will bring together an international community working across wildlife forensics, wildlife crime, conservation, veterinary science, law enforcement and justice - and we want to hear from you.

Have you:
➡️ Conducted research relevant to wildlife forensics or wildlife crime?
➡️ Developed a new forensic technique or methodology?
➡️ Worked on an interesting wildlife crime case?
➡️ Developed an innovative technology or application?
➡️ Investigated veterinary pathology, trauma or disease?
➡️ Worked on wildlife crime enforcement, prosecution or legal processes?
➡️ Explored conservation, policy, economics or sustainable livelihoods?
➡️ Encountered a challenge in the field that others could learn from?

This is your opportunity to put your work in the spotlight.

Selected abstracts will form part of the Symposium's two-day scientific programme of oral and poster presentations, bringing researchers and practitioners together to share knowledge, spark collaboration and advance the field of wildlife forensics.

‼️DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE

If you've been thinking about submitting, now is the time. Get your abstract ready, submit early and secure your opportunity to have your work considered for presentation at the first-ever Wildlife Forensic Symposium.

🌍HYBRID CONFERENCE - JOIN US IN PERSON OR ONLINE
🗓️ 4–6 March 2027
📍Buffelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve, South Africa

🔗 Submit your abstract:
https://www.wildlifeforensicacademy.com/wfa-symposium

Be one of the voices that helps shape the inaugural Wildlife Forensic Symposium 2027.