Students who are not required to complete a formal research project are generally rotated between various partner organisations to gain practical exposure across multiple disciplines, including:

• Animal handling and rehabilitation

• Ecological and marine conservation

• Wildlife crime investigations

• Laboratory and forensic science

• Data collection, recording, and analysis

• Conservation management and anti-poaching operations

Objectives:

The internship programme aims to:

• Develop knowledge and practical skills in wildlife forensics, project management, and scientific communication

• Contribute meaningfully to the fields of wildlife forensics and wildlife crime prevention

• Provide hands-on experience in laboratory, field, conservation, and investigative environments

• Enhance research, analytical, and interdisciplinary problem-solving skills within the wildlife crime sector

Internship Placements [work experience]

In addition to research internships, the WFA can assist in work experience placement with partners, these include organisations involved in:

• Counter illegal wildlife trade initiatives

• Conservation and environmental organisations

• Ecological monitoring and data analysis

• Wildlife rehabilitation

• Game reserves and protected areas

• Marine conservation projects

• Laboratory-based scientific research

Typically, interns complete their research projects full-time at the WFA. In some cases, however, projects are conducted in collaboration with partner organisations, in which case students may split their time between the WFA and the partner organisation, or be based primarily full-time at the partner institution.

For students completing a research component, a dedicated research project is assigned in consultation with the WFA's Research Director and Research Coordinator, and are aligned with the student's academic interests and institutional requirements.

Research support provided by WFA may include:

• Research project conceptualisation and planning

• Guidance with research proposal development and project design

• Laboratory training and supervision

• Assistance with interpretation of results and scientific report writing

• Provision of laboratory space, equipment, instrumentation, and selected research materials

• Assistance with relevant permit and ethics approval processes where applicable

• Ongoing academic and professional mentorship through weekly research meetings and supervisory support

Research Internship Structure and Laboratory Environment:

• The WFA facility, located on Buffelsfontein Game and Nature Reserve, has a dedicated wildlife forensics-focused laboratory space as well as an outdoor wildlife forensic taphonomy facility. The WFA provides access to the laboratory and associated infrastructure to support student research and training.

• Upon application to the internship programme, the WFA will offer a full-list of on-going projects to select from.  

• The internship structure generally consists of approximately 70% research-related activities and 30% broader WFA-related support activities.

• The WFA does not have extensive analytical capabilities, where further specialist instrumentation is required, a project may be supported by an external partner.

Research interns may also contribute to broader Academy activities, including:

• Supporting taught courses

• Assisting with laboratory stock control and organisation

• Assisting with WFA events and outreach activities

• Supporting marketing and educational initiatives