Newsletter: 2nd Edition
Film crew at the WFA
On the 17th of April, the WFA welcomed a film crew from CNN. The crew filmed a group of our students in action during their forensics training and conducted interviews with our staff members. Stay updated on our social media accounts and website to see the WFA on your TV screen!
WFA at Dutch National Investigation Day Cooperation with Dutch customs authorities
Our CEO Andro Vos addressed around 1700 law enforcement officers at the Dutch National Investigation Day on the 4th of April. The attendees were impressed by his story on the impact of wildlife crime as a global organised crime, and the role of the academy in fighting it. We are looking forward to a potential cooperation with the Dutch customs authorities and believe it will be an important step towards creating worldwide awareness of and expertise in fighting wildlife crime.
Recently, research by Earth League International (among others) has shown that the Netherlands plays a pivotal role in the trafficking of traditional Asian medicine in which animal parts have been processed. Victimized animals include the pangolin and several species of rhino. This research indicates that the Netherlands is both a destination as well as a transit zone for traditional Asian medicine infused with illegal animal parts.
We are intent on addressing these and other wildlife trafficking activities occurring in the Netherlands through our partnership with the national authorities.
Wildlife Forensic Toolkit competition
In collaboration with the WFA, Nature FIRST is hosting a competition for students to design a Wildlife Forensic Toolkit. The product should provide effective aid for first responders in the field, empowering them to collect vital evidence swiftly and securely.
Students from universities around the world will be invited to this creative design competition. A panel of judges comprising representatives from universities, international field experts, and forensic scientists will evaluate the prototypes produced.
The winning team of the Wildlife CSI-Kit competition will receive a unique opportunity to participate in a course at the Wildlife Forensic Academy.
Stay tuned to follow the process and find out about the result!
Research at the WFA: Interview with our Research Coordinator Thomas Shehata
Research is an integral part in the fight against wildlife crime. Many interns and researchers visit the Academy every year to learn about and contribute to wildlife forensic research. But who is in charge of all that action? Thomas Shehata is our Research Coordinator; he makes sure all research projects are aligned and coordinated properly. What makes a Research Coordinator tick?
Thomas: “At the core of my role at the WFA is a commitment to research. I strive to make a modest but meaningful contribution by supporting interns in their research endeavours. While my work may be a small part of the broader mission of fighting wildlife crime, I firmly believe that everything begins with research. By fostering a robust foundation in this area, we lay the groundwork for more effective strategies in the fight against wildlife crime. Research contributes to the WFA's goals by building knowledge, improving forensic techniques, and adapting human forensic methods for non-human applications.”
What are your plans for the (near) future?
“I am currently working towards a PhD focused on early non-human post-mortem interval estimation. This is a continuation of my Master’s research project which I performed at the WFA. The pursuit of this PhD reflects a personal commitment to advancing the field and aligns with the academy’s mission. I am now in the process of applying for a research grant to facilitate this pursuit, in which I am assisted by Prof. Dr. Ing. Maurice Aalders. We also hope that a modern laboratory can be realized in a new academy in Waterberg, where we can perform even more state-of-the-art research.”
What aspects of your work at the WFA make you proud?
“I am proud that I can contribute to the growth and development of interns as they navigate the intricacies of research. Witnessing their progress and the potential impact of our collective efforts on wildlife crime prevention is very special. Overall, the opportunity to play a modest role in contributing to the WFA's objectives makes every aspect of my work at the WFA a source of pride and fulfilment.”
You have recently published your own research. Can you shortly explain its results and how they are contributing to the fight against wildlife crime?
“In our recent review paper, conducted in collaboration with Dr. Tristan Krap, we delved into the intricacies of the chemical composition of fresh bone. We studied how temperature can induce chemical alterations in bone. This specific article focuses on the photoluminescent properties of fresh and burnt bones. By understanding these properties, we can - in the future - track bones in the field by attaching a light source to drones or helicopters. This capability holds great promise in enhancing the efficiency of wildlife crime investigations, underscoring the interdisciplinary impact of our research across forensic science and wildlife conservation.”
Read one of Thomas’ latest publications here!
Networking at Dutch Consul General during Community Week
During the Community Week, an important networking meeting was held at the Dutch Consul General in Cape Town, per official invitation. The meeting was attended by approximately 55 of the WFA’s partners, including the Consul General Helene Rekkers and the Dutch agriculture attaché, who committed to guide the Academy in acquiring impact funds.
Global requests for new Wildlife Forensic Academies
Waterberg Nature Conservancy executive committee member Jessica Babich visited the WFA during its recent Community Week. She was impressed by the way the WFA’s experience lab makes the forensic domain tangible, giving people direct insight into the power of forensics.
The WFA has been offered land and facilities to start a new Wildlife Forensic Academy at Waterberg Reserve: the vision of a second academy is transforming into something concrete!
We have received requests for collaboration on new academies from:
University of Atlanta
Dubai police
University of Kent
Kenya
European institutions
Course updates
WFA Multidisciplinary course
Our own Barbara Varekamp is collaborating with the Erasmus University Rotterdam, Nyenrode Business University, the University of Kent and the University of Cape Town on a multidisciplinary course programme. The course brings together 5 “pillars”, or areas of expertise, to solve wicked problems in wildlife crime.
The 5 pillars:
- Law
- Business and Leadership
- Forensics
- Global health
- Veterinary sciences
The participating students will each have their own role, teaching the other students in their group about their specific knowledge base and viewpoints.
We believe this multidisciplinary, international and sustainability-focused way of teaching is the future of tackling wildlife crime and biodiversity conservation in the broader sense.
The course will consist of a 2-week online programme, followed by a 2-week training at the WFA in South Africa. The online section will include state-of-the-art resources, such as e-learnings, podcasts and videos.
Curious about the progression of this project? The pilot is planned for October this year. Keep an eye on our website and register as soon as you can!
Veterinary Forensic Course
In collaboration with Worldwide Vets, our in-house veterinarian and academy co-founder Greg Simpson is developing a veterinary forensic course. As veterinarians will be increasingly exposed to animal-related crime in the future, it is urgent to create spaces where they can gain forensic skills around a wildlife crime scene.
The WFA wants to contribute to the growing resources in veterinary forensics. Our Academy provides the unique opportunity of following the actions of the participating veterinarians in real-time while handling a crime scene using our camera system. These methods allow for direct feedback and re-watching the session to discuss improvements.
We are developing a standard curriculum with add-on specialisations in the fields of pathology, toxicology, pharmacology, anti-poaching, fire-arms awareness, entomology and so on.
Are you or do you know a veterinarian who would benefit from increased forensic knowledge? Stay tuned for the launch of this unique course.
Nyenrode leadership course extended to executives
At the end of last year, WFA hosted a very successful five-day course in Leadership and Design Thinking. The course is set up in cooperation with Prof. dr. Desirée van Gorp (Nyenrode Business University) and Professor Erwin Schwella’s Civinovus group. We are excited to announce that this course will now also be extended to executives!
The Leadership and Design Thinking course will teach participants all about modern leadership, with principles drawn from the traditional South-African Ubuntu philosophy. Ubuntu revolves around the notion that our humanity is entwined with the humanity of others; ‘I am because we are’. Ubuntu-based leadership skills are critical in fighting wildlife crime.
The course will take place from 9 to 16 November 2024 this year. Register here!
Forensic course for fisheries officers part of FishFORCE: “Crime scene protection and collection and presentation of evidence”
From 8 to 12 April, the WFA hosted 12 fisheries officers from the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). The main purpose of the programme was to provide the officers with training on crime scene management, documentation of the scene, and evidence collection.
This course is part of the Nelson Mandela University of South Africa’s FishFORCE Fisheries Law Enforcement Academy, which offers a 3 year diploma in law enforcement as well as short learning programmes for fishery control officers. The first edition was very successful and informative, according to both participants and facilitators.
The WFA is looking forward to a long-standing collaboration with the FishFORCE programme!
Did you know…
Our 800m2 Experience Lab is available for school trips, corporate events, business breakaways and tourist visits?
We recently held an end-of-year corporate function and created a Cluedo-style game for them focused around solving wildlife crimes. Get in touch to discuss the possibilities!