Fighting Poaching: Inside South Africa’s Wildlife Forensic Academy

The Wildlife Forensic Academy in South Africa trains rangers and law enforcement to combat wildlife poaching. Despite the severe poaching crisis, with thousands of rhinos killed, convictions remain low. The academy aims to improve evidence collection, thereby increasing prosecution rates against wildlife crime and protecting endangered species.

In South Africa, the Wildlife Forensic Academy serves as a pivotal training ground aimed at combating poaching. Students, equipped in white hazmat suits, practice investigation skills in simulated crime scenes featuring taxidermized animals. The academy’s objective is to enhance the capabilities of rangers, conservation officers, and law enforcement personnel to secure evidence effectively, as the initial responders play a critical role in legal proceedings regarding wildlife crimes.

The poaching crisis in South Africa has reached alarming levels, with over 10,000 rhinos killed since 2007, yet only a meager 36 convictions for wildlife crimes in 2023, despite nearly 500 rhinos having been slaughtered that year. Phil Snijman, a former prosecutor and trainer at the academy, emphasizes the importance of training law enforcement agents to prevent the loss of crucial evidence at crime scenes.

Wendy Willson, a conservationist and former police trainer, highlights the challenges facing less-publicized wildlife species, stating that many incidents of wildlife crime remain unpunished. She notes, “We are in a crisis where we are losing so many of our small animals. Entire species are completely disappearing, and nobody even knows about it.”

The Wildlife Forensic Academy, established in 2022, has successfully trained over 500 individuals, of which only 89 are directly involved in combating wildlife crime. Mari-Su de Villiers, a conservation officer, illustrates the impact of the training, explaining how it has improved their ability to collect evidence in poisoning cases. Snijman believes that an increase in effective forensic evidence gathering will lead to more convictions and deter prospective offenders from wildlife crimes.

Ultimately, while the Wildlife Forensic Academy represents a crucial step in addressing poaching and wildlife crime, it is part of a broader effort needed to ensure the protection of endangered species. Snijman reflects on this necessity, indicating that while the academy is beneficial, it forms only a small component of a much larger solution to the ongoing crisis.

The Wildlife Forensic Academy is a significant initiative aimed at equipping individuals with the skills necessary to combat poaching and wildlife crimes in South Africa. Despite the ongoing crisis, where thousands of animals succumb to poaching and very few cases end in conviction, the academy strives to enhance evidence collection and legal procedures. With proper training, it is hoped that enforcement will improve, offering better protection for endangered species.

Original Source: www.times-georgian.com